As the US entangles itself with Iran, a look at the efficacy of US intervention in the past
The world grappled Sunday with the United States inserting itself into Israel’s war by attacking Iranian nuclear sites, an operation that raised urgent questions about what remained of Tehran’s nuclear program and how its weakened military might respond. Experts warned that worldwide efforts to contain the spread of nuclear weapons by peaceful means would be at stake in the days ahead, while fears of a wider regional conflict loomed large. Iran lashed out at the U.S. for crossing “a very big red line” with its risky gambit to strike the three sites with missiles and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs. Iran’s U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that the U.S. “decided to destroy diplomacy,” and that the Iranian military will decide the “timing, nature, and scale” of a “proportionate response.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flew to Moscow to coordinate with close ally Russia. Tens of thousands of American troops are based in the Middle East. Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said any country used by the U.S. to strike Iran ”will be a legitimate target for our armed forces,” the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Today on AirTalk, we discuss how U.S. interventions have fared in the past and what we can expect from the United States’ intervention in Iran this time around. Joining us are Nick Wadhams, National Security Reporter for Bloomberg, and Sahar Razavi, associate professor of political science at Sacramento State and director of its Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies Center.
The state of pet insurance. Is it worth it?
The pet-care industry can be challenging to navigate. Pet parents have to struggle with balancing the best care for their furry family members while also accepting the fact that healthcare for critters can be pretty expensive. This is a problem that pet insurance companies have stepped in to attempt to solve. But just like human health insurance, pet health insurance doesn’t come cheap — and some say premiums are getting out of hand. So, when is it most necessary to have pet insurance, and is it ever a good deal in Southern California? Joining us to discuss the basics of pet insurance and what to know about the current state of the industry is Dr. John Tegzes, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences, where he is also a professor in the department of health systems science.
Wireless earbuds are everywhere. But when should you take them out?
You may have noticed that wireless earbuds are ubiquitous. People wear them in grocery stores, ordering coffee, and even around the house. For some people, it’s become a fixed feature. For others, they’re a nuisance. Today on AirTalk, we’re talking about the etiquette of earbuds. What do you think is the proper etiquette around earbuds? How do you feel about wearing them in public spaces? How do you feel about others wearing them in public spaces? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com. We want to hear from you. Joining us for the conversation is Wall Street Journal reporter Lauren Weber. Her recent piece addresses this very issue. It’s titled How People Decided It’s OK to Wear AirPods Anywhere, Anytime.
Internal Orange County report corroborates LAist finding on Andrew Do
Orange County’s COVID-19 testing partner during the pandemic, 360 Clinic, was double and — at least once — triple-billing for services carried out under a county contract, according to an internal investigation report reviewed by LAist. The internal investigation corroborates and expands on many details LAist found in a recent investigation into the county’s contract with 360 Clinic. Internal emails and text messages LAist obtained under the Public Records Act showed that former Supervisor Andrew Do overrode county staff concerns and directed them to use county money to pay the clinic for claims that had been denied by private insurance companies because of concerns, including overbilling. Do was sentenced to five years in prison this month on a felony bribery charge stemming from more than half a million dollars in kickbacks he received from other county contractors who were supposed to provide meals to needy seniors. Today on AirTalk, LAist Orange County correspondent Jill Reploge joins the program to share the latest on the fallout surrounding Do.
To know, or not to know the sex of your baby. That is the question.
Being a parent means making a lot of decisions. And one of the first decisions to be made is whether or not you want to know the sex of your baby before the birth. Not knowing can increase the excitement of the birth, or can be an active decision to not perpetuate gender stereotypes on your child. But knowing the sex can also better help you prepare, or make the whole situation feel more real. Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from you! Did you want to know the sex of your baby before the birth? Why or why not? Did you feel pressure from family and friends to find out the sex? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com. Joining us to discuss how parents come to these decisions is Dr. Sherry Ross, OBGYN, author and health expert. She has a private practice in Santa Monica.
A new book explores the life of a hotshot firefighter in the burning American West
Wildfires are becoming increasingly common and increasingly dangerous throughout the American West. As these fires grow in size, the battles to contain them grow more complex. But for one woman who joined a hotshot wildfire-fighting crew, these expanding fires were only one piece of the broader challenges she faced throughout her two-year experience. Today on AirTalk, Kelly Ramsey, hotshot firefighter and author of the new memoir Wildfire Days: A Woman, A Hotshot Crew, and the Burning American West, joins the program to talk about her book and experiences as a woman in the male-dominated field.
