In an attempt to curb racial profiling, California law enforcement officers will begin to collect demographic data from all drivers and pedestrians they pull over. We debate the pro's and con's, as well as the practicalities, of the endeavor. We also look into the current challenges the NFL faces; update listeners on the House's tax plan, set to come to a vote today; and more.
House’s tax vote, plus LA radio personality accuses Al Franken of sexual misconduct
The House is expected to pass its version of the tax overhaul plan to slash corporate tax rates and reduce personal income tax rates while eliminating some deductions and credits. The vote is expected to pass along party line.
The Senate Finance Committee is aiming to pass its separate version by week's end. But some GOP senators, most vocally Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, want changes.
Plus, LA radio personality Leeann Tweeden has joined the #MeToo campaign and is alleging Democratic Senator Al Franken of Minnesota of sexual misconduct.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guest:
Ron Elving, senior editor and correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News
At a cultural crossroads, forecasting the future of the NFL and football as America’s most popular team sport
It’s been a trying season for the NFL this year.
Viewership continues to drop, some teams have been plagued by clashes between ownership and players over on-field protests of the national anthem, and links between the game and head injuries continue to surface, most recently with the news that an autopsy of former NFL player and convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez had abnormally severe brain damage for someone his age.
There’s also discord brewing between commissioner Roger Goodell and one of the league’s most influential and outspoken team owners, the Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones. The league has accused Jones of trying to sabotage contract negotiations between it and Commissioner Goodell. Jones has been critical of Goodell’s handling of the situation involving his team’s star running back, Ezekiel Elliott, who is currently serving a six game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy because of allegations of domestic violence.
With all of the bumps along the road, how is the future of the NFL shaping up for current and to-be players? What can the NFL do to try and combat the change? What about viewers? If you were an NFL fan before, has your viewership changed? Why or why not?
Guest:
Patrick Hruby, Washington D.C.-based journalist writing about the intersection of sports and society; he is a fellow at the University of Texas Program in Sports and Media, a former editor at VICE Sports, and a former writer for ESPN; he tweets
It’s rivalry week on campus, and AirTalk wants to hear your best prank stories
Stolen statues. Hijacked card stunts. Dumping manure from a helicopter.
The rivalry blood between USC and UCLA runs deep, and as they go head to head on the football field this Saturday, some of the secret masterminds behind their most memorable pranks are now coming to light.
And it’s not just the Trojans and Bruins of course. The perfectly executed Great Rose Bowl Hoax of 1961 went on record as one of the greatest college high jinks of all time.
In the spirit of contest, AirTalk wants to hear your best prank stories, whether antics across campuses, in the workplace, between friends. Call us at 866-893-6722 or comment below.
New regulations for CA law enforcement to prevent racial profiling – but are they practical?
Starting in July, law enforcement officers throughout California will start collecting demographics data from nearly all drivers and pedestrians that they stop – that includes data on race, gender, English proficiency and disabilities.
The final regulations from the program were released by Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office Wednesday. The regulations were developed because of The Racial and Identity Profiling Act, which was passed in 2015 and mandated that all California law enforcement collect this data, with the intention of recognizing and preventing racial profiling.
Law enforcement groups had lobbied against the legislation, saying it would add a time-consuming task to officers in agencies that are already understaffed.
There are also questions about the practicalities of such a program. Since a police officer cannot directly ask a citizen about their race or gender, they would have to guess at their demographics – and what happens if they get it wrong? Does that open them to lawsuits? Or is the information regarding an officer’s perception of a citizen’s demographics actually what’s being collected? What are the benefits of this program and how will the data be used?
Guests:
Ben McBride, reverend and co-chair of the Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board designed to review the regulations
Mark Cronin, director with the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the labor union representing LAPD officers
Move over Strunk and White: Buzzfeed copy chief’s new book teaches us how to write IRL
From 280 characters to listicles, copywriting has experienced a style overhaul this past decade and Buzzfeed copy chief Emmy J. Favilla has been a major driving force in the shift.
When Favilla first started working at Buzzfeed in 2012 as a copy editor, she was also tasked with the major responsibility of creating the website’s style guide. Her new book “A World Without ‘Whom’: The Essential Guide to Language in the Buzzfeed Age,” outlines the author’s philosophies on the written word and what it means to “correctly” write in the modern age.
With chapters dedicated to topics such as how to write about social issues and what language trends are here to stay (hint: “woke,” “GIF” and all the various “dad goals” and “squad goals” made the cut), Favilla makes writing in a seemingly free-for-all internet world a little more organized.
Join host Larry Mantle as he discusses language and all its modern nuances with the Buzzfeed copy wiz, and feel free to call in with your composition and style questions at 866.893.5722.
Guest:
Emmy J. Favilla, copy chief for Buzzfeed and author of the new book “A World Without ‘Whom’: The Essential Guide to Language in the Buzzfeed Age,” (Bloomsbury, 2017); she tweets