Today on the show we start with the ruling that the TV streaming service Aereo's business model is illegal. Then, In the next installment of our series "After I Do," we take a look at the challenges faced by LGBT children of Asian immigrants. Plus, California public universities get a failing grade on handling sexual assault reports, a new study shows that 3-D mammograms might be more effective at detecting breast cancer and British DJ Quantic is back with a new album, Magnetica.
Supreme Court rules Aereo's business practices are illegal
In a 6-to-3 decision, the justices ruled that the TV streaming service Aereo's business model is illegal. Here to explain what that means for you is KPCC's business reporter Ben Bergman.
How influential is billionaire climate change activist Tom Steyer?
Today marks the one year anniversary of an important speech President Obama made on climate change in which he detailed plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Tonight, the White House will be looking at the potential economic damage of climate change. The guest of honor? A man who knows a lot about money and the environment — Tom Steyer.
Steyer has been involved in politics for some time, working on Democratic campaigns going back at least as far as Walter Mondale in the early '80s. But he seems to really be gaining political steam now.
The billionaire environmental activist, and the super PAC he founded — NextGen Climate — successfully backed two Democrats, Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, in their election bids last year.
Steyer has vowed to spend $100 million or more to influence gubernatorial and U.S. Senate contests across the U.S. this November. He also opposes the Keystone XL oil pipeline project, which would bring oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast. The Obama Administration is still considering its position on the hot button issue.
How much do Obama and Steyer see eye to eye on this and other environmental issues? Looking ahead to elections this year and in 2016, how influential could Tom Steyer become?
For more on the liberal billionaire and the influence he wields, we're joined by Bob King, Energy Editor of Politico.
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS:
On Tom Steyer’s past political involvement
Politico’s Bob King reminds us that Steyer has supported the campaigns of Bill Bradley, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and Barrack Obama.
RELATED: Obama heads to San Francisco for fundraising events
King points out, though, that Steyer was not as visible until after the Citizens United Case "loosened the floodgates for billionaires to spend as much as they want” on any political cause they choose.
On Steyer and the environment
Steyer has made climate change his top priority, pledging at least $100 million to support candidates who support green policies in the upcoming primary elections and in 2016. King says Steyer calls fighting climate change, “the battle of our generation.”
On comparisons between Steyer and the Koch brothers
Steyer takes issue with being characterized as a liberal version of the Koch brothers. And according to King, the Koch brothers take exception to that comparison as well. But King claims, “Steyers efforts are not anywhere close to he scale of the Koch brothers’ efforts.”
CA state auditor finds lack of sexual assault training on campuses
When it comes to training university employees to handle incidents of sexual violence, California's public universities get a failing grade.
That's the finding of a state audit released yesterday that focused on four universities: UC Berkeley, UCLA, Cal State Chico and San Diego State University.
The report from the California State Auditor's office finds that public universities don't do enough to train university employees to respond appropriately to incidents of sexual assault. Resident advisors and athletic coaches, who are often the first point of contact for students who've been assaulted, are especially unprepared.
The report also found that students don't receive appropriate training on sexual assault early and often enough.
Margarita Fernandez, Chief of Public Affairs for the California State Auditor's office, joins Take Two to to talk about the report's findings and recommendations.
After 'I Do': LGBT Asians come out amid cultural and language barriers
This segment is part one of Take Two's five-part series "After I Do," on the issues and challenges that LGBT people face beyond the gay marriage movement. Hear parts one and two.
The fight for marriage equality was, by proxy, a fight to normalize same-sex relationships. But Asian-Americans like Alan Chan say that conversation never reached their own homes.
"People who are white pretty much know what gay marriage means," says Chan. "Especially in the Asian-American communities, we really don’t talk about what it means to be gay."
A combination of linguistic and cultural differences have made coming out still difficult for many children of immigrants to the US. However, Chan and others are working to change how their older relatives view LGBT people.
East vs West, and a Generational Divide
More than twice as many immigrants come to California from Asia than Latin America. These newcomers are a majority in several cities throughout areas like the San Gabriel Valley, just east of Los Angeles.
They've managed to maintain a distinctly different culture that's sometimes isolated from the mainstream.
But when their children are steeped in American culture and learning different values from their home country, there’s a culture clash.
"Lot of first generation got no idea what LGBT is," says Minsook Brady from Downey, CA, whose native language is Korean. She's a first-generation American, and says that in her home country. "a lot of them think that it’s Western culture, that’s an American way, not Asians."
However, her son is gay, and she now regrets what she considers ignorance on her part when he was growing up in the closet.
"While watching TV in my house, I making all these derogatory comments, and it really hurt my son a lot," says Brady, "and I don’t think all the wound I inflicted all these years, I don’t think it will ever go away."
RELATED: What do you think is the biggest issue for the LGBT community beyond gay marriage?
Alan Chan explains that bridging the cultural gap with his elders is difficult because of language barriers.
"I mostly speak English, and my parents mostly speak Cantonese," says Chan, "and so I don’t have the vocabulary to really talk to them about gay issues because I just don’t know how to say that word."
He says the closest word to "gay" in Cantonese would be considered offensive or a slur, a parallel in several other Asian languages.
Also, the only image that immigrant families might see of LGBT people are from TV shows and movies that come from their home countries, says Christopher Villanueva.
"For example, within the Filipino community, if you turn on the television with broadcasts that present the gay community, it’s very flamboyant," says Villanueva, "so when that gay Filipino comes out to his family and that’s all that that family has been fed, that is what’s going to be the perception when they say, 'I’m gay.'"
Looking for support in a safe space
In the San Gabriel Valley is a special chapter of PFLAG -- Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. This one is geared for Asians and Pacific Islanders.
Carol Mannion, who’s Filipino-American, created the group because she felt people would be more open and honest if they met with others who had similar backgrounds.
"And then being vulnerable in your own language really gives you that courage," says Mannion.
Carol is the parent of a gay son, but said something was missing when she attended a support group with a mainstream American crowd.
"I know they totally understand what my process is as a parent of a gay son, but there’s a part where there’s a disconnect with them understanding what it feels like to be a minority."
Her group holds sessions in English, Chinese or any number of languages in order to help people feel at ease. In addition, they'll facilitate a translator for people who do need help coming out to their parents.
But most importantly, members can share their experiences and offer advice to other people worried about how their own parents might react.
Redefining what "LGBT" means to Asians
The strategy by Christopher Villanueva is to change how Asians view LGBT people.
He's the founder and editor of "Daniel," a new magazine with a specific niche to showcase gay Asian men.
Named for a personal friend he admires, Villanueva aims to change what newly out teens and their parents might see if they Google, "gay Asian male."
"Um, you’ll start seeing Tumblrs that are more into erotica, you have hot gay Asian," says Villanueva. "I mean, this is what we’re getting into."
In his glossy, almost GQ-like magazine, there are images of Asian men in suits looking professional, fathers playing with their children in the park and others describing what their faith mean to them.
All things, Villanueva says, that are meant to meet the standards that Asian parents have for their children.
"There is this strong need to have this stature that I have everything together. That I have a great job, I’m doing things correctly in life, and in the school context I’m making straight As and I’ll graduate with honors, all this good stuff."
But there’s another uphill climb: when children come out, it’s not just to their parents but also to their whole extended family here and abroad.
"I assure you I know a lot of people," says Villanueva, ,"that when they come out, a lot of their responses that they’ll get from their parents is, 'What is your uncle going to think, what is your auntie going to think, what is your grandmother going to think?'"
To have an entire culture change its view of what being “gay” is, Villanueva needed someone for the first issue who was immediately recognizable and respected worldwide.
In this case: Star Trek and internet celebrity George Takei, who is Daniel magazine's first cover model and featured profile. He and his husband's story is also featured in the new documentary, "To Be Takei."
Takei's own parents accepted him when he came out, despite out LGBT people not being a fixture in his parents’ native Japan.
But while he hasn’t faced the struggle that some Asian LGBT teens deal with now, Takei is more than happy to be the person Asian-American families can look to for guidance.
"I don’t consider myself a role model, but I consider myself someone who can make a contribution to making our society just," says Takei.
That’s the image Villanueva hopes becomes the norm – someone successful and an asset to his or her community. It’s just a matter of meeting those generations of Asian immigrants half way.
"I think that a lot of people in the straight community are trying, they want to understand," says Villanueva, "but we also have to understand for them as well."
Sports Roundup: The USA faces Germany and LeBron becomes a free agent
Soccer finally scores big with American audiences, debating the merits and dangers of a "header" and the debate around Lebron's decision to become a free agent. It's time for our weekly look at sports with writers
TOPICS:
Tomorrow at the World Cup in Brazil, the United States plays Germany with a lot on the line, but it didn't have to be that way if the U.S. had been able to defend in the last minute of the match.
The USA vs. Portugal game was a big hit, the most watched soccer match in ESPN history. Does that mean that soccer is starting to be as important here as it is in the rest of the word?
Possibly the best basketball player in the world, LeBron James, made himself a free agent. Free to sign with any team. Does this mean he will go to another team or is this just a technical move?
Supreme Court puts limits on police access to cell phone data
In a major ruling on privacy and cell phones, the Supreme Court ruled today that police need to get a warrant before searching the cell phones of those arrested. The decision was unanimous — rare for an often-divided court. It cites the vast amount of information that we store on mobile devices and what constitutes privacy in the digital age.
To help us break down what this means, we're joined by Laurie Levenson, professor of law at Loyola Law School.
Study shows 3D mammograms are better at detecting breast cancer
New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows dramatic increases in breast cancer detection with 3D mammograms that have the ability to give more detailed pictures and lower the number of false positives. 3D mammograms have been in use since 2011, but aren't widely available yet.
Dr. Catherine Dang is a breast surgeon at the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute and joined us to talk about this recent study and what it means for women looking to detect tumors as early and efficiently as possible.
World Cup 2014: LA's Persian community rallies around team Iran
The World Cup has become a rallying point for Iranian American soccer fans. L.A.'s large Persian community is diverse, with ex-pats from different religious and cultural backgrounds. But when the Iranian team is on the world stage, the game brings them together.
KPCC's Leslie Berestein Rojas takes us to where some fans gather.
British DJ Quantic mashes his influences in new album, 'Magnetica'
British DJ and producer Will Holland, otherwise known as Quantic got his start in the electronic music scene of the early 2000s. He made a name for himself early on with tunes like the 2001 track "Time Is The Enemy."
But today, his work occupies the place where electronic, Latin and world music collide. After six years of living and working in Colombia, Holland is back with a brand new album called "Magnetica."
We're lucky enough to have him in studio ahead of his show at the Roxy Theater in Hollywood tonight.
Interview Highlights:
This is your first album under the Quantic name in eight years, but you've been recording and releasing this whole time, right?
"Yeah, I've been in Colombia, working in Cali first and then Bogotá and recording in Medellín also and Barranquilla. I had a project there called the Combo Barbaro, also Flowering Inferno, so yeah a lot of things going on in between, but not really a quantic record, which is kind of my principal project."
So what makes this a Quantic record?
"When I started working as Quantic and releasing music as Quantic in my early '20s, it was about releasing electronic music at the time, or kind of instrumental hip hop. Then I progressed on to funk and soul. I guess as a digger and as a record collector, it sort of opened my ears to a lot of different things. I got into the music of the Caribbean and African music, West African particularly. Then, moving to Colombia opened my ears to the sounds that were coming from Colombia and Peru and Brazil...I think this record definitely involves those influences a lot, but also this principal of a more electronic, Quantic sound."
You've become kind of a scholar of Cumbia music. For people that aren't familiar with it, what makes it so distinctive?
"It's tremendous music, especially Colombian Cumbia, it's a big sound and it's very rich and varied. There's a lot of perception of Latin music, especially in England, that it's romantic music. In the '80s just like a lot of music it took a turn for the romantic, I guess, and for the sloppy and a little bit more schmalzy kind of productions. This kind of raw, dance energy somehow got lost a little bit in that, so it's kind of about getting back to that more rootsy sound, too."
You picked up and moved to Cali, Colombia. What did you get by moving there that you wouldn't have if you stayed?
"For me I think it was more on a personal tip, my father had passed away in 2006, and I was just looking for a change, and I think I really needed to get out of where I was. I felt like an urgency to get on with my own life experiences. Not that my father had deprived himself, he'd had a great life, but definitely with loss you have a great wake up call a lot of the time. For me that was a jolt and I thought I just need to change things up...But also, I'm from England, it's rainy and there's some nice things about England, but it's just to go somewhere where there's avocado trees and mangoes and that's, for me, just a complete fantasy land, it's amazing."
The first single from this album, Muevelo Negro with Nidia Gongora. Tell me a little about who she is and how you ended up working with her:
"Nidia Gongola is a singer from a town called Timbiqui, on the west coast of Colombia. She is from a folkloric background, so her mother was a folkloric singer and her grandmother and a lot of the songs that she sings today are from her grandmother. I have a good friend who recommended I speak to her having heard that she was really hot. We met in Cali and recorded a record called Flowering Inferno. From there we just started working together.
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"What really grabbed me is that she's a tremendous composer, a really good lyricist. I'm not into this kind of techno version of things, I really try and make electronic music mold with that. She's very considerate, too. Pacifico music is very special and she's always been very open with how to mold that and make it concise, rather than smashing a rhythm over the top of something."
This album sounds like a collection of a lot of the influences you've picked up from your travels — South America, the Caribbean, even Ethiopia. How do you sort out all of the sounds in your music?
"I like to listen to the context of music and style, so with this song [ARADA] I guess it's an Ethio-rock influence there, so I really wanted to get some fuzz guitars in there. I always have a basis of the sound of an influence. On this song I'm listening to artists list Tilahun Gessesse...and kind of getting a sound and ear for that music. I feel that it always has to have this kind of integrity to it, so I'm always trying to make sure I get the right sounds."
You collaborate with people from all over the world, do you write the music knowing that everyone's going to get together to record?
"It's a little bit like a jigsaw. Creativity is like a glorious mess, it's just such a messy, for me anyway. I guess it's like a painter when you're painting you go in the workshop and it might be the most beautiful painting in the end, but in the meantime there's paint all over the walls and your hands, you've got stuff in your fingernails. But it's the nature of the music and I think it's a blessing that you can collaborate like this and work with musicians over the Internet long distance. I worked with Miguel Atwood Ferguson on this record, he arranged two-string arrangements for the record here in Los Angeles and recorded them remotely and sent them to me. That's like a complete luxury."
Check out a playlist of Quantic's new album and his music throughout the years:
Google announces changes to Android system at I/O Conference
With more than 1 billion users, Google's Android Operating system is a tech behemoth.
Right now in Silicon Valley, the company is announcing some big changes to the system as part of their I/O Conference, their annual gathering of product developers conference. So far they've talked about changes to their Android operating system how they want to break into developing markets and smart watches.
Devindra Hardawar, senior mobile editor at Venture Beat, joins Take Two with more news from the conference.