September 19 - 23, 2005
Monday, Sept. 19
North Korea Pledges To End Nuclear Program
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After years of negotiations, North Korea announced a plan to stop building nuclear weapons and allow international inspections. In exchange, the country gets energy aid, economic cooperations and security assurances. President Bush says North Korea is taking ''a
wonderful step forward'' by pledging to end its nuclear weapons program. But he says Pyongyang will need to make good on that promise, and the U-S will be watching to make sure that happens. Larry Mantle talks about the significance of this development with Jim Walsh of Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
Governor Schwarzenegger’s Bid For Re-Election
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Larry talks with political analysts Lisa Garcia Bedolla, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Chicano/Latino Studies Program at UC Irvine, and Alfred Balitzer, Professor of Government and senior research fellow at Claremont Graduate University,
about the Governor’s political future; his chances of winning a second term, his public image and approval ratings, and the special election slated for Nov. 8th.
How To Pay For The Damage Caused By Hurricane Katrina
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The President has pledged $60 billion to start paying for the damage to the Gulf Coast. A lot more money will be needed, with many predicting at least a $200 billion pricetag by the time rebuilding is complete. Throw in $300 billion for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, tax cuts, and it’s becoming increasingly unclear where the money will come from. Larry talks to economic experts Kathleen Madigan, Business Outlook editor for BusinessWeek and Phillip L. Swagel, Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute about differing theories on how to pay the costs of rebuilding.
Election In Afghanistan
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Taliban insurgents continue violent efforts to disrupt Sunday's elections in Afghanistan. On Friday a candidate was shot dead and four other people were killed in bombings near polling stations. Larry gets the latest on the elections and violence in Afghanistan from Lt. Col. Raymond Millen, Director of European Security Studies at the Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College.
Ray Bradbury
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Larry Mantle speaks with Ray Bradbury, one of the most admired and beloved authors of our time, about his boyhood adventures, his writings for film, TV and theater and his contribution to American literature. His new book is Bradbury Speaks: Too Soon from the Cave, Too Far from the Stars.
Tuesday, Sept. 20
L.A. County Plans To Expand Mental Health Services
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Last November California voters approved proposition 63, which will impose a 1% tax on millionaires to expand mental health services for the poor. Los Angeles County has now completed a spending proposal for its share of the money, which is estimated to be about 89 million a year. Larry talks with Dr. Rod Shaner, Medical Director of the LA County Department of Mental Health, and Mark Refowitz, Deputy Director of Orange County Mental Health Agency.
North Korean Disarmament Agreement Hits Snag
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North Korea may have thrown a wrench into the new agreement aimed at getting it to abandon nuclear arms. The deal was just signed early Monday at six-party talks in Beijing. But now the North says America must give it a light-water nuclear reactor. Larry Mantle talks with North Korea expert Thomas Henricksen of the Hoover Institution.
A Return To The Moon?
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NASA has announced a 13-year plan to put astronauts back on the lunar surface. This will mean retiring the Space Shuttle in the next few years and developing a new fleet of rockets based partially on shuttle components. Larry talks to Bruce Betts, director of projects at the Planetary Society, who is in Toronto at the Lunar Conference, and Michael Coats, a former shuttle astronaut and current vice-president of Lockheed-Martin, which will compete for the new crew exploration vehicle.
Is Your Computer Safe? The Dangers Of Keylogging
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Your virus checker is up to date. You’re running the newest version of Windows. You’re computer is safe from hackers, right? Think again. An innocent click on an email link can infect your computer with a “key logging” program that will record your every keystroke – including when you enter bank passwords – and send them to thieves all over the world. The result: people are getting their bank accounts wiped out. There’s a race to stop these hi-tech thieves, but, so far, law enforcement is losing that race. Larry talks to Wes Hsu, Deputy Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section at the United States Attorney's Office here in Los Angeles and Andrew Brandt, an editor at PC World in San Francisco, about what you can do to protect critical information on your computer.
The Fall TV Season
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Larry discusses highlights of the Emmys, new Fall season, programs entering their final season, ratings, new shifts/trends in TV programming, HBO vs. networks, and gets an update on reality shows with Chris Lisotta, Senior Reporter for Television Week. He covers primetime network programming and syndication.
Wednesday, Sept. 21
Hurricane Weather In The Gulf
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NOAA research meteorologist Stan Goldenberg joins Larry Mantle to talk about why this season’s hurricanes in the Gulf have been so violent.
First Katrina, Now Rita
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With their infrastructure already shattered by Hurricane Katrina, now the Gulf States are bracing for Rita, another powerful storm that promises 155 mile per hour winds and more flooding and destruction. Larry talks to Chris Axtman, reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, who has been traveling throughout the region. She arrived this morning in Galveston, Texas.
The Roberts Vote
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How are the Democratics expected to vote for John Roberts? How will Robert’s expected confirmation affect President Bush’s next nominee, the justice to replace Sandra Day O’Connor? Larry talks with Gail Chaddock, Sr. Congressional Correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor.
Study Linking Asthma With Freeways
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Larry Mantle talks with lead author of the study, and associate professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, James Gauderman about the study that found that children that live close to Southern California freeways have a greater risk of being diagnosed with asthma.
Basra Explodes
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Tension is building in Basra, a city of about 1.5 million that has been spared much of the violence gripping the rest of the country. Militiamen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr took to the streets Saturday demanding the release of a local al-Mahdi Army commander. Then, on Sunday, an Iraqi journalist working for The New York Times was killed after men claiming to be police officers took him from his home. In a related incident, British forces used armored vehicles to break into a Basra jail to free two of their colleagues, but Iraqi authorities denounced the operation as ``very unfortunate.'' The Iraqis said the British soldiers were detained Monday after opening fire on police in the southern city, killing one officer. A government spokesman, however, said Tuesday that the men, wearing civilian clothes, were arrested because they were “acting very suspiciously'' and trying to gather information. Larry Mantle talks about the volatile situation in Basra with Peter Khalil, an analyst with Eurasia Group, a consulting firm that focuses on political-risk analysis for industry research about Mid-East policy.
Gaza Update
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A week after the Israeli pullout from Gaza, and the Palestine authority has found it difficult to impose order. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is facing a no-confidence vote in parliament. Hamas, meanwhile, is
parading its private army in the streets. Will the Palestinian authority succeed in Gaza? Larry talks to Ziad Asali , President of the American Task Force on Palestine, and a non-partisan organization dedicated to bringing about lasting peace and stability in the Middle East by establishing the state of Palestine alongside Israel, and Ken Ellingwood, Los Angeles Times staff writer in Gaza.
The Environment Of The Arctic
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Larry Mantle talks with L.A. Times Environmental Reporter Marla Cone about her new book, Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the Arctic. Cone was awarded a major grant to travel the Arctic from Greenland to the Aleutian Islands to study the deteriorating environment.
Thursday, Sept. 22
HURRICANE RITA: WHAT TO EXPECT
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Hurricane Rita was updated to a category 5 hurricane, and it could be the most devastating storm the Gulf region has seen in decades. Larry Mantle talks with guests about preparations being made in Houston, the huge impact the storm may have on the country's gasoline prices, and predictions about the storm's path and intesity. Guests are Paul Pendergraft of Houston Public Radio, Severin Borenstein of the University of California Energy Institute and Chris Landsea of the National Hurricane Center.
ORANGE COUNTY JOURNALIST ROUNDTABLE
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Larry Mantle talks with Los Angeles Times staff writer Jean Pasco, Orange County Register op-ed column editor Steven Greenhut, and OC Weekly senior editorial writer and columnist, Gustavo Arellano about the latest news events and developments in Orange County.
BROKEN WINDOWS REVISITED
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Larry Mantle talks about a new study that looks at the effectiveness of the "broken windows" theory of policing made so popular by LAPD Chief Bratton. In an analytical review of 48,000 low income families living in LA, NY and other big cities, and a separate look at just NYC, the study finds the policy does not reduce more serious crime as advertised.
TWINS
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The experience of being a twin continues to fascinate us. Larry talks with Nancy Segal, a professor of psychology who has devoted her career to the study of identical and fraternal twins. In her new book, "Indivisible by Two: The Extraordinary Lives of Twins," Segal describes the lives of twelve exceptional twin, triplet, and quadruplet sets. Their stories explore themes including bases of personality, origins of sexual orientation, and behavioral responses to public tragedies.
Friday, Sept. 23
Proposition 73 Debate
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Prop 73 would require a waiting period and parental notification for most minors seeking an abortion. This measure will appear on the November 8th California special election ballot. On Thursday night Larry Mantle hosted a debate on Prop 73 at the Studio City Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. Panelists included Martha Swiller, Executive Vice President, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and Mike Spence, spokesman for California Parent's Right Committee. The audience was invited to submit questions.
FilmWeek
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Larry Mantle and critics
Jean Oppenheimer of New Times, and
Henry Sheehan of HenrySheehan.com
discuss this week's new releases, including Flightplan, A History of Violence, Oliver Twist,
Daltry Calhoun, Dear Wendy, Steal Me, Three Dancing Slaves,
and Wall (Mur) .
Henry discussed his recent trip to the
Toronto International Film Festival and
Jean tells us about the films of National Geographic's
All Roads Film Festival.
