Today on AirTalk, we discuss the passing of former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. Also on the show, we break down house democrats pushing to impeach the president following the insurrection at capitol hill; KPCC film critics Tim Cogshell and Lael Loewenstein review this weekend’s new movie releases; and more.
Triple Play: Remembering Former Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. He was 93.
The Dodgers said Friday that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton, California. Resuscitation attempts were made on the way to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday. Lasorda had a history of heart problems, including a heart attack in 1996 that ended his managerial career and another in 2012 that required him to have a pacemaker. He had just returned home Tuesday after being hospitalized since Nov. 8 with heart issues.
Lasorda had served in the role of special adviser to team owner and chairman Mark Walter for the last 14 years, and maintained a frequent presence at games sitting in Walter's box. Lasorda worked as a player, scout, manager and front office executive with the Dodgers dating to their roots in Brooklyn. He compiled a 1,599-1,439 record, won World Series titles in 1981 and ’88, four National League pennants and eight division titles while serving as Dodgers manager from 1977-96. He was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1997 as a manager. He guided the U.S. to a baseball gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Lasorda was the franchise’s longest-tenured active employee since Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully retired in 2016 after 67 years. He drew standing ovations when introduced at games in recent years.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers)
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 8, 2021
We remember Lasorda’s storied career and take your calls, via 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Nick Roman, host of KPCC’s All Things Considered; he tweets
Fred Claire, former major league baseball executive who served in numerous roles for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1969–1998 including the role of executive vice president and general manager from 1987 to 1998; he tweets
Jon Weisman, author of “Brothers in Arms: Koufax, Kershaw, and the Dodgers’ Extraordinary Pitching Tradition” (Triumph Books 2018); he tweets
A. Martinez, host of KPCC’s “Take Two”; he tweets
House Democrats Increase Calls For Quick Impeachment Of Trump. How Realistic Is It And What Is The Process?
Democrats are discussing Friday whether to move forward with the quick impeachment of President Donald Trump if his Cabinet doesn’t try to remove him first, acting swiftly two days after the U.S. Capitol was ransacked by a pro-Trump mob.
House Democrats are set to hold a caucus meeting at noon, the first since Wednesday’s harrowing events at the Capitol, and could take up articles of impeachment against Trump as soon as next week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi discussed the prospect of impeachment with her leadership team Thursday night, hours after announcing the House was willing to act if Vice President Mike Pence and other officials did not invoke Section 4 of the 25th Amendment — the forceful removal of Trump from power by his own Cabinet.
Five people are now dead from the violent melee, including police officer Brian Sicknick. Pelosi said in a statement Friday that Sicknick’s death “reminds us of our obligation to those we serve: to protect our country from all threats foreign and domestic.”
She said those responsible for the death of the officer “must be brought to justice.”
Though Trump has less than two weeks in office, lawmakers and even some in his administration began discussing options for his removal Wednesday afternoon as Trump first encouraged the crowd to march on the Capitol, then refused to forcefully condemn the violent assault and appeared to excuse it.
Today on AirTalk, we are getting the latest from Washington D.C. and hearing more about what a second impeachment of President Donald Trump could look like. Questions? Comment below or call us with your questions at 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
We reached out to Rep. Adam Schiff, but he is not doing interviews right now. We also contacted U.S. Representatives Mike Garcia (R-CA 25th), Young Kim (R-CA 39th) and Michelle Steel (R-CA 48th) of Orange County to invite them to comment as well. As of the airing of this segment, we have not received a response to our request but we will update this segment if we hear back from them.
Guests:
Anita Kumar, White House correspondent and associate editor for POLITICO; she tweets
Jack Pitney, professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College; he tweets
Ted Lieu, Democratic Congressman representing California’s 33rd Congressional District, which encompasses many coastal neighborhoods along the Pacific Coast, from the Santa Monica Mountains to the Palos Verdes Peninsula; he tweets
FilmWeek: 'One Night in Miami,' 'Herself,' 'The Dissident,' & More
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Tim Cogshell and Lael Loewenstein review this weekend’s new movie releases.
- "One Night in Miami" showing at the Vineland Drive-In (City of Industry) and Mission Tiki Drive-In (Montclair); Amazon Prime Video on Jan. 15
- "Herself" on Amazon Prime Video
- "Blizzard of Souls" on Laemmle's Virtual Cinema
- "Pieces of a Woman" on Netflix
- "The Dissident" on VOD (including Apple TV, FandangoNOW & Vudu)
- "Skyfire" on VOD (including iTunes, FandangoNOW & Google Play) on Jan. 12
- "Tiger" on HBO & HBO Max on Jan. 10 (Part 1) and Jan. 17 (Part 2)
- "Stars Fell on Alabama" on VOD (including iTunes, FandangoNOW & Google Play)
- "The Reason I Jump" on Laemmle's Virtual Cinema
- "If Not Now, When?" on VOD (including iTunes, Vudu & FandangoNOW)
Our FilmWeek critics have been curating personal lists of their favorite TV shows and movies to binge-watch during self-quarantine. You can see recommendations from each of the critics and where you can watch them here.
Guests:
Lael Loewenstein, film critic for KPCC and film columnist for the Santa Monica Daily Press; she tweets
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com; he tweets
Director Bryan Fogel On His New Film ‘The Dissident’ And What Draws Him To Documentaries
The documentary “The Dissident” pieces together the details surrounding the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared in Istanbul in 2018. Bryan Fogel directed the film. He also directed the 2017 documentary Icarus, which explored an international doping scandal and won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. KPCC’s John Horn talked with Fogel at the Sundance Film Festival early last year, where they discussed what draws him to the documentary medium, why whistleblowers are at the center of both films and more.
Guest:
Bryan Fogel, director of the new documentary “The Dissident;” he tweets