AirTalk dives into the possible local impact of the Trump administration’s expected move to dismiss fuel economy targets the Obama administration developed with California to fight global warming. We also review this week’s movie releases on FilmWeek; is Elon Musk’s Tesla in trouble?; and more.
The California response to Trump administration’s expected move to roll back CAFE standards
This Sunday, the US EPA is expected to announce its scrapping of ambitious mileage targets for upcoming cars.
The current requirement is that new cars and SUVs get an average of 55-miles-a-gallon by 2025. That standard was set by the Obama Administration, working alongside California regulators.
The Trump Administration says the standards are unrealistic and will keep Americans from being able to buy the pickup trucks and SUVs they prefer.
But California leaders say they won’t relax their requirements for car makers. That sets up a possible showdown between the state and federal governments.
Guests:
Julian Morris, vice president of research at Reason Foundation, a non-profit think tank advancing free markets
Sean Hecht, professor of environmental law and co-executive director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA
Lawsuit in SF blames city for letting Lyft, Uber thrive, and depressing the value of the taxi medallion
The San Francisco Federal Credit Union is suing the State’s Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) alleging the transit agency is responsible for the downfall of the taxi market.
The credit union made loans to taxi drivers to buy medallions that cost $250,000 each; now the suit alleges that taxi medallions have decreased in value because of Uber and Lyft operations. The lawsuit seeks $28 million in damages and wants the SFMTA to pay millions to repurchase all the medallions.
Guest:
Carolyn Said, San Francisco Chronicle reporter covering business, tech and the on-demand economy; she tweets
and has been covering the story
Is Elon Musk’s Tesla in trouble?
Tesla was touted to be the ultimate disruptor in the electric car industry, combining topnotch technology with beautiful designs.
But trouble could be on the horizon for Elon Musk’s car manufacturer, driven by a cash crunch as well as production issues with its mass-market Model 3 sedan. Those two factors led Moody’s to downgrade the company’s credit rating.
AirTalk checks in on the health of the Palo Alto-based company.
Guests:
Sam Goldfarb, reporter for The Wall Street Journal who’s been following the story
Sean O’Kane, reporter for The Verge who’s been following the story; he tweets
FilmWeek: ‘Ready Player One,’ ‘The Last Movie Star,’ ‘Gemini’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Wade Major review this weekend’s new movie releases.
"Ready Player One" in wide release
"The Last Movie Star" at Laemmle's Royal
"Gemini" at AMC Century City & ArcLight Hollywood
"Status Update" at AMC Rolling Hills
"God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness" in wide release
"Birthmarked" at Galaxy Mission Grove Luxury
"Salomé" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
"All I Wish" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
"Outside In" at Laemmle's NoHo
"FourPlay" at Laemmle's Music Hall
"The China Hustle" at Nuart Theatre
"Back to Burgundy" at Laemmle's Playhouse, Royal & Town Center
"Finding Your Feet" at The Landmark Theatre
"Claire's Camera" at Laemmle's Music Hall
"Tyler Perry's Acrimony" in wide release
Critics' Hits
Wade: "The China Hustle"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUG0U2ClYtM
Mixed Feelings
Wade: "God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIKExeMVksk
Misses
Wade: "Claire's Camera"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1HQwJhK8ac
This segment is being updated.
Guests:
Lael Loewenstein, KPCC film critic; she tweets
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com
The future of Netflix, other streaming films’ eligibility at festivals and awards shows
Streaming giant Netflix took a couple hard shots this week after Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux announced in an interview with the French magazine “Le Film Français” that the highly-respected festival would no longer allow films from Netflix and other streaming services to be considered for awards.
In last year’s festival, Netflix’s ‘Okja’ and ‘The Meyerowitz Stories’ were allowed to compete, which created controversy because of a law known as French cultural exception, which lays out requirements for when films can move frm French theatres to streaming and on-demand platforms.
Separately, acclaimed director Steven Spielberg told ITV news in an interview about his new film ‘Ready Player One,’ which opened in theatres nationwide this week, that Netflix films shouldn’t qualify for Oscar consideration, even if they do have a theatrical release. He argues that the rise of streaming platforms as distribution services has a chilling effect on directors fundraising for their films in the hopes of getting traditional studio backing. Instead, he says, it will encourage directors to opt for Amazon or Netflix so they don’t have to pay to four-wall a film in a movie theater.
Guests:
Lael Loewenstein, KPCC film critic; she tweets
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com