Today on Airtalk, we discuss the ongoing impeachment saga as the whistleblower's complaint is made public and Joseph Maguire, Acting Director of National Intelligence, testifies before Congress. We also look at the use of Rapid DNA technology in law enforcement; talk about appreciating your local mom n' pop shops; and more.
Whistleblower Complaint Released. Acting Director Of National Intelligence Questioned. Now What?
The secret whistleblower complaint at the center of Congress' impeachment inquiry alleges that President Donald Trump abused the power of his office to "solicit interference from a foreign country" in next year's U.S. election. The White House then tried to "lock down" the information to cover it up, the complaint says.
The 9-page document was released Thursday ahead of testimony to House investigators from Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence, who acknowledged that the complaint alleged serious wrongdoing by the president but insisted that it was not his role to judge whether the allegations were credible or not. Maguire said he was unfamiliar with any other whistleblower complaint in American history that "touched on such complicated and sensitive issues." The document, with its precise detail and clear narrative, will likely accelerate the impeachment process and put more pressure on Trump to rebut its core contentions and on his fellow Republicans to defend him. Trump insisted anew that it is all political. House Democrats who are now mulling Trump's impeachment pressed Maguire to explain why he withheld the intelligence community whistleblower's complaint from Congress for weeks. He insisted he followed the law. Larry sits down with intelligence experts to discuss the issue.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Wendy Benjaminson, politics editor for Bloomberg; she tweets
Daniel Lippman, White House reporter for Politico; he tweets
R.P. Eddy, chairman of the New York-based intelligence firm, Ergo, former director of the White House National Security Council and bestselling author; he tweets
Irvin McCullough, national security analyst for the Government Accountability Project, a protection and advocacy organization that represents whistleblowers; he tweets
Robert Turner, law professor and distinguished fellow with the Center for National Security Law at the University of Virginia
Gil Cisneros, Democratic Congressman representing California’s 39th District, including Fullerton, Diamond Bar and La Habra; wrote an op-ed with six other freshman representatives condemning President Trump’s actions
‘Rapid DNA:’ A Breakthrough For Solving Crimes? Some Say Not So Fast
DNA sampling and testing has led to breakthroughs in cases resulting in solved crimes, but it’s a time consuming process. “Rapid DNA” speeds the process up. According to an L.A. Times article, it’s a device being marketed by a couple different private companies: Colorado-based ANDE and Massachusetts-based Thermo Fisher Scientific.
The “Rapid DNA” devices can test a sample of DNA in about 90 minutes compared to a lab, which can take up to weeks, even months. It does come with limitations though. It only works on single source DNA, according to crime lab experts. According to the New York Times, others have expressed worries about privacy, misuse and misidentification. But some LA law enforcement advocates believe it could be a solution to the city’s overcrowded crime labs, saying the technology has the potential to help with backlogs. Larry sits down with experts to discuss the technology. Do you think police departments should use Rapid DNA analysis to solve crimes? Do you have privacy concerns about the practice? Share your questions and comments with Larry Mantle by calling 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Scott Rex, a manager of the Arizona Department of Public Safety Crime Lab
Robert Harris, a director on the board of the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), the union that represents LAPD officers
Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst with the ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology project, based in New York
The Mom N’ Pop Shops With The Old School Expertise That Keeps You Coming Back
Some people have dedicated themselves to the craft of what they do.
We’re thinking of Tony’s Vacuum Shop in Pasadena where you can get your Hoover repaired, or Lazar’s Luggage Superstore in Sherman Oaks where the employees will walk you through the best choice luggage for you. What these local shops have in common are expert employees.
Often times, these expertise shops are local fixtures and institutions in the community. Their service comes with a sense of pride in their craft. With the advent of the internet and online shopping, it’s easy to do your own research and judge for yourself what you may or may not need. But having a trusted source right in your own neighborhood can be something we take for granted until we really need someone to fix our vacuums.
What are some of the local shops in your area that specialize in a particular service? Are these shops the first places you’d go to when you need a specific service done or are seeking expert advice? What longtime employee, whose expertise runs desperate deeper than Google’s, do you want to show some love?
Call in with your stories at 866-893-5722.
Film Producer And Dealmaker Brian Grazer On The Art Of Human Engagement
Author and film producer, Brian Grazer, wants you to put down your phone and try to make more eye contact.
In his new book, Face to Face: The Art of Human Connection, Grazer offers these suggestions and more for developing impactful social skills outside the online realm. He makes a case for real-life connections by recalling his own personal breakthroughs with aloof celebrities, like Eminem and Bill Gates. Face to Face follows A Curious Mind, Grazer’s 2015 bestseller on the power of inquisitiveness. Grazer has produced films and television shows, including Arrested Development, A Beautiful Mind and Friday Night Lights.
Today on AirTalk, host Larry Mantle talks with Grazer, up close and personal, on the significance of physical engagement.
Guest:
Brian Grazer, Oscar-winning film and television producer whose credits include “A Beautiful Mind,” “Apollo 13,” and “Arrested Development”; author of the new book, “Face to Face: The Art Of Human Connections” (Simon & Schuster, 2019)