March 10 - 14, 2008
Monday, March 10
Is Our Drinking Water Tainted with Pharmaceutical Drugs?
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The Associated Press published a five-month investigative report that revealed water supplies nationwide have been tainted with a variety of pharmaceutical drugs including antibiotics, mood stabilizers, and over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen. Though the drug concentration is small, the issue has caused alarm about the long-term consequences to human health. Larry Mantle talks with Mic Stewart, Manager of Water Quality for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and Aaron Coangelo, Health Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council about the issue.
Oil $107 A Barrel, Why?
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The cost of oil reached a record high at $107 per barrel, and analysts are predicting that the oil spike will continue on through 2008. OPEC President Chakib Khelil says the dramatic increase in oil prices is a result of "speculation and geopolitical tensions." Larry talks with Adam Davidson, international business and economics correspondent for National Public Radio, and Keith Johnson, Wall Street Journal reporter who writes their "energy blog" about the spike in oil prices and if there is any relief in sight.
How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations Worse
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Author Richard Thompson Ford says the phrase "the race card" was coined after the O.J. Simpson murder trial where Simpson claimed he was wrongly accused because of the color of his skin. In his book, "The Race Card," Ford argues that the concept, and the actions taken because of it, has undermined the civil rights movement and race relations in this country. Larry talks with Ford about what the race card is, when it can be played and what it means to accuse someone of playing it.
The Forensics Of Airplane Crashes
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When an airplane goes down, pictures of burning wreckage and broken fuselage dominate news coverage. But, many times, these graphic images overpower the fact that technological advancements make commercial air travel relatively safe. So says mechanical engineer and Professor George Bibel in his new book, Beyond the Black Box. He talks with Larry this morning about the importance of clues found on black boxes of past plane crashes and what that means to airline safety today.
Tuesday, March 11
Eliot Spitzer Sex Scandal
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Larry Mantle takes listener calls about why someone like Eliot Spitzer, with a seemingly happy family life, someone who is rich, powerful, and influential, would risk everything for sex.
Food Inflation
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Larry Mantle discusses the issue of soaring food prices both globally and nationally. Guests include Jared Bernstein, Senior Economist and Director of the Living Standards Program at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.,and Bruce Babcock, Director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, and Professor of Economics at Iowa State University.
Why Do Americans Fear Hispanics?
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The Hispanic population is the largest minority group in the United States, fueled by one of the most hotly debated issues in U.S. politics: illegal immigration. The influx of Hispanic immigrants is certainly a complex and conflict-riddled issue muddled in confusion, prejudice, frustration, and fear. Larry talks with Geraldo Rivera about his new book "HisPanic", in which he examines the tense relationship between Americans and Hispanics living in the United States.
The Truth About Insomnia
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Insomnia is a chronic disorder that affects tens of millions of people with devastating impact, and yet, very little is known about it. In her crusade to create a comprehensive analysis of the disorder, Gayle Greene traveled the world and talked to neurologists, sleep researchers, psycho-therapists, and insomniacs of all sorts. Larry talks with Gayle Greene about her new book, "Insomniac" that delves deep into the truth about insomnia and provides advice for those afflicted with the disorder.
Wednesday, March 12
Stand By Your Man?
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Larry takes calls from listeners about Silda Wall Spitzer, standing by her husband Eliot Spitzer, as he made his announcement that he had been caught frequenting an International prostitution ring. Of course, this is not the first time that a politician's wife has stood by while her husband admitted to infidelity. Why? Larry takes comments from listeners about political wives standing by their men in the face of sexual indiscretion.
New Study: 1 In 4 Teens Has A Sexually-Transmitted Disease
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At least one in four teenage American girls has a sexually transmitted disease, suggests a first-of-its-kind federal study that startled some adolescent-health experts. Only about half of the girls in the study acknowledged having sex. Among those who admitted having sex, the rate was even even higher - 40 percent. Disease rates were significantly higher among black teens - nearly half had at least one STD, versus 20 percent among both whites and Mexican-Americans. The girls were tested for the HPV virus, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and genital herpes. Larry talks with the study's lead author, Sara Forhan, and the President of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, Mary-Jane Wagle about the news.
Weaponizing Space
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Is war in space inevitable? A dozen countries can reach space with satellites and therefore with weapons. In a 2001 Congressional report co-authored by Donald Rumsfeld, the former defense secretary recommended that the U.S. develop "new military capabilities of operations to, from, in and through space." Arms control advocates believe space should remain a place for exploration and research and favor a treaty to ban arms in space, while the Bush administration opposes any such agreements prescribing space weaponry. Larry and guests Wade Boeze, Research Director at the Arms Control Association, and Jeff Kueter, President of the George C. Marshall Institute discuss the arms race in space.
A Father's Love For His Drug-Addicted Son
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Drug addiction is a devastating disease that often tears apart friendships and relationships with loved ones; and nothing is more painful for a father than having to witness his own child spiral uncontrollably into a life of substance abuse and destructive behavior. Larry talks with David Sheff, author of "Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction," a personal account of a father's desperate hope to rescue his child from drug addiction. Also joining the conversation is Nic Sheff, David's son, and author of "Tweak: Growing Up On Methamphetamines."
Thursday, March 13
How To Balance The State Budget
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Cut education funds? Raise taxes? Larry and his guests John Laird, Democratic State Assemblyman representing the 27th district, and Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, and Rick Keene, Republican State Assemblyman representing the 3rd district, discuss possible options for how to balance California's budget.
Inland Empire Journalists Roundtable
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Larry Mantle talks with Steven Cuevas, KPCC's Inland Empire Reporter, Cassie MacDuff, columnist with The Press Enterprise, and David Kelly, staff writer for the L.A. Times, about the latest news, events, and developments in the Inland Empire.
The Future Of The Middle East
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Larry Mantle speaks with Washington Post foreign correspondent Robin Wright, author of "Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East." Wright draws on firsthand interviews from the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah to political prisoners and street protestors to examine the struggle for democracy in the Middle East, and what's on the horizon for the embattled area.
Tom Hanks, Executive Producer Of HBO's Miniseries John Adams
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Larry Mantle talks with actor/producer, two-time Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks about "John Adams," the seven-part HBO miniseries, which debuts Sunday evening, March 16. The series is based on David McCullough's Pulitzer-Prize winning biography of John Adams, one of the best-selling American historical biographies of all time and stars Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney. Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman are the executive producers. The miniseries explores the extraordinary relationship between Adams and Abigail, his wife of 54 years and chronicles the life of John Adams, a remarkable historical figure whose fiercely independent spirit, commitment to personal liberty and reverence for the rule of law profoundly influenced the values on which our country was founded.
Friday, March 14
U.S Economic Update
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Guest host, Ted Chen, talks with experts Neil Irwin, National Economy and Federal Reserve Reporter for The Washington Post, and Rex Nutting, Washington D.C. bureau chief for MarketWatch.com, about the state of the U.S. economy: the Bear Sterns bailout, President Bush's speech to the Economic Club of NY this morning, and policymakers' plans to restore faith in the economy.
Earth: The Sequel
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In his new book, "Earth: The Sequel," Fred Krupp insists we can solve global warming. The president of the Environmental Defense Fund says that in doing so we will build the new industries, jobs, and fortunes of the twenty-first century. Ted talks with Krupp about his new book and his thoughts on harnessing the great forces of capitalism to save the world from catastrophe.
Black Magic
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"Black Magic" is the story of the era of the Civil Rights Movement told through the lives of basketball players and coaches who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities. From more than 200 hours of interviews and footage, director and producer, Dan Klores, tells the story of separate leagues and facilities, championship games and titles that never qualified for the history books, and secret games played between blacks and whites in defiance of the law. Ted talks with the Klores, about the story he describes as one of "injustice, refuge, and joy."
FilmWeek Reviews
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Ted Chen and critics Jean Oppenheimer of Village Voice Media, and Wade Major, of boxoffice.com and CityBeat review some of the last week's new feature films including "Paranoid Park," "Horton Hears A Who," "Funny Games," "Sleepwalking" as well as the documentaries "The Unforeseen" and "All in this Tea."
