California State Senate
Democratic State Senator representing parts of the San Fernando Valley; co-founder and former chairman of G24 Innovations, a company based in Cardiff, Wales, making flexible solar cells; former California State Assembly Speaker
Is the Fight against Global Warming Already Lost? In his first week as President, Barack Obama called for urgent measures to combat global warming. At the same time, researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research released discouraging new findings . If carbon dioxide levels were cut back to pre-industrial levels, it would still take 1000 years to reverse the climate change that have already happened.
Is Climate Change Irreversible? Just as President Obama cracks down on climate change , scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research have issued discouraging new findings . This new “wake-up call” says that if carbon dioxide levels were cut back to pre-industrial levels, it would still take 1000 years to reverse the climate change that's already happened. Does that mean the effort is not worth the trouble, or that it's time to get serious before it's really too late? Can new, innovative technology make a difference? Is it contradictory to beef up production and consumer consumption at the same time greenhouse gases are being reduced? Is the real problem too many people?
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?
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.
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.
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.