How California is adapting to reductions in federal homelessness funding
According to reporting done by CalMatters reporter Marisa Kendall, many homelessness organizations across the state are fearing the derailment of progress made in recent years, citing federal funding cuts made by the Trump administration. This morning on the program, we’ll get into what the progress has looked like for state and local organizations, and how exactly federal funding cuts will hurt organizations across California. Joining us to break this down is Jennifer Hark Dietz, CEO of PATH, and Stephanie Klasky-Gamer, president and CEO of LA Family Housing.
Best practices on protecting yourself from fraud and scams
According to a recent Federal Trade Commission report, consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024. Imposter scams ranked as the most commonly reported scam, highlighting how scammers are evolving their tactics to get at consumers' personal information. Joining us this morning to talk about the ways to protect yourself from frauds and scams is Denise Leonhard, general manager of the payment platform Zelle. We also want to hear from you! Do you have questions about how to stay safe? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
The attempts to take down tech industry leader Apple
Over time, various corporate tech moguls like Spotify's Daniel Ek, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, and X's Elon Musk have attempted to weaken the force field around industry leader Apple. But how do you break through a company with seemingly unstoppable market power? This is the story Wall Street Journal business columnist, Tim Higgins, tells in his new book iWar: Fortnite, Elon Musk, Spotify, WeChat, and Laying Siege to Apple's Empire (September, 2025). He also explores what this says about the state of our digital economy and more. Higgins joins AirTalk to discuss. If you have questions, call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Pentagon demands reporters to sign pledge or risk losing media credentials
Last week, the Pentagon announced it would require reporters covering the Department of Defense to sign a pledge that stated they would not gather or use information without formal authorization, even in instances of unclassified information. The move has largely been condemned by news organizations as an assault on journalism, with some critics arguing that the vague language of the 17-page memo could be used to justify shutting down pertinent stories from the public. The new requirement comes on the heels of a series critical press this year that has focused on the DOD and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s role in the organization. Joining us this morning to discuss the implications of the pledge and how reporters have been responding is Ken Bensinger, New York Times reporter covering media and politics.
Great Scott! New documentary celebrates 50 years of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
The Rocky Horror Picture Show created a blueprint for other initially unsuccessful films to find second lives through fervent fans. Its unapologetic celebration of difference continues to resonate on the 50th anniversary of the film. In the new documentary Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, director Linus O’Brien delves into the phenomenon of “Rocky Horror” through interviews with major players including director Jim Sharman, actors Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon, and O’Brien’s father, Richard O’Brien, the creator of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. O’Brien joins AirTalk today to discuss his documentary.
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is in theaters now. Find showtimes here.
TV Talk: ‘The Lowdown,’ ‘Alice in Borderland,’ ‘House of Guiness,’ 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 Hanh Nguyen, Executive Editor, Culture & Food at Salon.com., an independent news publication and Steve Greene, freelance TV critic.
TV SHOWS:
- The Lowdown (FX/Hulu)
- Alice in Borderland [Season 3] (Netflix)
- House of Guiness [Season 1] (Netflix)
- Haunted Hotel [Season 1] (Netflix)
- Alien: Earth (FX/Hulu)
