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January 7 - 11, 2008
Monday, Jan. 7
New Hampshire — What Do Voters Want?
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All eyes are on the Granite State this week as the presidential candidates blaze their way through New Hampshire, tirelessly campaigning for Tuesday's primary. As the hopeful contenders address residents across the New England state, we hear from a political scientist about what voters are looking for in a candidate.
L.A.'s Liability Report
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According to an audit released today, the city of Los Angeles paid out $35 million in liability claims in the year 2006. One of the payouts included the highly publicized case of a Los Angeles firefighter who received $1.43 million after he claimed that he was fed dog food by his colleagues. Auditors said the payouts are indicative of the city's failure to fix problems before they turn into costly lawsuits.
Africa's Shining Example Loses its Luster: Kenya in Chaos
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Kenya has long been considered the most stable, prosperous and democratic country on the African content, and as a result has been a reliable ally of Western powers since its independence from Britain. With its teeming wildlife, sparkling beaches, kind weather and hardworking people, it was a friendly face in a rough neighborhood. Now a week of ethnically and religious driven clashes after a disputed presidential election has left more than 300 people dead and dimmed Kenya's once bright democratic credentials. Opposition groups charge that the incumbent president rigged last week's election, and their protests triggered a series of violent tribal clashes, threatening Kenya's once prized stability. Has Kenya become a microcosm of Africa's larger, persistent problems?
- Andrew Cawthorne, Reuters East Africa bureau chief in Nairobi
- Martin Meredith, author of The Fate of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence & In the Name of Apartheid; former foreign correspondent for the London Observer and the Sunday Times; research fellow at St. Anthony's College in Oxford
Tracking Killer Superbugs
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Staphylococcus aureus is the official name, shortened to Staph. The ubiquitous bacterium is normally harmless... but get it into your bloodstream or a cut, especially if it's a mutant strain that's resistant to antibiotics, and you're in serious trouble. It's connected to some 19,000 deaths each year in the US. Some 85 percent of the deaths are linked to Staph exposure in hospitals. That's why state Sen. Elaine Alquist (D-Santa Clara) introduced legislation that would require hospitals to track and report so-called superbug infections. Advocates for the legislation say it's necessary to save lives and keep track of this dangerous bacterium. Opponents say it's redundant since hospitals already track infections and are working hard to keep them under control.
Can Saving Lives Really Be This Simple?
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Emergency Room and Intensive Care medicine has become incredibly advanced, intensely specialized, and overwhelmingly complex. One study found that the average ICU patient requires 178 individual actions each day, each one of them posing risks if not done right. With this many opportunities for infection or complication, even an error rate as low as 1% means more patient deaths and much higher hospital costs. But a critical-care specialist at Johns Hopkins Hospital has found a surprisingly effective tool to reduce infections and complications: a simple checklist. This seemingly too-simple-to-work technique has saved patients' lives and millions of dollars, yet hospitals around the country are remarkably resistant to it. Patt finds out more.
- Dr. Peter Pronovost, Professor in the Departments of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Surgery, and Health Policy and Management at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Hot New Tech Toys For 2008
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The yearly Consumer Electronics Show is off and running in Las Vegas, promising a raft of exciting new gadgets to entertain you at home and distract you while driving. Advance rumors suggest that cell phones will keep getting smaller and more complicated, and tech companies will be trying to put GPS into just about everything. Add in all the new digital TV offerings and a promise by the event's organizers to be the world's "largest carbon-neutral event," and there's plenty to talk about.
Tuesday, Jan. 8
Eli Broad — Art for Loan Only
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Los Angeles mogul Eli Broad has put out the word that no museums will receive donations from his 2,000-piece collection of art. Broad says he prefers museums to share the works to ensure that they will always be on display — and to avoid them being stored in a basement as part of a permanent collection. The decision is largely seen as a blow to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which will be opening the Broad Contemporary Art Museum in February — but LACMA says sharing might not be so bad. - Adolfo Guzman Lopez, KPCC Arts and Education Reporter
- Tyler Green, writer and editor of Modern Art Notes, one of the most-read blogs about visual art. He also writes regularly for numerous magazines and is working on
his first book.
No Golden Globes (as we know it)
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After weeks of deliberation by NBC and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the 2008 Golden Globe Awards will be handed out this weekend, but not in its usual star studded, television broadcast. After striking entertainment writers threatened to picket the event, the ceremony has been scaled down drastically. Instead, viewers can expect to see the award presentations completely stripped down and given away in a news conference style format. But without the attraction of the red carpet formalities, will there be any stars to gaze at?
Hollywood Dumps Clinton
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A few months ago there was a big stink between David Geffen and the Clinton family, as he abandoned Hillary in favor of Obama. At the time, Geffen's move seemed an oddity. But after Clinton's defeat in Iowa — and expected defeat in New Hampshire — it now seems prescient. Other Hollywood moguls and celebs are following suit... and taking their money over to Obama's camp. Has Hillary already lost La-La Land? And how much power does Hollywood really hold over the primaries? Patt finds out.
- Ted Johnson, Editor at Large, Variety
Bush in the Middle East
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Tomorrow President Bush arrives in Israel for the start of his historic tour of the Middle East. In anticipation of the arrival, Israeli's Prime Minister Ehuld Olmert said his country was committed to removing illegal settlements in the occupied territories. Meanwhile, Israeli troops and Palestinian militants continue to clash. Later in his trip, Bush will visit Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Patt talks with experts about what the Administration hopes to accomplish on its first stop: Jerusalem.
State of the State Preview
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Faced with a $14 billion shortfall in the budget, Governor Schwarzenegger is expected to call for significant cuts to health care, education, and social services in his State of the State speech. How will the reality of this money shortage play out against his "fantastic" ideas and vision for California's future?
- Julie Small, KPCC reporter at the governors State of the State speech
- Adam Mendelsohn, Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director for Governor Schwarzenegger
- Fred Silva, Fiscal Affairs Advisor for Beacon Economics. He has worked for 24 years in the development of public policy in state and local government.
Wednesday, Jan. 9
Tax or Fee? Governor Proposes Fire Levy
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As Governor Schwarzenegger prepares to lay out his state budget proposal on Thursday, he is set to recommend an additional 1.25% to be added to property insurance bills. The funds would be used for firefighting efforts statewide and would most benefit those who live in the areas most prone to fires. If passed, this would affect millions of Californian homes and businesses. Opponents have decried the measure as an unnecessary tax hike, while advocates claim that the proposal will save consumers and the state money in the long run.
Cyber Bullying
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Teenager Megan Meier committed suicide after online conversations with a cyber bully. Now a criminal prosecution is in the works. Patt talks about the implications
Movie Violence: Is it a Good thing?
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Conventional wisdom: if you show teenagers and young men violent films, they're more likely to commit violence in real life. Not so, at least according to a study done by the American Economic Association. While not recommending horror films as a way to curtail violence, they're arguing that the more time you get people with violent tendencies cooped up in a benign environment--such as a movie theater--the better. Patt hears from both sides of the argument.
- Gordon Dahl, Department of Economics, University of California at San Diego, and a study author
- Jeff McIntyre, Federal Affairs officer for American Psychological Association
Clinton's Top Advisor Weighs In
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As the presidential race get tighter and the candidates get tenser, one thing has become clear: There is almost no clarity in the identity of both parties' ultimate nominees. With seemingly hundreds of debates, one caucus and one primary in the books, where do the campaigns stand? It's rare that we get to hear from the hard-working advisors behind the scenes who shape and deliver policy, not to mention occasionally fetching the candidates' coffee.
- Ann Lewis, senior advisor for Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign; served as director of communications and then senior counselor to President Bill Clinton from 1997-2000; deputy manager of Clinton-Gore re-election campaign in 1996.
Is Gender A Deal-Breaker In Presidential Politics?
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Hillary Clinton's roller-coaster campaign has raised plenty of questions among analysts – not to mention her campaign staff – about gender. Various polls have provided contradictory evidence about how men view her candidacy: One poll found only 19% of Democratic men favoring her as a candidate, but another found her winning 44% of the overall male vote – more than her husband won in either of his elections – in a hypothetical matchup against Rudy Giuliani. In fact, Democratic presidential candidates' shares of the male vote have been in the low 40s for the last 25 years. So how prominent is the gender role in this debate?
Thursday, Jan. 10
Suspend Prop 98? Tough Budget Battle Ahead
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In response to the looming $14 billion budget gap, the Governor will ask the Legislature to cut $4 billion from schools in the 2008-09 budget. That would require lawmakers to suspend provisions of Proposition 98, the voter-approved initiative that guarantees a minimum funding level for schools. That's bound to raise the ire of teachers and it'll be tough to achieve the two-thirds majority of the legislature necessary for the suspension. Patt talks about the prospect of suspending 98.
California's Chief Election Officer Gets Ready for Super Duper Tuesday
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Now that the first few rounds of primaries have passed, the rest of the nation is looking forward to Super Duper Tuesday. As California prepares for the February 5 primaries, many concerns have arisen regarding the state's voting machines and other devices. Several counties including San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside have filed lawsuits against the state in protest of new additional rules imposed on voting machines, while two previously rejected InkaVote systems have been recently approved for Los Angeles County. California Secretary of State Debra Bowen joins Patt to talk about how the state is preparing for the big day.
Doolittle Retires
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California Representative John Doolittle announced today that he would retire at the end of the 110th Congress. He has been facing continuing legal and political problems over his ties to imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff and has been under pressure from the GOP to give up his seat. Doolittle's exit sets up what is likely to be a fierce fight for the GOP nomination in a district where voter registration heavily favors Republican candidates.
Dude, Where's My Driverless Car?
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It's been envisioned in science fiction movies as far back as the 1950's: a car that pilots itself, eliminating the need for drivers and ostensibly eliminating traffic and most auto collisions caused by human error. The potential benefits of driverless cars are endless, as commute time will become work or relax time for former drivers and automated highway systems would regulate traffic flows, easing congestion. But is the driverless still just a cool prop in a sci-fi flick or has the concept moved closer to reality? The CEO of General Motors made a bold proclamation at the Consumer Electronic Show that driverless cars could be built and on the market within ten years. Is it technologically possible, and will drivers trust their cars doing the driving for them?
- Alan Taub, Executive director of General Motors Research & Development; member, National Academy of Engineering
- William "Red" Whittaker, Professor of robotics at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute; founder of the National Robotics Engineering Center; leader of Tartan Racing, winner of the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge
$14 Billion in the Hole: California's Depressing Budget
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The only thing that is certain with California's '08 – '09 budget, the first draft of which will be put forward this morning by Gov. Schwarzenegger, is that there will be copious amounts of pain and bitterness. The state was just seemingly crawling out from under the weight of a crippling account deficit a few years ago, only to now fall victim to a vicious combination of a slumping economy, collapsing housing market and continued unrestrained spending. The grand policy ideas of the Governor and many legislators will now put off to the side while equally unappetizing decisions of budget cuts or tax hikes will be fiercely debated. Either way, it will be painful—but, assuming that Californians and their political leaders can make the necessary sacrifices, can we crawl out from the $14 billion hole?
- H.D. Palmer, California State Department of Finance
- State Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks; vice-chairman of the Senate Transportation & Housing Committee
- John Laird, Democratic Assemblyman from California's 27th State District, which includes portions of Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara Counties; he is Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee
Friday, Jan. 11
Iraq Offensive
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49,000 pounds of bombs rained down on the farm region of Arab Jabour, according to the military, as part of one of the largest offensives of the war. This is in response to an insurgent offensive in Baghdad. Patt talks with a reporter in the Middle East about the situation on the ground.
- Lennox Samuels, Newsweek correspondent, in Baghdad
Climbing Everest: Then and Now
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Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest, passed away. He, along with Tenzing Norgay, planted the first flag atop the world's tallest peak in 1953. But today's Everest and the one they knew 50 years ago are quite different. More of a tourist attraction today, the once hard to conquer mountain is now lined up with dozens of climbing teams and scores of guides trying to make a buck. Things have gotten so bad that climbers set out expeditions just to clean up trash left behind on the Nepalese mountain. Patt takes a look at Everest then and now.
- Mark Jenkins, contributing writer to National Geographic Magazine; his article, "Himalaya Ice Warriors", about a winter climb of Pakistan's Nanga Parbat, appears in the January issue
- Peter Miller, Senior Editor for Expeditions at National Geographic Magazine
Federal Judge Temporarily Prohibits Background Checks for JPL Employees
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In a reversal of a lower court's previous injunction, a judge from the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals temporarily barred employee background checks by the U.S. government. Both NASA and the federal government have been named as defendants in a lawsuit put forth by 28 Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists. Employees of JPL in Pasadena claim that the background checks are an invasive violation of their constitutional rights and have hailed the court's decision as a victory.
- Robert Nelson, Senior Research Scientist at JPL and the lead plaintiff in the case
What is Draconian?
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Critics of Governor Schwarzenegger's budget are calling his proposals "draconian," but what does that really mean? Merriam-Webster says it's an adjective meaning "of, relating to, or characteristic of Draco or the severe code of laws held to have been framed by him." Or are critics simply saying the governor is sucking the blooding out of California like Dracula did to his victims?
- Barbara Wallraff, Language columnist for the Atlantic Monthly and King Features Syndicate and author of three language books, including Word Court
News or Not? NBC News to Cover Golden Globes
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With the prominence of cable news programs the line between news and entertainment continues to blur. But NBC News's decision to cover the Golden Globes has some pundits saying the line is now vaporized. What does this say about the future of the Fourth Estate? Patt talks with experts.
- Tim Rutton, LA Times Columnist and media commentator for Marketplace
- Judy Muller, Associate professor of journalism at USC Annenberg (also a former ABC News Correspondent)
Persepolis
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Based upon the graphic novels of the same name, the animated film Persepolis follows the outspoken and rebellious Marjane as her beloved country Iran goes through a never-ending series of political and social upheavals. A precocious young girl raised in a cosmopolitan family in Tehran, Marjane's adolescence coincides with the advent of the Islamic revolution and the Iran/Iraq war. When her parents send her to Europe for her safety, she finds that her newfound freedom comes at a high emotional cost. Years later, she returns to Tehran only to realize that although she is deeply Iranian, she cannot live in her home country. The creator of the series and co-director of the film, Marjane Satrapi joins Patt to talk about adapting her story to the big screen.
- Marjane Satrapi, Co-writer and co-director of Persepolis; she is also the creator of the Persepolis graphic novels
Persepolis is now in limited theaters and is set for wide release January 18th.
Economic Heartburn: Choking Down More Bad News
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The California budget became an ancillary victim of the sagging U.S. economy this week, as Gov. Schwarzenegger enacted many tough spending cuts to dig the state out of its $14 billion deficit. A main contributor to that deficit is the continual downward spiral of California's housing market as more home owners default on their mortgages and houses sit unsold for long periods of time. President Bush earlier this week, always the optimist, admitted that economic indicators were "mixed," while more financial prognosticators are predicting a tough recession in 2008. The Republican candidates focused on whether or not we are in a recession at last night's debate in South Carolina and Hillary Clinton, the President and many in Congress are starting to kick around their own versions of economic stimulus packages. The bad economic news seems ubiquitous-are you starting to panic?
- David Leonhardt, Writer of the "Economic Scene" business and economics column at The New York Times and staff writer of The Times Magazine
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