Today on AirTalk, we discuss new polls that reveal how the attitudes and concerns of California voters are changing. Also on the show, we give a round up of cases to watch out for as the Supreme Court enters a new term; talk about the how the Dodgers match up in the postseason; and more.
New Poll: Kamala Falls Further Out Of Favor, Homelessness Top Issue For California
Attitudes and concerns of California voters are changing, according to recent polls from The Public Policy Institute of California and Berkeley IGS.
Over half of those polled feel the state is headed in the wrong direction, with the number optimistic adults at its lowest point since May 2015. Homelessnes is the top worry of Californians, pushing ahead of the usual concerns about the economy and illegal immigration. The PPIC poll found a significant drop in approval for Governor Gavin Newson, but an early poll from Berkeley IGS listed more positive opinions.
Both polls identify huge losses by California Senator Kamala Harris in the 2020 presidential race and a continuing surge of approval for Elizabeth Warren. Do you feel like these polls reflect your opinions? Share your thoughts by calling 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Mark Baldessare, president and CEO of Public Policy Institute of California; survey director of recent statewide poll
Mark DiCamillo, director of the Berkeley IGS poll, which has released their own polls recently on Californians’ attitudes on a variety of topics
The Future Of The LA Opera After Placido Domingo’s Departure
Opera star Placido Domingo resigned Wednesday as general director of the Los Angeles Opera and withdrew from all future performances, following multiple allegations from women who say the legendary tenor sexually harassed them there and at opera companies around the country over a period of decades.
Domingo’s departure from L.A. Opera raises questions about his future career in the United States, where he has been removed or has stepped down from all scheduled appearances since the allegations were first reported by The Associated Press. In two reports published Aug. 13 and Sept. 5, the AP spoke to more than 20 women who accused Domingo of sexual harassment or other inappropriate, sexually charged conduct. Many said Domingo tried to pressure them into sexual relationships and sometimes punished them professionally if they rejected him. All said they feared reporting him because of his power to make or break their careers, and that his behavior was an open secret in the opera world.
In a statement Wednesday, Domingo said that his ability to continue at L.A. Opera was “compromised” by the accusations against him. The resignation comes a week after the Metropolitan Opera’s bombshell announcement that Domingo would not be taking the stage in the season premiere of “Macbeth” and possibly ever again. Three other companies -- the Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Opera and Dallas Opera -- had already removed Domingo from upcoming performances in the wake of the AP stories.
In a piece for the Los Angeles Times, classical music critic Mark Swed commented on the duality of Domingo’s legacy, saying “There is no excuse to be blind to Domingo’s lapses. But that doesn’t give us any excuse to fail to acknowledge what Domingo has meant to us.”
Today on AirTalk, we’ll discuss Domingo’s legacy in Los Angeles Opera history, look at the organization’s future following his departure, explore what this means for his reputation in Europe, where he also performs regularly, and weigh his legacy in the long history of opera.
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times classical music critic; his latest article is “Plácido Domingo had to go, but he still matters”; he tweets
Minimum Wage Is Going Up In LA And CA Next Year, How Are Restaurants Preparing For It
Starting next year, the minimum wage in Los Angeles will be raised to $15 an hour, while the minimum wage for the state of California will be raised to $12 an hour for employers with 25 employees or less and $13 an hour employers with 26 employees or more.
Minimum wage increases, alongside rising rents, higher sales taxes and increasing food prices, have caused restaurant owners to raise prices, cut employees hours and turn towards automation and technology. Other restaurants, left with no other option, have shut down entirely. In Pasadena alone, 8 locally owned restaurants have closed since August, causing some to express concern about the future of small business in the area.
Are you a restaurant or small business owner? What are you doing to offset these extra costs? How are you preparing for the minimum wage increase? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Controversial Cases To Watch As Supreme Court Gears Up For New Term
The Supreme Court is back in session for a new term starting next Monday, October 7th. This will be the first full term the court serves together, after Justice Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed last year.
Currently, the court has a five to four conservative majority. With a developing impeachment inquiry and several hot-button issues on the docket, the court’s upcoming term is expected to be high-profile. Some of the cases to be considered include LGBT workplace rights, the Second Amendment and DACA. On Monday the court will hear Kahler V. Kansas, to decide whether states can abolish the insanity defense.
Today on AirTalk we’ll discuss cases to watch. For more details on a specific case, you can find links and descriptions below.
Kahler v. Kansas (Oct. 7): Whether the Constitution allows a state to abolish the insanity defense
Ramos v. Louisiana (Oct. 7): Whether the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of a unanimous jury applies to the states.
Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia and Altitude Express v. Zarda (consolidated for one hour of oral argument) (Oct. 8): Whether the federal ban on employment discrimination “because of sex” applies to discrimination based on sexual orientation.
R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC (Oct. 8): Whether federal employment discrimination laws prohibit discrimination against transgender people
Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, Trump v. NAACP and McAleenan v. Vidal (Tuesday, Nov. 12): Whether courts can review the decision to end DACA; and, if so, whether the decision to end DACA was lawful.
Hernandez v. Mesa (Tuesday, Nov. 12): Whether, when the plaintiffs allege that a rogue law-enforcement officer violated clearly established Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights for which there is no other legal remedy, courts should recognize a claim for damages against him.
Comcast Corp. v. National Association of African American-Owned Media (Wednesday, Nov. 13): Whether a claim that a defendant violated the federal law barring racial discrimination in contracts requires the plaintiff to show that the defendant would not have turned the plaintiff down were it not for the plaintiff’s race.
New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. City of New York (Monday, Dec. 2): Whether the city’s ban on taking a handgun outside city limits violates the Second Amendment.
Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (DATE TBD): Whether it violates the religion clauses or the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution to invalidate a generally available and religiously neutral student-aid program simply because the program affords students the choice of attending religious schools.
Kelly v. U.S. (DATE TBD): Whether a public official “defraud[s]” the government of its property by advancing a “public policy reason” for an official decision that is not her subjective “real reason” for making the decision.
Guests:
Amy Howe, co-founder of SCOTUSblog and and author of the blog, "Howe on the Court"; she tweets
Adam Liptak, U.S. Supreme Court reporter for The New York Times; he tweets
Should the US Adopt California’s Policy on Surprise Medical Bills?
Three years ago, California passed AB-72, legislation to stop surprise medical bills for specialty hospital services. Now, there’s a national proposal to follow California’s lead, according to a story from the New York Times.
The new legislation has passed in House and Senate committees, but hasn’t yet moved to the floor. Doctor’s groups like the California Medical Association oppose the policy, arguing that it denies doctors bargaining power with insurance companies over rates. Some pro-doctor groups have even suggested that hospitals will close if this legislation is passed.
New data analysis, including a study from USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy suggests that AB-72 did affect coverage, with a 17 percent drop in out-of-network care.
Guests:
Loren Adler, associate director of the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy; lead author of a new study on the effects of the 2017 surprise billing law
Carmela Coyle, president and CEO of the California Hospital Association
Ted Mazer, MD, immediate past president of the California Medical Association; San Diego-based otolaryngologist
Third Time’s The Charm? Dodgers Begin Their Quest For A Third Straight World Series Appearance
Major League Baseball’s postseason is finally upon us, and stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but the Dodgers will begin their quest to appear in a third straight World Series when they take on the Washington Nationals at Chavez Ravine tonight in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
The Dodgers finished the regular season with a National League-best record of 106-56 in the NL West while the Nats compiled a 93-69 record in the NL East, good enough for a Wild Card berth, and then knocked off the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card Game on Tuesday night in an exciting comeback victory. It’ll be a five game series to get started, and if the Boys of Summer can secure the three wins needed to end the series, they’ll head on to the National League Championship Series (again) to face the winner of the other Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals. The pressure is on for both teams this postseason. The Dodgers are hoping to end a 31 year championship drought by making it to their third straight Fall Classic. Meanwhile, the Nationals haven’t won a postseason series since the franchise’s move to D.C. in 2005.
25-year-old fireballer Walker Buehler takes the mound for the Dodgers in what will be only his fifth career postseason start, while Washington sends journeyman Patrick Corbin to the hill for his first career playoff start. The Dodgers expect to have have third baseman Justin Turner back as well as the always dangerous reliever Joe Kelly available for Game 1. Both have been dealing with injury. All eyes will likely be on Dodgers slugger and Swiss Army knife, Cody Bellinger, who led the team in home runs (47) batting average (.305) and RBIs (115) during the regular season.
Who will win? Who will lose? Who will sing the blues? Larry Mantle talks with L.A. Times baseball writer Bill Shaikin about the big storylines for the series, the players to watch, and who they think will come out on top.
Guest:
Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times reporter covering baseball and sports business who has been following the story; he tweets