After the Eaton and Palisades fires, federal agencies skipped standard testing for toxic metals in the soil of burned homes. A team of L.A. Times reporters, led by Tony Briscoe, stepped in to collect samples and investigate what was left behind. What they found was alarming.Read their investigation: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-05-04/the-government-wont-test-soil-on-properties-burned-in-the-la-fires-so-we-did-it-ourselves
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31:29
Taking Stock at 101 Days
In this panel discussion, some of the American West’s leading climate activists, scientists and policymakers share their thoughts on the first few months of the Trump administration – and why they’re still hopeful about holding the fossil fuel industry accountable. Our guests are climate scientist Emily Fischer, California State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, environmental activist Anne Hedges and former Biden administration official Nada Wolff Culver.
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35:42
Inside L.A.’s Solar Megaproject
Sammy Roth tours the largest solar and battery storage facility ever built for Los Angeles. He also sits down with the L.A. Department of Water and Power’s CEO to learn what it’ll take to get to 100% clean electricity by 2035.https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2024-12-05/column-l-a-s-massive-new-solar-farm-is-cheap-and-impressive-more-please-boiling-point
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30:44
Traffic, Trains and Trade-Offs
California’s climate goals demand a radical rethink of how we build — and how we move. Carter Rubin of NRDC breaks down the promise and peril of permitting reform, why it’s so hard to build climate-friendly cities, and what it’ll take to get Angelenos out of their cars.
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38:53
The Fake News Pipeline
A North Dakota jury hit Greenpeace with a staggering $666 million judgment for its role in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Investigative reporter Miranda Green tells Sammy Roth how fossil fuel interests may have tried to influence the jury, one fake newspaper at a time — and why this isn’t an isolated incident.Read Miranda’s recent story here:https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/03/a-pipeline-company-is-suing-greenpeace-for-300-million-a-pay-to-play-newspaper-is-accused-of-tainting-the-jury-pool/
Climate change is battering California. Can the state find a way forward? Listen every Thursday as award-winning L.A. Times columnist Sammy Roth dives deep with scientists, energy leaders, legislators, activists and journalists who are experts on today's climate challenges and solutions. They’ll discuss everything from electric cars to renewable energy to the difficulties of phasing out fossil fuels.
Sammy has been reporting on climate and energy in California and the American West for over a decade, touring sprawling solar farms, coal-fired power plants and hilltops blanketed with wind turbines. He’s focused on telling stories that challenge public officials and energy companies to do better.
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