Biology professor Jerry Coyne participates in a panel discussion during the New Yorker Festival on October 11, 2014 in New York City.; Credit: Thos Robinson/Getty Images for The New Yorker

Popular, contemporary atheists such as Richard Dawkins have prompted a backlash among some intellectuals who say there is some room for faith alongside science. In a new book, “Faith vs. Fact,” such intellectuals are branded as “accommodationists” who are irresponsible for protecting religious beliefs in the same breath as scientific principles.

From Galileo’s house arrest to the Scopes monkey trial religion and science have long butted heads – and the fight has sometimes led to imprisonment, murder and factually inaccurate textbooks. At this point, most scientists – and members of the clergy – say they’re willing to let bygones be bygones. Not Dr. Jerry Coyne.

The evolutionary biologist’s latest book “Faith Versus Fact” argues that not only are religion and science fundamentally incompatible, using religion to understand the world is straight-up dangerous. He says faith keeps people from questioning the world around them, and religious dogma leads to incorrect, untestable and conflicting conclusions.

We ask Dr. Coyne how he came to his hardline approach on religion… and what the harm is in having a little faith.

Guest:

Jerry Coyne, University of Chicago professor of Ecology and Evolution, Author of “Faith Versus Fact: Why Science and Religion Are Incompatible” (Viking, 2015).

California governor Jerry Brown talks about new efforts to cope with climate change during a panel discussion at the 18th annual Milken Institute Global Conference on April 29, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

It’s been one year since Governor Jerry Brown signed the state’s first-ever groundwater regulations into law.

Groundwater is the water that’s found underground… It’s still not clear how much California has, since efforts to calculate the amount separately from surface water (lakes and rivers) have been resisted for decades.

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act asks each basin and aquifer throughout California to craft its own plan for managing groundwater use. That means the plan for a basin in the parched Central Valley could be drastically different from one in the Bay. But the deadline for these regulations isn’t until 2040 -- and the unchecked pumping of groundwater is already causing parts of California to literally sink.

Last month, 21 of the state’s groundwater basins and sub-basins were deemed “critically overdrafted” by the State Water Resources Board. That means a ton of water is going out -- and very little is coming back in.

Governor Jerry Brown is already threatening to implement pumping restrictions ahead of schedule… So what are the basins going to do? And how soon are they going to do it?

Guests:

Tim Ross, Groundwater Section Chief for the Southern Region Office of the Department of Water Resources

Chris Scheuring, environmental attorney for the California Farm Bureau

Peter Gleick, President and Co-founder of the Pacific Institute

Republican presidential candidates (L-R) Rick Santorum, George Pataki, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Huckabee, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) , U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ben Carson, Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Carly Fiorina, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stand onstage during the presidential debates at the Reagan Library on September 16, 2015 in Simi Valley, California. Fifteen Republican presidential candidates are participating in the second set of Republican presidential debates; Credit: Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images

While much of the media focus in the lead up to last night’s Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Library was on Donald Trump, there’s little doubt today that it was Carly Fiorina’s night in Simi Valley.

The former CEO of Hewlett Packard looked confident and prepared on stage with the 10 other male candidates, and the general consensus this morning seems to be that she had the strongest showing of any of the candidates last night. She was firm but detailed in explaining how she would tackle some of the big campaign issues, she held her own against the others, and she delivered probably the most memorable comment of the evening when responding to remarks Donald Trump made about her face.

Donald Trump, meanwhile, had a middling night, at least by his standards. The other candidates were much more prepared to attack him this time around, and it showed during the debate. The result was a few highlights here and there, but otherwise it was status quo for the billionaire real estate mogul. Trump even told MSNBC after the debate that he felt bad for his fellow candidates because the whole show focused too much on him.

Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush also had strong showings last night while others like Rand Paul and Ben Carson struggled to stay in the foreground. Chris Christie may have also won some points last night as he tried to place himself above the other candidates by calling attention to the fact that they were bickering about their track records while the American middle class is suffering.

Who were the winners and losers in your mind? What did you learn about the candidates that you didn’t know before? Have your allegiances changed because of anything that happened last night?

Guests:

Reed Galen, Republican political strategist and owner of Jedburghs, LLC., a public affairs and campaign consultancy firm in Orange County

Erikka Knuti, Democratic political strategist with Purple Strategies, a political consulting firm in Washington, D.C.

A building is seen destroyed following a reported 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A new proposal at L.A. City Hall says the cost of retrofitting buildings vulnerable to earthquakes should be a shared financial burden of tenants and property owners.

According to an L.A. Times article, Councilman Gil Cedello said the way costs ought to be shared required further review. Officials from the Los Angeles Housing Department recommend a cap for rent hikes at $38 a month for five or more years to cover the costs of retrofitting.

How do you think the cost should be handled among tenants and property owners?

Guests:

Larry Gross, executive director Coalition for Economic Survival, a tenant advocacy group

Jim Clarke, Executive Vice President of Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) listens during a news conference about private prisons September 17, 2015 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC; Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

The cover of TIME magazine at the moment features an affable-looking Senator Bernie Sanders (I - VT) with shirtsleeves rolled up and the cheeky headline “Socialize this, America.”

It brings to mind the political label Sanders has used to describe himself, but some of his supporters run from: socialist. Analysis by PolitiFact.com says the presidential contender's politics are more akin to democratic socialism, but Reason magazine argues his platform has leanings of libertarian socialism, whatever that is.

What is the most accurate label for Bernie Sanders’ politics? How have these  political terms changed over time and do they mean different things to different people? How does it affect the viability of his campaign - now and later?

Guest:

Lori Cox Han, Professor of Political Science, Chapman University; Author, "In It to Win It: Electing Madam President" (Bloomsbury; 2015)

Peter Dreier, Professor of Political Science, Occidental College

The Fair Political Practices Commission unanimously voted to close what it’s been deemed as a loophole that will now require out-of-state nonprofits to disclose their donors when they oppose or support a ballot measure or candidate through a federal political action committee.
; Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images

The Fair Political Practices Commission unanimously voted to close what’s been deemed as a loophole that will now require out-of-state nonprofits to disclose their donors when they oppose or support a ballot measure or candidate through a federal political action committee.

The move came in the wake of fines levied against two Arizona nonprofits after they refused to reveal their donors behind two political campaigns, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Several initiatives are expected to appear on the 2016 ballot measure addressing the same issue. One, titled the “Voter’s Right to Know Act” was filed for inclusion this week.

Would the Fair Political Practices Commission rule change be vulnerable to constitutional challenges? How about the slate of initiatives expected in 2016?

Guests:

Kathay Feng, California Common Cause, a nonprofit advocacy organization that supported the rule change and was at the hearing yesterday

Jessica Levinson, professor at Loyola Law School and  President of the L.A. Ethics Commission

Nick Dranias, Research Fellow and Policy Advisor at the nonprofit research organization, The Heartland Institute. He has written extensively on the topic of “dark money” and free speech

As the drought stretches into its fourth year, the fate of California’s wildlife is more precarious than ever. ; Credit: URSULA HYZY/AFP/Getty Images

As the drought stretches into its fourth year, the fate of California’s wildlife is more precarious than ever.

Wetlands are drying, rivers are heating up and the Sierra Nevada snowpack is just 12 percent its normal level.

Some estimates say that when it comes to California critters that depend on freshwater up to 75% are already threatened or endangered. That does not spell good news for the state of the ecosystem in 2040. But is all hope lost?

Guest:

Catherine Burns, Associate Director of the Water Program at the Nature Conservancy

Gregory Giusti, Forest Adviser with the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Lake and Mendocino counties

View of the German carmaker Volkswagen plant in Sao Bernardo do Campo, 25 km south of Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 15, 2015.; Credit: NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images

Volkswagen has rigged over 480,000 diesel cars since 2009 to pass U.S. and California emissions tests, regulators revealed Friday.

The cheating scandal will cost the Berlin-based company up to $18 billion. In addition, Volkswagen will be financially responsible to fix the emissions systems in the impacted vehicles. Shares of the company have tumbled precipitously since Monday morning trading.

Would Volkswagen be able to recover from this violation in the US?

Guests:

Kevin Tynan, senior autos analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence

George Serafeim, Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School

Pope Francis arrives in the Plaza de la Revolution to hold a Mass on September 21, 2015 in Holguin, Cuba. ; Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Miracles aren't what they used to be. The modern world demands explanations, urging the Catholic Church to evolve its criteria to legitimize supernatural occurrences.

With over 1 billion Catholics worldwide, how does the church stay relevant when so much of its history depends on faith in inexplicable events?

In his book, “ The Vatican Prophecies: Investigating Supernatural Signs, Apparitions, and Miracles in the Modern Age,” John Thavis explores the church’s ongoing battle to justify its beliefs in the mystical world of Catholicism, and the public’s intellectual “thirst for something more tangible.”  

As former Rome bureau chief of the Catholic News Service, Thavis gives readers an inside look at one of the most powerful and clandestine religious institutions just in time for Pope Francis' visit to the U.S.

How do you think the church's stance on supernatural occurrences has evolved? What are your thoughts on belief vs. intellectual spirituality?

Guest:

John Thavis, author of “The Vatican Prophecies:  Investigating Supernatural Signs, Apparitions, and Miracles in the Modern Age” (Viking, 2015) and former Rome bureau chief of the Catholic News Service. Thavis will be covering the Pope’s visit to the United States, which begins tomorrow

Republican Presidential Nominee Dr. Ben Carson speaks to the crowd during the Eagle Forum's Eagle Council Event at the Marriott St. Louis Airport Hotel on September 11, 2015 in St. Louis, Missouri.; Credit: Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images

His slow but steady recent rise in the polls has already generated a lot of buzz about pediatric neurosurgeon and Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson, but some comments he made over the weekend are gathering a lot of attention, and maybe not for all the right reasons.

On Sunday, Dr. Carson was a guest on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press,’ and was asked by host Chuck Todd whether he thought a president’s faith should matter to voters.

Carson said it depends on what the faith is, and that if it was “consistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter.” Todd then asked Dr. Carson if he believed Islam was consistent with the Constitution, and Dr. Carson responded by saying no, adding “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that.”

Dr. Carson did say he would consider voting for a Muslim for Congress, depending on who the person was and what his or her policies were.

The question comes on the heels of a Donald Trump weekend campaign stop in New Hampshire, during which a supporter was quoted as saying to Trump “We got a problem in this country. It’s called Muslims. We know our current president is one, you know he’s not even an American.”

Many have called out Trump for neglecting to correct the supporter, and he has largely stayed away from the press since. The response to Dr. Carson’s comments has been swift as well, especially among Muslim-American groups. The Council on American-Islamic Relations said that Dr. Carson is ‘unfit to lead’ and the two Muslim members of Congress have condemned his remarks publicly as well.

Do you think a candidate’s faith is relevant? How does a presidential candidate’s religious affiliation affect the way you view him/her? How will Dr. Carson’s campaign be impacted by his remarks, if at all?

Guests:

Raynard Jackson, GOP political strategist and CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, a political consulting firm in DC

Salam Al-Marayati, Executive Director and co-founder, Muslim Public Affairs Council

A recent CNN interview with Wolf Blitzer perked up the ears of wonks across the state when Brown said that the race could see “a lot of big surprises” and that he would “jump in at the right time.”; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders… and Jerry Brown? Ever since the start of election season, pundits and the public have both been asking whether California’s governor will throw his hat into the ring.

Brown’s in his fourth term as governor and has run for president three times before. While he’s hemmed and hawed at a 2016 run, proponents of a Brown candidacy point out he’s never said ‘no’ straight up.

A recent CNN interview with Wolf Blitzer perked up the ears of wonks across the state when Brown said that the race could see “a lot of big surprises.” So after decades in the political machine, would a fourth time be the charm for a Jerry Brown presidency? Or is it too late for state leader without much of a national track record?

Guests:

Lara M. Brown, Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University

Ange-Marie Hancock, Associate Professor of Political Science at USC

Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell addresses a news conference prior to the destruction of approximately 3,400 guns and other weapons at the Los Angeles County Sheriffs' 22nd annual gun melt at Gerdau Steel Mill on July 6, 2015 in Rancho Cucamonga, California.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell stopped by the AirTalk studios Monday for his quarterly visit and to update us on the latest goings-on at the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

The population of the L.A. County jail system has changed from 20 years ago, McDonnell said.

"When you look at the mentally ill population, that is growing, and pretty dramatically. Our most acute mentally ill population has grown by 20 percent since the first of the year, and we're at a near crisis stage in trying to meet their needs."

McDonnell added that the percentage of those in jail who are addicts is much higher as well.

When it comes to body cams, McDonnell said that they did a six-month pilot program to see what would work best for the department's needs.

"The part that is not being addressed, certainly nationally — everybody wants body cameras on deputies and officers for the accountability piece, and I'm supportive of that, because it gives us a greater context to see what the full story was when we go to evaluate an incident. The downside is just the tremendous cost," McDonnell said.

One of the reasons: Storing all that video.

"The camera itself is the cheapest piece of the whole equation. When you're uploading eight, 10 or 12 hours of video onto a server, that server space gets expensive, but again that's only a part of the cost," McDonnell said. "The bigger piece is the personnel cost. When somebody is arrested, they get a traffic citation, they are involved in a use of force, so they bring litigation against the department, they want that tape, they want that video to be able to use for their case, so we go through discovery motions to provide that. The staff necessary who would be trained and certified that they have the ability to be able to pull the appropriate length of video and then to be able to go in and pixelate where appropriate uninvolved, innocent parties, to be able to present that then for court or if we're going to make it public, that piece there alone is a tremendous added expense ... and that's not being talked about anywhere nationally."

McDonnell talked with AirTalk about the transnational gang activity summit in L.A.

"It's developing a network, building relationships, identifying what the problems are around the world really, and this is a problem that is becoming much more difficult to deal with. The gangs are becoming that much more sophisticated," McDonnell said. "They are not only now involved in what we traditionally look at as gang crime, turf battles over narcotic sales, but rather identity theft and cyber-crime and sex trafficking. Things that really weren't on the radar of those involved in policing in the past, but now very much have to be a critical part of us moving forward."

For that summit, 70 law enforcement officials and prosecutors from seven different countries gathered to talk about how to share information and combat violent groups.

Larry got the sheriff's thoughts on national sentiment toward law enforcement in the wake of the killings of law enforcement officers in Texas, Illinois and Kentucky. Listen to the audio for more on that.

The sheriff also talked about L.A. County taking a look at harsher penalties for child sex traffickers in the hopes of curbing a commercial sex industry that forces young girls into prostitution.

Also on the docket: moving forward with plans to build a new Men’s Central Jail.

Guests:

Jim McDonnell, Sheriff of Los Angeles County

This story has been updated.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination Monday.; Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Scott Walker recalled himself from the Republican Presidential market.

The Wisconsin governor's first two debate performances were so lackluster, he sank in the polls.

If you wonder whether debates matter - here's exhibit A. Few would have predicted earlier in the year that Walker would be one of the first candidates to bail. He seemed in a good position to attract support from establishment and movement Republicans. Didn't happen.

Are other Republicans likely considering dropping out soon?

​Guests: 

Kevin Wagner, Associate Professor of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University. He tweets @KevinWagnerPhD

Carol Swain, Professor of Political Science and Law at Vanderbilt University. Her specialty is in campaigns and elections. She tweets @CarolMSwain

A man walks beside a row of tents for the homeless in Los Angeles, Califorinia on May 12, 2015.; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

Members of Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday will declare homelessness in the city an emergency and dedicate $100 million to fixing the crisis.

L.A. Council President Herb Wesson and members of the council's  Homelessness and Poverty Committee are expected to put forward this proposal. The first allocation of funds would come in January and promote shelters and permanent housing.

The initiative from city leaders come as they face cresting criticism for failing to contain the growing numbers of homeless Angelenos — more than 25,000, according to a count conducted in January.

Read Josie Huang's full story here.

Guests:

Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles

The memo reported by the LA Times indicates charter school advocates including the Broad Foundation hopes to create 260 such schools and enroll at least 130-thousand students. ; Credit: Robert Benson/Getty Images for Knowledge Unive

A new memo indicates there's a $490 million plan to place half of L.A. students into charter schools over the next 8 years.  

The memo reported by the L.A. Times indicates charter school advocates including the Broad Foundation hope to create 260 such schools and enroll at least 130,000 students. Says school board president Steve Zimmer: the plan is a blueprint for a hostile takeover of the LAUSD. United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) staged a protest over the weekend in front of the new Broad museum, but charter advocates champion the leaked plans.

The Great Public Schools Now Initiative

​Guests:

Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times education reporter who’s been covering the leaked plans

Gabe Rose, Chief Strategy Officer, Parent Revolution, a non-profit, pro-charter group

Stephanie Farland, executive director of Collaborative Solutions for Charter Authorizers, a consulting firm for charter oversight

In this file photo Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn attends the company's annual press conference on March 13, 2014 in Wolfsburg, Germany.; Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

A class-action complaint has been filed against Volkswagen on behalf of drivers over its emissions scandal.

And there are unconfirmed reports that the U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into Volkswagen over its admission it installed "defeat devices" to fake nitrogen oxide emissions during smog tests on nearly half a million of its diesel cars.

If the investigation finds egregious wrongdoing, the redress is an open question. Could it lead simply to the payment of additional fines on top of the fines for violating the Clean Air Act, or could VW executives face jail time? How long will it take for consumers to pursue a legal remedy?​

Guests:

Laura Antonini, Attorney with Consumer Watchdog

Elaine Kusel, "Of Counsel" with McCune Wright is based in Redlands; Kusel represented consumers in the Hyundai fuel economy class action

California Governor Jerry Brown prepares to sign copies of the California Homeowner Bill of Rights (AB 278 and SB 900) on July 11, 2012 in San Francisco, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A bill that would provide subsidies for seismic retrofitting of apartment buildings across California now lacks only a signature from Governor Jerry Brown before it’s able to be considered law.

But questions still remain about whether Governor Brown, who has been somewhat unpredictable in the past when it’s come to financial decisions.

AB 428 uses tax credits to provide 30% of the cost of retrofitting buildings that aren’t up to current seismic standards. Building owners would get the tax credits on a first-come, first-served basis, and would receive the money over a five year period after completing the retrofit. Every $100 spent on a retrofit would create a $30 tax break. The credit would cap at $12 million every year, in addition to any leftover money from the previous year that is rolled over.

Opponents of the bill aren’t against it on a fundamental ground, but a financial one. Their concern is that a first-come, first-served tax credit isn’t the smartest way to fund the retrofits.

Assembly Bill No. 428

Guests:

Debra Carlton, senior vice president of public affairs for the California Apartment Association

Lenny Goldberg, executive director of the California Tax Reform Association

People walk out of Whole Foods Market in the Brooklyn borough on May 7, 2014 in New York City. ; Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

If you’ve ever shopped at Whole Foods’ butcher counter, you’ve likely noticed the numbered rating system the store uses to let customers know how humanely the animals raised for sale in their stores are treated.

But the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation (PETA) have filed a lawsuit in federal court, alleging that system is bunk and that the store is misleading customers about how it treats its animals.

Animal suppliers who work with Whole Foods are given number grades, one through five, for how well animals are treated while they’re being raised for slaughter. A “Step 1” is the lowest level, which says that animals are raised with  “no cages, no crates, no crowding.” “Step 5” is the highest, with animals at this level being raised on “animal-centered, entire life on same farm with extensive outdoor access.”

PETA’s lawsuit alleges that this grading system is used infrequently and that if a supplier violates the standards, they don’t lose certification.

Whole Foods said Monday that while they had not been formally served with the lawsuit, they were aware of its filing.

Guests:

Jared Goodman, director of animal law for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation (PETA)

Michelle Pawliger, farm animal policy associate with the Animal Welfare Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the pain and suffering of nonhuman animals

The Los Angeles Unified School District this week unveiled a campaign to educate middle and high schoolers on the harsh consequences of sexting; Credit: Summer Skyes 11 via Flickr

The Los Angeles Unified School District this week unveiled a campaign to educate middle and high schoolers on the harsh consequences of sexting--the exchange of sexually explicit photos of themselves via mobile devices.

The campaign, Now Matters Later, provides tips for parents and teachers on how to dissuade teens from engaging in the common practice. Sexting, research has shown, is prevalent among teens, who have little idea of its legal and lasting consequences.

If you are a parent, have you talked to your kids about the danger of sexting? How have you gone about having that conversation?

LAUSD Social Media Policy for Students

​Guest:

Elizabeth Schroeder, EdD, MSW, international sex education expert and founder of Elizabeth Schroeder Consulting, which helps adults teach young people about sexuality.

Pope Francis leans out and waves to the crowd as he rides in a popemobile along a parade route around the National Mall on September 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. ; Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The most politicized pontiff in contemporary history is in Washington D.C. this week.

This morning, he was welcomed by a crowd of thousands along a parade route to the White House. President Barack Obama introduced Pope Francis who addressed an audience of 15,000 on topics ranging from religious liberty to pollution and immigration - all hot, divisive matters in the current political climate.

“As the son of an immigrant family, I’m happy to be a guest in this country which was largely built by such families,” said Francis.

Speaking to President Barack Obama he said, “I find it encouraging that you are proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution. Accepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem we can longer be left to a future generation (sic).”

Tomorrow, Pope Francis will address the U.S. Congress. AirTalk will preview his remarks and how politicos are spinning Francis’ remarks.

​Guests:

Patti Miller, Senior Correspondent, "Religion Dispatches;" Author, "Good Catholics: The Battle over Abortion in the Catholic Church" (University of California, 2014)

Chad Pecknold, Associate Professor of Theology, The Catholic University of America; Author, "Christianity and Politics: A Brief Guide to the History" (Cascade, 2010)