The recent Washington Post cartoon of Ted Cruz's kids has sparked a debate about the involvement of candidates' children in politics; We discuss the relationship between some siblings, and how the holidays can force an uncomfortable togetherness; Tips for traveling during the holiday season and TGI-FilmWeek.
Are kids off limits for political cartoons?
Yesterday The Washington Post put up a
Washington Post retracts cartoon that depicts Cruz's daughters as trained monkeys: https://t.co/Bqx9O9GB4T pic.twitter.com/dk49MA5tnG
— The Hill (@thehill) December 23, 2015
that depicted Ted Cruz's two daughters as trained monkeys, in response to a recent Christmas ad that featured the Senator with his family.
The parody drew backlash from Cruz and other Republicans. Those against the cartoon said that children should be left out of any ads meant to slight the candidate's themselves.
While the artist Ann Telnaes defended her cartoon by implying that Cruz's daughters being in a political ad meant they were fair game for parody, The Post decided to pull it from their editorial section.
Washington Post Editorial page editor Fred Hiatt said, "It’s generally been the policy of our editorial section to leave children out of it. I failed to look at this cartoon before it was published. I understand why Ann thought an exception to the policy was warranted in this case, but I do not agree."
Where should the line be drawn when it comes to political cartoons? Should candidates be aware that their children are fair game if they're going to be a part of the campaign? Or should cartoonists and publications use more scrutiny when it comes to this sort of parody?
Washington Post retracts cartoon that depicts Cruz's daughters as trained monkeys:
— The Hill (@thehill)
Washington Post retracts cartoon that depicts Cruz's daughters as trained monkeys: https://t.co/Bqx9O9GB4T pic.twitter.com/dk49MA5tnG
— The Hill (@thehill) December 23, 2015
Guest:
David Jackson, White House correspondent for USA Today who has been following the story
Holidays bring together siblings, or highlight their fractures
Social work professor Geoffrey Greif of the University of Maryland has studied a variety of relationship dynamics, but he says the relationship between siblings is one of the most unique and yet least studied in the social sciences.
There are few people who will know you as long and as deeply as your brother(s) or sister(s), but so many sibling relationships fall apart or even start off without much connection.
The influences can be multiple and can include parental interference and favoritism. Even where there is affection and admiration, some old jealousies and resentment might fester. For some siblings, the holidays can force an uncomfortable togetherness.
So, Professor Greif counsels, “To ease the burden, we want to shine a bright star on a more realistic view of sibling relationships as not only affectionate but also as potentially, and acceptably, ambivalent and ambiguous. Too high expectations can tamp down the opportunity for siblings to get to know each other anew as adults.”
How do you get along with your sibling(s)? How has your relationship transformed over the years? How much childhood baggage lurks, if any? What value do you place on having a connection with your brother(s) and/or sister(s)?
Guest:
Geoffrey L. Greif, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, University of Maryland; Co-author of the newly published book “Adult Sibling Relationships” (Columbia University Press; Dec. 2015)
Tips and tricks for navigating holiday travel without becoming a total Scrooge
It’s hard to deny that holiday travel is a pain.
Roads are jammed, airports are busy, security lines are long, and all you want to do is get where you’re going so you can start celebrating with your family and friends.
It’s almost enough to make you second guess even leaving your house during the holiday season.
In the hopes of helping you get through your holiday travel plans without going completely insane, we’ve enlisted the help of the folks over at Travelers United, who just put out their 2015 Holiday Travel Guide.
Charlie Leocha is the group’s co-founder and chairman, he joins Larry on AirTalk today to share his best advice for getting through holiday travel and the results of a new study they’ve published about the hidden fees you might be paying for hotels when you shop on comparison sites.
Guest:
Charlie Leocha, chairman and co-founder of Travelers United, a nonprofit consumer travel organization
FilmWeek’s Christmas 2015 edition: 'Concussion,' 'Anomalisa' and more
It's a big week for new movies. Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Amy Nicholson, Wade Major, and Charles Solomon will review the big releases and notable indies.
There's the NFL-inspired drama "Concussion," the reunion of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in "Daddy's Home," a special new Charlie Kaufman film called “Anomalisa,” a very buzzy, bloody thriller with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy called "The Revenant."
Plus, another Jennifer Lawrence starrer from David O.Russell, "Joy," is in theaters. Last but not least, Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight," a new Michael Moore documentary, and Charlotte Rampling in "45 Years." TGI-Filmweek!
Guests:
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and host for IGN’s DigiGods.com
Amy Nicholson, Film Critic for KPCC and Chief Film Critic, LA Weekly; Amy tweets from @TheAmyNicholson
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC and Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine