Today on AirTalk, we update you on the latest COVID-19 news and answer your questions. Also on the show, we discuss how climate change is destroying giant sequoia and Joshua Tree populations; KPCC film critics Angie Han, Claudia Puig and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases; and more.
DOC AMA: First Doses Of Vaccine Could Arrive In SoCal As Early As Next Week Amid COVID-19 Surge
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner, infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.
Today’s topics include:
FDA panel recommends Pfizer vaccine for emergency use authorization, says it “will work rapidly toward” authorization
What to know about COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Southern California & nationwide
L.A. County coronavirus surges hit wide swaths of neighborhoods
CDC director says US COVID-19 deaths likely to exceed 9/11 toll for 60 days
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
California’s 2020 Wildfires Destroyed Many Of The State’s Iconic Trees
California’s enormous 2020 wildfires destroyed some of the state’s most iconic trees, including ancient redwoods, giant sequoias and over a million Joshua Trees.
The destruction has alarmed scientists, who worry that with climate change, these forests will never recover to what they once were. It also foreshadows a difficult future for California’s forests, with increasingly harsh fire seasons showing no signs of abating. For many Californians, the trees are not only iconic but deeply tied to childhood memories, making their loss not only ecological but emotional as well.
Thoughts or questions? We want to hear from you! Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
John Branch, reporter for The New York Times based in San Francisco; his latest story is “They’re Among The World’s Oldest Living Trees. The Climate Crisis Is Killing Them.”; he tweets
Politics Roundup: Texas Election Lawsuit Garners GOP Support, COVID-19 Relief Bills & More
The Texas lawsuit asking the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate President-elect Joe Biden’s victory has quickly become a conservative litmus test, as 106 members of Congress and multiple state attorneys general signed onto the case even as some have predicted it will fail.
The last-gasp bid to subvert the results of the Nov. 3 election is demonstrating President Donald Trump’s enduring political power even as his term is set to end. And even though most of the signatories are far-right conservatives who come from deep red districts, the filing meant that roughly one-quarter of the U.S. House believes the Supreme Court should set aside election results.
Plus, an emerging $900 billion COVID-19 aid package from a bipartisan group of lawmakers all but collapsed Thursday after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Republican senators won’t support $160 billion in state and local funds as part of a potential trade-off in the deal. McConnell’s staff conveyed to top negotiators that the GOP leader sees no path to an agreement on a key aspect of the lawmakers’ existing proposal — a slimmed-down version of the liability shield he is seeking for companies and organizations facing potential COVID-19 lawsuits — in exchange for the state and local funds that Democrats want.
Today on AirTalk, we discuss the latest in national politics, including a look at where Biden’s cabinet picks stand. Do you have questions? Call 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Anita Kumar, White House correspondent and associate editor for POLITICO; she tweets
Eliza Collins, politics reporter for The Wall Street Journal; she tweets
FilmWeek: 'Farewell Amor,' Minari,' 'Giving Voice,' And More
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Angie Han, Claudia Puig and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases.
- "Farewell Amor" on Arena Cinelounge (Hollywood) & VOD (including Apple TV, Vudu & Google Play)
- "Minari" showing at the Mission Tiki Drive-In (Montclair); wide release on Feb. 12
- "Giving Voice" on Netflix
- "Wander Darkly" on Vineland Drive-In (City of Industry) & VOD (including FandangoNOW, Vudu & Apple TV)
- "Let Them All Talk" on HBO Max
- "I'm Your Woman" on Amazon Prime Video
- "Assassins" on Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema; VOD on Jan. 15, 2021
- "Lupin III: The First" on Apple TV+ on Dec. 15
- "The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone" on VOD (including FandangoNOW, Apple TV & Amazon Prime Video)
- "Gunda" on Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema & Film Forum Virtual Cinema
- "Small Axe: Alex Wheatle" on Amazon Prime Video
- "The Midnight Sky" showing at the Vineland Drive-In (City of Industry) & West Wind Santa Barbara Drive-In (Goleta); Netflix on Dec. 23
- "The Library That Dolly Built" on Laemmle's Virtual Cinema
- "My Psychedelic Love Story" on Showtime
Our FilmWeek critics have been curating personal lists of their favorite TV shows and movies to binge-watch during self-quarantine. You can see recommendations from each of the critics and where you can watch them here.
Guests:
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) and senior programmer for the AFI Film Festival; she tweets
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
Angie Han, film critic for KPCC and deputy entertainment editor at Mashable; she tweets
‘Assassins’ Director On Why His Film Is A Cautionary Tale About Surviving Exploitation
The new documentary “Assassins” first made waves at the 2020 Sundance film festival. The film follows the wild events surrounding the 2017 assassination of Kim Jong-Un’s brother, Kim Jong-Nam and the two young women who were accused of killing him. But there’s much more to the story. KPCC’s John Horn spoke with Director Ryan White about capturing what really happened and why he thinks a cautionary tale is at the heart of the film.
Guest:
Ryan White, director of the new documentary “Assassins;” he tweets