Today on AirTalk, our weekly political roundtable weighs in on the headlines you may have missed this week. Also on the show, we discuss the ethics of the SAT and ACT exams; retro technology; and more.
Week In Politics: Articles Of Impeachment, Tariff Delays, Debates So White And More
AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable recaps the major headlines you might’ve missed in politics news over the weekend and looks ahead to the week to come. Here are the headlines what we’re following this week:
Impeachment Watch:
DOJ report criticizes FBI but finds no partisan bias in its investigation of links between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign
US and China negotiators are working on delaying the December round of tariffs. Meanwhile, a USMCA deal is moving forward
2020:
Senator Kamala Harris dropped out of the race. Who will be gaining her supporters?
Without Senator Harris, the next debates are going to be looking quite … white
Warren and Buttigieg are coming to blows
How Buttigieg is negotiating transparency with his NDA from McKinsey & Company
Bloomberg proposes policies on guns. Plus, he’s spending a lot of money on television commercials -- how much does money (and advertising) matter?
Guests:
Ron Elving, senior editor and correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News; he tweets
Jeffrey Engel, founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University; author of “Impeachment: An American History,” (Random House Publishing Group, 2018)
Justin Levitt, professor of law at Loyola Law School and former deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department under President Obama; he tweets
John Yoo, professor of law at UC Berkeley where his expertise includes constitutional law and separation of powers; professor of law at UC Berkeley where his expertise includes constitutional law and separation of powers; from 2001-2003 he served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice
Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist and founder and chief executive officer of Rodriguez Strategies. He is also a former senior Obama advisor in 2008; he tweets
Lanhee Chen, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University; he was an adviser for Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign and served as policy director for the Romney-Ryan 2012 presidential campaign; he tweets
Lawsuit Alleges SAT And ACT Tests Violate State Constitution
A lawsuit being filed Tuesday by non-profit pro bono law firm Public Counsel says the University of California’s use of the SAT and ACT as part of its admission system is discriminatory.
The firm is filing the suit on behalf of students and advocacy groups. Critics of the exams argue they aren’t predictors of success in higher education and are discriminatory on the basis of race and socioeconomics. But others say the tests can be useful tools for admissions and offer a standardized way to compare students. It’s unclear what a system without the admission requirement would look like at UC, but it’s something university officials have been looking at. Faculty leaders announced a study last year to determine whether the SAT or ACT are accurate predictors of college success. A faculty committee has been charged with examining the role of standardized tests in UC admissions and plans to produce actionable recommendations sometime in early 2020, according to an official on the committee.
Today on AirTalk, we discuss the arguments regarding required standardized tests. What do you think about the ACT and SAT? Should they be required for admission into higher ed schools? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722
Guests:
Alisa Hartz, a senior staff attorney with the non-profit pro bono law firm Public Counsel, which is filing the suit in California Superior Court on behalf of students and advocacy groups
Jerry Lucido, professor of research and Associate Dean of Strategic Enrollment Services at USC; executive director of the USC Center for Enrollment Research, Policy, and Practice, and Special Advisor to the Provost at the University of Southern California; his focus includes college admissions and enrollment management
Eddie Comeaux, UC Riverside professor and co-chair of UC system’s Standardized Testing Task Force, which will make recommendations regarding the use of the SAT and ACT
Utah Congressman’s Bill Includes Anti-Discrimination Protections For LGBTQ Individuals And Additional Religious Freedom Exemptions
As Democrats champion anti-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ community and Republicans counter with worries about safeguarding religious freedom, one congressional Republican offered a proposal on Friday that aims to achieve both goals.
The bill that Utah GOP Rep. Chris Stewart plans to unveil would shield LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in employment, housing, education, and other public services — while also carving out exemptions for religious organizations to act based on beliefs that may exclude those of different sexual orientations or gender identities. Stewart’s bill counts support from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but it has yet to win a backer among House Democrats who unanimously supported a more expansive LGBTQ rights measure in May.
Among other faith-based exemptions to anti-discrimination protections in the bill is an allowance for religious groups such as churches and schools to employ those who align with their internal guidelines, according to a summary provided in advance of its release. The bill also would prohibit religious groups that oppose same-sex marriage from having their tax-exempt status revoked. Despite that resistance from some on the right, Stewart’s bill sparked sharp criticism from progressives who decry its exemptions as large enough to enable ongoing mistreatment of LGBTQ individuals.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll take a closer look at what kinds of protections and exemptions are outlines in the bill, its chances in the legislature and what, if any, legal challenges could be coming in the future.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Elana Schor, national reporter for the Associated Press covering religion and politics; she tweets
Robin Fretwell Wilson, professor of law at the University of Illinois where she specializes in religion and family law
Sunu Chandy, legal director for the National Women’s Law Center, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. providing advocacy and legal counsel on a number of issues including gender equality and LGBTQ rights; she tweets
The Surprising Resurgence of Old-School Technology In An Age Of Digital
“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see,” Winston Churchill once said, regarding the importance of studying history.
These days, the same could be said of modern technology. Advances in digital tech have made phones into personal epicenters that can monitor babies, give us the latest news, browse millions of songs, and (on occasion) make calls. Yet as it turns out, all that convenience may not be that satisfying.
As writer Sophie Haigney describes in an article for Vox, a modern surge of interest in retro technology is defying the conveniences of digital. Walkmans, iPods, vinyl records and cassette tapes—which all experienced a fall from grace in the wake of more streamlined devices—have remained relevant in part due to the tactile experience that these items grant their owners. Young artists like 17-year-old pop star Billie Eilish, who was born after the first iPod debuted, are now selling their music in cassettes sold by major teen retailers. Some retro tech enthusiasts are collectors that say that the pleasure gained from owning objects like DVDs and CDs cannot be matched by a digital library. Others describe how tactile experiences like putting a vinyl record on a record player force them to slow down and appreciate the experience more deeply.
Are you a fan of retro technology? We want to hear your thoughts. To join the conversation, call 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Sophie Haigney, freelance writer who authored the Vox article, “The Enduring Allure of Retro Tech”; she tweets