A Look at Prop 50; Meet the Duduk Whisperer; Altadena Homeowners Resettling in RVs

·33 min·3 clips

Governor Gavin Newsom and Arnold Schwarzenegger clash over Proposition 50, a measure to redraw California's congressional districts in response to Texas.

The episode opens with a segment on Proposition 50, California's sole statewide ballot measure. Host Sasha Koka introduces the measure as a response to Texas's redistricting plans, with Governor Gavin Newsom backing it to create more Democratic-leaning districts. KQED politics correspondent Guy Marzarotti explains that Prop 50 would override California's independent redistricting commission, established by voters in 2008 and 2010. He details how the new maps target five seats for Democrats to flip, including moving the 41st District from Riverside to Los Angeles and stretching a Northern California district into Sonoma County. The debate centers on whether to 'fight fire with fire' against Republican gerrymandering or avoid 'two wrongs,' as argued by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Marzarotti notes the measure could influence other states like Utah and Ohio in a national redistricting war. The second story shifts to Hachadur Hachadurian, a musician in Santa Rosa who plays the duduk, an ancient Armenian double-reed instrument. Producer Elise Minoukian reports that Hachadurian, called the 'duduk whisperer,' uses the instrument to push boundaries in traditional Armenian music. The duduk has appeared in Hollywood scores like 'The Last Temptation of Christ' and 'Gladiator.' Hachadurian discusses the instrument's mournful sound, linking it to Armenian history, including the 1915 genocide. He draws inspiration from troubadours known as Ashur, who spread poetry across cultures. Born in Beirut during the civil war, he later moved to Los Angeles and found solace in the duduk after a difficult transition. He has recorded five albums, including one of Armenian lullabies in a male voice, and performed for children in Turkey. The third story, reported by Stephen Cuevas, focuses on Altadena homeowners resettling in RVs after the Eaton Fire. Emily Hopkins and her husband John LaPointe live in an Airstream trailer on their cleared property, planning to rebuild. L.A. County permits temporary housing like RVs for fire survivors. Other residents, like Jacob Meza and Pete Garcia, have also moved into RVs, with Garcia showing injuries from fighting the fire. The community shares resources, such as internet via Starlink. Hopkins aims to create a program to help first-time RV dwellers, collaborating with artist Alma Cielo at Zorthian Ranch to build a network for home-building knowledge. The episode concludes with credits and event announcements.

As heard by us

A brisk California ballot fight leads into a resonant story of Armenian memory carried through the duduk.

The episode starts with Prop 50, California's Election Rigging Response Act, and Governor Gavin Newsom's push for a measure meant to create more Democratic-leaning congressional districts in answer to Texas redistricting plans favoring Republicans.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a California ballot fight, then stay for the mournful pull of an Armenian duduk.

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