Takeaways from this year’s general election polling, with one of the more accurate pollsters this election cycle
Pollsters, this U.S. election cycle had their work cut out for them, having to weigh factors like incumbency, the economy, reproductive rights, and turnout. Through their respective methods for collecting data, many pollsters needed help reaching the general election electorate, with the firm closest to painting the eventual picture being J.L. Partners. In a recent Wall Street Journal Op-ed, the firm’s co-founders wrote their methods for reaching low-propensity voters and weighting the concerns that inevitably got people out to the polls. Joining us to discuss the work that went into their polling is Scarlett Maguire, director of J.L. Partners, a polling firm based in London and Washington D.C.
Actor Jim O’Heir on his new memoir ‘Welcome To Pawnee’ and the making of NBC’s hit sitcom ‘Parks and Recreation’
When NBC’s mockumentary-style comedy Parks and Recreation debuted in 2009, actor Jim O’Heir was cast in what he initially expected would be a guest role. He won the part of Jerry Gergich, a good-hearted but clumsy office worker at the Parks Department in the fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana, which serves as the focus of the show. But as the show went on, it became clear to O’Heir, showrunners Greg Daniels and Mike Schur and the entire cast that Jerry was destined to be a central part of the ensemble cast and a recurring presence on the show. O’Heir, who comes from an improv comedy background which includes time at the famous Second City improv troupe in Chicago, had appeared on hit TV shows like 3rd Rock from the Sun, The Drew Carey Show and Malcolm in the Middle before booking the role on Parks and Recreation that would change his life. In his new book Welcome To Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation, O’Heir recounts his time on the cast of this beloved show, shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes and stories from its making and reflects on the impact it had on his career and the careers of his co-stars.
Today on AirTalk, Larry talks with O’Heir about his new book, the making of Parks and Recreation, how his time as a local radio DJ in Indiana influenced his career and more.
Jim will be in conversation with Parks & Recreation co-star Retta on Sunday, November 17 at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles in Westlake as part of an event presented by Book Soup. More information and tickets here.
Trump's second administration is beginning to take shape as he announces his cabinet
President-elect Donald Trump named several more appointees to his administration yesterday in a week that has been filled by cabinet announcement after cabinet announcement. The most recent appointees include co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security, lawyer William McGinley as part of Trump’s White House counsel, former Texas congressman John Ratcliffe as CIA director, and businessman Steven Witkoff as special envoy to the Middle East. This comes as Republicans consider who should lead the Senate under a new Trump administration and as Trump meets with President Biden at the White House today.
Today on AirTalk, we'll talk about who Trump's new administrative members are, what policies and changes we can expect from them in the next four years, and who else may be in consideration to help shepherd in this new phase of Republican control. Joining us today is Ron Elving, senior editor and correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News, and Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University.
Exploring food and cultural appropriation
Actor Simu Liu recently called out a startup boba tea brand called Bobba in an episode of the Canadian entrepreneur competition show, Dragon’s Den. Think Shark Tank vibes. Liu, known for Marvel movies and the hit blockbuster Barbie, is a judge on the show. His concern came down to cultural appropriation and the idea of taking something that’s rooted in Asian culture and trying to make it “better,” which is how the creators branded the product. Today on AirTalk, we explore culinary appropriation, the challenges in defining it, why there are so many opinions surrounding it, and how we approach food and culture with sensitivity. Joining to discuss is Krishnendu Ray, director of the doctoral program in food studies at New York University and author of The Ethnic Restaurateur (Bloomsbury Academic, 2016), and Frankie Huang, senior editor at The Emancipator, a nonprofit magazine seeking solutions to racial inequity. We also want to hear from you! Do you have thoughts on cultural appropriation as it relates to food? Do you work in the food industry? Are you a chef? How do you approach this? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
