Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Strawberries are easy to transform into a dish that’s like a gift. To kick them up a notch, marinate them with a drizzle of flavorful balsamic vinegar.

After violence between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian sides broke out at UCLA overnight, two Dartmouth lecturers with differing views on the war offer a model for cooperation.

The Department of Justice proposed making cannabis a Schedule 3 drug, acknowledging after decades of ill...

Trader Joe’s works with global suppliers to make eclectic products, but some small food producers say the company rips them off, reports Adam Reiner, founder of Restaurant Manifesto. 

Campus protestors nationwide are demanding universities divest of financial ties to Israel. Is that possible in today's complex, global economy? 

The NLRB has accused Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, Amazon, and SpaceX of harassing and intimidating workers....

USC journalism professor Sandy Tolan talks about what he witnessed when visiting Gaza protest encampments on campus. He also responds to the commencement cancellation. 

Despite tense moments between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators at UCLA over the weekend, school administrators and police mostly stayed out of it.

Hundreds of demonstrators have been arrested nationwide amid protests on college campuses. Law professor ...

Critics review the latest film releases: “Challengers,” “Uncropped,” “Egoist,” and “Alien” (re-release). 

The Supreme Court justices grant that presidents have some immunity when it comes to prosecution, but differ in how much and when it applies.

A New York appeals court has overturned the rape conviction against Harvey Weinstein, saying a judge mistakenly allowed women who were not part of the charges to testify that the former...

Fava beans are one of the most ancient plants and among the easiest to grow. They’re key in Mediterranean and Middle East food cultures. 

Biden’s new legislation is forcing TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the social giant to a U.S. company. TikTok plans to challenge this in court.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author David Sanger’s new book chronicles America’s plunge into simultaneous conf...

LACMA has signed on as a partner in the development of Las Vegas’ only standalone art museum. Pieces from LACMA will be on rotating loan in Vegas once the museum is complete. 

Protests over the war in Gaza have engulfed college campuses across the country. Faith leaders offer guidance in these contentious times.

Tesla sales are slumping. Its trucks have been recalled to fix a safety issue. And Elon Musk seems to be alienating pot...

Erick Elliott’s (a.k.a. Erick the Architect) first solo album, “I’ve Never Been Here Before,” features big-name collaborators like James Blake and George Clinton. 

The Supreme Court appeared divided after oral arguments over a Grants Pass, an Oregon law that bans camping in public areas. Lower courts say it amounts to “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Private companies are buying farmland in rural Arizona. The goal isn’t to farm cr...

Charoset is a melange of dried and/or fresh fruits plus nuts — all chopped or ground to a paste. It’s typically prepared for seders or Passover ritual dinners.

Two Boeing whistleblowers testified about their safety concerns in a Congressional hearing this week. KCRW looks at how the company became mired in safety issues. 

The World Health Organization is warning of the dangers of bird flu, should it jump from animals to humans. L...

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has been fostering abandoned sea otter pups for release into the wild. Now the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is joining the effort, rehabbing its first orphaned baby.   

After months of pressure, House Speaker Mike Johnson has called a series of votes on foreign aid packages. Hard-right Republicans threaten to oust him if he follows through. 

After an unsuccessful attack on Israel, Iran faces mor...

Hilton Carter, a.k.a. The Plant Doctor, is out with “The Propagation Handbook.” He shares his tips on how to propagate plants such as pothos, ficus, succulents, and more.

USC has barred valedictorian Asna Tabassum from speaking at commencement next month. The school’s reasoning: safety concerns after groups criticized her pro-Palestinean views. 

Leading the GOP coup against House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and a sex scandal have defi...

The southbound 101 freeway in Agoura Hills will be closed nightly for the next few weeks — as Caltrans continues building a massive wildlife bridge.

Donald Trump is now the first U.S. president to stand trial in a criminal case over charges he falsified records to cover up a $130,000 payment to buy the silence of adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign.

After Iran’s unsuccessful missile attack, how will Israel ret...

OJ Simpson, 76, died on Wednesday. Thirty years ago, his murder trial and acquittal became a flashpoint of celebrity, race, and jurisprudence.

Mexico City, home to 22 million people, is facing drought, drying reservoirs, and leaky infrastructure. Some parts of the city have no running water at all. 

Critics review the latest film releases: “Civil War,” “In Flames,” “Sting,” and “Sasquatch Sunset.”

Love to eat artichokes but drea...

All 371 locations of 99 Cents Only stores will close permanently, which means a big loss for those who rely on a low-income brick-and-mortar retailer in their neighborhood.

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that a 160-year-old abortion ban may be enforced. Meanwhile, polling suggests voters feel strongly about abortion — mostly favoring it — but that doesn’t necessarily translate into votes for Democrats.

A neuroscience ...

The group Open Books is giving what it calls “LGBTQ+ affirming literature” to public schools, including every elementary campus in the LAUSD.

Rory Kennedy talks about “Synanon Fix,” a four-part documentary series on HBO about the drug rehab center that turned into a cult. KCRW also asks about her presidential candidate brother.

California lawmakers revealed a slate of bills aimed at reducing retail theft. It’s an attempt to fight...

Rudy Mancuso’s synesthesia means daily sounds transform into layered rhythms and melodies. He explores that beautiful and frustrating experience in “Música.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing pressure from Democrats and foreign leaders to pass more aid to Ukraine, while hard-right members of his own party threaten his speakership. 

Former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark faces disbarment after his schemes to overturn the 2020 electi...

Sonoran white wheat is core to making flour tortillas. It has resurged in the past decade thanks to its versatility in baked goods, sweet flavor, and white color. 

If re-elected, Trump has vowed not to defend NATO countries that haven’t paid their full share if Russia attacks. NATO leaders are scrambling to “Trump-proof” Ukraine aid.

The proposed Right to Disconnect bill allows CA employees to ignore after-hours texts from bosses...

The LA Festival of Movies debuts this week, featuring brand new films, world premieres, older independent flicks that may deserve a second look, and titles that haven’t played within the circuit yet. 

The damage is still unfolding from Taiwan’s 7.4 magnitude earthquake. But strong building codes and community preparedness helped lessen the disaster. We look at how LA compares.

California auto-loan tycoon Don Hankey provided a $17...

Atlantic writer Franklin Foer examines rising antisemitism from the political left, and why what he describes as a “Golden Age for American Jews” is over.

An Israeli airstrike killed seven World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza on Monday, and the U.N. is warning that a famine might be imminent. 

The Florida Supreme Court enacted one of the strictest abortion bans in the country this week. Abortion access is now going to be on the ...

Technology has devastated kids’ abilities to connect and learn. Pew data from 2022 says nearly half of teens were online almost constantly. 

The state’s mandatory $20/hour minimum wage for fast food workers goes into effect on April 1, but some say that amount isn’t enough. Higher menu costs and layoffs might come. 

Critics review the latest film releases: “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” “La Chimera,” “The Shadowless Tower” an...