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Cornell University sexual assault case, candidate Richard Barrera, OpenAI pauses training and more
People walk through the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, New York.
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Matt Burkhartt
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Getty Images
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Jump to
- Universities have long been criticized for handling of sexual assault — the latest is Cornell
- Richard Barrera makes his case for state superintendent
- CA Secretary of State Shirley Weber makes her case for reelection
- OpenAI pauses training after agents interfered with government websites
- SoCal History: ASCO — LA’s radical Chicano art collective
- What is your best grandparent memory?
Today's show: Austin Cross, filling in for AirTalk host Larry Mantle, discusses a Cornell University sexual assault case, state superintendent candidate Richard Barrera, Shirley Weber on re-election, OpenAI training pause, ASCO history and memories of grandparents. Cross is also LAist's local Morning Edition host.
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Universities have long been criticized for handling of sexual assault — the latest is Cornell
The topic:
New York prosecutors are reopening an investigation into an alleged 2024 sexual assault at a Cornell University fraternity. A civil suit was filed earlier this month. The plaintiff, who’s identified as Jane Doe, says seven members of a fraternity drugged and raped her in 2024, and the university didn’t do enough to protect her.
Widespread backlash: The lawsuit is spurring widespread backlash online about how universities handle sexual assault cases. Today, we talk with an expert on the issue and what people should know about reporting and their rights when it comes to sexual assault at schools.
Hotline: If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you are not alone. Contact RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or go to RAINN.org for free, confidential 24/7 support in English and en Español.
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Guest:
- Stefan Turkhiemer, vice president of public policy for RAINN (The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), a nonprofit anti-sexual assault organization
Richard Barrera makes his case for state superintendent
Richard Barrera is running for state superintendent.
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Courtesy Richard Barrera
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The topic:
Richard Barrera wasn’t well known outside San Diego, where he's president of the San Diego Unified Board of Education President, until he won the endorsement of the powerful California Teachers Association for statewide office. As a Sacramento outsider, he says he can bring a fresh perspective to the job of California superintendent of public instruction, saying he’ll focus on boosting school funding, early childhood education and easing the path to becoming a teacher. Today on AirTalk, we talk with Barrera about his bid for state superintendent.
What’s at stake? Local school districts in California largely control budget and curriculum decisions, leaving the state’s superintendent with limited authority. The state is now considering shifting some of the office’s responsibilities to the governor-appointed State Board of Education, shrinking the role even further. Still, the new superintendent will have a statewide platform to promote policies and a record $150 billion budget for nearly 6 million public school students. The office is nonpartisan.
Learn more about the state superintendent’s race through our Voter Game Plan.
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Guest:
- Richard Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified Board of Education and candidate for state superintendent
CA Secretary of State Shirley Weber makes her case for reelection
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber speaks during the California Democratic State Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim on May 31, 2025.
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Ted Soqui
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CalMatters
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The topic:
Secretary of State Weber became the first Black secretary of state in California history by appointment in 2021, after serving eight years in the Assembly. She then easily won a full four-year term in 2022. Weber has had an eventful tenure, overseeing the state’s permanent implementation of universal mail-in voting, administering high-profile elections such as the recall against Gov. Gavin Newsom, taking local governments to court over voting laws and fielding claims of election fraud. She pledged to expand voting access, improve transparency in election filings and enhance cybersecurity protections in a second term.
What’s at stake? The secretary of state oversees the administration of all federal and state elections in California, including certifying candidates and initiatives for statewide ballots, issuing voter guides and ensuring votes are properly counted. The office also handles corporate business filings, maintains the state archives and manages a database of lobbyist registration and campaign finance disclosures.
Learn more about the race for California secretary of state race through our Voter Game Plan.
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Guest:
- Shirley Weber, California’s secretary of state who's seeking reelection
OpenAI pauses training after agents interfered with government websites
The OpenAI logo is seen on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen which displays output from ChatGPT, March 21, 2023, in Boston.
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Michael Dwyer
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Associated Press
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The topic:
The New York Times and Axios are reporting that leading AI firms Anthropic and OpenAI had security incidents over the past few months in which their models exhibited “misaligned” behavior, including OpenAI agents meddling with U.S. government websites.
The latest: OpenAI has said it paused training of its internal development AI models.
Regulation? President Donald Trump has shunned the need for new AI regulations, dismissing talk of risks to humanity as a “HOAX” designed to help China. The Republican president himself has struck deals with Silicon Valley firms that more closely tie the economy to their successes.
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Yes, but: The reality is the Trump administration already evaluates some of the tech giants’ models through a little-known federal agency, the U.S. Center for AI Standards and Innovation. Democratic President Joe Biden created the agency in 2023, when it was heralded as a clearinghouse for labs to voluntarily submit advanced AI models for testing.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
- Madison Mills, Axios senior AI reporter
- Sarah Kreps, professor of government and adjunct professor of law at Cornell University; she’s also director of its Tech Policy Institute
SoCal History: ASCO — LA’s radical Chicano art collective
ASCO: Without Permission is a documentary directed by Travis Gutiérrez Senger.
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Courtesy Asa Nisi Masa Films
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The topic:
A new documentary on the Chicano art collective ASCO explores the group’s founding and influence on contemporary artists today. The director of the documentary, Travis Gutiérrez Senger, and one of the group’s founding members, Patssi Valdez, join AirTalk to talk about ASCO’s continual impact on L.A.’s Chicano art scene.
ASCO’s history: The collective was founded in East Los Angeles by artists Harry Gamboa Jr., Gronk, Willie Herrón and Patssi Valdez. The group was intertwined with the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the punk underground of the 1970s.
Documentary info: ASCO: Without Permission airs on PBS SoCal on Friday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.
Guests:
- Travis Gutiérrez Senger, director of the documentary ASCO: Without Permission
- Patssi Valdez, internationally acclaimed artist and founding member of ASCO. She is known for her vibrant paintings, installations and early performance work
What is your best grandparent memory?
What's your favorite memory of your grandparents?
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Tom Merton
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
Grandparents and the memories we make with them are often a core part of our childhood. A recent study, reported on by the Washington Post, finds taking care of grandchildren may actually help slow cognitive decline in older adults.
Join the conversation: We want to hear from you! Do you have a distinct memory of spending time with a grandparent? Are you a grandparent who loves to spend time with your grandchildren? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com
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What makes The Little Sugarplum pop-up special? The bond between sisters and an old recipe for a traditional Amish cinnamon roll. -
Today on AirTalk: Unusual sea creatures, controversial parenting choices, The Little Sugarplum, FilmWeek and John Wilson on new documentary The History of Concrete. -
Today on AirTalk: The latest predictions for Senate races, political influencers, Tesla safety, local housing, CD-3 candidate Barri Worth Girvan and TV Talk.
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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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