President Obama is set to give a prime-time address laying out his strategy to combat the Islamic State, a day after meeting with congressional leaders. Also, SheRides cars are driven by women drivers and intended only for women passengers in New York. Then, high profile web companies are hyping a "slowdown" today in an attempt to spur consumers to write the Federal Communications Commission by September 15.
President Obama to deliver address on Islamic State strategy
A day after meeting with congressional leaders, President Obama is set to give a prime-time address laying out his administration’s strategy to combat the Islamic State.
Obama met for close to two hours with House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). After the meeting, the White House released a statement saying that the president won’t ask Congress to vote on authorizing the use of military force.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, reports the LA Times, urged House Republicans to support a hawkish approach to the issue. Larry checks in with Times reporter Michael Memoli on how congressional members he's spoken with are positioning themselves ahead of tonight's speech.
Guest:
Michael Memoli, Congressional reporter for the LA Times who’s been covering the story.
Anxiety and sleep medication linked to Alzheimer’s development
Heavy consumption of benzodiazepines, found in anxiety and sleep medications like Xanax, Valium and Ativan, may be linked to Alzheimer’s development in older people, according to a new study published this week in the journal BMJ.
French and Canadian researchers compared the use of benzodiazepines in 1,796 elderly people who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s with 7,184 who were not diagnosed with the disease. They found that individuals who took these medications infrequently and in small doses, or those that took large doses over a short period of time, did not see their risk elevate over the course of five years. However, those who frequently took high doses or took medications regularly over three to six months were 32% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Additionally, those who consumed the medications for over six months were 84% more likely to develop the disease.
What is an alternative to taking anxiety and sleep medications? If patients are mandated to take these prescriptions, how can they prevent a more serious condition in the future?
Guests:
Dr. Malaz Boustani, M.D., Center Scientist, Indiana University Center for Aging Research; Co-authored Editorial about this study in the BMJ
Dr. Zaldy Tan, M.D., Medical Director of UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program; Associate Professor at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine
Could women-only taxi service catch on in the US? SheRides finds out
The service is called SheRides in New York City and SheTaxis in Westchester County and Long Island and it’ll debut on Sept. 16, the New York Times reports. The service is like Uber or Lyft and uses an app to connect drivers with passengers, except for one big difference: SheRides cars are driven by women drivers and intended only for women passengers.
The company is started by Stella Mateo, a mother of two daughters who wants to equal the playing field for female drivers in a traditionally male-dominated industry, as well as fill a consumer need. Only 5 percent of for-hire drivers in New York City are women.
New York is just the latest city to boast a service like this. India, England and other places around the world have long launched successful for-women, by-women car services.
Are there legal issues to services like SheRides in America? If you are a woman, would you feel more comfortable using a car service or rideshare service with a woman behind the wheel?
Guests:
Winnie Hu, New York Times reporter who's written about the new livery car service
Robert Duston, Partner in the law firm, Saul Ewing based in DC. He represents businesses in employment and labor law with an emphasis on anti-discrimination and civil rights matters
Health in public office: Is it an official’s duty to disclose health problems?
California Secretary of State Debra Bowen recently disclosed that she suffers from severe depression, saying that it’s something she’s dealt with depression for decades, but not discussed it publicly because of stigma.
Bowen’s announcement inspired an outpouring of concern and support, including some who applauded her bravery for candidly discussing mental illness. But discussion around Bowen’s depression also includes a debate about whether she should carry out her final term in office (she will be replaced after this years election due to term limits). Bowen cited her sporadic absences and major life changes as signs of her depression, which she describes as “debilitating.” While no elected official has called for her resignation, one candidate for the Secretary of State office contends that Bowen can’t do her work from home, and some critics have said she should have disclosed her depression sooner.
Is it an elected official’s duty to disclose physical or mental health problems, and if so, when? At what point does a mental illness render someone ineffective -- how should an elected official approach a “debilitating” health concern in the public eye?
Guests:
Jessica Levinson, professor at Loyola Law School, Vice President of the L.A. Ethics Commission
Dan Walters, political columnist at the Sacramento Bee
Why some websites want you to think the Internet is slow today
Time is quickly running out for Americans who want to weigh in on the future of the Internet. Today, high profile web companies are hyping a "slowdown" in an attempt to spur consumers to write the Federal Communications Commission by September 15. That is the last day of public comment on "net neutrality" rules. The FCC is considering allowing "fast lanes" so that Internet Service Providers, such as Verizon and Time Warner, could charge companies like Netflix for high speed streams to their customers.
Is net neutrality already dead? Or will today’s protest do enough to raise awareness about the issue? What could Internet businesses do if the FCC decides to put in an internet fast lane?
To submit a comment to the FCC on this topic, visit http://www.fcc.gov/comments and click on item 14-28 “Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet.”
Guest:
Brian Fung, Technology Reporter, The Washington Post
Authorities announce sweep of drug cartel money laundering in LA’s Fashion District
This morning a coalition of law enforcement agencies including the FBI, DEA, ICE, DOJ and California Attorney General Kamala Harris, announced a major sweep of Mexican drug cartels who have allegedly been laundering money in the Los Angeles fashion district.
The way authorities explained what they're calling the "Black Market Peso Exchange," clothing was sent from the fashion district to Mexico and instead of sending pesos back to pay for that clothing, money went to the cartels. Here in Los Angeles, the garment sellers were then paid off with money from drug sales in Southern California.
The announcement today followed an early morning raid that involved about 1,000 law enforcement officials, more than 70 locations and resulted in 9 arrests. Authorities estimate that they seized at least $65 million today, and in one Bel Air location this morning, authorities found at least $35 million in cash, but are still counting.
This is not the first time the Feds have targeted the garment district. Back in 2007, a dozen defendants were arrested in what authorities referred to Operation Bell Bottoms, which centered around drug trafficking and counterfeit goods. This most recent incident is another example of what authorities have known for some time-- that Mexican drug cartels have expanded operation into Southern California.
KPCC political reporter Frank Stoltze was at the announcement and joins us for an update on the investigation.
Guest:
Frank Stoltze, KPCC Political Reporter
The Narcissist Next Door
Angelenos should be expert in recognizing narcissists. Hollywood is rife with them, from Kanye West to Miley Cyrus to the next reality TV star at your local bar.
Now author Jeffrey Kluger has researched how to identify the narcissistic tendencies of your coworkers, your relatives, even yourself. The narcissists in the room are the most successful and seductive, but the charm dulls when they lie and cheat in aspiring to their selfish desires. Are myriad people acting Machiavellian? No, but Kluger reports that since 1979, there has been a 30 percent increase in narcissistic personality traits.
What about our society is contributing to this? How have you handled it in your personal and professional life? Why is this disorder receiving so much attention of late? Are we demonizing a trait that helped inspire great leaders and thinkers such as Steve Jobs and Lyndon Johnson?
Guest:
Jeffrey Kluger, Author, “The Narcissist Next Door: Understanding the Monster in in Your Family, in Your Office, in Your Bed—in Your World” (Riverhead, Sept. 2014); Senior editor and writer at Time magazine; Coauthor of the bestseller “Apollo 13” and the author of “The Sibling Effect”