Recapping CNN’s gubernatorial debate and previewing what’s to come

Recapping CNN’s gubernatorial debate and previewing what’s to come

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Wednesday night debate: Hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo52, the evening will include back-back-back debate. First up – the L.A. mayoral debate, which includes the three candidates leading the poll. Second – another gubernatorial debate, with seven candidates on stage. You can livestream those debates at LAist.com or the LAist app starting at 5 p.m.

Guests:

• Conan Nolan, NBC4 chief political reporter, who will be one of the moderators for today’s debates
• Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and Chicano/Latino studies and director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University; emeritus member of the KPCC Board of Trustees
• Rob Stutzman, Republican political consultant and president of Stutzman Public Affairs; former deputy chief of staff to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

CNN creator Ted Turner dies at 87 — we look at his lasting legacy

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His impact: CNN was the first 24-hour, all-news television network in 1980. At a time when news is instantly available at anyone’s fingertips, it’s hard to recall that the idea of letting consumers decide when they choose to learn what’s going on in the world was once revolutionary.

Guest:

• Lisa Napoli, author of many books, including "Up All Night: Ted Turner, CNN, and "The Birth of 24-Hour News" (Abrams Press, 2020); former reporter at Marketplace, The New York Times and other outlets.

Have children always been picky eaters? A new book suggests not

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Context: Just a few generations ago, children ate seemingly everything. But the rise of processed foods designed for human enjoyment, marketing campaigns, and other causes led to the picky eaters we know today, according to Professor Viet.

Why now: Professor Viet argues that understanding how children of the past related to food can help children today get back to a better relationship.

Guest:

• Helen Zoe Viet <like “ZOEY” | like “Vitamin” minus “amin”>, associate professor of history at Michigan State University. Her latest book is Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History (St. Martin's Press, 2026)

What’s on your LA county ballot this June?

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What’s in the measure: If approved, the county-wide sales tax would increase a half-penny on every dollar spent. The extra revenue would go to fund local hospitals and clinics.

Who’s running: Two seats on the Board of Supervisors are up for grabs. In District 1, incumbent Hilda Solis is being termed out, and a number of candidates are vying for the open seat. In District 3, incumbent Lindsey Horvath is facing off against a number of challengers.

Go deeper: Get the full rundown on this year’s election with the LAist voter game plan.

Guests:

• Aaron Schrank, LAist health and housing reporter
• Libby Rainey, LAist reporter

What we’ve learned about crisis PR from the Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni case

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What is crisis PR: Whether it's a celebrity scandal or a recalled product, crisis PR comes up when the reputation of a brand is at stake. But how do publicists manage a bad reputation when trust is constantly eroded online through social media and misinformation?
Guests:

• Karen North, professor of Digital Social Media at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. She has a focus in reputation management.
• Anthony D’Angelo, chair and professor of practice for public relations at Syracuse University

Books that changed your life

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Join the conversation:

• What was THAT BOOK for you and why? How did reading it affect you, and what perspective did it help you gain? Give us a call at 866-893-7222 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.