Today on AirTalk, the impact of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's threat to cut ties with Russia on ending Syrian civil war; a look at the dynamic of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton interrupting one another in Monday's debate; and how historical buildings in Los Angeles can keep pace with the march of progress.
Weighing severity of Sec. Kerry's ultimatum to Russia over Aleppo "barbarism"
WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State John Kerry threatened on Wednesday to end all cooperation between the United States and Russia to stop Syria's civil war, unless Russian and Syrian government attacks on Aleppo end. More than 250 people are believed to have been killed in the besieged city in the last week.
Kerry's warning came in a telephone call Wednesday to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the State Department said, describing the latest U.S. ultimatum in Syria's 5½-year conflict. Many have gone unfulfilled, including President Barack Obama's declaration that the U.S. would take military action if Syrian President Bashar Assad crossed the "red line" of using chemical weapons.
It was unclear what effect Kerry's words would have.
"The burden remains on Russia to stop this assault and allow humanitarian access to Aleppo and other areas in need," Kerry told Lavrov, according to State Department spokesman John Kirby.
Kerry said the U.S. is preparing to "suspend U.S.-Russia bilateral engagement on Syria," including talks on a possible counter-extremist partnership, "unless Russia takes immediate steps to end the assault on Aleppo and restore" a cease-fire.
Government shelling and airstrikes landed near a bread distribution center and two hospitals in Aleppo on Wednesday. Activists and medics reported several people killed. They said at least one of the medical facilities was no longer operable, leaving the country's biggest city with only six functioning hospitals.
What other options could the United States exercise?
With files from Associate Press.
Guests:
Anton Fedyashin, Professor of Russian History, American University
Mohsen Milani, Executive Director, USF World Center for Strategic & Diplomatic Studies Professor, Department of Government & International Affairs, University of South Florida
A look at the first baby born with DNA from 3 people
The journal Fertility and Sterility revealed that a baby, with the help of controversial technologies, was born with DNA makeup from three people.
The procedure that made it possible aims at helping parents with genetic disease to have healthy babies. A DNA sequence carried by the newborn’s mother has given her other children Leigh syndrome, a potentially fatal neurological disorder.
According to the research, her two previous children died from the disease at 8 months and 6 years. A U.S. team with operations in Mexico carried out the gene-treatment and embryo implantation because the technique is not yet approved by the FDA. The technique involves removing the disease causing DNA and injecting the healthy portion into the donor's egg. Although baby produced with this technique holds DNA from three people, the percentage from the egg donor remains minuscule.
Does disease removal justify gene-modification in humans? What's the next step for FDA as fertility technology becomes more advanced? What's the ethical implication when more than two sets of DNA are introduced into a newborn?
Guests:
Ronald Bailey, science correspondent for Reason Magazine; he authored the recent article, “First ‘three-parent’ baby born in Mexico”
Stuart A. Newman, Ph.D, Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy at New York Medical College
On 'Trumpterruptions,' 'mansplaining' and gender linguistics
Shortly after Monday night's presidential debate kicked off, Donald Trump turned to Hillary Clinton, addressing her as Secretary Clinton and asked if that title was satisfactory for her:
“...Secretary Clinton - yes? Is that okay? Good. I want you to be very happy. It's very important to me."
For some viewers, those seemingly respectful words were not matched by a disingenuous tone, and Trump's characteristic, no-holds-barred communication style was quantified by his interruptions. In the course of the nearly two-hour debate, Trump interrupted Clinton 51 times, while she interrupted him 17 times.
Research by communications professor Kathleen Hall Jamieson at the University of Pennsylvania shows men in group meetings interrupt women more than vice versa. The question is how that translates for viewers and voters. Was Trump trying to be respectful? Is the contrast of the candidates' respective communication styles attributable to their genders or their life experience or a little of both? How do your experiences at work, school, or home influence your perception of the debate?
With files from the Associated Press.
Guest:
Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University in in D.C. and author of many books, including “You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation” (William Morrow Paperback, 2007)
Under pressure from mental health advocates, Knott’s shuts down controversial attraction
Every year Knott’s Berry Farm tries to cook up something special to celebrate Halloween. But one of its attractions this year has hit a nerve in the mental health community.
In the Los Angeles Times, Steve Lopez details in his latest column the theme park’s decision to close an attraction that opened last week called Fear VR. The ride is premised on the supposed horrors of a mental institution, and features a cast of characters including a girl that is possessed by demons.
After receiving complaints from mental health advocates over its insensitive depictions, the theme park has decided to close down the ride, even as it dismisses charges from critics.
Here's Knott's statement to AirTalk:
Knott’s Berry Farm is proud of its popular annual Southern California Halloween event, Knott’s Scary Farm. For more than 40 years we have delivered unique and immersive haunted experiences to our fans and loyal guests. Our evening attractions are designed to be edgy, and are aimed at an adult-only audience. Over the past week we have heard from a number of people expressing their concern that one of our temporary, Halloween attractions - Fear VR - is hurtful to those who suffer from mental illnesses . Contrary to some traditional and social media accounts, the attraction's story and presentation were never intended to portray mental illness. As it is impossible to address both concerns and misconceptions in the Halloween timeframe, at this time we have decided to close the attraction.
Guest:
Robert Liljenwall, Vice President, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Los Angeles County Council
Security questions stifle the Obama administration’s internet transfer
A long-planned transfer of internet oversight from the Obama administration to a nonprofit group is scheduled for Oct. 1.
In an effort to maintain global support and an open internet, the move would give domain name control to the Los Angeles-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or Icann. The plan was announced by the Obama administration in August.
So what does this mean for the general public? According an article from The Wall Street Journal, Icann has already been overseeing a large part of internet operations. The federal government’s role has been to act as a backstop. The government’s contract with Icann is set to expire on Sept. 30.
But GOP lawmakers have recently taken steps to stop the hand-off. A letter was sent earlier this month by four congressional committees which argued that unresolved issues with the plan were still in question. The letter prompted Attorney General Loretta Lynch to reevaluate the transfer.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has also been vocal about his opposition to the hand-off, expressing domain security concerns.
Larry speaks to Chris Mondini with Icann and Berin Szoka of TechFreedom to hear both sides of the issues surrounding the controversial internet hand-off.
Guests:
Chris Mondini, vice president of Icann’s Global Stakeholder Engagement for North America
Berin Szoka, president of TechFreedom.org, a tech-policy think tank in Washington D.C.
As LA reinvents itself, how historical buildings can follow suit
A few famous buildings in L.A. are going the way of condominium highrises and mixed-use spaces.
The Los Angeles Times building has been sold to Canadian developer Onni Group, which will turn it into retail and residential units. A similar fate awaits the iconic Amoeba Music building in Hollywood, which is going to be turned into a luxury tower with a rooftop pool. While the site of Barney’s Beanery -- the 89-year-old restaurant in West Hollywood -- is being eyed for a new five-story hotel.
Larry speaks with Linda Dishman and Vince Bertoni about how developers can reimagine urban development to help old historical buildings in the city keep pace with the inevitable march of progress.
Guests:
Linda Dishman, president and CEO of Los Angeles Conservancy,which works to preserve historic places in L.A.
Vince Bertoni, Director of Planning, City of LA