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Press Play with Madeleine Brand

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

Latest Episode
Marvel’s “Black Panther” made history last year as the first big budget superhero movie with a black director and a predominantly black cast.

How Best Picture nominee ‘Black Panther’ is a rebuke to white supremacy

Marvel’s “Black Panther” made history last year as the first big budget superhero movie with a black director and a predominantly black cast.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk” is nominated for several Oscars this year. Adapted from a James Baldwin novel, the movie is a love story between young Tish and Fonny.

Barry Jenkins adapts James Baldwin’s ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’

Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk” is nominated for several Oscars this year. Adapted from a James Baldwin novel, the movie is a love story between young Tish and Fonny.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Coen brothers have a knack for elevating character actors to leading men. They did it with actor Tim Blake Nelson in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” where he played Delmar O'Donnell.

Tim Blake Nelson on ‘Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ and being the Coen brothers’ muse of sorts

The Coen brothers have a knack for elevating character actors to leading men. They did it with actor Tim Blake Nelson in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” where he played Delmar O'Donnell.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Wes Anderson’s latest foray into stop-motion animation has earned him a Best Animated Feature nod this year.

The tiniest details matter in the stop-motion world of ‘Isle of Dogs’

Wes Anderson’s latest foray into stop-motion animation has earned him a Best Animated Feature nod this year.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Our critics review “Alita: Battle Angel,” the big-budget film about a woman cyborg; “Happy Death Day 2U,” about a masked killer who targets college students; “Isn’t it Romantic,”…

James Cameron’s ‘Alita:’ Great visuals but no payoff

Our critics review “Alita: Battle Angel,” the big-budget film about a woman cyborg; “Happy Death Day 2U,” about a masked killer who targets college students; “Isn’t it Romantic,”…

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

In August 1999, a white supremacist from Washington state loaded his van with guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition, and drove over 1000 miles to the San Fernando Valley.

Learning to live with the trauma of gun violence

In August 1999, a white supremacist from Washington state loaded his van with guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition, and drove over 1000 miles to the San Fernando Valley.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The New York Times published an investigation this week detailing singer Ryan Adams’ history of alleged sexual misconduct and emotional abuse.

What does Ryan Adams scandal say about abuse of power in the music industry?

The New York Times published an investigation this week detailing singer Ryan Adams’ history of alleged sexual misconduct and emotional abuse.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

President Trump today declared a national emergency to get funding for his border wall, after signing a bipartisan bill to keep the government open for six months.

California sues Trump hours after he declares a national emergency

President Trump today declared a national emergency to get funding for his border wall, after signing a bipartisan bill to keep the government open for six months.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

It’s been one year since a gunman killed 17 people and wounded 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

School shooting drills ‘scare more than they prepare’

It’s been one year since a gunman killed 17 people and wounded 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Today is the one year anniversary of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and faculty were killed by an expelled student…

Looking back at 20 years of gun control activism

Today is the one year anniversary of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and faculty were killed by an expelled student…

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

“Birds of Passage” is set at the birth of the Colombian drug trade in the late 1960s.

‘Birds of Passage’ focuses on the drug trade, but it’s not your ‘Narcos’ or ‘Godfather’

“Birds of Passage” is set at the birth of the Colombian drug trade in the late 1960s.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

NASA has said goodbye to the beloved Opportunity rover. On this Valentine’s day, we pay tribute to it since it was pretty much the perfect partner: reliable, committed, communicative.

Saying goodbye to Opportunity, the Mars rover

NASA has said goodbye to the beloved Opportunity rover. On this Valentine’s day, we pay tribute to it since it was pretty much the perfect partner: reliable, committed, communicative.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Surfing is one of California’s most popular sports. There’s regular surfing.

Women fight for equality by surfing the world's most dangerous waves

Surfing is one of California’s most popular sports. There’s regular surfing.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a sweeping public lands bill. It’s big for California.

Sweeping public lands bill brings good news for environmentalists

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a sweeping public lands bill. It’s big for California.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Japan occupied the Korean Peninsula between 1910 and 1945.

Koreans suing Japanese companies are dredging up an old and ugly dispute between the two countries

Japan occupied the Korean Peninsula between 1910 and 1945.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday he’s scaling back high speed rail in California, effectively killing the dream of getting from LA to San Francisco in less than three hours.

What’s the future of transportation in California?

Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday he’s scaling back high speed rail in California, effectively killing the dream of getting from LA to San Francisco in less than three hours.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

It’s a big week for art in Los Angeles. The city will be hosting six art fairs.

Do international art fairs benefit LA -- or bring gentrification?

It’s a big week for art in Los Angeles. The city will be hosting six art fairs.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Gavin Newsom delivered his first State of the State address today.

Takeaways from Gov. Newsom’s first State of the State

Gavin Newsom delivered his first State of the State address today.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb are preparing to go public this year. All of them are valuated in the tens of billions of dollars.

Tech unicorns: Who will be the next Facebook or Amazon?

Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb are preparing to go public this year. All of them are valuated in the tens of billions of dollars.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Lorena Bobbitt captured the nation’s attention 25 years ago by cutting off her husband’s penis and throwing it out of her car window.

Lorena Bobbitt: Behind the punchlines, a story of domestic violence

Lorena Bobbitt captured the nation’s attention 25 years ago by cutting off her husband’s penis and throwing it out of her car window.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

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