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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    What Chinese Investment Means for L.A., and 'The Man Who Wasn’t There'

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1000 points today before starting to correct itself. The cause? An economic slowdown in China. This could have a major effect here in Los Angeles, one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists and investors. And in Guatemala, citizens, the nation’s most powerful business group, and even the Catholic Church are pressing President Otto Perez Molina to step down.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Aug 24, 2015 • 51m Listen

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1000 points today before the parachute kicked in. The cause of this volatility? China. Or more accurately, an economic slowdown in China.

    Beyond the market histrionics, the Chinese slowdown could have a major effect here in Los Angeles, one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists and investors.

    Then, extraordinary events occurred in Guatemala over the weekend, where tens of thousands of citizens, the nation’s most powerful business group, and even the Catholic Church have been pressuring President Otto Perez Molina to step down. Much of his cabinet has stepped down and his Vice President has been arrested.

    Finally, Los Angeles is prepared for certain disasters: drought, earthquakes, wildfires. But what about a zombie apocalypse? AMC’s new series Fear the Walking Dead premiered last night. In it, L.A. fails to notice a zombie outbreak… until it’s too late.

    Banner Image: A man looks at a stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, August 24, 2015. Asian stocks dived to 3-year lows on Monday as a rout in Chinese equities gathered pace, hastening an exodus from riskier assets as fears of a China-led global economic slowdown roiled world markets. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:17

      Chinese Investment in L.A.

      Markets jumped out of a plane this morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1000 points before the parachute kicked in. The cause of this volatility? China. Or more accurately, an economic slowdown in China.

      Read the story
      9 min
    2. 8:57

      The Chinese Stock Market Explained

      How did this morning’s stock crash come about, anyway? We take a closer at what’s going on in China, and how what happened there precipitated the major market losses around the world.

      Read the story
      9 min
    3. 18:38

      Turmoil in Guatemala

      Extraordinary events occurred in Guatemala over the weekend. Today, despite pressure to do so, President Otto Perez Molina is refusing to step down. The pressure is coming from tens of thousands of citizens, the nation’s most powerful business group, and even the Catholic church.

      Read the story
      10 min
    4. 29:41

      'The Man Who Wasn’t There'

      We record this show at KCRW’s studio in Santa Monica, sitting in the chair in Studio Three. Or at least we think we do. Perhaps it’s not so simple. Because all of that depends on our sense of self, which is, neurologically speaking, much more malleable than you might think.

      Read the story
      10 min
    5. 41:24

      TV Roundup: 'Fear the Walking Dead,' 'Show Me a Hero,' and More

      Los Angeles is prepared for certain disasters from drought to wildfires, but maybe not for a zombie apocalypse. AMC’s new series Fear the Walking Dead premiered last night. In it, L.A. fails to notice a zombie outbreak… until it’s too late. This is a companion series to AMC’s hit show The Walking Dead.

      Read the story
      8 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

      News

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:179 min

      Chinese Investment in L.A.

    2. 8:579 min

      The Chinese Stock Market Explained

    3. 18:3810 min

      Turmoil in Guatemala

    4. 29:4110 min

      'The Man Who Wasn’t There'

    5. 41:248 min

      TV Roundup: 'Fear the Walking Dead,' 'Show Me a Hero,' and More

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand