Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself yesterday - but some are calling for the use of a special prosecutor; Trump signaled he might shift to merit-based immigration - how that would be reflected in an executive order; plus Larry and KPCC critics review the week's latest films, including "Logan" and "Before I Fall," as well as the best social thrillers. TGI-FilmWeek!
A quick review of special prosecutors and whether Dems will get their wish for one
Despite White House support, Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself yesterday from any probe that examines communications between Trump aides and Moscow during the president’s 2016 campaign.
The move came after revelations that Sessions twice spoke with the Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, and didn't say so when pressed, under oath, by Congress. Though Sessions rejected any suggestion that he tried to mislead anyone, he did allow that he should have been more careful in his testimony. Now the question remains whether Democrats will prevail in getting a special prosecutor. Republicans are strongly resisting.
But if a special prosecutor joins the investigation, how much of this will be about fairness, not politics?
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Jordan Fabian, White House Correspondent for The Hill; he tweets
Mike Fuchs, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. He served as deputy national security director for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign.
John Eastman, professor law and community service and director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence at Chapman University
How Trump’s appreciation for Canada, Australia’s merit-based immigration systems could be reflected in new executive order
As the saga of President Trump’s immigration policy continues, the U.S. watches and waits for a new executive order to be issued.
The White House had indicated that it would release the new order this week, but delayed the rollout after his address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
Rumors are circulating about what might or might not be included in the new order after the previous one, which was unveiled in late January and barred entry to the U.S. to people from seven predominantly Muslim countries, was temporarily stayed by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals while legal arguments on the order’s constitutionality are made. In the meantime, President Trump has been lauding the merit-based immigration systems of countries like Canada and Australia, both
Nick Adams new book, Green Card Warrior, is a must read. The merit-based system is the way to go. Canada, Australia! @foxandfriends
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2017
about it and mentioning it during his address to Congress.
How do Australia and Canada’s merit-based immigration policies work? Could the system, or at least aspects of it, work in the U.S.? Will we see any policies from other countries’ immigration systems reflected in President Trump’s anticipated executive order?
Guest:
Alan Gomez, immigration reporter for USA Today based in Miami; he tweets
Arrest made in connection to threats against Jewish centers across nation
An arrest has been made in connection to a series of threats made against Jewish centers in New York.
Juan Thompson, 31, is accused of making threats against a Jewish history museum, various Jewish schools, and a chapter of the Anti-Defamation League -- all in New York.
His arrest comes after the recent wave of bomb threats against Jewish establishments that have swept across the nation. Jewish centers in Los Angeles and Orange counties have also been targets, including the Westside Jewish Community Center in L.A., and the Merage Jewish Community Center in Irvine. It’s unclear whether those threats are related to what other Jewish centers of worship have experienced, police say.
If you are part of Southern California’s Jewish community, call 866 893 5722 and let us know how you feel about these threats, and what conversations have you had with your friends and families.
Guests:
Colleen Long, AP reporter who’s been following the arrest
David Suissa, president of TRIBE Media Corp. and the LA-based Jewish Journal
FilmWeek: ‘Logan,’ ‘The Shack,’ ‘Before I Fall’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Justin Chang review this weekend’s new movie releases including: Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine return in “Logan;” William P. Young’s “The Shack” adaptation starring Sam Worthington and Octavia Spencer; the déjà vu drama-mystery “Before I Fall;” and more.
TGI-FilmWeek!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dcM3gPA-Qs&t=92s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqUcDru8plY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPvb9F0RHVs
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC and host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?;”she tweets
Justin Chang, film critic for KPCC and the Los Angeles Times; he tweets
* Correction: During the interview, host Larry Mantle identified Jesse Wakeman and Louisa Krause as stars of the film without naming the director Kris Avedisian, who also plays a lead role. The film was also co-written by Avedisian, Wakeman and Kyle Espeleta, not Krause and Tyrone Alcorn. We regret the error.
What ‘Get Out’ does with the horror genre and your favorite ‘social thrillers’
Jordan Peele’s directorial debut “Get Out,” which takes on racism using the vehicle of horror-comedy, dominated the box office last weekend and racked up a nearly perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Peele, of Key & Peele fame, plans to create four more “social thrillers,” each dealing with a different social demon.
A “social thriller,” as Peele explains it, is a film in which the object of horror stems from humanity itself – albeit in a heightened way.
Peele cites films “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Stepford Wives” as examples. But relatively recent films such as“The Babadook,” “Funny Games,” and “The Mist,” as well as classics like “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and “American Psycho” all fit the bill.
We want to hear from you – what are your favorite “social thrillers?” What issues and anxieties do they reflect? And what social issues would you want to see explored via the horror genre?
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC and host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?;”she tweets
Justin Chang, film critic for KPCC and the Los Angeles Times; he tweets