A half century later, the Voting Rights Act still faces challenges, more cars have security flaws that allow them to be hacked, does the public really want VR?
America 50 years after the signing of the Voting Rights Act
Today marks fifty years since President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act.
President Johnson and the Voting Rights Act
The Act banned race-based discrimination at the polls and required states to get federal approval before changing election laws. For civil rights activists, it was a hard-fought victory.
Now, five decades on, many worry the act doesn’t have the power it once did. That’s because of a recent Supreme Court decision that struck down a key provision mandating extra oversight for states with a history of racial segregation.
Spencer Overton teaches law at George Washington University. He tells Take Two that, almost immediately following the court’s decision, some states began implementing discriminatory voting laws. “[We] saw politicians take advantage of the lack of protection,” he explained. “In Texas, within hours of the court’s decision, Texas announced that it would enact a restrictive ID law, and a federal district court ruled that [the] laws were discriminatory. [That] decision is now on appeal.”
And Overton says Texas wasn’t alone. He tells host Shereen Meraji, “North Carolina enacted a whole slew of changes that made it more difficult for minorities to vote.”
There has since been a push to restore the Voting Rights Act. Overton says congress would need to work together to bring about any real change. And he says some modern additions will be needed. He tells Take Two, “We need some common sense reforms that make sure eligible voters can participate with few barriers, and at the same time, ensure that those who are not eligible do not vote.”
Press the play button above to hear more from George Washington University’s Spencer Overton.
How the Voting Rights Act helped Latinos and Asians at the polls
The Voting Rights Act was primarily designed to protect black voters, but we can't forget that it also helped other minorities like Latinos and Asians.
For decades, they were often prevented from casting their vote at the ballot box.
Take Two talks with Marisa Abrajano, professor of politics at UC-San Diego, and Terry Ao Minnis, director of census and voting programs at Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
What to watch for at tonight’s GOP debate
The first debate of the 2016 election comes to us from Cleveland tonight.
Ten GOP presidential hopefuls will take the stage to tackle the topics important to the party base. Taking the center of the stage will be Donald Trump, who leads by about 10% in recent polls.
Trump has thus far shown himself impervious to political criticism, even after a cavalcade of controversial remarks.
No matter what happens tonight, one thing is certain: candidates hoping to pull ahead will have to stand out, without damaging the image of the GOP.
UCLA political science and chicano studies professor Matt Barretto joined Take Two today to tell us what to look for.
Press the play button above to hear more.
Places to watch the debate tonight:
LA County Young Democrats is hosting a watch party at Wolf & Crane in Little Tokyo. (There will be debate bingo for five dollars!)
Next Gen will host a watch party at the Santa Clarita Valley Republican Headquarters
Taix in Echo Park will be showing the debate. You just might get interviewed by Take Two producer Austin Cross.
The Wheel Thing: Car hacking gets hairier
This week, a couple of hackers demonstrated the tools they used to take over operating systems in a Jeep. Meanwhile, the Jeep's manufacturer, Chrysler, recalled 1.4 million vehicles that could be victim to the flaw the hackers exploited.
Other computer hackers have been able to remotely control cars built by GM and Tesla.
Where's this going, and what are the auto companies saying, and doing about it? OC Register car critic Susan Carpenter gives us the latest skinny on the state of security in your car.
Facebook, Google and virtual reality: An inside look at how the technology is advancing
Companies like Facebook, Google, and even Samsung are exploring ways to integrate virtual reality into our everyday lives -- hopefully without some of us feeling nauseated.
got a behind the scenes look at what some of these companies are doing, and he wrote all about it for Time Magazine.
Lab Notes: earthquakes, downside to perfectionsim and benefits of spicy food
When earthquakes don't behave as expected, how being a perfectionist can harm your health, and why you should be eating more spicy foods. All topics on today's LabNotes, our regular look at scientific discoveries with resident science geek Sanden Totten.
Earthquakes
Scientists have solved the mystery of the balancing rocks near the San Andreas fault. These rocks have never been topped by earthquakes. Reason why is that quakes can stop or jump because of interactions between the San Andreas and San Jacinto fault.
Downside to perfectionism
Being a perfectionist can sabotage success at work and school, lead to stress and cause health problems. That’s according to a recent study published in the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Constantly worrying about letting others down, making mistakes or not meeting personal high standards can lead to depression, anxiety, eating disorders and even early mortality.
But being a perfectionist isn’t all bad. Researchers analyzed findings from previous studies which found that setting high personal standards and working toward those goals help maintain a sense of accomplishment.
Benefits of spicy foods
How much jalapeño should I be eating? That answer is not yet clear. Researchers conducted an observational study which suggests that regular consumption of spicy foods is linked to lower risk of death.
Previous research has suggested that spies include anti-obesity, antioxidant and anticancer properties. But the authors are calling for more research that may “lead to updated dietary recommendations.”
State of Affairs: GOP debate, Gov. Brown on climate change, and 'fixing' CA
On this week's State of Affairs, GOP debate preview, Governor Jerry Brown's climate change push, and the "Fix California Challenge" finalists.
USC Professor of the Practice of Public Policy Communication Sherry Bebitch Jeffe and San Francisco Chronicle senior political writer
join Take Two.
The Galaxy's newest sensation - Giovani Dos Santos
Pro -Soccer fans all over LA have been waiting for the start of what many are considering a new era for the LA Galaxy. For a new player to join the ranks, Giovani Dos Santos.
Dos Santos' arrival is huge for the Galaxy. He's a Mexican national team star and in the prime of his career.
We talked with
about it, she covers soccer for ESPNFC.com.
Quvenzhané Wallis brings to life Almitra in 'Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet'
A new illustrated film brings together some of the world's most amazing talents in acting, animation and music. The story revolves around a young girl named Almitra, played by Oscar-nominated Quvenzhane Wallis, her mother, voiced by Salma Hayek, and a mystical poet and painter named Mustafa, portrayed by Liam Neeson.
It's an animated interpretation of "Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet," which is also the title of the film. And it comes out on August 7.
The original book is a mystical collection of essays penned 1923, taking on topics ranging from work and parenthood to love and death. In the film version, the passages were interpreted visually by animators like Bill Plympton and Tomm Moore and set to music by the likes of Yo Yo Ma and Damien Rice.
Alex Cohen recently had the chance to talk about the film with its director Roger Allers and its young star Quvenzhane Wallis.
To hear the entire conversation click on the full interview embedded above.