‘A Nation Engaged:’ The use of executive orders by presidents

Listen 1:34:22

Apple

Spotify

As President Trump approaches his 100th day benchmark, NPR News launches another “A Nation Engaged” conversation on the topic of “Power & the Presidency” - we take a comparative look at the use of executive orders between the last two administrations. We'll also cover Trump's new VOICE office; debate Measure C; how should parents should talk to kids about past drug use?; and more.

‘A Nation Engaged:’ The use of executive orders by presidents

As President Trump approaches his 100th day benchmark, NPR News launches another “A Nation Engaged” conversation on the topic of “Power & the Presidency” - we take a comparative look at the use of executive orders between the last two administrations. We'll also cover Trump's new VOICE office; debate Measure C; how should parents should talk to kids about past drug use?; and more.

Subscribe

• Apple
• Spotify

As President Trump approaches his 100th day benchmark, NPR News launches another “A Nation Engaged” conversation on the topic of “Power & the Presidency” - we take a comparative look at the use of executive orders between the last two administrations. We'll also cover Trump's new VOICE office; debate Measure C; how should parents should talk to kids about past drug use?; and more.

Trump administration rolls out office to help victims of crimes committed by immigrants

The Trump Administration and anti-illegal immigration groups claim the government has long downplayed crimes committed by those here illegally.

This week, the federal government launched an office devoted to victims of crimes committed by non-citizens. It's acronym is VOICE. AirTalk looks at the stated mission of the office and how it might affect the debate over illegal immigration.

Guests:

Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at Center for Immigration Studies

Chris Newman, legal director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)

How UC Berkeley campus, law enforcement are preparing for possible protests and violence following cancelled Ann Coulter event

Campus and city police in Berkeley are on high alert today after conservative author and commentator Ann Coulter cancelled a planned speech at UC Berkeley following weeks of back-and-forth between campus officials and student groups about free speech vs. hate speech on campus.

The UC Berkeley Police Department said they are expecting extremists to arrive on campus today and are preparing for the possibility of violence, for which they said they would have a low tolerance. Coulter, who was originally scheduled to give an address on immigration policy tonight,

she was cancelling the event yesterday after the student groups sponsoring her backed down. UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks wrote an op-ed in the New York Times on Wednesday laying out the school’s position.

How are police preparing for the possibility of extremists and violence on campus? What is the reaction from students, faculty, and residents of the city of Berkeley?

We reached out to the UC Berkeley Police Department and the City of Berkeley police, but neither responded to our request for comment in time for air. We also contacted the Daily Cal, UC Berkeley’s student newspapers, who said they are not giving interviews at this time.

Guest:

Tim Williams, retired LAPD senior detective supervisor (Robbery-Homicide Division), 1974-2003; owner of T.T. Williams Jr. investigations

‘A Nation Engaged:’ The use of executive orders by presidents

As the Trump presidency approaches its 100th day, NPR News is launching the initiative, “A Nation Engaged,” to help foster conversation on the topic of “Power & the Presidency.”

Today on AirTalk, we’ll look at the use of executive orders, particularly in the Trump and Obama administrations.

Guests:

Julian Zelizer, presidential historian and a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University; he is the author of many books, including, “The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society” (Penguin, 2015)

Tevi Troy, president of the American Health Policy Institute and author of the book, "Shall We Wake the President? Two Centuries of Disaster Management from the Oval Office" (Lyons Press, 2016)

We debate Measure C: Should all-civilian boards review police disciplinary matters?

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved the language for Charter Amendment C, a controversial measure that will appear on the May 16 ballot for LA City voters and will alter how police officers who’ve engaged in misconduct are disciplined.

Currently, an officer to be fired by Chief Beck is reviewed by an LAPD Board of Rights panel, which is made of three members: two command-level officers and one civilian. They either approve the firing or ease the penalty. Measure C, introduced by City Council President Herb Wesson, would allow the officer being disciplined to have their case reviewed by an all-civilian panel instead.

Los Angeles Police Protective League officials have backed the measure, saying it will encourage civilian participation in police departments and create panels impartial to department influence or favoritism.

But the measure has drawn criticism from groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the Community Coalition and the Los Angeles branch of Black Lives Matter. Among their concerns is that the current qualifications required to be chosen for the panel are too restrictive and that analysis has shown that civilian board members are more lenient than sworn officers.

Will Measure C keep officers accountable for misconduct, or will it actually lead to leniency?   

Guests:

Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League; the league is publicly supporting Measure C

John “Jay” Handal, hearing examiner since 2007 for the Los Angeles Police Department Commision;  treasurer of the West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council; co-chair of the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates

Peter Bibring, senior staff attorney and director of police practices for the ACLU of Southern California

AirTalk asks: How do you talk with your kids about past substance use?

It's a tough conversation to have: your child comes home one day and asks you if you ever drank heavily or smoked marijuana as a teenager or maybe in college.

For many parents, the knee-jerk reaction might be to hide past transgressions or maybe turn the question back to them and ask if they've tried drinking or any illicit drugs. A recent Wall Street Journal article posed the question: Should you tell your teen you tried alcohol or drugs?

Some experts say that talking with your kids about your past use can be useful if framed the right way. The key, they say, is to set up the conversation as using your past experiences as a teaching moment or learning experience rather than boasting about or glorifying past alcohol or drug use.

How, if at all, do parents talk about their past alcohol and drug use with curious children? What's the best way to find that balance of being honest with them while not encouraging risky behavior?

Guest:

Julie Cederbaum, associate professor of social work at USC; she specializes in clinical social work with children and families