Which Way, L.A.?
Which Way, L.A.?
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Award-winning moderator Warren Olney leads lively, thoughtful and provocative discussion on the issues Southern Californians care about. Which Way. L.A.? draws from newsmakers around Los Angeles, the state, North America, and from around the world to present all sides of the issues.
TODAY'S SHOW
Putting on the Brakes: Are Government Regulators Doing Their Job?
With its Prius recall and problems with a sticking accelerator pedal, Toyota is front and center in the news. But regulations run far and wide in the life of the American consumer. There are hundreds of state and federal agencies that are supposed to make our lives safer. On this rebroadcast of To the Point, guest host Sara Terry asks whether they really do the job. Plus, of tea and Sarah Palin and a conversation about Mayor Villaraigosa's latest deficit-reduction plan.
RECENT SHOWS
Terror on Trial: Politics as Usual
On our rebroadcast of To the Point, in this mid-term election year, is political rhetoric obscuring the real issues in the debate of trying the alleged Christmas Day bomber? Sara Terry guest hosts.
Can Tea Parties Brew Real Political Change?
Scott Brown was sworn in today, the Republican who won the late Ted Kennedy's US Senate seat in Massachusetts. A lot of the credit for that game-changing political upset went to the Tea Party movement, whose convention begins today in Nashville, Tennessee. But it's still not clear just what the Tea Party movement is. As we hear on this rebroadcast of today's To the Point, tea partiers themselves are struggling to figure out if they're a movement, an adjunct of the Republican Party or a collection of angry protesters who can't get along.
For Toyota, How Bad Will It Get?
Toyota worked hard to be number one in automobile sales throughout the US, and it carefully cultivated its reputation for quality and reliability. Last month, sales nationwide declined by some 16% while the sales of other cars were on the increase. On this rebroadcast of To the Point, will the repairs work? How serious are the latest concerns? How can Toyota recover from the tarnishing of its image?
The Battle over the Budget in an Election Year
The Democrats are in big trouble in this election year, and there's no better evidence than the $3.8 billion budget President Obama presented yesterday. He had to concede that the economy's bad and will have to get worse before it gets better, and described himself of being caught between reducing the deficit in the long run and the need to create jobs in the short run. On this rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear more about the economics and the politics behind the budget, what's at stake for Medicare, Social Security and taxes if Washington doesn't get a grip on the deficit.
Time to Negotiate Peace with the Taliban in Afghanistan?
To say these are challenging times for the Obama Administration in Afghanistan would be a gross understatement. With the Taliban possibly at their greatest moment of strength, is this the best time to negotiate or the worst? On the rebroadcast of today's To the Point, we hear a debate.
In DC, the State of the Union; in CA, High-Speed Rail, Medical Marijuana
Will the President's push for rapid rail get construction started in California? Also, after years of debate the LA City Council's produced a medical marijuana ordinance almost nobody likes. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, during last night's State of the Union Address, President Obama admitted mistakes while defending his first year in office. What does he want for the future? What is he likely to get?
The President Gets Ready to Speak; California Prison Reform
California claims it's reducing the number of people in prison at the same time it's increasing public safety. Some cops and victims' rights groups claim dangerous criminals will be turned out on the streets. We hear both sides. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, just one year ago, Democrats were talking about a new political era. Now, President Obama faces a nation of angry voters.
Free Speech for Corporations; Political Competition for California
In 2008, Californians voted for real, election-day competition between Republicans and Democrats, but Proposition 11 sounded easier to implement than it's turned out to be. We hear what's happening to a process that was supposed to restore democracy. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, has the US Supreme Court scored a victory for free speech or increased the influence of money in politics in it's 5-4 ruling removing campaign spending limits for corporations.
Google in China and Marijuana in California
The State Supreme Court issues a ruling on medical marijuana. Also, the City of LA may lay off workers after all and privatize assets, including Ontario Airport, and the rain might not be as disastrous as predicted. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, cyber attacks on Google in China have turned into an international incident with Hillary Clinton calling today for "consequences" and "condemnation."
GOP Upset in Massachusetts; Rain, Political Storms in California
If it happened in Massachusetts, can it happen here? The late Ted Kennedy’s seat has gone Republican. Is Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer in trouble? What about Attorney General Jerry Brown, who wants to be governor all over again? We look at the sea-change in politics and check the weather.
Rebuilding Haiti and Reforming American Schools
Today's the deadline for schools competing for money under the President's Race to the Top. Does LA Unified have a chance? Why are some other school districts not even trying? Also, the LA City Council finally passes an ordinance to regulate medical marijuana. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, search and rescue is one thing, but critics say the resources to rebuild Haiti could be wasted in a country that's already too dependent on the rest of the world.
Politics in Massachusetts; Heavy Weather in Southern California
Today's rain has already led to evacuations, and this is just the beginning. We get the latest forecast and update preparations for what could be a very wet week. On Martin Luther King Day, is "yesterday's dream today’s reality?" On our rebroadcast of To the Point, President Obama has made a desperate effort to save one vote in the Senate, which could mean life or death for healthcare reform and the rest of his agenda. We hear about tomorrow's special election to replace the late Ted Kennedy.
Same-sex Marriage; High-speed Rail; Privatizing Public Property
The State of California auctioned off the OC Fairgrounds today to a developer who bid a lot less than the place was supposed to be worth. What will that mean for the state budget crisis? Also, another challenge to promoters of high-speed rail from San Diego to San Francisco. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, California's ban on same-sex marriage is on trial in a case that may end up in the US Supreme Court. We get a progress report and learn the impact of public proceedings on same-sex parents and their children.
Wall Street Gets a Grilling; LA Responds to the Earthquake in Haiti
LA firefighters are ready to leave for Haiti to provide earthquake relief as LA's Haitian community waits for word on families and friends back home. Plus, we ask a private art dealer if he'll have conflicts of interest as director of LA's Museum of Contemporary Art. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, commissioners investigating the cause of the Great Recession got tough today with four Wall Street bankers, including the head of Goldman Sachs.
Education Reform in Washington and in Los Angeles
The deadline has passed for outsiders who want control of some campuses in LAUSD, the latest step in one of the nation's most dramatic efforts at school reform. We hear from charter operators, teachers and parents competing to be in charge. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, President Obama's "Race to the Top" in education features charter schools and standardized tests to evaluate teacher performance.
Program Details
Host
Considered the dean of Southern California broadcast journalists, Warren tackles the issues Southern Californians care about. Expanding that concept, To the Point deals with issues of national concern and is on air in most major metropolitan markets across the country. On any day, you’ll hear a fast-paced, news-based talk show featuring multiple perspectives on a single major issue, with Newsmaker and Reporters Notebook features, as well.
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Schedule
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Tapes & Transcripts
A CD copy of Which Way L.A.? is a available by calling 1.888.600.5279.
Transcripts are not available.
Underwriters
Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, which supports study and research into policy issues of the Los Angeles region.
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