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The latest on CA's June election, how men’s brains change during fatherhood and more
Candidates participate in a California gubernatorial debate at Bridges Auditorium on the campus of Pomona College in Claremont, California, on April 28, 2026.
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Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses California election updates, how men's brains change during fatherhood, new green card requirements, AI and religion, and polling on who Americans think is cool.
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California election round up: Who are the front runners?
The topic:
The California primary is just a week away, with ballot drop offs closing June 2. About 10% of ballots have been returned so far.
The governor race: Leading the eight candidate pack for California governor are Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra, with Tom Steyer trailing in third. Steyer is the leading candidate for the most money spent on his campaign, however.
The LA mayor race: As it stands, there are five candidates who’ve consistently shown up in polling. The three leading candidates are Karen Bass, Spencer Pratt, and Nithya Raman; Mayor Karen Bass has led most polls, although her margin of support has ranged.
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Guests:
- Jeremy B. White, reporter covering California politics for Politico
- Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and Chicana/o Latina/o studies at Loyola Marymount University, he's also the founding director of their Center for the Study of Los Angeles; emeritus member of the SCPR Board of Trustees
- Rob Stutzman, Republican political consultant and president of Stutzman Public Affairs; former deputy chief of staff to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
How do men’s brains change during fatherhood?
What biological changes do men experience when they become fathers?
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The topic:
Clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, Darby Saxbe, has a new book that focuses on the biological changes men experience when they become fathers.
The book: Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives delves into research that shows changes in men's hormones and brain activity after their child is born, proving that men can be "natural" caregivers as well.
Event details: Author Darby Saxbe will be at a book discussion and signing event at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena on Friday, June 5 at 7pm. You can get tickets here.
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Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men’s Lives goes on sale June 9.
Guest:
- Darby Saxbe, clinical psychologist, professor of psychology at The University of Southern California, and author of Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives (Flatiron Books, June 9, 2026).
New green card requirements cause legal confusion
A US naturalization ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles in 2018.
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The topic:
President Donald Trump’s administration announced last week that foreigners in the U.S. who want a green card will need to leave and apply in their home country, barring some unspecified exceptions.
Why it matters: The announcement could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of green card applicants a year, and has stunned and confounded lawyers, advocates, and immigrants.
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Context: The move is part of a pivot by the Trump administration to target legal pathways to immigration, after focusing since last year mostly on migrants in the U.S. illegally.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guest:
- Wendy Fry, reporter for CalMatters covering immigration and the border region
- Julia Gelatt, Associate Director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute
- Josh Goldstein, immigration lawyer and founder of Goldstein Immigration Lawyers in Los Angeles
How are religions responding to AI?
Pope Leo XIV attends the presentation of his first Encyclical Letter "Magnifica humanitas" at the Synod Hall on May 25, 2026 in Vatican City, Vatican.
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The topic:
On Monday Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical entitled Magnifica humanitas, a document outlining how he thinks the Catholic Church and the rest of humanity should approach AI.
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The background: Papal encyclicals are a common way for popes to set priorities for the Catholic Church. Magnificant humanitas is drawing comparisons to Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum where another Pope Leo set out the Catholic Church’s responsibilities during the industrial revolution.
Why it matters: While questions about AI’s ability to truly be sentient are still swirling, the tangible effects of AI on the world and labor markets is of concern to religions around the world as their members confront our new reality.
Guests:
- Elyse Raby, Assistant Professor of religious studies at Santa Clara University
- DZ Kalman, fellow at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society and host of “Belief in the Future”, a podcast about religion and technology
Recent poll digs into what Americans think is cool
What people do Americans think are the coolest?
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The topic:
A recent poll from YouGov dug into Americans’ perception of cool, asking each generation whether they viewed themselves as cool, and some examples of ‘cool’ people. Today on AirTalk, we’re looking at the data to understand whether Americans think being cool is important, and why different generations view the concept much differently.
Who is cool: Three people(s) garnered 70% support or higher, for being cool: Samuel L. Jackson, The Beatles, and Michael Jordan.
What’s a cool or uncool thing? Based on the poll results, the most cool thing was science, with 87% of respondents viewing the subject as such. Meanwhile, the least cool thing, at 23%, was cryptocurrency.
We want to hear from you: Has your concept of cool changed as you aged? Are there any notable celebrities you think have earned that distinction? Join the conversation by calling (866) 893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Guest:
- David Montgomery, senior data journalist for YouGov, an international online polling firm
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