LA City Latest: Mayor Bass allegedly edits after-action report, mayoral race updates

The city of Los Angeles got shaken up yesterday, following a Los Angeles Times report alleging that Mayor Karen Bass was involved in the alteration of the Palisades Fire after-action report to soften its contents. LAist has not independently verified the report’s claims. The mayor’s office has denied multiple times that they had a hand in the report, including an interview Mayor Bass had on AirTalk. Much has been made following the Los Angeles Times story, with those involved in the Palisades fire recovery having commented, including county supervisor Lindsey Horvath and businessman Rick Caruso. Given the news and its potential impact on the Los Angeles city mayor’s race, we’ve decided to bring you the latest on this morning’s program. Joining us for this conversation is Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and Chicana/o Latina/o studies at Loyola Marymount University.

What goes into the music that plays people off at the Oscars?

Have you ever wondered who is behind all the walk-on and walk-off music at the Oscars ceremony? The music that plays when an award nominee walks on-stage to accept the award or the music that plays them off when their speech goes on too long. Today on AirTalk, we sit down with composer and lead music arranger for the Academy Awards, Chris Walden. Walden writes all the walk-on and walk-off music for the ceremony. Because winners are not known until the live broadcast, Walden must plan for all contingencies, arranging over 115 pieces of music, each unique to every possible winner. We talk to Walden about what goes into preparing music for the ceremony.

Chris Walden is the founder and artistic director of the Pacific Jazz Orchestra. He will be conducting the 40-piece hybrid big band and string orchestra for a Valentine’s Day performance at The Soraya called “Love Inside Out,” headlined by vocalist Veronica Swift. The concert is on Saturday, February 14, at 8:00 pm. Many of the ensemble's players also perform in the Academy Awards orchestra. You can get tickets here.

How one man changed the publishing industry forever

Bennett Cerf was a determined young man in the 1920s who became the founder of Random House, one of the most influential publishing houses in American history. Now, a new and meticulously researched book lays out a narrative of his life, from championing controversial books to changing literary culture. Cerf was a charismatic man and Gayle Feldman, captures his life in the new biography, Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built. She joins us today on AirTalk to share about Cerf’s life.

What are the best practices for handling invasive species?

Invasive deer on Catalina Island may soon be gone, as the island’s conservancy has developed a plan to contract with hunters to eliminate the existing population. This follows an attempt to resolve this issue last year — seeing the deer shot from helicopters — which was scrapped due to public backlash. Although the current plan still carries controversy, it does raise the question of how many different proposals could be made with resolving issues around invasive species. Today on AirTalk, we’ll dig into ways invasive species can be handled and how to address community concerns. Joining us for this conversation is LAist Science reporter Jacob Margolis and the director of conservation and research at Santa Barbara Botanical Garden, Heather Schneider.

You can read Jacob’s reporting for LAist by clicking here.

Prenuptial arrangements are tough, but often necessary

The concept of marriage is widely accepted to be as old as time itself. But even in the modern age, talking about what happens if things go sideways is still taboo, as only about 15% of American married couples opt for prenuptial agreements. However, this number has been on a rapid rise as there is a growing trend among millennials and zoomers who view prenups as tools that are practical and protective, and want to avoid messy inevitabilities that they may find themselves in the future. Still, that does not make the conversation any easier to have. Romance, emotional distress, trust, and high-stakes asset management are just some of the primary reasons couples have a hard time talking about it. Joining us today to talk about how to navigate these difficult but important conversations with your betrothed is Emily Rubenstein, lead and founding attorney at Emily Rubenstein Law, who exclusively practices family law, and Marina Edelman, licensed marriage and family therapist. We also want to hear from you! Are you having trouble starting the tough chat with your significant other? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com

TV Talk: ‘Tell Me Lies,’ ‘The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins,’ 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 withAngie Han, TV critic for The Hollywood Reporter and Saloni Gajjar, staff writer covering TV at the A.V. Club.

Hey, LA listener!

LA City Latest: Mayor Bass allegedly edits after-action report, mayoral race updates