Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Water Main Woes, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Passive Policy
Yesterday’s water main break in Westwood sent millions of gallons of water flooding nearby streets and UCLA. We take a look at our crumbling water infrastructure. Plus, with conflicts flaring up all over the globe, how much is the Obama administration’s foreign policy to blame?
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenYesterday’s water main break in Westwood sent millions of gallons of water flooding nearby streets and UCLA. We take a look at our crumbling water infrastructure. Plus, with conflicts flaring up all over the globe, how much is the Obama administration’s foreign policy to blame? We also talk with the co-writer of this summer’s huge Hollywood release, Guardians of the Galaxy, about what it’s like to be a woman screenwriter in a male-dominated genre. And we discuss an online dating site’s decision to experiment with its users.
Banner image: Urban runoff flowing into a storm drain by Rklawton
In this episode
4 storiesThe Water Beneath Our Feet
Yesterday’s water main break in Westwood sent millions of gallons of water flooding nearby streets and UCLA. This didn’t happen out out the blue. In 2009, L.A. suffered more than 100 major water main breaks. So what kind of shape is our water infrastructure in? And how do we compare to other cities around the country?
Read the story11 minIs U.S. Foreign Policy to Blame?
It seems like the world is falling apart this summer. There are serious conflicts in Iraq, Ukraine, Syria, Libya, and Israel. And America seems to be mainly watching from the sidelines. Has President Obama’s foreign policy affected what’s happening in these countries?
Read the story15 minGuardians of the Galaxy and the Celluloid Ceiling
The Superhero flick is generally something of a bro fest, both on screen and off. But one of this summer’s biggest Hollywood releases - Guardians of the Galaxy - was co-written by a woman who’s helping crack the celluloid ceiling. We talk with screenwriter Nicole Perlman. Photo: Nicole Perlman
Read the story12 minLooking for Love in All the Wrong Places
Dating site OKCupid has admitted to running experiments on users by messing around with the matching results. And the company has no regrets or apologies. We talk about that - and a movement to drop men from your Twitter feed - in our weekly internet roundup.
Read the story10 min
