HHS plans to cut 10,000 jobs as part of a major health agency overhaul
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will eliminate 10,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring plan. The agency made the announcement, Thursday. The agency is responsible for monitoring infectious diseases, inspecting foods and hospitals and overseeing health insurance programs for nearly half the country. The agency says it will decrease its workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 positions. Joining to discuss the impact of the cuts is Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center, and Timothy Brewer, M.D., epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA.
With files from the Associated Press
LA County Board of Supervisors approves $908 million for homeless services
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a $908 million funding package for homeless services, including the first allocations under the new Measure A sales tax, which voters approved last November to replace Measure H. The funding plan allocates $656 million from Measure A, along with $209 million in unspent Measure H funding and $42.6 million in state homeless assistance grants. However, some existing homelessness services that provided job training, legal services, and mobile showers were significantly reduced in the new plan. Alongside funding, the supervisors also approved new goals related to curbing homelessness in the county, such as decreasing the number of people living in tents, makeshift shelters and vehicles by 30% over the next five years. Joining us to talk about the Board of Supervisors’ new goals and funding plan is Aaron Schrank, LAist senior health and housing reporter.
With files from LAist
AirTalk is about to turn 40!! Share your favorite moment of the show
AirTalk and Larry celebrate 40 years together on the airwaves this coming Tuesday, April 1. We have big big plans that day. We’ll broadcast live in LAist’s Crawford Family Forum and you can attend. Learn more here. As we approach the major milestone, we want to hear from longtime listeners of the program. Do you have a favorite memory, segment or guest? Maybe a driveway moment that sticks with you? Reminisce with Larry by calling 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Trump places 25% tariff on imported autos. What does this mean for the auto industry?
President Donald Trump said he was placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, a move the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains. “This will continue to spur growth,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “We’ll effectively be charging a 25% tariff.” The tariffs, which the White House expects to raise $100 billion in revenue annually, could be complicated as even U.S. automakers source their components from around the world. The tax hike starting in April means automakers could face higher costs and lower sales, though Trump argues that the tariffs will lead to more factories opening in the United States and the end of what he judges to be a “ridiculous” supply chain in which auto parts and finished vehicles are manufactured across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Today on AirTalk, we’ll speak to Jack Ewing, reporter covering the auto industry for the New York Times with a focus on electric vehicles and K Venkatesh Prasad, senior vice president of research and chief innovation officer at the Center for Automotive Research.
With files from the Associated Press
Triple Play: The LA Dodgers' home opener against the Detroit Tigers
The Dodgers play their first home game of the new season tonight against the Detroit Tigers. As reigning World Series champs, the Dodgers have a lot to live up to this season. The players came out swinging last week winning their two-game Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs, setting a good foundation for themselves coming into tonight’s game. But will they be able to keep the momentum? Today on AirTalk, we’re joined by Nick Roman, former host of LAist’s All Things Considered, and A Martinez, host of NPR’s Morning Edition. We’ll talk about what the Dodgers have in store for them this season.
Director RJ Cutler takes us behind the scenes of the 2024 World Series in ‘Fight for Glory’
The 2024 World Series was one for the history books. 43 years since their last matchup, The New York Yankees and The Los Angeles Dodgers renewed their longstanding and legendary rivalry in the fall classic. It’s just one of the many reasons the stakes were so high. A new docu-series on Apple TV+ from Director R.J. Cutler explores the gripping moments that shaped both teams' quest for the championship title. From the locker room to the dugout to the stands, ‘Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series’ weaves together the perspectives of all those close to the action, capturing the raw intensity that made the series unforgettable. Today on AirTalk, we talk to R.J. about the docu-series and how he captured the incredible moments of the 2024 World Series.
TV Talk: ‘The Studio,’ ‘No Taste Like Home,’ ‘Mythic Quest,’ and more
Have you felt completely overwhelmed when deciding what new show to watch these days? Us too. There’s just so much content out there between network TV and numerous streaming platforms. Each week, we will try to break through the noise with TV watchers who can point us to the must-sees and steer us clear of the shows that maybe don’t live up to the hype. This week, listeners will get the latest scoop on what’s worth watching with Saloni Gajjar, staff writer covering TV at the A.V. Club and Hanh Nguyen, executive editor at Salon.com, an independent news publication.
