Press Play With Madeleine Brand

Right-wing figures who stoked conspiracy theories about alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, and some on the left, aren’t buying the DOJ’s assessment that there’s no further evidence to release. Maestro Leonard Slatkin opens up about his family, the story of the Hollywood String Quartet, and how the Summer of Angels festival honors their legacy. Critics review the latest film releases: “Superman,” “Kill the Jockey,” “Apocalypse in the Tropics,” and “To A Land Unknown,” Making your own ice cream sandwich? Focus on baking the cookie: chocolate chip, brownie, red velvet, snickerdoodle, peanut butter. Then choose an ice cream flavor that supports it. 

President Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has pushed for hardline immigration policies. Some people, including Mayor Karen Bass, wonder if Miller wants revenge on his hometown. A number of Republicans opposed Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” then voted for it anyway. Is Trump more powerful than ever?  Journalist Brian Goldstone set out to uncover the true scope of homelessness, and followed five families for more than five years. His new book is “There Is No Place for Us.”

Federal troops paraded through MacArthur Park on Monday in an astonishing show of force. Mayor Karen Bass says LA is a testing site for a national project.  The Atlantic’s Elizabeth Bruenig has spent years closely covering capital punishment. She’s written a powerful and deeply personal meditation on what witnessing executions has revealed to her about her own faith, and the power of forgiveness. NPR’s Eric Deggans reviews the latest in TV: “Ballard,” “Dexter: Resurrection,” “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” (season three), and “Billy Joel: And So It Goes.”   

Staffing shortages at the NWS in Central Texas are being scrutinized for possibly affecting the flood response there. What does this mean for CA’s upcoming fire season? The first major trial challenging Trump’s immigration policy began today in Boston. An association of university professors is arguing that non-citizen students were arrested for exercising their First Amendment rights. Hawaii is increasingly unaffordable for native residents. After her family’s land is threatened, Sara Kehualani Goo reconnects with her heritage in a new memoir. This summer marks the 85th birthday of Bugs Bunny and the 35th anniversary of “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony.” Conductor George Daugherty talks about the concert’s creation and enduring appeal. 

Several civil rights groups filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that ICE agents are targeting people based on race and holding them in “deplorable” conditions. ICE raids, the fire threat, or budget reasons are the reasons some LA-area communities won’t be having Independence Day festivities. But illegal fireworks will continue. Critics review the latest film releases: “Jurassic World Rebirth,” “40 Acres,” “Heads of State,” and “The Old Guard 2.” Michael McKean shares behind-the-scenes tales from “Spinal Tap,” the film’s lasting impact, and a career filled with comedy, music, and satire.

Immigration detention and enforcement may be getting around $150 billion in additional funding over the next four years. What will that go to? Some Black tenants are disproportionately being evicted by Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in LA, a new UCLA study finds. KCRW hears from two sisters who’ve experienced this. Amelia Earhart is known as a pioneering aviator who died tragically — her remains are likely still lying in the Pacific Ocean. However, her choice to circumnavigate the globe was reckless, says author Laurie Gwen Shapiro. LACMA opened its new David Geffen Galleries building to the public last week for a sneak peek. Down the street, Blum Gallery closes after over 30 years in LA. 

For years, many have blamed the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the state’s housing crisis. Will rolling it back lead to more housing A bestselling book argues blue states are undermining their agenda with red tape. Gov. Newsom answered the demand for a “politics of abundance” with new housing reforms.  Women don’t often discuss some of their biggest issues, such as miscarriage, loneliness, lack of intimacy with their partner. The new book “Normalize It” aims to change that. “The Roundup” is a new newspaper celebrating queer cowboy culture, featuring line dance tips, boot picks, poems, and stories from the LGBTQ+ country scene.  

Congress may be cutting hundreds of billions from Medicaid over the next decade. That could have massive implications for Angelenos, whether they’re on Medicaid or not. The proposed budget cuts would eliminate hundreds of billions in clean energy and EV credits. It’s the latest Republican retreat from addressing climate change.  Julia Whelan is one of the most sought-after narrators in the $2 billion audiobook industry. She explains her extensive prep for the job, the physical toll, and potential impact of AI.  Adrian Quesada’s new album, “Boleros Psicodelicos 2,” is a love letter to the Latin ballads of the 1960s and 70s, featuring around a dozen music stars from the contemporary Latin music scene.

New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, 33, shocked political observers with his likely upset of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary. Tens of millions of people worldwide live with HIV. Lenacapavir can prevent the virus for months with one injection — a potential game changer. But President Trump and Elon Musk have upended foreign aid. Jackie Castillo’s new installation features terra cotta tiles hanging from the ceiling, suspended by rebar, creating a staircase of local construction materials. The work speaks to the city and immigrants. Tracy Anderson built a luxury fitness empire where movement is art, silence is part of the workout, and clients spend thousands chasing the perfect body. 

The U.S. shipped a nuclear reactor to Tehran in the late 1960s. After it cut diplomatic ties with Iran after the Islamic Revolution and during the hostage crisis, Iran turned to Pakistan to keep its atomic ambitions alive. Federal officials aren’t saying how many immigrants they’ve detained. But immigrant advocates say the Adelanto detention center is “bursting at the seams.” Those inside lack access to family members and attorneys. In California, agents claiming to be ICE are wearing masks and refusing to show identification when arresting immigrants. A new bill seeks to make that illegal.  Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, and when she died in 2012, her obituary publicly revealed that she was gay. KCRW hears from her partner Tam O’Shaughnessy, plus the director of the documentary “Sally.” 

Iran launches missiles at the largest American military base in the Middle East. Is this the beginning of a larger war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran? The Constitution says Congress has the power to declare war. But it also designates the president as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, with the power to respond to emergencies, including limited military actions overseas. Need a good book for summer? Consider “The Bombshell,” “An Oral History of Atlantis,” “A Marriage at Sea,” “A Truce That is Not Peace,” “The Hounding,” and “Tilt.” Laguna Beach native Ty Segall has experimented with different music genres over the years. Now his 16th album centers on American storytelling.

In a 6-3 ruling today, the Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law banning some medical treatments for transgender minors. The decision could have broad implications nationwide. C-SPAN is facing an existential crisis as more people cut the cable cord. Longtime CNN journalist Sam Feist took the reins of CSPAN last year with a mandate to turn things around. Critics review the latest film releases: “Elio,” “The Damned,” “Meeting with Pol Pot,” and “Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers.” Each summer, tomatoes arrive in a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors. Ripe tomatoes are so good that most ways to prepare them are very simple. Here are unusual recipes to try.

Israel says now is the time to end Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Five days into fighting, the conflict could turn into a war to topple the Islamic Republic. As the toll of ICE raids weighs heavily on local immigrant communities, Father Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries says, “No. We reject this. This isn’t who we are.” Jesse Armstrong offers a sharp take on power in the show “Mountainhead,” where four tech billionaires ignore the looming dangers of AI as the world unravels around them. “Jaws,” which turns 50 this week, was shot as an “incredible exercise in suspense.” It also tapped into people’s fear of being alone and defenseless, and kept audiences engaged with the three lead characters. 

A Minnesota state representative and her husband were killed over the weekend. What’s driving the increase in American political violence?  Amid federal pressure, Children’s Hospital LA is ending its gender-affirming care in July. Thousands of trans youth and families are scrambling for new options.  In the final weeks of the Supreme Court’s term, we’re still waiting on major opinions concerning trans health care for minors, a birthright citizenship case that’s really about whether lower courts can issue nationwide injunctions, and a redistricting case that could affect the makeup of Congress. The Oakland-based duo Tune-Yards has long sung about racism, gender, and white privilege. Their new album aims to inspire political change.

ICE sweeps through Ventura County farms, leaving fields almost empty and workers fearful. Community leaders and families face uncertainty and disruption. Musical visionary Brian Wilson’s family announced on Wednesday that the Beach Boys’ co-founder died at 82. Biographer David Leaf has been a close friend of Wilson for more than 45 years, and his new book is “SMiLE: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson.” Critics review the latest film releases: “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Echo Valley,” “Materialists,” and “Prime Minister.” Serve peaches on your favorite scone or pound cake with whipped cream, or stuff them with crumbled cookies and chocolate. Stone fruit also pairs well with fresh or briny cheeses. 

Viral videos from the LA ICE protests show police firing “less lethal” weapons into crowds and at journalists. Advocates say the cops are not following the law. Weeks before ICE raided a Home Depot in Westlake on Friday, the White House ordered the agency to ramp up sweeps to help meet President Trump’s deportation targets.  The Supreme Court decision New York Times v. Sullivan protects journalists from debilitating lawsuits. A group of billionaires, lawyers, and right-wing groups are trying to overturn it. Culture critic Carolina Miranda weighs in on a retrospective of Diane Arbus’ photography at Zwirner gallery, and a Wende Museum exhibition about mass surveillance in former East Germany during the Cold War. 

The White House’s immigration crackdown, the protests, the mobilization of the National Guard and Marines have all reignited the personal feud between President Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom, and the White House versus California. LAUSD officials are deploying school police to create "perimeters of safety” around graduation ceremonies and campuses where federal immigration agents have been detected.  ICE is looking to spend as much as $45 billion on private prisons and related infrastructure over the next two years. Border czar Tom Homan says he wants 100,000 detention beds. Kenny Scharf has painted mischievous-looking cartoons on about 300 cars, most of them in LA. He talks about making art accessible, plus his relationships with Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol. 

ICE raids in Los Angeles kicked off four days of protest. As sheriffs and the LAPD fight protesters, Trump is sending in the Marines.   Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta are suing President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after Trump deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to SoCal over the weekend. Immigrant Defenders Law Center has been sending attorneys out to locate people detained by ICE, give them info on their rights, and ensure people aren’t being unlawfully deported. Pachy Garcia grew up in Puerto Rico and was influenced by the Caribbean’s reggae and dub sounds. Now he lives in LA and is out with his fifth album.

The Supreme Court issued 9-0 opinions today on big cases concerning employment discrimination, the liability of gun manufacturers, and tax exemptions for religious organizations. President Trump also unveiled a new travel ban better equipped to survive legal scrutiny. After the Trump administration cut billions in foreign aid, two African countries that succeeded in curbing the spread of HIV are now in danger of backsliding. Critics review the latest film releases: “Ballerina,” “Predator: Killer of Killers,” “This Is Chuck,” “Dangerous Animals.” Why do so many young adults feel broke even when they’re not? Social feeds flaunt luxury, but thanks to money dysmorphia, many young adults feel left behind. 

An 11-week Israeli blockade brought Gaza to the brink of famine. Now the military – and a shadowy nonprofit – are overseeing a chaotic aid rollout.  The Department of Defense plans to strip civil rights leader Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy ship. KCRW hears from San Francisco’s former supervisor, who was a second-generation Navy veteran discharged for being gay. Nadya Tolokonnikova talks about her new art show “Police State,” losing herself in a Russian penal colony, plus the need for activists to speak up despite risks.  Going to an outdoor event at the Hollywood Bowl or Gloria Molina Grand Park? Consider packing steak salad, Vietnamese banh mi, pastries with savory fillings, and more.