Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Former DOJ official: USPS ballot rejection unlikely to work
02/09/2026 | 51 min
Plus, ebola is still spreading fast in Central Africa, how the arrest of “El Chapo” created a Sinaloa Cartel power vacuum, and an idea to move homes slated for demolition to Altadena’s burnt-out lots.
Why some LA renters are revolting against shared utilities
01/09/2026 | 52 min
Plus, California lawmakers pass a bill that would let you put solar panels on your balcony, the Defense Department in disarray under Secretary Pete Hegseth, and why tennis is “the cruelest game.”
The science behind the perfect pop song
31/08/2026 | 53 min
Plus, LA leaders are getting nervous about the Olympics’ price tag, why Southern California is wetter and hotter than it’s ever been, and a pair of court cases challenges the Pentagon on First Amendment claims.
Yayoi Kusama’s polka dots and infinity rooms conquered the art world
27/08/2026 | 52 min
Plus, why it’s so hard to get rid of LA’s oil wells, our critics review Wile E. Coyote’s fight against the all-powerful Acme Corporation, and Evan Kleiman on the disappointment of nonstick pans.
LA’s 2000s nightlife and a more innocent pre-social media era
26/08/2026 | 51 min
Plus, how Dolly Parton’s role in 9 to 5 became iconic, Meta’s $18 billion settlement and child safety online, and new tests can reveal if you have an increased risk of getting Alzheimer’s.