May 29 - June 2, 2006
Monday, May 29
Oracle Bones
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In his new book, "Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China's Past and Present," Peter Hessler tells the story of modern-day China and its growing links to the West as seen through the lives of a handful of ordinary people. Larry talks with Hessler about China, a country in the process of momentous change.
Just Americans
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When the U.S. Government forcibly moved 110,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor they were treated as enemy aliens in their own land. Yet once the U.S. Army finally allowed Japanese Americans to serve their country, around 9,000 men from the camps joined with another 9,000 from Hawaii and formed the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Larry talks with Robert Asahina about his new book, "Just Americans: How Japanese Americans Won a War at Home and Abroad," about how and why this segregated unit fought so valiantly for America.
Hooked
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Being served a plate of Patagonian toothfish doesn't sound overly appetizing. But rename it "Chilean Sea Bass" and in two decades it becomes a fish embraced by chefs and diners everywhere. The explosive demand has fueled such rampant overfishing that the fish, formerly known as tooth, now faces an uncertain future. Larry talks with author Bruce Knecht about his latest book, "HOOKED: Pirates, Poaching and the Perfect Fish."
Fish on Friday
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Larry talks with Brian Fagan about his new book, "Fish On Friday: Feasting, Fasting and the Discover of the New World," a story of how fishing and climate change figure in to Columbus' discovery of America.
Tuesday, May 30
Indonesian Quake
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Over the weekend, a massive earthquake struck central Indonesia. The magnitude-6.3 quake happened early Saturday, leaving nearly 5,700 people dead, thousands more injured, and about 200,000 without homes, according to recent estimates. Larry gets the latest from Christian Science Monitor coorespondent Michael Coren, and talks Salar Rizvi of Islamic Relief about efforts in Southern California to aid quake victims.
Secretary of State Debate
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It's Debra vs. Deborah in the race for Secretary of State. State Senators Debra Bowen (D-Redondo Beach) and Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) are both vying for the state's top elections office for Democrats. The winning candidate will face Republican incumbent Bruce McPherson, who was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger. Host Larry Mantle moderates a debate on the issues important to the race.
Lieutenant Governor's Race
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State Senator Jackie Speier, State Senator Liz Figueroa, and Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi are the three political heavy hitters vying for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. Larry moderates a candidate's forum on the issues important to the race.
Science Update with Michael Shermer
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Larry talks with Michael Shermer of Skeptic magazine about the latest news in the world of science. He also talks with the newly-named successor to Caltech President David Baltimore, Jean-Lou Chameau of Georgia Institute of Technology.
Wednesday, May 31
The Supreme Court Scales Back Whistleblower Rights
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In a 5-4 decision on Tuesday the Supreme Court ruled that government workers who blow the whistle on official misconduct are not protected by the first amendment. The justices said that public employees do not have free-speech protections for statements they make in the course of their jobs. Critics of the ruling claimed if would discourage government employees from exposing misconduct, but supporters said it would protect the government from frivolous lawsuits filed by disgruntled workers posing as whistleblowers. Larry Mantle discusses the ruling with UCLA School of Law Professor Eugene Volokh and Steven Kohn of the National Whistleblower Center.
Proposition 81
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Larry Mantle moderates a debate on Proposition 81, called the California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act. The 600 million dollar bond would go to the construction, expansion and/or renovation of local California libraries, and the upgrading of computer and electrical systems within them. Larry talks with LA County Library System Librarian Margaret Todd who supports the measure, and National Tax Limitation Committee Presient Lewis Uhler who opposes it.
Iraq Update
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As the new Iraqi government attempts to establish itself and take over more security duties from U.S. and coalition forces, Iraqi insurgents continue to mount deadly attacks. Larry Mantle talks with Newsweek's Baghdad Bureau Chief Scott Johnson, and New York University School of Law's Noah Feldman about why the new government has so far failed to gain control of the insurgency.
The Haditha Investigation
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U.S. military is investigating a dozen Marines for possible war crimes in the November incident. The killings, which included women and children, came after a bomb hit a military convoy on Nov. 19, killing a Marine. Marines then allegedly shot and killed unarmed civilians in a taxi at the scene and went into homes and shot others. Larry Mantle talks with Marine Corp Times staff writer Gidget Fuentes for the latest on the investigation.
Are CEOs Paid Too Much?
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The method of determining executive compensation packages stirred much debate in a recent hearing by the House Financial Services committee. Democratic congressman Barney Frank's shareholder protection bill, H.R. 4291, proposes shareholder approval for executive pay packages and perks. Larry Mantle speaks with Congressman Frank, William Niskanen of the Cato Institute, and business journalist Kathy Kristof about HR 4291, the increasingly high levels of executive pay that have prompted the bill, and the controversy over executive compensation packages.
Thursday, June 1
Westly, Angelides, and Negative Campaigning
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Angelides and Westly head into the final days before Tuesday's election, their campaign ads are becoming more negative and vitriolic. Westly is running ads that cast aspersions on Angelides' past as an unscrupulous housing developer. Angelides is running an ad that accuses Westly of being the governor's "strongest ally" while the Republican governor was "cutting education, health care, and aid for the disabled." It closes with a quote implying that Westly in a Schwarzenegger clone. Larry Mantle talks about the impact of the ads on an ambivalent electorate with Tom Hollihan of USC's Annenberg School for Communication and John Hill of the Sacramento Bee.
Assembly Votes To Give California Voters More Power In Presidential Elections
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Frustrated that presidential candidates have spent so little time in California, state lawmakers have approved legislation to change how the state awards its electoral votes for president. Backers of the bill say presidential candidates should be forced to campaign before all voters, not just those in so-called battleground states such as Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida. But critics say the change circumvents the U.S. Constitution, and that a popular vote election would send presidential candidates only to the most populous cities. Larry Mantle talks about the idea with Barry Fadem of the National Popular Vote campaign and California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore.
AIDS 25 Years Later
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June 5th marks the 25th anniversary of the official discovery of HIV/AIDS. Twenty-five years after federal health officials first recognized the disease that would become known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS no longer is synonymous with terminal illness in the United States. But the battle against AIDS is not over and a search for new treatments and even a vaccine continues. Larry Mantle talks with experts about the evolution of the epidemic and the future spread of the disease. Consummate HIV/AIDS immunologist Dr. Michael Gottlieb, Lee Klosinski of UCLA's Center for Community Health, and geneticist Paul Sharp of Nottingham University in England participate.
The Pentagon's Rise to Power
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In his latest book, "House of War: The Pentagon and the Disastrous Rise of American Power," National Book Award-winning author James Carroll traces the Pentagon's history and development as a powerful military institution. Larry Mantle talks with the author about the Pentagon's creation, operation, and the individuals past and present, who have shaped the institution's character.
Friday, June 2
Is There Life After Petroleum? Airtalk Broadcasts Live from the Petersen Automotive Museum
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Energy experts claim that oil production will peak in the next two decades. Is there life after petroleum? Larry and his guests, Dan Neil, automotive writer for the LA Times, James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice Magazine, and Roland Hwang of the Natural Resources Defense Council, examine alternatives to the gasoline-powered vehicle.
FilmWeek
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Larry Mantle and critics
Andy Klein, film editor and chief critic for both
CityBeat and ValleyBeat,
and Jean Oppenheimer of New Times
discuss this week's new releases, including The Break-Up, Peaceful Warrior, Mouth to Mouth, The Conrad Boys,
District B13, Typhoon,
and Yang Ban Xi: The 8 Model Works.
