Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Without Scalia, Supreme Court Deadlocks on Union Case
A 4-4 split at the U.S. Supreme Court on a case related to unions became the first decision clearly affected by the death of former Justice Antonin Scalia. Will we see more deadlocks going forward?
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenA 4-4 split at the U.S. Supreme Court in a decision affecting unions became the first decision clearly affected by the death of former Justice Antonin Scalia.
Then, a political advocacy organization backed by the conservative billionaire Koch brothers is on a state-by-state mission to knock down film tax subsidies for Hollywood productions. What does it mean for California?
Next, dairy producers from Saudi Arabia are escaping the drought there by buying up land in California and Arizona to grow alfalfa.
Then, the story of a gang interventionist in South L.A.
And finally, a new audit accuses the UC system of lowering academic standards to accommodate more out-of-state students, who pay higher tuition than students from California.
Banner Image: Protestors gather at the Supreme Court during oral arguments on Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association; Credit: Laura Markwardt/AAUP via Flickr
In this episode
5 storiesUnions Dodge a Bullet at the Supreme Court
Unions are breathing a sigh of relief in a California case the Supreme Court handed down today. The justices split 4-4 in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. That means that a lower court ruling stands and unions can still collect dues from teachers and other public employees, even if those employees choose not to join their union.
Read the story8 minKoch-Funded Group Fights Hollywood Tax Credits
Hollywood has fled California in recent years. States from Georgia to Michigan to North Carolina have lured big-budget productions with generous tax subsidies. Thirty-five states now offer some form of these credits. But now the programs are getting knocked down, state-by-state, by a conservative political group called Americans for Prosperity.
Read the story9 minWhat a Drought in Saudi Arabia Means for California Land
Saudi Arabia is running out of water. This poses a problem for the country’s largest dairy producer, the Almarai Company. Because feeding cows requires food, and growing that food requires water. What’s a large agribusiness to do in the midst of a drought?
Read the story9 min'Peacemakers' Part 2: The Interventionist
There’s been a surge of violent crime over the past year in Los Angeles. South L.A. has seen the greatest increase. South L.A. is also a place where community members often do not trust the cops. That's where Skipp Townsend come in. He works with the LAPD to stop gang-related violence before it happens. Townsend is a former gang member.
Read the story15 minUC Schools Lowered Standards to Attract Out-of-State Students
A state audit released today reveals that when University of California schools admit out-of-state students, it puts California kids at a disadvantage. That’s especially true for students of color. The UC’s motive is money. Students from other states pay $23,000 more per student in tuition than California residents.
Read the story8 min
