Larry talks about SAG's contract approval, the politics of health care reform, California's budget woes and all the latest science news.
SAG members approve contract
The year-long disputed Screen Actors Guild contract just passed with 78% approval. Supported by Tom Hanks and George Clooney, the two-year contract ensures that the union will receive an increase of 3% immediately and a 3.5% raise after a year when TV shows are played on online sites like Hulu. However, current union president Alan Rosenberg and former presidents Ed Asner and Martin Sheen rejected the contract, claiming that it did not give actors full credit for their work when put online. The contract won in a landslide with 35% of 110,000 members voting. Larry Mantle and guests will discuss the details of the agreement.
Jonathan Handel, Entertainment Attorney at TroyGould (troygould.com)
Ned Vaughn, actor, SAG National Board Member
California Democrats unveil budget plan
Yesterday California Senate Democrats unveiled a budget plan that would take heavily from Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed $4.5 billion rainy-day fund. The Democrats hope to lessen the cuts to health, welfare, and student-aid programs that the governor proposed to deal with the state's $24 billion deficit. The governor wants to keep a rainy-day fund in case the economy continues to suffer or program costs exceed their budget. Some Democrats argue that the money should be used now because the rainy day has come. Larry Mantle finds out more about the plan.
Bob Stern, President of the Center for Governmental Studies
Aaron McLear, spokesman for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
The politics of health care reform
Larry Mantle talks about the behind-the-scenes battles happening on Capitol Hill over health care reform.
Xavier Becerra, Democratic Congressman representing the 31st district
John Campbell, Republican Congressman representing the 48th congressional district
Michael Shermer: The latest science stories
Larry Mantle talks with Michael Shermer of The Skeptics Sociey and “Scientific American” about the latest science stories in the news including Ida, the 47-million-year old missing link in primate evolution, an update on vaccines and autism, the science of financial bubbles and bursts, the psychology of risk aversion, economic conspiracy theories, and does the legalization of marriage decrease rates of straight marriage, among other topics.
Michael Shermer, Publisher, and founder/director of the International Skeptics Society; columnist for Scientific American. Author of "Science Friction: Where the Known Meets the Unknown," "The Science of Good and Evil: Why People Cheat, Gossip, Share, and Follow the Golden Rule"; author of best seller"Why People Believe in Weird Things and How We Believe"
Aretha Franklin
Larry talks with Aretha about her illustrious career and her first appearance in 35 years at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, June 26th at 8:30 pm.
Aretha Franklin, vocalist