Following the Palm Springs bombing, we discuss how fringe beliefs evolve in today’s age
A car explosion targeting a nearby fertility clinic rocked Palm Springs on Saturday, leading to four injuries and the death of the man suspected of engineering the act. Authorities have identified Guy Edward Bartkus, a 25-year-old resident of Twentynine Palms, as the man they say is behind the attack. Early reports and evidence gathered suggest that Bartkus described himself as being “promortalist” — a belief that it’s ethical to end suffering by ending lives. On a website authorities allege is tied to Bartkus, there is a recording believed to be from the suspect saying, "Basically, I’m anti-life. And IVF is like kind of the epitome of pro-life ideology.” While the fertility clinic targeted has said that there was no damage to their operations, the attack has shaken the city and surfaced what had been a relatively unknown ideology. But exactly how prevalent are these ideas, and why does it seem like so many underground ideas are bubbling up to the surface in the digital age? Today on AirTalk, we’re joined by Ron deHarte, Mayor of Palm Springs and Brian Levin, founder of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism and Professor Emeritus at California State University, San Bernardino, to talk about the Palm Springs bombing, the fringe ideology at its center, and why people are taking actions on behalf of these offbeat causes.
SCOTUS Check-In: The major case decisions over the coming weeks
It’s that time of year again when the Supreme Court begins to release a handful of its last decisions for the term, ahead of its summer recess. The United States’ highest court still has plenty of major decisions to make, one of which will determine the future of birthright citizenship, which the court heard arguments on last Thursday. Some other cases the court has yet to decide include subjects like transgender youth transition care, the establishment of religious charter schools, and parental opt-outs for LGBTQ history. Joining us to give us the latest on these undecided cases is Lydia Wheeler, Supreme Court reporter for Bloomberg Law.
Were COVID pandemic school closures a massive policy failure?
A new book calls the decision process around closures of public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic "one of the worst American policy failures in a century." An Abundance of Caution: American Schools, the Virus, and a Story of Bad Decisions comments on what it describes as fundamental errors made by prominent health officials and others, but it also looks at the repercussions of the closures, particularly on underprivileged students, who in some cases weren't in a classroom setting for more than a year. Joining to discuss is author David Zweig. If you have questions or thoughts, call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
LAist investigation reveals scale of illegal dumping in SoCal’s high desert
For years now, residents of Antelope Valley have complained to officials about the scale of illegal dumping in the area. Things have gotten so bad, in fact, that CalRecycle, the state agency in charge of waste, said in February that the scale of illegal dumping in the high desert has become an emergency that is degrading the environment, causing fires and posing a risk to human health and safety. Yet large-scale illegal disposal in the desert is an open secret among government officials, first responders, waste industry experts and the people living nearby. The problem was generating outrage and lawsuits well before January’s fire storm brought new attention to what happens to debris left behind when homes and businesses are demolished. To better understand the problem, LAist investigated the flow of debris to three desert sites ahead of the fires – dumping which in part spurred CalRecycle to issue the emergency order. LAist science reporter Jacob Margolis has been spearheading this investigation, and joins AirTalk today to discuss his findings.
SoCal History: Cults and the anti-cult movement
In the mid-20th century, Southern California was a hotbed of new religious activity and experimentation as young adults began to explore spiritual truths outside religious traditions. This period saw the rise of notorious movements such as The Children of God, Synanon, and Scientology — groups often associated with the start of the anti-cult movement here in Southern California. But what is it that drew these new religions to the region? And how were they able to make their mark on the broader American culture? Joining us today to talk about the development of new religious traditions in Southern California is James B. Bennett, associate professor of religious studies at Santa Clara University. We also want to hear from you! Do you have questions about the rise of new religious movements in SoCal? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
What does science say about early childhood memories?
Childhood amnesia, the inability for many of us to recall memories we made before the ages of 3-to-4, has served as a bit of a mystery for many scientists. Although some may claim they recall they’re earliest memories, science has yet to find enough clear evidence that adults can easily access life that early on in their development. That’s not to say babies that age can’t form episodic memories, as recent research has offered some evidence that older toddlers’ brain activity may assist them in memorizing faces or objects. What else does recent research say about our earliest childhood memories? Joining us to explain the latest research and what we know is Simona Ghetti, professor of psychology at UC Davis and faculty member at its Center for Mind and Brain. We also want to hear from you: is there an early childhood memory you feel very confident was true? Why do you think you remember certain things and not others? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722 or emailing atcomments@laist.com.
