- Social:
University of San Diego / US Commission on Civil Rights
Professor of law at the University of San Diego and a member of the US Commission on Civil Rights
PROFILE
Gail Heriot
Guest
FROM Gail Heriot
To the Point
The Battle for Bathrooms Two weeks ago, the Obama Administration directed that gender identity should be the deciding factor , rather than gender at birth. Thirteen states have already filed suit, accusing the government of a "massive social experiment" that threatens the safety of children. States that don’t accept the guidelines are facing boycotts by business and entertainers — and possible loss of federal money.
To the Point
Does Affirmative Action Have a Future? Tomorrow, the US Supreme Court will take another look at making race and ethnicity part of admissions to elite public colleges and universities. It's the second time the court will review the claim of a white woman, Abigail Fisher , who in 2008 sued the University of Texas at Austin for racial discrimination — claiming that she was rejected in favor of minority applicants less academically qualified. The justices have a history of eroding affirmative action, and supporters of partially race-based admissions are not expecting good news. Are there other ways of creating the campus diversity regarded as essential to higher education?
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To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
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.
To the Point
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
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.