AirTalk speaks with attorney Thomas Saenz, whose group, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, is suing the state, arguing that low reimbursements for doctors primarily hurt Medi-Cal patients. We also discuss Trump's visit to Paris and the newest version of the GOP health care bill; debate new admissions requirements for UC schools; and more.
New revised health care bill and Trump’s visit to Paris
A newly revised health care bill was unveiled Thursday by Senate Republicans.
GOP leaders hope the plan will repeal and replace Obamacare, and give a win to the White House. As reported by the New York Times revisions to the bill include keeping insurance costs down for consumers and retaining taxes on those with higher incomes. It would also give an additional $70 billion for states to reduce premiums and make for more affordable health care.
In other news, President Trump is putting aside differences on climate change and immigration in a friendly visit to Paris. Newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron, who’s been described as a political novice, will celebrate that country’s Bastille Day with Trump. The festivities will include a parade down the Champs Elysees. The meeting will give an opportunity for Trump and Macron to show political importance with little chance of controversy.
Following a press conference from Paris, Larry speaks to political analysts to talk about the new health care revisions and what would make a successful trip for Trump.
Guests:
Mike Dorning, White House editor for Bloomberg News; he has been following the story
Sean T. Walsh, Republican political analyst and partner at Wilson Walsh Consulting in San Francisco; he is a former adviser to California Governors Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger and a former White House staffer for Presidents Reagan and H.W. Bush
Caroline Heldman, associate professor of politics at Occidental College and author of the forthcoming book, “Protest Politics in the Marketplace: Consumer Activism in the Corporate Age” (Cornell University Press, 2017)
UC Regents might approve limited use of letters of recommendation – what’s their value?
The UC Regents board is voting Thursday on whether to approve the limited use of letters of recommendation at UC campuses.
If approved, all UC schools would be able to ask no more than 15 percent of freshman applicants to submit letters, in cases where the school needs additional information to make its decision.
This proposal has sparked a debate about the value of letters of recommendation between UC Berkeley, which in the past has wanted to ask all students for letters, and UCLA, whose chairwoman of the Academic Senate said letters can be a burden to students.
Critics of letters of recommendation say they can disadvantage students in under-served neighborhoods who don’t have the same kind of access to teachers or counselors, but proponents say they’re a well-rounded indicator of a prospective student’s qualities.
Teachers, counselors, students – what do you think of letters of recommendation? Do they help or hinder the chances of prospective students? Do they create an unequal playing field or do they level it out?
Guest:
Bruce Poch, Dean of Admission and Executive Director of College Counseling at Chadwick School, a private K-12 school in Palos Verdes Peninsula; he is also a former Dean of Admissions at Pomona College, where he read many applications and letters of recommendation
Challenges of reforming Medi-Cal come to light as lawsuit accuses state system of discrimination
Arguing that doctors don’t get paid enough to see Medi-Cal patients and therefore won’t take them on, a group of beneficiaries are suing the state of California for violating the civil rights of Latinos, who make up about half of the people on Medi-Cal.
The lawsuit is not the first time this issue has been flagged. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which is representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, sent a letter to the federal government back in 2015 asking it to find that California was violating Latinos civil rights due to how difficult it is for Medi-Cal beneficiaries to access care. The state responded in 2016 and said that there were provisions in place to remedy situations where Medi-Cal beneficiaries are denied timely access.
What are the challenges to reforming Medi-Cal? Even if this lawsuit is successful, what legislative and financial troubles would there be in terms of increasing reimbursements for doctors?
You can read the full complaint here.
Guests:
Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
Doug Badger, senior fellow at the Galen Institute, a nonprofit public policy research organization on healthcare issues; he was a senior White House adviser to President George W. Bush on health-related issues
The New Yorker’s David Remnick on turning great magazine writing into great radio
When it comes to in-depth magazine writing, few American publications rival that what’s on the pages of the New Yorker.
The magazine’s longtime editor David Remnick is a multi-hyphenate. He not only writes and edits the magazine, he is also a prolific book author and a musician. Since 2015, Remnick took on another role as the host of the “New Yorker Radio Hour.”
Larry Mantle talks to Remnick about launching a radio version of the venerable magazine, and more.
Guest:
David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker magazine since 1988 and a staff writer since 1992; he is the host of the “New Yorker Radio Hour,” which has joined KPCC’s weekend lineup, airing on Saturdays at 10:00 am
In the era of ‘peak TV,’ how do you decide what to watch?
Emmy nominations are out Thursday, brightening the spotlight on some of TV’s heavyweights and newcomers.
A nod of recognition from the Television Academy is a boon for networks, granting additional buzz and viewership. But for many TV watchers, it also means adding to a seemingly never-ending list of binge-worthy shows, with too little time to get through them all.
There is simply too much television. So how do you wade through the endless options? How do you decide what to watch and what to skip? And what are your recommendations from this year’s pool of Emmy nominees?
Call in at 866-893-5722 and share your tips with us.
Oh, and...
Guest:
Dominic Patten, chief TV critic and a senior editor at the entertainment news site, Deadline Hollywood, who's been following the Emmy nominations and the notable snubs