Supreme Court will hear arguments on flavored vape regulations imposed after youth vaping spike
The Supreme Court will hear a vaping case today, weighing federal regulators’ decisions blocking sweet vaping products after e-cigarette use spiked among kids. The high court is taking up an appeal from the Food and Drug Administration, which has denied more than a million applications to sell candy- or fruit-flavored products that appeal to kids. Those decisions are part of a crackdown that anti-tobacco advocates say helped drive down youth vaping to a decade low after an “epidemic level” peak in 2019. But vaping companies pushed back in court, arguing that agency unfairly disregarded arguments that their sweet e-liquid products aren’t a big draw for kids but would help adults quit smoking traditional cigarettes. The case comes shortly before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, whose incoming administration could take a different approach after he vowed in a September social-media post to “save” vaping. Joining us this morning on AirTalk is Jonathan Adler, professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
With files from the Associated Press
What does the future of public health look like under growing mistrust of science-backed medicine?
President-elect Donald Trump has assembled a team of medical contrarians and health care critics to fulfill an agenda aimed at remaking how the federal government oversees medicines, health programs and nutrition. Trump nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health, tapping an opponent of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates to lead the nation’s top medical research agency. He is the latest in a string of Trump nominees who were critics of COVID-19 health measures. Bhattacharya and the other nominees are expected to play pivotal roles in implementing Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s sprawling “Make America Healthy Again,” agenda, which calls for removing thousands of additives from U.S. foods, rooting out conflicts of interest at agencies and incentivizing healthier foods in school lunches and other nutrition programs. Trump nominated Kennedy to head the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees NIH and other federal health agencies. But growing mistrust in science and medicine has been brewing in the U.S. for some time, even before Trump first took office.
Today on AirTalk, we talk to two of our frequent doctors to discuss the misconceptions people have surrounding vaccines and drug regulation, and what this growing mistrust may mean for the future of public health. Joining us are Robert Kim-Farley, M.D., professor of epidemiology and community health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center. If you have questions please call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
A new book celebrates Black Americans' influence on pop culture and mainstream media
Black Americans have always been at the forefront of pop culture from music to fashion to art to comedy. And in the new age of the internet and social media, the Black community's influence on mainstream society has never been more prevalent. In her new book AfroCentric Style: A Celebration of Blackness & Identity in Pop Culture, author Shirley Neal archives these moments and explains the inextricable link between Blackness and the media that shapes our culture. Today on AirTalk, we talk to Neal about her book and dive into some of the most influential milestones pop culture owes to Black artists and celebrities.
SoCal History: The prehistoric wildlife that preceded our paved paradise
If you grew up in Los Angeles, you likely paid a visit to its local natural history museums. These scientific fixtures hold much of Southern California’s past, like prehistoric fossils. When it comes to prehistoric animals, some of the most well-documented have been sabertooth tigers and wooly mammoths. Alongside these animals were vegetation like agave and grape vines that still are around now. So for this week’s SoCal history segment, we’ll take a look at what prehistoric wildlife occupied prehistoric Southern California with Emily Lindsey, associate curator and excavation site director at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum.
LA swim instructor helps kids harness their own power through the water
Bill Marsh is a local hero of sorts. He's been a swim instructor for nearly 10 years and has taught thousands of children how to harness their own power and confidence when embracing the water. A Swim Lesson, a new short documentary, tells his story, explaining his philosophy on teaching swimming and offers a look at how the students progress. And the water is used as a vessel to teach a much deeper lesson about conquering life’s adversities. Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, both actors and filmmakers, co-directed the film. They join Larry, along with Bill Marsh, to discuss. The film is a co-release of L.A. Times Short Docs, POV Shorts and Documentary+.
What are your biggest challenges when learning to swim?
When it comes to swimming, there’s always room for improvement. Whether you’re building on your basic stroke game, developing your breathing skills, or refining your form, there’s a plethora of swimming fundamentals or advanced techniques that we’re all still in need of practicing. Today on AirTalk, we’d like to hear from you! What were your or your kids’ biggest challenges when learning to swim? Did you learn to swim later in life? If you’re a former or current swim instructor, what skills are the most challenging for folks to develop? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
