Swimmers find relief from the heat on July 21, 2006 in Huntington Beach, California.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

A devastating state-wide drought has put the spotlight back on to alternative sources of water. One of those sources is once again front and center in the city of Huntington Beach as a private company called Poseidon Water is planning its next move to build a desalination plant in the area.

The company is already building a desalination plant in the Carlsbad region that will convert salty ocean water into clean drinking water.

The Huntington Beach proposal was set back in November after the company pulled its permit after disagreements between it and the California Coastal Commission about the method that it was planning to draw water from the ocean.

Poseidon wanted to draw water using open ocean intake pipes, which critics say harms marine life. The commission wants the company to use intake pipes installed beneath the ocean floor.

Poseidon's management says it will be working with the Coastal Commission to come up with alternative options. The concept of desalination isn't new and critics of the Huntington Beach proposal say the design is based on old technology that is too expensive to be economically feasible. They argue that there are better and more environmentally friendly options for conserving water and finding new sources.

What are the risks and benefits of investing millions into desalination plants? How much clean water will the proposed plant generate? What are alternative options to desalination?

Guests:

Scott Maloni, Vice President of project development at Poseidon Water

Garry Brown, Executive Director & CEO of Orange County Coastkeeper, a non profit founded to protect and preserve local marine habitats and watersheds.

A doctor at the Accident and Emergency department of the recently opened Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital on February 7, 2011 in Birmingham, England. ; Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

A measure on California’s November ballot would raise the cap on medical negligence lawsuits, including an increased cap on non-economic damages. Voters will be able to decide whether harm sustained from pain and suffering related to medical malpractice should be limited to $250,000 or raised to $1.1 million.

Critics say the initiative would cost the state’s healthcare system billions and complicate the process of fully incorporating California into the Affordable Care Act. The measure is being pursued by Consumer Watchdog.

The initiative’s main provision would change the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) -- a study released in 2010 from a group protecting MICRA, Californians Allied for Patient Protection, showed that even doubling the cap would add $9.5 billion in healthcare costs annually. CAAP is currently evaluating the proposed increase, and predicts that costs will go up significantly.

Should the cap on non-economic medical damages be raised to help people who have suffered a loss? Would increasing recompensation come at an undue cost to others? How should California handle medical malpractice funds?

Guest:

Jaime Court, President of Consumer Watchdog, which backs the new ballot initiative

Benjamin Fenton, healthcare attorney at Fenton Law Group in Los Angeles, which advises and consults with physicians on all legal issues pertaining to their practice.

Anne Thompson's newest book, “The $11 Billion Year: From Sundance to the Oscars, An Inside Look at the Changing Hollywood System” (HarperCollins, 2014). Thompson is also Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the industry blog, “Thompson on Hollywood,”

2012 was a banner year for Hollywood. The final tally of the domestic movie box office was a record-breaking $11 billion dollars.  Even with the apparent box office success, the film industry is facing challenges from decreasing ticket sales and increasing competition from small screen competitors. How is the film industry dealing with increasing competition digital streaming sites like Netflix and premium programming from HBO?

In her new book, “The $11 Billion Year: From Sundance to the Oscars, An Inside Look at the Changing Hollywood System,” Anne Thompson examines how Hollywood is adapting to changes in the entertainment industry. The book chronicles the 2012 year of film, examining studio blockbusters like John Carter and the Hunger Games and festival darlings such as Moonrise Kingdom.  

What did the film industry do to produce a record-breaking year in 2012?  How will the success of the 2012 films impact upcoming movie slates and studio decisions? Why do some films become blockbusters while others flop?

Guest:

Anne Thompson, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the industry blog, “Thompson on Hollywood,” and the author of “The $11 Billion Year: From Sundance to the Oscars, An Inside Look at the Changing Hollywood System” (HarperCollins, 2014)

A doctor makes an ultrasound to a patient on September 17, 2013 at the maternity of the Lens hospital, northern France. ; Credit: PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images

Studies released last week offer new perspective on autism spectrum disorder on multiple levels.

Research from a team at UC San Diego's Autism Center for Excellence showed that brain changes in the cortex during neonatal development suggest that autism starts in the womb. The findings add more to a pre-existing dialogue about when autism begins, and contributes to studies at UCLA that have shown genetic changes related to ASD occurring prenatally.

The CDC also issued a report on autism spectrum disorder last week, releasing the latest installment of a study of the prevalence of autism. The report, released once every two years, shows that the autism rate in the U.S. has surged -- according to the CDC, one in 68 children has ASD, but 30% from 2012. Since 2012, the has been a broadening of the spectrum for autism, which now includes what was formerly diagnosed as Asperger Syndrome.

What do these findings mean for children and adults with autism? How will resources and treatment plans change to reflect new research? How is autism spectrum disorder different today, and how will treatment continue to evolve?

Guests:

Dr. Ricki Robinson, co-director of Descanso Medical Center for Development and Learning, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at USC’s Keck School Medicine; author of “Autism Solutions”

Eric Courchesne, Ph.D, Director of the Autism Center for Excellence at UCSD, professor in UCSD's department of Neurosciences, author of the study that points to prenatal detection of autism

Passengers board Metrolink subway trains during rush hour on June 3, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

Riders of the city's public busses and trains are facing a significant fare increase if proposals by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority go into effect.

Metro is facing a $36.8 million budget deficit that it says could grow to over $200 million over the next decade if no changes are made. Two proposals are currently before the Metro board that would raise fares for nearly every type of ticket or pass.

One proposal that the board will consider in May would raise the basic $1.50 bus and rail fare to $1.75 in September, to $2 in four years and $2.25 in 2021. Seniors and the disabled would see their fare double to $1.10 and a monthly pass would cost an extra $25 a month. An alternative proposal would keep standard bus fares at $1.50 for non-peak hours but rise to $2.25 for rush hour. Peak hour fares would jump to $3.25 and a day pass would nearly triple to $13 - from the current $5 - in 2021.

Both proposals would include free transfers in the 90 minutes after a ticket is purchased. The MTA argues that without the fare increases it will be forced to make dramatic cuts in service.

But critics of the proposals say that the increase will price out the very people who make up the bulk of metro's riders. According to MTA, almost 80 percent of bus riders are Black and Latino, and the average household income of riders is just over $16,000.

Can Metro sustain the city's transportation service without raising fares? Will the fare increases price many residents out public transportation? Should Metro encourage more riders to take public transportation rather than raise fares for existing riders? 

Guests:

Rick Jagger, from Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Eric Mann, director of the Labor Community Strategy Center and co-chair of the  Bus Riders’ Union

“The Crusades of Cesar Chavez: A Biography” (Bloomsbury Press, 2014) written by Miriam Pawel.

Cesar Chavez may be a famous name -- commemorative streets and schools are scattered across California and beyond in honor of the man who led United Farm Workers. But in her new book, “The Crusades of Cesar Chavez: A Biography,” Miriam Pawel takes on the first full scale biographical story of Cesar Chavez.

Pawel’s work takes a deeper look at the man behind the movement, portraying Chavez as a flawed visionary, at times gruff and isolated. Who was the man behind one of the nation’s greatest social movements? How does Pawel’s book expand understanding of Cesar Chavez’s motivations and strategies?

Guest:

Miriam Pawel, author of “The Crusades of Cesar Chavez: A Biography” (Bloomsbury Press, 2014) and “The Union of Their Dreams” (Bloomsbury Press, 2009) a history of Cesar Chavez’s United Farm Workers movement.

Los Angeles Public Library’s ALOUD series will be hosting Miriam Pawel in conversation with Luis Valdez on April 1 -- more information can be found at the Library Foundation of Los Angeles website. 

Employee Paula Anania cleans up hair care products that were knocked off the shelf in a beauty supply store in the Encino area of Los Angeles after a 4.4 earthquake jolted the area March 17, 2014.; Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Residents and crews continue cleanup efforts after the magnitude-5.1 earthquake struck La Habra at around 9:00pm at night on Friday.

More than 150 aftershocks have been felt so far. La Habra, Fullerton and Brea were hit especially hard by the quake, which downed power lines, ruptured water mains and caused structural damages to homes and businesses. Six homes remained red-tagged as of this morning.

The weekend's jolts come on the heels of the 4.4 quake centered in Westwood earlier this month. 

Are these quakes enough to affect practical decisions of Californians? What about affecting infrastructure policy and development plans?

Guest:

Lucy Jones, Ph.D., Seismologist, U.S. Geological Survey & Caltech; Jones is working with the City of Los Angeles to develop earthquake resilience strategies.

A woman inspecting a pregnancy test.; Credit: Jason Coleman via Flickr Creative Commons

Chronic stress isn't good for many aspects of human health, but science now shows that it may also impact a woman's ability to get pregnant. A new study published in the journal Human Reproduction found a link between the amount of stress women are under and their ability to get pregnant. 

The study followed 400 women and tested their saliva for the stress indicator 'alpha-amylase'. Researchers found that women with the highest levels of the indicator were 29% less likely to get pregnant than women with the lowest levels of stress. Women with the highest levels were also more than twice as likely to not get pregnant after a full year of trying.

Reducing stress is not going to solve traditional problems of infertility such as blocked tubes, poor sperm quality or ovulation problems, but the research indicates that women could benefit from stress reduction techniques such as meditation or getting more exercise. Are some women more prone to stress? Does the study separate actual stress from how women handle stressful situations? How does stress level actually impact fertility?

Guest:

Courtney Denning-Johnson Lynch, Ph.D., director of reproductive epidemiology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and the lead author of the paper published in “Human Reproduction” journal

Employees of EnBW, an EDF subsidiary in Berlin, work at their desk 13 October 2003.; Credit: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images

The unemployment rate has been steadily falling and the economic health of the nation is much stronger. So everything is all well and good, right? Not quite for most of us worker bees out there who haven't seen their paychecks go up, despite working harder than ever. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a liberal research group, wages have remained stagnant since 2000, while productivity has gone up 23 percent.

Is this a good time to ask for a raise? How should we go about starting that important workplace conversation? The answer to that question might depend on your gender, as women often find themselves having to also contend with gender stereotypes--of being judged either too pushy or too meek--when negotiating for a pay raise or asking for a promotion. It's a symptom of a larger wage gap issue. The city of Los Angeles released new figures last week finding that female employees earn 83 cents for every $1 paid to their male counterparts.

Guests:

Hannah Riley Bowles, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and an organizational psychologist whose research focuses on gender and career negotiation.

Alison Green, founder and advice columnist at Ask a Manager, a popular blog that deals with workplace issues. She is also a contributing writer at U.S. News & World Report

Umpires Mike Winters (L) and Mark Wegner review a play with instant replay in the sixth inning of their game between the Cleveland Indians and the Oakland Athletics during Opening Day at O.co Coliseum on March 31, 2014 in Oakland, California. The ruling on the field stood. ; Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Major League Baseball’s Opening day Monday ushered in a new era—that of the video challenge. After more than a century of relying solely on the eyes of umpires for the final word on close calls, America’s pastime launched an expanded instant replay system.

The sport’s new feature was first used in Monday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. The inaugural challenge came from Cubs manager Rick Renteria—taking issue with a call made at first base on a double play. Two minutes later, umpires told him the call was correct.

Later in the game, the Pirates successfully overturned a call with a challenge. Another fruitful Opening Day challenge—the first, in fact—came when the Atlanta Braves challenged a call that Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun was safe at first.

Baseball was the last major American sport to introduce video reviews. MLB owners approved the technology in January to review most calls aside from balls and strikes. Before this, replays could only be used to review home runs or boundary calls. The expanded instant replay was first rolled out at this year’s spring training.

Here’s how baseball’s replay review works: Each manager has one challenge per game—and a second if the first is successful. After the sixth inning, if managers are out of challenges, umpires can choose to review plays. Video advisers in teams’ clubhouses can examine replays and let managers know when to challenge umpires’ calls. When a manager notifies umpires of a challenge, a technician connects the umpire crew chief with a video replay command center in New York—which has access to the twelve camera feeds in every ballpark.

How do you feel about MLB's new replay system? What does it add to the game? What does it take away? Is there a better way to go about challenging calls?

Guest:

Adam Felder, manager of digital analytics at Atlantic Media Company

Actors Jacob Vargas, Michael Pena, America Ferrera, director Diego Luna, actors Rosario Dawson and Yancey Arias arrive at the premiere of Pantelion Films And Participant Media's "Cesar Chavez" at the Chinese Theatre on March 20, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Socially conscious films like “Cesar Chavez,” directed by Diego Luna, serve dual purposes. Film and advocacy are frequently intertwined, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The power of a great story or a particular identifiable character can affect change.

In a panel discussion with “Cesar Chavez” director Diego Luna, actress America Ferrera, Participant Media Executive Vice President Jonathan King, and Media Impact Project director Todd Cunningham, we explore the connection between movies and social movements.

How does film changes lives? What are the most important steps towards meaningful storytelling and diverse representation? How do socially conscious films enact change?

Guest:  

America Ferrera, actress and activist who received a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Emmy Award for her performance as Betty Suarez on the ABC television series Ugly Betty; she plays the labor organizer's wife, Helen, in “Cesar Chavez”;  she is active with the organization Voto Latino and as an ambassador for Save the Children.

Diego Luna, director of the biopic Cesar Chavez; Actor in the Oscar-nominated hit “Y Tu Mamá También”

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs. The entire program can be heard here. 

Mary Barra, a new CEO of US carmaker General Motors GM addresses the media during a news conference at the headquarters of the company's German subsidiary Opel in Ruesselsheim, on January 27, 2014. ; Credit: DANIEL ROLAND/AFP/Getty Images

The CEO of General Motors is facing a tough day of questioning when she sits down in front of a House subcommittee hearing today into the company's recall of millions of small cars. The cars at the center of the recall had faulty ignition switches that could fail while the car is in motion - cutting off power to the airbags. The defect has been linked to 13 deaths.

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight is looking into why the company took years to publicly acknowledge that there was a problem with the switches and initiate a recall.

GM allegedly knew about the faulty switches back in 2001 but did not make any changes to the part until 2006 - and never issued a recall or any kind of consumer warning.

According to the manufacturer, the replacement ignition switches cost about $2 to $5, raising more questions about why the company did not offer to replace the part earlier. In written testimony, Barra offered her apologies to the families of those killed in accidents and said she didn't know why GM didn't disclose the problem immediately but that she was committed to finding out.

Did GM commit a crime by failing to tell the public about the faulty switches? Why did the company not disclose the problem earlier? Does a recall this widespread make you think twice about the safety of your car?

Guests:

Joseph B. White, Global Auto Editor, Wall Street Journal-Detroit

Kenneth Elias, Partner with Maryann Keller & Associates, Global Auto Industry Advisory Services based in Scottsdale, AZ

Jack Gillis, Director of Public Affairs for the Consumer Federation of America

Ray LaHood, Former Secretary of Transportation

A large group of janitors, security officers, airport workers and other contracted service workers, march and rally in front of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), to protest against, what they say are “low wages and benefits” in Los Angeles, California on June 15, 2011.; Credit: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

A California bill amended on Friday would put employers on the hook for wages, taxes and workers compensation for employees hired through a contracting or temp agency.

The bill, AB 1897, was first introduced in February by Assemblyman Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina). If passed, it would make California the biggest state in the nation to hold companies legally responsible for violations committed by a subcontractor. For example, if a temp agency fails to pay its employees, the company would have to pick up the bill.

At least 10 states currently have laws regulating day and contract labor in some fashion, but California is one of the first states to directly take on employers that contract with temp agencies. Unions are in support of the bill, but small business and business organizations are opposed to it, calling it a legislative overreach.

Guests:

Caitlin Vega, legislative advocate at the California Labor Federation

Ken DeVore, Legislative Director at the CA chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business

California State senator Leland Yee leaves the Phillip Burton Federal Building after a court appearance on March 31, 2014 in San Francisco, California. State Senator Leland Yee appeared in federal court today for a second time after being arrested along with 25 others by F.B.I. agents last week on political corruption and firearms trafficking charges. Yee is free on a $500,000 unsecured bond.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Spurred by the federal indictment against embattled Sen. Leland Yee, the San Francisco Chronicle has launched a review of Yee’s voting record in the Legislature.

The paper finds more than 30 instances since 2003 in which Yee voted in favor of legislations that ran counter to his stated positions, and then got large contributions from companies and industries that benefited from his votes. They included chemical, oil and insurance companies.

But the paper says what Yee did isn’t technically illegal. It’s a violation only when there’s an agreement in place between a lawmaker and a campaign donor to trade votes for monetary or in-kind compensations.

Guest:  

Jessica Levinson, professor at Loyola Law School and vice president of the LA Ethics Commission

Girl Scouts sell cookies as a winter storm moves in on February 8, 2013 in New York City. The scouts did brisk business, setting up shop in locations around Midtown Manhattan on National Girl Scout Cookie Day.; Credit: John Moore/Getty Images

The Girl Scouts and their cookies may be sweet, but all that temptation is drawing criticism from doctors and parents who feel the scouts’ tradition of selling cookies isn’t in line with modern public health.

Girl Scout cookie season is the biggest fundraising event for the group as well as a social phenomenon. But chowing down on Thin Mints and Samoas is unquestionably bad for you -- the cookies are fatty and sugary, full of ingredients people are supposed to be avoiding -- and even if you’re aiming for moderation, it’s hard to eat just one.

Critics say that Girl Scout cookies are just a sign of a larger problem with American hyperconsumption.

Cookie sales mimic other kinds of seasonal or limited-time gorging (Easter candy, McRib sandwiches, Halloween sweets, etc) that entice consumers and reinforce unhealthy habits. So what’s the alternative?

Should the Girl Scouts sell tofu or veggies? Should they invest in healthier, less delicious cookies? Should we all just quiet down and enjoy a Thin Mint (or 20)?

Guest:

Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, Medical Director, Bariatric Medical Institute in Ottawa; Author, “The Diet Fix” (March 2014); Board-Certified Physician by the American Board of Bariatric (Obesity) Medicine; Blogs at weightymatters.ca

General view of the Marina district disaster zone after an earthquake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, rocks game three of the World Series between the Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park on October 17, 1989 in San Francisco, California.; Credit: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

The recent earthquakes that shook Southern California also rattled the nerves of some homeowners who will be left with huge bills if a really destructive quake were to strike. Earthquake damage is not covered under regular homeowner's insurance and the vast majority of Californians don't have separate policies to protect them in case of damage to their homes.

The California Earthquake Authority estimates that 90 percent of Californians aren't covered in case of quake damage. That may be because earthquake insurance policies tend to be pricey and typically don't kick in until the homeowner has paid around 10-15 percent of the home's value in deductibles.

Most Californians aren't willing to shell out the hundreds of dollars a year, on top of a hefty deductible, to protect against the remote possibility of an earthquake causing severe damage.

So is earthquake insurance worth the cost? Why is it so expensive? If the 'Big One' does hit - will most Californians be left in financial ruin because they're not insured?

Guests: 

Glenn Pomeroy,  CEO of California Earthquake Authority

Kathy Kristof, Los Angeles-based personal finance columnist and contributing editor to Kiplinger's Personal Finance

This photo taken on March 9, 2011 shows employees at China-based company Ctrip in the call center of their headquarters in Shanghai. The one-stop China travel service Ctrip.com specializes in discount hotel reservations, cheap airline tickets and package tours.; Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The Senate is expected to vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act, which aims to eliminate the wage gap between men and women.

Similar versions of the bill passed by the Senate had been killed before by House Republicans. One provision of the law would ban companies from retaliating against workers who talk about their pay. Federal labor law already makes company retaliation illegal, but experts say a lot of companies still prohibit employees from doing so.

Some human resources professionals worry that too much pay transparency would lead to resentment and low morale among workers, but advocates say disclosure is the only way to ensure pay equity.

Have you ever talked about how much you make with your coworkers?

Guest:

Stephanie Thomas, Research Associate with the Institute for Compensation Studies and a lecturer with the Department of Economics at Cornell University.

How do regional differences impact how people speak to each other? ; Credit: Tom

Starting a conversation with a stranger can be hard, and is sometimes even taboo.

A shared complaint about bad traffic, weather, or a delay on public transportation can be an in in a big city.

In smaller towns or more remote places, asking where someone went to high school or goes to church is more common.

But the way that people strike up conversations with strangers varies widely based on region and culture -- what may be normal and okay for one group or place would seem odd somewhere else.

Asking “who’s your mother?” or offering up a casual, unprompted “how are you?” is a regional pleasure. The ways Americans speak to each other fall on a broad spectrum of intimacy.

How do people across the country strike up conversations? How do you talk to strangers, if at all? In what ways does our language indicate the place we come from?

Guest:

Carmen Fought, Ph.D, professor of linguistics at Pitzer College

Shaun McCutcheon (C) plaintiff in a case of McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, leaves the Supreme Court on October 8, 2013 in Washington, DC. The court heard oral arguments in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Committee, a first amendment case that will determine how much money an individual can contribute directly to political campaigns.; Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

In a 5-4 split ruling today, the Supreme Court said political donors still have to limit contributions to individual campaigns, but said there is no cap to how much money a donor can spread across candidates and political committees. In 2013 and 2014, the overall spending limit was $123,200.

Now, wealthy contributors can pour millions of dollars into a plethora of candidates and causes. Writing for the court's conservative majority, Chief Justice John Roberts stated the overall limits "intrude without justification on a citizen's ability to exercise 'the most fundamental First Amendment activities.'"

Speaking from the bench for the dissenting opinion, Justice Stephen Breyer said the ruling "understates the importance of protecting the political integrity of our governmental institution." Breyer said today's McCutcheon decision will be more influential than the controversial Citizens United case of 2010 that lifted limits on spending by corporations and unions.

Do you agree with Justice Roberts constitutional analysis or Justice Breyer’s take? How does the fact that donations will be subject to disclosure alter things, if at all? Who has the most to gain and the most to lose from today’s decision? Which campaign finance laws will be challenged next?

With files from the Associated Press.

Guests:

Lisa McElroy, Associate Professor of Law, Earle Mack School of Law, Drexel University; Visiting Associate Professor , University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law

Erin E. Murphy, partner at the Washington DC law firm Bancroft PLLC, and argued before the Supreme Court on behalf of appellants Shaun McCutcheon and the Republican National Committee.

Lawrence Norden, deputy director of the Brennan Center’s democracy program - a nonpartisan institute focused on election law and democracy at NYU School of Law

Alhambra residents vote on Election Day at the Alhambra Fire Station #71 in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, on November 6, 2012 in California, as Americans flock to the polls nationwide to decide between President Barack Obama, his Republican challenger Mitt Romney, and a wide range of other issues.; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

The Supreme Court's Wednesday morning ruling allowing wealthy donors to give money to as many political candidates, parties and committees as they wish will face its first test as the 2014 midterm elections quickly approach. The 5-4 decision is the latest to loosen the rules around campaign finance by striking down the limits on how much individuals can donate during a federal election cycle.

The conservative-majority ruling lifts the cap - which previously stood at $123,200 overall for a two-year election cycle - allowing individual donors to instead spend millions. Donors are still limited in how much they can give each candidate or national political party but they can now donate to as many candidates and committees as they wish.

This ruling could have huge repercussions for the upcoming election, which is already in full swing. With wealthy individuals now able to contribute to an unlimited number of candidates and party committees, it opens the door for far more money to flow into the election season than in previous races.

What impact will this SCOTUS ruling have on local and national midterm race? Will we see a huge amount of cash flow into the election that would otherwise not have been spent? Since the number of high level donors is so small, and there are plenty of opportunities to spend money with political action committees, will its impact be limited?

Guest: 

Doyle McManus, Washington Columnist, Los Angeles Times