LA's new medical marijuana ordinance. Apple unveils its tablet computer. A preview of the State of the Union address. Then "Eat, Pray, Love" author Elizabeth Gilbert ties the knot in her new book, "Committed."
LA City Council passes medical marijuana ordinance: what's next?
After four and a half years of bureaucratic wrangling, the Los Angeles City Council voted 9-3 Tuesday in favor of a new law to regulate a proliferation of pot shops across the city. The measure will force most of about 1,000 shops to close and will closely regulate those that remain. Dispensaries would not be permitted within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, libraries, and—in a last minute amendment—could not operate across a street or alley from residential property. How will the new law be enforced?
Guests:
Dennis Zine, City of Los Angeles Councilmember, District 3 (which includes Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Reseda, West Hills, Winnetka and Canoga Park)
Joe Elford, Chief Counsel, Americans for Safe Access Now
Carmen Trutanich, Los Angeles City Attorney
Not iSlate or iTablet--iPad? Apple's new computing device
Tablet computers are nothing new, but they’ve always been relatively slow and reserved for specialized use. But buzz has abounded…today Apple is set to announce a new, innovative, gadget-like tablet computer that promises to be a game changer on the level of the iPod or iPhone. But what does it do differently from other tablets? What does it look like? What is it exactly! And can Steve Jobs hit another one out of the park, or will this be an iDud?
Guests:
Julia Angwin, WSJ technology editor
Danny Dumas, reviews editor for Wired Magazine
State of the Union preview
President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address tonight, with jobs and the economic recovery expected to be the focus. Other issues he is likely to mention include the health care bill, his proposal to freeze spending on domestic programs, and a plan for increased bioterrorism preparedness. After a year in office, how can Obama build support for his agenda? Larry Mantle discusses the strategy behind the speech.
Guests:
Ed O’Keefe, Washington Post Political Reporter and author of The Federal Eye blog
Mark Barabak, political correspondent, LA Times
Chris Lehane, a Democratic political consultant, and partner in the strategic communications firm Fabiani & Lehane
Jon Fleischman, Southern California Vice Chairman of the state Republican Party
Lost moon: Obama to cancel lunar program
Last year NASA found water on the moon. But, unfortunately, they didn’t find any money. Reports are surfacing that the Obama Administration’s budget will not fund NASA’s ambitious plan to return to the moon and establish a base.
Guest:
Miles O'Brien, a broadcast news journalist specializing in space, aviation and technology
Eat, pray, marry? Elizabeth Gilbert's new memoir
Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the New York Times bestseller "Eat, Pray, Love," found herself in a tricky situation. She was in love with a man named Felipe, a Brazilian-born Australian citizen she met in Indonesia, and eternally committed to him – but after their previous marriages had ended in divorce, neither wanted another wedding. But when the only way for Elizabeth and Felipe to live in the United States was to be legally married, she decided to tackle her fear of marriage by understanding it completely. The result is her new book, "Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage." Why do people get married? Why are divorce rates so high? Can same-sex marriage actually save the institution of marriage? Larry talks with author Elizabeth Gilbert about how she finally came to terms with tying the knot.
Elizabeth Gilbert will be at All Saints Church in Pasadena on Friday, January 29 at 7pm
Guest:
Elizabeth Gilbert, author of "Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage" (Viking).