Episode 55
February 4, 2025
Fernando Guerra on the L.A. Wildfires
The wildfires of January 2025 likely are the biggest natural disaster in Los Angeles history. Fernando Guerra, director of the LMU Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles, talks about the current and future impacts of the fires on the city’s people, resources, and budget.
Off Press Podcasts
Edel Rodriguez on Art and Politics
Artist and illustrator Edel Rodriguez, who began drawing as a child, came to America from Cuba in the 1980 Mariel boatlift. Today, his political illustrations appear on magazine covers around the world. He discusses art, censorship, and freedom of expression at the intersection of politics and visual media.
Dana Gioia on Poetry and His L.A. Roots
Poet Dana Gioia, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, talks about his L.A. roots and his Catholicism, and he reads two poems from his latest collection, “Meet Me at the Lighthouse.”
Fernando Saldivar, S.J. on the Church and Immigration
The Catholic Church’s stance on immigration and immigrants is putting the church at odds with the policies of the Trump administration. Fernando Saldivar, S.J., who works on human rights at the LMU Loyola Law School International Human Rights Center, talks about the church’s immigration position, human rights, and current U.S. immigration policies.