Episodes
The Santa Monica City Council recently voted to explore compensating the descendants of a Black man named Silas White for his plot of land on Ocean Ave. New analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that Medicare spending on weight loss drugs like Ozempic rose to $5.7 billion in 2022 — up from $57 million in 2018. LA City Council officials have announced plans to eliminate traffic lanes, widen sidewalks, and add bike and bus lanes to the storied Hollywood Boulevard. An excerpt...
Published 03/27/24
Judy Baca’s collaborative effort to create “The Great Wall of LA” is the subject of a new LA Times short documentary. The mural is being extended to another half mile. Four men accused in Friday's terrorist attack at a Russian concert hall appeared in court bruised and bandaged — an example of Putin’s regime using violence to exert political control. The LA Innocence Project is pushing for new evidence and DNA testing in Scott Peterson’s quest for a retrial. Peterson was convicted of...
Published 03/26/24
Published 03/26/24
A new AI company called Suno wants everyone to be able to produce their own pro-level songs. What does that mean for artists? The U.N. Security Council called for a ceasefire in Gaza, with the U.S. abstaining from the vote. Will it make a difference in the conflict? The Supreme Court will hear arguments challenging the major abortion drug mifepristone, which is used in more than half of all abortions in the U.S. Alynda Segarra latest’s album, “The Past is Still Alive,” honors people,...
Published 03/25/24
Regarding Her, a nonprofit accelerating the growth of women entrepreneurs and leaders in food and beverage, is sponsoring a spattering of events this March. California voters narrowly passed Prop 1, Newsom’s signature mental health initiative. It’s poised to overhaul treatment for drug addiction and homelessness. What happens next? A risk calculator caught actress Olivia Munn’s aggressive breast cancer a year early, while regular screenings missed it. Should other women use the tool too?...
Published 03/21/24
In “Problemista,” a Salvadoran immigrant longs to become a toy designer when he arrives in New York. The challenges of getting a U.S. work visa threaten his dreams. In Texas, Senate Bill 4 would allow local police to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit blocked it ahead of oral arguments. After the ousters of anti-LGBTQ school board members in Orange County and a watering down of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, are the...
Published 03/20/24
Aging pop stars Jennifer Lopez and Justin Timberlake are promoting new albums. Are audiences interested in new material, or just hoping they'll bring sexy back? Despite bans in 14 states, over 1 million abortions occurred in the U.S. last year, marking the highest number in a decade, per the Guttmacher Institute. It could soon be a lot cheaper to sell your home. A prominent industry group for realtors just agreed to lower commissions. What does this mean for the housing market? To make...
Published 03/19/24
The world of 1970s Laurel Canyon is on full display in Ginny Winn’s book, “Grievous Angels, Trout Masks, and American Beauties: 1970s Rock & Roll Photography of Ginny Winn.” Gov. Newsom has made Prop 1, the mental health and housing bill, his signature piece of legislation in 2024. Though still expected to pass, a narrow victory is not what he was hoping for. A few swing states have decided recent elections. Third-party or independent candidates could impact Biden and Trump’s path to...
Published 03/18/24
A classic fruit pie is vegan except for that buttery crust, which is the easiest part of the pastry to tweak. Several great plant butters are available. Some members of Congress view TikTok as a national security threat since it collects data on U.S. users, and the Chinese government could control the software. If you’re driving a new car, data like how fast you accelerate and how hard you brake might be influencing your insurance premiums. How can you find out if it is? Critics review...
Published 03/14/24
“High & Low” chronicles John Galliano’s rise with Givenchy and Christian Dior, then his downfall due to alcoholism and anti-Jewish remarks. Now his work for Maison Margiela is winning audiences. An Atlanta judge has dismissed six charges against Trump and his co-defendants, but left most of the racketeering case intact. Will it delay his prosecution? Gemini, ChatGPT, and Grok — more Americans are concerned than excited about artificial intelligence. But how can these products make our...
Published 03/13/24
Karen Bass talks about the efficacy of her signature Inside Safe program, preparing LA for the Olympics, and Measure HLA. The Anaheim Planning Commission voted to change zoning laws to accommodate Disneyland. What does the city get in return, and what will the changes bring to the Magic Kingdom? On Monday, students and Jewish community members gathered at UC Berkeley to protest antisemitism. Last month, violence led to the cancellation of an Israeli lawyer’s speech. The Peanuts gang’s...
Published 03/12/24
The Grateful Dead has broken the record for most top 40 albums on the Billboard charts, beating Elvis Presley. What’s behind the band’s long-lasting popularity? At the Oscars, Jimmy Kimmel tempted John Cena to bare all. Other than that, there were little surprises. “Oppenheimer” dominated with seven wins. A bill that would force TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent company is quickly advancing through Congress. First Amendment and national security issues could arise. On the...
Published 03/11/24
In Montecito, Patrick Saville cut off Mark Olson when surfing, then accidentally kicked his board toward him, hurting Olson’s back. Olson sued but lost the case. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the film “Rust” where the cinematographer was fatally shot while rehearsing in 2021, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Researchers examined the brain of mass shooter Robert Card and found significant damage. Card was exposed to thousands of blasts as an Army grenade trainer. ...
Published 03/07/24
Rep. Adam Schiff wanted to run against Republican Steve Garvey for Senate — and got his wish on Tuesday night. George Gascón leads the pack for DA, but will face a battle in November. San Francisco voters passed measures — which Mayor London Breed supported — that will expand police powers and restrict welfare recipients. Can SF still be called a progressive city? On Tuesday, Bitcoin’s value soared past previous records, largely because federal regulators started allowing it to be traded...
Published 03/06/24
“The New Look” (Apple TV+) explores the lives of respected fashion icons Christian Dior and Coco Chanel during the Nazi occupation of Paris. Kamala Harris has struggled to make a name for herself or win over voters. Are the criticisms and scrutiny of her fair, or just another consequence of being a vice president? The Israel-Hamas war is straining the historic Black-Jewish alliance. Some 34% of Black voters sympathize more with Palestinians, while it’s 28% for Israel, says a December poll...
Published 03/05/24
Tens of thousands of bird enthusiasts are watching Jackie and Shadow, a bald eagle pair, on a live camera. With three eggs laid, hatch time is imminent. The Supreme Court decided that states can't prohibit Trump from appearing on presidential primary ballots. Some voters argued he should be disqualified due to January 6. With the help of television ads paid for by Rep. Adam Schiff, political newcomer Steve Garvey has pulled ahead of Democratic heavyweight Rep. Katie Porter. Vice...
Published 03/04/24
To get financial aid for college, prospective students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The process is now massively delayed. Fair Shake, a Super PAC backed by Silicon Valley money, is running attack ads against Democrat Katie Porter. Who are they, and why are they so against Porter? Critics review the latest film releases: “Dune: Part 2,” “Spaceman,” “Shayda,” and “Problemista.” Comedian Richard Lewis died Tuesday at 76. The stand-up was a late-night...
Published 02/29/24
On Thursday, Biden and Trump will both head to the U.S.-Mexico border to address immigration. It’s the top issue in the nation, reports a new Gallup poll . More than five years after the Trump administration implemented its family separation policy at the border, up to 2,000 children might still be without their parents. The continued rise of grocery prices is partly why the FTC is planning to block the merger of mega-chains Kroger and Albertsons. In a new memoir, Leslie Jamison writes...
Published 02/28/24
Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena opened in 1894. Now owner Joel Sheldon III is looking for a buyer who will keep catering to the local community. Sora can use a few word prompts to create one-minute videos showing full scenes, motions, and characters. A filmmaker who’s been tracking AI use was floored by Sora. George Gascon became LA’s district attorney with a progressive vision of restorative justice. Now he faces a swath of challengers who say he's gone too far. Noel Fielding is known...
Published 02/27/24
For some LA public school kids, playing music has kept them afloat during hardships. “The Last Repair Shop” focuses on the craftspeople who’ve been fixing their instruments. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in two cases that deal with free speech on social media. They could have big First Amendment implications. The former head of DHS’ Disinformation Governance Board argues that we’re about to be bombarded with election disinformation, and the government has given up trying to...
Published 02/26/24
Sean Wang’s Oscar-nominated short documentary, “Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó,” follows the daily lives of his two grandmothers who live together and care for each other. As Congressman Adam Schiff eyes a promotion to the Senate, 15 candidates are vying to replace him in the House. Who are the top contenders ahead of the primary? Five years ago, Saturday Night Live fired comedian Shane Gillis after revelations that he made racist and homophobic jokes on his podcast. But this weekend, he's scheduled...
Published 02/22/24
The deluge of rain over California has created a unique, shallow lake in California's Death Valley National Park. Rangers are now welcoming kayakers. Could a gondola from Union Station to Dodger Stadium — about half a billion dollars to build — mitigate traffic? The LA Metro board will vote Thursday on whether to proceed. Amid the war in Gaza, Biden is losing support among Arab American voters — a key demographic that helped deliver his 2020 victory in states like Michigan and Georgia. ...
Published 02/21/24
High-society women in 1960s New York, known as the Swans, befriended writer Truman Capote until his tell-all in Esquire. Their saga is depicted in Ryan Murphy's series “Feud.” Haaretz Editor-in-Chief Aluf Benn argues that the status quo between Israelis and Palestinians will inevitably lead to more violence in the future, even after the war. With the murder of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, what's next for those against President Putin? Navalny’s wife says she'll take up her...
Published 02/20/24
“ The ABCs of Book Banning ” is an Oscar-nominated short documentary about the recent push by conservative states and school districts to ban books about race and gender identity on campuses Eighty-three Palestinian journalists and counting have died while documenting Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Here are their stories. The Committee to Protect Journalists’ annual report says more journalists died in Gaza in just three months than in any single country over the span of a year — the...
Published 02/15/24
The Oscar-nominated short documentary “The Barber of Little Rock” follows Arlo Washington, a barber who is trying to close the wealth gap in the city. As Katie Porter exits her House seat, two Democrats vying to replace her are airing nasty attack ads. Could this swing the district back to a Republican? In “Filterworld,” author Kyle Chayka examines how algorithms built into apps like Instagram, Spotify, and Netflix dictate our choices and erode our individual taste. Red velvet cake...
Published 02/14/24