Today on AirTalk, we discuss this week in politics, including new developments on the Trump administration's attempts to put a citizenship question on the 2020 census. We also look at MAD Magazine as it nears the end of production after 67 years of publication; and more.
Week In Politics: Citizenship Question, The Next Dem Debates, Iran’s Uranium And More
AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable recaps the major headlines you might’ve missed in politics news over the weekend and looks ahead to the week to come.
Here what we’re following this week:
After the Supreme Court ruling, it was reported Friday that President Trump is considering an executive order to put a citizenship question on the census. Plus, the DOJ is swapping the attorneys representing the administration in the case
2020 updates:
The next debates are scheduled for later in July. How are the candidates stacking up? And how will the DNC continue winnowing down the field?
Biden gave an interview on CNN where he discusses Trump, as well as his confrontation with Senator Kamala Harris during the last presidential democratic debates
After the last debate, there was talk that certain candidates we’re “hispandering” by speaking Spanish. How does that play with latino voters?
Kamala Harris proposed a $100 billion plan to raise up black homeownership
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Warren proposed a plan to raise wages for women of color
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) received heat from the left for critical comments about the more progressive wing of the party and it’s stance on the border aid package
Iran surpassed its uranium enrichment threshold set by the nuclear deal
Trump’s fourth of July parade highlighted the military and garnered criticism for diverting funds from the National Park Service
U.S. hiring is on the rise
A leaked memo from the UK ambassador in which he called Trump “inept” created awkwardness, as well as chafing from Trump
GUESTS:
Amanda Renteria, president of Emerge America, a national organization that works to identify and train Democratic women who want to run for political office; she is the former national political director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and has been a staffer for Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI); she tweets
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
After The Biggest Earthquake In 20 Years, We Check In With Ridgecrest-Area Residents
The most powerful earthquake California has seen in 20 years hit the state on July 4th, followed by an even larger 7.1 earthquake the next day.
Aftershocks continue to shake California, and more tremors are expected.
On top of wildfires and mudslides, these recent quakes reminded Californian’s of the looming “Big One,” though seismologists say last week’s episodes are unlikely to be related to it.
As Southern Californians respond to the earthquakes’ aftermath, we check in with a seismologist and residents in the towns of Ridgecrest and Trona to see what has developed over the weekend.
Guests:
Robert de Groot, staff scientist and coordinator for communication, education and outreach for the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning Project at the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Science Center in Pasadena
Larry Cox, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Trona, CA
Sarah Macedo, resident of Ridgecrest
Alexis Zubia, resident from Ridgecrest
Dishing On The New-Look Lakers And Clippers After A Wild Weekend In The NBA
The Board Man got paid and Los Angeles basketball has a new “fun guy” after Kawhi Leonard, arguably the most sought-after free agent on the market this NBA offseason, announced late Friday night that he would sign a 4 year, $142 million deal with the Clippers, who shortly before signing Kawhi announced they’d pulled off a
Oklahoma City is trading All-Star Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for a record-setting collection of draft choices, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
that sent Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George for a record-setting collection of draft picks.
In many ways, both moves make a lot of sense for both the Clippers and their two new stars. Leonard and George are both California natives who played college ball at San Diego State and Fresno State, respectively. For the Clippers, the acquisitions are the fruit of what L.A. Times Clippers beat reporter Andrew Grief called “a dogged pursuit by the Clippers over the past year” to convince Kawhi to come to L.A.
But this weekend wasn’t just about the Clips. The Lakers made a splash too, despite losing out on the Kawhi sweepstakes, adding big man DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins to a frontcourt already expected to be one of the best in the league with breakout star Kyle Kuzman and the addition of Anthony Davis. Cousins signed a one-year deal with the Lakers, likely as a “prove it” deal for the Lakers to see whether Cousins, who has been plagued by injury most of his career, can stay healthy for a full season.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll explain what the big trades and signings mean for L.A. basketball next year, break down the revitalized Clippers and Lakers rosters, and speculate on who has the better chance to challenge Golden State for the top spot in the Western Conference next year.
Guests:
Mirjam Swanson, Clippers beat reporter for Southern California News Group; she tweets
Dan Woike, national NBA writer for The Los Angeles Times; he tweets
‘What, Me Worry?’ Mad Magazine Says It’s Ending New Content Production, But Lampooning Legacy Lives On
After 67 years of publication, new issues of MAD Magazine and the toothy grin of its unmistakable mascot, Alfred E. Neuman, will no longer be on newsstands starting in the fall.
Several media organizations citing unnamed sources are reporting that after this fall, MAD won’t produce any new content, save for end-of-the-year specials. Issues from there on out will be made of materials from the magazine’s 67 years worth of archives. DC Entertainment, which owns MAD Magazine, hasn’t issued a statement but MAD cartoonist David Degrand
Can confirm.
— David DeGrand (@daviddegrand) July 4, 2019
the report on his personal Twitter and another MAD artist, Tom Richmond, confirmed on his blog that MAD would continue to print new issues with new cover art but recycled material inside.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll look back at the history of MAD Magazine from its creation to its rise to pop culture renown, meet the people who helped build it, and examine its legacy and impact on modern day humor and satire. If you were a MAD Magazine reader, what made you keep coming back, issue after issue? Do you have a favorite MAD cartoon or issue? What do you see as its place in the annuls of satire and humor history?
AirTalk contacted DC, which owns MAD Magazine, to request comment. DC replied and said that it was not commenting on the shift to their business strategy and that the magazine was not closing. An anonymous source at DC shared the following statement:
We will continue to publish MAD with a mix of new and best-of content from the archives. We will also continue to publish the end-of-year issue, books, and special collections. The magazine will no longer be on newsstands beginning this fall, however will continue to be mailed to subscribers.
GUESTS:
Maria Riedelbach, author of “Completely Mad: A History of the Comic Book and Magazine”
Tom Richmond, cartoonist and longtime illustrator for MAD Magazine; he tweets
Jason Chatfield, MAD Magazine artist and writer and president of the National Cartoonists Society, an organization of more than 500 cartoonists worldwide; he tweets
Marty Dundics, editor-in-chief of the satire magazine “Weekly Humorist” and founder of Humorist Media, which publishes ‘Weekly Humorist”; he spent more than a decade in various roles, including editor-in-chief, at National Lampoon; he tweets