Threats to public media are nothing new. These are the challenges orgs could face
Federal funding for public media is under threat again. The heads of NPR and PBS received a request to testify in front of a congressional subcommittee sometime this month, to which NPR CEO Katherine Maher responded she welcomes the opportunity to talk about the “critical role of public media.” Also, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced an investigation earlier this year into NPR and PBS’ underwriting practices. It’s unclear where all this will land. Threats to federal funding for public media are nothing new. But what is clear is that local public stations are facing all kinds of challenges and a rocky road ahead, even without the threats to federal funding. Joining to discuss is LAist CEO Alex Santamaria.
EPA announces major rollbacks to environmental and climate regulations
In what he called "the most consequential day of deregulation in American history,” the head of the Environmental Protection Agency announced a series of actions Wednesday to roll back landmark environmental regulations, including rules on pollution from coal-fired power plants, climate change and electric vehicles. “We are driving a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion and ushering in America’s Golden Age,’' EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in an essay in The Wall Street Journal.
If approved after a lengthy process that includes public comment, the Trump administration’s actions will eliminate trillions of dollars in regulatory costs and “hidden taxes,” Zeldin said, lowering the cost of living for American families and reducing prices for such essentials such as buying a car, heating your home and operating a business. All in all, Zeldin said he is rolling back 31 environmental rules, including a scientific finding that has long been the central basis for U.S. action against climate change. Joining to help detail the rollbacks is Zack Colman, climate and energy reporter for Politico.
With files from the Associated Press
Lakers Check-In: Luka Doncic continues to acclimate himself, update on LeBron injury
LeBron James sat on the end of the Lakers’ bench, wearing a red baseball cap while watching his team in the first game since his groin injury. The red on the court Monday night was in Luka Doncic’s face, frustrated by his rocky play and angry with the officiating. “It was a lot,” Doncic said. “It wasn’t fair but we’ve still got to play the game.”The Lakers lost 111-108 to the Brooklyn Nets, dropping their second straight after winning eight in a row before falling at Boston on Saturday. Despite the recent drop in form, much in part to injuries, the Lakers have continued to show positive signs of improvement following their blockbuster trade earlier this year for Doncic. With James expected to miss 1-2 weeks, it does put into question how much firepower this Lakers roster will have against upcoming matchups against the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets. So today on AirTalk, we check in on the Lakers roster and the expectations for the team as we inch closer to the postseason. Joining us this morning is Khobi Price, Lakers beat reporter for the Southern California News Group.
With files from the Associated Press
Substack’s exponential growth may point to an increasing appetite for alternative media
In our politically divided news environment where mainstream media is often distrusted, Substack, a subscription platform for writers and journalists to publish their own content, has risen as a viable alternative. The company reported that they now have 5 million paid subscriptions, a significant increase from their 3 million just a year ago. Anyone in the media can tell you how hard it is to get people to pay for a new subscription. So, how has Substack managed this seemingly impossible feat? Today on AirTalk we’ll talk to Alex Weprin, media and business writer at The Hollywood Reporter, about Substack’s rise to popularity.
You can read Alex’s piece on Substack’s meteoric rise here.
AMC may revisit longer theatrical window before films go to on-demand
Back in 2020, during the pandemic, AMC struck a deal with Universal that shortened the theatrical window to 17 days for a movie opening to $50 million or less and 31 days for a title opening to more. This was an experiment, one that AMC’s CEO Adam Aron, is now looking to reverse. The need for longer theatrical releases got renewed vigor during director Sean Baker’s acceptance speech at the Oscars, where he called on distributors to “please focus first and foremost on theatrical releases of your films.” The plea from Baker, and many others in the industry, is to keep the movie-going experience alive. Joining us this morning on AirTalk to discuss where the film business stands and how theatrical versus on-demand might play out is Dade Hayes, business editor at Deadline.
TV Talk: ‘Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney,’ ‘Dope Thief,’ and ‘Adolescence’
Have you felt completely overwhelmed when deciding what new show to watch these days? Us too. There’s just so much content out there between network TV and numerous streaming platforms. Each week, we will try to break through the noise with TV watchers who can point us to the must-sees and steer us clear of the shows that maybe don’t live up to the hype. This week, listeners will get the latest scoop on what’s worth watching with Jen Chaney, television critic for Vulture.
