Headlines From The Times

The historic Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles reopened in 2021 with a commitment to make it easy for low-income and unhoused people to occupy its rooms. So why have so few people taken advantage of this offer?Today, we examine why this well-intentioned and funded solution to L.A.'s homelessness crisis is having trouble fulfilling its original vision. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Fast Break reporter Jaimie DingMore reading:A year after opening 600 rooms to L.A.’s unhoused, the Cecil Hotel is still mostly empty. Here’s whyLA Times Today: A year after opening 600 rooms to L.A.’s unhoused, the Cecil Hotel is still mostly emptyOnce a den of prostitution and drugs, the Cecil Hotel in downtown L.A. is set to undergo a $100-million renovation

An earthquake as devastating as the one that hit Turkey and Syria this month has been forecast to hit Southern California for decades. What can residents and governments do to prepare?.Today, our Masters of Disasters talk to us about how to prepare. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times earthquake reporter Ron-Gong Lin II, and L.A. Times coastal reporter Rosanna XiaMore reading: California faces threat from the type of back-to-back mega-earthquakes that devastated TurkeyA deadly building flaw common in California brings destruction and misery to Turkey, SyriaSubscribe to “Unshaken,” the L.A. Times’ earthquake newsletter

The Colorado River is supposed to end at the Gulf of California, but hasn’t done so for decades. A joint effort between the United States and Mexico seeks to change that.Today, we travel to the Colorado River Delta to see what’s happening. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times water reporter Ian JamesMore reading:A pulse of water revives the dry Colorado River DeltaThe river’s end: Amid Colorado water cuts, Mexico seeks to restore its lost oasisListen to our special Colorado River series here

Teenager Piper Rockelle and her friends created a multimillion-dollar YouTube empire. A lawsuit threatens it, and brings up questions about whether what young influencers do for a living constitutes “work.”Today, we examine the history of child labor laws in California, and what might happen in this digital age. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times senior entertainment reporter Amy Kaufman, and L.A. Times arts and culture writer Jessica GeltMore reading:Inside the blockbuster lawsuit threatening one teen YouTube star’s multimillion-dollar empireColumn: Social media platforms must stop the exploitation of child performers. NowWho’s protecting social media’s child stars? Inside the lawsuit against one YouTuber’s empire

For decades, NFL teams actively discouraged Black players from playing quarterback, the sport’s marquee position.Today, we go through this shameful history — and celebrate this year’s historic Super Bowl, which features two Black starting quarterbacks for the first time. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuest: L.A. Times opinion columnist LZ GrandersonMore reading:Column: The NFL should stop running from its racial historyNo one should forget about Doug WilliamsThe Big Book Of Black Quarterbacks

California’s Imperial Valley has some of the lowest rainfall in the state, yet uses the largest allotment of Colorado River water. Why is such an arid part of the state an agricultural powerhouse?Today, we look into how the region secured its rights. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times water reporter Ian JamesMore reading:In California’s Imperial Valley, farmers brace for a future with less Colorado River waterColorado River in Crisis: A Times series on the Southwest’s shrinking water lifelineCalifornia is isolated and alone in battle over Colorado River water cuts

Black people have been part of the American West for centuries. But mainstream cowboy culture long downplayed their contributions, even as they exist in the present day.Today, we hear from some of them. Read the full transcript here.Host: L.A. Times national reporter Tyrone BeasonMore reading:Black Californians have long celebrated cowboy culture. We’re just catching upA proud group of Black Californians keep the traditions of the Old West and cowboy culture alive.Excerpt: Cowboys in Compton find hope and healing on horseback

All across California, people are asking the same question: Why are eggs so expensive?Californians walk into grocery stores only to find them sold out, or that they’re going for $7 or more a dozen. Thanks to inflation, everything is more expensive right now. But when it comes to eggs, there’s more to the story.Today, how a history of California policy and a global bird flu scrambled the economics of a food staple. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times metro reporter Sonja SharpMore reading:$7 a dozen? Why California eggs are so expensive — and increasingly hard to findWatch: California eggs are becoming expensive, and increasingly hard to findOp-Ed: Why does California have an egg shortage?

For over a century, Native American tribes along the Colorado River have seen other entities take water that had nourished them since time immemorial. With the depletion of this vital source for the American West, Indigenous leaders see an opening to right a historical wrong.Today, we check in on one tribe doing just that. Read the full transcript here.Host: The Times senior producer Kasia BroussalianGuest: L.A. Times water reporter Ian JamesMore reading:Colorado River in Crisis, Pt. 1: A Dying RiverColorado River in Crisis, Pt. 2: The SourceInside the water crisis: A journey across the Colorado River Basin

In a span of 25 hours, three men of color died after encounters with Los Angeles police officers. Could a change in tactics long asked for by activists have prevented the deaths?Today, we talk about the incidents, the aftermath — and what’s next. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times investigative crime reporter Richard Winton and L.A. Times metro columnist Erika D. SmithMore reading:Column: MLK had a dream about ending police brutality. In L.A., we’re clearly still dreamingLAPD’s repeated tasing of teacher who died appears excessive, experts sayAmid concerns over three deaths, LAPD releases video

A gunman shot and killed 10 people just after a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park, California. This attack, one of California's worst mass shootings in recent memory, is sparking concerns about public safety and conversations about anti-Asian hate — and renewing calls for gun control. Read the full transcript here. Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Asian American communities reporter Jeong Park More reading: Authorities identify 72-year-old man as suspected gunman in Lunar New Year mass shootingTerror at Monterey Park dance studio: What we know about Lunar New Year mass shooting Lunar New Year shooting: A grim moment in Monterey Park, America’s first suburban Chinatown

The main way the American West harvests the Colorado River for its water use is by dams that create reservoirs, which are quickly drying up because of climate change. Can knocking some dams down help?Today, in our continuing series on the Colorado River, we go to Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell to talk to some people who think so. Read the full transcript here.Host: “The Times” senior producer Denise GuerraGuests: L.A. Times water reporter Ian JamesMore listening:Colorado River in Crisis, Pt. 1: A Dying RiverColorado River in Crisis, Pt. 2: The SourceColorado River in Crisis homepage

For decades, Republicans across the country looked to California for conservative stars and ideas even as the GOP lost its way in the state. Not anymore.Today, we talk about how how Kevin McCarthy’s tortuous path to become Speaker of the House was yet another loud death rattle for the California GOP. Read the full transcript here. Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times politics columnist Mark Z. BarabakMore reading:Column: Kevin McCarthy ‘won’ the House speakership. Now the country will pay the priceListen to “The Battle of 187”Today’s GOP could snub even Reagan

Something unexpected is going on in traditionally conservative Saudi Arabia.Over the last few years, the kingdom has been announcing a loosening of social restrictions at a surprising rate. Movie theaters are reopening, new professional opportunities for women are popping up and the country is hosting Western-style music festivals.It’s all part of a plan by the country’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who says he wants to dramatically transform his country.Today, how the prince’s push comes with a price: While dancing in Saudi Arabia might be in these days, political dissent is still most definitely out. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Middle East bureau chief Nabih BulosMore reading:Dancing is in, dissent is out as Saudi Arabia’s crown prince transforms his countrySaudi Arabia is giving itself an extreme makeover with ‘giga-projects.’ Will it work?Saudis sentence U.S. citizen to 16 years over tweets

The Colorado River begins in the Rocky Mountain snowpack, which provides the water that starts off the river on its epic journey. But as the American West gets hotter, that snowpack keeps getting smaller and smaller.Today, the second in our six-part special on the future of this vital waterway. New episodes will publish every Friday through Feb. 10. Follow the project here. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times water reporter Ian James and L.A. Times video journalist Albert Lee More reading:Our full Colorado River seriesListen to the first episode in this series, “Colorado River in Crisis, Pt. 1: A Dying River”Video: The Colorado River is drying up. Climate change and drought have taken a major toll.

This month’s record-setting rain and snow across California also comes with terms many of us know but can’t explain. Today, we do that with our Masters of Disasters. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times earthquake reporter Ron Lin, L.A. Times Fast Break disasters reporter Hayley Smith, and L.A. Times water reporter Ian JamesMore reading:California snowpack is far above average amid January storms, but a lot more is neededDeadly results as dramatic climate whiplash causes California’s aging levees to failCalifornia storm death toll reaches 17 as more rain, winds arrive. Damage could top $1 billion

The Golden Globes is going to air this week on NBC after a year-long hiatus in the wake of a scandal over its parent company, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Can its comeback stick? Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Company Town reporter Stacy Perman, and L.A. Times film business reporter Josh RottenbergMore reading:‘It took a crisis in order to make changes,’ says new Golden Globes ownerHollywood Foreign Press Assn. approves sale of Golden Globes assets to Todd BoehlyGolden Globes voters in tumult: Members accuse Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. of self-dealing, ethical lapses

The Colorado River is the water lifeline for tens of millions of people across the American Southwest, which couldn’t have developed the way it is today without it. But all the damming and diversion done to the Colorado has put it at a tipping point where a future with no water is no longer just fantasy but perilously possible.Today, “The Times” kicks off “a six-part special on the future of this vital waterway. New episodes will publish every Friday through Feb. 10. Follow the project here. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times water reporter Ian JamesMore reading:Colorado River in CrisisThey sounded alarms about a coming Colorado River crisis. But warnings went unheededVideo: Desert suburbia is growing. But the Colorado River, and Arizona’s groundwater, cannot keep up.

The Supreme Court appears ready to abolish affirmative action later this year. The case seeking to declare it unconstitutional has schools that consider race in admissions worried about how they can continue to build diversity among their students without affirmative action.Here in California, though, we already know what happens when programs like affirmative action are banned. In 1996, voters passed a first ballot initiative in the country to ban the consideration of race or gender and public education.Today, how the University of California system has dealt with a 25-year ban on affirmative action. And what we can learn if a national ban does happen. Read the full transcript here. Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times reporter Teresa WatanabeMore reading:California banned affirmative action in 1996. Inside the UC struggle for diversityAre Asian American college applicants at a disadvantage? Supreme Court debate stirs fearColumn: Affirmative action challenges aren’t about ending discrimination. Their goal is white supremacySome audio in this episode is courtesy of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library.

A new Republican-led House of Representatives convenes tomorrow, and after decades as a Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi is stepping away from the helm. Undoubtedly, her strength was in unifying her caucus — something that Kevin McCarthy, the G.O.P frontrunner for the speakership, has already struggled to do. Today, we look back on Pelosi's career — and what could be ahead for House leadership. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Justice Department reporter Sarah D. WireMore reading:The end of a political era: Nancy Pelosi’s leadership legacy in WashingtonColumn: Nancy Pelosi’s indelible markColumn: ‘There’s this very toxic energy circulating.’ Alexandra Pelosi on her mom, dad and a new documentary

This year, Beyonce blessed fans with her album, “Renaissance,” the Daniels — Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert — released the surreal trip of a movie “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” and Bad Bunny released banger after banger after banger.And those were just some of the brightest cultural moments that we couldn’t stop talking about. 2022 had its dark side, too — who could forget Will Smith’s slap or the racist rants of Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West?Today, we review both the highs and lows of Hollywood, music, culture and more. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times pop music critic Mikael Wood, film and television critic Glenn Whipp, music reporter Suzy Expositoand film business reporter Ryan FaughnderMore reading:For global phenomenon Bad Bunny, Puerto Rico remains his playground, battleground and museThe top 10 Hollywood fiascoes that defined 2022 for the entertainment businessReview: Beyoncé's ‘Renaissance’ is a landmark expression of Black joy (and you can dance to it)What happens to ‘Emancipation’ after the slap?

Ukraine, abortion, midterms, racist tape leaks — 2022 was a lot, politically. We gather our newsroom experts to break down the year. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times U.S. Supreme Court David G. Savage, California politics columnist Mark Barabak, and L.A. city politics reporter Julia WickMore reading:News Analysis: Supreme Court likes separation of powers, but not of church and stateHate grows, L.A. politics go berserk and Gen Z saves democracy: Columnists dissect 2022L.A. on the Record: KDL, absurdist theater and a trick play

This year, we saw a pandemic that just won’t quit, a face-melting heatwave and an underwater volcano eruption that wreaked all kinds of havoc. 2022 brought with it plenty of doom and gloom when it comes to natural disasters. But we also saw an effective new earthquake early warning system, a toilet sink that’s great at reducing water and energy use and more good news for our changing climate.Today, our Masters of Disasters kick off a week of looking back the biggest wins and fails of 2022 by talking about the year’s most memorable disasters. But it’s not all bad: the scribes of scary also offer up some hope as we enter 2023. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times earthquake reporter Ron Lin, L.A. Times coastal reporter Rosanna Xia and L.A. Times energy reporter Sammy RothMore reading:Massive volcano eruption in Tonga could wind up warming the EarthHow washing my hands with ‘toilet water’ cut my water bills in halfL.A. County coronavirus threat eases for now, but a second wave after Christmas possibleWhy NASA’s new mission will study Earth’s water from space

Dr. Anthony Fauci is one of the most prominent public health officials in history due to his work during the HIV/AIDS crisis and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He’s about to step down from his long-held roles as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical advisor, but before he goes, we wanted to get some last bits of advice about how to stay safe this holiday season and beyond.Today, he joins us to reflect on the lessons learned in his career, the future of public health, and high school memories of basketball and Catholic saints.Plus, stick around after the interview for a moving tribute to P-22. Read the full transcript here. Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony FauciMore reading:Fauci’s warning to America: ‘We’re living in a progressively anti-science era and that’s a very dangerous thing’Review: ‘Fauci’ illuminates even as it flatters ‘America’s doctor’Fauci: ‘There’s no way’ the coronavirus was made with U.S. research funds. Here’s why

Cryptocurrency started the year strong. But as 2022 ends, what was supposed to be a revolutionary way to buy, save and invest has collapsed. The price of nearly every cryptocurrency has plunged. Multiple businesses built specifically around them have cratered.Now, members of Congress are calling for more stringent regulations around crypto. But would regulations change cryptocurrency so much that it would essentially stop being crypto? Today, the over-talked-about, often under-understood world of crypto. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times reporter Michael HiltzikMore reading:Column: Crypto tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried didn’t lose a $16-billion fortune. His ‘fortune’ was never realColumn: Shame, suicide attempts, ‘financial death’ — the devastating toll of a crypto firm’s failureColumn: Thinking of putting crypto in your 401(k)? Think twice

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Biden administration authorized over a billion dollars in housing vouchers to help people stay off the streets. The program had problems, but one city — San Diego — succeeded in a big way.Today, we find out how they did it. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: Former L.A. Times fellow Anumita KaurMore reading:How San Diego achieved surprising success housing homeless peopleHow San Francisco fell behind on housing its homeless populationHomeless people wait as Los Angeles lets thousands of federal housing vouchers go unused

The Biden administration is pushing electric vehicles as the future. So are major auto makers. But how will that play out in red states? We travel to small-town Indiana to find out.Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times White House reporter Noah BiermanMore reading: Can California’s electric-vehicle push overcome the red-state backlash?Majority of voters favor gasoline-car phaseout. But all-electric goal faces tough oppositionCalifornia bans sales of new gas-powered cars by 2035. Now the real work begins

After Ticketmaster botched sales for Taylor Swift’s upcoming concert tour, her die-hard fans, known as Swifties, did more than just whine on social media. They took political action, calling their representatives in Congress and flagging their concerns to other lawmakers across the country. Some Swifties even filed a lawsuit.This is far from the first time Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, have been accused of unfairly monopolizing the ticket market. And after another debacle last week that left Bad Bunny fans stranded outside his sold-out concert in Mexico City, it’s clear it won’t be the last time either.Today, we look at whether the latest backlash is big enough to finally break Ticketmaster’s stranglehold on the live music market.Read the full transcript here. Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times reporter August Brown and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.More reading:More bad news for Swifties: Ticketmaster cancels Friday on-sale for Taylor’s Eras tourYou better lawyer up, Ticketmaster: Taylor Swift fans file Eras Tour lawsuitEssential Politics: Will Taylor Swift end Ticketmaster’s dominance?

Jessica Roy was hanging with friends at a piano bar when her wallet was stolen — and became a victim of identity theft. Roy filed the necessary reports and thought she’d be able to handle everything pretty quickly. That didn’t happen.Today, she shares her ordeal and explains why fixing identity theft is a never-ending nightmare and why recovering from it is so much harder than you think.Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: Assistant Utility Journalism team editor Jessica RoyMore reading:My wallet was stolen at a bar. Then my identity theft nightmare beganAre you the victim of identity theft? Here’s what to doIs identity theft protection worth it? Here’s what you should know

Keke Palmer has already racked up two decades in show business. She acts, sings, hosts a TV show and is the face of numerous memes — and she has big plans for more. Fresh off hosting "SNL" and starring in “Nope,” Palmer recently sat down with our sister podcast "The Envelope." She shares what it was like to work with Jordan Peele on his blockbuster sci-fi thriller, how she felt about being her family’s breadwinner during her childhood and the advice Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett gave her on the set of “Akeelah and the Bee.” Read the full transcript here. Hosts: Mark Olsen and Yvonne VillarrealGuests: Keke PalmerMore reading:Surprise! Keke Palmer announces pregnancy and SZA reveals album release date on ‘SNL’Is there anything better than Keke Palmer on a press tour? NopeReview: A superb Keke Palmer keeps underdeveloped ‘Alice’ mostly on track

The workload for graduate students, researchers and assistants who take on-campus jobs for their discipline is notoriously underpaid and endless. That’s why 48,000 of those workers throughout the University of California system have gone on strike, demanding better pay and conditions. The strike is happening even as finals loom.Today, we examine the background and what’s next. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times education reporter Teresa WatanabeMore reading:Nearly 48,000 UC graduate students poised to shut down many classes, labs and research with strikeUC postdoctoral scholars and researchers reach tentative deal but strike continuesChaos over grades, finals and ongoing classes erupts as UC strike continues

Mainland China is roiled by protests, the size of which have not been seen in a generation. People are calling for an end to the government’s strict “zero-COVID” restrictions. The moment has also brought rare public criticism of its architect, President Xi Jinping. Just months ago, he secured an unprecedented third term, but now is as vulnerable as he’s ever been.Today, we examine whether the zero-COVID policy could be Xi’s downfall. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times China correspondent Stephanie YangMore reading:‘Zero COVID’ is roiling China. But ending the policy may cause a massive health disasterProtests over China’s strict COVID-19 controls spread across the countryDreams of a Red Emperor: The relentless rise of Xi Jinping

This week, Congress passed a bill that effectively imposed an agreement between rail workers and their companies and prohibited a strike. Politicians feared that any work stoppage would cripple the U.S. economy for the holidays, costing the country billions of dollars.Today, we talk about the unique, violent history of rail workers trying to fight for better union contracts. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: University of Rhode Island history professor Erik LoomisMore reading:Senate moves to avert rail strike amid dire warningsBiden calls on Congress to head off potential rail strikeBig rail unions split on contract deal with railroads, raising possibility of a strike

Few people associate urban and suburban Southern California with floods anymore, mostly because many of its rivers were dammed up or transformed into concrete gulches long ago. But scientists say a megaflood could hit the entire state and would submerge cities, hitting communities of color particularly hard.The state is nowhere near prepared for that. Today, our Masters of Disasters talk about this upcoming flood, what it could mean for a rising sea and more. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times earthquake-COVID reporter Ron Lin, L.A. Times coastal reporter Rosanna Xia, and L.A. Times environmental reporter Louis SahagúnMore reading:Major flood would hit Los Angeles Black communities disproportionately hard, study findsRisk of catastrophic California ‘megaflood’ has doubled due to global warming, researchers sayMore than 400 toxic sites in California are at risk of flooding from sea level rise

For the last decade, about 800,000 individuals who came to the United States as children but have no legal status have been protected from deportation by a program commonly referred to as DACA. It has allowed them to legally work, apply for driver's licenses and even travel abroad. But the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to strike DACA down, leaving the individuals enrolled with no clear step on how to legalize their status.Today, we hear from DACA recipients who aren't going to wait to find out and have moved from the U.S.. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuest: L.A. Times immigration reporter Andrea CastilloMore reading: Why these DACA recipients traded living in the U.S. for other countries ‘I can’t keep fighting the system’: DACA recipients are leaving the U.S., disheartened by years of instability On the 10th anniversary of DACA, Janet Napolitano reflects on program she helped create

Right now, the eyes of much of the world is on the FIFA World Cup in Qatar as 32 teams fight for national pride. One team is Mexico, whose unique fanbase sets it apart from the world. With loyalties to both Mexico and the United States, it’s a representation of resilience, controversy and so much more.Today, we examine the phenomenon. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: Univisión News anchor León KrauzeMore reading:Watch “Al Grito de Guerra”Gracias Fútbol: Reliving our favorite World Cup memoriesThis soccer-mad L.A. Latina has attended seven World Cups. Qatar will make it eight

Grasshopper hunting has been going on in Mexico for thousands of years, but lately eating them has gained wider acceptance. Consumption of the jumpy little protein-packed insects is booming, and more and more restaurants are putting them on the menu ... and not just in Mexico.Today, chapulines, the world of harvesting and eating grasshoppers in Mexico. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Latin America correspondent Leila MillerMore reading:Are grasshoppers as delicious as ham? Mexico’s insect hunters would like you to find outReview: ‘Bugs’ documentary explores insect-eating as a cure for world hungerThis pop-up dinner menu is full of bugs. Yes, those kinds of bugs

The Inn Between in Salt Lake City offers a revolutionary program: hospice care for homeless individuals. We visit to see what resistance they have met — and what hope they've inspired.Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times California politics reporter Mackenzie MaysMore reading: The place where homeless people come to die with dignity Column: He was homeless and in hospice. His recovery is a lesson in what it takes to save a life Column: Stalked by death, they are gathered off the streets and cared for by an army of angels

Taiwan has more than 25,000 enthusiasts of ham radio, the antiquated communication technology that is increasingly being used in war zones when all other communications is down. If China declares war on Taiwan, then these ham radio enthusiasts could be crucial for civilians and officials alike — and can offer lessons for the rest of us.Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times China correspondent Stephanie YangMore reading:If China declares war, these ham radio enthusiasts could be crucialLiving in space can get lonely. What helps? Talking to random people over ham radioChina on Taiwan: ‘External interference’ won’t be tolerated

Right now, there’s a lot of attention being paid to Black male celebrities and their controversial statements and actions. Dave Chapelle has been criticized for his comments about trans people. Artist Ye (formerly Kanye West) and star NBA player Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets are under fire for pushing antisemitic sentiments.It’s something we’ve seen before — but is there a double standard when the bigot is Black? Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times columnist LZ GrandersonMore reading:Column: Kanye West’s life and art are one. You don’t have to keep watchingKyrie Irving suspended by Brooklyn Nets for failure to disavow antisemitismColumn: What I want Dave Chappelle to understand about the color of queerness

Political violence has been a part of this country since its founding. But right now, many people feel it’s a disturbing trend on a sharp and dangerous upswing. Such acts of political violence started ramping up long before the midterm elections. And the people who study it are worried.Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times national politics reporter Melanie MasonMore reading:‘We are a tinderbox’: Political violence is ramping up, experts warnRead our full coverage of the violent attack on Paul PelosiRep. Steve Scalise and three others shot on a Virginia baseball field in apparent act of political violence

Election day has come and gone... kinda. Many races, both local and national, are still too close to call. And while the Republican Party is expected to take Congress, it’s not by the margin many had predicted. So what does all this mean for both parties? And what about 2024?Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times politics reporter Seema Mehta and L.A. Times L.A. mayoral race reporter Julia WickMore reading:Tapping into ‘a simmering rage’: Democrats’ emphasis on abortion stopped GOP gainsDemocrats’ risky bet on GOP election deniers paid off. Should they do it again?Why it could take weeks to get final L.A. election results. ‘We aren’t sitting on ballots’

The results of the midterm elections are still being tabulated, but it looks like California Congressman Kevin McCarthy is likely to be the next speaker of the House if the Republican Party gains control. McCarthy has tied himself to former President Trump and all that comes with that affiliation, but what does the Bakersfield Republican really stand for, and how is he most likely to wield his new power?Today, as part of our coverage of the 2022 midterms, what the early election results say about the power shift in Congress, the election in 2024, and the Republican leader at the center of it all.Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuest: L.A. Times senior writer Jeffrey FleishmanMore reading:Ambition keeps him loyal to Donald Trump. But what does Kevin McCarthy stand for?2022 U.S. midterm elections: Live resultsDemocrats defy history with control of Congress still up for grabs

Tuesday’s midterms are among the most consequential elections in decades. As Democrats and Republicans fight for control, there’s one group with millions of eligible voters that both parties desperately want: Generation Z.Pundits point out that this generation is on track to be better educated, more ethnically diverse and more liberal than others. That would seem to bode well for the Democratic party and spell doom for the Republicans. But both parties wonder: Will Gen Z actually go out and vote?Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times staff writer Arit JohnMore reading:Will young voters save Democrats in the midterm elections?Gen Z students want better mental healthcare access on campusIs it apathy or anxiety? What’s keeping some young Californians from voting

Rishi Sunak made history last month as the first nonwhite person to become prime minister of the United Kingdom. But he inherits a country, a party and people in chaos. Sunak is the third prime minister in seven weeks for the U.K, as it grapples with economic problems and an identity crisis. Can a new face stop the decline?Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times foreign correspondent Jaweed KaleemMore reading:Rishi Sunak to be Britain’s new prime minister, the first person of color in the roleWith another prime minister gone, what’s next for an already diminished Britain?It’s a good time to be an American in Britain, as the pound declines in value

On Día de los Muertos, people across Mexico and the United States set up altars to remember loved ones who have died. But new traditions arise every year to commemorate the holiday: online tributes, public festivals and more.In that spirit, we have decided to turn this episode into an audio ofrenda — a place to let listeners remember their loved ones. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Latino affairs editor Fidel Martinez, and our listenersMore reading:Latinx Files: Why we built a Día de los Muertos digital altarDía de los Muertos: How we remember our dearly departedFor this Oaxacan merchant, marigolds mean more than ever this Día de los Muertos

The overturning of Roe vs. Wade this summer offered Democrats a new playbook for the Nov. 8 midterm elections when it comes to winning the Latino vote; promise to protect abortion rights. It’s a move that goes against the long-held assumption that Latinos skew socially conservative and hold antiabortion views rooted in their religious beliefs.Today, as part of our ongoing coverage of the midterm elections; how a race in New Mexico gives us a window into the gamble that access to abortions can help Democrats win over Latinos. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times national political correspondent Melanie MasonMore reading:Democrats are trying out a new pitch with Latino voters, one centered on abortion rightsYour guide to the 2022 California midterm electionWill young voters save Democrats in the midterm elections?

Who doesn’t like a nice breeze? A gorgeous zephyr? But the bad winds: They’re bad. And in Southern California right now, we’re going through some of the most notorious, bad winds of them all: the Santa Anas.Today, our Masters of Disasters talk about the howling devil winds in honor of the spooky season. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times earthquake reporter Ron Lin, L.A. Times coastal reporter Rosanna Xia, and L.A. Times energy reporter Sammy RothMore reading:No emergency outages after Santa Ana winds prompted Southern California fire danger warningsWhy it’s been so warm and windy in Southern California this winterDiablo winds can feed Northern California fires. Here’s how they form

It was the audio leak that created a political earthquake in Los Angeles.Soon after the racist comments recorded during a private conversation among three council members and a labor leader leaked to the public, the fallout began. There’ve been resignations, rowdy protests at City Hall and more. The controversy has created a political opening that might fundamentally change the makeup of the City Council by pushing it even further to the left.With midterms just two weeks away, today we talk about what’s next at L.A. City Hall. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times reporters Julia Wick and David ZahniserMore reading:Racist audio leak could push L.A. City Hall further left in Nov. 8 electionAmid noisy protest, the L.A. City Council — listening via earbuds — conducts its businessKrekorian says he’ll work to restore trust in City Hall as L.A. City Council president

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law last month to remove the word ‘Squaw’ from nearly 100 landmarks and place names across California. Native Americans and others are celebrating the new law because they find the term 'Squaw' offensive. But in Squaw Valley, an unincorporated area outside of Fresno, some residents want to keep the name. And Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig is siding with them. Read the transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times reporter Lila SeidmanMore reading: New law will remove the word ‘squaw’ from California place namesNative Americans want to ditch the name Squaw Valley. A county supervisor says context mattersRetiring its racist name, historic Squaw Valley resort will become Palisades Tahoe