Today on AirTalk, we're learning more about how high school grads' plans have changed in the pandemic. Also on the show, we discuss the RNC; answer your COVID-19 questions; and more.
Analysis Of The First Night Of The Republican National Convention
Tuesday’s program at the Republican National Convention is likely to wade into familiar waters, with a lineup expected to speak on divisive issues like abortion and “cancel culture,” while lambasting Democratic rival Joe Biden and the Democrats’ progressive wing.
Unlike Democrats, who shifted their convention to an all-virtual affair, Republicans kept a scaled-down, in-person gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina. Several hundred delegates gathered there Monday voted to renominate President Donald Trump, but there are no in-person meetings for delegates scheduled the rest of the week. Trump appeared frequently during the first day of his party’s convention. He’s expected to make an appearance during prime-time Tuesday night. With Biden’s proposals already cast as “socialist” and “radical,” the president is likely to revive those criticisms in any remarks. First lady Melania Trump is set to give the marquee address from the Rose Garden. She has focused on anti-bullying initiatives during her tenure in the White House. The theme for the evening is “Land of Opportunity,” with additional speakers planning to highlight Trump’s policies on trade, abortion and the opioid crisis. Today on AirTalk, we get the latest analysis of the RNC from NPR’s Ron Elving and discuss what’s to be expected in the coming days. We also want to hear from you. Do you have thoughts? Call 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
Ron Elving, senior editor and correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News; he tweets at
COVID-19 AMA: Coronavirus Concerns On College Campuses Continue To Complicate In-Person Classes Coming Back
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner, infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.
Topics today include:
CV trends falling in L.A. County
Dr. Fauci warns of emergency approval of CV vaccine
CNN: While nationwide surge may be slowing, officials warn of troubling Covid-19 signs across US heartland
USC reports alarming increase in COVID cases
Purdue, Syracuse suspend students for partying
Heat wave leads to packed beaches & surge in lifeguard rescues
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
High School Grads, What’s Your Next Move And How Has COVID-19 Impacted It?
Like many other people around the world, students graduating high school this year have been put in a tough spot.
They’ve had to consider whether to push forward with higher education plans, maybe take a gap year or head directly into the workforce. Colleges and universities are also in a tough spot as officials have weighed their school year options over the last several months. Every institution has different plans and expectations. Some are already backing away from in-person classes after outbreaks.
A recent survey found that around 40 percent of incoming freshmen believed it unlikely that they would attend a four year residential college this year, according to Inside Higher Ed. A high percentage of returning students also questioned whether they’d be back. This poses challenges for institutions. It also adds to an already complicated situation for current high school seniors as it could create a more competitive pool of applicants next year. Throughout the course of the coronavirus pandemic, AirTalk has opened the phones to high school seniors to see what plans they were considering as the school year came to an end. Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from those listeners again. Since graduating, what plans have you made? Are you taking a year off? Are you pushing forward with college? What challenges have you faced in making your determinations, and what has your experience been like? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
If you are a high school student heading into college, we’d love to hear about your experience. Share your story here
Guests:
Scott Jaschik, editor of Inside Higher Ed; he tweets
Jill Replogle, college pathway reporter at KPCC; she tweets at
What Was The Nudge That Made It Possible For You To Achieve Your Dream?
For some of us, a lifelong passion feels inaccessible until a mentor steps in to offer direction. For others, it’s the sense of adversity that compels us to push through.
Today on the show, we’re taking a short respite to hear about the moments that inspired you to pursue a passion or a dream. Did you have an influential conversation that compelled you to switch careers? Read a book that helped you to understand what you wanted in a different light? Or come up against challenges that pushed you to realize that you had to keep going, even if the path would be hard-fought?
We want to hear from you about the moments that helped you clarify your goals and pushed you toward achieving your dream. Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Ensemble Musicians On The Challenges Of Performing Together During A Pandemic
When the state of California issued protocols back in June for restarting music, film and TV productions during the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the attention was paid to the film and television portion of the protocol.
But for as many of us for which sports, TV and film have been a place of solace amid the uncertainty of a global pandemic, live music is that chosen escape for others. And for the musicians who make a living playing the live music we consume, the challenge has been figuring out how to perform in a group setting while maintaining safe physical distance in an environment where a large group of people are blowing into musical instruments. It might not sound like a challenge when you think about an individual musician reading music and performing it, but that changes when you consider that a musician needs to be in sync with his or her colleagues in order to keep time. And in a field that is all about projection, having to play behind plexiglass can mess with how a musician hears her or himself in conjunction with the others in the ensemble.
If you’re a professional musician who performs in an ensemble environment, we’d like to hear from you. How are you navigating the challenges of playing music with others during the pandemic? Join our live conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Marc Sazer, violinist with the Pasadena Symphony and Pops, recording musician and president of the Recording Musicians Association, the caucus for recording musicians within the American Federation of Musicians, the organization which represents professional musicians in the U.S. and Canada
The TV Shows And Movies Our Parents Didn’t Want Us Watching (That We Watched Anyway)
Let’s be honest -- kids and parents aren’t always on the same page when it comes to watching movies and TV shows. Often, the shows that we'd like our kids to watch aren't the same shows that our kids would choose to watch themselves.
Growing up in the mid-90s during the heyday of cartoons like "Doug," "Rocko's Modern Life," "Dexter's Laboratory" and "Powerpuff Girls" that were smash hits for Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network respectively, it was a constant chess match between me and my parents. I'd wait until they'd leave the room for a few minutes, grab the clicker, and change the channel from the more wholesome, educational fare like "Arthur," "Between The Lions" or whatever the pre-approved PBS program du jour was (shows I loved in their own right) to shows that my parents found to employ far too much crude humor -- shows like "Rocko's Modern Life," "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters" or "Ed, Edd n Eddy." And it didn't end with cartoons. As I got older, sometimes I'd sneak downstairs at night after my parents went to bed and turn on MTV or VH1 to watch the racy music videos they couldn't air during the daytime. So when Comedy Central announced earlier this month that it would be reviving the classic Nickelodeon cartoon "Ren & Stimpy," another show that is a 90s favorite but has a complicated legacy as a kid's show that dealt with dark themes and often used grotesque humor and animation, I was instantly transported back to watching TV as a child and trying to devise ways I could watch what I really wanted to when my parents were otherwise occupied.
Today on AirTalk, we want to hear about the TV shows or movies that you snuck around to watch as a kid. How did you accomplish it without alerting your parents, if you did? If you're a parent now, do you handle this differently with your kids than your parents did with you? Join the live conversation by calling 866-893-5722