The Times: Essential news from the L.A. Times

Farmacias Similares is the largest privately owned chain of pharmacies in Mexico, and has a cute mascot — Dr. Simi — who is beloved across the country. What could possibly be wrong about this scenario? Many things.Today, we talk about what the rise of Dr. Simi says about Mexico’s broken healthcare system. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times foreign correspondent Leila MillerMore reading:Mexico promised healthcare for all. Its failure to deliver made this smiling mascot famousEl Dr. Simi es una estrella de TikTok. También es una muestra de la crisis del sistema de salud de México

"Foretold" is the newest podcast from the L.A. Times, and we're sharing the first episode with you here today. In the fall of 2019, reporter Faith E. Pinho received a tip from a woman named Paulina Stevens. Paulina claimed she had grown up in an insular Romani community in California, where she was raised to be a wife, mother and fortuneteller — until she decided to break away. That first call unraveled a story spanning multiple continents, hundreds of years, and complex metaphysical realities.  Follow "Foretold" to hear new episodes every Tuesday. Check out photos and more information about this episode. Read the episode transcript. Dive deeper: Our Romani cultural consultant's op-ed describing how her heritage fits into her own life.

An FBI investigation tried to expose malfeasance in the world of NCAA men’s basketball. Instead, the mirror was turned on the agency itself when one of the lead agents abused his position.Today, you’ll hear the story of how that came to be — and whether the investigation turned up anything. Read the full story here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times sports investigative reporter Nathan FennoMore reading:How an FBI agent’s wild Vegas weekend stained an investigation into NCAA basketball corruption10 charged in college basketball corruption probeCongressional committee wants answers in college basketball bribery scandal

Democrat and Republican lawmakers are pushing for a U.S. ban on TikTok, arguing the Chinese-owned social media app is a national security risk. But many of its users argue that will severely harm their businesses.Today, we hear from some of them. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times reporter technology reporter Brian Contreras and L.A. Times business reporter Jaimie DingMore reading:For some, TikTok is a path to riches and the American dream. With a ban, it could all disappearTikTok might get banned after ‘disaster’ testimony. Why do some TikTokers not care?The Biden administration’s threat to ban TikTok: Here’s what you should know

For centuries, communities across Latin America have relied on curanderos — healers who rely on indigenous tradition — for their physical and mental health. Will mainstream American health ever embrace it?Today, we examine the subject. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times utility reporter Karen GarciaMore reading:Some Latinos don’t trust Western mental health. That’s where curanderos come inCurandera’s spell may soothe your soulBringing medicine from the village into the public eye

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden decried U.S. border policies enacted by the Trump administration as racist. But Biden has not only not rolled some of them back — in some cases, he’s doubled down.Today, we try to figure out what changed. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times immigration reporters Hamed Aleaziz and Andrea CastilloMore reading:Top Democrats warn Biden: Don’t restart family detentionsBiden immigration plan could force asylum officers to break law, union warnsAsylum seekers face decision to split up families or wait indefinitely under new border policy

The indictment of former president Donald Trump has provoked praise and criticism alike. So what’s next? We talk to two of our political wizards to figure it out.Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times political columnist Mark Z. Barabak, and L.A. Times national security reporter Sarah D. WireMore reading:Full coverage: Trump hush-money probeTrump indicted in alleged hush-money scheme, becoming first former U.S. president in history to be prosecutedColumn: Scandal after scandal, Trump has defied political physics. Will this time be different?

Lucy Jones, California’s beloved earthquake expert, sits down with environment reporter Rosanna Xia to discuss her new project: using music to inspire people to take action against climate change. Listen to hear Lucy go through her process, her collaborators explain the psychology behind it all, and  — of course — a sampling of the compositions. Read the full transcript here.Host: Rosanna XiaGuests: Lucy JonesMore reading:Column One: Can music inspire more people to care about climate change? Lucy Jones is leaving her job - to shake up more than just earthquakes

Over the last couple of years, RVs in Los Angeles turned from a vehicle for camping to shelter for people who are unhoused. That’s led to multiple complaints — and deaths.Today, we examine how L.A. got to this point. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times columnist Erika D. SmithMore reading:The real and complicated reasons why Los Angeles still has so many RV encampmentsQ&A: L.A. Mayor Karen Bass: ‘The city is demanding the tents go away’Los Angeles lifts moratorium on towing RVs, pledges to move problem campers

For over 100 years, college athletes couldn’t make money competing in their sports. A new NCAA rule around name, image and likeness, or NIL, has changed that. The biggest winners? Gymnasts.Today, we talk to a few current and former gymnasts at UCLA, including Olympians Jordyn Wieber and Jordan Chiles, about how this rule change has affected their lives. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times college sports and NBA reporter Thuc Nhi Nguyen More reading: Once empowered by Title IX, female athletes are now among big winners in new NIL era ‘My medals are my armor.’ Jordan Chiles’ persistence guides her pursuit of greatness How California paved the way for college athletes to cash in big

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, Ukrainian military officials have set up a hotline for Russian soldiers to call in and surrender. Is it working to end the war?.Today, we talk to the people behind it. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times global affairs correspondent Laura KingMore reading:Lots of Russian soldiers want to surrender. Ukraine makes it easier with a high-tech hotlineA soldier’s tale: Russian serviceman’s scathing memoir depicts a senseless warRead the L.A. Times’ full Ukraine coverage

This year’s historic storms have hit communities of color like Pajaro, Calif., especially hard. It’s a recurring problem that could’ve been avoided entirely.Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times investigative reporter Susanne RustMore reading:Residents left in flooded California farm town feel ‘abandoned’ as levees failSpring storm sets sights on Southern California with strong wind, heavy rainHow a long history of racism and neglect set the stage for Pajaro flooding

Ariadna López was found murdered on the side of a road in Mexico, one of thousands of women murdered every year in the country. But her death outraged the country like never before.Today, the problem of femicide in Mexico — and whether Lopez’s death will help change that. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Mexico City bureau chief Patrick J. McDonnellMore reading:A single mother in Mexico was blamed for her own death. Now a well-connected playboy has been chargedFemicides in Mexico: Little progress on longstanding issueIn Mexico, a grisly killing inflames debate about femicide

When inflation is high, the Federal Reserve has historically raised interest rates. But the recent failures of banks like Silicon Valley Bank have sparked worries about the stability of our banking system. Now the feds must weigh whether the banking system could withstand the turmoil that raising interest rates could bring. To get inside the mind of Fed chair Jerome Powell, we look to a previous era of high inflation, the late 1970s and early ‘80s, and the decisions of then Fed chairs Arthur Burns and Paul Volcker.Today, we talk about what's next. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times economics reporter Don LeeMore reading:Did deregulation lead to Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse?Federal Reserve officials sound warnings about higher ratesU.S. inflation eases but stays high, putting Fed in tough spot

U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez is known for overturning gun bans. Derided and hailed in equal measures, he’s now presiding over a case with far-reaching consequences.Today, we talk about his history and impact. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times enterprise reporter Laura J. NelsonMore reading:The judge upending California’s gun laws: ‘Blessed’ jurist or ‘stone-cold ideologue’? Thanks to the Supreme Court, California gun cases hinge more on history than modern threatsWar on California gun laws revs up after Supreme Court’s ‘right to carry’ decision