Today on AirTalk, we discuss the timeline of this year's election results as a result of mail-in voting and the COVID-19 pandemic. Also on the show, we break down Joe Biden's healthcare public option; we answer your COVID-19 questions; and more.
How Will You Be Following The Election And What Are Your Expectations?
With vote-by-mail and pandemic-related hold-ups, this year’s election results might not be as quickly announced as years prior.
We discuss some of the procedural questions related to voting and election results this year. Plus, we at KPCC will be watching the Associated Press for result calls, but what news sources will you be turning to? And how are you coping with the uncertainty surrounding this year’s election? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Nathaniel Persily, professor of law at Stanford University, where he is the co-director of the Stanford Cyber Policy Center and the Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project; he tweets
Healthcare Policy Experts On What Joe Biden’s Public Option Health Plan Would Actually Look Like
As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, many Americans are thinking about their personal health on new and difficult terms, which may figure into who they vote for in the presidential election.
Joe Biden’s healthcare plan differs from President Trump’s in many key ways. If the Affordable Care Act survives its Supreme Court challenge this November, Biden has said he will build on the law and support a public plan option, though he does not support Medicare For All. Biden also says he will expand eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid (Trump has promoted the private market). What would Biden’s healthcare plan look like in action? A recent Wall Street Journal piece argued that the public plan option would mean a tax hike for taxpayers, and that financing it would be very costly. However, other stakeholders claim that Biden’s plan is relatively modest, and that it will likely look like Medicare Advantage with government subsidies. However, Biden’s campaign has released only limited details for the plan, complicating debate over what its implementation would look like.
Today on AirTalk, we’re learning more about the debate over presidential candidate Joe Biden’s tax plan. Questions? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Lanhee Chen, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University who co-authored the recent Wall Street Journal op-ed “Biden’s Public Option Would Mean Massive Tax Hikes”; he was an adviser for Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign and served as policy director for the Romney-Ryan 2012 presidential campaign; he tweets
Kavita Patel, M.D., non-resident senior fellow at The Brookings Institution and primary care physician; she served in the Obama administration as director of policy for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement in the White House; she tweets
What Halloween In Southern California Looks Like During A Global Pandemic
As is the case with most of the major holidays this year, Halloween is going to look a lot different due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here in Southern California, public health officials have released guidelines for celebrating Halloween and are advising against trick-or-treating, a walk-back from the initial stance they took last month when they initially banned it outright. And while major events like Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights and Knott’s Scary Farm have been cancelled for 2020, there are still plenty of neighborhoods across the region where you can find spooky yard displays and drive-thru events to help scratch that Halloween itch, even in the era of COVID-19.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll check in Chava to find out more about how Southern Californians are celebrating Halloween this year, the best and most creative drive-thrus and yard displays he saw, and what local parents and kids are saying about how they’re approaching Halloween this year. But we also want to hear from you -- how are you celebrating Halloween this year? What creative ways are you finding to safely take your kids trick-or-treating and/or distribute candy to kids in your neighborhood? What’s the best drive-thru/lawn display you’ve seen in your area? Join the live conversation by calling 866-893-5722
With files from LAist. To read Chava’s story and see photos and videos from some of the local haunts and yard displays he saw, click here.
Guest:
Chava Sanchez, KPCC/LAist visual journalist; his latest piece is “Not Even 2020 Could Kill Halloween”
Following Huizar Corruption Scandal, Newly Appointed LA City Councilmember Kevin de León Talks Priorities For District 14
Kevin de León is now the newest member of the Los Angeles City Council. He was sworn in earlier this month.
The newest councilmember is filling the seat of embattled Councilman Jose Huizar. The seat became open during the summer after Huizar was suspended for his alleged role in a bribery scandal, in which he is accused of accepting at least $1.5 million in favors from real estate developers, taking more than $800,000 from a Chinese billionaire who owned a hotel in his district, and using his family members to launder money.
De León challenged Dianne Feinstein for her U.S. Senate seat in 2018. Prior to that, he was a California state senator from 2014 to 2018, representing downtown and east L.A. In March, he won the primary for the city council seat outright with more than 50% of the vote and then was appointed early.
Today on AirTalk, the newly appointed councilmember joins Larry to discuss his new role and plans for the district. Do you have questions? Call us at 866-893-5722.
With files from LAist. Read the full story here
Guest:
Kevin de León, Los Angeles City Councilmember for District 14, which includes neighborhoods like Boyle Heights, Downtown L.A. and El Sereno; he’s also former president of the California State Senate; he tweets
Council District 10: One-On-One With Candidate Grace Yoo
Los Angeles City Council District 10 is a sprawling district that covers southern Central Los Angeles and northern South Los Angeles, and includes Baldwin Village, Koreatown, Mid-City and South Robertston. It’s long time councilmember Herb Wesson is vacating his seat, and in the running to fill his spot are L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and attorney Grace Yoo.
We sit down with Grace Yoo to discuss her platform and plans.
We’ll speak with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas Friday. You can hear the interview here.
Guest:
Grace Yoo, candidate running for the Los Angeles City Council District 10 seat; she tweets
DOC AMA: Southern California Sees Surge In New Cases, Study Finds Robust Antibodies May Persist For Months & More
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Dr. Kimberly Shriner.
Topics today include:
- Robust antibodies to COVID-19 infection persist for months, study finds
- Southern California counties see surge in new coronavirus cases
- More than 40 states are reporting an increase in COVID-19 cases and many in the Midwest are seeing record hospitalizations
- Coronavirus cases set new record ahead of Election Day
- How to stay safe if you’re voting in person
- UCLA researcher argues that masks are a distraction from the pandemic reality
- China has injected hundreds of thousands with COVID-19 vaccines
- The ‘very, very bad look’ of remdesivir, the first FDA-approved COVID-19 drug
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena