"I didn't want to fire things up," St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch says of his silence since announcing the grand jury's decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown.; Credit: Pool/Getty Images

An unnamed member of the grand jury that declined to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown is suing St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch for the right to speak out about the controversial case.

Represented by the Missouri branch of the ACLU, the juror claims the 12-person jury was misrepresented in case files that were later made public by McCulloch. Washington University professor Peter Joy tells the LA Times that the fascinating part of the complaint was that “the prosecutor claimed to speak on behalf of the grand jury as a whole, and this particular grand juror is saying, ‘Wait a second, that’s not true, he mischaracterized the way I was thinking.’”

Representatives for McCulloch have declined to comment, but criminal defense specialist Steve Cron tells KPCC, “If this one juror whose suing is successful, other jurors will think ‘I want to talk, too’ and the whole thing will become a circus and be tried by the media.”

Do you think the Ferguson grand jury should be allowed to speak out? What difference would it make if they could?

Guests:

Tony Rothert, legal director ACLU Missouri

Steve Cron, Santa Monica criminal defense attorney, adjunct professor of law at Pepperdine University

Members of the House of Representatives, many with their families, stand for the Pledge of Allegiance as they gather for the opening session of the 114th Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. ; Credit: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The 114th United States Congress convenes today with a much different look than it had last year. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are now under Republican control, setting up what will most likely be a very contentious final two years for President Obama’s White House.

While the GOP was once riding high after the landslide victory in November’s elections, the shine from that win has worn off considerably leading up to the start of today’s session, thanks in part to news that House Majority Whip Steve Scalise attended a white nationalist rally in 2002. There is also pushback from some rank-and-file House members who want to see Speaker of the House John Boehner removed from his seat. The Republican Party’s challenge will be to facilitate a productive Congress despite some in-party discord and hopefully raise Congressional approval ratings, which have been holding steady at abysmally low levels in recent years.

Some of the early priorities for Republicans include the Keystone XL oil pipeline that Republicans have been advocating because of the potential they say it brings for job creation. However, Democrats aren’t convinced that those jobs will be permanent. There’s also the issue of President Obama’s recent executive action giving millions of undocumented immigrants legal status. It’s also likely that Republicans will work to whittle away at Obamacare.

How confident are you about Congress’ ability to be productive now that it is under Republican control? How can the GOP ensure that progress is made during the 114th Congress? What kind of cooperation can we expect to see between the Republican House and Senate and the White House?

Guests:

Jon Fleischman, Publisher of the Flashreport.org; Former Vice Chair of the California Republican Party

Ed Espinoza, Executive Director of strategy firm, Progress Texas; From 2009-2011, Espinoza served as Western States Director at the Democratic National Committee; California Superdelegate for Barack Obama in 200

Graduates cheer after US President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at the University of California Irvine in Irvine, California, June 14, 2014.; Credit: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

Major colleges and universities in the U.S. are often called four-year colleges because that has always been the amount of time it takes most students to accumulate enough credits to graduate. For community colleges, the accepted standard is two years. But can we still say that is the standard for higher education in 2015? Some critics are saying that current college graduation rates aren’t telling the whole story about how long it’s really taking students to graduate. They also say that the amount of attention paid to earning degrees on time isn’t realistic at schools like California State University, the largest public system in the U.S., where many students are going to school while also working and taking care of families.

It’s no secret that students who graduate in four years or less save money and free up space for more students to enroll. But some say that the graduation rates aren’t an accurate way to measure campus performance, and that using them to determine allocation for funding would be a bad idea. According to a recent study done by the non-profit Complete College America, only 19 percent of students nationally graduate in four years at most public universities, and those students are taking an average of 13.5 more credit hours than necessary to graduate. At highly-rated flagship research universities, only 36 percent of students graduate on time and they’re taking an average of 14.6 more credit hours than necessary to graduate.

Students at the public universities are taking, on average, 13.5 more credit hours than is required to graduate The report also says it costs students almost $23,000 extra for every extra year at a public four-year college, and that number increased to over $68,000 when you factor in wages that could have been earned if the student had graduated on time.

Do you think graduation rates are telling the whole story when it comes to campus performance? Are there other, more accurate methods of measuring how students are really performing at colleges and universities when the two-year or four-year model is no longer the norm?

Guests:

Timothy White, Chancellor of the California State University system

Tom Sugar, senior vice president of Complete College America, a national nonprofit that works with states to increase the number of Americans with quality career certificates or college degrees and to close attainment gaps for traditionally underrepresented populations. The group authored a study called ‘The Four Year Myth,’ which examines why students at four year colleges are taking longer than four years to graduate and how it can be fixed.

A mother tries to put her crying baby on the starting line during the Baby Super Crawl Dash at an event for young parents in Yokohama, in suburban Tokyo, on November 23, 2014. Ten babies took part in the four-metre (13-ft) race, with some 800 babies in total in the overall event, after being selected to join by the promoters.; Credit: TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

Japan’s health ministry just released some startling statistics on the country’s population: Babies there are being born at the lowest rate since the ministry began keeping track in 1947.

About 1 million newborns entered the world in 2014; that’s down 9,000 from 2013. By contrast, the ministry tallied 1.27 million deaths. The decline in births is so significant that one estimate predicts the population could shrink by 30 million by the year 2050, greatly reducing the country’s GDP and putting a strain on pension and social welfare systems. The government warns that if things don’t change soon, more than 40% of the population will be over the age of 65 by 2060. These numbers raise one important question: why aren’t more people starting families? Analysts point to a few possible reasons:

• The increased costs of raising a child
• More women working full-time
• Couples getting married later in life
• A rapidly rising number of young people who aren’t interested in conventional relationships

A 2013 survey by the Japan Family Planning Association found that 45% of women between the ages of 16 and 24 have no interest in physically intimate contact. Meanwhile, a recent poll by Japan Today reveals that 26.5% of men aged 25-39 are virgins.

Though social factors unique to Japan will continue to shrink its population, many other nations face similar economic and social uncertainty as people get married later in life and have fewer children.

Today on AirTalk, we’ll explore the social challenges contributing to Japan’s population decline. We’ll also look at the impact that a shrinking population could have on the world economy.

Guest: 

John Weeks, author of “ Population: An Introduction to Concepts and Issues“ and distinguished professor emeritus of geography, San Diego State University

Tattoos are seen on the head of a twenty-year old "Street Villains" gang member who was arrested by Los Angeles Police Department officers from the 77th Street division on April 29, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

For many newcomers to areas like Highland Park, Azusa or the Hawaiian Gardens, their community’s history of organized crime often seems like just that--history. Home values are up, the streets are quiet, and graffiti is scarce. It may be hard for newer residents to imagine, but these cities used to be home to some of the most dangerous street gangs in the country. The problem was so pervasive, in fact, that area police and press nicknamed 1988 “The Year of the Gang.” Nearly three decades later, gang membership now has reached a record low, and the reasons may surprise you.

In an article recently penned for Pacific Standard, gang expert and journalist Sam Quinones explores the policies, procedures and economic factors that have contributed to the drastic reduction of gang activity over the past three decades. With recent tensions heightening between police and communities of color, Quinones hypothesizes that one of the most important factors in gang reduction is community outreach and trust; law enforcement must behave as advocates for the people they also protect. Increased trust from the community has resulted in more crime tips leading to more arrests.

In addition, Quinones also credits gentrification, increased hiring in the LAPD, and the introduction of CompStat real-time statistical crime monitoring, which allowed the LAPD to better target high crime areas. Finally, better cooperation between the FBI, CIA and LAPD has led to a significant decline in gangs loyal to Mexican cartels.

Do you live in an area where gang populations used to be high? What have you observed over the past few decades? Do LA streets feel safer?

Guest:

Sam Quinones, writer and contributor to Pacific Standard where he penned  “The End of Gangs” for Jan/Feb issue. He is the author of “Mexico: True Tales From Another Mexico” (University of New Mexico Press, 2001) and “Antonio's Gun and Delfino's Dream: True Tales of Mexican Migration” (University of New Mexico Press, 2008)

People hold placards reading in French "I am Charlie" during a gathering at the Place de la Republique (Republic square) in Paris, on January 7, 2015, following an attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo. ; Credit: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images

By Jamey Keaten and Lori Hinnant

Associated Press PARIS (AP) - Masked gunmen stormed the Paris offices of a weekly newspaper that caricatured the Prophet Muhammad, methodically killing 12 people Wednesday, including the editor, before escaping in a car. It was France's deadliest postwar terrorist attack.

Shouting "Allahu akbar!" as they fired, the men also spoke flawless, unaccented French in the military-style noon-time attack on the weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, located near Paris' Bastille monument. The publication's depictions of Islam have drawn condemnation and threats before - it was firebombed in 2011 - although it also satirized other religions and political figures. President Francois Hollande called the slayings "a terrorist attack without a doubt," and said several other attacks have been thwarted in France in recent weeks. Fears have been running high in France and elsewhere in Europe that jihadis returning from conflicts in Syria and Iraq will stage attacks at home.

WEIGH IN

How should French leaders respond? What about Islamic leaders? Some have argued there should be no expectation on Muslims to join the dialogue. What would be the pros and cons of taking that tack?

Guests:

Dana Lewis, correspondent in Paris today for Al-jazeera America, the U.S. cable news channel that covers both domestic and international news. Al Jazeera America can be seen in Los Angeles and Southern California on Time Warner Channel 445, AT&T U-Verse 1219, DirecTV 347 and Dish Channel 215.)

Emily Gottreich, interim chair of the center for Middle Eastern studies, Berkeley

Salam Al-Marayati, President, Muslim Public Affairs Council, established in 1988 with a mission toward integration of Muslims into American pluralism

A man holds up a Charlie Hebdo magazine during a rally at the Place Royale in Nantes on January 7, 2015, to show solidarity for the victims of the attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo. ; Credit: GEORGES GOBET/AFP/Getty Images

An attack on satiric magazine Charlie Hebdo has left 12 dead in Paris, including four cartoonists. The publication not only didn’t shy away from sensitive subjects, it courted controversy. From republishing an offensive Danish cartoon that depicted the prophet Muhammad to original work that teased Muslims, Catholics, Jews, and just about everyone else, Charlie Hebdo had a vigorous take on free speech. The French government advised the magazine not to publish some of its content. Editorial director Stephane Charbonnier, better known as Charb, was incensed. He likewise condemned the government for its attempts to stop a planned protest by Muslims.
“Why should they prohibit these people from expressing themselves?” he asked. Charb was among those killed in the attack.

It’s not only writers and cartoonists who worry about extremist reaction to satire. To whatever extent North Korea was involved in declaiming Sony over The Interview, media companies are increasingly wary about the safety of employees who create potentially inflammatory art. Will this attack lead to additional self-censorship? How concerned are journalists, opinion writers, cartoonists and others about violent retribution from those who disagree with their views?

Guest: 

Suzanne Nossel, Executive Director of PEN American Center, which defends the free expression of writers and artists

Michael Cavna,“Comic Riffs” blogger for the Washington Post and a cartoonist

Polygraph Test; Credit: Gabriel Rodriguez via Flickr

Doug Williams has made a career out of teaching people how to beat the polygraph test, also called the lie-detector test. Recently, Williams was indicted on charges of witness tampering and mail fraud after undercover agents posed as clients and asked Williams to help them beat the polygraph test. Williams has repeatedly refuted the charges and posted the following statement on his website: “The U.S. government has indicted me on numerous charges! I will make no public comments other than this: This is simply an attack on my First Amendment right to free speech. This indictment was brought to punish and silence me because I have the audacity to protest the use of the polygraph.”

The polygraph test has been used for some time for things like interrogating suspects and screening government employees and police officers, but the exact science behind the polygraph is not so well-known. How exactly does it work and what bodily functions are measured? Is it really possible to actually teach someone to ‘beat’ the polygraph?

Guest:

Raymond Nelson, president of the American Polygraph Association. He has conducted thousands of polygraph tests, designed algorithms that are used in polygraph testing across the country, and written extensively about the polygraph and the science of lie detection.

A chocolate tasting Foie Gras dish is created at the 'Un Dimanche A Paris' store on March 17, 2011 in Paris, France. ; Credit: Francois Durand/Getty Images

Foie gras is back on the menu at high end restaurants and chefs are celebrating, comparing their joy to the end of Prohibition. A 2004 law banned the sale of fatty duck or goose liver that used force-feeding to plump up animals, and was upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. That changed, Wednesday. Foie producers from New York and Canada, and a Manhattan Beach restaurant group argued that a federal law regulating poultry production prevents California from specifying what can go into a duck or goose. Federal judge Stephen V. Wilson agreed. The ban was immediately overturned and foie gras started popping up in ice cream, cotton candy, terrines and more as early as Wednesday night.

California can defend its law. Attorney General Kamala Harris is “reviewing the ruling.” according to spokesman David Beltran. Animal rights activists are pushing the attorney general to continue the litigation. The state has 30 days to begin an appeal, or let the ruling stand.

In the meantime, the return of foie gras is delighting gourmands and disappointing activists who pushed to get the ban enacted over 10 years ago. If the Attorney General doesn’t appeal, is there a legal path forward for animal rights activists?

Guest:

Drew Alexis, general counsel for Farm Sanctuary, an organization that advocated for the original ban, as well asadjunct professor of law at Southwestern Law School

1984 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles ; Credit: Sussman/Prejza Archive

Members of the U.S. Olympic Committee converge on Denver International Airport today to continue their discussion about what city will be chosen as its bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and Washington D.C. are the four finalists competing for the bid. A decision is expected by this afternoon with the announcement coming on Friday in the chosen city. The USOC will then have until early 2016 to submit an application for the chosen city to host the Games, and the IOC would make its decision in the summer of 2017. Many are speculating that the U.S. will be the frontrunner country for the Olympics It has been nearly 20 years since the last Summer Olympics were held in the States (Atlanta in 1996). Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Games in 2002.

California, then, stands a 50-50 chance of being chosen to possibly host another Olympic games. Los Angeles hosted the 1932 and 1984 Summer Games and already has most of the infrastructure and facilities that would be needed to host the Games. The Coliseum would likely be refurbished to host track and field events, soccer would be played at the Rose Bowl, and Dodger Stadium would host baseball if the sports returns to the Olympics as expected. San Francisco is also seen as a frontrunner because of the city’s appeal across the globe and because it has never hosted the Olympics before. San Francisco’s 2024 bid committee has said that the venues would be spread through the Bay Area and a temporary stadium would be built on the waterfront.

L.A.’s biggest challenge in securing the bid is not being seen as old hat because it has already hosted the Games twice. So, how likely do you think it is that the USOC chooses a California city? What are the economic and cultural impacts that hosting the Olympics would have on Los Angeles? What specific advantages does L.A. bring to the table as a host city? What about San Francisco?

Guest:

Barry A. Sanders, chairman of the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games

Darias Brown speaks to a recruiter at a job fair on June 12, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. According to the Department of Labor's latest jobs report unemployment is at 6.3%, the lowest since 2008 when massive layoffs swept through the country. ; Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images

What’s in a name? A recent joint study from Columbia and Emory Universities says quite a bit. Using four separate experiments, researchers concluded that many whites will react differently to the same person, depending solely on whether they are referred to as “black” or “African American.” The report theorizes that Americans of African descent (AADs) referred to as “blacks” are often perceived as less competent than “African Americans.” Moreover, the report revealed that even within the African American community itself, a similar bias exists against those who identify themselves as “black.”

In one of the most compelling experiments, 110 Caucasians were shown profiles of various AAD males--each of whom was identified as either “Black” or “African American.” The white participants were then instructed to guess the social status, salary and education level of each of the men. In all three categories, “blacks” were ranked lower than “African Americans.” Furthermore, participants estimated the salary of “blacks” to be as much as seven-thousand dollars less than that of “African Americans.”

Researchers hypothesize the bias can be traced back to the American civil rights movement of the 1960s, when the militant “Black Power” movement first became popular. But by the late ‘80s, community leaders began promoting the use of a new term: African American. Over 25 years later, it appears that the racial rebranding worked, and for many the word has come to represent a law-abiding, competent and better assimilated AAD.

Further muddling the conversation is the not-often-discussed topic of subgrouping within the AAD community discussed at length in the book "Black Ethnics" by Christina Greer. In it, Greer observes that Africans who recently migrated to the United States are widely believed to be hard workers, whereas those born in America are often perceived to be less motivated and carrying a sense of entitlement. Greer tells KPCC that “more African immigrants are opting to keep their foreign names, in an attempt to stand out from American blacks.“ She contends that even though hiring managers will still opt to hire an Indian or Chinese immigrant over an African one, there is no racial group that will struggle more with a negative public perception than American-born men and women of color.

Are you an American of African descent? Do these results surprise you? How do you navigate the complicated world of racial grouping and subgrouping? Do you feel your race has hindered your career advancement?

Guests:

Katherine Phillips, senior vice dean with the Columbia Business School

Christina Greer, assistant professor of political science at Fordham University

Robert Redford (L) and Laura Skandera Trombley (R) at an event for Pitzer College; Credit: Pitzer College via Flickr

In early December, Laura Skandera Trombley was named as the eighth president of The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. She will begin her term on July 1, 2015, replacing long-time president Steven Koblik. Trombey comes to Huntington from Pitzer College in Claremont, where she was president for 13 years and was lauded for her work in fundraising, increasing financial aid, and decreasing student debt. Pitzer’s endowment also increased 200 percent under Trombley’s leadership.

She is an expert on Mark Twain, and has written two books about how women influenced the famous American writer’s life. She is an active leader in the Los Angeles area and has been appointed by President Obama as a member of the William J. Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Trombley entered college as a freshman at 16 years old and earned her bachelor’s and master’s in English and Humanities from Pepperdine University. She then got her Ph.D. in English from USC.

Guest:

Laura Skandera Trombley, incoming president of The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. She will assume the office on July 1, 2015. Formerly the president of Pitzer College in Claremont, CA.

This combo shows handout photos released by French Police in Paris early on January 8, 2015 of suspects Cherif Kouachi (L), aged 32, and his brother Said Kouachi (R), aged 34, wanted in connection with an attack at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in the French capital that killed at least 12 people. French police on January 8 published photos of the two brothers wanted as suspects over the bloody massacre at the magazine in Paris as they launched an appeal to the public for information. ; Credit: FRENCH POLICE/AFP/Getty Images

A massive manhunt and a day of mourning grip Paris today following yesterday's massacre of 12 people at a satirical newspaper. French police are hunting two heavily armed brothers suspected in the murders, with many worried the suspects' desperation could spur another attack. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the two suspects still at large in the slayings - Cherif Kouachi, 32, and Said Kouachi, 34 - were known to France's intelligence services.

A third suspect, Mourad Hamyd, 18, surrendered at a police station after hearing his name linked to the attacks, a Paris prosecutor's spokeswoman said. Security experts have contrary views on the level of sophistication of the attack. Former CIA Director Michael Hayden told NBC it was a "high level attack." 

However, terrorism expert Brian Michael Jenkins with the RAND Corporation think thank downplayed the level of training necessary to pull off such an operation. France remains on high alert, but what does yesterday's attack indicate for alert levels going forward?

With files from the Associated Press.

Guest:

Angeline Benoit, reporter for Bloomberg News

Brian Michael Jenkins, Senior Advisor to the President of the Rand Corporation and one of the nation's leading experts on terrorism and homeland security

St. Jude patient, Mary Browder, age 11 and St. Jude National Outreach Director, Marlo Thomas check out shopping carts full of Kmart Fab 15 toys while on a shopping spree to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital patients as part of Kmart's 11th annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving fundraising campaign on December 15, 2014 in New York City. ; Credit: Astrid Stawiarz

Heading into 2015, it seems economists are generally optimistic about the U.S.’s economic outlook. After suffering the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, the U.S. economy rebounded in 2014. While the housing market is still slow, energy and oil prices are plummeting, stocks are on the rise with the Dow Jones Industrial average having just climbed above 18,000 for the first time ever, the unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in November (compared to an average of 7.4 percent in 2013), GDP climbed five percent just in the third quarter of this year, and consumer confidence rising. All of this growth is said to be a good sign that the economy is gaining momentum heading into the new year. However, there are still plenty of risks, including slowdowns in Europe and Asia as well as a possible collapse in the Russian economy. A recent L.A. Times article also argues that wage stagnation is hurting ordinary workers as the median net worth of upper-income families rose to nearly seven times what middle-income families are making and nearly 70 times what low-income families are making.

A growing economy in 2015 and 2016, if the economy does indeed grow, could change political strategy down the road in 2016. It will be very hard to criticize Democrats for the “Obama economy” if that economy is growing at anywhere near five percent. While economists don’t expect that five percent rate to continue in 2015, they say a slower pace would be welcome. The improved economic outlook is also helping to quell some of the frequent bickering over spending and the debt limit.

Are you optimistic about your own economic outlook in 2015? How do you think a better economy will affect the 2016 election? How does the political landscape change if the economy doesn’t grow as well as forecasters are suggesting?

Guests:

Craig Gordon, Managing Editor, Bloomberg News in DC

David Lazarus, consumer columnist for the Los Angeles Times

US President Barack Obama screams 'Zot, Zot, Zot', as he makes the symbols of the Anteater, the mascot for the University of California-Irvine, after delivering the commencement address in Irvine, California, June 14, 2014.; Credit: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

President Obama is in Tennessee today, announcing a plan to make community college free for many students. The federal government would cover 75% of tuition costs for students who maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and enroll at least half time. Students would also need to steadily track toward a degree within 3 years. Colleges would commit to offering credits that can transfer to 4 year schools or vocational programs that students are likely to finish. In short, there would be some strings attached.

For students in California, community college is already cheap by national standards. That has boosted enrollment compared to other state systems. But while low cost draws more students, many do not complete a program, have trouble accessing classes that provide transferrable credit, and do not quickly complete associates degrees or certificate programs.

And yet, as tuition -- and associated student debt -- have dramatically risen at public and private institutions, community college and vocational programs hold additional appeal for students who have trouble accessing higher cost education.  

How likely is the proposal to pass in this Congressional environment? And what impact does free tuition have on student engagement and completion?

Guests:

Libby Nelson, Vox reporter

Brice Harris, Chancellor of California Community Colleges

Andrew P. Kelly, Director of the Center on Higher Education reform at the American Enterprise Institute

Helicopters fly over buildings in Dammartin-en-Goele, north-east of Paris, after two brothers suspected of slaughtering 12 people in an Islamist attack on French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo were shot dead by police, on Jan. 9, 2015.; Credit: Dominique Faget/AFP/Getty Images

A tumultuous week for law enforcement officials around Paris, France culminated today in two separate hostage situations. French authorities say the suspects in Wednesday’s mass shooting at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo have been killed in a police standoff in a small town outside the French capital.

Meanwhile, police in Paris surrounded a kosher market after an alleged accomplice of the Charlie Hebdo suspects took several hostages there. Reports are that four hostages are dead and that the suspect, 32-year-old Amedy Coulibaly,was killed when police stormed the market at almost the exact same time police outside the city were rushing the warehouse where the Charlie Hebdo suspects had holed up. His girlfriend, 26-year-old Hayat Boumeddiene, was reportedly helping him, though it is unclear if she was inside the market or assisting him from outside. French television has been quoted as saying she is still on the loose.

Coulibaly was said to have “close ties” to the Charlie Hebdo suspects, French brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, and had allegedly demanded that French police let them leave the warehouse where they holed up or he would kill the hostages at the market. He is also suspected in the killing of a French police officer Thursday in the Montrouge area of Paris. How do police handle delicate hostage situations like these, especially when you have two connected incidents? What are the safety concerns that hostage negotiators have to take into account?

Guests:

Dana Lewis, correspondent for Al Jazeera America currently on the ground in France; Al Jazeera America can be seen in Los Angeles and southern California on Time Warner Channel 445, AT&T U-Verse 1219, DirecTV 347 and Dish Channel 215.

Chris Voss, founder of The Black Swan Group, a consulting firm that coaches the application of hostage negotiation strategies to the boardroom and personal life. He is also a retired special agent with the FBI, where he served as the agency’s lead international hostage negotiator.

California governor-elect Jerry Brown looks on as he leads a briefing on California's state budget.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Gov. Jerry Brown has released his proposed operating budget for 2015. Included in the governor’s plan is $532 million in funding to combat climate change. In addition, the budget attempts to reduce the $72 billion-dollar deficit for state retiree health benefits and provides the state with a $2.8 billion rainy day fund.

Today, AirTalk examines the finer points of Gov. Brown’s budget to find out where your money is going.

Guests:

H.D. Palmer, deputy director of external affairs, California Department of Finance

Jeff Stone, Republican State Senator for California’s 28th State Senate district, including Indio, Murrieta, Palm Springs, and other parts of Riverside County, and a member of the Senate Budget Committee

Jeff Brewer, communications manager, California Partnership, a statewide coalition of community-based groups advocating to reduce and end poverty; California Partnership is also a leading member of Health Care for America Now, a national movement uniting consumers, labor and community organizations for health care reform​

Andrae Crouch, multiple Grammy winner and Oscar nominee, has died at 72. ; Credit: Nashville Publicity Group

He was a giant of gospel music, and LA’s own – Andrae Crouch.  Within the past hour, flowers were laid on his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Crouch passed away yesterday at the age of 72, after a heart attack.

Along with his high profile music career, Crouch co-pastored New Christ Memorial Church in San Fernando.  His father started the church.

On Andrae Crouch’s popular albums, and in TV appearances, he created a next-generation sound that didn’t endear him to traditionalists.  It’s funny how times change, as many of his songs are now centerpieces of church hymnals. His sound was so powerful, pop artists like Michael Jackson used his arranging talent on their recordings.  His songs have been covered by a Who’s Who of American performers, not just gospel artists.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) (C) speaks to members of the media after the Senate Democratic Policy Luncheon at the Capitol December 9, 2014 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. ; Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

With the New Year comes New Year’s resolutions, and for many people, New Year’s resolutions are a reason to get back into a workout routine. But what about elderly adults who want to stay in shape? There are often many questions surrounding best fitness practices for seniors. There is a delicate line to toe between exercising regularly enough to protect from disease and lower injury chances and not over-extending oneself to the point where injury occurs. But studies show that regular exercise is important to the physical and mental health of the elderly, and that inactivity can lead to more doctor and hospital visits. In fact, it’s probably one of the best things seniors can do to delay the aging process.

Recently, former Senate majority leader Harry Reid suffered broken ribs and bones in his face after a resistance band snapped and hit him in the eye, causing him to stumble backward and fall into some cabinets. Reid has yet to return to the Senate, and has said that his doctors are not sure whether he will regain full sight in his right eye.

How can seniors stay safe while exercising? What are the limits and the cautions the elderly need to be aware of? Is it even safe for seniors to exercise in the first place?

For tips on safe exercise for seniors, you can check out this guide from the National Institutes on Aging that was recommended by our guests.

Guests: 

Dr. Laura Mosqueda, Professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics and Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at USC’s Keck School of Medicine

Lori Michiel, certified senior fitness specialist and personal trainer, President and Founder of Lori Michiel Fitness. She specializes in and has been working with clients age 50-95 for more than 40 years.

A vendor displays satirical magazines showing Pope Benedict XVI, near the Sultanahmet district in Istanbul 29 November 2006.; Credit: DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP/Getty Images

In the immediate aftermath of the Paris massacre, some people asked news organizations to show respect for religion by refraining from publishing "Charlie Hebdo" cartoons lampooning religious figures. While Islam does not explicitly prohibit images of Muhammad, Islamic tradition forbids worship of images of God and the prophets of God. And Muslims are not alone in this regard. In the Ten Commandments it's stated "Thou shalt not make any graven image,” and that aniconism is a tenet of Judaism, as well. Similarly, Protestantism views icons negatively.

Its founding theologian John Calvin believed God's transcendence not only rendered God unknowable, it also made God beyond human comprehension, therefore visual depictions could be nothing but a distortion. Other Christian denominations have significantly different views of religious idols. Catholics embrace and celebrate icons of Jesus, Mary, the saints and apostles. In the east, Hindu deities are incredibly colorful and dramatic figures symbolizing their powers and natural elements.

How does your religious practice view icons, idols and symbols?

Guest:

David Albertson, Assistant Professor of Religion, USC’s Dornsife College

Imam Mustafa Umar, Director of Education at the Islamic Institute of Orange County - an accredited school; M.A. in religious studies; previously adjunct professor with Claremont Lincoln University's school of theology