What was an unexpected moment you found yourself awash in patriotism?

What was an unexpected moment you found yourself awash in patriotism?

After having started one game as pitcher for Team USA in this year’s World Baseball Classic, left-hander Tarik Skubal has decided he will head to Spring Training with the Detroit Tigers, following much deliberation. Although that was originally the plan, Skubal eventually got second thoughts, having felt a sense of pride for his country, after playing in their 9-1 victory over Britain.

Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from you! Tell us about a moment you were suddenly overcome with a sense of pride in an aspect of being an American. Maybe it was a trip to the Grand Canyon and your first time peering over the edge of those boundless cliffs, or the first time you saw the skyline of New York City and all its architectural marvel. Or maybe it’s the time you went to Arlington National Cemetery and saw those who sacrificed it all. Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.

What’s the current state of fast casual?

The fast food industry has seen a shake-up with rising food costs hurting consumers’ pockets, with many of them eating out less as restaurants raise prices across their menu. Many outlets have reported its impact on fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle and Cava, which offer a build-your-own-bowl style that has gone out of favor with cost-sensitive customers seeking a quick, convenient bite. So what hope do these businesses have for maintaining their current customer base? Could some of their most price-sensitive customers come back regularly as they once did (at least in the near future)? Today on AirTalk, we’ll check in on the current state of the fast food industry with Heather Haddon, reporter covering restaurants for The Wall Street Journal, and Lisa Jennings, executive editor at Restaurant Business, which is a trade publication for the food service industry.

How true is this true story? The ethics of portraying living people 

When film and television dramatize real lives, where does storytelling end and responsibility begin? That question has resurfaced after actress and environmental activist Daryl Hannah recently criticized the new television series “Love Story,” portraying her past relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr., arguing that the show’s depiction of her character is inaccurate and damaging. Her comments highlight a broader debate about the ethics of portraying real people on screen — particularly when those individuals are still alive and have to face the real repercussions of how they were represented. While dramatizations often take creative liberties to tell compelling stories, critics say these portrayals can blur the line between fact and fiction and shape public perception in ways that may not reflect the full scope of a person's life or reality. So today on AirTalk, we explore some of those tv shows and films and dive into the tension between artistic freedom and factual responsibility when storytellers depict real lives. Today we’re joined by Vulture tv critic Kathryn VanArendonk.

Apparently … Americans don’t like each other

Doesn’t it seem like Americans are at whims with each other? From morals, politics, cultures, expression, and opinion, division seems to cut deeper and deeper. What’s worse is, we are pretty much alone in this! From the U.K to India to Japan, most people who live outside the U.S. actually think that their country’s people are “morally good.” That’s according to the latest Pew research study, finding 53 percent of American adults have negative perceptions about the morality of their fellow citizens. Today on AirTalk, we are joined by the lead author of the study, Jonathan Evans, senior researcher at Pew Research Center focused on religion and national identity, David Meyer, Professor of Sociology and Political Science at UCI and author of “How Social Movements (Sometimes) Matter,” and Victoria Barnett, Historian and General Editor for Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works. We also want to hear from you! Why do you think the U.S. falls behind other countries in their perceptions of fellow citizens? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.

LA’s worst intersections

Whether you feel personally victimized by the Virgil Avenue, Sunset, and Hollywood Boulevards intersection by the Los Feliz border, which a city official called a “nightmare,” or break into anxious sweats every time you get in line for the Burbank Boulevard Costco, you can soon channel some of that frustration into a social media match-up. After Koreatown was voted as having the city’s worst parking last year, the latest competition run by Americana at Brand Memes on Instagram is upping the stakes with infamous intersections. The Los Angeles Times released a report this week ranking L.A.’s worst intersections based on traffic data, with the troublesome top spot going to Highland and Sunset in Hollywood. Today on AirTalk, we are joined by James Moore, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Southern California, to talk about some of the worst crossings in the city. We also want to hear from you! Which intersection do you dread driving through? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.