AirTalk

The Justice Department indicted 18 L.A. County Sheriff's deputies yesterday. We discuss the implications and what oversight is needed at the Sheriff's Department. Drafts of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan were released and have renewed debate of the controversial project. A new state law that requires school districts to provide family income verification to ensure equal distribution of funds. School District officials want the requirement waived, arguing that it is a redundant provision. Recruitment at the LAPD is low as the department struggles to find qualified candidates. Later, we discuss plea bargains and the influence on a trial. The new GM head Mary Barra and her path to becoming the first female head of a major U.S. car company. And who do you think should be TIME Magazine's person of the year?

An 11-judge appeals court panel will consider the constitutionality of California's mandatory collection of DNA from all arrestees. Do privacy concerns trump law enforcement benefits? Then, why are tech giants are urging the NSA to rein its surveillance programs? Next, we'll look at the appeal of old technology, how politics plays into Supreme Court retirement plans, and the right way to handle peeping toms in the digital age. Then, biographer Deborah Solomon explains how Norman Rockwell was more complicated than his homespun artwork suggests.

Today on AirTalk, we continue to remember former South African president Nelson Mandela, who died yesterday at age 95. We'll talk about some of the music he inspired, the divestment movement at UC Berkeley and Mandela's visit to California. What are your memories of Nelson Mandela? Later, our film critics are here to review this week's releases, and we'll talk about the plethora of documentaries eligible for Oscar nomination.

Our current Congress is making history with a record low number of bills passed this session. Is that necessarily a bad thing? Then, the use of the ADHD drug Adderall and other stimulants in the workplace is on the rise. Can those meds really make us smarter or more productive? Then, we're talking to the lost boys behind the musical 'Peter and the Starcatcher.' Later, we'll talk about the large number of fast food workers and other low wage earners who rely on government assistance programs. Then, is it possible to be both overweight and healthy? And we'll talk about Jeff Bezos and the age of Amazon.

A US bankruptcy judge ruled yesterday that Detroit is eligible for bankruptcy. What implications does that have for California? Then, after NYC commuter rail crash, is train safety technology the answer to human error? And is there any need for people to use fancy words anymore? Later, what should California do about DDT from Palos Verdes shelf? And we'll talk about Republicans accused of launching a fake website for the Affordable Care Act and the man who put California's wine country on the map.

Today, a frequent flyer who was booted out of his airline's program for complaining too much will get his day in court--the Supreme Court. What will the outcome mean for future relationships between airlines and their frequent flyers? Then, has the U.S. Constitution forced our government off course?? And how will the Trojan's new head coach fit in with the current team? Later, a new study finds some significant differences in how the brains of males and females are hard-wired. How will the findings help to treat certain neurological diseases? Then, are you more or less productive at work when your boss is watching? And we'll explore the importance of Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an.

Some California Democrats are calling for increased spending now that the state's revenue outlook has improved. But should the state save for a rainy day? Then, a dining double standard? Chefs say Los Angeles food critics favor Mexican street food over high-end cuisine. Next, a look at how California's nursing shortage is compounded by a shortage of nursing educators. Then, we discuss a troubling trend of mistrust among Americans and speak with author Diane Francis, who makes the case for a merger between the U.S. and Canada.

From all of us at AirTalk, we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday yesterday. You may have even gotten some shopping in as dozens of stores opened yesterday evening to get a head start on black Friday sales. We'd like to hear from you--has black Friday gone too far? Then, we'll talk about the proposed rule from the Obama administration to limit the financial role of non profits in political campaigns. And a new study found that older people report being less tired than younger people. We'll talk about why that may be, hear reviews on this week's movie releases and talk about the life of silver screen legend, Barbara Stanwyck. TGI-FilmWeek!

Pope Francis criticized growing economic inequality and Catholic Church hierarchy in first official papal manifesto. Then, when it comes to family inheritance, some personal finance experts advise transparency, not surprise. Next, an odd story out of Florida retirement community, where a man's car was spray painted with "No Kids" after visits from his granddaughter. Then, the FDA is going after at-home genetic tests, and how to navigate conflict this Thanksgiving.

President Obama made another call to Congress yesterday to pass immigration reform. Will Obama's proposed piecemeal approach finally do the trick? Then, should businesses be allowed to opt out of providing birth control as a part of the ACA on religious grounds? And we'll talk about the latest push to market girls' toys that "disrupt the pink aisles." Later, we'll talk about new research that finds most Americans want aggressive end-of-life treatments. Do those treatments just prolong suffering? Then, we'll talk about the White House's attempts to control its image and find out how texting is changing the meaning of punctuation marks.