The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday forbidding the use of any federal money for abortions, in lieu of a proposal that would ban so-called "late-term" abortions. Also, should CA follow AZ’s lead and make civics test a graduation requirement? Then, what will the death of Saudi’s King Abdullah and falling oil prices mean for Saudi Arabia?
Can Republicans win by losing on an abortion vote?
The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday forbidding the use of any federal money for abortions, in lieu of a proposal that would ban so-called "late-term" abortions. That version was considered too extreme by moderate Republicans, and was pulled from consideration at the last minute. The Thursday vote was held on the 42nd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, and thousands of anti-abortion rights activists were at the National Mall for the annual "March for Life" rally.
The bill passed yesterday on a 242-179 vote, and it re-upped what was passed by the last Congress. The President promised he will veto the bill.
Its chance of survival notwithstanding, the vote is an indication that the Republican Party, now with a majority in both chambers, is redrawing the political battle lines in the remainder of President Obama’s term. Should the party stake the centerpiece of its agenda on the issue of abortion? Would it backfire? Does the muscle flexing of Republican women here forecast an increasing voice for them?
Guests:
Lisa Mascaro, Congressional Reporter at the Los Angeles Times whose latest piece is on the abortion bill and its political implications for the Republicans
Katie Packer Gage, founding Partner of WWP Strategies, a political consulting and issue management firm based in Washington, DC. In 2012, she served as Deputy Campaign Manager of the Romney Presidential Campaign
Should CA follow AZ’s lead and make civics test a graduation requirement?
After success in Arizona, civics education advocates are looking to push through a requirement in California that public school students pass an exam based on one given for U.S. citizenship.
“We hope to get out to California maybe in the next year or two and start working with citizens, legislators, teachers there, and see if we can’t make this happen in California as well,” said Sam Stone, Civics Education Initiative executive director.
Stone said his group cheered when Arizona lawmakers and the governor approved a new law requiring public school students to pass a civics test to graduate, one based on questions given by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to immigrants seeking citizenship.
Federal officials asks individuals 10 questions orally and require six correct answers. The Arizona law requires students to pass 60 out of 100 questions from the test.
Should California consider adopting the same requirement?
Read the full story HERE
Guests:
Brent Heath, a recently retired social studies teacher for 39 years from the Ontario-Montclair School District
Michelle Herczog, President, National Council for the Social Studies, an association devoted solely to social studies education
Long-time Mid-East statesman analyzes Saudi leadership, Yemeni coup and Egyptian Revolution anniversary
A Jordanian statesmen who spent his diplomatic career bridging (Middle) east and west believes the Arab Spring lies in tatters on its fourth anniversary because it failed to make a case for pluralism in Egypt, Yemen and across the Arab world. Marwan Muasher, who opened Jordan’s first embassy in Israel in 1995, compares the first “Arab Awakening” in the early 20th century with the recent revolutions in his new book, “The Second Arab Awakening: And the Battle for Pluralism.”
Intellectual, pan-Arabists of the late 1800s struggled against Ottoman then colonial rule. The independent states that succeeded with secular rule focused intently on winning independence for all Arab nations, especially the Palestinians, to their own detriment, Muasher argues. Losing the 1967 war shattered pan-Arab aspirations and left a vacuum. Since then, due to internal and external forces, political Islam rose, yet as with many of the secular leaders, it has failed to be a solution to everyday problems facing many Arabs: weak economies, high unemployment and a dearth of law and order.
What is the future of Egypt under the new strongman, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi? On the Arabian peninsula, what comes next after this week’s ultimate coup d’etat in Yemen? What will the death of Saudi’s King Abdullah and falling oil prices mean for Saudi Arabia?
Guest:
Marwan Muasher, formerly Jordan’s foreign minister (2002–2004) and deputy prime minister (2004–2005) and Ambassador to the U.S., Vice President for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Author, “The Second Arab Awakening: And the Battle for Pluralism”
Filmweek: ‘Goodbye to Language,’ ‘Cake,’ ‘Mortdecai’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Charles Solomon, Wade Major, and Henry Sheehan review this week’s releases, including ‘Goodbye to Language,’ ‘Cake,’ ‘Mortdecai’ and more. TGI-Filmweek!
Guests:
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and host for IGN’s DigiGods.com
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC and Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
Sundance 2015: Sneak peek of buzzy films rife with comedy and controversy
The laughter at Sundance usually is reserved for the parties not the movie screenings, but this year’s slate at the earnest, indie film fest includes some promising comedies on the big screen. Still, the Fest would not be complete without tales of sexual abuse, prison experiments and an investigation into Scientology.
Last night, Sundance founder Robert Redford kicked off the event. He spoke about the art and the business of filmmaking, and called the business of movie distribution “weird.” “What's in distributors' minds? What moves them? What galvanizes them? I don't know," said Redford.
What films and trends are you keen to hear about from Sundance?
Guest:
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and USA today