In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, how will climate change affect the handling of risk management? We examine the lasting impact of the storm, consider the possibilities for the next president's influence over the Supreme Court, take a look at potential future changes to China's one child policy, and discuss Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm. All that and more on Today's AirTalk.
What cities can learn from Hurricane Sandy
Superstorm Sandy is on the move, leaving a wake of destruction along the East Coast. Some blame the extent of Sandy’s devastation on the craziness of a Frankenstorm, but climate experts say the root cause is climate change – storms like Sandy are predictable, they argue.
Warmer seas and increasingly tumultuous weather patterns have become the norm in recent years. Indeed, scientists did predict that New York City would be hit by a major storm. So why are we still unprepared when disaster strikes? Abstract warnings may not be reason enough for an immediate call to action, especially when risk management solutions and retrofitted protections are so costly, but with the frequency of these incidents, and the high cost of rebuilding and relief, the time has come to weigh preventative options.
Building seawalls along parts of the coast would be expensive, but would it be more expensive than rebuilding an underground transit system damaged by salt water? In Los Angeles, earthquake warnings are the norm, but how should we actually be preparing for the inevitable big shake? What kind of risk management should be employed pre-disaster? Should climate change transform the way we anticipate and prepare for disaster? At what cost?
Guests:
Molly Peterson, KPCC’s environmental reporter
Robert Puentes, Senior Fellow with the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program where he also directs the Program's Metropolitan Infrastructure Initiative.
Adam Rose, research professor, coordinator for economics, Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events, Sol Price School of Public Policy, USC.
Next president may have to make Supreme Court decisions
With four of the nine Supreme Court judges in their 70s, it’s likely that one or more of them will be hanging up their robes during the next administration. Choosing who will fill any seats on the bench will be one of the more lasting legacies of our next president. And the social, economic and policy repercussions will shape our country for years to come.
During George W. Bush’s term he appointed judges Samuel Alito and John Roberts; the result was a conservative-heavy court that led to decisions in favor of super-PAC money (Citizen’s United) and gun owners’ rights (Columbia vs. Heller). Barack Obama tried to tip the balance back by naming liberals Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the bench; those appointments contributed to Arizona’s immigration law, SB1070, being struck down and the Affordable Care Act being upheld. At the moment, the court consists of five appointees by Republican presidents and four by Democratic presidents, and decisions are often split along those lines. A notable exception was John Roberts' surprising vote in favor of upholding the health care act.
In the event of a vacancy, a President Mitt Romney would undoubtedly appoint judges who would be in favor of conservative causes such as overturning Roe vs. Wade. On the other hand, if Obama has an opportunity to replace one of the more conservative judges during his term, the court would see a liberal majority for the first time in over 40 years.With so much at stake, it’s surprising that both campaigns have been virtually silent on this important issue.
Who would you like to see on the nation’s highest bench? What important upcoming cases could impact your life, and how will the makeup of the court impact those decisions? Will you consider the next president’s possible Supreme Court appointments when casting your vote next Tuesday?
Guests:
Erwin Chemerinsky, dean and professor of law at the UC Irvine School of Law.
John Eastman, former dean and professor, Chapman University School of Law, and founding director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
Chinese think tank calls for China’s ‘one child’ policy to be eliminated
For over thirty years, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has enforced a controversial family planning policy also known as the one-child policy. But that rule may soon be changed to a two-child policy as a result of a new report from a PRC-affiliated research group.
The China Development Research Foundation has recommended that the policy should be amended to allow two children per family by 2015 and that all birth limits should be dropped by 2020. The think tank points to China’s plunging birth rate and multitude of demographic imbalances as a sign that the one-child policy has outlived its usefulness.
In recent years, China has eased restrictions on the unpopular policy, allowing for two children in rural areas and among minority populations. But such alleviations may not be enough to avoid dangerously low fertility rates.
Chinese family planning authorities credit the one-child policy with preventing around 400 million births, but is China better off as a result? Why should China consider eliminating birth limits?
Guests:
Jeffrey Wasserstrom, Chancellor's Professor of History and Chair of the History Department at UC Irvine. He is the author of four books, including China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press, 2010) and the editor or co-editor of several others, including Chinese Characters: Profiles of Fast-Changing Lives in a Fast-Changing Land (University of California Press, 2012).
Robert Walker, president, The Population Institute, where he directs the organization's advocacy and public education activities, including its work on issues related to health, economic development, sustainability and the environment.
Disney buys Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion
Walt Disney Co. has made another huge gain in its series of large acquisitions over the last decade. Yesterday, Disney announced it has bought Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion, including rights to the “Star Wars” franchise, the special-effects company Industrial Light & Magic, the sound outfit Skywalker Sound and LucasArts, which publishes video games.
While this came us a surprise to the media, it is definitely in line with Disney CEO Bob Iger’s plan to expand Disney’s reach through the acquisition and control of giant pieces of intellectual property. In 2006 and 2009, Disney acquired Pixar Animation and Marvel Entertainment respectively, both multi-billion dollar deals which resulted in Disney controlling some of the biggest franchises in recent movie history, such as “Toy Story,” “Cars” and “The Avengers.”
The only thing more startling than the price tag of the sale is Disney’s assertion that a new “Star Wars” movie will be out in 2015. This comes after George Lucas announced plans to retire and stepped down as CEO of Lucasfilm in June, as well as his public commitment not to make any sequels or prequels to the movie series, as the recent ones were relentlessly panned by hardcore fans.
Are you a “Star Wars” fan who is worried about your favorite franchise and characters? Will you see the movie no matter what, and maybe even enjoy it now that Lucas is no longer involved himself? Or is it time to just stop and let sleeping Ewoks lie?
Guest:
Marc Graser, Senior Writer for Variety
‘Not exactly Cooperstown’ explores baseball fans’ love and irreverence for the sport
“The People’s Baseball Hall of Fame” is how some describe The Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals, where inductees are voted in by fans of the sport. The Shrine honors a diverse archive of individuals, some of whom were never players, but who have impacted the game in various ways throughout the pastime’s storied history.
Founded in 1996, The Reliquary, which manages the Shrine of the Eternals, is a nonprofit educational organization with no ties to Major League Baseball. According to its website, the Reliquary is “dedicated to fostering an appreciation of American art and culture through the context of baseball history.”
After discovering the group in 2002, baseball fan and filmmaker Jon Leonoudakis felt compelled to capture a year in the life of The Reliquary on camera. Leonoudakis is now showcasing his work in a new documentary “Not Exactly Cooperstown,” named to distinguish the The Reliquary from the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. With the documentary, Leonoudakis explores not only the scholarly side of The Reliquary, but also the non-conformist and irreverent appreciation that many baseball fans share.
The South Pasadena Public Library will screen "Not Exactly Cooperstown" on November 9th at 6:30 PM
Jon Leonoudakis, producer and director of the baseball documentary, Not Exactly Cooperstown
Terry Cannon, founder and executive director of the Baseball Reliquary