Special Correspondent for The New Republic in Beirut
Annia Ciezadlo on KCRW
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LA seed bank works to save CA’s diverse plants from extinction
Mental HealthThe California Botanic Garden in Claremont has a Noah’s Ark of native plants. That’s where freezers preserve seeds from plants that might go extinct.
How Traci Park plans to rebuild Angelenos’ trust with City Council
PoliticsTraci Park joins the LA City Council at a time of turmoil and division. The moderate Democrat defeated a more progressive challenger, despite the council shifting left.
Fact-Checking Jesus
NationalThe Rev. Madison Shockley discusses the historical, political and controversial misconceptions of the Christmas story.
Lensa AI: Reinforcing old beauty standards, sexualizing women’s bodies?
TechnologyLensa AI allows users to upload selfies and transforms them into fantastical portraits. Some women say it's returning sexualized versions of their photos.
Police brutality video footage: Does the public need to see it?
NationalFollowing the violent beating and death of Tyre Nichols, retired LAPD Sergeant Cheryl Dorsey looks at the Memphis police department and what went wrong.
State Justice Department hasn’t probed — or even logged — all police shootings of possibly unarmed people
PoliticsThe department told CalMatters it can’t say how many cases it chose not to investigate during the past 18 months under a new state law, which aimed to ensure state oversight of police…
Healthier dirt fights climate change. Why is it still so rare?
Climate changeRegenerative agriculture grows healthier food, captures carbon from the atmosphere, and fights climate change. So why isn’t every farmer doing it?
Vote after vote: What will McCarthy do to become speaker?
PoliticsPanelists discuss Kevin McCarthy’s failed bids to become speaker of the House, President Biden and Mitch McConnell’s joint infrastructure support, and the anniversary of the January 6…
Some unhoused Angelenos are now ‘Inside Safe.’ But will they get permanent homes?
HomelessnessMayor Karen Bass’s “Inside Safe” initiative has brought more than 100 unhoused people into shelters. But how fast permanent housing will materialize?