Los Angeles Police Department Chief, Charlie Beck attends The City of Los Angeles and DC Entertainment Bat-Signal Lighting Ceremony honoring Adam West at Los Angeles City Hall on June 15, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for DC Entertainmen

In a surprise decision, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced Friday that he would step down.

As reported by the Los Angeles Times, people in Beck’s inner circle had suspected that he would not finish out his second and final term, but Beck reportedly told his highest-ranking officers about his retirement just minutes before last week’s presser.

Beck joined the LAPD as an officer during the racially charged 90's. He witnessed the L.A. Riots and told the Times that he viewed this era as devastating to the department, a belief that ultimately molded his future policing policies. In 2009, he was appointed Chief by former Mayor-Antonio Villaraigosa. During his tenure, Beck known for having a fatherly demeanor and is credited by some with forging trust between communities and police.

Beck’s last day as chief will be on his 65th birthday, June 27.

Guests:

Frank Stoltze, correspondent at KPCC covering criminal justice and public safety issues; he tweets @StoltzeFrankly 

Connie Rice, civil rights lawyer and founding co-director of Advancement Project, a public policy legal action group

Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents LAPD officers

Steve Soboroff, president of the Los Angeles Police Commission

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

A notice alerting visitors that the building is closed is seen outside of the National Archives on the first full week of the government shutdown in Washington, DC on January 22, 2018.; Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk political analysts Lanhee Chen of Stanford’s Hoover Institution and Ange-Marie Hancock-Alfaro of USC discuss the latest national political news, including:

• The latest as the Senate passes a spending bill to end the government shutdown that started Friday night
• Mike Pence’s trip to Israel, including his announcement that the new U.S. Embassy will open in Jerusalem by the end of 2019
• The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to consider a challenge to Trump’s latest travel ban
• Steve Bannon’s upcoming meeting with Mueller investigators
• How the Russia probe could be affected by new text messages from the FBI official removed from Mueller’s team, which were delivered to Congress Friday night
• A recap of Saturday’s Women’s March, which largely focused on getting out the vote

Guests:

Lorraine Woellert, White House reporter at POLITICO covering financial services; she tweets @Woellert

Lanhee Chen, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and former policy director for the Romney-Ryan 2012 presidential campaign; he tweets @lanheechen

Ange-Marie Hancock-Alfaro, professor of political science and chair of gender studies at USC; she tweets @AngeMarieH

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

California State Senator Kevin de Leon delivers a speech on the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 25, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.; Credit: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images

In December, the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal net neutrality rules, but now California lawmakers have two proposals to reinstate the protections.

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De León (D-Los Angeles) introduced a bill that would give power to the California Public Utilities Commission to make net neutrality rules and give the attorney general enforcement authority. The parallel bill from state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is still being workshopped, but in broad terms, it would make companies follow net neutrality rules in order to get state contracts, to participate in cable franchise agreements and to service broadband wireless communications on utility poles.

Should California try to bring back net neutrality rules despite the Federal policy? What would be the best approach to make that happen? What is the pushback from the telecom industry, and if passed, how would these state rules affect the internet in the rest of the U.S.?

Guests:

Ernesto Falcon, legislative counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation; he tweets @EFFFalcon

Berin Szoka, president of TechFreedom, a tech policy think tank based D.C.; he tweets @BerinSzoka

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

New research from Harvard suggests a whole network of brain activity sparks creativity, not just connectivity between the left and right hemispheres.; Credit: Image by Catherine MacBride/Getty Images

The right side of the brain used to be seen as the prime holder of creativity.

In recent years, connectivity between the two hemispheres has been linked to creative thought. But a recent Harvard study is looking at a whole network of brain activity that sparks creativity. One area problem solves, another goes into default mode and one processes information... and highly creative people have the ability engage these coordinating networks and make them light up.

The lead author of the study speaks to Larry Mantle today to give us a rundown on creativity and the brain.

So what sparks your creativity? Is it a certain song or type of music? Maybe journal writing or watching a film for inspiration? Call us at 866-893-5722.

Guest:

Roger Beaty, psychology postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University and lead author on the study, “Robust prediction of individual creative ability from brain functional connectivity”; he tweets @Roger_Beaty

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

Bill Patzert, climatologist for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explains El Niño and its impacts at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach on November 13, 2014. ; Credit: Jed Kim/KPCC

For a place whose constant is mostly the perennial sun, we Angelenos sure love to talk about the weather – and the go-to guy on that topic in the Southland has always been Bill Patzert.

You’ve heard him many times on AirTalk talking about climatology. After decades in the field, most recently at the Earth Science division at JPL, Patzert is retiring.

Larry speaks to Patzert for this lookback at his work in oceans and climate study.

Guest:

Bill Patzert, former climatologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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

The Oscar statuette is seen backstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.; Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

The 90th Academy Awards nominations were announced early today, with “The Shape of Water,” “Dunkirk” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” leading the pack.

“The Shape of Water” came out on top with thirteen nominations, including nods for Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Director.

The nominees also include a pleasantly surprising mix of high and low budget productions, wide releases and indie favorites, and a few first-time-nominees such as Jordan Peele, Christopher Nolan and Timothée Chalamet.

We discuss the year in film, who the winners may be and what this year’s nominations say about the direction of the Academy.

Guest:

Tom O’Neill, editor and founder of Gold Derby

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

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) leaves a meeting with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill, January 22, 2018 in Washington, DC.; Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The three-day government shutdown ended late on Monday – but the move has garnered criticism from Democrats who wanted to hold out for better immigration policy deals.

Many progressive Democrats are critical of the party’s Senators who voted to end the government shutdown yesterday. They claim minority leader Chuck Schumer should’ve held out for continuing DACA protections.

However, that could’ve inflicted serious damage on Democratic candidates in swing states.

We analyze the decision with Bloomberg U.S. government editor Kevin Whitelaw and Young Turks host John Iadarola.

Guests:

Kevin Whitelaw, deputy managing editor for U.S. government at Bloomberg; he tweets @kevinwhitelaw1

John Iadarola, host of The Young Turks, an online progressive news and commentary program; he tweets @johniadarola

Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee

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

SolarCraft worker Joel Overly carries a solar panel on the roof of a home on February 26, 2015 in San Rafael, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

California is the number one state for both solar panel jobs and customers, so it goes without saying that Trump’s increased tariff on imported solar goods will affect the state dramatically.

The move began last year, when two major solar panel manufacturers, SolarWorld Americas and Suniva, filed petitions to the trade commission asking for higher tariffs to be placed on imported solar products. They argued that the tariffs would protect domestic manufacturers against international producers whose products are significantly lower in price.

But this isn’t to say that all U.S.-based solar producers feel the same. Many argue that the inevitable price increase will deter buyers from going solar, which could pose a threat to thousands of jobs. Those involved in the solar installation industry in particular would be the hardest hit, as less buyers would mean less panels to install.

We analyze the impact of the tariff and discuss what the solar industry’s future in California looks like.

Guest:

Suvi Sharma, the chief executive of Solaria, a solar panel maker headquartered in Fremont, California, that makes products in both the United States and South Korea

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

Marquees on the Las Vegas Strip, including at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino (R), show video tributes to billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian on June 16, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.; Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

By the time of his death in 2015, Kirk Kerkorian owned almost every major hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

But his life started at the bottom in what is still a largely unknown story to the world. An immigrant family, an eighth grade education, an amateur boxing career — Kerkorian knew what it meant to be penniless. Still, he had knack for making sharp and daring deals, and took every risk that eventually led him to become one of America’s most wealthiest self-made billionaires, friends with the likes of Howard Hughes, Ted Turner, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra and more.

Kerkorian’s life is now meticulously detailed for the first time by veteran investigative reporter and storyteller William C. Rempel in his new book, “The Gambler.”

Larry speaks with Rempel about his collection of sources that includes war records, court documents, business records and interviews with those closest to the business tycoon, including Kerkorian’s widow Una Davis.

William Rempel will be discussing his new book, “The Gambler,” tomorrow, January 25, at the Vroman’s bookstore in Pasadena. The event starts at 7pm.   

Guest:

William C. Rempel, veteran investigative reporter and a former editor at the Los Angeles Times; his latest book is “The Gambler: How Penniless Dropout Kirk Kerkorian Became the Greatest Deal Maker in Capitalist History” (HarperCollins, 2018)

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

An armed California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officer escorts a condemned inamte at San Quentin State Prison's death row on August 15, 2016 in San Quentin, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

California is facing possible changes to its death penalty laws.

As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, an Arizona case is putting the topic on the Supreme Court’s table, though the court has not moved to take it. According to Arizona law, nearly every first-degree murderer can potentially receive capital punishment charges. But the lawsuit in question is challenging that.

The suit brings accusations of state violations for 1970s-era Supreme Court rulings which restrict the death penalty to categories of extreme killers. Lawyers for convicted double murderer Abel Hidalgo have brought the case before the court on Hidalgo’s behalf.

California’s death penalty laws are similarly broad. A prosecution-backed initiative in 1978 removed narrower capital punishment limits. And the death penalty later could be applied to unintentional murders and accomplices of other crimes who accidentally killed someone.

The Arizona case has been on the Supreme Court’s conference agenda six times already, and it’s unclear why a decision has not been made on whether to move forward with the case. But if Arizona’s death penalty laws are overturned, a big question will be posed to California voters.

Larry Mantle speaks to a panel of experts following the case to find out how it could impact the Golden State.

Guests:

Bob Egelko, legal affairs reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle; he wrote the recent article, “California’s death penalty law may hinge on outcome of Arizona case”; he tweets at @egelko

Laurie L. Levenson, former federal prosecutor and a professor of law at Loyola Law School

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

Cars drive through downtown Stockton April 29, 2008 in Stockton, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Amidst rising housing costs and wage stagnation, two years out from recovering from its bankruptcy, the California city of Stockton is experimenting with an idea that has long been debated by academia, but has rarely been tested on the ground: universal basic income.

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs is launching the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), the first municipal level project that will give a few dozen families in the city $500 per month for a year. The idea is to provide economic stimulus and eliminate poverty.
Proponents of universal basic income come from all over the political spectrum. Some thinkers argue that it should replace the welfare system and that the resulting safety net would incentivize more entrepreneurship.

But critics point to issues of efficiency and effectiveness, as well as the possibility that guaranteed income would dis-incentivize people from working.

What will we learn from the SEED project in Stockton? What are the benefits and drawbacks of a universal basic income?

Guests:

David Neumark, professor of Economics and director of the Economic Self-Sufficiency Policy Research Institute at UC Irvine

Jerry Nickelsburg, director of the UCLA Anderson Forecast and professor of economics

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

A train pulls into the station at the Universal City Metro train station on December 6, 2016 in Universal City, California.; Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

A video posted to Facebook on Monday showed an LAPD officer removing a woman from a Metro train for propping her foot on a seat, an incident which has sparked debate regarding the recent crackdown on ridership etiquette.

Though complaints regarding poor behavior on Metro trains and buses have been rampant for some time, many viewers of the video consider the sergeant's tactics excessive, including Metro CEO Phil Washington. A statement from Washington regarding his disappointment over the incident was released today: “Our riders deserve better. We want the Metro system to be a safe environment for everyone. I expect more from our law enforcement partners. This incident is still under investigation, but I want to be clear: this is not the kind of policing I want on our system.”

On the other hand, Deputy Chief Bob Green, who oversees Metro operations for the LAPD, stated: “All that gal had to do was comply and this would be a non-event, because that same thing goes on hundreds of times every day throughout our system with our officers trying to restore order and people who ride that train are begging for order on the system.”

What do you think regarding policing the LA’s metro? Is a heavy-handed approach a good one considering how frequently code-of-conduct violations are said to occur? Or was the officer’s removal of the woman from the train an unfitting punishment? Call us at 866.893.5722.

Guests:

Pauletta Tonilas, Chief Communications Officer for Metro

Meghan McCarty, KPCC Transportation Reporter

Steve Scauzillo, reporter for the Southern California News Group covering transportation; he recently wrote a feature on Metro's code-of-conduct for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune: “Crackdowns begin on seat-hoggers, loud talkers and manspreading on buses and trains”

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

LAPD officers wear a badge honoring fallen officer Roberto Sanchez during a memorial service at the Cathedral of Our Lady Of Angels May 14, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: Pool/Getty Images

A new California Senate bill has been proposed to change standards for eyewitness lineups, aiming to make a dent in wrongful convictions.

The bill, introduced by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-Marin County), would implement procedures such as “blind administration,” or lineups managed by officers who aren’t aware of the suspect’s identity, and having officers take witness statements on how confident they feel about identifying a suspect. These standards are already in place in some California counties including San Francisco and Santa Clara.

State Sen. Scott Wiener joins Larry Mantle today to debate the bill along with Eric Siddall, Vice President, Association of Deputy District Attorneys (LA County DDAs).

Guests:

Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), state senator representing California District 11; he introduced Senate Bill 923

Eric Siddall, Vice President of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys (LA County DDAs)

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

California Gov. Jerry Brown speaks during a news conference on January 17, 2014 in San Francisco, California. ; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Jerry Brown is giving his final State of the State address Thursday morning after serving a total of four terms as Governor of California.

When Brown first took office in 1975, California was thriving. He even earned himself the nickname ‘Governor Moonbeam’ after suggesting the state launch its own space satellite.

Recently, Brown’s governorship has been dominated by  two struggling infrastructure projects: the California bullet train connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco – which hit a speedbump when its price skyrocketed from $6 billion to $10.6 billion – and the twin tunnels project, which may end up with only one tunnel due to lack of funding. Critics of these projects say it may be time for him to abandon both.

Still, Brown has made a heavy impression in the last year alone, implementing a gas tax hike to fund fixing infrastructure, expanding the state’s cap-and-trade program, and challenging President Trump on various issues.

This morning, we listen into Brown’s last State of the State, discuss his legacy, and look towards the future of California’s governor seat.

Guests:

Dan Walters, longtime CA politics observer with CALmatters, a nonprofit public interest publication; he tweets @DanCALmatters

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

Adam Nagourney, Los Angeles bureau chief of The New York Times; he tweets @adamnagourney

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

Surfers work the Pacific Ocean waves just off the beach in Marina del Rey, California. ; Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

We’ve got the golden poppy and the redwood, but one Assemblymember is looking to establish an official sport for the Golden State.

Assembly Bill 1782, introduced by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), cites California’s many famous surf spots, events, museums and its long stretch of tourism-generation coastline as reasons that that catching a wave should be codified as our sport.

Some have bristled at the idea, saying that surfing isn’t emblematic of California’s diversity and that it’s a sport available to only a certain demographic and geographic slice of the population.

Do you think surfing should be our official state sport? If not, what would be your choice?

Call us at 866-893-5722.

Guests:

Al Muratsuchi, democratic Assemblymember representing California 66th district, which encompasses the South Bay of Los Angeles County; he is the author of Assembly Bill 1782

Bill Davis, founding president of Southern California Public Radio

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

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina watches victims as former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar listens to impact statements during the sentencing phase in Ingham County Circuit Court on January 24, 2018 in Lansing, Michigan.; Credit: JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images

On Wednesday, after seven days of hearing testimonials from more than 150 young women he sexually abused, disgraced U.S. Olympic doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced up to 175 years in state prison by Michigan Judge Rosemarie Aquilina.

“I just signed your death warrant,” Aquilina said, followed by a string of extraordinary statements including, “Our Constitution does not allow for cruel and unusual punishment. If it did, I have to say, I might allow what he did to all of these beautiful souls, these young women in their childhood, I would allow some or many people to do to him what he did to others.”

While the judge’s ruling brought a celebration of relief for victims, as well as national praise for her strong support of those she called “sister survivors,” the debate over judge impartiality and how Aquilina responded to Nassar and his abused has also surfaced.

We hear from experts on both sides about the impact of Aquilina’s statements.

Guests:

Emily Bazelon, staff writer for New York Times Magazine and co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast; she tweets @emilybazelon

Paul G. Cassell, criminal law professor at the University of Utah, where his focus includes criminal justice and crime victims’ rights; he tweets @pgcassell

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

This picture taken on March 20, 2013 shows a woman looking at her smartphone while walking in a street in Bangkok.; Credit: NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images

You know those bumper stickers that show the evolution of man from crouched primate to standing Homo Sapien and then back to a crouched figure, bent over their computer?

That physical development might not be far off the mark, except it’s not computers that we’re hunched over, but cell phones. Some doctors have noticed and given name to the phenomenon: text-neck.

According to a study in The Spine Journal, the neck usually curves back, but as people engage with their phones for longer and longer periods of time, they get disc and posture issues. And as phone use becomes widespread in younger children, this might portend medical troubles for future generations.

So how does texting change your posture? What medical issues could it cause? And what can we do to keep our chins up and prevent text-neck?

Guests:

Dean Fishman, a chiropractor in Florida and founder of the Text Neck Institute

Karena Wu, owner and clinical director of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York

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

US President Donald Trump looks on during a ceremony before delivering a speech during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting on January 26, 2018 in Davos, eastern Switzerland.; Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

According to the New York Times, President Trump ordered special counsel Robert S. Mueller III to be fired last June, but backed off after threats of resignation from the White House counsel.

The Times reports that Trump pointed to three conflicts of interest in Mueller’s appointment to oversee the Russia investigation, including an allegation of disputed membership fees with Trump National Golf Club in Northern Virginia, where Mueller resigned as a member in 2011. He was the F.B.I. director then.

Trump also claimed that Mueller could not be impartial after working for the law firm that formerly represented his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

White House counsel Donald F. McGahn II refused to ask the Justice Department for Mueller’s dismissal and said that firing him “would have a catastrophic effect on Mr. Trump’s presidency.”

Do these revelations call for an obstruction of justice? And what does this mean for the impact of the investigation? We get the latest timeline from a reporter.

Guest:

Tom Lobianco, White House reporter for the Associated Press who has been following the story; he tweets @tomlobianco

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

Immigration activists and clergy members participate in a silent prayer walk in protest against the Trump administration's immigration policies outside the U.S.; Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

President Trump released an immigration overhaul proposal yesterday that would provide a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million young immigrants who came to the country illegally, including the 700,000 so-called “DREAMers.”

In exchange, his proposal calls for $25 million to fund the border wall and other enforcement measures. In addition, Trump wants a major curtailment of legal immigration to the country. Under the plan, immigrants would only be allowed to sponsor their spouses and underage children to join them in the U.S., and not their parents, adult children or siblings.

Immediately, the proposal drew criticisms from the democrats. Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the president's immigration proposal as a "wish list" for hard-liners on Friday. But the plan is also drawing fierce opposition from some on the Right, who take issue with the concession to the DREAMers.  

With files from the Associated Press

Guests:

Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at Center for Immigration Studies; she tweets @JessicaV_CIS

Isabel Sanchez, policy advocate for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)

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

Juan Pablo Socino of the Newcastle Falcons takes a bite of his cheesesteak at Geno's Steaks on September 14, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ; Credit: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

It’s not quite a superpower, but about a quarter of humans experience taste more intensely – and  they’re known as supertasters.

Whether you’re a supertaster is directly related to how many papillae are on your tongue. Papillae are those little bumps on your tongue that are home to the bundles of cells that are your taste buds.

There are a few ways to determine whether you fall into this supercategory. One of them include wine and a piece of paper. Another indicator is the kinds of foods you do and don’t enjoy. Contrary to what it may sound like, a supertaster might find eating less enjoyable because their taste is so amplified, meaning they don’t enjoy strong flavors such as IPA beers and spicy foods.

Are you a supertaster? How does that affect what you choose to eat? How do you negotiate the social aspects of eating as or with a supertaster?

Guests:

Rob DeSalle, author of the piece on supertasters in the science publication, Nautilus; he is a curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and author of the new book, “Our Senses: An Immersive Experience” (Yale University Press, 2018)

Mike Steinberger, author of “The Wine Savant” (W. W. Norton & Company, 2014); former wine columnist for Slate.com

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