June 23 - 27, 2008
Monday, June 23
California Home Schooling Case
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The homeschooling case known as Rachel L. v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles was argues today at the California Court of Appeal. On February 28, 2008, the Court of Appeal had ruled that parents without teaching credentials cannot teach their children at home. Larry talks with Steve Crampton, Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel for Liberty Counsel and takes listener calls about the case.
LAUSD's Building Boom
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Though enrollment is falling within the country's second largest school district, the LAUSD is building new schools in order to eliminate year-round calendars, forced busing, and portable classrooms. Larry talks with Guy Mehula, LAUSD's Chief Facilities Executive about the district's $19.2 billion New Construction and Modernization Program, the largest program of its kind in the nation's history.
Ray Cortines
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Larry talks with Ray Cortines, Senior Executive Superintendent for the LAUSD, about his Plan of Action; the goals he is setting for the next year along with accountability measurements and timelines.
Internet Addiction
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Larry Mantle talks with Dr. Jerald Block of the Oregon Health and Science University about whether or not internet addiction should be categorized as a legitimate psychiatric illness.
"The Age Of Dreaming"
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The award-winning writer of "Southland," Nina Revoyr, returns with another Los Angeles-based tale. The author joins Larry in studio to discuss "The Age of Dreaming," a literary, historical novel set largely in the silent film era.
George Carlin
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Larry talks with Britt Allcroft, creator of "Thomas the Tank Engine" and friend of George Carlin about the comedian who died yesterday at the age of 71. Carlin was the voice of the Conductor in the popular series "Thomas the Tank Engine."
Tuesday, June 24
Pew Poll On Religion
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Larry Mantle takes calls from listeners about a new poll from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life about Americans' attitudes regarding religion and belief in God.
Aging
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Leading scientists in the field of stem cell research will be gathering at UCLA this Friday, June 27, to discuss how regenerative medicine can combat aging. At the program "Aging 2008," hosted by The Methuselah Foundation, researchers will also talk about the sociological implications of developing this form of medicine. Larry speaks with guest Aubrey de Grey, chairman and chief science officer of The Methuselah Foundation.
John McCain's visit to California
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Larry talks with KPCC reporter Frank Stoltze about Presidential candidate John McCain's visit to California and his discussion about energy.
Vice Presidential Vetting
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Larry Mantle and his guests David Paul Kuhn, Senior Political Reporter for Politico, and Douglas Brinkley, Presidential Historian and Professor of history at Rice University discuss the process by which Vice Presidential candidates are vetted.
White Protestant Nation
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In his book, "White Protestant Nation," author Allan J. Lichtman tells the story of the political conservative movement in America, beginning at the turn of the 20th century. From WWI to William F. Buckley, Lichtman explains what spurs a swing to the conservative. Larry talks to Lichtman about his findings and the questions still left open about the history of the right wing.
Wednesday, June 25
The Subway to the Sea
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Larry and guests talk about the proposed "Subway to the Sea" extension of the MTA's Purple line, which would run through L.A.'s Westside. Still up for debate are whether MTA will get the desired increase in sales tax to fund the project, and the route MTA would choose to run the line. For more information go to Metro Westside, or go to the Facebook group at "Metro Westside Extension."
Is Obama Moving to the Center?
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Some progressive Obama supporters feel that he is moving toward the center and away from left-wing positions on foreign policy, domestic spying and corporate tax law. Is Obama changing his positions to gain more votes, or are we just getting to know him better? Larry Mantle talks with Wall Street Journal reporter Susan Davis and takes listener calls.
Reforming Conservatism
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In his new book, "Grand New Party," Atlantic Monthly senior editor Ross Douthat examines recent political trends and argues that it's time for Conservatives to move beyond the Reagan legacy and the mind-set of the current Republican power structure. Larry talks with Douthat about what he considers the failures of the conservative revolution and his blueprint for building the next Republican majority.
Thursday, June 26
Supreme Court Decides D.C. Gun Law Case
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The Supreme Court handed down a 5-4 ruling today stiking down Washington DC's 32 year old ban on handguns. Larry and his guests Eugene Volokh, Professor of Law at UCLA, Erwin Chemerinsky, Professor of Law at Duke University and new Dean of UCI Law School, and Robert Weisberg, professor of Law at Stanford, discuss the high court's decision which found that the ban was incompatible with gun rights under the Second Amendment.
California Air Resources Board Proposed Plan To Slash Greenhouse Gases
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Three weeks after the U.S. Senate threw out a national greenhouse gas bill California air regulators today announced their plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions. AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, calls on California to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Today the bill's co-sponsors released the draft scoping plan to implement the law. Larry and his guests Eileen Tutt, Deputy Secretary for Climate Change for the California Air Resources Board, and Derek Walker of the Environmental Defense Fund discuss the details of the blueprint which will alter the way utilities generate electricity, automakers build cars, developers construct buildings, and launch the nation's broadest market in carbon-credit trading.
The Story Behind The Disappearing Bees
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Many of our nation's crops, and subsequently our food supply, rely on bees to keep them fertile. But in many places throughout the country, bee colonies are dying off due to a condition called Colony Collapse Disorder. This year alone, 36 percent of cultivated bee hives in the U.S. have fallen prey to CCD, a situation that is sending farming communities into a tailspin. In his book, "A Spring Without Bees," Michael Schacker explores the causes and effects of the waning bee population. Larry speaks with David Hackenberg about Schacker’s book, the bleak future for bees, and the threat to our food supply.
Friday, June 27
The Role Of Race In The 2008 Elections
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AirTalk travels to the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in downtown Los Angeles for a panel discussion focusing on the role of race in the 2008 presidential election. The forum is co-sponsored by Community Advocates Inc. Panelists include Shelby Steele, author, columnist, and research fellow at the Hoover Institution and Stanford University, Richard Thompson Ford, expert on civil rights and anti-discrimination law at Stanford University, and Terence Samuel, Deputy Editor of TheRoot.com. More audio is available by clicking here.
FilmWeek
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Larry and critics Peter Rainer, of The Christian Science Monitor, Jean Oppenheimer, of Village Voice Media, and Charles Solomon, of amazon.com review some of the week's new feature films including "Wall-E," "Wanted," "Expired," "The Unknown Woman," and the documentaries "Trumbo," "Live and Become," and "Encounters at the End of the World." Larry also talks with Charles Solomon about his new book, "Disney: Lost and Found," that looks at the vast array of artwork that was created by Disney for movies that never made it to the big screen.
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