Today on AirTalk, our weekly political roundtable discusses the week's biggest headlines. Also on the show, we take a look at pandemic liability for businesses; SCOTUS' new teleconference format; and more.
COVID-19: More Than 25,000 Cases In LA County, Beach Closures Draw Protests
As of Sunday afternoon, L.A. County has at least 1,229 deaths and 25,677 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
L.A. County public health officials are now providing a demographic breakdown of the deaths so far. According to U.S. Census data, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders make up less than half a percent of L.A. County residents. But the population's rates of confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 are "extremely high," L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said at Wednesday's media briefing. As new cases continue to be confirmed, Californians are continuing to be under "safer at home" and "social distancing" orders. State and county officials have ordered the vast majority of Californians to strictly limit interactions with other people, wash hands frequently, and stay 6 feet away from others. Both LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and Gov. Gavin Newsom have released parameters for a slow reopening. Last week, Newsom announced Orange County beaches to close after people flocked to the areas the previous weekend. This drew protestors. Plus, according to the L.A. Times, some restaurants and businesses in OC have defied the closure orders and have reopened. Today on AirTalk, we speak with an infectious disease specialist about the latest with COVID-19. Do you have questions? Call us at 866-893-5722.
With files from LAist. Read the full story here.
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
Checking In On OC After Some Protestors, Businesses Defy Closure Orders Over The Weekend
Despite Governor Gavin Newsom ordering all state and local beaches in Orange County to close last week, residents took to the beaches in cities like Newport Beach and San Clemente to protest the beach closures and continuing stay-at-home order from state officials. The Orange County Register reports that, in total, about 4,500 people were at beaches from the Santa Ana River to Corona Del Mar, the majority of whom reportedly complied with orders from local officials to clear the beaches.
Some businesses also defied state orders and reopened their doors, like Nomads Canteen in San Clemente which reopened for dine-in customers at lunchtime on Friday. The San Clemente Times reports it didn’t take long for the dining room to fill up, and that while the owner did put social distancing rules in place to begin with, those became more difficult to enforce as word spread that Nomads had opened up for business. Other businesses in the county like a surf shop and a clothing boutique also chose to reopen for in-store business over the weekend
Today on AirTalk, we’ll continue to follow the back and forth over reopening businesses and beaches in Orange County and across California.
Guests:
Dan Walters, long-time California politics observer with CALmatters, a nonprofit public interest publication; he tweets
Sharon McNary, KPCC & LAist infrastructure correspondent; her latest piece for LAist is “What It Was Like Friday At The Crowded Huntington Beach Demonstration”; she tweets
Lisa Bartlett, Orange County Supervisor representing the Fifth County District, which encompasses South County cities like Aliso Viejo, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Dana Point and more; she tweets
Christine Wood, co-owner of The Barberhood barber shop in Laguna Hills, which reopened for customers on Friday
SCOTUS Hears Oral Arguments...Via Teleconference
It’s a morning of firsts for the Supreme Court, the first time audio of the court’s arguments was heard live by the world and the first arguments by telephone.
The changes are a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which has made holding courtroom sessions unsafe, especially with six justices aged 65 or older and at risk of getting seriously sick from the virus.
We dive into the big cases being heard over the next few weeks, as well as what COVID-19 accommodations are being made.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guest:
Greg Stohr, Supreme Court reporter for Bloomberg News; he tweets
Do Businesses Need Pandemic Liability Protection As States Consider Reopening?
Some groups and political leaders are calling for wide scale changes that would limit legal liability for businesses. According to the New York Times, advocates say protections in the areas of worker privacy and product manufacturing are necessary, otherwise already struggling businesses could be up against a number of lawsuits. That’s because customers or employees could claim the business is at fault if they contract COVID-19.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he wants to see businesses shielded from legal liability when it comes to coronavirus lawsuits, the Wall Street Journal reports. But other organizations and labor leaders say the move could lead to corporations cutting corners on safety efforts, which could put folks at risk. Some legal experts also say businesses’ concerns over an influx in lawsuits is overblown. The issue has vaulted to the forefront of the debate in Congress over the next, and fifth, coronavirus relief bill that’s still in its infancy. The safety of returning workers has dominated union negotiations between casino workers and their employers in Las Vegas. And governors in some states are imposing restrictions on the ability of people to collect unemployment if they choose not to return to work out of fear for their safety. The debate has put policy makers on the hot seat at the same time that they are moving forward with reopening their states.
Today on AirTalk, we discuss pandemic liability. Are you a business owner or employee? Do you think businesses need protection as states look to reopen their economies? Or do you think the move would decrease safety efforts? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Doug Kantor, lawyer that focuses on public policy based in Washington DC, he’s also counsel to the National Association of Convenience Stores known as NACS, an international trade organization that represents the convenience and fuel retailing industry
Mary Kay Henry, international president of the Service Employees International Union, which represents two million people including 700,000 in California, she’s also a member of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recovery task force; she tweets
Thomas Lenz, labor and employment lawyer in Pasadena, he’s also lecturer at USC Gould School of Law; he tweets
Week In Politics: Allegations Against Biden, Senate Reconvenes, Protests Continue And More
AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable recaps the major headlines you might’ve missed in politics news over the weekend and looks ahead to the week to come. Here are the headlines that we’re following this week:
Tara Reade alleged that Joe Biden assaulted her. He has denied the allegations
Is it too late for Dems to consider a Plan B, that doesn’t include Biden?
McConnell plans to reconvene Senate this week and some Dem Senators aren’t happy about it
More COVID-19
People protested stay-at-home orders around the country this weekend, including in CA
Polls suggest wariness of economic reopening too soon, and approval of federal government help
Trump has led no national mourning for COVID-19 deaths - how that compares with past leaders in tough times and what do the American people need right now?
CA Governor Newsom and Orange County tensions over whether beaches should be open
More 2020
When will Biden pick a VP?
Might Biden be a one term president?
Michigan Representative Justin Amash floats idea that he’ll run for president as a libertarian
Trump and Biden fight for older voters
Prominent Latino leader Dolores Huerta endorses Biden
Do political conventions matter anymore? Might they go away, post COVID-19?
Guests:
Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist and founder and chief executive officer of Rodriguez Strategies. He is also a former senior Obama advisor in 2008; he tweets
Rob Stutzman, Republican political consultant and president of Stutzman Public Affairs; former deputy chief of staff to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; he tweets
Ana Kasparian, host and executive producer of The Young Turks; she tweets