Today we'll take a look at Pope Francis' background and Jesuit history. We'll also discuss whether young teens should be featured on shows like "The Biggest Loser" -- is it positive step towards eliminating childhood obesity? Later, we'll consider a proposal that could keep L.A. bars open until 4 am and a medal for bravery in drone warfare that could outrank traditional combat medals. All that and more, on AirTalk.
Pope Francis takes the pulpit
Ever since Pope Francis was named the new pope yesterday, many are asking, “Who is he?” Pope Francis, formerly known as Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, was almost pope in the last papal conclave, but his name was not whispered around in this one. This decision has been a surprise to many, and the public has been watching the new pope with a critical eye.
When the Pope left his hotel in Rome, media noted that he picked up his luggage and paid the hotel bill himself. Actions such as this one reinforce his public image of being a pope that lives among the people. In Buenos Aires, he criticized Catholic authorities for hypocrisy. Pope Francis himself would take the bus, cook his own meals, and visit the poor. When priests would not baptize babies of single mothers, Pope Francis criticized them for the clericalization the church and separating “the people of God from salvation.”
However, how will Pope Francis deal with the difficult problems in the Catholic church today? He has also been highly criticized for not challenging a dictatorship in Argentina that led to murders and missing babies. During that time, he was accused of being silent about human rights violations in order to maintain the image of the Catholic Church.
Will Pope Francis address the issues of the Catholic Church today? Will his papacy bring in reform or will it just pass by unnoticed in history? How will being a Jesuit and Latin American pope influence the papacy?
Guests:
Father Thomas Rausch, Professor of Catholic Theology at Loyola Marymount University
Cathy Lynn Grossman, reports on religion, spirituality, and ethics for USA Today
Should 'The Biggest Loser' put struggling kids on national TV? (Poll)
Doctors are raising concerns about featuring children on "The Biggest Loser" reality show. It's the first time the popular weight-loss competition has included overweight teenagers. The producers say it will raise awareness of the epidemic of childhood obesity.
Lindsay Bravo, a 13-year old from Fillmore, California, is one of the "Biggest Loser" kids. She said she wants to drop pounds so she can have more friends and stop being bullied. The teens are not being treated the same as adult competitors. They get access to personal trainers, nutritionists and doctors, but will not be subject to elimination as adults are.
Still, one doctor was worried by a recent episode showing the 16-year old contestant, Sunny Chandrasekar, celebrating her birthday by eating a mandarin orange instead of any sweets.
Is teaching deprivation the best way to achieve long-term health for overweight kids? Should potentially vulnerable teens go through this process on national television? Will it help parents and kids who are dealing with the same issues?
Guests:
Dave Broome, Executive Producer & Co-creator, “The Biggest Loser” reality show about weigh-loss
Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, Medical Director, Bariatric Medical Institute in Ottawa; Board-Certified Physician by the American Board of Bariatric Medicine; Blogs at weightymatters.ca
Should California bars stay open until 4 a.m.? (POLL)
California Senator Mark Leno has just introduced SB 635, which would expand alcoholic beverage service from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. throughout the state. Leno says that extended service hours would allow Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco to compete on a more even level for tourism with cities like Chicago, New York, and Las Vegas.
The bill would give local communities the option to expand their alcohol service hours, and individual establishments would go through an approval process for late night service. The late hours would only apply to restaurants, bars, and clubs, not liquor stores. Critics say that ending uniform hours could result in more bar-hopping, potentially putting intoxicated drivers on the road.
Is extending alcohol service hours a good idea? Would it make California cities more exciting tourism destinations? Could it put a stress on public transportation or cause more drunk driving accidents?
Guests:
Mark Leno, Democratic State Senator, 3rd District (San Francisco)
Bruce Lee Livingston, executive director and CEO, Alcohol Justice, a national advocacy organization that campaigns against the influence of the alcohol industry
Where does a medal for drone warfare rank?
There’s a new military medal and it’s getting a lot of flak. Last month, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta last month approved the new Distinguished Warfare Medal, which is awarded to drone pilots and cyber warfare troops that do not directly engage in ground combat. It’s the first new military medal of this caliber to be introduced since 1944, and would outrank combat-only medals like the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Veteran organizations and some members of Congress think that’s just not fair. They’ve asked the Pentagon to downgrade the new medal, arguing that it shouldn’t take precedence over traditional combat awards, which a soldier has to risk his or her life in order to qualify for. Department of Defense officials say it’s important to recognize the contributions of soldiers operating in what is surely the wave of the future, cyber warfare. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who has two Purple Hearts for his service in Vietnam, has ordered a 30-day review of the medal’s ranking and production has been halted in the interim.
Is the new medal fair, or necessary? Should the Pentagon rethink its designation? Does cyber-warfare carry the same amount of risk as traditional combat?
Guests:
Lieutenant Commander Nathan Christenson, U.S. Navy and Department of Defense Spokesman
Joe Davis, Director of Public Affairs, Veterans of Foreign Wars
AEG sale cancellation leaves the future of L.A. sports in question
Philip Anschutz announced today that he has decided not to sell AEG, the entertainment group that controls the Staples Center, L.A. Live, and the L.A. Kings. The bidding war was said to be up to $7 billion, but Anschutz called off the sale, saying that he had always maintained that he wouldn’t sell “unless the right buyer came forward with a transaction on acceptable terms.”
Instead, Anschutz has chosen to become more involved with AEG. The decision could complicate plans to bring a professional football team to Los Angeles and to build a centrally accessible stadium.
Following the announcement, it was announced that AEG's longtime chief executive Tim Lieweke would be leaving the company "by mutual agreement." Lieweke has had a prominent role in negotiating with Los Angeles city leaders over the downtown stadium and a possible NFL deal.
How will the future of AEG affect L.A. sports? What does this mean for plans to bring an NFL team to town? Should Anschutz go ahead with plans to sell the company?
Guest:
Sam Farmer, sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times
How do you feel about serving time on the jury?
To many people, the most disappointing piece of mail that they can find in their mailbox is the one that reads “JURY SUMMONS.” It can mean taking a day or more off of work, finding a babysitter, and spending hours sitting in uncomfortable chairs in a boring room. But are we as Americans taking the wrong approach to serving on a jury?
It can be easy to forget how important jury duty is in America. In his new book, Andrew Ferguson explains why jury duty matters. It is a shared tradition that connects people from all races, classes, and backgrounds. What most people see as an annoyance is the only right that shows up in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
And not everyone dreads it. Some find jury service a fascinating peek into the inner workings of our justice system.
Have you ever served on a jury? Did you find it a tedious duty, or an enjoyable experience? What will you do next time you’re called?
Guest:
Andrew Ferguson, author of “Why Jury Duty Matters: A Citizen's Guide To Constitutional Action”
Why Jury Duty Matters: A Citizen's Guide To Constitutional Action
Bringing Woody Guthrie’s ‘House of Earth’ to life
When songwriter and folk hero Woody Guthrie died in 1967 at the age of 55, he left behind paintings, sketches, journals, and over 3,000 songs. His autobiography, "Bound For Glory," was published in 1943 and has become somewhat of a cult classic. But almost 50 years after his death, his only known novel has been published.
"House of Earth," a long-lost novel written by Guthrie in 1947, wasn't published until February 5, 2013 by Harper under actor Johnny Depp's publishing imprint, Infinitum Nihil. Guthrie was apparently unable to have the novel published during his lifetime. Johnny Depp and New York Times bestselling author and historian Douglas Brinkley edited and co-wrote the introduction.
Guest:
Douglas Brinkley, author and historian, co-editor (with Johnny Depp) to “House of Earth”