THE BIGGER PICTURE with Timothy Spangler

ATUL SINGH, founder and editor-in-chief of "Fair Observer," a journal on world affairs, is our special guest this Sunday night! "Fair Observer" examines the deeper issues behind the news, provides context and brings together perspectives from around the world, with 1,500 contributors from over 40 countries, including Nobel laureates and Gaza teenagers. Its advisers include John Bruton, the former Irish Prime Minister who began the Northern Irish Peace Process, and Donald Marron, a former member of the US President's Council of Economic Advisers. ATUL studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford on the Radhakrishnan Scholarship and did an MBA at the Wharton School. He has worked as a corporate lawyer in London for the law firm of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and served in the border states of Nagaland and Kashmir as an IPS officer. He has also been a poet, playwright, sportsman, mountaineer and a founder of many organizations. Currently, he teaches at the University of California, Berkeley and at the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar. Hear our live interview with ATUL SINGH this Sunday evening on KRLA 870AM!

The immortal words of country star Kenny Rogers - "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" - are clearly on the mind of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev this week. He is reportedly calling on public servants in his country to retire after 25 years in the job in order to make way for fresh blood. Interestingly, though, he has not yet announced any personal plans to resign from office. You see, he has been in office for 25 years and shows no signs of stepping down. Nazarbayev first came to power in 1989 when Kazakhstan was still a part of the Soviet Union. A local media outlet has reported that he regaled his cabinet with the claim that there should be no "jobs for life" in the Kazakhstan government and that after 25 years, "it's time to go." Ahhh - pot, kettle, black? Meanwhile, the world continued to lurch from one ridiculous story to another: * A Moscow sports center is offering a self-defense class centered around combat with an unusual brand of dangerous weapons: Selfie-sticks. * Police in Australia said they are investigating photos and video of a group of men enjoying some beers while driving through traffic on a pair of motorized picnic tables. * Firefighters in China's Anhui Province responded to an intersection on a report of a drunk man practicing his martial arts move atop a traffic light. * A Swedish artist is attempting to send a message about smartphone usage by placing several traffic signs, depicting two pedestrians looking down at their smartphones, around the streets of Stockholm. * A 7-year-old Rubik's cube enthusiast solved his puzzle in 8.72 seconds at a championship event in Porto Algegre, Brazil. * The Indian Department of Posts announced residents will soon be able to send mail featuring their own faces with stamps made from customers' selfies. Call us this Sunday night between 10pm and midnight during the live broadcast of THE BIGGER PICTURE on 866-870-5752 (or 866-870-KRLA). Let us know what you're thinking about the state of the world we live in today!

TOM CRIDLAND, the celebrity British menswear designer, is our special guest this Sunday night. TOM has been designing clothing since the age of 18, when he sold nearly £3,000 worth of "SWINE 09" t-shirts in a single week of school and donated all the profits to Médecins Sans Frontières. In January 2014, aged 23, he founded his eponymous menswear brand upon the simple principle of making truly luxurious clothing and selling it direct to customer online. TOM is half Portuguese and it is in Portugal that all his clothing is made. Celebrities spotted in "TOM CRIDLAND" clothes include Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Grant, Stephen Fry, and Daniel Craig, as well as Ben Stiller, Jeremy Piven, Rod Stewart, Brandon Flowers, Robbie Williams, Nile Rodgers, Michael Portillo, Stephen Merchant and Frankie Valli. The rock star drummer, Nigel Olsson, in the Elton John Band since 1969, is such a fan of TOM's trousers that he had the Tom Cridland brand made an official sponsor of Elton's concerts. This year, TOM launched "The 30 Year Sweatshirt," a sustainable fashion project in the form of a premium organic cotton crewneck backed up with a 30 Year Guarantee. The Times of London saluted the sweatshirt as "a campaign against planned obsolescence in the fashion industry." A "TOM CRIDLAND" flagship store is opening on the King's Road in London in January 2016. Hear our live interview with TOM CRIDLAND this Sunday evening on KRLA 870AM!

"Welcome home, Murod!" One of the world's longest serving political prisoners, Murod Juraev, was released after over 20 years in an Uzbekistan jail. Originally sentenced to nine years in jail in 1994, Juraev had his term repeatedly lengthened because of petty infringements. His prison sentence was extended four times - in 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2012 - after authorities found he had broken prison rules for crimes, including "peeling carrots incorrectly." Just goes to show that there is "hard time" and there is "not peeling your carrots correctly hard time!" Meanwhile, the world continued to lurch from one ridiculous story to another: * London police shared video of a would-be Porsche thief breaking into a car by cutting through the roof and fleeing after being unable to steal the vehicle. * Two Spanish men are facing a fine for a stunt involving driving a green Ford Focus with a large white van stacked on top of it. * Officers in Middleton responded to a 999 call from an elderly couple who claimed they were lonely by going to their house and sharing a cup of tea. * Traffic on a Chinese highway was brought to a halt by a common problem, geese crossing the road, in an uncommon quantity -- there were 1,300 of the animals. * A member of Britain's Parliament has been nicknamed "Shoebacca" after using House of Commons letterhead to complain about missing out on Star Wars shoes. Call us this Sunday night between 10pm and midnight during the live broadcast of THE BIGGER PICTURE on 866-870-5752 (or 866-870-KRLA). Let us know what you're thinking about the state of the world we live in today!

ROBERT MORROW, author of the new book, "The Clintons' War on Women," is our special guest this week. Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, ROBERT graduated with a BA in American History from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Texas in 1990. He soon established himself as a political researcher and historian with specialties in the JFK assassination, the Clintons and the Bushes. His most recent book - co-written with legendary political operative and New York Times bestselling author Roger Stone - lays out shocking and stunning allegations about Bill and Hillary Clinton: they have spent a lifetime abusing and violating women. ROBERT reveals details about their actions in Arkansas, during Bill Clinton's time in the White House, about who really ordered the deadly attack on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, during Hillary's tenure as secretary of state, about their time at the Clinton Foundation, and during Hillary's current campaign for president. Hear our live interview with ROBERT MORROW this Sunday evening on KRLA 870AM!

"I'm lovin' it!" After a heart-breaking 10 month absence, French fries have returned to McDonald's restaurants across Venezuela. Unfortunately, they now come with a hefty price, as well. So it's a not-so-Happy Meal now, I guess... At the official government exchange rate, the problem is jaw-dropping. An order of fries currently costs the Venezuelan equivalent of $78.75, more than the price for a burger and drink. Despite the initial enthusiasm that greatest the initial news reports, the bitter reality is that the supply problems related to French fries demonstrates the serious structural problems with the Venezuelan economy. So much for the "Super Size Me" official exchange rates! Meanwhile, the world continued to lurch from one ridiculous story to another: * A bootleg KFC opened in the Iranian capital was shut down by officials with some reports citing its U.S.-inspired decor as the reason. * The Guinness Brewing company announced fish bladders are being eliminated from the brewing process to allow vegans and vegetarians to enjoy the company's beer. * Officials at a Brazilian prison said they captured a trained mouse used by prisoners to shuttle drugs and other contraband between cells at the facility. * Finland has rolled out its own set of emoji to reflect "important things" associated with the country including a man and a woman enjoying a sauna, an "unbreakable" Nokia 3310 smartphone and a head-banger reflecting a Finnish appreciation for hard rock. * A job posting by British supermarket Tesco is seeking a part-time worker with a very specific set of skills: A "Christmas Light Untangler. Call us this Sunday night between 10pm and midnight during the live broadcast of THE BIGGER PICTURE on 866-870-5752 (or 866-870-KRLA). Let us know what you're thinking about the state of the world we live in today!

SUANNE SPOKE, actress from ABC Family's hit TV show "Switched at Birth" and Academy Award winning film, "Whiplash," is our special guest this week. SUANNE has an extensive career in theater, television, film and the classroom. She has appeared in over 100 television episodes and feature films. She was last seen recurring on ABC Family's "Switched at Birth" and in the Academy Award winning film, "Whiplash." She will be seen upcoming in Christopher Guest's new film "Mascots"and the soon-to-be released "Wild Prairie Rose." In theater, SUANNE has been recognized for her work as both an actress and as a producer, re-envisioning classic works and helming West Coast and national premieres. She has been seen on innumerable stages including Deaf West Theatre, Company of Angels, Inside the Ford/Fountain Theatre, Road Theatre and many others. She has won every major acting and producing award given in Los Angeles, including three Ovation Awards for Lead Performance by an Actress, the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award for both Best Production (Producer) and Best Actress, the LA Weekly Award for Best Production (Producer/Actress), the Backstage Garland Award for Best Actress and many other nominations, honorable mentions and acknowledgements over her 30-year career on the stage. Hear our live interview with SUANNE SPOKE this Sunday evening on KRLA 870AM!

You would be wrong if you thought that the reason Australians speak the way they do is because they are drunk all the time. Wrong, but not entirely wrong... Apparently, Australians speak the way they do because their ancestors, the first British settlers who set foot on the red dirt down under, were drunk all the time! Dean Frenkel from Victoria University in Melbourne claims that the unique Australian accent is derived in part from the well-established fact that early Australians frequently got drunk together and their alcoholic slurs shifted national speech patterns. Eventually the slurring pronunciations were so widespread that they were handed on naturally from parents to children. Interestingly, despite its alcoholic origins, a recent survey confirmed that the Australian accent is one of the most attractive in the world. Fair dinkum!! Meanwhile, the world continued to lurch from one ridiculous story to another: * A cracker that survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 sold for about $23,000 at a British auction, earning it the title of "world's most valuable biscuit." * A man dressed as Star Wars character Chewbacca was arrested in Ukraine for allegedly violating campaign laws with his support of Darth Vader. * An Italian man made the most of flood waters in Sicily by donning his Speedo trunks and taking a swim down the street. * A Chinese panda sanctuary shared a video of people performing "the happiest job in the world" -- a panda nanny. * A British man put his yoga skills to use in a bowling alley by having a friend roll a ball down his back for a slow-rolling strike. Call us this Sunday night between 10pm and midnight during the live broadcast of THE BIGGER PICTURE on 866-870-5752 (or 866-870-KRLA). Let us know what you're thinking about the state of the world we live in today!

JOY PICUS, former Los Angeles City Council Member, is our special guest this week. JOY represented the West San Fernando Valley from 1977-1993, and was successful in implementing her agenda to create a "family friendly" workplace These efforts culminated in the creation of a Civic Center Child Care Center, now known as the Joy Picus Child Development Center. She is known nationally for her aggressive efforts to promote opportunities for women. She was honored by MS Magazine as a 1985 "Woman of the Year" for her work on Los Angeles precedent setting pay equity agreement. Currently, she is an active member of the Los Angeles League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. JOY will be speaking to us about the new Focus Features' film, "SUFFRAGETTE," which celebrates the passage of 19th Amendment giving American women the right to vote. Hear our live interview with JOY PICUS, this Sunday evening on KRLA 870AM!

"A long time ago, in a Ukraine far, far away..." With the new trailer for "Star Wars - The Force Awakens" dropping the week to universal acclaim and fanboy hyperventilation, an artist in Odessa, Ukraine finally gave the world what it really needed - a statute commemorating Darth Vader. But instead of starting from scratch, Alexander Milov decided to "repurpose" an existing Soviet-era statue of communist leader Vladimir Lenin! And rather than being punished for vandalism, Milov was actually complying with a recent law that requires all communist symbols to be removed. The artist - and no doubt the local tourist board - hopes that the statue will attract hard-core Star Wars fans from around the world. And as an extra incentive, Milov has included a wi-fi internet hotspot in Darth Vader's head! Meanwhile, the world continued to lurch from one ridiculous story to another: * Falling water levels in a Mexican reservoir resulting from low precipitation revealed the ruins of a 16th century church submerged for decades. * Visitors at the Milan World Expo 2015 World's Fair watched history in the making Sunday and chomped on a sweet surprise to boot. * A hummus cafe in Israel is seeking to foster understanding amid a series of violent incidents by offering a discount for Jews and Arabs who sit together. * German doctors said a man who was without oxygen for 15 minutes later began having seizures -- but only while playing Sudoku. * Welsh police said they are investigating a video that appears to show a motorist walking his dog from behind the wheel by holding a leash out the window. * An animal charity shared video of 450 dogs at a cage-free sanctuary in Serbia running free and playing with each other and human volunteers. Call us this Sunday night between 10pm and midnight during the live broadcast of THE BIGGER PICTURE on 866-870-5752 (or 866-870-KRLA). Let us know what you're thinking about the state of the world we live in today!

LAWRENCE PRESSMAN, the prolific actor best known as a series regular on ABC's hit TV show, "Doogie Howser, M.D.," is our special guest this week. LAWRENCE has more than 150 television and film credits, including his role as Dr Benjamin Canfield on the much beloved fan favorite, "Doogie Howser, M.D.," as well as such seminal shows as "Kojak," "Hawaii Five-O," "The Bob Newhart Show," "Rich Man, Poor Man," "M*A*S*H," "Hart to Hart," "Dynasty," "Moonlighting," "LA Law," "Murder She Wrote," "NYPD Blue," "Law and Order," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Profiler," "The X-Files," "Judging Amy," "Crossing Jordan," "Boston Legal" and "Mad Men." Currently, he can be seen in Amazon's ground-breaking show "Transparent" and the CW's hit drama "Hart of Dixie." In addition to LAWRENCE's work on the screen, he is a prolific stage actor, whose Broadway credits include Woody Allen's "Play It Again, Sam" and "Man in the Glass Booth," both directed by Harold Pinter. His theatre nominations and awards include Ovation, Drama-Logue, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, Garland, Maddy, LA Weekly, GLAAD and Broadway's Theatre World Award. This month, he will be featured in the Antaeus Theatre Company's production of Anton Chekhov's classic "Uncle Vanya." Hear our live interview with LAWRENCE PRESSMAN, this Sunday evening on KRLA 870AM!

Chinese police arrested three people this week on charges of stealing a woman's corpse. You wouldn't think that there would be much of a market for human remains in China, but apparently they intended to sell their recent acquisition as a possible bride. We'd heard that men outnumbered women in China but we had no idea it was THIS bad! However, things aren't so bad, at least yet. Further research discovered that there in an ancient Chinese rite known as the "ghost wedding." Basically, single people who have died can be given a belated marriage so they can insure that they won't have to endure the stigma of being single in the afterlife. The chief body thief heard about the death of a young woman in a nearby village, and realized it could be readily sold to the family of an unmarried dead man. They were able to get the man's relatives to agree to a price of approximately $4,000 for the body, but unfortunately were caught by villagers when they tries to excavate the young lady's corpse. Well, a ghost wedding does have one benefit. At least the bride doesn't have to worry about the "something borrowed" - it's her! Meanwhile, the world continued to lurch from one ridiculous story to another: * Lodging website Airbnb announced a contest to win a spooky Halloween stay with six million deceased roomies in the Catacombs of Paris. * A Chinese airline said it is investigating allegations of female flight attendants being forced to climb into overhead luggage compartments as part of a hazing ritual. * A Japanese swordsman dubbed a modern-day samurai sliced a 100 mph fastball in half 30 feet away from where it was launched by a pitching machine. * A Norwegian police department is looking to attract gullible criminals with a Facebook post asking, "Is anyone missing their hashish?" * Police in Finland are asking pizzeria customers to report eateries offering pies for less than $6.81, as such restaurants are likely dodging taxes. * A petition with more than 15,000 signatures calls on Australian officials to raise the value of their currency by changing the name to "Dollarydoos." Call us this Sunday night between 10pm and midnight during the live broadcast of THE BIGGER PICTURE on 866-870-5752 (or 866-870-KRLA). Let us know what you're thinking about the state of the world we live in today!

ARYE GROSS, featured actor on ABC's hit crime drama, "Castle," is our special guest this week. ARYE has had an extensive film and television career over the years, appearing in a number of memorable projects over the years, including "Soul Man," "Tequila Sunrise," "The Couch Trip," "For The Boys," "A Midnight Clear," "Minority Report," "Big Eden," "Harvest" and "Grey Gardens," as well as "The Practice," "Ellen," "Friends," "Law & Order," "CSI," "Six Feet Under," "The Riches" and "Criminal Minds." He is probably best known though for the recurring role of Sidney Perlmutter, M.E., on ABC's "Castle." A prolific stage actor, ARYE appeared in the Broadway production of "Brooklyn Boy," as well as a number of regional shows, including ) "Above The Fold" (Pasadena Playhouse), "Parfumerie" (The Wallis), "Coney Island Christmas" (Geffen), "Circle Mirror Transformation," "Our Mother's Brief Affair," "Brooklyn Boy" (South Coast Rep), "Three Sisters" (LATC) and "M. Butterfly" (East/West Players). This month, he will be playing the lead in the Antaeus Theatre Company's production of Anton Chekhov's classic "Uncle Vanya." Hear our live interview with ARYE GROSS, this Sunday evening on KRLA 870AM!

Danish parents worn down by their bored and jaded children will have at least one event they can take their children to next week that will cause them to put down their phones and tablets, at least for a little while. The Odense zoo in central Denmark has announced that it will dissect a lion in public, and boys and girls are welcome! Stressing the educational importance of the dissection, zoo officials run the risk of an international media outrage erupting, as was the case last year when a zoo in Copenhagen took a carving knife to a giraffe, ostensibly for "educational purposes" as well. The dissection of the lion, who has been kept in a freezer since being culled earlier this year, is intentionally scheduled for a week that students will be out of school on vacation. Someone should keep an eye out, though, for the awkward young boy standing by himself in the front row who repeatedly asks the zookeepers a number of increasingly technical questions about knife technique... Meanwhile, the world continued to lurch from one ridiculous story to another: * A Japanese man live-streaming his video game session online purportedly set fire to his apartment by accident as his webcam continued to broadcast. * A Montreal man said "ominous and creepy" election ads inspired him to plaster the city with fake election posters bearing his face a tongue-in-cheek message. * A British man whose legal name is Something Long and Complicated said Facebook suspended his account and refused to believe his driver's license. * A Saudi woman could face jail time for defamation after posting a discreetly filmed video of her husband allegedly cheating on her. * Drone footage from a Chinese toll road near Hong Kong shows thousands of cars at a standstill in a traffic jam spanning the 50-lane road. Call us this Sunday night between 10pm and midnight during the live broadcast of THE BIGGER PICTURE on 866-870-5752 (or 866-870-KRLA). Let us know what you're thinking about the state of the world we live in today!

CHELSEA ROACH, producer and star of hot new online TV show, "That Reminds Me...," is our special guest this week. "That Reminds Me...," a series about the things that "just happen" when you're with your family, will premiere on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 9 pm/8 pm CST. Think "Modern Family" meets "Arrested Development," with a healthy dose of classic sitcom. The series will launch in partnership with Wix.com, one of the world's leading drag-and-drop website editors. Hear our live interview with CHELSEA ROACH this Sunday evening on KRLA 870AM!