LAPD Chief Charlie Beck joins AirTalk for his monthly check-in - we'll talk about the latest law enforcement trends and take your questions; plus, the big SCOTUS case Justice Gorsuch will be hearing on church-state separation; and we also want to hear from AirTalk listeners about forgiveness - what helps you to move on, or what haven't you been able to let go of?; and more.
Justice Gorsuch hears major SCOTUS case on church-state separation
Upstart Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch will tackle a major separation of church and state case today.
The country’s highest court is hearing oral arguments on Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer. The case stems from a lawsuit brought by the Missouri-based church Trinity Lutheran against the state’s Department of Natural Resources after it was denied a grant to repave its school playground.
Under Missouri’s constitution, religious organizations are barred from using state money, and Trinity argues that, among other things, it was being discriminated against on religious grounds.
The case has enormous implications, and is being closely watched. Opponents of the lawsuit believe that a ruling in favor of Trinity could open up religious organizations and schools to receiving state money at the expense of public school systems.
Guests:
Lawrence Hurley, reporter covering the US Supreme Court for Reuters; he was at this morning’s oral arguments
Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, a legal defense organization specializing in religious issues headquartered in Sacramento
Jenny Pizer, senior counsel and law and policy director for Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., a national organization advocating for LGBTQ rights; the Lambda Legal Defense fund has filed an amicus brief on the case
LAPD Chief Beck on use-of-force and body cam policy changes, plummeting arrests in California and more
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck visits AirTalk for his monthly check-in today to talk about local and national law enforcement trends and, of course, answer questions from AirTalk listeners.
After a vote by the L.A. Police Commission on Tuesday, officers will now have to attempt to de-escalate a situation before firing their service weapons after the L.A. Police Commission voted Tuesday to approve the new policy, which it hopes will help decrease the number of officer-involved shootings. The Police Commission is also currently holding public comment sessions to get feedback on when, if ever, LAPD should release footage from officers’ body cameras.
We’ll also ask the Chief about a report from LAPD last month that said sexual and domestic violence assault reports among Latinos are down this year, citing fears of deportation. Arrests across the state of California are also being reported as lower than in previous years, so we’ll find out why he thinks that is.
Have questions for Chief Beck? Post in the comments below or join in the conversation at 866-893-5722
Guest:
Charlie Beck, Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department; he tweets
NextGen Climate President Tom Steyer discusses his potential run for CA Governor
California Governor Jerry Brown’s seat is up for grabs in 2018, but it’s not too early to anticipate who’s in the race to fill it. Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and former mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa have begun their campaigns, but some big California names have been more ambiguous about their intentions.
Tom Steyer, the billionaire philanthropist, activist and president of NextGen Climate, a San Francisco-based environmental advocacy organization, hasn’t been forthcoming about whether he’ll run. But as reported by POLITICO, he’s been more in the public eye lately, featured in television spots, making appearances in Long Beach and Skid Row, and has spoken publicly about state ballot measures.
But even if Steyer doesn’t run, his influence and financial support would hold a lot of weight for other candidates. So what are his plans?
To see all of our interviews with the 2018 gubernatorial candidates, click here.
Guest:
Tom Steyer, founder and president of NextGen Climate, an environmental advocacy nonprofit; he is rumored to be running in California’s 2018 gubernatorial election
Media watcher, Republican strategist on future of Fox News without Bill O'Reilly
Popular cable TV political commentator Bill O’Reilly will not be returning to the airwaves of Fox News to host his ratings juggernaut talk show, 'The O'Reilly Factor.'
Fox News' parent company, 21st Century Fox, confirmed O'Reilly was being let go on Wednesday but New York Magazine national affairs writer Gabriel Sherman first reported Wednesday that sources briefed on the situation said that O’Reilly is out at Fox News and Fox brass was in the process of looking ahead to what happens next.
O'Reilly's departure means the ouster of cable TV’s highest rated prime-time host. It also leaves some big shoes to fill, and it’s unclear who might take his place. There’s also the question of what O’Reilly might do next and whether he’ll be successful in finding another job with a major network.
O’Reilly, who has been dogged by accusations of sexual harassment in the past, ended up in the spotlight after a New York Times article from earlier this month revealed that Fox and O’Reilly have paid out a total of $13 million to five women who accused him of sexual harassment in exchange for them agreeing not to file suit or go public with their accusations. Pressure to let O’Reilly go had been mounting since then.
With O’Reilly out at Fox News, do you agree with the decision to let him go? Who might Fox News slot in for O’Reilly if his spot opens up? Where could O’Reilly go next?
Guests:
Joe Concha, media reporter and columnist for The Hill; he tweets
Sean T. Walsh, Republican political analyst and partner at Wilson Walsh Consulting in San Francisco; he is a former adviser to California Governors Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger and a former White House staffer for Presidents Reagan and H.W. Bush
What have you forgiven? What’s too difficult to let go of?
The family of Robert Godwin, the passerby who was killed in a video posted to Facebook, said in an interview with FOX 8 that the family forgives Steve Stephens, who was wanted for Godwin’s murder.
In the interview his daughter says: "We forgive him because it's the right thing to do. It's what daddy taught us. It's the way we was raised. God said if you don't forgive, he won't forgive you. So, Mr. Stephens, we forgive you, but we're asking you to turn yourself in, please." The next day, Mr. Stephens was discovered to have taken his own life.
Many were surprised by Godwin’s family’s response to his murder and today on AirTalk, we ask what things in your life have you forgiven others for? What have you been unable to forgive?