Inside the Issues: The Podcast

Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, the first new federal holiday since 1983. So what would it mean to have a day off to commemorate the day that the last enslaved people in Texas learned they were free? Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell weighs in on this new holiday as well as the national backlash against what's known as critical race theory. 

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Come Tuesday, California will scrap its four-tier system and fully reopen its economy. That means no required capacity limits, no social distancing and much looser mask mandates. But is California really ready? One of the state's leading infectious disease experts, Dr. Monica Gandhi, weighs in, and she's got some tough love for how California's elected officials have handled the pandemic.

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In 1991, the film "Silence of the Lambs" won five Oscars, including "Best Film." It was a popular thriller that featured a so-called transsexual character named Buffalo Bill, a serial killer who murdered women and skinned his victims to make a dress. Transgender activist Jen Richards said this portrayal caused much harm to the trans community. Host Alex Cohen speaks with Richards on how she is changing the narrative as a consultant and cast member on CBS' spinoff of the thriller "Clarice."

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It's the last week of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and honor the achievements of this vast and diverse community. But what happens come June? Will people stop caring about inequality and justice? On this special episode, host Alex Cohen addresses these questions with "Dear Asian Americans" podcast host Jerry Won, comedian Kristina Wong, fashion designer NiK Kacy and "SoCal in 17" producer Esther Lee on the audio app, Clubhouse.

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Want to ask Alex a question?

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It's been one year since protests erupted in the city of Los Angeles in the wake of George Floyd's death. Demonstrators flooded the streets as they called for justice and police reform. Host Alex Cohen sits down with LA Police Department Chief Michel Moore to reflect on the past year. Moore says there are some things the department did right and things he wished they did differently. 

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Want to ask Alex a question?

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• Follow @alexcoheninla on Clubhouse to tune into “Dear Asian Americans, What Now?” at 5 p.m. PT Wednesday

Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez is considering throwing her hat into the ring for the 2022 mayoral election. Martinez is already the council's first Latina president and could make history again by not only becoming the first woman mayor but the first mom to hold that position. Martinez gets candid with host Alex Cohen about the pressures of motherhood, including the difficult moments trying to protect her daughter from a life of being in the public eye. 

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Want to ask Alex a question?

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Get ready, Disney fans! Disneyland finally reopened its doors to the public after more than a year. Host Alex Cohen sits down with Disney Imagineer Jeanette Lomboy to talk about how she and her colleagues took advantage of a closed park to work on exciting attractions and new changes for the reopening. To quote Disney's "Frozen," "There'll be actual real live people. It'll be totally strange. But, wow, am I so ready for this change!"

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Want to ask Alex a question?

• Visit the SoCal in 17 page
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Having nude photos of you leaked to the tabloids for the world to see is humiliating, but is it illegal? Former Rep. Katie Hill believes so. After having nude photos released on the conservative website RedState, Hill filed a lawsuit against her ex-husband and publications that released the photos. She asserted that the pics were violating California's "revenge porn" laws, but she's fighting an uphill battle. Host Alex Cohen catches up with Hill to see where the lawsuits stand.

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Want to ask Alex a question?

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Earlier this week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced his plan to launch a guaranteed income plan, one that could make LA the largest city to trial universal basic income, or UBI. This week, host Alex Cohen sits down with a former mayor who successfully made that happen in his city of Stockton. Michael Tubbs, who also made history as the nation's youngest mayor, successfully experimented with UBI and had a lot to say about what it takes to fight poverty.  

IN THIS EPISODE

Alex's Twitter handle: @alexcoheninla

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Have an idea for our "News in Haikus" segment, or just want to ask Alex a question? There are three ways to get in touch:

SoCal in 17 page

On Twitter using hashtag #SOCALIN17

Call 424-209-8764 and leave us a voicemail!​​

With his State of the City address coming up next week, a few explosive issues are top of mind for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Host Alex Cohen gets the inside scoop in her exclusive interview, including expediting the city's COVID-19 recovery with sewage (yes sewage!) technology.

IN THIS EPISODE

Alex's Twitter handle: @alexcoheninla

GET IN TOUCH

Have an idea for our "News in Haikus" segment, or just want to ask Alex a question? There are three ways to get in touch:

SoCal in 17 page

On Twitter using hashtag #SOCALIN17

Call 424-209-8764 and leave us a voicemail!​​