Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Ukrainian Identity, The Mind of Putin, and Peak Car
Today we discuss the cultural identity of Ukrainians, the idea "peak car," the death of an assistant camera operator, California Democrats, and more.
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenAs Russia’s military presence continues to grow in Ukraine, we look at the mindset of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and we discuss the cultural identity of Ukrainians. Also, the death of a 27-year-old assistant camera operator working on a film in Georgia has Hollywood craftspeople up in arms. We also talk about the latest political wranglings in Sacramento, now that Democrats have lost their supermajority. We look at the idea of “peak car,” and we look at the pseudo-science you may run into at your local grocery store.
Banner Image: Euromaidan in Kiev. Institutska/Bankova streets crossing, citizens build a barricade.
In this episode
6 storiesThe Mind of Putin
The tensions have escalated on the Crimean Peninsula in eastern Ukraine, with a major Russian military presence strengthening in numbers and occupying the region’s capital over the weekend. But how does Vladimir Putin rationalize his occupation of Ukraine?
Read the story8 minUkrainian Identity
To put it in the broadest strokes, the conflict in the Ukrainian is being driven by the clashing views Ukrainians have of their own history and relationship with Russia. We look at the Ukrainian identity.
Read the story8 minThe Death of Sarah Jones
Sarah Elizabeth Jones was a 27-year-old assistant camera operator and she was killed while working on a film in Georgia on February 20th. Hollywood craftspeople are angry about her death, and an online petition with something like 60-thousand signatures helped convince the academy to add her name to the Oscar memorial.
Read the story9 minCalifornia Dems Lose Supermajority
California Senate Democrats have, at least temporarily, lost two members to corruption charges: Ronald Calderon from Montebello and Roderick Wright from Inglewood. That means the Democrats no longer have their supermajority in the Senate, so they’ll need to get at least some Republican support in order to pass legislation.
Read the story6 minPeak Car
Driving to work today, crawling our way along packed freeways, it’s hard to imagine that LA will ever get less congested. But according to people who follow the auto industry, it’s mega-cities like ours that are prompting a change in car culture and getting people to rethink the way they get around.
Read the story9 minPseudoscience at the Grocery Store
The same people who scoff at climate change deniers and creationism may be just as guilty of buying into pseudoscience as their conservative counterparts, according to our guest. Writer Michael Schulson says you just have to look to Whole Foods as an example.
Read the story7 min
