AirTalk dives into the latest on JFK after the federal government released thousands of previously classified files on the 1963 assassination. We also parse through the possible effects of CVS’ plans to buy health insurance company Aetna; review this week’s movie releases on FilmWeek; and more.
JFK assassination files released. So...what’s in there?
After some last-minute delay Thursday, the U.S. government released thousands of previously classified files related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
Thousands more, at the behest of intelligence agencies, are still being processed and are set to be made public in April.
Researchers and enthusiasts have been parsing through the blurry photos and scribbled notes since yesterday. Some of the biggest points of interest so far are that President Lyndon B. Johnson believed Kennedy was killed as payback for the assassination of the president of Vietnam, that the CIA had consulted a mafia member about potentially killing Castro and that the FBI got a death threat against Oswald the day before he was killed.
So what happened yesterday to delay the release of the documents? Is the delay technically legal under the Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992? And what are the biggest revelations from the documents released yesterday?
Guest:
Jefferson Morley, editor of the JFKfacts, a blog about the Kennedy assassination; investigative reporter, formerly at The Washington Post, and author of “The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton” (St. Martin’s Press, 2017)
Why CVS might be the biggest disruptor in health care
CVS Health is reportedly in talks to buy health insurer Aetna to the tune of $66 billion – and according to the Wall Street Journal, the merger is a pre-emptive strike against Amazon’s potential move into the pharmacy market.
As retail merchandise sales have dropped, both CVS and its competitor Walgreens have been putting more resources into their pharmacy and health-care businesses. In June, federal antitrust regulators shot down Walgreens’ initial proposed merger with Rite Aid. Meanwhile, competition from pharmacy benefit management businesses, which control prescription drug programs for some health plans, has been getting more fierce, according to a health care services analyst. So CVS might now be inspired to find an edge through less traditional means.
Would this merger present antitrust concerns? Is this a bellwether for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, and what would that mean for consumers? And what is Amazon’s role in all of this?
Guests:
Zach Tracer, health care reporter for Bloomberg News; he tweets
Erik Gordon, professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, where he studies the commercialization of technology and the biomedical industry
What’s next for Catalonia as the region declares independence?
After a disputed independence vote earlier this month, the Catalan regional parliament declared independence from Spain.
As reported by The Washington Post, just minutes after the parliament vote on Friday, the Spanish Senate authorized Madrid’s central government to have power over Catalonia. This tug-of-war is causing a constitutional dilemma for the region. The BBC reported that 90 percent of people who potentially voted in this month’s referendum were in favor of Catalonia’s independence.
But there has been confusion since Spain’s Constitutional Court ruled the vote illegal. And as Britain plans its exit from the European Union, there is rising uncertainty about what Catalan independence will mean for stability in Western Europe. Larry speaks to a reporter on the ground in Barcelona today, to learn more about the future of Catalonia.
Guest:
William Booth, London bureau chief for the Washington Post; he’s following the story in Barcelona
FilmWeek: ‘Suburbicon,’ ‘Thank You for Your Service,’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s new movie releases.
"Suburbicon" in wide release
"Thank You for Your Service" in wide release
"All I See Is You" in wide release
"The Square" at The Landmark Theatre
"Novitiate" at The Landmark Theatre
"Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold" at Laemmle's Music Hall and on Netflix
"The Work" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
"Crash Pad" at AMC Burbank Town Center & AMC Orange
Critics' Hits
Peter: "Novitiate"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6QrP53BEug
Christy: "All I See Is You" & "The Square"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ1sCzPd9k8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDPrpJEGBY
Mixed Feelings
Peter: "Thank You for Your Service" & "The Work"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50LQGcb5knE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8OVXG2GhpQ
Misses
Peter: "Suburbicon"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBezc1S1BAQ&t=78s
Christy: "Crash Pad"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfLuNqpK7yg
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC and host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?;”she tweets
Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor