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SoCal Edison equipment caused Eaton Fire, West End resurgence, the latest in AI and more
A home destroyed in the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8.
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David Pashaee
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Getty Images
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Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses a new report that cites SoCal Edison equipment caused the Eaton fire, President Trump's size reduction of Utah monuments, London's West End's resurgence, the latest developing news in AI and prettiest California towns.
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L.A. County releases Eaton Fire report citing SoCal Edison equipment as cause
The topic:
The deadly and destructive Eaton Fire was caused by Southern California Edison equipment, the L.A. County Fire Department said in a report released Tuesday.
The latest: The department's investigation into the cause of the fire found that arcing electrical lines ignited unidentified material that fell to the ground in dry vegetation at the base of the utility’s Eaton Canyon transmission tower. Twelve seconds later, the Eaton Fire exploded under windy conditions.
Background: The fire, which began the evening of Jan. 7, 2025, ultimately killed at least 19 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 homes.
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Read more: Edison equipment caused deadly Eaton Fire, LA County Fire investigators conclude
The L.A. County Fire Department declined our request for an interview.
Guests:
- Kathryn Barger, L.A. County supervisor representing the 5th district, which includes Altadena
- Pedro Pizarro, president and chief executive officer of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison
Trump reduces size of two Utah national monuments by 90% each
The Valley of the Gods, a part of the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah.
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Claire Harbage
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NPR
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The topic:
President Donald Trump reduced the size of Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments by about 90% each. The land is now subject to drilling and mining.
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Bears Ears Commission: The order resulted in the disbandment of the Bears Ears Commission, an inter-tribal council in charge of managing the Bears Ears National Monument. The commission was supposed to be notified and consulted if the monument’s boundaries were ever subject to change.
The Antiquities Act: At the center of the legal argument over the land reduction is the 1906 Antiquities Act, which gives presidents the authority to designate protected lands and monuments that have cultural or historical significance. But legal experts argue that the act does not contain any language that gives presidents the authority to revoke those designations.
Guests:
- Mikah Kewanimptewa, vice chairman and the Hopi Tribe’s representative to the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition
- Erik Stanfield, senior anthropologist with the Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department
London rules, Broadway drools
Signs "Oh, Mary!" starring Cole Escola hang outside the Trafalgar Theatre on July 30, 2026 in London, England.
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Klára Šimonová
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Getty Images
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The topic:
While Broadway still struggles to find its rhythm post-pandemic, London’s West End is experiencing a resurgence.
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The numbers: More than 17 million people attended West End shows in 2026, generating £1.08 billion in revenue for producers. More than half of tickets sold for £56 or less and more than a fourth of tickets were under £35 (the equivalent to around $75 and $50 respectively).
Join the conversation: Have you seen any West End or Broadway productions recently? What was the experience like? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Guest:
- Matthew Rousu, professor of economics and dean of the business school at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania; he is the author of Broadway and Economics: Economic Lessons from Show Tunes
AI Roundup: AI going rogue, music labels want popular AI music guidelines
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, leaves a meeting at the U.S. Capitol on July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Kevin Dietsch
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Getty Images
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The topic:
The White House hosted a meeting on Aug. 4 with leading artificial intelligence companies Anthropic, OpenAI and Google. The meeting serves as a notable step by the Trump Administration to finalize a framework for AI oversight, including a window in which the government could receive early access to companies’ latest advanced models.
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Rogue AI: Although details of the White House meeting haven’t been fully shared, it does come at a time when Anthropic and OpenAI have reported models going rogue during testing, with AI agents having been involved in recent hacking incidents.
Music industry: Music labels, ranging from giants like Universal Music Group to relatively smaller ones like BMG and Concord, have been looking to set parameters on AI music’s ability to chart.
Guests:
- Daniel Remler, senior fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
- Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times business reporter covering the entertainment industry
What’s the most prettiest California town of them all?
Patrons enjoy lunch at The Hogs Breath Inn, one of many properties Monaco billionaire Patrice Pastor has purchased in Carmel-By-The-Sea on June 19, 2024.
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Genaro Molina
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Getty Images
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The topic:
Architectural Digest has determined Carmel-by-the-Sea is the prettiest town in California. While we lowbies can’t hope to contest their findings, we can at least commiserate together and share what we think are the other prettiest towns.
Join the conversation: What town do you, local Californian, think is the prettiest in all of our golden state? Is it South Lake Tahoe, with its illustrious lakefront? Or perhaps the serene oceanside of Mendocino? Or hey, wildcard, why not Bakersfield? Give us a call and tell us at (866) 893-5722, or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Guest:
- Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times state reporter who often travels around California to report from small, quirky towns
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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.
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