Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Mexican Heroin, Afterlives of Musicians, and LA Theater
More Ukrainian unrest? Why are pot farmers in Mexico turning towards opium poppies? Can ESPN build an audience for cricket?
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenToday, Ukraine took back control of a government buildings seized by pro-Russian demonstrators over the weekend in the city of Kharkiv. As the conflict continues, it could be setting the stage for another Russian military invasion along the lines of Crimea. Plus, pot farmers in Mexico are leaving marijuana behind and are now growing opium poppies instead. They say pot legalization in some states is hurting their marijuana business. We also take a look at the state of the theater scene in Los Angeles. And, with the announcement of a new, posthumous Michael Jackson record on the way, we look back at some of the best and worst posthumous records of all time. We also take a look at ESPN’s new efforts to build an audience for cricket.
Banner Image: Opium poppy straw
In this episode
5 storiesMore Ukrainian Unrest?
Today, Ukraine took back control of a government buildings seized by pro-Russian demonstrators over the weekend in the city of Kharkiv. As the conflict continues, it could be setting the stage for another Russian military invasion along the lines of Crimea. How likely is that? And what would the consequences be?
Read the story8 minMexican Poppies
Pot farmers in Mexico and Central America are turning to a new drug crop: opium poppies. They say legalization of marijuana in some U.S. states is lowering the price of pot, so they have to turn to something else. And their new crops are feeding a growing heroin problem in the U.S.
Read the story8 minThe State of L.A. Theater
For years, The L.A. Weekly has been the main place to find out what’s happening on small theater stages across L.A. So when the paper announced late last year that it was cutting back its theater coverage by 70%, the arts community took it as a bad sign. People began to ask, “what does this say about LA’s theater scene?”
Read the story9 minThe Afterlives of Musicians
This spring, Epic Records plans to release another Michael Jackson record, despite the musician’s death. This is not the first of his records to be released posthumously. We take a look back at some of the best and worst posthumous records of all time with KCRW’s Eric J. Lawrence.
Read the story14 minCricket, Anyone?
Baseball season is kicking off in earnest this week, and the Connecticut men’s basketball team sealed up the National Championship last night. So, it may have struck some as strange that on Sunday morning, the folks at ESPN chose to broadcast a live cricket match instead of an episode of Sportscenter on ESPN2.
Read the story8 min
