A whirlwind of politics to dive into after the Labor Day weekend, starting first with President Trump's decision to officially terminate DACA, announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions this morning. How will Congress react, and what does this mean for current DACA recipients? We also get the latest on North Korea's hydrogen bomb test on Sunday; speak with Rabbi Naomi Levy; and more.
Week in politics: Policy and political analysts break down what DACA rollback means for DREAMers, Congress and everyone in between
President’s Obama’s five-year-old protections for those illegally brought to the US as kids is being phased out.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced two hours ago that the DACA program will wind down in the next few months. That gives time for Congress to come up with an alternative. But will anything pass without a Presidential push?
See the Department of Homeland Security’s FAQ on the termination of DACA here.
AirTalk reached out to several Republican members of Congress from California for their reaction, but as of the airing of this segment we had not received a response from any of them.
Guests:
Lisa Mascaro, Congressional reporter for the Los Angeles Times
Lisa Garcia Bedolla, professor in the Graduate School of Education and director of the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley; she tweets
Jack Pitney, professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College; he tweets
Art Arthur, resident Fellow in Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies
Michael Tan, staff attorney with the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project
Adam Schiff, Democratic Congressman from the 28th U.S. Congressional District which includes Burbank, Glendale and West Hollywood; he tweets
After Sunday’s nuclear test, re-examining the North Korean nuclear threat
On Sunday, North Korea conducted its most powerful nuclear test yet, reporting that it detonated its first thermonuclear bomb.
At an emergency U.N. Security Council session, U.S. United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley said North Korea is “begging for war.” Meanwhile, Trump criticized South Korea for its appeasement of its Northern neighbor and also implied the possibility of a regional trade war.
So what makes this nuclear test different? What does it mean for North Korea’s nuclear capabilities? How is Southern California preparing for a potential threat? And if you’re Korean-American, tell us about how your relatives and friends in South Korea are dealing with the current geopolitical situation.
Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Tom Collina, director of policy at the Ploughshares Fund, a public grantmaking foundation that works to prevent the use of nuclear weapons in war; he is the former research director of the Arms Control Association (2009-2014); he’s been working on issues of nuclear policy and non-proliferation for over 25 years in D.C.
Hal Kempfer, retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel and CEO of KIPP knowledge and intelligence program professionals; he does terrorism and intelligence training and has worked in the intelligence community since 1987; KIPP will be doing nuclear preparation seminars for Long Beach next week
What can Albert Einstein teach us about the search of human soul
When Rabbi Naomi Levy came across a letter Albert Einstein wrote, it forever altered the way she interpret the meaning of life.
Einstein's touching prose encapsulated the connection between the universe and the individual. From that letter, Rabbi Levy began her search into the physicist's interpretation of the human soul.
What can we discover from science on religion and humanity? Larry Mantle talks with Rabbi Levy about lessons on empathy, connection, and faith from the world's most famous scientist.
Guest:
Naomi Levy, author of many books, including her latest, “Einstein and the Rabbi” (Flatiron Books, 2017); founder and leader of NASHUVA, a Jewish spiritual outreach movement based in L.A.
Bassist Christian McBride’s Hollywood Bowl tribute to Quincy Jones
On Wednesday, September 6, musical director Christian McBride, conductor John Clayton and a host of jazz masters will be putting on “Quincy Jones: The A&M Years” at the Hollywood Bowl.
The ensemble highlights the three masterful A&M jazz albums - Walking in Space, Gula Matari and Smackwater Jack- from the iconic musician and producer. Host Larry Mantle chats with Christian McBride on the the role of Quincy Jones plays in the world of jazz.
“Quincy Jones: The A&M Years” comes to the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, September 6. For more information about the event, visit here.
Guest:
Christian McBride, jazz bassist and multiple Grammy award winner
Remembering the enduring influence of Walter Becker and Steely Dan
Walter Becker, half of the Grammy-awarding-winning musical duo Steely Dan, has died. He was 67.
Throughout his life and career, Becker was known for blending elements of jazz, R&B and traditional pop music with his bandmate Donald Fagen. The band formed in the early ‘70s and obtained commercial and critical success throughout the following decades. They were known for such hits as “Deacon Blues” and “Reelin’ in the Years.”
The band’s album “Two Against Nature,” released in 2000, won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Steely Dan’s last release was in 2003, but both Becker and Fagen have continued releasing music.
Over the weekend, Becker’s daughter, Sayan Becker, posted the news of her father’s death online. In her short tribute, she remembers her father’s intense love of music.
“You loved music more than anyone I know,” she writes. “You’re always bobbing your head to each beat, doing a little dance here and there, or sitting over there with your big headphones on and swaying back and forth.”
Guest:
Mikael Wood, pop music critic for the LA Times; his piece, looking at Walter Becker’s influence, appeared in this weekend’s paper