Should CA Raise Taxes On Companies That Pay Executives Way More Than The Average Employee?

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Today on AirTalk, we look at the proposal going through the CA legislature that could mean higher taxes for large corporations. Also on the show, we answer your questions about impeachment and break down what to know before the Senate begins its trial.

Should CA Raise Taxes On Companies That Pay Executives Way More Than The Average Employee?

Today on AirTalk, we look at the proposal going through the CA legislature that could mean higher taxes for large corporations. Also on the show, we answer your questions about impeachment and break down what to know before the Senate begins its trial.

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Today on AirTalk, we look at the proposal going through the CA legislature that could mean higher taxes for large corporations. Also on the show, we answer your questions about impeachment and break down what to know before the Senate begins its trial.

Should CA Raise Taxes On Companies That Pay Executives Way More Than The Average Employee?

California is considering raising taxes on some of the country’s largest companies, but the size of the tax increase would depend on how much its highest-paid executive makes compared to its employees.

The bigger the gap, the bigger the tax increase.

The bill by Democratic state Sen. Nancy Skinner passed out of its first committee hearing on Wednesday, keeping it alive a head of a Jan. 31 deadline to pass the Senate.

The proposal would only apply to companies that post at least $10 million of taxable income from business conducted in California. That would apply to about 2,000 companies nationwide, including the Walt Disney Co., headquartered in Burbank.

Many of the state’s business groups oppose the law, including the California Business Roundtable, which represents large companies. Detractors have said that the bill would keep companies from coming to the state. We look at the pros and cons of the legislation. 

With files from the Associated Press. 

We reached out to Senator Nancy Skinner. She was not available to join us for an interview this morning. 

Guests:

Kent Wong, director of the UCLA Labor Center

Susan Shelley, a columnist and a member of the editorial board of the Southern California News Group, which includes the Orange County Register and Los Angeles Daily News, she wrote a piece citing concerns about the proposed bill; she tweets

The Senate Impeachment Trial: What Can We Expect?

Chief Justice John Roberts led the swearing in of senators yesterday, officially kicking off the start of the senate impeachment trial. Opening arguments are scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

Capitol Hill is preparing to undergo the next step in the impeachment process. The House voted to send the articles of impeachment over to the Senate earlier this week. The House prosecution team, led by House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, will present their case as to why the impeachment of President Donald Trump is valid and convince Republican senators to allow the inclusion of new documents and witnesses to the trial. Trump’s team will be led by White House counsel Pat Cippolone, and will include Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr. Chief Justice Roberts will preside over the trial. Senator Mitch McConnell has stated his desire for the trial to be a short process, but Democrats have been pushing for the presentation of witnesses. With the historic trial on slate to begin Tuesday with opening arguments, there will be a lot to watch out for as we move into this next phase of impeachment. 

Today on AirTalk, we answer questions you may have about impeachment as the Senate takes over and starts their trial. Call in to tell us what you want to know at 866-893-5722.

With files from the Associated Press

Guest:

Ron Elving, senior editor and correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News; he tweets at

FilmWeek: ‘Bad Boys For Life,’ ‘Dolittle,’ ‘Troop Zero’ and more

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Amy Nicholson review this weekend’s new movie releases.

• "Bad Boys For Life" in wide release

• "Dolittle" in wide release

• "Troop Zero" streaming on Amazon 

• "The Wave" at Arena Cinelounge Hollywood & The Frida Cinema (Santa Ana)

• "Disturbing The Peace" at Arena Cinelounge Hollywood

• "Jezebel" Streaming on Netflix    

• "Intrigo: Death Of An Author" at Laemmle’s Glendale

• "VHYes" at Alamo Drafthouse DTLA & Lumiere Music Hall (Beverly Hills)

• "White Sheik" at Laemmle’s Royal & Laemmle’s Playhouse

• "The Gold Rush" at Hollywood Legion Theater at Post 43 (ONE NIGHT ONLY SCREENING ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 18)

  • For more information on the show and how to purchase tickets, click here. You can enter the promo codes "airtalk" or "filmweek" to receive 20 percent off!

Critics' Hits:

Amy: "Bad Boys For Life," "White Sheik" & "The Gold Rush"

Lael: "The Wave"

Mixed Feelings:

Amy: "Jezebel" & "VHYes"

Misses:

Amy: "Disturbing The Peace"

Lael: "Dolittle," "Troop Zero" & "Intrigo: Death Of An Author"

Guests:

Lael Loewenstein, KPCC film critic; she tweets

Amy Nicholson, film critic for KPCC, film writer for The Guardian and host of the podcasts ‘Unspooled’ and the podcast miniseries “Zoom”; she tweets

With Intimacy Coordinators, Hollywood Addresses The Post-#MeToo Sex Scene

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the film and television industries have had to reckon with one of their most essential and troublesome elements: the sex scene.

As recent as two years ago, it was standard for simulated sex to be solely the domain of the director, the cameraman and the participating actors. But without proper mediation, simulated sex made participants vulnerable to assault or harrassment, and perhaps unsurprisingly, they became a locus for many sexual misconduct allegations. As a recent New York Times piece explores, the controversy has since opened a space for intimacy coordinators--specially trained on-set advocates--to use nuanced movement training to create sex scenes that are sensual, properly supervised and consent-oriented. Under the watch of an intimacy coordinator, sex scenes are treated more like stunts or action scenes, which are facilitated for safety and choreographed so that they are easily repeatable in front of a camera. As a result, many actors and directors have said that the scenes are not only safer, but more fluid and convincing on-screen.

Today on AirTalk, we explore the role of intimacy coordinators and the future of intimate scenes in Hollywood. Are you an actor that has worked with an intimacy coordinator? What was the experience like? Call us at 866-893-5722.

Guest:

Alicia Rodis, co-founder and associate director of Intimacy Directors International, an organization that trains and certifies intimacy directors and coordinators; she tweets

Lael Loewenstein, KPCC film critic; she tweets

Amy Nicholson, film critic for KPCC, film writer for The Guardian and host of the podcasts ‘Unspooled’ and the podcast miniseries “Zoom”; she tweets