Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Reagan and the New GOP, Silicon Valley’s Tech Bubble and an Almond Makeover
The Republican presidential hopefuls will gather for a debate at the Reagan library in Simi Valley. No doubt, they’ll pay homage to the country’s 40th president, the library’s namesake. But would Reagan fit in today’s Republican party? Also, almond growers are fighting back against the nut’s image as a water-thirsty crop.
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenRepublican presidential hopefuls will gather Wednesday for a debate at the Reagan library in Simi Valley and no doubt pay homage to this country’s 40th president. But would Reagan fit in today’s Republican party?
Then, Trump sells the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants after his politics clashed with his business ventures. Speaking of Trump, he’s leading in the polls but hasn’t spent a dime on television ads. That’s because he gets all the attention he needs from the media frenzy around him. Our regular TV commentators discuss that and more, including Stephen Colbert’s first week as host of The Late Show.
Next, Silicon Valley is seeing some of the signs of being in a tech bubble. Is it headed for a pop?
And finally, the almond has become the poster nut for water-thirsty crops during California’s drought. Now almond growers are fighting back with a full-fledged PR campaign. Can you eat almonds again without feeling guilty?
In this episode
5 storiesRepublican Presidential Hopefuls Sing Reagan’s Praises
Ronald Reagan is revered among the candidates competing for the Republican presidential nomination. On Wednesday, they’ll no doubt pay further homage when they gather at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley for their second debate. But what is Reagan’s true legacy? Would Reagan himself have fit into today’s Republican party?
Read the story12 minDonald Trump Sells Miss Universe
Trump’s been leading in the polls, but his politics have been clashing with his some of his business ventures. So today, he announced he’s unloading one of those ventures. Trump has sold the Miss Universe beauty pageant empire.
Read the story6 minTV Roundup: Colbert, Political Ads and More
Donald Trump hasn’t spent a dime on TV advertising so far in his campaign. Why? Because of all the free publicity he gets from the media’s Trump frenzy. In general, the 2016 race is looking very different for candidate ad buys than past campaigns have. How so?
Read the story9 minIs Silicon Valley in a Tech Bubble?
The last time this many Silicon Valley startups saw this much money, it was hot and heavy for a time. But the inevitable breakup was devastating. The tech bubble burst in 1999. And lots of people lost their shirts in an instant. Now the dreaded word “bubble” is on lips in Silicon Valley again. Could it burst?
Read the story13 minThe Almond Tries For a Comeback
California's almond harvest is underway, and so is an effort to rehabilitate the nut’s image as a water-thirsty crop. You might have even heard underwriting messages about almonds on KCRW.
Read the story6 min
