August jobs report finds slight uptick, improvement after an early summer downturn

Hiring by America’s employers picked up a bit in August from July’s tepid pace, and the unemployment rate dipped for the first time since March in a sign that the job market may be cooling but remains sturdy. Employers added a modest 142,000 jobs last month, up from a scant 89,000 in July, the Labor Department said Friday. The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.2% from 4.3% in July, which had been the highest level in nearly three years. Hiring in June and July, though, was revised sharply down by a combined 86,000, and July’s job gain was the weakest since the pandemic. Today on AirTalk, we’ll make sense of this uptick, and get into where it fits into greater economic context for the year with William Lee, chief economist of the Milken Institute. We’ll also look to see what its implications are for the housing market with Logan Mohtashami, lead analyst for the real estate news site HousingWire.

With files from the Associated Press

Wipe that sweat from your brow this weekend with cold desserts from Kanomwaan in Thai Town

Temperatures might hit 120 degrees in some parts of the Southland this weekend, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer for it. Think of it as an opportunity to sample some of the best and newest cold desserts in town. Owners of the Thai Town staple Ruen Pair opened a companion dessert cafe right next door in 2023, ‘Kanomwaan’ puts a twist on traditional thai desserts with more familiar textures like gelato and shaved ice. “Kanom” means snack in Thai, while “Waan” means sweet, it’s the perfect stop for a sweet treat while on a stroll or right after dinner. Today on AirTalk, Austin speaks with Champ Janseang, owner and founder of Kanomwaan Thai Gelato and Dessert Cafe and samples some of the best desserts on the menu like candle smoke salted egg gelato and a mango sticky rice sundae.

It’s officially still summer but pumpkin can’t wait.

It might be sweltering outside but when has that ever stood in the way of fall’s flavor palette? We’re talking pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, pecan, apple, and more. There are those who dread the season of pumpkin spice lattes and those who revere it. Today on AirTalk, we’re highlighting some of those classic fall flavors in the form of pie. While pie can and should be enjoyed year round, certain flavors are reserved for this special time of year when temperatures should be cooling a bit. Joining us today on AirTalk is Michael Osborn, owner of Pie n’ Burgers, which opened in 1963 in its current location on California Blvd. in Pasadena

FilmWeek: ‘His Three Daughters,’ ‘The Cowboy and The Queen,’ ‘Red Rooms,’ And More

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Amy Nicholson and Lael Loewenstein review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Wide Release
Rebel Ridge Streaming on Netflix
I’ll Be Right There Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino]
His Three Daughters In Select Theaters | Streaming on Netflix September 20th
The Cowboy and The Queen Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]
Red Rooms Laemmle NoHo 7 [North Hollywood]
Paradise is Burning Laemmle Glendale | Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle]
Hoard In Select Theaters
The Paragon Alamo Drafthouse DTLA

This year’s Venice Film Festival highlights include a return to the erotic drama

Earlier this year, a study was published that found that sex in movies has started to drop off, at least in several films that depicted them. So it did come as a bit of a surprise when film festival season highlights out of the Venice Film Festival included the Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson-led erotic drama Babygirl, as well Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey. Stateside we also saw Sean Baker’s Anora, a story about a New York exotic dancer’s relationship with a Russian oligarch, screen at the Telluride Film Festival following its success at the Cannes Film Festival.

So for this week’s FilmWeek feature, we thought it’d be worth getting into how these films were received by those in the film community, and get into how it might translate with general audiences. We continue with FilmWeek critics Lael Loewenstein and Amy Nicholson, as well as Variety executive editor Brent Lang.