KQED's Forum

LaRussell is known for a lot of things. His prolific music drops. His backyard concerts from his hometown, the “itty bitty city near the Bay,” Vallejo. And, for making a name in the world of hip hop on his own – no record deal needed. LaRussell is one of the Bay Area’s hottest musicians not just because of his talent and artistry, but also his business savvy. He is the founder of Good Compenny, a collective of independent artists. LaRussell joins us in studio for a special musical performance and to talk about growing up in Vallejo, what it means to “leave empty” and how he’s forged a career on his own terms. Guests: LaRussell, artist and founder, Good Compenny - an organization that promotes rising Bay Area artists. Michael Prince, violin, Good Compenny Kenivah Bockari, dj, Good Compenny Simon Ajero, piano, Good Compenny

Should you throw out your black plastic spatula — and any other cookware made of black plastic? Unfortunately, yes, probably. A new study finds that black plastic contains higher amounts of flame retardants and other toxic materials than other plastics. And health experts say that means we should try to keep it away from heat… and our food. We’ll talk about how concerned we should be about the plastics in our kitchen and how to evaluate the risks. Guests: Zoë Schlanger, staff writer at The Atlantic, wrote the piece “Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula” Desiree LaBeaud, associate dean of global health and professor of pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine; Pediatric infectious disease physician who leads the university’s plastic working group.

Running a small business in the Bay Area is not for the faint of heart. A complex regulatory environment, rising costs, crime, and a sluggish post-COVID economy are just some of the challenges. But for small business owners, the chance to be their own boss, create community, and turn a passion into a profitable enterprise keeps them going. Can small business be the engine that supercharges the local economy? We talk to small business owners about what sustains them and what they need to thrive. Guests: Katy Tang, executive director, San Francisco Office of Small Business - which offers advice and counseling for small businesses operating in San Francisco. Nicole Schwieterman, founder and owner, Fleetwood, a shop on Clement street in SF; Schwieterman is co-director of the Clement Street Merchants Association. Victor Diaz, owner of Renegade Running, a run-specialty store located in downtown Oakland, CA Angela Tsay, owner, Oaklandish, located in Oakland; Oaklandish, has three brick and mortar stores. It designs, prints and sells clothing and accessories that focus on Oakland spirit and pride. Tomra Palmer, co-owner, Gravel + Gold, a clothing shop based in the Mission

Are you one of the 20 million people on Bluesky? The social media platform has nearly doubled its user base since the election as more people migrate away from Elon Musk’s X. We talk about what’s drawing people to Bluesky and the pros and cons of the platform, and we’ll hear what you’re looking for in an online social network. We're on Bluesky now! Follow us @kqedforum.bsky.social! Guests: Zoe Schiffer, managing editor, Platformer - author of "Extremely Hardcore: Inside Elon Musk’s Twitter" Damon Beres, senior editor, The Atlantic

A conspiracy-theorist and vaccine denier to run the Department of Health and Human Services. A Russia-friendly intelligence chief. And an attorney general pick who has been accused of sexual misconduct. President-elect Donald Trump is appointing cabinet members at a breakneck pace, with one more norm-busting than the next. We’ll get the latest on Trump’s picks–and other recent political news– with journalists Molly Ball of the Wall Street Journal and Philip Bump of the Washington Post Guests: Molly Ball, senior political correspondent, Wall Street Journal Philip Bump, national columnist, Washington Post - Bump is the author of "The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America"

President-elect Trump and his team want to end DACA and the Temporary Protected Status program – which could make nearly a million people vulnerable to deportation. They’ve said they’d use the military to carry out mass detentions and deportations. If enacted, these proposals are all but guaranteed to face legal challenges — as they did during the last Trump administration. But some advocates worry that federal courts could prove friendlier to Trump policies than last time. We’ll talk with UCLA law professor Ahilan Arulanantham about the likelihood Trump’s latest proposals will become reality and the impact they’ll have on immigrant communities. Guests: Ahilan Arulanantham, Faculty Co-Director, Center for Immigration Law and Policy, UCLA Law - former Legal Director ACLU of Southern California

Bay Area transit agencies have struggled to recover ever since the pandemic decimated ridership and revenue. Several measures on the ballot aimed to shore up public transportation. In San Francisco, Prop. L, which would have provided more funding for Muni, failed. But in Napa, voters approved Measure U to bring $25 million a year to improve transit. With a Republican administration and Congress set to take power in January, local transit agencies, concerned there may be a lack of federal support, are thinking about long term solutions to their funding shortfalls and looking to the state to do more. We’ll talk about the future of Bay Area transit funding and what it means for you. Guests: Dan Brekke, editor and reporter, KQED News Rebecca Long, Director of Legislation and Public Affairs, Metropolitan Transportation Commission Sebastian Petty, Senior Advisor, Transportation Policy| SPUR

The push to harness renewable energy sources like wind and solar has sparked a massive demand for critical metals such as cobalt, nickel, and lithium, according to journalist Vince Beiser. To meet this demand, intensive mining operations are underway in regions like China, Chile, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), extracting rare metals needed for solar panels, electric vehicles, smartphones, and the infrastructure that supports them. In his new book, “Power Metal: The Race for Resources That Will Shape the Future,” Beiser explores the “terrifying” scale of metal extraction our electro-digital age requires and the global environmental and public health crises it may trigger. Beiser joins us. Guests: Vince Beiser, journalist; author of “Power Metal: The Race for Resources That Will Shape the Future”

Are we alone? Really, though, in a cosmic sense. 40 years ago the pioneering radio astronomer Jill Tarter co-founded a Bay Area non profit to support humanity searching for life beyond ourselves. We celebrate the SETI – as in, Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence – Institute’s anniversary and all their contributions to science which, sadly, do not yet include finding aliens. What do you hope SETI finds in its next 40 years? Guests: Bill Diamond, president and CEO, SETI Institute Wael Farah, radio astronomer and project scientist on The Allen Telescope Array, SETI Institute Nathalie Cabrol, astrobiologist and planetary geologist; director of Science, the Carl Sagan Center for Research at the SETI Institute Simon Steel, astronomer, director of Education and Public Outreach, SETI Institute

We’ll listen back to Mina Kim’s live, on-stage conversation last month at KQED Fest with actor, producer, rapper Daveed Diggs. Diggs won a Tony for his roles in the original “Hamilton” and is known for the TV show “Snowpiercer” and the Oakland-set movie and series “Blindspotting.” We talk about his career, about the “unspoken contract” a live performer makes with an audience and about executive producing a new documentary about Bay Area high schoolers during covid — “The Class.” Guests: Daveed Diggs, actor, rapper, writer. executive producer, Blindspotting, co-wrote, co-produced, and costarred in the 2018 film Blindspotting

Art is a mode of expression, a vehicle for processing thoughts and feelings, and a way to connect. Regardless of your political leanings, it’s fair to say we just went through a tumultuous election. These times of uncertainty often prompt us to look for art, create art, or reflect on how it can bring us beauty, reflection and meaning. So, we’ll talk to Bay Area artists about what is on their minds and how to access creativity. Guests: Tsutomu "Tom" Shimura, Lyrics Born, rapper, producer and song-writer; author of the e-book “Yes, Bay Area”, a collection of his tweets. Callan Porter-Romero, artist based in Oakland; One of her paintings is now on exhibit at The de Young Open. She was also included in the 2020 Exhibition. Matthew Zapruder, poet and author of "I Love Hearing Your Dreams: Poems"; He teaches in the MFA and English Department at Saint Mary’s College of California.

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will nominate Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General. The polarizing MAGA congressman from Florida engineered the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and is the subject of an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation for sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. We talk about the implications of Gaetz’s nomination and what the Department of Justice could look like under a second Trump term. Guests: Benjamin Wittes, editor-in-chief of Lawfare; senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institute Claudia Grisales, congressional correspondent, NPR

Across the Bay Area, voters signaled a move away from progressive politics. A progressive mayor and DA were recalled in Oakland. A Levi’s heir was elected as San Francisco’s new mayor. The Bay Area rejected efforts to expand rent control and supported increasing criminal penalties for theft and certain drug crimes. What kind of platform do left wing political leaders need to appeal to this Bay Area electorate? We talk to political leaders about where progressives go from here. Guests: Jesse Arreguin, mayor, City of Berkeley; president, Association of Bay Area Governments; candidate, California State Senate District 7 Betty Duong, supervisor-elect, Santa Clara County, Board of Supervisors, District 2 Connie Chan, supervisor, District 1, San Francisco Board of Supervisors Edward Wright, director-elect, BART Board representing district 9. Wright is a former president of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club

Many factors contributed to Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss in the 2024 election. But for those hoping that Americans would elect the country’s first woman president — especially when picking between a Black and Asian woman and an adjudicated rapist — her defeat stung deeply. At the same time, 45% of female voters – and a majority of white women voters – cast their ballots for president-elect Donald Trump. We’ll talk about the roles racism and sexism could have played in this election, and whether the U.S. could have a female president in our lifetimes. Guests: Caroline Heldman, political scientist and professor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, political scientist and professor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Anna Sampaio, Professor of Ethnic Studies and Political Science, Santa Clara University Chaya Crowder, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Loyola Marymount University - author of the forthcoming book, “Intersectional Solidarity: Black Women and the Politics of Group Consciousness”

More than 60% of Oakland voters chose to recall mayor Sheng Thao last week, making her the first mayor to be recalled in the city’s history. Soon after the election is certified in December, Oakland will have four months to throw a special election for a new mayor. We’ll talk about what’s next for the city in the meantime. And we’ll check in with Oaklanders invested in the people, culture and functioning of the city about their hopes for the future of Oakland and what they’ll most be looking for from a new mayor. We want to hear from our Oakland listeners. Now that the old order has been tossed out, what do you want from a new one? Guests: Alex Hall, enterprise and accountability reporter, KQED Liam O'Donoghue, host and producer, East Bay Yesterday Nigel Jones, restaurateur, Calabash - an Afro-Caribbean and Jamaican restaurant, market and bar. Owned Kingston 11, which has now closed. Noni Session, executive director and co-founder, East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative Dorothy Lazard, author, What You Don’t Know Will Make a Whole New World - Former Head Librarian of the Oakland History Center Allison Brooks, executive director, Bay Area Regional Collaborative Janet Heller, executive director, Chapter 510 Angela Glover Blackwell, founder in residence, PolicyLink, an Oakland- based non-profit dedicated to advancing economic and social equity.

“The time to fight, with all our ingenuity and tenacity, and love and fury, is now.” That sounds like a rallying cry for democrats after their profound election defeat last week. But it’s in fact an environmental call to action from Katherine Rundell, whose new book “Vanishing Treasures” celebrates some of the earth’s most imperiled and unusual creatures. We’ll talk to Rundell about wombats that carry their young in upside-down pouches and excrete cube-shaped poop; the American wood frog that freezes itself solid to get through winter; the golden mole that’s evolved to be iridescent. What extraordinary creatures would you like to pay tribute to? Guests: Katherine Rundell, author, "Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures", Her previous books include "Impossible Creatures" and "Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Aren't So Old and Wise"

Transgender kids and their families have become a frequent target of president-elect Donald Trump and other conservative politicians. While the Bay Area and California have some of the strongest protections for trans people, federal policies could pose major challenges here. We’ll talk about the future of trans rights, whether access to gender-affirming care will remain possible, and what could happen during a second Trump administration. Guests: Honey Mahogany, Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives, City of San Francisco - former chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party and cofounder of the Transgender District in the Tenderloin Tom Temprano, managing director of external affairs, Equality California, an LGBTQ+ rights advocacy organization Kate Redburn, academic fellow, lecturer and co-director, The Center for Gender and Sexuality Law, Columbia Law School Nadine Pourier Blumenshine, vice president, PFLAG Fresno, a nonprofit organization of LGBTQ+ people, parents, families, and allies focused on creating an equitable and inclusive world

Donald Trump had a rocky relationship with Silicon Valley during his 2016 presidential campaign, and he clashed with Big Tech during his first term. This time around, he had the support of some high profile tech leaders, including Elon Musk. Dramatic changes have also come to Silicon Valley, which has been shaken up by the emergence of artificial intelligence. While there is growing concern over AI’s potential impact on society, Trump is expected to take a hands-off approach to regulation. The same might be true with antitrust enforcement against tech companies, which the Biden administration has prioritized. We’ll look at how Trump’s second term is likely to impact the tech industry from AI to social media to cryptocurrency. Guests: Elizabeth Dwoskin, Silicon Valley correspondent, The Washington Post Kelsey Piper, senior writer, Vox's Future Perfect newsletter Jeremy Owens, technology editor and San Francisco bureau chief, MarketWatch

Donald Trump has called climate change a “hoax”, opined that sea level rise caused by melting glaciers “could create more oceanfront property,” and has said “nuclear warming” is just as concerning as a hotter planet. During his first administration, Trump made a point of dismantling Obama-era climate rules, and in his second, he has vowed to double down on production of fossil fuels. We talk to experts about what climate efforts may look like during a Trump Administration, and how California will respond. Guests: Ethan Elkind, director of the Climate Program at the Center for Law, Energy and the Environment, UC Berkeley School of Law; host of the podcast, Climate Break Lisa Friedman, reporter on the climate desk, New York Times Jesse Jenkins, assistant professor, engineering, Princeton University Aru Shiney-Ajay, Executive Director, Sunrise movement, a grassroots organization of students and young people focused on climate change

Political strategist Mike Madrid says that democrats are in for a “long overdue reckoning” following an election where Trump support among self-identifying Hispanic voters was up some 14 percentage points compared to 2020, according to an Edison Research exit poll. We talk to Madrid about why he says the democratic party is less ethnically diverse than it was and what it needs to do to regain working class and Latino voters. Guests: Mike Madrid, political strategist, his new book is "The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority is Transforming Democracy" ; co-founder, The Lincoln Project

On the face of it, California and Florida – the homestates of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – are polar opposites. The divisions between the states came to symbolize the nation’s red/blue divide in the starkly different responses to the pandemic and the rivalry between their ambitious and politically powerful governors. But we also share a lot of the same concerns, including a housing affordability crisis and disasters caused by extreme weather. In this hour we team up with South Florida public radio station WLRN for a post-election conversation about where the country is headed and what unites and divides us. Guests: Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown

Donald Trump has long had it in for California. He’s threatened to withhold federal aid for wildfire recovery, tried to revoke the state’s Clean Air Act waiver and referred to Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff as examples of the “enemy from within.” Now that Trump has secured another term, California officials are preparing for what CalMatters reporter Alexei Koseff calls the “return of the resistance state.” How would you like California to respond to a second Trump Administration? Guests: Melanie Mason, senior political correspondent, Politico Alexei Koseff, reporter, CalMatters Eleni Kounalakis, lieutenant governor for the state of California, chairs the California Advisory Council for International Trade and Investment Anita Chabria, columnist, Los Angeles Times

In a recent post on Substack, writer and longtime political observer James Fallows wrote, “By the standards of any presidential race in modern times, Kamala Harris ran a very ‘good’ campaign… By those same standards, Trump ran a very bad campaign… And none of it mattered.” So, what did matter on election day? And, how does the Bay Area make sense of an election where the country voted overwhelmingly against one of our region’s most prominent politicians, Kamala Harris? Fallows joins Forum to help us understand what happened in the election and to discuss his recent Wired article, “After the Election, California (Yes, That Hellscape) Will Keep Moving the World Forward No Matter What.” Guests: James Fallows, journalist; former national correspondent for The Atlantic and author of the newsletter Breaking the News. His new article in Wired titled “After the Election, California (Yes, That Hellscape) Will Keep Moving the World Forward No Matter What.”

On the day after the election, we’ll bring you the latest results in the presidential race and the battle for Congress as well as key California contests and ballot measures. Politics reporters Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos of KQED and Andrew Prokop of Vox join us to analyze what we know so far, and where votes are still being tallied. Guests: Scott Shafer, senior editor, KQED’s California Politics and Government; co-host, Political Breakdown Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED - co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown Andrew Prokop, senior politics reporter, Vox

Bay Area voters were faced with pivotal decisions in Tuesday’s election that could have major impacts on our region. KQED reporters join us to talk about results from local and regional races and ballot measures. We’ll discuss the ranked choice results from San Francisco’s mayoral race and the recalls of Oakland’s mayor and Alameda County’s District Attorney. Voters also weighed in on controversial propositions such as Sonoma’s Measure J, an attempt to ban large-scale animal farms, and Measure K, deciding the future of San Francisco’s Great Highway. And we’ll hear from you, what Bay Area races were you watching? Guests: Alex Hall, enterprise and accountability reporter, KQED Annelise Finney, reporter, KQED Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk Sydney Johnson, reporter, KQED News

For many Americans, the 2024 election has caused rifts between family members, created animosity among friends and made civil political debate all but impossible. We share tips on navigating political differences and repairing relationships, especially when an election outcome doesn’t go your way. How are you handling political conflict in your family or social circle? Guests: A Martinez, host of Morning Edition and Up First, NPR Dr. Tania Israel, Professor of Counseling Psychology, UC Santa Barbara - author of her newest book, "Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation"

After a grueling campaign season, Election Day has arrived. Here at Forum, we asked ourselves what we would want to hear on an anxiety-inducing day. To that end, we’ve brought together a panel of thinkers including Tracy K. Smith, Pulitzer prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate, Jenny Odell, an artist and author who has thought deeply about nature and time, and Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor, who has written about awe and wonder. We’ll talk with them about how they find beauty, discovery and meaning in the face of worrying times, and hear from you: What is keeping you grounded today? Guests: Jenny Odell, author of "Saving Time: Discovering A Life Beyond the Clock". Odell is also the author of "How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy" Tracy K. Smith, poet; professor of English and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University - She served as the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 2012 for her book, "Life on Mars." She is the author of five poetry collections, including "Such Color," "Wade in Water," among other volumes Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley -Keltner is the author of "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life." He served as a consultant on the Pixar films, "Inside Out" and "Inside Out 2".

Donald Trump on Thursday called former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney a “radical war hawk” who should have guns “trained on her face.” This has become increasingly typical of the rhetoric coming from the Trump campaign — a campaign Atlantic staff writer David Graham says is “premised around violence, disregard for the rule of law, and retribution for anyone who might disagree with him.” We’ll talk with Graham and experts on extremism and extremist rhetoric about the impacts of Trump’s threatening messaging. Guests: David Graham, staff writer, The Atlantic Juliette Kayyem, faculty chair of the Homeland Security and Security and Global Health Projects Jennifer Mercieca, professor, Department of Communication & Journalism, Texas A&M University; author, “Demagogue For President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump”

For most of us the presidential race is top of mind. But voters on Tuesday will also decide which party controls Congress. Across the country, 34 Senate seats and all 435 House seats are contested in this election. In a historically tight race, with Democrats controlling the Senate and Republicans holding a majority in the House by razor thin margins, a small number of races will decide which party controls each chamber of Congress. We’ll talk to experts breaking down the battleground congressional races in California and nationwide. Guests: Jessica Taylor, Senate/Governors Editor, The Cook Political Report Nicholas Wu, congressional reporter, Politico Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk

Dia de los Muertos gives us a yearly opportunity to remember loved ones who have passed away. In honor of the holiday, we provide our listeners with a radio altar. It’s a chance to call in and share testimonials – or audio ofrendas – for those who’ve left us. Have you recently lost a family member, a neighbor, a friend or even a celebrity you admired? Tell us what they meant to you. Guests: Martina Ayala, executive director, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Antonieta Mercado, professor and director of the Program in Latin American Studies, University of San Diego

The modern witch is more than a character from “Harry Potter.” She, he or they could be a co-worker, a neighbor or a friend who uses spells, spirituality and study to connect with ancestors, mystery or the divine. Throughout history and across cultures, witches have been persecuted – labeled as heretics, Satanists or just plain weird. But witches have also been revered (and feared) for their ability to cure ailments with herbs and tinctures, to commune with nature and to summon the spirits. We talk about witches, witchcraft and the powerful spell they hold on us. Guests: Michelle Tea, author and poet, Her latest book is "Modern Magic: Stories, Rituals and Spells for Contemporary Witches"; She also hosts the podcast "Your Magic" where she has read the tarot cards for Roxane Gay, Phoebe Bridgers and other celebrities. Bri Luna, founder of the website "The Hoodwitch", Her most recent book is "Blood Sex Magic: Everyday Magic for the Modern Mystic from the Creator of The Hoodwitch". Helen Berger, visiting scholar, Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard Divinity School; Berger is considered one of the country's foremost experts on Witches. She is the author of four books, including "Solitary Pagans" among other books on Witches, Wiccans and contemporary Pagans.

The New York Times’ Modern Love column debuted on Halloween 20 years ago, “three years before iPhones, eight years before Tinder, and 11 years before same-sex marriage became legal in the US.” We’ll look back at the heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking submissions from Modern Love readers about their loves, losses and complicated relationships. And we’ll discuss what they reveal about how we’ve changed as a country over two decades in the ways we find and celebrate love. What’s your modern love story? Guests: Anna Martin, host of the “Modern Love” podcast, The New York Times Daniel Jones, author, "Love Illuminated: Exploring Life's Most Mystifying Subject (with the Help of 50,000 Strangers)" and editor of The New York Times' Modern Love column

Novelist Richard Powers has a way of making us see the world, and our place in it, in entirely new ways. His 2019 Pulitzer Prize Winning novel Overstory attuned readers to the power and mystery of trees. In his new novel, Playground, he focuses his awe and concern on marine life, the oceans and the perils we’ve inflicted on them. We talk to Powers about his epic story of friendship, colonialism and the looming power of AI. Guests: Richard Powers, author, His new novel is "Playground." His previous books include "The Overstory" which won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and "The Echo Maker" which won the 2006 National Book Award for Fiction.

Did you make a mistake filling out your ballot? Need a refresher on how ranked choice voting works? Wondering how to find your polling place? Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation, and KQED’s Scott Shafer join us to take all of your voting questions ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Guests: Kim Alexander, president and founder, California Voter Foundation Scott Shafer, senior editor, KQED’s California Politics and Government; co-host, Political Breakdown

Two major newspapers, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post, will not publish planned endorsements for Kamala Harris for president. Those decisions, made last week after editorial boards at both papers their endorsements, have sparked outrage, hundreds of thousands of canceled subscriptions, and staff resignations. In an op-ed in the Washington Post, owner Jeff Bezos wrote, “What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.” But many observers point out that the very role of editorial boards is to take a stance. We’ll talk about newspaper editorial boards, why they endorse or don’t endorse candidates, and what’s at stake. Guests: David Folkenflik, media correspondent, NPR News Mariel Garza, journalist, former editorials editor of the Los Angeles Times Sewell Chan, executive editor, Columbia Journalism Review

Big Tech-funded super PACs have spent hundreds of millions of dollars this election cycle to protect their interests in crypto and AI. In a piece for the New Yorker this month, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg says that “(n)ow that the tech industry has quietly become one of the most powerful lobbying forces in American politics, it is wielding that power as previous corporate special interests have: to bully, cajole, and remake the nation as it sees fit.” We’ll talk to Duhigg about how tech money is shaping this election. His article is called “Silicon Valley, the New Lobbying Monster.” Guests: Charles Duhigg, journalist, The New Yorker; author of "Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection" and "The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business"

Since Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the election in 2020, laws have been passed to protect our election results. But there has also been a concerted “election integrity” movement that has put election officials distrustful of the system in charge of local and county offices. And in California, only a third of congressional Republican incumbents have pledged to certify the results in November. We discuss how resilient our election system is, and whether we are now better protected from, or more vulnerable to, attacks on our democracy. Guests: Jim Rutenberg, reporter, The New York Times and The New York Times Magazine Ian Millhiser, senior correspondent, Vox - His books include "Injustices: The Supreme Court's History of Comforting the Comfortable and Afflicting the Afflicted" and "The Agenda: How a Republican Supreme Court is Reshaping America." Jessica Marsden, director of impact programs and counsel [leading teams focused on protecting free and fair elections], Protect Democracy

You see them on stage every night – the musicians whose names are buried in the liner notes and driven by passion rather than by rockstar-dom. Franz Nicolay calls them “band people,” and for his new book, he interviewed over 60 of these session musicians, backup singers, and instrumentalists. They share stories about the realities of band life and what Nicolay considers a unique collaboration that exists somewhere between a family, a romance, a small business and a gang. His book is called “Band People: Life and Work In Popular Music.” Who are some of your favorite unsung musicians? Guests: Franz Nicolay, musician and writer Jason Narducy, musician; has performed in Bob Mould Band, Superchunk, Sunny Day Real Estate, Split Single, and Verböten

The latest stars of TikTok and social media are not just influencers, they are presidential candidates. The campaigns of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have rapid response digital teams that are jumping on every meme, dance, and remix, some which feature the candidates. But are these efforts reaching new voters? Or is the “For You Page” just solidifying people’s world views, but to music? We’ll talk to social media experts and hear from you: what’s your favorite – or most hated – political meme in this election cycle and how has it influenced your vote? Guests: Sapna Maheshwari, business reporter covering TikTok and emerging media, New York Times Morgan Sung, host, "Close All Tabs" podcast available on KQED's "Political Breakdown" feed

What happens if fascism takes root in the United States? Actors Edie Falco and Tony Shalhoub have teamed up to voice a new radio play called “It Happened Here 2024.” The play, adapted by Richard Dresser from his own novel, imagines an authoritarian country in 2039 where elections are a thing of the past and the rule of law has collapsed. We’ll talk to the actors and the playwright about the connections they see between their “audio documentary from the future” and the current political climate. Guests: Edie Falco, actor, known for her roles on "The Sopranos" and "Nurse Jackie" Tony Shalhoub, actor, known for his roles on "Monk" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" Richard Dresser, playwright, screenwriter and novelist, His new radio play is "It Happened Here 2024"

Neuroscientist and musician Daniel Levitin says we can trace beliefs about music’s power to heal mind, body and spirit back 20,000 years, to the Upper Paleolithic era. But only recently have we had good science to explain how music affects us and how we can use it therapeutically. Not only to relax, uplift and bring us together, but as part of treatment of trauma, depression, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and more. Alexis Madrigal talked onstage with Levitin in collaboration with LitQuake, San Francisco’s literary festival, running through October 26th. We listen back on their conversation and to Levitin’s live musical performance. Guest: Daniel Levitin, neuroscientist, musician and author, "I Heard There Was a Secret Chord," "The Organized Mind," "The World in Six Songs" and "This is Your Brain on Music. He is also Dean of Social Sciences at the Minerva Schools in San Francisco.

“Living Dummy.” “The Haunted Mask.” “Welcome to Dead House.” For ’90s kids, R.L. Stine, author of the “Goosebumps” series, is synonymous with spooky. The series has sold over 400 million copies globally in 35 languages, making it the second-best-selling book series in history (after a decidedly less scary boy wizard). And after being adapted for TV, film and a new Disney+ series, “Goosebumps” has found its audience among generations of kids looking for frights. We’ll talk about how to tell scary — but not too scary — stories for kids, and why we love horror at any age. Guests: R.L. Stine, author, wrote more than 350 books including the series “Goosebumps” and “Fear Street,” and of the nonfiction works “There's Something Strange About My Brain: Writing Horror For Kids” and “It Came From Ohio!: My Life As a Writer” Caroline Smith, producer, KQED Mark Nieto, producer, KQED Blanca Torres, producer and reporter, KQED

In the final weeks before election day, candidates are scrambling to win over groups of voters who could tip the results. American voters have shifted significantly in recent decades with changes in the racial and ethnic composition of the electorate and their education level. In California, more than 2 million Latinos and more than 750,000 people of Asian descent became eligible to vote between 2012 and 2022. Meanwhile, white voters declined by more than 1 million. In other parts of the country, there are now more voters with college degrees than without. Those shifts could have major implications for elections. We’ll talk about voter trends at the local, state and national level and what it could all mean. Guests: Mindy Romero, founder and director, Center for Inclusive Democracy Jason McDaniel, associate professor of political science, San Francisco State University Jocelyn Kiley, senior associate director of research, Pew Research Center

As the Greenland ice sheet melts, more freshwater is pouring into the oceans and that’s triggering feedback loops that could mean disastrous coastal sea level rise and drought. New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert reported from the summit of the Greenland ice sheet for her new piece, “When the Arctic Melts.” “If we cross the tipping point for the Greenland ice sheet,” she writes, “we may not even notice. And yet the world as we know it will be gone.” Kolbert joins us. Guests: Elizabeth Kolbert, staff writer, The New Yorker

It’s been nearly twenty years since 23andMe, the consumer health company was founded. Since then, other companies have emerged, and in exchange for a tube of spit, a puff of breath, or a drop of blood, consumers can now not only find their ancestry and long-lost relatives, but learn what to eat that day or discover food sensitivities and propensity for diseases. But are these tests effective and what are the pitfalls of using a company you found on Instagram to test whether you’re likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s or cancer? And when those companies cease to exist, as troubled 23andMe might, what happens to all that health data? It’s one thing to share your email address or mobile number, and an entirely different proposition to share your genome. We’ll talk to experts about the world of consumer DNA-testing and how to protect yourself and your genome. Guests: Kristen V. Brown, staff writer, Atlantic Magazine Hank Greely, law professor; founding director, Center for Law and the Biosciences, Stanford University

Native to California, coyotes are common in urban green spaces up and down the state. Once eradicated from San Francisco, they’ve made a comeback in the city, with sightings on the rise and reports of pet attacks, including an incident involving a 5-year-old child. We’ll talk about best practices to keep you and your pets safe and learn about the essential role coyotes play in California’s ecosystem. Have you had a recent encounter with a coyote? Guests: Tali Caspi, urban ecologist, PhD Candidate at UC Davis Christopher J Schell, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley Christine Wilkinson, conservation scientist, carnivore ecologist, research associate at California Academy of Sciences - manages www.bayareacoyote. org

Measure J in Sonoma County wants to ban “factory farms” and force major poultry and dairy farms to downsize or shut down by limiting the number of animals a single farm can raise. The issue has been hotly contested in Sonoma, a major producer of milk, eggs, beef and poultry for the region and state. The measure specifically targets “concentrated animal feeding operations,” known as CAFOs, which backers claim are inhumane and detrimental to the environment. But opponents say the measure does nothing to improve animal welfare and would instead drive humane and ecologically-friendly farms out of business. We’ll talk about Measure J and how it could impact farming in Sonoma County and beyond. Guests: Mike Weber, farmer, Weber Family Farms - a poultry farm in Petaluma Cassie King, spokesperson, Direct Action Everywhere Bay Area - a group that advocates for animal rights and is part of the Coalition to End Factory Farming, the group that started Measure J in Sonoma Phil Barber, reporter, Santa Rosa Press Democrat

The Middle East crisis and Russia’s war in Ukraine are among the critical foreign policy issues the next U.S. president will have to confront on day one. The stakes are high, after hundreds of defense and national security officials from both parties in an open letter last month called Donald Trump “unfit” for office. We look at how a Harris administration would compare to a Trump administration on foreign policy. Guests: Jen Kirby, foreign and national security reporter Fred Kaplan, national security columnist, Slate; author, “The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War" and the novel "A Capital Calamity"

In the first mayoral recall vote in Oakland in more than a century, voters will decide in the November election whether mayor Sheng Thao should be removed from office. After two years as mayor, Thao is contending with a historic budget deficit, widespread public safety concerns, large homeless encampments and the loss of the city’s last major professional sports team. All this in the shadow of an FBI raid on her home earlier this year. Mayor Thao joins us to talk about her approach to the city’s challenges and why voters should let her finish out her term. Guests: Sheng Thao, mayor of Oakland

When ChatGPT launched advanced voice mode last month – inserting accents and ‘umms’, even taking breaths – some users called it surreal. Humans have been trying to make synthesized voices sound more natural for nearly a century. We talk about why and look at the history and evolution of synthesized voices, from robots of film like HAL and C3PO to digital assistants like Alexa. Guests: Kyle Orland, senior gaming editor, Ars Technica Sarah A Bell, associate professor of digital media, Michigan Technological University; author, “Vox ex Machina: A Cultural History of Talking Machines"

Parks are meant for everyone, but they don’t always feel that way. A lack of transportation, paths that are not easily navigated, or elements that are not responsive to a community’s wants or needs can make a park unwelcoming. But park planners today are trying to change that by bringing residents, neighbors, and stakeholders into the planning process. Case in point: San Francisco’s newest park India Basin, located in Bayview-Hunters Point. The park, which opens this Saturday, relied heavily on a community input process that resulted in designs responsive to the people it serves. We’ll talk to park experts about efforts to make urban landscapes more inclusive and rooted in the history of their communities. Guests: Philip Ginsburg, general manager, San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department Jacqueline Bryant, executive director, A. Randolph Institute San Francisco, nonprofit based in Bayview-Hunters Point, advocating for underserved communities Mr. Michael Boland, former chief park officer, The Presidio Trust

Thirty percent of all employees working in the professional services industries with an active PTO policy took sick leave in the first 10 months of 2023 — up 42% from 2019. That’s according to new research from the HR platform Gusto, which also found that workers aged 25 to 34 are the most likely of all groups to take sick days. We’ll look at why Gen Z and young millennials are less likely to work while under the weather and more likely to take mental health days – and whether older generations might have something to learn from them. Guests: Emily Stewart, senior correspondent, Business Insider Malissa Clark, associate professor of industrial-organizational psychology, University of Georgia Adam Leibow, editor, Calling in Sick Magazine

The economy is the top issue influencing voters’ choice for president in this election, according to a recent Gallup poll. But “the economy” can mean many things to voters. In his campaign, Donald Trump has promised to lower taxes, remove regulations and raise tariffs while Kamala Harris wants to make housing more affordable, increase the corporate tax rate, and regulate grocery prices. We’ll talk about how Americans are experiencing our economy and analyze the candidates’ economic policy proposals. Guests: Peter Coy, economics writer, opinion, The New York Times Kathryn Anne Edwards, a labor economist, independent policy consultant, and contributor, Bloomberg Opinion Casey Mulligan, economics professor, University of Chicago

Vice President Kamala Harris is in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin this week as part of a battleground state campaign blitz to turn out the vote and to marshal support from independent and undecided voters. KQED’s Marisa Lagos was embedded with the Harris campaign on a recent stop in Arizona. We talk to her and other political reporters about the strategies informing the candidates’ ground game as this consequential presidential race enters its final stretch. Guests: Marisa Lagos, correspondent, KQED - co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown Theodoric Meyer, national political reporter and co-author, Early Brief newsletter, Washington Post Mara Liasson, national political correspondent, NPR

The Oakland school district is looking for ways to fund lead contamination cleanup, after tests earlier this year revealed that at least 30 schools have dangerous lead levels in the drinking water. The district has been under fire from students, teachers and parents for taking months to release the results of its testing. We’ll talk about why Oakland, in the schools and beyond, has such high rates of lead poisoning, how the school district has handled it and what needs to be done to fix it. Guests: Alex Bledsoe, activist filmmaker producing OAKLEAD, a documentary about the history of lead poisoning in Oakland Kelly Hardy, senior managing director of health and research, Children Now, a California-based org focused on improving child well-being Mike Hutchinson, vice president, Oakland School Board

Starting next fall, public and private universities in California will no longer be allowed to consider an applicant’s relationship to alumni or donors in admissions decisions. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill last month banning the practice, known as legacy admissions. “The California Dream shouldn’t be accessible to just a lucky few, which is why we’re opening the door to higher education wide enough for everyone, fairly,” Newsom said in a statement. We’ll examine what the California ban on legacy admissions could mean for students and for colleges across the country. Guests: Nanette Asimov , Higher Education Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle Jessie Ryan, President, The Campaign for College Opportunity, a non-profit policy and research organization that advocates for Californians to attend and succeed in college. Phil Ting, Assembly member representing California's 19th district encompassing parts of San Francisco and San Mateo counties Catharine Hill, managing director of the nonprofit Ithaka S+R and a former president of Vassar College

As the new Supreme Court term begins, the decisions and conduct of its last term have put a cloud over the judicial institution. Opinions extending the boundaries of presidential immunity and upending administrative law startled court watchers. And ethics questions about Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito helped push public opinion about the court to an all-time low. We’ll talk to legal experts about the state of the court, the cases it will take up this year and what role the justices might play in deciding the 2024 presidential election. Guests: Vikram Amar, professor of law, UC Davis School of Law - He clerked for Justice Harry A. Blackmun of the United States Supreme Court. Rory Little, professor of constitutional law, UC School of Law, San Francisco - former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney Melissa Murray, professor of law, NYU School of Law - co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast

The National Labor Relations Board is facing legal challenges from SpaceX, Amazon, Starbucks and other companies that argue that the nearly 90-year old agency is unconstitutional. The NLRB investigates labor disputes and protects employees’ right to organize, but if these companies have their way in court, it could result in the dissolution of the agency and the statute it enforces. We look at the cases and their implications for both employers and labor organizers. Guests: Samuel Estreicher, professor of public law; director, the Center for Labor and Employment Law; director, the Institute of Judicial Administration at NYU School of Law William G. Gould IV, professor emeritus specializing in labor law and employment discrimination law, Stanford Law School; former chairman, the National Labor Relations Board in the Clinton administration Farida Jhabvala Romero, labor correspondent, KQED

At the San Francisco Zoo, the kangaroo pen lacks running water, the gorilla habitat area floods during heavy rainfall and the jaguars are depressed and live in an old concrete chain-link box. That’s according to a new report by the San Francisco Animal Control and Welfare Commission, which describes the 95-year-old facility as “extremely outdated” and “unsafe for visitors and animals.” The commission is now urging the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to require a performance audit of the zoo. We’ll discuss the report and talk to experts about what makes a zoo safe and humane for animals, zookeepers and visitors. Guests: Tara Duggan, reporter, SF Chronicle Justin Barker, local animal rights activist who contributed to the city’s report Joel Parrott, former director, Oakland Zoo

At least 12 people are dead in Florida after Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday night. The death toll is expected to rise as local officials assess the damage which has caused widespread flooding, left millions of people without power and compounded hardships for those recovering from Hurricane Helene, which hit two weeks ago. We get the latest and learn why so-called “supercharged hurricanes” are becoming more common. Guests: Porter Fox, author, “Category Five: Superstorms and the Warming Oceans That Feed Them” Gabriella Paul, reporter, WUSF (NPR affiliate in the greater Tampa Bay area) Gerard Albert III, Western North Carolina rural communities reporter, Blue Ridge Public Radio

When a female clownfish dies, a male clownfish can switch sexes and reproduce with other females. Some morpho butterflies have one male wing, and one female. In some populations of giraffes, about 95% of sexual activity is homosexual. In his book, “A Little Queer Natural History,” science writer Josh Davis gives a sampling of the enormous variety of gender and sexual behaviors in the plant, fungal and animal world and the ways some scientists have twisted themselves into knots to find non-sexual explanations for gay sex in animals. We talk to Davis about the gender fluid, intersex, asexual, gay, gender changeable, multi-sexual, rainbow splendor of the natural world. Guests: Josh Luke Davis, science writer, Natural History Museum, London; author, "A Little Queer Natural History"

When Saturday Night Live asked Dana Carvey to play Joe Biden for this season, few anticipated that the president would drop out of the race over concerns about age. SNL itself turns 50 this year, ancient by TV standards, and doesn’t appear to be close to dropping out. The water cooler buzz over Carvey’s Biden and Maya Rudolph’s spot-on Kamala Harris impression suggests that the show still has legs. But can it maintain its relevance amid declining ratings and politics that sometimes seem beyond parody? We mark the show’s anniversary by looking back at its cultural influence and some of the most iconic sketches, from Weekend Update to Wayne’s World. Guests: Eric Deggans, tv critic, National Public Radio (NPR) Joanna Robinson, senior staff writer, The Ringer; author, MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios Stephen Tropiano, professor of screen studies, Ithaca College Los Angeles Program; author, The newly revised and updated book "The SNL Companion: An Unofficial Guide to the Seasons, Sketches, and Stars of Saturday Night Live"

Daniel Lurie founded and was the CEO of the antipoverty nonprofit, Tipping Point. He’s also heir to the Levi Strauss fortune and has put more than six million dollars of his own money into his San Francisco mayoral campaign. In the last of our interviews with the major candidates, we talk with Lurie about how he’d solve San Francisco’s most entrenched problems, and why he thinks it’s time for the city to be run by an outsider candidate who hasn’t held elected office. Guests: Daniel Lurie, founder and former CEO, Tipping Point Community - a nonprofit grant-making organization that fights poverty in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Much has been written about Ronald Reagan, but historian Max Boot’s new biography, which draws on new archival sources and interviews with nearly a hundred people who knew Reagan best, is being hailed as definitive. Boot says Reagan was possessed of “myriad contradictions and inconsistencies:” a skeptic of government who presided over vast spending increases; a gun rights advocate who supported tough gun laws; a man of strong convictions but little intellectual depth. We talk to Boot about why he did not want to write either a “hagiography or a hit job” of the former president and California governor, and both the contrasts and connections he sees between Reagan and Donald Trump. Boot’s new book is “Reagan: His Life and Legend.” What policy, event or moment do you most associate with Ronald Reagan? Guests: Max Boot, senior fellow for national security studies, Council on Foreign Relations - columnist, Washington Post; author, "Reagan: His Life and Legend"

When Ahsha Safaí applied to MIT for his masters degree in urban planning, he wrote that one day he hoped to be a city mayor. Since getting his degree, he’s moved to San Francisco, worked as a labor organizer, as well as at the Housing Authority and at Public Works, and served as a two-term board supervisor for District 11, on the south side of the city. Now he’s running to make his mayoral dream a reality. Competing in a crowded field, Safaí recently announced a ranked choice voting alliance with fellow candidate Mark Farrell – a move that he hopes will boost his chances. In the latest of our series of interviews with the major candidates in the San Francisco mayor’s race, we talk to Safaí about his campaign, his career and his hopes for San Francisco. Guests: Ahsha Safai, member, San Francisco Board of Supervisors - represents District 11, which includes the Excelsior and Ingleside neighborhoods.

We take a look at Propositions 33 and 34 on California’s November ballot and how they’re connected. Prop 33 would remove limits on cities’ ability to enact rent control laws, and is heavily backed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Prop 34 would restrict how specific health care providers can spend their money. Opponents of 34 claim that it’s designed to kneecap one organization: the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. We learn more and take your questions. Guests: Vanessa Rancaño, housing affordability reporter, KQED Emily Schultheis, California reporter, Politico

Sheryl Sandberg released her bestselling book, “Lean In,” ten years ago sparking a movement among professional women to pursue leadership roles at work. A new study by consulting firm McKinsey found that while women now hold more of the top jobs than ever before, they still lag far behind men, and Black and Latina women have an even harder time moving up the ranks. Despite some progress, women still face bias in the workplace and more caregiving responsibilities at home than men, among other challenges. We’ll talk about the barriers keeping women out of management, what makes a difference in helping women advance and the impact the Lean In movement has had on you. Guests: Minda Harts, author, workplace expert, and associate professor, New York University - Her books include "The Memo: What Women of Color Need To Know to Secure a Seat at the Table" and "Right Within." Tracy Clark-Flory, Journalist. Essayist. Author of "Want Me: A Sex Writer's Journey into the Heart of Desire." Her newsletter can be found at tracyclarkflory.substack.com Alexis Krivkovich, McKinsey senior partner and co-author of the report, "2024 Women in the Workplace" Anna Dapelo Garcia, founder and president, Lean in Latinas

One year after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the Atlantic’s Franklin Foer joins us for a look back at the U.S. role in the region since that day. His new piece “The War That Would Not End” examines the Biden administration’s efforts to release the hostages and prevent a wider war, and why they failed. We’ll also get the latest on the rapidly escalating conflict from Wall Street Journal Middle East Correspondent Jared Malsin. Guests: Franklin Foer, staff writer, The Atlantic; author of the recent piece "The War That Would Not End." His books include "The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden's White House and the Struggle for America's Future." Jared Malsin, Middle East correspondent, The Wall Street Journal

It has been one year since the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 hostages taken. Nearly 100 hostages, including American citizens, remain in captivity according to the Israeli government. The war in Gaza, which has killed 41,500 people and has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis, continues. This hour of Forum, we will hear from Bay Area Jews as they reflect on this past year and how it has affected their relationship with Israel, Judaism and their friends and neighbors. Guests: Jessica Kirschner, rabbi and executive director of Stanford University Hillel Jacqueline Mates-Muchin, senior rabbi, Temple Sinai, Oakland

American consumers are awash in subscriptions, incurring monthly or annual fees for streaming services, software, online gaming memberships, meal delivery and more. And about 40% of us report that we pay for subscriptions we don’t use, according to a 2022 study. Last week Governor Gavin Newsom signed the “Click to Cancel” bill, which will make it easier for Californians to cancel unwanted subscriptions starting in July 2025. We’ll learn more and hear from you: Are you overwhelmed by your subscriptions? How do you manage them? Guests: Pilar Schiavo, assemblymember, California District 40 (San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley); sponsor of California's "Click to Cancel" law Neale Mahoney , professor of economics, Stanford University; former special policy advisor for economic policy, White House National Economic Council

A century ago, the United States designated its first wilderness area – a place to be forever preserved and protected from human impact. But what does “wilderness” mean in the era of smartphone technology that keeps us constantly connected and human-fueled climate change? And who gets to enjoy these “untrammeled” spaces? These are the questions posed by environmental journalist Marissa Ortega-Welch in her new podcast “How Wild.” We’ll talk with Ortega-Welch, an environmental historian, and an outdoor educator about the complex history and future of our wildest landscapes. And we hear from you: What does wilderness mean for you? Guests: Marissa Ortega-Welch, science and environmental journalist; host of the podcast "How Wild" Phoebe Young, professor of environmental history and chair of the history department, University of Colorado Boulder. She is also the author of "Camping Grounds: Public Nature in American Life from the Civil War to the Occupy Movement." Aparna Rajagopal, founding partner, The Avarna Group

It’s that time of year when high school seniors everywhere start working on — or at least contemplate working on — their college applications. And for many students, it’s the personal essay that’s the trickiest part. When is humor okay? Are any topics off limits? Is it ever acceptable to use AI? We’ll get tips on how to craft a personal essay that admissions officers want to read, and we’ll hear from you: what was your college essay about? Guests: Anna Esaki-Smith, author of “Make College Your Superpower: It's Not Where You Go, It's What You Know”; co-founder of Education Rethink; contributor to Forbes, covering education Allie Volpe, senior reporter, Vox

California, a pioneer in plastic bag bans, is upping its game with a new law that now bans all plastic bags from grocery stores – including those stiff “reusable” ones. Researchers say California’s previous law prohibiting thin single-use plastic bags, but allowing thicker multiuse ones, ended up creating even more plastic waste by volume. The new law comes on the heels of California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta’s lawsuit against Exxon Mobil accusing the petroleum giant of deceiving people about the effectiveness of plastic recycling. We talk about the future of plastic in California and whether the state’s latest efforts could help get plastic waste under control. Guests: Susanne Rust, investigative reporter specializing in environmental issues, Los Angeles Time Jenn Engstrom, state director, CALPIRG - a non-profit organization that advocates for the public interest. She is co-author of the 2024 report, "Plastic Bag Bans Work." Gerrine Pan, vice president of partnerships, Ridwell, a company specializing in hard to recycle items

Conventional wisdom suggests vice presidential debates don’t matter, but political analysts say Tuesday’s showdown between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance could be different. It comes at a critical juncture in the presidential campaign, with polls showing tight margins nationally and in key battleground states. We’ll recap the debate, to be hosted by CBS News in New York City. Guests: Scott Shafer, senior editor, KQED’s California Politics and Government; co-host, Political Breakdown Lanhee Chen, Fellow in American Public Policy Studies at the Hoover Institution and Director of Domestic Policy Studies at Stanford University. Former policy director to Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign Sara Sadhwani, assistant professor of politics, Pomona College

Mark Farrell was born and raised in San Francisco, and now he wants to be the city’s mayor…again. Farrell served as mayor for six months in 2018, completing the term of Mayor Ed Lee who died unexpectedly in office. Farrell contends that the city has been on a downward spiral since his short tenure: on the campaign trail, he paints a city in decline, plagued by homelessness, a lack of public safety, and a situation in the Tenderloin so dire it requires intervention by the National Guard. A two-term former supervisor for District 2, Farrell argues that his past experience and moderate politics are what San Francisco needs at this moment. We talk to Farrell as part of our series of interviews with the five major candidates in the San Francisco mayoral race. Guests: Mark Farrell, former mayor, San Francisco

Proposition 32 on the November ballot would increase California’s minimum wage to $18 an hour for all employees by 2026. Supporters say the measure would promote economic fairness and lead to job growth — especially outside major cities. Opponents argue that it will force businesses to increase prices and lay off workers. We hear from both sides of the campaign. Do you think California’s minimum wage should be higher? Guests: Farida Jhabvala Romero, labor correspondent, KQED Joseph Sanberg, anti-povery advocate and entrepreneur John Kabateck, California state director, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

AT 9:00 AM: The states in the southeast hardest hit by Hurricane Helena are taking stock of the enormous amounts of damage wrecked by one of the worst storms in history. As the six states try to recover and grieve the lost lives, and as we cope with excessive heat warnings this week in the Bay Area, we get an update on how climate change is affecting us now. Guests: Abrahm Lustgarten, senior environmental reporter, ProPublica - author, "On the Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America" Erica Gies, Independent journalist, Author of "Water Always Wins," National Geographic Explorer;," Gies wrote the recent New York Times essay "California Could Capture Its Destructive Floodwaters to Fight Drought" AT 9:30 AM: Gov. Gavin Newsom put away his bill-signing pen Monday, the final day to ratify bills passed by California’s Legislature. This year, lawmakers passed more than 1,200 bills. Those the governor signed into law include one that prohibits legacy preferences in private school admissions, a plan for reparations for African Americans that some advocates say falls short, gas price regulations and a law banning public schools from providing food with harmful food dyes. Newsom vetoed nearly 200 bills that came across his desk including some that would have created unemployment benefits for undocumented workers, a bill regulating artificial intelligence and one that would have required cars to have speeding alert systems as a way to curb pedestrian deaths. We’ll talk about the notable bills that will become laws and which ones didn’t make the cut. Guests: Alexei Koseff, reporter, CalMatters Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk Lindsey Holden, California politics reporter, Politico

Connie Chung was the first Asian person to anchor a national network news program in the US and the first woman to co-anchor the CBS Evening News. For decades she covered major national stories from Watergate to the Oklahoma City bombing and interviewed presidents and foreign leaders. She also came up in newsrooms of the 1970s and 80s that were beset by rampant sexism. We talk to Chung about what she calls her “glorious highs and deep lows in the news business” and why, until recently, she struggled to believe she’d found success. Chung’s new memoir is “Connie.” Guests: Connie Chung, broadcast journalist; author, "Connie: A Memoir"

Born in Berkeley and the son of academics, Aaron Peskin was in the same elementary school class as Vice President Kamala Harris. But while Harris might be viewed as a moderate, Peskin proudly points to his progressive politics as a reason he should be the next mayor of San Francisco. A 30-year resident of Telegraph Hill, Peskin has been elected as a supervisor five times and currently serves as president of the Board. On the campaign trail, he highlights his detailed knowledge of how city government runs which he says makes him the best candidate for the job of mayor. As part of our series of interviews with the major candidates in San Francisco’s mayor race, we talk to Peskin about his campaign and his hopes for the city’s future. Guests: Aaron Peskin, president, San Francisco Board of Supervisors

More Americans – especially Gen-Z and millennials – say they value dining alone at restaurants, according to new data from Open Table. And research shows that doing solo activities is good for us – it recharges us and improves our creativity. With concern about loneliness and isolation on the rise, we talk about healthy alone-ness. What are some of your favorite activities to do alone? Guests: Rebecca Ratner, dean's professor of marketing, University of Maryland Luke Tsai, food editor, KQED Arts & Culture Thuy-Vy Nguyen, associate professor in psychology, Durham University; founder of the Solitude Lab; co-author of “Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone”

South Korea is living in the future. It has the fastest internet on the planet. Nearly 100% of its population owns a smartphone. And for the last decade it has become a center of global pop culture. The popularity of Korean drama, cinema, beauty and pop music has given Korea a soft power that has allowed it to emerge as a cultural and economic leader among Asian nations. A new exhibit at the Asian Art Museum “Hallyu! The Korean Wave” picks up on this theme, exploring all things K-culture. We’ll talk to its curator, experts, and you: are you a K-fan? Guests: Yoon-Jee Choi, assistant curator for Korean art, Asian Art Museum. Choi is overseeing the "Hallyu: The Korean Wave" exhibition. Todd Inoue, freelance music journalist Kyung Hyun Kim, professor and chair, East Asian Studies, UC Irvine; author, "Virtual Hallyu: Korean Cinema of the Global Age" and "Hegemonic Mimicry: Korean Popular Culture of the 21st Century" Chesca Rueda, co-founder and co-owner of Sarang Hello, a retail shop that focuses on K-pop

Most of us have been there: Frantically Googling health information late at night, worried about a mysterious ache or rash. But when does health anxiety cross the line and become a problem on its own? Journalist Caroline Crampton tackles that question in her book, “A Body Made of Glass,” which looks at the cultural history of hypochondria, from ancient Egypt to TikTok. She joins Forum to talk about her research and her own experience with chronic health anxiety after recovering from a rare form of cancer. Guests: Caroline Crampton, writer and podcaster, Her new book is "A Body Made of Glass: A Cultural History of Hypochondria."

Americans are snacking more than ever before, a recent report found 95 percent of American adults eat at least a snack a day. It wasn’t always that way. Atlantic writer Ellen Cushing writes that until recently, “There were no elaborate treats after soccer practice, or snack trays on strollers, or tubes of yogurt. Energy bars were for athletes, not accountants. National parks did not have vending machines.” Snacks have become so ubiquitous and easy that some have abandoned main, sit-down meals all together. We’ll talk to experts about the dominance of snacking and how these in between meals impact our health. And we want to hear from you, how much do you snack? Guests: Ellen Cushing, staff writer, The Atlantic; author of recent article "Snacks Took Over American Life" Maya Feller, registered dietitian nutritionist; author of "Eating from Our Roots: 80+ Healthy Home-Cooked Favorites from Cultures Around the World"; host of Slate's Well, Now Podcast

Inspectors general have been called the most powerful public officials you’ve never heard of. They work inside federal agencies, exposing corruption and ferreting out waste, fraud and abuse. But they’re also vulnerable to removal at the whim of the president. Glenn Fine was the inspector general of the Department of Justice in the Clinton, Bush and Obama Administrations. He was also the acting inspector general of the Department of Defense from 2016 until 2020, when he was replaced by former President Trump as part of a series of firings that the Washington Post called a “slow-motion Friday night massacre.” We talk to Fine about the role inspectors general play in holding the federal government to account and why he thinks they need more protection. Fine’s new book is “Watchdogs.” Guests: Glenn Fine, inspector general, Department of Justice (2000-2011); acting inspector general, Department of Defense (2016-2020) - author, "Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government"

Mayor London Breed is a lifelong resident of San Francisco, and her tenure as mayor has tracked the boom/bust cycle of the city. When she came to office in 2018, the city was enjoying a robust economy. In 2020, the pandemic emptied out downtown and put San Francisco on shaky footing from which it is still recovering. In her run for re-election, Breed contends that with another term she can lead San Francisco back to firmer ground. In the first of our interviews with the five major candidates in the San Francisco mayor’s race, we talk to Breed about her record, her campaign, and her hopes for the city. Guests: London Breed, Mayor, City and County of San Francisco

Latino voters in the U.S. overwhelmingly support Democratic causes and candidates. But in recent years, polls show that Latinos have been shifting to the right — and some even to the far right. In her new book “Defectors,” journalist Paola Ramos reveals the “quiet radicalization of Latinos [that] is taking place across the nation in plain sight.” Ramos traveled the country to talk to a range of right-leaning Latinos, including white supremacists and border vigilantes. She joins us to talk about the book, the importance of not viewing any community as a monolith, and what her reporting portends for the future of American politics. Guests: Paola Ramos, journalist and author. Her new book is "Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America." She is a contributor for Telemundo News and MSNBC, where she is the host of “Field Report.”

The day many Bay Area baseball fans have dreaded for years is finally upon us: Thursday will be the final A’s game at the Oakland Coliseum. The team has had a historic 57-season run at the stadium leaving fans with decades of memories along with buckets of tears and rage. Next spring, they plan to play in a temporary home in Sacramento and eventually end up in Las Vegas. Team owners have talked about moving the A’s for nearly two decades and have disinvested in players and yet, many A’s fans stayed loyal. So, how are they feeling as the final goodbye looms? What will they miss most? Who will stick with the team after they move? We talk about the future of the A’s and what they have meant to Oakland and to you. Guests: Melissa Lockard, senior editor and staff writer, The Athletic; founder, the Oakland Clubhouse; a lifelong A's fan Pendarvis "Pen" Harshaw, columnist, KQED Arts & Culture Andy Dolich, sports consultant for the Oakland A's from 1980 to 1994; co-author, "Goodbye, Oakland: Winning, Wanderlust, and a Sports Town’s Fight for Survival" Kendrick Thompson, beer vendor at the Oakland Coliseum also known as "Ice Cold Kenny Bo"

We take a deep dive into Proposition 36 on California’s November ballot. The measure would impose harsher penalties on some theft and drug possession offenses by rolling back Proposition 47, approved by voters in 2014. More than 70% of likely voters say they support Prop 36, according to a new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California. We’ll look at why and hear from both sides of the campaign. Guests: Darrell Steinberg, mayor, Sacramento Jeff Reisig, district attorney of Yolo County Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown

The 2020 elections brought in a wave of progressive politicians from mayors to district attorneys. But many of those leaders were subjected to recalls or even ousted from office. In a piece for the New York Times, columnist Nicholas Kristof, who recently ran for governor of Oregon, offered this rejoinder to critics of liberals running cities struggling with rising crime and homelessness: “[T]he problem isn’t with liberalism. It’s with West Coast liberalism.” According to Kristof, in governance, progressives were valuing intentions over outcomes. As San Francisco prepares to elect its next mayor, and as Oakland decides whether to recall theirs, we launch a new Forum series examining progressive politics in our region. To kick off this series, we talk to experts about the state of progressive politics and hear from you: How do you feel about progressivism? What has it done right? What has it done wrong? Guests: Alicia John-Baptiste, president and CEO, SPUR Jessica Trounstine, centennial chair and professor of political science, Vanderbilt University; author, "Segregation by Design: Local Politics and Inequality in American Cities" and "Political Monopolies in American Cities: The Rise and Fall of Bosses and Reformers." Nithya Raman, urban planner, member of LA City Council, representing district 4

Lots of movies are filmed in Los Angeles, but only a relative few give a leading role to the city itself. Yet a new series at Berkeley’s Pacific Film Archive “considers a selection of films that foreground the history, architecture, and neighborhoods of Los Angeles.” The series includes mainstream picks like “Chinatown” and “La La Land”, but also under the radar gems like “Killer of Sheep,” a milestone in Black indie film, and the landmark Asian Pacific American feature “Hito Hata: Raise the Banner.” We’ll talk with film critics about those movies and more…and we want to hear from you…what’s your most essential LA movie? Guests: Elvis Mitchell, culture critic and historian; host of KCRW's The Treatment, an inside look at the creators of popular culture; director of the 2022 Netflix documentary "Is That Black Enough for You?!? Amy Nicholson, LA-based film critic; host of the podcast "Unspooled" May Hong HaDuong, director, UCLA Film & Television Archive; Film and Television Archive - which collaborated with BAMPFA on the "Cities and Cinema: Los Angeles series. The series runs through October 3 at BAMPFA in Berkeley.

On the surface, a ritual is simply an act that carries a special meaning. It can be as ordinary as saying a blessing before a meal or as elaborate as a three-day Indian wedding. Underneath the surface, rituals can be very powerful and add deep meaning to our lives. They may or may not be rooted in spirituality, but they have to be special. But our increasingly secular modern world is full of distractions that often pull people away from traditions and rites. We’ll talk about how rituals add meaning to our lives, how to practice them and we’ll hear from you, what are the rituals you have stuck with? Guests: Dr. Vanessa Calderón, physician, professional coach and resiliency expert. She also hosts "The Empowered Brain" podcast Ezra Bookman, a ritual designer, artist; facilitator and founder of Ritualist, a creative studio specializing in secular rituals

More Americans in 2024 are taking on a ‘no-buy challenge,’ according to the Associated Press. They’re pledging for at least a year to purchase only essential items to curb impulse spending, reduce credit card debt or become more environmentally conscious. We hear from someone who’s taken on the challenge and the impact it’s had on her, and we explore why we’re tempted to overspend in the first place. Have you attempted a ‘no buy challenge?’ Guests: Adriana Morga, reporter covering financial literacy and personal finance, Associated Press Aparna Labroo, professor of marketing and consumer psychologist, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University; co-editor of the Journal of Consumer Psychology Elysia Berman, creative director and content creator, @elysiaberman on TikTok

California’s public schools will be required to restrict cell phone use on campuses by 2026, under a bill awaiting Governor Newsom’s signature. Many Bay Area schools have already banned, or limited, the use of phones during the school day. We’ll check in with teachers, administrators and students about what’s working, what’s not and whether limiting phones has helped kids concentrate in class. Guests: Diego Ochoa, superintendent, San Mateo-Foster City School District Maximus Simmons, junior at Oakland High School and a student director on the Oakland Unified School Board, Oakland High School Hasmig Minassian, 9th grade ethnic studies teacher, Berkeley High School Nico Fischer, junior, Santa Clara High School Yvonne Shiu, principal, San Mateo High School

Thanks to cooler weather, firefighters are making progress this week on three major Southern California wildfires. But the Airport, Line and Bridge fires have already burned through more than 100,000 acres, destroyed dozens of homes, and forced thousands to evacuate. And experts say California’s fire season could get worse before it gets better. We’ll get updates on the fires and hear about the latest research on the health effects of wildfire smoke, and what you can do to protect yourself. Guests: Madison Aument, reporter, KVCR Nick Shuler, Deputy Director, CALFIRE Amy MacPherson, Information Officer, California Air Resources Board Joan Casey, Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington

After California made it illegal for pet stores to sell puppies in 2019, a vast underground market developed supplied by breeders in the Midwest that ship truckloads of puppies here. A new Los Angeles Times investigation found that often those puppies had been born in mass breeding facilities where they were neglected and not given adequate medical care. Families, who paid thousands of dollars for pets they were told were bred locally, often ended up with sick animals. Over the course of 14 months, the Times investigated how these unscrupulous puppy supply chains operate, the lack of protections for dogs, and why abusive breeders and brokers face few consequences. We’ll talk with the reporters about their investigation and how you can avoid getting duped by unscrupulous sellers. Guests: Melody Gutierrez, investigative reporter, Los Angeles Times Alene Tchekmedyian, investigative reporter, Los Angeles Times Melanie Sadek, president, Valley Humane Society

A tight race is on for control of the House of Representatives this fall, and California voters could play a pivotal role in the outcome. Republicans are seeking to defend seats in highly competitive races in the Central Valley and the Inland Empire while Democrats are focusing on protecting the seat held by Representative Katie Porter in Orange County. We preview the congressional races and hear what contests you’re keeping an eye on. Guests: Scott Shafer, senior editor, KQED’s California Politics and Government; co-host, Political Breakdown Catie Edmondson, congressional correspondent, The New York Times Laura J Nelson, staff writer covering politics and campaign finances, LA Times

Marine biologist and climate activist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, like the rest of us, has heard plenty of terrifying warnings about the dangers of failing to act on climate change. What she’s heard less is a question she says is not asked enough about our climate crisis: What if we get it right? That question is the title of her new book of interviews with innovators in the climate movement about what the world could be “if we charge ahead with the array of climate solutions we have at our fingertips.” We talk with Johnson about that future world and how we can get there. Guests: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, marine biologist, co-founder of think tank Urban Ocean Lab, author, What if we Get it Right? Visions of Climate Futures - co creator of the Blue New Deal, a road map for including the ocean in climate policy

Do you have a TV show you hate-watch? As streaming platforms and their algorithms collect more data on the types of shows we like to watch, they feed us shows that are so close to something we’ve loved in the past, but something about them is off. What starts as an earnest TV show tune-in becomes a show you can’t stop complaining about at happy hour. As New York Times film critic Alissa Wilkinson writes, “you can only hate-watch a show that you theoretically should have loved.” We’ll talk with Wilkinson about how a hate-watch is different from a guilty pleasure, why we participate in this weird cultural phenomenon, and we hear from you: What are you hate-watching? Guests: Alissa Wilkinson, movie critic, New York Times

Most Americans are now acutely aware that we have a housing crisis, but Atlantic writer Jerusalem Demsas says that we have much less clarity about what’s causing it. “All too often,” she writes, “explanations center around identifying a villain: greedy developers, or private equity companies, or racist neighbors, or gentrifiers, or corrupt politicians.” All which may be true, she says, but they fail to identify the root cause, that housing decisions are made at the hyper local level, in a tangle of zoning boards, historical preservation committees and sparsely attended meetings, “where no one is watching and no one is accountable.” We talk to Demsas about her new collection of essays, “On the Housing Crisis: Land, Development, Democracy” and why she thinks local governments are to blame for the housing shortage. Guests: Jerusalem Demsas, staff writer, Atlantic Magazine; author, On the Housing Crisis: Land, Development, Democracy