AirTalk dives into the implications Michael Flynn’s guilty plea could have on the Russia probe. We look at how the Senate tax bill would affect California ahead of today’s vote; review this week’s movie releases on FilmWeek; and more.
Is Michael Flynn’s guilty plea the missing link in the Russian probe?
President Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty today for lying to the FBI.
As part of a plea deal, former national security adviser Michael Flynn has admitted that a senior member of the Trump transition team directed him to make contact with Russian officials in December 2016, according to the AP.
ABC News, however, has reported that Flynn actually pointed to President Trump himself as the person that had directed him to reach out to the Russians.
The guilty plea makes the retired Army lieutenant general the first person to have actually worked in the Trump White House to face formal charges in the investigation, which is examining possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.
What are the implications for the ongoing Russian probe?
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Jens David Ohlin, vice dean and law professor at Cornell University where he focuses on criminal and international law; he tweets
Laurie L. Levenson, former federal prosecutor and a professor of law at Loyola Law School
David Alan Sklansky, professor at Stanford Law School and former Assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles
Acquittal in the Steinle case: what happened in the courtroom, plus SF reacts
After six days of deliberation, San Francisco’s jury acquitted the undocumented immigrant who fired the shot that killed Kathryn Steinle in 2015.
Jose Ines Garcia Zarate was convicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm but did not receive charges of murder or manslaughter. Though the 2015 shooting death of Kate Steinle became a flashpoint in an intense national debate over immigration, the issue was never addressed inside the courtroom. President Donald Trump called the verdict a "complete travesty of justice."
From the outset, the judge barred any mention of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate's immigration status or the five times he was arrested and deported to Mexico before he came back across the border. The judge said the jury should consider only Garcia Zarate's intentions on the July evening when Steinle was shot.
We discuss the latest on the trial and San Francisco’s reaction, as well as what went on inside the courtroom and why the jury ultimately came to yesterday’s verdict.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Laurie L. Levenson, former federal prosecutor and a professor of law at Loyola Law School
Vivian Ho, reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle who’s been covering the trial and the verdict; she tweets
Ahead of Senate tax bill vote, we look at the proposal’s impact on CA
There’s been a lot of criticism in California over the GOP tax bill.
Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin criticized the plan, writing that millions of Angelenos would see a negative economic impact, especially in the form of state and local tax deductions, affordable housing and home ownership.
The bill could be passed as early as Friday. Larry speaks to dueling economists to find out more on how the plan could impact California.
Guests:
Alan Auerbach, professor of economics and law and director of the Center for Tax Policy and Public Finance at UC Berkeley
Wayne Winegarden, senior fellow of business and economics at Pacific Research Institute; a free-market think-tank
FilmWeek: ‘The Disaster Artist,’ ‘Wonder Wheel,’ ‘Loveless,’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Justin Chang review this weekend’s new movie releases.
"The Disaster Artist" at AMC Century City, ArcLight Hollywood & The Landmark
"Wonder Wheel" at ArcLight Hollywood & The Landmark
"Loveless" at Laemmle's Royal
"The Other Side of Hope" at Nuart Theatre
"Princess Cyd" at Laemmle's Music Hall
"Love Beats Rhymes" at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre
"Voyeur" at Laemmle's Monica Film center and streaming on Netflix
"Mary and the Witch's Flower" at Laemmle's Music Hall
Critics' Hits
Christy: "Princess Cyd" & "The Disaster Artist"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMHPnO1polw&t=35s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMKX2tE5Luk&t=1s
Justin: "Mary and the Witch's Flower," "The Other Side of Hope" & "Loveless"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqUKano2Hm4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxHzwXLJzhI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6QmSPNeNzk
Mixed Feelings
Christy: "Voyeur"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTAYqsT05Dc
Justin: "Love Beats Rhymes"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJVWKAG7aV4
Misses
Christy & Justin: "Wonder Wheel"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFM0UqX9MJ8
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?”; she tweets
Justin Chang, film critic for KPCC and the Los Angeles Times; he tweets
‘Mrs. Robinson, this conversation is getting a little strange’: 50 years later and ‘The Graduate’ still beguiles
What began in 1967 as a small, abstract comedy, “The Graduate” has since become a cinematic classic securely positioned in the American film canon.
In addition to catapulting a relatively unknown Dustin Hoffman to fame, the dark horse movie also saw an extended theater release along with seven Academy Award nominations. Fifty years later, author Beverly Gray celebrates the archetypal indie comedy in her book “Seduced by Mrs. Robinson: How ‘The Graduate’ Became the Touchstone of a Generation.”
Gray’s book closely examines the film and the inescapable cultural context in which it was made. Late 60’s angst regarding sex, work and marriage all become personified in Benjamin Braddock’s bumbling attraction to Mrs. Robinson, and Gray dives into how this controversial relationship affected moviegoers and film critics alike. The book also reveals never-before-heard details about “The Graduate’s” production, from deciding who to cast to the accidental brilliance behind Mike Nichols’ final bus scene.
Larry sits down with author Beverly Gray to discuss their mutual love for the movie and the surprising facts she learned while writing a book about it.
American Jewish University’s Whizin Center for Continuing Education is having a screening of ‘The Graduate’ this Sunday, December 3rd at 3 p.m. followed by a Q&A session with Beverly Gray. Check seat availability and reserve your tickets here.
Guest:
Beverly Gray, author, entertainment journalist and a teacher at UCLA Extension’s Writer’s Program, her latest book is “Seduced by Mrs. Robinson: How ‘The Graduate’ Became the Touchstone of a Generation”