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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

AirTalk

State Politics: Secretary Of State Confirms Gubernatorial Recall Election, Plus A New Report Says Newsom Over Promised On Wildfire Prevention

UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 15: California Governor Gavin Newsom attends California Governor Gavin Newsom's press onference for the official reopening of the state of California at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 15, 2021 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
California Governor Gavin Newsom attends California Governor Gavin Newsom's press conference for the official reopening of the state of California at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 15, 2021 in Universal City, California.
(
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
)
Listen 1:42:49
Today on AirTalk, we look at the latest on the gubernatorial recall election. Also on the show, we speak with Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón; talk with former LAPD chief Bill Bratton on his new book; and more.
Today on AirTalk, we look at the latest on the gubernatorial recall election. Also on the show, we speak with Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón; talk with former LAPD chief Bill Bratton on his new book; and more.

Today on AirTalk, we look at the latest on the gubernatorial recall election. Also on the show, we speak with Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón; talk with former LAPD chief Bill Bratton on his new book; and more.

Los Angeles DA George Gascón On Recall Efforts, Panel To Review Police Shootings, Criminal Justice Reform And More

Listen 18:26
Los Angeles DA George Gascón On Recall Efforts, Panel To Review Police Shootings, Criminal Justice Reform And More

Today on AirTalk, Larry talks with Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón. 

Today’s topics include: 

  • The Stand With Gascón campaign and recall efforts 

  • Several local communities issue “no confidence” votes 

  • LA DA announces panel to reexamine fatal police shootings 

    • How has law enforcement responded to the panel? 

  • Misdemeanor, parole policy and sentencing enhancements reform

  • Lawsuit alleges sheriff’s deputies beat Black man during traffic stop 

  • DA Gascón wants info on officers with misconduct history. Have law enforcement agencies responded

Guest:

George Gascón, district attorney of Los Angeles County; he tweets

and his office tweets

COVID-19 AMA: Delta Variant Continues To Spread In California, Waning COVID-19 Antibodies Trigger Discussion On Future Boosters And More

Listen 15:15
COVID-19 AMA Delta Variant Continues To Spread In California, Waning COVID-19 Antibodies Trigger Discussion On Future Boosters And More

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Shruti Gohil at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine.

Topics today include:

  • Delta variant continues to spread in California

  • COVID-19 antibodies appear to wane

  • Younger people and Black Americans are the two groups hit hardest by COVID-19

  • Sydney, Australia enters ‘scariest’ phase due to spread of Delta variant

  • Brazil passes 500,000 COVID deaths

Guest:

Shruti Gohil, M.D., professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine

How Do You Navigate Money And Spending In Your Relationship?

Listen 17:41
How Do You Navigate Money And Spending In Your Relationship

Joint accounts, separate accounts, allowances, oh my. How do you navigate the emotional and logistical straits of finances in your romantic relationship? 

Guest:

David Rae, certified financial planner and president of the firm DRM Wealth Management, based in West Hollywood, Los Angeles 

State Politics: Secretary Of State Confirms Gubernatorial Recall Election, Plus A New Report Says Newsom Over Promised On Wildfire Prevention

Listen 17:56
State Politics, Secretary Of State Confirms Gubernatorial Recall Election, Plus A New Report Says Newsom Over Promised On Wildfire Prevention

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vastly overstated wildfire prevention work completed by his administration, according to a Capital Public Radio investigation released Wednesday.

State fire officials have treated less than 18 of the 140 square miles (50 of the 365 square kilometers) that the Democratic governor has touted, the radio station reported. The land is part of 35 priority projects Newsom designated in 2019 on the heels of the deadliest wildfire season in state history. In 2020, California's fuel reduction efforts also dropped from the year before, and Newsom cut the fire prevention budget by $150 million, CapRadio reported.  The governor's office declined to comment on the investigation, and state fire officials took responsibility for Newsom sharing inaccurate information. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection had not “done our job in educating the public, nor the governor's office” on how to communicate about the efforts, Chief Tom Porter said. Republican lawmakers and those challenging Newsom in an expected recall election later this year quickly jumped on the story as evidence of mismanagement and deceptive governing.

Also on Wednesday, the recall election for Governor Newsom took another step forward as the Secretary of State’s office said that counties had submitted final signature counts following the period provided by state law that allows people who have signed the recall petition to withdraw their signatures. The final tally was more than 200,000 signatures over what’s required to trigger the recall. As POLITICO’s Jeremy B. White reports, this was an incremental step, as the governor’s office has already said it knows the signatures withdrawn in that window wouldn’t be enough to cancel the recall.

Today on AirTalk, we’ll look at the latest on the recall election and dig into the findings of the CapRadio investigation on state efforts to prevent wildfires.

With files from the Associated Press

Guests:

Dan Walters, long-time California politics observer with CALmatters, a nonprofit public interest publication; he tweets

Melanie Mason, national political correspondent for the Los Angeles Times; she tweets

Has The Pandemic Changed Your Approach To Work? And If So, For How Long?

Listen 15:20
Has The Pandemic Changed Your Approach To Work And If So, For How Long

The pandemic has made many people rethink their career goals, or whether those goals are as important as spending time with your family or checking off items from the bucket list. 

Millions of workers have decided to quit their jobs. Others are demanding hybrid working situations or reduced hours - but will the mindset last? 

Call us and tell us about whether you or people you know have reprioritized work, and if so, whether you think those shifts are permanent or temporary. Call us via 866-893-5722.

Former LAPD, NYPD Chief Bill Bratton On His New Book And The History Of American Policing

Listen 17:58
Former LAPD, NYPD Chief Bill Bratton On His New Book And The History Of American Policing

In former LAPD chief Bill Bratton’s new book, he examines the past five decades of policing in the United States, as well as his own place in the institution. 

After George Floyd’s murder by police last year and the subsequent protests that erupted throughout the country, American policing is under increasing scrutiny. After Bratton’s years in police departments around the country, he believes that the path forward is through further reforms and improvements to policing.

Today on AirTalk, we’re talking with Bill Bratton about his new book. Questions? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.

Guest:

Bill Bratton, has served as chief of the LAPD, chief of the New York City Transit Police, and commissioner of the Boston Police Department and the New York City Police Department. He is the author of the new book, “The Profession: A Memoir of Community, Race, and the Arc of Policing in America” (Penguin Random House, 2021)