Press Play With Madeleine Brand

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 principal. USC and UCLA won their openers as new members of the Big 10 Conference. NFL season begins Thursday. And LA Dodgers’ Shohei Otani returns to his old stomping grounds in Anaheim tonight. 

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 pan bagnat, a portable sandwich. Another good choice is ratatouille, a stew celebrating summer ingredients.  

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 removal project in U.S. history finished today. Native tribes spent years pushing for it.

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 15-year hiatus, Liam and Noel Gallagher are reuniting Oasis. The brothers are known for their decades-long feud that has troubled the band’s reputation.

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 year guaranteeing the right to an abortion. From Vice President Harris’ bespoke suits to Senator Vance sporting the first beard in decades, KCRW looks at the messages politicians are sending through their fashion choices.

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 Sinner tested positive earlier this year for a banned substance. Authorities said it wasn’t intentional, but it does cast a shadow over this year’s U.S. Open.

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 the Windy City for 2024’s DNC.   The far-right majority of Georgia’s election board is passing new rules that could let counties refuse to certify election results if Kamala Harris wins. Earlier this year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. polled higher than any third-party candidate in decades. Now his running mate says they're considering dropping out.

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 campaigns will be a thing of the past? Netflix’s “Daughters” focuses on a program in a Washington, D.C. jail that connects families through a daddy-daughter dance inside the jail’s walls.

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 age 88. For decades, he hosted TV shows that let audiences interact with interesting, controversial, and famous people.

Cucumbers are a perfect foil for condiments of all kinds, so it’s not surprising that TikTok’s cucumber king, Logan Moffitt, is going viral with every cucumber salad recipe he posts. Vice President Kamala Harris hasn’t offered many details on her policy positions yet. Some Democrats have been urging her to keep it vague. Music is a key component in the 2024 election. Harris has been playing Beyonce’s “Freedom.” Meanwhile, many artists have asked former President Donald Trump to stop playing their music.  Critics review the latest film releases: “Alien: Romulus,” “Rob Peace,” “Skincare,” and “Close to You.”

A Los Angeles mom shares how receiving $1000 per month for a year — from the BIG: LEAP program — allowed her to take better care of her son and her own mental and physical health.  Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz doesn’t own stocks or property. Whether that’s a good thing depends on whom you ask. Sde Teiman has become Israel’s most infamous military prison. Former prisoners and whistleblowers allege rampant human rights abuses, including gang rape.  One in 10 Americans over age 65 has dementia, an umbrella term for symptoms of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons. One journalist is documenting how patients continue to live with dignity and joy.

Mayor Karen Bass returned from Paris to LA on Monday, bringing the official Olympic flag with her. She talks about preparing LA for the 2028 Games and what it will mean for homelessness.  The epicenter of Monday’s 4.4 magnitude earthquake was in El Sereno on the Puente Hills fault system. While it's not as famous as the San Andreas fault, it could be more dangerous.   The documentary “Sugarcane” reveals the painful history of Catholic-run boarding schools in the U.S. and Canada, where thousands of Native children suffered horrific abuse. Many psychedelic mushroom edibles don't contain the active ingredient psilocybin, and have potentially harmful or illegal compounds, a recent LA Times investigation found. 

In 1994, new records from bands such as The Cranberries, Massive Attack, Beck, and Portishead made their way into the American mainstream, thanks partly to KCRW. LA’s 1984 Olympics were the pinnacle of organization, profitability, and viewership. Can LA’s 2028 Games build on that and the momentum from 2024’s successful Paris Games? Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are hoping to mobilize youth support online through fan videos, candid clips, memes, and the language of TikTok.  Every state in the country allows no-fault divorce, meaning you don’t need a reason to get one. But some on the far-right are now trying to change that. In Utah, just a handful of school districts can get books pulled from school libraries. Literature by Margaret Atwood and Judy Blume are now censored for being “pornographic.”

After countless Olympic fans flew to Paris and American athletes insisted on A/C, France had a bigger-than-intended carbon footprint for the Summer Games. How can LA 2028 be sustainable?  Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams piloted the maiden voyage of Boeing’s Starliner spaceship. Now they're stuck at the ISS and might have to hitch a ride home with SpaceX.  Critics review the latest film releases: “Borderlands,” “Cuckoo,” “Good One,” and “It Ends with Us.” Don’t want to bother working the kitchen amid summer heat? Consider Mediterranean takeout from Papa Cristos, The Great Greek, Jerusalem Chicken, and Mini-Kabob.   

Hamas’ new political leader is the architect of the October 7 attacks on Israel. New Yorker Editor David Remnick recently profiled Yahya Sinwar. Progressive legislator Cori Bush lost her Congressional primary in Missouri on Tuesday. KCRW looks at the Democratic Party’s progressive wing and whether The Squad still operates as a bloc.  Mitrice Richardson, a young Black woman, went missing and died in Malibu nearly 15 years ago. A podcast sheds new light on the events, uncovering details that law enforcement missed.

Canadian singer Celine Dion’s vulnerable and resilient moments of navigating her life with stiff person syndrome are in a new Amazon Prime Video documentary. Kamala Harris has tapped Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate. He has a strong progressive record and a proven ability to speak to everyday Americans. Can he help her beat Trump and Vance?  Gender testing in sports is more complex than it sounds. Rose Eveleth of the podcast “Tested” explains why some elite female athletes face challenges to their ability to compete. Environmentalists are urging the Dodgers to drop a main sponsor, oil company Phillips 66, which owns the 76 chain of gas stations. As climate change worsens, some fans want an end to the “sport washing.”

LA native Ryan Bancroft leads several orchestras, including the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. He shares his journey from Lakewood to Europe. Anti-immigrant riots recently broke out in the U.K. after young girls were fatally stabbed in a grisly incident falsely attributed to a Muslim refugee. The Department of Justice sued TikTok, claiming the popular app allowed children under 13 to create and use accounts, illegally gathered data from them, and ignored parents’ requests to stop. In a federal lawsuit, veterans are demanding the construction of 4000 units of permanent housing and the nullification of outside leases at the West LA VA.  San Francisco Mayor London Breed is clearing the city’s largest encampments. People who refuse shelter could be arrested for living in public. 

The Academy Museum’s exhibit on Hollywood's Jewish founders was modified to remove language that some people deemed overly critical. Others argued that it painted an accurate picture of complicated men.  The Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich was among 16 prisoners released from Russia, including three other Americans. Putin got spies, fraudsters, and a hitman in return.  Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is reportedly on the Democratic vice presidential shortlist. KCRW discusses his record, what he brings to the ticket, and criticism he’s received from pro-Palestinian activists. Critics review the latest film releases: “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” “The Instigators,” “Kneecap,” and “Doctor Jekyll.”

“The Other Olympians” traces the history of queer athletes at the games, and how sex testing began with track before other sports adopted it.  A Hamas leader was assassinated in Iran after an Israeli strike in Lebanon killed a top Hezbollah military commander there. The deaths threaten to spark a wider regional war. The head of Project 2025 has stepped down, but the Heritage Foundation will continue pushing the conservative plan. Trump’s campaign is frustrated by the association.  Veggie fritters are an easy treat to make for yourself and friends. They require few ingredients, the mixture can be made in advance, and cooking takes minutes. 

A new documentary features 40 hours of newly discovered interviews and archival footage of Elizabeth Taylor, revealing her thoughts on work, love, and feelings of inadequacy.  The Secret Service’s new acting director testified before Congress today that he was "ashamed" of the organization's failure to protect former President Trump from an assassination attempt. Kamala Harris is half Indian American. What does her heritage mean to her — and Indian communities in the United States?  Lt. William L. Calley Jr. led Charlie Company in killing as many as 500 unarmed Vietnamese civilians in March 1968. He only served three years of mainly house arrest, and no one else was held responsible.