Press Play With Madeleine Brand

The suspect in the bombing of a Palm Springs fertility clinic held views that were against human procreation. He likely suffered from “profound psychological distress.” He was the only person killed in the attack.  Five years since the George Floyd protests, has policing changed in Los Angeles? Chief Jim McDonnell sits down for a wide-ranging interview.  Questlove unpacks 50 years of “SNL” music, sharing backstage stories. Rhythm and risk drive his life behind the drums and the lens. 

The Supreme Court heard arguments today about whether lower court federal judges should have the power to block President Trump’s policies nationwide. To put pressure on Hamas, Israel has blocked aid from entering Gaza since early March. International groups say that’s a war crime. Critics review the latest film releases: “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” “Magic Farm,” “Caught by the Tides,” and “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” Ricotta is a fresh Italian cheese known for its light, creamy texture and mild, slightly sweet flavor. Eat it with vegetable salads, pastas, pastries, and more. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state’s budget problems are largely a result of volatility in the stock market, caused by President Trump’s tariffs. Newsom calls it the “Trump Slump.”  Far-right blogger Curtis Yarvin thinks democracy is outdated and wants to restore a monarchy to the U.S. Among his followers is Vice President JD Vance.   The person who usually gets the biggest role and the most money for a film is known as “No. 1 on the call sheet.” Black actors and actresses who’ve achieved that status are the focus of a new documentary.  Gambling scandals meant Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson were ineligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame. That changed on Tuesday. 

Qatar plans to give President Trump a plane to use as Air Force One, which even some supporters say crosses a line. But the appearance of corruption doesn’t stop there. The Trump administration gave refugee status to white South Africans, despite no evidence they face more danger than Black South Africans.  “Uptown Girl” Christie Brinkley is out with a new biography about becoming the biggest model of the 1980s. The Cannes Film Festival kicks off today. There’s a new “Mission: Impossible” and films from Spike Lee, Ari Aster, and Lynne Ramsay.

As surgeon general, Casey Means would be able to advocate for alternative medicine that may not have been scientifically vetted.  On May 15, the Supreme Court takes up President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for certain children of immigrants, but this case is really about the power of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions. Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore originated with breezy, seaside tunes and evolved to churn out synth-pop and rock with R&B influences. Their seventh and last studio album is “Face Down in the Garden.”

In his first speech from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV – a 69-year-old Chicago native – shared a message of peace. He is the first American pope. Public media in rural America is often the only source of local news and emergency information. They rely heavily on federal funding to fulfill their missions.  Critics review the latest film releases: “Clown in a Cornfield,” “Friendship,” “Fight or Flight,” and “Absolute Dominion.” Serving pancakes to mom on Mother’s Day has to be one of the most universally embraced American holiday traditions. Flapjacks are easy to make, and you can use all-purpose flour or add other grains.

Trump and Republicans are trying to end the Energy Star program and stop California from phasing out the sale of new gas vehicles. On EVs, they enjoy some Democratic support.  CA school districts are paying a hefty sum for on-campus police. Little oversight exists on how those dollars are spent and how officers behave inside campus gates. Popular LA evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson was reportedly kidnapped and held prisoner in Mexico in the 1920s, then fled on foot through the desert. A new book traces her story.

Hecklers at a recent town hall accused Congresswoman Laura Friedman of not fighting hard enough against the Trump administration. She says she understands the frustration.  Russian disinformation is shaping some answers from major AI chatbots. Large language model grooming is the tactic of poisoning databases that bots pull from.  Met Gala fashion “read as a rebuke to a lot of the policies and executive orders coming out of this White House,” says Washington Post senior critic Robin Givhan. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” turns 50 this year — legions of fans are still doing the Time Warp.

Israel’s cabinet approved plans that include “conquering the [Gaza] strip,” which would displace over a million Gazans. It could lead to long-term Israeli occupation of the territory. A federal judge ruled that the White House could not invoke the Alien Enemies Act to justify deporting people alleged to be members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Since 1961, The Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra (aka The Ark) has been an avant-garde jazz innovator and community magnet in turbulent times. Their new album is “Live at Widney High December 26th, 1971.”

A new report from Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services tries to discredit gender-affirming care, contradicting leading medical experts who say it can save lives. Yale grad student Tetiana Kotelnykova grew up in war-torn Eastern Ukraine. She says appeasing Russian President Putin with territory captured during the war will make him want more. Critics review the latest film releases: “Another Simple Favor,” “The Surfer,” “Rust,” and “Thunderbolts.*” LA cheese shops offer sandwich menus, monthly clubs, events, and specialty grocery items. All make enticing cheese boards with charcuterie.

From meme coins to branded merch, President Trump has become marketer-in-chief, using his office to pad his personal wealth like few, if any, of his predecessors. President Trump praised Jeff Bezos for quickly denying that Amazon would list how much tariffs would add to the price of what you buy. But prices are expected to rise since most items on Amazon come from China. The Vietnam War ended 50 years ago today with the fall of Saigon. What is the war’s legacy in both countries?  A duo found about 20 still-functioning payphones in LA and, with stickers, encouraged people to leave goodbye messages to anyone or anything.

A hundred days into his second White House term, Donald Trump has reshaped the conversation around immigration in the U.S., once seen as a proud melting pot of immigrants and cultures. Trump is trying to deport an unprecedented number of people. The Silicon Valley company Palantir is compiling a database of sensitive information to help him do it. Waves in NorCal, Maui, and Nazaré can be 100 feet tall, posing serious injury or death to professionals. Still, athletes are undeterred. They are the subject of “100 Foot Wave,” now in season three. UC Berkeley scientists have discovered a new color, “olo,” visible only with special lasers, offering a glimpse into the untapped potential of human vision.

President Trump’s attempts to freeze federal dollars for “sanctuary” jurisdictions were thwarted in court last week. Where is the battle headed?  The Supreme Court is considering two cases about public education this week. One involves the bar to prove discrimination related to disability, and the other involves state funding for a religious charter school. “Sinners” takes the box office for a second week, sparking debate about originality, biased media coverage, and what its success means for Hollywood’s future. Rufus Wainwright’s new album, “Dream Requiem,” is interwoven with Lord Byron’s poem “Darkness.” It’s partly inspired by Giuseppe Verdi, and is dedicated to Wainwright’s dog named Puccini. 

Elon Musk says he's scaling back his work in Washington D.C. and returning to Tesla. He and DOGE had promised to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. After reporting Tesla’s tanked first quarter profits, Elon Musk blames protests and vows to spend more time with the company. Will it be enough to turn things around? Goods coming into the U.S. face a baseline 10% tariff, and those from China face 14.5%. Chefs and owners of Firstborn and Bé Ù share how that’s affected profits and menu items.  Critics review the latest film releases: “The Accountant 2,” “Havoc,” “On Swift Horses,” and “Until Dawn.” Knafeh (shredded filo) is the star ingredient in Dubai chocolate bars, which are also stuffed with pistachio cream. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for this treat. 

Journalist Katherine Stewart charts the rise of the Christian right and its influence in the Trump administration in her new book “Money, Lies, and God.” “The Empire Strikes Back,” now 45 years old, changed Hollywood with its bold twists, deeper characters, and the introduction of Yoda. It's the franchise that shaped sequels. Women are less likely to have kids than ever, says a new CDC report. The fertility rate in the U.S. has dropped for years — now the White House wants to reverse that trend.

LA Mayor Karen Bass has released her next budget. To help close a massive deficit, the city may have to lay off around 5% of the city workforce. LA’s Japanese American National Museum is refusing to follow the Trump administration’s orders to end DEI efforts. Now it's at risk of losing $2 million of federal funding. The documentary “One to One” follows John Lennon and Yoko Ono through a tumultuous period in their lives and American politics, reassessing Ono’s artistry and her influence on Lennon.  YouTube turns 20 this year. The popular video site democratized content on the web, but also inflamed culture wars, radicalized users, and further polarized an already divided society.

Pope Francis, who died overnight, is remembered for having a more progressive approach to immigration, climate change, and the LGBTQ commmunity than his predecessors. Early Saturday morning, the Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from deporting another group of Venezuelan migrants it claims are gang members. Marie Davidson’s album “City of Clowns” is inspired by the book “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism,” which focuses on a new form of capitalism based on data mining.  Apple is rolling out AI technology that will train itself on your messages, pictures, and more — while keeping the source material private. Is it secure?

Google and Meta are under fire in court. Officials claim they crushed rivals to stay on top. The outcome could upend how Big Tech works.  The University of South Florida surveyed more than 1,500 kids, and found that 11 to 13-year-olds who had their own smartphones fared better psychologically than their peers who didn’t have phones. Critics review the latest film releases: “Sinners, “The Wedding Banquet,” “The Shrouds,” and “The President's Wife.” “Metal mouths” are back. Old-school metal braces are becoming the teeth-straightener of choice among kids and adults.  

The Oakland mayoral race is a close call between progressive Barbara Lee and moderate challenger Loren Taylor. In SF, Mayor Daniel Lurie rounds out his first 100 days. A cinematic heist in Downtown Los Angeles: Thieves recently tunneled from a historic theater through “castle-like” walls into a store packed with bling. Hungarian Susan Polgar earned chess’ highest honor at age 15. She and her family faced antisemitism and harassment from the ruling Communist Party, and sexism from opponents and officials in chess. Her new memoir is “Rebel Queen.” What’s the relationship between art and democracy? After his firing from the Kennedy Center, poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph has some thoughts.

Harvard will not comply with sweeping demands from the Trump administration targeting pro-Palestinian organizing. Can other universities afford to join them?  Mohsen Mahdawi’s detention exposes the rising risks faced by pro-Palestinian students during the Trump administration’s crackdown on campuses. Netflix’s “Adolescence” explores the issue of growing up online and what social media pressures can do to lonely, angry young men. It also looks at generational male violence. The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank more than 100 years ago, but the disaster has captured the imagination of Generation Alpha.