With one day to go until the election, we open the phones to answer your residual questions; how are you voting on Prop 64 and why?; is the popular vote going to matter in this election (and does it ever)?; plus, the best political impersonators of all time.
What do you still need to know for your #VoterGameplan?
Congratulations! If you’re reading this, that means you’ve survived the 2016 election (or most of it, anyway) and haven’t succumbed to your election stress.
With polls opening at 7 a.m. PT across California on Tuesday morning, for those who didn’t vote by mail or brave the long weekend lines in places like L.A. County there is but one final step to complete: vote. Now let’s say, hypothetically of course, that you’re still not quite as plugged-in as you should be on the state ballot measures or you’re wondering what to expect when you go to your polling place tomorrow. And let’s say, also hypothetically, that you haven’t checked out KPCC’s handy Voter Game Plan yet either.
Fortunately for you, AirTalk is here to make sure you head to the polls tomorrow armed with the knowledge you need to be an informed voter. Larry will be joined by AirTalk elections experts as well as state and county elections officials to answer any last minute questions you want to ask before Election Day! Post your question in the comments below or call us at 866-893-5722!
Guests:
Jessica Levinson, Vice President of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission and a professor of law at Loyola Law School
Lynn Vavreck, professor of political science at UCLA
Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State
Dean Logan, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Neal Kelley, Orange County Registrar of Voters
AirTalk asks: How are you voting on California’s recreational marijuana prop 64? And why?
Proposition 64, which will legalize recreational marijuana, has a high chance of passing in California.
According to a recent Capital Public Radio report, the measure would make it legal for adults 21 or older in the state possess, purchase or carry a limited amount of marijuana, but only for personal use.
Proponents of the measure argue that adult use of recreational pot will bring down crime, forcing regulation of legitimate businesses to sell the drug, and keep marijuana from being marketed to children.
Opponents of Prop 64 say the measure would promote the use of marijuana. They also argue the law would create problems enforcing laws against impaired driving, as there are currently no standards for smoking pot and driving a car.
OC Register Reporter Brooke Staggs, who’s been covering the proposition, joins Larry today to answer your questions about Prop. 64, and explain the ins and outs of this potential new law.
Guest:
Brooke Staggs, reporter for the OC Register; she has been covering cannabis for Southern California News Group; she tweets
Election Day fervor catches on at churches, mosques, temples
Across the country, spiritual leaders - pastors, rabbis, imams, dharma teachers, and the like - have been engaging with their congregants about the impending Election Day and its tumultuous lead-up.
In battleground-state Pennsylvania, a national political action group focused on the Muslim-American vote urged mosques across the state to mark their Friday prayer services with a sermon about the civic duty to vote. Some American Buddhist teachers have counseled that stress and anxiety tied to the election’s uncertainty can be transcended by focusing on one’s power to be a force for good in the world - no matter what transpires on Tuesday.
And in Rhode Island, a well-known Catholic priest delivered a lengthy homily at his church criticizing Hillary Clinton for her pro-choice views - possibly violating the law. (Tax law governing 501(c)(3) church organizations prohibit from them participating in political campaign activity, including endorsement or opposition of any candidate or party.)
How has your temple, mosque, or church handled the election? What was said at this weekend’s services?
Guest:
Brie Loskota, Executive Director, Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California
Weighing the importance of the 2016 Popular Vote
While it is a near certainty that California's Electoral College votes all will go to Hillary Clinton, the state's popular vote is not without power.
Republicans, Democrats, and Independents in Congress will have to gauge the popularity of the next president - and her or his mandate to govern - based partially on the popular vote. Considering the gridlock and rancor in Washington in recent years, is there an argument to be made that left-leaning voters should unify their support for the Democratic candidate and right-leaning voters should all support the Republican -- third-party candidates be damned?
In California, with Hillary Clinton's commanding lead in the polls, some voters are casting “protest votes” for either Jill Stein or Gary Johnson. Will that net the result they want? How much weight should federal lawmakers give to the popular vote?
Guest:
Julian Zelizer, Professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University and a fellow at the New America Foundation. His latest book is, “The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society.” (Penguin Press, 2015)
Alec Baldwin’s Trump, Tina Fey’s Palin and your favorite politician impressions of all time
Political sendups have been a staple of American pop culture, and there’s been plenty of material for comedians to sink their teeth into in this crazy election season.
On the eve of Election Day, AirTalk zooms in on a specific facet of this tradition to look at politician impressions, from Dana Carvey’s George Bush, to Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin, to Anthony Atamanuik’s Donald Trump.
Call 866-893-5722 and let us know your favorite political impersonators.
Guest:
Kliph Nesteroff, author of “The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy” (Grove Press, 2015). He is a former standup comedian and tweets