US President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference at the White House on October 2, 2015, in Washington, DC. Obama said Russian approach to Syria is 'recipe for disaster.'; Credit: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

In a shift of US strategy in Syria, the Pentagon will press pause on its training program for Syrian rebel groups fighting so-called Islamic State (IS) forces and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

The beleaguered program saw 200 fighters trained in total. The new strategy, approved by President Barack Obama, will provide direct aid and equipment to rebel units that are making strides against IS militants. The move comes as the Syrian rebel groups face a new foe: Russian airstrikes.

While President Vladimir Putin claims his country's missiles are targeting IS, myriad reports suggest otherwise. On Friday, Britain's UN ambassador, Matthew Rycroft, told reporters anyone looking at a map of their strikes can see that most "are against what we consider the moderate opposition to al-Assad, the very people that we need to be part of the future of Syria."

In a provocative piece in the journal "Foreign Affairs," dozens of experts were asked whether the United States should work with Russia in Syria (fighting IS militants). The responses were all over the map.

With files from the Associated Press.

Guests:

Mohsen Milani, Professor of Politics, and the Executive Director of the Center for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies, University of South Florida

Mitchell Orenstein, Professor of Central and East European politics in the Slavic Department at University of Pennsylvania and Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia

Ruben Tejada #11 of the New York Mets is hit by a slide by Chase Utley #26 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on October 10, 2015.; Credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

If you missed this weekend in L.A. sports, well...it was a doozie.

USC athletic director Pat Haden announced that he asked head football coach Steve Sarkisian to take a leave of absence and seek treatment for an apparent drinking problem. Offensive coordinator Clay Helton will take over as interim head coach.

Sarkisian had been under close watch since an incident at an annual team dinner over the summer at which Sarkisian appeared drunk while addressing the attendees, but said during a press conference the next day that his behavior was the result of mixing “not much” alcohol with medication. He said he would seek counseling to find out if he had a drinking problem.

Since the announcement of his departure, more reports have surfaced about Sarkisian’s past history with alcohol.

On the baseball diamond, game two of the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and Mets featured some late game fireworks, and it wasn’t just the Dodgers’ late rally that would lead them to victory. 

A controversial sliding play at second involving a Dodgers’ pinch runner, Chase Utley, and Mets’ second baseman Ruben Tejada created a storm of controversy after Utley’s slide, intended to break up a double play, broke Tejada’s leg.

Mets fans have cried foul, suggesting the slide was dirty. The MLB responded by suspending Utley for games three and four of the NLDS.

Guests:

Vincent Bonsignore, sports columnist for the L.A. Daily News

Pedro Moura, baseball writer covering the Dodgers for the Orange County Register

"SHOWDOWN" by Wil Haygood; Credit: Penguin Random House

The life and career of Thurgood Marshall is examined by journalist and author Wil Haygood.

The book looks at the contentious rise of Marshall as the first African-American Supreme Court Justice after a lengthy Senate hearing that preceded his confirmation. Haygood also researches the  major politicians and activists who played into the 20th century Civil Rights movement including President Lyndon B. Johnson, Justice J Waties Waring and North Carolina senator Sam Ervin.

​Guest:

Wil Haygood,journalist and author of “Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America” (Knopf, 2015). His 2008 Washington Post article "A Butler Well Served By This Election", served as the basis for the 2013 movie, “The Butler.”

Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Democratic National Committee summer meeting on August 28, 2015 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.; Credit: Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

So far, we’ve seen two very entertaining debates from Republican presidential contenders, during which we learned that Donald Trump doesn’t think much of Megyn Kelly and that Carly Fiorina may be the best debater out of the bunch.

Tonight, it’s the Democrats’ turn to take the stage in the first televised Democratic presidential debate, hosted by CNN. The stage will be far less crowded with only five candidates slated to participate.

As the highest-polling candidate, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be at center stage, flanked by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on her right and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley on her left. Bookending the stage will be former Virginia Senator Jim Webb (to Sanders’ right) and former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chaffee (to O’Malley’s left).

CNN also invited Vice President Joe Biden to participate in the debate, but he declined the invitation.

For all five candidates, it will be a chance to separate themselves from one another on the same stage. Up to this point, much of what we’ve heard from Democratic candidates has been in the form of sound bites. This will be Democratic voters’ first opportunity to see how well-formulated candidates’ platforms are and how well they stand up to their GOP counterparts.

It will also be a chance for the three candidates participating who aren’t Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton to get some national face time and maybe even connect with Democratic voters who haven’t gone out of their way to find out more about the non-mainstream candidates.

What are you hoping to see from the Democratic candidates tonight? Do you think this is going to be ‘The Hillary and Bernie Show’ or could we see a strong showing from one of the other candidates? What issues would you like to hear candidates address?

Guests:

Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist and founder of Rodriguez Strategies. He’s also a former senior Obama advisor in 2008

Lynn Vavreck, professor of political science in the Department of Political Science at UCLA

A Cal Fire firefighter leads a group of inmate firefighters during a burn operation to head off the Rocky Fire on August 2, 2015 near Clearlake, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

California is faced with an unintended consequence of Prop 47 -- the lack of available inmate firefighters.

The Golden State has the nation’s oldest and largest inmate firefighting program, but the number of available inmates qualified to help with firefighting -- i.e. those in minimum-security facilities with no history of violent crimes -- have dwindled considerably.

Now, according to the Associated Press, the state is considering to let prisoners convicted of violent offenses like assaults and robberies join firefighting efforts. Inmates convicted of more serious crimes like arson, rape and kidnapping and those serving life sentences will still be barred.

Guests:

Bill Sessa, spokesman at California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 

Daniel Berlant, spokesman at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire)

Mike Lopez, president of Cal Fire Local 2881, representing the firefighters of Cal Fire

John Seabrook's latest book, "The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory."; Credit: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

New Yorker staff writer John Seabrook takes a look at how pop music has become identified by a constant stream of ‘hooks’ and repetitive melodies.

He says modern songwriters and producers are carefully crafting and curtailing songs to appeal to the musical “bliss point.”

Seabrook explains what massive cultural upheaval lead to this new model, which artists have followed it and found success and what it says about the habits of listeners.

Guest:

John Seabrook, New Yorker staff writer and the author of “The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory”

A Russian River Brewing Company customer takes a sip of the newly released Pliny the Younger triple IPA beer on February 7, 2014 in Santa Rosa, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

USC fired football coach Steve Sarkisian yesterday, just 24 hours after placing him on indefinite leave for questionable behavior.

Players thought their coach didn't seem right at Sunday's team meeting; Sarkisian then failed to show up for the practice afterward.

Did USC do the right thing in firing Sarkisian, or should it provide another chance after the coach gets help for his drinking?

And more broadly speaking, even though employers rarely have a legal obligation to tolerate inappropriate behavior, should they do more to help an employee who appears to be struggling with substance abuse? If an employee denies he or she has a problem, is there any other recourse for an employer than to terminate the relationship?​

Guest:

Liz Ryan, CEO and Founder of Human Workplace,  based in Boulder, Colorado. Liz is a former head of human resources at a Fortune 500 company

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 28: Anti-abortion activists hold a rally opposing federal funding for Planned Parenthood in front of the U.S. Capitol on July 28, 2015 in Washington, DC.; Credit: Olivier Douliery/Getty Images

Crisis pregnancy centers are growing in number across the country, and here in California.

They offer pregnancy services from an anti-abortion perspective and are privately funded.

Starting next year, a new state law requires these clinics to tell their patients that the state offers free or low-cost abortions and birth control.

The pregnancy centers say that's a fundamental violation of their free speech rights. A center in Redding, and another in Marysville have filed for an injunction against the law. Should such centers be forced to send patients toward information the centers see as harmful?

​Guest:

Brad Dacus, President, Pacific Justice Institute, a non-profit legal defense organization that defends parental rights and religious freedom; PJI filed suit in this case

Being said to be entitled and narcissistic, millennials love selfies and talking about themselves.; Credit: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for GUESS

We millennials pride ourselves on being tolerant, environmentally conscious, and socially progressive. 

Being a millennial, I reserve the right to make these generalizations about myself and those I surround myself with, the large majority of whom are millennials as well. So, being the progressive and socially-aware millennial that I am, I pride myself on my ability to take a joke, to know when something is satirical and when it’s not. In fact, I see a lot of millennials take any chance they get to take down a Gen-X’er or a Boomer who clearly can’t understand the satire in, say, a comedian’s stand up routine or a late night show host’s opening monologue (and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t taken that opportunity a couple times myself).

Yet, armed with our infallible ability to sniff out sarcasm, the millennial masses on social media seemed incapable of deciphering it when said sarcasm was directed right at them. L.A. Times humor columnist Chris Erskine wrote an article this past Saturday titled “Millennials, you literally cannot call yourselves adults until you take this pledge.” The responses ranged from resentful to dismissive to hilarious:

After the truly awful @latimes#MillennialPledge piece, I wrote a few more relevant ones. http://t.co/kG0RF5zUpXpic.twitter.com/ZvgnKvEAMW

— HannahJane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) October 13, 2015

#millennialpledge I will steal all I can from the rich baby boomers who tanked the economy, gutted education, ruined the environment

— good wench of the NE (@kingdomofwench) October 11, 2015

 

“Back in my day, kids weren’t like this.” - literally every generation since the dawn of time #millennialpledge

— DonnaTheDead (@MildlyAmused) October 12, 2015

The #MillennialPledge, basically pic.twitter.com/yHBQMfjW1A

— Erin Ruberry (@erinruberry) October 11, 2015

#millennialpledge i will only be kind of garbage

— ghost in the chell (@Liuwdere) October 11, 2015

@erskinetimes re: #MillennialPledge backlash - what's remarkable is that they read something longer than 140 characters.

— Emily Barsh (@EmilyTVproducer) October 13, 2015

Watching millennials fight with a boomer over #millennialpledge like pic.twitter.com/El7qvC0yt5

— Sara Schaefer (@saraschaefer1) October 13, 2015

The #MillennialPledge dude looks like one of those guys with a lot of theoretically fun outdoor hobbies about which he is utterly humorless

— Bob Chipman (@the_moviebob) October 12, 2015

Even esteemed NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen (not a millennial) chimed in:

Pro tip. When your op-ed is so bad it creates a hashtag #millennialpledge for people hating on it, this does not mean "you struck a nerve."

— Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu) October 11, 2015

Now before you go tearing me down for being a bad millennial, let me defend my generation. Erskine's column sort of unnecessarily throws salt on an open wound. I hear constantly from coworkers, relatives, and even complete strangers how apathetic, disconnected, and entitled millennials are. If you listen to them, we can't hold a job, don't care about advancing professionally, and are fine living with mom and dad for as long as they'll let us. I literally (and that is the correct use of that word, by the way) hear this at least once a week and I'll bet you the job that I apparently didn't work for and the money I apparently think I'm entitled to that I'm not the only one. Can you really blame us for getting a little ticked off?  

I hate when Boomers or Gen-X’ers, who often clearly don't know or talk to any millennials, make generalizations about my generation being lazy or entitled. Sure, there are those out there who fit that description. But most of us have been busting our asses to find and maintain work, learn how to be adults, pay off our student debt, and all while battling a crappy economy, a lack of jobs, and a generation of Baby Boomers and Gen-X’ers (many of whom become our bosses) who think we’re lazy, entitled robots who only care about smartphones and the latest pumpkin spice-whatever. Need proof? I can give you a list of names of kids who graduated with me who are making it on their own in their industry with dreams of advancing professionally.

But man, for a generation that claims it can take a joke, the amount of undergarments that seemed to severely bunch on social media over this column was absolutely astounding. You'd think a generation that's more likely get its news from "The Daily Show" than an actual newspaper would be able to tell a humor column from a think-piece. Of course, not everyone reacted this way, but I saw an awful lot of tweets from people who apparently took this article way too seriously.

When it comes down to it, tweeting hate back at Erskine for writing a humor column is like calling out The Onion for not embodying the same journalistic ethics as the New York Times. Erskine is a humorist, which doesn't mean you have to find him funny, but it means he's going to try to be. You're absolutely entitled to your opinion that Erskine is a curmudgeonly hermit with no real connection to millennials. I don't know the guy, maybe he is. But my gut tells me that being a columnist, he's a Baby Boomer who is probably more plugged in to millennials than most his age. Either way, in the end, it's satire. RELAX.

Look, I’ve met people who think the cilantro on their taco is a vegetable. I have friends who seem incapable of detaching themselves from Instagram when we’re out having a drink at a bar. I know people who use the word ‘literally’ more than Donald Trump uses the word ‘disgusting.’ Does it have sort of a crusty outer shell of resentment? Yes. Is that rooted in truth? Definitely. Because that’s the definition of satire.  And let's be real. In 20 years, many of us will probably be the ones complaining about how the next generation is lazy and entitled. So enjoy fighting the man now, before you turn into a crusty critic of young folks yourself.

Guests:

Chris Erskine, humor columnist for the Los Angeles Times and author of “Millennials, you literally cannot call yourselves adults until you take this pledge”

Matt Dangelantonio, 'AirTalk' associate producer and resident millennial

To hear the full segment, click on the audio above.

Christy Sibley (R) and daughter Rosheka stand in their trailer May 5, 2009 in Fluker, Louisiana. ; Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

In Deep South, Travel Writer Paul Theroux explores the paradox of America’s Deep South, looking at its rich history and culture, but also why it has some of the nation’s worst schools and unemployment rates.

Theroux interviews mayors, reverends, social workers, farming families, and the very poor to better understand the people who have spent their entire lives in the south, and despite its hardships have never left.

His travels take him through Arkansas and down into parts of Mississippi, spanning four seasons to share the stories and struggles of the people who make up America’s Deep South.

Paul Theroux will be talking about his book, “Deep South,” at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens later TODAY between 2:00-4:00pm.

Guest:

Paul Theroux,  travel writer and novelist, whose numerous books include “The Great Railway Bazaar” (Mariner Books; Reprint edition, 2006), and his newest, “Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads” (Eamon Dolan/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015)

People walk on a hanging bridge in the Patrocinio Natural Reserve in the Quetzaltenango department, 196 km southwest of Guatemala City on June 22, 2012. ; Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

A new study conducted by researchers at UCLA and other universities finds that ecotourism--where travelers visit environmentally pristine and farflung locales--actually puts wildlife at risk.

The research was published last week in the journal, “Trends in Ecology and Evolution”.

How Nature-Based Tourism Might Increase Prey Vulnerability to Predators

Guests:

Daniel Blumstein, Professor and Chair, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at UCLA, and lead researcher of the new study, “How Nature-Based Tourism Might Increase Prey Vulnerability to Predators,” published last week in the journal “Trends in Ecology and Evolution” looking at the impact of ecotourism on wild animals

(L-R) CNN anchor Anderson Cooper moderates a presidential debate sponsored by CNN and Facebook for Democratic presidential candidates Jim Webb, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Hillary Clinton, Martin O'Malley and Lincoln Chafee at Wynn Las Vegas on October 13, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.; Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Last night, democratic hopefuls took the debate stage to explain to viewers why he -- or she, is the most qualified to be the next leader of our nation.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were given the most airtime, while Jim Webb, Martin O’Malley and Lincoln Chafee did their best to stay in the spotlight.

Unlike the Republican Debate, the Democrats focused on the most pressing issues and did not distract viewers with other issues -- like Clinton’s emails. In fact, Sanders clearly stated that the American people are tired of hearing about the emails when the middle class is disappearing and there is more income inequality in the United States than in any other major country.

How do you think the candidates fared? Has your impression of the candidates changed after the debate? What did we learn about the Democratic candidates that we didn’t already know? Who do you think won the debate?

Guests:

John Feehery, Republican strategist and President of Quinn Gillespie Communications; he’s also a columnist for The Hill

Mo Elleithee, executive director of the Institute of Politics and Public Service at Georgetown University and former communications director for the Democratic National Committee. He’s also a veteran of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign

California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom is interviewed during The New York Times Global Forum with Thomas L. Friedman at the Metreon on June 20, 2013 in San Francisco, California.; Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The New York Times

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a measure today that lays out stricter rules for gun owners.

The measure would require ammunition buyers to receive background checks, ban the possession of large-capacity magazines more than 10 rounds and require anyone who currently has them to sell to a licensed firearm dealer, transfer them out of state or give them to law enforcement to be destroyed.

This measure aligns with California’s already strict gun laws, and is part of a larger effort by Newsom to reduce the growing gun violence in the U.S. The measure will need 366,000 signatures to qualify for next year’s ballot.

However, critics have called it unconstitutional and say it will lead to major expenses and be a time-consuming burden. What restrictions should be put on gun owners?

​Guests:

Adam Winkler, is a professor of constitutional law at the UCLA School of Law. He is the author of “Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America”

Steve Dulan, member of the board of directors of the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners and an adjunct professor at the Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University

An artist's representation of DNA.; Credit: /iStockphoto.com

Scientists and lawmakers are trying to keep up with new gene-editing technology, known as CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), but cutting-edge experiments around the globe could prove impossible to reign in.

Ethicists are at odds over the dangers and potential of the versatile and inexpensive technology that can alter crops, animals for food, and human fetuses. On the "Reason" magazine blog, science writer Ronald Bailey argues pressing pause or stop on experiments prevents our potential to end malaria, grow more crops to fight famine, and cure fetuses of genetic diseases in utero.

However, many scientists urge caution as they learn how gene-editing would affect organisms' successive generations. Some say "eugenics lurk in the shadow of CRISPR" with its potential for creating "designer babies."

How advanced is the technology? What policies or laws exist around the world as a guide for scientists? Is there such a thing as being too cautious with experimental gene-editing?

Guests:

Ronald Bailey, Science Correspondent for “Reason” magazine; Author of “The End of Doom” 

Keith Yamamoto, Vice Chancellor for Research; Executive Vice Dean, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco; Molecular Biologist, on the National Academy of Science's national advisory group to guide research and clinical decisions about the use of genome editing technologies to treat human disease, including CRISPR

Nonsense: The Power of Not Knowing by Jamie Holmes; Credit: Penguin Random House

Often times, we have difficulty determining how to best handle murky situations.

Ambiguity can be found in our professional, social and romantic lives. Whether you are trying to decide which restaurant to visit or which job offer to accept, Jamie Holmes explains that we are all “drowning in information.” A constant flow of information has made choices increasingly difficult to make -- even the simplest.

“Nonsense: The Power of Not Knowing” by Jamie Holmes tells readers how people make sense of the world.

Holmes includes helpful anecdotes in his book to help illustrate how to best manage uncertainty.

With new research discoveries indicating that learning how understand and manage uncertainty can be particularly advantageous, “Nonsense” serves as a great piece of literature to benefit from the unknown.

Guest:

Jamie Holmes, Fellow at New America Foundation and author of “Nonsense: The Power of Not Knowing” (Crown, 2015)

Tesla owners take a ride in the new Tesla "D" model electric sedan.; Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Tesla owners are now one step closer than everyone else to having a self-driving car.

A software update was made available for owners of Tesla Model S and Model X owners that includes a new ‘autopilot’ mode, allowing the cars to adjust speeds according to traffic, change lanes, and even steer by itself. Tesla Motors co-founder Elon Musk announced the software release at a news conference yesterday afternoon, where he also lamented to reporters that road markings on certain parts of California freeways could pose problems to the autopilot software.

Musk showed reporters a stretch of the 405 Freeway near LAX that initially confused the system. This may have to do with the fact that it’s a stretch of road that has a seam between the lanes because it’s concrete. In addition, the lane markings are angled differently so the car struggled to identify the real lane.

California has been the stomping ground for U.S. tech companies who want in on the driverless-technology game, so Musk’s comments raise concerns about whether the lane markings are the only thing that could create problems for driverless software on U.S. roads.

Funding and plans for infrastructure improvements, especially the kind that would likely be required to improve California’s freeways to the quality required for self-driving software, are notoriously hard to secure,expensive to fund, and would take years to finish.

If California’s roads aren’t good enough for driverless cars, should we be concerned about other states as well? Does this mean that driverless cars can’t catch on in America? What other issues with infrastructure could pose problems to driverless software?

Quartz's Alice Truong took the new software for a spin yesterday. You can read about it here.

​Guests:

Alice Truong, senior Silicon Valley correspondent for the news site Quartz. 

Thilo Koslowski, vice president and automotive practice leader at the technology analysis firm Gartner. His work focuses on predicting the future business and technology implications of automotive, connected/autonomous vehicles and mobility innovations

Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts in the dugout after being taken out of the game in the seventh inning against the New York Mets in game one of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 9, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Another post-season, another early exit for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The New York Mets beat the Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League division series last night.

It’s the third year in a row the Dodgers have failed to advance deeper into the post-season.

Larry talks to Los Angeles Times Dodgers beat writer Dylan Hernandez for a post-series breakdown.

Guest:

Dylan Hernandez, Dodgers beat writer for the Los Angeles Times

Synthetic drugs in evidence bags are seen during a press conference at DEA Headquarters on June 26, 2013 in Arlington, Virginia.; Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is cracking down on synthetic drugs.

Thursday, federal agents concluded a year-long operation to combat the manufacturing and distribution of synthetic drugs, arresting a total of 151 people in 16 states since July 2014.  The DEA has been closely tracking synthetic drugs, like bath salts, Spice and Molly, since they gained popularity in 2010.  

But what exactly are these drugs? How are they made? And who is buying them?

Guests:

Marilyn Huestis, the chief of a research division at the National Institute on Drug Abuse

Bill Piper,  director of national affairs in Washington, D.C. for Drug Policy Alliance

Flooding in Lake Elizabeth on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015.; Credit: Courtesy NBCLA

Hundreds of motorists are stranded after a tropical storm Thursday caused extreme mudslides and flooding in the Antelope Valley in the vicinity of Leona Valley, Quartz Hill and West Palmdale, California. 

I-5 remains closed today on the the Grapevine due to the flooding and mudslides and more showers and thunderstorms are expected.

Guest:

Patrick Healy, is a general assignment reporter for NBC4 Southern California, he is there covering the mudslide

US Vice President Joseph Biden listens to US President Barack Obama and German President Joachim Gauck speak during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House October 7, 2015 in Washington, DC. ; Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

In early August, AirTalk debated whether Joe Biden would make a run for the presidency in 2016 or not.

To this point, the vice president has stayed mum on the decision, and has even hinted that he might not be able to put himself completely into a presidential run.

In addition to speculation about a presidential run, Biden has been dealing with the death of his son, Beau, from brain cancer. However, sources close to Biden are saying that a final decision on a presidential run is coming soon, and that if he decides to run, he’ll need his supporters to be ready to go at the drop of a hat.

Is a Joe Biden presidential run the best thing for the Democratic party? Is it the best thing for Joe Biden? What does Biden bring to the race at this point?

Guests:

Dr. Howie Mandel, MD, Member of the Draft Biden 2016’s National Finance Team; long-time activist on women’s health care issues and Democratic donor

Julian Zelizer, Professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University and a fellow at the New American Foundation. Last month he wrote an op-ed for CNN on why Vice President Biden shouldn’t run. His latest book is, “The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society.” (Penguin Press, 2015)