Headlines From The Times

LA Times Studios
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Get essential Los Angeles Times news highlights from the L.A. Times Studios in “Headlines From The Times.” Each episode brings you a bite-sized breakdown of the day’s top news stories and biggest headlines from California and beyond. From politics and climate to entertainment and food, you’ll get the basics behind the trending topics and key news stories that matter most.

  1. 2d ago

    Lakers Purchased for $12+ Billion, Jalapeños Linked to Salmonella, and Spotify Cracks Down on AI Artists

    Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner are set to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for more than $12 billion — just over a year after Mark Walter took a controlling stake at a then-record $10 billion. The sale still needs NBA Board of Governors approval, which could take a few weeks.   And, federal health officials say jalapeños imported from Mexico are the likely source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 345 people across 27 states. Taylor Farms is recalling a wide range of ready-to-eat products from major retailers, including Trader Joe’s, Target, and Walmart.  See the full list of recalled products at https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-08-11/taylor-farms-recall-expands-to-jalapenos-pulled-from-trader-joes-target.   Finally, Spotify is rolling out a new “AI Persona” label for artists who were created with artificial intelligence. Starting in mid-September, those AI artists will also be excluded from Spotify’s personalized mixes and Discovery playlists. The platform will use both AI detection and human review to identify AI artists, and an appeals process will be available.   Read more at https://LATimes.com

  2. 3d ago

    Nvidia’s $500B AI Buildout With Wall Street Heavyweights, Nithya Raman Could Lose Key City Hall Leadership Role as Mayoral Race Heats Up, and New Video Podcasts Are Coming to Disney+ and Hulu

    Nvidia is partnering up with six asset managers, including BlackRock and Goldman Sachs, to bring half a trillion dollars into AI infrastructure — chips, power plants, and data centers. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says the goal is to connect its customers with lenders for loans and credit, though key details about the project remain unclear.  BlackRock’s Larry Fink says the move reminds him of the creation of mortgage-backed securities, treating AI compute as a new investable asset class.   Nithya Raman could lose her leadership role as chair of Los Angeles City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee. Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson plans to split the committee into separate housing and homelessness panels, with Raman no longer leading either one. The political shakeup comes as Raman challenges incumbent Karen Bass for mayor of Los Angeles. Raman is accusing city leaders of political retaliation, while the Bass campaign is criticizing Raman’s record on homelessness. Homelessness remains one of the driving issues of the mayoral race.   Disney+ and Hulu are expanding their podcast offerings through a new deal with iHeartMedia. The partnership brings popular video podcasts — including "Hey Jonas!" with the Jonas Brothers and "Pod Meets World" — to the streaming platforms, with more shows arriving this fall.   And, Jackie, arguably the world’s most famous bald eagle, dies after mysterious illness.   Read more at https://LATimes.com

  3. Aug 5

    S&P 500 Hits Record High as Earnings Beat Expectations, Iran Ceasefire Hopes Rise, and California Won't Ban 'Forever Chemicals' After Bill Fails

    The S&P 500 closed at a record high on Tuesday. Faith Pinnow from L.A. Times Studios breaks down what's driving the rally — from strong second-quarter earnings reports to growing optimism around a potential Iran ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Plus: a look back at how far the index has come since 1957.   California lawmakers have rejected a proposal that would have phased out pesticides containing PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," on farms across the state. Supporters cited health concerns linked to PFAS exposure, while agricultural groups argued a ban would hurt farmers and limit crop protection tools. The revised bill now focuses on publicly identifying pesticides that contain PFAS.   Read more at https://LATimes.com

  4. Jul 30

    Trump Threatens to Pull AG Pick, Fed Holds Rates Steady Despite Inflation, Dodgers Owner Reportedly Under Federal Investigation, and Should AI Music Count on the Charts?

    President Trump is threatening to drop Todd Blanche as his pick for Attorney General until he can lock down Senate approval. The warning comes after Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn signaled they'd vote no — both objecting to a deal Blanche struck settling Trump's IRS lawsuit, including a controversial "anti-weaponization fund" Cornyn says protects Trump and his family from tax audits.   Plus, the Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, even as inflation sits above the central bank’s target, with the war in Iran disrupting trade routes and pushing energy prices higher.   Meanwhile, The financial empire of Dodgers and Lakers owner Mark Walter is reportedly under investigation by federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission over $16 billion in loans tied to companies he controls. Authorities are examining whether the transactions were properly disclosed, while Walter's representatives say he acted in good faith and is cooperating with investigators.   And, Major record labels — including Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group — are proposing new standards for how AI-generated music should be treated on official music charts. The guidelines say the songs can chart, but must meet strict requirements around copyright and human involvement. Songs that rely on fake streams or chart manipulation would also be disqualified. This comes as streaming platforms see a boom in AI-assisted songs, raising concerns about the future of the music industry.   Read more at https://LATimes.com

  5. Jul 28

    Is Truth Social’s New ‘Truth API’ Insider Trading & Why Los Angeles Feels So Hot This Summer

    Truth Social's new Truth API is set to launch August 1, offering paying clients real-time access to posts from President Trump and other top administration officials. The service reportedly costs $100,000 per month and is designed to help institutional investors react to breaking news in milliseconds.   L.A. Times Studios' Faith Pinnow speaks with former White House chief ethics lawyer Richard Painter, who argues the service raises significant ethics and legal questions. He explains why he believes giving paying firms faster access to market-moving information could create an unfair advantage, benefit the president financially, and potentially draw scrutiny from federal regulators.   And, Los Angeles is in the midst of an unusually humid weather pattern, making this summer feel much hotter than normal and contributing to more heat-related emergency room visits across LA County. Meteorologists say monsoon moisture, tropical storm remnants and warm ocean waters are to blame.   Read more at https://LATimes.com

  6. Jul 24

    How Trump Media Could Profit From the President’s Truth Social Posts, Netflix Buys Ben Affleck's AI Company for $587 Million, and Homeless Nonprofit Faces Scrutiny Over CEO Contracts

    Trump Media & Technology Group is launching a new service that gives paying customers real time access to President Donald Trump's Truth Social posts, potentially milliseconds before others see them. The new "Truth API" could benefit institutional investors and high frequency trading firms, where even fractions of a second can be worth millions of dollars.   In this episode, we speak with L.A. Times business columnist Michael Hiltzik about the legal and ethical questions surrounding the service, why Wall Street reacts so quickly to the president's posts, and whether the $100,000 per month product could become a major new source of revenue for Trump Media as the company looks to offset steep financial losses.   Netflix has acquired Ben Affleck's AI film-tech startup, InterPositive, for $587 million. The company says the technology will help speed up filmmaking while keeping creators in control, as Hollywood continues to debate the future of AI in entertainment.   A Los Angeles Times investigation found that homeless nonprofit A Step to Freedom paid more than $1.7 million to companies owned by its CEO over three years. County officials later determined the food service contract created a conflict of interest, though no criminal allegations have been made against the organization.   Read more at https://LATimes.com

  7. Jul 23

    Trump Threatens to Strike Civilian Targets in Iran, Congress Unveils AI "Kill Switch" Bill, and Dodgers Rookie Catcher, Rushing, Catches Fire on Eve of White House Visit

    President Trump is threatening to bomb Iranian bridges and power plants for every attack Iran carries out against ships in the Strait of Hormuz, marking a dramatic escalation in the nearly five month conflict. Iran is warning of an "eye for an eye" response, while attacks in the Red Sea and rising oil prices are fueling concerns the war could spiral into a wider regional conflict.   Meanwhile, lawmakers have introduced the bipartisan "AI Kill Switch Act," which would require the nation's largest AI companies to build emergency shutdown capabilities into their most advanced systems. The proposal comes just days after OpenAI disclosed an unprecedented cyber incident in which one of its AI models hacked another company's servers, reigniting debate over how to regulate rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.   And, Dodgers rookie catcher Dalton Rushing snapped out of a slump during Dodgers’ win over Phillies before the team is set to visit the White House, Thursday.   Read more at https://LATimes.com

  8. Jul 22

    Trump Administration Freezes $1 Billion in Medicaid Funds ; Why Living in Miami Costs More Than NYC

    The Trump administration is withholding an additional $1 billion in Medicaid funding from California and Minnesota, marking the second time this year the federal government has targeted the states' public health insurance programs over suspected fraud. While the withheld funds make up a relatively small share of each state's Medicaid budget, the loss could still impact programs providing behavioral therapy for children with autism and in-home care services helping people with daily tasks like bathing, eating, and taking medications.  Meanwhile, the average cost of living in Miami is now more expensive than in the New York City metropolitan area, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, with housing in Miami about 5% higher than in the New York area. Once seen as the cheaper alternative to New York with the added attraction of no state income tax, Miami has gotten pricier as the ultra-wealthy are buying properties there. In Palm Beach, firms like BlackRock and Redbird Capital Partners are opening up new offices, earning the area a new nickname: "Wall Street South." Read more at https://LATimes.com

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Get essential Los Angeles Times news highlights from the L.A. Times Studios in “Headlines From The Times.” Each episode brings you a bite-sized breakdown of the day’s top news stories and biggest headlines from California and beyond. From politics and climate to entertainment and food, you’ll get the basics behind the trending topics and key news stories that matter most.

Information

  • Creator
    LA Times Studios
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    600
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © L.A. Times Studios
  • Show Website
    Headlines From The Times

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