Press Play with Madeleine Brand
City Council Salaries, Big Business of Education, and Soy Sauce History
L.A. city councilmembers get paid more than the governor, members of Congress, and almost twice as much as California state lawmakers. How did that happen? And...is it possible anymore to talk about vaccines without devolving into a shouting match? Banner Photo Credit: Ken Lund
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenL.A. city councilmembers get paid more than the governor and members of Congress, and they are paid almost twice as much as California state lawmakers. How did that happen? Plus, a company called Pearson has its finger in every piece of the American education pie, making billions from testing, online curricula and textbooks. We talk to a Politico reporter who has done an in-depth investigation into Pearson’s rise. Next, in our parenting segment: Is it possible to talk about vaccines without people getting mad? After that, we discuss the now confirmed death of ISIS hostage Kayla Mueller. And the man who shot navy seal sniper Chris Kyle is going on trial in Texas. Will the movie make it impossible for him to get a fair hearing? Finally, who made those little soy sauce packets so popular -- and is that really soy sauce inside them?
Banner Photo Credit: Ken Lund
In this episode
6 storiesL.A. City Council Salaries
Candidates campaigning for L.A. city council seats have been criticizing councilmembers’ high salaries. Councilmembers are the best-paid in the nation compared with other big cities. They make a minimum of $184,610 per year. That’s more than the governor. More than members of Congress. And almost twice as much as California state lawmakers.
Read the story8 minThe Big Business of Education
When the program to give iPads to every LAUSD student fell apart, the name Pearson kept popping up in the news. Pearson supplied the digital curriculum on those tablets. But the 140 million dollar contract was scuttled when an investigation revealed a sweetheart deal between school officials and Pearson.
Read the story9 minWhat We Talk About When We Talk About Vaccines
In our parenting roundup : How do parents talk to other parents about the hot-button issue of vaccines? Also, a study says HPV vaccine doesn’t encourage promiscuity. And when is it too early for your grade schooler to prep for college?
Read the story8 minNegotiating with ISIS
The White House confirmed that 26-year-old Kayla Mueller is dead. She was being held by ISIS after being captured in Syria. Meuller was an aid worker from Arizona. It’s not clear how or when she died. ISIS says she was killed by a Jordanian airstrike. But what efforts were made to try to save Mueller since she was first kidnapped in 2013?
Read the story8 minAmerican Sniper Murder Trial Begins
The movie American Sniper tells the story of Navy Seal Chris Kyle. After he returned home, he ran a program for vets with PTSD. One of them is a man named Eddie Ray Routh. Routh is accused of murdering Kyle and another man at a shooting range in Texas.
Read the story6 minThe History of a Messy Soy Sauce Package
Japanese designer Kenji Ekuan died this week. He was the man who created Kikkoman's iconic soy sauce bottles with the wide bottoms and the red cap. He had nothing to do with those packets that come with Chinese food when you get it delivered to your home: the ones that end up squirting more soy sauce on your shirt then your chow mein.
Read the story8 min
