Today on AirTalk, we discuss president-elect Joe Biden and what his victory means for the country going forward. Also on the show, we answer your COVID-19 questions; pay tribute to Jeopardy host Alex Trebek; and more.
Biden Elected President: Where Do We Go From Here, What Legal Qs Remain And What Does Historic VP-Elect Harris Mean To You?
Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday and offered himself to the nation as a leader who “seeks not to divide, but to unify” a country gripped by a historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil.
“I sought this office to restore the soul of America,” Biden said in a prime-time victory speech not far from his Delaware home, “and to make America respected around the world again and to unite us here at home.”
Biden crossed the winning threshold of 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania. His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted through a surge of mail-in votes that delayed processing. Trump refused to concede, threatening further legal action on ballot counting. But Biden used his acceptance speech as an olive branch to those who did not vote for him, telling Trump voters that he understood their disappointment but adding, “Let’s give each other a chance.”
President Donald Trump is facing pressure to cooperate with President-elect Joe Biden’s team to ensure a smooth transfer of power when the new administration takes office in January. The General Services Administration is tasked with formally recognizing Biden as president-elect, which begins the transition. But the agency’s Trump-appointed administrator, Emily Murphy, has not started the process and has given no guidance on when she will do so. That lack of clarity is fueling questions about whether Trump, who has not publicly recognized Biden’s victory and has falsely claimed the election was stolen, will impede Democrats as they try to establish a government.
There is little precedent in the modern era of a president erecting such hurdles for his successor. The stakes are especially high this year because Biden will take office amid a raging pandemic, which will require a comprehensive government response.
Today on AirTalk, Larry talks with different experts about where we go from here as Biden transitions into the White House, what legal questions remain and more. We also want to hear from you. How are you feeling at this point? And what does the historic election of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris mean to you? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Anna Edgerton, politics editor for Bloomberg; she tweets
David Greenberg, professor of History at Rutgers University. His most recent book is “Republic of Spin” (W.W. Norton & Company, 2016); he tweets
Michael Alvarez, professor of political and computational social science at Caltech and co-director of the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project; he tweets
Justin Levitt, professor of law at Loyola Law School; he is a former deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where his focus included voting rights; he tweets
Eric Garcetti, mayor of Los Angeles; he tweets
DOC AMA: Early Data Shows Pfizer Vaccine 90% Effect, Biden Announces COVID-19 Transition Advisory Board
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong from UCSF.
Topics today include:
- Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine is looking 90% effective
- Biden names 13 health experts to COVID-19 transition advisory board
- Nursing home COVID-19 cases rise four-fold in surge states
- Health experts warn against basketball during coronavirus. High schools are playing it anyway.
Guest:
Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center; he tweets
Paying Tribute To ‘Jeopardy!’ Quiz Master Alex Trebek
Alex Trebek, who presided over the beloved quiz show “Jeopardy!” for more than 30 years with dapper charm and a touch of schoolmaster strictness, died Sunday. He was 80.
Trebek, who announced in 2019 that he had advanced pancreatic cancer, died at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by family and friends, “Jeopardy!” studio Sony said.
The Canadian-born host, who made a point of informing fans about his health directly, spoke in a calm, even tone as he revealed his illness and hope for a cure in a video posted March 6, 2019.
Today, we want to hear from listeners about what “Jeopardy!” meant to you. Whether you worked on the show, were a contestant or devotedly played along at home, call us at 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press.
LA District Attorney: What George Gascón’s Win Over Jackie Lacey Means For Criminal Justice Reform
Advocates for criminal justice reform who have elected a wave of progressive prosecutors nationwide captured the crown jewel Friday as former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón defeated Los Angeles DA Jackie Lacey.
The bitter race to run the nation’s largest prosecutor’s office was seen as a referendum on whether LA voters wanted to reform policies after a summer of activism over police brutality and racial inequality ignited by George Floyd’s death by Minneapolis police.
The election created an unusual dynamic in which Gascón, a former beat cop and police chief, was opposed by law enforcement unions, while Lacey, the first woman and Black person to run the office, was criticized by Black Lives Matter activists. Gascon had nearly 54% of the 3 million votes counted when an emotional Lacey conceded, saying that even though votes remained to be counted, her consultants concluded she could not make up the difference. Today on AirTalk, Larry talks with Gascón about what the win means for reform. Do you have questions? Call us at 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
George Gascón, newly elected Los Angeles district attorney, he’s the former district attorney for the city and county of San Francisco and former assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department; he tweets