U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, speaks during an event at the Pentagon, on October 1, 2012 in Arlington, Virginia. Vice President Biden delivered remarks at the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Program Transition Ceremony. Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Vice presidential debates are traditionally surrogate affairs, with each candidate for VPOTUS trying first to do no harm to their political party’s campaign with a scant few weeks before Election Day. But the stakes are higher this year.

The public perception of last week’s first presidential debate saw challenger Mitt Romney win nearly hands down, putting more pressure than usual on tonight’s only debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Romney’s running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan. But there is a lot on the line; thirteen vice presidents have gone on to be president, either by election or after the death or resignation of their boss – meaning that nearly a third of vice presidents wind up in the White House.

What To Expect From Tonight’s Debate

Mark Barabak, political correspondent of the Los Angeles Times, shares some of his insight into what viewers should expect to see tonight, and just how influential tonight’s debate will be in terms of changing public opinion.

“I don’t think if we look back two or three weeks from now we would say, ‘Wow that night in Danville, Kentucky really turned the race.’ That being said, it is important… but what the Obama folks are hoping will happen tonight is it will break the momentum…and obviously the Romney team hope to build on his performance,” Barabak says.

The last debate had more viewers than expected, about 67 to 68 million. And its anticipated that many will be interested to watch how the Vice Presidential candidates will do tonight, given the pressure that is carrying over from that last debate.

Samuel Popkin, professor of political science at UCSD, shares what Joe Biden will have to do in order to make up for Obama’s performance last week.

“The single most important thing for Joe to remember is that Paul Ryan is not the target and Paul Ryan’s budget is not the target; the target is Mitt Romney and Mitt Romney’s budget… if he goes directly at Ryan, Ryan can simply say that was my initial draft now the big guy is here and he has a better budget with new promises,” Popkin says.

Popkin also note’s how one of Biden’s strengths is his experience, which not only will give him an edge over Ryan but will help make up for the presentation factor that lost Obama so much ground in the last debate.

“Joe Biden has had four years of championing the president, he is very comfortable and used to that… this is a new role for Ryan he is going to have more trouble molding to that and being sure which line he should be following, I expect he will be okay but Biden will do with warmth and clear language what President Obama didn’t do at his debate speech. President Obama read much better than he looked,” says Popkin.

What Paul Ryan Must Do In The VP Debate

Popkin says, “He has to be honed in. The reason Romney put him on the ticket is because that was the best way to have Ryan interested in political power now, rather than purity now to take over the congressional leadership later, and he has to be willing to muddy his initial clear strong budget and not get stuck in the weeds of defending things that would make it harder for governor Romney. He has to basically sell out anything he stood for that is no longer valuable to Governor Romney.”

Given these factors, there are many things that VP candidates do to prepare for their 90 minutes of unfettered campaign face time. Four years ago, when Joe Biden was preparing for 2008’s vice presidential debate, former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm sat in as Alaska’s lightning rod governor Sarah Palin for some friendly sparring sessions.

Granholm says that in these debates, one tries to become as much like the opponent as possible, and get under the skin of the candidate in order to best prepare his/her responses.

“I’m no Tina Fey but I did try to become sort of a Palin-toligist… I looked at everything I could about her…in debate practice you really try to get under the skin of the candidate in whatever way you can, or bring out your worst fear about way they will portray themselves in the actual debate, so we tried," says Granholm. We tried to exploit the difference between then Senator Biden and then Senator Obama. He had to absorb and respond to the attacks on Obama’s position, which he wasn’t as prepared to do, but that wont be an issue tonight, because of course there is no daylight between them now."

The hardest part of any debate, according to Granholm, is to find a balance between responding to attacks on you and making attacks. The candidate has to be disciplined in order to make smart decisions about how to allocate the time.

“Somebody very disciplined is Paul Ryan,” says Granholm. “ Biden has to know that the discipline on Ryan’s part will cause some attacks that will make Biden want to chase the rabbit down the hole, and he has to know when to do it and when not to do it.”

As someone who knows Biden’s debating skills very well, Granholm says that what she would worry about for him is being able to deliver the message in the formal style of a debate. She remarks how he is very good at connecting with people, but that his challenge will be to maintain authenticity in the two-minute response of the debate format.

Looking Forward To The Next Presidential Debate

Granholm also projects what she expects President Obama is practicing for next week’s debate.

“He must not allow a misstatement to go unanswered. Leaving it unanswered means the 70-million people who watch will take it as true, so he has to respond… In the last debate I predicted Obama would lose because of all the presidential debates in the last six cycles that incumbent president has lost five out of six times in the first debate…this time in the second debate I predict he is going to win, because he is a competitive soul and he is not going to let that first debate define him,” she observes.

Weigh In
So will Joe Biden be able to make up for what Obama’s presentation lacked? Or will Paul Ryan carry the Romney momentum forward and continue raising his numbers in the polls?

Guest:

Mark Barabak, Political Correspondent, Los Angeles Times

Samuel Popkin, professor of political science, UCSD; author of The Candidate: What it Takes To Win - and Hold - The White House (2012 Oxford)

Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan (January 2003 - January 2011); tv host “The War Room with Jennifer Granholm” on Current TV weeknights at 7pm PT

OC Seal Credit: Orange County

Larry and our talented trio of Orange County journalists riff on the latest news from the O.C. A law barring registered sex offenders from public beaches is challenged…Tustin’s Pop Warner football coaches allegedly offered cash bounties to 10 and 11-year-old players to knock out members of opposing teams…Costa Mesa’s mayor calls for investigations of local soup kitchens, calling them “nuisances”…and questions are raised over the legitimacy of the Kelly Thomas Memorial Foundation.

Guests:

Gustavo Arellano, Editor of the OC Weekly and author of "Taco USA" and “Ask A Mexican”

Teri Sforza, Staff Writer for the Orange County Register

Norberto Santana, Editor-in-Chief of the Voice of OC, a non-profit investigative news agency that covers Orange County government and politics

A typical standardized test sheet. Credit: timlewisnm/Flickr Creative Commons

This morning, the California Department of Education released the Academic Performance Index (API) scores of its schools. The API is comprised of several different measures, including the results of standardized tests in literacy, math and science. For the first time ever, a majority of California schools reached the desired 800-point API mark set by the Department of Education.

That hasn’t come easy to a lot of schools. Private consultants have been hired, students have been given test after test to prepare, and the instructors go through very specific training sessions to get themselves up to speed. But even though over half the schools in the state are exceeding above expectations, many are still critical of the entire API system, especially its reliance on standardized tests.

How is your school doing? What do you think of standardized tests? Are they the right way to measure student progress?

Guests:

Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, KPCC education reporter

Vanessa Romo, KPCC education reporter

"Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's Eyeballs" by Gina Keating Credit: Portfolio

According to the Urban Dictionary, “Netflixing” means “watching any TV show, movie, documentary, etc. on NetFlix via instant streaming.” Getting “Netflixed,” however, has a less benign meaning: “to screw the consumer over viciously by jacking the rates of whatever service you provide.”

In her new book “Netflixed,” financial and media writer Gina Keating details the story of how one company transformed the movie-watching habits of a generation, and gave Americans even more reason to stay home on Saturday nights. Hard to imagine that there could be much drama, intrigue and page-turning narrative in the saga of home entertainment, but Keating has churned it into what one reviewer called a “lively, canny business potboiler.”

Urban legend has it that the idea for Netflix was born when founder Reed Hastings was slapped with a $40 fine for an overdue copy of Apollo 13; in interviews with key players like co-founder Marc Randolph, Keating debunks that and other rumors, getting to a truth she says was “more fascinating than I imagined.”

The book dishes deep dirt surrounding Netflix’ dizzying rise to the top against massive odds: its long-standing rivalry with rental giant Blockbuster, its taking on and more-or-less vanquishing of both the videocassette and the brick-and-mortar rental outlet, and Hastings’ disastrous decision last year to raise subscription prices by as much as 60%, resulting in fierce consumer backlash - and that not-so-flattering Urban Dictionary definition.

Who won the battle for your famly’s eyeballs? Did home DVD delivery change your movie-watching habits? Have you been “Netflixed?”

Gina Keating discusses and signs "Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's Eyeballs on Monday, October 15th, 7:00 p.m. at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena. For more information, visit http://www.vromansbookstore.com/gina-keating

Guest:

Gina Keating, author of “Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America’s Eyeballs” (Portfolio/Penguin) and former staff writer for Reuters and United Press International

Ben Affleck attends the "Argo" Washington D.C. Premiere at Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14 on October 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. Credit: Leigh Vogel/Getty Images

Larry is joined by KPCC film critics Tim Cogshell and Andy Klein to review the week’s new films, including Argo, Here Comes the Boom, Seven Psychopaths and more. TGI-FilmWeek!

Guests:

Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC and Box Office Magazine

Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and the L.A. Times Community Papers chain

A combination picture of the vice presidential debate between US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R) at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 11, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz of ABC News. Credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Vice presidential debates don’t usually move the needle much during election seasons but the stakes were higher than usual for last night’s verbal spar between sitting Democrat Joe Biden and his Republican challenger, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan. Democrats were looking to change the narrative of the election and put a halt to plummeting poll numbers for the Obama campaign after the president’s lackluster performance in last week’s first debate.

Last night, Biden seemed to relish the role of the attacker as he went on the offensive early and often with a mocking laugh and a dismissive, interrupting style that appeared to be aimed at belittling Ryan, and by proxy, his running mate Mitt Romney. For his part, Paul Ryan managed to weather Biden’s interruptions and accusations with a calm demeanor, and slight smirk, that maintained solidarity with Mitt Romney’s message. Overall, viewers gave both candidates high marks for digging into issues and talking to each other.

So who won? Early debate polls have been split and the pundits have been filling airtime with the usual spin in counter rotating directions leaving the few remaining swing voters to decide for themselves.

Which candidate best represented their boss’ ticket? Was Biden’s demeanor rude or some much needed verve for the Democrats? How will it affect the polls until Obama and Romney face each other again next week?

Guest:

Eugene Kiely, deputy director, FactCheck.org, a project of the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center FactCheck.org

Jonathan Wilcox, republican strategist; former speechwriter for Governor Pete Wilson

Darry A. Sragow, attorney and longtime democratic strategist

Congressman Brad Sherman swings his arm around Congressman Howard Berman during a debate Thursday night in the San Fernando Valley. Credit: YouTube/Howard Berman

The race for California’s newly-drawn 30th congressional district is shaping up to be one of the most contentious – and expensive - in the country.

Democratic incumbents Brad Sherman and Howard Berman, who represent the 27th and 28th districts respectively, were thrown into the ring together thanks to redistricting and California’s “top two” primary system. The new district is made up half from Sherman’s old district and a quarter from Berman’s; the remaining 25% comes from the old 30th district. The two candidates, both Jewish, have similar voting records but differ on issues such as the economy, immigration and higher education.

In the long and heated race, both candidates have taken figurative swings at at each other – Sherman accused Berman of overpaying his brother for political consulting, while Berman charged Sherman with profiting from interest charged to his own campaign accounts. But last week, in a debate held at Pierce College, things literally got physical: after Berman accused his opponent of being “either delusional or a liar,” Sherman approached Berman, put an arm around him and shouted, “You wanna get into this?” while a police guard hovered nearby.

The incident captured national attention after a video was released by Berman’s campaign. Both candidates later released statements expressing regret over their actions, characterizing the race as “emotional.”

With only a few weeks left to go, will they be able to keep things civil? How will these two impress their new constituents? Who will emerge to represent the 30th district?

Guests:

Howard Berman, congressman (D-28); the 28th district includes Pacoima, Arleta, Panorama City, Van Nuys, North Hollywood

Brad Sherman, congressman (D-27)

In this Sept. 8, 2008 file photo, Jacques Elsair shops at a 99 Cents Only Store in Los Angeles. Credit: Nick Ut

Beverly Hills has a reputation as having most upscale shopping in Southern California, which puts it high in the running for some of the best shopping in the world. But high-dollar shoppers may soon see an unfamiliar retailer among the big name, big ticket shops like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada.

Eric Schiffer, the CEO of the discount chain 99 Cents Only, announced recently that they have plans to open a location in Beverly Hills' exclusive shopping district citing that the best-performing store in the entire chain is the location on Wilshire Boulevard closest to Beverly Hills.

"That store does an incredible volume, it does more than twice average store in our chain," said Schiffer. "We know many customers are driving from Beverly Hills to shop at 99, and they have been saying 'Please open a location in Beverly Hills."

But there has been pushback from the city, which believes that a discount retailer like 99 Cents Only simply wouldn't fit in among the glamour and cachet of Rodeo Drive.

"What we're talking about here is, is there a landlord on Rodeo Dr. who would lease to a 99 Cent Store amongst Dior, amongst Prada, amongst Chanel, amongst Cariter, and I think strongly the answer is probably not," said Brian Rpsenstein, vice chair of the Beverly Hills planning commission. "At the same time, that's not to say that the 99 Cent Store isn't appropriate for Beverly Hills….but Rodeo Drive is known for its luxury and elegance…I just don't think that 99 Cent Store fits in there."

Weigh In
How can discount stores attract customers in exclusive locales like Beverly Hills? How can 'discount' and 'exclusive' strike a balance for wealthy bargain shoppers?

Guests:

Eric Schiffer, CEO, 99 Cents Only Stores

Brian Rosenstein, vice chair of the Beverly Hills planning commission, candidate for Beverly Hills city council

Shortly after being awakened and learning the news, Lloyd Shapley, one of two Americans who were awarded the Nobel economics prize, talks to a reporter from his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Monday, Oct. 15, 2012. Shapley, 89, and Alvin Roth were awarded the Nobel economics prize on Monday, for studies on the match-making that takes place when doctors are coupled up with hospitals, students with schools and human organs with transplant recipients. The work of Roth and Shapley has sparked a flourishing field of research and helped improve the performance of many markets, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. Shapley is a professor emeritus at University of California Los Angeles. Credit: Reed Saxon/AP

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said that Lloyd Shapley’s work has sparked a “flourishing field of research” and has awarded him this year's Nobel economics prize.

Shapley, 89, is a professor emeritus at UCLA and has been at the university since 1981. He is being rewarded for his work in matching theory and its practical applications in markets, for example, how job seekers are matched with employers or how patients find donors of human organs.

"For example, students have to be matched with schools, and donors of human organs with patients in need of a transplant," the academy said. "How can such matching be accomplished as efficiently as possible? What methods are beneficial to what groups?"

Shapley used game theory to research different matching systems and to answer how one method may systematically benefit one agent or another in markets. Though it is not technically a Nobel Prize because it wasn’t established in the will of Alfred Nobel, winners are awarded 8 million Swedish kronor, or about $1.2 million. Alvin Roth, a Stanford University professor was also awarded in this catagory.

Guest:

Matt DeBord, KPCC Reporter; writes the DeBord Report KPCC.org

CNN correspondent Candy Crowley. Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO

With just three weeks until Election Day, there is little the Obama and Romney campaigns can agree on. But united they stand on the role of CNN’s Candy Crowley when she moderates tomorrow night’s town hall debate.

Time magazine reports that both campaigns have complained to the Commission on Presidential Debates about comments Crowley made regarding her role as the moderator. She said on CNN last week, “Once the table is kind of set by the town hall questioner, there is then time for me to say, Hey, wait a second, what about X, Y and Z?”

However, an agreement formed on October 3 between lawyers for both campaigns stated the moderator would “not ask follow-up questions or comment on either the questions…or the answers…or otherwise intervene [other than enforcing time limits and prompting the candidates to respond].”

It’s important to note that Crowley was not included in forming this agreement nor signing it. So is she beholden to it? How worried are the campaigns really? This morning NPR’s David Folkenflik called it “preplaining” (preemptively complaining) and suggested that perceived bias can help spin the debate reviews.

[View the story "Discussing the Presidential Campaigns' Complaints About Debate Moderators" on Storify]Discussing the Presidential Campaigns' Complaints About Debate ModeratorsTweets from NPR's David Folkenflik regarding campaigns' complaints about moderators, which prompted Twitter conversation between Folkenflik and The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg.

Storified by 89.3 KPCC · Mon, Oct 15 2012 10:11:03

How narrowly defined can, and should, the moderator’s role be? Is “preplaining” aimed at keeping Crowley in line? Why wasn’t the moderator included in forming the agreement, if s/he is expected to honor it?

Guest:

David Folkenflik, Media Correspondent, National Public Radio (NPR)

"The Oath: The Obama White House and the Supreme Court"

U.S Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts stunned the nation when he voted to uphold the Obama administration’s health care plan in an atypical decision announced on June 28, 2012.

Roberts’ vote marked another chapter in the often complicated and contentious relationship between Chief Justice Roberts and President Obama that began the day Roberts fumbled the oath of office at Obama’s inauguration. As a result of the 5-4 conservative majority Court led by Roberts and the slightly more liberal White House led by Obama, two influential branches of federal government – the judicial and the executive – have often found themselves in opposition over the last four years.

Author Jeffrey Toobin has documented the momentous ideological battle between the conservative Supreme Court and the Obama administration in “The Oath: The Obama White House and the Supreme Court,” including Obama’s criticism of the Court’s controversial ruling in the Citizens United case.

Toobin provides a thorough account of the dynamic relationship between the two intrinsically different divisions and their leaders that will likely resonate for decades to come.

Guest:

Jeffrey Toobin, author, "The Oath: The Obama White House and the Supreme Court" (Doubleday); staff writer at The New Yorker; senior legal analyst at CNN

How do you relate to people who drink significantly more or less than you? Credit: RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50.9 percent of Americans drink regularly, which the agency chalks up as having more than twelve drinks per year. The CDC also says that an average of more than one drink a day for a woman qualifies as “heavy drinking.”

In modern American society, it is common practice for millions of us to return home from work and pop a bottle of wine or crack open a beer. Nearly all our social events have an aspect of imbibing… eggnog at Christmas, champagne at midnight on New Year’s Eve, wine as a housewarming gift and endless pints of beer at birthday parties and sporting events. Americans love to both drown their sorrows and celebrate their joys with a drink or two.

But what happens in social situations when someone doesn’t drink at all, or another person drinks significantly more on a regular basis? Mismatched social norms when it comes to alcohol can lead to relationship strife, and it works both ways. Ever go out with a friend who doesn’t drink at all… or another who has far more than one too many? How does it make you feel? It seems that somewhere between actual ‘moderation’ and “everything in moderation, including moderation” is a blurry line that marks ‘too much’ for a given individual in a social setting or relationship.

Substance abuse is a dangerous and deadly social problem, but alcohol might be as American as apple pie. So where do you draw the line? How do you relate to people who drink significantly more or less than you?

Democrats Howard Berman and Brad Sherman. Credit: Getty Images

The race for California’s newly-drawn 30th congressional district is shaping up to be one of the most contentious — and expensive — in the country. Democratic incumbents Brad Sherman and Howard Berman, who represent the 27th and 28th districts respectively, were thrown into the ring together thanks to redistricting and California’s “top two” primary system.

The new district is made up half from Sherman’s old district and a quarter from Berman’s; the remaining 25 percent comes from the old 30th district. The two candidates, both Jewish, have similar voting records but differ on issues such as the economy, immigration and higher education.

In the long and heated race, both candidates have taken figurative swings at at each other — Sherman accused Berman of overpaying his brother for political consulting, while Berman charged Sherman with profiting from interest charged to his own campaign accounts.

But last week, in a debate held at Pierce College, things literally got physical. After Berman accused his opponent of being, “either delusional or a liar,” Sherman approached Berman, put an arm around him and shouted, “You wanna get into this?” while a police guard hovered nearby. The incident captured national attention after a video was released by Berman’s campaign.

Both candidates later released statements expressing regret over their actions, characterizing the race as “emotional.” With only a few weeks left to go, will they be able to keep things civil? How will these two impress their new constituents? Who will emerge to represent the 30th district?

Guests:

Howard Berman, Congressman (D-28), which includes Pacoima, Arleta, Panorama City, Van Nuys, North Hollywood

Brad Sherman, Congressman (D-27), which includes the west San Fernando Valley cities of Sherman Oaks, Reseda, Northridge, and Porter Ranch

A female police officer poses as a prostitute on Holt Boulevard in Pomona, CA. Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

“John” is the name often given to anonymous male customers of prostitutes, but many law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are beginning to reveal these patrons’ real names in an effort to curb criminal prostitution.

A majority of police officers maintain that outing and shaming those who pay for sex to be the most effective method for cracking down on the illegal act, according to survey data. Fresno, California, hosts a website called “Operation Reveal” that exhibits mug shots of suspected ‘Johns,’ while Oklahoma City has “JohnTV,” and in Arlington Texas, photos of suspects are literally plastered on highway billboards.

“Overall, about 60 percent of the communities that arrest the johns to begin with, in some way, release their identities,” said Michael Shively, a lead researcher to the study. “It’s only a subset of all those communities that are really doing it in an aggressive manner and with the specific intent of trying to either punish more severely, or to deter others from trying to buy sex.”

Shivley adds that some communities release identities as part of routine processing, while others take on a more aggressive approach.

These efforts do not go without criticism, as some say publicly humiliating possibly innocent suspects before they are given a fair trial could be particularly damaging to their well-being and inflict serious psychological harm to innocent family members.

Shivley says that while there’s no statistical evidence that shaming is effective, he says there is indirect evidence saying that it can work

“When asked what would deter them, known sex buyers say in surveys that being found out or being publicized is the thing they most fear,” said Shivley. “Most police officers will tell you the first thing that the men ask when they're getting arrested is 'Is my wife going to find out' or 'is my boss ring to find out'?"

How appropriate is this technique even if it is effective in curbing prostitution? Does it violate the rights of suspects?

Guest:

Michael Shively, lead researcher on the study, National Assessment of Efforts to Combat Demand for Prostitution and Sex Trafficking recently released by the National Institute of Justice; Senior Associate, Abt Associates, a private research company focused on criminal justice, social science, public health among other areas of research

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Obama talk after the first presidential debate at the University of Denver on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012. Credit: Charlie Neibergall/AP

Tonight at Hofstra University on Long Island, N.Y. Mitt Romney will try to keep his momentum going while President Barack Obama will do his best to mount a comeback after a disappointing performance two weeks ago in Denver. There is pressure on Obama to show more fight, but not necessarily to appear combative with his re-election on the line. In this, their second face-off, eyes will also be on moderator Candy Crowley as she has hinted at wanting to play an active role at the event.

The election is 21 days away, how much is stake for the candidates tonight? Who gets the edge with Candy Crowley vowing to be more active than Jim Lehrer was in round one? Are voters expecting President Obama to be more aggressive, or are debates not his strong suit?

Guest:

Ginger Gibson, national political reporter, POLITICO

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The ongoing controversy at UC Berkeley over anti-Israel protests has prompted the U.S. Department of Education to launch an investigation into whether the civil rights of Jewish students at Berkeley are being violated.

The origin of the conflict can be traced to a campus event called Apartheid Week, during which pro-Palestine student groups stage mock checkpoints designed to simulate the real world situation at the Israel-Palestine border.

In June, a pair of former Berkeley students dropped a lawsuit against the university that claimed that anti-Israel protests on campus created a “pervasive hostile environment” for Jewish students but the campus unrest has continued.

Where is the line for the civil rights of students? What is the role in the university for settling disputes between student groups that represent actual international conflicts?

Guests:

Tom Pessah, Graduate student of sociology, UC Berkeley; Member, Students for Justice in Palestine.

Arielle Gabai, Senior-year student, UC Berkeley (studying Public Health as well as Jewish Studies); President, Jewish Students Union

13-Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Gettysburg Credit: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens (

The death toll of the American Civil War, estimated at well over half a million, was unprecedented. A major new exhibition drawn from archives at The Huntington Library, in recognition of the 150 year anniversary of the conflict, explores how the nation came to terms with the devastation.

The evocative compilation of historical images, called “A Strange and Fearful Interest,” is named after a statement made by Oliver Holmes in 1863—“The field of photography is extending itself to embrace subjects of strange and sometimes of fearful interest.” Highlights of the visual presentation include Alexander Gardner’s views of battlefield dead at Antietam, rare photographs from Andrew J. Russell’s “U.S. Military Railroad Album,” George Bernard’s incomparable album “Photographic Views of Sherman’s Campaign (1866)” and more. “A Strange and Fearful Interest: Death, Mourning, and Memory in the American Civil War” is curated by Jennifer Watts and will be on display from October 13, 2012 until January 14, 2013.

Also on display is the companion exhibition, “A Just Cause: Voices of the American Civil War.” This show of letters, which explores the rationale for the war, is curated by Olga Tsapina and on display through January 7, 2013.

"A Strange and Fearful Interest" Exhibit Info

Guests:

Jennifer A. Watts, curator of photographs and the exhibition “A Strange and Fearful Interest: Death, Mourning, and Memory in the American Civil War”at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino

Olga Tsapina, curator of american historical manuscripts and the exhibition “A Just Cause: Voices of the American Civil War”at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino

Credit: Alexander Sibaja/Getty Images

Los Angeles City Council met this morning to discuss two controversial issues. One is a proposal introduced by councilmember Richard Alarcon to a Universal City Services Card – a hybrid of ID card, library card and debit card – for those who don’t have a drivers’ license or bank account. Mayor Villaraigosa is championing the card to help undocumented residents access city services and reduce dependency on cash and payday lenders.

Opponents fear it will make it easier for illegal immigrants to violate immigration laws. They’ll also be voting to review proposed new city laws regarding digital billboards. Local residents have complained about glare and distraction caused by flashing advertising displays, but the city is considering loosening restrictions on the billboards, possibly with the benefit of a revenue-sharing deal with CBS Outdoor and Clearchannel. And there’s more political intrigue in the tiny community of Eagle Rock.

The city’s charter allows for “stakeholders” to vote along with residents in elections for Neighborhood Council. That means, anyone who does business – whether it’s shopping at Trader Joe’s or buying a cup of coffee – can cast a vote. Over the weekend, the city was indundated with voters from as far as Ventura County, who had been solicited by council candidates favorable to allowing medical marijuana shops in the area. According to the city’s tally, more than 300 of the 800 votes cast were by “at-large” voters, some no doubt lured by fliers promising $40 worth of medical marijuana to those who could prove they’d voted.

How will the city’s charter play out in the ongoing battle over pot shops in Eagle Rock? What does this mean to voting residents of the city? Should Los Angeles profit from the proliferation of digital billboards? Do you support the idea of a universal city ID card?

Guests:

Alice Walton, KPCC reporter covering today’s Los Angeles City Council meeting

Raphael Sonenshein, Executive Director, Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles

Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter covering today’s County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors meeting today

Credit: MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images

While both the backers and opponents of Proposition 35 agree on the problem, they are at odds over how to deal with the crime and punishment of human trafficking in California. The ballot initiative would increase prison terms and fines for the sexual exploitation of vulnerable women and men.

"Our current law has gaping holes through which our children are falling into the hands of the traffickers that are there to catch them because our response in ineffective," said Sharmin Bock, Assistant District Attorney of Alameda County and co-author of Prop 35. "But our law doesn't reflect the reality of how these kids are today in fact sold not just on the street but on the internet."

Victims' advocates complain Prop 35 is wrong to have shorter prison sentences for labor traffickers (12 years) than sex traffickers (20 years), because most victims fall under the former. Kathleen Kim, Professor or Law at Loyola Law School and co-author of AB 22, California’s current human trafficking law, is against Prop 35 because she believes it doesn't go far enough to protect funds for victims.

"Proposition 35 is undoubtedly well intentioned, however it takes a predominantly criminal enforcement approach without attendant broadening of victims' rights and access to relief," said Kim on AirTalk. "That's my primary objection, because it takes an predominantly criminal enforcement approach, it creates some unintended consequences on the actual survivors of human trafficking."

California Attorney General Kamala Harris is releasing a report soon on how to deal with trafficking. She convened a statewide working group with more than 100 stakeholders to hear their concerns and recommendations.

How pervasive is this problem? Why would a ballot initiative be necessary when laws are on the books already and new proposals are coming from the AG's office? Should sex slavery and labor slavery crimes be handled differently?

Guests:

Sharmin Bock, Assistant District Attorney, Alameda County; Co-author of Proposition 35

Kathleen Kim, Professor or Law, Loyola Law School; Co-author of AB 22, California’s current human trafficking law

President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney greet one another before Wednesday's debate in Denver. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Round one of the series of presidential debates went to Mitt Romney, but was President Barack Obama successfully able to mount a comeback in round two? The setting, a town hall style forum at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, was in a state generally dominated by the Democratic Party, which certainly didn’t hurt the president’s case.

As expected, Obama emphasized positive economic signs including last month’s dip in unemployment, which dropped under 8 percent for the first time in four years. Meanwhile, Romney maintained that the president has not done nearly enough to resolve the nation’s economic suffering.

In both the first presidential debate and in the vice presidential debate, the performance of the moderators was also closely judged. How did CNN’s Candy Crowley perform throughout the verbal spare? Is there a clear winner of round two?

Guest:

Eugene Kiely, deputy director, FactCheck.org, a project of the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center