Today on the show, we start with a preview of President Obama's State of the Union speech. Then, we look into security ahead of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. What do terrorist threats do to an international athlete's psyche? Then, LA 'hacktivists' hope to help make city data more legible, the NSA targets game apps, Tuesday Reviewsday brings you the latest tunes, and much more.
State of the Union Preview: Obama to address income inequality
One of the many topics President Obama is likely to address tonight in his State of the Union address is income inequality.
The timing is certainly right. Some economists believe the income gap is as high as it was at the start of the Great Depression.
For more on what the disparity between the rich and the poor means, and what it looks like here in California, we're joined by Manuel Pastor, professor and director of USC's Program for Environmental and Regional Equity.
State of the Union Preview: A look at the status of immigration reform
When President Obama makes his State of the Union speech tonight, he's expected to once again address the need for immigration reform.
In his last State of the Union, the President made a call to action, telling Congress to pass an immigration bill saying "Let's get it done." There was some real progress, the Senate even passed a bill before immigration reform stalled out in the House.
But it's a new year and, so far, it looks like there's renewed action on this issue.
To learn more about the state of immigration reform in the capitol and how the President may address it this evening, we're joined by Seung Min Kim from Politico.
Security a concern ahead of Winter Olympics in Sochi
The 2014 Winter Olympic Games begin in less than two weeks in Sochi and lately we've been hearing a lot about security concerns.
Terrorists have threatened to attack the games and three suicide bombings in the city of Volgograd last year have led to a feeling of unease. Last week, the US State Department issued a travel alert, saying large-scale events, such as the Olympics, present "an attractive target" for terrorists.
Here's more from the alert, updated on January 24:
"Between October 15 and December 30, 2013, there were three suicide bombings targeting public transportation in the city of Volgograd (600 miles from Sochi), two of which occurred within the same 24-hour period. In early January 2014, media reports emerged about the possible presence of so-called “black widow” suicide bombers in Sochi. These reports have not been corroborated, and the U.S. government continues to seek further information."
For more, we’re joined by Representative Adam Schiff, senior member on the House Intelligence Committee.
How threat of terrorism at Sochi affects Olympic athletes' psyche
Elite athletes are used to pressure and high stakes. But consider that pressure as the world watches, such as at the Olympics. The upcoming Winter Games in Sochi comes with yet another source of pressure: the possibility of terrorism.
For more on how this could affect athletes, we're joined by sports psychologist John Callaghan, professor at the University of Southern California.
LA hopes 'Hacktivists' will turn city data into user-friendly apps
Since taking office last July, Mayor Eric Garcetti has promised transparency in government. One of the ways he's hoping to affect change is by posting information about the city's operations online to make information available to the public anytime, anywhere.
But as it turns out, making such a big change can be difficult. KPCC's Jacob Margolis has more.
NSA targets Angry Birds mobile app to collect personal data
The uber popular mobile phone game Angry Birds may be a nice little way to kill some time. It turns out, it's also a nice little way to give the government access to your personal data.
A new report from the New York Times and the investigative website ProPublica found that the NSA and its British counterpart have spent years collecting information from apps like Angry Birds. Jeff Larson, Data Editor at ProPublica, joins the show to explain the findings.
Tuesday Reviewsday: James Vincent McMorrow, Timothy Bloom and Kris Bower
It's Tuesday, which means that it's time for Tuesday Reviewsday, our weekly new music segment. This week we're joined by music supervisor Morgan Rhodes.
Morgan's Picks:
Artist: Timothy Bloom
Album: Timothy Bloom
Song: "A Long Time Ago (featuring Dezi Paige)"
Timothy Bloom is a Grammy winning producer. This is his debut, very country, rock infused soul music from someone who grew up not able to listen to anything, but gospel. His parents were religious and so he had to sneak in the car and listen to Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye.
He snuck out and developed his sensibilities on the sly, so it's a really good story. He also got a production credit on Chris Brown's "F.A.M.E.," so he's been in and around the scene for a while and finally getting a chance to do his own thing. We got another song with him called, "A Long Time Ago."
Artist: James Vincent McMorrow
Album: Post Tropical
Songs: "Cavalier" and "Red Dust"
James Vincent McMorrow and his brand new album, "Post Tropical." This is hipster vulnerability music, so you talk about your feelings over some kale, a little bit of soy. People compare him to James Blake and Bon Iver mostly because of the falsetto.
This is a really good album. Someone has referred to him as bearded rock, but whatever it is it's really the alternative sound of a side of soulful R&B. Really, really gorgeous, vulnerable and there's another song we're going to hear called "Red Dust."
Artist: Kris Bower
Album: Heroes + Misfits
Songs: "Forget-Er (featuring Julia Easterlin)" and "Wake The Neighbors"
Beautiful new project called "Heroes and Misfits" by Kris Bowers and two songs that have been released so far. The album doesn't come out until March 4th, but he's dropped a few singles. Forget-Er is one of them, featuring Juliet Easterlin. Very haunting and emotional wailing. She's a Berkeley jazz graduate and he went to Juilliard.
He's from here in L.A. and the story goes that when his mother was pregnant with him, his parents put headphones on her belly and played jazz so his jazz consciousness started really early. Went to high school and middle school here and then went to Juilliard for his undergraduate studies and then got a master's in jazz performance with an emphasis on film composition.
Very, very smart guy. A scholar, a gentleman, musician, and he ended up winning the Thelonious Monk International Piano competition. It was at that competition that he was approached by Aretha Franklin's manager. The management said she wants you to be her pianist going forward so high honor for this guy. He ended up performing at Hall of Fame Rock and Roll tribute to Aretha Franklin and also at her 70th birthday so a relationship was forged.
Obama pushes for more funding for universal pre-K
When President Obama gives his State of the Union Speech tonight, advocates for early childhood education will be paying close attention. For years, they've been working to get Universal Preschool on the national agenda.
Last year, Obama called on Congress to expand access to quality preschool. He didn't get the funding he wanted, but it's a new year. For more, we turn to KPCC's Deepa Fernandes.
Neighborhoods: Touring South LA's Manchester Square
Today we are starting a new monthly series — Neighborhoods —in conjunction with Intersections South LA Reporter Corps at USC's Annenberg School of Journalism and Communication. The program trains 18-to-24 year-olds to report on their own communities. First up is a 23-year-old South LA resident, Skylar Endsley Myers.
When people think of South Central, they think of crime, gangs, hyper-violent '90s rap culture. But I live on a peaceful street full of very colorful family homes.
My family has been here for basically three generations. My grandma moved to San Fernando Valley from West Virginia and my grandma moved from Oklahoma. They decided to move down to South Central because of the hip music scene and the thriving African American culture that was going on in the '60s.
One of my favorite places in the area is Ma’Dears Bistro on Western. I love to eat, and it just so happens that this place is the best place to get chicken & waffles in South LA. And you can quote me on that.
In charge of the kitchen is Chef Norman. “One of the biggest things that I sell the most is our turkey meatloaf. Also, we have something that’s called a Soul Burrito. Red beans & rice, with fried chicken in it and cheese,” said Norman.
Sounds interesting, but I’d probably never try it. Chef Norman continued sharing exactly what makes Ma’Dears so special: The regulars who come in every day. One of them is Reverend Darnell Jones of First Missionary Baptist Church. I wanted to know what he appreciates about South Central.
“Probably that everything is at hand,” the Reverend said “You want to eat well it’s right up the street. Going to sports or whether you’re going to the movies or you’re trying to just interact with people. Got great churches all throughout the city, so there are no excuses for folks to not worship.”
I liked that answer, but I know there are problems as well, and the Reverend agreed.
“Of course, nobody likes the fact that there is still a lot of violence,” he said. “I don’t like the idea that so many of our men are either incarcerated, on the streets, or places where they should not be and that the young men are raising themselves.”
This is a problem I’ve seen growing up in South Central. At the end of my block is a crack alley. It’s not as active as it was when I was younger, but you would still see crackheads and drunks passed out from time to time in the alleyway.
Whenever I pass by the alley I tend to keep my head down or continue to look straight ahead. It’s not like I’m trying to criminalize anybody for selling crack, but whenever I pass by this alley I think about the crack epidemic of the '80s and how it was the downfall for the African American Los Angeles community.
If you are a newcomer coming into this area you should probably first realize there are gang affiliations, and if you do look like you aren’t from the area, you will stand out as an outsider. So, the things you can do to not stick out as much is bring someone who looks like there affiliated with the area.
That’s all I have to say about the advice for coming around here. Check out the food. It’s a great place to shop and there are plenty of stories and cool people to meet, so come through.
Nail art a big business for SoCal artists
Manicures and pedicures are big business in California. Nail services across the country represent a booming $8 billion dollar industry that hit a record high last year. You can thank gels and intricate nail designs for that.
The California Report's Caitlin Esch explains how graphic designers, illustrators, and painters use nail art to make money.
How the trillion-dollar farm bill will affect agriculture in California
The five-year, trillion-dollar federal farm bill could head for a vote in the House as early as tomorrow. After two years of political wrangling over food stamps and crop subsidies, politicians are hopeful the current iteration of the bill will pass.
RELATED: House expected to vote on new farm bill this week
Michael Doyle, the Washington correspondent for McClatchy Newspapers, joins the show to fill us in on the latest. Then, Dennis Nuxoll of the Western Growers Association, explains how the bill will affect farmers here in California.
California drought sends gold miners to the hills
The California drought may have a silver, or rather gold, lining of sorts. The dry conditions have lowered river beds and uncovered possible new gold deposits. That's why modern-day prospectors are heading to the hills.
For more on this, we're joined now by Kevin Hoagland, executive director of development for the Gold Prospectors Association of America.
Super Bowl 2014: Los Angeles Seahawks and Broncos bars face-off
The Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos will be facing off in New Jersey in Super Bowl XLVIII this weekend. Here in Los Angeles there will also be a contest, of two rival sports bars.
Super Bowl 2014: Second-tier ticket sellers make big bucks with extras
As we approach Super Bowl Sunday, those still looking for tickets to the big game and willing to pay a hefty price call second-tier sellers like Ety Ryback and Jason Zinna.
Ira Boudway wrote about their company, Inside Sports & Entertainment Group, for Bloomberg Businessweek and joins us to talk Super Bowl ticket prices.