TARP money for small businesses; an update from Copenhagen; a talk with Ambassador Ron Kirk. And, it's FilmWeek on AirTalk. We review the week's releases, including Invictus, The Lovely Bones, A Single Man, and Broken Embraces. Later, Juno director Jason Reitman joins us to discuss his film Up in the Air.
TARP for small business
In an effort to turn around high unemployment, reports indicate that the Obama administration will use money from the TARP government bailout program to support small businesses. Under one plan, a new entity of TARP would provide money to banks without restrictions as long as it is used to support loans to small businesses. Is this a good way to increase jobs? Larry looks at the details of the plan.
Guests:
Neil Irwin, national Economy Correspondent for the Washington Post
Patrick Garofalo, economic researcher and blogger, Center for American Progress
Peter Morici, economist and professor of business, University of Maryland
Latest from Copenhagen: 50% carbon cuts by 2050
A draft final text has emerged from the Copenhagen climate summit. The report, issued by Michael Zammit Cutajar of Malta, calls on developed countries to halve carbon emissions by 2050. For more on the Cutajar report, we turn to KQED's Rob Schmitz who is in Copenhagen covering the California delegation.
Guest:
Rob Schmitz, reporter for KQED and the California Report, in Copenhagen
Talking trade: Ambassador Ron Kirk in Southern California
International trade directly accounts for 342,000 jobs in Southern California, according to the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. The Port of Long Beach alone employs 30,000 workers. But international trade has taken a real hit in this economic downturn. Many exporters accuse China and other Asian nations of unfairly restricting U.S. goods. Ambassador Ron Kirk, the United States Trade Representative, is in southern California talking about trade and its implications for our regional economy.
Guest:
Ambassador Ron Kirk, United States Trade Representative
FilmWeek
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Andy Klein of Brand X, and Henry Sheehan of henrysheehan.com discuss the week’s new film releases including Invictus, The Lovely Bones, A Single Man, Broken Embraces, Uncertainty, The Misfortunates, Until The Light Takes Us, Yesterday Was A Lie, and The Vicious Kind.
Spoiler Alert: Though its not scheduled to be released until Christmas Day, Off-Ramp host John Rabe snuck into an early screening of Sherlock Holmes. You'll find his review on his blog.
Guests:
Henry Sheehan, henrysheehan.com
Andy Klein, Brand X
Directing Up in the Air
Larry Mantle talks with the director and writer of the film, “Up In The Air,” Jason Reitman, about his critically acclaimed film and his career in Hollywood. Reitman also directed the films “Thank You For Smoking” and “Juno.”
Guest:
Jason Reitman, director and writer of “Up In The Air”