Press Play with Madeleine Brand
L.A.’s Olympic Bid, the Downside of Low Gas Prices and Pot Prosecutions
Los Angeles is bidding to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. What are the city’s chances? Also, the last time our city hosted the Olympics was in 1984. How did the city benefit from it then, and is it likely we’d see the same payoffs this time around?
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenLos Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was in the Bay Area this morning to make the case to the U.S. Olympic Committee for our city to host the 2024 Summer Games. What are our chances? Also, how did L.A. benefit from hosting the 1984 Olympics? Then, in our regular car news roundup, a look at why low gas prices are bad news for some car manufacturers. Next, China is funding the study of Chinese language, history and literature at American universities. Is it a cultural boon for our institutes of higher learning, or a bad influence on academic freedom? And finally, has the federal ban on medical marijuana been lifted?
Banner Image: Olympic Torch Tower of the Los Angeles Coliseum on the day of the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics.
In this episode
4 storiesL.A.’s Olympic Bid
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was in the Bay Area this morning, pitching the U.S. Olympic Committee on why our city should host the 2024 summer games. Los Angeles is up against Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. to become the American host candidate for 2024. If selected by the U.S.O.C., L.A.
Read the story16 minLow Gas Prices Not So Great for Car Companies
The price of oil has fallen below $60 per barrel for the first time in five years. This, of course, is good news for drivers at the gas pump. While it is leading to increased sales of some vehicles, the plunging prices are not all good news for car manufacturers. We discuss that and more with our regular auto industry commentator.
Read the story9 minThe Debate Over Confucius Institutes
China is funding the study of Chinese language, history and literature at 90 American universities. These centers are called Confucius Institutes and several California schools have them, including UCLA and Stanford.
Read the story15 minThe End of Federal Pot Prosecutions?
The Senate this weekend opted to pass a funding bill that’ll keep the government open through next summer. Here’s one thing that got the green light: medical marijuana. A provision buried in the 1,600-page bill defunds the federal prosecution of medical marijuana users and the people who run dispensaries.
Read the story6 min
