Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Air Rule Overturned, City Council Change and Berlin Architecture
L.A. City Council members Tom LaBonge and Bernard Parks are retiring after more than 40 years in city government. What are their legacies, and what’s next at city hall? Also, KCRW is in Berlin: Madeleine sits down with the U.S. Ambassador to Germany to discuss NSA spying and the Greek financial crisis.
By Barbara Bogaev • • 51m ListenWe start with the final three decisions from the current Supreme Court session. The justices ruled against the EPA on limiting toxic emissions from power plants, and upheld independent redistricting commissions and the use of an execution drug. Then, we discuss the legacies of outgoing L.A. City Council members Tom LaBonge and Bernard Parks. In our weekly TV roundup we look at NBC’s Hannibal, recently cancelled, and Amazon’s Catastrophe, just renewed. Finally, KCRW in Berlin: Madeleine sits down with the U.S. Ambassador to Germany to discuss NSA spying and the Greek financial crisis, and navigates Berlin’s divided history through architecture, from Checkpoint Charlie to the Berlin City Palace.
Banner Image: Before the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955, air pollution was not considered a national environmental problem. (Photo was taken prior to installation of emission controls equipment)
In this episode
5 storiesSCOTUS Rules on Air Pollution and more
The Supreme Court released the last three decisions of its current session today. The justices blocked EPA rules limiting toxic emissions from power plants, and they upheld independent redistricting commissions and the use of an execution drug. The court split 5 to 4 in all three cases, with Justice Kennedy, as usual, acting as the swing vote.
Read the story11 minOutgoing L.A. City Council Members
A new era begins this week for the L.A. City Council: the two newest LA Council members take their seats, replacing two of the oldest. David Ryu and Marqueece Harris-Dawson take over for Tom LaBonge and Bernard Parks, who are both retiring after more than 40 years in city government.
Read the story7 minTV Roundup: 'Hannibal' Cancelled, Amazon's 'Catastrophe'
In our weekly television roundup, we look at two British-American collaborations, one cancelled and one renewed. Last week, NBC announced it’s cancelling the fan favorite Hannibal. Meanwhile, the British rom-com Catastrophe, distributed here via Amazon, is being renewed for a second season.
Read the story8 minKCRW in Berlin: Q&A with the American Ambassador to Germany
John Emerson is the American Ambassador to Germany. Madeleine Brand speaks with Emerson at the U.S. embassy in Berlin about the Greek debt crisis and the role the U.S. can play. They also discuss NSA spying, a sensitive issue in Berlin with the history of the East German secret police - the Stasi.
Read the story10 minKCRW in Berlin: Reuniting a Divided City
Berlin is intimately familiar with divides. The Wall fell a quarter of a century ago, but Berliners are still grappling with questions of how much to let the past dictate the future.
Read the story14 min
