Business & Economy

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.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Adam Reiner takes a closer look at the products behind the tongue-in-cheek labels on Trader Joe's shelves.

from Good Food

The number of newly-issued business licenses dropped by half over the last decade or so in LA, according to a report from Crosstown LA.

LA’s economy blinking red, fewer businesses are opening

The number of newly-issued business licenses dropped by half over the last decade or so in LA, according to a report from Crosstown LA.

from KCRW Features

A new, mediator-proposed settlement between President Trump and Paramount Global leaves us with more questions than answers about the company’s future.

Will CBS News’ independence survive the newly proposed Trump settlement?

A new, mediator-proposed settlement between President Trump and Paramount Global leaves us with more questions than answers about the company’s future.

from The Business

Business for animals in the entertainment industry — and their trainers — is drying up, as jobs move away from California and onto computers.

Digital tigers: Economic change comes for animal actors

Business for animals in the entertainment industry — and their trainers — is drying up, as jobs move away from California and onto computers.

from KCRW Features

Disney and Universal’s lawsuit against Midjourney could determine the future of AI use in TV and film.

Disney and Universal sue GenAI company for copying its characters

Disney and Universal’s lawsuit against Midjourney could determine the future of AI use in TV and film.

from The Business

What does “America First” mean when it comes to U.S. plans for Iran? The business community puts pressure on immigration policy.

Isolation or intervention? Trump keeps plans for Iran to himself

What does “America First” mean when it comes to U.S. plans for Iran? The business community puts pressure on immigration policy.

from Left, Right & Center

The Buss family, who owns the Los Angeles Lakers, has agreed to sell the team’s majority ownership in a deal with LA Dodgers principal owner Mark Walter.

Lakers owners to sell majority stake worth $10 billion

The Buss family, who owns the Los Angeles Lakers, has agreed to sell the team’s majority ownership in a deal with LA Dodgers principal owner Mark Walter.

from KCRW Features

Warner Bros. Discovery will soon break up. David Zaslav is set to oversee studios and streaming while CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will handle global networks.

Zaslav’s imploding Warner Bros. Discovery experiment

Warner Bros. Discovery will soon break up. David Zaslav is set to oversee studios and streaming while CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will handle global networks.

from The Business

Will the protests over the National Guard hurt Trump politically? Plus, will the “Big, Beautiful Bill’s” unpopularity on Wall Street keep it from passing?

Are ICE raids, protests turning immigration attitudes upside down?

Will the protests over the National Guard hurt Trump politically? Plus, will the “Big, Beautiful Bill’s” unpopularity on Wall Street keep it from passing?

from Left, Right & Center

The Hollywood slowdown is hurting sales at lots of local businesses. The owners of Chili John’s in Burbank get creative to revive the restaurant.

Historic Burbank chili joint tries to avoid 'slow, painful death'

The Hollywood slowdown is hurting sales at lots of local businesses. The owners of Chili John’s in Burbank get creative to revive the restaurant.

from KCRW Features

As WBD shareholders steadily lose value, they turn up the heat on boss David Zaslav. Plus, Disney deploys their latest round of layoffs.

WBD investors scrutinize Zaslav’s paycheck; Disney does more layoffs

As WBD shareholders steadily lose value, they turn up the heat on boss David Zaslav. Plus, Disney deploys their latest round of layoffs.

from The Business

With social media flaunting luxury, young people think they're falling behind financially, though they can cover living expenses and more. It’s called money dysmorphia.

Is everyone rich, or is it just Instagram?

With social media flaunting luxury, young people think they're falling behind financially, though they can cover living expenses and more. It’s called money dysmorphia.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Buy-now-pay-later financing has skyrocketed since the pandemic. With more people defaulting, experts raise concerns about the broader impact on the economy.

Buy now, pay… never?

Buy-now-pay-later financing has skyrocketed since the pandemic. With more people defaulting, experts raise concerns about the broader impact on the economy.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Memorial Day weekend box office grosses are up nearly double from last year(!). Plus, NPR (and 3 Colorado member stations) take on the Trump administration.

NPR takes the Trump administration to court; Americans take to the multiplex

Memorial Day weekend box office grosses are up nearly double from last year(!). Plus, NPR (and 3 Colorado member stations) take on the Trump administration.

from The Business

Veteran film strategist Kevin Goetz sheds light on the science and art behind gauging the reactions of movie-goers to forthcoming films.

Ever wonder who’s behind all those movie test screenings?

Veteran film strategist Kevin Goetz sheds light on the science and art behind gauging the reactions of movie-goers to forthcoming films.

from The Business

Stories of media organizations seeking to make nice with the current U.S. president abound… even as another high profile resignation results from these efforts.

Media companies move to appease the administration

Stories of media organizations seeking to make nice with the current U.S. president abound… even as another high profile resignation results from these efforts.

from The Business

President Trump invites a few high rolling guests to dinner. Will there be political costs for Trump’s handling of Ukraine? Plus, should we regulate temptation?

Is Trump benefitting from a lack of trust in politicians?

President Trump invites a few high rolling guests to dinner. Will there be political costs for Trump’s handling of Ukraine? Plus, should we regulate temptation?

from Left, Right & Center

Mayor Bass announces a new directive to boost LA film production as shoot days drop 22%. And calls grow for expanded state tax credits to compete nationally.

Mayor Bass pushes to bring Hollywood back to Hollywood

Mayor Bass announces a new directive to boost LA film production as shoot days drop 22%. And calls grow for expanded state tax credits to compete nationally.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service is ‘HBO Max’ again. Does this indicate a refocus on franchise, legacy, and prestige TV?

The return of ‘HBO Max’

Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service is ‘HBO Max’ again. Does this indicate a refocus on franchise, legacy, and prestige TV?

from The Business