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Week in politics: US and others respond to Syria chemical attack, what North Korea really means by 'denuclearization' and more

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US President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 9, 2018.; Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk®

AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable.

Topics subject to change but here’s what we’re watching through the weekend:

  • The latest on the Syria chemical strike, plus Trump calls out Putin by name on Twitter, John McCain tweets that Trump saying he was going to pull troops out of Syria may have emboldened Assad to carry out this attack and Russia blames Israel for follow-up airstrikes

  • Sanctions on Russian oligarchs

  • North Korea willing to discuss denuclearization, but does that word mean the same to us as it does them?

  • China trade war latest

  • Zuckerberg testifying before Congress tomorrow

  • NYT: GOP seizing on impeachment as an edge in 2018 midterms

  • GOP focuses on saving Senate majority

  • Paul Ryan may be on the outs if midterms go south for GOP

  • Scott Pruitt’s political future

  • More on plans for National Guard at border – TX & AZ to deploy troops

  • Evangelical leaders want a sit down with Trump over Stormy Daniels

  • Trump to skip White House correspondents dinner

Guests:

Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy and senior fellow at The Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University; he tweets @Pete4CA

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.


Ahead of MWD’s vote on water tunnel project tomorrow, we re-debate the pros/cons

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Humpback Whales Remain Far From Ocean In Sacramento River Delta

People line the banks of the Sacramento River May 24, 2007 in Rio Vista, California. ; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

AirTalk®

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will vote on Tuesday on a major water infrastructure project under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The California WaterFix, as it is officially known, is one of Governor Jerry Brown’s signature projects and seeks to update the state’s aging water infrastructure to ensure a stable water delivery system throughout the state.

The original project, which includes the construction of two water tunnels at a total cost of about $17 billion, suffered a setback from complaints of its extravagant price tag. After much back and forth between different stakeholders, the plan was for the state to construct just a single tunnel. The scaled back version is estimated to cost about $11 billion.

The MWD vote on Tuesday was going to be on the one-tunnel option, but on Friday, the agency abruptly changed its mind and put the two-tunnel option back on the table. Either way, customers with MDW would see an increase on their bills whichever option moves forward.

Guests:

Bettina Boxall, water issues and environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times; she tweets @boxall

Robert Hunter, general manager of the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)

Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director and cofounder of Restore the Delta, an organization committed to restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to help fisheries and farming thrive

Patrick Cavanaugh, Fresno-based broadcaster with the California Ag Today Radio Network; editor of Vegetables West and Pacific Nut Producer magazines

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

Cosby sexual assault retrial returns to court, will put #MeToo movement to the test

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Bill Cosby Retrial Commences In Pennsylvania

Bill Cosby arrives at the Montgomery County Courthouse for the first day of his sexual assault retrial on April 9, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania.; Credit: Mark Makela/Getty Images

AirTalk®

The retrial of Bill Cosby on sexual assault charges is set to begin on Monday in Philadelphia.

Cosby is charged with drugging and molesting former basketball player Andrea Constand in 2004 at his Philadelphia home. The comedian insists the sexual encounter was consensual. The trial that could last about a month will be the first time the case returns to court since the #MeToo movement which some analysts predict will have an impact on the proceedings of the case this time around. A judge declared a mistrial in June after jurors failed to reach a verdict.

Guest:

Ambrosio Rodriguez, former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney; he led the sex crimes team in the Riverside County D.A.’s office

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

Controversial classifieds website Backpage.com is now under government seizure, but for what reason and on what grounds?

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Washington state assistant attorney general Jonathan Mark walks past a display of a Backpage.com ad following a news conference about action being taken against the adult services site Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, in Seattle.; Credit: Elaine Thompson/AP

AirTalk®

The government has seized Backpage.com, a major classified ads site used by the sex industry that has been repeated accused of enabling sex trafficking.

The move came in light of Craigslist.org shutting down its “adult” section, after Congress passed a bill known as Fosta, a measure that makes it easier for states to charge online and internet companies deemed to enable sex trafficking.

What does this mean for sex workers who advertise on Backpage? Where will they go now? If the goal is to reduce pimping, will the seizure of Backpage be successful in doing so?

Guests:

“Siouxsie Q” James, sex worker, member board of directors of the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee, and host of The WhoreCast, a podcast that explores the world of sex work through the lens of sex workers

Barb Brents, professor of sociology at UNLV; she has been researching the sex industry for 25 years and is a co-author of “The State of Sex: Tourism, Sex and Sin in the New American Heartland” (Routledge, 2010)

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

California bill takes on high healthcare costs – by setting prices for medical services

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A doctor's stethoscope left on a table.; Credit: Photo by Connor Tarter via Flickr Creative Commons

AirTalk®

The fight for equitable healthcare in the state is branching off to another front.

A new Assembly bill has been introduced today that would let the state set prices for medical services - from doctor’s visits to hospital stays - provided by private insurers. The pricing structure would be comparable to what the government pays for similar services under Medicare.

The bill would create an independent state entity that would set rates for the commercial market. It would also set up an appeals process by which, for example, a hospital could appeal to charge more for a service, if they can justify the cost.

Opponents of the bill say this will cause hospitals to rollback services and also cause physicians to leave California.

Would this independent California entity effectively set prices for the state? Will this bill have negative, unintended repercussions? What would be the implications for the healthcare market in the state?

Guests:

Gerard Anderson, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Hospital Finance and Management; professor of medicine and public health at Johns Hopkins

Theodore Mazer, M.D., president of the California Medical Association

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

CBO’s 1-trillion deficit projection: How detrimental is it to the economy

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Senate Budget Committee Presents President Trump's FY2018 Budget To Media

Stacks of President Donald Trump's FY2018 budget proposal are seen during a photo availability May 23, 2017 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. President Trump has sent his FY2018 budget proposal request to the Congress.; Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

AirTalk®

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released new projections on Monday stating the federal government's annual budget deficit is expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2020 despite healthy economic growth.

CBO projects deficit at $804 billion this year, 43% higher than it had projected last summer. The deficit was $665 billion in the last fiscal year. The projected wider growth is attributed to tax cuts and spending increases over the past four months. Some economists argue the growth in deficit is not alarming as long as we have economic growth. Other economists are more skeptical insisting we should impose reform.   

Guests:

Richard K. Vedder, economist and distinguished professor of economics emeritus at Ohio University and senior fellow at The Independent Institute

John Harvey, professor of Economics at Texas Christian University based in Fort Worth, Texas; contributor to Forbes; he tweets @John_T_Harvey

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

AirTalk coverage: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on your data and Cambridge Analytica

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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Meets With Members Of Congress On Capitol Hill

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (C) leaves the office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) after meeting with Feinstein on Capitol Hill on April 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. ; Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Tuesday.

Facebook is facing scrutiny over allegations that research firm Cambridge Analytica had improperly gained access to private information of tens of millions of its users. The political consulting firm is funded in part by financier Robert Mercer and is linked to President Trump’s presidential campaign.

Zuckerberg is expected to testify before the US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce on Wednesday.

Guests:

Ashley Gold, technology reporter for Politico Pro who is at Zuckerberg hearing; she tweets @ashleyrgold

Elizabeth Dwoskin, Silicon Valley correspondent for the Washington Post who has reported on how Zuckerberg’s congressional testimony could affect his legacy and Silicon Valley; she tweets @lizzadwoskin

Emily Cadei, D.C. correspondent for the Sacramento Bee who is at the Zuckerberg hearing; she tweets @emilycadei

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

FBI, federal prosecutors raided the office of Trump’s personal attorney. Does it violate attorney-client privilege?

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Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen's Home, Office And Hotel Raided By FBI

Thirty Rockefeller Plaza is shown where FBI officials reportedly raided the offices of Michael Cohen, longtime personal lawyer for President Donald Trump in Midtown Manhattan April 9, 2018 in New York City.; Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Yesterday, FBI agents and federal prosecutors raided the Manhattan office of President Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen.

Wednesday morning, The Washington Post cited sources claiming Cohen is being investigated for possible bank fraud, wire fraud, and campaign finance violations, the last presumably related to Cohen’s admitted $130,000 payment to adult video star Stormy Daniels, while The New York Times cites sources saying that the feds were looking for any records of payments to women who say they had affairs with Trump as well as any information about what role the publisher of the National Enquirer might have played in silencing one of them.

President Trump blasted the raid soon after it took place, calling it a “disgraceful situation,” “a total witch hunt,” and “an attack on our country in a true sense.”

The Washington Post cites sources saying agents seized Cohen’s computer, phone, tax returns, and other personal financial records. This would, presumably, give the FBI access to privileged communications between Cohen and his clients. But is the President’s legal assessment accurate? And how often do these kinds of raids happen? What does it take legally to get a warrant to raid an attorney’s office? What were the prosecutors hoping to find?

Guests:

Alan Dershowitz, professor emeritus of law at Harvard University and author of "Trumped Up: How Criminalization of Political Differences Endangers Democracy" (2017); he tweets @alandersh

Ric Simmons, professor of law at Ohio State University where he focuses on criminal law and evidence 

Jens David Ohlin, vice dean and law professor at Cornell University where he focuses on criminal and international law; he tweets @LieberCode

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


After 100,000 teens preregister to vote in California, is it time to lower the voting age?

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March For Our Lives Los Angeles

A young demonstrator participates in the March for Our Lives Los Angeles rally on March 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: Sarah Morris/Getty Images

AirTalk®

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla released data showing that 100,000 teens have pre-registered to vote in California under a 2016 law that gave them the opportunity to sign up before they are at an eligible voting age.

Padilla launched an online portal called High School and Youth Programs that connects teens with civic engagement opportunities. Following the aftermath of the February shooting in Parkland, Florida, that sparked a national movement around gun control legislation, many political activists argued that 16-year-olds should be able to vote.

But some who oppose to the idea argue that many 16-year-olds might simply not be mature enough. In an op-ed for CNN, University of Kentucky College of Law professor Joshua Douglas took on that very argument, using various studies on the cognitive brain development of teenagers to support his claim that those 16 and over are mature enough to cast a ballot.

What do you think, should we lower the voting age? Call us at 866-893-5722.

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

Zuckerberg testifies in day 2 before Congress on Cambridge Analytica and how Facebook collects data

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Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg testifies during a US House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing about Facebook on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, April 11, 2018.; Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Facebook co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify Wednesday before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on how Facebook collects and analyzes data from users.

This is Zuckerberg’s second appearance before Congress. In his Tuesday testimony to a joint session of the Senate commerce and judiciary committees, the Facebook CEO apologized for mistakes that led to the research firm Cambridge Analytica scandal. Facebook is facing scrutiny following allegations that Cambridge Analytica had improperly gained access to private information of as many as 87 million Facebook users, including 71 million Americans. The political consulting firm is linked to President Trump’s presidential campaign.

Speaking before a packed room with 44 senators in attendance on Tuesday, Zuckerberg said his company is rethinking its responsibilities to users and society.

Guests:

Sarah Frier, tech reporter for Bloomberg who is at Zuckerberg’s hearing; her cover story for Bloomberg BusinessWeek this week looks at the Facebook scandal; she tweets @sarahfrier

Alina Selyukh, tech and business reporter at NPR, she tweets @alinaselyukh

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

Can federal election campaign funds be used for childcare?

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A customer prepares to sign a credit card slip at a Target store on December 19, 2013 in Miami, Florida.; Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

AirTalk®

A candidate running for federal office can use campaign funds to pay for a plane ticket to a rally, to pick up the tab at an official restaurant meeting or pay the salary of a campaign manager – but what about using those funds to pay for a babysitter?

Liuba Grechen Shirley, who’s running for Congress in New York, filed a request with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) last week requesting permission to use campaign funds to pay for caring for her two children while she’s running for office. In an op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post, Grechen Shirley argues that parents should be able to use campaign funds for childcare. And since women are more likely to be responsible for childcare, this would pave the road for more female candidates in federal races.

Under current FEC rules, it’s illegal to use campaign funds for personal use. Proper spending needs to pass the “irrespective test,” i.e. would the expense benefit the candidate if they were not running for office? A fancy watch, for example? A $400 haircut? If yes, then that’s not a valid expense.

It’s unclear whether childcare will count as a valid expense. The FEC is due to make it decision within the next two months. Meanwhile, we get a breakdown of current FEC campaign finance rules.

Plus, do you think federal election funds should be used for childcare? Would this make it easier for women to run for office?

Guest:

Bradley Smith, expert in election law and campaign finance; professor of law at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio; he served on the Federal Election Commission (2000-2005) and was Chairman of the Commission in 2004

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

Have you heard about Andre Ingram, the 32-year-old Lakers rookie that burned up the court in his debut?

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Andre Ingram of the Wildcats shoots a three pointer during the round three NBL match between the Perth Wildcats and the Illawarra Hawks at Perth Arena on October 21, 2016 in Perth, Australia. Ingram now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.; Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

AirTalk®

For a team known for its youth, the star of last night’s Lakers game was a 32-year-old rookie named Andre Ingram.

Ingram spent 10 years in the NBA minor league before getting the call of his career from Lakers head coach Luke Walton – to step in and play in the game against the Houston Rockets.

And Ingram made the most out of his NBA debut, scoring 19 points; his first shot was a 3-pointer that was nothing but net.

Inspired by Ingram’s debut, AirTalk wants to hear your story of stepping into a situation as a newbie, upstart, rookie (you get the point) – and nailing it.

Call us at 866.893.5722.

Guests:

Bill Oram, reporter who covers the Los Angeles Lakers for the Southern California News Group; his latest piece looks at Andre Ingram’s impressive debut

A Martínez, host of KPCC’s Take Two

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

LA city is one step closer to regulating AirBnB rentals

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A picture shows the logo of online lodging service Airbnb displayed on a computer screen in the Airbnb offices in Paris on April 21, 2015.; Credit: MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk®

A Los Angeles City Council committee voted yesterday to move forward with a proposal to limit the number of days landlords in the city can put their units up on AirBnB to 120 days.

In addition, the draft rules will only let people rent out their primary residences. One of the criticisms against AirBnB is that the platform encourages landlords from taking rental units off the market and converting them into de facto

The full City Council would still need to approve the plan before it can go into effect.

Call us at 866.893.5722 to weigh in on the proposed rules.

Guest:

Jenna Chandler, editor of Curbed L.A., the popular housing-related blog who’s been following the story; she tweets @jennakchandler

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

Trump considers retaliatory strike on Syria, Russia warns against US missiles

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US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with senior military leaders at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 9, 2018.; Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk®

On Sunday, aids groups implicated President Bashar al-Assad for a suspected chemical attack in Syria against a rebel-occupied area of Douma.

This has set off a chain reaction of events, with Trump saying he will consider military response and a Russian diplomat saying that a U.S. missile fired at Syria would be shot down. which elicited this response from Trump:

Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018

We get the latest from Washington Post national political reporter John Wagner.

Guest:

John Wagner, national political reporter for the Washington Post; he tweets @WPJohnWagner

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

Next steps for GOP after Paul Ryan roils Republican ranks with retirement announcement

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Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announces his retirement during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, April 11, 2018.; Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk®

The race to see who will be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives kicked off in earnest on Wednesday after Speaker Paul Ryan announced that he would not seek reelection in November.

In a morning press conference, Ryan told reporters that he felt he needed to spend more time with his family, and that he didn’t want his kids to continue growing up knowing him only as a weekend father. He said he planned to “run through the tape” and finish his term strong but that he couldn’t, in good conscience, run and then retire after the election, despite being told that it was the “politically shrewd” thing to do. He added that while it was no secret that when he accepted the job, he did so reluctantly, he had put everything he had into it and was proud of what he and the party had gotten done during his time as Speaker, noting the passage of major tax reform and increasing the military’s budget as two of their proudest accomplishments.

The news, first reported by Axios, is yet another blow to a Republican party that is already trying to stop the bleeding after losing key special elections in Alabama and Pennsylvania districts that went to President Trump in the 2016 election. Among the many questions still to be answered is who will take Ryan’s place. California’s Kevin McCarthy and Louisiana’s Steve Scalise are said to be the two frontrunners for the job. There are also concerns about the larger implications for the GOP, including whether deep-pocketed donors will continue to write big checks to the party if Ryan is no longer in the picture and whether other Republicans will follow suit and step down, not wanting to face angry voters in the upcoming midterms.

What impact do you see this having on Republicans in the 2018 midterms? And what about Democrats? How does this change the power structure among Congressional Republicans?

Here's Speaker Ryan's full announcement on Wednesday morning:

Guests:

Steve Shepard, chief polling analyst for POLITICO; he tweets @POLITICO_Steve

Sean T. Walsh, Republican political analyst and partner at Wilson Walsh Consulting in San Francisco; he is a former adviser to California Governors Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger and a former White House staffer for Presidents Reagan and H.W. Bush

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


LA County Sheriff check-in: a new proposed standard for use of force, the civilian oversight commission, crime rates and more

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Former Long Beach Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell became the first non-LASD member to head of the department in 100 years.; Credit: Maya Sugarman/KPCC

AirTalk®

Since the last time we’ve spoken with Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, two state bills were introduced that would change the way the department operates.

One bill would impose a stricter standard for use of deadly force by an officer. Another bill would require that investigations into serious use-of-force by an officer, such as a police shooting, be disclosed. We get the Sheriff’s thoughts on these two bills, as well as other topics, including:

  • The L.A. Times’ lawsuit that accuses the department of flouting open records laws
  • Decreases in crime rates
  • The movement to give the Sheriff’s Civilian Oversight Commission subpoena power
  • The state of mental and medical care in prisons, including the calls for mental health workers and better treatment of mentally ill inmates, and the resulting ramp up in hiring
  • Women’s jails practices that could contribute to sexual abuse and the deputy charged with sexually assault six female inmates
  • April child abuse awareness month

Have a question for Sheriff Jim McDonnell? Call us at 866-893-5722.

Guest:

Jim McDonnell, Sheriff, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; he tweets @LACoSheriff

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

To curb homelessness, LA law would let some housing projects skip environmental review

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Construction workers work beside new apartment buildings in downtown Los Angeles, California on April 5, 2017.; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk®

In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council gave the green light to two laws meant to create more homeless housing.

As the Los Angeles Times reports, one of the laws would allow certain housing projects to avoid environmental reviews in order to speed up the construction process. It would also cut down on costs to build the structures. An estimated 200 additional units would go up each year, with 10,000 units estimated to be built in a decade.

While homeless advocates lauded the plan, neighborhood groups were opposed, saying the ordinance would remove protections from residents.

Larry speaks to a Venice resident and the president of the L.A. City Planning Commission for a lively debate on the new ordinance.

Guests:

David Ambroz, president of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission

Christian Wrede, member of Venice Vision, a neighborhood group that aims to create a safe and livable community; the organization is opposed to the ordinance

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

Some people have no regrets in life, others aren’t so lucky: When a ‘good’ idea turns into a bad tattoo

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A young British man gets inked at a tattoo parlor of Punta Ballena street, in Magaluf holiday resort, in Calvia on the Spanish Mallorca Island on July 19, 2015.; Credit: JAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Grammatical errors, misshapen objects, foreign symbols with dubious meanings – a lot can go wrong with even the most planned out tattoo, but on the bright side it makes for a good AirTalk story.

Recently, Ben Affleck’s less-than-subtle back tattoo went viral, sparking a surprisingly biting New Yorker piece titled “The Great Sadness of Ben Affleck,” to which the actor responded on Twitter “I’m doing just fine.”

But celebrities are not the only ones who have fallen victim to questionably ostentatious ink jobs. In fact, it’s pretty common. How often have we seen the name of an ex-significant other on someone’s body? Or the “I-Went-On-Vacation-And-Woke-Up-With-This-On-My-Arm” tattoo? Or the classic “I-Got-My-Favorite-Team’s-Helmet-Tattooed-On-My-Head” tattoo? It could happen to anyone.

In light of this, we want to hear from you. Whether it’s your own tattoo or a friend’s, what’s some of the worst body art you’ve seen in recent years?

Call 866.893.5722.

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

LA Times, other CA news media sue state to make entire execution process transparent, but critics say it will prevent executions

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Pedestrians walk past The Los Angeles Times office building in Los Angeles, California on February 7, 2018, where billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong reached a deal to buy the newspaper from Tronc, its Media Company owners.; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk®

The LA Times and two San Francisco-based non-profit news organizations are suing to keep executions from resuming in CA.

The Times, NPR-member station KQED and the San Francisco Progressive Media Center want guaranteed full access to executions before they resume. Currently, the state’s planning to allow viewing of the prisoner being executed, but not the backroom where the lethal injection drug is prepared and administered. The state’s also installed curtains to block viewing of the procedure if the person doesn’t die after three doses of the drug.

The news organizations argue openness is essential to determining whether the state is following the law in its executions. Critics say they’re concerned this suit could delay the resumption of executions. Legal challenges have effectively blocked executions here since 2006.

We debate the lawsuit and its repercussions.

Guests:

Ajay Krishnan, a partner with Keker, Van Nest & Peters, which is representing the San Francisco Progressive Media Center, one of the plaintiffs in the suit

Kent Scheidegger, legal director and general counsel at the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, a Sacramento organization dedicated to the interest of victims of crime

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

With the launch of Getaround, strangers can now rent each other’s cars in Los Angeles

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Jessica Scorpio of Getaround attends TechCrunch Disrupt New York May 2011 at Pier 94 on May 24, 2011 in New York City.; Credit: Joe Corrigan/Getty Images for AOL

AirTalk®

A San Francisco-based car-sharing service is launching in Los Angeles on Thursday. 

Getaround gives people a chance to share their cars with strangers through a smartphone app. The on-demand service lets you search the app for the nearest car for rent, the user goes to the car and wirelessly unlocks it from the phone. Rental prices range from $5 to $8 an hour depending on the type of car. All cars are covered by Getaround’s $1 million insurance policy that covers liability, collision, property damage and theft.

Getaround launched in San Francisco in 2011 and now the service will be available in downtown Los Angeles, Silverlake, Hollywood, West Hollywood and the Westside. The company plans to serve San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys as well as Orange County, according to general manager James Correa. Apart from San Francisco, Getaround has already seen significant expansion with services in Austin, San Diego and Portland.

Guest:

Carolyn Said, San Francisco Chronicle reporter covering business, tech and the on-demand economy; she tweets @CSaid

James Correa, general manager for Getaround, a San Francisco-based car-sharing service

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

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