Producer, 'Press Play'
PROFILE
Sarah Sweeney
Producer
FROM Sarah Sweeney
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
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The Business
Industry insights and lessons learned from memorable guests We have interesting guests on The Business, and sometimes our conversations are too long to fit into one show. This week we give you stories that were too good to leave on the cutting room floor, including some sharp insights on making it in the industry from David Mandel, David Simon, Shawn Levy and Matt Reeves.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
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.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Trump says goodbye Paris Accord: What does it mean for U.S. and the planet? President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, the landmark international agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Trump was to renegotiate a new deal, but will that happen?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Gov. Jerry Brown: California and China will fight climate change together President Donald Trump reportedly wants the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, and he’s expected to announce a decision soon. California Governor Jerry Brown heads to China to strengthen climate and clean energy ties.