Press Play With Madeleine Brand

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. 

Over the last decade, Airbnb renters submitted some 35,000 complaints over surveillance devices, CNN found. Airbnb banned indoor cameras in spring, but enforcement is weak. President Biden unveiled his plan for Supreme Court reform today. It includes term limits for justices and a binding code of conduct. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch wants his most conservative heir to control Fox News and the rest of his media empire. The other siblings have allied and sued.  The Olympic surf competition is underway in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, where athletes are riding 40-foot waves and risking crashing into razor-sharp coral.  KCRW DJ Anne Litt shares her new favorite tunes, plus talks about the legacy of The Chills’ Martin Phillips.

Want to grab food in Santa Ana before heading to KCRW’s Summer Nights at the Bowers Museum on Aug. 10? Consider Chapter One, Alebrijes, Heritage BBQ, and more. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new efforts to clear homeless encampments on state land, and issued guidelines to California cities to do the same. Critics say the policy is unlikely to fix the problem.  Friday is the opening of The Paris Olympics, which includes a new competitive sport inspired by break dancing. It may be the last Olympics for some of the most dominant American athletes in recent history. Critics review the latest film releases: “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Didi,” “The Fabulous Four,” and “Made In England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger.”

Vice President Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is searching for her running mate. At the top of the list: Josh Shapiro, Mark Kelly, and Andy Beshear. Actor Griffin Dunne grew up in Hollywood with a celebrity-obsessed dad. In his new memoir, he reveals what happened to his family after his sister died at the hands of her ex-boyfriend.   “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” topped the Billboard charts for 14 weeks, won the Grammy for Album of the Year, and transformed standup comedy. Newhart died last week at age 94.

Kamala Harris is framing her presidential race against Donald Trump as prosecutor versus felon. What kind of a prosecutor was she in California?  The Israeli prime minister will address Congress on Wednesday, and meet with Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump. But support for Israel among Americans has decreased. Critics have praised “The Bear” for its realistic portrayal of the high-stress restaurant world. But it’s also about what alcohol addiction does to families.  Kamala Harris has embraced Gen Z internet memes and pop star Charli XCX’s viral summer album “brat” to energize young voters.  

PJ Morton wrote his latest album during a 30-day trip across Africa, where he collaborated with local artists Mádé Kuti, Asa, the Soweto Spiritual Singers, and others.  President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek another term means his delegates are no longer pledged to a candidate. Many have already said they will back Kamala Harris.  Now that Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic frontrunner in November's race against Donald Trump, Republicans have floated legal challenges to her candidacy and access to President Biden’s campaign war chest. Kamala Harris’ campaign says she raised more than $50 million since Sunday, when President Joe Biden withdrew his reelection bid. But Donald Trump has some major Silicon Valley money behind him too.

Mexican tomatillo salsa, Indian green chutney, and Italian salsa verde — use them as condiments for grilled meat, fish, or tofu.  KCRW looks at the Republican Party platform and The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which outlines deportations, massive cuts in government oversight, and strict limits on access to reproductive care.  LA county's health director says COVID cases, hospitalizations, and viral levels in wastewater have all doubled in the past month. Researchers warn that the new FLiRT variant is fueling the surge. Critics review the latest film releases Twisters, Oddity, Crossing, and Skywalkers: A Love Story.

The second day of the Republican National Convention featured tough talk against immigration. Latino voters are increasingly less concerned with that, compared to issues like the economy. Celebrated Canadian author Alice Munro died in May. But her daughter recently went public about being sexually abused by her stepfather and getting no support from her mom.  In Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s new novel, the patriarch of the Fletcher family establishes a lucrative business after escaping the Holocaust, then gets kidnapped. The focus is on inherited money and trauma.

JD Vance is the Republican vice presidential nominee. An Ohio political science professor discusses who he is, and what this pick means. After the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, many Democrats continue to have questions about Biden’s ability to win. But the incumbent isn’t stepping aside. At the height of #MeToo, Louis C.K. admitted that sexual misconduct allegations against him were true, then resumed his career nine months later. A new documentary looks at what his comeback says about how we view celebrities who’ve done wrong.  Ahead of the Olympics, Parisian officials are trying to convince people that it's safe for triathletes to swim in the Seine River. But recent water tests showed signs of E. coli bacteria linked to fecal matter.  

America is experiencing the worst spate of domestic violence since the 1960s and 1970s. July 13's assassination attempt against former President Trump should be a wakeup call. Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case against former President Trump over his handling of classified documents, saying the special counsel's appointment violated the Constitution. What’s next? Long Beach-based video artist Bill Viola died this past Friday at age 73 after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2012. Musician Reggie Andrews mentored hundreds of students at LA’s Locke High School, some of whom became stars, like Thundercat and Kamasi Washington. Andrews is the focus of the latest “Lost Notes” episode. 

One approach to a stone fruit salad: Be inspired by savory hot dishes that combine the peaches, nectarines, etc. with meat and spices. The possibility of a second Trump term loomed over this week’s NATO summit in Washington. KCRW looks at what’s on his foreign policy agenda if he wins in November. Historian William Gow has written a history of LA’s Chinatowns (plural) – and how they were influenced by Hollywood and the people who lived there.   Critics review the latest film releases: “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Longlegs,” “Sing Sing,” and “Sorry/Not Sorry.”

Even though President Biden says he’s committed to staying in the race, a recent poll puts Vice President Kamala Harris slightly ahead of Donald Trump, Biden, and other prominent Democrats. The last time a sitting president chose not to run for reelection, the country was deeply mired in an unpopular war. Presidential historian Tim Naftali explains how Lyndon Johnson’s 1968 decision resonates today. San Jose is allowing the sale of accessory dwelling units, which it hopes will provide more options for buyers and lower housing costs. KCRW looks at the potential impact and what other cities could follow. Las Vegas’ Mirage hotel and casino, built in 1989, is set to close next week. It hosted Siegfried and Roy and their white tigers, plus a 40-foot-high erupting volcano and a dolphin habitat.

Screenwriter Meg LeFauve explains why Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui were added as new characters in “Inside Out 2,” plus why she personally thanks Anxiety.  Phoenix, Arizona is a microcosm of America’s rising challenges: hyper-partisanship, conspiracy theories, and culture wars exacerbated by drought and extreme heat.  Jury selection starts today in the trial of Alec Baldwin, who’s facing involuntary manslaughter charges related to the fatal shooting on the set of his film “Rust.” Americans eat about $9 billion worth of berries each year, mostly the bland supermarket kind. California-based Driscoll’s is betting people will pay more for a super-sweet variety.