States Sue Meta Over ‘Addictive Features’ That Harm Kids’ Mental Health
Dozens of US states, including California and New York, are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. A lawsuit filed by 33 states in federal court in California, claims that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of federal law. In addition, nine attorneys general are filing lawsuits in their respective states, bringing the total number of states taking action to 41 and Washington, D.C. Joining us today on AirTalk is Alex Alben, lecturer in law at UCLA where he teaches Privacy, Data & Cybersecurity and Cecilia Kang, New York Times reporter covering technology and regulation.
With files from the Associated Press.
Navajo Nation Considers Repealing 2005 Gay Marriage Ban
The Tribal Council of the Navajo Nation is currently considering legislation that would repeal a 2005 ban on gay marriage. As it’s a sovereign tribal nation, the Supreme Court’s 2015 case that legalized gay marriage across the United States, Obergefell v. Hodges, has no effect on the reservation, and previous attempts to roll back the ban have failed. It’s a controversial issue in the community, where conservative Christian beliefs are dominant. Considering the Navajo Nation’s position as the largest Indian reservation in the country, this legislation could influence the 10 out of 574 tribes in America that still have bans on same-sex unions. Joining us to discuss is Karin Brulliard, national reporter covering the American West for the Washington Post and Chris Finley, assistant professor of American studies and ethnicity at USC and also a member of the Colville Nation.
There’s Growing Interest From CA Legislators For Tiny Homes — So What Does That Look Like?
The unhoused community in Los Angeles and California at-large has been stuck in a weird situation, requiring helpful services to be housed but not having the necessary steps to get there. A recent CalMatters piece lays out one short-term solution that’s gained traction and controversy — tiny homes. Tiny homes differ in their features but usually are individual housing units that are meant to serve as interim housing for unhoused populations. For housing agencies and residents of these tiny homes, there’s a lot of benefits. As the state looks to invest more into tiny homes, how are housing leaders going to make sure permanent housing is still a priority? Today on AirTalk, we get into the present and future of tiny homes with Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters reporter covering the homelessness crisis, and Abbilyn Miller, chief operating officer for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
Should There Be Consequences For Being A ‘Karen?’ LAist’s Imperfect Paradise Examines How One Couple Fought Back
LAist Studios’ investigative series Imperfect Paradise is back with a new installment titled People v. Karen. The new four-part story examines an accusation made by a white woman in Petaluma who told police and thousands of social media followers that a couple tried to kidnap her kids in a Michaels craft store. The couple, Sadie and Eddie Martinez, who are of Latin descent, sued Katie Sorensen over the false accusation and sought justice. Joining Austin Cross to discuss is Emily Guerin, LAist Studios correspondent.
Download Imperfect Paradise from LAist Studios wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find the first episode of People v. Karen here.
We Desperately Need New Antibiotics To Combat Resistant Superbugs, But The Business Model Isn’t Working. Why?
Antibiotics may seem simple. Your doctor prescribes you a pill or gives you a shot, and your symptoms go away in a few weeks. There seems to be a drug for almost every kind of infection nowadays, but too much of a good thing can also be harmful. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to bacteria becoming resistant to them, making more common infections like UTIs and strep throat harder to treat. The best antibiotic is a highly specific one, used to target the exact bacteria causing the disease. Unfortunately, many of the companies that have been developing such antibiotics have gone bankrupt. These failures have scared away many investors and even scientists from antibiotic development. So, how did we get here? And how can we incentivize antibiotic innovation despite diminishing profits?
Joining us on AirTalk to discuss the current state of antibiotics are Susan Huang, professor of Infectious Diseases at University of California Irvine School of Medicine and medical director of Epidemiology and Infection Prevention at UC Irvine Health, and Henry Skinner, founder and chief executive officer of AMR Action Fund, an impact fund designed to find solutions to the antimicrobial crisis and finance innovative biotech.
What’s Your Most Unforgettable First-Date Experience?
First dates can be…. interesting. And for some of us, we’ve had an unforgettable first-date experience. Whether it went above and beyond and exceeded expectations in the most surprising ways or it was flat out just bizarre. Today on AirTalk, listeners share their most memorable first date and why. Give us a call at 866-893-722 or email atcomments@laist.com. Joining Austin to discuss is Erin Tillman, sex educator, dating coach, and intimacy coordinator.
