AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable recaps the headlines you might’ve missed over the weekend and looks ahead to the biggest stories of the week to come in national and state politics. We also check in on the political crisis in Venezuela; analyze the psychological impact of 'ghosting'; and more.
Week in politics: What the deal to end the shutdown means for the president and both parties in Congress, Roger Stone indicted in Mueller probe and more
AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable recaps the headlines you might’ve missed over the weekend and looks ahead to the biggest stories of the week to come in national and state politics.
Here’s what we’re watching this week:
President Trump agrees to a deal that would temporarily reopen the federal government for three weeks, ending the 35-day streak in the longest partial government shutdown in history
Some lawmakers push for legislation to outlaw shutdowns
With the government reopened, Trump’s State of the Union Address is also back on the table
The latest on the Mueller investigation: Roger Stone’s indictment and the WikiLeak-ed emails
The Senate Intelligence Committee subpoenas Michael Cohen after he pulled out of a public hearing scheduled for February 7
Unrest in Venezuela as the power struggle continues, including its implications for U.S. foreign diplomacy
The U.S. to start sending asylum-seekers back across the southern border
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz mulling presidential run
With guest host Libby Denkmann
Guests:
Lanhee Chen, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University; he was an adviser for Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign and served as policy director for the Romney-Ryan 2012 presidential campaign; he tweets
Lynn Vavreck, professor of political science at UCLA; she tweets
Venezuela check-in: Guaido calls for protests, Maduro alleges that US backed coup
The struggle for control of Venezuela turned to the military Sunday, with supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido handing leaflets to soldiers detailing a proposed amnesty law that would protect them for helping overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.
At the same time, Maduro demonstrated his might, wearing tan fatigues at military exercises. Flanked by his top brass, Maduro watched heavy artillery fired into a hillside and boarded an amphibious tank.
Addressing soldiers in an appearance on state TV, Maduro asked whether they were plotting with the "imperialist" United States, which he accused of openly leading a coup against him.
The dueling appeals from the two rivals again put the military center stage in the global debate over who holds a legitimate claim to power in the South American nation.
What’s the latest from Venezuela? And how is the White House response affecting the political situation?
With files from the Associated Press
With guest host Libby Denkmann
Guests:
Miguel Tinker Salas, Professor of Latin American History and Chicano Latino studies at Pomona College; his expertise includes culture and politics in Venezuela. Tinker Salas is also the author of three books on Venezuela, including, “Venezuela: What Everyone Needs to Know” (Oxford University Press, 2015)
Cynthia Arnson, director of the Latin American Program at the Wilson Center; her research focus includes politics and global governance in Latin America
As Confucius Institutes in the US face greater scrutiny, we dive into the history and purpose of these soft-power institutions
UCLA has one. Stanford has one. In fact, there are about 100 of them in the U.S. -- Confucius Institutes, which are non-profit educational organizations funded by the Chinese government and meant to promote positive aspects of Chinese culture.
But as tensions between the U.S. and China escalate, these agencies have garnered greater scrutiny from U.S. officials who fear that they might be undermining academic independence, or even be a hotbed for espionage. Last year, FBI director Christopher Wray said that the FBI would investigate these institutions.
Critics of Confucius Institutes argue that they allow Chinese government backed idology to influence American Academia and that the money they bring in can be used as leverage by the Chinese government. There’s no evidence that these Institutes harbor any illegal activity and they mostly offer language and culture classes - but they are undeniably tools of soft-power. So are they really dangerous? What’s their history and their role in the American campus?
With guest host Libby Denkmann
Guests:
Don Lee, reporter for the LA Times, where he covers the national and global economy out of Washington D.C.; he has been following this story; formerly the LA Times Shanghai Bureau Chief; he tweets
Clayton Dube, director of the USC U.S.-China Institute
‘Ghosting’: Why people do it and its psychological impact
Orbiting, zombieing, breadcrumbing… these are only a few trends that have emerged in today’s digital age of social media and online dating.
But the most ubiquitous of them all might be the dating trend known as “ghosting.” According to the Urban Dictionary, ghosting is “the act of suddenly ceasing all communication with someone the subject is dating, but no longer wishes to date.” The phenomenon, however, has since surpassed dating and made its way into friendships and even the labor market.
So why do people choose to “ghost” their partners or friends? And what consequences does it have on people on the receiving end? If you’ve ever ghosted someone, what led you to make that decision? And if you’ve ever been ghosted, what impact did it have on you? Call us and weigh in at 866-893-5722.
With guest host Libby Denkmann
Guests:
Ebony A. Utley, professor of communication studies at California State University, Long Beach; she tweets
Cortney S. Warren, clinical psychologist, adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and adjunct clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Nevada School of Medicine; she tweets