UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute
Director of the Section on Psychosis at UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA's Semel Institute; Director of Mental Illness Research at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Greater Los Angeles
OC DA Discusses Fullerton Beating Case More than a month ago a 37-year-old, homeless schizophrenic was beaten by six Fullerton police officers. Kelly Thomas died after five days in a coma, and his father, Ron Thomas, has released pictures of Kelly's face and head, horribly disfigured. Public outrage continues. At a demonstration this weekend, several hundred people demanded justice, and two city council members have called on Police Chief Michael Sellers to step down. The officers are on paid leave, and the department has said only that Kelly resisted when police approached and tried to search his backpack. Today, for the first time, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas spoke out about the charge by Kelly's father that his son was murdered, first spoke with Dave Lopez of Channel 2 News and then with Which Way, L.A.?.
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.
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
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?