Press Play With Madeleine Brand

In Tuesday’s debate, Republican Steve Garvey and Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff tried to use Donald Trump against each other. They’re vying to fill Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat.  CA Attorney General Rob Bonta has expressed concerns that Latino voters aren’t fairly represented in the city. The LA Times reports he’s urging the council to redraw district maps. “The Apprentice” shows how notorious lawyer Roy Cohn helped turn Donald Trump into who he is today. After it aired at Cannes, the former president threatened to sue. It’s do or die for the Dodgers in tonight’s playoff game against the San Diego Padres. If they win, there will be another game. If they lose, that’s it for them.

Hurricane Milton intensified from Category 1 to Category 5 in just nine hours. An unseasonably warm Gulf of Mexico is one reason such a powerful storm is headed toward Tampa Bay’s 3 million residents. CalTech professor John Hopfield and Google scientist Geoffrey Hinton’s discoveries taught computers to learn the same way humans do, paving the way for A.I. Benjamin Kersten, a graduate student and UCLA chapter leader for Jewish Voice for Peace, talks about his support for Palestine.  Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents in 1989. New Netflix series are focusing on the case, and LA’s district attorney is reviewing evidence that may shed new light. HBO’s “Chimp Crazy” revolves around a woman who’s trying to raise a primate in Missouri. She unsuccessfully fights PETA’s legal efforts to move the animal to a sanctuary. 

Bar Hinitz, 27, lost his best friend, Dan, during the Hamas attack at the Nova Music Festival in Israel. He wants to keep Dan’s memory – and humanity – alive.  A Palestinian American who’s lost dozens of family members in Gaza is trying to forge a new way forward without Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.  KCRW previews the new Supreme Court term, which will see big cases on ghost guns, transgender rights, and likely the 2024 presidential election. John Lennon and Yoko Ono hosted the “Mike Douglas Show” for a week in 1972, using it to discuss women’s liberation, peace, and inclusion. But Richard Nixon saw it as a threat.

A 165-page court filing unsealed on Wednesday outlines special counsel Jack Smith's new strategy to cast Donald Trump's actions on January 6 as those of a private citizen and not a president. A new California law bars public schools from serving snacks with synthetic food dyes that have been linked to behavioral disorders in children. People who are at high risk of diabetes and heart disease could drop weight and lower their blood sugar and cholesterol if they intermittently fast, new research shows.   Critics review the latest film releases: “Folie a Deux,” “Salem's Lot,” “It's What's Inside,” and “The Outrun.” Tzimmes is the Yiddish word for making a big fuss. It’s also a stew of sweet root vegetables and dried fruit, often served for Rosh Hashanah.

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 piece in The Atlantic chronicles how they connected with people they fundamentally disagree with.

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 second solo record, which combines her signature noisy sound with distorted trap beats and stream-of-consciousness rapping.  Breast reduction surgeries have surged 64% since 2019, driven by younger women seeking health benefits and challenging beauty standards.

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 88 years old.

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 “Saturday Night.” The benefit of making your own chocolate chip cookies is customization. Crispy or chewy? Nuts or not? Can you wait 24-36 hours for the dough to “age,” thus ensuring a more flavorful result, or do you need them now?

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 season includes new series like “The Penguin” and “Disclaimer,” alongside a fresh take on “Matlock.”

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 announces its MVPs. A new documentary series examines the world of 1980s hair metal. KCRW talks to director Jeff Tremaine and founding Guns N’ Roses member Tracii Guns. 

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 Different Man,” “In the Summers,” and “The Falling Star.”

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 follows a young Black woman who starts working for an elderly billionaire at his philanthropic foundation, then starts to covet his lifestyle. The moistness of zucchini adds a lot to bakes, creating a more tender crumb. The veggie also boosts longevity and nutrition. And its neutral flavor makes it easy to pair with ingredients.

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 around SoCal.  The Soweto Gospel Choir of South Africa’s latest album reimagines popular dance tracks of the last 50 years. Some of the lyrics are in Zulu, and traditional house beats are subbed for African rhythms.

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 releases: “Speak No Evil,” “My Old Ass,” “The Killer's Game,” and “Look Into My Eyes.”

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 make a traditional sheet pan dinner, a savory tray bake from a Cypriot-Turkish tradition, and an upside down baking technique.

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 lately.  With the rising popularity of medical content on streamers like HBO and Netflix, New York’s Northwell Health has launched its own film and TV production studio.  Actor James Earl Jones died Monday at age 93. He’s best known as the voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa. But his best work, and maybe least well-known, came on stage.

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 great preparation. KCRW examines the impact of a Sept. 11, 2001, release date on a few high-profile LPs.

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 for your kid’s school lunch the next day. Here are ideas to put in bento-style boxes and thermoses.

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 chefs.  Charles Duhigg outlines the qualities of "supercommunicators" and the science behind their ability to connect deeply with others. This is an excerpt from "Life Examined."