Today on AirTalk, we discuss the escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and where the conflict may go from here. We also take a look at the California Green New Deal introduced this week; talk about the growing trend of platonic co-parenting; and more.
Geopolitical, Military Stakes For US And Iran As Tensions Simmer Following Iranian Airstrikes On Iraqi Bases Housing American Troops
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran appears to be “standing down” and no Americans or Iraqis were harmed in Iran's missile strike on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.
Speaking from the White House, Trump seemed intent on de-escalating the crisis, indicating that he would not retaliate militarily for the strikes. Instead, he said the U.S. would immediately put in place new economic sanctions “until Iran changes its behavior" after that country's most brazen direct assault on America since the 1979 seizing of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Trump credited an early warning system “that worked very well" for the fact that no Americans or Iraqis were killed. He added that Americans should be “extremely grateful and happy” with the outcome. He reiterated his position that “Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon" and called for new nuclear negotiations to replace the 2015 nuclear deal from which he withdrew the U.S. Trump also announced he would ask NATO to become "much more involved in the Middle East process.”
The strikes on Tuesday pushed Tehran and Washington perilously close to war and put the world's attention on Trump as he weighs whether to respond with more military force. The Republican president huddled with his national security advisers on Wednesday morning but offered no immediate indication of whether he would retaliate. “All is well!” he said in a Tuesday night tweet. The lack of U.S. casualties could signal that Iran is not interested in escalating the tension with Washington - at least not now - and could give Trump an opening to calm relations with Iran and pull the U.S. back from the brink of war. Trump, who is facing reelection in November, campaigned for president on a promise to keep the United States from engaging in “endless war." President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran appears to be “standing down” and no Americans or Iraqis were harmed in Iran's missile strike on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Daniel Lippman, reporter covering the White House and Washington for POLITICO; he tweets
Kenneth Pollack, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he works on Middle Eastern political-military affairs; he served twice at the National Security Council, first as director for Near East and South Asian affairs and then as director for Persian Gulf affairs
Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the DC-based think tank, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; former State Department Middle East analyst and negotiator in Republican and Democratic administrations; he tweets
Proposed Ballot Measure Would Treat Certain ‘Quality Of Life’ Crimes As Cry For Help
A former California assemblyman is collecting signatures for a ballot measure that he hopes will address certain types of so-called “quality of life” crimes while at the same time not resigning the people who commit those crimes, many of whom are often homeless, suffering from mental illness or both, to jail time right away.
Under “California’s Compassionate Intervention Act,” crimes like public intoxication or defecation, panhandling, or public drug use would still be prosecuted, but instead offenders would be sent to a special court that the legislation would create. That court would then decide “whether a person committed those crimes due to economic need, a drug dependency, or mental-health issues” and then determine an appropriate sentence for the crime committed, which could include drug rehab, connections to homeless and other service providers. Once the defendant completes the sentence, the crime would be wiped from his or her record so that it would not hinder that person from future work or housing opportunities. Opponents say the measure would just shift the burden to an already backlogged criminal justice system and worry that the cost to create the new court could mean valuable tax dollars being diverted from other areas.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll hear the pros and cons of the proposal from the perspective of its co-author and a health policy advocate. You can join our live conversation with your questions or comments on the ballot proposal by calling 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Mike Gatto, author of “California’s Compassionate Intervention Act,” attorney and co-founder of Actium LLP, a Los Angeles-based law firm, and former California State assemblyman from the 43rd district, which includes Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge and several L.A. neighborhoods including Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Atwater Village; he tweets
Jen Flory, policy advocate at Western Center on Law and Poverty, an organization providing legal representation and policy advocacy on behalf of Californians experiencing poverty; she tweets
DC Check-In: Latest On Iran, Impeachment
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran appears to be “standing down” and no Americans or Iraqis were harmed in Iran’s missile strike on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.
On the impeachment front, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he has the votes to start President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial as soon as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi releases the documents, winning support from GOP senators to postpone a decision on calling witnesses.
We get the latest from D.C.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guest:
Anna Edgerton, politics editor for Bloomberg; she tweets
California Dems Propose Their Own Green New Deal. How Might Its Goals Be Achieved And What Would Be The Effects?
The federal Green New Deal, the sweeping proposal that combines the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions with creating jobs, didn’t pass last year but will likely continue to be a major talking point for progressive Dems in 2020. Meanwhile, California Dems have unveiled their own version.
Launched Monday, the California Green New Deal Act sets the goals of cutting greenhouse gas emissions and cutting down homelessness in the state. It would create a California Green New Deal Council with various Secretaries. And AB 1839 also sets the goal of doubling affordable housing and public transit in the state by 2030. Funding mechanisms were not specified.
What have been the roadblocks in CA to achieving these goals in the past? What potential avenues would be laid out to meet these standards? What would be potential economic repercussions for the state?
We dive into the California Dems Green New Deal proposal.
Guests:
Sylvia Chi, policy director for the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, or APEN, an Asian immigrant and refugee community organizing group that works on environmental issues; they are the main co-sponsor of the bill
Ethan Elkind, director of the Climate Program at Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at UC Berkeley; he also leads the Climate Change and Business Research Initiative on behalf of UC Berkeley Law and UCLA Law
Christopher Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics, his focus includes economic forecasting and policy analysis
Platonic Co-Parenting: A Helping Hand With Your Biological Clock
The dating scene has evolved to allow people find their potential partners online. But beyond just romantic partners, you can also find a co-parent for your future child.
According to the Wall Street Journal, co-parenting sites, such as Modamily and PollenTree, offer matching services where users can find potential parental partners to raise a child with. Users are encouraged to vet and become extensively acquainted with one another to find a partner (or more than one) who is equally committed to raising a child without necessarily the expectation of romantic love or sex. The co-parenting trend and the nascent industry around it is largely made up of professionals who thought they might be ready for children by their early 30’s, but kept pushing that plan back, says Modamily founder Ivan Fatovic. LGBTQ and straight adults approaching 40 years old who still want to be parents, but need a hand with child rearing and don’t want to risk putting a child through divorce, are turning to this idea to start families, Fatovic says.
Would you consider having and raising a child with a non-romantic partner? Are you already in an arrangement like this? Did you come to the idea from trending ideas in western parenting, or non-anglo traditions like comadres? And how does this question bear out for single parents of existing children? Join the conversation by calling in at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Julie Jargon, family and tech columnist for the Wall Street Journal who wrote about the phenomenon of “platonic co-parenting”; she tweets at
Rachel Hope, author of “Family by Choice: Platonic Partnered Parenting” (World Birth Publishing, 2014); she has two children from two different parenting partnerships