The latest following weekend attack at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

The latest following weekend attack at White House Correspondents’ Dinner 

A man armed with guns and knives stormed the lobby outside the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner attended by President Donald Trump on Saturday night, charging toward the ballroom in a chaotic encounter with Secret Service agents as guests dived under tables at the sound of shots being fired. The president was uninjured and was rushed off the stage. The armed man, who officials said was a guest at the Washington Hilton where the dinner was being held, was taken into custody and was expected in court Monday. Police believe he opened fire and acted alone but did not say who was his intended target or describe a motive. The man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner railed against Trump administration policies and referred to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin” in writings sent to family members minutes before an attack that authorities increasingly believe was politically motivated, according to a message reviewed by The Associated Press. Today, we are joined by Franco Ordoñez, White House Correspondent for NPR, and Brian Levin, founder of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism and Professor Emeritus at California State University, San Bernardino.

With files from the Associated Press.

What does battery storage progress mean for the California grid and beyond?

Two months into the war with Iran, the price of energy around the world remains elevated. The benchmark Brent crude price remains nearly double what it was before the war, and varying analysis of the situation suggests the shock could last anywhere from six months to two years. The timing of this dynamic energy event has coincided with a time where advanced batteries are coming online on grids around the world. Battery research, development, and deployment was already having a moment, with the latest batteries being both economical and technically viable to be paired with energy generation methods, including here in California. For more on how batteries are becoming more enmeshed in the power grid, we’re joined by Mark Chediak, power and renewables reporter for Bloomberg News who’s been following this, and Mark Rothleder, senior vice president and chief operating officer at the California Independent System Operator.

When food habits clash in a relationship 

What happens in a relationship when food preferences are misaligned? Maybe one person wants to dine out, trying all the new hot spots, while the other prefers the comfort of a home-cooked meal. The New York Times recently reported on this tension, calling it a “restaurant relationship gap.” These challenges can go beyond the question of dining out or in. However, sometimes couples have polar opposite palates – consistent vs adventurous, spicy vs mild, meat-eating vs vegan, healthy vs not-so-healthy. These food gaps may seem trivial, but they can lead to other conflicts surrounding spending and how free time is spent. Today on AirTalk, we want listeners who’ve experienced these food gaps in their relationships to call in and tell us about it. Did it cause problems? How was it handled? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.

As more post-LA fires research is conducted, we check in on Zone Zero

For more than a year, a group of researchers and students from UCLA, UC Davis, University of Florida and the U.S. Forest Service, alongside local volunteers and students, have collected data on more than 2,000 trees — about 600 in the Palisades and 1,500 in Altadena — to analyze how they may recover after the fires and their role in the fires’ spread. The question about the fires' spread is key as California debates new regulations, called Zone Zero, near homes in high-risk fire areas. Their ongoing research is showing that in some cases, well-maintained vegetation may actually help buildings survive a fire. Today on AirTalk, we’ll dig into what we know about trees' roles in fire recovery research, and the latest surrounding Zone Zero, with Erin Stone, LAist senior reporter covering climate and the environment. We also want to hear from you: what do you think should be considered in these Zone Zero regulations? Call us at 866-893-5722, or email atcomments@laist.com.

With files from LAist.

More and more people are integrating AI into their personal lives

With a reported 900 million weekly active users, a sizable percentage of the world’s population is integrating chatbots into their work and personal lives. With this integration has come allegations of chatbots encouraging harmful behaviors and delusions. According to OpenAI’s own metrics 0.07% of weekly ChatGPT users show possible signs of mania or psychosis. Adoption of LLMs has outpaced our understanding of how LLMs affect us, but new studies are beginning to illuminate the interplay of AI and our mental health. Here to discuss the latest on AI chatbots and how they may impact us is Dr. Marlynn Wei, psychiatrist and AI and mental health expert based in New York City. Have you used a chatbot for therapy or companionship? Do you know anyone who has radically changed their views after talking with a chatbot? We want to hear from you: call us at 866-893-5722, or email atcomments@laist.com.

SoCal History: The Bob Baker Marionette Theater

The Bob Baker Marionette Theater has been in LA for over 60 years, starting in 1963. And a lot has changed in over half a century. First, the troupe had to contend with the death of its founder in 2014, then with its involuntary relocation from its original downtown spot to a theater in Highland Park in 2019. Now, in 2026, the Bob Baker Marionette Theater is having a moment. They just performed at Coachella, a first for the puppet theater. They are buying the Highland Park theater they have been renting for seven years, securing their future. And they are premiering their first new show in 40 years, including new puppets, in May. With all the recent change, we thought it was time to look back on the history of Los Angeles’ iconic puppet theater. Joining us are Alex Evans, co-executive director, artistic director, and head puppeteer of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, and Mary Fagot, co-executive director of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater.