Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Starbucks U., the Ivory Trade, and Tastemakers
Starbucks offers free tuition, the state of the ivory trade, suing LA's biggest banks, "tastemakers," and our weekly TV roundup.
By Barbara Bogaev • • 52m ListenStarbucks has announced that it will offer free tuition for employees who take classes at Arizona State University’s online program. More than 20,000 African elephants were killed for their tusks last year. We discuss the status of poaching and the ivory trade. In our weekly TV roundup: Fargo, Game of Thrones, and Alex Trebek. We also talk to David Sax, the author of the new book Tastemakers: Why We’re Crazy for Cupcakes but Fed Up with Fondue. And we talk to L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer who has sued some of LA’s biggest banks for predatory and racist lending practices and their role in the mortgage crisis.
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In this episode
5 storiesStarbucks Tuition
Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz made a venti-sized announcement today for his more than 100,000 employees. The company will offer free tuition for employees who enroll in Arizona State University’s online program.
Read the story8 minIvory
Satao, thought to be one of the world’s largest living elephants, has been found dead, shot with a poisoned arrow, in Kenya’s Tsavo National Park. It’s estimated that more than 20,000 elephants were killed by poachers in Africa in 2013, and that number is actually down from the previous year.
Read the story8 minTV Roundup
On our weekly TV roundup, it’s a big week for finales. Fargo is wrapping up its first, and possibly only, season on FX. Last night season four of Game of Thrones ended. The much-ballyhooed reality show I Wanna Marry Harry got the ax last week. And, after 30 years... Answer: Alex Trebek.
Read the story9 minWho Are the "Tastemakers"?
We talk to David Sax, author of the new book The Tastemakers : Why We're Crazy for Cupcakes but Fed Up with Fondue.
Read the story13 minLA City Attorney on Foreclosure Suit
Many parts of Los Angeles are still feeling the effects of the mortgage crisis. In some neighborhoods, empty, foreclosed houses have become magnets for trash and crime. And L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer says the big banks are to blame.
Read the story8 min
