Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Remembering David Bowie, Sean Penn Speaks to El Chapo; Golden Globes
Today we remember the life and work of David Bowie, who died Sunday. Two of KCRW’s own DJs talk to Madeleine about his music, films and personal biography.
By Madeleine Brand • • 53m ListenToday we start by remembering the life and work of David Bowie, who died Sunday. Then, a look at the criticism around the interview with Mexican drug lord El Chapo, conducted by Sean Penn and published over the weekend by Rolling Stone magazine. After that, we get an update and analysis of a key case before the U.S. Supreme Court today about collective bargaining in unions. Next, the author of a new book about con artists talks about why we’re all more vulnerable than we think. And finally, in our regular TV roundup, last night’s Golden Globes and more. Banner Image: David Bowie's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In this episode
5 storiesRemembering David Bowie
Bowie died on Sunday, two days after releasing his 25th studio album, “Black Star.” The album came out on his birthday. He had just turned 69. Born David Robert Jones in Brixton, London, in 1947, Bowie became both an outsider performance artist and a mainstream pop star; a voice for the outsider and the ultimate in cool.
Read the story15 minSean Penn's El Chapo Interview Sparks Criticism
On Saturday, Rolling Stone magazine published an interview with the Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo. The interviewer? Not a seasoned journalist, but Sean Penn, the actor. El Chapo was captured last week after breaking out of prison, but Penn conducted his interview back in October, when the kingpin was still on the run.
Read the story10 minSCOTUS on Collective Bargaining
The Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case that could gut the power of public employee unions. The case is called Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. And at issue is whether the teachers union can force non-members to pay fees that cover collective bargaining carried out on behalf of ALL teachers.
Read the story7 min'The Confidence Game'
Bernie Madoff, Clark Rockefeller, Frank Abagnale, Charles Ponzi: All con artists able to deceive a lot of people out of a lot of money. We often look at the people who fall for these cons as gullible or weak or stupidly greedy, and at the con artists as cunning and manipulative psychopaths. The reality, however, is more complicated.
Read the story14 minTV Roundup: The Golden Globes and More
As is the case most years, the viewers were the real winners at last night’s Golden Globes. The Oscars’ drunk little brother was full of surprise wins, boozy celebs and of course host Ricky Gervais. It was the fourth time Gervais hosted the Globes. So who won, who lost, what surprised us? We hash it out in our regular Monday TV segment.
Read the story5 min
