An oil operation off the Santa Barbara coast has resumed production. Is it skirting the law?
Some 10 years after a major oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara County led to the shuttering of the operation, an offshore oil platform has spun to life once more and is pumping oil, according to operator Sable Offshore Corp. The problem? California’s Coastal Commission ordered the company to halt revival work on the rig last month, saying it hadn’t received the necessary permits for restoration. The company says it obtained all the necessary permits and denies the commission’s authority over the project. Major environmental groups have expressed outrage at the resumption of the operation, and the Coastal Commission has said they are working with the state Attorney General on next steps. Joining Larry to dig into what’s happening off the Santa Barbara coast, and what it means for all of us in the state, is reporter at the Los Angeles Times covering breaking news, Grace Toohey.
1975 New York City financial crisis takes center stage in new documentary
A new documentary by Michael Rohatyn and Peter Yost gets into one of the most significant financial crises in modern American history: the 1975 New York City financial crisis. One of the United States' biggest metropolises was on the financial brink of ruin after major shakeups to its local economy, requiring local leaders from all walks of life to come together to prevent the city from defaulting. The documentary uses many voices to help tell the story of this precarious situation, including the father of director Michael Rohatyn, New York financier Felix Rohatyn. Although the situation did happen in New York City, the potential for bankruptcy could’ve created issues for the state at large and local economies across the country. Today on AirTalk, we’ll discuss the 1975 New York City financial crisis with Drop Dead City director Michael Rohatyn and New York Times reporter Sam Roberts.
‘Drop Dead City’ is out in select theaters starting Thursday. Directors Michael Rohatyn and Peter Yost will participate in Q&As after the evening screenings on May 22 at the Laemmle NoHo, and May 23 and 24 at the Monica Film Center.
SoCal listeners share the times they found comedic relief while in grief
They say laughter is the best medicine, and as so often is the case, they are right. It’s no secret that laughter provides a range of health benefits, from increasing endorphins in the body to relieving stress. But the extent of these benefits goes well beyond just the immediate moment. Studies and personal stories make it clear that in times of grief, a little comedic relief can go a long way. Today on AirTalk, we’re turning the microphone over to you, the listener. Did a bit of comedy help break up some tension after a particularly bad argument you had with someone? Or maybe after the death of a loved one, something funny happened that helped you feel just a smidge better. Whatever the awful situation may be that you found yourself laughing in, we want to hear about it! Give us a call at 866-893-5722, or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Where does debris removal from the Palisades Fire stand?
The Palisades fire started on January 7, 2025, displacing thousands and destroying over 6,000 structures. Now, more than four months later, the Pacific Palisades is slowly repairing itself. The Palisades are currently in phase two of fire recovery: debris removal. According to the United States Army Corps of Engineers' online tracker, debris removal for the Palisades fire is 55% complete. This only includes properties who's owners opted in for the government agency to do the cleanup. Numbers for private contractors are not known. Although there is still more cleanup to go, for those whose properties have been cleared by the Army Corps, the next step is the permitting process for rebuilds. Today on AirTalk, we check in on the debris removal process for the Palisades fire with Traci Park, the LA city councilmember for district 11, which includes the Pacific Palisades, and Col. Jeff Palazzini, the US Army Corps of Engineers emergency field office Palisades commander.
How grief affects our physical health and what to do about it
Last hour on AirTalk, we talked about the emotional benefits that laughter and comedy can have for those experiencing grief and loss. But healing your emotional self during times of grief is an entirely different process from restoring your physical health. It’s often observed that after the death of a spouse, many newly widowed find their own health rapidly deteriorates. A recently published book, The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing, explores this conundrum and tries to figure out what we can do during times of grief to heal our physical bodies. Today on AirTalk, author and professor of clinical psychology and psychiatry Mary-Frances O’Connor joins the program to talk about her book and how we can turn grieving into healing.
