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Your voting plan, tolerance for uncertainty, the history of counterculture nuns in SoCal and more
Los Angeles city voters have some races to consider for the upcoming June primary.
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Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
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Today on AirTalk: What's your voting plan? Building tolerance for uncertainty; L.A. City primary races; Countercultural nuns; and LACMA opening.
Today's show: Larry Mantle discusses plans for voting and a new noncitizen voting measure, how to have a higher tolerance for uncertainty, L.A. citywide elections, SoCal's history of counterculture nuns, and LACMA's new Geffen Galleries.
What's your voting plan + thoughts on noncitizen voting?
The topic:
Ballots have begun arriving in the mailboxes of registered voters in California. Voters now have until June 2 to fill out their ballot and return it. If your vote-by-mail ballot is postmarked by election day and received within seven days, it will be counted.
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28:10
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Larry talks with listeners
Also: Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez released a long-shot proposal last week to ask voters in this year’s upcoming election to give the City Council the ability to let noncitizens vote in future city elections. A similar proposal made it to the ballot in Santa Ana back in 2024 but was rejected by voters.
Voter Game Plan: Figure out who and what is on your ballot with the LAist voter game plan.
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Building a tolerance for uncertainty
Simone Stolzoff's new book publishes on May 12.
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Courtesy W. W. Norton & Company
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The topic:
The future is always uncertain, and that lack of control is difficult for most people to tolerate. Author and journalist Simone Stolzoff wants to help guide people toward building a tolerance for the unknown.
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21:29
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Guest: Simone Stolzoff, author of HOW TO NOT KNOW
The book: HOW TO NOT KNOW: The Value of Uncertainty In a World That Demands Answers (W. W. Norton & Company, 2026) draws on psychology, philosophy, economics and more. It publishes on May 12. Stolzoff will be discussing the book at UC San Diego on May 18.
Here's what to know about the LA city primary races
An election clerk holds “I voted” stickers.
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Carlin Stiehl
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LAist
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The topic:
Los Angeles city voters have some races to consider for the upcoming June primary. We’re rounding up what’s on the ballot.
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17:11
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Guests: LAist reporter Makenna Cramer, and independent reporter Robert Greene
Why now: Mail-in ballots have been making their way to residents since May 1st.
What you can vote on: There are eight city district races, three citywide tax measures, and elections for city controller and city attorney.
Where to learn more: Find detailed guides on L.A. City, L.A. County, and Orange County races as part of LAist’s Voter Game Plan.
SoCal History: California's counterculture nuns
Southern California's 1960s counterculture movement made waves in the Catholic church.
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Fox Photos / Getty Images
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The topic:
Southern California was at the forefront of the 1960s counterculture movement. Hippies, Indian gurus, and Scientologists were among the prominent groups seeking a newfound spirituality, but it was a local nunhood that came to challenge the Catholic hierarchy of the time.
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16:48
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Guest: Diane Winston, Knight Chair in Media and Religion at USC Annenberg
Immaculate Heart Sisters: Originally founded in Spain in 1848, the Immaculate Heart Sisters flourished in Southern California in the 1960s after an invitation from the bishop in California brought 10 sisters to the United States. Led by broad-minded mother superiors, almost 200 sisters worked in LA’s Catholic schools, known for their diverse perspectives.
LACMA's new Geffen galleries open to the public
LACMA members get a preview of the inside of the David Geffen Galleries on July 1, 2025.
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James Chow / LAist
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The topic:
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Last month, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art opened its new gallery to members. Now it’s open to the public. We talk to LACMA’s chief executive officer about the construction process, what viewers can expect, and how the new space has been received so far.
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15:34
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Guest: Michael Govan, CEO of LACMA
The architecture: Designed by architect Peter Zumthor, who conceptualized the concrete structure and its floor-to-ceiling windows.
Inspiration for the installation: Curators used the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea, as a starting point for the art and civilizations they wanted to highlight.
More info: The Geffen Galleries is now open to the public. Go to lacma.org to learn more about the gallery and its hours.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
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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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