KQED's Forum

A defiant Joe Biden said Monday that he’s “firmly committed” to staying in the presidential race. Still, questions about Biden’s age and fitness have put the spotlight on alternatives like Vice President Kamala Harris and others, including California Governor Gavin Newsom. At least half a dozen Democratic lawmakers have called for Biden to step aside, but the party remains divided. If Biden does drop out, what would an open convention look like? We’ll discuss the growing pressure on the president, and the implications for the race. Guests: Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host, KQED's Political Breakdown Molly Ball, senior political correspondent, Wall Street Journal Richard Hasen, Gary T. Schwartz endowed chair in law, professor of political science, and director of the safeguarding democracy project at UCLA School of Law Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to political writer John Ganz, a sense of “national despair” emerged in the U.S. during the early 1990s due to an economic recession that shrank America’s middle class and a growing cynicism about politics. This despair was exploited by various figures – some well known and some fringe – who would later gain influence within the Republican Party. He connects the current rise of right-wing populism, exemplified by figures like Trump, back to this pivotal period in American history. We talk to Ganz about the rise in right wing populism, both in the US and abroad, and its influence on electoral politics. Guests: John Ganz, author, "When the Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richmond, Calif. is home to more than 115,000 residents and major corporations and refineries, including Chevron. But like many cities, Richmond had been left without a dedicated daily newspaper or consistent, independent news coverage. Now a new local publication, Richmondside, promises to bring residents more news about government, schools, public safety and local businesses. It’s part of Cityside, a journalism nonprofit that also runs Berkeleyside and Oaklandside. The founders spent about a year hearing from residents about the types of news they were missing. We’ll talk with them about their coverage plans and hear from you: What are the Richmond stories you want to read about? Guests: Tasneem Raja, editor-in-chief, The Oaklandside; former interactive editor, Mother Jones Kari Hulac, editor-in-chief, Richmondside; editor, The Hayward Daily Review; features editor, The Oakland Tribune Joel Umanzor, city hall reporter, Richmondside Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rising housing costs are pushing more middle-class families in California to rent rather than buy. The average cost of ownership payments for a mid-tier house in California are currently double the cost of renting a similar home. And compared to January 2020, the combined monthly cost of mortgage payments, taxes and homeowners insurance has jumped by 80%, according to the state Legislative Analyst’s Office. Some tenants rent because they can’t afford a down payment, but others prefer the greater flexibility and savings they can get from renting. To meet demand, corporate homebuilders are developing more “build-for-rent” constructions, which is raising concerns for some state lawmakers. This hour on Forum, we’ll ask if the American dream of homeownership is dying in the Golden State. And we’ll hear from you: Are you debating between renting or buying? Guests: Liam Dillon, statewide housing affordability and neighborhood change reporter, Los Angeles Times Erin Baldassari, senior editor of housing affordability, KQED Adam Briones, CEO, California Community Builder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There has been a sweeping reevaluation of animal intelligence over the last decade as we’ve realized that all kinds of organisms are smarter than we thought. A similar movement is occurring in the study of plants. Botanists have been discovering that plants have remarkable abilities to communicate, adapt, behave socially, act on stored memories and trick animals among other intelligent behaviors. We talk with author Zoë Schlanger about her new book, “The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth”. Guests: Zoë Schlanger, staff writer, The Atlantic; author, "The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may know actor and stand-up comedian Tiffany Haddish best for her riotous performance in the 2017 film "Girls Trip." Or for her Emmy Award-winning turn as host of Saturday Night Live...or for her voicework in “The Lego Movie 2” and other animated films. But her successes came hard-won against a backdrop of childhood trauma and mental health challenges. “I know what it feels like to hurt and what it feels like to see other people hurt,” she writes in her new memoir "I Curse You with Joy." We talk to Haddish about her career, her life and what's bringing her joy right now. Guest: Tiffany Haddish, author, "I Curse You with Joy"; stand-up comedian; actress, "Girls Trip," "Night School," "Nobody's Fool" and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Radio host, journalist, musician, and musicologist Jesse “Chuy” Varela has been a treasured fixture of the Bay Area jazz scene for more than 40 years. When the Jazz Journalists Association honored him with their “Jazz Hero” award last year they wrote that “his deep knowledge of Latin American and Caribbean music has nurtured the boundaryless nature of the Bay Area’s scene, in which musicians prominently collaborate across the jazz/Latin jazz divide.” The KCSM program and music director will join us to talk about the history of Latin Jazz, including the Bay Area’s role…and play some of his favorite tunes. Guest: Jesse "Chuy" Varela, program and music director, KCSM JAZZ 91.1; host, "The Latin Jazz Show” on Sundays at 2 PM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever since our moon formed roughly 4.6 billion years ago, it has “conduct(ed) the symphony of life on Earth.” That’s according to lifelong moon enthusiast and science journalist Rebecca Boyle, who says that the moon has influenced modern science, reproduction, migration, religious rituals and even possibly the blood in our veins. Boyle’s new book is “Our Moon: How Earth’s Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are,” and she joins us to talk about how the moon has inspired and guided human history and to share the pleasure of looking up at the night sky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You don’t just smell an aroma; you fall into it,” writes artisan perfumer Mandy Aftel. And entering her exquisite small museum, the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents, tucked into a backyard in Berkeley, is to fall into an ancient, mysterious world. Amid centuries-old books, bottles and curios are natural fragrances that come from the secretions of civets and the bowels of sperm whales, as well as from resins, rare flowers, roots and so much more. We talk to Aftel about her collection, the art of building a fragrance, and her new book, “The Museum of Scent: Exploring the Curious and Wondrous World of Fragrance." Guest: Mandy Aftel, artisan perfumer and founder, Aftelier Perfumes and the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents in Berkeley; author, "The Museum of Scent: Exploring the Curious and Wondrous World of Fragrance" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her new novel “Exhibit” R.O. Kwon introduces us to Jin Han, a photographer in San Francisco who’s unsure if her transgressive infatuation for a ballet dancer activated a family curse, conjuring a ghost from her family’s past in Korea. Through Jin, Kwon explores the nature of desire — and why shame too often accompanies it.. Kwon says it’s as though she “made a list of boxes a person might tick to explain why a woman ought to be disliked, perhaps despised, and then, writing this novel, I filled in each box.” We’ll talk with Kwon about why women especially feel shame for the desire they feel for others or for personal creative fulfillment — and for not desiring motherhood. And we’ll hear about how she grappled with her anxieties and reflected on her politics while writing this novel. Guest: R.O. Kwon, author, "Exhibit" and "The Incendiaries"; co-editor, "KINK: Stories" the anthology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legendary Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz transversed the United States and Mexico for decades recording traditional roots music and unknown artists. The El Cerrito-based producer, who died last year, was known for his ear for music, but he also had an eye for capturing images. More than 150 of those photos documenting his travels and recording sessions are collected in a new book, “Arhoolie Records Down Home Music: The Stories and Photographs of Chris Strachwitz.” Co-author and veteran music journalist Joel Selvin joins us to talk about Strachwitz’s art and legacy. Guest: Joel Selvin, San Francisco-based music journalist and author. His latest book is "Arhoolie Records: Down Home Music." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you were watching TV in the 1980s you’re probably familiar with the sounds of electronic music pioneer Suzanne Ciani, whose synthesizer compositions became the sonic logos for Coca-Cola, Atari, GE, PBS and dozens of other brands. Ciani has gone on to cultivate new audiences through her quadraphonic concerts that she produces using an updated version of the same synthesizer that she played as a student at UC Berkeley in the late-1960s, the Buchla 200E. We’ll talk with Ciani about her career, how California inspires her and hear excerpts from her upcoming concert series that celebrates the 40th anniversary of her breakthrough album “Seven Waves.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might not think that 224 pages devoted to a sixth grader’s tricky journey with braces would make for a bestseller, but since its publication in 2010, Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novel “Smile” has remained hugely popular with the kid set. And her follow ups “Guts,” “Drama” and “Ghosts” have earned her rave reviews from kids, tweens, parents and librarians for the humorous, hopeful, and honest depictions of life as an anxious kid. We’ll talk to Telgemeier, a Bay Area native, about her work and how she taps into the zeitgeist of adolescence. Guest: Raina Telgemeier, author of "Smile," "Guts," and "Sisters," among other popular graphic novels for teens and kids Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent New York Times investigation reveals how violent radical elements in Israel's settler movement in the West Bank have been allowed to operate with impunity for decades. The report, based in part on accounts by Israeli officials, examines a two-tier system of justice where the authorities systematically ignored or enabled settler violence against Palestinians. Today, leaders of this extremist fringe have gained powerful positions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. We’ll talk with the report’s co-author, Mark Mazzetti, about the rise of Israeli extremism and what it means for the current war and U.S.-Israel relations. Guest: Mark Mazzetti, investigative reporter focusing on national security, New York Times; co-author, the May 16 cover story "The Unpunished: How Extremists Took Over Israel" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his magazine profiles and podcasts, Oakland writer Carvell Wallace has a gift for examining people and the times we live in with clarity and wisdom. With his new memoir “Another Word for Love,” Wallace extends his compassionate gaze to his own story, tracing a childhood peppered with homelessness and abuse, through to his quest for healing, pleasure and the divine. "It is is not enough to be hurt and to know that you have been hurt," he writes. "The price of being alive, of being in love, is that you are required to heal.” Guest: Carvell Wallace, author, "Another Word for Love: A Memoir"; 2023 recipient of the American Mosaic Journalism Prize; host, "Closer Than They Appear" and "Finding Fred" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump take the stage in Atlanta on Thursday for the first presidential debate of the election cycle. The debate, hosted by CNN, takes place as the parties are deeply divided on major policy issues and as polls show low voter approval ratings for both candidates. We’ll recap the debate and hear your reactions. Guests: Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host, KQED's Political Breakdown Adam Nagourney, national political reporter, New York Times Mike Madrid, Republican strategist; co-founder, The Lincoln Project - His new book is "The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority is Transforming Democracy." Ro Khanna, U.S. Congressman for California's 17th Congressional District (Silicon Valley) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Almost everything we eat – bananas, sushi, lettuce, beef – is part of the “cold chain,” a vast network of refrigerated warehouses, shipping containers, display cases and finally, our own refrigerators that underpin our global food system. We’ve only been able to create cold when we want it for about 150 years, but in that time, refrigeration “has changed our height, our health, and our family dynamics; it has shaped our kitchens, ports and cities; and it has reconfigured global economics and politics,” writes food and science writer Nicola Twilley in her new book, Frostbite. We’ll talk to her about how the whole system works, what it might look like in the future and why exactly your chopped salad comes in that weird little bag. Guests: Nicola Twilley, author, Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves; cohost, podcast Gastropod - and frequent contributor to the New Yorker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Friday, the court, in a 6-3 opinion authored by Justice Gorsuch, announced that “camping ban” laws that restrict unhoused people from sleeping on public property do not constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” and are therefore not prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. These laws had been challenged by cities, including San Francisco. We’ll talk about the opinion and what happens next. Guests: Rory Little, professor of constitutional law, UC School of Law, San Francisco - former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1969 California became the first state to adopt no-fault divorce – allowing people to end their marriages without proving spousal wrongdoing. Other states quickly followed suit. For a half-century, couples haven’t had to endure protracted legal battles for every split, nor do they need to allege adultery or force their children to go to court, just to get a divorce. Now, some conservative activists – following their attacks on reproductive rights and IVF – are denouncing no-fault divorce, saying it makes splitting up families too easy. Advocates for no-fault say the data show that restricting divorce leads to increased death and injury within families, especially for women and people experiencing domestic violence. We’ll talk about the threats to no-fault divorce and analyze the history and future of divorce, in California and nationwide. Guests: Joanna Grossman, Chair in Women and the Law, Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law; visiting professor, Stanford Law School Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though one of its most famous attractions is Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco and the Bay Area’s thriving fishing industry is not what it once was. A shortened season for Dungeness crab, a canceled salmon season (the second cancellation in a row), and climate change are taking a toll on fisheries. We talk to people who make their living catching and selling fish and hear how they are surviving and adapting to this new reality. Guests: Kirk Lombard, fisherman and sea forager - Lombard operates the Sea Forager CSF which brings local seafood to consumers directly. He is also the author of "The Sea Forager's Guide to the Northern California Coast." Melissa Mahoney, executive director, Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust - a nonprofit focused on supporting and strengthening fisheries in Monterey, Moss Landing and Santa Cruz Sarah Bates, captain, Fishing Vessel Bounty Eleza Jaeger, owner and operator of the vessel "The Gatherer II," which fishes for halibut and operates charters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When New Yorker staff writer Emily Nussbaum began working on her book about the origins of reality TV, she says that the deeper she looked “the darker things got.” She found reality stars whose lives were wrecked and “methods of production so ugly they’re hard to look at.” But she says reality TV has also elevated the struggles of ordinary people, taken on historically forbidden subjects like queerness and divorce and pioneered new filmmaking techniques. We talk to Nussbaum about her new book “Cue The Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV,” which she calls her attempt “to describe the reality genre through the voices of the people who built it.” Guests: Emily Nussbaum, author, "Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV"; staff writer, The New Yorker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao spoke publicly on Monday for the first time since the FBI raided her home last week. Thao, who faces a recall election in November, said she does not plan to step down or be “threatened out of this office.” Since coming into office in January of 2023, the mayor has dealt with a flood of criticism for her handling of property crime, homicide rates, police staffing levels, and a major budget deficit. We’ll talk about what the FBI raid could mean, the various controversies the mayor is facing, and why she’s being asked to resign. Guests: Darwin BondGraham, news editor, Oaklandside Annelise Finney, reporter, KQED Dan Lindheim, policy scholar and urban affairs expert, UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy; former City Administrator of Oakland under Mayor Ron Dellums Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Project 2025, the sweeping right-wing agenda drafted by the Heritage Foundation, calls for expanding presidential powers, eliminating federal agencies and programs and implementing substantial tax cuts. Created by close allies of former President Trump, it mirrors much of his campaign rhetoric. Meanwhile, Democrats are using it as a call to action. We examine the specifics of Project 2025 and how closely it aligns with Trump’s agenda. Guests: Philip Bump, national columnist, the Washington Post Nicholas Wu, congressional reporter, Politico Michael Hirsh, senior correspondent, Foreign Policy; author, "Inside the Next Republican Revolution" a Politico article on Project 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Andor Broudeur is a classical music critic for the Washington Post and he’s also a self-described “meathead” with an relentless desire to make his body bigger. In his book “Swole: The Making of Man and the Meaning of Muscle” Broudeur grapples with the contradictions and complexities of male body image and masculinity. He embraces the gay male gym culture he’s a part of but writes that it would be silly “to try and distance the symbol of the buff male bod from its long and wide lineage of unsavory cultural signifiers. As a mascot for classical beauty, the meathead must also embody white supremacy, hetero-patriarchy, and a vast panoply of nationalisms.” We’ll talk with Brodeur about how weight training has shifted his perspective on what it means to be a man. Guests: Michael Andor Brodeur, author, "Swole: The Making of Men and the Meaning of Muscle"; classical music critic, the Washington Post Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Immigrants to any country learn to adapt. So it was the case for food writer and cookbook author Khushbu Shah’s family who came to the States from India. Hoping to recreate dishes from home, but not finding the ingredients they needed, Shah’s family like other members of the Indian diaspora, used the ingredients on hand — Bisquick for khoya an ingredient in the dessert Galub Jamun, peanut butter in chutneys, or Cream of Wheat to take the place Upma, a polenta-like dish. What emerged was a distinctly Indian-American cuisine, which is the focus of Shah’s cookbook, “Amrikan.” We talk to Shah about her favorite recipes and her tips for turning pantry staples into Indian comfort meals. Guests: Khushbu Shah, author, "Amrikan"; food writer and journalist; She was most recently the restaurant editor at Food and Wine magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meteorologists are predicting this summer will be one of the hottest on record, and they’re warning we’re likely in for a big wildfire season. Heavy rains in recent years enabled a couple of mild years of fire. But this year’s heat and drier conditions are already fueling blazes. So far, major fires have forced evacuations and singed homes in Sonoma County and Southern California. We’ll talk about the weather, what we can expect the rest of the year and what you can do to prepare for an active fire season. Guests: Brian Garcia, warning coordination meteorologist, National Weather Service SF Bay Area/Monterey Isaac Sanchez, deputy chief of communications, Cal Fire Daniel Swain, climate scientist, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA Danielle Venton, science reporter, KQED News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new Biden Administration policy announced this week will allow undocumented people who are married to American citizens to remain in the U.S. while pursuing citizenship, as long as they have no criminal record and have lived in the country for at least 10 years. The policy, which could protect a half-million people from deportation, comes two weeks after an executive order banning asylum for unauthorized migrants at the southern border — the most restrictive action on asylum by a Democratic president. We’ll talk about Biden’s election-year approach toward immigration, the Trump campaign’s rhetoric and how both are using the border to court voters. Guests: Hamed Aleaziz, covers the Department of Homeland Security and immigration policy, The New York Times Molly O'Toole, fellow, Wilson Center - Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter currently working on a book on immigration for Penguin Random House Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Oscar-winning animated movie “Inside Out,” emotions like joy, anger and sadness populate the brain of 11-year-old Riley, the film’s heroine. In the sequel, “Inside Out 2,” Riley is now a teen, and the emotions running headquarters have to make room for new feelings…. Hello, anxiety! Pixar’s Pete Docter joins us to talk about the movie. Guests: Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer, Pixar - He directed "Inside Out," which won the 2016 Oscar for Best Animated Feature. He also directed "Monsters, Inc." and Oscar winners "Soul" and Up." He was the third animator to be brought on board at Pixar. Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley - He served as a consultant on the Pixar film, "Inside Out 2". Keltner is the author of "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life." Riya Richardson, member of "Riley's Crew," the group of teen girls who served as consultants to the movie "Inside Out 2" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are two new laws in California set to eliminate hidden fees, taking effect next month. In a statement released by the attorney general’s office, the purpose of the “Honest Pricing Law” is to ensure that “the price a Californian sees should be the price they pay.” While the laws are aimed at protecting consumers from unexpected charges on purchases like concert tickets and hotel reservations, many restaurant owners are concerned. They fear they may be forced to raise prices, potentially driving away customers. A third bill is swiftly moving through the Capitol with hopes of exempting restaurants from these regulations. We look into the details of these laws and their potential impact on you. Have hidden fees affected you? Guests: Lauren Saria, deputy food editor; The San Francisco Standard Dan Walters, columnist; CalMatters Bill Dodd, California state senator, district 3; which includes Napa County and parts of Sonoma county Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her new book, “The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America’s Next Economy,” author Natalie Foster argues for an American economy that guarantees governmental support for seven core areas: housing, health care, a college education, dignified work, family care, an inheritance, and an income floor. Foster is president and co-founder of the Economic Security Project, a nonprofit that advocates for economic stability. She joins to talk about her vision to improve individual lives and society as a whole. Guests: Natalie Foster, president and co-founder, Economic Security Project, a research center focused on guaranteed income programs, and senior fellow, The Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony Fauci was the face of the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic, guiding the public through the upheavals of school closures and stay-at-home orders and unprecedented loss of life. He implored people to get vaccinated and weathered near constant partisan attacks. The COVID-19 pandemic was one of a number of global public health crises – including AIDS, bird flu, Ebola and Zika – that Fauci handled during his nearly six-decade career. We’ll talk to Fauci about what we’ve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, how we should prepare for the next infectious disease crisis and what he values most about his life in public service. His new autobiography is “On Call.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As part of our “Doing Democracy” series, we look at state courts and constitutions. Each state has its own constitution, and they generally offer more rights than the U.S. Constitution. For example, the California constitution guarantees the right to happiness, reproductive freedom, and the ability to fish on public land, among other enumerated rights. With a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, activists are increasingly looking at states to protect – and even expand – rights. But will this strategy work? We’ll talk to legal experts about how state courts and constitutions are increasingly becoming battle grounds for preserving or expanding civil rights, and what the impact in California and neighboring states might be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If you make it trend, you make it true,” argues online propaganda expert Renée DiResta. Her new book examines what she calls the “invisible rulers” of today — influencers, algorithms and crowds. While some influencers have made good on social media’s promises of media democratization, others saturate our feeds with propaganda, disinformation and rumors that cause IRL harm. These influencers’ motivations, DiResta argues, are rooted in profit as much as — if not more than — ideology. We’ll talk to DiResta about how content moderation, systems design and policy can prevent and blunt the reach of online propaganda — and how we can strive for consensus in a fractured society. Her new book is “Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality.” Guests: Renée DiResta, former technical research manager, Stanford Internet Observatory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of bicycles stolen in the Bay Area and other places have ended up for sale in a small town in Jalisco, Mexico. A recent article in Wired follows the efforts of a co-founder of Bike Index, a site where people can report bike thefts, to track down a reseller who set up a supply chain of stolen bikes resold via social media. Meanwhile, bike thieves in the Bay Area have become even more sophisticated in their methods leaving cyclists feeling hopeless and vulnerable. We’ll talk about the local and global black market for stolen bikes and what – if anything – can be done about it. Guests: Carlos Cabrera-Lomeli, community engagement reporter, KQED Bryan Hance, co-founder, Bike Index Christopher Solomon, freelance journalist; author, the recent Wired article “The West Coast’s Fanciest Stolen Bikes Are Getting Trafficked by One Mastermind in Jalisco, Mexico" Nancy Hernandez, education program co-manager, Bike East Bay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite spending one third of our lives asleep, we know very little about why we dream. But in a new book brain surgeon and neuroscientist Dr. Rahul Jandial begins to peel back the mystery. He says that dreams may help us practice responding to threats, allow us to test different interpersonal scenarios, or serve as a sort of “nocturnal therapist, helping us digest and metabolize anxiety-provoking emotions.” We talk to Jandial about the neurobiology of dreams and what they contribute to our waking lives. Jandial’s new book is, “This Is Why You Dream.” Guests: Dr. Rahul Jandial, surgeon and neuroscientist, City of Hope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a journalist and a science fiction writer, Annalee Newitz thinks a lot about the power of narrative and how it can change minds, “if a story can make you feel better or smarter, it can also make you feel worse and more confused. And if that story can change your behavior—­whether in the voting booth or on the street—­it becomes a weapon.” In their new book, "Stories Are Weapons," Newitz dives into the history and practice of psychological warfare and traces how the military tools of psyops – including propaganda and disinformation – have seeped into our lives. We’ll talk about how stories are used to manipulate our politics and drive the culture wars and how we might snap out of their sway. Guests: Annalee Newitz, science journalist; science fictions writer; author, "Stories are Weapons"; Newitz is also the author of the books "The Terraformers," "Autonomous" and "Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Squid Game.” “Crashing Landing on You.” “Winter Sonata.” Korean dramas have injected themselves into American pop culture thanks to their addictive story lines and the advent of streaming services. Grace Jung should know. She spent 10,000 hours watching Korean television for her UCLA PhD in cinema and media studies. A stand-up comedian, podcast host, and critic, Jung unpacks the cultural significance of Korean television in her new book “K-Drama School.” We’ll talk to Jung and hear from you: What’s your favorite Korean television show? Guest: Grace Jung, author, "K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television." Jung is also a standup comedian, critic and host of the podcast "K-Drama School." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Forty six years ago, California held its first statewide vote on gay rights. Prop 6, also known as the Briggs Initiative, sought to ban gay teachers from the classroom. The battle to stop that proposition is the subject of Slate’s current “Slow Burn” podcast season, chronicling an explosive moment in both Bay Area and gay liberation history. It follows the political trajectory of Harvey Milk, as well as a wave of anti-gay backlash from conservative politicians across the country. We speak with Slow Burn host Christina Cauterucci and early gay rights advocates Cleve Jones, Gwenn Craig and Ruth Mahaney, about lasting lessons from the Briggs Initiative and those who opposed it. Guests: Christina Cauterucci, host of Slate's "Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs" podcast Cleve Jones, author, "When We Rise," organizer with UNITE HERE, a hospitality workers' union. Also co-founder of the AIDS Foundation and founder of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt Ruth Mahaney, former professor of gender and LGBTQ studies Gwenn Craig, queer elder who has worked on several electoral candidate and issues campaigns in San Francisco, including the supervisorial campaign of Harvey Milk and San Franciscans Against Proposition 6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Ann Powers began to draft her expansive new biography of Laurel Canyon music legend Joni Mitchell, she says that “certain subjects emerged: childhood as an imaginary terrain where singer-songwriters could express their ideals and idiosyncrasies; sadness as a complicated form of women’s liberation; side roads and retreats as the secret sources of an artist’s strengths. And traveling, always traveling.” Powers’ book charts Mitchell’s influences, collaborators and milieu, weaving in reflections on the broader politics and trends of each decade during Mitchell’s career. It grapples with the sexism of Laurel Canyon’s heyday and Mitchell being labeled a “confessional” artist, as well as Mitchell’s own complicated relationship with feminism and with being the only woman at the table. We talk to Powers about Joni Mitchell’s life and art and hear how Mitchell has affected you. Powers’ new book is “Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell.” Guest: Ann Powers, music critic and correspondent, NPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every historical era is marked by the fight for a commodity: spices, gold, oil, steel, to name a few. In the next decades as climate change deepens and resources become scarcer, security experts believe the commodities fueling conflict will be food and water. The global battle to control these two resources centers the documentary “The Grab,” which follows Center for Investigative Reporting journalist Nate Halverson’s quest to uncover state-sponsored efforts to snatch up land and water rights in other countries, including the U.S., at the expense of the people who live there. Guests: Nathan Halverson, reporter with the Investigative Reporting Program, UC Berkeley - Halverson is featured in the documentary "The Grab," which centers on his efforts to uncover the players behind state-sponsored land grabs around the world. Brigadier Siachitema, consultant, Women’s Lands & Property Rights at Southern Africa Litigation Centre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine on Tuesday called on the medical community to adopt a new, universal definition of Long COVID to help patients access better medical care and benefits and minimize skepticism and social stigma around the condition. The National Academies would define Long COVID as an “infection-associated chronic condition that occurs after COVID-19 infection and is present for at least three months as a continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive disease state that affects one or more organ systems.” Long COVID afflicts an estimated 17 million Americans. We’ll talk about the latest Long COVID research and hear your experiences. Guests: Dr. Linda Geng, co-director, Stanford Long COVID Collaborative Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her new book, “Father Time: A Natural History of Men and Babies,” primatologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy rebuffs the idea that men don’t develop a dad instinct the way mothers do. For centuries, it was just assumed that men were not inclined to be good at caregiving and Hrdy says academic researchers overlooked studying what happens when men become fathers. Hrdy’s own research found that fathers, like mothers, experience biological and neurological changes when they become parents. We’ll talk about how the role of fathers is changing and why we should rethink the way society treats dads. Guests: Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, anthropologist and primatologist; author, "Father Time: A Natural History of Men and Babies" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her new novel “Exhibit” R.O. Kwon introduces us to Jin Han, a photographer in San Francisco who’s unsure if her transgressive infatuation for a ballet dancer activated a family curse, conjuring a ghost from her family’s past in Korea. Through Jin, Kwon explores the nature of desire — and why shame too often accompanies it.. Kwon says it’s as though she “made a list of boxes a person might tick to explain why a woman ought to be disliked, perhaps despised, and then, writing this novel, I filled in each box.” We’ll talk with Kwon about why women especially feel shame for the desire they feel for others or for personal creative fulfillment — and for not desiring motherhood. And we’ll hear about how she grappled with her anxieties and reflected on her politics while writing this novel. Guests: R.O. Kwon, author, "Exhibit" and "The Incendiaries"; co-editor, "KINK: Stories" the anthology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a recent executive order, Governor Gavin Newsom, directed state agencies to explore the possibilities for generative AI tools with the goal of implementing them as soon as this summer. Using generative AI in government agencies could help reduce traffic jams, make roads safer and provide tax guidance. But concerns have been raised about job loss, misinformation, privacy and automation bias. We’ll talk with government officials and AI experts about the promise and concerns of using AI for public services. Guests: Jason Elliott, deputy chief of staff to Governor Gavin Newsom Jennifer Pahlka, author, “Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better”; senior fellow, the Nisaken Center and the Federation of American Scientists Khaled Tawfik, chief information officer, Information Technology Department of the City of San Jose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With its term drawing to a close, the U.S. Supreme Court is getting ready to rule on major issues like abortion access, gun regulations, and whether former president Trump has immunity from civil litigation. Meanwhile, Justice Samuel Alito is still facing questions – and calls for recusal– over political flags flown at his houses. We’ll discuss the ethics controversies swirling around the court and look at what the upcoming rulings could mean for the presidential election… the country… and you. Guests: Vikram Amar, professor of law, UC Davis School of Law; He clerked for Justice Harry A. Blackmun of the United States Supreme Court. Mary Ziegler, professor of law, UC Davis School of Law; Her most recent book is "Roe: The History of a National Obsession." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The year is 13777. There are dragons on the moon.” That’s how Robin Sloan, author of the best-seller “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Book Store” describes his new novel, “Moonbound.” It’s the first in an ambitious and adventurous trilogy that’s set far in the future, after AI and biotech have transformed life on Earth as we’ve known it. We’ll talk to Sloan about the power of science fiction and his far flung imaginings on sentience, collective history, humanity’s future and the remarkable potentials of yeast. Guests: Robin Sloan, author, "Moonbound"; Sloan's other books include "Sourdough" and "Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before there was a MAGA republicanism, there was the Tea Party. Founded in 2009, the movement organized around fiscal conservatism and opposition to the Affordable Care Act and government bailouts of the banking industry. But the Tea Party’s influence has waned. Only half of congressional Republicans voted for a limited government position on tax and fiscal issues in 2023, according to a study by the Institute for Legislative Analysis. And the movement has lost financial support following the recent closure of the conservative political group Freedom Works. We look at the history of the Tea Party movement and how it shaped today’s GOP. Guests: Vanessa Williamson, senior fellow, Brookings Institute - co-author of "The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism" Fred McGrath, president, Institute for Legislative Analysis - an organization that collects data for advocates of Limited Government Duncan Braid, coalition director, American Compass - a conservative economic policy advocacy organization Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The highly-anticipated opera “Innocence” has made its American premiere in San Francisco. At the heart of the story is a mass shooting at an international school, and the grief and trauma of the event that lingers a decade later. We’ll talk about the San Francisco Opera production and discuss a new mapping project showing a dramatic increase in the number of Americans living in close proximity to fatal gun violence and what it means for our communities. Guests: Tinisch Hollins, executive director, Californians for Safety and Justice; co-founder, SF Black Wall Street; vice chair, SF African-Americans Reparations Advisory Committee Matthew Shilvock, general director, San Francisco Opera Shaila Dewan, National Criminal Justice Correspondent, New York Times Ryan Marchand, director, San Francisco Opera's Department of Diversity, Equity and Community Gabe Meline, senior editor, KQED Arts and Culture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ruth Whippman is a feminist writer. She’s also the mother of three sons. Her new book, “Boymom,” reflects on the difficulties facing parents tasked with raising good men in an age where people on the right weaponize male concerns and people on the left dismiss them. She asks: What does it mean to raise men who feel validated in their gender identity but not entitled to more because of it? Whippman advocates for an empathetic version of feminism, one where men are held to a high standard but where the loneliness and suicide epidemics plaguing young American men are meaningfully addressed. We’ll hear about her reporting, cultural analysis and own experiences as a “boymom.” Guests: Ruth Whippman, essayist, cultural critic and author of "BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been almost a year since robotaxi companies Waymo and Cruise expanded their operations to offer fully driverless ride services in San Francisco. Testing human-free vehicles in urban environments has proven challenging, with incidents ranging from gaffs like a driverless car stumped by parade traffic to deep safety concerns that led GM to suspend Cruise’s autonomous operations last fall. After a wave of driverless hype, and criticism – where does the industry stand today? We’ll speak with a research engineer who has been studying the promise of autonomous vehicles for half a century, and an investigative reporter tracking the data and the blindspots of these robots on our roads. Guests: Bigad Shaban, senior investigative reporter, NBC Bay Area Steven Shladover, research engineer, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California-Berkeley Philip Reinckens, senior vice president of commercialization and operations, Gatik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices