KQED's Forum

Picking up stakes and moving somewhere new was once so common in America that cities had a designated “Moving Day” when thousands of tenants would move house on the same day. Often whole blocks of residents would change addresses, with moving boxes and bags littering the streets. But in the last 50 years, more Americans have stayed in place. Not by choice, but by a lack of social mobility, according to Atlantic writer Yoni Appelbaum. Regions with opportunities lack affordable housing. Cities with abundant cheap housing lack opportunities. In his new book, “Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity,” Appelbaum contends that it is progressive policies that have stood in the way of progress. We talk to Appelbaum. Guests: Yoni Appelbaum, deputy executive editor, The Atlantic; he is the author of "Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After his California home burned in a wildfire, acclaimed author and travel writer Pico Iyer retreated to a remote monastery in Big Sur. There, he discovered the power of solitude and stillness to help process loss and cope with uncertainty. In his new book, “Aflame,” Iyer writes about his frequent visits to the monastery over the following three decades, always finding joy and renewal in the “silence and emptiness and light”… and lack of screens. We’ll talk with Iyer about the book, and why his inner journeys mean more to him than his far-flung trips across the globe. Guests: Pico Iyer, journalist and author, "Aflame" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 podcast “How Wild.” We 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; author, "Camping Grounds: Public Nature in American Life from the Civil War to the Occupy Movement" Aparna Rajagopal, founding partner, The Avarna Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We pull back the curtain on the San Francisco Opera with Music Director Eun Sun Kim and General Director Matthew Shilvock, who joined us live on stage on Feb. 4 to talk about the artistry and passion that make this Bay Area institution beloved. On this rebroadcast, Kim shares behind-the-scenes footage of her recent production of Lohengrin from documentary filmmaker Elena Park and discusses how she interprets timeless works alongside live performances by the Opera’s young resident artists, the Adler Fellows. Guests: Eun Sun Kim, music director, San Francisco Opera Matthew Shilvock, general director, San Francisco Opera Elena Park , documentary filmmaker and director, “Eun Sun Kim: A Journey Into Lohengrin” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Yorker writer Rachel Syme loves letters — their content, the paper they are written on, the envelopes that enclose them. For Syme, “A letter is a vessel that can gently cradle family drama that would otherwise explode at Thanksgiving dinner; it is the ideal medium for giving voice to what is difficult to say out loud, and for reconciliation, forgiveness, and clarity.” In her new book, “Syme’s Letter Writer,” she offers advice on how to develop a letter writing style, how to write about juicy gossip, and how to write your mother. We talk to Syme, and hear from you, what’s a letter you’ve written or received that changed your life? Guest: Rachel Syme, staff writer, The New Yorker; during the pandemic, she founded a pen pal exchange that attracted 10,000 members from over 75 different countries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is outrage, and what triggers it in us? When someone violates our moral sense, we might bristle with rage or thirst for retribution but UNC psychology professor Kurt Gray wants us to understand that the other side is also motivated by moral convictions, even if they don’t make sense to us right away. We talk to Gray about how understanding the psychology of moral conflicts can help us better manage them. His new book is “Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground.” Guests: Kurt Gray, social psychologist and professor of psychology and neuroscience, University of North Carolina; director, Deepest Beliefs Lab and the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the midst of President Trump’s rapid fire, sweeping, and arguably illegal actions since inauguration day, resistance and protest against the president and his agenda has seemed quieter than at the beginning of his first term. But as the administration continues to take controversial actions on federal funding immigration, and transgender rights, resistance is ramping up in congress, the courts and on the streets. We’ll talk to Trump opponents about their strategies and what resistance could look like in this Trump term. And we want to hear from you, what is missing from the Democrat’s resistance strategy? Guests: Ezra Levin, co-founder and co-executive director, The Indivisible Project; co-author, Indivisible Guide; former Congressional staffer Rebecca Solnit, writer, newsletter called "Meditations in an Emergency" about politics, language and possibilities; historian; activist; author, more than twenty books that include "Orwell’s Roses"; "Recollections of My Nonexistence"; "Hope in the Dark"; and "Men Explain Things to Me." Lateefah Simon, U.S. representative, California's 12th congressional district; former board director, Bay Area Rapid Transit; board trustee, California State University system; longtime friend and mentee of Kamala Harris Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Nicola Slawson has been single for more than a decade, and says there’s beautiful freedom in being unattached. But, too often, single people are made to feel that there’s something wrong with them. In her new book, “Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms,” Slawson says you don’t need to wait to fall in love for your life to start. As Valentine’s Day nears, we want to hear what you like – or miss – about being single. Guests: Nicola Slawson, freelance journalist; author, "Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms"; writer, "The Single Supplement," a newsletter for single women Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his campaign for San Francisco mayor, Daniel Lurie promised to bring progress on tough issues that have dogged the city for years including homelessness and drug addiction. He also pledged to revitalize downtown and other areas that have yet to recover from the pandemic. But he’s come into office facing major challenges with a looming budget deficit and President Trump threatening to withhold federal funds over the city’s immigration policies. One month into office, we’ll check in on Mayor Lurie’s plans, hear what he’s excited about, and take your questions and suggestions. Guests: Daniel Lurie, mayor, San Francisco; founder and former CEO, Tipping Point Community, a foundation focused on fighting poverty in the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought on Saturday halted new funding to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and temporarily shut down its headquarters. It’s the latest effort by Vought, a Project 2025 architect, to tear down the so-called “deep state” of bureaucrats who could object to Trump’s policies. Vought is also fixed on expanding the powers of the executive branch in relation to the legislative branch, supporting a presidential power to claw back funds already allocated by Congress. We’ll talk about what Vought’s tenure as OMB director will mean for the future of federal funding. Guests: Megan Messerly, White House reporter, Politico James C. Capretta, senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute; former associate director at the White House Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush Bob Bauer, professor of practice and distinguished scholar in residence, New York University School of Law; co-author of “After Trump: Reconstructing the Presidency”; White House Counsel to President Barack Obama (2009-2011) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between 2000 and 2020, the number of young people incarcerated in the United States declined by an astonishing 77 percent. Red states and blue states alike lock up fewer kids than in 2000 — and in most, the drops have been precipitous: more than half of states have experienced declines of 75 percent or more. In his New York Times Magazine piece, Yale Law professor James Forman examines the reasons for the drop in incarceration and how states are responding. We talk to Forman and California experts about what the statistics can tell us about our shifting juvenile justice system and what we’ve learned about addressing youth crime. Guests: James Forman Jr., professor of law, Yale Law School; won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for his book, "Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America;" his most recent piece in the New York Times Magazine is titled, "What Happened When America Emptied Its Youth Prisons" David Muhammad, executive director, National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform; former Chief Probation Officer for Alameda County Laura Abrams, professor of social welfare, UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs; author of "Compassionate Confinement: A Year in the Life of Unit C" and "Everyday Desistance: The Transition to Adulthood Among Formerly Incarcerated Youth" Katherine Lucero, director, Office of Youth and Community Restoration; former supervising judge in juvenile court, Santa Clara County Superior Court Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump’s executive orders are testing the limits of presidential power, but they are not going unchallenged. An avalanche of litigation has been filed opposing efforts to end birthright citizenship, stop federal funding, and dismantle critical government agencies. Will the courts be able to meet this moment? We’ll hear from legal experts about how a judicial system and Supreme Court shaped by Trump may – or may not — act as a check and balance on the president. Guests: Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor and legal correspondent, Slate; host, Amicus podcast; author, "Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America" Jamal Greene, professor of law, Columbia University Law School Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump on Friday called for the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development, America’s main humanitarian and development agency. The administration has already been dismantling USAID, over the last few weeks, forcing employees out and cutting off billions of dollars in foreign aid. Under the plan, the agency is to be left with less than 600 staff out of about 10,000. Critics, like former USAID official Jeremy Konyndyk say the closure will “put millions of lives at risk” and could undermine US foreign policy. We’ll look at what feeding USAID into the “woodchipper,” as Elon Musk has pledged, means for those who rely on its services, which include HIV treatment, disaster relief, and children’s health. Guests: Jeremy Konyndyk, president, Refugees International. He also led USAID offices during previous administrations. Joia Mukherjee, chief medical officer, Partners In Health Elissa Miolene, reporter covering USAID and the U.S. government, Devex Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dietary supplements like those for weight loss and muscle building have become a multi-billiondollar industry, even as health experts say that in many cases their efficacy and safety is unproven. We take a close look at the rules governing the industry and what might change under the Trump Administration especially as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is poised to be confirmed as Health and Human services secretary. Do you have a vitamin or dietary supplement question? Guests: Dr. S Bryn Austin, social epidemiologist and professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health Nicholas Florko, staff writer, The Atlantic Marily Oppezzo, behavioral and learning scientist, registered dietician, Stanford Prevention Research Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Fire Escape,” a new podcast from Snap Judgment and KQED, follows the story of Amika Mota, who while serving a nine-year prison sentence, joins an all-women firefighting crew. They fight wildfires. And serve as the remote prison community’s primary emergency response team. Her experience offers her a path for redemption, but also raises troubling issues about how we use prison labor. We talk to Mota and other formerly incarcerated firefighters about their experience. Guests: Anna Sussman, senior producer and managing editor, Snap Judgment Amika Mota, Executive Director and Founding Member, Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition Laquisha Johnson, former member of wildland fire camp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Donald Trump makes provocative foreign policy statements and issues executive orders that are quickly walked back or challenged in court, and as Elon Musk creates upheaval in federal agencies, we look at the tactics the Trump Administration is using to consolidate power. Atlantic staff writer David Graham has been closely following Trump’s actions and argues that “chaos versus strategy is a misleading and unhelpful binary” to understand what’s happening. What have you noticed about Trump’s tactics this term, as compared to last? Guests: David Graham, staff writer, The Atlantic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facing a $24 million deficit, Sonoma State University has announced plans to eliminate six academic departments, lay off dozens of faculty and end intercollegiate athletics. Sonoma State officials say the university was forced to act due to a nearly 40 percent dip in enrollment and a decline in state funding, at a time when costs to run the university are on the rise. But many students and faculty members say they were blindsided by the cuts and are calling on officials to reconsider. We’ll check in with SSU’s interim president and others in the campus community. Guests: Emma Williams, sophomore, dance and history major, Sonoma State University Marisa Endicott, reporter, Santa Rosa Press Democrat Don Romesburg, chair of Department of Women's and Gender Studies, Sonoma State University; author, "Contested Curriculum: LGBTQ History Goes to School, out in April" from Rutgers University Press. Emily Cutrer, interim president, Sonoma State University Taylor Hodges, sophomore, communications major, Sonoma State University; member of SSU's soccer team Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2025 Academy Award-nominated documentary “Porcelain War” tells the story of Ukrainian artists Slava Leontyev and Anya Stasenko as they defy the Russian invasion through their art and by aiding in the war effort. In the intricately painted porcelain figurines they create, the artists represent how their lives used to be — and their hopes for the future. Leontyev, Stasenko and producer Paula DuPré Pesmen join us to talk about the film and the power and fragility of art in the face of war. Later in the hour, we’ll speak with former Ukraine ambassador Steven Pifer about the future of U.S. aid to Ukraine under the Trump Administration. Guests: Steven Pifer, affiliate, Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University; former ambassador, to Ukraine; former senior director, National Security Council in the Clinton administration Paula DuPré Pesmen, producer, “Porcelain War” Slava Leontyev, artist and co-director, “Porcelain War” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 10% tariff on Chinese goods went into effect on Tuesday as China retaliated with its own set of tariffs. Earlier Donald Trump put his threatened 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico on hold for 30 days after discussions with the countries’ leaders. Trump says he brought the two neighboring countries to their knees, but the Wall Street Journal called Trump’s tariffs “the dumbest trade war in history.” We’ll talk to experts about tariffs, the international response to Trump’s actions, and the impact they may have on businesses and consumers. Guests: Shannon O'Neil, senior vice president, director of studies and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair, Council on Foreign Relations; author, "The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter" and "Two Nations Indivisible: Mexico, the United States, and the Road Ahead." Kyle Handley, associate professor of economics, School of Global Policy and Strategy, UC San Diego; director, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy Scott Horsley, chief economics correspondent, NPR News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three of President Trump’s most contested nominees — Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — sat for confirmation hearings last week, facing scathing questions from Senate Democrats about their qualifications, judgment and ability to lead critical federal departments. The Senate Finance Committee is set to vote Tuesday morning on whether to put Kennedy’s nomination to lead the Health and Human Services Department to a floor vote. We look at the status of all the nominations along with other breaking national political news. Guests: Domenico Montanaro, senior political editor and correspondent, NPR. Javed Ali, associate professor of practice at the School of Public Policy, University of Michigan; served in the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With an unprecedented phenomenon like climate change, do we have the words or the ways to express the feelings that it creates? In her new book, “Immemorial,” Writer Lauren Markham attempts to find the language, rituals and memorials to reckon with the grief of climate change, and a future that seems to be vanishing. We’ll talk about psychologically processing the environmental realities that we face. Editorial note: The number of people who died in the Tubbs fire was stated incorrectly during this show. 22 people died in the fire. Guest: Lauren Markham, writer; reporter; author, "Immemorial" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump was once a cryptocurrency skeptic, saying as recently as 2021 that bitcoin “seems like a scam.” Today, some critics are saying the same thing about the president’s now fervent embrace of crypto, both in his business investments and policy decisions. During the campaign, Trump promised to make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet,” while taking tens of millions in donations from the industry. After the election, he and Melania Trump both touted the release of a crypto meme coin featuring their images. And last week, after making appointments and issuing executive orders aimed at boosting the industry, the president’s social media startup Truth Social announced plans to expand into crypto. Now some legal experts, and even industry leaders, are voicing serious ethics concerns. We’ll look at what Trump’s pro-crypto stance might mean for the future of digital assets, the economy, and national security. Guests: Andrew R. Chow, correspondent, Time; author, "Cryptomania: Hype, Hope, and the Fall of FTX's Billion-Dollar Fintech Empire" Zeke Faux, investigative reporter, Bloomberg; author "Number Go Up: Inside Crypto’s Wild Rise and Staggering Fall" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly seven million Americans, about one in nine people over the age of 65, live with Alzheimer’s. It’s a heartbreaking disease for those afflicted and the 11 million loved ones who are taking care of them. But despite decades of research and countless promises of a breakthrough, there are no significant treatments to stop the cognitive decline. While mortality rates for other leading causes of death like cancer and heart disease have gone down, Alzheimer’s death rates continue to rise. In his new book “Doctored” investigative reporter Charles Piller makes the case that a wide web of fraud, greed and negligence – from individual scientists to the FDA – has derailed the search for a cure or treatment. And, he says the scientific establishment’s belief in one hypothesis of the disease, despite the lack of progress, has shut out other promising avenues. We’ll talk with Piller about his new book and what it reveals about Alzheimer’s research and the broader science landscape. Guests: Charles Piller, investigative journalist, Science magazine; author, "Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rick Steves is one of the most trusted sources for Americans traveling abroad. But he once dreamed of becoming a piano teacher. That was before he backpacked along the Hippie Trail from Istanbul to Kathmandu in 1978, a trip that made him want to help others experience life-altering travel. We talk to him about his new book called “On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer” about a life spent away from home. What would you like to ask or tell Rick Steves? Guests: Rich Steves, travel writer, TV host Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hercules native August Lee Stevens dropped her debut album “Better Places” last year earning her a following and praise for her indie soul sound. The 25-year-old singer and songwriter started classical piano when she was in elementary school and continued her study at the Oakland School of the Arts. In her senior year, she picked up singing – a decision that changed her life. She is now part of a wave of emerging musicians from the East Bay. Stevens joins us for a special live performance, and to talk about her musical roots and journey. Guests: August Lee Stevens, Bay Area-based musician and singer-songwriter; her debut album “Better Places” came out in 2024 Frankie Maston, vocalist Ash Stallard, vocalist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imani Perry says that the color blue tells the story of her people, reflecting both oppression and resilience, sorrow and hope. In her new book “Black in Blues,” Perry explores the significance of the color in Black American history and culture – from the indigo trade to the blues music tradition – and stitches together histories that connect the color to spirituality, community, resistance and the complexities of identity. Perry joins us. Guests: Imani Perry, professor in studies of women, gender and sexuality and in African and African American studies, Harvard University; fellowship recipient, MacArthur and Guggenheim; Her previous book ‘South to America’ won the 2022 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Counterfeit pharmaceutical pills laced with drugs like fentanyl are a new global crisis according to a recent article in the journal Lancet. The fake prescription pills are often the same color and size as the original, making them virtually indistinguishable. In 2023 the DEA found that 70% of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills contained a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. And while drug overdoses among young people were down last year compared to 2023, the number of young people dying of opioid overdoses is still double what it was before the pandemic. We’ll talk to a parent whose son died of an accidental fentanyl overdose and with addiction experts about the crisis and what can be done to prevent it. Guests: Daniel Ciccarone, professor of Family & Community Medicine, UCSF Ed Ternan, founder, Charlie's Song, a nonprofit focused on fentanyl education and awareness Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, professor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine, Stanford University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Southern California wildfires have decimated neighborhoods and displaced tens of thousands of people in Los Angeles County. The fallout is exacerbating the state’s existing housing crisis, as displaced persons compete for a scarcity of rental units. And Trump Administration actions on federal disaster aid could complicate rebuilding efforts. We’ll talk about how other California communities are still dealing with homelessness and housing shortages caused by wildfire and what their recovery efforts signal for LA. And we’ll hear from LA homelessness and housing advocates about the resources they’ll need — in the short- and long-term. Guests: Marisa Kendall, homelessness reporter, CalMatters Jennielynn Holmes, chief program officer, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa Carter Hewgley, senior director, LA County Homeless Initiative Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump’s order to freeze federal grants and loans on Tuesday, as Medicaid and other programs experienced interruptions causing chaos and confusion. The Trump administration’s directive could halt trillions of dollars in federal funds while agencies are directed to ensure financial assistance doesn’t conflict with administration ideology. California’s Attorney General and 22 other states have sued to stop the freeze, saying it is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers. We’ll talk about what could be affected by the funding order, which is halted until at least Monday, the legality of Trump’s action, and the efforts to fight it. Guests: Samuel R. Bagenstos, professor of law, University of Michigan Law School; former general counsel, White House Office of Management and Budget Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer, Slate magazine Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED, co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once bustling San Francisco neighborhoods such as Union Square and the Financial District have been plagued with high retail and office vacancy rates since the pandemic started five years ago. More than a third of all the office space in San Francisco is now vacant and hybrid schedules mean that even buildings that do have tenants don’t fill up with workers each day. Union Square has also lost its luster as a shopping destination with most of its department stores shuttering. San Francisco’s new mayor, Daniel Lurie, says he has plans to revive downtown. We talk about what it would take to refill and reuse commercial spaces, and bring people back to downtown. Guests: Robert Sammons, senior research director, Cushman & Wakefield Lauran Waxmann, reporter, San Francisco Chronicle Katie Buchanan, principal, design director and managing director of the San Francisco office, Gensler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spotify was originally marketed as a democratic, anti-establishment music streaming platform. But according to journalist Liz Pelly, it has become a system favoring major labels and its own algorithmic playlists featuring “ghost artists,” all while underpaying independent artists. Pelly draws on interviews with former employees, music industry veterans and artists to pull back the curtain on the music streaming giant in her new book, “Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Cost of the Perfect Playlist.” Guests: Liz Pelly, writer; contributing editor to The Baffler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MSNBC host Chris Hayes spends a lot of time thinking about how to grab — and hold — people’s attention. He says the stakes are high because those who can capture attention “command fortunes, win elections and topple regimes.” We’ll talk to Hayes about why it’s become so much harder to command attention, why Donald Trump is exceptionally good at it and how we can reclaim our own attention for the things that matter. Hayes’s new book is “The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource.” Guests: Chris Hayes, host, "All In with Chris Hayes" on MSNBC; author, "The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If Trump’s nominees are confirmed, his administration could include at least 13 billionaires, collectively worth $383 billion. And at the inauguration, billionaire tech leaders like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg sat front and center signaling their proximity to power. Wealthy people joining the government is not new, but the levels of extreme wealth are unprecedented. So much so that in his farewell address, former President Biden warned that “an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy.” Pundits have christened this new era a “broligarchy.” We’ll talk about how billionaires in and out of government are impacting the country. Guests: Brooke Harrington, professor of sociology, Dartmouth College; author, "Offshore: Stealth Wealth and the New Colonialism" Paul Pierson, political science professor, UC Berkeley; co-author, "Let The Eat Tweets: How the Right Rules in an Age of Extreme Inequality" Noah Bookbinder, president, CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might have seen Los Angeles-based comedian Joel Kim Booster in the Maya Rudolph series “Loot,” or enjoyed his “Pride and Prejudice” adaptation “Fire Island,” set on the eponymous gay vacation spot. His latest project is hosting the podcast “Bad Dates,” where comedians share their worst dating stories. We’ll get his advice on how to have better dates and hear why his latest comedy special is called “Rude Little Pig.” He joins us in studio ahead of his appearances at SF Sketchfest. Guests: Joel Kim Booster, stand-up comedian, writer and actor; host of the podcast "Bad Dates;" star of the Apple TV+ series “Loot;" writer-star of “Fire Island" on Hulu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer and disability justice activist Alice Wong’s illness took her ability to speak without technological assistance, but she continues to make herself, and members of her community, profoundly heard. As part of our new series profiling legends of the Bay Area, Wong joins us to talk about her joyous approach to life and her recent MacArthur Genius win, and to share some favorite interviews recorded with StoryCorps as part of her Disability Visibility Project. We also check in with fellow disability rights activists about the evolution of the movement and the importance of being heard. Guests: Alice Wong, disabled activist, writer and community organizer; founder, Disability Invisibility Project; author, "Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life." Yomi Sachiko Young, Oakland-based social justice organizer, disability justice dreamer Sandy Ho, executive director of the Disability and Philanthropy Forum Emily Flores, journalist and founder/editor in chief, Cripple Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether it’s declining an invitation, disagreeing with a boss or questioning a doctor, why is it so hard for us to say “no?” In her new book, Cornell organizational psychologist Dr. Sunita Sah draws on behavioral science to look at the pressure we feel to comply and explains why acts of defiance should be seen as expressions of our values. Sah’s new book is “Defy: The Power of No In A World That Demands Yes.” When do you struggle to say no? http://www.sunitasah.com Guests: Dr. Sunita Sah, author, physician-turned-organizational psychologist, Cornell University; Her new book is ‘Defy: The Power of No In A World That Demands Yes’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A cattle supplement that cuts down on cow burps and thus, greenhouse gas emissions. Drugs that make it far easier to prevent AIDS and maybe end the disease altogether. Generative AI upending traditional search engines. These are just some of the advances that made MIT Technology Review’s 2025 list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies. Writers and editors from the magazine join us to talk about how these technologies will progress this year and why they could be so impactful. Guests: Mat Honan, editor in chief, MIT Technology Review Allison Arieff, editorial director of print, MIT Technology Review Casey Crownhart, climate reporter, MIT Technology Review James O'Donnell, artificial intelligence reporter, MIT Technology Review Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mountaineer Jon Waterman first journeyed to the High Arctic in 1983, intent on learning all he could about the strange land with grizzlies and caribou, sea fossil-filled mountains and night skies with “saffron clouds and beams of viridescence.” Waterman has returned more than 20 times since then, and in a new book he documents the environmental changes he witnessed. We talk to him about the world above the Arctic Circle and how the climate crisis is transforming it. His book is “Into the Thaw.” http://jonathanwaterman.com Guests: Jon Waterman, author, “Into the Thaw: Witnessing Wonder Amid the Arctic Climate Crisis”; former Denali National Park ranger. His other books include National Geographic’s “Atlas of the National Parks" and "In the Shadow of Denali." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On his first day in office Donald Trump issued a slew of executive orders to address what he called “an unprecedented flood” of immigration. Terminating birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the Constitution, declaring a national emergency at the border and seeking funds to build a border wall are just some of Trump’s directives. Many of his orders faced immediate opposition: as of Tuesday, 18 states and two cities had filed lawsuits attacking the legality of the birthright citizenship order. We talk about Trump’s early moves on immigration and how they are impacting immigrants and their families. Guests: Salvador Rivera, correspondent based in San Diego, BorderReport.com Deep Gulasekaram, professor of law and director of Byron White Center for the Study of Constitutional Law, University of Colorado Boulder Law School. He teaches constitutional and immigration law. He is co-author of the leading immigration law textbook used in U.S. law schools. Molly O'Toole, fellow, Wilson Center; Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter currently working on a book on immigration for Penguin Random House[[formerly covered migration and security for the Los Angeles Times]] Rafael Carranza, reporter, Arizona Luminaria, a nonprofit news organization covering Arizona; Carranza covers immigration issues. He previously reported for the Arizona Republic and the USA Today Network. Tyche Hendricks, senior editor covering immigration, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Set up a P.O. box. Learn your insurance policy. Know it’s OK to mourn the material objects you lost, or to refuse donations you don’t need. These are just some of the many pieces of advice survivors of past California wildfires have for victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. We’ll talk to people who’ve lost their homes to fires in Paradise, wine country and the Sierra Foothills about managing the practicalities as well as the emotions. And we’ll hear from you: If you’ve survived a wildfire, what advice might you give? Guests: Jennifer Gray Thompson, CEO, After the Fire - A nonprofit that helps communities rebuild after wildfires. Melissa Schuster, owner, Burnt Barn Distilling Co, in Paradise - former Paradise town council member Lizz Porter, NorCal small business owner who lives in Colfax; Lost her home during the River Fire in Placer County. She wrote the recent Chronicle op-ed, "I lost everything in a California wildfire. Here’s what people in L.A. need to know now" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first Israeli hostages and Palestinian political prisoners have been released and Gazan exiles have begun returning to their war-ravaged communities after the Israel and Hamas ceasefire deal went into effect Sunday. After 15 months of brutal war, the ceasefire has brought much relief but also uncertainty about whether it will last and under what terms. We talk about what the ceasefire agreement means and what could happen next. Guests: Omar Dajani, professor of law, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law; board member, A Land For All; former senior legal advisor, Palestine Liberation Organization's Negotiations Support Unit Jacqueline Mates-Muchin, senior rabbi, Temple Sinai, Oakland Janine Zacharia, lecturer, Stanford University; former Jerusalem Bureau Chief and Middle East correspondent, Washington Post Andrew Roth, global affairs correspondent, The Guardian Sam Hindi, former mayor of Foster City, member of the Palestinian American Coalition-San Francisco Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump takes the presidential oath of office on Monday, ushering in a second term that he says will push hardline policies on immigration and trade, deregulate industry and slash climate protections. We get your reactions to his inaugural address and what you think the coming days and weeks will bring. How are you preparing for a second Trump term? Guests: Claudia Grisales, national correspondent, NPR Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent, Vox Franklin Foer, staff writer, The Atlantic; His books include "The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden's White House and the Struggle for America's Future." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We look back on the life and career of legendary Los Angeles director David Lynch. Known for “Blue Velvet,” “Mulholland Drive” and “Twin Peaks,” Lynch used dream-logic narratives to interrogate the American dream itself and to capture the dark beauty of Los Angeles, the city he dearly loved. He was also sunny in outlook, famously advising “keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.” Lynch’s family announced his death on Thursday. He was 78. What is your favorite work by David Lynch? What did he mean to you? Guests: Rebecca Alter, staff writer who covers comedy and pop culture, Vulture Alexandre Philippe , filmmaker and director of the documentary “Lynch/Oz” Jackson Kim Murphy, associate news editor, Variety Ian Nathan, film writer and author, “David Lynch: A Retrospective” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday we will, once again, inaugurate Donald Trump as president and, once again, it will come as the country is bitterly divided and often deeply confounded by people with opposing political views. We at Forum thought this would be a perfect time to listen back to our interview with john a. powell. He’s director of UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute and his work focuses on communicating, and understanding each other’s humanity, across divides. We talked to him about his institute’s work and his new book “The Power of Bridging.” Guests: john a. powell, director, UC Berkeley's Othering and Belonging Institute; professor of Law, African American and Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After his California home burned in a wildfire, acclaimed author and travel writer Pico Iyer retreated to a remote monastery in Big Sur. There, he discovered the power of solitude and stillness to help process loss and cope with uncertainty. In his new book, “Aflame,” Iyer writes about his frequent visits to the monastery over the following three decades, always finding joy and renewal in the “silence and emptiness and light”… and lack of screens. We’ll talk with Iyer about the book, and why his inner journeys mean more to him than his far-flung trips across the globe. http://picoiyerjourneys.com Guests: Pico Iyer, journalist and author, "Aflame"; He is the author of 15 books, including "Video Night in Kathmandu" and "The Art of Stillness" and has been a contributor for more than thirty years to Time, The New York Times, Harper’s Magazine, the Los Angeles Times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the nearly seven years since the Supreme Court legalized sports betting, it has exploded as an industry. Last year, 67.8 million Americans put down bets worth a total of $23 billion on the Super Bowl alone. And where once official leagues like Major League Baseball decried betting as an “evil” that would damage the sport, now gambling on games and players’ performances is being embraced as wholesome entertainment. As fans put down bets ahead of the national college football championship this Monday, we’ll talk to sports betting experts about how gambling has impacted sports, the players, and the people who bet on them. Guests: Ryan Rodenberg, professor, Florida State University Danny Funt, journalist, Funt has written for the Washington Post about sports betting. His forthcoming book on sports betting is titled, "Everybody Loses" David Purdum, writer, ESPN, Purdum covers the sports betting industry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrat Ron Wyden has represented Oregon in the U.S. Senate for three decades, championing legislation on the environment, health care and tax reform. We’ll talk to him about how he plans to operate within a Republican-controlled chamber, why he thinks Democrats can still mount an effective resistance to extreme MAGA-ism and why effecting change depends on playing the long game. Wyden’s new book is “It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change.” Guests: Ron Wyden, U.S. senator, D-Ore; author, "It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans are getting more and more of our calories from ultra-processed foods. One study found that more than half of our diets consist of foods that contain ingredients with no nutritional value including sports drinks, wheat bread, flavored yogurt, and frozen pizza. Studies have shown ultra-processed foods can lead to poor health outcomes from obesity and cancer to anxiety. But the products that shoppers should steer clear of can be hard to detect. They are often marketed as healthy options and some health experts say they are not all bad. We dig into the rise of ultra-processed foods, what they might mean for our health and how to spot them on grocery shelves. Guests: Alice Callahan, nutrition reporter, The New York Times Dr. Uma Naidoo, psychiatrist, chef, and nutritionist; She is the author of "This Is Your Brain on Food" and "Calm Your Mind with Food." Laurel Bristow, host of Health Wanted, WABE Public Radio in Atlanta and NPR; She is also associate director of audience development for the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s that time of year when many of us dust off our running shoes, sign up for a gym membership and vow to develop a fitness routine we can stick with. Whether you’re just getting started or aiming to set a new personal record, we talk to two experts who share their advice and answer your questions. What are your New Year’s fitness resolutions? Guests: Juliet Starrett, certified nutrition coach and CEO and co-founder, The Ready State; author, "BUILT TO MOVE: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully" Kelly Starrett, doctor of physical therapy; co-founder, The Ready State; author, "BUILT TO MOVE: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully." His other bestselling books include “The Supple Leopard” and “Becoming a Supple Leopard." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even before the fires in Los Angeles, California’s insurance market was under enormous pressure. Extreme weather events like wildfires, which have been supersized due to climate change, previously led national carriers like Allstate and State Farm to stop writing new homeowners policies. And some property owners are facing non-renewal for homes deemed by insurance companies to be at risk. California is not alone in this dilemma. Florida has the highest insurance rates in the country, and its residents pay 37% more for coverage as compared to national averages. We’ll talk to experts about how these latest fires will impact the state’s insurance industry and the future of insurance in a climate change-charged world. Guests: Michael Wara, policy director, Sustainability Accelerator at the Doerr School of Sustainability, director, Climate and Energy Policy Program, senior research scholar, Woods Institute for the Environment; Stanford University Dave Jones, former Insurance commissioner, California Department of Insurance; Dave Jones is the director of the Climate Risk Initiative at UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy and the Environment (CLEE). Amy Bach, executive director and cofounder, United Policyholders - a San Francisco-based nonprofit that advocates for insurance consumers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices