I’m guest hosting Your Call’s Media Roundtable this morning at 10am PT, where we’ll first discuss the state of emergency in El Salvador, following a rise in gang violence. The measure restricts the freedom of the press and suspends civil liberties including the right to assembly and access to a lawyer. More than 17,000 have been arrested since the state of emergency was declared a month ago.

According to El Faro, a leading investigative digital news outlet, earlier this month, President Bukele also ordered changes to the Penal Code that press advocates warn censor journalism about gangs and would impede news outlets from questioning the official narrative on issues such as security policy and the government’s secret negotiations with the gangs.

Joining us will be Anna-Cat Brigida, a freelance journalist in Latin America.

Then we’ll talk about why California continues to approve new oil and gas wells. The state approved more new wells in March and April than in any two-month period since last October. We also discuss the power and influence of fossil fuel lobbyists on regulators and lawmakers in California. According to a new analysis by Capital & Main, between 2018 and 2021, lobbying organizations representing oil and gas companies spent almost $77.5 million advocating for the industry’s interests in Sacramento.

Joining us will be Aaron Cantu, award winning investigative journalist covering gas and oil in California for the Capital and Main.

Tune in at 91.7 FM in the San Francisco Bay Area or stream live at 10am PT. What comments or questions do you have for these guests? Call 866-798-TALK to join the conversation!