Today on AirTalk, we break down the third day of confirmation hearings for supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. Also on the show, we discuss declining enrollment for community colleges during COVID-19; break down how climate change has been a factor in the California blackouts; and more.
‘No One Is Above The Law’: Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation Hearing Day 3
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett won’t say whether a president can pardon himself but says she agrees no one is above the law.
Under questioning Wednesday from Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, President Donald Trump’s choice for the high court offered no view on the pardon issue. Multiple investigations are looking into Trump’s taxes, his businesses and his associates.
Barrett would not offer her thoughts on whether Trump would be able to pardon himself. But she agreed with Leahy’s assertion “no one is above the law.”
Barrett is in her third day of hearings and has repeatedly refused to say how she’d rule on various issues, including abortion and the Affordable Care Act. We dive into what we’ve learned so far, and what’s still to come.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guests:
Anna Edgerton, politics editor for Bloomberg; she tweets
Brian T. Fitzpatrick, professor of law at Vanderbilt University, former clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom Judge Coney Barrett also clerked, and former Special Counsel for Supreme Court Nominations to U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
Pratheepan Gulasekaram, professor of law at Santa Clara Law, where he specializes in constitutional and immigration law
How Are Community Colleges And Their Students Faring Amid The Pandemic?
It’s been an unprecedented back-to-school season for all schools and students, but today we want to check in on our region’s community colleges.
Community college students who are low-income and have less access to resources such as wifi, laptops or quiet places to study are especially at a disadvantage at this time, when so much schooling is done at home. Some may have had to drop out of school completely in order to work, which is reflected in the national numbers that showed an 8 percent decline of enrollment this fall.
We check in with the presidents of three of Southern California’s community colleges. Plus, if you’re a student who’s struggling or had to drop out because of the pandemic, we want to hear your story. Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Kathryn Jeffery, superintendent and president of Santa Monica College
Erika Endrijonas, superintendent and president of Pasadena City College
Greg Schulz, president of Fullerton College
Preliminary Investigation Into Rolling Blackouts Lists Climate Change As Contributing Factor
Following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order to investigate rolling blackouts that occurred in California this August, a preliminary report has cited three contributing factors, one being climate change. California relies on imported power during peak demand times, which tend to occur on extremely hot days.
As the rest of the West Coast simultaneously experienced a heat wave, California was left to make do with a lower level of imported power than usual. Long-lasting heat, fires, and drought minimized the availability of other options like hydroelectric power and solar generation facilities.
Ultimately, the California Independent System Operator, which oversees the state’s bulk electric power system, transition lines, and electricity market, was forced to declare two separate emergencies on August 14 and 15 when reserves fell below minimum requirements, initiating rolling blackouts.
The report raises questions about the state’s preparedness for extreme weather events and the timeline of its transition toward clean energy.
Today we speak with Mark Rothleder, vice president of market policy and performance for CAISO, and discuss what factors led to the rolling blackouts and how the state will address issues surrounding the its electrical grid. If you have questions about rolling blackouts and what regulatory entities are doing to further prevent them, call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Mark Rothleder, vice president of market policy and performance for California Independent System Operator, one of the organizations behind the report
Sharon McNary, infrastructure correspondent at KPCC; she tweets
Marijuana Legalization Is On The Horizon For Mexico. What Might The Legislation Look Like, And How Might It Affect International Relations?
Two years ago, Mexico’s Supreme Court struck down a ban on marijuana as unconstitutional. Now, lawmakers are scrambling to make a Dec. 15 deadline to pass legislation that would legalize marijuana in the country.
Legislators are enmeshed in an ongoing debate over what form legalization should take. Activists criticized an early draft of legislation, which they said favored big businesses and could result in the criminalization of consumers, an unpopular suggestion given that one of the more attractive arguments for legalization would be to reduce pressure on Mexico’s penal system. But most stakeholders agree that legalization will almost certainly result in a reduction of cartel-related violence in Mexico. Yet the extent of that reduction is unknown, as pot legalization in parts of the United States has already decreased U.S. demand for Mexican marijuana. While legalization may have some effect on cartels, the greatest question mark hangs over the heads of the farmer’s themselves— will legislation help them become part of the legal market? Or will the law privilege big, foreign deals with American and Canadian companies?
Today on AirTalk, we’re learning more about what marijuana legalization would mean for Mexico, and how it could alter the drug trade landscape for cartels. Questions? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Kate Linthicum, reporter for the Los Angeles Times who is based in Mexico City and has been following the story; she tweets
Duncan Wood, director of the Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute; he tweets
In A Polarized Climate, Yard Signs Serve As A Platform To Publicly Declare Political Beliefs
Yard signs have expanded past simply advocating for a candidate; they’ve become an expression of one’s identity. As Election Day approaches, there is no shortage of signage. Whether advocating for a presidential candidate, a judgeship, or proposition, signs have become an increasingly familiar marketing strategy and can be found in most residential areas during election cycles.
We speak with Anand Sokhey, associate professor of political science at the University of Colorado-Boulder and author of “Politics on Display: Yard Signs and the Politicization of Public Spaces,” who researches how citizens experience campaigns, why many still insist on airing their view in public, and what happens when social spaces become political spaces.
Today on AirTalk, we’re learning more about how signs affect us and the places we live, as well as their significance in this election cycle. Questions? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Anand Sokhey, associate professor of political science at the University of Colorado-Boulder and co-author of “Politics on Display: Yard Signs and the Politicization of Public Spaces” (Sokey, A.E. 2019); he tweets