Biden commutes federal death sentences before Trump takes office
President Joe Biden announced on Monday that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. The move spares the lives of people convicted in killings, including the slayings of police and military officers, people on federal land and those involved in deadly bank robberies or drug deals, as well as the killings of guards or prisoners in federal facilities. We want to hear from you! What do you think about this decision generally? What do you think about this decision politically given Trump’s announcement that he will carry out more executions? And what do you think about Biden’s decision to exclude three convicted terrorists? Call us at 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press.
A widely-used internet router from Chinese company TP-Link could be banned
A popular internet router manufactured by the Chinese company TP-Link may soon be banned in the U.S. over fears of security risks. The routers take up almost 65 percent of the market for use in homes and businesses and are even used for several government agencies. Microsoft released an analysis in October that found that a network of compromised TP-Link routers were being used by a Chinese hacking group. The United States' departments of Commerce, Defense, and Justice have opened an investigation. So, what is the real risk these routers pose? And how likely will it be that a ban is implemented?mJoining us on AirTalk to talk about the security risks involved and what we can expect from a potential ban is Heather Somerville, reporter covering technology and national security for the Wall Street Journal, and V.S. Subrahmanian, professor of Computer Science and head of the Northwestern Security and AI Laboratory at Northwestern University.
In a region as vast as SoCal, how do you organize your life?
Los Angeles and Southern California are famous for their urban sprawl. It can take Angelenos more than an hour just to get to a restaurant across town, or visit friends on the other end of the city — and unless you want to spend a good chunk of your day in the car, just planning your week can take some serious strategizing. Sometimes, when your destination is too far, you may not even go at all.
So we want to hear from you: How do you manage living in a region as geographically vast as SoCal? Do you travel to other areas often, or mainly stick to your neighborhood? When your home or job changes, do you keep going to the restaurants and businesses you loved before? Or do you need to find new doctors, dentists, and hairdressers every time you’re centered in a new location? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Unpacking CPUC’s decisions on Aliso Canyon and Diablo Canyon
The California Public Utilities Commission had a busy day on Thursday.
They voted to keep Porter Ranch’s Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility open, despite safety concerns from locals. Back in 2015, it had the largest methane leak in U.S. history – causing headaches, nosebleeds and nausea for many people living nearby. But the commission decided the facility is necessary to keep natural gas prices low until demand subsides. Under the plan, Aliso Canyon is unlikely to close until the late 2030s. The Commission also approved Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to collect nearly $723 million from energy customers to continue operating the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in San Luis Obispo County. The extra fees will result in higher prices for not just PG&E customers… but also customers of Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric. The plant was supposed to shut down this year, but in 2022, Governor Newsom made a deal to keep it open until 2030.
Joining us with the latest on both decisions are Erin Stone, climate emergency reporter at LAist, and Noah Haggerty, environment, health and science reporter at the Los Angeles Times.
SoCal History: The delicious rise of Helms Bakery and it's iconic bread
Anyone who goes to the Helms Bakery District, now a bustling marketplace full of shops and restaurants, will be greeted by the center's doughy past in the shape of the original Helms Bakery sign. Opened in 1931 by Paul Helms, Helms Bakery became a staple for bread and baked goods in Los Angeles. Helms became the bakery of athletes and stars as the Official Bread for the 1932 Olympics and the first bread to go to the moon on the Apollo 11 space mission. Joining us on AirTalk to talk about the famous Helms Bakery and its enduring legacy is Wally Marks III, president of Walter N. Marks Realty Company, the owner and operator of Helms Bakery District.
Why has ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ stood the test of time?
Jimmy Stewart has a filmography that many would find difficult to compete with, domestically and internationally. However, cinephile or not, many might say his best performance comes in the form of a suicidal small-town business owner George Bailey, who lifted up his community in the Christmas film It’s A Wonderful Life. The film was released in 1946 to mixed reviews and was plagued with copyright issues from 1974- 1993, with the film’s questionable time in the public domain being its introduction to most people. It was through home viewing, like live television and VHS, that the film found a new life and became the classic it’s known as today. With the love of the film being shared across generations, we want to hear from listeners. In your eyes, what does It’s A Wonderful Life mean to you? Do you think it’s stood the test of time or is a movie propped up by holiday cheer? Along with listeners, FilmWeek critic Tim Cogshell will join us for the conversation.
