Today on AirTalk, we review the bills moving through the California Legislature. Also on the show, we discuss Chadwick Boseman's legacy; discuss what you should know about OnlyFans; and more.
CA Legislature: The Latest On Where Things Stand Plus The Implications Of ‘Trailer Bills’
The California Legislature has until midnight Monday to consider moving forward any bills still clinging to life. State lawmakers worked their way through an array of bills throughout the weekend. Like many things, the novel coronavirus has led to a chaotic session this year, which has been cut short and has kept lawmakers out of the statehouse for weeks at a time.
The Los Angeles Times reports, legislation moving forward as of Sunday night includes bills that would require corporations to diversify their board of directors, expand death penalty exemptions through intellectually disabled classification changes, and outlaw flavorded tobacco products. A deal on eviction protections is being considered in the final day of the legislature, which advocates have said is critical to help tenants facing hardships as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Today on AirTalk, we discuss where things stand in the legislature and the bills still being considered as the clock winds down. Lary also talks with a long-time politics observer about “trailer bills” and their implications in the current session. Do you have thoughts? Call 866-893-6722.
Guests:
Jeremy B. White, co-author of Politico’s California Playbook, where he covers politics in California and has been following the latest in the legislative session; he tweets
Dan Walters, long-time California politics observer with CalMatters, a nonprofit public interest publication; he tweets
COVID-19 AMA: California’s New Color-Coding System For Reopening, Plus Why Your COVID Test Might Be Positive When It Shouldn’t Be
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Dean Blumberg, professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
Today’s topics include:
On Friday, Gov. Newsom announced new color coding system for CA reopening
LA County continues to report falling coronavirus numbers
Are coronavirus tests too sensitive?
Could coronavirus make for a lighter flu season?
The longevity of telehealth after the pandemic
In light of death of Chadwick Boseman, what’s important to know about colon cancer
Guest:
Dean Blumberg, M.D., professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital
The Legacy Of Chadwick Boseman And Black Panther To The Kids Who Idolized Him
The news of Chadwick Boseman’s death from colon cancer at age 43 rocked the world on Friday night.
The star of films like Marvel’s “Black Panther” and the Jackie Robinson biopic “42” had not spoken publicly about his illness, and even continued to work despite it. As word of his death spread, it became clear that Boseman had only mentioned his illness to a select few people in his inner circles. “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler wrote an emotional tribute to Boseman and said that even he had no idea that Boseman had been living and working with cancer. But as hard as the news of his death has hit the entertainment world, its impact is being felt just as deeply among kids across the country and the world who saw Boseman as a real-life superhero, not only as the embodiment of King T’Challa in “Black Panther” but also -- especially for young Black children -- as the fulfillment of something that generations of Black kids before did not have -- a superhero that looks like them headlining a major superhero movie franchise that was viewed, marketed and valued on the level that other Marvel franchises traditionally have been. The importance of this is borne out in the thousands of posts online that followed Boseman’s death, from parents who told stories of their kids refusing to take their Black Panther costume off to the stories of those children battling illness who looked up to Boseman and King T’Challa as a source of strength every day, and who will no doubt see him that way even more so now.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll remember Chadwick Boseman legacy as an actor, a man and a role model for so many children, especially young Black kids. You can join the live conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com; he tweets
California Air Resources Board Enacts New Emissions Standards For Ships, Diesel Trucks
The state’s Air Resources Board last week enacted a couple major emissions rules that would require diesel trucks and cargo ships to significantly tamp down the pollution they release. According to Cal Matters, the rules ease pollution by about 10,000 tons per year, but the cost of the plan could reach near $7 billion.
One rule requires more ships at ports to use electric power and another puts tighter emissions standards in place for large diesel trucks. The heavy-freight moving industry is a key part of California’s economy, but also a significant polluter. The Los Angeles Times reports that diesel trucks produce nearly a third of the state’s smog. While air quality officials say the new rules will be a lifeline for communities near ports where residents breathe some of the most polluted air in the state, those in opposition argue the timeline and cost don’t add up and will create significant problems for the state’s economy by encouraging ships to land in other ports. Today on AirTalk, we get the latest on the new clean-air protocols and discuss what impact they could have on California communities and industries. Do you have thoughts or questions? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Adrian Martinez, Los Angeles based staff attorney at the environmental law firm, EarthJustice; he tweets @LASmogGuy
Matt Schrap, interim director of the Truck Dealers Alliance of California, an organization representing the interests of heavy duty commercial truck dealerships in California, and president of California Fleet Solutions, a business focused on helping fleets secure government incentives and financing for clean equipment in California
Sex Work, Celebrity And Exclusivity: Here’s What You Need To Know About OnlyFans
The subscription exclusive social media platform OnlyFans made waves last week when actress Bella Thorne reportedly made nearly $2 million dollars in a single week.
The site is for creators, often adult performers, who can make money by selling exclusive content to their fans. Many performers have use the site because it grants them more autonomy and also more income than traditional porn performance, especially amid COVID-19 safety precautions. Earlier in the month, rapper Cardi B joined the site, not to make exclusive content but to share behind-the-scenes footage with her followers.
So what exactly is OnlyFans? And what does it mean for the future of tech, sex worker and access to celebrity?
Guests:
Arabelle Raphael, porn producer, sex worker and OnlyFans content maker based in the San Francisco Bay Area
Jason Parham, senior writer for Wired where he covers pop culture; he tweets
Has COVID-19 Inspired You To Go Camping For The First Time?
Ah, the great outdoors. Amid a global pandemic, it’s one of the few safe places where folks can get away and take a break from their routines.
And that also means that there’s a lot of first time campers hitching tents, driving up windy roads and stoking fires, even if they’re not supposed to because of fire advisories.
If you went camping for the first time because of COVID-19, we want to hear about your mishaps as well as your triumphs. Where did you go? What were the toughest or funniest experiences you had? And was it worth it in the end? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Chris Duarte, founder of Wilderness Trio, a backpacking and camping tour company based in Anaheim; he is also a Wilderness First Responder