In a move against Megyn Kelly, Donald Trump won't be attending the upcoming Fox News debate; former senators Tom Daschle (D) and Trent Lott (R) weigh in on the bridging the nation's partisan divide and a consumer psychologist discusses the impact return policies have on shopper behavior.
Trump dumps Fox News debate, but is it the right move?
Donald Trump says he won’t take part in tomorrow night’s GOP debate on Fox News.
His announcement came from his campaign last night (Tuesday), and follows months of tension between the two sides after Trump spoke openly about his dislike of Fox News’ Megyn Kelly.
This debate marks the last before the Iowa caucuses next week, and would mark the first debate that Trump has not been a part of.
How will this move affect Trump’s campaign? Has Fox News responded in the right way to Trump?
Guests:
James Warren, Chief media writer for Poynter.org; he tweets from
John Feehery, Republican strategist and President of Quinn Gillespie Communications; he’s also a columnist for The Hill. He tweets from
James Broussard, Professor of history at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA
Trent Lott, Tom Daschle on bridging the intractable partisan divide
Partisan gridlock has become an unfortunate feature of American politics.
Of course, it wasn’t always like this. Two of Washington’s most seasoned political wheelers and dealers -- former Senators Tom Daschle (D) and Trent Lott (R) know a thing or two about getting things done, despite being on opposite sides of the aisle.
In the new book, “Crisis Point,” the senators lay out the factors contributing to this climate of political polarization and offer solutions to get Congress and our government unstuck.
Senators Trent Lott and Tom Daschle will be talking about their book, “Crisis Point,” at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Santa Monica with KPCC’s own Patt Morrison. Click here for more information.
Guests:
Trent Lott, former U.S. Senator (R-Mississippi) between 1989 and 2007. Coauthor of the book, “Crisis Point: Why We Must - and How We Can - Overcome Our Broken Politics in Washington and Across America” (Bloomsbury Press, 2016)
Tom Daschle, former U.S. Senator (D-South Dakota) between 1987 to 2005. Coauthor of the book, “Crisis Point: Why We Must - and How We Can - Overcome Our Broken Politics in Washington and Across America” (Bloomsbury Press, 2016)
What’s on the chopping block at Metro as slumping ridership could mean cuts to projects
After reporting a nine percent decrease in average weekday boardings from nearly one and a half million in 2014 to 1.36 million in the second quarter of 2016, Metro officials are trying to figure out how to reverse this trend of declining ridership.
The Metro board will hear a report on the issue Thursday, which will include suggestions of ways to improve ridership.
In addition, low gas prices could mean cuts to transportation projects in L.A. County, since lower gas prices means a smaller pot for the state gas tax, out of which funds for these transportation projects are taken.
For more on this story from KPCC’s Meghan McCarty, click here.
Guest:
Megan McCarty, KPCC reporter covering transportation and mobility
Implications of AQMD lawsuit against SoCal Gas alleging company to blame for leak
Alleging that the company created a public nuisance, the South Coast Air Quality Managment District filed a lawsuit against Southern California Gas Company on Tuesday seeking damages that could add up to over $25 million.
Natural gas has been leaking from a SoCal Gas well since late October, and many residents of the surrounding areas have had to evacuate.
For more on this story from KPCC’s Sharon McNary, click here.
Guests:
Sharon McNary, KPCC reporter covering infrastructure
Consumer behavior expert explains the psychology of the return policy
With the holiday season well in our rear-view mirror, return season is upon us!
Time to bring back those jeans that are just a little too tight around the waist, or maybe that extra copy of NBA 2K16 your child got after grandpa forgot to communicate with mom and dad about gifts.
In an effort to figure out just how much of an impact return policies have on shopper behavior and whether longer return policies are better or worse for retailers, researchers at the University of Texas-Dallas conducted a meta-analysis of research papers that examined purchases, returns, or both. They looked at specific factors like the length of the policy, whether you get full reimbursement, and whether you’re required to show a receipt or other proof of purchase.
What they found was that on the whole, a longer return policy did mean more returns, but it was also correlated with an uptick in purchases. In addition, they found that being flexible about time limits for returns led to a decrease in returns. One researcher explained this as a result of customer having the product in his or her hands for longer, thereby feeling more attached to it.
So, is it possible to pinpoint the perfect return policy? Well, not exactly. Researchers say that’d be a tall order, though their work did suggest that flexibility with the time you have to return and the amount of money you get back are the best ways to boost sales.
What’s your policy when it comes to return policies? Are you more likely to return something if you know you have a lot of time to do it, or do you get more attached to the product as time goes on and you justify having it? What retailer/company has the best return policy, in your opinion?
Guest:
Kit Yarrow, consumer research psychologist, professor at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, and author of “Decoding the New Consumer Mind”
Do rich schools benefit more from the California lottery than poor schools?
It seems like a win-win situation: For just a couple dollars, you get a California lottery ticket and a shot at big winnings, and California schools get a cut of lottery profits.
But according to a new report out from EdBuild, a non-profit group that addresses funding inequities in public education, the California lottery distributes funding unfairly.
EdBuild argues that not many rich people actually buy lotto tickets, yet the public schools that their children attend get as much money as poorer school districts, if not slightly more.
Should distribution of lottery funds be based on the needs of a school? If the California lottery makes up a small percent of school budgets, does the distribution method make a difference?
Guests:
Alex Traverso, Spokesman for the California Lottery
Rebecca Sibilia, Founder and CEO of EdBuild, a non-profit group that works on funding inequities in public education and recently released a new report on California lotto distribution