Betsy Woodruff is a political reporter for the Daily Beast. She is a former staff writer for Slate.
Betsy Woodruff on KCRW
More from KCRW
George Gascón wins district attorney race in LA
Los AngelesThis morning, Jackie Lacey conceded to former George Gascón in the race for Los Angeles County’s next district attorney.
Surf resorts are coming to the desert — not just for elite surfers
SportsSun, sand, and surf are all synonymous with Southern California’s famous beaches.
Who will succeed Angela Merkel?
KCRW BerlinAngela Merkel is the second-longest serving chancellor in modern German history.
Nithya Raman on progressive values and change for LA
HomelessnessNithya Raman is the new City Council member representing LA’s District 4, which covers Griffith Park, Silver Lake, the Hollywood Hills and part of Koreatown.
No regular COVID tests for UCI hospital nurses, not enough space for both staff and patients
CoronavirusCalifornia surpassed a million COVID-19 cases this week.
The myth and dark side of meritocracy
Health & WellnessMost people say merit-based success is the result of hard work and dedication. Those who achieve success typically enjoy the rewards: a better income, praise and recognition.
Don’t Believe Anything You Were Told About Populism
PoliticsThomas Frank examines the history of American populism, and how it was distorted by Democrats and co-opted by Republicans.
Some schools stay open as COVID hits record numbers
CoronavirusCalifornia on Monday recorded its highest number of new cases since the pandemic began — more than 13,000 .
How high school students participated in 2020 election by staffing vote centers
Election 2020Even before the election, the president was questioning the legitimacy of the voting process. Now, as votes are still being counted, we're watching democracy in action.