Hate crime groups in the United States, from stepdads to gay dads, a look at the life of unconventional fathers, Jason Schwartzman in 'The Overnight.'
After Charleston: how hate groups have changed over the years
In the light of the tragic killing of nine people in a Charleston, South Carolina church, which is being investigated by the Department of Justice as a hate crime, attention is being focused on the many hate groups that exist around the country.
Last year, the Southern Poverty Law Center counted 784 active hate groups. But Brian Levin, professor of criminal justice and Director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, says that while extremist racist messages are pervasive on social media, brick and mortar groups are actually on the decline.
Charleston shooting: How race influences the way we label suspects
The acts committed at the Emanual African Methodist Episcopal Church are being investigated as a hate crime, but how do we label the person allegedly behind those acts?
Is he a terrorist? Will he be deemed mentally ill? And will what he be called be influenced by his race? Those are some of the questions raised in a recent column in the Washington Post. It was written by
, an Associate Professor of Religion and Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She joins Alex Cohen for a discussion on the topic.
The best movies for Dads this Father's Day
With Father’s Day coming up this weekend, we thought we’d discuss fathers throughout cinema history with writer and film buff Mark Jordan Legan.
Legan talked about the traditional roles of fathers in the early days of the silver screen. Usually the father figure was stoic; a rock solid man of a man.
But then there came a time when the women’s movement changed many people’s outlooks on the role of the Mom and the Dad. And after ERA, the movies also showed this shift – either through tearjerkers – like the Oscar-winning "Kramer vs. Kramer" starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep:
But then there was also a comedic take on the stay-at-home dad. In the John Hughes penned "Mr. Mom," Michael Keaton loses his job and his wife Terri Garr re-enters the work force while Keaton stays home with the kids.
Around this period the movies really started serving up the stock character of dumb ol’ dad – especially Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold in the Vacation movies, but one film that Legan feels really got the father role right was Ron Howard’s "Parenthood." It starred Steve Martin and Jason Robards.
The Brood: Two dads with a slightly different perspective on Father's Day
Father's Day is this weekend.
It's a time to thank dad for all his hard work, a time which once might have conjured up Norman Rockwell-like images of the family gathered around the man of the household, giving him a brand new tie.
But in 2015, a lot of families don't look like that anymore.
For a special Father's Day edition of our regular parenting series "The Brood," Take Two checks in with a couple of dads with a slightly different perspective on Father's Day: stepdad Andy Hetchler and single dad Simon Lesmo.
To hear the full interview, click the link above.
Three L.A. gangs unite under Mexican Mafia, dozens indicted
A new federal indictment accuses three Northeast L.A. gangs of banding together under the Mexican Mafia to run drugs and carry out murders.
It charges 22 alleged gang members with racketeering, drug dealing and gun possession. Fifteen people have been arrested so far. Journalist and author Sam Quinones told more about the latest indictments and gang history in Los Angeles.
Jason Schwartzman talks new film, 'The Overnight'
The new film, "The Overnight," is already getting massive praise from critics.
The film is all about young parents Alex and Emily, played by Taylor Schilling and Adam Scott, who have recently moved to Los Angeles from Seattle.
Alex and Emily don't really know anyone - then they meet Kurt, played by Jason Schwartzman, at the neighborhood park.
Host Alex Cohen spoke to Jason Schwartzman about the movie, and he began by talking about what attracted him to the part.
"He seemed very gregarious, very positive and yet there seemed to me a feeling to me in the script of someone trying to keep the whole evening afloat. Kind of like someone at a baseball game, trying to do the wave …"
Schwartzman also revealed what he is looking forward to work-wise, now that he is getting a bit older.
"It's a mysterious things how movies get made and how things come about and as much as you would like to be careerist about it or have a plan, the whole thing is strange. For instance how the Overnight came about, I went to bed - lets says it was a Tuesday night, I went to bed and on Wednesday morning there was a message about this movie, that it needed to be read by 1:00, so … in 24 hours I went from not knowing what I was going to do, to knowing what I was going to do."
Listen to the full interview by clicking the blue audio player above.
Alleged spinal surgery scam puts FDA in unflattering light
Some people who underwent spinal surgery are claiming that counterfeit hardware was implanted in their bodies. The episode is shining an unflattering light on the Food and Drug Administration.
Southern California Public Radio's Elizabeth Aguilera reports the spinal patients and other critics question why the FDA didn't do more to stop the alleged surgery scam.
'A Stormtrooper with a cause': Man walks to San Diego to honor late wife
If you're driving and see a Stormtrooper on the side of the road, don't be alarmed -- it's only Kevin Doyle, and he's walking to honor his wife's memory.
Doyle's wife, Eileen, died from cancer in 2012. Both were huge "Star Wars" fans and loved to draw. So, Doyle, who is a member of the 501st Legion, decided to combine these two elements into one loving gesture.
Doyle is walking to San Diego -- in full-on Stormtrooper gear -- to raise money for children with cancer. He began June 6 at Rancho Obi Wan in Petaluma, and he's aiming to arrive at ComiCon on July 9. He will also donate so-called chemo bags, which are bags filled with goodies like coloring books, plush toys and blankets, to children with cancer. The items in the bags were all inspired by the art and characters Eileen drew.
The "Stormtrooper with a cause" took time out while in Big Sur to give an update on how his journey has progressed.
You can follow Kevin Doyle's 501 Mile Walk on
and Facebook.
Jeff Kinney, other children's authors, team up to support LA school libraries
This weekend, the fabulous authors and illustrators behind popular children's book characters like Captain Underpants and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" protagonist Gregg Heffley will gather to help raise money for L.A. school libraries.
The event, called Drawn Together, will be held at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown L.A.
Jeff Kinney, creator of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" books-turned-movie series, joined the show with more.
The rise of EDM and the perils of being a DJ in 'Eden'
EDM, or electronic dance music, is a huge worldwide industry and one of the fastest-growing musical genres around.
Like all styles of music, it started out small, spawned in the clubs of Chicago and New York City. Then, it was eventually embraced in Europe.
The new film "Eden" tells the story of EDM in its early years in France through DJ Paul (Félix de Givry).
It's not a documentary, but it is based in large part on the life of real-life DJ Sven Hansen-Løve, who co-wrote the film.
"It's all about the patience and energy you have when you're young, and the choices you make," says Hansen-Løve.
But de Givry adds that he learned there's a price to pay for investing so much in a burgeoning scene.
"[Paul] is not achieving in life because he's so committed to music," he says.
"Eden" debuts in Los Angeles on June 19th at the Nuart Theatre.
Weekend on the cheap: Free music, beach festivals and Father's Day
Summer is here. And we can't think of better way to celebrate than with free outdoor music and festivals at the beach.
Here to help us plan our weekend is KPCC's social media producer Kristen Lepore. She joins us every Friday with fun things to do on the cheap.
For details on these events and other happenings around SoCal this weekend, click here.