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Latest on Cornell University sexual assault case, side hustles, Burger She Wrote, FilmWeek and more
The fraternity house at the center of a rape allegation stands on the campus of Cornell University.
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Spencer Platt
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Getty Images
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Today's show: AirTalk Friday host Austin Cross discusses the latest on Cornell University sexual assault case, side hustles, Burger She Wrote, FilmWeek and Richard Linklater on Nouvelle Vague. Cross is also LAist's local Morning Edition host.
Cornell rape case is inspiring conversations about assault and consent
The topic:
The woman who accused members of a Cornell University fraternity of gang rape was “failed” by people obligated to protect her, including campus police and the county prosecutor, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday.
The latest: Hochul said at a news conference that she decided to appoint Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to take over the case after learning “troubling details” about how authorities have handled the woman’s claims thus far, including that the district attorney closed the case without having anyone interview the accuser or anyone else involved in the alleged attack.
Also: She also assailed the Cornell University Police Department for not fully conveying the woman’s story to prosecutors, although Cornell has previously said the school provided all investigatory material to the DA’s office. According to WSKG, that statement was removed from Cornell’s FAQ page on the incident.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
- Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo, news director of WSKG, the NPR affiliate station in Ithaca, New York
People of Los Angeles: What’s your side hustle?
What's your side hustle?
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Olivier DJIANN
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
The economy leaves a bit to be desired, and more middle income people are finding their dollars aren’t stretching as far as they used to. Enter: the side hustle. Not a second job, maybe a small business, entirely owned by you. Today, we want to hear from listeners about their side hustle.
The data: The number of Americans with a second stream of income has been on a steady increase over the last several years. And unlike pre-pandemic days, middle income earners are much more likely now to hold a second job or stream of income than their lower income peers. As of 2024, about half of second job holders were middle income, up from 35% in the 90s.
Guest:
- Juliana Kaplan, senior labor and inequality reporter for Business Insider
Food Friday: Burger She Wrote
The topic:
Burger She Wrote, a growing presence in the Los Angeles burger scene, is expanding to a third location, with its Brentwood location officially opening on October 3rd. From its smash burgers to its merch collaboration with Brixton, the burger joint has a lot to offer customers. In this week's Food Friday, we're sitting down with co-founder Don "Nuge" Nguyen.
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Restaurant details: Nguyen might be best known during his time as a professional skater, eventually transitioning into business ventures like Burger She Wrote. He started the business alongside the late restaurateur Steven Arroyo, opening their first location in 2021. Unlike other smash burger places, their business has a special addition to its menu: the Oklahoma Burger. This Southern classic has the joint's typical wagyu beef patty smashed together with a generous amount of grilled onions.
How to visit:
Address (Brentwood location): 11686 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles
Hours: 11:30 a.m.- 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m.- 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Cost: Single smash burger, $9.50; double smash burger, $14.50.
Guest:
- Don "Nuge" Nguyen, co-founder of Burger She Wrote, a local smash burger chain with locations in Sherman Oaks, Fairfax and now Brentwood (opening Saturday)
FilmWeek: ‘Digger,’ ‘Verity,’ ‘Atonement’ and more!
Tom Cruise and Ross Hatt in Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu.
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Courtesy Warner Bros
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The topic:
FilmWeek critics Tim Cogshell and Christy Lemire disagree on the effectiveness of Alejandro Iñárritu’s new film Digger starring Tom Cruise, but they do agree that everyone should see it, if only to partake in the discussion. Also out this week is the drama Atonement that shows the ramifications of the Iraqi war.
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The films:
- Digger, Wide Release
- Heart of the Beast, Wide Release
- Verity, Wide Release
- The Scout, Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA] | Expands Oct. 9
- Atonement, Landmark Nuart Theatre [West L.A.] | Expands Oct. 9
- Appofeniacs, AMC Burbank & AMC Orange
- The Last First: Winter K2, Laemmle Noho [North Hollywood] | Streaming on Apple TV
- Beware Boiúna, In Select Theaters
- Rolling Loud: The Movie, In Select Theaters
Guests:
- Christy Lemire, film critic for LAist, and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ YouTube and podcast series
- Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com
Richard Linklater on Nouvelle Vague and its Criterion release
Guillaume Marbeck in Nouvelle Vague, directed by Richard Linklater.
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Courtesy Netflix
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The topic:
Richard Linklater’s 2025 film Nouvelle Vague tries to accurately capture the filming process of one of French New Wave’s most influential films–Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless (1960). Shot in black and white and almost entirely in French, Linklater transports viewers back to 1959 Paris on the chaotic and sometimes claustrophobic set.
Criterion release: Originally released on Netflix with a limited theatrical run, Nouvelle Vague now sits alongside Breathless in the Criterion Collection with a 4k Blu-ray and DVD release that features audio commentary by Linklater and interviews with the lead actors Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch, and Aubry Dullin.
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Guest:
- Richard Linklater, director of Nouvelle Vague. He is also known for the films Slacker, Dazed and Confused, the Before trilogy, and Boyhood.
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Today on AirTalk: SCOTUS to review mandatory detention policy, AI detectors, A Librarian's War, CNN gubernatorial debate, MLB postseason and TV Talk. -
Today on AirTalk: E-bikes in OC, AI safety concerns, rising gas prices, PetTalk and artificial intimacy. -
Today on AirTalk: Latest on LA28 Olympics, LA CD-3 candidate Tim Gaspar, new book on UC system, Dodgers, college sports law and top 100 TV shows of the 21st century.
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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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