Press Play with Madeleine Brand KCRW

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. The companies are challenging the power of the board to protect workers’ jobs.
Author and USC professor Viet Thanh Nguyen won a Pulitzer Prize for his 2015 novel “The Sympathizer.” It’s been adapted into a new limited series from HBO.
After the Denver Nuggets eliminated the Lakers from the NBA playoffs on Monday night, Lebron James refused to say whether or not he’ll be wearing purple and gold next season.

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 Jessica Levinson explains the free speech issues and how these schools have responded.
Brian Eno pioneered “ambient music” and helped create the sounds of U2, David Bowie, and other rock stars. Multiple versions of a new documentary show his life and work.

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 Hollywood producer abused them.
More than a dozen horses died during the 2023 racing season at events like the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. A new documentary looks at what’s behind the crisis.

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 confrontations with two very different adversaries — China and Russia.

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 potential buyers with his remarks on social media.
In PBS’ “Art Happens Here,” actor John Lithgow goes back to high school to explore the power of arts education — dance, ceramics, silk-screen printing, and vocal jazz ensemble.

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 crops but to access water from the Colorado River.
In Las Vegas today, construction began on a train that would get travelers from Rancho Cucamonga in San Bernardino County to the Las Vegas strip in about two hours.