COVID-19 Latest: mRNA federal funding, the latest on vaccines and more
The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The recent decision means that $500 million allocated to develop vaccines using mRNA technology will be halted. So what does that mean for the future of these kinds of vaccines, which played a notable role in curbing COVID-19 deaths during the pandemic? Joining us to get into the impacts of this news are Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center, and Otto Yang, M.D., associate chief of Infectious Diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of its AIDS Institute.
With files from the Associated Press
Are breast reductions growing in popularity?
Breast reduction procedures, in which fat and tissue is removed to reduce the size of the breasts, saw a 7% increase in 2023, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. And although breast reductions didn’t increase very much in 2024, the number of procedures remained stable. So, why are smaller breasts becoming more preferred? Just a few years ago, the beauty standard favored exaggerated curves, underscored by the uptick in people getting Brazilian butt lifts. Breast reductions are typically done to help patients relieve back and neck, and smaller breasts also make it easier for some women to wear well-fitting clothes. But is the rise of breast reductions an indication of a new beauty standard? Today on AirTalk, we discuss the popularity of breast reductions with Dr. Jennifer Keagle, board-certified plastic surgeon based in North East LA. We also want to hear from you! Have you had a breast reduction? Why did you decide to get a reduction? What was your experience like? What was the reception of your friends, family, or partner? And if you have had a breast augmentation, have you thought about getting your implants removed? Give us a call at 866-893-5722. Or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Streaming latest: ESPN-Fox bundle, UFC moves to Paramount+ and new low-price subscriptions
In the last week, we’ve seen a lot of movement happening in the world of streaming. Broadcasters ESPN and Fox have now developed a streaming bundle that’ll serve as a new method for fans to enjoy their favorite teams. The two companies, along with Warner Bros. Discovery, had attempted to create a single sports streaming platform previously, but that deal fell apart due to violating antitrust law. In other sports-related streaming news, the UFC also struck a 7-year deal with Paramount+ that’ll put a pause on their longtime pay-per-view model. In the background of the big streamers, two new and affordable services are also being introduced to the market, courtesy of Roku and Sling TV. With all this news in recent days, we thought it’d be best to run through each story on today’s program with Dade Hayes, business editor for Deadline.
AirTalk 40: LA’s news media history live at the Skirball
Our celebration of the 40th anniversary of AirTalk continues with a walk down memory lane at the Skirball Cultural Center. L.A. has a rich history of news coverage highlighting some of the biggest stories to grip the nation: Rodney King, the O.J. Simpson car chase, natural disasters, including the recent wildfires that destroyed the cities of Altadena and Pacific Palisades, to name just a few. Larry Mantle and AirTalk have been there covering major stories like these for the last four decades, and boy have things changed. Larry Mantle talks with Joe Saltzman, professor of journalism and communication at USC, Monica Lozano, former publisher and editor of La Opinion and co-founder and chair of the L.A. Local News Initiative, Warren Olney, former host of Which Way, LA? at KCRW and former investigative reporter and anchor for Channels 2, 4 and 7, Marne Campbell, professor of African American studies at Loyola Marymount University and author of the book Making Black Los Angeles, and Joel Tator, former producer and director at multiple L.A. TV newsrooms and author of the book Los Angeles Television.
