Today on AirTalk, we update you on the latest political news happening in Washington D.C.. Also on the show, we talk to listeners to hear what they want to see in Biden's first 100 days, answer your COVID-19 questions; and more.
Politics Latest: Impeachment Next Steps, Inauguration Security Preparations
President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial could begin at 1 p.m. on Inauguration Day next Wednesday as President-elect Joe Biden is being sworn into office. That’s according to a timeline of Senate procedure obtained by The Associated Press.
It’s the possible schedule if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sends the articles of impeachment to the Senate soon.
Meanwhile, all through downtown Washington, the primary sound for several blocks was the beeping of forklifts unloading more fencing.
There were no cars or scooters and seemingly no tourists Wednesday, just the occasional jogger and multiple construction crews at work. The U.S. Capitol that proved such a soft target last week was visible only through lines of tall, black fence.
Two blocks from the White House, a group of uniformed National Guard troops emerged from a tour bus and headed into a hotel as a state of lockdown descended on Washington that will last through the Jan. 20 inauguration.
We check in on what’s next in terms of impeachment, as well as national security preparations for the inauguration.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Ron Elving, senior editor and correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News; he tweets
Hal Kempfer, CEO of Global Risk Intelligence and Planning (GRIP), a management consulting firm based in Long Beach, and retired Marine lieutenant colonel; he has worked in military support for homeland security and defense both as an active member of the military and as a civilian
Matt Barreto, professor of political science and Chicano Studies at UCLA; he was on the Biden campaign to direct their Latino polling and messaging research and is the co-founder of the political consulting firm LD Insights; he tweets
Zach Courser, co-director of the policy lab and visiting assistant professor of government at Claremont McKenna College; he tweets
First 100 Days: What Are You Hoping For From The Biden Administration?
The theme for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration will be “America United,” an issue that’s long been a central focus for Biden but one that’s taken on added weight in the wake of the violence at the U.S. Capitol last week.
In an announcement shared first with The Associated Press, the Presidential Inaugural Committee said that the theme “reflects the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America, brings the country together, and creates a path to a brighter future.
What do you want to see from the Biden administration? Whether it’s about policy or tone, we want to hear about your hopes and expectations. Call us at 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
COVID-19: Vaccine Rollout, Biden’s Pandemic Plan And More
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner, infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.
Today’s topics include:
New study estimates 1 in 3 residents of L.A. County have had COVID
California allowing residents over 65 to get vaccinated - is that true for L.A. County?
California counties asking for more vaccine
COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been...messy. What’s the cost of that?
Biden releases pandemic plan
Should there be tougher enforcement for mask wearing? L.A. City Council thinks so
New flight rules - travelers need to have clean bill of health when it comes to COVID
LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner says students must get vaccinated when it’s an available
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
Tone Indicators: The Answer To Prevent Misinterpreted Messages Online
Misinterpreting someone’s tone online has been an issue that has plagued folks for decades.
A study done by anthropologist Ray Birdwhistell found that over 65% of face-to-face conversations are communicated through body language, leaving many to wonder if there's a viable alternative for it through text? Turns out there is.
One method has been emojis, having been popularized in the 2010s and becoming an alternative for folks who want to make their online texts more colorful. These do have their limits, as many neurodivergent people have trouble understanding them.
That issue has allowed another online trend to grow, this being tone indicators, or a written set of characters that help clarify the nonverbal context for any written messages.
Have you ever had a moment when your written words were misinterpreted? What type of tone indicators have you tried adding to your texts to make social media and work-related emails less confusing? What are your thoughts on using tone indicators? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Ezra Marcus, writer for the New York Times style section; he tweets
Many American High School Reading Lists Have Looked The Same For Decades. Should That Change?
High schoolers across the country are accustomed to a familiar set of reading assignments: The Catcher in the Rye, The Great Gatsby, The Grapes Of Wrath.
In other words, a list not so different from what was taught in American schools half a century ago. However, some students and educators have begun pushing for different books and alternative ways to teach and reinvigorate the American high school canon for young people today. A popular hashtag, #DisruptTexts, began as a social media forum for educators to discuss ways to bring newer books and more diverse authors into their syllabi. #DisruptTexts has since become a larger project to help teachers and students incorporate more authors of color into their reading lists, as well as get ideas for teaching texts from alternative perspectives so as to better connect with students. The concept has faced pushback online, however, from some who take issue with the idea that teachers may change certain titles on school syllabi, and see it as a form of censorship.
Today on AirTalk, we’re discussing the American high school literary canon. Are you an educator or student that has changed or reappraised your classes’ curriculum? How do you think literature should be taught in American schools? We want to hear from you! Comment below or give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Lorena Germán, middle and high school english teacher at Headwaters School in Austin, TX, and one of the founders of #DisruptTexts; she tweets