SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 23: San Diego Mayor Bob Filner leaves the podium after announcing his mayoral resignation to the city council on August 23, 2013 in San Diego.; Credit: Bill Wechter/Getty Images

California Attorney General Kamala Harris' office is investigating Bob Filner for criminal wrongdoing, but her office has not provided any details. The out-going San Diego mayor is also facing a potential new lawsuit morning, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. A city parks employee is filing a claim against the city - step one for a lawsuit - alleging Filner grabbed and molested her.

Could that account - and some of the other harrassment claims by nearly 20 women - amount to assault charges? What about the other investations into financial improprieties? When the sexual harrassment accusations began to pile up, the city council started looking at Filner's credit card transcations and charges for a trip to Paris. With Filner's resignation, will these probes shrink away?

Guest:
Craig Gustafson, Local government and politics reporter for the U-T San Diego

An AARP report found that baby boomers will face a shortage of caregivers by the year 2030.; Credit: Rosie O'Beirne/Flickr

Americans are facing a huge shortage of caregivers for older and disabled people in the coming decades, according to a new report released Monday by AARP. The problem stems from a variety of factors, including the large number of baby boomers who are living longer, but have had relatively fewer children than earlier generations.

Is it too early to worry about the looming caregiver shortage?

Guest:

Donald Redfoot, Senior Strategic Policy Advisor with AARP's Public Policy Institute and lead author of the report “The Aging of the Baby Boom and the Growing Care Gap: A Look at Future Declines in the Availability of Family Caregivers”

US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks on Syria at the State Department in Washington, DC, on August 26, 2013. The United States said Tuesday that chemical weapons had been used against Syrian civilians and warned President Barack Obama would demand accountability for this 'moral obscenity.' Employing his strongest language yet, Kerry said Washington was still examining evidence, but left no doubt that Bashar al-Assad's regime would be blamed.; Credit: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

In a statement yesterday, Secretary of State John Kerry called the use of chemical weapons in Syria “a moral obscenity” that demands action from the U.S. U.S. government officials have concluded that chemical weapons were used in the attack in the Damascus suburb last week, despite UN weapons inspectors again postponing their trip to the site out of concern for their own safety.

Now the question is what action the U.S. will take against Syria for crossing the “red line” President Obama outlined against the use of chemical weapons. This morning in an interview with BBC, defense secretary Chuck Hagel said the U.S. military is “ready to go” whenever the president decides on the course of action.

What action should the U.S. take against Syria? What are the different options and how would they affect Syrian civilians? Syria’s foreign minister said the country will defend itself with “all means available” in case of a U.S. attack. What’s the plan for ensuring domestic security?

Guests:

Christopher Harmer, Senior Naval Analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, a think tank in DC.

Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics and Chair of Mid-Eastern Studies, University of San Francisco

Jim Walsh, research associate at the Security Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

Governor Jerry Brown's dog, Sutter Brown, has a Twitter account with over 5,000 followers. Who's the real handler and are there political motives?

The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is calling for blogger transparency. The FPPC is considering regulations that would disclose the political backings of bloggers and internet commentators. Political campaigns would have to file a report with the name of each person receiving payment and the websites in which their services appear. Then, when reading political opinions online, the public will be able to distinguish between paid and unpaid content.

Did you know some bloggers are supported by political campaigns? Would disclosing their financial ties influence your reading of their opinions? Is the FPPC overreaching by trying to regulate online content?    

Guests:

Ann Ravel, Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission

Steve Maviglio, co-publisher of the California Majority Report, a Democratic blog. And principal at Forza Communications

Founder of the Huffington Post Arianna Huffington delivers a speech during a press conference in Tokyo on May 7, 2013.; Credit: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images

Starting next month the Huffington Post is putting an end to its anonymous commenters. All users will have to create verifiable accounts with the HuffPost. Although names do not have to be attached to each comment, random commenters without accounts will not be allowed to post. The HuffPost explained that choosing accountability over anonymity will improve its content, cause commenters to own up to their posts and develop its online community. Also, this would get rid of trolls that fill up precious on-screen space.

What led them to this decision? Will it improve the comments and the quality of the HuffPost? Or will it scare legitimate commenters away? Does this open the door to personally attacking HuffPost users? Are you an online commenters? Do you prefer anonymity? Why?

Guest:
Jimmy Soni, Managing Editor, the Huffington Post Media Group

Two young women shoot BB guns. Should all imitation guns look less realistic?; Credit: Gordon

The Los Angeles City Council proposed legislation that would require all imitation firearms such as BB devices and Airsoft pistols to have their surfaces painted a distinct color. The idea is that law enforcement would then be able to easily distinguish between imitation firearms and the real device.

The motion was first introduced in June after two officer involved shootings involving imitations firearms. Some hope the proposal would protect officers from shootings that involve toy or imitation guns. Some believe the law might have the opposite effect, as criminals could then mask their real guns by painting them bright colors. Proponents also argue that parents may have a false sense of security when giving their children brightly colored guns that they are safer.

Will a brightly colored BB or pellet gun help protect police? How will it impact firearm business?

Guest:

Maria Gao, Counsel for Evike.com

A survey by the LA Business Journal found that employers have been seeing rate hikes in workers' compensation insurance.; Credit: KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images

A spot survey by the Los Angeles Business Journal found some local employers hit with premium hikes exceeding 40 percent in the last year for workers' compensation insurance. The shock is especially startling because legislation (SB863) passed last year was supposed to reform the ins and outs of workers compensation to nearly everyone's satisfaction. However, the Journal found some extreme examples.

For instance, the Valley Industry and Commerce Association got a rate increase of 59 percent for its seven employees working in an office environment. While no hard data is available on state-wide rate hikes, one employer lobbying firm says the average increase has been 23 percent in the last year. However, the insurance carriers say their rates only rise if businesses are deemed higher risk environments.

If you're a business owner, what has been your experience with workers' compensation premiums? What factors are causing the hikes? Is this the new normal for premiums? Or could the effects of 863 bring the rates back down?

Guests:

Stuart Waldman, CEO, Valley Industry and Commerce Association - a non-profit representing businesses in the San Fernando Valley

Pete Moraga, Spokesman, Insurance Information Network of California - an insurance industry association

Brad Chalk, Legislative Director, California Applicants’ Attorneys Association

File: Martin Luther King Jr. waves to supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963.; Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Washington DC will be buzzing on Wednesday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. The most notable event will be at the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King Jr. once stood and sounded out his dream for racial equality. Fifty years later, President Barack Obama and former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter are set to speak at this same spot and pay tribute to this historic day.

This event will be broadcast live during AirTalk.  

Is Governor's Jerry Brown's plan the best way to reduce the prison population in California?; Credit: Max Whittaker/Getty Images

Governor Jerry Brown is still reluctant to release prisoners from CA state prisons to comply with judges’ orders to ease overcrowding. Brown instead is proposing that the state pay to house inmates in other facilities, including private prisons in and out of state and county jails. Brown’s proposal is expected to cost $315 million over the next year and $415 million for the following two years.

The plan is getting opposition from members of both parties. Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) said in a statement that Brown’s proposal is one with “no promise and no hope,” arguing that any plan should be focused on a long term goal of keeping people out of prisons. Earlier this year, three federal judges ruled the conditions in California prisons to be unconstitutional—mainly due to overcrowding—and ordered 9,600 prisoners be released by the end of the year.

What is the best way to reduce the prison population in California? Is it wise to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to keep these inmates locked up, or is there a way they could be safely released?

Guests:

Bob Huff, Republican leader of the California State Senate, representing District 29, which stretches from Anaheim to Diamond Bar

Ted Lieu, Democratic California State Senator, representing Senate District 28, which includes the cities of Carson, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance, as well as portions of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Should President Obama consult Congress before any action against Syria?; Credit: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

A growing number of lawmakers in Washington are urging President Barack Obama to consult Congress and receive authorization before using military force in Syria. Representative Scott Rigell (R-VA) sent a letter to the White House outlining such arguments, and has at least 65 co-signatories from both sides of the aisle. Californians in the House who have signed are: Rep. John Campbell (R), Rep. Tom McClintock (R) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D).

There are different legal interpretations about the President’s power to engage in hostilities abroad without Congressional authorization. Analysts say in the current case of Syria, there is no clear self-defense rationale, however, the War Powers Act only requires Congressional approval if U.S. military action exceeds 60 days.

Guest:

Zoe Lofgren, Democratic Congresswoman representing California’s 19th District (San Jose)

Would you buy a self-driving car?; Credit: David Paul Morris/Getty Images

Cars come with a lot of bells and whistles nowadays, but they got nothing on what the global automobile industry at large is working on next: a car that drives itself. Indeed, the race is on for the automakers to build the first self-driving vehicle. Japanese carmaker Nissan, at an event Tuesday, said that it plans to put the first driverless car on the road by 2020. Not to be outdone, General Motors came out with its own timeline for a self-driving car.

Tech giant Google is said to also be working on its own version. As futuristic as they may sound, the technology to build self-driving cars is already available and according to experts, it's just a matter of fine-tuning and improving on what's out there. Driverless cars could mean a less angst-ridden commute for drivers and could reduce road congestion. But then again, they could make drivers even more distracted than now.

How do self-driving cars work? What road rules need to be in place before the arrival of these cars? Would you buy a self-driving car? Is the public ready for them?

Guests: 

Amir Efrati, a technology reporter in San Francisco

Bernard Soriano, deputy director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the head of the agency's self-driving car project

A variety of .electronic cigarette flavors are viewed for sale at Vape New York. Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are battery powered devices that vaporizes a nicotine laced liquid solution into an aerosol mist which simulates the act of tobacco smoking. E-cigarettes are attracting major investors as their popularity increases and the market for traditional cigarettes continues to shrink.; Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Leonardo DiCaprio is doing it. And he’s not the only A-list celeb making electronic cigarettes look cool. The faux smokes are showing up in movies and television shows and enthusiasts known as “Vapers” even have their own convention called VapeFest, coming to Vegas this September. The emerging subculture of “smokers” is obsessed with the technology of their electronic smokes, which can be tricked out with all kinds of flavors and funky accoutrement.

E-cigarettes, also known as personal vaporizers and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), are battery powered devices that provide inhaled doses of nicotine by way of a vaporized solution. They’re used by many to simulate and replace tobacco smoking. Fans and advocates swear by them as a great way to quit smoking tobacco. But skeptics say it’s not clear whether they really help people kick the habit and that more research into their health impact is needed. So what is it about e-cigs that’s so appealing to users? And what are the risks?  

Guests:

Spike Babaian, founder, The National Vapers Club; one of the creators and organizers of VapeFest

Anne Joseph, M.D., Professor of Medicine; Director, Applied Clinical Research Program; University of Minnesota; President of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 

Can you test for “sports gene?”; Credit: The Sports Gene Book Cover

Sometimes we can’t help but think that some people would be genetically predisposed to particular abilities. For example, very tall men often hear that they should play basketball, bulky young boys are chided to try out football, and the long-legged are encouraged to take a go at track and field. According to the 10,000-hour rule, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “Outliers: The Story of Success,” practice means everything. Not so, says Sports Illustrated writer David Epstein. In his new book, “The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance,” Epstein calls Gladwell’s research biased because the people he studied were already exceptional. According to Epstein, some people have genes that affect their athletic abilities.

While growing up, Epstein observed that although a fellow runner was more talented than he was, Epstein improved faster with training. He also noticed that the best runners weren’t just Kenyans, they specifically Kalenjins. “The Sports Gene” mentions how the EPOR gene can cause an athlete to naturally produce more red blood cells, which is the purpose of doping. Other genes affect how someone responds to weight training and regulate how much oxygen is delivered to your body.

Do these genes give athletes unfair advantages? What will it lead to in the future? Can you test for “sports genes”? Would it lead to athletic screening? What about in the medical field? Could this lead to more personalized medicine?

Guest:

David Epstein, author of "The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance;" he is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and notably covered Lance Armstrong and the Boston Marathon.

Will a post-college test help recent graduates land jobs? ; Credit: Flickr/CollegeDegrees360

High school students who want to sell themselves to the college of their dreams aim for high SAT scores and nosebleed-level grade-point averages. What about ambitious college students who want to land the job of their dreams?

Most grads rely on their GPAs, networking and polished resumes packed with summer job experience, volunteerism and recommendations. But can an employer really judge who is ready for the workforce based on an "A+" in Literature 401?

A newly revised test for college graduates claims to assess "work competency" and higher-order thinking skills. The Collegiate Learning Assessment, or CLA+, is catching on with some universities which will use it to figure out whether their students are ready for the workforce.

As practical as it sounds, will it greet the same criticism as the SAT? 

Guests:

Roger Benjamin, Ph.D., President, Council for Aid to Education which developed the Collegiate Learning Assessment, or CLA+

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director, FairTest: National Center for Fair and Open Testing

What could have prevented the hackers from accessing the sites? ; Credit: KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images

The New York Times website was down this week for nearly two days thanks to a “malicious external attack” by group of hackers believed to be the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA). The NYT breach was the latest in a series of attacks on news and social media websites—including the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, CNN and Twitter—that exposes some vulnerabilities in internet security.

Some of the sites, including NYT, were apparently accessed through a third party company. Melbourne IT is an Australian domain name company that numerous websites use to register their sites. The hackers were able to gain access to the username and password to one of Melbourne IT’s sales partners.

Individual sites can take precautions to ensure their own safety, but what about the security of third parties like Melbourne IT? What could have prevented the hackers from accessing the sites? And is there any way for websites to be sure of their security when they have to rely on third party companies? What kind of damage could this type of hacking do? Is there any way to find out for sure who the hackers are? Or to stop them?

Guest:
Johannes Ullrich, chief research officer of SANS Technology Institute, a cybersecurity research and education organization headquartered in Maryland.

Actor Ethan Hawke attends the premiere of 'Getaway' presented by Warner Bros. Pictures at Regency Village Theatre on August 26, 2013 in Westwood, California.; Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Larry and KPCC film critics Henry Sheehan and Andy Klein review this week’s releases, including Getaway, Passion, Drinking Buddies and more. Which movies should you catch this Labor Day weekend? Also, film critic Peter Rainer is at the Montreal World Film Festival. TGI-Filmweek!

Getaway

Passion

Drinking Buddies

Guests:

Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com

Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and the L.A. Times Community Papers chain

Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor; author of “Rainer on Film: Thirty Years of Film Writing in a Turbulent and Transformative Era;” he is in Montreal for the festival.

Should all LAPD officers wear on-body cameras? ; Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

More law enforcement agencies are using on-body video cameras to hold  police officers accountable while on duty. There has been a steady use of dash board cameras over the years, but the on-body cameras capture not only the point of view of the officer, but follow the officers once they leave the car. Not everyone is a supporter of the program, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a press conference that it’s a “solution that’s not a solution to the problem.”

In Rialoto California, the city has become a poster city for the cameras with its pilot program. Since the cameras were introduced last year, the number of complaints against officers fell by 88 percent within the year. Officers using force fell by nearly 60 percent within that same year. In Los Angeles, while most police cars have the dashboard cams, there is concern over spending money paying for the smaller on-body video cameras for all the officers.

Do you think the on-body cameras are necessary for the police force? Does it help hold suspects and officers accountable? Should the city spend resources and money to give each officer one?

Guest:
Mark W. Clark, 27-year veteran police sergeant; Contributing editor to “Police Magazine

If insurance companies won't pay for expensive, but potentially life-saving treatments, will it stop hospitals from investing in them too?; Credit: PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images

Blue Shield of California has come under fire for refusing to pay for an expensive and controversial new radiation treatment for prostate cancer. Scripps Hospital in San Diego spent $230 million on a new proton beam therapy center set to open this fall.

Loma Linda University Medical Center was the first hospital-based proton treatment center in the nation. It's invested millions in the technology and claims that it’s safer and healthier than traditional radiation treatments. Blue Shield claims there is no justification for spending $30,000 using the new machine when research shows that traditional radiation methods deliver similar results.

Insurers are under constant pressure to hold down costs but at the same time, patients and doctors are demanding they pay for pricey and often-controversial treatments. How do insurers decide which new treatments are worth spending top dollar? Will hospitals be willing to invest in potentially life saving new treatments if insurers won't cover them?

Guests:
Dr. Steven Pearson, President of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Daniel Fontoura, senior vice president at Loma Linda University Medical Center

; Credit: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

In a press conference this morning, Secretary of State John Kerry made a case for U.S. military intervention in Syria, saying there’s clear evidence that the Syrian government was responsible for last week’s chemical attack on civilians outside Damascus. There were more than 1,400 victims, including 426 children of the attack according to an unclassified intelligence report released by the Obama administration.

The U.S. chemical weapons assessment says President Bashar al-Assad’s government used an unidentified nerve agent. President Obama has said he plans to respond with a limited missile attack on Syria, despite Britain’s unwillingness to participate and opposition from many who say the decision should be deferred to Congress.

Does Kerry’s speech make a compelling case for intervention in Syria? Has the Obama administration convinced you that it’s time to intervene again in the Middle East? If not, what is still missing?

Guest:
Carrie Budoff Brown, Senior White House Reporter for POLITICO

Actor James Deen attends 'The Canyons' Photocall during The 70th Venice International Film Festival. Recent films like The Canyons and Lovelace document aspects of the porn industry, but what's the state of the industry in Los Angeles?; Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Back in November, voters passed Measure B, which required adult film performers throughout L.A. County to wear condoms during porn shoots and also get permits from the health department. The adult film industry tried to defeat the measure by arguing that it would hurt business and drive porn production out of LA. But voters disagreed and passed the measure by 57 percent. Earlier this month, a federal court defeated a lawsuit filed by two adult film studios, Vivid Entertainment and Califa Productions, and ruled that the requirement is constitutional.

How has the porn industry been affected in the months since measure B passed? Have adult video production companies closed up shop and moved out of LA? Or has porn production moved underground and continued without getting the required permits?

Guests:
Mark Kernes, senior editor for legal affairs at Adult Video News network

Chauntelle Tibbals, a sociologist and a lecturer at Cal State Northridge. She has been studying the porn industry in Los Angeles for over 10 years.