Rep. Judy Chu Joins Pasadena Media’s ‘NewsRap Local’ to Discuss Infrastructure, Abortion and News of the Day

Pasadena Media’s local news talk show “NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman” airs Friday at 5 p.m. with featured guest Congress member Judy Chu (D-Pasadena), who will discuss her federal abortion bill, progress on the dual infrastructure bills and other news of the day.

Chu was the first Chinese American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009. Her district includes Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley. She currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over legislation pertaining to taxes, revenues, Social Security and Medicare. She also serves on the House Small Business Committee, which has oversight of the Small Business Administration. She was first elected to the Garvey School District Board of Education in 1985. From there, she was elected to the Monterey Park City Council, where she served as mayor three times. She then was elected to the state Assembly and then the state Board of Equalization.

“Congresswoman Chu recently introduced a federal abortion rights bill and as a member of the Ways and Means Committee she’s playing an important role in the negotiations over the infrastructure bills,” said host Justin Chapman, a Pasadena-based journalist since 2005 who writes for Pasadena Now. “We’ll talk to her about how what she’s working on in the House of Representatives impacts Pasadena.”

“NewsRap Local” launched in April and airs on the third Friday of every month on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps, available on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse, channel 32 on Charter Spectrum, YouTube, Facebook, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku.

In each episode, Chapman provides analysis on local news, presents a “lightning round” of the month’s top stories and interviews a special guest or hosts a panel for a deep dive into an important issue facing the community. It is the only TV talk show that focuses exclusively on Pasadena news and politics.

“NewsRap Local” is written by Chapman, directed by Joshua Morales and executive produced by George Falardeau, CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media.

Chapman is also the writer, host, producer and editor of the show “Well Read with Justin Chapman,” which also airs on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps. On Saturday, he placed 2nd in the Hard News category and 3rd in the Obituary category at the LA Press Club’s 63rd annual Southern California Journalism Awards.

Chapman was the youngest elected official in LA County when he served on the Altadena Town Council at age 19. He has written hundreds of articles for two dozen print and digital publications, including KPCC/LAist, Alta Journal, Huffington Post, LA Weekly, Berkeley Political Review, Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena Now and many others.

“Join me on the third Friday of every month at 5 p.m. for my analysis of Pasadena news and politics and to hear directly from community movers and shakers,” Chapman said.

Learn more at justindouglaschapman.com and pasadenamedia.org.