President Obama's state of the union address last night included calls for bipartisanship, but amidst a heavily Democratic wish list. Also, LAPD Chief Beck takes your questions on rising violent crime, civil asset seizures and more. Then, in her solo show, Kelly Carlin reveals what life was like as the daughter of icon and iconoclast, comedian George Carlin.
California reacts to President Obama’s State of the Union address
President Obama's state of the union address last night included calls for bipartisanship, but amidst a heavily Democratic wish list. He promoted several proposals he's been introducing over the past couple of weeks - free community college, mandatory sick days and parental leave, higher taxes on capital gains, to name a few. These very Democratic proposals were coupled with calls for bipartisanship. Is there any hope of that less than two years before the next Presidential election?
Guests:
Manu Raju, Senior Congressional Reporter for POLITICO
Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist, Rodriguez Strategies; former senior Obama campaign advisor in 2008
Jonathan Wilcox, Republican Strategist; former speechwriter for Governor Pete Wilson
LAPD Chief Beck takes your questions on rising violent crime, civil asset seizures and more
First Lady Michelle Obama invited two LAPD veterans to last night's State of the Union to honor their work in community policing. Captain Phil Tingirides and his wife Sergeant Emada Tingirides are part of a formal program created in 2011 to build partnerships between Watts residents in South LA and the LAPD. After months of "Black Lives Matters" protests, the symbolism of the Tingirides' efforts have taken on new importance. The distrust between some community members and policing is still very real.
Last week, impassioned Angelenos gathered at a forum to learn more and to express concerns over the use of body-worn cameras. How will Chief Beck quell fears over manipulation of camera footage or releasing video to the media? A more pressing issue for Chief Beck is the uptick in violent crime. Statistics released last week show that after more than a decade of decreasing violent crime rates, 2014 saw a 14 percent increase over 2013. Aggravated assaults accounted for most of the jump - and a change in how those assaults are defined in the statistics. There were 260 murders last year (251 murders in 2013) and 924 reported rapes (764 rapes in 2013). What impact has policing had on these violent crimes?
We will also ask about civil asset seizures on the heels of Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement limiting such seizures. Tens of millions of dollars from such seizures were used by the LAPD. What is Chief Beck's reaction to the significant policy change? How will LAPD make up for the cash squeeze? Finally, LA street vendors say LAPD has been confiscating goods without any documentation, and we'll ask Chief Beck's reaction to a Sacramento bill that seeks to change how officer-involved fatalities are investigated. What are your questions for Chief Charlie Beck?
Guest:
Charlie Beck, Chief, Los Angeles Police Department
Citizens United, five years later
The Supreme Court’s decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission changed politics in America in drastic ways. The ruling allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amount of money in election campaigns. Opponents fear that the decision would lead to our democracy being eroded by special interest groups and anyone with money, but proponents argue that the decision is being largely misconstrued and that it actually makes for a more democratic electoral system.
Five years after the Supreme Court’s decision, AirTalk revisits the Citizen United ruling and looks at its impact.
Guests:
Amanda Hollis-Brusky, Politics Professors at Pomona College and author of the new book, “Ideas with Consequences: The Federalist Society and the Conservative Counterrevolution” (Oxford University Press, 2015)
Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow in constitutional studies at the Cato Institute and editor-in-chief of the Cato Supreme Court Review
Deflate Gate: How bad is an underinflated football?
The New England Patriots allegedly underinflated their footballs during their punishing victory (45-7) over the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday. Suspicions were aroused by D’Quell Jackson, Colts linebacker, when he intercepted a pass made by Tom Brady. The ball wound up in the hands of Mike Kensil, NFL director of football operations who brought it to the attention of on-field officials. All twelve of the Patriot’s balls were inspected. Eleven of them were found to be two pounds short of air.
Scientists say an underinflated football allows for a better grip and an easier catch. On the other hand, a softer ball might prevent it from soaring as far as it can go compared to when fully inflated. But, between the two options, a better grip is the advantage.
Most experts say the squishy ball likely played a small role in the winning performance of the Patriots, but if tampering occurred, rules were broken, and consequences will be had.
What should the consequences be? How much pride can New England take in winning, if foul-play occurred? What is the precedent for these kind of shenanigans?
Guests:
Vincent Bonsignore, sports columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News
Ben Volin, NFL/Patriots writer for The Boston Globe
'A Carlin Home Companion:' Kelly Carlin expounds on her famous dad, George
In her solo show, Kelly Carlin reveals what life was like as the daughter of icon and iconoclast, comedian George Carlin. It's been seven years since Mr. Carlin passed at age 71. The man never stopped working and performing for legions of fans and, in fact, for the entirety of Kelly's life, her father was a striving, reinventing, and transcending force of American culture. In the 1960s, Mr. Carlin focused on whimsical, Seinfeld-like humor but by the 1970s transformed into a wry social commentator with critiques of American politics, foreign policy, pop culture, science and medicine. At home, life was more comi-tragic. In her February show at Burbank's Falcon Theatre, Kelly speaks candidly about her father's and mother's respective cocaine abuse and alcoholism, and about living a type of counterculture existence in the Pacific Palisades. What was it like being raised by a man so cutting and cutting edge?
Guest:
Kelly Carlin, Performer of “A Carlin Home Companion: Growing up with George” at Burbank’s Falcon Theatre - Runs February 6th – March 1st; Previews Start January 28th; Falcon Theatre