House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s surprising primary loss may shake things up for California. Kevin McCarthy, a Republican congressman from Bakersfield, is considered a likely candidate to fill Cantor’s position when he steps down this summer. After, apps like Square simplify the process of tipping, calculating percentages for you and making payment easier. But they also lead to more spending. Are these apps forcing people to tip more?
Could Eric Cantor’s loss change the California GOP?
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s surprising primary loss may shake things up for California. Kevin McCarthy, a Republican congressman from Bakersfield, is considered a likely candidate to fill Cantor’s position when he steps down this summer.
If McCarthy, a viable fundraiser and the current House Whip, were to become the Majority Leader, it could impact California’s political influence in Congress. McCarthy focuses on key issues that face major opposition in California, including easing environmental rules, spending on oil and gas, and expanding fracking programs. If he were chosen as Majority Leader, he would be under pressure to cut the budget, and would be the face of a party diametrically opposed to many of California’s big-government programs.
How would McCarthy’s influence in a Congressional leadership position differ from Nancy Pelosi’s former Speaker of the House clout? How will California policy and politics change if McCarthy wins Cantor’s seat -- will it affect the state GOP? What do McCarthy and his Bakersfield district represent for the Republican party?
Guest:
Evan Halper, writes about policy from Washington DC for the Los Angeles Times
Sunni militants threaten to march on Baghdad after capturing Mosul
The militant group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) vowed today to attack Baghdad and further destabilize the country.
The Shiite-led government under Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is seeking to declare a state of emergency, after ISIS seized control of the second largest city in Iraq, Mosul.
The group is reportedly comprised of 7,000 - 10,000 fighters some of whom spilled over from Syria to capture Mosul. Iraqi soldiers presented little resistance with some dumping their uniforms and fleeing the city.
he insurgency has maintained control of Falluja for more than six months, but as The New York Times reports, the seizure of Mosul is more ominous for the stability of Iraq. James Jeffrey, a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq told the Times, "It's a shock. It's extremely serious. It's far more serious than Falluja.” Does the current violence threaten to split Iraq? What role is the US playing?
Guest:
Tim Arango, Baghdad Bureau Chief, The New York Times
Does new-tech tipping trick you into paying more?
Small businesses and restaurants are embracing apps that allow for easy tipping. You may already have used one — an iPad or phone plug-in that allows you to swipe your card and then asks how much you’d like to tip. By default, the choices are 15, 20, and 25 percent, with options for a custom tip, or, if you’d like to feel incredibly guilty, no tip.
Tipping is contentious enough without technology, customers have to decide whether they want to tip before or after tax, whether to include drinks, how much to tip on take-out, at-the-counter orders, and more.
Apps like Square simplify the process, calculating percentages for you and making payment easier. But they also lead to more spending.
Tips go way up at businesses that use tipping apps — customers are more likely to pay up when a waiter or cashier swivels an iPad to let them add a tip. Is it guilt that business are cashing in on? Or ease? Is technology changing the culture of tipping?
Guests:
Rachel Levin, San Francisco based reporter and contributor to Pacific Standard Magazine
Michael McCall, Professor and Chair, Department of Marketing and Law at Ithaca College, visiting professor at Cornell University Hotel School
'Do Fathers Matter?: New book takes a scientific look at the role of dads
Do fathers matter? That is the question science journalist Paul Raeburn explores in his new book, Do Fathers Matter?: What Science Is Telling Us About the Parent We've Overlooked
While we have entered an era in which paternity leave is not a strange concept, it took years of research to show the influence of fathers on their children is profound, from conception through adulthood.
Raeburn dives deep into the genetic, social, evolutionary, socio-economic, psychological and the personal role of fatherhood. It’s a fascinating story of scientific discovery that will change the way we think about fathers. In addition, he peels back the veil on the assumption that mothers matter more to a child’s health and survival, an idea that has played out in the home, in the media, in the courtroom, in the lab.
How did your own father influence you, compared to your mother? If your dad was not present, what effect do you think it had? If you’re a father, what do you think of Raeburn’s research?
Guest:
Paul Raeburn, Author, “Do Fathers Matter? What Science Is Telling Us About the Parent We’ve Overlooked.” Raeburn writes the About Fathers blog for Psychology Today and is the chief media critic for the Knight Science Journalism Tracker at MIT. He contributes to The New York Times, Discover, Scientific American and The Huffington Post.
How renters are dealing with SoCal’s rent crisis?
California’s economy continues to shine brighter compared to the rest of the country’s, according to the latest UCLA Anderson Forecast released Thursday. Growth in the state is driven largely by the improving housing market. Home prices, of course, have risen dramatically, but the numbers of foreclosed homes have also fallen—a positive indicator of the health of the sector.
But home sales have been flat. Would-be buyers, frustrated by bidding wars and tight inventory, are being pushed into the rental market instead. KPCC’s business reporter Ben Bergman has been looking at the rent crisis in Southern California, where residents pay as much as 40% or more of their income on rent.
Guests:
Ben Bergman, KPCC’s business reporter who’s been looking at rental prices in Southern California. His second piece in the series, “High Rent, Few Options,” airs today.
Adrian Glick Kudler, senior editor, CurbedLA, a Los Angeles neighborhood and real estate blog.
LAFF filmmakers on Los Angeles as cinematic muse
The Los Angeles Film Festival is underway and this year, the festival is shining a spotlight on its namesake city with a new program called "LA Muse." It features 11 films shot or inspired by Los Angeles, from "Echo Park," about the budding romance between a British expat and a westside transplant in the hip L.A. enclave, to "Eat With Me," which follows a young, gay chef as he reluctantly deals with living with a new roommate: his conservative mom.
How do these filmmakers in the LA Muse program see Los Angeles? How is the city captured and reflected in their films?
Guest: David Au, director and writer of Eat With Me, one of 11 films that is part of the Los Angeles Film Festival’s new LA Muse program. Eat With Me is screening on Sun. June 15 at 4:30pm at Regal Cinema L.A. Live. Rush tickets are still available.
Guest: Amanda Marsalis, director of Echo Park, which is part of LAFF’s new LA Muse program featuring films inspired by or shot in the city. Echo Park will be screening on Sat. June 14 at 6:45pm at Regal Cinema L.A. Live. The film is sold out.
New book traces the history of the orange and its impact on California
The history of the orange is juicy. The fruit is emblematic of California and sun-kissed West Coast dreams.
In his new book, "The Orange and the Dream of California," author David Boulé recounts the history of the orange, tracing the story of the orange’s origins and its cultural and financial power. Boulé’s writing is accompanied by color photos, postcards, and classic advertisements -- a fully formed picture of the iconic and symbolic orange and its impact on California.
How did the orange embody the ideal of a fruitful life in California? What is the history of the fruit in our state?
Guest:
David Boulé, author of The Orange and the Dream of California