Will a union strike be the end of Twinkies maker Hostess? Today we'll discuss the potential end of the brand, new California Community College chancellor Brice W. Harris, and whether residents of states with low risk for natural disasters should be paying taxes to fund federal aid for high-risk states. We'll also consider the constitutionality of the Anti-Paparazzi Act and speak with actor Christopher Plummer about his most recent role.
Christopher Plummer portrays actors’ actor John Barrymore
Back in 1942, screen legend John Barrymore was preparing to audition for backers to finance a revival of his 1920 triumph, "Richard III," and reflecting on his life and career. Barrymore died in May of that year.
These last few months of his life are the the basis for the play "Barrymore," which premiered on Broadway in 1997 and starred Christopher Plummer in the titualr role.
"1996-7 was when I did it ['Barrymore'] on Broadway and it ran for almost a year, which I had to stop because it was too exhausting,” said Plummer on AirTalk. “I kept saying to the producers, 'I'm not a machine, fellas. I can't go on forever.' So we did stop but the tickets were still in demand and people were loving it.”
The stage production has now been made into a film, with Christopher Plummer reprising his Tony Award-winning role as the brilliant, self-destructive thespian.
The play, written by William Luce ("The Belle of Amherst"), was adapted for the screen and directed by Érik Canuel. If anyone can get inside the skin of a consummate actor, it’s another consummate actor.
“I got a huge charge out of Barrymore and trying to play the old guy,” said Plummer. “I had admired him very much as a sort of great 20th century personality. And a tragic figure too."
Plummer received multiple honors, including the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award, for his most recent role, the freshly out-and-proud widower in “Beginners.” But that’s only one of many dozens of accolades the 82-year old actor has received in his six-decade career, which began in 1958 with Sidney Lumet’s film “Stage Struck.”
Some of his best-loved films include “The Man Who Would Be King,” “Twelve Monkeys,” “A Beautiful Mind” and of course, “The Sound of Music.”
In “Barrymore,” Plummer holds the screen alone for nearly the entire film; the role has already sparked early talk of a second Oscar. The roles and offers have gone up significantly for Plummer most recently, a sign of validating and reinvigorating his career.
"It feels rather like starting all over again actually which is rather nice,” he joked. “It makes me feel rather young. I’m showing some promise."
Guest:
Christopher Plummer, award-winning stage and screen actor, starring in “Barrymore”
Poll: Twinkies-maker Hostess says it will close; about 18,500 to lose jobs (UPDATED)
UPDATED 7:11 a.m.: Hostess Brands Inc. says it's going out of business after striking workers across the country crippled its ability to make its Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Wonder Bread and other snacks.
The company had warned employees that it would file a motion with U.S. Bankruptcy Court Friday seeking permission to shutter its operations and sell assets if plants didn't resume normal operations by a Thursday evening deadline. It announced Friday morning it will go through with that plan.
The closing would mean the loss of about 18,500 jobs. Hostess did have operations in Glendale
PREVIOUSLY: Hostess, the company behind American classic carbs like Twinkies and Wonderbread, is threatening liquidation unless the workers currently on strike return to their jobs by the end of today.
“We haven’t seen something like this in a long time however last year you might recall that there was a dispute, not at this level of liquidation, but with the relocation of Boeing,” said Erica Deutsch, partner at the Glendale law firm Bush Gottlieb, on AirTalk. “But this is something that you see, companies have to look at their option on how to handle the situation.”
This is the latest in a long string of tumultuous economic times for Hostess – the company has filed for bankruptcy in January 2012, their second time in three years. The union strike is a response to unilateral pay and benefit cuts following the January bankruptcy.
“The union representing certain workers was able to reach a certain agreement. However the union representing the bakery, confectionary, and tobacco workers was not able to reach an agreement,” said Deutsch. “The company gave what is called the ‘Less best and final offer’ and in response the employees decided to strike to protest the terms and conditions, one of which was an eight percent wage cut.
Hostess has said that the strike could be the end of the already-struggling company, if they follow through, it would mean the loss of almost 18,000 jobs.
Liquidation would also mean the end of Twinkies, though consumers who stock up now could be eating the famous snack for years. Hostess’ days may be numbered, but their product lasts forever.
“They’re exercising their right to strike, they are protected by the law and that’s what they have done,” said Deutsch. “In response to that the company is saying, if the workers don’t come back and work by the end of the day…they have made the decision to shut the company down.”
Guest:
Erica Deutsch, partner at the Glendale law firm Bush Gottlieb; adjunct professor of labor law at Loyola Law School
Brice W. Harris becomes chancellor of California Community Colleges
This week, Brice W. Harris took over stewardship of the California Community Colleges system, replacing retiring chancellor Jack Scott. He has his hands full to shore up a system that, since 2008, has been beset by over $800 million in state funding cuts, classes slashed by 24 percent, and a severe drop in enrollment.
But there is hope on the horizon, thanks to the passage of Proposition 30, which will prevent a predicted additional cut of $338 million in funding. Harris has said that he hopes to drill down on the message to California lawmakers that the state needs to continue investing in higher education. Denying our students access to the tools to prepare for better jobs, he warns, is a crisis in the making.
How will the new chancellor go about rehabilitating California’s community colleges? What challenges lie ahead as they prepare for the next wave of high school graduates and adult learners? Will there be enough classes, funds and opportunities to go around?
Guest:
Brice Harris, chancellor, California Community Colleges
When disaster strikes, what is the federal responsibility?
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, disaster relief has been a frequent topic of conversation all over the country.
Even though a majority of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and fires occur in several key points across the country, when disaster strikes, the whole nation feels the impact. Part of this has to do with the way a natural disaster can affect the national economy – economists point to Hurricane Sandy as part of the cause of the most recent increase in the jobless report – but a lot has to do with federal funding for aid.
During the presidential campaign, Mitt Romney took a lot of heat for pre-Sandy comments on FEMA: America “can’t afford” it. But he’s hardly alone in his view that funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency should be cut back on the federal level. Some economists have argued that FEMA should exist for rare, heavy-hitting natural disaster, while states with high-risk should be responsible for their own, more regular aid.
Is the federal government responsible for providing aid for every natural disaster? Is it fair to ask residents of low-risk states to fund a program that predominantly serves states with regular, predictable natural events? How big does a disaster have to be to warrant federal intervention and aid?
Guest:
Barry Scanlon, former FEMA official and current president of Witt Associates, a public safety and crisis management consulting firm
Nicole Gelinas, scholar with the Manhattan Institute
LA judge throws out charges in first anti-paparazzi chase case involving Justin Bieber
Los Angeles Superior court judge Thomas Rubinson threw out charges related to a first-of-its-kind anti-paparazzi law Wednesday in a case in which a photographer was charged with driving dangerously with intent to capture photos for commercial gain. Assistant City Attorney Ann Rosenthal said hours after the ruling that her office would appeal. Paul Raef, the freelance photographer who is still facing charges of reckless driving and failing to obey a peace officer, was charged after he allegedly pursued pop singer Justin Bieber on July 6 on the 101 freeway.
Judge Rubinson cited numerous problems with the anti-paparazzi statute, saying it is unfairly aimed at newsgathering activities protected by the First Amendment. "The judge said that when you are talking about people doing their job and yet running the risk of additional criminal punishment, it has a chilling effect [for] anyone from newsgatherers to wedding photographers and even real estate agents," said David S. Kestenbaum, an attorney representing Raef. The judge put this first case involving California’s anti-paparazzi law on hold until the appeal is resolved.
Is Judge Rubinson justified in throwing out the charges brought against photographer Paul Raef? Does the anti-paparazzi law need to be modified?
Guest:
Stanley Goldman, Professor of Law, Loyola Law School