Supreme Court will take up state bans on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ children
The Supreme Court agreed Monday in a case from Colorado to decide whether state and local governments can enforce laws banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ children. The conservative-led court is taking up the case amid actions by President Donald Trump targeting transgender people, including a ban on military service and an end to federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The justices also have heard arguments in a Tennessee case over whether state bans on treating transgender minors violate the Constitution. But they have yet to issue a decision. Colorado is among roughly half the states that prohibit the practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling. The issue is whether the law violates the speech rights of counselors. Defenders of such laws argue that they regulate the conduct of professionals who are licensed by the state. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver upheld the state law. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta has struck down local bans in Florida. In 2023, the court had turned away a similar challenge, despite a split among federal appeals courts that had weighed state bans and come to differing decisions. Joining us today on AirTalk is Brooke Migdon, reporter covering LGBTQ politics for The Hill.
With files from the Associated Press
SoCal History: Getting to know California’s National Parks
From the Sierra Nevada mountains of Yosemite to the sand dunes of Death Valley, California is home to some of the most breathtaking and diverse landscapes the country has to offer. And, you can find many of these landscapes inside one of the state’s nine National Parks — the most in the country. But have you ever wondered how California came about so many National Parks? And at what point did the parks become such a global tourist destination? Joining us today to dive into the history of California’s National Parks is Alfred Runte, environmental historian and author of the book “National Parks: The American Experience.” We also want to hear from you! What do you love about California’s National Parks? Where do you go when you visit? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Vacation is all I ever wanted, and it's the same one every year
Maybe it's a beach house you visit every summer, or an annual ski trip in the winter. A vacation abroad to visit family every holiday season, or a week away to watch the Dodgers spring training in Arizona every year (Larry, we're looking at you). Some of us have a routine vacation that we always look forward to. A time blocked out in our calendars to relax or travel. Today on AirTalk, we're sharing our recurring vacations. Whether it's a family road trip you always took as a kid or a spring break ritual to an island somewhere, we want to hear from you! What is your recurring vacation? What are the memories you have of them? Was there something you always did or a person you had to see? Share with us at 866-893-5722. Or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Gov. Newsom’s new podcast has a controversial start, we discuss its implications
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, used the inaugural episode of his podcast This is Gavin Newsom to break from progressives by speaking out against allowing transgender women and girls to compete in female sports. Newsom made his declaration in an extended conversation with conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old who built the influential Turning Point USA organization that helped President Donald Trump increase his support last fall among the youngest generation of voters. Kirk, like Trump, has been a vocal opponent of allowing transgender women and girls to participate. With Gov. Newsom’s decreasing interest in speaking to the press, his new podcast gives him a platform to reach voters directly and avoid the scrutiny that traditional publicity allows for. So today on AirTalk, we’ll get into this new method of communication Governor Gavin Newsom is attempting, and whether his decision to oppose trans athletes in women’s sports will have any impact on his base of support. Joining us this morning to break this all down is Mike Madrid, republican political consultant and co-founder of The Lincoln Project, and Sara Sadhwani, assistant professor of political science at Pomona College.
With files from the Associated Press
Birth rate declines have sparked a (not so) new pronatalist movement
Birth rates are falling and the global population is expected to decline in the next decade. Lower birth rates affect economic growth and lead to a disproportionately aging population. There are many possible factors to the birth rate decline: people having children later in life; high cost of living; fears of climate change. But, there isn’t a clear cause. Pronatalists, however, believe there is a clear solution: have more babies. The pronatalism movement isn’t new, but it has gained more popularity in recent years, especially amongst Silicon Valley tech bros like Elon Musk and conservative politicians like J.D. Vance. Although not all pronatalists are conservative, many have flocked to the right and have championed efforts to limit abortion access and incentivize women to have more children, even though possible incentives would be more aligned with socialist ideals such as universal child care and paternity leave. Today on AirTalk, we’ll lay out what the pronatalist movement is, the actual issues sparking interest in it, and the criticism against some pronatalists’ harmful rhetoric. Joining us to discuss is Rachel Cohen, policy correspondent for Vox.
Springing forward into darkness. How does the time change impact you?
This past Sunday, we reluctantly or joyfully changed our clocks, eliminating an hour of repose but significantly increasing the amount of daytime. For some, this is a dreaded moment of the year. Many of us went from waking up with the sunrise to waking up in total darkness. For others, the change is a welcome sign of spring and an opportunity to bask in daylight for an extra hour in the evening. Today on AirTalk we want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on daylight savings? How does the “spring forward” impact you? Do you welcome the time change or dread it? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
