LA County was plagued by understaffing, underfunding, plus outdated and unclear policies and procedures during January’s wildfires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, according to a new independent review, commissioned by the LA County Board of Supervisors. Some Altadena residents want the state to investigate this too, which Supervisor Kathryn Barger says she would support.

Susan Choi’s latest and sixth novel, Flashlight, opens with a mystery. It’s 1978, and a precocious 10-year-old named Louisa is walking on the beach with her father, Serk. He’s carrying a flashlight. The two of them, along with Louisa’s mother, Anne, are spending the summer in coastal Japan. Japan is where Serk, who’s ethnically Korean, spent his childhood, and where he disappears. Tragedy unfolds, and Louisa is found washed up by the tide, barely alive. Serk, who can’t swim, is never found, presumed to be dead. Drowned. The novel is told through multiple perspectives. It spans four generations of Serk’s family as they move through Japan, the United States, and North Korea after World War II. In that way, the story – an exploration of fractured identity, loss, and loneliness – is also a geopolitical story. Flashlight was recently nominated – and shortlisted – for the prestigious Booker Prize.

If you don’t consume a lot of meat or fish, good alternate protein sources include legumes (beans, lentils, peas), cottage cheese, and tofu. Cooking Indian and Mediterranean dishes is a great way to add protein. And it’s easy to make protein bars at home.

A government shutdown is looming on Capitol Hill. Democrats are refusing to vote to fund the government unless Republicans negotiate on health care and other demands. 

The state of Oregon – and the city of Portland – are suing the Trump administration to block the deployment of the state’s National Guard. The suit comes after Trump ordered federal troops into what he called “war-ravaged” Portland, under siege by “Antifa and other domestic terrorists.” 

Keyboardist Meme del Real started in the popular Mexican band Café Tacvba, but he left Mexico City for a small mountain town to record his introspective solo debut.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, Zeke Reed, and Nihar Patel.

Wildland firefighters are now allowed to wear masks on the job to protect against smoke, but there are cultural and practical hurdles to widespread adoption.

In the latest season of KCRW’s Question Everything, host Brian Reed sets out to reform Section 230, the provision in communications law that protects tech companies and social media from liability for content posted on their site.

Critics review the latest film releases: One Battle After Another, Eleanor the Great, Predators, and Dead of Winter.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, and Zeke Reed.

What does President Trump's rambling, hour-long speech before the U.N. General Assembly mean for other countries, and how will world leaders respond to his accusations that their "countries are going to hell?"

Experience heartbreak, hilarity, and the chaos of a very real Jewish family. From the mind behind BoJack Horseman, Raphael Bob-Waksberg talks about his new animated series, Long Story Short.

Los Angeles is responsible for unique Asian fusion dishes, like the Korean taco, the California sushi roll, and the Chinese chicken salad. Evan Kleiman explains how the Chinese chicken salad came to be, and recommends where to get a good one.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, and Zeke Reed.

Jimmy Kimmel is back on air – but not on stations owned by media giants Nexstar and Sinclair, whose standoff with Kimmel could shape the future of late-night TV.

New Pentagon restrictions on journalists are the latest in a series of actions by the Trump administration to control coverage and weaken First Amendment protections for the press. 

A new documentary explores never-before-seen archives from Nazi filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, and how much she knew about what she did to glorify Hitler’s Germany.

It’s Fat Bear Week! The annual tradition has attracted worldwide fans who vote for their favorite fat bears as they prepare for hibernation.

The effort to turn Charlie Kirk into a martyr reflects the rising tide of Christian nationalism (00:00 - 11:43). 

President Trump is demanding the prosecutions of James Comey, Letitia James, and Adam Schiff — echoing Richard Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre” (11:45 - 21:31). 

Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker talks about the Britpop band’s first album in 24 years, plus sex, marriage, and growing up (21:33 - 42:22). 

In a kayak made of mushrooms, LA artist Sam Shoemaker paddled 26 miles from Catalina to San Pedro, showing fungi could be an alternative to plastics (42:24 - 49:37).

ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely after threats from the Federal Communications Commission. The move has broader implications for press freedom in the Trump era.  

New Yorker fact checkers go to extraordinary lengths to nail down the truth. It’s a rarity in today’s media landscape. 

Critics review the latest film releases: “Him,” “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” “Where to Land,” and “Happyend.”

Depending on how you treat it, eggplant can be meltingly tender, smoky, chewy, or crisp. But whatever you do, never undercook it. 

White supremacists recently disrupted memorials for Charlie Kirk in Huntington Beach. Their presence reignited concerns about hate groups in the community.

Over the past decade, people have increasingly used medications that affect the brain and induce drowsiness, which are problematic in increasing the risk of falls.

Amid severe hunger in Gaza, “Boustany,” a new cookbook by the Palestinian-British chef Sami Tamimi, highlights the diversity and vibrancy of Palestinian cuisine. 

Some books to look forward to this fall are about long COVID-induced insanity, true crime, and a mother speaking to her son from the afterlife. 

Slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk combined organizational acumen and internet savvy to build a political machine. Now his death is being used to justify a crackdown on the left.

Actor, filmmaker, and activist Robert Redford died today at 89. He made dozens of legendary movies and founded the Sundance Film Festival.

LA Opera Music Director James Conlon talks about the Recovered Voices program, the importance of educating young people about classical arts, and why “West Side Story” is significant to him.

The Dodgers fight through injuries and a tough loss ahead of the MLB playoffs. The Valkyries hope to make WNBA playoff history. And UCLA football scrambles after another coaching shakeup.

The 2025 state legislative session has ended. Hundreds of approved bills include measures to unmask cops, boost oil drilling, and increase pay for incarcerated firefighters.

A bill banning law enforcement officers from covering their faces is sitting on Gavin Newsom’s desk. Does California have the power to regulate federal agents? 

“The Pitt” earned several Emmys, but the celebration comes with a twist. Michael Crichton’s estate says the show borrows heavily from “ER,” the hit medical drama he created based on his life.

The long out-of-print pre-Fleetwood Mac album by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks — the only album they ever released as a duo — is being re-released for the first time in decades this Friday.