A look at the suit which calls into question quality of education and teacher firing practices, Assemblyman Marc Levine's bill would ban models who are considered anorexic, Lawyers Black Lives Matter protestors say that the charges are a part of an intimidation tactic, done to quash further public protests.
The women behind the one of the most profitable lobbying firms in California
If the late singer James Brown were to describe the gender breakdown in Sacramento, the heart of California politics, he might do so using this song.
Just 26 percent of California's 120 legislators are women. Additionally, just two of eight elected state officers carry the X chromosome.
Unsurprisingly, the gender gap extends to lobbying firms. Among the 20 most profitable, just one is owned entirely by women. The firm? Political Solutions.
Laurel Rosenhall wrote about the group for CalMatters and shared more with Take Two.
Press the blue play button above to hear more.
Should California ban ultrathin models?
France, Italy and Spain have all passed legislation to ban ultrathin models from working the cameras. Now, a lawmaker is hoping that California will be next.
Assembly Member Mark Levine, who represents the 10th Assembly District of Marin and Southern Sonoma counties, this week introduced a law that would require the state’s modeling industry to adopt health standards.
If it passes, agencies would not be able to hire models unless they provide a certificate from a physician saying that they meet standards.
Levine said that the law wouldn’t specifically target weight. Instead, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board and the California Department of Public Health would consider different factors to determine the standards.
“People come in all shapes and sizes,” Levine told Take Two. “We just want to make sure that they're healthy.”
Would the government be overstepping its boundaries?
Levine said that while California has health and safety rules for other industries, the fashion modeling industry has been largely unregulated. For the assemblyman, the issue also hits home.
“As a father with a daughter in first grade and a son in third grade I know how children are influenced by the media,” he said. “Magazine covers, movies, the Internet all have influence on how children see themselves in our society.”
Hear the full interview above.
The Wheel Thing: Can your car predict your vote for President?
A new study by car research site BestRide and NPR show blog Car Talk asked 10,000 drivers nationwide about the car they owned, and who they would like to see as President. Among the standout findings: Prius for Republican Ted Cruz and electric vehicles for Democrat Hilary Clinton.
Take Two also digs deep into a new Consumer Report study that lists Audi -- owned by Volkswagon -- as their top pick despite VW's 2015 vehicle emissions scandal.
Take Two's new guide through the streaming universe: The Binge
For many, the growth in availability of streaming entertainment has been a godsend.
Now thanks to services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and others - there are thousands of movies and television shows available at any given time. But there's a problem - there are thousands of movies and television shows available at any given time.
But we've got the solution - a new segment aimed at sorting through the clutter and giving you some clear winners
THE BINGE
Our guide is Take Two contributor - and also writer & film historian Mark Jordan Legan
And in this first segment, we're going with a varied list, a good comedy, a good horror film and then two murder mysteries that were made for binge-watching.
First up, when you find yourself in the mood for a good laugh, here's a terrific comedy from 1996, Flirting With Disaster:
It's a very early David O. Russell film and it is chock full of hilarious performances - Ben Stiller, Tea Leoni and Patricia Arquette all shine but the amazing supporting cast includes everybody from Richard Jenkins to Mary Tyler Moore to Alan Alda.
Next we have a great suggestion for you horror fans out there - Frank Darabont and Stephen King have collaborated before on some powerful films - The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile but from 2007 is the rather overlooked gem,The Mist:
It has the feeling of a good old fashioned monster movie combined with a gritty social drama from the 70's. And we're going to end with two highly recommended TV crime mysteries.
The first one is from writer/director Jane Campion, and the riveting seven episode series Top of the Lake.
Elisabeth Moss, who many will remember as Peggy in MAD MEN, won a Golden Globe for her intense portrayal of a detective who returns home to visit her ailing mother, only to be drawn into the investigation once the young girl, named Tui, runs away and goes missing. The series is haunting, moody and richly textured. And definitely for mature audiences only.
And our final recommendation is the excellent BBC crime drama Broadchurch:
It stars the former Dr. Who himself, David Tennant and the marvelous Olivia Coleman who plays a police detective in an idyllic seaside town that is suddenly shaken to its core when a young boy's dead body is found on the beach. She has to try and separate herself from living in this close-knit community and yet still do her job
is a writer and film historian, living in Los Angeles.
State of Affairs: Leland Yee, Gov. Brown's ballot measure, and Super Tuesday
On this week's State of Affairs, former state Senator Leland Yee sentenced in corruption case, Governor Jerry Brown's proposed criminal justice ballot measure suffers a blow, and a look ahead to Super Tuesday.
Joining Take Two to discuss:
- Carla Marinucci, POLITICO's California Playbook reporter
- Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, USC Professor of the Practice of Public Policy Communication
Black Lives Matter Trial Raises Civil Disobedience Questions
Back in June, two Black Lives Matter activists, Evan Bunch and Luz Maria Flores, disrupted a closed meeting in attempts to get a word with Mayor Eric Garcetti about police violence. This week began opening arguments for their trial. This trial is the first of six trials involving Black Lives Matter activists here in Los Angeles. Bunch and Flores face eight misdemeanor charges, including trespassing, resisting arrest, and battery on a police officer. The latter charge qualifies as a violent misdemeanor, which can look particularly egregious on one's record.
"Clearly the city attorney here is characterizing the civil disobedience practiced by the Black Lives Matter activists as a violent form of resistance," says Jody David Armour, law professor at USC, and author of the book, Negrophobia and Reasonable Racism. Armour suggests the prosecution is trying to paint the BLM activists efforts as, "not just a non-violent form of civil disobedience, but actually violent civil disobedience. " Armour suggests the choice to criminalize individual's actions in these cases is subjective.
Armour offers an example, "When the CHP officer was seen on the side of Santa Monica Blvd. beating Marlene Pinnock, Jackie Lacey the L.A. County D.A. did not indict that police officer for any kind of criminal offense. So there is a lot of discretion involved when deciding whether or not to prosecute."
Sarah Favot, staff writer for the LA Daily News has been covering the case. She says that the city decided to prosecute because one of the activists, Evan Bunch, continued to resist arrest causing an officer to injure his elbow.
All Def Movie Awards could be your Oscar Sunday alternate
On Sunday night, millions of people will be sitting down to watch TV. Most will be glued to the Oscars, but some will be watching another channel — and ANOTHER awards show.
The All Def Movie Awards, created by Def Jam Records cofounder Russell Simmons, seeks to honor the black talent who are noticeably absent from the 2016 Oscars.
[Note: Video contains brief strong language.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2iabEBdwZM
"He created an alternative to the Oscars, something that he feels people, for years have wanted to see and it's a fun comedic take on movie awards, and it is also honoring the people that Russell and host Tony Rock believe should be honored," said Kevin Fraizer, co-host of Entertainment Tonight.
And yes, host Tony Rock is Chris Rock's brother. Frazier recently sat down for a chat with Tony Rock. He told Frazier there's no sibling rivalry intended.
"He also mentioned that he has seen and heard some of Chris' monologue, and it addresses the 'big black elephant in the room,' as he likes to say," Frazier said.
The All Def Movie Awards airs Sunday at 7 p.m. on Fusion. Frazier joined host A Martinez to tell more about the awards show, and the impact it could have for recognizing people of color.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.