Continued troubles for Toyota. Don't trust anyone under 30- Is old the new young? Then, Tea Partiers gear up for their national convention. And, Gregg Easterbrook foresees a global economic revolution in his new book, Sonic Boom.
More Toyota woes
Hit the brakes… if you dare. Secretary of Transportation Ray La Hood warns Toyota owners to stop driving recalled vehicles. Now he says he misspoke. Unintentionally accelerating Toyota’s woes, U.S. and Japanese customers are also experiencing brake problems on new Prius models. Are you still driving a recalled vehicle? How good are we at assessing risk?
Guests:
James Bell, vice president and executive market analyst with Kelley Blue Book
Karen Sternheimer, sociologist at USC, fear and media researcher, Toyota driver
Is old the new young?
Jay Leno won out over Conan O'Brien in the late-night talk show wars, Diane Sawyer is pulling higher ratings than Katie Couric, and Brett Favre is outplaying men half his age in the NFL- it seems that grown-ups are more in vogue in a youth-obsessed culture. What's behind the trend? Are baby-boomers trying to hold on to the spotlight? How much is influenced by the anxiety of the economic crisis, when "grown-up" virtues like financial responsibility make maturity seem more appealing? Larry talks with LA Times critic Mary McNamara about her essay, "New motto: Trust everyone over 30."
Guest:
Mary McNamara, Television Critic, Los Angeles Times
Tea Party's first national convention
Amidst some controversy over admission fees in the hundreds of dollars, the national Tea Party movement is holding its first convention in Nashville starting Thursday. Thousands of Tea Party activists are expected to attend but many devoted Tea Partiers are staying away. Larry talks with Tea Party activists and convention organizers about the convention’s goals and the future of the Tea Party as a political movement.
Guests:
Mark Williams, Vice Chairman, Tea Party Express
Ashley Ingram, organizer for the largest Tea Party in LA last year, the Van Nuys Tax Day Tea Party.
Sonic Boom: Globalization at Mach Speed
Amid the recession’s doom and gloom, one author is trying to spread cheer. Gregg Easterbrook believes our capacity for innovation and new ideas will yield a sudden burst of growth for the global economy. Are our present woes a minor bust signaling booms to come? Or does unfettered optimism about America’s economic future prompt bad decisions? Easterbrook joins us to discuss his book “Sonic Boom: Globalization at Mach Speed.”
Guest:
Gregg Easterbrook, author of Sonic Boom: Globalization at Mach Speed