Biden issues ban on offshore oil and gas drilling in most federal waters. Trump vows to undo it
President Joe Biden is moving to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters, a last-minute effort to block possible action by the incoming Trump administration to expand offshore drilling. Biden, whose term expires in two weeks, said he is using authority under the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect offshore areas along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and portions of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea from future oil and natural gas leasing. Biden’s orders would not affect large swaths of the Gulf of Mexico, where most U.S. offshore drilling occurs, but it would protect coastlines along California, Florida and other states from future drilling. Joining us today on AirTalk to talk about the potential ban and how California’s coastlines may be affected is Matthew Daly, AP reporter covering energy and the environment.
With files from the Associated Press.
Here’s what new state laws came into effect this month
The California state legislature has officially started its 2025 session, but before we get into the stories of future policies, we’ll want to update you on the latest laws that have come into effect at the start of this calendar year. One such law is the legalizing of cannabis cafes across the state, with a new policy that’s reminiscent most often tied to Amsterdam. After many conversations about artificial intelligence policies over the years, the state has implemented restrictions for such technology in Hollywood and social media. Along with that, we’re also seeing new policies in areas like housing, consumer protections, and retail theft. Joining us to round up these laws is Dustin Gardiner, co-author of POLITICO's California Playbook, and Anabel Sosa, state politics reporter for the Los Angeles Times.
How four female physicists escaped Nazi Germany
What was it like to be a female scientist in Nazi Germany? And what was it like to escape? A new book follows the journey of four women: Hedwig Kohn, Lise Meitner, Hertha Sponer, and Hildegard Stücklen. All four women were pioneers in their fields of science during a time when the Nazi regime was tightening its grip on public thought and practice, thereby forcing the women out of their academic positions. What follows are their daring escapes. Joining us today on AirTalk is Olivia Campbell, author of the book Sisters in Science: How Four Women Physicists Escaped Nazi Germany and made Scientific History.
SoCal History: The long battle for land on the VA’s West Los Angeles Campus
There is a juicy plot of land, over 100 acres, in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Westwood which is currently involved in a legal dispute. The Veteran Affairs West Los Angeles Campus has undergone many changes since its inception, from being a primarily residential facility to offering psychiatric care. In a new L.A. Times piece, writer and columnist Patt Morrison revisits the history of this campus, which has been at the center of lawsuits and public outcry for years. She joins us this morning on AirTalk for our weekly SoCal history segment.
Surgeon General calls for new label on drinks to warn Americans of alcohol’s cancer risk
Alcohol is a leading cause of cancer, a risk that should be clearly labeled on drinks Americans consume, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy proposed on Friday. Murthy’s advisory comes as research and evidence mounts about the bad effects that alcohol has on human health, but his proposal for a label would require a rare approval from the U.S. Congress. Americans should be better informed about the link between alcohol and cancer, in particular, Murthy argues in his advisory, noting alcohol consumption is to blame for nearly one million preventable cancer cases in the U.S. over the last decade. About 20,000 people die every year from those alcohol-related cancer cases, according to his advisory. Joining us today on AirTalk is Michael Pignone, Rebecca and John Kirkland Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Duke University, and one of the authors of the 2024 American Association for Cancer Research report.
With files from the Associated Press.
Word fatigue is real. Which words are you sick of hearing?
If you’re tired of hearing the words ‘elevate’ and ‘vibe’ you are not alone. Words are always cycling through the zeitgeist but when should we retire them? How many times should we be subjected to hearing the word ‘elevate’ in one day? In 2024, we saw words like ‘demure’ and ‘brain rot’ take home top prizes from Dictionary.com and Oxford University Press for “word of the year,” respectively. Today on AirTalk we want to hear from you. Which words would you like to see retired in 2025? Which words are you sick of hearing? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
