The main way the American West harvests the Colorado River for its water use is by dams that create reservoirs, which are quickly drying up because of climate change. Can knocking some dams down help?Today, in our continuing series on the Colorado River, we go to Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell to talk to some people who think so. Read the full transcript here.Host: “The Times” senior producer Denise GuerraGuests: L.A. Times water reporter Ian JamesMore listening:Colorado River in Crisis, Pt. 1: A Dying RiverColorado River in Crisis, Pt. 2: The SourceColorado River in Crisis homepage 

For decades, Republicans across the country looked to California for conservative stars and ideas even as the GOP lost its way in the state. Not anymore.Today, we talk about how how Kevin McCarthy’s tortuous path to become Speaker of the House was yet another loud death rattle for the California GOP. Read the full transcript here. Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times politics columnist Mark Z. BarabakMore reading:Column: Kevin McCarthy ‘won’ the House speakership. Now the country will pay the priceListen to “The Battle of 187”Today’s GOP could snub even Reagan

Something unexpected is going on in traditionally conservative Saudi Arabia.Over the last few years, the kingdom has been announcing a loosening of social restrictions at a surprising rate. Movie theaters are reopening, new professional opportunities for women are popping up and the country is hosting Western-style music festivals.It’s all part of a plan by the country’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who says he wants to dramatically transform his country.Today, how the prince’s push comes with a price: While dancing in Saudi Arabia might be in these days, political dissent is still most definitely out. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Middle East bureau chief Nabih BulosMore reading:Dancing is in, dissent is out as Saudi Arabia’s crown prince transforms his countrySaudi Arabia is giving itself an extreme makeover with ‘giga-projects.’ Will it work?Saudis sentence U.S. citizen to 16 years over tweets

The Colorado River begins in the Rocky Mountain snowpack, which provides the water that starts off the river on its epic journey. But as the American West gets hotter, that snowpack keeps getting smaller and smaller.Today, the second in our six-part special on the future of this vital waterway. New episodes will publish every Friday through Feb. 10. Follow the project here. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times water reporter Ian James and L.A. Times video journalist Albert Lee More reading:Our full Colorado River seriesListen to the first episode in this series, “Colorado River in Crisis, Pt. 1: A Dying River”Video: The Colorado River is drying up. Climate change and drought have taken a major toll.

This month’s record-setting rain and snow across California also comes with terms many of us know but can’t explain. Today, we do that with our Masters of Disasters. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times earthquake reporter Ron Lin, L.A. Times Fast Break disasters reporter Hayley Smith, and L.A. Times water reporter Ian JamesMore reading:California snowpack is far above average amid January storms, but a lot more is neededDeadly results as dramatic climate whiplash causes California’s aging levees to failCalifornia storm death toll reaches 17 as more rain, winds arrive. Damage could top $1 billion

The Golden Globes is going to air this week on NBC after a year-long hiatus in the wake of a scandal over its parent company, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Can its comeback stick? Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Company Town reporter Stacy Perman, and L.A. Times film business reporter Josh RottenbergMore reading:‘It took a crisis in order to make changes,’ says new Golden Globes ownerHollywood Foreign Press Assn. approves sale of Golden Globes assets to Todd BoehlyGolden Globes voters in tumult: Members accuse Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. of self-dealing, ethical lapses

The Colorado River is the water lifeline for tens of millions of people across the American Southwest, which couldn’t have developed the way it is today without it. But all the damming and diversion done to the Colorado has put it at a tipping point where a future with no water is no longer just fantasy but perilously possible.Today, “The Times” kicks off “a six-part special on the future of this vital waterway. New episodes will publish every Friday through Feb. 10. Follow the project here. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times water reporter Ian JamesMore reading:Colorado River in CrisisThey sounded alarms about a coming Colorado River crisis. But warnings went unheededVideo: Desert suburbia is growing. But the Colorado River, and Arizona’s groundwater, cannot keep up.

The podcast discusses California's experience with affirmative action, exploring the impact of a previous ban on diversity in education. It also delves into the challenges to affirmative action in the Supreme Court, the UC system's stance on the issue, and efforts to diversify California's public schools without using race and gender as factors.

A new Republican-led House of Representatives convenes tomorrow, and after decades as a Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi is stepping away from the helm. Undoubtedly, her strength was in unifying her caucus — something that Kevin McCarthy, the G.O.P frontrunner for the speakership, has already struggled to do. Today, we look back on Pelosi's career — and what could be ahead for House leadership. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Justice Department reporter Sarah D. WireMore reading:The end of a political era: Nancy Pelosi’s leadership legacy in WashingtonColumn: Nancy Pelosi’s indelible markColumn: ‘There’s this very toxic energy circulating.’ Alexandra Pelosi on her mom, dad and a new documentary

This year, Beyonce blessed fans with her album, “Renaissance,” the Daniels — Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert — released the surreal trip of a movie “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” and Bad Bunny released banger after banger after banger.And those were just some of the brightest cultural moments that we couldn’t stop talking about. 2022 had its dark side, too — who could forget Will Smith’s slap or the racist rants of Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West?Today, we review both the highs and lows of Hollywood, music, culture and more. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times pop music critic Mikael Wood, film and television critic Glenn Whipp, music reporter Suzy Expositoand film business reporter Ryan FaughnderMore reading:For global phenomenon Bad Bunny, Puerto Rico remains his playground, battleground and museThe top 10 Hollywood fiascoes that defined 2022 for the entertainment businessReview: Beyoncé's ‘Renaissance’ is a landmark expression of Black joy (and you can dance to it)What happens to ‘Emancipation’ after the slap?