New English-proficiency guidelines for truck drivers are causing a stir
Last week, the Trump Administration announced it’s withholding $40 million from California’s for not enforcing an English-language requirement for long-haul truckers. While these rules have been in place for decades, their rigidity has changed with each administration. The Trump Administration has decided to crack down. In May, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy released new guidelines, which include roadside interviews and exams. Those who fail will be pulled from the road. In the past, truckers would get off with a ticket. When the DOT flagged California as failing to comply with these new standards back in August, the state replied with a letter saying that California “is fully compliant with Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program requirements, applicable federal regulations, and California’s Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan approved by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration earlier this year." Since June, 6,000 truck drivers have been pulled from the road for failing English proficiency tests. Joining us to discuss is Alex Lockie, executive editor at CCJ Digital (Commercial Carrier Journal), a newsletter for commercial truckers.
People on both sides of the aisle are warming up to nuclear energy
A new poll out from Pew Research shows that Americans overall are warming up to nuclear energy. About six in ten adults now favor the power source, according to the data. Nuclear is also now the least polarizing energy source among Americans, with 52% of Democrats and left-leaning poll respondents being in favor of it compared to 69% of Republicans and right-leaning respondents. Other sources, such as coal, solar, and wind all have much larger gaps. The new data comes at a time when both the Trump administration and the private sector are seeking to expand nuclear’s share in our energy generation mix. So what’s behind this rise, and are we likely to see more nuclear build outs? Joining AirTalk this morning to discuss is Lucas Davis, professor of economics at U.C. Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
Season Preview: Lakers kick season off with loss, Clippers face Jazz on second day
Luka Doncic received extensive postgame treatment after his 43-point performance in the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener on Tuesday night, delaying his meeting with the media for well over an hour after the final whistle. The Lakers didn’t say whether Doncic needed that extra recovery time because he was sore from carrying the Lakers on his back during their 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors. With the season now underway, Today on AirTalk, we dig into the upcoming season for the Lakers and Clippers with Mike Vorkunov, national basketball reporter for The Athletic.
Proposition 50: basics of the ballot proposal & money spent by both campaigns
Although this November won’t have any statewide races for elected officials, there is a major proposition on the ballot that could impact representation in the state. Proposition 50 comes to the voters, and will allow them to choose whether or not the state can react to Texas’s redistricting proposal, at the expense of California’s independent redistricting commission. The conversations surrounding the proposition are quite nuanced, so for this hour of AirTalk, we’ll dig into the basics and share how this can impact representation in certain parts of the state.
Joining us to kick the conversation off is Frank Stoltze, LAist civics and democracy correspondent, and Brianna Lee, civics and democracy engagement producer at LAist. We’ll also discuss impacts to the Central Valley and Orange County with Politico reporter Camille von Kaenel and dean of social ecology at UC Irvine, Jon Gould.
