May 24 - 28, 2004
Monday, May 24
Kerry May Delay Acceptance of Nomination
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Host Larry Mantle speaks with Alfred Balitzer, Professor of Government at Claremont McKenna College and Lisa Garcia Bedolla, Assistant Professor of Political Science at U.C. Irvine, about the possibility of Kerry's delay in accepting the Democratic nomination in order to raise more funds.
California’s Growing Population
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A new population projection compiled by the State Department of Finance indicates that California’s population will increase by 20 million people by mid-century. State Demographer Mary Heim, and Jack Kyser, Chief Economist, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, join Host Larry Mantle to discuss the implications of having a population of 54.4 million by 2050.
Catholic Lawmakers and Communion
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A few Catholic Bishops in the U.S. have recently threatened to deny communion to presidential candidate John Kerry, and to other lawmakers who favor abortion-rights. In response, 48 democratic, Roman Catholic members of Congress wrote a letter of protest to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in Washington. (Four of the 48 are anti-abortion). Joining Larry is Xavier Becerra, United States Congressman representing California’s 31st district, Father Joe Fenton, director of media relations for the Diocese of Orange and Thomas Groome, Professor of Religious Education at Boston College and Director of Boston College’s Pastoral Institute.
Hubert Laws
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Internationally-renowned flutist Hubert Laws is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered the jazz, pop, and R&B genres. The New York Times calls Mr. Laws “… the leading jazz flutist of his generation”. He’ll be performing this Saturday (May 29) at “Playboy Jazz in Brookside Park” at the Old Pasadena Summer Fest.
Tuesday, May 25
Reaction to Bush’s Speech at the Army War College
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Host Larry Mantle discusses President Bush’s speech at the Army War College with Lou Cantori, Professor of Political Science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Constantine C. Menges, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, political strategist Arnold Steinberg and Lisa Garcia Bedolla, Assistant Professor of Political Science at U.C. Irvine. They also consider ideas for how the US might work to extricate itself from Iraq.
Iraq Military Update and A History of Colonial Relations With the Middle East
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Larry Mantle talks with Marine Reserve Captain Seth Millstein about the latest military issues in Iraq.
In his new book Resurrecting Empire: Western Footprints and America’s Perilous Path in the Middle East (Beacon Press), Rashid Khalidi provides a modern history of western intervention in the politics of the Middle East. Mr. Khalidi, who is the Edward Said Chair in Arab Studies at Columbia University, examines the colonial history of the Middle East in the context of the American invasion and occupation of Iraq. He joins Host Larry Mantle to discuss his book.
Wednesday, May 26
Gay Marriage and the California Supreme Court
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Larry Mantle talks with Southwestern University School of Law Professor Robert Pugsley about the case before the California Supreme Court which alleges that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom abused his powers by issuing 4,000 marriage licenses to gay couples.
The Rise of the City of Los Angeles and Its Relationship with Mexicans and Mexican-Americans
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Caltech history Professor William Deverell joins Host Larry Mantle to discuss his new book, Whitewashed Adobe: The Rise of Los Angeles and the Remaking of Its Mexican Past (UC Press). It examines the often troubled relationship between the growing city of Los Angeles with Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.
News Conference
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U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Muller hold a news conference about new intelligence suggesting terrorists may be planning an attack on the United States sometime this summer.
Shrek 2
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Dreamworks’ Shrek 2, which opened last week, has already broken many box office records, bringing in a whopping $104.3 million over the weekend. The movie begins where the original Shrek leaves off. We follow Shrek and Fiona on their honeymoon, and then on to her hometown of “Far, Far Away,” where Shrek is introduced to his in-laws, who are less-than-enthusiastic about him. The movie also introduces a new character, “Puss-In-Boots,” played by Antonio Banderas, whom some critics feel steals the show. Larry Mantle and animation critic Charles Solomon talk with Shrek 2 directors Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon, about how they created the film.
Thursday, May 27
: SB 1160: Drivers Licenses For Illegal Immigrants
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Governor Schwarzenegger’s administration and Senator Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) appear to be deadlocked over the illegal immigrant driver license bill that was such an issue in the recall election. When he took office, Governor Schwarzenegger assured Cedillo that he would help to write a new license law to replace the one he repealed after winning the recall election. Jordan Rau, staff writer for the LA Times, Dick Ackerman, Republican State Senator from the 33rd District, elected Senate Republican Leader in May, and Jenny Oropeza, Democratic state assemblywoman for the 55th district join Host Larry Mantle to discuss the controversial issue.
Orange County Journalist “Roundtable"
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Larry Mantle talks with Orange County journalists Chris Reed, Orange County Register op-ed column editor, and Jean Pasco, Los Angeles Times staff writer about the latest news events and developments in Orange County.
Randy Newman
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Larry Mantle talks with one of America’s greatest songwriters and film composers, Randy Newman. Randy Newman is well-known for his classic songs like “You Could Leave Your Hat On,” “Sail Away,” and “Short People, and for his wide-ranging film work, including E.L. Doctorow’s Ragtime, Robert Redford’s The Natural, and Pixar’s Toy Story and Monster’s Inc. He has won numerous Grammys, and in 2002 won his first Oscar, finally, after being nominated 16 times. Randy Newman has just released a new album, the first of three volumes, titled “The Randy Newman Songbook.” Larry Mantle talks to Newman about the album, which features new, solo recordings of his most celebrated songs.
Friday, May 28
9th Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling Effects on the Oregon Assisted Suicide Law
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The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that Attorney General John Ashcroft exceeded his authority when he attempted to block Oregon’s assisted-suicide law. In 2001, the Attorney General ordered that Oregon physicians who dispensed lethal barbiturates under the Death With Dignity law were in violation of a federal narcotics statute. John Eastman, JD, PhD, Professor of Law At Chapman University School of Law specializing in Constitutional Law and Legal History and N. Gregory Hamilton, M.D., a Portland doctor and former president of Physicians for Compassionate Care, join Host Larry Mantle to discuss the issue.
Actor Gary Sinise Heads Effort to Help Iraqi Children
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Larry mantle talks with actor Gary Sinise (Forest Gump, Snake Eyes, Ransom) about his acting career and his recent work developing “Operation Iraqi Children,” a grassroots organization he co-founded with author Laura Hillenbrand that combines the efforts of major non-profits and FedEx to send school supplies to Iraqi children. To Operation Iraqi Children.
FilmWeek
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Larry Mantle and critics
Peter Rainer of New York Magazine and
Ella Taylor of the L.A. Weekly
discuss this week's new film releases, including The Day After Tomorrow, Raising Helen, Baadasssss!, Saved!,
Frankie and Johnny Are Married, The Mother, Springtime in a Small Town,
and Bukowski: Born Into This.
Critic Lael Loewenstein of
Variety
, just back from France, talks about the
Cannes Film Festival.
