Fanatic! I hope you had a hydrated and music-filled week. Over the last few days, I checked out: The Black Bats - Black Bats Still Animals - Still Animals Bikini Kill - Yeah Yeah Yeah Facs - Present Tense Damned - Machine Gun Etiquette UK Subs - Diminished Responsibility Mark Robinson - Tiger Banana Dio - Holy Diver Dio - Last In Line Also, a lot o…

Dan Hong considers the role food has played in diplomacy and politics. Ruth Reichl weaves art and fashion into The Paris Novel, in which her heroine finds herself through food. Sara B. Franklin pays tribute to Judith Jones, the editor responsible for bringing Julia Child and Edna Lewis to American kitchens. At the farmers market, chef Daniel Cutler…

Days after dropping out as the Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office, pledging his commitment to finishing his term and restating his support for Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement on the November ballot. A whirlwind of donations and support for Harris has re-energized Democrats — does tha…

You may remember the band Quivers from our Global Beat Australia segment in 2021. Now they are getting ready to share a new album in August. “Oyster Cuts” is their tight title track and our first glimpse. You can feel the tension of grief and gratitude in their singing, encased by a looping riff, swirling synths, and the drive of percussion.…

Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress proved to be a testimony of the U.S. government and its politicians’ stance on the genocide in Gaza. With standing ovations, smiling handshakes and overall warm welcome by a large number of Washington politicos, the strength of Israel’s influence in the U.S. is clear. Richard Silverstein, author and journalis…

Want to grab food in Santa Ana before heading to KCRW’s Summer Nights at the Bowers Museum on Aug. 10? Consider Chapter One, Alebrijes, Heritage BBQ, and more. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new efforts to clear homeless encampments on state land, and issued guidelines to California cities to do the same. Critics say the policy is unlikely to fix the …

It’s been more than two years since anyone watched the second season finale of HBO’s “Euphoria.” Season three was delayed by the strikes that shut down Hollywood, and a series of dramatic events surrounding the creator Sam Levinson. The network has confirmed its return, but will the audience stay tuned-in? Plus, Comcast and its streaming service Pe…

Vice President Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is searching for her running mate. At the top of the list: Josh Shapiro, Mark Kelly, and Andy Beshear. Actor Griffin Dunne grew up in Hollywood with a celebrity-obsessed dad. In his new memoir, he reveals what happened to his family after his sister died at the hands of her ex-…

This week, Alain de Botton, philosopher, author and founder of The School of Life talks about why today’s social and cultural environment is contaminating our peace of mind. De Botton suggests that in order to switch off and achieve some kind of balance in our lives, we need to become better editors and curators of what we are exposed to and shut o…

Kamala Harris is framing her presidential race against Donald Trump as prosecutor versus felon. What kind of a prosecutor was she in California? The Israeli prime minister will address Congress on Wednesday, and meet with Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump. But support for Israel among Americans has decreased. Critics have praised “The Bear…

PJ Morton wrote his latest album during a 30-day trip across Africa, where he collaborated with local artists Mádé Kuti, Asa, the Soweto Spiritual Singers, and others. President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek another term means his delegates are no longer pledged to a candidate. Many have already said they will back Kamala Harris. Now that Vice P…

Sarah Hill, professor of social psychology at Texas Christian University and author of This is your brain on birth control: The surprising science of sex, women, hormones and the law of unintended consequences, shares her journey into exploring the effects of oral contraception on mental health. “I actually spent my early career studying the way ou…

We are regularly bombarded with advertisements promoting unproven and non-approved dietary supplements. Congress has chosen to look the other way.

This week on The Treatment, Elvis welcomes writer-director Alma Har’el to break down her new Apple TV+ mystery Lady in The Lake. The series stars Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram and is based on the 2019 novel by Laura Lippman. Then, film scholar and writer Sir Christopher Frayling joins to discuss the 40th anniversary of the Sergio Leone classic O…

Mary Beth Sheridan details how drug cartels in Mexico have begun extorting tortilla vendors. Stef Ferrari raises a glass to stuzzichini, Italian bites served during aperitivo. LA Times restaurant critic Bill Addison reviews Baroo, which he recently named Restaurant of the Year. Julia Sarreal pores over yerba mate, an iconic South American beverage …

The 2024 Emmy nominations are here, with lots of record-breaking nods and surprises to unpack — along with the strategy behind Disney’s acquisition of FX. What does the success of Shōgun and The Bear say about streaming? And does a new Bank of America report on Warner Bros. Discovery suggest… “unbundling”? Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break it down…