California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De León and state Sen. Scott Wiener have independently introduced two proposals that would counter federal net neutrality laws and prevent companies from blocking internet services. We debate the pros and cons. We also address Chief Beck's retirement; take a look at the week in politics; and more.
Week in Politics: What to watch for as Senate votes to end shutdown, what Mike Pence is doing in Israel and more
AirTalk political analysts Lanhee Chen of Stanford’s Hoover Institution and Ange-Marie Hancock-Alfaro of USC discuss the latest national political news, including:
- The latest as the Senate passes a spending bill to end the government shutdown that started Friday night
- Mike Pence’s trip to Israel, including his announcement that the new U.S. Embassy will open in Jerusalem by the end of 2019
- The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to consider a challenge to Trump’s latest travel ban
- Steve Bannon’s upcoming meeting with Mueller investigators
- How the Russia probe could be affected by new text messages from the FBI official removed from Mueller’s team, which were delivered to Congress Friday night
- A recap of Saturday’s Women’s March, which largely focused on getting out the vote
Guests:
Lorraine Woellert, White House reporter at POLITICO covering financial services; she tweets
Lanhee Chen, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and former policy director for the Romney-Ryan 2012 presidential campaign; he tweets
Ange-Marie Hancock-Alfaro, professor of political science and chair of gender studies at USC; she tweets
As Charlie Beck steps down, what to expect from the next LAPD chief
In a surprise decision, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced Friday that he would step down.
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, people in Beck’s inner circle had suspected that he would not finish out his second and final term, but Beck reportedly told his highest-ranking officers about his retirement just minutes before last week’s presser.
Beck joined the LAPD as an officer during the racially charged 90's. He witnessed the L.A. Riots and told the Times that he viewed this era as devastating to the department, a belief that ultimately molded his future policing policies. In 2009, he was appointed Chief by former Mayor-Antonio Villaraigosa. During his tenure, Beck known for having a fatherly demeanor and is credited by some with forging trust between communities and police.
Beck’s last day as chief will be on his 65th birthday, June 27.
Guests:
Frank Stoltze, correspondent at KPCC covering criminal justice and public safety issues; he tweets
Connie Rice, civil rights lawyer and founding co-director of Advancement Project, a public policy legal action group
Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents LAPD officers
Steve Soboroff, president of the Los Angeles Police Commission
The big sleep and beyond: What’s behind our fascination with the afterlife
Heaven. Hell. Reincarnation. What happens after we die has been a core aspect of many religions, and a subject of imagination for many practitioners of the arts.
According to a 2007 Pew poll, 74 percent of those surveyed said they believed in an afterlife, with 50 percent saying they believed with “absolute certainty.”
In his new book, Michael Shermer of Skeptic magazine explores what drive this unyielding fascination in our culture – and how science and technology are being used towards its exploration and towards ways to extend one’s life.
Michael Shermer will be discussing his new book, “Heavens on Earth: The Scientific Search for the Afterlife, Immortality, and Utopia” tonight at the New Roads School in Santa Monica. The event starts at 8pm.
Guest:
Michael Shermer, author of numerous books, including his newest, “Heavens on Earth: The Scientific Search for the Afterlife, Immortality, and Utopia” (Henry Holt and Co., 2018); publisher of Skeptic magazine; he tweets