Bruce Springsteen has a new protest song — but does it matter?

Bruce Springsteen is dedicating his new song to the people of Minneapolis, criticizing President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration enforcement operations in the city. The lyrics of “Streets of Minneapolis,” released Wednesday, describe how “a city aflame fought fire and ice ’neath an occupier’s boots,” occupiers Springsteen calls “King Trump’s private army.” Springsteen in a statement said he wrote and recorded the song over the weekend and released it in response to a second deadly shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. But when the events being sung about are being captured on film and widely accessible to all, does a protest song still have relevance to the moment? Or should protest songs focus on attempting to bring little or entirely unknown events to light? Joining AirTalk this morning to break down the role of protest songs in social movements is Noriko Manabe professor of music theory at Indiana University and co-editor of ‘The Oxford Handbook of Protest Music.’ We also want to hear from you! What’s your favorite protest song, and how do you feel about the influence of protest songs in today’s age? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com

With files from the Associated Press.

How are restaurants doing amid ICE raids?

Restaurants are facing hard times. A fragile economy and now the threat of ICE raids are putting many on the brink of closing as customer traffic declines and immigrant workers fear coming to work. These pressures are forcing some restaurants to shorten their hours, pivot their business model, or close their doors entirely. Joining us today on AirTalk today to discuss is Jot Condie, President of the California Restaurant Association and Heather Haddon, reporter covering restaurants for The Wall Street Journal. Do you work in the restaurant industry? We want to hear from you. Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.

New book digs into how easy it is to join a cult

How would you describe a cult? Most often, folks associate it with a charismatic leader and followers who will cross any line imaginable to be admired by their savior. But this simple definition doesn’t get into just how these cults form, and why seemingly normal people find themselves in these organizations. The new book The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them explores how common they actually are, with their prevalence in all parts of society. Having been a former cult member and former army intelligence officer, Mestyanek brings together an interesting perspective that is meant to leave readers questioning how much of their identities is tied up in groups they find themselves obsessively involved in. Joining us today on AirTalk to discuss their book is Daniella Mestyanek Young.

What goes into a ‘know your rights’ training? We ask those providing them following ICE raids

Since the well-publicized arrival of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles communities, residents have been put in a position where they realistically could face federal agents in their daily lives, not knowing how to best handle the situation. Organizations like Grupo Auto Defensa and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights have been able help offer informational events for Angelenos, letting folks know their rights and what to do when in the presence of ICE agents. Today on AirTalk, we thought it’d be helpful to have on someone who’s helped provide these training sessions, and share with listeners on why these events are helpful at a fearful time for many people, not just in Los Angeles, but Southern California at large. Joining us on the program is Oscar Zarate, director of external affairs at CHIRLA, and Tess Feldman, attorney at the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic.

TikTok & other social media giants taken to court for claims of harming youth mental health

TikTok has agreed to settle a landmark social media addiction lawsuit just before the trial was set to kick off. The social video platform was one of three companies — along with Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube — facing claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm children. A fourth company named in the lawsuit, Snapchat parent company Snap Inc., settled the case last week for an undisclosed sum. Details of the settlement with TikTok were not disclosed, and the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At the core of the case is a 19-year-old identified only by the initials “KGM,” whose case could determine how thousands of other, similar lawsuits against social media companies will play out. She and two other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials — essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury and what damages, if any, may be awarded, said Clay Calvert, a nonresident senior fellow of technology policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Today on AirTalk, Larry speaks to CNN tech writer Clare Duffy to offer a primer on the case and understand its long-term implications.

With files from the Associated Press

TV Talk: ‘Bridgerton,’ ‘Wonder Man,’ ‘Vanished,’ and more!

Have you felt completely overwhelmed when deciding what new show to watch these days? Us too. There’s just so much content out there between network TV and numerous streaming platforms. Each week, we will try to break through the noise with TV watchers who can point us to the must-sees and steer us clear of the shows that maybe don’t live up to the hype. This week, listeners will get the latest scoop on what’s worth watching withMarcus Jones, awards editor for TV & Film at IndieWire and Roxana Hadadi, TV critic for Vulture.

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Bruce Springsteen has a new protest song — but does it matter?