Today on AirTalk, we discuss the latest on President Trump's escalating battle with Congress over special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the Russia probe. We also examine the various roles and strategies behind presidential candidates’ spouses; and more.
What to watch for as White House, Congress battle over unredacted Mueller report release appears headed to court
The White House is invoking executive privilege, reserving the right to block the full release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the Russia probe, escalating President Donald Trump's battle with Congress.
The administration's decision was announced just as the House Judiciary Committee was gaveling in to consider holding Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress over failure to release the report. Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York declared the action by Trump's Justice Department was a clear new sign of the president's "blanket defiance" of Congress' constitutional rights.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the action was rather a response to the "blatant abuse of power" by Democratic Rep. Nadler. "Neither the White House nor Attorney General Barr will comply with Chairman Nadler's unlawful and reckless demands," she said.
Nadler said earlier Wednesday the Trump administration's refusal to provide special counsel Robert Mueller's full Russia report to Congress presents a "constitutional crisis," leaving the panel no choice but to move forward with a contempt vote against Barr, who released a redacted version of Mueller's report to the public last month. Democrats said they want to see the full document, along with underlying evidence, and subpoenaed the full report.
The department has rejected that demand, while allowing a handful of lawmakers to view a version of Mueller's report with fewer redactions. Democrats have said they won't view that version until they get broader access. It was not immediately clear how the claim of privilege would work with respect to Mueller's report, since it has already been released to the public in redacted form. Executive privilege is the president's power to keep information from the courts, Congress and the public to protect the confidentiality of the Oval Office decision-making process.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Harry Litman, former U.S. Attorney and deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department under President Clinton; professor of constitutional law at UCLA and UC San Diego; he tweets
Barry McDonald, professor of law at Pepperdine University, his focus includes constitutional law
William Yeatman, a research fellow in the Cato Institute, where he works on administrative law, constitutional structure, and regulatory reform.
Tamara Keith, NPR White House Correspondent and co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast
Support, soften, humanize: the various roles and strategies behind presidential candidates’ spouses
On Monday, Jill Biden published her new book and started doing the interview rounds, discussing her life with former vice president and now 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden.
For a candidate who’s recently faced backlash from women for his interpersonal style and treatment of Anita Hill, Jill Biden’s memoir is likely a strategic move.
And she’s not the first 2020 political spouse to hit the campaign trail. Chasten Buttigieg, Pete Buttigieg’s husband, has had a steady and rising presence on social media. As a gay man, he is in some ways unprecedented. But in other ways, some say that Chasten has been playing the more “traditional” political spouse role -- putting his career on hold to campaign for his husband, humanizing him and acting as a behind-the-scenes voice.
Meanwhile, there’s also an unprecedented number of male spouses, which also raises questions about what the public wants from the spouse of a female presidential candidate. How should the campaigns of presidential candidates such as Senator Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris utilize their spouses to their best benefit?
Historically, what has been the role of the presidential spouse on the campaign trail? What kind of spouse has been the most effective? How does gender and sexuality affect these dynamics?
Guests:
Emily Heil, reporter for the Washington Post, who covers the first lady and has been watching spouses on the campaign trail; she tweets
Lauren Wright, lecturer in politics and public affairs at Princeton University; author of “On Behalf of the President: Presidential Spouses and White House Communications Strategy Today” (Praeger, 2016); her forthcoming book is “Star Power: American Democracy in the Age of the Celebrity Candidate” (Routledge, 2019)
Tammy Vigil, associate professor of communication at Boston University; author of “Moms in Chief: The Rhetoric of Republican Motherhood and the Spouses of Presidential Nominees” (University Press of Kansas, 2019)
Uber, Lyft drivers strike in anticipation of Uber IPO launch
Uber and Lyft drivers around the world are protesting the ride-hailing giants today.
Drivers turned off their apps and held demonstrations in 10 U.S. cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, as well as some European locations like London.
The global protest is happening ahead of Uber’s initial public stock offering this Friday. Uber hopes to raise $9 billion, putting the company’s valuation in excess of $91 billion.
Drivers in L.A. are participating in a 24-hour strike and picket line at Los Angeles International Airport.
The drivers’ demands, among other things, include increased fares per mile and a decrease in commissions paid to the ride sharing companies. Uber released a statement addressing today’s events, saying that “thousands of people come into work at Uber every day focused on how to make [the drivers’] experience better, on and off the road.”
If you’re an Uber or Lyft driver, tell us about your experience driving for them. Join the conversation at 866-893-5722
With files from the Associated Press.
AirTalk contacted Uber and Lyft to request that someone be made available for our discussion. Uber was unable to make a guest available but provided us with this statement:
Drivers are at the heart of our service─we can’t succeed without them─and thousands of people come into work at Uber every day focused on how to make their experience better, on and off the road. Whether it’s more consistent earnings, stronger insurance protections or fully-funded four-year degrees for drivers or their families, we’ll continue working to improve the experience for and with drivers.
Lyft was also unable to make a guest available but provided us with this statement:
Lyft drivers’ hourly earnings have increased 7% over the last two years, and they have earned more than $14B since we launched. Over 75 percent drive less than 10 hours a week to supplement existing jobs. On average, Lyft drivers earn over $20 per hour. We know that access to flexible, extra income makes a big difference for millions of people, and we’re constantly working to improve how we can best serve our driver community.
Guests:
David Wagner, reporter covering business and the economy for KPCC who is at Los Angeles International Airport this morning covering the strike and rally; he tweets
Carolyn Said, business and technology reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle, where she’s been covering the story; she tweets
Harry Campbell, Los Angeles-based Uber and Lyft driver and founder of theRideShareGuy.com, a blog and podcast for rideshare drivers; he tweets
Wonder in his eyes and by his side: the LA musician who shared an impromptu performance with Stevie Wonder at a local restaurant
Last Friday, musician Nelson Cade III was performing for diners at the Westwood restaurant Skylight Gardens when the bartender slipped him a note in the middle of his set.
The bartender was covertly letting Cade know that none other than 25-time Grammy winner Stevie Wonder was in the audience.
Wonder’s bodyguard then asked Cade if Wonder could join him on stage and the two performed a half-hour-long set of Wonder’s popular songs with Cade playing acoustic guitar and Wonder on steel guitar.
Larry sits down with Cade to recount the one-in-a-lifetime experience of getting to play music with one of the most celebrated and accomplished musicians of his time. Have you ever had a similar one? Join the conversation at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Nelson Cade III, LA-based musician who shared an impromptu set with Stevie Wonder at local restaurant, Skylight Gardens.