Today on AirTalk, we discuss President Joe Biden's meeting with state leaders on wildfire prevention efforts. Also on the show, we break down the latest COVID-19 news; talk with outgoing LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner about his biggest challenges; and more.
An Exit Interview With Outgoing LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner
It’s safe to say LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner’s time in office was unlike any of his predecessors’. The former investment banker, deputy mayor of Los Angeles and L.A. Times publisher announced earlier this year that he’d be stepping down from his position at the end of June after three years which included bargaining through a teacher strike and navigating a school district through a global pandemic.
Today, on Superintendent Beutner’s final day in office, Larry talks to him about navigating the second-largest school district in the U.S. through major challenges,and the lessons he learned along the way that he plans to bring with him to his next role.
Guest:
Austin Beutner, superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District
COVID-19 AMA: State Masking Guidelines Conflict With LA County Recommendation; Delta Variant Accounts For 26% Of U.S. COVID Cases And More
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner of Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.
Topics today include:
California mask guidance conflicts with LA County recommendation
Delta variant now accounts for 26% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S.
Weekly coronavirus cases among children drop to lowest rate since May 2020
COVID-19 caused a significant life expectancy decline in Brazil
Harvard and MIT make face masks that could detect COVID-19
Moderna says vaccine is effective against Delta and other variants
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
Your Brain On Our Shaky Post-Pandemic Re-Opening
If you’ve been to an unmasked party after California’s reopening, you may have experienced a feeling of transgression and social anxiety. A sense of relearning how to interact with large groups of people, in person no less!
How have our brains changed during the restrictions of the pandemic, and what’s happening to them now?
Guest:
April Thames, associate professor of psychology and director of the Social Neuroscience in Health Psychology Lab at USC
Newsom Facing Criticism As He Meets With President Biden To Talk Wildfire Prevention Efforts, Higher Pay For Firefighters
President Joe Biden wants to boost firefighter pay to $15 an hour. It’s one of the things he and his administration are discussing with west coast state leaders, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom. According to the LA Times, the governor is also pushing the administration for additional resources for wildfire prevention.
The Wednesday meeting comes as Newsom removed more than half a billion dollars in promised fuel reduction spending. That’s according to an investigation from CapRadio and NPR. The investigation finds that Newsom’s plan rolls back a more ambitious plan and target goal from his predecessor, former Gov. Jerry Brown, in 2018. Newsom’s plan calls for treating 500,000 acres by 2025, whereas Brown’s plan mandated the state hit that target by 2023. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the president’s meeting with state leaders, where wildfire prevention efforts stand and the financial implications. Do you have thoughts or questions? Call 866-893-5722.
President Biden met with the governors of Western states today to discuss wildfire prevention
Guest:
Scott Rodd, state government reporter for CapRadio and author of the piece, “Gov. Gavin Newsom Retreats On $1 Billion Wildfire Prevention Plan Ahead Of Meeting With President Biden;” he tweets
How And Why Was Bill Cosby’s Sex Assault Conviction Overturned?
Pennsylvania’s highest court overturned. Bill Cosby’s sex assault conviction Wednesday after finding an agreement with a previous prosecutor prevented him from being charged in the case.
Cosby has served more than two years of a three- to 10-year sentence at a state prison near Philadelphia. He had vowed to serve all 10 years rather than acknowledge any remorse over the 2004 encounter with accuser Andrea Constand.
We dive into how this all happened, through the lens of law, celebrity and the MeToo movement.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Ambrosio Rodriguez, former prosecutor; he is currently a criminal defense attorney at The Rodriguez Law Group in Los Angeles; he led the sex crimes team and was in the homicide unit in the Riverside D.A.’s office; he tweets at
Laurie L. Levenson, professor of criminal law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and former federal prosecutor
Frank Sinatra’s Life From His Manager’s Point Of View
Tony Oppedisano was Frank Sinatra’s friend and manager, and now he’s also an author of “Sinatra and Me: In the Wee Small Hours,” which dives into Sinatra’s life. We sit down with Oppedisano to discuss the book.
Guest:
Tony Oppedisano, author of “Sinatra and Me: In the Wee Small Hours” (Scribner, June 2021); he is a musician, producer and Frank Sinatra’s longtime friend and road manager