Producer, 'Press Play'
Amy Ta has worked in public media since 2010, having produced NPR's Tell Me More with Michel Martin, Weekend Edition and NPR Music. She also photographed several special events and guests at NPR. Before coming to KCRW, she worked on the independent podcast Tiny Spark: Investigating the Business of Doing Good.
What happens to kids separated from their parents at the border? Some 2000 immigrant kids have been separated from their families at the border. Their parents could be deported while they remain here. It’s becoming more difficult to find relatives to take them in because they, too, are afraid of being deported.
How to keep your aging body in tip-top shape We discover tips from elite athletes who are testing the latest diets and technologies. We find out what’s snake oil, and what’s useful.
California and feds clash over immigration In some cases, when Customs and Border Patrol agents catch an immigrant wanted for a crime, they’re deporting the suspect back to their home countries.
Inside the Walmart that's now a shelter for migrant children President Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy has led to more than 1300 kids being separated from their families at the border. Many of those kids end up in government shelters. A Walmart in Brownsville, Texas has been converted into a shelter called Casa Padre. We learn what life is like inside. We also speak with a man who quit his job at an Arizona shelter after being forced to tell kids they can’t hug.
What the AT&T and Time Warner merger means for Hollywood A federal judge Tuesday approved the merger between AT&T and Time Warner. This rebuffs President Trump’s efforts to block the $85 billion deal. This new AT&T-Time Warner company would own CNN, the library of HBO, and wireless and satellite TV services across the country.
What it takes to make a living in the WNBA The LA Sparks are considered one of the top teams in the WNBA. Nneka Ogwumike is a power forward on the team. She says the pay is so low that many women play abroad in the off-season. She herself plays in Russia in the winter.
Emotional toll of sentencing undocumented immigrants President Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy at the border means everyone who crosses illegally and is caught will be prosecuted. That’s expected to swell lock-ups and courtrooms. The policy is new for the border in California, but it’s been happening for years in New Mexico. One judge there has handed down 15,000 sentences since 2003. He admits that he presides over a system that destroys families.
Why men have nipples, and other 'Human Errors' The new book “Human Errors” looks at flaws in our bodies, why we have them, and what’s possibly in store for our future. We look at why humans have more colds than most other animals, how we can’t produce essential vitamins and minerals like other animals, why men have nipples, and more.
What California primary results mean for the state and the midterms Democrat Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox won the most votes in Tuesday’s primary election. They will face off in November to be California’s next governor. In the Senate race, Dianne Feinstein cruised to victory, while Democratic challenger Kevin De León barely clinched second. We look at those races and other highlights from the primary.
The 50th anniversary of RFK's assassination It’s primary day in California. Fifty years ago, primary day changed U.S. history. Robert F. Kennedy won the California primary for president. He was on his way to clinching the Democratic nomination. But that night, he was shot and killed at the Ambassador Hotel in LA. We talk with a biographer, and find out why RFK’s son believes there was a second gunman.
Homelessness down in LA, but there's still a lot more work to be done Homelessness in LA County dropped 3 percent from last year. Sounds like good news for Mayor Eric Garcetti, who wants to end homelessness by year 2028. But there are still 53,000 people in the county without permanent housing, and more people are falling into homelessness for the first time. The Skid Row bathrooms that Garcetti unveiled last December have closed.
Tariffs dispute could hit California farmers hard President Trump revived tariffs today on steel and aluminum imports from Mexico, Canada and the European Union. Two days ago, Trump said he’ll move ahead with tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods. China is expected to retaliate by slapping tariffs on American fruit and nuts, which are major crops for California.
Saudi Arabia's first female filmmaker on 'Mary Shelley' In Saudi Arabia, women aren’t allowed to make major decisions alone. They can’t sign contracts or book travel. They must be covered in public. So imagine trying to direct movies. Haifaa Al-Mansour’s “Wadjda” was Saudi Arabia’s first submission for an Oscar. Her latest film is “Mary Shelley,” a biopic of the “Frankenstein” author.
Taking a trip on psychedelic drugs In 1971, Richard Nixon launched the War on Drugs, and the Controlled Substances Act outlawed the use of LSD and psilocybin, or magic mushrooms. Before then, psychiatrists used those drugs to treat patients for depression, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more. Author Michael Pollan has taken stock of the latest developments, and even taken a few trips himself.
Why did Jared Kushner want a back channel with Russians? News broke Friday that President Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, tried setting up a back channel between the Trump transition team and the Russian government. What are the consequences for Kushner, President Trump, and the investigation into Russian meddling?
Jordan Peele: Get Out Comedian Jordan Peele joins Elvis Mitchell to discuss his directorial debut Get Out. (REPEAT)
Previewing James Comey's blockbuster testimony Former FBI director James Comey testifies Thursday in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee, but his opening statement has been released. In it, he says he felt pressured by Donald Trump to declare loyalty to him and publicly clear him of any wrongdoing in the Russia investigation.
Why is Trump so behind on filling staff jobs, establishing concrete policies? Yesterday Donald Trump signed a “decision memo” to revamp the air traffic control system. But there was little legislative detail in the plan. There’s not much to other splashy announcements from the White House, including tax cuts and the arms deal with Saudi Arabia. And hundreds of positions are unfilled in federal agencies.