Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Inside the LASD, Kids & the Paparazzi, and a Mystery Disease
Today we go inside the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, discuss recent efforts to keep kids out of the celebrity spotlight, investigate a new disease and more.
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenActress Kristen Bell is leading an effort to get tabloids to stop running unauthorized photos of celebrities’ kids. And some publications have already signed-on. We talk to her about her efforts, and we hear from someone on the other side of the lens. Plus, we go deep inside the L.A. County Sheriff's Department and look at what led to the latest scandal there. Plus, the internet is exploding with conspiracy theories regarding the Pixar films. And doctors are baffled by a new disease that reminds them of polio.
Banner Image: Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca; credit: David Markland / L.A. Metblogs
In this episode
4 storiesPedorazzi
California recently passed a law aimed at protecting kids from the paparazzi. But some celebrities don’t think the new law goes far enough. Actress Kristen Bell and her husband Dax Sheppard have been leading a boycott of magazines that still publish unauthorized photos of celebrity kids. And they’re making progress.
Read the story17 minToy Story Conspiracy Theories
A new conspiracy theory about Pixar’s Toy Story films is blowing-up the internet. And when we say “new” conspiracy theory, it’s because it’s not the only conspiracy theory related to the Pixar films . We dive deep into the conspiracy theory subculture to figure out what the buzz is all about.
Read the story8 minInside the L.A. Sheriff's Department Scandal
The story of the downfall of the L.A. County Sheriff’s department reads like a TV drama, including federal indictments and the resignation of sheriff Lee Baca. His deputy, Paul Tanaka, is suspected of pushing the limits of the law and is now struggling to win the upcoming election.
Read the story15 minA New Polio?
Doctors are baffled by a polio-like illness that’s sickened about 20 California children in the past 18 months. At least five have been paralyzed. All of the paralyzed patients were vaccinated for polio. And the disease has been eradicated in the United States for 30 years. So what’s causing this new illness? Should we be worried about it?
Read the story7 min
