With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Ben Affleck Joins Live Below the Line, Eats for $1.50 a Day

Ben Affleck announced today that he'd be joining the Live Below the Line challenge. The actor will be living off of $1.50 a day for five days in hopes of illustrating the experience of the 1.4 billion people currently living in extreme poverty across the globe.
According to the L.A. Times, Affleck isn't the only one in Hollywood who's having a go at it.
"British star Tom Hiddleston (memorable as the evil Loki in "The Avengers," as well as other movies) wasn't shy about sharing what $1.50 meant for him. He tweeted the makeup of his meals while completing the Live Below the Line challenge earlier this month. His meals included an omelet with kidney beans, as well as rice, vegetables and one-third of a jar of Uncle Ben's curry sauce. He finished up the challenge with 'boiled rice + veg' for dinner, saying that he was counting his blessings."
But of course this isn't an issue that's just impacting Africa. As the film "A Place at the Table" illustrated, there's an alarming amount of hunger happening right here in the US, particularly amongst children. 50 million Americans, a quarter of which are children, go to bed hungry at night. So there's a lot to be thankful for, and a lot to change, right here on our home turf.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember.
-
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain.
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
-
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.