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Podcasts Take Two
Why Los Angeles is now the epicenter of the pandemic, Plus Hollywood's Rough Ride in 2020
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Dec 30, 2020
Listen • 30:31
Why Los Angeles is now the epicenter of the pandemic, Plus Hollywood's Rough Ride in 2020

Los Angeles County is the epicenter of the pandemic, but Governor Newsom did dangle a plan to get kids back to school, plus a look back at Hollywood in 2020.
A man walks by a closed theater in Downtown Los Angeles, on March 21, 2020, during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. - All 40 million residents of California were on March 19 ordered to stay at home indefinitely in a bid to battle the coronavirus pandemic in the nation's most populous state. (Photo by Apu GOMES / AFP) (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images)
A man walks by a closed theater in Downtown Los Angeles, on March 21, 2020, during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. - All 40 million residents of California were on March 19 ordered to stay at home indefinitely in a bid to battle the coronavirus pandemic in the nation's most populous state. (Photo by Apu GOMES / AFP) (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images)
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APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images
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Ask an Expert: Why LA County is the Epicenter of the Pandemic

As we close out the year, the coronavirus is still the number one story - and LA is its epicenter. This week in Los Angeles County, close to 600 people are testing positive every hour, according to public health officials, but the Governor did dangle a plan to get kids back to school next year. Can it work here? 

Guest:

  • Dr. Robert Kim Farley, professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

The Loss of LA's LGBTQ Bars in 2020

Since the start of the pandemic, we've seen local businesses struggle to survive here in Los Angeles, including those bars and restaurants that cater to LA's LGBTQ community. Some have had to permanently close their doors for good. Others are fighting to stay afloat, like the iconic Akbar in Silverlake, which has now raised nearly 200-thousand dollars to try and stay open. We talk about what the losses mean and what hope there is for new business to spring up in 2020.

Guest:

Phillip Zonkel, publisher of the LGBTQ+ digital publication Q Voice News-dot-com. 

Year in Review: Hollywood

LA County's public health department has recommended that studios pause TV and Film productions while coronavirus cases continue to rise. Though a letter to that effect was sent out last week, permits are currently still being issued. For its part, the Screen Actors Guild issued a statement yesterday that most sets won't resume production until mid-January and that it will continue to monitor the situation. It seems a fitting close to 2020 for our hometown industry, which has been on a wild ride since March. To look back at year, we have KPCC's John Horn, host of the podcast Hollywood: The Sequel.

Guest:

  • KPCC's John Horn