In Matt Cordle's video confession he says he takes "full responsibility for everything I've done to Vincent and his family."

“My name is Matthew Cordle, and on June 22, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzani. This video will act as my confession.”

A powerful line from Cordle’s video confession that went viral last week after being posted on Sept. 3 on the website Becauseisaidiwould.com, a website that asks its users to actually fulfill their promises.

At the time the 22-year-old had not been charged with a crime, but was a suspect in the deadly crash. The video itself is well produced and begins with Cordle’s face blurred as he tells his story about drinking heavily with a friend then driving and losing control of the vehicle.

Cordle reached out to Alex Sheen of Becauseisaidiwould.com Facebook page with the idea to create this confession video. It was produced and posted before Cordle admitted anything to police. 

In the video, Cordle says he wants the video to serve as a warning for others.

"Matthew's ultimate goal was to raise awareness to what are irresponsible actions," said Sheen on AirTalk. "Have a beer or two, the line blurs. Are two OK? Are three OK? That's what we're doing across the country, and it's a serious issue. He's reformed my behavior and I'm hoping that this video does the same for others."

While some people see this as a testament to Cordle’s integrity and character, others are not so sure it's entirely genuine. Some might argue that Cordle is just hoping to get off on a lighter sentence or to gain a level of fame from the widely distributed video. 

However, Jack Marshall of the ethics training firm ProEthics disagrees with the criticism. 

"I think it is always superb from an ethical standpoint when someone who knows they committed a crime and knows they did something wrong goes to the justice system and admits that straight out," said Marshall on AirTalk. "Very many altruistic acts are self-serving, all ethical acts do make you feel good about yourself...you don't cancel out the benefit of an ethical act by saying it makes you feel better."

For now, the video has not kept Cordle out of trouble. Cordle was indicted Monday for aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony. His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, and he faces up to more than eight years in prison. 

Weigh In:

What are the implications of posting a confession video online? Is this good for society? Is Cordle seeking a lighter sentence by gaining public sympathy? Will others learn from his mistake, or is he seeking notoriety?

Guests:

Alex Sheen, founder of Becauseisaidiwould.com, produced Matthew Cordle’s confession video

Jack Marshall, president of ProEthics, an ethics training firm based outside Washington DC, former prosecutor

Katy Butler's "Knocking on Heaven's Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death"

When Katy Butler’s father suffered a stroke, medical treatments left him with a life that was almost not worth living. Though he was well cared for and able to see his family everyday, he told Butler at one point that he was simply living too long.

The expansion medical treatments that prolong life has created difficult situations for those at the end of their lives and their families. Pressure from doctors, family members and friends can make choosing to pull the plug on a loved one the most difficult decision anyone can make.

Butler’s book, “Knocking on Heaven’s Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death” emphasizes everyone’s right to refuse medical treatment and more importantly, to choose for themselves what constitutes a meaningful life.

Guest:
Katy Butler, journalist who has covered neuroscience, medicine, Buddhism, and human behavior for the New Yorker, The New York Times, Vogue, and the Los Angeles Times and author of “Knocking on Heaven’s Door: The path to a better way of death”

Should Coffee Shops have limits on free WiFi? ; Credit: flickr/Kevin H

Cafes and coffee shops that offer free Wi-Fi are dealing with an unpleasant side effect: the Wi-Fi squatter. They're people who come into the shop loaded down with iPads and laptops and work for hours without spending more than a few dollars on a cup of coffee.

Cafes that offer Wi-Fi are trying to attract customers with an added perk, but some are now re-thinking the value of having Internet access. Swork Coffee Bar in Eagle Rock used to offer free, unlimited Wi-Fi.

But when freeloaders starting parking curbside and using it without even buying anything, they switched to a purchase-required policy. New York's aptly-named Café Grumpy has banned laptops in four out of their fives cafes.

So where do you draw the line on Wi-Fi etiquette? How long do you feel comfortable sitting at a coffee shop without buying anything? How much do you feel you need to spend to stay for hours using their Wi-Fi? If you own or work at a café: Does it bother you when people buy the cheapest thing there and hang out for hours? Would you continue to go to a coffee shop that didn't have Wi-Fi?

Guest:

Patricia Neale, owner, Swork Coffee Bar in Eagle Rock, California

President Obama will address the country tonight.; Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

An alternative to a US military strike against Syria is taking shape internationally, hours before President Obama's planned address to the American people over the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons.

The proposal came from Russia and would destroy Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons. The plan has the support of the government of Bashar al-Assad, and President Obama has thrown his weight behind it. France plans to submit the resolution for an U.N. Security Council vote. President Obama's threat of war against Syria has met with lackluster domestic support and little international backing.

What would a chemical disarmament look like? How can the U.N. ensure that Assad regime destroy its arsenal? Could this avert outright war with Syria? Is this President Obama’s way out?

Guests:

Nada Tawfik, BBC Producer/Reporter at the United Nations

Bruce Bennett, Senior Defense Analyst focused on Weapons Counterproliferation at the RAND Corporation

United States mens soccer team stands during the National Anthem before the start of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup Championship soccer match against Mexico at the Rose Bowl. The U.S. and Mexico will play each other again tonight.; Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Mexico faces heavy lift to qualify for World Cup 2014: With just three matches left in their campaign to qualify for the 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil next summer, Mexico’s national team faces a steep climb after winning only one of its first six qualifying matches.

Tonight they take on the U.S. national team in Columbus, Ohio, and they know that they must turn things around if they want to be on a jet to Brazil in 9 months. “El Tri” (as Mexico’s national team is known south of the border) has history on its side, with almost twice as many losses as wins in the 80 year track record of run-ins, though in recent years, the U.S. has been gaining ground. Regardless of history, though, this clash has become one of the must-watch events on world soccer’s calendar, especially when a lot is on the line.

The Mexicans will be buoyed by the fact that Team USA has three starters out on suspension, and they lost their key central midfielder, Michael Bradley, to an ankle injury in warm ups during the team’s trip to Costa Rica last week. But despite the weakened side, the fact is, the United States has never lost in nine games at Columbus Crew Stadium is undefeated in six straight home qualifiers against Mexico, last losing in 1972. Can you say “fortress America”?

The game is televised live on ESPN at 5:00 p.m. PST.

Guest:
Doug McIntyre, covers the U.S. national soccer team for ESPN the Magazine

What features would you like to see on the new iPhone? ; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

In one of Apple's signature Cupertino events, the technology company unveiled its latest iPhones. One is a cheaper version of the pricey smartphone, called the 5C. The other, which had fevered speculation going for weeks, is the 5S. Today Philip Schiller, Apple's Senior VP of Global Marketing, called the "most forward thinking phone we have ever created." 

What do consumers want in their next-generation smart phones? With a lot of theft of Apple devices, what's the best way to increase personal security? Fingerprint sensors could mean companies such as Apple would store your biometric data. How would you feel about that? Are you confident tech companies could securely store your personal information? How much does that matter to you, if at all?

Guests:

Anand Srinivasan, Senior Hardware Analyst, Bloomberg Industries

Marco Tabini, Technology journalist

Are school uniforms better for students? ; Credit: Chris Hondros/Getty Images

As students across the country settle into their new classes the administrators are going to be paying close attention to what they're wearing. A string of high profile court cases lately has brought the issue of the school dress code back in focus. Last month, the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that high school students were allowed to wear breast cancer awareness bracelets that said "I ♥ boobies!". Despite the favorable court rulings most schools haven't backed down on enforcing strict dress codes.

Are schools spending too much time worrying what students are wearing rather than their education? Do strict dress codes actually make a better, safer learning environment? Should more public schools push for uniforms to reduce the need for the school to police students’ wardrobes?

Guest:

Ruthann Robson, Professor of Law, City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law

What's the future of AM band radio? Can it be saved?; Credit: David Townend

Flashback to 1978 and nearly half of all radio listeners were dialed in to the AM band. Kids listening to baseball games, teens counting down Casey Kasem’s Top 40 and parents getting “the world” in 20 minutes on KFWB. As of 2011, AM listenership fell to 15 percent – a mere 3.1 million people, compared to 18 million who tune in to FM.

These days, everything from satellite radio to tall buildings seems to be conspiring to kill AM. Add to that smartphones and consumer electronics, which interfere with many AM stations, and some say it’s time to let it die.

But FCC commissioner Ajit Pai says AM is “the audible core of our national culture.” And he’s on a personal mission to save it. Does AM radio need to be salvaged? Is it even possible? Is it just nostalgia or are there more practical reasons to hold onto AM radio? What are your favorite AM radio memories?

Guest:

Ajit Pai, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission

Thom Callahan, President, Southern California Broadcasters Association

President Obama walks to the podium before addressing the nation in a live televised speech from the East Room of the White House on September 10, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Obama blended the threat of military action with the hope of a diplomatic solution as he works to strip Syria of its chemical weapons. ; Credit: Pool/Getty Images

President Obama addressed the nation last night in a speech in which he announced he was suspending a vote from Congress on whether to strike in Syria. Obama said he supports a call from Russia to have the Syrian government hand over their chemical weapons to international powers in an effort to resolve the issue diplomatically.

He also re-emphasized the need for a U.S. response to the use of chemical weapons in Syria saying, “What kind of world will we live in if the United States of America sees a dictator brazenly violate international law with poison gas and we choose to look the other way?"

A panel of experts join Larry to analyze Obama’s speech and the situation in Syria. Do you think the United States should be taking military action in Syria? Why? Why not? What do you think of these new diplomatic efforts? Did Obama’s speech impact your opinion?

Click here for more coverage of President Obama's speech

California Pushes For New Highway Law; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

A bill approved this week by California lawmakers will allow solo drivers in carpool lanes on Los Angeles freeways for a few hours a day. Approval for the bill, which is awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown's signature, was overwhelming.

“Carpool lanes were designed to reward those who pool their rides during the busiest rush hour,” CA Assemblymember Mike Gatto, who introduced the bill, told CBS LA. “The Northern California freeways where this has been adopted, the carpool lane is a carpool lane only from 6 to 10 a.m. in the morning commute and then again from 4 and 7 p.m. in the evening commute, but any other time in the day or night solo drivers are free to access the carpool lane.”

If Gov. Brown signs the bill, test zones will be installed along the 134 and 210 freeways. Currently, tickets  for non-carpooling drivers caught driving in HOV lanes cost over $300.

Not everyone is supportive of the idea, citing a dilution of environmental incentives. 

"I think carpool lanes can promote two things: carpooling and its an incentive for people to buy electric and plugin hybrid vehicles," said Adrian Martinez, staff attorney in the Los Angeles offices of Earthjustice, on AirTalk. "Taking away these incentives poses a problem for the environment."

The trucking industry supports the idea, despite the fact trucks won't be able to use the carpool lane. 

"Sometimes that extra lane is not used to its maximum benefit," said Michael Shaw of the California Trucking Association on AirTalk. "If we could allow additional drivers to utilize that extra lane, that would free up some space in the remaining lanes where the trucks would be driving. The  benefit for the industry is we're able to move around with less congestion."

What do you think of the proposal? Do you applaud the move? Or does it confuse drivers unnecessarily?

Guests:

Adrian Martinez, Staff Attorney in the Los Angeles offices of Earthjustice - a non-profit public interest law organization dedicated to environmental issues

Michael Shaw, Vice President of External Affairs, California Trucking Association

Should parents receive letters about their children's weight? ; Credit: China Photos/Getty Images

Some public schools in the country send the results of students’ BMI Screening home to parents that indicate their child’s BMI percentile and weight category. It’s also been referred to as “fat letters,” because it lets parents know if their child is overweight. The purpose of the letter is to inform parents of their child’s health, and its coming under some harsh criticism.

According to a report published by Kristine Madsen, 13 states require BMI screening (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee).  Seven states, including California, require  a fitness assessment that includes a body component. But only 9 states, like Massachusetts and Illinois, require parental notification of the results.  

In California, the state requires all students in 5th, 7th and 9th graders to take part in a “Fitnessgram” assessment. The results must be sent to the state, but individual school districts decide if the information is sent to parents. Proponents say that giving the parents the fitness results are necessary to reduce childhood obesity. Opponents say that if letters are sent out, they need to come with helpful information not just numbers. Others worry how this could affect students’ self esteem.

Do you think parents should be notified of BMI Test Results? Do schools have a responsibility to monitor their students health?  What impact can test results have on students’ self esteem?

Guests:

Michael Flaherty, Pediatrician, Baystate Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine in Massachusetts. Member of American Academy of Pediatrics

Claire Mysko, Manager of Proud2Bme, the teen program of the National Eating Disorder Association based in New York

How has the situation in Syria and the U.S. response affected your view of President Obama?; Credit: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

It's been a month of intense political maneuvering on the part of President Obama to deal pretty much with a no-win situation in Syria. Some think that the President has brought all that grief onto himself by drawing a red line on the use of chemical weapons. Others feel that the President should have acted more decisively, that he shouldn't have kicked the issue back to Congress.

On top of all that, domestic support for a military strike against Syria has been tepid at best. A diplomatic solution presented itself this week in the form of an UN resolution that would lead to the disarmament of Syria’s arsenal, even though no consensus has been reached on how best to achieve that goal.

How has the Syria conflict impacted your perception of the President? Does he appear weaker or stronger than before the crisis? How would this bolster or weaken the President's political capital in the remainder of his term?

Guests:

Jonathan Wilcox, Republican Strategist; former speech writer for Governor Pete Wilson

Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist; former senior Obama advisor in 2008, who now runs the Los Angeles office for the Dewey Square Group

How do you teach your kids Spanish – by starting them out on it at home or making sure they study it in school? ; Credit: Mario Villafuerte/Getty Images

To Californians, it’s no surprise that Spanish is the most spoken non-English language in the U.S. today. There are already more than 37 million Spanish speakers nationally and their numbers are growing quickly, up 233% since 1980. Immigration and population growth account for much of it, but there are demographic shifts taking place that are projected to change the future of the Spanish language in America. As more Hispanics are born here, the share that speaks only English at home is expected to rise to 34 percent by 2020.

As Latinos grow up speaking English, will it still be important to them to speak Spanish at home? Has your family transitioned from Spanish dominant to English dominant?  As a Latino parent, how important is it for your kids to learn Spanish alongside English? How do you teach your kids Spanish – by starting them out on it at home or making sure they study it in school? Are you bilingual, but still watch and listen to Spanish-language media. Why?

Guest:

Mark Hugo Lopez, Director of Hispanic Research, Pew Research Center

The New York Times published an op-ed piece by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Thursday's paper.; Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

In today’s New York Times, an op ed on the potential of U.S. military action in Syria has a surprising byline: Vladimir V. Putin. Yes, that Vladimir V. Putin, President of Russia. In the opinion piece, he lays out his argument against America acting alone on Syria, urging international cooperation. “Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy,” Putin wrote, “but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan ‘you’re either with us or against us.’”

He appeals to Americans’ war weariness, and offers a carrot, writing: “If we can avoid force against Syria, this will improve the atmosphere in international affairs and strengthen mutual trust. It will be our shared success and open the door to cooperation on other critical issues.”

Is Putin right that American exceptionalism is not a given and that, on the issue of Syria, our leader may just have it wrong?

Guests:

Andrei Tsygankov, professor of international relations and political science at San Francisco State University, author of “Russia and the West from Alexander to Putin”

Andrew Weiss, vice president for studies of Russia and Eurasia at the Carnegie Endowment, and former director for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian Affairs on the National Security Council staff of Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush

Should there be a junk food ban on food stamps? ; Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

A lawmaker in Tennessee has proposed a legislation that would ban people from using their food stamps on buying junk food. The Healthy Food Choices Act, H.R. 3073, forwarded by Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn) revives an age-old debate on whether conditions should be placed on how money from the government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) should be spent.

Supporters of the bill, including groups that promote healthy eating, say that state and local governments should encourage healthier food and beverage purchases by participants in the SNAP program. Detractors, however, say the junk food ban basically punishes the poor for being poor.

Guests:

Susan Levin, a dietitian and director of nutrition education at Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Lucy Nolan, executive director of End Hunger Connecticut

Is sexual expression intrinsic to gay pride parades?; Credit: MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images

Some gay-rights activists in Texas are outraged that the Dallas pride parade will enforce dress rules at this Sunday's parade. Local activist, Daniel Scott Cates, wrote a scathing web post saying organizers want everyone to "cover up" to make the parade more "family friendly."

Parade organizer, Michael Doughman says, "Just because it's a day of celebration for our community doesn't mean we are exempt from the law," according to the Dallas Observer. Cates believes "no bare [butts], no breasts (even with pasties), no tight underwear on dancers" will be allowed.

Would such rules erase what it means to be "queer?" Is sexual expression intrinsic to gay pride parades?

Guest:

Jeremy Liebbe, Detective Sergeant of Police at Dallas ISD and operations commander for Dallas Pride

John D’Amico, West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tem & City Councillor; D’Amico works with the West Hollywood pride parade organizers

Actor Patrick Wilson arrives at the premiere of FilmDistrict's "Insidious: Chapter 2" at CityWalk in Universal City, California.; Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Larry is joined by KPCC film critics Henry Sheehan and Andy Klein to review this week’s releases, including Insidious: Chapter 2, The Family, Wadjda and more.

And KPCC critic Peter Rainer joins us over the phone from Toronto to discuss some of the highlights from the Toronto Film Festival. TGI-FilmWeek!

Insidious: Chapter 2

The Family

Wadjda

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” 

Two employees of Christie's auction house move the Lehman Brothers corporate logo, the collapsed investment bank on September 24, 2010.; Credit: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

The bankruptcy of investment bank Lehman Brothers is typically seen as the beginning of the unraveling of the U.S. financial system that ultimately ushered in a period of economic contraction not felt since the Great Depression. It's not an overstatement to argue that everything changed that day in September and that we, as Americans, are still dealing with the consequences today.

From macroeconomic issues like chronic unemployment and the popping of the housing bubble, to personal financial decisions like how much we save and how much we spend, the recession has touched all aspects of our lives, whether we realize it or not.

Five years after the start of the financial crisis, the question we at AirTalk want to ask is: are we safer going forward? Could something on the scale of the Lehman collapse happen again? Have we laid the foundation--legally, ethically and regulatorily--to preempt another domestic economic catastrophe?

Is the era of "too big to fail," too interconnected to fail, reckless lending, easy borrowing, the trading of esoteric derivatives, and irresponsible secularization a thing of the past? Or has it been a crisis wasted? To take on those questions is, in essence, to take on the topic of regulation.

Has Dodd-Frank, the signature financial reform bill that came out of the crisis -- done the work that it is supposed to? Have regulators done enough? Has the financial industry been reined in?

Guests:
Ross Levine, an economist at UC Berkeley and a former economist at The World Bank. He is also a co-author of the book, “Guardians of FInance: Making Regulators Work for Us” (MIT Press, 2012)

Aaron Klein,  the director of the Financial Regulatory Reform Initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center. and former deputy assistant for economic policy at the US Department of the Treasury

People gathered outside a Wendy's restaurant in New York City on Monday as part of a one-day strike calling for higher wages for fast-food workers.; Credit: Justin Lane/EPA/Landov

California lawmakers finished their final session of the year by approving bills to raise California’s minimum wage to the highest in the nation, addressing issues of environmental protection, teacher misconduct, and allowing  illegal Immigrant in the state to obtain driver licenses. The Legislature adjourned after a final rush of numerous bills and debates and won’t return again until the new year in January.

Among the bills being sent to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk for approval is bill AB10 that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $10 an hour by 2016. Brown has until mid October to make a decision, but he has already come out in support for this bill.

Immigrants who are in California illegally would be able to get a driver license under AB60. “This bill will enable millions of people to get to work safely and legally,” Brown said in a statement to the LA Times. The bill would require special marks on the licenses with the initially DP, driver’s privilege, to signify a difference. Other bills headed to Brown’s desk include AB375 that would speed up the process for dismissing teacher who are accused of misconduct.  

What bills do you think Governor Brown should sign? How will the news laws impact the state? How will they impact you?

Guests:
Patrick McGreevy, LA Times Capitol reporter

Dan Walters, political columnist at the Sacramento Bee

NPR announced this morning that it's asking 10 percent of staff to take a buyout in order to balance the budget. What does this mean for the future of public radio?; Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

National Public Radio announced this morning that they're going to be asking 10 percent of their staff to take a buyout. NPR said it needs to cut its staff of 840 in order to balance their budget, which is operating cash deficit of $6.1 million.

RELATED: NPR to cut staff 10 percent, names SoCal businessman interim CEO

There's also a new acting CEO effective at the end of this month. Southern Californian Paul Haaga, a longtime KPCC supporter and former chairman of Capital Research and Management in Los Angeles will be taking over when current NPR CEO Gary Knell leaves to head the National Geographic Society. 

So what does this mean for public radio generally? Does it mean any changes for KPCC?

KPCC 's Vice President of Content, Russ Stanton, offers his insight on this move by NPR, how it might affect KPCC and how public media can sustain itself in an uncertain media landscape. 

Full Interview:

On the distinction between NPR and KPCC:
"National Public Radio, as its name indicates, is a national news organization. They've got a big staff of informed bureaus around the world and a lot of bureaus in the United States, and they're focused on those two segments. Like us, they're a nonprofit news organization. We focus all of our efforts on Southern California and the state of California, primarily. We are a unit of American Public Media, which is based in St. Paul, Minn."

On whether there are any programming announcements at this time:
"No, we haven't heard any, and, in fact, this move has been well-telegraphed by NPR for months. It's not any secret that they've been having an operating deficit. Today is the first time we've seen a number attached to the staff reduction, and it appears to be across the board, not just in the newsroom. 10 percent, they've got about 800 and some people there, half of those are in the newsroom, so if they spread it out equally, it would be about 40 or so folks.

"They haven't indicated that there will be any cuts to any of the shows right now. We run about eight of them over our programming schedule: 'Morning Edition,' 'All Things Considered' and 'Science Friday during the weekdays, and then on the weekends we run the shows either produced or distributed by NPR: 'The TED Radio Hour,' 'Ask Me Another,' 'Tell Me More,' 'Latino USA' and 'Snap Judgment.'"

On why the $220 million Kroc Endowment doesn't prevent cuts:
"What they're trying to do where is be a very fiscally responsible news organization and not have to tap that. That was, I believe, given by Ms. Kroc for the longterm betterment of news media coverage in America, particularly in the public media space, and they're trying to — like all news organizations that are going through this great disruption that the Internet has brought to out business — figure out how to restructure in such a way that they can accurately and competently cover the news within their financial means."

On having to preside over staff cuts:
"When the reality hits, it's never any fun. Staff reductions are miserable and heartbreaking work in a news organization, as they are with any company. It has an effect in morale, and if not properly managed by the news organization — and I think NPR has done a great job of telegraphing this — you want to not have the audience worry too much about the product that they're going to be consuming."

On how NPR got into this $6 million cash deficit:
"There isn't a news organization in this country that hasn't been affected by the disruption that the Internet has brought to the media business over the past 15 or so years. NPR like most news organizations has seen a decline in advertising, or in public media we call it underwriting spots by sponsors. There's been a lot of talk and handwringing on Capitol Hill about how much the federal government needs to be financing public media. The great recession that began five or six years ago has had an effect on the audience's ability to give, and that's also been a factor for NPR and for us."

On the cuts despite NPR's strong brand and popularity:
"I think the trick for the management team at NPR, which is terrific, as the challenge is for any management team in media today, is to figure out how to make these reductions in the most seamless way possible so that the net effect is — to the degree possible — not noticeable by the audience."

On whether KPCC will end up with programming changes:
"We like to joke around here that the programming job is never done. I think it's important to note that in recent years NPR has only canceled one program, 'Talk of the Nation.' We've replaced it and some other spots on our programming schedule with other shows.

"There is a healthy aspect to this in that there's been a lot of introspective thinking within the public media system about the ability to add new shows and new voices to the programming mix. From that standpoint there is an upside to this, but, again, NPR has done a great job of limiting the headcount damage in terms of how that is noticed or affected programming."