In the 5 months since Russia’s invasion, the American public’s attention has turned back to problems at home — and US President Joe Biden hasn’t gotten a good grade for his handling of them. But last week, he was able to lead major policy breakthroughs at the NATO and G7 summits.
Today, can President Biden’s push to spread democracy abroad help him deal with various crises back home? Read the full transcript here.
Host: Gustavo Arellano
Guests: L.A. Times White House reporter Eli Stokols
Randall Emmett had built a career for himself in Hollywood over the past decade as a producer of schlocky action films featuring cameos of iconic actors like Bruce Willis and Al Pacino. But in recent years, he was at the cusp of finally gaining mainstream respect. He had a recurring role on the reality TV hit “Vanderpump Rules” and produced Martin Scorsese’s last two films. But a Times investigation found that multiple former assistants and people who worked for Emmett alleged improper behavior.
Today, we get into the rise and fall of Emmett, and what it says about the Hollywood of today. Read the full transcript here.
Host: Gustavo Arellano
Guests: L.A. Times corporate media reporter Meg James and L.A. Times senior entertainment writer Amy Kaufman
Few things are more beautiful on a California summer evening than the sight of lowriders cruising slow and low and bouncing up and down through the streets. But for decades, municipalities across the Golden State have been declaring war on lowriding.
Today, why cities banned car cruising in the first place and how activists are finally winning. Read the full transcript here.
Host: Gustavo Arellano
Guests: San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Tammy Murga
Classic cars are a staple of California culture, but they have a dirty secret – they're gas guzzlers. And with gas prices so high, collectors are beginning to convert their cars into electric vehicles. In this episode, L.A. business reporter Ronald D. White talks about the creative ways that Californians are getting their hands on electric cars.
A 22-year-old woman and an abortion doctor from California played key roles in the legal fight that eventually led to Roe vs. Wade. But now that Roe’s been struck down, is that history our future? Today, we look at what it was like for women seeking abortions in California and the doctors who served them before the procedure was legalized, and what that past might say about a future without the constitutional right to abortion. Read the full transcript here.
For decades, weekly lunches between the American president and his vice president have piqued the interest of D.C. insiders. Today, we take a look at this unique tradition and examine what the most exclusive meal in D.C. tells us about the evolution of the vice presidency. Read the full transcript here.
Host: Gustavo Arellano
Guests: L.A. Times White House reporter Noah Bierman
President Biden has vowed to help protect the ability of those who seek abortions to travel to other states. California and other states have stepped up to offer expanded access. And now companies are vowing to do what they can to help their employees continue to access abortion. But how much do those vows from private businesses really matter?
Today, we talk about how corporations are stepping up when the government won’t. But are they actually changing anything in a meaningful way? Read the full transcript here.
We’ll be having fun all summer long ... or not. Hazards are everywhere this season — in the bonfires we set, the trash we leave behind, the sunburns we get. Today, our Masters of Disasters talk about all the hazards out there, including us. Read the full transcript here.
Host: Gustavo Arellano
Guests: L.A. Times earthquake reporter Rong-Gong Lin II, L.A. Times wildfire reporter Alex Wigglesworth and L.A. Times coast reporter Rosanna Xia
More than 20 states have already worked to ban or severely limit abortion in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe vs. Wade. But in California, access to abortion will continue to be protected. In fact, the state’s Democratic leaders want to expand the right to abortion — for those who live here, and even for those who don’t.
Today, how and why California is setting itself up as a “beacon of hope” for people who want an abortion.
Roe vs. Wade protected the constitutional right to an abortion for nearly 50 years. Now that the Supreme Court has overturned it, at least 20 states are banning or putting extreme limitations on access to abortion.
The outcome was expected, but the country still erupted when the ruling posted — abortion opponents gathered in celebration while abortion-access advocates reacted with anger.
Over the last few months, The Times has looked at the issue of abortion from a number of perspectives to help understand how we got to this historic moment. Today, we revisit five episodes from “The Future of Abortion” series.
Listen to the full episodes here:
Future of Abortion Part 1: Medicine Dr. Warren Hern has performed abortions since before Roe vs. Wade. He speaks about his career — and the fears he has for the future.
Future of Abortion Part 2: Church The complicated story of how evangelicals mobilized around restricting abortion, and one Christian woman’s place in it all.
The Future of Abortion Part 3: Money How Texas has made it nearly impossible for low-income women to get an abortion. And how other states want to copy that.
The Future of Abortion, Part 4: Keeping It Pregnancy centers have grown in numbers with the backing of antiabortion religious organizations. What’s their future like in a post-Roe vs. Wade world?
The Future of Abortion, Part 5 : Law What went wrong with Roe vs. Wade and why the court’s effort to resolve the abortion controversy back in 1973 has instead led to decades of division.
Host: Gustavo Arellano
Guests: L.A. Times reporters Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Jaweed Kaleem and David G. Savage
