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LAHSA approved millions to 'high-risk' org, emotional sensitivity, AI op-ed writing and more
Tents that shelter unhoused people line the sidewalk along Fifth Street in downtown Los Angeles.
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Luis Sinco
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Jump to
- LAHSA approved millions to ‘High-Risk’ nonprofit — here’s what happened
- Ever been described as too sensitive or overly dramatic? It might be your nervous system
- Meta settles child-safety lawsuit with 48 states, including California
- This week in AI: Wall Street Journal OK’s use of AI for op-ed writing
- TV Talk: ‘Silo,’ ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ and more!
Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses an LAist public records analysis on LAHSA, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, Meta's settlement and what it'll mean for the future of the platforms, AI op-ed writing and TV Talk
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LAHSA approved millions to ‘High-Risk’ nonprofit — here’s what happened
The topic:
Top L.A. homeless service executives approved at least $3.5 million in taxpayer contracts to a nonprofit even after their agency’s compliance team flagged the group as high-risk for failing to do its job, according to an LAist review of public records. The contract approvals by the L.A. Homeless Services Authority, known as LAHSA, took place over several months in 2024, records show.
What happened: The nonprofit’s leader, Alex Soofer, was charged with fraud earlier this year. Prosecutors allege he illegally pocketed at least $10 million in homelessness funds that flowed through LAHSA to his now-defunct nonprofit, Abundant Blessings, and his for-profit company, Abundant Blessings From Above. When LAist reached him by phone, he declined to comment for this story, citing the ongoing case. He agreed to pay LAHSA $1.25 million, without admitting wrongdoing.
Public records request findings: LAist obtained the documents through public records requests this year that produced more than 7,000 pages of records. Records showed Abundant Blessings receiving money from their contractual agreement for approximately a year, despite having no enrolled participants receiving rental assistance. LAHSA also approved and paid about $117,000 to Abundant Blessings for alleged renovation expenses that were not allowed in its contracts, according to later findings by LAHSA.
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Read more: L.A. officials approved millions to ‘High-Risk’ nonprofit. Its leader is charged with pocketing $10M
Guest:
- Nick Gerda, LAist watchdog correspondent
Ever been described as too sensitive or overly dramatic? It might be your nervous system
Have you been described as too sensitive?
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Mariia Vitkovska
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
Have you often been described as too sensitive or overly dramatic throughout your life? Do criticism or rejection come with feelings of devastation that border on irrational? RSD — or Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria — is an informal condition often associated with ADHD and it’s associated with intense emotional (or even physical) reactions to (real or perceived) feelings of criticism, judgement or shame. It’s also being recognized more as people talk about it in support groups and on social media, according to The Guardian.
New book: We talk with the author of a new book on RSD — Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply (Flatiron Books, 2026). The book explains what it means to have this emotional sensitivity and includes an assessment and guidance for how to cope.
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Join the conversation: We also want to hear from you! Do you have RSD or know someone with the condition? How has it impacted your life? How do you deal with it in relationships? Share your experiences or ask questions by calling (866) 893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Event: Dr. Hamdani will discuss the book on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble at The Grove. Learn more here.
Guest:
- Sasha Hamdani, MD, board-certified psychiatrist specializing in ADHD, RSD, and emotional regulation, author of the new book Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply (Flatiron Books, Aug. 25, 2026)
Meta settles child-safety lawsuit with 48 states, including California
Facebook's Meta logo sign at the company headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., in 2021.
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Justin Sullivan
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Getty Images
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The topic:
Meta agreed Wednesday to pay up to $18 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms as part of a landmark legal settlement that ended a trial over teen social media addiction and settled claims filed by nearly every state.
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What states weren’t included? Attorneys general in both New Mexico and Florida took different paths. In the case of New Mexico, their lawsuit had gone to trial and won, with the state seeking $567 million from Meta. Florida is seeking further concessions from the other 48 states.
What comes next? Meta’s settlement includes additional penalties, which are contingent on the outcomes of similar lawsuits against TikTok, YouTube and Snap. As it stands, changes to Facebook and Instagram are expected to include limits on time usage for younger users, and features such as like counts.
With files from Associated Press
Guest:
- Clare Duffy, tech reporter for CNN Business and host of the CNN podcast "Terms of Service with Clare Duffy"
- Enrique Armijo, professor of law at Elon University in North Carolina
This week in AI: Wall Street Journal OK’s use of AI for op-ed writing
Pedestrians walk past the Wall Street Journal building at 1155 6th Avenue May 1, 2007 in New York City.
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Michael Nagle
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Getty Images
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The topic:
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page editor, Paul Gigot, has defended the paper’s publishing of an AI-generated column by billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller, saying that AI is “fact of modern life.” Today on AirTalk, we look at how AI writing is being perceived across the news media.
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Background: The use of AI in the column was not disclosed to readers when Druckenmiller's piece first published. Most opinion sections have different standards than the newsrooms they are attached to, and many opinion pieces like the one from Druckenmiller come from people outside the newsroom entirely.
Not the first AI Op-ed: Earlier this month, the Financial Times published an op-ed which appeared to be written by AI. In that case, the author said they used AI to condense their writing, and the Times attached a note to the column saying their code of conduct prohibits the use of AI in the writing process, but kept the piece live.
Newsrooms flirt with AI: The Washington Post has had an “Ask The Post AI” tool for nearly two years now, allowing readers to ask questions and receive responses based on Post reporting. Semafor has reported that the New York Times is also testing an AI search tool for its website as well.
Yes, but: Newsrooms are by and large still reluctant to publish AI writing whole cloth, and most major outlets – including the Wall Street Journal – have standards that require stories that include AI writing to go through some human review.
Behind the scenes: While newsrooms may be reluctant to publish AI writing, many are making use of AI tools behind the scenes. A record eight Pulitzer awardees this year disclosed using some sort of AI tool in their reporting, such as to review massive amounts of public records or to make translations during a breaking news event.
Guests:
- Max Tani, media editor for the online news publication Semafor
- Kelly McBride, senior vice president and chair for the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership at the Poynter Institute
TV Talk: ‘Silo,’ ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ and more!
TV critics share ideas for what to watch over the weekend.
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Pituk Loonhong / Getty Images
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
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. This week, listeners will get the latest scoop on what’s worth watching.
TV Shows:
- Silo [Season 3] (Apple TV)
- Reacher [Season 4] (Prime Video)
- The Walking Dead: Dead City [Season 3] (AMC)
- Leanne [Season 2] (Netflix)
Guests:
- Angie Han, TV critic for The Hollywood Reporter
- Saloni Gajjar, staff writer covering TV at the A.V. Club
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Today on AirTalk: Remembering Dolly Parton, college enrollment decline and the power of imagination. -
Today on AirTalk: New study on NFL players with CTE, Iran sanctions, how technology affects school learning, latest on Colorado River and selfishness in relationships. -
Today on AirTalk: Paramount-Warner Bros merger, DoD fires Stars and Stripes editor, history on UCLA and USC rivalry, Canadian tariffs, AI phishing, and moving back home.
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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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