The debate over defunding Obamacare has caused a rift in the Republican party. What are the strategies some Republicans think will work best? Then, should sexual assault cases be held to different criteria in military courts? Next, are parents talking to their children about the consequences of online video confessions? Then, we'll take a look at the updates from the Kenya mall attacks. California became the first state to regulate ride-sharing. How will this impact taxi cabs? Lastly, we'll talk with author Samantha Geimer about her book, "Girl: A Life in the Shadows of Roman Polanski."
GOP vs. GOP in fight over Obamacare and government shutdown
The Senate is expected to begin debate on a two-fold piece of legislation that would "defund Obamacare" while allowing funding to continue for the rest of the government.
Some Republicans, including highly influential groups such as Heritage Action, Club for Growth and the Tea Party movement, say they are committed to their demand strip monies from the Affordable Care Act even if it shuts down the government. Texas Senator Ted Cruz said Sunday, "If Harry Reid kills that (demand), Harry Reid is responsible for shutting down the government."
Other notable Republicans warn that the GOP-controlled house will wear the blame if the government shuts down and brings a chill to the U.S. economy. Karl Rove calls the defunding strategy "an ill-conceived tactic." As reported by the National Journal, a Congressional Research Service report released at the end of July found that much of the health care law’s implementation is separate from annual discretionary appropriations, therefore would not be affected by the current proposed legislation.
Who would you blame if the government shuts down?
Guests:
Shawn Steel, Republican National Committeeman in California; Founding Director, California Chapter of Club for Growth - an influential conservative lobbying group; Past Chairman, California Republican Party
Avik Roy, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Policy Institute; In 2012, Roy was a health care policy
Phillip Martin, Deputy Director, Progress Texas - a political communications firm described as advancing progressive values, such as the Affordable Care Act
Is the chain of command interfering with justice in military sexual assault cases?
In the military, the chain of command is the foundation of discipline and order, but in recent months, legislators and many members of the military have become concerned that it’s become an obstacle to prosecuting claims of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Opponents of the current system think it intimidates victims from bringing claims to senior officers, while proponents see the military’s system as more than adequate in ensuring a fair process.
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has been building support for her proposed legislation which would remove commanding officers from being the final arbiter of sexual harassment and assault cases, but opponents argue that the current system insures trials that are fair and balanced.
How important is preserving the chain of command? And should sexual assault cases be held to different criteria in military courts?
Guests:
Roger Canaff, president of End Violence Against Women International (EVAW), former Assistant District Attorney in New York, worked with the Department of the Army to investigate and prosecute sexual assault cases
Jeff Addicott, professor of law at St. Mary's School of Law in San Antonio, where he is the director of the Center for Terrorism Law; he's a 20 year JAG officer and was senior legal counsel to the Green Berets
Talking to your kids about making online confessions
Transgender teen Cassidy Lynn Campbell made history last week, when she was named homecoming queen at a Huntington Beach high school.
But after what was initially the “happiest day” of her life, she started receiving nasty comments on social media. In response, she made an extremely personal, emotional YouTube video about how the criticism made her feel.
The video has gone viral, which fanned even more backlash. How should parents help their children navigate their online lives?
What should kids know before deciding to share so much of themselves online?
What is our responsibility as a society in responding to these very public confessions, which are becoming more and more common?
Guest:
Julie Cederbaum, Assistant Professor at the USC School of Social Work
Who is Al-Shabab?
A reported 68 people have died in a terrorist attack in Kenya this weekend. A group of masked gunmen stormed into a crowded shopping center in Nairobi and started shooting. The strike on Westgate was the deadline terrorist attack in the country since 1998, when 200 people died from an Al-Qaeda bombing of the American Embassy in the Kenyan capital.
Somalia-based terrorist group Al-Shabab has taken responsibility for the attack. Four Americans were believed to have been injured in the attack, American officials said. The Kenyan government is continuing its assault against the terrorists, who have been holed up on the third floor of Westgate.
Who is Al-Shabaab? What are their links to Al-Qaeda? Do they post a terrorist threat to the United States?
Guests:
John Campbell, former US Ambassador to Nigeria and Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Director of the Center for the Study of Terrorist Radicalization at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank
The future of taxicabs
On Thursday California became the first state to regulate ride-sharing companies such as Lyft, Uber and Sidecar. Download an app and catch a ride in someone's else's car.
Now, these ride-sharing drivers will have to go through a background check, get training and special credentials that will put them squarely on the turf of the state's professional taxi drivers. Taxi associations across California are not happy about the threat to their business.
Will this force the taxi industry to evolve or is this the beginning of the end for the traditional yellow cab? What will this mean for people without smartphones and who rely on hailing a cab and paying cash? Is it worth the hassle to participate in ride-sharing if you have to go through the hassle of getting special credentials?
Guests:
Jacqueline Leavitt, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affair
Mark Gruberg, United Taxicab Workers of San Francisco
The Girl: A life in the shadow of Roman Polanski
Samantha Geimer speaks about for the first time about her life changing encounter with Roman Polanski as a child. In her book she delves into the repercussions, and how her life was impacted by the events. She shares her version of the events that happened on March 10,1977 and the aftermath of that fateful night. She begins by sharing her background and how she ended up doing a photoshoot with Polanski at 13-years-old. In this book Geimer comes out of the shadows and proves she is not a victim.
RELATED: Event: Author Samantha Geimer discusses 'The Girl' live at KPCC
Guest:
Samantha Geimer, author of “The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski”
Geimer will be at the KPCC's Crawford Family Forum tonight for a discussion and book signing at 7:30pm.