The Dodgers are riding high off of their big win last night and have a chance to clinch the series tonight. We'll preview the upcoming game and talk about possible matchups. Then, after a week the government is still shutdown. What options do lawmakers have to end it as the debt ceiling deadline looms? Next, should Loyola Marymount's staff be covered for elective abortions? Then, the Supreme Court will be busy hearing some high profile cases including ones on abortion, and campaign finances. Lastly, we talk with Eric Schlosser about his book on the strategies of nuclear weapons.
Dodgers thump Braves, could clinch series tonight
If you were lucky enough to go to game three of the best-of-five National League division series between the Dodgers and Atlanta Braves last night at Dodger Stadium, you were witness to history.
The Dodgers scored the most runs ever in a postseason game -- a record set in the 1956 World Series -- hammering the Braves 13-6, and setting themselves up to take the next step towards the World Series.
The Dodgers offensive prowess showed last night, and there to witness it were Take Two’s co-host A. Martinez and our very own Larry Mantle, who will dissect the action and the energy of last night’s match and look forward to tonights.
Guest:
A. Martinez, co-host of Take Two
Pressure mounts to end shutdown as debt ceiling deadline looms
The government has now been shut down for a week and Democratic and Republican lawmakers seem no closer to reaching a deal to re-open it. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) has urged House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to allow a vote in the house on a clean funding bill--void of any Obamacare links—while Boehner insists he doesn’t have the votes to pass it.
Over the weekend the Pentagon announced that it would allow 350,000 of its civilian workers back to work this week, but hundreds of thousands of furloughed employees are still stuck at home.
As the October 17 deadline to raise the debt ceiling looms, pressure is mounting to reach a compromise to re-open the government and avoid a default on its debts, which economists say would have a catastrophic effect on the economy for years to come.
What options do congressional leaders have to end the shutdown? Will they be able to come to an agreement before Oct. 17?
Guests:
Robert Costa, Washington Editor, National Review
Chris Moody, Political Reporter, Yahoo! News
Loyola Marymount University to vote on ending elective abortions coverage
Today, Loyola Marymount University is voting on whether to remove elective abortions coverage from staff and faculty insurance plans. The vote represents a turning point in the history of the university, one that would change the ideological direction of the Catholic school going forward.
On the one hand, faculty and students who are religiously conservative want to see the campus to return to its Catholic roots and feel that the school has strayed from its religious foundation. On the other hand, critics of the vote fear that, if passed, it would end a period of openness on the campus, where non-Catholics have been welcomed and non-Catholic philosophies have been embraced.
Guests:
Christopher Kaczor, professor of philosophy, Loyola Marymount University
Lily Khadjavi, professor of mathematics, Loyola Marymount University
New Supreme Court term promises high-stakes cases
The high court's new term is starting with a bang. The biggest campaign-finance case since Citizens United will be heard tomorrow. Shaun McCutcheon, an Alabama businessman, is challenging limits to contribution amounts.
He thinks money he gives to individual candidates, political parties and political committee should be treated distinctly rather than aggregating them. Citizens United divided the court on ideological lines, will McCutcheon meet the same fate?
The Court will also hear other highly politicized cases on affirmative action, prayer at public meetings, and abortion rights. AirTalk is joined by Supreme Court scholar Lisa McElroy for all the details.
Guest:
Lisa McElroy, Associate Professor of Law, Earle Mack School of Law, Drexel University; Visiting Associate Professor , University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law
Command and Control: Strategies behind nuclear weapons
Eric Schlosser’s book “Command and Control” examines every aspect of nuclear weapons and risks. Schlosser dives into the potential problems with the command and control that were supposed to provide Presidents with essential information against potential strikes.
Schlosser looks to a crucial moment in the history of the American nuclear program: the crisis in Damascus, Arkansas where a Titan missile exploded in a blast. From research, eyewitnesses Schlosser pulls together a detailed account of what happened and what cause the event.
The book explores the history of American strategic thinking when it comes to nuclear weapons and gives ample examples of near disasters of bomb scares. What is the ongoing development of war weapons? How do we get rid of and store these weapons safely? Schlosser answers those questions, but also keeps a level of optimism that despite the dangers the human race is not doomed because of these deadly weapons.
Guest:
Erick Schlosser, journalist and author of “Fast Food Nation” and “Command and Control”
Schlosser will be at The Crawford Family Forum tonight at 7pm.