Today on AirTalk, our weekly political roundtable recaps the big headlines you might’ve missed over the weekend and looks ahead to the week to come in political news. We also discuss the recent fallout of the failed negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the agencies who represent writers; and more.
Week in politics: What to expect when DOJ releases Mueller report, plus political implications of Trump’s proposal to put undocumented immigrants in sanctuary cities
AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable recaps the big headlines you might’ve missed over the weekend and looks ahead to the week to come in political news. Here’s what we’re watching this week:
Mueller report watch -- DOJ says it expects to release this Thursday
Meanwhile, Rod Rosenstein defended DOJ’s handling of the report
Trump considering placing undocumented immigrants in sanctuary cities
Trump back and forth with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
Calls continue for release of Trump’s tax returns
Nancy Pelosi interview on 60 mins
2020 check-in
Trump campaign says it raised over $30M in Q1
Tax day -- responses across the country to new tax law
Buttigeig declares for 2020
Kamala Harris releases 15 years of tax returns
Bernie Sanders -- any chance for him to peel off any Trump ‘upset the status quo’ voters who are dissatisfied w/ president
GOP, Dems crafting targeted messages for voters ahead of 2020
Monmouth poll of likely Iowa caucus-goers shows Biden number 1, Buttigieg gaining steam
Gallup poll shows rebound in Trump job approval after Mueller report
Guests:
Lisa Garcia Bedolla, professor of political science and education, and director of the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley; she tweets
Lanhee Chen, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University; he was an adviser for Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign and served as policy director for the Romney-Ryan 2012 presidential campaign; he tweets
No deal: Hollywood writers and talent agents at an impasse over ‘packaged deals’
On Friday, negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the agencies who represent writers failed to reach a conclusion.
According to the WGA, the agreement signed in 1976 (Artists’ Managers Basic Agreement) by both parties that regulated how agents represent writers is out of date. Specifically, the WGA takes up the issues of agencies charging studios packaging fees and agencies’ involvement in the production business.
Writers say agencies have a conflict of interest when they benefit from or act as studios. The Association of Talent Agents have argued that these are artist-friendly studios that help writers get bigger paychecks by adding the number of potential buyers. While minor agencies have signed the new code of conduct, the WGA and ATA have each represented a united front.
We reached out the Writers Guild of America. They were not able to join us.
We also reached out to the Association of Talent Agents. They declined our request for an interview, but sent this statement from executive director Karen Stuart, dated April 12, 5pm.
The WGA leadership today declared a pathway for compromise doesn’t exist. Agencies have been committed to reaching an agreement with the WGA but, despite our best efforts, today’s outcome was driven by the Guild’s predetermined course for chaos. The WGA is mandating a “Code of Conduct” that will hurt all artists, delivering an especially painful blow to mid-level and emerging writers, while dictating how agencies of all sizes should function. We came to the negotiating table in good faith and put forth comprehensive proposals providing choice, disclosure, transparency, shared revenue and a significant investment in inclusion programs. Unfortunately, not to our surprise, the WGA did not accept our offer, did not provide counter proposals and refused to negotiate further. We're prepared to continue to fight for the best interests of writers and all artists.
Guests:
senior editor and chief TV critic at Deadline Hollywood; he tweets
Claire Best, owner and CEO of Claire Best & Associates, a boutique talent agency based in Hollywood, representing various clients including writers, directors, producers, production designers and more
A comeback unlike any other: Where does Tiger Woods’ epic Masters win fit in the annals of great career comebacks?
They said he’d never win another major. They said his body gave up on him. They said he could never come back from the public implosion of his marriage and the revelation of his struggles with addiction.
They were wrong.
Clad in his signature Sunday red, 43-year-old Eldrick “Tiger” Woods defied the doubters, winning his fifth Masters tournament and fifteenth career major championship on Sunday with an easy tap-in for par on the 18th hole at Augusta National. Tiger now has the second-most major wins in golf history, 15, behind Jack Nicklaus’ 18. Woods’ victory came 22 years after his first Masters win in 1997, after which he memorably ran to find his father, Earl, who wrapped him up in a big bear hug.
After Tiger Woods won his first Masters in 1997, he embraced his father, Earl.
22 years later after winning his 5th Masters, he got to share that same moment with his own son, Charlie.
— ESPN (@espn)
After Tiger Woods won his first Masters in 1997, he embraced his father, Earl.
— ESPN (@espn) April 15, 2019
22 years later after winning his 5th Masters, he got to share that same moment with his own son, Charlie. pic.twitter.com/BqH1AyvM6A
More than two decades later, after tapping in for the win Tiger made a beeline to the gallery again, but this time to embrace his own son just as his father had embraced him years ago in a moment that connected two generations of golf fans -- those who have followed Tiger since his early golf career when he was unmatched on the links and those who have grown up in the post-Tiger age of golf. Many wondered whether Tiger would ever be the same golfer again after a slew of setbacks, including the very public ending of his marriage to Swedish model Elin Nordegren, dealing with substance abuse issues, not to mention a litany of injuries that have sidelined him from tournament after tournament, year after year.
Where does Tiger’s 2019 Masters victory sit among the great late-career comebacks of all time? What are some other notable late career comebacks or accomplishments in a similar vein?
Guests:
Tom Goldman, sports correspondent for NPR; he tweets
Jason Gay, sports columnist for Wall Street Journal; he tweets
Catastrophic fire engulfs Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
A massive fire engulfed the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of the French capital Monday, toppling its spire and sending thick plumes of smoke high into the blue sky as tourists and Parisians looked on aghast from the streets below.
A spokesman said the entire wooden frame of the cathedral would likely come down, and that the vault of the edifice could be threatened too.
“Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame,” Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot told French media. The 12th-century cathedral is home to incalculable works of art and is one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions.
The cause of the catastrophic blaze was not known, but French media quoted the Paris fire brigade as saying the fire is “potentially linked” to a 6 million-euro ($6.8 million) renovation project on the church’s spire and its 250 tons of lead. Paris police said there were no reported deaths.
Flames shot out of the roof behind the nave of the cathedral, among the most visited landmarks in the world. Sights of the flames stopped passers-by in their tracks along the Seine River that passes beneath the cathedral.
French President Emmanuel Macron postponed a televised speech to the nation because of the stunning blaze and was going to the cathedral himself.
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
Eleanor Beardsley, NPR Correspondent based in Paris
Happy tax day?: How tax cuts have impacted Californians
Tax day is here.
This year, the IRS is expecting to receive roughly 153 million individual tax returns and as of Friday the 12th, the IRS said there were 50 million taxpayers who have yet to file their tax returns. Individuals have until midnight Monday to file.
This is the first-ever tax season under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which raised the standard deduction to $12,000 for singles and $24,000 for married-filing-jointly, among other changes.
We discuss how tax returns impacted California residents this year. Questions or comments? Weigh in and call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Jason Oh, professor of law at UCLA where he focuses on tax policy; he also serves as a faculty coordinator of the UCLA Colloquium on Tax Policy & Public Finance
Should animal dissection be banned from schools?
A new California bill, AB 1586, could ban animal dissection in K-12 classrooms throughout the state.
The Replacing Animals in Science (RAISE) Act argues that animal dissection is costly, exposes participants to carcinogenic chemicals and is harmful to both animals and the environment. The bill proposes alternative projects such as video recordings, three-dimensional models, interactive simulation software, among other educational substitutes. Existing law currently allows students with a moral objection to refrain from animal dissection.
Studies conducted in the past few decades have offered different conclusions comparing the efficacy of animal dissection and alternative methods.
Among teachers, the dissection debate continues. Some educators argue that animal dissection can be an important learning experience that can either inspire or discourage students from pursuing a career in biology and cannot be replaced with any substitutes.
The legislation was introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) and is cosponsored by science and animal advocacy groups including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Social Compassion in Legislation and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
We debate the bill.
Guests:
John Pippin. M.D., director of academic affairs at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a cosponsor of the bill; he tweets
Sherry Annee, president of the National Association of Biology Teachers