President Trump places DC under federal control
President Donald Trump is promising new steps to tackle homelessness and crime in Washington, including the deployment of the National Guard, prompting the city’s mayor to voice legal concerns about who would be patrolling the streets in the nation’s capital. Trump said at a Monday news briefing that he was “deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law order and public safety in Washington, D.C., and they’re going to be allowed to do their job properly.” The Republican president compared crime in the American capital with that in other major cities, saying Washington performs poorly on safety relative to the capitals of Iraq, Brazil, and Colombia, among others. “We’re getting rid of the slums, too,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. would not lose its cities and that Washington was just a start. Today on AirTalk, we get the latest on this ongoing situation from Mariana Alfaro, breaking political news reporter for the Washington Post.
With files from the Associated Press.
The latest on negotiations between President Trump and colleges over funding cuts
Last Friday, President Donald Trump offered to restore more than half a billion dollars in frozen grant money to UCLA, under the condition that the University of California pay more than $1 Billion in fines. The offer comes after the President hit UCLA with accusations of antisemitism. Gov. Gavin Newsom has derided the freezing of funds, and called on the UC system to not “bend the knee” to the president. But with other colleges in the country opting to settle with this administration over similar allegations, it remains unclear how the UC system will progress. Today on AirTalk, we get the latest on negotiations between higher education institutions and President Donald Trump with Rick Seltzer, daily newsletter writer for the higher-ed news publication The Chronicle and Jaweed Kaleem, higher education reporter at the Los Angeles Times.
SoCal History: Japanese American car culture in Los Angeles in photographs
Cars define our lives in Los Angeles, and their very existence has led to numerous subcultures around SoCal. But cars are also a means of self-expression, a way for specific groups to honor heritage, create community and solidify their identity. The new book Cruising J-Town: Japanese American Car Culture in Los Angeles (Angel City Press, 2025) explores the generations of Japanese Americans who shaped car culture here in Los Angeles. Joining us today on AirTalk is author Oliver Wang, who’s also a professor of Sociology at CSU-Long Beach.
Back to school check-in: How are SoCal school districts preparing for the year ahead?
Summer is nearing its end, which means schools are getting ready to be back in session. Every year, we try to check in with a handful of superintendents in the region to learn how they’re preparing, what new challenges they might be facing this school year, and what are some recurring challenges from years past. We’ll talk about staffing shortages, school attendance, literacy, and more. Joining us for the conversation is Mariana Dale, K-12 senior reporter and Maribel Garcia, superintendent for El Monte City School District. We’d also love to hear from parents. What are your concerns heading into this school year? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
How is the Ballona Wetlands Restoration going?
The Ballona Wetlands — an ecological reserve on L.A.'s Westside, bordered by Marina del Rey, Playa Vista and Playa del Rey — are the second-largest chunk of open space in L.A., second only to Griffith Park. These 577 acres are also L.A. County’s largest remaining coastal wetlands. They're also a refuge for native birds such as great blue herons and hooded orioles, as well as thousands of birds that migrate every year along the Pacific flyway. “In the city of Los Angeles, we've lost 95% of our coastal wetlands. This is it. This is the last one we have,” said Scott Culbertson, executive director of nonprofit Friends of Ballona Wetlands. “It needs to be restored.” Healthy wetlands can absorb carbon in the atmosphere and buffer coastal communities from flooding. They support a diverse array of birds and plant species. Across the world, calls to protect them are growing as human-caused climate change accelerates. Despite the potential, the Ballona Wetlands have been the subject of one of Southern California’s longest running environmental battles. Nearly 20 years after the wetlands were designated by the state as an ecological reserve, there’s still no timeline for completing the plans to restore them, and public access to the green space remains significantly limited. Today on AirTalk, we get an update on the restoration process and discuss the differing opinions environmental groups have about the plan’s efficacy. We’re joined by Erin Stone, climate and environment reporter for LAist, Walter Lamb, president of the board of the Ballona Wetlands Land Trust, and Annelisa Moe, associate director of science and policy for Heal the Bay. We also want to hear from you! If you are local to the area, what do you think about the restoration plan? What do you think needs to be done to help preserve the Ballona Wetlands? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist. You can read Erin’s full story here.
