On today's show, a look at the White House reviewing its policy when American citizens are taken hostage overseas. Also, LA is the only city with a "gay wing" inside its jail for gay and transgender inmates. We'll explore when and why it was created. Plus The Frame's John Horn talks about why Netflix cancelled Bill Cosby's comedy special that was supposed to be released later this month.
Peace talks fall apart as rebel group FARC kidnaps Colombian brigadier general
Colombia is making headlines again after peace talks to end its 50-year guerilla war fell apart over the weekend.
President Juan Manuel Santos halted negotiations that had been going for two years after the rebel group FARC kidnapped a brigadier general there.
FARC leaders justify the capture, arguing that the military leader and his group were moving in a "war zone."
For more on what this means Take Two turns to Thomas Sparrow, a correspondent with BBC Mundo, a spanish language service of the BBC.
The Obama Administration and hostage policy
Yesterday the White House confirmed it was in talks to review its policy regarding citizens taken hostage.
The Daily Beast first reported the change after they obtained a copy of a letter from the Obama Administration to California Congressman Duncan Hunter.
Officials would not confirm exact details, but did say that the ban on paying ransom would not change.
We talked about it with Brigitte Nacos, an adjunct professor of political science at Columbia University and author of the book, "Terrorism and Counterterrorism."
LA's jail has the only 'gay wing' for male inmates
The Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles houses some of the area's most violent offenders, many inside on drug and gang related charges.
But life is a little easier for some behind bars where there is a special wing just for gay and transgender inmates.
It's the only one of its kind in a major city, and L.A. Weekly writer Ani Ucar says that it was made to protect these prisoners from the violence and harassment they might face in the general population side of the jail.
"There was no racial divide among the inmates, there were no gang politics," she says. "They made it a safe space for themselves."
It was created in 1985 after an ACLU lawsuit forced the Department of Corrections to create this wing. Today, about 140 inmates reside in the facility.
Despite the fun that was on display when she was visiting, Ucar says that it is still a jail where some men told her it's not all fun and games.
"When you talk with any of them individually, they'll tell you it is hell in there for them," she says.
Many came to this wing on drug-related charges, and several talked about their poor lives on the outside.
"A lot of them come from broken families whose families have disowned them, don't have anybody to go back to when they're released," she says, "so in this part of the jail they've found a family for themselves."
Ucar also says there are some straight inmates who try to be placed inside the gay wing.
"They've found out that, I guess, it's a more pleasant place to spend your time because of the lack of violence that exists on the general population side," she says.
Authorities then have to screen inmates to assess whether that person is indeed gay or transgender.
Most of that process is in the form of questions: do you go to gay bars? Which ones? What's it like inside?
However that is problematic because, for example, you can be gay and have never been to a gay bar.
"That was a big critique I heard," Ucar says. "The questions do seem geared to one specific type of gay person."
She says at the moment there hasn't been a better way for deputies to screen these inmates, but perhaps in the future they might work with local organizations to develop a process.
Why is President Obama taking his immigration plan to Nevada?
President Obama is expected to announce new policies on immigration later this week. And, according to several media reports, that announcement might well take place at a high school in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Why Nevada?
The state's growing prestige in tight political races (think 2016) and the region's influential Latino population could be a couple of the reasons.
For more, we're joined by Amber Phillips, reporter with the Las Vegas Sun.
Luis Rodriguez, poet laureate of LA, takes on his beloved, resilient city
Los Angeles is a city filled with wordsmiths. But only one of them holds the title of poet laureate: Luis J. Rodriguez.
"I felt humbled, I also felt very responsible," says Rodriguez, upon getting the news of his appointment from Mayor Eric Garcetti in September. "I knew now my voice would have to be connected to the communities that I'm from."
Rodriguez is the author of numerous books, including the memoir "Always Running, La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A." His most recent book is "It Calls You Back: An Odyssey Through Love, Addiction, Revolutions, and Healing."
Rodriguez will lead a series of public workshops and events on poetry in the city in his new role. He'll also have an office at L.A.'s downtown central library, a site that was crucial to his own transformation as a young man when he discovered his love of books, he says.
Today, he describes his mission as "helping poetry come alive in the city, connecting it with people who may not know about poetry, who may not know about its importance, especially in uncertain and crisis-filled times."
In honor of his appointment, he crafted a new piece, called "Love Poem to Los Angeles." He read the entire poem in Take Two's studios and you can click on the left to hear it. Here's an excerpt:
To truly love L.A. you have to see it
with different eyes,
askew perhaps,
beyond the fantasy-induced Hollywood spectacles.
"El Lay" is also known
for the most violent street gangs,
the largest Skid Row,
the greatest number of poor.
Yet I loved L.A...
Sports Roundup: Lakers get a win, Adrian Peterson's case, USC vs. UCLA
The NFL takes a tough stance, Tiger doesn't like getting his tail pulled and Kobe Bryant hits a scoring milestone.
It's time for sports with
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'The Frame' host John Horn discusses Cosby developments
Yet another woman has come forward saying that Bill Cosby drugged and then assaulted her, decades ago.
Model Janice Dickinson told her story last night to Entertainment Tonight.
Meanwhile, Netflix announced it has postponed a comedy special it had planned to air with the 77 year-old comedian.
Joining Take Two to discuss these new developments is John Horn, the host of Southern California Public Radio's new arts show, The Frame.
*Please note: Since this interview aired, NBC has confirmed they will scrap plans for a Cosby comedy that was under development. You can read KPCC's story on the news here.
Social media app Yik Yak faces criticism for allowing anonymous threats
It's pretty tough to keep up with all the new social media apps cropping up these days. There's Snapchat, Tinder, Vine, and now Yik Yak, a relatively new, location-based app.
Yik Yak hosts anonymous social chat rooms where up to 500 nearby users (or "Yakkers") can connect through GPS tracking.
But the app is also causing some trouble. Some users have used the app for cyber-bullying, others have posted bomb threats, and classes at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, CA were cancelled yesterday and today after some vague threats were posted through the app.
Social media expert Niki Weber joins Take Two to explain more about Yik Yak.
Can you fix a machine by giving it a smack?
On "Happy Days," the Fonz had a few signature moves. There was the snap that would send the girls swooning by his side. And, of course, pounding the jukebox to make it work.
And there's this:
Fonzie had the magic touch, of course -- and the magic snap. But for those of us who are a little less cool, does smacking a machine really get it going again?
Turns out it does...only sometimes. And usually only temporarily.
Bob Sims is the President of the American Society for Mechanical Engineers and he joins Take Two to talk about why.
A parched California town now has access to hot showers
For the first time in several months, some residents in the Central Valley city of East Porterville will have access to something special: a hot shower.
Several months ago, we reported about how the drought had dried up many of the home wells in the area.
Without running water in homes, the county stepped in to provide parched residents with bottles of water. However many remained without the water to bathe.
Starting this week, the simple pleasure of taking a hot shower is now within reach for residents of East Porterville provided by officials in Tulare County.
Andrew Lockman, the county's manager of emergency services, explains what measures his department has done to help residents and for how long they might have to continuing doing them.
Amid historic drought, California tomato yields are up
The drought in the West has left good news a little thin on the ground of late. That's unless you're a tomato grower.
While other crops seem to be wilting, tomato yields are up. In fact, they're breaking records.
For more Bruce Rominger joins Take Two. He's Chairman of the California Tomato Growers Association.
Huckleberry Cafe's Zoe Nathan savors the perfection of the imperfect in new cookbook
If you're craving a little baking with the holidays on the horizon, Zoe Nathan will inspire you with her new cookbook. It's called "Huckleberry: Stories, Secrets, and Recipes From Our Kitchen."
"Our Kitchen" refers to Nathan's kitchen at the popular Huckleberry Cafe in Santa Monica, California. That's where Take Two host Alex Cohen caught up with her recently, whipping up her drool-worthy menu of down-home American pastries.
How do salted caramel squares sound? And, what holiday spread would be complete without the perfect apple pie? Craving savory instead? How about a brisket hash for Thanksgiving dinner this year?
Whatever you covet, there's one thing Zoe Nathan says she wants you to see when you visit Huckleberry bakery -- the perfection of the imperfect.