Did North Korea successfully build a hydrogen bomb? Numerous states have banned powdered alcohol, will California follow suit? Plus, presidential citizenship requirements are clarified by scholars.
Fact-checking North Korea’s H-bomb claim
It was a bomb of an announcement. North Korea claimed on Tuesday night that it has successfully tested a hydrogen bomb.
Condemnations have been swift, even though the assertion has been met with skepticism around the world.
If the claim stands, this would mark a huge scientific and technological leap for North Korea’s nuclear program. The country had conducted underground nuclear tests three times prior -- but far less powerful than the damages a hydrogen bomb could do.
Despite sanctions, North Korea has continued to pursue its nuclear ambitions. Today, the United Nations said new sanctions are being considered against the country.
What’s involved in verifying North Korea’s claim? Does North Korea have the technological capability to build a hydrogen bomb? What can be done to curb the country’s unchecked nuclear aims?
Guests:
Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at Arms Control Association, a DC-based organization that works to inform the public about arms control developments
Charles K. Armstrong, a professor of Korea Studies at Columbia University. He is also a fellow at the North Korea International Documentation Project at the Wilson Center.
‘Palcohol’ creator, State Representative debate pros and cons of banning powdered booze
Since the Food and Drug Administration approved it in March of 2015, 27 states have passed legislation banning the sale of the powdered alcohol product, ‘Palcohol.’
Now, California is looking to become the 28th state to ban its sale.
California State Senator Bob Huff (R-San Dimas) and Assemblywoman Jaqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) have introduced companion measures in their respective houses that would ban the sale of powdered alcohol in California. Palcohol, they say, could be easily abused by children and teens and is made even more attractive by its ease of use.
They argue there is the potential for it to be snorted, added to the drinks of unknowing recipients, or added to drinks that already have booze in them to make them even stronger.
The powder can be combined with water or virtually any non-alcoholic mixer to create an instant cocktail like a Cosmopolitan or a Margarita. Creator Mark Phillips says many of the concerns that are the basis for the statewide bans are unfounded and lists a number of them on the product’s website.
“Liquid alcohol,” the site says, “is easier to conceal, easier to spike drinks and easier to use to binge drink. It’s much less expensive and allows someone to get drunk faster, both of which appeal to the underage drinker.”
Should Palcohol be banned in California? Do you think the concerns surrounding the product are justified or unfounded? Do you see any difference between alcohol in liquid form and alcohol in powdered form?
Guests:
Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), State Assemblywoman representing California’s 44th District, which includes Oxnard, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks. She introduced AB 1554, the Assembly legislation to ban the sale of powdered alcohol in California. She tweets from
Mark Phillips, Creator of the powdered alcoholic drink product ‘Palcohol’
Legal scholar looks at citizenship requirements for presidency after Trump questions Cruz’s Canadian birth
Donald Trump isn’t one to be shy when it comes to calling out his opponents for what he sees as their shortcomings.
The GOP presidential frontrunner’s latest target? Fellow presidential candidate Ted Cruz, whose Canadian birthplace Trump says could be a “very precarious” issue for the Texas Senator if he were to receive the Republican presidential nomination.
My response to @realDonaldTrump calling into question my natural-born citizenship? https://t.co/gWfAHznlCY
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 5, 2016
with a link to a video that suggested the issue was overdone.
While Cruz and Trump have been more or less friendly thus far, Trump is undoubtedly aware of Cruz’s rising poll numbers in Iowa, and this could explain why he’s on the attack.
Cruz was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and his mother was a U.S. citizen when he was born. Babies born to a U.S. citizen are considered U.S. citizens by law, regardless of the place of birth. Cruz has long used this as his reasoning for why he qualifies as a presidential candidate.
The Constitution says a president must be a “natural-born citizen,” but the issue is that there is no consensus on what the definition of a “natural-born citizen is. Law scholars do generally agree, however, that Cruz is eligible for the presidency.
What, exactly, does the Constitution say about who can and cannot be president? Does Ted Cruz fit these criteria? Are there other candidates in U.S. history whose citizenship has been questioned?
Guest:
Gabriel Chin, Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor of Law at the UC Davis School of Law
From China to Saudi Arabia, how the rest of the world is responding to ISIS
We've heard plenty about how the US is responding to ISIS, but less about what the rest of the world is doing.
From China's crackdown on the movement of Uighurs, to an interpretation that reads Saudi Arabia's recent executions as a preemptive strike against ISIS, we look at how countries around the globe are attempting to protect themselves and what some of the unintended consequences of their actions may be.
Guest:
Seth Jones, Director, International Security and Defense Policy Center, RAND Corporation think tank; Jones has served as the representative for the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations; Author, "Hunting in the Shadows: The Pursuit of al Qa'ida after 9/11"
Fool's gold: Is California bad for business?
In recent years, many have mocked California's business climate.
The abundant taxation and regulation has lead to most mid-to-small sized firms being driven out of California. Many out-of-state politicians have have ridiculed the state for being unable to foster any major growth.
It's been so bad that the popular business and economics magazine "Chief Executive" has dubbed it the absolute least business friendly state in the country consistently over the last decade.
But some believe that while California may not be very "business-friendly," that characterization is not telling the entire story. For instance, that golden state has been a leader in business and job creation. In fact, in 2013 California added jobs from newly established businesses faster than all but four other states.
Is California as bad for business as many have declared? Or is there more to consider in the world of economics before that can be decided.
Guests:
JP Donlon, Editor in Chief of "Chief Executive," a business publication that has consistently ranked California as the least business-friendly state in the union several times over
Chris Thornberg, Leading economist and a Founding Partner of Beacon Economics
Trends in customer surveys can cause 'feedback fatigue'
Since December was a blitz of consumer activity, January is a bombardment of customer feedback surveys from retailers and service providers, such as Amazon, Uber, airliners, hotels, even brick-and-mortar retailers.
On a scale of 1-10, how often are you being asked to rate your customer satisfaction? How many stars would you give to companies that reach out to hear from you? What motivates you to respond to customer feedback surveys? How are companies using the abundance of data? Is it overkill or good for business?
Guests:
Lars Perner, assistant professor of clinical marketing at USC's Marshall School of Business; his website is ConsumerPsychologist.com