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Politics Friday (8/3/2012): 5 Things You May Have Missed This Week

To The Point — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:53:58 GMT

US gymnast Gabby Douglas took home the gold! And track and field started today. While you were busy watching the Olympics on tape delay and waiting for the Mars Curiosity rover to land (safely!), Congress was doing absolutely nothing. Here are 5 stories you may have missed this week.

Storified by To The Point · Fri, Aug 03 2012 15:54:36

1. Porn star Jenna Jameson endorsed Mitt Romney, telling a goldbricking, er, hard-working San Francisco-based CBS staffer, who just happened to be at a strip club in SoMa, "When you're rich, you want a Republican in office."

Porn star Jenna Jameson endorses Romney | wtsp.com

In this May 24, 2008 file photo, mixed martial arts star Tito Ortiz, right, is seen with Jenna Jameson after his fight at UFC 84 at the M...

Twitter is chock-a-block with double entendres on this, folks...

2. Stubborn is as stubborn does: Romney’s still not providing any more tax records and Sen. Harry Reid is not backing down from his so-far unsubstantiated claims that the former Massachusetts governor didn't pay taxes for 10 years.

Mitt Romney Tells Harry Reid to 'Put Up or Shut Up' on Tax Return Accusation

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Mitt Romney has a message for Harry Reid: "put up or shut up." The Senate Majority Leader twice this week ha...

3. Want to know if your neighbors are red or blue? Obama’s reelection campaign is happy to help you snoop.

Is Your Neighbor a Democrat? Obama Has an App for That

For each targeted address, the app displays the first name, age and gender of the voter or voters who live there: "Lori C., 58 F, Democra...

Here's how one privacy advocate responded:

@webbmedia total #privacy fail.. log in to the Obama app, map your neighborhood, figure out a) who is a DEM b) how old they are.
— Shaun Dakin · Tue, Jul 31 2012 13:31:29

4. See Dick and Sarah feud, see Dick and Sarah exchange insults:

Palin to Cheney: Careful where you aim

(CNN) - Don't expect to see Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney on an elk hunt anytime soon. The former Alaska governor slammed Cheney Tuesday fo...

Despite the former vice president’s assertion that the choice of the Palin as running mate in ’08 was a “mistake”, he had high praise for her back then:

Vice President Cheney Campaigns for John McCain · tpmtv

5. Obama's "Dreams from My Father" - the "real" reason to buy a Kindle?

More Americans Would Rather Be Caught Reading 'Fifty Shades' Than Political Memoirs

Is Fifty Shades of Grey really all that shameful? Sure, there's been some of talk as to just how mortifying it would be to be seen while ...

The Three Marriages of Newt Gingrich

To The Point — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:18:00 GMT

Newt Gingrich has been married three times. In an interview airing on ABC tonight, his second wife, Marianne says Gingrich asked her for an "open marriage." Gingrich says this story is false. Texas Gov. Rick Perry endorsed Gingrich. "Newt is not perfect," said Perry, "but who among us is?"

Storified by To The Point · Thu, Jan 19 2012 19:18:00

Esquire

To the Point's Warren Olney interviewed Matthew Cooper, editor of the National Journal Daily about these developments. Listen here:

Campaign Update: Perry Out and Newt's Ex-Wife by KCRW

Two days before the South Carolina primary, Texas Governor Rick Perry suspended his presidential campaign today and threw his support to ...

Gingrich’s first wife was Jackie Battley, his former high school geometry teacher, and seven years his senior. They dated when he was a freshman at Emory University and they married when he was 19. The New York Times reported in 1994 that before filing for divorce in 1980, Gingrich told a friend and aide "She's not young enough or pretty enough to be the wife of a President. And besides, she has cancer."

Here's the NYT article:

Gingrich's Life: The Complications and Ideals - New York Times

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYEPublished: November 24, 1994 It was September 1942 when 16-year-old Kathleen Daugherty married Newton C. McPherson ...

Gingrich now claims that his first wife requested the divorce. And one of his daughters from his first marriage, Jackie Gingrich Cushman, has sought to rebut longtime rumors that Gingrich served Jackie divorce papers while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer surgery. CNN recently recovered the original court filings, which show that Gingrich initiated the divorce.

Newly recovered court files cast doubt on Gingrich version of first divorce - CNN.com

Editor's note: Alan Duke grew up in Carrollton, Georgia, and began his career covering politics there. He began covering Newt Gingrich du...

A few months after the first divorce, Gingrich married his second wife, Marianne, who he had been seeing while still married to Jackie Battley. They divorced after 18 years of marriage in 1999. Marianne told ABC News recently, and Esquire magazine in 2010, that Gingrich had told her about his affair with a Congressional aide Callista Bisek, who was 23 years his junior. He asked for an open relationship, but Marianne, who had also been recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, refused. Gingrich married Callista in 2000.

Video: Exclusive: Ex-Wife Says Gingrich Wanted Open Marriage · ABC News

Here's the 2010 Esquire story:

Newt Gingrich Profile - Esquire Story on Newt Gingrich

In the twelve years since he resigned in defeat and disgrace, he has been carefully plotting his return to power. As 2012 approaches, he ...

Newt Gingrich said in tonight's debate: "The story is false"

During an ethics investigation in 1997, and during his six-year affair with Callista, Gingrich published a memoir, "Lessons Learned the Hard Way," which the Boston Globe reported included a dedication to his wife Marianne, whom he called in the book not only "the woman I love, she is also my best friend and closest advisor."

Laden with baggage, Newt Gingrich tries to defy odds

Now, as Gingrich seeks a strong showing in Tuesday's Iowa caucuses for the Republican presidential nomination, he is fighting not just fo...

And of course, during the period of Gingrich’s unfaithfulness to Marianne, the House under his Speakership brought impeachment proceedings against Pres. Bill Clinton for lying about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

What is the Twitterverse saying about all of this?

Got to laugh at ex-Mrs Gingrich No2 slamming Newt's moral failings - conveniently forgetting she stole him from ex-Mrs Gingrich No1.
— Piers Morgan · Thu, Jan 19 2012 08:24:11

I'd like to destroy ABC News for making Newt Gingrich's sex life a news item.
— Doug Mataconis · Thu, Jan 19 2012 14:26:51

RT @juliussharpe: Newt Gingrich's ex-wife claims he wanted an open marriage. How sad is this world that two women have to fight over Newt Gingrich?
— miss janelle · Thu, Jan 19 2012 14:27:25

Listener's Respond: Can You Afford Your Health Care?

To The Point — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:58:43 GMT

A new report shows that health care spending has been decreasing nationwide, however this isn't necessarily good news as some choose to spend less because they simply can't afford their care.

Storified by To The Point · Mon, Jan 16 2012 13:58:43

photo · instagram

Listen to the show here:

Healthcare Spending Slows, but at What Cost? - To the Point on KCRW

For decades, spending on healthcare has jumped each year by more than ten percent. Now it's increasing by four percent. Is that good news...

With the help of the Public Insight Network, we reached out to listeners to get their stories. Here are some of them:

Simon in California writes:

I think we need universal health care, the burden on companies is soo huge that it only makes sence that pushing the cost over to the gov would allow for companies to hire more people like myself.

Auros in California writes:

Medicare for all. France gets better healthcare outcomes than we do at half the price. Canada's Medicare works great at a third the cost. If we spent even 80% of what we currently do, through a sane system, we really WOULD have the best care in the world.

Stewart in North Carolina says he skips treatments due to financial constraints:

Just this month, I opted for a dental cleaning and canceled a blood-pressure follow up at my primary physician to compensate. Also, a few years ago, I put off having a broken bone looked at until the Urgent Care was open the next day in order to avoid emergency room costs. I was actually in shock and intense pain.

Kirk in Indiana writes:

I don't have any health care. I can't afford it… I think access to basic health care should be universal. I don't think a profit-driven health industry is going to make that possible. My suffering shouldn't be making other people wealthy - especially anyone who is not directly helping me.

Find out more about the Public Insight Network here:

KCRW's Public Insight Network - KCRW

Here at KCRW, we are excited to be using the PIN network across a variety of news and culture shows, such as Good Food, To The Point, Whi...

Thanks for listening! You can also comment on our Facebook page:

The country is... | Facebook

To The Point wrote: The country is spending less on health... Join Facebook to connect with To The Point and others you may know.

Campaign Ads and American Music

To The Point — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:10:39 GMT

What do Texas Republican Rick Perry and leftist composer Aaron Copland have in common?

Storified by To The Point · Fri, Dec 30 2011 08:10:39

The New Yorker's Alex Ross blogged recently that many campaign ads sound as if they are taking a musical note from composer Aaron Copland. Read his post:

Alex Ross: The Rest Is Noise: Copland and the Republicans

From Copland's FBI file. Click to enlarge. A few days ago, I mentioned a musical irony undercutting an odious new TV ad by Rick Perry, th...

Copland was subject to a McCarthy-era hearing to determine if he was a communist.

Therestisnoise

Copland was also gay. It seems ironic, then, that Rick Perry used music that seems heavily influenced by the composer in his recent ad, "Strong."

Strong · RPerry2012

Now listen to the Copland:

Copland - Appalachian Spring - 7. Doppio movimento (Shaker Melody 'The Gift to be Simple') · eleninamyers

It's not just a Republican thing. There are similarities in other campaign ads too, like in this Obama film. Listen at 19:59 and 21:25.

American Stories, American Solutions: 30 Minute Special · BarackObamadotcom

This music conjures up images of an older, simpler America (tractors, cowboys, waving wheat, small town elders). Alex Ross joined Warren to talk about all of this (and how Nixon didn't take a cue from Copland at all). Listen to the interview:

The New Yorker's Alex Ross on Aaron Copland and the Republicans by KCRW

Warren talks to music critic Alex Ross about the influence of Aaron Copland on campaign music. Why does his "American" sound conjure up i...

Listeners Respond: Are You Worried About Credit Card Debt?

To The Point — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:45:34 GMT

A new Census Bureau study suggests that almost half of all Americans are poor or "near poor." We asked you to share your story.

Storified by To The Point · Wed, Dec 28 2011 13:45:34

Listeners with the Public Insight Network shared their stories. You can add yours here:

KCRW wants to know: Are you having trouble making ends meet?

Maria from California writes:
I first pay my rent and bills; whatever income is left I use on food. Sometimes I only have $100 a month to use on food so I stretch out my money by not buying meat or expensive food items. I tend to eat a lot of rice & beans throughout the weak as a bag of beans & a bag of rice goes a long way in terms of nutrition and satisfying hunger.

Mark from Plymouth, Indiana tells us:
I pay my debts as I go and I am fortunate to have been able to do that, but I live frugally by other peoples standards. I have type II diabetes and have not been able to gain any medical insurance assistance what so ever in the past 5 years.

David from Kentucky says:
Are you having trouble making ends meet? I'm working two jobs, putting in as much over-time as I'm allowed. My wife hasn't worked since July, 2010. We are living from paycheck to paycheck, trying to stay ahead of house payments, insurance payments, and the like.

Susan in Oregon explains:
We faced a mountain of credit card debt and used a credit management firm to help us pay off all of it over several years. During that process we downsized our lifestyle and now live without some of the things others consider essential. It was tough at the time but feels like great freedom now.

Rhonda from MIchigan says:
I make 25,500 a year, my mortgage is $530.01, electric is $212 each month, fuel to heat the house gets purchased twice each year, that gets paid with income tax returns, a cold winter could sink us, a large house repair could sink us......we were told at my place of work that because of Obama care that I now have to pay a portion of my insurance that isn't a huge amount but when you have very little it makes a difference, my husband has no insurance.,

Listen to the show on poverty and debt:

Census Finds Almost Half the Country Poor or 'Near-Poor' - To the Point on KCRW

A new study from the US Census Bureau suggests that nearly half of all Americans are either poor or "low income," a group some call the "...

Listeners weighed in on our Facebook page too:

Frances Dea says:
I'm definitely defined as poor this year, but last year I was near poor. While I have a secure living situation, there are definitely days where I wish I could just buy the new pair of shoes or clothes without worrying. I know I could be in a much worse situation than I am in now.

Daniel Wills writes:
Anyone making less them 60k a year is technically underplayed. Remember that most of the gains in the last 30 years have gone to the top one percent. These are gains that the entire economic system brought through the hard work of everyone, yet only some get payed for that work. Our economic system is one of cheating people out of the value they create with their hard work, and giving that value to the top.

And Julie Gengo says:
The lowest that I've been financially since graduating college in 1984. I'm definitely in the underemployed category by a lot.

Read the whole conversation on Facebook:

A census study... | Facebook

To The Point wrote: A census study finds that almost half... Join Facebook to connect with To The Point and others you may know.

Thanks for listening!

Smart Giving: 5 Ways to Donate Wisely

To The Point — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:25:40 GMT

What's the best way to give to charitable organizations? What should you know about when it comes to how they spend the money they raise? And how do you avoid getting ripped off by charities that are more about fat salaries and perks for their employees than helping others?

Storified by To The Point · Fri, Dec 09 2011 11:25:40

Flickr

Give with your head and not with your heart: Not all charities are created equal, says Ken Berger, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. Do a some of research before you write that check.

Make one big donation instead of several smaller donations: Berger explains that each small donation has processing costs associated with it; the charity gets more bang for your buck with one larger sum.

Make sure there's something behind the marketing: A flashy website and nice pamphlets don't mean that the charity is necessarily running smoothly. Be sure to check the rating at Charity Navigator; and call the charity with any questions.

Stay loyal to one charity: Your money will have more impact on the issue you care about if you give more of it to one place, rather than divvying it up among many.

Check the ratio between administration cost and program cost: Berger says that 75% of the charity's money should go to the program costs (this is why you donate) and that 25% of the charity's funding should be associated with administrative costs.

KCRW's Saul Gonzalez interviewed Charity Navigator president and CEO. Listen to the insightful interview here:

Holiday Giving: What to Know Before You Donate by KCRW

As the holidays approach, you might be in the giving spirit. But what's the best way to give to charitable organizations? What should you...

For more helpful guidance, check out Charity Navigator's website here:

Charity Navigator - America's Largest Charity Evaluator | Home

Charity Navigator, America's largest independent charity evaluator, provides free financial evaluations of America's charities. We are th...

We asked Facebook users to share their favorite charities, here's what they said:

Becky Tsai: Crescendo Young Musicians Guild is a local charity in Los Angeles that can use your support! We are a new group thats been holding free and low cost music classes to youths in the community. We also find opportunities for youths to perform for the public as a public service and sharing their passion with the community.

Jennifer Cook: a great dollar for dollar charity is the smile train. a cause close to my heart. need more motivation, google "smile pinki."

Beth Mansfield: Dream Foundation is truly wonderful! They grant final dreams for terminally ill adults. A donation of airline miles can help a family take a vacation while the dreamer is still able to make lasting memories or bring a far-away friend to the bedside for a final goodbye. They are based in Santa Barbara.

Daniela Hekmat: SOVA Community Food and Resource Program.
Much more than a food pantry, JFS SOVA provides free groceries and an array of supportive services to nearly 12,000 individuals of all ages, ethnicities and religions each month.

Join the conversation here:

If you're... | Facebook

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The End of Occupy LA?

To The Point — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:34:41 GMT

KCRW's Saul Gonzalez captured last night's closure of the Occupy camp in downtown Los Angeles. How does the movement fit into the history of Los Angeles? Here's today's segment from "Which Way, L.A.?"

Storified by To The Point · Wed, Nov 30 2011 16:34:41

Occupy LA: Is this the end? by KCRW

KCRW producer Saul Gonzalez and Which Way, LA? host Warren Olney discuss the end of Occupy LA, what's next for the movement and the histo...

And here are photo's from last night's eviction from the camp.

Cops surround Occupy LA · KCRW 89.9 FM

A line of police at Occupy LA · KCRW 89.9 FM

Signs at Occupy LA · KCRW 89.9 FM

Gas masks at Occupy LA · KCRW 89.9 FM

Line of protesters at Occupy LA · KCRW 89.9 FM

Earlier this month, Occupiers celebrated the two-month anniversary of the nationwide movement. Here's one protester from that day:

Protester at Occupy LA November 17, 2011 by KCRW

Listen to Protester at Occupy LA November 17, 2011 by KCRW | Create, record and share the sounds you create anywhere to friends, family a...

And here's our coverage of what was tagged #N17 (with photos and sound)

Occupy LA November 17, 2011

Thousands marched on downtown LA earlier this morning. The action was peaceful. Police arrested 23 people. Here are some photos from KCRW...

We were at Occupy LA back in October when the movement was first getting started. Listen to one protester:

Sound from Occupy LA Tuesday October 2 by KCRW

A protester named Beth describes the media center at Occupy LA.

Here's more from the beginning...

Covering Occupy LA and Occupy Wall Street

A collection of our Occupy Wall Street and Occupy LA coverage on To the Point and Which Way, LA?

Occupy LA November 17, 2011

To The Point — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:14:47 GMT

Thousands marched on downtown LA earlier this morning. The action was peaceful. Police arrested 23 people. Here are some photos from KCRW producer Saul Gonzalez.

Storified by To The Point · Thu, Nov 17 2011 16:14:47

Crowd at Occupy LA · KCRW 89.9 FM

Protester: "The movement and our actions will prevail"

Protester at Occupy LA November 17, 2011 by KCRW

Listen to Protester at Occupy LA November 17, 2011 by KCRW | Create, record and share the sounds you create anywhere to friends, family a...

We are the 99% · KCRW 89.9 FM

Arrests at Occupy LA · KCRW 89.9 FM

What arrests sounded like at Occupy LA:

Arrests at Occupy LA November 17, 2011 by KCRW

Police move in to arrest protesters at Occupy LA.

Police move in on Occupy LA · KCRW 89.9 FM

Protesters rally at Occupy LA · KCRW 89.9 FM

Good Jobs La member talks about why he joined the protest:

Occupy LA November 17, 2011 by KCRW

Thousands marched in downtown LA. Here's one of the many.

Police lineup at Occupy LA · KCRW 89.9 FM

For the longest time people accepted what was going on... I feel #OccupyLA has given people a chance to do something. @KTLA Reporter ~pj
— #OccupyLA · Thu, Nov 17 2011 09:46:17

Tell us what you are seeing on Facebook!

Which Way LA?

Award-winning moderator Warren Olney leads lively, thoughtful and provocative discussion on the issues Southern Californians care about. ...

KCRW: The Black Monks of Mississippi

To The Point — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:00:29 GMT

Theaster Gates asked, what is the sound of a Black Buddhist temple? Inspired during an artistic residency in Japan, Gates fused together the richness of meditation with the sounds of soul, and created The Black Monks of Mississippi. KCRW's Lisa Napoli interviewed Black Monk's Theaster Gates.

Storified by To The Point · Fri, Nov 11 2011 14:00:29

Listen to the interview:

KCRW Explores The Black Monks of Mississippi by KCRW

Theaster Gates grew up singing gospel music, and became a professional potter. Inspired during an artistic residency in Japan, he fused t...

Here's the band performing at the from the 2010 Whitney Biennial:

Theaster Gates: The Black Monks of Mississippi · whitneyfocus

Here's their music video for "Breathing."

Breathing · youngentity

You can hear the Black Monks perform this Sunday at MOCA's Geffen Contemporary, where Gates' art piece "An Epitaph for Civil Rights" is also on display.

MOCA | The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

SUPRASENSORIAL: EXPERIMENTS IN LIGHT, COLOR, AND SPACE THE GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY AT MOCA IANNIS XENAKIS: COMPOSER, ARCHITECT, VISIONARY WIL...

Join the conversation on our Facebook page!

KCRW

An experiment in the next generation of internet radio, from KCRW.com. Featuring the best of underground flavors, independent records and...

Listeners Respond: Is DC Living in a Bubble?

To The Point — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:20:25 GMT

Metropolitan Washington, DC now boasts the highest median income in the United States, taking the place of Silicon Valley. Does this lead to a lack of understanding of the issues the rest of us face?

Storified by To The Point · Thu, Nov 03 2011 14:20:25

Listen to the show

Beltway Bubble - To the Point on KCRW

Washington, DC is now the wealthiest place in the country. Is that putting decision-makers out of touch with the problems of ordinary Ame...

USA-DSC08700 · RussianSparrow

Here's what some of our listeners said on Facebook, when we asked if lawmakers were out of touch with Americans:

Paul Walnuts: I would answer the first question with a "yes" but that condition (of putting decision-makers out of touch with the problems of ordinary American) relies more on another, more important circumstance of American life, and that circumstance is, we keep voting the same people into public offices over and over. For real change, we need to flush the rolls and start completely over, and we probably need to enact Congressional term limits while we do this.

Felipe Payan: Another thought provoking show Warren and crew. Heck yeah our DC politicians eat and live well while their fellow americans struggle in this challenging economy. Clueless and detached from the everyday realities of our country.

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@ToThePoint_KCRW Beltway Bubble was good conversation. Pls consider show about root problem—"dependence corruption". @lessig #rootstrikers
— rianmurnen · Tue, Nov 01 2011 18:49:58

And on our website, listeners wrote:

Michael: We need to force the congressonal representatives & senators to stop listening and doing all the bidding of those blood sucking lawyers, lobbyists and contractors. They are bleeding this country dry. I heard another local NPR station piece from author of a book about the uncontrolled private US security industrial complex that is not always cost efficient or effecitve All this just makes me so angry at how Washington often operates only for special interests and not promoting the general welfare.

Tom: I've been to D.C. several times. No, it doesn't surprise me at all. What's worse is that the Powers that Be there having this money/power is considered "normal". Congresspeople say I depend on lobbyists to "help" me do my job.

Ray Adams: Great show last night about Washington D.C. and why our seat of Government is out of touch. If it has a median income $30k higher and an unemployment rate 3% lower than the national average, and 1/10,000 foreclosures vs. 1/605 nationally, maybe the Occupy movement should be on the national Mall. Wall Street can't do anything without Washington's permission.

Beltway Earnings Make U.S. Capital Richer Than Silicon Valley

Federal employees whose compensation averages more than $126,000 and the nation's greatest concentration of lawyers helped Washington edg...

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