Based on the issues Californians have identified as most important to them in the latest field poll, how do the presidential candidates measure up - and who's best for the state? Then, the coauthor of a letter sent by 150 public health experts calling for the 2016 Olympic games to be moved from Rio makes his case; Plus, the candidates for the Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisors seat debate
Who's the best presidential candidate for California?
It may be a holiday weekend, but in this election year the campaigning never stops.
Candidates for local offices are out and about greeting prospective voters this weekend. The Libertarian party decided on its nominee - former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson will once more be the Libertarian Party candidate. He's hoping to poll high enough to earn an invitation to the Presidential debates alongside the two big parties' nominees.
The three leading Presidential candidates have spent the last week hanging around California laying the groundwork for our June 7th primary.
But what do we as Californians most want to hear from those candidates? According to a recent field poll, California voters rank jobs and employment as top presidential election issues. Which issues are of greatest importance to Californians and how do Trump, Sanders and Clinton measure up on those issues?
To commemorate Memorial Day, take a look at some digital archives.
The National WWI Museum and Memorial, based in Kansas City, Missouri, has online exhibitions of that war that claimed millions of lives.
Plus, there are the digital collections of the National WWII Museum, based in New Orleans, with archival photos and video interviews with veterans who recall their service during WWII.
Guests:
Mark DiCamillo, Director of the Field poll at Field Research Corporation, a public opinion research group
Pete Peterson, Dean of the School of Public Policy, Pepperdine University
Pilar Marrero, senior political reporter at La Opinion and other ImpreMedia Newspapers; she tweets from @PilarMarrero
Larry Gerston, a professor emeritus of political science at San Jose State University and author of many books, including “Not So Golden After All: The Rise and Fall of California” (CRC Press, 2012)
Health experts and WHO at odds over postponing Rio Olympics due to Zika
The World Health Organization has rejected a call by prominent health experts to recommend a postponement or relocation of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics because of the Zika outbreak.
The 150 experts - including former White House science adviser Dr. Philip Rubin - issued an open letter on Friday to the U.N. health agency, calling for the games to be delayed or relocated "in the name of public health."
In response, the WHO letter stated: "Based on the current assessment of the Zika virus circulating in almost 60 countries globally and 39 in the Americas, there is no public health justification for postponing or cancelling the games...WHO will continue to monitor the situation and update our advice as necessary."
To add fuel to the fire, renowned basketball player and former Los Angeles Laker Pau Gasol published an op-ed saying people should be more worried about Zika and that he's considering bowing out of representing his home country, Spain.
The Summer Games are scheduled to kick off August 5.
Guests:
Professor Arthur Caplan, Co-author of health experts' coalition letter; director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center's Department of Population Health
David Wallechinsky, President of the International Society of Olympic Historians and author of The Complete Book of the Olympics (Aurum Press)
The Race for District 5: An AirTalk debate
The most important vote those in LA County will cast this June is arguably NOT one for president, but for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Two longtime Republican members step down from the Board this year, a result of term limits passed in 2002 limiting supervisors to three terms of four years. Board member Mike Antonovich has served since 1980 and his fellow conservative Don Knabe since 1996.
The Board’s influence cannot be overstated. It is felt throughout Southern California. They manage a $28 billion budget, run the nation’s largest jail and foster care systems and the second-largest public health system in the country. And while the five-member board is officially non-partisan, Antonovich and Knabe’s departure could open the door to a continued shift leftward of the powerful panel’s politics. That would be the first liberal “supermajority” on the board in modern history, although another Republican will likely fill Antonovich’s seat.
LA Councilman Mitch Englander, Antonovich’s chief of staff Kathryn Barger, state Senator Bob Huff, prosecutor Elan Carr and former Mayor of Glendale Ara Najarian and Entrepreneur Darrell Park are all vying for the contested position. Join "AirTalk" host, Larry Mantle for a lively debate with these top fundraising candidates. Hear about their plans for the vacated seat and for some of the seemingly intractable issues that face Los Angeles County.
Join the conversation on Twitter under #BoS5
Candidates:
Kathryn Barger, Chief Deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich
Elan Carr, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney
Mitch Englander, Los Angeles City Councilmember representing District 12, which occupies the Northwest San Fernando Valley
Bob Huff, California State Senator, he has represented Los Angeles County in the state legislature since 2004
Ara Najarian, Glendale City Councilmember and former Mayor of Glendale, 2007 to 2016 (term ended in April)
Darrell Park, Former White House office of Management and Budget Staffer, 1994-2004
AirTalk chose the top 6 fundraising candidates running for District 5 to participate in this debate.