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AirTalk Oct. 21, 2026
Latest on Russia-Ukraine war, Prop. 43, NBA preview, misdiagnoses with autoimmune diseases and this week in AI.
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11:36
An update on the Russia-Ukraine war
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed Wednesday to resume trilateral negotiations with Washington and Kyiv on ending the war in Ukraine, a Kremlin official said. The Russian leader has agreed “in principle” to resume the talks after Nov. 10, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters following a meeting in St. Petersburg between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff. However, there was little progress beyond exchanges of prisoners of war as Moscow and Kyiv stuck to their basic demands.
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12:29
Prop 43: Special Tax Measure limits
Proposition 43 would make it harder to create or raise certain local taxes. It would raise the share of votes needed to pass local special tax measures proposed by citizens from a simple majority to two-thirds. The measure grew out of a deal between state lawmakers and the anti-tax Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association to keep a more restrictive tax proposal off the ballot.
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9:13
NBA Preview: The California showdown
The Los Angeles Lakers are officially in their post-Lebron James era, as they take on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors at home tonight for their season opener. This marks the first time in 8 years that the Lakers were not scheduled to play on opening night for the NBA. Along with the Lakers/Warriors showdown tonight, there is also another battle of California taking place in Inglewood, where the Sacramento Kings take on the LA Clippers. This will be the first time all four in-state teams play each other across the first two days of a NBA season.
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11:56
Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MS – how common are misdiagnoses?
Christina Applegate, who has candidly shared raw details about her journey with multiple sclerosis for years, revealed Monday her doctor says she doesn’t have the autoimmune disease and was misdiagnosed.
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19:36
This week in AI: Political ads and Anthropic’s AI bill
There’s seemingly a new AI headline just about every day, if not every hour. Each week on AirTalk, we set aside some time to catch you up on the biggest stories and developments of the week.
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The significance of an AAPI mayor, sneaking around parents, Yellow Paper Burger, FilmWeek and the American French Film Festival. -
Jensen Huang resigns as Nvidia CEO, Lucy Jones on her new Center for Disaster Resilience, Caltech’s new exhibit, Prop. 45 and the future of CEQA and TV Talk.
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Why Prop 40 failed, veterans' issues, Gen Z intimacy, LA's harm reduction program, Gen Z film culture and Route 66 turns 100.
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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.
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