National Public Radio sues Trump administration over cuts to federal funding for public media
National Public Radio and three of its local stations filed a lawsuit Tuesday against President Donald Trump, arguing that an executive order aimed at cutting federal funding for the organization is illegal. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington by NPR, Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio and KUTE, Inc. argues that Trump’s executive order to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR violates the First Amendment. Trump issued the executive order earlier this month that instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS” and requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations. Trump issued the order after alleging there is “bias” in the broadcasters’ reporting. The court fight seemed preordained, given that the heads of NPR and PBS both reacted to Trump's move with statements that they believed it was illegal. Joining Larry to talk about what this lawsuit means for the future of public media is Benjamin Mullin, media reporter for The New York Times, and Pratheepan Gulasekaram, professor of constitutional law at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Is Gov. Gavin Newsom positioning himself for a campaign for the presidency?
As Governor Gavin Newsom's term comes to an end, many Californians believe his attention has shifted towards a campaign for the presidency, according to a recent LA Times poll. Newsom hasn't formally announced his intentions to run in 2028, but some of his recent actions may indicate otherwise. He's positioned himself in opposition to President Trump and the Republican party with numerous ongoing lawsuits against the administration. Some of Newsom's more recent policy initiatives have appeared to be more like political gestures than real solutions to California's problems. Today on AirTalk, we're joined by Mark Barabak, political columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and Laurel Rosenhall, California politics correspondent for The New York Times, to discuss Newsom's political future. Does he have a shot at the White House or even a chance at the Democratic nomination?
Art, faith, and the 1980s -- and what it means for the shifting role of religion
Art and religious faith go hand in hand, especially for many prominent artists of the 1980s. Think Leonard Cohen, Andy Warhol, Madonna, Prince and even Martin Scorsese. According to the new book, The Last Supper: Art, Faith, Sex, and Controversy in the 1980s (Farrar, Straus and Giroux (May, 2025), all these artists and more were grappling with their faith in art. The book delves into the careers of these artists and looks at the shifting role of religion. Joining to discuss is author Paul Elie. Do you have questions or thoughts? Call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
State water update: Newsom asks for support on Delta tunnel project, here’s what to know
In recent weeks, much has been made of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed acceleration of the Delta Conveyance Project, citing the need for additional water infrastructure as a reason. Although this may not seem as controversial on the surface, this has garnered pushback from lawmakers and environmentalists, who see the curtailing of approval processes as a potential environmental risk. Although the barriers have troubled some, it has received support from many municipal water agencies in Southern California, who are served by the State Water Project. Joining us to break this all down is Ian James, staff writer for the LA Times, Caty Wagner, water campaign manager for Sierra Club California, and Craig Miller, general manager for the Western Municipal Water District.
Off-brand, generic, private-label? Whatever you call 'em, what's your favorite knockoff?
In times of economic stress, shoppers can turn to an old reliable of grocery stores to save a few bucks: generic brands. They've gone through a number of names since their introduction to store shelves in the 1970s -- generics, off-brands, store brands, and more recently private labels. But they all have a few things in common: they're cheaper than name brands, and until recently basically guaranteed you would get an inferior (but serviceable) product. But as consumers flock once again to store brands during our current moment of economic uncertainty, the knockoffs they're encountering aren't just serviceable -- they're actually good. Stores have reinvented their in-house brands to be more competitive with the big-name brands over the past few years, and record sales numbers suggest the pivot is working. Today on AirTalk, we're looking at the wonderful world of generics, dupes, knockoffs, whatever you want to call them, with Americus Reed II, professor of marketing at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business who studies consumer decision making. We also want to hear from you! What's a knockoff product you know for certain is better than the name brand? Maybe you swear by your lululemon yoga pants dupe, or just prefer the taste of Mr. Pibb to that other doctor soda. Give us a call at 966-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com and share why you're absolutely correct.
