Today on AirTalk, we'll consider the Supreme Court's potential marriage equality decisions and discuss Egpyt's new constitution. On FilmWeek, Larry and the critics review this week's releases, and filmmaker Ken Burns joins us to discuss his latest documentary, "The Central Park Five."
SCOTUS weighs marriage equality cases
After sweeping victories for marriage equality in the November 2012 election, the Supreme Court is deciding today whether to take up a case that could be a landmark decision for LGBTQ rights.
The court will discuss the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal recognition to same-sex marriages, and a possible review of California’s Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in the state. Massachusetts and New York, both states that recognize same-sex marriage, struck down DOMA; Prop 8 was overturned by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
These state-level wins are significant, but a Supreme Court decision on either case would have a much broader impact on marriage equality nationwide. Is now the right time for a federal decision on marriage equality? How should the Supreme Court handle the cases? What will the impact of the court’s decision be? If the Supreme Court does not take up the Prop 8 appeal, will same-sex marriage be instantly legalized in California?
Guests:
John Eastman, Professor of Law and Founding Director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence and former Dean at Chapman University School of Law; chairman of the National Organization for Marriage
Vikram Amar, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law
Egypt passes draft constitution amid protests
The Egyptian revolution was a historic monumental event that explicitly illustrated the utter severity of the Arab Spring, but has Egypt replaced one dictator with another? That is the question looming on the minds of citizens and the international community alike after President Mohamed Morsi last week issued a decree that disallowed court challenges to his decisions. Moreover, the Islamist-dominated constitutional assembly rushed to pass a draft of the new Egyptian constitution today before the nation’s highest court could dissolve the assembly.
The proposed constitution states that Egypt will be governed by the “principles” of Islamic law, which is the same wording in the charter overseen by former president Hosni Mubarak. Liberal critics and non-Muslims argue that the language in certain articles of the draft could allow conservative Islamists to impose a strict paradigm of the Islamist sharia law. In a television interview broadcast hours before the proposed constitution was approved, Morsi said his decree “will end as soon as the people vote on a constitution. There is no place for dictatorship.” Still, protesters unhappy with Morsi continue to express their disappointment in their government’s new regime.
Are the interests of secularists, women, and others being ignored and alienated in the approved draft? How long will it take for Egypt to establish a charter that is generally accepted by both Muslims and non-Muslims?
Guest:
Kristen Chick, Cairo correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor
Rainy days and LA drivers getting you down?
Showers are forecast through the weekend, just as the holiday party season is kicking off. And if the accident numbers are any indication, the old cliché that L.A. drivers can’t handle the rain holds true. According to California Highway Patrol, there were three times as many auto accidents yesterday as there were a week earlier. Why the drastic difference? Stormy weather.
All the normal rules of bad driving apply of course - driving too fast, switching lanes without signaling and focusing on iPhones instead of the road. When you add slicked-out streets and limited visibility, it’s a recipe for Carmageddon. We can’t just stay home when it rains, so how do you avoid becoming a cliché - or an accident statistic?
Guest:
Patrick Chandler, public information officer, Caltrans
FilmWeek: Killing Them Softly, Silent Night and more
Larry is joined by KPCC film critics Andy Klein and Wade Major to review the week’s new film releases including Killing Them Softly, Silent Night and more. TGI-FilmWeek!
Killing Them Softly:
Silent Night:
Guests:
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and boxoffice.com
Andy Klein
, film critic for KPCC and the L.A. Times Community Papers chainFilmmaker Ken Burns tackles infamous Central Park Jogger rape case
It’s a documentary that blends New York history, sociology, true crime and a plea for redemption. “The Central Park Five” centers on the lives of five black and Latino Americans– teenagers at the time – who were charged and convicted with the brutal rape of a Manhattan woman. The case gripped the nation for a long time starting in April 1989.
New York was thick with crime. The teenagers were caught up with raucous behavior. And the city demanded justice. Based on a book by Burns’daughter, Sarah Burns, we see the confessions offered by the five teens and the domino effect created by those videotaped confessions. The film is being criticized as propaganda and a simple mouthpiece for the former defendants seeking compensation for their wrongful convictions.
What does Burns say to that? Did this famous case change anything about NYC law & order?
"The Central Park Five" trailer:
Guests:
Ken Burns, Co-Director, Co-Producer, Co-Writer, "The Central Park Five;" Some of Burns’ other renowned documentaries include, The Dust Bowl (recently on PBS), The Civil War series, Baseball, The National Parks and many more; “The Central Park Five” was produced, written, and directed by Ken Burns, David McMahon & Sarah Burns
Raymond Santana, wrongfully convicted in the infamous Central Park Jogger rape that occurred in 1989