On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico, saying the military had gone soft and woke. He decried diversity initiatives and declared the era of “gender delusion” to be over. “The era of unprofessional appearance is over. No more beardos,” he said. Critics argue that the new rules disproportionately impact Black and Brown soldiers, many of whom have pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), which makes it impossible to shave without developing painful bumps and ingrown hairs.

Since its inception in 2012, American film studio A24 has established itself as a zeitgeisty innovator willing to invest in budding auteurs. It has also become a cultural touchstone that manages to thread the needle between commercial success and arthouse credibility. How long can that last, especially now that there’s VC money invested and a new division devoted to AI?

Multidisciplinary artist Derek Fordjour’s new show at David Kordansky Gallery pays tribute to Black music by transforming the white box that is the art museum into a dreamy, wooded glade filled with art and performers. Plus, Jeff Koons’ 37-foot-tall sculpture, called Split-Rocker, is being installed outside LACMA.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, Zeke Reed, and Nihar Patel.

LA County was plagued by understaffing, underfunding, plus outdated and unclear policies and procedures during January’s wildfires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, according to a new independent review, commissioned by the LA County Board of Supervisors. Some Altadena residents want the state to investigate this too, which Supervisor Kathryn Barger says she would support.

Susan Choi’s latest and sixth novel, Flashlight, opens with a mystery. It’s 1978, and a precocious 10-year-old named Louisa is walking on the beach with her father, Serk. He’s carrying a flashlight. The two of them, along with Louisa’s mother, Anne, are spending the summer in coastal Japan. Japan is where Serk, who’s ethnically Korean, spent his childhood, and where he disappears. Tragedy unfolds, and Louisa is found washed up by the tide, barely alive. Serk, who can’t swim, is never found, presumed to be dead. Drowned. The novel is told through multiple perspectives. It spans four generations of Serk’s family as they move through Japan, the United States, and North Korea after World War II. In that way, the story – an exploration of fractured identity, loss, and loneliness – is also a geopolitical story. Flashlight was recently nominated – and shortlisted – for the prestigious Booker Prize.

If you don’t consume a lot of meat or fish, good alternate protein sources include legumes (beans, lentils, peas), cottage cheese, and tofu. Cooking Indian and Mediterranean dishes is a great way to add protein. And it’s easy to make protein bars at home.

A government shutdown is looming on Capitol Hill. Democrats are refusing to vote to fund the government unless Republicans negotiate on health care and other demands.

The state of Oregon – and the city of Portland – are suing the Trump administration to block the deployment of the state’s National Guard. The suit comes after Trump ordered federal troops into what he called “war-ravaged” Portland, under siege by “Antifa and other domestic terrorists.”

Keyboardist Meme del Real started in the popular Mexican band Café Tacvba, but he left Mexico City for a small mountain town to record his introspective solo debut.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, Zeke Reed, and Nihar Patel.