AirTalk

California's quest to save the Salton Sea

By AirTalk Staff

Published Mar 24, 2017 9:50 AM

The remains of a marina in Salton City, California, March 1st, 2017.
The town was developed in the 1950s and established as a resort community in the 1960s. As the salinity and pollution levels in the Salton Sea increased in the 1980s, the attraction of the Salton Sea as a recreational destination diminished. The population was 3,763 at the 2010 census. / AFP PHOTO / Eva HAMBACH (Photo credit should read EVA HAMBACH/AFP/Getty Images)

Listen 1:03:17

The largest lake in CA might be on its way to recovery, now that the California Natural Resources Agency announced a 10 year, $383 million plan; House Republicans are scheduled to vote on the GOP’s proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act today; plus, Larry and film critics review the week's newest films, including "Power Rangers;" and more.

California's quest to save the Salton Sea

House to take up Obamacare replacement bill vote

Listen 10:59

House to take up Obamacare replacement bill vote

House Republicans are scheduled to vote on the GOP’s plan to replace the Affordable Care Act today, after President Trump told lawmakers that they’d either go ahead with the vote, or live with Obamacare as the health care rule of the land.

The Friday vote comes after House Speaker Paul Ryan postponed a vote on the bill Thursday due to opposition from some moderate and conservative Republicans.

Guests:

Lisa Mascaro, Congressional reporter for the LA Times that has been following the story

Margot Sanger-Katz, correspondent for the New York Times’s Upshot, which takes an economic look at current news and events. She focuses on health care and other issues

Terrence Dopp, reporter for Bloomberg News who is following the story. He’s on Capitol Hill

Democrat, Republican weigh parties’ strategies in Gorsuch confirmation chess match

Listen 11:31

Democrat, Republican weigh parties’ strategies in Gorsuch confirmation chess match

After three grueling days of testimony that ranged in subject matter from abortion to interpretation of the constitution and even whether Judge Gorsuch would rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck (he didn’t answer), the Senate is set up for a contentious vote over confirming President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court.

Democrats have a tough road ahead, lacking the votes to outright stop the confirmation but facing mounting pressure from grassroots groups to block his nomination. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has said that if Democrats choose to filibuster the vote, they will employ the ‘nuclear option’ and change the rules so that a simple majority of 51 ‘yes’ votes is all they’ll need, instead of a 60 vote supermajority. With 52 Republicans in the Senate Caucus, they’d have no problem reaching that simple majority. McConnell has said he plans for Gorsuch to be confirmed by the time the Senate goes on recess for Easter on April 7th, adding the clock to the list of hurdles for Democrats, who won’t have much time for debate when the nomination hits the Senate floor April 3rd.

What are the strategies being employed by each party? What do Dems get out of filibustering if GOP is going to go nuclear if they do? Is that strategic? How will GOP react?

Guests:

Symone Sanders, Democratic strategist with Priorities USA, a D.C.-based political consulting firm, and former national press secretary for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign; she tweets

Tweets by SymoneDSanders

Reed Galen, Republican political strategist and owner of Jedburghs, LLC., a public affairs and campaign consultancy firm in Orange County; he tweets

Tweets by reedgalen

Updating California’s quest to preserve the Salton Sea

Listen 9:28

Updating California’s quest to preserve the Salton Sea

The largest lake in the state of California could soon finally be on its way to recovery after years of delays and hand-wringing.

The California Natural Resources Agency announced a 10 year, $383 million plan that aims to complete a number of projects left to languish for the last several years while funding was approved. It starts with building a network of small ponds and marshy wetlands across 29,000 acres of land that will not only help cover the large swaths of lakebed that create toxic dust storms, but also provide a habitat for migrating birds. So far, the state has earmarked $80.5 million for these projects, but the plan does outline more funding that will be necessary, and it’s not clear exactly from where that money will come.

Supports say the plan is long overdue and a step in the direction of finally resolving the expensive environmental crisis at the Salton Sea. Critics say while it’s certainly time something be done about the ongoing issues, the fact remains that no one knows how the restoration will be paid for or what happens if the state doesn’t follow through.

Desert Sun reporter Ian James joins Larry on AirTalk today to share the latest update on efforts to restore the Salton Sea.

Guest:

Ian James, reporter for The Desert Sun covering water and the environment who has been covering the Salton Sea story; he tweets

FilmWeek: ‘LIFE,’ ‘CHiPS,’ ‘Power Rangers’ and more

Listen 31:13

FilmWeek: ‘LIFE,’ ‘CHiPS,’ ‘Power Rangers’ and more

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Claudia Puig and Justin Chang review this weekend’s new movie releases including:

"LIFE" in wide release
"CHiPS" in wide release
"(Saban's) Power Rangers" in wide release
"Wilson" at Laemmle's NoHo, ArcLight Pasadena, AMC Burbank Town Center and other select theaters
"Frantz" at Nuart Theatre
"Prevenge" at The Cinefamily (also available on Shudder)
"American Anarchist" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
"Bokeh" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
"Metamorphoses" at Arena Cinema
"Dig Two Graves" at Laemmle's Music Hall