Psychographics and predicting voting behavior, SoCal fans mourn Mexican singer Juan Gabriel's passing, secret recipes, branding and consumer sentimental value.
After shifts, where exactly DOES Trump stand on immigration?
Donald Trump hit to the presidential scene fast by taking a hard stance on illegal immigration.
But he's diverged from that position often enough, lately, that it's left Democrats AND Republicans wondering where exactly Trump stands.
At first, he called for a "deportation force" to remove the nation's some 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Last week, however, he said there might be a "softening" of his position.
And on Wednesday, he plans to make a major speech on illegal immigration.
Take Two chats with Republican strategist Mike Madrid about who he's appealing to with these shifts, and if he's keeping ahold of the people who first made him popular.
How political campaigns pay attention to voter attitudes, beliefs
Presidential campaigns have long relied on demographics to hone their appeals to voters.
But basic demographics like age, gender, race and voting record only say so much about a person.
Today, what we punch at the ballot box and what we click online has led to even more targeted marketing.
It's called psychographics, and it's based on the idea that your personality has a correlation to your voting behavior. If demographics are quantitative and factual, psychographics are qualitative and linked to our values, attitude and beliefs.
A Martinez spoke to Gregory Huber to find out how campaigns are using psychographics. He's the author of the study "Big Five Personality Traits and Responses to Persuasive Appeals."
Click the blue audio player to hear the full interview.
Silicon Valley is tightening its purse strings. Is it too late?
For some time now, skeptics have been predicting the decline of Silicon Valley. Analysts seemed certain that after years of boom, the bust had to be just around the corner. But it turns out, a lot of start-ups are hanging on, these companies may have learned something from the last dot-com crash.
"It used to be that these companies would offer free lunch and perks like house cleaning services," says Katie Benner, a journalist for the New York Times who's been covering the topic. "Now they know that's just not sustainable for a business."
Brenner says if companies don't watch their bottom line, they run the risk of becoming "default dead," a term that describes a company that has run out of money before they can make a profit.
Alex Cohen spoke with Benner in detail about start ups culture in this current environment.
To hear the whole interview, click on the blue player above.
'Misogynoir': Prejudice uniquely dealt with by black women
The reboot of Ghostbusters is on its way out of theaters, But the hate being hurled online at one of its stars, Leslie Jones, just doesn't seem to stop.
Last week, her personal website was hacked, reportedly displaying images of private documents and nude photos.
Soon after, social media was flooded with messages of support from fans and fellow celebrities...
Including singer Katy Perry who tweeted - "Do not give your eyeballs to this racist, hate-filled, misogynoir crime."
For more on this term and the specific challenges black women in this country face today, Take Two's Alex Cohen was joined by two guests:
Brendesha Tynes , a USC professor specializing in social media and cyberbullying.
And Roxane Gay, author of the essay collection, "Bad Feminist."
On the definition of "misogynoir" and how it relates to prejudice towards black women
Roxane Gay: "Misogynoir is misogyny that is directed specifically at black women. It's designed to tear black women down because of their blackness and because of the ways in which they do not conform with standard ideals about beauty and how women should comport themselves."
"We have a standard idea of beauty in this culture that is generally the white woman who is thin and athletic and blonde, submissive, ideally. And any woman who does not conform to that ideal is subjected to all manner of misogyny. But Black women... that misogyny seems to go a step further. We are attacked for our very being. We are criticized for our looks. We are often compared to animals. We are seen as undesirable and unnecessary and it's a particularly virulent kind of misogyny."
On why racism and misogyny intersect so easily
Brendesha Tynes: "I think it's sort of rooted in American culture. Misogyny and racism intersect in uniquely horrifying ways. They're represented as Gorillas, as men. Some of my participants in my study talk about how men have threatened them and said that they would rape and then hang them. And this isn't happening to other nonblack participants in my study."
Gay on the harassment that she regularly receives
RG: "Well I receive it every single day. To the point now where I get called the N-Word so often that it no longer registers in the same way that it used to no matter what kind of opinion I express online. I might say 'It's a nice day.' and someone will say, 'Shut up N-word,' I'm attacked for my looks all the time. I'm attacked for my size. It's just a constant level of harassment because I dare to be a black woman who believes in herself and dares to have an opinion."
On how the internet has helped perpetuate misogynoir
BT: "I think what is happening is you have video, you have memes, you have texts. And it's proliferating throughout internet spaces. I think people are modeling this misogynoir and socializing their network to normalizing these types of behaviors and so it gets perpetuated through the [content]."
Gay on how she responds to the insults she deals with online
RG: "It really just depends on the day. If I'm having a good day, I just try to laugh it off. But most days, you're up and down. When I get these messages at first it's just this breath-taking moment of I can't believe a human being said that to another human being. And then I think about how hated I feel in that moment."
"I push back oftentimes because I think that we have to stand up and say, 'You can't talk to me that way and get away with it.' But there's really not a lot you can do. You can tweet back and there is this brief moment of catharsis in not allowing yourself to be bullied, but they just keep coming. What happens when you're visible is that they often times, they do this en mass. We say this with Leslie Jones where it became a directed campaign. When it's one or two people it's painful. But when it's a 100 or 200 or 1000, ... it's destroying."
On the fact that Katy Perry, a white woman, informed a lot of people about the term 'misogynoir'
RG: "I don't care how people come to the light as long as they come to the light. I think it's fantastic that someone like Katy Perry is aware of the term and used it correctly. If that makes more people go out and learn about misogynoir. In a perfect world people would learn about it from a black woman, but whatever it takes. Katy Perry has visibility and I feel like if Rihanna had used the term we would not see the same level of interest ... Hopefully more visible women will use the term and bring awareness to a very real issue that black women face. "
On how to combat the negative stereotypes of black women
BT: "I would like to see us talk about how to address it in our daily conversations. People sort of suggesting books that folks could read so that our discussions aren't rooted in these one dimensional ideas of black women, but texts that represent them in their full humanity."
To hear the full conversation, click the blue player above.
SoCal fans mourn iconic Mexican singer Juan Gabriel
L.A. fans of Juan Gabriel had no idea that when they watched the legendary Mexican singer perform his classics like "Así Fue" and "Inocente Pobre Amigo" at the Forum in Inglewood on Friday night, it would be for the last time. Gabriel died Sunday morning at age 66, according to the Associated Press.
Southern California fans of Gabriel are remembering a towering figure who transcended pop music to become a cultural icon for millions.
"This is huge, this is bigger than Elvis for us," said Raquel Gutiérrez, a poet and writer who grew up in Southeast L.A.'s Huntington Park. For people who grew up in Spanish-speaking households, there really is no comparison, she said.
"This passing is super-deeply felt and will probably impact us for years to come, because there is no one like Juan Gabriel," said Gutiérrez.
Spanish radio stations opened up their phone lines for fans to share their favorite songs and memories of Gabriel. The singer-songwriter’s rancheras and ballads could be heard spilling out of cars and clothing stores in Santa Ana.
“We feel really sad,” said Adriana Munoz, who played Gabriel all day Sunday.
“One of our good singers is gone again,” she said. “We just lost John Sebastian and now him.”
Santa Ana resident Celeste Chavez, who is originally from the same Mexican state as Gabriel — Michoacán — said the vocalist cared about his country and people who moved to the U.S. His words, both in song and interviews, were always inspiring, she said.
“A lot of Latinos sing his songs because they feel the feeling,” said Chavez. “He spoke through his music.”
Gabriel spent more than four decades topping pop charts with his singular take on romantic ballads, filling stadiums and selling more than 100 million albums. In recent years, he explored collaborating with younger artists, such as Natalie Lafourcade on the song "Ya No Vivo Por Vivir."
Ya No Vivo Por Vivir ft. Natalia Lafourcade
"He just defines ballads like no one else," said music journalist Justino Aguila. "He was so poetic, so strong in his lyric writing and his composing. It's just kind of music that makes you melt."
“Even my son who is bilingual, although he speaks little Spanish, he listens to Juan Gabriel and is able to understand just through the sentiment of the song,” said Sylvester Sanchez of Brea in Spanish. “Juan Gabriel doesn’t sing just to sing.”
Many people took to social media to remember the singer and reflect on his impact on their lives. Share how Juan Gabriel's music has impacted you on KPCC's Facebook, or tag us on
and Instagram.
I was òn Hollywood Bl the other day and I saw Juan Gabriel's star...now it is covered in candles and flowers..🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/Zdaf8nDsj8
— Louis Valverde (@therealValverde) August 29, 2016
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJtCOKwBWX1/?tagged=juan
His concerts were celebrations of life. People came together in peace, love and music. R.I.P https://t.co/DzVJV56BwE
— Solymar (@1phototeach) August 28, 2016
From fans who attended Friday's show:
Several people said Gabriel's music is the soundtrack to their childhood memories:
RIP #JuanGabriel ❤️ such a huge part of my upbringing.
— Jessica Flores ☁️ (@YoJessicaFlores) August 28, 2016
People also paid tribute by covering and lip syncing his songs:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJs4b3lBrKo/?tagged=juan
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJtAt1pBTxO/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJtAmj-DYUx/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJtAY89gEdK/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJs_59PDa7Y/
Condolences poured out from celebrities and public figures:
Lamento la muerte de Juan Gabriel, uno de los grandes íconos musicales de nuestro país. Mis condolencias a sus familiares y amigos.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) August 28, 2016
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto: "I'm sorry for the death of Juan Gabriel, one of the great musical icons of our country. My condolences to his family and friends."
Descansa en Paz Juan Gabriel. Lamento tanto tanto la noticia de tu partida, pero agradeceré siempre todo lo que me diste con solo cantarme!
— Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) August 28, 2016
Zoe Saldana: "Rest in peace Juan Gabriel. I’m so, so sorry about the news of your passing, but I'm thankful for everything that you gave me through song!"
Me quedo sin palabras para expresar mi inmensa tristeza por la partida del gran @soyjuangabriel. Su música y espíritu vivirán por siempre.
— Juanes (@juanes) August 28, 2016
JUANES: "I'm left without words to express my immense sadness at the departure of the great @soyjuangabriel. His music and spirit live forever."
The world lost a #Legend today. Your music will live on forever #JuanGabriel Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family @milliepr
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) August 29, 2016
Una noche dedicada a mi querido hermano @soyjuangabriel se nos escapó un ángel más... Cuidanos pic.twitter.com/ytwwW1XR34
— Marc Anthony (@MarcAnthony) August 29, 2016
Marc Anthony: "A night dedicated to my dear brother @soyjuangabriel we lost another angel. Watch over us."
Here's a live performance of "Así Fue" from 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQtSdgg9DwI
And a classic live performance of "Querida," one of Gabriel's most enduring songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS8DX4mVhxM
This story has been updated.
'This is a gift': Danny Trejo reflects on his career, new film
During his lifetime, Danny Trejo has been many things: Boxer, inmate, drug intervention counselor, restaurateur, and of course, really awesome actor.
Trejo has appeared in more than 300 films and television shows such as "Machete," "Heat," and "Spy Kids."
He's now 72 years old now, but he has no plans of retiring any time soon it would seem. His latest quest? To play himself in a movie called "Social Security."
He's launched a campaign to raise money for the project.
He recently got out of his bubble bath and dropped by KPCC to talk about his new movie and his career with Alex Cohen.
Danny's campaign is going strong. If you'd like to contribute, click here.
Interview Highlights
What life was like growing up in Echo Park
“My Uncle Gilbert was a drug addict, and an armed robber, and he always had a lot of money. In our neighborhood — because I moved from Echo Park to Pacoima, and you had two choices: You could be a laborer, or a criminal. And laborers, that was my dad, he worked hard. So I just followed my Uncle Gilbert’s footsteps. It was just the easier route. When I was 8, my uncle’s crime partner, they each gave me 10 one-dollar bills because they had done an armed robbery. So if you’re 8 years old, you got 20 one-dollar bills, all of a sudden you’re like, ‘That’s going to be my career.’”
On his turning point from prison and drugs, to being a drug counselor and actor
“Cinco de Mayo 1968, me, Ray Pacheco and Henry Quijada were involved in very serious prison riot. We committed three gas chamber offenses, and I was sittin’ in the hole and I thought I was gonna go to the gas chamber, and I just kind of said a prayer, ‘God, if you’re there, it’s gonna be alright, and if not, I’m screwed.’ I made a promise, ‘If you let me die with dignity, I’ll say your name every day, and I’ll do whatever I can for my fellow man.’ I thought it was just going to be a couple of years and I was going to die, but he kind of fooled me. So basically I’ve been trying to live up to my promise.”
How he’s a lovable bad guy on-screen
“You know, Eddie Bunker told me something. He said, ‘Danny, your face is gonna let you make it in Hollywood.’ I looked at him and I said, ‘Not ‘cause it’s pretty.” (Laughs) He says, ‘You look like a bad guy, and it should be, it’s got to be, your job to disarm people immediately.’”
About “Social Security,” and what it will be like to play himself
“I’m Danny Trejo, visiting one of my friends in a senior citizen home and I realize what’s going on. He kind of tells me something is going on, I don’t know what, but these guys are like criminals. Like I said, we found out that there was so many senior citizens being abused. And then, we’re trying to get a lot of the elderly actors, the older actors, to come and do this. Because once you’re 50, in Hollywood if you don’t already have a name, you’re out. Thank God I had a name. I turned 50 and I already had a little name. I didn’t change that much so I could still be the bad guy… You know, I’ve been playing me. Eddie said, ‘The first half of your life was a character study,’ (laughs) ‘Now you’re playing them characters.’ So, it’s like second nature. How do you be tough, how do you stand in a prison yard. It’s funny when they say, ‘Where did you study?’ I always say San Quentin Drama Arts (laughs)”
The secret recipes that have an emotional hold on you
The Chicago Tribune may have stumbled upon KFC's secret recipe for their famous fried chicken. During a recent interview with the nephew of Colonel Sanders, a reporter was shown a handwritten recipe. It was a list of 11 herbs and spices, with a note: 'mix with 2 cups white flour'
KFC denies this recipe is the real thing, claiming the original recipe is locked up in a safe encased in two feet of concrete and monitored with surveillance cameras.
Take Two talked with LA Weekly Food Editor Kathryn Spiers about the history of secret recipes in processed food.
"They tried the recipe," notes Spiers, "But it didn't taste the same, until they added MSG. But it's not like KFC is going to say they do that." Spiers nots KFC isn't the only company that wouldn't want to cop to having less than attractive ingredients as part of their secret recipe. "Dr. Pepper, on their website they have FAQ's about prune juice. They deny having prune juice in Dr. Pepper." Dr. Pepper claims it never contained prune juice, and the current secret recipe is locked up in two separate vaults.
What happens when companies change these recipes? Consumers revolt. "Consumers hate change," notes Spiers. "Around 2014 when Kraft bought Cadbury and announced they'd be reformulating Creme Eggs, sales went down and so did consumer satisfaction." SPiers points out the last time Kraft did a recipe change, they didn't tell the public until 3 months later, seemingly taking a cue from their past mistakes.
The real reason why secret recipes aren't revealed might be because the actual ingredients aren't all the special. "People wanted to know for the longest time what the secret ingredient in McDonald's french fries were, and it's most likely just sugar in the form of dextrose."
Knowing how dear some snack foods are to consumers, such as Girl Scout Cookies and Coca Cola, maybe it's best to keep the secret recipes under wraps so the public can continue to believe that our favorite foods are made of things like love and magic.