AirTalk debates a new state bill that would make it illegal for companies to hire or fire employees based on their medical marijuana use. We also review this week’s movie releases on FilmWeek; what do law enforcement agencies do when they receive tips about concerning behaviors like those exhibited by Florida’s school shooter?; and more.
FBI had been alerted about potential threat of Florida school shooting suspect
As more details surface from Wednesday’s deadly attack on a Parkland, Florida high school, the 19-year-old accused shooter fits into a familiar narrative: Lone wolf. Depressed. Troubled.
But aside from being anti-social, there were a number of signs that posed Nikolas Cruz as a serious threat. In a new statement just released by the FBI, a source close to Cruz had called the FBI’s tipline about Cruz's potential to carry out a school shooting, including his “gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts [...]”
The statement also said that established FBI protocols were not followed.
Other sources show that a threatening comment was posted onto YouTube by the username “Nikolas Cruz” in September. “I’m going to be a professional school shooter,” it said. Cruz's violent behavior towards animals was also reported by neighbors, including shooting chickens with BB guns, poking sticks down rabbit holes and killing squirrels.
When reporting a potentially violent person to authorities, how should law enforcement respond? What are the protocols when receiving numerous complaints that include both true risks and false alarms?
Guests:
Ron Hosko, president of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit that provides legal assistance to law enforcement professionals; former Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigation Division at the FBI (2012-2014)
Eugene O’Donnell, professor of law and police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; former NYPD officer and former prosecutor in Kings County, New York
Alex Yufik, Psy.D., board certified forensic psychologist and licensed attorney; in his private practice, he sees patients and conducts forensic evaluations in criminal and civil cases
Latest on immigration proposals, plus Mueller indicts Russian nationals for election interference
A week that began with the hope that an open debate on the Senate floor would result in a DACA fix has stalled after four immigration proposals were blocked Thursday.
One of the proposals was a bipartisan measure that would have given $25 billion to border security as well as a road to citizenship for DACA recipients. Another was a measure that would have carried out Trump’s proposal to create a path to citizenship in exchange for border wall funding and limits to legal immigration.
So what happens next? Has an immigration agreement stalled for good? And what does this mean for DACA recipients?
Plus, news broke today when the DoJ announced Friday that special counsel Robert Mueller has indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities in the Russia probe, including a Kremlin-linked internet research firm called the Internet Research Agency.
Mueller charged the defendants with conspiracy to defraud to United States.
The indictment said the Internet Research Agency had a “strategic goal to sow discord in the US political system,” using social media to disseminate fake information to U.S. audiences.
You can read the indictment here.
Larry talks with Bloomberg Congressional reporter Laura Litvan to get the latest.
Guest:
Laura Litvan, Congressional reporter for Bloomberg News; she tweets
CA bill would prevent companies from firing medical marijuana patients
A California bill introduced Wednesday would keep employees from losing their jobs if they test positive for medical cannabis use.
As reported by the Cannifornian, the proposal, AB 2069, would also prevent businesses from refusing to hire people because they use medical marijuana. A growing number of states have put similar laws into practice. And Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), who introduced the bill, argues that the change would help people from turning to opioids for pain relief.
AB 2069 wouldn’t protect workers such as pilots, pipeline workers and boat crew members who must be tested under federal law for marijuana use. Proponents of the bill also say that the current testing system detects marijuana that could have been ingested weeks or even months earlier.
So what are the drawbacks of the bill? And how do employers feel about this proposal?
Guests:
Ellen Komp, deputy director for California NORML, a cannabis legislation advocacy group
Todd Wulffson, labor employment defense attorney and partner at the law firm, Carothers, DiSante & Freudenberger in Irvine
FilmWeek: ‘Black Panther,’ ‘Early Man,’ ‘The Party’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire, Charles Solomon, and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s new movie releases.
"Black Panther" in wide release
"Early Man" in wide release
"Samson" in wide release (did not screen for critics)
"Double Lover" at Laemmle's Royal Theatre, Laemmle's Playhouse & AMC Rolling Hills
"Golden Exits" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
"The Party" at The Landmark Theatre
"Looking Glass" at Vintage Los Feliz
"Nostalgia" at The Landmark Theatre
"The Monkey King 3" at AMC Atlantic Times Square, AMC Puente Hills & AMC Orange
"Poop Talk" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
Critics' Hits
Christy, Charles & Tim: "Black Panther"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjDjIWPwcPU
Mixed Feelings
Christy: "Looking Glass"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9ryKS8TrDY
Tim & Charles: "Monkey King 3"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7MR5MsIoSQ
Misses
Christy: "Poop Talk"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pBWbjxVEoI
Guests:
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com; he tweets
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?”;she tweets
Dark and dramatic: The 2018 Oscar nominations for best foreign film explore death, tragedy and human folly
The foreign films nominated for this year’s Academy Awards come from a range of different countries, yet all of their themes seem to straddle a thin, dark line.
Death, divorce, violence, slaughterhouses – the tones are harsh (to say the least). But is there a light at the end of these cinematic tunnels? Which of these films impresses the most? Our film critics discuss.
Best Foreign Language Film Nominations:
“A Fantastic Woman” (Chile)
“The Insult” (Lebanon)
“Loveless” (Russia)
“On Body and Soul” (Hungary)
“The Square” (Sweden)
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC,
and co-host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?”; she tweets
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com; he tweets