AirTalk debates the ever-present conflict between restricting hate speech and protecting free speech after UC Berkeley reported 46 percent of California voters think the state has gone too far in allowing white nationalist demonstrations. We also dive into the controversy surrounding ESPN’s handling of an anchor’s anti-Trump tweet; what happened when President Trump met with Democratic leaders about DACA last night?; and more.
Trump, Chuck and Nancy met, confusion over DACA ensues
President Donald Trump met last night with Democratic leaders to discuss DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
After having dinner with the President last night, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced a surprise deal that included protections for DACA recipients and increased border protections, but not a wall.
Less than 12 hours later, President Trump sent out a series of tweets denying the deal.
No deal was made last night on DACA. Massive border security would have to be agreed to in exchange for consent. Would be subject to vote.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2017
The WALL, which is already under construction in the form of new renovation of old and existing fences and walls, will continue to be built.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2017
Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really!.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2017
We reached out to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is unable to join us today due to a scheduling conflict.
Guests:
Noah Bierman, White House reporter for the Los Angeles Times; he’s been following the story; he tweets
Kevin Whitelaw, Congress editor at Bloomberg; he tweets
New CA poll: close to half surveyed wants to see ‘hate’ speech regulated
Forty-six percent of California voters says the state had gone too far in allowing white nationalists to demonstrate, according to a new study published by UC Berkeley.
When divided along party lines, the survey shows that nearly half of Republicans believe in rights to demonstrate, compared to 39 percent Democrats.
With tensions rising between the general public and white supremacists, ideas around free speech are continuously in question. Should perceived ‘hate’ speech be curtailed? What are the implications socially and legally?
Guests:
Mark DiCamillo, director of IGS Poll at UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies; he conducted the survey
Stephen Rohde, civil liberties lawyer at Rohde & Victoroff and author of “Webster’s New World American Words of Freedom” (Webster’s New World, 2001); past president of ACLU Southern California
Laura Beth Nielsen, professor of sociology and director of the Center for Legal Studies at Northwestern University; she is the author of “License to Harass: Law, Hierarchy, and Offensive Public Speech” (Princeton University Press, 2006)
Trump administration eyes lowering refugee quota dramatically
The Trump administration is considering cutting the number of refugees that are allowed to come to the country.
Under the Obama administration, the number of refugees admitted to the country stood at 110,000 in 2016. The Trump White House is contemplating lowering the number to as low as 40,000, as reported by the New York Times. President Trump has until October 1 to make a decision on the quota.
In a related matter, the Trump White House is also weighing whether to extend a provision called “temporary protected status” for a number of refugees who have come to the U.S. from selected countries to escape turmoils like armed conflicts and natural disasters.
Guests:
Michele Garnett McKenzie, deputy director and director of advocacy at The Advocates for Human Rights based in Minnesota, a nonprofit human rights organization that works on immigration and refugee issues; she is also an immigration lawyer
Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies; he tweets
Controversy erupts over ESPN’s handling of anchor’s anti-Trump tweet
A tweet sent out earlier this week by ESPN anchor Jemele Hill has raised several questions.
Hill’s comments about President Trump – whom she called a “white supremacist” via Twitter – has resulted in a public apology. But some are wondering why she wasn’t fired for her comments when Curt Schilling, former ESPN baseball analyst, was fired last year for posting offensive comments on social media.
Why has ESPN treated these two cases so differently? Should social media posts be treated as personal or professional expressions if you represent a news organization?
Guest:
Cindy Boren, sports reporter for the Washington Post who’s been following the story.
Jeffrey McCall, professor of communication at DePauw University in Indiana and former journalist; he is the author of “Viewer Discretion Advised: Taking Control of Mass Media Influences” (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2007); he tweets
How to reconcile your age difference at work
Hope Hicks, who was named interim White House communications director in earlier this summer, has now been officially hired.
An early addition to Trump’s presidential campaign, Hicks became the youngest White House communications director in history.
The same week Hicks was brought in to fill a high-profile vacancy, Kraft Heinz, the company known for its namesake Ketchup and Velveeta cheese, named David Knopf, a 29-year-old vice president, as its new chief financial officer. Whether it is the business world or the political arena, a large age difference with one’s peer could potentially cause friction.
What has been your experience working with people in a different age group? Is there a particular industry where age gaps are more prevalent than others?
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