AirTalk Staff
Published Jun 15, 2026 8:57 AM
Iran's players take part in a training session at Carson Sports Park in Carson, California on the eve of the 2026 World Cup football match between Iran and New Zealand.
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Patrick T. Fallon
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AFP / Getty Images
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- Should Iran be playing at SoFi? Listeners weigh in as tentative US-Iran deal is announced
- LAHSA’s federal funding is suspended pending an investigation
- How did your relationship change after having kids?
- Who is FIFA president Gianni Infantino? We dig into his tenure and legacy
- How the LA Metro is handling the FIFA World Cup and how it bodes for LA2026
- Is fruit becoming too sweet?
Today on AirTalk: Iran in the World Cup LAHSA funding suspended, relationships after kids, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, LA Metro and sweet fruit.
Today on AirTalk: Guest host Austin Cross discusses Iran's controversial World Cup debut, LAHSA funding, relationships after kids, the legacy of FIFA president, LA Metro and sweet fruit. Cross hosts LAist's Morning Edition Monday-Friday and AirTalk Friday.
Should Iran be playing at SoFi? Listeners weigh in as tentative US-Iran deal is announced
The topic:
As the U.S. and Iran reach a tentative deal to end fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian national soccer team will soon face New Zealand tonight at SoFi Stadium, after a World Cup run marked by tensions with the Trump administration.
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Guests: Farnaz Fassihi, United Nations bureau chief for The New York Times covering Iran and Sahar Razavi, associate professor of Political Science at Sacramento State and director of its Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies Center
Potential roadblock: Israeli officials denounced the deal, mentioning that they would continue their military operation in Lebanon. Iran has said in the past that a condition of a peace deal would require Israel to cease its attack on Lebanon.
Iranian participation in World Cup: Having qualified for the World Cup, FIFA had planned for two of its group stage games to be played in Inglewood, allowing those within the nearby “Tehrangeles” community to watch Iranian footballers play. Although some in the diaspora do plan to protest.
Join the conversation: If you’re Iranian-American, how do you feel about Iran playing in the World Cup? Share by calling (866) 893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
LAHSA’s federal funding is suspended pending an investigation
A LAHSA commission meeting held on Friday, April 25, 2025.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
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The topic:
L.A.’s lead homelessness agency LAHSA is facing a suspension of federal funds and pending fraud investigation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Guest: Marisa Kendall, reporter for CalMatters covering homelessness
Why it matters: LAHSA could stand to lose tens of millions of dollars. This comes on top of LA County stripping the agency of $300 million after an audit showed mismanagement of finances.
How did your relationship change after having kids?
A couple relax in the sunshine in a park.
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Rob Stothard
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Getty Images
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The topic:
Having children is widely considered as one of life’s most rewarding experiences and achievements. But the shift into parenthood can affect a relationship in many ways, as couples may find challenges in balancing intimacy with teamwork and routine.
Guest: Stan Tatkin, founder of the PACT Institute (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy) based in Calabasas, and co-author of “Baby Boom: A relationship survival guide for new parents” (2021, New Harbinger)
Join the conversation: We want to hear from you! How has your relationship changed with your partner after having children? What has worked and what has been a challenge? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Who is FIFA president Gianni Infantino? We dig into his tenure and legacy
Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, speaks to the media during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Press Conference at Mexico City Stadium.
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Carl Recine
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Getty Images
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The topic:
President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, is best known in the United States for his controversial relationship with President Donald Trump and decision to use dynamic pricing for its sporting event tickets. Yet 10 years into his tenure as the sporting body’s lead executive, he’s done a lot to grow the game of soccer following a highly publicized corruption scandal in 2016.
Guests: Oliver Kay, senior football writer for The Athletic and Alan Tomlinson, emeritus professor of Leisure Studies at the University of Brighton; he's also the author of the recent book What Is FIFA For? (What Is It For?) (Bristol University Press, March 31, 2026)
His prior experience: Before leading the international governing body for professional soccer, he had worked with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), most notably as the Secretary General.
Entertainment-related reforms: In 2023, he helped finalize the number of teams in this year’s World Cup, from 32 to 48. The number of total games played also increased to 104, up from 64 in the 2022 World Cup.
How the LA Metro is handling the FIFA World Cup and how it bodes for LA2026
The L.A. Regional Connector
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Courtesy LA Metro
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The topic:
The FIFA World Cup officially kicked off in Los Angeles on Friday, bringing fans from all over the world to our city. Today, we check in on how the LA Metro is handling the surge in demand and how they plan on using these lessons going forward.
Guests: Kavish Harjai, transportation correspondent for LAist and Dimitri Czupylo, deputy executive officer communications for LA Metro
Join the conversation: Did you catch a game live or at a watch party this weekend? Were you able to find parking or take public transit? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com
You can read LAist’s guide to World Cup Transit here.
Is fruit becoming too sweet?
Are fruits becoming too sweet?
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Heather Parlato
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LAist
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The topic:
A recent piece in The Atlantic makes the bold case that our fruits are becoming too sweet for their own good. Today on AirTalk, we break down what’s going on in the world of pomology, and if there is such a thing as too sweet a fruit.
Guests: David Karp, researcher with the department of botany and plant sciences at the University of California, Riverside and co-editor of the Register of New Fruit and Nut Cultivars, which tracks the introduction of new fruit varieties; and Kate Lebo, essayist, cookbook writer, and poet; author of Pie School: Lessons in Fruit, Flour & Butter (Sasquatch books, 2014) and The Book of Difficult Fruit: Arguments for the Tart, Tender, and Unruly (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021)
Background: Cultivators have spent decades selecting fruit for sweetness, the trait that shoppers most ardently adore in their fruit. At the same time in recent years, varieties like Cotton Candy grapes have taken shoppers by storm with their names promising shoppers a candy-like experience.
Yes, but: Some critics say that acid and aroma compounds that give fruit its complexity have been lost along the way.
Join the conversation: Do you think fruit has gotten too sweet? Are there fruit varieties that have gone the way of the dinosaur that you miss? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
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