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Allegations against civil rights icon Cesar Chavez spur reckoning with legacy
A mural of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez is displayed at the Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Park on March 18, 2026 in San Fernando, California.
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Today on AirTalk: Allegations against civil rights icon Cesar Chavez; Plant-based meat; Checking in on UK and Europe’s political climate; and Star Trek.
Allegations against civil rights icon Cesar Chavez spur reckoning with legacy
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31:45
Cesar Chavez, the late civil rights icon best known for his work in organizing California farm laborers, has been accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls during the 60s and 70s, according to an investigation by the New York Times. The allegations add to the figure’s complicated legacy, which includes multiple instances of extramarital affairs and secret children. The investigation says that key figures in the labor movement knew about allegations of sexual misconduct for years, but took no actions. The investigation comes one day after the United Farm Workers, the organization spawned from Chavez’s worker movement, said they would not take part in celebrations of Cesar Chavez day. For more on these revelations, and how Chavez’s legacy is being altered, are Gustavo Arellano, columnist for the Los Angeles Times, Miriam Pawel, author of "The Crusades of Cesar Chavez: A Biography," and Alejandra Molina, senior reporter for Boyle Heights Beat. We also want to hear from you: given Chavez’s legacy, having a day and many places across the state named after him, how is this latest news impacting your perception of the labor leader? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
A check-in with plant-based meat, as Beyond changes its marketing
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11:09
A few years ago, plant-based burgers and sausages were everywhere. Companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods promised a future where you could enjoy the taste of meat without the environmental impact of raising animals. But lately, the excitement around “fake meat” seems to have cooled. Sales have slowed, some companies are struggling, and many consumers are starting to question whether these products are actually healthier or just another form of ultra-processed food. So today on AirTalk, we’re checking in on the fake-meat industry: what happened to the plant-based boom, why some consumers are turning away, and how shifting attitudes about processed foods might be changing the way people think about meat alternatives. Today on AirTalk, we’re joined by Kenny Torrella, senior reporter for Vox’s Future Perfect section, who covers animal welfare and the future of meat.
Checking in on UK, Europe’s political climate as the left wing sees a resurgence
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12:11
Despite gaining power once more in 2024, the United Kingdom’s Labour Party has seen its support take a nosedive, along with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s approval being a net negative since August of that same year. Although the right-wing Reform Party has made a lot of noise in British politics, Labour’s politically centrist governing has pushed many of its supporters to the country’s Green Party. The Greens' electoral victory last month for a vacant MP position, in a historically Labour Party stronghold, has shown a changing of the tide that is being felt not just in the U.K., but in many Western nations. Helping us to make sense of what’s happening from across the pond is Dan Bloom, U.K. politics editor for POLITICO.
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Can Star Trek boldly go…on forever?
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9:34
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, the newest series of the Star Trek franchise, had its season finale last week on Paramount+. For a franchise that was created in the 1960’s, it’s gone through many different eras of space exploration and storytelling. Although each Trekkie has their personal favorite series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has been divisive in the fandom. The show was review-bombed upon its release while receiving more favorable reviews from critics. It’s been renewed for a second season. Another Star Trek series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, will have its fifth and final season out later this year. Joining us to talk about the future of the Star Trek franchise is a critic at large for NPR and professor of journalism and media ethics at Washington and Lee University, Eric Deggans.
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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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