SCOTUS is hearing arguments today on the controversial case which would affect millions of undocumented immigrants; debating the HBO drama that retells the story of the controversial 1991 Supreme Court confirmation hearings between Justice Clarence Thomas that exposed sexual harassment charges by his former assistant Anita Hill and weighing the controversy of breeding french bulldogs.
SCOTUS to decide fate of some 4 million undocumented immigrants
The Supreme Court heard one of the biggest cases on its docket this term – one whose outcome would affect millions of undocumented immigrants in the country.
The case, United States vs. Texas, concerns the constitutionality of two executive orders issued by President Obama in 2014. The executive actions would have expanded a program to allow undocumented Americans who came to the country as children get work permits and avoid deportation, and would have extended those rights to the undocumented parents of US citizens and permanent residents by establishing an additional program.
The justices will consider several questions, including whether Texas has the legal right to sue the government, and whether the President has the authority to create those programs.
Guests:
Alvaro Huerta, a staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, which has filed an amicus brief on the case. He was inside the courthouse this morning for the oral argument
Ira Mehlman, Media Director at the Federation for American Immigration Reform
Debating HBO's dramatic portrayal of Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill in 'Confirmation'
A timely new HBO film dramatizes the controversial 1991 Supreme Court confirmation hearings for now Justice Clarence Thomas that exposed sexual harassment charges by his former assistant, then Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill.
While "Confirmation" brings to mind today's highly politicized Supreme Court fight over Merrick Garland, the film is more about sexual harassment in the workplace, the specific hearings with Thomas and Hill, and Washington machinations at the time.
What do you remember about the hearings? If you were not plugged in at the time, are you aware of the influence? What are your thoughts on the film?
Guests:
Fatima Goss Graves, Senior Vice President for Program, National Women's Law Center; Goss Graves currently serves on the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace
Mark Paoletta, Former assistant counsel for then President George H. W. Bush
AirTalk election 2016: Analyzing each campaign on the eve of the New York State primary
The New York State primary is Tuesday for both Republicans and Democrats.
Both current frontrunners, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump call the Empire State home and have been making sure everyone knows it in the weeks leading up to tomorrow’s contest. Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz have had strong showings in recent primaries, suggesting things may not be as clear-cut as they seem.
A victory in New York for Hillary Clinton could give her the mathematical assurance she needs to secure the Democratic nomination, while Donald Trump could lengthen his lead over Ted Cruz, who has been gaining delegates.
In our weekly roundup of the week to come in politics, our experts take a look at the candidates’ expectations in New York, what each has to do to win, and what wins for each of the candidates would signify for the race overall.
Guests:
Steve Phillips, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and author of the book “Brown is the New White: How the Demographic Revolution Has Created a New American Majority”
Zach Courser, research director of the Dreier Roundtable and visiting assistant professor of Government at Claremont McKenna College
Price tag to prevent massive earthquake damage in SF: $3 billion
Today marks the 110th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
The 8.7 magnitude quake caused thousands of lives, and property damage in the hundreds of millions of dollars. And the kind of devastation experienced a century ago could easily be felt again today in the event of a major earthquake.
A report released by the Port of San Francisco last week has projected the impact of a major tremor on the bustling Embarcadero area in San Francisco. The report predicts that the 3-mile sea wall built along the Embarcadero would likely be pushed out into the bay, causing massive infrastructural damage.
The cost to reinforce the sea wall is estimated by the report to range from $2 to $3 billion.
Guest:
Ron Lin, LA Times reporter who’s behind the story; he tweets from
Patrick Otellini, Chief Resilience Officer, City of San Francisco
Should we stop breeding French Bulldogs?
Despite their notorious respiratory complications and physical challenges breeding naturally, Frenchies are more popular than ever before.
Though they still trail behind the nation’s most popular breed, the Labrador Retriever, French Bulldogs are now the sixth most popular breed in America. In addition to the dog’s hefty sale price, invasive surgical procedures are typically required to maintain aesthetics and quality of life.
Surgeries are stressful and can amount to thousands of dollars, so why do we continue breeding them? Are these dogs a symbol of social status or do we have the media to blame for its allure?
Larry Mantle speaks with the president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles and a French Bulldog breeder to debate the ethics of breeding the trendy canine.
Guests:
Madeline Bernstein, President, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA)
Marika Zoll Ph.D, Co-owner and breeder, French Bulldogs LA, and clinical psychologist with extended education in animal genetics and animal behavioral psychology