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Podcasts Take Two
Life In A TikTok Mansion, Video Game Unionization And California's Climate Change Bills
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Jan 8, 2020
Listen 51:34
Life In A TikTok Mansion, Video Game Unionization And California's Climate Change Bills

Content creators on the TikTok app are living together in LA mansions, video game developers plan to unionize, and details on California's proposed Green New Deal.

Iconic video game character Mario is shown in the Nintendo booth at the Game Developers Conference 2014 in San Francisco on Wednesday.
Iconic video game character Mario is shown in the Nintendo booth at the Game Developers Conference 2014 in San Francisco on Wednesday.
(
Jeff Chiu/AP
)

President Trump On Iran

We turn to the tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Earlier today, President Trump gave a press conference where he said no U.S. troops were harmed after Iran fired missiles at American military bases. A lot has happened, so we wanted to catch you up to speed.

Guest:

  • Steven Cook, senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
     

Video Game Developers Are Looking To Unionize

Some people in the video game industry clock in 100 hours a week, according to reports about labor conditions in the video game industry. Those tough working conditions are why activists in Southern California launched an effort, yesterday, to create a union for game developers and others in the field.

Guest:

  • Cecilia D'Anastasio, staff writer at WIRED.

California's Green New Deal

The Green New Deal may not have passed in Congress last year, but lawmakers in California are working on a reboot just for the state. This California-specific proposal sets ambitious climate goals on a 2030 deadline, like doubling the availability of affordable housing and public transportation.

Guest:

  • Rob Bonta, State Assemblyman from Oakland
     

Climate Change Disaster Bond

The state legislature is considering a climate bond of 4.2 billion dollars. The money would be borrowed as a sort of insurance against wildfires and other climate disasters, but it needs to be acted on before the end of the month to stay alive in the legislature.

Guest:

  • Ben Allen, State Senator from Santa Monica

On The Lot

Harvey Weinstein has coast to coast felony charges to face on his schedule. Plus, it's awards season, and the Academy has opted to go host-less again. 

Guest:

  • Rebecca Keegan, senior editor with The Hollywood Reporter

TikTok Collaboration Houses

Content creator collectives are the future, and Los Angeles is ground zero for them. In the past, these types of incubators have popped up in the city, but now with the rise of TikTok, more seem likely on the horizon.

Guest:

  • Taylor Lorenz, reporter with The New York Times