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Variety
Senior film reporter for Variety; former media columnist for the Los Angeles Times
PROFILE
James Rainey
Guest
FROM James Rainey
Which Way, L.A.?
Austin Beutner Is Fired by the LA Times After 13 months as publisher of the Los Angeles Times, Austin Beutner announced today that he is leaving… immediately. Not, he said, by choice or mutual agreement, but because, " Tribune Publishing has decided to fire me ."
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Clippers Deal The Clippers saga has taken another sudden turn. Late last night, Shelley Sterling sent out a press release saying that the Sterling family trust has agreed to sell the team for two billion dollars to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. But Donald Sterling’s attorney says no deal is complete with his client’s signature.
Which Way, L.A.?
Challenges for the City Clerk — and the Mayor on Day One Two years of campaigning for Mayor, for other elected officers and for ballot propositions will all be over in less than an hour…or will they? What challenges will the new mayor face that neither of the run-off candidates has talked about much.
Which Way, L.A.?
The Missing Issues in the Presidential Campaign If you're frustrated by the limited number of issues in this year's presidential campaign, you are not alone. For the first time since the election of 1988, the issue of climate change was not raised in any of this year's presidential or vice presidential debates. Do voters know what either candidate wants to do about climate change, Mexico's drug wars, the Eurozone or gun control? Are increasingly polarized voters making their choices on party lines, without knowing where their own candidates really stand? Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 You can see all of our national campaign coverage at KCRW.com/election2012 .
To the Point
The Missing Issues in the Presidential Campaign No campaign has ever touched on all the important issues, but who decides what's worth discussing and when? For the first time since the election of 1988, the issue of climate change – a subject even the Pentagon says could be crucial to America's future -- was not raised in any of this year's presidential or vice presidential debates Both presidential candidates are being accused of "climate silence." Drug wars, just across the Mexican border, have killed 60,000 people, twice the number in Syria's civil war. What about the Eurozone and gun control? Do the media provide all the ideas? Are the candidates trapped by partisan polarization? We hear a range of opinions.
To the Point
Obama and Romney on Gun Control Last night, NBC’s Brian Williams asked Mitt Rommey if there should be a “national conversation” about assault weapons in the hands of civilians—and whether 6000 rounds of ammunition should be available on the Internet. President Obama address the issue in a speech yesterday.
Which Way, L.A.?
Rush Limbaugh and the GOP Rush Limbaugh insists that reports of advertiser defections have been exaggerated, but liberal groups say he's taking a lot of hits. It's all about Limbaugh's attack on Sandra Fluke , who testified on Capitol Hill about the need for health insurers to provide birth control to liberate women for the work force and protect against disease. Since Limbaugh attacked the Georgetown law student as a "slut" and a "prostitute," Democrats have accused Republicans of being insensitive to women's rights and issues. How much clout does Limbaugh have with the GOP? Do candidates fear him?
To the Point
Rush Limbaugh, the Republican Party and Women It's been more than a week since Rush Limbaugh called a Georgetown law student a "slut" and a "prostitute" during his radio show, after Sandra Fluke testified on Capitol Hill about the need for health insurers to provide birth control to liberate women for the work force and protect against disease. Limbaugh insists that reports of advertiser defections have been exaggerated, but liberal groups say he's taking a lot of hits. President Obama has been asked about him, and Republicans are on the defensive about their popularity with women. The top three presidential candidates have said very little, and some conservative writers have said Republicans are "afraid" of arousing Limbaugh's animosity. With an audience of 15 million devoted listeners, how much do his views and opinions reflect those of the GOP as a whole?
Which Way, L.A.?
Census Finds Almost Half the Country Poor or 'Near-Poor' A new study finds that nearly half of all Americans are either poor or "low income." Meanwhile, consumers who were saving appear once again to be heaping on the debt.
To the Point
Census Finds Almost Half the Country Poor or 'Near-Poor' A new study finds that nearly half of all Americans are either poor or "low income." Meanwhile, consumers who were saving appear once again to be heaping on the debt.
To the Point
The Uses of Social Media and the Right to Free Speech Facebook, Twitter and other social media have allowed Egyptians, Iranians, Chinese and others to challenge repressive governments. The governments, in turn, have been criticized for shutting the media down. Now countries with traditions of protecting free speech face a different challenge. Recent incidents, from London to San Francisco, have led to crackdowns, including prior restraint in the name of law and order. When social media are used to advocate violence, organize riots or coordinate crime, can government block access to the perpetrators and others as well? Will there be new limitations on the right to free speech as the law catches up with the technology?
Which Way, L.A.?
Public Broadcasting on the Firing Line Once Again In the 1990's, Big Bird, Kermit and all their friends saved Bill Moyers, Frontline and the rest of public broadcasting from Republican budget cuts. But charges of liberal bias never went away. Last year, NPR's news analyst Juan Williams told Fox News he was "nervous" flying with passengers wearing "Muslim garb." When NPR fired him, Speaker John Boehner and other Republicans saw evidence of "a left-wing network." Since January, six bills have been introduced to defund public broadcasting once and for all. This week, Congress will vote on a measure that would withhold the remaining amount of the budget for this year. We hear from their critics and their supporters.
To the Point
Public Broadcasting on the Firing Line Once Again In the 1990's, Big Bird, Kermit and all their friends saved Bill Moyers, Frontline and the rest of public broadcasting from Republican budget cuts. But charges of liberal bias never went away. Last year, NPR's news analyst Juan Williams told Fox News he was "nervous" flying with passengers wearing "Muslim garb." When NPR fired him , Speaker John Boehner and other Republicans saw evidence of "a left-wing network." Since January, six bills have been introduced to defund public broadcasting once and for all. This week, Congress will vote on a measure that would withhold the remaining amount of the budget for this year. We hear from their critics and their supporters.
To the Point
Big Money and Stealth Campaigns Since the US Supreme Court declared that private spending is a form of free speech, political campaigns have been as much about money as anything else. Now, the Obama White House is attacking Republicans for hiding the sources of millions of dollars, suggesting they might be raised illegally overseas. Republican agents like Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie are striking back, accusing Democrats of a government-run smear to divert attention from the economy. Even some Democrats are worried about a backfire. Meantime, as the TV commercials multiply, is this the “year of the Missing Candidate?”
Which Way, L.A.?
The Future of Newspapers in California More and more Californians are getting their news on the Internet, which means they're getting for free what it costs newspapers a lot of money to gather and publish. In the last six months, the Los Angeles Times lost 11% of its daily circulation, the Daily News was down 26%, the Orange County Register was off 10% and the Riverside Press-Enterprise 24%. The San Francisco Chronicle was down more than 25%, but claims revenue is going up.
Recommended
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
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
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.