Ballots are still being counted. Are the delays worth CA’s mail-in popularity?
As of the weekend, there are still hundreds of thousands of ballots still being counted in California races. The long delays are, in part, because of mail-in voting. California is one of eight that allow it. While it may improve access, experts estimate a significant decline in turnout this year. Plus, there are some downsides. The delays, obviously. But those delays can also lead to less trust in the process, especially in hotly contested races like in California’s 45th Congressional District where Democratic challenger Derek Tran has extended his lead over GOP Rep. Michelle Steel. As of Monday night, he was ahead by 102 votes after a release of new tallies from L.A. and Orange counties. Some Republicans are already raising allegations of election fraud, according to Newsweek, which there is no evidence of. Still, a race this close could lead to calls for a recount. Today on AirTalk, we ask listeners what they think of the ballot process. How do you feel about the length of time it takes to count? Would you be willing to vote earlier? What changes do you think would improve the process? Call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist. Read more here.
Politicians are pivoting to podcasts: why social media influencers became go-to interviewers for the 2024 election
Podcasts are growing in popularity as a main form of media consumption. According to Edison Research, 34 percent of the U.S. population age 12 and up listen to podcasts on a weekly basis. Of that total, 59 percent are between the ages of 12 and 34 and 55 percent are aged 35 to 54. This growth in podcasts as a main media source was no more evident than during the 2024 election. Both Trump and Harris appeared on several podcasts throughout their campaigns in an effort to appeal to both younger voters and those who have foregone traditional news sources. Podcasts as campaign strategies is part of a growing phenomenon in media where younger generations are relying more on social media personalities for news than traditional publications or broadcasters.
Today on AirTalk, we'll talk about how podcasts and other social media platforms were used to help gain votes during the 2024 election and what this means for politics and campaigns in the future. Joining us to discuss is Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist and founder and chief executive officer of Rodriguez Strategies, and Nicholas Quah, podcast critic and writer for Vulture.
The dawn of mountaineering detailed in a new narrative history
Why do people climb mountains? It’s a question writer and climber Daniel Light has asked himself and it's one of the focal questions of his new book. Some like for the pursuit of self-discovery, others for the advancement of science, but all who do it, no matter the reason, must contend with the forbidding conditions of mountains. By highlighting a few individuals and epic expedition, Light shows how mountaineering has evolved and why the sport remains the spectacle that it is. Joining us this morning on AirTalk is Dan Light, author of The White Ladder: Triumph and Tragedy at the Dawn of Mountaineering.
How another Trump administration may impact California: Sanctuary City
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to launch a mass deportation campaign across the country during his term. To curb the potential impact of this, Mayor Bass has drafted an ordinance that would make LA a “sanctuary city.” What does that mean exactly and how would the ordinance work? In theory, the ordinance would prohibit city resources and staff from investigating or arresting anyone in order to enforce federal immigration law, participating in immigration enforcement or providing access to information about immigration status. Immigration law experts say that while this would hinder the federal government's ability to effectively round up and deport undocumented people, the ordinance wouldn’t provide complete protection. Joining us this morning on Airtalk to discuss the terms of sanctuary city is Niels Frenzen, professor of law and director of the USC Gould School of Law Immigration Clinic and Marissa Montes, professor of law and Loyola Marymount University and Director of the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic.
With files from LAist. Read the full story here.
LA rezoning plan aims to address housing shortage, but study says it won’t be enough
In an effort to build more housing and alleviate the city’s affordability crisis, Los Angeles is proposing a plan to rezone the city, allowing developers to add 255,000 new homes. The proposal would enable developers to build more units than currently allowed and change height and parking restrictions. However, a UCLA analysis finds that the rezoning plan may not deliver the expected results. While the plan satisfies state requirements to designate land for 255,000 new homes, researchers found that the actual number of homes likely to be built will fall significantly short. Joining us to discuss is Shane Phillips, Housing Initiative Project Manager at UCLA’s Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies and co-author of the study.
'NCIS' actor Mark Harmon and a former special agent team up to tell real-life stories about dangerous NCIS missions
Leon Carroll, Jr. spent more than two decades as a Special Agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Actor Mark Harmon has played one for years in the hit CBS drama NCIS. The two have teamed up to tell real-life stories of NCIS missions. Ghosts of Panama: A Strongman Out of Control, a Murdered Marine, and the Special Agents Caught in the Middle of an Invasion is their latest. It follows Ghosts of Honolulu , which became a New York Times bestseller. The duo continue their work together in a new show called NCIS: Origins, which explores the early career of Harmon's character Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Harmon and Carroll, Jr. join Larry to discuss Ghosts of Panama and their ongoing work to tell NCIS stories.
Mark and Leon will be in conversation about Ghosts of Panama on Thursday, November 21, at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro, CA for a book event fundraiser hosted by the Rotary Club of San Pedro. You can also see them on Friday, November 22 at Vroman’s Books here in Pasadena for an exclusive signing.
