Last week, Nancy Pelosi became the first House Speaker  in a quarter century to visit Taiwan. China viewed Pelosi’s trip as a direct challenge. As tensions over the self-governed island ratchet up, Taiwan is preparing for war. But are its people ready?

Jennifer Coolidge has a career full of memorable roles, from the “American Pie” franchise to the “Legally Blonde” series and the mock documentaries of Christopher Guest. But it wasn’t until her role in HBO’s hit “The White Lotus” that she finally earned critical respect. Today, Coolidge talks about her life and career — and what’s next. Read the full transcript here.Hosts: Mark Olsen and Yvonne VillarrealGuests: Jennifer CoolidgeMore reading:Column: Jennifer Coolidge has been a big deal for years; with an Emmy nod, she’s starting to believe itJennifer Coolidge gets vulnerableJennifer Coolidge dreamed of being a dramatic actor. ‘White Lotus’ was her chance e-envelope-podcast

Vin Scully was the broadcaster for the Dodgers baseball franchise for 67 years, from its time in Brooklyn through its move to Los Angeles. In the process, he not only became a sports legend; he became a summer soundtrack for generations of fans in Southern California and beyond.Today, we remember the life and legacy of Vin Scully. Read the full transcript here.Host: Former fellow for The Times, Angel CarrerasGuests: L.A. Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Jaime Jarrín, sportscaster Bob CostasMore reading:Complete coverage: Remembering the life of Dodgers announcer Vin Scully (1927-2022)Column: Vin Scully’s voice, a serenade of rebirth, will live on forever in Los AngelesColumn: Vaya con Dios, Vin Scully — a beacon of possibility for generations in L.A.

On the U.S.-Mexico border, where San Diego ends and Tijuana begins right next to the Pacific Ocean, there’s a place called Friendship Park. It opened over 50 years ago and was meant to be a symbol of the binational community that stretches across the border. Friendship Park eventually became an unlikely place for poignant cross-border reunions.But since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Friendship Park has been shut down. And there’s a good chance it might not reopen. We get into its history and future today. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: San Diego Union-Tribune border reporter Kate MorrisseyMore reading:Once a symbol of binational unity, Friendship Park could close to cross-border reunions foreverWall going up in Friendship Park at U.S.-Mexico borderU.S. side of a binational garden at Mexico border bulldozed

We bring you episode 1 of “Line in the Land,” a new podcast from Texas Public Radio and the Houston Chronicle that explores the human story behind the Haitians traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border in search of a better life. Read the full transcript here.Hosts: Joey Palacios with Texas Public Radio, and Elizabeth Trovall with the Houston Chronicle.More reading:Inside the brutal 10,000-mile journey Haitian migrants make in search of a homePodcast: Our nation’s Haitian double standardOpinion: Helping one child at a time in Haiti 10 years after the devastation

On July 16, Gabriella Walsh carried out a decision months in the making; a process involving her loved ones and medical providers. She drank a fatal dose of medication prescribed under California’s so-called death-with-dignity law, which allows some terminally ill patients to request drugs to end their lives.Today, we tell the story of Walsh, and hear her talk about why she decided to end her life on her own terms. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times reporter Marisa Gerber, and L.A. Times photographer Dania MaxwellMore reading:One last trip: Gabriella Walsh’s decision to die — and celebrate life — on her own termsDeath-with-dignity movement springs back to life in CaliforniaCalifornia lawmakers vote to speed up state process for terminally ill to end their lives 

Monkeypox is on the rise, and now officially considered a global health emergency. Cases in the U.S. number in the thousands and only took a week to double here in Los Angeles. The viral disease has, so far, mostly affected the LGBTQ community, but anyone can get it. So how worried should we be?Today, we talk about what to know and answer listener questions. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times breaking news reporter Grace TooheyMore reading:Monkeypox spreads in L.A. County, but vaccine shortage persists. What to knowWorld Health Organization declares monkeypox a global emergencySan Francisco officials declare state of emergency as monkeypox spreads

A drought has drained the reservoirs that provide most of the water for 5 million residents who live around Monterrey, the financial capital of northern Mexico. The crisis has sparked widespread upheaval. Anger is mounting at government officials who allow the region’s factories to continue pulling water from the strained aquifer via private wells while some residents are left without water for days.Today, we take a look at the city and an unfolding crisis that experts say is a stark warning for the rest of Mexico and the American West. Read the full transcript.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times foreign correspondent Kate LinthicumMore reading:Taps have run dry in Monterrey, Mexico, where there is water for factories but not for residentsPodcast: Drought wants your carne asada and iPhoneWestern megadrought is worst in 1,200 years, intensified by climate change, study finds 

The Jan. 6 House subcommittee investigating the events of that day have poured through thousands of hours of videos. But during the hearings, the public also got a sneak preview of even more moments caught on tape — from a documentary that tells the events of the U.S. Capitol insurrection through a behind-the-scenes view of Donald Trump.Today, we’re talking with documentary filmmaker Alex Holder about his movie “Unprecedented,” which aired this month on Discovery Plus. The documentary offers an inside view into the Trump organization right as Jan. 6 was happening. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: Filmmaker Alex HolderMore reading:Jan. 6 panel to receive Trump family footage from 2020 election and Capitol insurrectionFive takeaways from the Trump Jan. 6 documentary ‘Unprecedented’A new Trump doc was subpoenaed by Jan. 6 committee. It’s not as revelatory as it sounds

It’s Emmy season, so we’ve got another episode of the “Envelope” for you. This time, it’s an in-depth conversation with Gillian Anderson, who plays Eleanor Roosevelt in “The First Lady.” Anderson talks about how Eleanor Roosevelt was the brains behind the FDR presidency, the focus on Roosevelt’s loving relationship with journalist Lorena Hickok in “The First Lady,” and why it took her some time to click with “Sex Education.” Taking on a historical figure isn’t new for Anderson — who also plays Margaret Thatcher in “The Crown” and Catherine’s mother, Joanna, in “The Great.” Nor is portraying a character who stays in her lane, which wasn’t a stretch from Anderson’s own personality. Follow the "Envelope" wherever you listen to podcasts.  Read the full transcript here.