Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Cutting Water in LA, Medicating Foster Kids, Comedy's Second Wave
As the drought continues, California adopts mandatory water cutbacks. A new report finds that foster kids, some as young as four, are being over-prescribed psychiatric drugs. And a look at how comedy got so big.
By Barbara Bogaev • • 52m ListenCalifornia faces mandatory water cuts for the first time ever, so what does this mean for Los Angeles? In a state where agriculture sucks up a majority of the water, why don’t farmers have to disclose their well water usage? Foster children are being overmedicated, with kids as young as four taking psychiatric drugs, according to a new Federal Report. And we take a close look at comedy - good and bad. Trevor Noah is poised to take over Jon Stewart’s role as host of The Daily Show, but he’s in hot water for some offensive jokes discovered in his Twitter feed. And then, a look at the new wave in comedy as comedians sell out massive venues and land TV deals.
Banner Image Credit: r. nial bradshaw
In this episode
5 storiesHow Will LA Respond to Mandatory Water Cuts?
For the first time in its history, California is facing mandatory water cuts. Gov. Brown announced yesterday that California’s towns and cities have to cut water usage by 25%. We take a look at what this means for Angelenos as we enter the fourth year of a severe drought.
Read the story8 minThe Hidden Records of California’s Wells
Agriculture in California accounts for 80% of water use in the state, but some of that water is hidden from the public. Under an obscure law, farmers do not need to disclose where they dig wells or how much water the wells provide. What’s at stake?
Read the story8 minFoster Kids Face Overprescription of Psychiatric Drugs
A new federal report finds that foster children and poor children are being prescribed an alarming number of psychiatric drugs. The report found that children as young as four years old are taking psychiatric drugs. And in California, foster kids are taking schizophrenia drugs, even when they haven’t been diagnosed with the illness.
Read the story8 minWeb Roundup: Trevor Noah’s Offensive Tweets & Cracking Down on Cyberattacks
Comedian Trevor Noah is set to become the new host of The Daily Show after Jon Stewart steps down. But the comic is in hot water after a bunch of unsavory jokes were discovered in his archived Twitter feed . There were fat jokes, jokes criticizing Israel and jokes making fun of Jews and women.
Read the story9 minComedy’s Second Wave
Aziz Ansari is just one of three comedians who’ve sold out Madison Square Garden in the past three years. Only three comedians had ever sold out the Garden before 2009. Sure, comedy and comedians were really big in the days of Roseanne, Cosby and Home Improvement. Things got tough for them, however, when the sitcom went out of favor.
Read the story14 min
