Another weekend of protests in Los Angeles and beyond
Tens of thousands of people joined Saturday's "No Kings" rally in downtown L.A. for hours of peaceful protest before police enforced a dispersal order around a federal building. The enforcement caused tense confrontations between protesters and law enforcement and police deployed less-lethal munitions and mounted units. An estimated 30,000 people demonstrated, according to L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. The protests coincided with Flag Day, with President Trump also hosting a military parade in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday. June 14 is also Trump’s 79th birthday, which is why the protests are falling on that day, according to the "No Kings" website. Today on AirTalk, we recap the events of the weekend around Los Angeles and on a national level with LAist watchdog editor Jared Bennett and Politico White House reporter Megan Messerly.
The economic implications of continued ICE actions in Southern California
Enhanced immigration enforcement actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement has rattled Southern California in the past few weeks, leading to widespread protests and fear. The moves have led to many undocumented immigrants in the country to fear doing routine daily tasks like going to pick their kids up from school and going to work. The potential impact on California’s economy, and that of the entire country, of these workers staying home has grown large enough to have caught the president’s eye, as he is now directing ICE to stop sweeps at certain places of business. At the same time, he has also requested a ramp-up of sweeps and raids in Democrat-run cities. So what are the immediate economic implications of our current immigration moment and what’s likely to transpire in the near and long term? Joining us to answer these questions are Sarah McGregor, managing editor of the national team at Bloomberg, and founding partner at Beacon Economics Chris Thornberg.
SoCal History: Preserving LGBTQ+ history in California and beyond
Not far from here is the largest repository of LGBTQ+ materials in the world—periodicals, videos, photographs, artworks, and so much more. ONE Archive at the USC Libraries was founded in 1952 and has since become a hub for education, activism, and personal inquiry. The longtime director of One Archive, Joseph Hawkins, has helped people uncover old wedding photos that had been tossed, obituaries of loved ones who died during the AIDS epidemic. A treasure trove indeed. Joining us today on AirTalk is Bill Deverell, professor of history at USC and Joseph Hawkins, director of ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, who retires on June 30th after nearly 3 decades as director. Do you have questions for our guests? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com
AG Rob Bonta goes after SoCal landlord. Here’s the backstory
Last week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Swaranjit “Mike” Nijjar, a landlord who’s built up his rental housing business in some of the poorest parts of Southern California. In his press release, the attorney general referenced “slum-like conditions” that were reported to his office, many of which were outlined in LAist (formerly KPCC) reporting back in 2020. Issues that Nijjar and his family’s property were found to have included mold, pest infestations, and plumbing-related structural problems. Joining us to discuss how we got here is Aaron Mendelson, data journalist at The Trace, who previously reported on the condition of Nijjar’s properties for KPCC/LAist.
How CA's Latino/a politics are playing out amidst ICE activity and protests and the history that got us here
Sen. Alex Padilla, the senior U.S. senator representing California, was forcibly removed from a news conference in Los Angeles last week as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was addressing reporters. Noem and other federal law enforcement officials were briefing the public on recent ICE operations in Los Angeles when Padilla, who is a Democrat, spoke up from the crowd to ask questions and was removed, videos of the incident show. Padilla's office said he was in L.A. to perform congressional oversight of the federal government’s immigration operations, according to a statement. Images showed him being handcuffed on the floor outside a short time later. Sen. Padilla is California's first Latino U.S. Senator. California's Latino/a population is one of the communities most affected by the recent ICE presence. But it is also the Latino/a community who helped President Trump win his second term. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the history of California's Latino politics, how the Latino/a vote has become such a powerful cohort in the state, and how that is playing out amidst ICE arrests and protests. Joining us is Gustavo Arellano, columnist for the Los Angeles Times.
You can read Gustavo's recent piece, "Sen. Alex Padilla’s crime? Being Mexican in MAGA America".
That's what neighbors are for!
Neighbors. The people you wave to while mowing the lawn or ask to borrow a cup of sugar from every once in a while. They can be some of your closest friends or the people you try to avoid whenever leaving the house. Whatever your relationship though, neighbors are an essential aspect of making your block feel like home. Today on AirTalk, we want to hear about your neighbors! When did you first meet? Did they welcome you to the neighborhood with a freshly baked pie? What is your relationship with your neighbors? Was there a time when knowing your neighbors was particularly helpful? What was your experience? Give us a call at 866-893-5722. Or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
