AirTalk starts with breaking news of Press Secretary Sean Spicer's resignation this morning and the appointment of Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director. We also ask listeners to share how their views of O.J. Simpson have evolved over the years after being granted parole yesterday; review this week's new releases on FilmWeek; and more.
What happens next following reports of Sean Spicer’s resignation as White House press secretary
The White House’s embattled press secretary is out, according to multiple sources.
New York Times White House reporter Glenn Thrush first broke the story,
.@PressSec resigned after vehemently objecting to appointment at 10 a.m. Friday of Anthony Scaramucci as WH Communications director, per SAO
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) July 21, 2017
that Spicer resigned this morning following White House appointed Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director on Friday morning. Scaramucci, a financier and global investment firm founder from Long Island, was offered the job around 10 a.m. Eastern Time. The New York Times reports that President Trump asked Spicer to stay on the staff, but Spicer felt that Trump was making a mistake appointing Scaramucci and resigned. Neither the White House nor Spicer himself have confirmed the reports.
.
resigned after vehemently objecting to appointment at 10 a.m. Friday of Anthony Scaramucci as WH Communications director, per SAO
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush)
.@PressSec resigned after vehemently objecting to appointment at 10 a.m. Friday of Anthony Scaramucci as WH Communications director, per SAO
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) July 21, 2017
Rumors that Spicer was on the outs at the White House have been circulating for some time, though the White House has never said this was the case. Spicer’s resignation also creates questions about the future of the White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, who brought Spicer onto the transition team.
Spicer tweeted that he will be staying on through August.
It's been an honor & a privilege to serve
& this amazing country. I will continue my service through August
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec)
It's been an honor & a privilege to serve @POTUS @realDonaldTrump & this amazing country. I will continue my service through August
— Kayleigh McEnany 45 Archived (@PressSec45) July 21, 2017
So, who exactly is Anthony Scaramucci? Why did Sean Spicer disagree so strongly with his appointment? Will other White House staff members follow suit? What happens next for Sean Spicer? How much of a distraction will this prove to be for the White House?
Guests:
Josh Dawsey, White House reporter for Politico; he tweets
Erik Wemple, media critic for the Washington Post; he tweets
Sean T. Walsh, Republican political analyst and partner at Wilson Walsh George Ross 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
Lanhee Chen, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and former policy director for the Romney-Ryan 2012 presidential campaign; he tweets
As the O.J. Simpson story continues, how has your opinion changed of the trial?
It’s been more than 20 years since the former NFL running back and Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson was found not guilty of a double-murder at the L.A. Superior Courthouse.
Conflict with the law didn’t end after Simpson was found not guilty of a double murder. He was incarcerated in 2008 for kidnapping and armed robbery. Simpson was freed Thursday on parole from a Las Vegas medium security prison. And perhaps the most interesting thing about Simpson's story is the public's continuing fascination over his career, trial and famous Bronco chase.
So given Simpson’s release, has your opinion of him changed? Are you more or less sympathetic to him now than during the 1995 trial? And why is Simpson's story so gripping after all these years?
Guest:
Laurie L. Levenson, former federal prosecutor and a professor of law at Loyola Law School; she was an analyst for CBS during the O.J. Simpson trial
City officials, AirTalk listeners share thoughts on how to prevent jumpers from Pasadena's Colorado Street Bridge
After an uptick in deaths to start this year, including six deaths since March, the city of Pasadena is once again looking at a permanent fix to the problem of jumpers on the Colorado Street Bridge.
At a meeting of Pasadena’s Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, officials heard a presentation on the bridge’s history, the suicide barriers already in place and the temporary mesh fencing that’s being installed now while a permanent solution is devised. City officials say their area of focus are alcoves in the bridge, which offer beautiful views but also easier access for potential jumpers. Solutions include increasing bridge patrols, installing suicide help line call boxes, putting up a mesh barrier or safety netting and even planting trees below the bridge to put an obstacle in the way of a clear path to the bottom.
Not long after construction of the iconic Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena was completed in 1913, city officials realized they had a problem: people were leaping off of it to their deaths. It began during the Great Depression in the 1930s, during which time 79 people committed suicide from the bridge. City officials quickly began designing mitigation techniques and have updated them through the years, but the problem still exists. From 2006-2016 there have been 28 people who jumped from the bridge to their deaths.
How can the city of Pasadena stop people from jumping from the Colorado Street Bridge? Do you think a solution like a mesh fence or a safety net below the bridge take away from the historical and scenic value of the bridge? What would you suggest the city do to mitigate this issue?
If you or someone you know are considering suicide or need support or assistance, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Guest:
Michael Johnson, director of the Department of Public Health for the City of Pasadena
How Caltrans will spend your gas tax money
Californians are going to be paying more at the pump.
That’s because of the transportation bill recently passed by the California Legislature. But the tax also means changes are coming to state roads in need of repair. At least, that’s the thought behind an ambitious plan from the California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans.
Plans include a $2.6 million project starting this month to resurface more than three miles of the 605, or San Gabriel Freeway, between El Monte and West Covina. L.A. County’s Route 1 will get $7.2 million towards a pavement preservation project, and Route 14, also known as the Antelope Valley Freeway, will take $3.5 million to resurface roads between Newhall Avenue and Friendly Valley Parkway. Ventura County will see a $2.8 million road resurfacing project for Highway 101. Interstate 710 in Long Beach was promised a similar plan for $2.3 million.
Larry speaks to the director of Caltrans to find out more.
Guest:
Malcom Dougherty, director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
FilmWeek: ‘Dunkirk,’ ‘Girls Trip,’ ‘Valerian’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Claudia Puig and Justin Chang review this weekend’s new movie releases including:
- "Dunkirk" in wide release
- "Girls Trip" in wide release
- "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" in wide release
- "Landline" at ArcLight Hollywood and The Landmark
- "The Midwife" at Laemmle's Royal Theatre
- "The Wrong Light" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
- "Swim Team" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
- "Killing Ground" at Arena Cinelounge Sunset
- "First Kill" at Laemmle's Music Hall
- "The Boom (Il Boom)" at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts Theater
Critics' Hits
- Justin & Claudia: "Dunkirk"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7O7BtBnsG4
- Justin: "Girls Trip"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jE61BzKmgQ
- Claudia: "Landline"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aIu1zB4o9c
Mixed Feelings
- Claudia: "Killing Ground"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3ePiwb0NxQ
- Justin: "Landline"
Misses!
- Justin: "Valerian"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BszXhUjJz00
- Claudia: "First Kill"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyjMkzPAXww
Guests:
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association; she tweets
Justin Chang, film critic for KPCC and the Los Angeles Times; he tweets
Remembering actor Martin Landau and filmmaker George Romero
The world of film lost two big names this past weekend: actor Martin Landau and filmmaker George Romero.
Landau, whose patient but steady rise to fame eventually won him a best supporting Oscar as Bela Lugosi in “Ed Wood,” died on Saturday from “unexpected complications,” the Hollywood Reporter confirmed. The 89-year-old actor was also famous for his master of disguise Rollin Hand role during the golden age TV-series “Mission: Impossible.”
Father of the zombie movie, Romero, died Sunday at 77 after a “brief but aggressive battle with lung cancer” a family statement said. For many, it was Romero’s 1968 “Night of the Living Dead” and subsequent “Dead” series that gave birth to to the modern horror genre, and captivated audiences with a new appeal for the undead on screen.
AirTalk gives tribute to both men on FilmWeek today, inviting listeners to share their favorite Martin Landau roles and most memorable zombie movies inspired by Romero. Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association; she tweets
Justin Chang, film critic for KPCC and the Los Angeles Times; he tweets