How will President Trump’s tariffs impact SoCal’s economy?
Worries about President Donald Trump’s tariffs are sending U.S. stocks through sharp swings on Monday as financial markets worldwide drop on concerns about a potential trade war. The S&P 500 was down 0.7% in midday trading following worse losses for stock markets across Asia and Europe. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 99 points, or 0.2%, as of 11 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1% lower. The U.S. stock market had been on track for a much worse loss itself, with the Dow down 665 points shortly after the start of trading, on worries about how much pain U.S. companies would feel because of the tariffs. Some of the sharpest losses hit Big Tech and other companies that could be hurt most by higher interest rates that could result from the tariffs announced on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. Today on AirTalk, we’ll check in on the state of Trump’s tariffs with NPR senior editor Ron Elving. We’ll also discuss the tariff impacts to Southern California’s local economy with Kevin Klowden, executive director of finance at the Milken Institute, and Chris Thornberg, economist and founding partner at Beacon Economics.
With files from the Associated Press
Millions of Californians live in the wildland-urban interface. Are they at more risk for fires?
In the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades fire, experts and researchers are looking into what’s known as the wildland-urban interface. It is the areas where unoccupied land and human development meet. Both neighborhoods that burned so completely in the recent fires were pushed up against wilderness areas, but can we say definitively that the wildland-urban interface is a good marker of how at-risk an area is? That is what scientists and researchers are looking into. A recent CalMatters analysis showed that 1 in 3 Californians live in areas considered to be part of the wildland-urban interface. So the question of how much more prone these areas are to burning is urgent. Joining us today on AirTalk is Jeremia Kimelman, data reporter with CalMatters and Sarah McCaffery, social scientist who worked for the U.S. Forest Service for decades. Do you have questions for our experts? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
SoCal History: Is the gold rush… still rushing?
California’s first documented strike for gold happened in Newhall in 1842, but six years later, much farther north, when a man named John Marshall stuck gold in a portion of the American River, it would change California forever. Eventually – miners came to Azusa Canyon and between prominent rain storms in L.A., prospectors would filter in and out of the San Gabriels to hunt for gold. Joining to discuss the history of gold mining in Southern California and how the hunt for gold continues to this day is Los Angeles Times Columnist, Patt Morrison, about her piece “Hey, Gold Rushers: Southern California found gold first! And we’re still looking.” Questions? Call 866-893-5722 or email ATcomments@laist.com.
Menu cuts and labor challenges: How Starbucks is redefining itself
Starbucks last Tuesday reported better-than-expected sales in its fiscal first quarter as some of its turnaround efforts started to deliver results. The Seattle coffee giant said its revenue was flat at $9.4 billion for the 13-week period ending Dec. 29. That beat Wall Street’s forecast of $9.3 billion, according to analysts polled by FactSet. Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol, who joined the company in September, said customer-focused changes — such as a decision to stop charging extra for non-dairy milk and a streamlining of the menu — were helping to improve service and drive store traffic. Starbucks is trying to reestablish itself as a gathering place and recently announced that it will start using ceramic mugs and offering in-store customers free refills of coffee or tea. The company is also trying to appeal to customers with a new rule that requires people to buy something if they want to hang out or use the restroom. In attempting to re-establish itself as a “third space,” the major coffee chain is looking to make up some of the ground it’s lost to local coffee shops, which are all too common in places like Southern California. So, what is the outlook for Starbucks as it attempts to trim down its menu and narrow its goals? Joining us to break this all down is Wall Street Journal restaurants reporter Heather Haddon, and H. Rao Unnava, Michael and Joelle Hurlston dean and professor of marketing at UC Davis.
With files from the Associated Press
Could there be a nuclear energy revival in CA? Some Dems are entertaining it
California has been distancing itself from nuclear energy for decades. It hasn’t allowed new plants to be constructed for 49 years and Diablo Canyon, the state’s last operational plant, was scheduled to be shut down by this year, although that’s been delayed until 2030. The rise of artificial intelligence has some prominent lawmakers changing their tune.
AI is an “energy hog,” as reported in a new Calmatters piece. The technology, along with concerns about emissions goals and the worsening effects of climate change, are all factors lawmakers point to in order to demonstrate the need for innovative solutions for clean energy. So is expanding nuclear energy use a realistic possibility? Joining to discuss is Alex Shultz, freelance writer for Calmatters. His story is Artificial intelligence is bringing nuclear power back from the dead — maybe even in California. If you have questions, call 866-893-5722 or email ATcomments@laist.com.
The music of public spaces: a look into curating music for the built environment
Music is nearly ever-present in our public spaces. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite at the corner store or strolling through an outdoor mall, its presence influences our choices and shapes how we interact with our shared environments. While many may choose to tune out the music around them, the sounds that surround us are incredibly important to the living identities of the spaces we’re in. Today on AirTalk, we’re looking at what goes into the music that shapes our public spaces — from what determines the sound of a hotel lobby to the temporal makeup of the music you hear in a restaurant. Joining us today to talk about music in public spaces is Philip Quinaz, music supervisor at Gray V. Do you have a question about curating music in public spaces? Do you know a restaurant or public space that has the absolute best playlist? We want to hear from you! Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
