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AirTalk Oct. 6, 2026
Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses the Gaza War, Paramount closing Warner Bros. deal, history of monstrous women, Irvine ranked choice voting, candidate Connor Traut and the oldest thing you still use.
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How Gaza and beyond are being reshaped 3 years after Oct. 7
It’s been almost three years since the Israel-Hamas war began, reshaping Gaza and the wider region. We talk through what’s happened since and where things stand now.
Guests:
- Alexander Cornwell, senior correspondent for Reuters based in Jerusalem
The Paramount merger is finally complete
It’s official: Skydance-owned Paramount has closed its $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, ushering in a new Hollywood giant with the now shorter “Skydance” nametag. Here’s what it means.
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Guests:
- Meg James, senior entertainment industry writer for the Los Angeles Times
- Dade Hayes, business editor for Deadline
The fascination with terrifying women throughout history
In her new book Monstrous Bitch: A History of Terrifying Women, author Eleanor Johnson traces the monstrous woman trope back to Mesopotamian folklore through Western civilization to our modern day horror classics where the trope gets turned on its head.
Guest:
- Eleanor Johnson, professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, and author of the new book Monstrous Bitch: A History of Terrifying Women. Her last book was Scream With Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism (1968-1980).
Irvine will decide on ranked-choice voting
Irvine voters are being asked whether they want to join the small but growing number of cities that elect representatives using ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Measure D will be on the ballot this November and if passed would change Irvine’s City Council member and mayoral elections to a ranked choice voting system in 2028.
Guests:
- Branda Lin, campaign director for Voter Choice Irvine, a nonpartisan, grassroots coalition that is the main proponent for ranked choice voting in Irvine
- James Mai, vice mayor of Irvine and city council member of District 3. He is one of three council members who opposed adding the measure to the ballot
OC Supervisor District 4 candidate Connor Traut
The O.C. Supervisor race for District 4 is a tight race between Buena Park Mayor Connor Traut and O.C. Board of Education trustee Tim Shaw. Neither have served on the Board of Supervisors before, but each has had decades-long experience working in local government positions.
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Guest:
- Connor Traut, current mayor of Buena Park and board director of the Orange County Fire Authority. He is running for O.C. Supervisor of District 4 which includes Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Stanton and portions of Anaheim
What’s the oldest thing you have that’s still in commission?
Whether it be sentimental, useful, or it just never went out of style, we all have that one shirt, spatula or family heirloom that has stuck around with us through thick and thin.
Join the conversation: We want to hear from you! What is the oldest thing you still own that’s in use? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com
Guests:
- Payton Seda, associate producer for AirTalk
- Faheem Khan, associate producer for AirTalk
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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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