U.S. President Barack Obama announces changes to the government's hostage policy in the Roosevelt Room at the White House June 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. Families of hostages taken and killed by ISIS and other terrorism groups have described the government's interaction with them as unresponsive and uncaring Obama said that would change but did said the policy of refusing to pay ransom would remain. ; Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the U.S. government had let down the families of Americans held hostage by terrorists, and he outlined new policies that could make it easier for those families to pay ransom to help free their loved ones.

"These families have already suffered enough and they should never feel ignored or victimized by their own government," Obama said as he detailed the results of a six-month review of U.S. hostage policy.

The review's conclusions aim to streamline and improve communications with families, who have sharply criticized the government for providing them with confusing and contradictory information. Some families have complained about threats of criminal prosecution if they seek to pay ransom to terrorists - threats Obama said would end.

"The last thing we should ever do is add to a family's pain with threats like that," Obama said.

Guests:

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

Brigitte Nacos,  journalist, author, and adjunct professor of political science at Columbia University; Recently authored "Terrorism and Counterterrorism" (Pearson) and "Mass-Mediated Terrorism" (Rowman & Littlefield)

"Silenced by the UC"; Credit: Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr

The University of California system has become the epicenter for conversations about microaggressions, free speech, and the roles and rights of professors.

According to a recent document distributed during one of UC’s seminars on the topic, “Microaggressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership.”

While certain statements such as “I’m not racist. I have several Black friends” or “You’re a girl, you don’t have to be good at math” are relatively uncontroversial as microaggressions, others such as “I believe the most qualified person should get the job” and “America is a melting pot” are under debate. A Times Op-Ed and Editorial have called additional attention to the matter.

While UC is only one among hundreds of universities having this debate, the fact that Berkeley was at the center of the Free Speech Movement half a century ago has brought the school system into the spotlight now that it must balance the need to promote diversity and equal opportunity with the free speech and intellectual honesty that paved the path for microaggressions to be discussed in this way.

To what extent should professors limit their speech in order to address potential microaggressions? What role does the university have in balancing free speech with protecting against microaggressions?

Tool: Recognizing Microaggressions and the Messages They Send

Guests:

Eugene Volokh, constitutional law professor, UCLA School of Law, where he specializes in the first amendment. He’s also the author of the Los Angeles Times Op-Ed, "UC's PC Police"

Derald W. Sue, a professor of counseling psychology at Teachers College at Columbia University, author of “Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Race, Gender, and Sexual orientation” (Wiley, 2010)

Gwen Alston, Kuniharu kubodera and Barbara Kubodera (L-R) sit on the steps of the capitol as they show their support for the removal of the confederate flag from the Capitol grounds, during a protest in support of the flags removal on June 23, 2015 in Columbia, South Carolina. ; Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Following last week’s shooting in Charleston, South Carolina that saw the massacre of nine African Americans in the historic Emanuel AME Church, allegedly committed by a man with white supremacist views, there was an outcry to tear down the Confederate flag from American life.

In rapid succession, government and corporate leaders have heeded to that cry.

On Tuesday, major retailers including Walmart, Amazon, eBay, Sears, and Etsy pledged they would stop selling merchandise bearing the symbol - also known as the Battle flag of Northern Virginia first sewn during the Civil War. At the state level, South Carolina legislators introduced a bill Tuesday that would ban the flag, which currently flies in front of the Statehouse in Columbia, from being flown on government grounds. Virginia is ordering license plates featuring the flag be phased out. In Alabama, Governor Robert Bentley today ordered the flag be removed from the state capitol.

For some people in the Deep South, the Stars and Bars have long been a symbol of pride for their region, a cause their ancestors fought for, and an emblem of their heritage. For decades as well, there have been demands to remove the symbol - historically representing Southern states’ desire for maintaining slavery - from American culture.

If the speed of government and corporate action against the flag this week seems unprecedented in modern history, it does harken back to other catalysts in American political and cultural history. Rice University historian Douglas Brinkley says the 1859 hanging of white abolitionist John Brown helped spur the Civil War and end slavery. Brinkley also notes how in the 1960s and 70s, Walter Cronkite's reporting turned public opinion against the Vietnam War. Allan Lichtman, professor of history at American University, lists other analogous events: the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory altering the workers' rights movement; the publishing of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" helping lay the groundwork for the Civil War; Edward R. Murrow's reporting on McCarthyism during the 1950s; and Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique" sparking modern-day feminism.

Lichtman contrasts these tumultuous changes in the collective consciousness with the slow drumbeat against climate change that has failed to provoke rapid action and the step-by-step tweaks of perceptions and acceptance of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) Americans.

What other symbols have been generally accepted (or at least tolerated) for a long period before becoming the subject of controversy because of a single catalyst? What kind of a precedent, if any, does this set for other symbols that are seen as controversial?

Guests:

Allan Lichtman, Distinguished Professor of History, American University

Supporters rally in front of the Supreme Court after the court's announcment of the decision affirming the Affordable Care Act on June 25, 2015, in Washington, DC.; Credit: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

The Supreme Court today decided that federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act are legal, leaving intact a core funding mechanism of the health care law.

About 6.4 million Americans and the 34 states without their own exchanges would be impacted if the decision was to go the other way.

Today's 6-3 decision came just three years after the High Court first upheld the legality of Obamacare. That decision was much narrower, 5-4, with Justice John G. Roberts Jr. siding with the four more liberal members of the court.

Justice Roberts issued today's majority opinion. "Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them," Roberts wrote. "If at all possible, we must interpret the Act in a way that is consistent with the former, and avoids the latter."

KING ET AL. v. BURWELL, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ET AL.

Guest:

Timothy R. Johnson, Professor of Political Science and Law at the University of Minnesota, and co-author of “Oral Arguments and Coalition Formation on the U.S. Supreme Court: A Deliberate Dialogue” (University Michigan Press, 2012)

Emily Bazelon, staff writer for the New York Times Magazine and the Truman Capote Fellow for Creative Writing and Law at Yale Law School. She’s also the co-host of the Slate Political Gabfest. Her most recent piece on the Supreme Court for NYT Magazine is titled “Better Judgment.”

The Ford logo is displayed on the grill of a brand new truck on the sales lot at Serramonte Ford on May 1, 2013 in Colma, California. ; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Renting your car out to pre-approved drivers to help cover your car payment? It could soon be an option for anyone who buys and finances a Ford through the company.

It’s all still very experimental, but it could have big implications for the ride-sharing business. Ford announced Tuesday they’d be rolling out the pilot program in six cities in the U.S. (Chicago, Portland, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley) and London, as well.  It runs through November and will invite 14,000 customers here and 12,000 in England. In addition to the car sharing program, Ford is also looking to draw in urban commuters, and has developed a battery-powered bike that folds up and can be recharged inside any Ford vehicle.

Drivers who finance their Ford through the automaker’s credit arm will be able to offer their car up for short-term rentals through a digital platform called Getaround, which will determine the rental rate based on the car’s make, model, and location. An average rate would be from $7 to $12 an hour, complete with roadside assistance. Getaround takes a 40 percent cut, then pays the car owner. Ford says the drivers who will be renting the vehicles are pre-screened to make sure their driving record is clean.

Would you participate in this program if you financed your car through Ford? What are the implications of an automaker getting into the ride-sharing economy? What does this mean for companies like Uber, Lyft, and ZipCar? Do you feel safe renting your car out to a pre-screened driver or would you still have concerns? What’s in this for Ford? Do you think the program will be successful? Will other automakers follow suit and develop similar programs if it is?

Guest:

Nick Bunkley, staff reporter at Automotive News who covers Ford

Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott smiles as the studio begins to fill before the NBA basketball draft lottery, Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson); Credit: Julie Jacobson/AP

The 2014 season is one most Laker fans would like to forget.

With the seventh overall pick in the draft, L.A. chose promising young forward Julius Randle, who broke his ankle in the Lakers’ home opener and needed surgery that ended his season. Kobe Bryant, who turns 37 in August, tore his rotator cuff less than halfway through this past year, ending his season as well. The Lakers went on to a 21-61 record, the fourth-worst in the NBA and the worst in team history.

This year, L.A. has the second pick in the draft, and the rumors have been swirling for months about who the Lakers might snatch up tonight at the two spot. The Minnesota Timberwolves own the first pick this year, and word in the Twin Cities is they want University of Kentucky forward Karl-Anthony Towns. The Lakers could go in a number of different directions at number two, though they are widely expected to draft Duke center Jahlil Okafor. At 6’11”, he’s a monster in the post and an excellent rebounder, but questions remain about his defensive abilities.

Assuming Towns goes first, the Lakers could also choose from talent like Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky, who won the 2015 Player of the Year Award for men’s college basketball, the explosive Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell, or standout forward Stanley Johnson out of Arizona. The Lakers also have the 27th and 34th picks out of 60. Barring any draft day trades, the Clippers will not pick in the 2015 draft, having traded their picks away (though they do get to show off some shiny new uniforms next season).

The Lakers could also make a trade, though they would have to declare their second pick as a Laker before making any trade. Rumors have been swirling that the Lakers are interested in getting forward DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings. At 24, Cousins has established himself as one of the NBA’s premiere big men, and would be an intimidating force if paired down low with Julius Randle.

Who should the Lakers take with the second overall pick? Should they look to make a trade instead, and if so, for whom? What do you see as the biggest needs for the Lakers this year? Are the Lakers doing enough to prepare the team for life after Kobe?

Guest:

A Martinez, host of KPCC’s Take Two and host of Lakers Line on 710AM KSPN after Laker games

An Israeli woman rubs sunscreen on a Palestinian girl from the West Bank village of Jahalin as they spend the day at the beach on August 2, 2010 in Bat Yam, Israel.; Credit: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

SPF 100 and additives like sea kelp and vitamin E are common to find on sunscreen labels. What most consumers don’t know is how ineffective and sometimes harmful it can be to skin.

“Broad spectrum” is the most important thing to look out for when stocking up on sunscreen this summer, but many aren’t familiar with what the term means. It was established by the FDA in 2011, referring to protection from both UVA and UVB rays. UVA exposure can cause skin aging while UVB rays cause sunburns, and both can lead to skin cancers. Most sunscreens only provide protection against sunburns, caused by UVB rays, although UVAs can be more harmful since it cuts through clouds and windows and can penetrate skin more deeply.

Dr. Janellen Smith at UC Irvine Health offers these tips to follow: 

1.  Protect your skin with more than just sunscreen. Avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and keep your skin covered. 
2. Spray on sunscreens are used by most Americans, but there isn't enough evidence showing the risks of inhaling it. For use on your face, spray on your hands first and then apply. Don’t inhale it! 
3. Natural ingredients aren’t always a good thing. The use of botanicals in sunscreens may cause an itch or rash. 
4. Children under six months should avoid sunscreen. But if used, should use inorganic sunscreen with titanium or zinc oxide.
5. Always reapply sunscreen after being in water. 

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying sunscreen like this:

If that’s too overwhelming, just remember: a shot glass worth of SPF 30, broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen applied every 2 hours. Find out more from the American Academy of Dermatology HERE.

Guest:

Dr. Janellen Smith, MD, Professor of dermatology, UC Irvine, co-director of the Pigmented Lesion Program at UC Irvine’s Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) (R) holds his weekly news conference at the same time President Barack Obama appears on television to make a statement about the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare at the U.S. Capitol June 25, 2015 in Washington, DC.; Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act, Republicans are in a bind: how can one successfully navigate the serpentine political path without taking the losing position.

Just hours after the high court handed down the decision, House Speaker John Boehner said that “most of the discussion so far was if the Court ruled against the administration in King v. Burwell what the response would be.” While many national politicians from conservative states and districts are likely to continue to explicitly oppose the law and the ruling, others may quietly drop their principled stances. So far, there is no Republican consensus on how to move forward.

The road is most difficult for those running for the Republican presidential nomination. On one hand, each candidate must either impress upon conservative primary voters why they will fight tooth-and-nail to repeal the law or tactfully express what his or her alternative is. (There is also still a minute chance that the law could be challenged again in 2017.) On the other hand, a candidate who wishes to ascend to the nation’s top office cannot risk alienating the general electorate by opposing subsidies for more than six million Americans and improved healthcare benefits for most consumers.

What, if any, new campaign strategy will Republicans take in 2016? Can a Republican presidential candidate win in 2016 by campaigning on repealing, defunding, or dismantling Obamacare?

Guests:

John Feehery, President of Communications and Director of Government Affairs for the consulting group Quinn Gillespie and Associates and former communications director for Majority Leader Dennis Hastert and Majority Whip Tom DeLay

David Carney, CEO, Norway Hill Associates, Inc., a political consultant firm based in New Hampshire. Former political director of the George H.W. Bush White House and was a top political strategist for the Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign

Business mogul Donald Trump holds documents certifying his net worth is 8.7 billion dollars as he announces his candidacy for the U.S. presidency at Trump Tower on June 16, 2015 in New York City. Trump is the 12th Republican who has announced running for the White House. ; Credit: Christopher Gregory/Getty Images

Despite that fact that Donald Trump is one of the few name brand nominees for the Republican presidential candidacy, political pundit Dan Schnur of USC is asking the media to abstain from covering the Trump campaign.

Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Schnur states, "The best way to cover Donald Trump is to ignore him, at least until he says something of actual relevance and import to the nation's governance - and this would require an unlikely level of self-restraint from the mainstream news media." Plus there are all those hours of television to fill. Yesterday, a tongue-in-cheek CNN report covered Trump's opening of a new golf course.

Today, Trump is getting even more coverage due to Univision cancelling its broadcast of the Trump Organization's Miss USA pageant in reaction to comments he made about Mexicans and his proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.

How do you think the media should handle Trump’s campaign? And how should the RNC handle Trump vis-a-vis the debates?

Guest:

Dan Schnur, Director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC and adjunct faculty at USC Annenberg School

Director and actor Seth MacFarlane attends the New York Premiere of "Ted 2" at the Ziegfeld Theater on June 24, 2015 in New York City.; Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Justin Chang and Peter Rainer review this week’s new releases including family- and animal-friendly feature “Max,” the humorous and profane sequel “Ted 2,” the romantic period piece “A Little Chaos,” and more. TGI-Filmweek!

Guests:

Justin Chang, film critic for KPCC and Chief Film Critic for Variety

Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor

People celebrate outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC on June 26, 2015 after its historic decision on gay marriage. The US Supreme Court ruled Friday that gay marriage is a nationwide right, a landmark decision in one of the most keenly awaited announcements in decades and sparking scenes of jubilation. The nation's highest court, in a narrow 5-4 decision, said the US Constitution requires all states to carry out and recognize marriage between people of the same sex. ; Credit: MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images

We’re tracking reaction across social media this morning, and already we’re seeing a lot of big and important names come out and share their thoughts on the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Several of the 2016 presidential candidates are also weighing in. You can find all these reactions and more analysis here.

OBERGEFELL ET AL. v. HODGES, DIRECTOR, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ET AL.

Guests:

Matthew Mansell and John Espejo, two of the 30 plaintiffs in Obergefell v. Hodges, the case decided today by the Supreme Court. Mansell and Espejo were wed in California, but when their jobs sent them to Tennessee, they discovered their marriage would no longer be recognized once they set foot across the state's border

Timothy R. Johnson, Professor of Political Science and Law at the University of Minnesota, and co-author of “Oral Arguments and Coalition Formation on the U.S. Supreme Court: A Deliberate Dialogue” (University Michigan Press, 2012)

Professor John Eastman, professor of law and founding director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence at Chapman University and Chairman of the Board of the National Organization for Marriage,a D.C.-based nonprofit working to defend marriage and the faith communities that filed an amicus brief in this case

Charles Moran, a Republican political strategist and the Immediate Past Chairman of the California Log Cabin Republicans, an organization representing gay conservatives and their allies

Brian Brown, co-founder and president of the National Organization for Marriage, a DC-based nonprofit working to defend marriage and the faith communities

Retired Judge Vaughn Walker, former district judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; he presided over Hollingsworth v. Perry, where he found California's Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional

Matt Dangelantonio, Associate Producer for AirTalk with Larry Mantle on KPCC

Protesters with signs gather outside of the U.S. Supreme Court June 29, 2015 in Washington, DC. Today the high court ruled on the controversial drug that was implicated in botched executions, state efforts to reduce partisan influence in congressional redistricting and Environmental Protection Agency limits on the emission of mercury and other toxic pollutants from power plants. ; Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

In its final day of the 2015 term, the Supreme Court handed down decisions reinforcing the death penalty, upholding Arizona (and thereby California’s) congressional redistricting process and limiting the President’s power to limit pollution from power plants.

In addition to those, the court also announced that next term it will re-hear a case about the use of race in college admissions. That case involves a white woman who sued after she was denied admission to UT-Austin. A conservative-leaning federal appeals court in New Orleans has twice sided with the University’s policy, but experts now believe that the Supreme Court’s decision to re-hear the case may portend tighter restrictions on affirmative action in higher education.

Guests:

Jody Armour, Roy P. Crocker Professor of Law at the University of Southern California

Vik Amar, a professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law

Timothy Cama, Energy and Environment Reporter at The Hill

Noah Feldman, a constitutional studies expert at Harvard Law School. His take on today’s EPA decision, “Justices Flex Their Power in EPA Case,” was published this morning in Bloomberg View

An anti same-sex marriage demonstrator stands in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, June 18, 2015, awaiting the court's landmark decision. ; Credit: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

Last week same sex marriage became legal in all 50 states.

The 5 to 4 decision made by the Supreme Court Friday states that the right to marry is fundamental and Supreme Court Justice Kennedy wrote that under the 14th Amendment's protections "couples of the same-sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty.”

Now that the decision has been made and millions of America’s same sex couples have the right to marry, many conservative lawmakers are pushing back stating that this decision is a violation on  religious freedom laws. Their concern is that faith-based organizations will be restricted on who they can hire and fire based on their religious beliefs.

Is it possible for a balance to be struck between religious freedom and protections against the discrimination of gays?

Guests:

John Eastman, professor of law and founding director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence at Chapman University.

Doug NeJaime, a Professor of Law at UC Irvine and Visiting Scholar at the Williams Institute at UCLA, a research institution focusing on gender identity law

An attendee wears a 2nd amendment shirt while inspecting an assault rifle during the 2013 NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibits at the George R. Brown Convention Center on May 5, 2013 in Houston, Texas. ; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

South Carolina gun control activists hope to tackle the region's permissive gun laws in the aftermath of the Charleston massacre, but they face stiff opposition from gun rights groups.

For instance, second amendment activist Paul Valone says the Charleston shooting proves South Carolina ought to allow guns in churches as does his state of North Carolina. Valone’s intent is to reduce “victim disarmament.” As for gun permitting, at present, the Palmetto state does not require a registration of, nor a permit to purchase, handguns, rifles, and shotguns.

A recent bill that saw an overwhelming show of support in South Carolina’s legislature (before dying when the session adjourned for the summer) would have allowed people to carry concealed weapons “for lawful purposes” on their person without a permit, instead of requiring a gun education course and a minimum age of 21.

In North Carolina, HB 562, seeks to repeal requiring permits for handgun purchases and to restrict doctors from discussing firearms with their patients.

Ladd Everitt of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence says the “degenerate gun culture” of the South was a contributing factor to the Charleston massacre and hopes the aftermath will limit the National Rifle Association’s fealty with the South.

Will the latest ostentatious act of gun violence influence state lawmakers? The National Rifle Association says some politicians are either "[capitalizing] on a tragedy for political purposes" or "their urge to 'do something' isn't tempered by a sense of reality." What, if any, laws could have stopped the alleged shooter, Dylann Roof?

Guests:

Paul Valone, President, Grass Roots North Carolina - described as an all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

Ladd Everitt, Director of Communications, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

Current L.A. County Supervisor and former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis speaking at a conference in 2011; Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors delayed a vote last Tuesday on raising the minimum wage in the unincorporated areas of the County.

The City of Los Angeles recently passed legislation that would gradually bring the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020. The County’s proposal follows the same time frame.

Supervisor Hilda Solis is considered a swing vote on the measure. At the Tuesday meeting, Solis, who is former Secretary of Labor in the Obama administration and a Democrat, called for the postponement. She told KPCC’s Brian Watt that some of her constituents had expressed concerns over the impact of the increase on their small “mom-and-pop” businesses.

A vote on the proposal is now scheduled for July 21.

Guest:

Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisor representing the First District, which includes the unincorporated areas of East Los Angeles, South San Gabriel, and Avocado Heights. She is former Secretary of Labor from 2009 to 2013

US Secretary of State John Kerry (third from the left) and representatives of the EU+3 attend a meeting at the Palais Coburg Hotel, the venue of the nuclear talks in Vienna, Austria on June 28, 2015. Talks between Iran and major powers on finalizing a historic nuclear deal will go beyond the June 30 deadline, a spokesman for the Iranian delegation in talks in Vienna said Sunday.; Credit: CHRISTIAN BRUNA/AFP/Getty Images

United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and Iran have entered their final phase of negotiations in Vienna as the clock ticks down the deadline for a nuclear deal on Tuesday.

Some of the most contentious issues still loom large, such as questions of access and transparency, possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear activity, and sanctions. Many details are still confidential. Despite major obstacles to overcome, senior U.S. official remain optimistic that a deal could still be within reach.

If the talks extend past June 30, modest sanctions relief that has already been temporarily extended twice to Iran by the U.S. and European Union could easily be extended again. But Congress recently passed legislation that would create additional obstacles to final ratification if the agreement is not finalized by July 10.

As the negotiations pass the June 30 deadline, will a final deal come out before the walls close in? What will be the consequences if the negotiations fall through?

Guests:

Josh Lockman, International Law Professor and expert on U.S. Foreign Policy at the USC Gould School of Law

Robert Kaufman, a political scientist and professor of public policy at Pepperdine University specializing in American foreign policy, national security, international relations, and various aspects of American politics

District Attorney of Los Angeles County Jackie Lacey speaks onstage at the GUESS and Peace Over Violence press conference for the 16th annual Denim Day at GUESS? Inc. Headquarters on April 29, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for GUESS

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles district attorney announced Monday that a team of veteran prosecutors will begin reviewing wrongful conviction claims from state prisoners who present new evidence of their innocence.

A newly established conviction review unit will join nearly two dozen other prosecutors' offices nationwide that now investigate claims of innocence, District Attorney Jackie Lacey said.

Guest:

Jackie Lacey, Los Angeles District Attorney

A demonstrator sets up a sign during a Pink Friday protest March 13, 2009 at the Berkeley Unified School District building in Berkeley, California. ; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Supreme Court is now slated to revisit the issue of mandatory union fees for non-union members, a case that could portend larger changes to union structures and Democratic politics.

After a historic set of rulings over the past week, the nation’s highest court is preparing to take on more cases for its next session. Officially called Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, this suit will examine the court’s 1977 ruling in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education that established the right of unions to collect fees from non-union members who benefit from the collective bargaining process in order to pay for said process.

Proponents of the union fees cite the high cost of collective bargaining and the problem of free riders as reasons why unions need this right. Critics cite 1st Amendment freedoms protecting individuals from compelled speech.

If the court strikes down the mandatory fees for non-union members, the repercussions would abound across various industries and the political establishment. That is because the speech funded by union dues and non-union fees not only goes towards collective bargaining but into political lobbying on the local, state, and national levels. Teachers unions are among the strongest unions left in the United States, and they frequently support Democratic candidates and liberal policies throughout the political system.

Are union fees for employees who choose not to join the union fair? What will be the consequences if these fees are struck down?

Guests:

Rebecca Friedrichs, a public school teacher in Orange County who has brought on this lawsuit, and objects to supporting the California Teachers Assn.

Terry Pell, an attorney and president of The Center for Individual Rights, one of the law firms representing Ms. Friedrichs

Eric Heins, President of the California Teachers Association

Jerry Brown signed a bill today taking away the state’s personal belief exemption and requiring almost all kids attending public schools to be vaccinated; Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Gov. Jerry Brown today signed into law one of the toughest school vaccine restrictions in the country.

The law takes away the state’s personal belief exemption and will require almost all kids attending public and private schools to be vaccinated, leaving parents opposed to vaccinations with little clear recourse. Read the full story here.

Guests:

Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), pediatrician and co-sponsor of SB 277, the bill that Gov. Brown signed into law today

Christina Hildebrand, president and founder of A Voice for Choice, a group opposed to the bill.

"Man Arrested For Everything"; Credit: via WhatTheHaha.com

Reality is often stranger than fiction, and that premise has driven the popularity of a genre known, for a lack of a better term, as weird news.

The category includes funny headlines, and news items ranging from the charmingly unexpected to the shockingly stupid to the plainly bizarre. In the piece, “Culture: Who, What, Where, When, Weird,” writer Dan Engber traces the history of the “weird news” phenomenon and looks at how the Internet has changed what the public considers odd and funny when it comes to the news.

Guest:

Dan Engber, science and culture writer for various publications. His piece, “Who, What, Where, When, Weird” is in the July/August edition of Pacific Standard magazine