Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Host Madeleine Brand looks at news, culture and emerging trends through the lens of Los Angeles.

Today nearly 60% of NFL players are Black, only three head coaches are Black, and zero team owners are Black, according to a Washington Post investigation.

NFL lacks diversity because owners don’t hold themselves accountable?

Today nearly 60% of NFL players are Black, only three head coaches are Black, and zero team owners are Black, according to a Washington Post investigation.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed a bill that would make it easier for farmworkers to form unions, though he originally opposed it.

Can farmworkers unionize without deportation threat? New law aims to make it so

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed a bill that would make it easier for farmworkers to form unions, though he originally opposed it.

Wednesday was supposed to be the next January 6 insurrection hearing, but the U.S. House Select Committee postponed it due to Hurricane Ian threatening the Florida coast.

Next for Jan. 6 Committee: Does Ginni Thomas have proof of insurrection scheme?

Wednesday was supposed to be the next January 6 insurrection hearing, but the U.S. House Select Committee postponed it due to Hurricane Ian threatening the Florida coast.

Avocados are rich in healthy fats and can be used for a variety of surprisingly sweet and savory recipes like avocado pie, chopped salad, and panzanella.

Sweet and savory: Surprising recipes to enjoy California avocados

Avocados are rich in healthy fats and can be used for a variety of surprisingly sweet and savory recipes like avocado pie, chopped salad, and panzanella.

Critics review the latest film releases: “Bros,” “The Good House,” “God’s Creatures,” and “The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales.”

‘Bros’ delivers humor, romance and chemistry, says critic

Critics review the latest film releases: “Bros,” “The Good House,” “God’s Creatures,” and “The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales.”

Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes could end up spending 20 years behind bars — if he’s convicted for his role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection.

Insurrection: Will Oath Keepers leader be convicted of seditious conspiracy?

Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes could end up spending 20 years behind bars — if he’s convicted for his role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection.

Prop 30 is a tax increase on people making more than $2 million per year — to fund climate programs. Most of California’s Democratic establishment endorses it — except Gov. Newsom.

Why is Newsom against Prop 30? Most CA Democratic leaders support it

Prop 30 is a tax increase on people making more than $2 million per year — to fund climate programs. Most of California’s Democratic establishment endorses it — except Gov. Newsom.

Explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines have disrupted natural gas supplies to Europe.

Did Russia sabotage 2 pipelines that deliver natural gas to Europe?

Explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines have disrupted natural gas supplies to Europe.

Abigail Disney, the great niece of Walt, has spent years calling out the company for not paying its workers a living wage.

Disneyland isn’t ‘happiest place’ for its workers who live below poverty line

Abigail Disney, the great niece of Walt, has spent years calling out the company for not paying its workers a living wage.

Hurricane Ian is the first major storm to hit the Tampa Bay area in about a century. Like many coastal regions, its population has rapidly grown.

Hurricane Ian will bring dangerous, days-long flooding to Florida

Hurricane Ian is the first major storm to hit the Tampa Bay area in about a century. Like many coastal regions, its population has rapidly grown.

As Angel City Football Club nears the end of its first season, it has drawn thousands of fans, sold out games, and attracted more sponsorship revenue than expected.

Key to Angel City FC’s success: Star investors, demand for fair pay

As Angel City Football Club nears the end of its first season, it has drawn thousands of fans, sold out games, and attracted more sponsorship revenue than expected.

If you're buying your first home, we want to hear from you. What's the process been like, what kind of a home are you looking for, what are your biggest pain points?

First-time homebuyer? KCRW wants to hear your experience

If you're buying your first home, we want to hear from you. What's the process been like, what kind of a home are you looking for, what are your biggest pain points?

Sometimes black market dealers buy blocks of restaurant reservations. So some establishments now have memberships for booking ahead.

How to score a seat at a restaurant that’s always booked?

Sometimes black market dealers buy blocks of restaurant reservations. So some establishments now have memberships for booking ahead.

America often thinks of itself as a hero during World War II. But its culpability during the Holocaust is the subject is a new PBS documentary.

US viewed Jews as ‘less worthy’ leading up to WWII, PBS film shows

America often thinks of itself as a hero during World War II. But its culpability during the Holocaust is the subject is a new PBS documentary.

The Biden administration has chosen two sections off the California coast to build massive wind turbines, but environmentalists and commercial fishing groups are concerned.

Wind turbines off CA coast? Big engineering feat generates anxiety

The Biden administration has chosen two sections off the California coast to build massive wind turbines, but environmentalists and commercial fishing groups are concerned.

Bad Bunny’s latest music video focuses on Puerto Rico and its people’s ability to preserve amid chronic power outages five years after Hurricane Maria.

Reggaetonero Bad Bunny breaks down masculinity, uplifts Puerto Rico

Bad Bunny’s latest music video focuses on Puerto Rico and its people’s ability to preserve amid chronic power outages five years after Hurricane Maria.

Mississippi sued Brett Favre this year for allegedly misspending state welfare funds on sports stadiums.

How did anti-poverty money go to Brett Favre’s pet projects?

Mississippi sued Brett Favre this year for allegedly misspending state welfare funds on sports stadiums.

An Arizona judge has ruled the state’s Civil War-era prohibition of abortions can be enforced. It’s the latest state to restrict access to the procedure.

Arizona restores near-total ban on abortion from Civil War era

An Arizona judge has ruled the state’s Civil War-era prohibition of abortions can be enforced. It’s the latest state to restrict access to the procedure.

Giorgia Meloni is likely to become Italy’s first female prime minister and the country’s first far-right leader since World War II. Her coalition won the most votes over the weekend.

Fascist Giorgia Meloni to lead Italy, could be out in 1 year, says historian

Giorgia Meloni is likely to become Italy’s first female prime minister and the country’s first far-right leader since World War II. Her coalition won the most votes over the weekend.

Caponata is the sweet and sour Sicilian vegetable dish that’s an ode to the eggplant. It’s great as part of a charcuterie board or on own as a starter served with crackers.

Eggplant: Late summer crop is perfect for Sicilian dish caponata

Caponata is the sweet and sour Sicilian vegetable dish that’s an ode to the eggplant. It’s great as part of a charcuterie board or on own as a starter served with crackers.