On Tuesday, Trump tapped Neil Gorsuch for Scalia’s vacant SCOTUS seat – we debate the pick; in the wake of the Quebec shooting, how are Muslim leaders and communities coping?; plus, in divided times, some businesses are choosing to embrace politics, while other stay away – how should businesses position themselves?
Debating Neil Gorsuch as Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, plus Democrats’ strategy
Speaking to reporters today, President Donald Trump asked US Senators for swift consideration of his Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch - and said Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) should employ the so-called "nuclear option" if Democrats attempt a filibuster.
As reported by the Associated Press, Democrats signaled they will challenge the choice, insisting that Gorsuch, 49, prove to them he is a mainstream nominee. If confirmed, the Denver-based jurist, currently on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, would be the youngest justice on the court and could be shaping decisions for decades.
Where does the nominee stand on the major Constitutional battles of our time? How should Senators approach the hearings?
With files from the Associated Press.
Guests:
John Yoo, UC Berkeley Professor of Law; former deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice (2001-2003), former clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas
Caroline Frederickson, President, American Constitution Society; formerly of the American Civil Liberties Union
In wake of Quebec City shooting, Muslim leaders in Southern California come together
A gunman on Sunday night opened fire in a mosque in Quebec City, Canada, killing six people and critically wounded many more.
The suspect was later identified as Alexandre Bissonnette, a French Canadian with far-right, nationalist views. Bissonnette was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.
The shooting capped a frantic weekend for Muslims around the globe that saw the signing of an executive order by President Donald Trump to ban travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.
AirTalk invites Muslim Americans in Southern California to join us to talk about these recent events.
Guests:
Imam Mustafa Umar, Islamic Institute of Orange County. He tweets from
Amjad M. Khan, National Director of Public Affairs for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community based in Chino, a leader at the San Bernardino County-based Baitul Hameed Mosque; tweets
Lawmakers debate making California a “Sanctuary State”
The California legislature is considering making the entire state a so-called “sanctuary” for immigrants here illegally.
Several California cities, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, have policies sharply limiting cooperation between their police and federal immigration authorities. Under a bill introduced by Democratic state senate president pro tem, Kevin de Leon of LA, such a policy would extend statewide. But non-sanctuary parts of California don’t like the idea. We hear two perspectives on the issue.
Guests:
Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), California Senate President Pro Tem and State Senator representing the state’s 24th District; he introduced Senate Bill 54
Jeff Stone (R-Murrieta), State Senator for California’s 28th State Senate district, including Indio, Murrieta, Palm Springs, and other parts of Riverside County, and a member of the Senate Budget Committee
In divisive political times, and days out from the Super Bowl, how should businesses position themselves?
The Super Bowl is once again upon us and in addition to what is expected to be a high-octane football game, there’s also the annual Ad Bowl, where companies try to out-advertise one another for the unofficial title of best Super Bowl ad.
The tone that companies will be taking this year promises to be interesting, thanks to the current divisiveness of the American political climate. Budweiser is already previewing a Super Bowl ad that tells the story of Anheuser-Busch co-founder Adolphus Busch and his journey from Germany to America to brew his beer.
Budweiser 2017 Super Bowl Commercial | “Born The Hard Way”
Corona, made by Cerveceria Modelo in Mexico, is airing an ad calling for unity among people across North America, though it's not clear whether the ad will air during the Super Bowl.
Corona Ad "America Great Again"
With tens of millions watching across America and the world, it will be interesting to see whether more companies go political and risk being depressing and anxiety-inducing on a celebratory day or stay completely out of the fray and focus on the escapism we’ve come to expect from some companies’ super bowl ads.
How are businesses positioning themselves in the midst of divisive politics? What are the pros and cons of doing so? What risks are associated with going political?
Guests:
Rama Yelkur, Ph.D., dean of the School of Business at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY
Sasha Strauss, founder and managing editor at Innovation Protocol, a management consulting firm focused on brand marketing and a professor at UCLA & USC; he tweets