Larry discusses the latest Orange County news, the Iranian presidential elections and the new book by Robert Wright, "The Evolution of God."
Presidential elections in Iran
Iran's highly polarizing President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad is in the fight of his life. Tomorrow's election will decide on a new Iranian President, and Ahmedinejad is in a neck-and-neck race with reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. The outcome is expected to have little direct impact on Iran's key policies, which are dictated the country's ruling Islamic clerics. But a change of government could ease Iran's isolation and give the international community a new opportunity to engage in negotiations over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Jim Walsh, International security expert at the Security Studies Program at M.I.T.'s Center for International Studies
Abbas Milani, Director of Iranian studies at Stanford University and co-director of the Iran Democracy Project at the Hoover Institution in Palo Alto
Hossein Hedjazi, producer and host of a show on "Pars TV," a satellite TV program broadcast out of LA internationally, in Farsi
Orange County journalists roundtable
Larry Mantle talks about the latest news events and developments in Orange County.
Steve Greenhut, Orange County Register senior editorial writer and columnist
William “Bill” Lobdell, Orange County journalist formerly with the L.A. Times and author of "Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America - and Found Unexpected Peace."
California government shutdown?
Governor Schwarzenegger has threatened to allow the state government to shut down unless the California Legislature reaches a budget deal. He stated that he will not approve emergency borrowing to keep the California afloat unless state officials agree on a budget plan. State Controller John Chiang has said in order to borrow money, a budget deal must be reached by that start of the fiscal year in July. He expects the state to run out of cash by the end of that month. Larry Mantle finds out more about the governor's attempt to spur lawmakers into action.
Michael Rothfeld, staff writer for the L.A. Times
The evolution of God
Robert Wright, author and senior fellow at the New America Foundation, believes that there is a hidden pattern in the great monotheistic religions and a “hidden code” in their scriptures. In his new book. "The Evolution of God," Wright argues that the underlying message of the scriptures reveals the key to harmony and reconciliation among the Abrahamic faiths. He also shows how today these faiths can reconcile themselves with science and how the scientific worldview leaves room for something that can meaningfully be called the divine. Wright joins Larry Mantle to discuss how his research could alter our understanding God and religious faith.
Robert Wright, author of "The Evolution of God"