AirTalk brings you four-term California Governor Jerry Brown’s last State of the State live – plus, what will he be remembered for? We also dive into a new bill hoping to make surfing California’s official state sport; did the judge sentencing U.S. Olympic doctor Larry Nassar speak out of line?; and more.
On the morning of Gov. Brown’s final State of the State, looking back on his legacy
Jerry Brown is giving his final State of the State address Thursday morning after serving a total of four terms as Governor of California.
When Brown first took office in 1975, California was thriving. He even earned himself the nickname ‘Governor Moonbeam’ after suggesting the state launch its own space satellite.
Recently, Brown’s governorship has been dominated by two struggling infrastructure projects: the California bullet train connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco – which hit a speedbump when its price skyrocketed from $6 billion to $10.6 billion – and the twin tunnels project, which may end up with only one tunnel due to lack of funding. Critics of these projects say it may be time for him to abandon both.
Still, Brown has made a heavy impression in the last year alone, implementing a gas tax hike to fund fixing infrastructure, expanding the state’s cap-and-trade program, and challenging President Trump on various issues.
This morning, we listen into Brown’s last State of the State, discuss his legacy, and look towards the future of California’s governor seat.
Guests:
Dan Walters, longtime CA politics observer with CALmatters, a nonprofit public interest publication; he tweets
David Siders, senior reporter for POLITICO and co-author of the California Playbook; he tweets
Adam Nagourney, Los Angeles bureau chief of The New York Times; he tweets
‘I just signed your death warrant’: Did US Olympic doctor’s judge speak out of line?
On Wednesday, after seven days of hearing testimonials from more than 150 young women he sexually abused, disgraced U.S. Olympic doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced up to 175 years in state prison by Michigan Judge Rosemarie Aquilina.
“I just signed your death warrant,” Aquilina said, followed by a string of extraordinary statements including, “Our Constitution does not allow for cruel and unusual punishment. If it did, I have to say, I might allow what he did to all of these beautiful souls, these young women in their childhood, I would allow some or many people to do to him what he did to others.”
While the judge’s ruling brought a celebration of relief for victims, as well as national praise for her strong support of those she called “sister survivors,” the debate over judge impartiality and how Aquilina responded to Nassar and his abused has also surfaced.
We hear from experts on both sides about the impact of Aquilina’s statements.
Guests:
Emily Bazelon, staff writer for New York Times Magazine and co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast; she tweets
Paul G. Cassell, criminal law professor at the University of Utah, where his focus includes criminal justice and crime victims’ rights; he tweets
Should surfing be California’s official state sport?
We’ve got the golden poppy and the redwood, but one Assemblymember is looking to establish an official sport for the Golden State.
Assembly Bill 1782, introduced by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), cites California’s many famous surf spots, events, museums and its long stretch of tourism-generation coastline as reasons that that catching a wave should be codified as our sport.
Some have bristled at the idea, saying that surfing isn’t emblematic of California’s diversity and that it’s a sport available to only a certain demographic and geographic slice of the population.
Do you think surfing should be our official state sport? If not, what would be your choice?
Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Al Muratsuchi, democratic Assemblymember representing California 66th district, which encompasses the South Bay of Los Angeles County; he is the author of
Assembly Bill 1782
Bill Davis
, founding president of Southern California Public Radio