AirTalk

Armenian Americans celebrated the news Saturday that President Joe Biden formally declared the systematic killing and deportation of hundreds of thousands of their ancestors by Ottoman Empire forces in the early 1900s to be “genocide,” saying the recognition was long overdue. His action came after decades of activism, most of which was centered in California, home of the largest Armenian community in the nation. 

“He's the first American president to have the guts to talk about it. I never understood why the U.S. waited this long when they knew the truth about what happened. It's amazing and I'm very happy he did what he did,” said Varoujan Kioudjian, 74. He was among hundreds of people who streamed to a hilltop monument in Montebello, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles, to mark Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. 

The White House had avoided using using the term genocide for decades for fear of alienating Turkey, a NATO ally and important power in the Middle East. Biden followed through on a campaign promise to make human rights a central guidepost of his foreign policy. He argued last year that failing to call the atrocities against the Armenian people a genocide would pave the way for future mass atrocities. 

Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from Los Angeles, praised Biden for following through on his pledge. 

“This is a momentous day for thousands upon thousands of my Armenian American constituents who have been working, advocating, and praying for recognition for their entire lives – and I am heartened that this announcement comes at a time when there are still some genocide survivors alive to witness it, though their numbers are very small," he said in a statement. The survivors, many of them orphans who were brought to the United States, were recognized by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who proclaimed Saturday a “day of remembrance of the Armenian genocide." 

Today on AirTalk, we want to hear what the recognition of the Armenian Genocide means to you. Give us a call at 866-893-5722.

With files from the Associated Press

We received this statement from Consul General Of the Republic of Turkey in Los Angeles: “Turkey rejects statement by the President of the U.S. “Genocide” is a specific crime, not a generic term, defined by international law. None of the conditions defined by the international law have been met that would warrant the use of “genocide” concerning the events of 1915. Furthermore, there is no judgment of a competent international court, which classifies the events of 1915 as “genocide”. To the contrary, two judgements of the European Court of Human Rights (2015 and 2017) clearly confirm that the events of 1915 constitute a matter of legitimate debate. President Biden’s statement will hurt our bilateral relations and undermine dialogue efforts for peace and stability in the region.”

Guests:

Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), congressman representing California’s 28 Congressional District, which includes Burbank, parts of Pasadena, and Glendale; he tweets @RepAdamSchiff

Alex Galitsky, communications director for the Armenian National Committee of America’s Western Region; he tweets @algalitsky

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner, infectious disease expert at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. 

Topics today include:

L.A. County continues to make progress fighting the coronavirus

U.S. to offer supplies, support to help combat COVID-19 outbreak in India

What is U.S. doing to contribute to worldwide vaccine supply?

MIT study: 6 foot rule does little to stop spread of COVID-19

EU official says fully vaccinated Americans may be able to travel to Europe by this summer

Michigan’s COVID wards are filling up with young people -- why?

Study: regular exercise may help protect against severe COVID-19

Guest:

Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear an appeal to expand gun rights in the United States in a New York case over the right to carry a firearm in public for self-defense.

The case marks the court’s first foray into gun rights since Justice Amy Coney Barrett came on board in October, making a 6-3 conservative majority. The justices said Monday they will review a lower-court ruling that upheld New York’s restrictive gun permit law. The court’s action follows mass shootings in recent weeks in Indiana, Georgia, Colorado and California. The case probably will be argued in the fall. The court had turned down review of the issue in June, before Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death. New York is among eight states that limit who has the right to carry a weapon in public. The others are: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. In the rest of the country, gun owners have little trouble legally carrying their weapons when they go out. The high court heard arguments in another case today, where the state of California is attempting to gain access to non-profits’ major donor lists. The legal question at play: can California enact a blanket policy like this? Americans for Prosperity Foundation, the plaintiff in the case, argues that the regulation is unconstitutional. Today on AirTalk, we discuss a few of the major cases under consideration and the various legal arguments involved. Do you have thoughts or questions? Call 866-893-5722 to join the conversation.

With files from the Associated Press 

Guests:

Greg Stohr, Supreme Court reporter for Bloomberg News; he tweets @GregStohr

Adam Winkler, professor of law at UCLA where he specializes in constitutional law, the Supreme Court and gun policy, author of “We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights,” (Liveright, 2018); he tweets @adamwinkler

We want to share with you KPCC and LAist.com's newest investigation, Immediate Jeopardy. Reporters Elly Yu and Aaron Mendelson spent months looking into a chain of nursing homes operated by ReNew Health, and the neglect and abuse in these facilities that took place prior to -- and during -- the pandemic.

Today on AirTalk, we get the latest COVID-19 news. Also on the show, we discuss President Biden's plan to cut fossil fuel emissions in half by 2030 and break down the Oscars major categories and nominations with our KPCC film critics.

President Joe Biden convened leaders of the world’s most powerful countries on Thursday to try to spur global efforts against climate change, drawing commitments from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin to cooperate on cutting emissions despite their own sharp rivalries with the United States.

Biden’s own new commitment, timed to the summit, is to cut U.S. fossil fuel emissions up to 52% by 2030. marking a return by the U.S. to global climate efforts after four years of withdrawal under President Donald Trump. Biden’s administration is sketching out a vision of a prosperous, clean-energy United States where factories churn out cutting-edge batteries for export, line workers re-lay an efficient national electrical grid and crews cap abandoned oil and gas rigs and coal mines.

Japan announced its own new 46% emissions reduction target Thursday, and South Korea said it would stop public financing of new coal-fired power plants, as the U.S. and its allies sought to build momentum via the summit.

The coronavirus pandemic compelled the summit to play out as a climate telethon-style livestream, limiting opportunities for spontaneous interaction and negotiation. The opening was rife with small technological glitches, including echoes, random beeps and off-screen voices.

But the U.S. summit also marshaled an impressive display of the world’s most powerful leaders speaking on the single cause of climate change.

China’s Xi, whose country is the world’s biggest emissions culprit, followed by the United States, spoke first among the other global figures. He made no reference to nonclimate disputes that had made it uncertain until Wednesday that he would even take part in the U.S. summit, and said China would work with America in cutting emissions. Today on AirTalk, we discuss Biden’s goals, global response and the challenges that remain in hitting the mark. Do you have thoughts or questions about the plan? Leave a comment below or call 866-893-5722.

With files from the Associated Press

Guests:

Zack Colman , climate and energy reporter with Politico

Leah Stokes (F), assistant professor at UC Santa Barbara working on climate and energy politics, author of the book “Short Circuit Policy” (Oxford University Press, 2020); she tweets @leahstokes

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with UCI Dr. Shruti Gohil.

Topics today include:

We know even more about the effectiveness of vaccines

The FDA and CDC expected to advise on J&J vaccine today

For some states, vaccine demand is actually down

UC and Cal State campuses will require students to be vaccinated in the fall

 

Guest:

 Shruti Gohil [SHROO-tee GOH-hill] (F), M.D., professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine

Today on AirTalk, we break down the climate emergency this Earth Day with NPR affiliate stations in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. Also on the show, we answer your COVID-19 questions; discuss beloved, classic hiking spots; and more.

While it may manifest itself in different ways, there’s no denying that our planet faces a climate emergency of epic proportions, and we’re all living through it.

For us in the West, there are a lot of similar themes -- drought, rising temperatures, increased risk of wildfire, air pollution, rising sea level, just to name a few. President Biden has made it a centerpiece of his new administration by reinstating a number of the environmental regulations that his predecessor rolled back, re-entering the U.S. into the global Paris Climate Accord and by rolling out a plan to address climate change that includes investing in renewable energy and re-entering global discussions on addressing the climate emergency. 

Today on “AirTalk” from 11 a.m. to noon PT, KPCC’s Larry Mantle hosts an hour long, regional call-in show with NPR affiliates from California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado to find out what “Living Through The Climate Emergency” means to the people who live in the American West and the reporters who cover them. Join the conversation by calling us at 866.893.5722 or tweet @AirTalk.

Guests:

Jacob Margolis, science reporter for KPCC/LAist in Pasadena, CA; he tweets @JacobMargolis

Erik Anderson, environment reporter at KPBS, the NPR affiliate in San Diego, CA; he tweets @KPBSErik

Ezra David Romero, climate reporter KQED, the NPR affiliate in San Francisco; he tweets @ezraromero

Miguel Otárola, climate and environment reporter for Colorado Public Radio, in Denver, CO; he tweets @motarola123

Heidi Kyser, staff writer and producer for KNPR, the NPR member station in Las Vegas, and for Desert Companion, a magazine covering local issues and current events in Southern Nevada; she tweets @HeidiKyser

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, we speak with nurse and UCLA professor Kristen R Choi.

Topics today include:

Dodgers will have a fully vaccinated fan section - is that safe?

Do we need to wear masks indoors?

According to one study, CA’s coronavirus variants are 20 percent more infectious

Healthcare workers are burned out by the pandemic 

Is Covid now riskiest for young people?

There’s no evidence that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are unsafe for pregnant people 

India reaches record for daily infections

Guest: 

Kristen R. Choi, professor of nursing and public health at UCLA; registered nurse practicing at Gateways Hospital, based in Echo Park