Oscar winners and losers. Crescendo charter school keeps their charter after cheating gaffe. What does a government shutdown mean for YOU? Justice Department and big tobacco spar over proposed “corrective statement” ads.
And the Oscars went to…
“The King’s Speech” was crowned with four Oscars including best picture, best director (James Hooper), best original Screenplay (David Seidler) and best actor (Colin First) at Sunday’s 83rd Academy Awards. Despite early buzz, “The Social Network” didn’t win best movie or best director for David Fincher. But the edgy film about FaceBook did take home 3 Oscars for adapted screenplay (Aaron Sorkin), editing and original score. Natalie Portman won lead actress for her performance as an obsessed ballerina in “Black Swan” – leaving fans of Annette Bening’s performance in “The Kids Are All Right” crying foul. Actor Christian Bale, who played the drug-addicted “junk bag” Dicky Eklund in “The Boxer” won best supporting actor. And Melissa Leo, who co-starred as his manipulative mother, won best supporting actress – dropping the F-bomb and shaking in her “boots” during her acceptance speech. As hosts, James Franco and Anne Hathaway fizzled and/or sizzled, depending on who you ask. They were going for young and hip, even joking about trying to attract younger viewers to the broadcast. But critics say Hollywood’s golden night was extremely underwhelming. What did you think of the show? Was it hip or just more of the same? Did the right people and projects win? And why are writers so much better at acceptance speeches than performers?
Guest:
John Horn, film writer for the Los Angeles Times
Charter schools that cheat
Administrators and teachers at six charter schools operated by Crescendo Schools were caught cheating on state exams last year. Crescendo’s founder and executive director John Allen had orchestrated the scheme, directing principals at the schools to break the seals on state tests and use the actual test questions to prepare their students. All the principals complied, though several teachers later reported the cheating to officials at LA Unified School District, which oversees the charters. In a statement today, incoming LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy recommended a renewal of Crescendo’s charter, though with a built-in yearly review. Is the pressure to perform well in state testing enough to excuse cheating by school principals and teachers? And with two other charter schools under LAUSD still operating despite charges of embezzling and theft, what transgression is serious enough to close a charter school?
Guest:
A. J. Duffy, President, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)
What does a government shutdown mean for YOU?
If the Democrats and Republicans in Congress can't make a budget deal by the end of the week, the U.S. may be headed for a government shutdown. What would that mean for the average American? Should we be worried about Social Security checks being issued, national parks staying open, the U.S. Post Office delivering mail? And what about renewing passports? Government shut downs are not new – there was one every year during President Jimmy Carter's term and they happened six times during President Regan's two terms in office. But analysts say shutdowns are no joke. Given the precarious state of the economy today, could this one have a greater impact?
Guests:
Stan Collender, budget expert and partner at Qorvis Communications (a corporate communication consulting firm), he has worked on the House and Senate Budget Committees, and edited Federal Budget Report, a newsletter that was published for almost two decades.
Paul C. Light, Professor of Public Service in the Robert Wagner School of
Public Service at New York University
Justice Department and big tobacco spar over proposed “corrective statement” ads
Imagine a pack of smokes at 7/11 featuring the cool Indian Chief smoking and a label that reads: "This is Philip Morris. Just a friendly heads up: we are liars. Smoking kills and the Indian Chief on this box probably already has lung cancer." The Justice Department says cigarette manufacturers should publish similar “corrective statements” that admit they have systematically lied about the health risks of their products for years. U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler wants the industry to pay for the self-criticizing advertising, although she has not made a final decision on the exact verbiage for said statements. Philip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the United States, said the government’s proposal “goes beyond factual and scientific information,” would be “unprecedented in our legal system” and “would violate basic constitutional and statutory standards.” The Justice Department has characterized the decision as a necessary remedy to ensure the companies don't repeat past violations. It's no secret that the tobacco industry has a history of being disingenuous when it comes to the danger of its goods. But should they be forced to publicly apologize for their sins? Would this keep them honest and send the message to other industries that deliberately lying to the public will not be tolerated? Or does this punitive approach go too far?
Guest:
Jacob Sullum, Senior Editor, Reason magazine and Reason.com; National Columnist, Creators Syndicate; Author of For Your Own Good: The Anti-Smoking Crusade and The Tyranny of Public Health
Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids