The Daily Dive

Leaked audio has led to a scandal at the Los Angeles City Council.  City Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmembers Kevin de Leon and Gill Cedillo, and LA County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera were all caught in a conversation from last year where they were talking about redistricting and Latino political power and how they could sway it their way, but the conversation quickly devolved into racist remarks made by Martinez about the Black son of one of their fellow councilmembers saying he seemed like a “little monkey.”  Martinez even disparaged other Latino groups.  Gustavo Arellano, columnist for the LA Times, joins us for all the fallout, Martinez has resigned from her position, but not from the city council.

Next, the holiday travel season will be upon us soon and you’re already hearing about how you should start planning and buying those flights now as they are expected to get more expensive.  The other thing to be aware of is surprise rental-car fees that can catch you off guard.  Sneaky refueling fees that pop up on receipts, cancellation fees for pre-paid reservations, and “convenience fees” for riding in toll lanes.  Dawn Gilbertson, travel columnist for the WSJ, joins us for what to watch out for.

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Last week President Biden announced an expedited review of how marijuana is scheduled under federal law and that he would pardon individuals charged with simple marijuana possession on a federal level.  This action will clear thousands of people but will not clear state convictions or decriminalize the drug.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at the Hill, joins us for the politics of the pardon and how the abortion issue is playing out before the midterms.

Next, more American are getting married for the first time in their 40s and 50s.  For women, the rates of first marriages in midlife has increased by 74% between 1999 and 2019.  For men, it has increased by 49%.  Many say they didn’t marry sooner because they were pursuing education and careers and some just say they weren’t interested in marrying earlier.  Clare Ansberry, Turning Points columnist at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.

Finally, sales of energy drinks are up 56% since summer of 2019 and the rise has been partially driven by options that claim to be healthier.  New drinks on the market are touting vitamins, electrolytes, less sugar, and better taste.  Doctors are still not totally convinced and warn of not drinking too much, but that hasn’t stopped big beverage companies from investing in the market.  Rachel Wolfe, consumer trends reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why everyone is slamming down energy drinks.

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This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parents, students, and educators have been alarmed recently with the increase of gun confiscations and shootings at school campuses, but also with an increase of swatting events, hoax 911 calls about active shooters.  In response, school districts are beefing up security with new metal detectors, random searches, and anonymous tip lines.  Scott Calvert, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how gun and student behavioral problems are on the rise.

Next, as prices continue to remain high due to inflation, the big question is when will they come down?  Unfortunately, for some goods and services, when prices go up, they tend to stay that way.  These items are referred to as being “sticky” and can include things like the cost of a haircut, household furnishings, baby clothes, alcohol, and medical care.  Julia Carpenter, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about sticky prices.

Finally, why do pets do the quirky things they do?  A lot of their actions tend to have evolutionary roots or are based on bonds they have created with you.  Some researchers think dogs circle before they poop to align themselves with the Earth’s magnetic field and paw the ground after to deposit scents and mark territory.  Cats on the other hand bury their waste to cover their tracks.  Marlene Cimons, contributor to The Washington Post, joins us for more.

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Elon Musk has done an about-face and offered to close his deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion.  If both parties agree, they can avert a trial set for later in the month.  Should the deal go through, many expect a lot of changes in the company such as layoffs, lighter content moderation, and adding more functionality.  Musk has said he wants to build a “super app” with offerings similar to WeChat.  Jeremy Owens, SF Bureau Chief and tech editor at MarketWatch, joins us for what to know.

Next, as high inflation continues to batter Americans, the effects are starting to weigh more and more.  A recent report said that 60% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck and even high-income earners are feeling the strain.  Of those earning more than six figures, 45% of them are in the same boat.  At the same time people are feeling a recession fatigue and finding it hard to stay disciplined.  Jessica Dickler, personal finance reporter at CNBC, joins us for more.

Finally, a new survey from Morning Consult is identifying the brands that Gen Z loves the most.  They are crazy for tech and junk food!  YouTube, Google and Netflix are among their favorite corporate brands and then there is M&Ms, Doritos, and KitKat.  Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent at Axios, joins us for Gen Z’s favorites as they mature into more spending power.

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As we deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, meteorologists, emergency managers, and others are asking what they could have done better to effectively communicate with the public.  This time computer models were at odds with each other until about 36 hours before the storm hit, and graphics used such as the “cone of uncertainty” are often misunderstood.  Andrew Freedman, climate and energy reporter at Axios, joins us for why Ian was one of the most complex hurricanes to forecast.

Next, despite GDP shrinking and fears of a recession looming, many companies are still in hiring mode.  They continue to struggle with staffing shortages that were built up during the pandemic.  There is also still a lot of turnover in many industries that can wreak havoc on efficiency as new hires need to be trained.  Sarah Chaney Cambon, labor economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.

Finally, the tech giant Google continues to have a hard time innovating and bringing new successful ventures to fruition.  The latest casualty for Google is Stadia, their cloud-based gaming service.  It was shut down three years in after failing to attract new players and developers.  Scott Rosenberg, managing tech editor at Axios, joins us for how Google keeps messing up opportunities to cash in on new technology.

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Residents in Florida and other areas affected by Hurricane Ian are now in rescue, recovery, and damage assessment mode.  As of Monday, the death toll was over 100 and many still needed their power restored.  For some, a sense of panic has set in for fears that there might not be enough food, water, and gas to go around.  Michelle Kaufman, reporter at the Miami Herald, joins us for what’s next as people try to rebuild and President Biden makes his way there on Wednesday.

Next, Elon Musk and Tesla unveiled the prototype of their humanoid AI robot named Optimus.  When completed, the robot should be able to handle difficult chores, lift heavy objects, and have some conversational capabilities.  The robot should have a price point below $20,000.  Meghan Bobrowsky, tech reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how Tesla wants to be known as more than just a car company.

Finally, as marijuana has been legalized in more states, the taboo around consuming cannabis products has largely faded, but one area where it has not is parents who smoke.  Some parents say that using cannabis helps them relax and be more present to connect with their kids but feel they will be judged if they speak openly about it.  Ellen McCarthy, feature writer at The Washington Post, joins us for the parents who get stoned.

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Police departments across the country are struggling with recruiting new officers and retaining their current force as we are seeing a rise in violent crime and a line of work that has lost its popularity.  To attract more recruits, departments are adjusting standards to fill vacancies which has already led to some problems and boosting up signing bonuses.  In Redding, California, the signing bonus was $40,000, more than half an entire year’s starting salary.  Zusha Elinson, national reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how law enforcement agencies are trying to attract new cops.

Next, Uber has a courier service called Uber Connect, where you can have a package picked up at one location and delivered to another.  Drivers don’t know what’s inside the package, but some suspect they may be being used to transport drugs and other prohibited items.  Drivers can cancel deliveries, but some feel compelled to go through with suspicious deliveries for safety concerns since customers often have your first name, photo, license plate, and vehicle description.  David Ingram, tech reporter at NBC News, spoke to Uber Connect drivers who were worried about being used as drug mules.

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This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.