Topic: La Times

The Los Angeles Times published a report questioning the city's preparedness for the wildfires, alleging that only five of 40 available fire engines were initially deployed. Owner Patrick Soon-Shiong admitted the paper's endorsement of Mayor Karen Bass may have been a mistake, emphasizing that "competence matters." The report highlights a delay in calling in off-duty firefighters until the blazes were out of control.

The Washington Post announced it would not endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in decades, leading to the resignation of editor-at-large Robert Kagan and thousands of subscription cancellations. The decision is analyzed alongside a similar move by the LA Times, with speculation that owners Jeff Bezos and Patrick Soon-Shiong are protecting federal business interests.

The conversation shifts to the historical frequency of erratic weather events in the United States, challenging the idea that current volatility is unprecedented. References are made to 19th-century New York Times reports of "raining frogs" and the Mormon locust plague in Utah. Recent snowfall in Las Vegas is presented as part of a long-standing pattern of unpredictable meteorological events.

Larry Elder is leading polls in the California gubernatorial recall election, prompting the LA Times to label him the "black face of white supremacy." Governor Gavin Newsom has been criticized for his handling of the state's issues, including his own winery business. Meanwhile, a prankster at an airport successfully used the public address system to announce "Recall Newsom" as a passenger name.

The birth of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, prompts a discussion about an LA Times opinion piece. The article, titled "Will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry raise their baby to be black?", is criticized by the hosts as an example of absurd racial identity politics in the media.

The Los Angeles Times and other Tribune Publishing newspapers were hit by a Ryuk ransomware attack, which officials have attributed to North Korean hackers. The attackers reportedly demanded $640,000 to decrypt the files. The hosts express skepticism regarding the attribution to North Korea, suggesting it may be a convenient scapegoat for network security failures.

A suspected cyber attack originating from outside the United States caused significant printing and delivery delays for the LA Times and other Tribune Publishing newspapers. The malware disrupted the software systems used to format and print the papers. While some officials hint at foreign state actors like Russia, skeptics suggest the issue may have been a internal technical "glitch" or poorly managed update.

The Los Angeles Times is accused of a "hit job" on Ron Paul by misrepresenting Pew Research data regarding voter knowledge of his anti-war stance. Additionally, the hosts highlight a new profile of White House advisor Valerie Jarrett in The Weekly Standard, which explores her significant influence within the Obama administration.

The hosts discuss a news story about a mother giving her 12-year-old son medical marijuana to treat emotional turbulence instead of Ritalin. They also critique an LA Times story that argues alcohol is healthier than marijuana, suggesting it is a PR push by the alcohol industry.

Artist Paul Bousamer is recognized for creating high-resolution No Agenda logos with a Masonic aesthetic. Dvorak discusses his personal history collecting graffiti canvases in the 1970s. Bousamer reportedly placed the show's branding on an LA Times newspaper box in San Diego, earning him the title of PR Associate.