Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Hamas publicly executed eight political rivals on a crowded street in Gaza City in a show of intimidation over the local population. With a fragile ceasefire plan, will Hamas retain control of the Gaza Strip over the long term? “It seems to me that Hamas is still powerful enough to control the streets of Gaza and to intimidate the local Palestinian [sic] there,” says Mkhaimar Abusada, political science professor at Al-Azhar University-Gaza. “What's going to happen next, I do not know it. At the end of the day, Hamas has accepted the ceasefire plan, and part of it is that Hamas must disarm itself. There has to be destruction of the tunnels and ammunition. When that is going to happen, I think it is going to take some time before going into the so-called next stage of the ceasefire agreement.”

Film critics Amy Nicholson and Monica Castillo review the latest releases: Black Phone 2, Frankenstein, The Mastermind, Good Fortune, and It Was Just an Accident. 

For home cooks who’ve been waiting for temperatures to drop before they crank up their ovens – baking season is finally here. KCRW's Evan Kleiman kicks off the season with focaccia ideas.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, Nihar Patel, and Zeke Reed.

The U.S. destroyed another boat in the South Caribbean, which the Trump administration alleges was engaged in drug trafficking. This is the fifth such strike since September, and Venezuela’s president has labeled this aggression. Are the strikes legal, and are both countries headed for war?

Flock Safety operates more than 80,000 license plate readers across the U.S. In Texas, a sheriff’s deputy used them to find a woman who had self-administered an abortion.

Filmmaker Raoul Peck is known for his unconventional biopics of people like James Baldwin and Patrice Lumumba. His latest documentary is about the writer George Orwell. “I was always suspect of the use of words, and Orwell as well,” Peck tells KCRW. “And he studied it, and he demonstrated how damaging it is. … For him, when language is being destroyed, you're basically destroying democracy. But … what I did not expect is that he would be so close to my own experience. I didn't expect that this film would have become so intimate, so organic to things that I went through in my life, and coming from … the third world. And I was really surprised that, in fact, he was not some cold British intellectual, writing on his desk and reminiscing about the world. No, he was somebody who took risks with his own life and wrote from his belly and heart and [in] a very sincere way.”

The numbers 6 and 7 are taking Gen Alpha by storm. They’ve become a meme signifying nothing, yet sending middle schoolers into fits of laughter and driving math teachers nuts.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, Nihar Patel, and Zeke Reed.

Ceasefire in Gaza means some aid can get through an Israeli blockade. But with over half a million people experiencing famine, Israel is still withholding food to achieve military goals. 

Peter Thiel, an influential tech billionaire with ties to the White House, gave a series of private lectures in San Francisco in which he likened opponents of technological progress to the antichrist. Why is Thiel, a devout Christian, using such hyperbolic rhetoric

Inside an Alabama prison, hidden cameras expose violence, cover-ups, and a state’s controversial plan to fix it. A new HBO documentary, The Alabama Solution, reveals what really happens behind prison walls.

Forget swiping right — people are now falling for chatbots. Humorist Patricia Marx dated a handful of AI lovers — some sweet, some clingy, and one downright mean. KCRW explores computer love.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, and Zeke Reed.

Heartbreak caught up with Welsh musician Cate Le Bon when she was producing albums for Wilco, Deerhunter, and Devendra Banhart. Songs poured out that she initially didn’t want to write — about the end of a romantic relationship with her longtime music collaborator. They make up her seventh album called Michelangelo Dying.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, Nihar Patel, and Zeke Reed.

While most reporting on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has moved to Chicago and Portland, the online news outlet LA Taco is still documenting incidents in SoCal. In fact, though the outlet began as a food blog in 2006, it’s now the leading local news organization covering the impact of deportations on our immigrant communities. Memo Torres, director of engagement for the outlet, tells KCRW that recently in Orange County, a citizen under age 18 was pulled over by Border Patrol agents. He ended up having an obscenity-laden shouting match with one of the agents — who claimed to be part of the Florencia gang.  

Under a new bill, rideshare drivers can now organize as independent contractors in California. It’s a big win – but it doesn’t protect the right to strike.

In 2025, even celebrities have a side hustle. You can buy makeup from Lady Gaga, shampoo from Blake Lively, a red-light face mask from Gwyneth Paltrow. Now, you can also purchase children’s books penned by famous people. Celebrity picture books are everywhere, but that’s not a good thing, according to one writer.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, Zeke Reed, and Nihar Patel.

Malfunctioning high-power transmission lines weren't the only cause of January’s devastating Eaton Fire. Small distribution lines, which feed power to individual homes, were sparking throughout January 7, well before the blaze started, according to an NPR investigation.

Little fakes everywhere: Sora 2 is a new, extremely realistic video generator from OpenAI. It’s pushing the rules of consent on the internet in unprecedented ways. 

When it comes to trans people and sports, the debate and new laws have focused on women. Trans activist Schuyler Bailar is the first openly transgender athlete to compete in Division 1 sports on a men’s team. He says, “What does it mean to have these ‘biological advantages,’ and when are biological advantages permitted, and to whom are they permitted? Right? Michael Phelps, winningest Olympian of all time, he is praised for his ‘freak of nature’ body. He produces half the levels of lactic acid than the average athlete. He has double the lung capacity. He has freakishly long arms, or really long torso with short legs. … When people talk about him, they say, ‘Amazing!’ … But then, if we shift over to Caster Semenya, who supposedly produces more testosterone than the average woman, people say, ‘That's unfair.’”

The Dodgers are heading back from Philadelphia, up two games to zero against the Phillies in their playoff series. Will they close it out on Wednesday? Meanwhile, as the WNBA grows in fans, prominent players are questioning the league’s leadership.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, Zeke Reed, and Nihar Patel.

At least seven people who were part of a class-action sex abuse settlement with LA County were solicited to join the lawsuit, according to an LA Times investigation. In two cases, the claimants allegedly made up their stories of sex abuse with help from the person soliciting their participation.

Dancer Heidi Duckler came to LA with a car full of props. She soon ditched the props, and brought dance to real-life locations like City Hall and the LA River. Her company is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend.

Film critics William Bibbiani and Christy Lemire review the latest film releases: The Smashing Machine, Are We Good, Play Dirty, and Good Boy.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, and Nihar Patel.

On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico, saying the military had gone soft and woke. He decried diversity initiatives and declared the era of “gender delusion” to be over. “The era of unprofessional appearance is over. No more beardos,” he said. Critics argue that the new rules disproportionately impact Black and Brown soldiers, many of whom have pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), which makes it impossible to shave without developing painful bumps and ingrown hairs.

Since its inception in 2012, American film studio A24 has established itself as a zeitgeisty innovator willing to invest in budding auteurs. It has also become a cultural touchstone that manages to thread the needle between commercial success and arthouse credibility. How long can that last, especially now that there’s VC money invested and a new division devoted to AI?

Multidisciplinary artist Derek Fordjour’s new show at David Kordansky Gallery pays tribute to Black music by transforming the white box that is the art museum into a dreamy, wooded glade filled with art and performers. Plus, Jeff Koons’ 37-foot-tall sculpture, called Split-Rocker, is being installed outside LACMA. 

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, Zeke Reed, and Nihar Patel.