Today on AirTalk, we discuss the latest on a new study from an international collaboration of researchers about the genes that influence same-sex behavior. We also examine the pros and cons of long-term antidepressant use; take a closer look at Uber and Lyft's potential ballot measure on gig workers; and more.
Uber and Lyft Plan To Take Fight Against AB 5 To The Voters
Rideshare companies Uber and Lyft are planning to spend 60 million dollars to keep their drivers classified as independent contractors.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the tech giants are working to fight Assembly Bill 5, written by Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego, that would turn gig-drivers into employees. There’s only about two weeks left in the legislative session, so tech companies are trying to make deals with labor officials and legislators to find an alternate description for drivers that would provide some employee protections and minimum pay.
If they can’t agree to revise the bill, Uber and Lyft, as well as food delivery service DoorDash, are planning to use a 90 million dollar fund to put the issue on the November 2020 ballot. If you work for Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash, we want to hear from you. Call 866-893-5722.
***We reached out to Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) who authored AB 5 and also Governor Gavin Newsom. They both cannot join us today****
We reached out to Uber, which declined our interview request but sent this statement:
“Right now, California lawmakers and labor leaders have a historic opportunity to dramatically improve the quality and security of independent work, strengthen the 21st-century labor movement, and protect our innovation economy by acting on the proposal Uber has proudly set forth: a guaranteed minimum earnings standard that would provide stability for drivers while allowing them the flexibility to earn more and work when, where and for whom they choose; access to robust portable benefits like sick leave and injury protection; and — for the first time in the modern history of the labor movement — real sectoral bargaining rights for drivers, giving them a voice in the decisions that affect their livelihoods. While we continue to advocate for this progressive framework, circumstances are forcing us to plan for legislative inaction by laying the groundwork for this initiative.”
Guests:
Carolyn Said, business and technology reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, she covers the gig economy and tech, she tweets at
Steve Smith, communications director, California Labor Federation, an association of some 1,200 unions in the state based in Oakland
Joe Rajkovacz, director of governmental affairs & communications for the Western States Trucking Association (WSTA)
No Singular Gay Gene, But Researchers Say Genetics Still Have An Influence on Sexual Preference
A new study from an international collaboration of researchers says there’s no single “gay gene.” According to the New York Times, the study analyzed nearly half a million people and found multiple genes that influence on same-sex behavior, but they only have a small impact.
Researchers say this means we cannot meaningfully predict homosexuality based on genetic make-up alone. A member of the study noted in a New York Times opinion piece that social and environmental factors likely explain a significant part of an individual’s sexual preference. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and analyzed DNA sourced primarily from British researcher, U.K. Biobank, and the American personal genomics company, 23andMe.
What questions do you have about this study? Join Airtalk at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Eric Vilain M.D. Ph.D., Director of the Center for Genetic Medicine Research at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C.
New Research Signals Concern Over Long-Term Antidepressant Use, But Risks Aren’t Necessarily Clear
Is it safe to use antidepressants for the long-term? It’s not clear.
According to a piece in the Wall Street Journal, there’s growing concern in the healthcare industry that people who are taking antidepressants for years shouldn’t be, increasing the possibility of dangerous side effects. Some studies have suggested potentially significant risks, including higher risks of stroke, heart attacks and even death. But other studies have found that depression alone increases those risks, so some say long-term antidepressant use could be the most beneficial option for some patients.
There’s also risks when stopping antidepressants, including relapsing into another episode of depression. The big issue: most of the rigorous studies conducted only followed patients for up to a couple years. Health professionals say there’s no controlled data looking at decades of antidepressant use. Larry sits down with experts to weigh the pros and cons of long-term antidepressant use.
Do you use antidepressants? How has the medication impacted you?
Guests:
Mark Olfson, MD, MPH, professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Steven Siegel, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Keck School of Medicine of USC
FilmWeek: ‘Don't Let Go,’ ‘Give Me Liberty,’ ‘Official Secrets' and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire, Tim Cogshell and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases:
“Don't Let Go” in wide release
“Give Me Liberty” at the Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts, Monica Film Center, Playhouse & Town Center
“Official Secrets” at the ArcLight Hollywood & The Landmark
The film’s director Gavin Hood was interviewed on “The Frame” this week. You can listen to that interview here.
“Untouchable” on Hulu
“Miles Davis: Birth Of The Cool” at The Landmark
“Before You Know It” at The Landmark
“Friedkin Uncut“ at Laemmle’s Music Hall
“The Fanatic” at the Arena Cinelounge
“Ne Zha” at the Regal Edwards Alhambra, AMC Santa Anita (Arcadia) & TCL Chinese Theatres
“Vita & Virginia“ at the Nuart Theater and on VOD
“Spider In The Web” at Laemmle’s Music Hall
CRITICS' HITS:
Christy: "Give Me Liberty", "Before You Know It" & "Official Secrets"
Tim: "Don't Let Go", "Miles Davis: Birth Of The Cool", "Friedkin Uncut" & "Untouchable"
MIXED FEELINGS:
Christy: "The Fanatic"
Charles: "Ne Zha"
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ podcast; she tweets
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com; he tweets
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
A Check In From The Telluride Film Festival, Plus KPCC’s FilmWeek Critics Share Their Favorite Films of 2019 So Far
The quiet mountain town of Telluride, Colorado will triple in population this weekend when the Telluride Film Festival gets underway, according to the festival’s website. About 5,000 will descend on the town for the festival’s 46th annual running. Seven out of the last ten best picture winners at the Oscars were screened at Telluride, so it would seem that the festival has a penchant for tapping into films that the Academy likes to consider. This year, it’s dedicated to legendary French filmmaker Agnès Varda, who passed away in March.
Among the highly-anticipated films to be screened at Telluride include “Judy,” a biopic about Judy Garland starring Renée Zellweger, “Ford v. Ferrari,” starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale in the story of how Ford built a revolutionary race car to try and compete with Ferrari at Le Mans in 1966, a divorce drama from director Noah Baumbach called “Marriage Story” starring Scarlett Johannson, Adam Driver and Laura Dern, and acclaimed British filmmaker Asif Kapadia’s new documentary “Diego Maradona,” about the controversial former Argentinian soccer star.
Plus, the summer movie season has officially passed us by, and with the arrival of high-profile film festivals like Telluride, Toronto, it can only mean that we’re starting to head down the final stretch of the 2019 movie season.
This year, films like “Avengers: End Game,” “The Farewell,” “Once Upon A Time...in Hollywood” have garnered early praise as awards contenders from the first half of the year, but there are still a handful of movies still to release this year that could give the aforementioned features a run for their money.
Martin Scorsese’s latest project “The Irishman” has yet to release, as does the Fred Rogers biopic “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” starring Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers. And this week’s release of the final trailer for Warner Bros. highly-anticipated film “Joker” starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Harlequin of Hate is sure to send comic book fans into a frenzy of anticipation for the long-awaited origin story of Batman’s archnemesis.
For more information on Telluride and the films that will be showing, click here.
Guests:
John Horn, host of KPCC’s “The Frame” who is attending the 2019 Telluride Film Festival; he tweets
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ podcast; she tweets
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com; he tweets
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine