Who is Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and what does he bring to the Harris campaign?
Vice President Kamala Harris has decided on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate in her bid for the White House. The 60-year-old Democrat and military veteran rose to the forefront with a series of plain-spoken television appearances in the days after President Joe Biden decided not to seek a second term. He has made his state a bastion of liberal policy and, this year, one of the few states to protect fans buying tickets online for Taylor Swift concerts and other live events. Harris will introduce Walz at a rally Tuesday evening in Philadelphia. Today on AirTalk, we take a closer look at Walz and how he could influence voting. Joining to discuss is Christopher Devine, associate professor of political science at University of Dayton and Sam Woodward, Minnesota elections reporter for USA Today.
With files from the Associated Press
Read more: Harris taps Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate
What exactly does a Vice President do? Looking back on US VPs
If you were tasked to define the role of the Vice President, what would you say it is? For most, the Vice Presidency is a peripheral appendage to the President’s administration–a figure that is often found supporting important issues and policies of the executive branch throughout the country and around the world. For most of its history, though, the office was regulated to its constitutional duties of presiding over the Senate, so much so that John Adams, the first Vice President, called the position “the most insignificant office” of man’s invention. However, as the needs of the country evolved, so too has the role of the Vice President. Today, the Vice President is known as an influential advisor and spokesperson for the President, taking up important causes within the administration. But how did this change come about? And what exactly does the Vice President do within this function?
Today on AirTalk, we’re looking at the evolution of the U.S. Vice Presidency and how that has influenced Kamala Harris’s Vice Presidency. Joining us to discuss is Chris Megerian, White House reporter for the Associated Press, and Joel Goldstein, C. Immel Professor of Law Emeritus at Saint Louis University School of Law and author of the book “The White House Vice Presidency: The Path to Significance, Mondale to Biden.”
The inner makings of 'The Simpsons' and how it got so good at predicting things
The Simpsons is one of the most popular and longest-running television series to exist. It's aired 35 seasons and nearly 770 episodes to date. How is this show still hitting the mark after all this time? We dive into what makes The Simpsons such a resonant piece of media and how the series gained a reputation for predicting the future. Joining to discuss is Bill Oakley, television writer and producer who, along with partner Josh Weinstein, was the showrunner of the series during seasons seven and eight, and Jonathan Gray, professor of media and cultural studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of Watching With The Simpsons: Television, Parody, And Intertextuality. Fan of the series? What's your favorite moment from the show? What are your memories from the series? Share your thoughts by calling 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
How false rumors ignited a weekend of violence for the UK
Over the weekend, angry mobs in the U.K. attacked two hotels used to house asylum seekers, breaking windows and lighting fires. Crowds were later dispersed by police and residents were evacuated. This was all in response to a stabbing rampage at a dance class last week that killed three girls and wounded 10 people. A 17-year-old was arrested under suspicion for the crime, but false rumors began circulating online saying that the suspect was a Muslim asylum-seeker. The misinformation led to attacks on immigrants and mosques throughout the U.K. Dozens of police officers have been hospitalized for injuries in the past six days after being struck with bricks, bottles and large wooden posts. More than 375 people have been arrested in the mayhem so far and more are expected, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said.
Today on AirTalk we're joined by Lauren Frayer, NPR’s London correspondent to discuss what led to the unrest over the weekend, and we talk to Michael Spikes, program director of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications, about how one post of misinformation can spiral into acts of violence.
With files from the Associated Press
The California legislature is back in session and must vote on more than 1,000 bills
California legislators returned to work Monday with more than 1,300 bills remaining for lawmakers to debate. Among the most high-profile bills are Assembly Bill 1825, which would prohibit library review committees; Assembly Bill 886, also known as the California Journalism Preservation Act, which would require online platforms like Google Meta and Microsoft to pay news outlets for hosting links to their webpages; and Assembly Bill 2655 which would prohibit artificial intelligence-generated “deep fake” videos from being shared on social media is related to an election. The lawmakers have just four weeks to make decisions on the legislation. What is at stake this legislative session? Which bills have you been following? Joining us to discuss is Andrew Sheeler, politics reporter for the Sacramento Bee, and Alexei Koseff, state Capitol reporter for CalMatters.
Listeners make their case for the absolute hands down best taco in SoCal
Here's what LAist Associate Food and Culture Editor, Gab Chabrán, had the nerve to say recently: "I am not someone who cowers in the face of public opinion. And while I know what I’m about to say won’t make me any friends, I feel duty-bound — and honored to say it. The best tacos in L.A. can be found in Whittier. Of course, I am biased, since it's where I grew up, and my parents and plenty of friends still live there. But that doesn’t make my statement any less accurate."
Today on AirTalk, Gab defends his choice, explains what makes it so special, and we hear from listeners. What is the taco hill you will die on? What do you think is the absolute best taco in SoCal? Call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Read more from Gab: Why I believe LA's best tacos can be found in Whittier (yes, Whittier)
