Press Play

KCRW

Madeleine Brand examines the latest ideas and trends that are shaping our world and shaping Los Angeles. Madeleine talks with news makers, big thinkers, and everyday people as we map out our modern world. Monday through Friday, noon-1pm.

Madeleine Brand examines the latest ideas and trends that are shaping our world and shaping Los Angeles. Madeleine talks with news makers, big thinkers, and everyday people as we map out our modern world. Monday through Friday, noon-1pm.

More Information

Location:

Santa Monica, CA

Genres:

Interviews

Entertainment

Ideas

Public Radio

Arts & Culture Podcasts

Networks:

KCRW

Description:

Language:

English

Website:

http://blogs.kcrw.com/pressplay/

Episodes

Will free medical school make health care more affordable?

2/20/2019

Kaiser Permanente is building its first medical school, and tuition will be free for the first five graduating classes. NYU is offering free tuition indefinitely.

Duration:00:50:55

What are the challenges for Bernie Sanders in his presidential bid?

2/19/2019

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders announced this morning he’s running for president in 2020. He almost won the democratic nomination in 2016. Can he do it in 2020? We look how Sanders stacks up against an already crowded Democratic field.

Duration:00:47:56

Press Play Oscars Edition: Barry Jenkins, Black Panther, and more

2/18/2019

The 91st Academy Awards are coming up on Sunday. We hear from “If Beale Street Could Talk” director Barry Jenkins; the production designer of “Isle of Dogs;” and Tim Blake Nelson, who plays the title character in “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.” We also discuss the cultural significance of “Black Panther.”

Duration:00:51:03

Trump declares national emergency, California sues

2/15/2019

President Trump today declared a national emergency to get funding for his border wall. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced hours later they’re suing the administration. Becerra said Trump would divert vital drug enforcement money that California needs to pay for his wall.

Duration:00:49:11

Do school shooting drills make students safer?

2/14/2019

It’s one year since a gunman killed 17 people and wounded 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. On this anniversary, we look back at the Million Mom March. We also consider whether school shooting drills effectively prepare students for what might happen if a gunman attacks.

Duration:00:48:54

St. Francis Dam site in California to become a national monument

2/13/2019

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a sweeping public lands bill. It would protect millions of acres and hundreds of miles of rivers; and establish four new national monuments, including one close to LA.

Duration:00:49:55

Some companies use drivers' tips to reduce base pay

2/12/2019

The gig economy has made it easy and fast to order food, groceries, or a ride. But Amazon, Instacart and DoorDash have recently come under fire for using customer tips as part of their drivers’ salaries. That means the more a driver is tipped, the less the company itself contributes to their paycheck.

Duration:00:49:50

Press Play’s alternative list of Grammy winners

2/11/2019

The 61st annual Grammy Awards were handed out on Sunday. Some of the winners: Kacey Musgraves for Album of the Year, Cardi B for Best Rap Album, Dua Lipa for Best New Artist. Now we award the very first Press Play Un-Grammys -- for artists who should’ve been recognized by the recording academy.

Duration:00:50:48

The media and legal ethics behind the Bezos-AMI feud

2/8/2019

Amazon’s CEO accused American Media Incorporated of trying to extort him by threatening to publish embarrassing photos. The story now includes the Saudis, Roger Stone, and Robert Mueller.

Duration:00:51:36

Scandal in Virginia: blackface and sexual assault

2/7/2019

Virginia’s governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general are enmeshed in scandal. Two admitted wearing blackface, and one is accused of sexual assault. So far, no one, including Governor Ralph Northam, is resigning.

Duration:00:50:33

After State of the Union, where do Trump investigations stand?

2/6/2019

We speak with California Congressman Adam Schiff about Trump’s State of the Union and what Schiff is investigating next. We also fact-check Trump’s immigration claims -- nearly everything he said on the topic on Tuesday night was false or misleading.

Duration:00:50:28

How big tech creeps into nearly every moment of our lives

2/5/2019

Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook and Apple are the ‘Big Five’ tech giants. It’s tough to consider life without them. But with that dependence, we pay a price: our privacy. So a tech reporter conducted an experiment -- she tried to cut out the big five from her life one at a time.

Duration:00:50:11

Jury deliberations begin in the El Chapo trial

2/4/2019

Jurors in the El Chapo trial have heard 11 weeks of shocking and harrowing testimony, from details of the kingpin’s capture to the spyware he used to keep tabs on his lovers and associates. We look at what the trial has revealed about drug trafficking in Mexico and the U.S.

Duration:00:51:03

Cory Booker joins a crowded 2020 race

2/1/2019

There are so many Democrats wanting to be president in 2020. Cory Booker is the latest to announce. We analyze the field so far and what major themes have emerged that could influence the race.

Duration:00:50:01

A pay-to-play scandal at LA City Hall?

1/31/2019

New emails show that Mayor Garcetti’s former deputy mayor solicited donations from big real estate developers who wanted to build in LA. We find out what was in those emails.

Duration:00:51:01

What you need to know about the polar vortex and global warming

1/30/2019

Arctic temperatures are hitting the midwest, while Australia experiences a heat wave. Heat records were broken all over last year, from Hong Kong to Norway to Southern California. Scientists say many extreme cold weather events could also be the result of global warming.

Duration:00:51:05

As PG&E files for bankruptcy, some wildfire victims pay the price

1/29/2019

PG&E was found responsible for starting many of the fires that hit California these past few years. The utility faces billions of dollars in potential liabilities. PG&E says filing for bankruptcy will help it stay in business. But thousands of wildfire victims fear the bankruptcy proceedings will leave them empty-handed.

Duration:00:51:21

Jason Rezaian’s long imprisonment in Iran and the campaign to free him

1/28/2019

American-born journalist Jason Rezaian spent a year and a half in one of Iran’s toughest prisons. He was accused of espionage. Later, he realized he was a pawn in the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S.

Duration:00:51:14

Roger Stone is indicted, government reopens temporarily

1/25/2019

Federal agents arrested President Trump’s former campaign adviser Roger Stone today. He’s out on bail. Meanwhile, Trump announced a deal that will reopen the government for three weeks, while negotiations continue on border security. There’s still no money for a wall.

Duration:00:49:16

How to make LAUSD better in the long term

1/24/2019

Will the teachers strike lead to structural changes in LA’s public schools? Deep problems such as financing and middle-class flight remain. We discuss how to remedy some of these issues, and more.

Duration:00:51:18