Will Gen. McChrystal stay or go? Investigating abuses at LA County's Department of Probation. World Cup update. Should Mayor Villaraigosa pay for freebie tickets? Later, a history of the strange days of Prohibition in America. Nick Roman is in for Larry.
[UPDATED] President Obama relieves Gen. McChrystal, nominates Gen. Petraeus
UPDATED 10:55am PT: Obama formally announces he has accepted Gen. McChrystal's resignation and nominated Gen. David Petraeus. Is Petraeus the man for the job? Did Obama make the right move? General Stanley McChrystal offered to resign his post as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan after a furor over comments he made to Rolling Stone magazine. McChrystal was summoned to the Oval Office to explain his public criticism of the administration.
Note on today's audio:
Part 1 - McChrystal's likely departure.
Part 2 - President Obama's formal announcement followed by analysis from Peter Nicholas.
Guests:
Peter Nicholas, White House correspondent for the Tribune Washington Bureau, which serves the LA Times, Chicago Tribune and other papers
David Cloud, National Security Reporter for the Tribune
Scrutinizing internal investigations at L.A. County's Probation Department
Last March, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors ordered a review of internal investigations at the county Probation Department. In its report, the L.A. County Office of Independent Review found at least 31 cases where employees committed misconduct and abuse, but will probably escape discipline because their cases were not completed within the statutory one-year deadline. Charges against sworn peace officers in the department include cruelty to a child, sex with a minor, and battery. What's wrong with the Probation Department's system of investigation and what measures are being taken to improve it?
Guests:
Mark Ridley-Thomas, Member of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 2
Frank Stoltze, KPCC Reporter
Goooooal! World Cup update: U.S. advances to next stage
The United States has advanced to the next round of World Cup competition after defeating Algeria with a dramatic goal by Landon Donovan in the final minutes of the match. England also made it through after beating Slovenia, while France is out of the tournament following the team's very public implosion. Who are the contenders to look out for as the tournament progresses to the second round? Guest host Nick Roman gets the latest on the World Cup.
Guest:
Steve Cohen, host of World Football Daily.com, a daily podcast devoted to the world of soccer
Is Mayor Villaraigosa’s use of free tickets ethical?
During the NBA finals, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was frequently spotted enjoying courtside seats at Staples Center for Lakers games and since 2005, he’s reportedly accepted free tickets to over a dozen concerts. His ongoing practice of accepting thousands of dollars in free tickets is currently under investigation by the City Ethics Commission. Villaraigosa argues that he should not have to report his free tickets as gifts since he has been representing Los Angeles and conducting official public business at these events. State law prohibits politicians from accepting over $420 in gifts from a single source in one year. Should the mayor be “on duty” at major LA games? Or must he pay to play?
Guests:
David Zahniser, staff writer, Los Angeles Times
Bob Stern, President, Center for Governmental Studies
Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition
In 1919, the US passed the Eighteenth Amendment banning the sale and consumption of alcohol. The result: one of the worst crime sprees in US history. The rise of organized crime around Prohibition is well known, but Okrent looks at a forgotten aspect of this period: the reaction and response of ordinary citizens to this great social experiment. Daniel Okrent joins guest host Nick Roman to discuss this strange era that lasted from 1920 to 1933.
Guest:
Daniel Okrent, writer of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition (Scribner). He was the first public editor of The New York Times, editor at large at Time, and managing editor of Life magazine.