Survey shows more Americans identifying as 'lower class'; With Larry Summers out as Fed chair, is Janet Yellen in?; Jurupa Valley cityhood may end due to lack of funding; On The Lot: Samantha Geimer, JK Rowling's latest, Bob Newhart; Nevada wins in Lake Tahoe struggle against California; Odd Hollywood Jobs: Teaching stars how to kick butt on screen, plus much more.
Survey says more Americans identifying as 'lower class'
More Americans than ever are identifying at 'lower class.' For more on why that is and what it means, we're joined by California-based economist Chris Thornberg of Beacon Economics.
With Larry Summers out as Fed chair, is Janet Yellen in?
Yesterday, Larry Summers took himself out of the running to head the Federal Reserve. Summers, who served as an economic advisor to Presidents Clinton and Obama, was believed to be Mr. Obama's favorite to run the Fed.
But progressives blame Summers for pushing deregulation they believe was responsible for the financial melt-down in 2008. After three Democratic senators on the Banking committee announced their opposition to his nomination, Summers stepped aside.
That leaves the number two at the Fed, Janet Yellen, as the new leading candidate. National Journal chief correspondent Michael Hirsh says most believe Yellen will continue the policies of the current Fed Chair, Ben Bernanke.
Nevada wins in Lake Tahoe struggle against California
The crystal blue waters of Lake Tahoe are being muddied by conflict between California and Nevada over how to manage the future of this natural wonder. Last week, the California legislature voted to give more ground to Nevada in the ongoing dispute.
Here to tell us more is Julie Cart, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times.
Jurupa Valley cityhood may end due to lack of funding
California's newest city, Jurupa Valley, formed just two years ago. It's located about 50 miles east of LA in Riverside County and it's home to about 100,000 residents.
Now it looks like Jurupa Valley may not have the funds to exist anymore. Bloomberg's James Nash joins the show to explain why state funding decisions were putting new city in jeopardy.
On The Lot: Samantha Geimer, JK Rowling's latest, Bob Newhart
Samantha Geimer was 13 years old in 1977 when film director Roman Polanski allegedly drugged and raped her. Polanski pled guilty to a lesser charge and then fled to Europe, where he's remained.
Geimer tried to build a private life, but her connection to Polanski and the rape made her something of a public figure.
Now she's written a book about her experience. Our On The Lot regular, Rebecca Keegan of the LA Times, writes about Geimer in today's paper. She says, in some way, Geimer seems more upset with some members of the media, who have portrayed her as a "weak victim", more than she is at Polanski.
Also in On The Lot, the author J.K. Rowling signs a big deal with Warner Bros., and the seventh time is the charm for comic Bob Newhart. The 84-year-old actor won his first Emmy award at a ceremony last night.
Hollywood Jobs: Teaching stars how to kick butt on screen
Take Two's series on unusual Hollywood jobs continues with the person responsible for making sure that fight scenes are not only safe, but look as realistic as possible: a fight coordinator.
That's the person that not only orchestrates the fight scenes, but is also tasked with making the actor look like they know how to fight. A Martinez learns the tricks of the trade with an actual living legend, former kickboxing champion Benny “The Jet” Urquidez.
Benny "The Jet" in action:
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UN report on Syria shows 'convincing evidence' of chemical weapons use
Earlier today, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon held a closed door meeting with the Security Council to discuss a report on last month's poison gas attack outside Damascus.
For more on the report and what it means in terms of next steps, we're joined by Rami Ruhayem, BBC's regional editor for the Middle East.
Students will soon face a more difficult GED Exam
Thousands in California are racing to get their GEDs before the high school equivalency exam goes through a major transformation.
The multi-part test will become more rigorous starting January 1, 2014, with the goal of better preparing test-takers for college and careers. For the California Report, Charla Bear says anyone who hasn't taken the current version by the end of the year will have to start over.
DJ Mister Cee's on-air admission and sexual identity in the black community
Last week, New York radio DJ Mister Cee gave a teary admission on air. He admitted to soliciting sex from a transgender prostitute, and then resigned his position saying he didn't want to being negative attention to his colleagues.
Though he resigned, Mister Cee came back to work last week at the request of the station. The incident is drawing attention to a specific phenomenon in the black community known as "being on the down-low."
It's slang for men who are in relationships with women and don't identify as gay, but have sex with other men. Being on the down-low is certainly not a new phenomenon.
Joining the show to talk more about Mr Cee is his program director, Ebro Darden from Hot 97 in New York.
Then we'll talk about the history of "the down-low" and how Mister Cee may be shaping the conversation within the black community is film producer Proteus Spann. He's currently working on a series of films and a musical about homosexuality within the African-American community.
Ig Nobel Awards celebrate the strangest achievements in science
Why do onions make us cry? When are cows more likely to lie down?
These kinds of deep questions require extensive research, and the scientists who answered them are among the recipients of the Ig Nobel prizes handed out last week.
The awards are of course a spoof of the prestigious Nobel prize and are given out each year to the funniest and most bizarre achievements in scientific research.
Here to tell us more about this year's winners is Marc Abrahams, editor and co-founder of the magazine, the Annals of Improbable Research, which administers the awards.
Matt Berninger of The National on 'Mistaken For Strangers' doc
The National recently released their sixth studio album, "Trouble Will Find Me."
The band is made up of five guys: Brothers Aaron and Bryce, brothers Scott and Bryan, and lead singer Matt Berninger.
Matt's brother Tom is not in the band, but he recently toured with them to make a documentary about the experience called "Mistaken for Strangers."
For more on the film and the new album, we were joined in studio recently by Matt Berninger. He says Mother Nature helped set the tone of "Trouble Will Find Me" during their recording in New York.