AirTalk brings you the latest on news that Trump wanted to fire Russia investigation special counsel Robert Mueller in June – could this information strengthen an obstruction of justice case? We also dive into the conservative and liberal criticism of Trump’s new immigration proposal; review this week’s movie releases on FilmWeek; and more.
Mueller ordered to be fired? Trump denies it. Here’s the latest
According to the New York Times, President Trump ordered special counsel Robert S. Mueller III to be fired last June, but backed off after threats of resignation from the White House counsel.
The Times reports that Trump pointed to three conflicts of interest in Mueller’s appointment to oversee the Russia investigation, including an allegation of disputed membership fees with Trump National Golf Club in Northern Virginia, where Mueller resigned as a member in 2011. He was the F.B.I. director then.
Trump also claimed that Mueller could not be impartial after working for the law firm that formerly represented his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
White House counsel Donald F. McGahn II refused to ask the Justice Department for Mueller’s dismissal and said that firing him “would have a catastrophic effect on Mr. Trump’s presidency.”
Do these revelations call for an obstruction of justice? And what does this mean for the impact of the investigation? We get the latest timeline from a reporter.
Guest:
Tom Lobianco, White House reporter for the Associated Press who has been following the story; he tweets
Trump’s immigration proposal unites some from the left, and the right
President Trump released an immigration overhaul proposal yesterday that would provide a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million young immigrants who came to the country illegally, including the 700,000 so-called “DREAMers.”
In exchange, his proposal calls for $25 million to fund the border wall and other enforcement measures. In addition, Trump wants a major curtailment of legal immigration to the country. Under the plan, immigrants would only be allowed to sponsor their spouses and underage children to join them in the U.S., and not their parents, adult children or siblings.
Immediately, the proposal drew criticisms from the democrats. Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the president's immigration proposal as a "wish list" for hard-liners on Friday. But the plan is also drawing fierce opposition from some on the Right, who take issue with the concession to the DREAMers.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at Center for Immigration Studies; she tweets
Isabel Sanchez, policy advocate for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
‘Text-neck’: it’s exactly what it sounds like, and apparently, real
You know those bumper stickers that show the evolution of man from crouched primate to standing Homo Sapien and then back to a crouched figure, bent over their computer?
That physical development might not be far off the mark, except it’s not computers that we’re hunched over, but cell phones. Some doctors have noticed and given name to the phenomenon: text-neck.
According to a study in The Spine Journal, the neck usually curves back, but as people engage with their phones for longer and longer periods of time, they get disc and posture issues. And as phone use becomes widespread in younger children, this might portend medical troubles for future generations.
So how does texting change your posture? What medical issues could it cause? And what can we do to keep our chins up and prevent text-neck?
Guests:
Dean Fishman, a chiropractor in Florida and founder of the Text Neck Institute
Karena Wu, owner and clinical director of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York
FilmWeek: ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure,’ ‘Please Stand By,’ ‘American Folk,’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s new movie releases.
"Maze Runner: The Death Cure" in wide release
"Please Stand By" at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre
"American Folk" at Laemmle's Music Hall
"Vazante" at Laemmle's Royal
"Like Me" at Arena Cinelounge Sunset
"The Clapper" at Vintage Los Feliz Theatre
"Kickboxer: Retaliation" at Arena Cinelounge Hollywood
"The Competition" at Laemmle's Music Hall
Expanding this week
"The Insult" in select theaters
Critics' Hits
Christy: "American Folk"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE2nC-72neo
Peter: "Vazante"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTgpDO4TINY
Mixed Feelings
Christy: "Maze Runner: The Death Cure"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-BTxXm8KSg
Peter: "Please Stand By"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghI4y6otpjY
Misses
Christy: "The Clapper" & "Kickboxer: Retaliation"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NokJWOQTISo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXpcVW3l6VY
Peter: "Like Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN6ndZINe5I
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?”; she tweets
Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor
Sundance 2018: An inside look at this year’s festival
Awards season is in full swing and many of this year’s Oscar contenders, such as“Get Out” and “Call Me by Your Name,” were films that showed last year at Sundance.
Needless to say, people who are in Park City right now are keeping an eye out for the next big hit.
But the 2018 Sundance festival didn't only revolve around film. With the recent spread of news exposing Hollywood’s rampant sexual harassment issues, the #MeToo spirit was strong among festival-goers and filmmakers. Conversations surrounding gender and equality were more prevalent than in previous years, popping up in both panels and film selections.
We check in with KPCC FilmWeek critic Justin Chang and John Horn, host of KPCC’s “The Frame,” to get the latest on Sundance.
Guests:
Justin Chang, film critic for KPCC and the Los Angeles Times
John Horn, host of KPCC’s “The Frame”