Obama's approval ratings hit new low. Mosque expansions face opposition--what's behind it? Jerry Brown defends California's program of DNA sampling of suspects. Is the Tea Party racist? Later, a look at the latest developments in artificial intelligence.
Poll: President Obama’s approval rating hits new low
The herculean task of guiding the country through two wars and the worst economic climate since the Great Depression has taken a toll on Congress’ approval rating - and it now seems to be having an effect on President Obama’s approval rating as well. A recent Washington Post-ABC poll shows Barack Obama’s approval rating sinking to 50 percent from a high of 69 percent in April of 2009. Anti-incumbent sentiment is running rampant, with Republicans polling just slightly better than the Democrats across the aisle. Obama is polling the lowest in his handling of the federal budget deficit and the highest in his duties as commander in chief. Both Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan’s administrations lost seats in Congress during their first midterm elections, but went on to easily win re-election two years later. How will the Dems fare in November and what might those results mean for 2012?
Guest:
Doyle McManus, Washington Columnist covering national and international politics, Los Angeles Times
Mosque expansions face opposition: what’s at stake—infrastructure or religion?
Plans to construct a mosque near Ground Zero in New York have made big headlines—now, a proposed expansion to a Temecula mosque is coming before the city’s planning commission. Some critics there say they are concerned about traffic and noise pollution, while others are questioning not the specific building plans, but rather the very nature of Islam and its practice in the United States. Should certain religious edifices face stricter scrutiny than others? Or should city planners only take environmental impacts into consideration? And what's ultimately at stake, land development or religion?
Guests:
Samuel Goldsmith, reporter, New York Daily News
Jeff Horseman, reporter covering Temecula for The Press-Enterprise
Fair to use a son's DNA to convict his father?: Jerry Brown defends California's familial DNA program
Last week, authorities apprehended a man alleged to be responsible for the serial 'Grim Sleeper' murders in Los Angeles. They built their case using a man's DNA, but it didn't belong to the suspect. Investigators were led instead to his incarcerated son. California is one of only a handful of states that allows a family member's DNA to be used to build cases against individuals who may not even have a criminal record. Now the ACLU is suing the state on the grounds that this use of the database infringes on the right to privacy.
Guest:
Jerry Brown, California Attorney General; and Democratic nominee for Governor
NOTE: We’ll talk with the ACLU lawyer arguing the case on tomorrow’s AirTalk
Is the Tea Party racist?: NAACP resolution says yes
The NAACP is expected to vote on a resolution condemning racism within the Tea Party movement at the civil rights group's annual convention in Kansas City today. The resolution charges that Tea Party supporters have engaged in "explicitly racist behavior" and have "displayed signs and posters intended to degrade people of color generally and President Barack Obama specifically." What does the NAACP aim to accomplish with the resolution, and how pervasive are racist attitudes within the Tea Party movement? [Update] Larry Mantle talks with Hilary Shelton of the NAACP about the resolution
Guest:
Joe Hicks, social critic and Vice President, Community Advocates, Inc.
Artificial Intelligence – how smart are our machines?
The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence is holding its annual seminar this week in Atlanta. It’s a meeting of the best organic minds in the artificial intelligence business. And it’s a chance for scientists to compare the latest research in robotics and AI. Lately, one of the questions that scientists are exploring is how will society respond when thinking, talking machines arrive on the scene? Many scientists believe that, after years of false starts, such technology is on the horizon. If they have intelligence, will machines have civil rights? What will protect us from machines that may not always have our best interests in mind? And will artificial intelligence reinforce or undercut our humanity?
Guests:
Eric Horvitz, distinguished scientist, Microsoft; immediate past president of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.
Christof Koch, Caltech professor of engineering and biology, and author of The Quest for Consciousness: A Neurobiological Approach (Roberts & Company).
David Levy, CEO Intelligent Toys; two-time winner of the Loebner Prize; and author of Love and Sex with Robots (Harper Collins).