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How Europe is thinking about US aggression towards Greenland
People hold Greenlandic flags and placards as they gather by the United States Consulate to march in protest against U.S. President Donald Trump and his announced intent to acquire Greenland on January 17, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland.
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Sean Gallup/Getty Images
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Getty Images Europe
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Today on AirTalk: US aggression towards Greenland; ACA health insurance check-in; Political independence; and a new podcast on water in western states.
How Europe is thinking about US aggression towards Greenland
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16:21
The European Union’s top official on Tuesday described U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned new tariffs over Greenland as a “mistake” between long-standing allies and called into question Trump’s trustworthiness, while French President Emmanuel Macron said the situation could push the EU to deploy one of its most powerful tools of retaliation. While the furor over Trump’s desire for control of the vast Arctic island was a focus of an elite annual meeting in Switzerland, Greenland’s leader insisted on respect for its territorial integrity and said that respect for international law is “not a game.” Today on AirTalk, we’ll check in on the latest and how Republicans are viewing President Trump’s insistence on purchasing Greenland. Joining us are Scott Siegel, associate professor of international relations at San Francisco State, and Rob Stutzman, Republican political consultant and president of Stutzman Public Affairs.
With files from the Associated Press.
Healthcare subsidies are expiring in 2026. What does that mean for Californians?
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33:14
Last Thursday was the final day to select an Affordable Care Act health insurance plan across much of the country, as the expiration of federal subsidies drives up health costs and lawmakers remain locked in a debate over how to address the issue. That’s when the open enrollment window ends in most states for plans that start in February. The date is a crucial one for millions of small business owners, gig workers, farmers, ranchers and others who don’t get their health insurance from a job and therefore rely on marketplace plans. A record 24 million Americans purchased Affordable Care Act health plans last year. Joining us to discuss is Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at Cato Institute, Hector Flores, president of the Los Angeles County Medical Association and Christine Mai-Duc, California correspondent for KFF Health News, an independent source for health policy research, polling.
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With files from the Associated Press.
Gallup trends find growing number of independent-identifying US adults, we dig into the numbers
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20:42
Americans are increasingly rejecting the two major political parties, according to new polling. Just under half, 45%, of U.S. adults now identify as independents, a new Gallup survey found. That’s a substantial shift from 20 years ago, when closer to one-third of Americans said they didn’t identify with the Democrats or Republicans. Younger people, in particular, are rejecting the parties at much higher rates than older generations. More than half of Generation Z and Millennials identify as political independents, while a majority of older generations side with a party. With all this new data coming ahead of this year’s midterm elections, we thought it’d be worth digging into with Thom Reilly, professor of public affairs at Arizona State University, who is also co-director of its Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy. Do you fit into this category of identifying as independent? Share your experience by calling 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Checking in on the finances backing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
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13:04
The Los Angeles Police Department is requesting nearly $100 million in city funds for vehicles and equipment for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, more than two years out from the world's largest sporting event coming to L.A. LAPD wants to buy around 500 vehicles and "mobile units," including 300 patrol vehicles, vans and an armored SUV worth half a million dollars. It also is requesting funds for an upgraded radio network and equipment including new computers and more than 1,600 body cameras. In total, it's asking for around $96 million. The request raises questions about promises that the Olympics will be "no-cost" for taxpayers. The spending laid out in the police department's proposed budget for 2026-2027 names the city as the funding source. For more on this request, and the deals being made to make the Olympics happen, we’re joined by LAist reporter Libby Rainey, who has been tracking how L.A. is prepping for the 2028 Olympic Games.
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Latest season of ‘Western Edition’ podcast looks at our relationship with water
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15:46
Control and distribution of water has been a lynchpin of society since the dawn of the concept of a state. A new season of the podcast Western Edition looks at the western states’ often fraught relationship with water, and how the vital resource has shaped our society. Joining to discuss is William Deverell, host of Western Edition: Watersheds West, historian of the American West and director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West (ICW). If you have questions, call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
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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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