Fifty years ago today, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. How is this tragic moment in history felt today? Next, UN climate change talks reveal a rift between rich and poor countries. Should countries that pollute more pay more in climate aid? Then, California's health insurance marketplace rejects President Obama's plan to extend cancelled plans. Did the state make the right call? Then, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and more on FilmWeek--and a intimate look at "Queen of Pinups" Bettie Paige.
How the assassination of JFK changed America
Fifty years ago today America sat in stunned disbelief as news emerged of President John F. Kennedy’s death. Gunned down on the streets of Dallas, Texas, the young JFK’s life was taken as he rolled down the street in an open-top car with his wife, Jacqueline by his side.
RELATED: Remembering JFK: Watch his inaugural address
In a time before 24-hour news, families gathered around radios and televisions to hear the latest on the loss of a respected Commander-in-Chief. The young Kennedy had energized America and brought with him the hope of a new world.
Decades on, the impact of JFK’s assassination is still being felt, with many describing the moment as the day America lost her innocence.
What are your memories of President Kennedy’s assassination? How do you think it changed the cultural climate in the United States at the time? What impact does his death still have today?
Guest:
Professor Leo Braudy, Cultural Historian at the University of Southern California
Should wealthier countries pay more for climate change damages?
A big point of contention at the ongoing UN climate change summit in Warsaw, Poland this week has been who should be picking up the tab for damages related to climate change.
Developing countries such as Brazil and Bolivia argued at the conference that wealthier industrialized nations, who are responsible for the bulk of emissions leading to climate change, should have to pay more when natural disasters arise.
Bolivia accused rich, developed nations of refusing to discuss aid or compensation for developing countries struggling with rising sea levels and desertification. Industrialized nations pledged to increase their share of climate aid to $100 billion a year by 2020 from the $10 billion a year pledged a decade earlier.
Total spending on climate aid has dropped since the economic slowdown hit. The Climate Policy Initiative estimates that global climate spending fell 1 percent last year to $359 billion.
Should the bigger polluters be responsible for paying more of the share of climate aid? What is the best use for the money that has already been raised? Can wealthier countries afford to dramatically cut their emissions while at the same time spending billions more in climate aid?
Guests:
Brandon Wu, Senior Policy Analyst at ActionAid USA, focusing on international climate finance and adaptation policy.
Pat Michaels, Director, Center for the Study of Science at Cato Institute
Covered California refuses to extend canceled health insurance plans
For those who lost their health insurance plans in the wake of healthcare reform, California has just one word for you: "sorry."
The five-member board of Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, voted unanimously on Thursday to stay the course and reject President Obama's promise to extend the canceled policies. The board argued that all health insurance plans need to meet ACA requirements for essential benefits, and that changing up would further confuse consumers and disrupt the enrollment momentum already underway throughout the state.
About 1 million Californians are set to have their plans canceled in 2014; however, according to Families USA, only about one percent of Californians face rate increases without subsidies.
Did the state make the right decision in defying the president's request to extend health insurance plans? What tone does the refusal set for other states? Will Democrats feel the bite of this decision further down the line?
Guest:
Sarah Varney, Senior Correspondent, Kaiser Health News, and Contributing Reporter to NPR
Filmweek: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Philomena, Delivery Man and more
Larry is joined by KPCC critics Claudia Puig, Alynda Wheat and Charles Solomon to review this week’s releases, including The Hunger Games, Philomena, Delivery Man and more! TGI-FilmWeek!
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Philomena
Delivery Man
Guests:
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and USA Today
Alynda Wheat, film critic for KPCC and People
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC and author and historian for amazon.com
Bettie Page Reveals All: A pinup model in her own words
Bettie Page was described by many as the girl next door. She was always smiling and went to church every Sunday. She was also one of America’s best and most popular pinup models of the 1950’s and a pioneer of feminism and sexual freedom.
The film “Bettie Page Reveals All” takes a look at Page’s life from her troubled childhood to her illustrious career as a pinup model and sudden retirement at the peak of her career. Audio recordings from years prior to her death in 2008 help to narrate a personal look at one of America’s most popular sex symbols.
Guest:
Mark Mori, director, “Bettie Page Reveals All”
Bettie Page Reveals All will be playing at the Landmark NuArt Theater in Los Angeles and the Westpark 8 in Irvine starting November 29.