As tensions with Iran mount, top Republican voices are split on next steps
A schism has opened among President Donald Trump’s most devout MAGA supporters and national security conservatives over the Israel-Iran conflict, as some longtime defenders of the president’s America First mantra call him out for weighing a greater U.S. role in the region. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, commentator Tucker Carlson, and conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk — with legions of their own devoted followers — are reminding audiences of Trump’s 2024 promises to resist overseas military involvement after a week of deadly strikes and counterstrikes between Israel and Iran, and discussion of U.S. involvement. On social media and their popular airwaves, questions about Trump’s stance from these central validating voices are exposing a crack in his forward guard. They are also warning that the schism could deter progress on other priorities. Today on AirTalk, we’re looking at this split and ways in which it will affect the country’s approach to the Israel-Iran conflict with Professor of Politics at Claremont McKenna College Jack Pitney.
A new bill seeks to bar state and local police from wearing masks
A bill has been introduced into the California state senate that would bar local and state law enforcement from covering their faces, with few exceptions. SB 627, dubbed “the No Secret Police Act,” was authored by Senators Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Jesse Arreguín of Oakland. It comes in response to continued immigration enforcement sweeps and raids across the state in which federal agents have worn face coverings. Sen. Wiener has said the bill would make it clearer to the public who is and is not a legitimate law officer. Critics have pointed out that the bill would not apply to federal law enforcement, and that local and state police are already required to have identifying information on their uniforms. Joining AirTalk today to talk more about this proposed legislation are Scott Wiener, California state Senator for Senate District 11, and Travis Norton, a retired 25-year law enforcement professional and a court-recognized expert in police practices and use of force.
Learning to love on the spectrum. How a UCLA psychologist inspired the Netflix series
If you've watched Love on the Spectrum on Netflix, you've seen the heartwarming — and sometimes awkward — journeys of people on the autism spectrum navigating the world of dating. What you may not know is that behind that hit show is a real-life dating boot camp, developed by psychologists at UCLA. One of those psychologists is here with us today. Liz Laugeson is a clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience. She’s also the founder and director of PEERS, a program that teaches social skills to people with autism. For years, her research was ignored and underfunded. But over the years and decades, as the population diagnosed with autism has increased and attitudes have changed, Laugeson and the PEERS Clinic have garnered newfound support and attention. Do you have questions for our guest? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
LAUSD banned cell phones in February. So how’s that going?
The push to ban cell phones in schools has been gaining steam in red and blue states alike – from Louisiana to California. But this year, the cell ban push came to our own backyard when the LA Unified School District — the second largest public school district in the country — implemented its phone ban on February 18th, 2025. The day the ban came into effect, LAist K-12 senior reporter Mariana Dale went to a high school to get a sense of the vibe. Were students distraught? Was learning happening more fastidiously? Her finding: maybe. Now, a few months later, she’s gone back to see if the policy has made any lasting changes. Today on AirTalk, she rejoins the program to talk about the lasting efficacy of LAUSD's ban on cellphones and the latest episode of LAist’s Imperfect Paradise covering the ban. We also want to hear from you! Are you a student who has been skirting the cell phone ban? Or maybe you’re a parent of a child who has a solid reason for using their cell during school time? Give us a call at 866-893-5722, or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
LAUSD authorizes the use of bonds to pay past sexual abuse claims
The Los Angeles Unified School Board approved the use of judgment obligation bonds–up to $500 million–to pay off past sexual assault settlement claims. The bonds will be paid off over 15 years and include interest. The first issuance of these bonds will be in July and is expected to pay $303.6 million of claims. LAUSD has paid about $302 million in claims for this fiscal year. The claims being settled stem from Assembly Bill 218, which allotted victims of child sexual abuse a three-year window, ending in 2022, to file claims for past instances, some of which occurred as far back as the 1940s. The use of judgment obligation bonds allows LAUSD to stretch out its payments in an effort to ease strain on the school district’s budget. Today on AirTalk, we’re joined by Howard Blume, reporter for the LA Times covering education. He’ll explain what these settlements are and how the district is planning to pay for them.
We reached out to LAUSD. No one was available to join the conversation today.
TV Talk: ‘The Gilded Age,’ ‘America’s Sweethearts,’ and more
Have you felt completely overwhelmed when deciding what new show to watch these days? Us too. There’s just so much content out there between network TV and numerous streaming platforms. Each week, we will try to break through the noise with TV watchers who can point us to the must-sees and steer us clear of the shows that maybe don’t live up to the hype. This week, listeners will get the latest scoop on what’s worth watching with Kristen Baldwin, tv critic for Entertainment Weekly and Jen Chaney, freelance critic whose work appears in The Washington post and other outlets.
TV shows:
- The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
- Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything (Hulu)
- America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
- Stick (Apple TV+)
