After Sunday night's debate, some are calling Bernie Sanders' reaction to Hillary Clinton's interruption sexist; discussing the psychology, security and law issues surrounding Erin Andrews' settlement and comparing the foreign policies of Sanders and Clinton.
Sharp exchanges between Bernie and Hillary spark gender politics controversy
Despite all the back and forth over policy at Sunday night's Democratic debate, it was Bernie Sanders' rebuke of Hillary Clinton that most stoked online conversation.
Some said they were outraged that Sanders would behave so sexistly. Others thought the criticism of Sanders played to stereotypes of women needing protection. This has struck a nerve on both sides.
Was Sanders’ response to Clinton something you think he'd never do with a man? If so, why not? Does the criticism of Sanders imply Clinton needs protecting from a male candidate? Is this merely an example of heavy users of social media's need to find something to respond to emotionally? Are we dealing with users who've developed an ongoing emotional need to react?
Guests:
Lori Cox Han, Professor of Political Science, Chapman University; Author, "In It to Win It: Electing Madam President" (Bloomsbury; 2015)
Jennifer Lawless, Director, Women & Politics Institute at American University; Professor Government; Author "Running from Office: Why Young Americans Are Turned Off to Politics" (Oxford University Press; 2015)
What Erin Andrews’ $55M settlement says about psychology, security, and the law
Sports reporter Erin Andrews won a $55-million judgement yesterday in her lawsuit against a Nashville hotel where she was secretly videotaped while nude.
The man who admitted altering a peephole to take the video was also found liable. His share is 51 percent. The hotel's share is 49. The video was taken in 2009. The perpetrator is serving a two-and-a-half year criminal sentence.
Andrews provided emotional testimony about how demoralizing it was to find out millions of people had viewed the video online. Though the $55-million can't undo her trauma, it's a big award.
The jury decided on it after just seven hours of deliberation. If you've experienced a similar violation, where video or photos of you were posted online without your consent, how did you deal with it? What effect has it had on your life or work? Did you pursue legal action? Was it effective? And what are the implications for hotel security (Andrews claimed that the hotel bore partial responsibility because it facilitated the perpetrator's access to her room)?
His request for the room next to hers was granted by the hotel. He apparently found out where she was staying by pretending to be part of her travel party.
What effect might this judgement have on hotel security and privacy?
If you are or have been a victim of stalking and need help, the number to call is 855-4-Victim, or click here for a list of resources.
Guests:
Chris Muller, Professor of the Practice in the School of Hospitality Administration at Boston University
Alison Triessl, criminal defense attorney and president of the Los Angeles County Criminal Courts Bar Association
Sandra Henriquez, Executive Director the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault based in Sacramento
Debating drone strikes as White House prepares to release first-ever casualty figures
The Obama administration will disclose how many people have been killed in American drone and counterterrorism strikes since 2009.
The disclosure is expected to happen in weeks, and comes after sustained criticism from human rights groups for the White House’s lack of transparency on the issue.
The release will certainly reinvigorate the debate over the use of military drone strikes in U.S. counterterrorism campaigns overseas. Champions of drone warfare believe they provide a cheaper and safer way to combat terrorism, but critics they claim too many innocent lives.
Guests:
Mary Ellen O'Connell, Professor of International Law and International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame
Paul Scharre, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a national security and defense policy think tank
Debating foreign policy contrasts of Clinton and Sanders
The foreign policies of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders offer Democrat voters contrasting worldviews and different voting records.
Sanders has underlined he was on the right side of history when, unlike then-Senator Clinton, he voted against the Iraq War authorization in 2002. Clinton has defended that vote, as it was qualified support to back up U.S. demands for weapons inspections. Still, that is just one of many foreign policy decisions that portray Clinton as an interventionist compared to Sanders.
Last month when Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D - HI) endorsed Sanders she explained why: “There is a clear contrast between our two candidates with regard to my strong belief that we must end the interventionist, regime change policies that have cost us so much."
Clinton's foreign policy advisors argue Sanders lacks a strategy to defeat ISIS in Syria. In a letter written by Clinton advisors they state: “We are concerned that Senator Sanders has not thought through these crucial national security issues that can have profound consequences for our security."
How would the two candidates differ in their handling of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? What are their respective views of the United Nations? How do foreign policy views differ among voting Democrats? And how much do they prioritize it?
Interview Highlights
The critics of Bernie Sanders say that he doesn’t seem particularly engaged –intellectually or his interest level – when it comes to foreign policy. [They say] the themes he’s most comfortable with -- and cares the most about-- are the domestic ones. Do you have any concerns that if he were elected president he would shunt aside foreign policy matters to focus almost exclusively on domestic ones?
Katrina vanden Heuvel: What I regret is that there has not been a foreign policy debate in the democratic primaries. The last debates have essentially been foreign policy by bumper sticker, [but] we haven’t fully heard from the candidates.
So you see him as highly engaged, you think he’d put a lot of time and energy into foreign affairs?
Katrina vanden Heuvel: I think there’s this mantra out there that Secretary Clinton has the experience, but I have to say, you’ve got to wonder sometimes, what’s more important judgment or experience? We don’t want to relitigate the past, but Senator Kennedy once said the most important vote he ever cast was [a vote] opposing the Iraq War authorization.
Brian Katulis' response to Katrina vanden Heuvel's comments about Hillary Clinton
It’s easy to critique in hindsight, but you also have to look at the full picture. You have to look at the alternatives that people are proposing and [you have to look at] how we [can] move forward. I think it’s fair, but I think there’s more room for criticism for somebody who has much more experience on foreign policy than Senator Sanders has demonstrated.
Note: This interview has been edited for clarity.
This story has been updated.
Guests:
Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor and Publisher of “The Nation;” Tweets from
; wrote "Bernie Sanders, Foreign Policy Realist" in today's Washington Post
Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress; penned "Against Disengagement" in Democracy journal
LAUSD reexamines dress codes
The Los Angeles Unified School District recently asked 160 of its schools to review their dress code enforcement policies after a student who refused to cover up her spaghetti straps was removed from class.
LAUSD dress code policy states that “Students may not be disciplined or removed from class as a consequence for wearing ‘inappropriate’ attire. But it does allow for a student to briefly leave class to change clothes.
Individual schools are tasked with determining and implementing their own dress codes. According to the LA Times, “On a hot fall day, a student named Mary “James” Salazar wore a red dress with thin shoulder straps to Grand Arts, the school’s informal name. She says she was told her clothes were too revealing and distracting, and she refused to wear a sweater from lost and found that was offered to her, or to ask her mother to bring clothes.
As a result, James said she spent most of the day in the office instead of learning in class.”
Classmates of James’ like Angel Fabre have been moved to organize groups like “The Separation of dress and education.”
In a recent interview she told the LA Times, “I should be worrying about my test that I have in the next period, I should be worrying about a dance class, not my body or if somebody is going to attack me or harass me for it."
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Guests:
Eugene Hernandez, Administrator of Operations, Los Angeles Unified School District
Jo Paoletti, professor of American studies at the University of Maryland and an expert on gender differences in American fashion