SoCal Iranian community reacts to Iran relations, Stan Kroenke on what drew him to L.A., Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith announce boycott of the Oscars.
Iranians in So Cal see new phase in US-Iran relations
It's been a busy week for Iran and US relations. The notoriously tense relationship has taken the first steps in a long-awaited nuclear deal. The US has lifted sanctions, allowing Iran to rejoin the global oil market. And both countries released prisoners, capping a long and secretive negotiation.
It's a significant moment, said
, deputy director of foreign policy at the Brookings Institution and an Iran expert.
"We're at an unprecedented situation in terms of some ability to get business done with the Iranian government," said Maloney, author of "Iran's Political Economy Since the Revolution."
But there are still roadblocks ahead, she said.
"We're still not in a position to have full diplomatic relations," she said.
The changes are being watched closely by Iranians in Southern California, said Siamak Kalhor, host of KIRN 670 am, Radio Iran LA. The region is home to the largest community of Iranians outside Iran, estimates putting the population close to half a million. Some called into the radio program over the weekend to express a wide range of views, he said.
"Our listeners are upbeat about everything that has been going on," said Kalhor. "It shows the victory of diplomacy, not force, not pressure and bluster."
Kalhor said there are still many questions ahead, as sanctions lift and there are more opportunities for trade, travel and business.
One of the biggest is who will ultimately benefit: "Is this really going to help the people of Iran or the government of Iran?" said Kalhor.
Rams owner Stan Kroenke says moving to LA is the rational thing to do
This week, after the St. Louis Rams officially became the Los Angeles Rams, questions arose as to what's going to happen next. We found out that the team will be playing at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum for the 2016 season. After that, the plan is that they'll move to a newly built stadium in Inglewood starting with the 2019 season.
Many other questions remain, which is why A Martinez sat down with team owner Stan Kroenke for an interview about the future of the team and what it was like for Kroenke to move his team out of his home state of Missouri.
Below is a portion of the interview, which has been edited for clarity.
What makes Los Angeles such an attractive market to move a team?
Kroenke: We're in the sports business, you know, a number of places. London, Denver, [Los Angeles]. So, we're also real estate developers. There are just so many factors that you look at, but Los Angeles is a huge market. The National Football League is, you know, the most successful sports league in America by many metrics and it had no team. And so for a guy like me it's pretty obvious, right? The league wants a team here.
How vital is it for this team to be a success on the field right away?
I think it's important. Everybody loves a winner. I think Southern California, it's very important. You win, people like it. On the other hand, we want to also be a place that people like to come. That's entertaining. Jimmy Dolan and the Madison Square Garden in New York, whether they won or they didn't win, was always an attractive place for people to come. And it was a center of activity and it's a place you wanted to be. And so that was a great example. But these things work a lot better, and as an owner it's a heck of a lot more fun when you're winning.
So, this project has to be more than just the Rams just winning. This project has more to do with just the football team?
Three hundred acres, once in a lifetime opportunity. Bigger than Century City as a footprint. I mean, you start laying 300 acres across a lot of places that we're all familiar with, this is a small city. The NFL's very interested in NFL Network occupying it — being sort of the iconic campus on the West Coast for the National Football League. NFL digital perhaps, the NFL football hall of fame.
Why didn't it work in St. Louis? Could it be difficult to return there?
That's behind us, but there's a long history there. Where we play is not just where I play — it's where my 31 partners play. And so they expect you to do certain things, to have facilities that are up to date, and they have to work economically. It's an emotional thing. But, there's the emotional argument and then there's rational. And rationally, unless you argue that you should make a massive donation just to support with, it doesn't make any sense.
Do you regret how it came off in St. Louis?
Well sure, but it's emotional. And I'll say one other thing. Their bright, young, African-American city treasurer said the following — people were being pretty shrill about. She said, "You may not like what Stan said, but what he said was true." Those weren't my facts. Those were other people's facts.
How do you feel about sharing the stadium with the Chargers or the Raiders?
Part of the thing I took pride in here was, it was more than two decades. Nobody had done anything. I was proud because people around the league were talking about nothing getting done in Los Angeles. I came here and I got something. I created an option for my partners and I'm proud of that. I was proud of that all of the way through. I didn't know how it would turn out, but I was proud that I'd done that.
Do you think two teams can thrive in Los Angeles?
You want to get into the rational economics of it? It's always better for me to have another team. Guys play with that question — just remember, that's 10 more play dates every year. That's more people coming to the facility. And we're doing the facility, so it's always better for me. That's really the simple answer.
To hear the full interview, click on the audio embedded at the top of this post. If you're curious as to how financially successful the Rams could be in L.A., Ben Bergman's got the answer.
The Brood: 40-something mothers find support among moms their own age
Last week, the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics released a new report that shows American women are waiting ever longer to have their first child.
Over the last fifteen years, the mean age of first-time mothers has increased by nearly a year and a half. That may not sound like much, but over time that can have big ramifications for our population and the relationships moms have with their kids.
One of the biggest spikes in ages happened in California, which may come as no surprise. Lots of women here focus on career in their younger years and put off having a family until they are in their 40s.
One such group of older moms have been meeting up once an month in Santa Monica for almost six years now.
It all got started with an idea from Amy Kurland, now a mother of three, who became a mom for the first time at the age of 42.
"I realized that I wanted to meet other moms and that I wanted to meet other moms that were my age," Kurland says. "And I noticed that there wasn't anything around like that."
Kurland brought her idea to therapist Elaine Barrington, a 40-something mom herself, who got the "Moms 40 Plus" discussion group off the ground and has been leading the meetings ever since.
Barrington says that older moms are often facing issues that younger parents just haven't come across yet— like caring for an aging parent while also raising young children.
"First time moms over 40 have oftentimes had an interesting road to motherhood," Barrington adds. "They've often had full, complete careers prior to becoming a parent... and they're either taking a complete detour or trying to figure out how to add this new role and identity into their existing life."
To hear the full interview with Elaine Barrington and Amy Kurland, click the link above.
New music from Anderson .Paak, Erykah Badu, Laura Mvula and more
Each week one of our experts joins us to talk about what's new in music on Tuesday Reviewsday. This week Oliver Wang from Soul-Sides.com and music supervisor Morgan Rhodes join A Martinez to talk about Anderson .Paak's new California sound, Laura Mvula's Nile Rodgers moment and The-Dream's croon.
Morgan's Picks
Artist: Laura Mvula
Song: "Overcome" feat. Niles Rodgers
Artist: Field Music
Album: "Commontime"
Song: "Disappointed," "The Noisy Days Are Over"
Artist: Anderson .Paak
Album: "Malibu"
Song: "Am I Wrong" feat. ScHoolboy Q, "Room In Here" feat. The Game & Sonyae Elise
Oliver's Picks
Artist: Erykah Badu
Song: "Trill Friends"
Artist: Pusha T
Album: "Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude"
Song: "F.I.F.A"
Artist: The-Dream
Album: "IAMSAM"
Song: "Bring It On Home"
Tracking sexual assaults on college campuses
A new web-based tracker is trying to keep tabs on school investigations and their outcomes.
The issue of sexual assaults on college campuses is one the federal government takes very seriously. As a result, the government has put schools on notice that they must do better and follow the letter of the law.
However, investigations continue to be slow, which has been the impetus for the web-based tracker.
For more on this, Sara Lipka, senior editor at the Chronicle of Higher Education and one of the minds behind the tracker, joins the show.
To hear the full interview, click the blue play button at the top of the article.
Netflix has its own ratings drama at TCA winter press tour
The Television Critics Association is wrapping up its winter press tour in Pasadena on Tuesday.
The meeting seemed to be filled with more drama than, oh say, "Orange is the New Black," and that’s all because of the powerhouse behind that hit show: Netflix.
writes about the business of television and advertising for the LA Times, and she fills us in on what went down. You can read her piece in the LA Times here.
Stars say they will boycott the Oscars after another year of white nominees
There was a lot of outrage last week, when, for the second year in a row, not a single actor of color received an Oscar nomination. Now, that outrage is turning into action.
Actress Jada Pinkett Smith and director Spike Lee announced Monday that they will boycott the award ceremony this year. They won't attend, and they say they won't be watching on TV.
In response, Academy President
A statement from Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs pic.twitter.com/Nqhgc7sbqG
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 19, 2016
last night saying the Academy will take "dramatic steps" to address the lack of inclusion.
What could a boycott mean to the awards show? Take Two put that question to LA Times film writer and show contributor Rebecca Keegan.
Press the blue play button above to hear the interview.
Glenn Frey, his life and legacy
Glenn Frey, one of the co-founders of the Eagles and with Don Henley has died, he was 67.
He was part of one of the most successful songwriting teams in rock history.
We'll talk about his life, and his unique California ties with music journalist