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Investigative Reporter, Los Angeles Times
Investigative reporter for the Sacramento Bee; former investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times
PROFILE
Charles Piller
Guest
FROM Charles Piller
Which Way, L.A.?
Local Bridge Safety Southern California has 91 of the 100 most heavily traveled bridges in the United States. Of the top ten, almost all are on Interstate 10 in Los Angeles. Investigative reporting by the Sacramento Bee has raised questions about the safety of bridges in California. In the aftermath, one safety inspector has been fired for falsifying records, including those for an underpass on the 405 freeway in Culver City. The story begins with the new, eastern span of the San Francisco Bay Bridge, which is still under construction. There are three structures in Southern California where data were falsified: a retaining wall at the Braddock Drive underpass of the 405 Freeway in Culver City; a carpool connector lane between the 57 and the Pomona Freeway near Diamond Bar; and a ramp on the Riverside Freeway at La Sierra Avenue in Riverside.
Which Way, L.A.?
What Happens to Our Charitable Contributions? T'is the season of charitable giving, but how well do charities use the money we give them? Americans will donate about $300 billion to charities this year. Will the money be used the way the donors think it will? How effective is our charitable giving? How much is wasted? How difficult is it to give away the huge sums that billionaires are pumping into their favored causes? And what unintended consequences result from our best intentions?
To the Point
What Happens to Our Charitable Contributions? T'is the season of charitable giving, but how well do charities use the money we give them? Americans will donate about $300 billion to charities this year. Will the money be used the way the donors think it will? How effective is our charitable giving? How much is wasted? How difficult is it to give away the huge sums that billionaires are pumping into their favored causes? And what unintended consequences result from our best intentions?
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To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.