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Senate predictions, Tesla self-driving safety, LA CD-3 candidate Barri Worth Girvan and more
An individual jogs outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
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Heather Diehl
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Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses national Senate races, paid political influencers, Tesla's autopilot safety, latest on developing local housing, Los Angeles CD-3 candidate Barri Worth Girvan and TV Talk.
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Senate race predictions
The topic:
Republicans appeared to have a firm grip on the Senate heading into the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. But with less than two months until Election Day, control of the chamber is now up for grabs.
At play: Democrats have found themselves competing in states that once seemed beyond their reach as Trump’s slipping approval ratings create a difficult political environment for Republicans. But races Democrats once counted on winning have also become more complicated.
Background: Democrats need to net four seats to win the majority. The original path had been to hold Michigan, Georgia and New Hampshire while winning back Republican-held seats in Alaska, Maine, North Carolina and Ohio.
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Things are changing: Some of the states where Democrats were feeling most optimistic at the start of the election cycle, such as Michigan and Maine, have grown murkier. Democrats increasingly see a real possibility in Texas and other GOP-led states including Iowa, Alaska and Ohio.
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
- Henry Olsen, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative Washington, D.C.–based think tank
Online creators are making money off political content
Tom Steyer tried to work with political influencers in his unsuccessful bid for California governor.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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The topic:
Influencers have become one of the go-to marketing opportunities for politicians and political groups looking to spread their messages. But new campaigns are paying small creators, or even just ordinary people with social media accounts, small sums to spread a certain message. Today on AirTalk, we look at what’s behind this trend and the legality of it.
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Influencers: They command attention and can get paid thousands of dollars to spread a certain message on behalf of another person. This new strategy involves setting up campaigns in which small creators create a video without payment upfront and instead get paid on the backend for how many views their video gets.
The economics: Suddenly, a $5,000 social media campaign could generate 30 or 50 videos instead of just one, and in doing so, game algorithms to make the promoted topic feel more grassroots.
Yes, but: Depending on the state the creator lives in, they may or may not have to disclose that they're getting paid to promote a certain political message. Also, depending on the type of content, they may not need to disclose something as an ad at all.
California crackdown: California is one state with social media political ad guidelines, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that aims to penalize influencers who do not disclose payment for such ads. Fines are up to $5,000 per post and build on 2023 legislation that required disclosure for state and local-level paid political content.
Guest:
- Ken Bensinger, New York Times reporter covering media and politics
Could better self-driving tech mean more danger on the road?
A 2023 Model X sports-utility vehicle sits outside a Tesla dealership.
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David Zalubowski
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AP
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The topic:
Tesla’s Autopilot feature released over a decade ago. Since then, it has advanced driver-assistance systems from a luxury feature to a mainstream automotive expectation, particularly for the EV marketplace. Today, self-driving technology has become so sophisticated that legal and industry experts worry drivers could overestimate the capabilities.
Full self-driving: Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) — and now Rivian’s Universal Hands-Free — feature a combination of hardware sensors and artificial intelligence software that still require a form of driver engagement, like keeping your hands on the wheel. These systems are referred to as Level 2 driver assistance systems that are designed to handle complex city streets, traffic lights and structured highway navigation.
Complacency and liability: As the tech progresses, who’s responsible if things do go wrong?
Join the conversation: Do you have a self-driving vehicle? What do you think of the technology? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Guests:
- Jack Ewing, reporter for the New York Times who follows the auto industry and EVs
- Gil Tal, professor of Environmental Science and Policy and the director of the EV Research Center at UC Davis
- Ann Carlson, a former federal auto safety regulator and professor of environmental law at UCLA
Why developers are building less large-scale housing
An apartment building under-construction in Hollywood.
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Matt Tinoco
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LAist
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The topic:
Data from real estate firm Kidder Matthews shows developers aren’t as interested in building large-scale housing projects. Recent reporting from the Los Angeles Times looked into the issue and how it's stalled development of housing in SoCal.
Obstacles for building: Interest rates have been a major factor, with the Federal Reserve recently raising its benchmark interest rates, which trickles down into the cost of borrowing broadly. The Fed left the door open to another rate hike this year, and developers have also cited Measure ULA — also known as the "mansion tax" that funds affordable housing and homelessness projects — as an issue.
Guests:
- Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin
- Shane Phillips, housing initiative manager at UCLA’s Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Los Angeles CD-3 candidate Barri Worth Girvan
Barri Worth Girvan is running for election to the Los Angeles City Council to represent District 3 in California.
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Courtesy Barri Worth Girvan
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The topic:
Los Angeles City Council District 3 has been held by Bob Blumenfield since his first election to the seat in 2013. With his third term coming to a close this year, two candidates, Tim Gaspar and Barri Worth Girvan, are vying for the seat. In the June primary, only about 2,000 votes separated the pair. Today on AirTalk, we interview candidate Barri Worth Girvan about her decision to run for the council seat.
What encompasses L.A. CD-3? Most of the southwestern San Fernando Valley, including neighborhoods like Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda, and Tarzana.
Endorsements: Worth Girvan is backed by labor groups such as the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, and Locals 11 and 40 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. When it comes to elected officials, campaign endorsers include L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and California Sen. Ben Allen.
Guest:
- Barri Worth Girvan, candidate for Los Angeles City Council District 3
TV Talk: ‘Coven Academy,’ ‘Brothers,’ ‘Trespasses’ and more!
What are you watching?
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Pituk Loonhong
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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:
- Brothers [Limited Series] (Apple TV)
- Coven Academy [Season 1] (Disney+)
- Trespasses [Limited series] (Channel 4 | PBS)
- A Different World [Season 1] (Netflix)
- High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam [Limited Series] (TNT)
Guests:
- Kristen Baldwin, freelance TV critic
- Roxana Hadadi, TV critic for Vulture
-
Today on AirTalk: Republican candidate Steve Hilton, Meta's new AI assistant, federal prosecutor Bill Essayli, Berkeley IGS polls and David Benoit on new cello concerto piece. -
Today on AirTalk: Lucas Museum, O.C. Supervisor candidate Tim Shaw, nontraditional museums, data center laws, superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw and CA fisheries. -
Today on AirTalk: Paramount settles, Newsom AI panel, history of Spanish missions, federal reserve hike, OC Supervisor Katrina Foley and relationship advice from parents.
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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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