Headlines From The Times

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

In June, at a Manhattan Beach City Council meeting, residents lined up to share their concerns about a predator that roams their streets, terrorizing them and killing their pets: coyotes. They’re an important part of the American West, but suburbanites are now advocating for their wholesale extermination. But is there another option, a way to co-exist peacefully?Today, we examine this controversy.

Los Angeles for decades advertised itself as an American Eden. But it ignored repeated warnings about the consequences of overcrowding on the working class. Now, when the situation is worse than ever, calls to fix it continue to go nowhere.Today, we talk about an L.A. Times analysis that found that more people are squeezing into fewer rooms in L.A. than any other large county in America. And it’s been a disaster for public health, even before COVID-19 began to spread. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times housing reporter Liam Dillon and features reporter Brittny MejiaMore reading:Packed In: Overcrowded housing in Los Angeles has brought death by designL.A.’s love of sprawl made it America’s most overcrowded place. The poor pay a deadly priceOne family’s desperate act to escape overcrowding

For decades, late night television talk shows were where America snuggled up together and we laughed. The hosts were household names, but also very male and white. Things diversified a bit last decade with hosts like Trevor Noah and Samantha Bee. But now Bee’s show is gone and Noah is on his way out.Today, what’s next for late-night television? It’s a uniquely American genre whose obituary has been written again and again, yet somehow continues to stumble along. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times television critic Lorraine AliMore reading:Trevor Noah’s exit won’t just hurt ‘The Daily Show.’ It’ll hurt all of late night‘Full Frontal With Samantha Bee’ is the latest casualty in late-night TV’s reshuffleAfter a major cast shake-up, ‘SNL’ confronts its weaknesses — but can’t overcome them

There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to Alex Villanueva’s path to becoming the top cop in Los Angeles County. And that’s exactly what LAist Studios and KPCC do in a new five-part podcast series hosted by Frank Stoltze. Today, we play episode 1 of “Imperfect Paradise: Sheriff.”The show begins with a scene of a very strange press conference: Villanueva is threatening to open a criminal investigation into L.A. Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian and Stoltze questions the sheriff about it. From there, Stoltze reflects on his time covering policing in L.A. County and explains how Villanueva is the product of a department that has been riddled with scandals for decades: racial profiling, jail violence and deputy gangs.Host: Frank StoltzeMore reading:Your guide to the L.A. County sheriff election: Alex Villanueva vs. Robert LunaDozens of Sheriff Villanueva’s donors received permits to carry guns in publicColumn: L.A. County’s sheriff leans on his Latino identity. Does he exemplify our worst traits?

Art Laboe’s voice filled Southern California airwaves for more than 70 years. But beyond being a beloved disc jockey whose show was eventually broadcast across the nation, Laboe spread a radical message of racial unity way before such messages became mainstream.The prolific “Oldies but Goodies” radio legend died Oct. 7 of pneumonia. His death comes at a time when we need his message of tolerance more than ever. So today, a tribute to Art Laboe. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: TimesOC feature writer Gabriel San RománMore reading:L.A.’s radio community pays tribute to Art Laboe, a legend and mentor: ‘End of an era’Column: I’m playing an Art Laboe album to counteract the noxious vibe from L.A. City HallArt Laboe dies; his ‘Oldies but Goodies’ show ruled the L.A. airwaves

This week, the Los Angeles City Council made national headlines for all the wrong reasons. In a closed-door meeting, City Council President Nury Martinez made racist and disparaging remarks about colleagues to fellow council members, Kevin de León, Gil Cedillo and a well known labor leader.The subsequent fallout has upended L.A. politics just before a crucial mayoral election. So now what? Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times reporter Benjamin OreskesMore reading:L.A. council members made racist comments in leaked audio. Read our full coverageBreaking down crucial moments in the racist leaked recording of L.A. councilmembersThe fall of Nury Martinez: A blunt talker undone by her words

It’s hard to avoid Gov. Gavin Newsom these days, even if you don’t live in California. He frequently attacks other governors, lobs daggers at members of his own Democratic Party, and expounds on the “California way” when talking about everything from abortion access to combating climate change and more. All this action on the national stage has people asking, is Newsom low-key testing the waters for a presidential run in 2024? And if not, what’s his endgame? Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times columnist Mark BarabakMore reading:Column: Is Gavin Newsom running for president? Or is he just desperate for attention?Column: If Newsom sees himself as president, he should move into position to run. That’s what he’s doingNewsom slams red state governors on D.C. trip, stoking speculation about his future

For hundreds of years, Mexican fermented drinks like tepache, tejuino and pulque were looked down upon by polite society. But a younger generation in Mexico has embraced them for their taste and curative powers.Now, they’re having a moment in the United States — and becoming a multimillion-dollar industry. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times food editor Daniel HernandezMore reading:Foggy, fizzy, buzzy: Searching for the fermented drinks of Mexico on the streets of L.A.Between heaven and earth, a spirited communion on Day of the DeadRecipe: Homemade tepache

Mahsa Amini died Sept. 16 in Iran after an encounter with the country’s so-called morality police. Since her death, Iranians have taken to the streets in protest of the country’s modesty laws. But what began as a call for women’s rights in Iran has since ballooned into something so much bigger.Today, we hear from the Iranian diaspora about why they’re protesting in solidarity. Read the full transcript here.Host: L.A. Times podcast producer Asal EhsanipourGuests: L.A. Times diaspora reporter Sarah ParviniMore reading:‘Woman, life, freedom’: L.A. protest over Iran draws thousands‘Nothing to lose’: Iran’s protesters step up their defiance as a potential showdown loomsIn protests over death of Mahsa Amini, internet is key to planning. Can Iran block access?

There’s a test used across Latin America to determine whether a baby was born dead or alive. And depending on the result, it could allow prosecutors to bring murder charges against mothers who might have had a still-born birth. And there’s an even bigger problem. This test is 400 years old and very unreliable.Today, how the so-called flotation test is sending women to prison for killing their newborns, when they say that they’re innocent. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times foreign correspondent Leila MillerMore reading:An unreliable 400-year-old test is sending mothers to prison for killing their newbornsAcross Latin America, abortion restrictions are being loosenedThousands of feminists march in Mexico City: ‘I am scared to simply be a woman in Mexico’

Brazilians are heading to the polls on Sunday to choose between two very different candidates: current president Jair Bolsonaro and a former one, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, more popularly known as Lula. The icon of the left spent years in prison on corruption charges but is now on the cusp of regaining the presidency.Today, we talk about how that happened. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Latin America correspondent Kate LinthicumMore reading:Three years ago he was in prison. Now he’s poised to be Brazil’s next presidentEchoing Trump, Brazil’s president prepares for election loss by declaring vote riggedCOVID-19 cautionary tales from India and Brazil

Alex Villanueva was elected as Los Angeles County sheriff in 2018 with support from progressives riding an anti-Trump wave. But since he took office, he has shifted to the right. His opponent in the November election, retired Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna, leads in the polls.But at a time when issues surrounding law enforcement are part of a national conversation, how much do they differ? We talk about it, as we hear from both candidates at a debate this month. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times law enforcement reporter Alene TchekmedyianMore reading:Luna, Villanueva trade charges in antagonistic L.A. sheriff debateAlex Villanueva thought his ‘Quien es más Latino?’ strategy would sink his opponent. NopeSheriff Villanueva in tight race as challenger Robert Luna has edge in new poll

Record heat. Record drought. Record floods. Record hail. Record bad air. In a world where climate disasters seem to break records every year, do records even mean anything anymore? And if not, then what’s next when it comes to measuring climate misery?Today, we reconvene our Masters of Disasters to examine this existential question. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times wildfire reporter Alex Wigglesworth, L.A. Times energy reporter Sammy Roth, and L.A. Times air quality reporter Tony Briscoe.More reading:Destructive rain in Death Valley, flooded Vegas casinos mark a summer of extreme weatherAs forests go up in smoke, so will California’s climate planCalifornia’s epic heat wave is over. Here’s what we learned

There are dozens if not hundreds of cases involving prosecutors using rap lyrics that are about crimes as evidence of actual crimes, even when there was no other credible evidence. But finally, the recording industry and California lawmakers are pushing to put an end to the practice.Today, we talk about groundbreaking legislation that could limit how music is used as evidence in criminal court. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times columnist Erika D. SmithMore reading:Column: America loves rap, not Black people. Don’t be fooled because this bill protects lyricsRapper ‘Tiny Doo’ and college student arrested under controversial gang law get day in court against policeSan Diego council approves $1.5M payout to two men jailed under controversial gang law

Ever since California legalized cannabis in 2016, the state’s weed market has become a multi-billion dollar industry. It’s estimated to be the largest legal market of its kind in the world. But whenever you get that much money anywhere; well, you’re gonna get political corruption.Today, our investigation into how illegal moves around marijuana are plaguing city halls across the state. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times investigative reporter Adam ElmahrekMore reading:$250,000 cash in a brown paper bag.’ How legal weed unleashed corruption in CaliforniaLegal Weed, Broken Promises: A Times series on the fallout of legal pot in CaliforniaWould this California town have become so pro-cannabis if not for a councilwoman’s pot industry ties?

Housing L.A.’s homeless population has unsurprisingly proved to be a herculean task. With tens of thousands of people on the streets, it’s become a top issue for this year’s mayoral election in November. But until now, neither candidate — Congresswoman Karen Bass and real estate developer Rick Caruso — had offered specifics on the type of housing they would create, where it would be or how much it would cost.So we asked. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times reporters Ben Oreskes and Doug SmithMore reading:Bass and Caruso have talked big on homelessness. Now they’re offering some detailsCan Bass or Caruso solve the L.A. homeless housing crisis? Here are their divergent plansBass, Caruso sling mud over USC scholarship, alleged hacks and homelessness fixes

Sometime soon, NASA plans to launch a powerful new rocket. The launch is part of an ambitious quest to get people back to the moon for the first time in half a century — and just maybe, even further.Today, why the U.S. and its partners are determined to go back to the moon and the role politics plays when we reach for the stars. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times business reporter Samantha MasunagaMore reading:NASA’s return to the moon is delayed again after scrub because of fuel leakColumn One: 50 years after Apollo 11, the moon’s allure still resonatesReaders remember the Apollo 11 moon landing, 50 years later

California voters legalized cannabis in 2016, and one of the issues that was supposed to be solved was the violence and environmental wreckage associated with the drug’s illegal trade. But that hasn’t happened.Inside California’s famed “Emerald Triangle,” a region north of San Francisco known for its weed, there’s an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 illegal cannabis farms alone. The under-the-radar cultivation is messing with once-peaceful communities. Today, we get into this issue. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times investigative reporter Paige St. JohnMore reading:Legal Weed, Broken Promises: A Times series on the fallout of legal pot in CaliforniaNobody knows how widespread illegal cannabis grows are in California. So we mapped themThe reality of legal weed in California: Huge illegal grows, violence, worker exploitation and deaths

A Los Angeles Times analysis found that thousands of short-term Airbnb rentals are in California’s most hazardous fire zones. But the company does not provide warnings or evacuation information to guests when they make a reservations, and some customers say the company’s refund policy adds to the potential dangers.Today, as climate change threatens so many aspects of our lives, are even our vacations not safe anymore? Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times reporters Ben Poston and Alex WigglesworthMore reading:In California’s high-risk fire country, Airbnb offers guests no warning or escape planIs your vacation rental in a risky wildfire zone? What you need to knowCalifornia fires are burning faster, hotter, more intensely — and getting harder to fight

Street takeovers. Street races. Burnouts. They’re the latest manifestations of car culture in the region — cousins to the drag races, lowrider cruises, V-dub love-ins and other gear-head gatherings that’ve gone on here for decades. But what you’re seeing right now — a lot of people say the scene feels different. And some people say the film franchise “Fast & Furious” is to blame.In a region where car culture is king and stunts are all over social media, residents, politicians and law enforcement have had enough. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times reporter Nathan SolisMore reading:Inside L.A.’s deadly street takeover scene: ‘A scene of lawlessness’19 cars seized, 27 arrested in illegal street takeover in PomonaLA Times Today: Dangerous street takeovers take a deadly toll on L.A.

There’s a Gold Rush right now happening in Wyoming — for wind. Billionaire developers are putting up wind turbines to help power California and turn the American West, long a place where fossil fuels ruled, into a green energy powerhouse.But not everyone is happy. Today, we get into the challenges around what’s planned to be the largest wind farm in the country. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times energy reporter Sammy RothMore reading:Read our “Repowering the West” series hereThis power line could save California — and forever change the American WestSign up for our Boiling Point newsletter