Judge Neil Gorsuch testifies during the third day of his Supreme Court confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, March 22, 2017.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

After three grueling days of testimony that ranged in subject matter from abortion to interpretation of the constitution and even whether Judge Gorsuch would rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck (he didn’t answer), the Senate is set up for a contentious vote over confirming President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court.

Democrats have a tough road ahead, lacking the votes to outright stop the confirmation but facing mounting pressure from grassroots groups to block his nomination. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has said that if Democrats choose to filibuster the vote, they will employ the ‘nuclear option’ and change the rules so that a simple majority of 51 ‘yes’ votes is all they’ll need, instead of a 60 vote supermajority. With 52 Republicans in the Senate Caucus, they’d have no problem reaching that simple majority. McConnell has said he plans for Gorsuch to be confirmed by the time the Senate goes on recess for Easter on April 7th, adding the clock to the list of hurdles for Democrats, who won’t have much time for debate when the nomination hits the Senate floor April 3rd.

What are the strategies being employed by each party? What do Dems get out of filibustering if GOP is going to go nuclear if they do? Is that strategic? How will GOP react?

Guests:

Symone Sanders, Democratic strategist with Priorities USA, a D.C.-based political consulting firm, and former national press secretary for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign; she tweets @SymoneDSanders

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

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) walks to the House floor for a procedural vote relating to the American Health Care Act, on Capitol Hill, March 24, 2017. ; Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

House Republicans are scheduled to vote on the GOP’s plan to replace the Affordable Care Act today, after President Trump told lawmakers that they’d either go ahead with the vote, or live with Obamacare as the health care rule of the land.

The Friday vote comes after House Speaker Paul Ryan postponed a vote on the bill Thursday due to opposition from some moderate and conservative Republicans.

Guests:

Lisa Mascaro, Congressional reporter for the LA Times that has been following the story

Margot Sanger-Katz, correspondent for the New York Times’s Upshot, which takes an economic look at current news and events. She focuses on health care and other issues

Terrence Dopp, reporter for Bloomberg News who is following the story. He’s on Capitol Hill

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan departs after delivering remarks at a press conference after President Trump's healthcare bill was pulled from the floor of the House of Representatives.; Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

After a contentious week in Washington, the retraction Friday of the GOP health bill left Republicans and Democrats wondering what’s next.

The clear answer? “Obamacare” is here to stay...for now.

The Trump Administration could still undermine the Affordable Care Act with changes to the insurance market. And what does this mean for the remaining problems with the ACA, such as increasing premiums? Libby Denkmann asks health care reporters what to expect with the ACA firmly in place.

Guests:

Chad Terhune, senior correspondent for Kaiser Health News’ California Healthline; he has been following the story; he tweets @chadterhune

Rebecca Plevin, KPCC health reporter; she has been following the story

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Photo of bent spoon. ; Credit: Flickr user YD - Creative Commons

The United States government has always prided itself on having one of the most technologically advanced militaries in the world, from state-of-the-art weapons and vehicles to some of the foremost battle strategists the world has to offer.

But in the past, the U.S. government has spent ample time trying to weaponize something much more technologically-advanced: the human brain.

In her new book, journalist and author Annie Jacobsen explores the depth of the U.S. government’s experiments into precognition, clairvoyance, ESP, and psychokinesis through declassified documents and interviews with the officials, researchers, and test subjects who were there.

From former Department of Defense officials to scientists and researchers, Jacobsen tackles the complexities of being a journalist reporting on an area of science many believe to be ‘squishy,’the story of Uri Geller, who became world famous for his apparent ability to bend spoons, and looks at just how far some will go to find the answers to some mysteries.

Guest: 

Annie Jacobson, journalist and author of “Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis”

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Mixologist Jimmy Fransioli prepares a Herradura cocktail at Tequila Herradura premieres 'Luck Is Earned' on National Margarita Day eve. ; Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Tequila Herradura

Unlike in other major cities around the U.S. -- Las Vegas, Miami, Chicago -- bars in Los Angeles and San Francisco shut down at wee hours of 2 a.m.

That’s the impetus behind the new bill proposed by Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) that would push back alcohol sales for two hours in some municipalities. In addition to bringing more profits for bars and nightclubs, Wiener argues the extension, named  Let Our Communities Adjust Late Night Act (LOCAL),  could promote public safety. In the aftermath of the Ghostship tragedy, lawmakers are thinking of ways to discourage club goers from attending illegal venues. By making the last call 4 a.m. instead of 2 a.m., people might opt for aboveboard businesses over ad hoc and dangerous venues.  While restaurant groups and hospitality coalitions support the bill, community advocates are concerned about a potential spike in noise level and drunk driving.

Guest host Libby Denkmann sits down with Jessica Lall, president of the Central City Association, and Steven Sussman, professor of preventive medicine and psychology, to talk about the cost-benefit analysis of a later curfew. 

Guests: 

Jessica Lall, president and chief executive of the Central City Association, a downtown L.A. business advocacy group

Steven Sussman, a professor of preventive medicine and psychology specializing in addiction at the University of Southern California

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts with HHS Secretary Tom Price (L) and Vice President Mike Pence (R) after Republicans abruptly pulled their health care bill from the House floor.; Credit: Pool/Getty Images

Republicans are shifting their focus this week after a plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act fell short of a vote on Friday, despite the White House’s best efforts to convince skeptical Republicans and members of the House Freedom Caucus to support the bill.

President Trump pointed the finger at a number of parties -- Democrats, the House Freedom Caucus, Paul Ryan, the Koch Brothers -- and says that his administration will now turn to tax reform.

President Trump also tapped his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to lead a task force (or SWAT team as it’s been called internally) that aims to help fix the government by taking ideas from the business world. It raises questions about the use of private sector values in the public sector. Kushner also made news by agreeing to appear before the Senate panel investigating connections between Russia and the Trump campaign during the 2016 election.

Here in California, pushing and shoving led punches being thrown at a pro-Trump rally in Huntington Beach this past weekend.

Guests:

Paris Dennard, Republican political analyst and former staffer for President George W. Bush and the Republican National Committee; he tweets @PARISDENNARD

Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist and founder and chief executive officer of Rodriguez Strategies. He is also a former senior Obama advisor in 2008; he tweets @RodStrategies

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Oakland Raiders fan Matt Gutierrez of Nevada waves a Raiders flag in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign.; Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The Raiders are leaving Oakland and heading to Sin City. The move was approved by the NFL Monday night by a vote of 31-1.

The Raiders will stay in Oakland for two more seasons until their new Vegas stadium is built. How would the move impact Las Vegas, the NFL, and LA fans?

Guest:

Ken Belson, NFL writer for the New York Times who’s been following the story

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

A Cuban woman provides a reservation service from a laptop in a rental house in Havana, on July 10, 2015. ; Credit: YAMIL LAGE/AFP/Getty Images

You might be unaware that your internet service provider can sell your browsing history to an advertiser.

Obama-era Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules, scheduled to go in effect late this year, would require providers to get users’ consent before sharing or selling this sensitive data, but these regulations are now in jeopardy. Last week the Senate voted 50-48 to prevent the regulations from going into effect and today the legislation is in the House– if passed, the joint resolution will land on Trump’s desk.

Consumer protection advocates argue that this move prioritizes the interests of industry over users’ privacy. There’s also concern that the strategy of using the Congressional Review Act, which gives Congress the power to null decisions made by federal agencies and keep them from passing “substantially similar” rules, could endanger future privacy protections.

Critics of the regulation argue that the FCC’s definition of sensitive information is too broad and that internet providers shouldn’t be held to a different standard than the likes of Google and Facebook.

Do these regulations create an uneven playing field for internet providers? Or does this resolution jeopardize consumers’ online privacy?

Guests:

Jon Leibowitz,  former chairman of the Federal Trade Commission and co-chair of the 21st Century Privacy Coalition, a group formed by U.S. communications companies

Klint Finley, reporter for Wired, he wrote an article on the rules rollback:“The Senate Prepares to Send Internet Privacy Down a Black Hole,” he tweets @klintron

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

The Meteor Crater near Winslow, Arizona, is seen from a plane Januray 30, 2017.; Credit: DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images

Nearly 65 million years ago, an asteroid collided with Earth, leading to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

So what’s to stop another rogue asteroid from destroying all we hold dear?

Carrie Nugent’s new book, “Asteroid Hunters,” explores a group of scientists who map the cosmos and search the sky for incoming asteroids. An asteroid hunter herself, Nugent writes about the impact, both figurative and literal, that asteroids have had throughout the years and how calculus and technology could help prevent another disastrous collision.

Guest:

Carrie Nugent, scientist at Caltech/IPAC, author of “Asteroid Hunters”

* During this segment we also covered breaking news on President Trump's climate change executive order with LA Times reporter Chris Megerian; he covers California and climate change

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

US President Donald Trump (L) speaks as he hosts a listening session with the Fraternal Order of Police at the White House in Washington, DC, March 28, 2017.; Credit: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

Today, President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order that would roll back a number of environmental measures put in place by his predecessor.

The order reflects the dichotomy between the two presidents’ approach to climate change. During his campaign, Trump repeated labeled Obama’s initiative as “job killers,” and today’s order will launch a review of the Clean Power Plan initiative, remove the moratorium on coal mining on US federal lands, and push federal agencies to promote “energy independence.”

Guest host Libby Denkmann sits down with Ethan Elkind, director of the Climate Program at Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at UC Berkeley, to talk about how legislators in California plan to tackle a shift in environmental protection on the federal level.

Guest:

Ethan Elkind, Director of the Climate Program at Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at UC Berkeley

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Devin Nunes (R-CA) walks away after leaving a closed meeting with fellow committee members, on Capitol Hill March 23, 2017 in Washington, DC.; Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Conflict is mounting over Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes’ involvement in the Trump Administration’s Russia probe.

Nunes (R-Calif.) was asked to recuse himself by House Democrats after revelations about his meeting with a secret source on White House grounds raised questions about his and the panel’s independence. Nunes rebuffed calls to step aside from the Russia Investigation and House Speaker Paul Ryan today also expressed confidence in Nunes’ ability.

So what are the next steps for Nunes? Should he recuse himself?

With files from the Associated Press

Guests:

Katie Bo Williams, reporter covering national security for The Hill; she’s been following the story; she tweets @KatieBoWill

David Siders, senior reporter for POLITICO, and co-author of POLITICO’S California Playbook; he tweets @davidsiders

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

A Pro Brexit supporter holds a Union Jack flag during a small pro EU demonstration near Parliament on March 29, 2017 in London, England.; Credit: Carl Court/Getty Images

British Prime Minister has formally kickstarted the process for England to leave the European Union, less than a year after the country voted to succeed from the bloc.

May has triggered what is known as Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which begins the formal two-year process of exit negotiations. Trade and immigration are some of the issues that would need to be ironed out.

Guest:

Gary O’Donoghue, Washington correspondent for the BBC; he tweets @BBCBlindGazza

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

A Toyota Prius with a California "clean air vehicle" sticker drives in the carpool lane on highway 101 on May 6, 2011 in San Rafael, California. ; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

In Los Angeles County, where we spend a lot of time driving, new rules are being considered for carpool and toll lanes.

As reported by the L.A. Times, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s board of directors voted last week to study whether imposing more carpool lane tolls and requiring more passengers for carpool lanes will help ease traffic. Metro will also be looking into tougher enforcement on carpool lane cheaters.

But will these rules hinder people from carpooling? And how much would a new plan really help with traffic? Larry Mantle hears the pros and cons today.

Guests:

Damien Newton, co-editor at Streetsblog California, he has been following the story

Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog, a consumer and taxpayer advocacy group in Santa Monica

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

MARINA DEL REY, CA - JANUARY 25: Surfers walk up the beach in Marina del Rey, California. ; Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Rising sea level caused by climate change could destroy 31 to 67 percent of Southern California beaches,  according to a paper published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.

Right now, the shoreline is artificially maintained with supplementary sand, but if sea level rises anywhere between 3 to 6 feet, the current pace of  replenishment might be insufficient. The implications are serious — the sand on our beaches acts as a barrier between coastal residents and storms. And erosion would have serious consequences for the local economy, as beaches bring in $40 million from tourism every year.

Host Larry Mantle checks in with Sean Vitousek, lead author of the study, on the conclusions of the research and what we can do to preserve our local beaches.

Guest:

Sean Vitousek, lead author of the study and professor of engineering at the University of Illinois

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

A Los Angeles police officer wear an AXON body camera during the Immigrants Make America Great March to protest actions being taken by the Trump administration on February 18, 2017.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

For about the next month and a half, Los Angeles city law enforcement will be accepting public feedback to a question that has been at the forefront of policing in the last few years: when, if ever, should police release footage from officers’ body-mounted cameras?

The Los Angeles Police Commission will be holding a series of public comment meetings at different LAPD bureaus. You can see the dates and locations of those forums here. The Commission has asked the New York University School of Law’s Policing Project, which has worked with police departments in New York and New Jersey on similar body camera policies, to gather the public input.

LAPD policy currently does not allow for the release video footage of any kind, be it body-mounted, dashcam or otherwise, unless there’s a court order or a public safety risk of some kind. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has said in the past that he considers body cameras to be an ‘investigative tool’ that’s not meant for the public’s eyes. Supporters echo his concern, saying that public viewing of footage could result in witness testimony being influenced or privacy of victims being violated. Opponents say the release of the footage allows for more transparency and holds police more accountable for their actions, especially in situations like officer-involved shootings.

If you’d like to share your opinion, you can take a survey or upload your comments for the Police Commission here. You can see body camera policies for other L.A. County police departments here.

Guests:

Peter Bibring, senior staff attorney and director of police practices for the ACLU of Southern California

Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the labor union representing LAPD officers

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

David Daleiden, a defendant in an indictment stemming from a Planned Parenthood video he helped produce, arrives for court at the Harris County Courthouse. ; Credit: Eric Kayne/Getty Images

David Deleiden and Sandra Merritt, the two anti-abortion activists responsible for taping and releasing videos inside Planned Parenthood facilities around California have been charged with 15 felony counts.

The charges focused on the violation of privacy by recording confidential information without the health providers’ consent. In this particular case, State General Attorney Xavier Becerra said the pair used fake identities to engage with Planned Parenthood officials and recorded their private conversation. Pro-life activists argue the edited videos demonstrated an intent to sell fetal tissues for scientific research, and Deleiden and Merritt’s actions justified the means in which the footages were obtained. Other legal analysts cites the strict “two-party consent” wiretapping law in California, adding that it’s a crime to record communication without the knowledge of all participating parties.

Host Larry Mantle sits down with David Daleiden, the indicted activist, Steve Cooley, his attorney, and law  professor Jane Kirtley, to talk about the legal and ethical dilemma in this case.

Guests: 

David Daleiden, project lead and founder at The Center for Medical Progress

Steve Cooley, attorney representing David Daleiden and founder of the Southern California-based law firm Steve Cooley & Associates; he served as Los Angeles County District Attorney from 2000-2012

Jane Kirtley, professor of media ethics and law at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Elementary school teacher Lisa Petry of Virginia Beach, Virginia, holds up a copy of the U.S. Constitution.; Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A student filed a lawsuit this week against Pierce College after he was restricted from handing out copies of the U.S. Constitution outside of a “free speech zone.”

As reported by the Associated Press, Kevin Shaw, the student, says he was barred from distributing literature because he hadn’t applied to use the designated zone which is about the size of three parking spaces. The suit has brought to light a bigger debate about campus free speech.

What do you think about “free speech zones”? Do these zones help with campus safety and order or breed censorship?

*Note: We reached out to the L.A. Community College District and Pierce College. We were given this statement from District Consultant Yusef Robb: "The Los Angeles Community College District firmly stands behind every student's right to free expression. We have no further comment on the lawsuit at this time."

Guests:

Scott Lewis, J.D., partner with The National Center for Higher Education Risk Management (NCHERM) Group, a law and consulting firm that offers systems-levels solutions for safer schools and campuses; he is also co-founder and advisory board member of the Association for Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) and the National Behavioral Intervention Team Association (NaBITA)

Marieke Tuthill Beck-Coon, senior program officer with Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Night falls on a 'crack alley', so-called for its 24-hour drug trading, especially in cheap crack cocaine in Los Angeles, CA. Non-paying strangers are met with great suspicion by homeless gang members.

Prop 47, the controversial 2014 ballot, was meant to reduce prison population and keep former inmates off the street.

The ballot reduced certain drug and theft crimes to misdemeanors, and provided an opportunity for offenders to renegotiate their punishments. Since its passing three years ago, there is still a debate on whether Prop 47 has caused a spike in crime rates in some neighborhood, since the promised funding has not been allocated to community and social services. This spring, California will begin the process of awarding $103 million to programs around the state. Almost 60 public agencies have submitted proposals, including cities, counties, health and human services, probation and law enforcement department. The proposals outlined counselings, case manager services, therapy, housing and employment assistance.

So far, little is known on how exactly the fund will be calculated and allocated by the executive committee, but at least 50% of the funds must go directly to community-based organizations for drug abuse and mental health. Host Larry Mantle sits down with Eunisses Hernandez, policy coordinator for Drug Policy Alliance, Kern County supervisor Leticia Perez and Frank Stolze, KPCC’s own criminal justice reporter, on how the grants could help thousands of former convict find life after prison.

Guests:

Frank Stoltze, KPCC correspondent who covers criminal justice and public safety issues

Leticia Perez, Kern County supervisor who co-chairs the committee in charge of awarding the Prop 47-related grants

Eunisses Hernandez, policy coordinator for Drug Policy Alliance, a drug law reform advocacy group

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

10th March 1966: American film director John Huston in London. ; Credit: Fred Mott/Getty Images

"Five Came Back" is based on the book  by writer and film historian Mark Harris.

The documentary paints the story of five directors who enlisted in World War II to make propaganda films for the U.S. Government.  Frank Capra, John Ford, John Huston, George Stevens and William Wyler pooled together their filmmaking talents and put a brake on their Hollywood careers.  Five Came Back features commentary from directors such as Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, and Guillermo del Toro and explores how their predecessors influenced civilian life during a time of war.

Host Larry Mantle sits down with Mark Harris to talk about the delicate  link between propaganda and trauma.

Watch the trailer: 

Guest:

Mark Harris, writer and film historian, whose book, “Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War” (Penguin, 2014) inspired the new Netflix docuseries. The series begins streaming on Netflix on March 31; he tweets @MarkHarrisNYC

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Governor Jerry Brown (L) walks home with his campaign manager Steven Glazer after voting June 8, 2010 in Oakland, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

On Wednesday, Gov. Jerry Brown put forth a proposal that would raise taxes to repairs roads in California.

The revenue from gasoline and vehicle fees could be as high as $5 billion annually for repairing streets, highways, bridges and public transit. It’s been 23 years since the state had a  base excise tax on gas, leading to more than $100 billion backlog of infrastructure repair. With two-third approval from both houses of the Legislation to pass the bill, Gov. Brown faces strong opposition from Republican lawmakers.

Host Larry Mantle sits down with with Michael Quigley, executive director for California Alliances for Jobs, and Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, on the cost-benefit analysis of the new proposal.

Guests:

Michael Quigley, executive director for California Alliances for Jobs

Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA)

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.