Today on AirTalk, we discuss the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and its affects on the court. Also on the show, we answer your COVID-19 questions; discuss how the pandemic is disproportionally affecting working moms; and more.
What Happens If The US Supreme Court Tilts Further Right?
Following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday night, the question that looms is who will fill her now-vacant seat on the Supreme Court.
President Trump has said he wants to appoint a new justice before the November election, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he’ll push a vote through on the president’s appointee, who would presumably be another conservative voice on a Supreme Court bench that has been gradually shifting to the right over the last decades and lock in a 6-3 conservative majority. This has major implications for everyday life for Americans, with issues like the Affordable Care act, which the Court is expected to rule on soon, and abortion
Today on AirTalk, we’ll examine how a conservative majority on the Supreme Court could affect the daily lives of Americans and the cases that the Supreme Court still has yet to rule on which could be impacted by the shifting ideological balance.
With guest host Libby Denkmann
Guests:
Lawrence Hurley, reporter for Reuters covering the Supreme Court; he tweets
Bernadette (Bernie) Meyler, professor of law and associate dean for research at Stanford Law School; she tweets
DOC AMA: U.S. Approaches 200,000 COVID-19 Deaths, Wildfire Smoke Complications And More
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, guest host Libby Denkmann speaks with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong from UCSF.
Topics today include:
- More than half of states are reporting more new coronavirus cases as the US nears 200,000 deaths
CDC guidance acknowledged coronavirus can spread through the air in updated guidelines Friday, then abruptly pulled the information today
Wildfire smoke can make people more susceptible to COVID-19, says CDC
This theory might explain "Covid toes" and other mysteries of the disease
Coronavirus may increase premature births, studies suggest
CDC virus testing guidance was posted against scientists' objection
With guest host Libby Denkmann.
Guest:
Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center; he tweets
How The Pandemic Is Disproportionately Impacting Working Moms
Increasingly, research shows the coronavirus pandemic is disproportionately impacting working moms like Ballesteros. A working paper from the University of Southern California found moms were more likely to be the caregivers for kids in two-parent households, and to reduce their working hours and feel more anxious and depressed than men and women without children.
"This COVID-19 crisis has the capacity to really represent a step back in terms of gender equality because we see moms are carrying more of the load than dads," said lead author and University of Arkansas economist Gema Zamarro.
LAist talked to SoCal moms who are working less, have left the workforce entirely, and delayed investments in their education during the pandemic. What many of them have in common is that the child care they relied on before doesn't exist right now. Researchers worry that even when child care becomes largely available again, women could face career setbacks. Today on AirTalk, we talk through some of the challenges working moms are facing. We also want to hear from working moms. What has been your experience? Share your story by calling 866-893-5722.
Read Mariana Dale’s full story here
With guest host Libby Denkmann
Guests:
Mariana Dale, KPCC reporter covering early childhood education; she tweets
Caitlyn Collins, assistant professor of sociology at Washington University in St. Louis, she’s the author of “Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving,” (Princeton University Press, 2019); she tweets
AirTalk Encore: What You Need To Know About November’s Ballot Props
The November election is going to be biggie, and not just because of the presidential race.
As a California resident, you’ll be asked to vote on 12 ballot propositions that span issues ranging from whether Uber drivers should be classified as independent contractors to whether money bail should be part of our criminal justice system. We give you the 101 on each measure.
With guest host Libby Denkmann.
Guests:
Katie Orr, government and politics reporter for KQED
Ben Christopher, reporter covering California politics and elections at CalMatters
Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and Chicano/Latino studies and director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University; member of the KPCC Board of Trustees