South Carolina Republican Bob Inglis is dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. But for years, he’s been trying to change his party’s stance on climate change. Wall Street Journal technology columnist Joanna Stern and her colleagues built a chatbot for iPhone recommendations. Then came the movie reviews, recipes, and Nazis. Journalists Hanna Rosin and Lauren Ober discovered their new neighbors had ties to key figures in the January 6 insurrection. Their new podcast and companion...

Iran’s second missile barrage against Israel this year escalates a regional conflict that could increase tensions among the U.S., China, and Russia.   Tonight’s debate between J.D. Vance and Tim Walz might be the last chance for voters to see both campaigns on the same stage. What can viewers expect? Hurricane Helene dumped up to 30 inches of rain in some areas of Western North Carolina. The death toll is rising as many are still without power and cell service. Kim Gordon is out with a...

With immigration a top issue in the presidential election, KCRW looks at plans from Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, plus the reality for migrants on the ground. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill to protect tech consumers. The same privacy law that regulates DNA and fingerprints now covers the info that neurotech companies gather about their users. Kris Kristofferson, an acclaimed singer-songwriter in Nashville and a movie star in Hollywood, died on Saturday at his home in Maui. He was...

California may be deep blue in this fall’s presidential contest, but further down the ticket, a handful of House races in Southern California could determine whether the GOP or Democrats control the House.  Prop 33 would expand rent control. Prop 34 focuses on health care reform. These seemingly unrelated measures are masking a fight between CA’s landlord lobby and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Critics review the latest film releases: “Wolfs,” “Megalopolis,” “The Wild Robot,” and...

After polling missed the extent of Donald Trump's appeal in 2016 and overstated Joe Biden's strength in 2020, why should we believe what polls are telling us now? LA DA candidate Nathan Hochman explains his party affiliation change, defending Sheriff Lee Baca, and his “hard middle” approach to crime.   Filmmaker Agnes Varda shaped the French New Wave in the ‘60s, and was known as a “punk grandma” in her later years. A new biography traces her art-filled life.

CA Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a law banning plastic grocery bags. Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing ExxonMobil. This is a big week in the state’s fight against plastic. LA District Attorney George Gascón talks about the impact of his progressive policies on Angelenos, Prop 36, and his standing among members of his own office. Michigan is beating California in legal weed sales, despite having only a quarter of the population. Many of its customers are out of state.  The fall TV...

As UCLA begins its fall quarter, new rules are in place to prevent future violent confrontations about the Israel-Hamas war. The UC Board of Regents approved extra non-lethal weapons for campus police. On Friday, the Georgia State Election Board voted 3-2 along partisan lines to require counties to hand-count every ballot cast on Election Day. Shohei Ohtani became the first MLB player to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in one season. Plus UCLA and USC struggle in Big Ten, and the WNBA...

The Federal Reserve announced a half-a-percentage point cut in interest rates on Wednesday. Mortgage rates had already been falling, but the median home price in LA is $1 million. The attack on Hezbollah, using tampered pagers and walkie-talkies, reveals vulnerabilities in our globalized electronics supply chain. “Colored Television” follows a broke novelist who struggles to write about the mixed race perspective for Hollywood.  Critics review the latest film releases: “The Substance,” “A...

The U.S. says Israel was behind this week’s remote detonations of Hezbollah’s communication devices. How was the operation pulled off? Gov. Newsom signed several AI bills on Tuesday that protect Hollywood actors, and try to prevent voters from being duped by deepfakes ahead of the November election. San Francisco’s political landscape is shifting as the mayoral race approaches. A once-liberal city is leaning centrist on crime and homelessness. Best-selling author Rumaan Alam’s new novel...

Under President Obrador’s new constitutional amendment, thousands of appointed judges will lose their jobs and face election. Opponents fear a threat to democracy. Chief Justice John Roberts penned three Supreme Court rulings related to January 6 that benefit former President Trump. His role is the focus of a New York Times investigation. “Art and science collide” is the theme of this year’s PST ART, a Getty-sponsored event featuring more than 800 artists and at least 70 art institutions...

The Bridge Fire is now the largest wildfire in Southern California. How are residents and small businesses in the path of the flames faring? This morning’s earthquake is a reminder of the importance of retrofitting buildings. The LA Times discovered the city has had trouble reporting accurate data on this. Alimento’s owner, Zack Pollack, explains why he closed his 10-year-old Italian bistro, and what it takes for today’s neighborhood restaurants to survive.  Critics review the latest film...

On this 9/11 anniversary, KCRW looks at what has happened in Afghanistan since U.S. forces withdrew, particularly the ongoing erosion of rights for women under the Taliban. In 2020, many prominent Black women became executives for major book publishers. But four years later, some of the most notable hires no longer have those jobs. In "Question Everything," Brian Reed looks at questions around journalistic standards following criticism he received for his approach to "S-Town." Learn how to...

SoCal is facing three big wildfires amid a historic heat wave, including the Line Fire, which has burned more than 26,000 acres. How are firefighters coping? A UC Davis scientist is trying to bioengineer cow microbes so they produce less methane. Changing how the animals process their diet — through gene editing — could help delay global warming. With the launch of its new, artificial intelligence-powered iPhone 16, Apple is hoping to boost smartphone sales, which have been sluggish...

Kamala Harris will take on Donald Trump this Tuesday in what could be their one and only debate. They’re currently tied in the polls A blistering decision by a federal judge on Friday could lead to housing for thousands of homeless veterans in Los Angeles. The Academy Museum is hosting a film series in honor of James Baldwin. KCRW reairs an interview with the filmmakers of the ground-breaking "I Am Not Your Negro."  Before streaming music, full albums were released on Tuesdays and required...

The Department of Justice is making a big push to curb Russia’s interference in U.S. elections, something we’re also seeing from Iran and China. Hope Solo is one of the greatest soccer players of all time — and one of the most controversial. She tells her story in a new Netflix film. Critics review the latest film releases: “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “The Front Room,” “The Thicket,” “His Three Daughters,” and “Seeking Mavis Beacon.”  Tonight’s dinner could be partly saved and repurposed...

SoCal is bracing for a blistering heat wave over the next few days. What can cities like LA and Phoenix do to adapt to extreme temperatures amid climate change? Parts of Rancho Palos Verdes are sliding closer to the ocean, and residents are facing power cuts and property damage. KCRW hears from a homeowner and a geologist. California's oldest family rice farm is shutting down after nearly a century in business. Koda Farms is known for a special heirloom grain of rice cherished by...

Israelis took to the streets to protest the deaths of six hostages kidnapped by Hamas. How does this growing pressure change the calculus for Netanyahu and the U.S.?  Election lawsuits in Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and other battleground states could complicate the aftermath of a close presidential election in November.  ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” is a mockumentary that portrays the chaos within an inner-city school. Janelle James talks about playing the brash, self-centered...

Both COVID and mosquito-borne diseases are spreading this summer. A Pasadena-based doctor talks about the latest coronavirus vaccine and other protective measures.  Over the last quarter, Hollywood’s reality TV production is down nearly 60% compared to last year. Is this a temporary contraction or a permanent shift in the industry? Critics review the latest film releases: “1992,” “Reagan,” “You Gotta Believe,” and “The Deliverance.” Picnicking during Labor Day weekend? Consider the niçoise...

Imagine looking at a friend’s face — and their eyes, cheeks, and lips begin to distort, instantly or gradually. It’s the result of prosopometamorphopsia (PMO). In December, a distinguished scholar of genocide told KCRW there wasn’t proof of Israel committing genocide in Gaza. He’s since changed his mind. AI could make human college counselors obsolete. But it may help students and families who can’t afford a higher education coach. Along the California-Oregon border, the largest dam...

The Democratic Convention kept the good times rolling for Kamala Harris and a rejuvenated Democratic Party. But with 10 weeks until Election Day, the race is tied.  Thanks to a little-known provision in the law that compensates whistleblowers for the fraud they expose, one man has turned it into a lucrative business. The groundbreaking TV show “My So-Called Life” made waves 30 years ago, especially because of Wilson Cruz’s portrayal of biracial, queer teenager Rickie Vasquez. After a...

Jimi Hendrix built the Electric Lady recording studio in New York, but died a few weeks after it opened. A new documentary shows how later generations of artists made it a sanctuary. In deposition tapes obtained by NPR, former LA Mayor Eric Garcetti says he didn’t know about his aide Rick Jacobs’ alleged sexual misconduct. Former city staffers say Garcetti is lying. An Ohio judge ruled that several abortion laws now violate the state constitution — after voters approved an amendment last...

While most voters know Kamala Harris is the vice president, polling suggests few know much more about her. The presidential candidate’s nomination speech gives her an opportunity to change that. Democrats worry that sexism will prevent Kamala Harris from beating Donald Trump. But research shows that Americans vote for women at the same rates they vote for men.  Critics review the latest film releases: “The Crow,” “Blink Twice,” “Between the Temples,” and “The Killer.” Tennis star Jannik...

A hotdish must be a main dish that includes protein, starch, veggies, and a creamy element. Evan Kleiman takes on the recipe for Tim’s Turkey Taco Tot Hotdish. The Harris-Walz ticket gives Democrats a chance to coalesce in a way they’ve struggled to since losing to Donald Trump in 2016. Franklin Foer makes the case in his latest “The Atlantic” piece. USC Professor Geoff Cowan played a pivotal role in the reforms that came out of the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Now he’s back in...

Protests against the war in Gaza may look different this school year. The UC system is banning encampments, protests that block campus pathways, and masks that hide demonstrators’ faces. Kamala Harris’ economic plan focuses on alleged price gouging by food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. She’s also taking on prescription drug prices and housing costs. Kamala Harris’ campaign has momentum, and some credit her late entrance into the presidential race. Could this mean long...

Riverside native Ivan Cornejo fuses folk and rock with regional Mexican music. The 20-year-old’s first arena tour starts on August 23. Protests and violence marred the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Could this year’s convention, also in Chicago, see similar alienation and division? Former Republican Congressman George Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft today. It ends a long saga that began before he took office. Phil Donahue died on Sunday at...