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Latest on Paramount-Warner Bros merger, USC and UCLA rivalry history, Canadian tariffs and more
The main gate to Paramount Studios is seen on Melrose Avenue, July 8, 2015, in Los Angeles.
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Nick Ut
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AP
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- The latest on the Paramount and Warner Brothers merger
- Latest on Washington Post and Stars and Stripes firings and rehiring
- SoCal History: How UCLA and USC built their rivalry and split up local sportswatchers
- Canadian Tariffs are back on
- AI phishing emails are claiming to be NPR hosts (including Larry Mantle). What can we do?
- Tell us about your moving home experience
Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses the latest on the Paramount-Warner Bros merger, DoD firing Stars and Stripes editor, history on UCLA and USC rivalry, Canadian tariffs, AI phishing and moving back home.
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The latest on the Paramount and Warner Brothers merger
The topic:
After six months of discussions between the companies and governing authorities, the fate of Paramount's proposed $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros Discovery is still in question. Today on AirTalk, we look at the latest developments in the matter.
California’s concessions: Leading the anti-merger charge is California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading a coalition of states in a legal challenge against the merger. Reporting suggests the state may want the combined company to offload some television channels. A planned meeting today between the AG and Paramount to discuss some sort of settlement fizzled has been cancelled.
Guilds are split: Hollywood crew union IATSE and the Directors Guild have both written letters to the AG, asking him to reach a deal in lieu of a lengthy and potentially industry-damaging legal fight. Meanwhile, both the actors' guild SAG-AFTRA and the Writer’s Guild of America continue to oppose the merger entirely.
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Bass weighs in: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also weighed in last week, calling for a swift resolution to the dispute. Her comments come after a county-commissioned report found the merger could erase 4,500 jobs in the area over three years if implemented.
Guests:
- Dominic Patten, executive editor at Deadline Hollywood
- Alex Alben, lecturer in law at UCLA, with a focus on AI, internet and antitrust Law
Latest on Washington Post and Stars and Stripes firings and rehiring
The U.S. Department of Justice Building on August 17, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Kevin Carter
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Getty Images
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The topic:
On Friday, the Department of Defense fired the editor and publisher of the government funded media outlet, Stars and Stripes, which independently reports on the U.S. military. The firings come after the publication’s reporting on negative effects caused by the Iran war and the issues facing the crew on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln.
Part of a pattern?: The Washington Post has been told by an arbitrator to re-hire columnist Karen Attiah, who was found to be wrongfully terminated over her social media posts commenting on Charlie Kirk.
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Guest:
- David Folkenflik, media correspondent for NPR
SoCal History: How UCLA and USC built their rivalry and split up local sportswatchers
Ja'Kobi Lane #8 of the USC Trojans runs after the catch during the game against UCLA Bruins at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
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Ric Tapia
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Getty Images
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The topic:
If you were to ask locals and tourists to name two universities in Southern California, the likeliest two would be UCLA and USC. Their respective prominence in sports and their academic programs have led the two to have ongoing beef. Today on AirTalk, we'll dig into the story of the rivalry.
Nearly a century old: In the case of their sports program, they've actually been facing off against one another in the same conference since 1928. For a long time, those games were played in the Pac-12, although both teams recently moved to the Big Ten conference.
Join the conversation: We want to hear from the Bruins and Trojans in our audience. What's your recollection of the rivalry, and was it something you felt as an alum or faculty? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
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Guest:
- Miriam Pawel, journalist and author of the forthcoming book "California Dreams: The Making and Remaking of the University of California" (Bloomsbury, Sept. 29, 2026); previously wrote "The Crusades of Cesar Chavez: A Biography" and "The Union of Their Dreams"
Canadian Tariffs are back on
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a press conference in Ottawa, Ontario, on August 22, 2026 after trade talks with the US collapsed.
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Dave Chan
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Getty Images
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The topic:
After trade negotiations crumbled at the eleventh hour, President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on scores of Canadian imports kicked in Saturday. The new levies are expected to affect about 5% of Canada’s annual exports to the U.S., roughly $20 billion in goods ranging from hockey sticks to agricultural products. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney quickly promised Saturday that his government would roll out “dollar for dollar” retaliatory measures starting Sept. 8.
What’s at stake? The new taxes will be levied on products ranging from hockey sticks to wine and cement. The list is long. According to documents published by the White House, other goods subject to the tax include honey, seeds and agricultural products — as well as select makeup, perfumes, clothing, jewelry, furniture, cameras, fabric and more.
With files from AP
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Guests:
- Daniel Desrochers, international trade reporter at POLITICO, with a focus on the Trump administration's sweeping tariffs.
- Kevin Klowden, senior fellow at the Milken Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank with a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health based in Santa Monica.
AI phishing emails are claiming to be NPR hosts (including Larry Mantle). What can we do?
An illustration picture shows ChatGPT artificial intelligence software, which generates humanlike conversation, in February 2023 in Lierde, Belgium.
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Nicolas Maeterlinck
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Getty Images
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The topic:
Last week, The Hollywood Reporter published an article about two prominent comedians who had been scammed by emails pretending to be sent by comedian podcast host Nikki Glaser and NPR host Terry Gross.
The scam: The emails looked like personal interview invitations from the respective hosts and used AI to make the asks more believable. The scammers even went as far as setting up Zoom interviews with the comedians, pretending to be part of the hosts’ teams.
It’s personal: LAist has been aware of similar email scams impersonating AirTalk host Larry Mantle. Scammers have targeted book authors, inviting them onto the show and then asking for money, all under the guise of being Larry himself.
Guests:
- Bruce Vilanch, Emmy-award winning comedy writer and actor
- Mike Britton, Chief Information Officer at Abnormal AI, a behavioral AI security platform that protects email, identity, and insider threats for companies.
Tell us about your moving home experience
Do you know anyone who moved back home?
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Rani Nurlaela Desandi
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to Britain this year, after having quit their royal duties some six years ago and relocating to the U.S. While not all LAist listeners are cut of royal cloth, many of us have had experiences moving back home — and today we want to hear yours.
After graduation: It’s not uncommon to pop back over to mom and dads for a quick jaunt after college, but it can be a jarring experience to suddenly be treated like a teenager again after four years of independence.
After trying something: For every person that makes it in Hollywood, there’s hundreds of others that don’t. There’s no shame in trying, and there’s no shame in calling it quits. If you found yourself moving back home after trying but ultimately not reaching a goal, what was that like?
Because home is, well home: Sometimes, you just realize that the place you were raised is your home. We want to hear those stories too.
Join the conversation: So what’s your homecoming story? What made you realize that it was time to head back over yonder? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
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Californians share how they think about their Jewish identity. -
Today on AirTalk: A new report on resident health after the Lineage fire, an ode to the humanities, Taqueria Tijuanero, FilmWeek and best films set in school. -
Today on AirTalk: LA mayoral debate, new poll on voter trends, study shows dogs understand feelings, anti-camping ordinance, Trump road construction and logging 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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