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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Newsom promises $600 stimulus checks as California projects budget surplus

    Today Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his California Comeback Plan , which means two-thirds of Californians would receive $600 stimulus checks, and some families with children would get $1100 checks.

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    By Madeleine Brand • May 10, 2021 • 49m Listen

    Today Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his California Comeback Plan, which means two-thirds of Californians would receive $600 stimulus checks, and some families with children would get $1100 checks. This is all happening as the state is projecting a $75 billion budget surplus. It’s a far cry from the $54 billion fiscal shortfall projected last year.

    The boom is the result of California’s top earners doing financially well during the pandemic, says Nicole Nixon, politics reporter for Capital Public Radio. “Because of California's tax structure, higher earners pay more in income taxes. There's also a tax on capital gains. So when the stock market's doing well, California's budget is doing really well too.”

    Nixon says the plan seems inclined to get approval from the California State Legislature.

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:00

      $600 checks coming to many residents under Newsom’s ‘California Comeback Plan,’ thanks to budget surplus

      Newsom unveiled a plan today that would allow two-thirds of Californians to receive $600 stimulus checks, and some families with children would get $1100 checks.

      Read the story
      9 min
    2. 8:33

      Homeless camp at Echo Park Lake was dismantled for park repairs. What happened to people living there?

      In March, hundreds of people protested the city’s decision to remove a homeless encampment along Echo Park Lake. About 200 unhoused Angelenos were living there, and more than 160 of them moved into hotels or shelters.

      Read the story
      9 min
    3. 17:37

      What happens if Eric Garcetti leaves as LA mayor to become ambassador to India?

      Last week, Axios broke news that the White House might consider LA Mayor Eric Garcetti for a high-profile diplomatic post: ambassador to India.

      Read the story
      10 min
    4. 27:59

      The cultural relevance of SNL after Elon Musk makes a guest appearance

      Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk guest hosted “Saturday Night Live” on May 8. The billionaire’s appearance resulted in widely negative reviews from viewers and critics across social media. A hotly-contested host is nothing new for the show, however.

      Read the story
      8 min
    5. 35:49

      ‘Sisters with Transistors’: The untold story of how women shaped electronic music as we know it

      Filmmaker Lisa Rovner talks about the influence of war on electronic sounds, the innovations wrought by unsung female auteurs, and how synthesizers liberated women from the patriarchal structures of music.

      Read the story
      14 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

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      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Angie Perrin

      Producer, Press Play

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Former Producer/Line Editor, Press Play

      NewsCaliforniaPoliticsBusiness & Economy

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:009 min

      $600 checks coming to many residents under Newsom’s ‘California Comeback Plan,’ thanks to budget surplus

    2. 8:339 min

      Homeless camp at Echo Park Lake was dismantled for park repairs. What happened to people living there?

    3. 17:3710 min

      What happens if Eric Garcetti leaves as LA mayor to become ambassador to India?

    4. 27:598 min

      The cultural relevance of SNL after Elon Musk makes a guest appearance

    5. 35:4914 min

      ‘Sisters with Transistors’: The untold story of how women shaped electronic music as we know it

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand