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AirTalk Oct. 20, 2026
Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses the U.S. Senate races, scariest Halloween experiences, Israel elections and the art of spoilers.
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The latest on U.S. Senate races
Following a strong showing in 2024 for Republicans, this year’s midterm polling has shown a split sentiment, as the average voter deals with economic anxiety. Today on AirTalk, we dig into the seats in play and whether President Donald Trump-backed candidates are going to help maintain the Republican Party’s already slim majority.
Guest:
- Mark Barabak, Los Angeles Times political columnist
What gave you the biggest fright of your life during the Halloween season?
Whether it was a haunted house, a scary movie, theme park horror night, or someone's terrifyingly realistic costume during trick-or-treating, we want to know what your scariest Halloween experience was. Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
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What to watch for in Israel’s election next week
Israelis vote on Oct. 27 in an election viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the three years of wars that followed. His opponents are urging voters to deny him another premiership, arguing that Netanyahu’s failures led to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and that he has evaded responsibility.
With files from Associated Press
Guests:
- Dov Waxman, professor and presidential chair in Modern Jewish Studies at UCLA
- Aluf Benn, editor-in-chief of Haaretz Newspaper
What even are spoilers, and do you try to avoid them?
Viewers of You Can See Everything, including many at LAist, are demanding those around them see the film as soon as possible, lest they get spoiled on its [redacted]. But what really are spoilers, and are they of universal concern? Join the conversation: So AirTalk listener, do you care about spoilers? How do you draw the line between what is and isn’t a spoiler? Give us a call at (866) 893-572 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Guest:
- Christy Lemire, film critic for LAist, and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ YouTube and podcast series
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Republican political consultant Mike Madrid talks about recent polling of Latino voters and what is driving their voting behaviors in this midterm election. -
LACMA's "Homes of the Future 1925–1985: Designing Domestic Utopias" wrestles with modernity and what it means to achieve it. -
SoCal's gay and lesbian bars have helped build cultural hubs throughout the region, but many iconic venues have since shut down due to economic issues.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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