Last year, California voters approved a parole process overhaul for the state via Prop 57 after a heated debate about what the bill could mean for sex offenders convicted of non-violent crimes - we dive into the bill's new guidelines. We'll also cover the latest in a busy weekend of politics; what is "stealthing"?; and more.
Week in politics: Checking in on President Trump’s trip overseas and setting the table for the progression of the Russia probe
A yarmulke-clad, stone-faced President Trump became the first sitting American President to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Monday, solemnly approaching the ancient, holy landmark and leaving a note in one of its many cracks.
The President also met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and will dine on Monday evening with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife as part of his two day trip to Israel, during which he hopes to plant the seeds for a Middle East peace deal and emphasize the importance of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal as part of the regional realignment. This follows Mr. Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia this weekend, where he met with the Saudi monarch, King Salman, and delivered a speech on combating terrorism in the Middle East.
Back stateside, the president’s administration’s facing continued scrutiny over Trump’s firing of former FBI Director James Comey, who is expected to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee after Memorial Day, and the investigation into Russian ties to the Trump campaign in the 2016 presidential election, now being led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. This week, former CIA director John Brennan will testify before a House panel looking into Russia. In another offshoot of the Russia story, former Trump administration national security adviser Mike Flynn invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself when he announced Monday that he was refusing to turn over documents subpoenaed by the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Also, late Friday, the New York Times reported the President told Russian officials he faced great pressure because of Russia, and that with Comey’s firing, that pressure’s taken off. Trump also referred to Comey as “crazy, a real nut job.”
The Times cites documents read to them that summarized the meetings, but who are the people taking notes on these meetings? And how do they end up somewhere they can be leaked?
Guests:
Josh Meyer, senior investigative reporter for POLITICO; he has been following the story; he tweets
Lisa Mascaro, congressional reporter for the LA Times, where she’s been following the story; she tweets
Lisa Garcia Bedolla, Chancellor’s Professor of education and political science at UC Berkeley; she tweets
John Pitney, professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College; he tweets
Implementing Prop 57: Should non-violent sex offenders be eligible for parole?
In 2016, California voters approved a parole process overhaul for the state via Prop 57, after a heated debate about what the bill could mean for sex offenders convicted of non-violent crimes.
When the regulations were released in March, they excluded non-violent sex offenders from early release considerations even though the measure did not. Advocacy groups are asking the state to revise the rules before their final approval in the fall, arguing the guidelines are unconstitutional.
Under Prop 57, should non-violent sex offenders be eligible for parole?
Guests:
Janice Belluci, executive director of the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws; she is the attorney representing the alliance and the inmate who brought the case forward
Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the labor union representing LAPD officers
Is non-consensual condom removal sexual assault?
“Stealthing” refers to the practice of a man removing his condom without his partner’s knowledge or consent, subsequently exposing his partner to the risk of pregnancy or disease.
As the issue has come to the forefront of public attention, it’s raised questions over whether this action should be legally defined as rape, sexual assault or something more distinct. A Wisconsin lawmaker proposed a bill that would classify stealthing as sexual assault. And earlier this week, California Assemblywoman Christina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) introduced AB 1033, which would classify the practice as rape, saying that “anything done to our bodies without our consent is rape.”
But law professor Sherry F. Colb says classifying stealthing as sexual assault could create a slippery slope – would not disclosing an STD to a partner be considered sexual assault too? What about lying to a partner about wearing a cervical cap? Colb argues for precisely characterizing and dealing with this particular practice, rather than drawing an equivalency with sexual assault.
Have you ever experienced stealthing? Should stealthing be considered rape, sexual assault or a practice that’s legally defined on its own terms?
Disclaimer: Due to its explicit nature, this conversation may not be suitable for some listeners.
Guests:
Carly N. Mee, staff attorney at SurvJustice, an organization based in Washington, D.C. advocating justice for survivors of sexual assault; her work focuses on representing college campus sexual assault survivors
Sherry F. Colb, law professor at Cornell Law School; her work focuses on issues of sexual equality, evidence and constitutional criminal procedure, as well as animal rights; she authored the Verdict article, “Stealthing’: Is Secret Condom Removal Akin to Sexual Assault?”
A health reporter’s journey through her own struggles with anxiety
Anxiety disorder is extremely common - roughly forty million Americans have it and about forty percent of women get anxiety in their lifetime.
Regardless of how pervasive it is, like many mental illnesses Anxiety disorder is often misunderstood. Andrea Peterson is a contributing writer for The Wall Street Journal where she writes about health, psychology and neuroscience. Her new book, "On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety," unpacks the science behind the disorder - interwoven with Peterson’s personal experience after being diagnosed with anxiety at 20. She delves into what life was like before doctors identified her symptoms and explores her own family history with the disorder.
You can find resources for dealing with anxiety at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Guest:
Andrea Petersen, contributing writer for The Wall Street Journal where she writes about health, psychology and neuroscience; author of the book "On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety" (Crown, 2017)