Press Play with Madeleine Brand KCRW

Mdocu Moctar’s “Funeral for Justice” is a blend of desert blues and sociopolitical commentary about his West African home country of Niger.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for snap elections after far-right victories over the weekend. What's behind his risky strategy?
An Orange County judge temporarily halted University of California academic workers’ strike. They walked off the job in response to the UC system’s response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
The U.S. has spent millions on counterterrorism in West Africa since 9/11, but poverty and unrest are leading to military takeovers and the growth of Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates.

Popsicles should be ice-cold but not ice-hard. Texture and flavor are equally important. The goal: Keep ice crystal formation small, which will produce a softer texture.
On the 80th anniversary of the storming of the beaches of Normandy, France, a new book chronicles the experiences of those involved — from generals and troops to allies and enemies.
The GA appeals court issued a stay on the Fulton County case. None of Trump’s remaining three criminal trials are likely to conclude before the November election.
Critics review the latest film releases: “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” “Robot Dreams,” “Handling the Undead,” and “The Watchers.”

Many touring musicians say they’re earning less than ever. How has the industry changed since COVID, and what strategies are some artists using to keep performing live?
Donald Trump insists he won’t ban contraception in a potential second presidential term. But he and his allies are drafting policies that would come close.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a third term, but the smaller margin of victory says a lot about how the world’s biggest democracy views him today.
A series of recent rule changes in the LDS Church have made missionary work more appealing to young members, but many still face mental health challenges.

Gillian Anderson talks about playing Margaret Thatcher, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Emily Maitlis, the BBC anchor who did the exclusive 2019 interview with Prince Andrew.
President Biden signed an executive order temporarily barring undocumented immigrants from seeking asylum. It’s what Trump tried to do in his first term.
Amid a largely self-censored media landscape, Israel’s leading left-wing publication Haaretz critiques the country’s government and provides an unflinching view on the war in Gaza. One in five employers is less likely to hire recent college grads who took part in pro-Palestinian protests, a new survey shows. But other employers seem to support protest involvement.

The Flaming Lips’ “The Soft Bulletin” is 25 years old. Critics have called it a rock masterpiece for the trippy experimental sounds and big, sweeping orchestral pieces.
Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has promised to continue her mentor Andrés Manuel Lopéz Obrador’s leftwing policies, but must contend with rampant cartel violence and corruption. Plus, how will she work with (or against) President Biden or a future President Trump?
Jury selection began today for Hunter Biden’s federal gun case. Charged with three felonies, he allegedly lied about his drug use to buy a gun in 2018.
The CDC recommended six feet of social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The decision pushed schools online, but wasn’t backed by data.

Sea otter 841 went viral last summer for stealing surfboards and evading authorities. Now she’s returned to the Santa Cruz waters where she made her name.
Can Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over Donald Trump’s hush money trial, be impartial about the former president, given their actions outside the courtroom that could be perceived as political bias?
Noah Gittell’s new book, “Baseball: The Movie,” traces the lineage of and connection between two great American pastimes — baseball and film.
Critics review the latest film releases: “Young Woman and the Sea,” “Jim Henson Idea Man,” “In A Violent Nature,” and “The Young Wife.”