KQED's Forum

At Davos, Donald Trump claimed that China doesn’t use wind energy, or in his words, “windmills.” He could not be more wrong. In 2024, China accounted for 40% of the globe’s wind energy generation and in 2025, over a quarter of China’s energy came from wind and solar power. As the U.S. reverts to coal, gas and oil for its energy needs, China is emerging as the world leader in renewables. We talk about whether the U.S. will be left irrevocably behind by Trump’s energy policy and what it all means for California’s renewable energy industry. Guests: Jeremy Wallace, professor of China Studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); author, "China Lab" newsletter; author of recent WIRED article, "China’s Renewable Energy Revolution Is a Huge Mess That Might Save the World" Mark Jacobson, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University; author, "Still No Miracles Needed: How Today's Technology Can Save Our Climate and Clean Our Air" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The popular HBO drama “The Pitt,” set in a Pittsburgh emergency trauma center, is having an impact on real-world healthcare. Doctors across California say the show has brought heightened public awareness of their daily work and sparked conversations about the challenges that emergency healthcare workers face. We’ll talk to California ER physicians about the effect the TV show has had on their lives and work, and we want to hear from you: Has “The Pitt” changed how you think about emergency care? Guests: Dr. Christopher Colwell, vice chair and chief of Emergency Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital Dr. Patil Armenian, professor of clinical emergency medicine and medical toxicology, UCSF Fresno Dr. Sarah Medeiros, professor of emergency medicine, UC Davis; host, EM Pulse podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years of being known as a defunct mall, San Francisco Centre officially closed last weekend leaving 1.2 million square feet of vacant space. The mall was once a centerpiece of San Francisco’s shopping district, but it was hit hard by online shopping, the pandemic, and declining foot traffic downtown. Still, the building and 6-acre site pose what some are calling a major opportunity to help revitalize downtown. We’ll talk about what could be done with the vacant mall and the challenges facing San Francisco’s once-grand retail hub. Guests: Michael Covarrubias, chairman and CEO, TMG partners, a San Francisco-based development company J.K. Dineen, Bay Area housing reporter, San Francisco Chronicle Laura Crescimano, co-founder and leader, SITELAB urban studio Lisa Huang, design director, Gensler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been nearly a year since Kash Patel took the helm of the FBI, a period New York Times reporter Emily Bazelon says has been “marred by vendettas, mismanagement and meltdowns.” The New York Times spoke to 45 current and former FBI officials, who describe a traditionally independent agency now captured and weaponized by the White House. The officials say the FBI’s new emphasis on immigration, over counterterrorism and cybersecurity, is making America less safe. We’ll talk to a former Los Angeles field officer and to Bazelon, whose new piece is “A Year Inside Kash Patel’s F.B.I.” Guests: Emily Bazelon, staff writer, The New York Times Magazine; Truman Capote Fellow for Creative Writing and Law, Yale Law School; co-host, Slate's “Political Gabfest” Jill Fields, former supervisory intelligence analyst for violent crime in the Los Angeles field office, FBI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calling out ICE and the National Guard to police Los Angeles, Portland and Minneapolis. DOGE and the evisceration of government institutions. Invading Venezuela. The insults, the rambling, the grift. The Epstein files. It’s hard to keep up with how Trump 2.0 is impacting our country. But in her popular newsletter, “Letters from an American” political historian Heather Cox Richardson helps readers keep their eyes on what matters. Guests: Heather Cox Richardson, author of "Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America", Richardson is professor of political history at Boston College. Her previous books include "How the South Won the Civil War." Her newsletter, “Letters from an American” reaches over 5 million readers on Substack and Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever achieved a high GPA, crushed your Duolingo streak, or seen a surge of likes on social media… only to feel weirdly empty? Philosopher C. Thi Nguyen attributes that joylessness to what he calls “value capture,” where rankings and metrics can replace our own values and start dictating goals for us. We talk to Nguyen about the difference between playful score keeping… and soul-sucking metrics. And we want to hear from you: Have you ever found yourself playing a game you didn’t choose? Guests: C. Thi Nguyen, philosopher; author, “The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco-based, Ethiopian-born singer-songwriter Meklit Hadero and her band join us live in the studio to play from her new album, “A Piece of Infinity.” The album reimagines folk songs from across Ethiopia, blending her signature Ethio-jazz style with R&B, synth and other genres. We’ll talk about the stories the album tells and bask in her rich, expressive vocals. Guests: Meklit Hadero, Ethio-Jazz singer and composer Sam Bevan, upright bass Colin Douglas, drums Howard Wiley, tenor saxophone Kibrom Berhane, keyboard and krar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russia’s war in Ukraine has orphaned some 2000 Ukrainian children, leaving them with physical and psychological wounds and adult responsibilities beyond their years. Journalist Anna Nemtsova interviewed orphaned children across Ukraine, many of whom witnessed a parent being killed by Russian forces. She also looked at the impacts felt by Russian youth growing up surrounded by violence. We talk to Nemtsova about the harms she says could last a generation. We also talk about the trajectory of the nearly four-year war with former Ukraine ambassador Steve Pifer, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Trump prepare to meet Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Guests: Anna Nemtsova, Eastern Europe correspondent, The Daily Beast; contributing writer, The Atlantic; her new piece for KQED is “A Generation Orphaned by War: Ukrainian Children Grow Up Amid Loss and Recovery" Steven Pifer, affiliate, Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University; former ambassador to Ukraine and senior director at the National Security Council in the Clinton administration Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump has made clear that he wants Greenland, and is willing to upset allies to get it. After escalating threats, on Tuesday, Trump said on Truth Social that he and the head of NATO now have a “framework” on a future Greenland deal and Trump said he would no longer impose punitive tariffs, but offered no other specifics. Why is the acquisition of this self-governing and autonomous territory of Denmark the focus of Trump’s expansionist appetites? We talk about Trump’s attempt to acquire Greenland and the repercussions of his latest foreign policy pivot. Guests: Eliot Cohen, Arleigh Burke Chair in Strategy, Center for Strategic and International Studies; contributing writer, The Atlantic; professor emeritus, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Susan Glasser, staff writer, The New Yorker; co-author, "The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021" Jeffrey Gettleman, global international correspondent, The New York Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A California health care union is campaigning for a ballot measure that would impose a one-time “wealth tax” on the state’s roughly estimated 200 billionaires. The proposal is meant to shore upfunding for health programs facing severe cuts because of federal funding reductions. But it’s stirring opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom, who says the tax could harm the state’s economy. We talk about how the tax would work and what the risks and benefits might come from a new levy on the state’s wealthiest residents. Guests: Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host, KQED's Political Breakdown Ryan Mac, tech reporter based in Los Angeles, The New York Times; co-author, “Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter” Suzanne Jimenez, chief of staff, SEIU United Healthcare Workers West Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California College of the Arts’ announcement last week that it would close by the end of the next academic year stunned many in the Bay Area arts community. Nashville-based Vanderbilt University plans to open a satellite location in CCA’s San Francisco campus and also bought a shuttered site in Oakland. We dig into the deal and talk about what the demise of the 120 year-old CCA and expansion of a new university means for the Bay Area, arts in our region, and higher education overall. Guests: Laura Waxmann, reporter, San Francisco Chronicle Sarah Hotchkiss, senior associate editor, KQED Arts and Culture Jeff Selingo, author, "Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions," "There is Life After College" and "College (Un)Bound: The Future of Higher Education and What It Means for Students" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gambling has crept into the news, with prediction markets offering betting odds on everything from Taylor Swift’s wedding date to the U.S. acquisition of Greenland. Political reporters now cite betting odds alongside traditional polls, and media companies like CNN and Yahoo have inked deals with popular betting platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. So what does it mean to put cold hard cash on the outcome of current events? Danny Funt has written about sports betting for The Washington Post and The New Yorker. He joins us to talk about how online gambling is reshaping the news, and his new book: “Everybody Loses.” Guests: Danny Funt, journalist covering sports betting and online gambling, The Washington Post and The New Yorker; author, "Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her new book “When Trees Testify,” plant biologist Beronda L. Montgomery examines the ways trees are intertwined with Black American history as well as her own life story. For example, the pecan tree was domesticated by an enslaved African and sycamores were both havens and signposts for those fleeing slavery. We talk to Montgomery and hear from you: What’s a tree with special significance to your history? Guests: Beronda L. Montgomery, author, "When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy" Marian Johnson, former resident, Russell City, Alameda County Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At least 2,600 protesters have been killed in Iran’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Those protests now appear to have abated after nearly two weeks, but many outside Iran are still struggling to get information about loved ones because of the Islamic Republic’s communication blackout. Meanwhile, as President Trump gives mixed signals on intervention, the U.S. imposed additional sanctions on Thursday. We’ll hear from Iranians in California about how they’re processing the latest news, and from you: How do you want the U.S. to respond? Guests: Robin Wright, contributing writer, The New Yorker - her most recent piece for the magazine is "Iran’s Regime Is Unsustainable"; Wright is also the author of "Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East" among other books Hoda Katebi, labor attorney, Iranian-American writer and community organizer Sahar Razavi, associate professor, Department of Political Science; director, Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies Center, California State University, Sacramento Shani Moslehi, founder and chief executive officer, Orange County Iranian American Chamber of Commerce (OCIACC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his second term as president, Donald Trump has dismantled programs that promote equality, fired Black officials from high ranking positions, and has empowered white nationalists. Social justice activists have long known that progress is uneven and often retracts, so what does the fight for civil rights look like today? On the day America commemorates Martin Luther King Jr., we reflect on his legacy and the state of our civil rights and social justice movements. Guests: Jelani Cobb, staff writer, The New Yorker; professor of journalism, Columbia University; his most recent book is, "Three or More Is a Riot: Notes on How We Got Here: 2012-2025" Eva Paterson, retired, former co-founder and president, Equal Justice Society; now runs a film production company called Joy and Magic Nicole Lee, executive director, Urban Peace Movement - a grassroots racial justice organization in Oakland focused on leadership development for young people to prevent violence and mass incarceration Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buttery notes. Hints of cherry. A wisp of chocolate. All are desirable tastes in wine. But what happens when the grapes have been exposed to wildfire smoke and the wine tastes more like BBQ or an ashtray? Wine makers and scientists are exploring how to create wines from grapes that may have been tainted by smoke. At a time when the wine industry is facing the headwinds of tariffs, decreasing interest in wine, and climate change, these efforts have taken on more importance. We’ll talk about what happens when smoke gets in your wine. Guests: Nicola Twilley, contributor, New Yorker Magazine. Her most recent piece for the magazine is titled "Can We Save Wine from Wildfires?" Sarah Doyle, wine reporter, The Press Democrat Ashley Egelhoff, winemaker, Honig Vineyard & Winery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cardiologist and genetic researcher Dr. Eric Topol wrote the book on “Super Agers,” distilling everything that modern medicine can teach us about boosting our immune systems and squeezing more life out of our years – not the other way around. We’ll hear Dr. Topol’s tips for boosting our immune systems and keeping our brains — and guts — running like the biological super-computers they are. And we want to hear from you: What steps are you taking to age well? Guests: Dr. Eric Topol, cardiologist, founder and director of the Scripps Research Institute. His book is "Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Californians have until January 31 to sign up for health insurance provided by Covered California, the state’s Obamacare plan. Because Congress let health care tax credits expire, the cost of insurance has radically increased for many customers, and some are opting out of health insurance altogether. We’ll hear how skyrocketing costs are affecting your healthcare decisions and take your questions. Guests: Jessica Altman, executive director, Covered California, the state health insurance exchange Cynthia Cox, senior vice-president, KFF, an independent source for health policy research, polls and news - Cox is also the director of KFF's Affordable Care Act Program Katelyn Jackson, executive director, Clinic by the Bay, a free medical clinic for uninsured patients Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An ICE officer’s fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good last week in Minneapolis—and the Trump administration’s response — have stirred both outrage and fear across the country. The shooting has renewed concerns in California about immigration agents’ aggressive tactics. And it’s raised questions about whether ICE officers are receiving proper training as the agency rapidly expands its ranks to carry out President Trump’s immigration crackdown. We analyze ICE’s tactics and hear about efforts to rein in the agency, and about what the future may hold as federal authorities set their sights on more American cities. Guests: Rep. Ro Khanna, Congressman for California's 17th Congressional District (Silicon Valley) Jill Cowan, reporter covering Southern California, New York Times Scott Savage, police training consultant; recently retired California law enforcement officer with 24 years of experience Ben Jones, assistant professor of ethics and public policy, Pennsylvania State University; author of the forthcoming book, "Protecting Life: The Ethics of Police Deadly Force" Noah Hurowitz, reporter covering federal law enforcement, The Intercept Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump has redefined the authority of the American presidency. In a recent interview with the New York Times, he said he is constrained only by his “own morality.” Trump has often exercised power in ways that have raised alarms including weaponizing the Department of Justice to go after political opponents, capturing the leader of Venezuela without Congressional approval, sending the National Guard into cities to squash protests and imposing tariffs. As we approach the one year anniversary of Trump’s inauguration, we’ll talk about the expansion of presidential power and what it means for democracy. Guests: Steven Levitsky, professor of government, Harvard, co-author of "Why Democracies Die" and "Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point." Vikram Amar, professor of law, UC Davis School of Law Lara Brown, political scientist and author, Her lastest book is, "Amateur Hour: Presidential Character and the Question of Leadership." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, can cost upwards of $20,000 in California — for one cycle. For that reason, it’s put financial strain on many California families and been completely out of reach for others, including couples who have faced insurance denials because they are LGBTQ+. But a California law that went into effect this month, SB 729, requires large employer-sponsored health plans to cover up to three cycles of IVF, along with other infertility services, regardless of sexual orientation. We’ll hear what the new law means for family planning in California, and for you: Does this put IVF within reach for you? What’s been your experience with IVF? Guests: Caroline Menjivar, member of the California State Senate representing the 20th district (San Fernando Valley) Shefali Luthra, reproductive health reporter, The 19th Sarah Jolly, has been trying to conceive with her husband for five years Dr. Alexander Quaas, medical director Shady Grove Fertility San Diego; fertility specialist; wrote an article for the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology titled, “The California infertility insurance mandate: another step toward reproductive justice?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may know Mo Willems from his books about “The Pigeon” – who asks, pleads, even demands to do things like drive a school bus. Or from unlikely best friends “Elephant & Piggie,” who will soon have their own Paramount+ streaming series. We talk with the acclaimed children’s book author about his approach to involving and inspiring children with interactive stories, and his latest projects — including two upcoming stage performances at San Francisco’s comedy festival, Sketchfest. Mo Willems has two upcoming stage performances at San Francisco’s comedy festival, Sketchfest, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18. Tickets can be found here. Guests: Mo Willems, children's book author Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marin Country rang in the New Year with the worst flooding in decades. Heavy storms combined with king tides turned parts of Highway 101 into lakes, pushed water over levees, and caused damage to hundreds of homes and businesses. While many people were caught off guard, the floods were not a surprise to researchers and planners who study sea-level rise. The question now is how well cities and regional agencies will respond and make changes. We’ll talk about the floods and what it will take to adapt to rising sea levels in the Bay Area. Guests: Ezra David Romero, climate reporter, KQED Kristina Hill, director, Institute for Urban and Regional Development, College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley Bart Ney, acting deputy director of external affairs, Caltrans Michael Germeraad, resilience planner, Association of Bay Area Governments & Metropolitan Transportation Commission Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans are getting their clearest picture yet of how thoroughly Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is remaking federal public health policy. In a move that’s drawn widespread criticism, the health secretary announced a dramatic reduction in the number of vaccinations recommended for children. In a second initiative — one that’s drawn qualified praise from public health experts — Kennedy unveiled new dietary recommendations that emphasize meat, dairy products and so-called “healthy fats.” We look at these changes in policy and what they may mean for you … and for overall public health. Guests: Marcia Brown, food and agriculture reporter, POLITICO Grace Lee, associate chief medical officer for practice innovation and pediatric infectious diseases physician, Stanford Children’s Health; member, U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP); member, COVID-19 Vaccines Workgroup Maria Godoy, health correspondent, NPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer has sparked protests and anger in the Bay Area and across the country. We get the latest on the fallout from the shooting and the Trump Administration’s handling of it. And we talk about what it all might mean for the president’s immigration agenda and the future of ICE. Guests: Nick Miroff, staff writer, The Atlantic Matt Sepic, Correspondent, Minnesota Public Radio Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco District Attorney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom delivered his final State of the State address laying out his vision for California – in contrast to what he calls a chaotic federal government under President Trump. He highlighted California’s work on homelessness, education and healthcare. And framed the state as taking a leadership role in these issues across the country. We take a closer look at what Governor Newsom is proposing for California in the new year, and how he aims to close a state budget shortfall of nearly $18 billion. Guests: Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown Lindsey Holden, California politics reporter, Politico Patrick Ahrens, state Assemblymember representing California's 26th district, including Santa Clara county Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From convenience store pork chops to a distinct take on Peking duck, KQED food editor Luke Tsai discovered a lot of great dishes over the year. He joins us to dish on the best things he ate in 2025 and recommend places you might want to try in the new year. Despite continued restaurant closures, the Bay Area continues to offer amazing culinary options from all over the world, so how do you decide? We’ll hear from Tsai and other local food writers, Lauren Saria of The SF Standard and freelancer Octavio Peña, on their picks for what you should nosh on in 2026. Guests: Luke Tsai, food editor, KQED Arts and Culture Lauren Saria, food editor, The SF Standard Octavio Peña, food writer and contributor, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get out your crystal ball, trust your spidey-senses and look back at 2025’s major takeaways, because it’s time to help us predict 2026. Whether you think Democrats will win big in the midterms, that an entirely AI-generated song will top the Billboard charts or that we’ll finally stop Venmo charging our friends for dinner, we want to hear your predictions. We speak with three journalists about what they expect — and what we’ve learned from 2025. And we hear from you: Whether it’s good, bad or neutral, what do you think will happen this year? Guests: Izzie Ramirez, deputy editor of Future Perfect, a section focused on the myriad challenges and efforts in making the world a better place, Vox Media Emma Goldberg, reporter covering political subcultures and the way we live now for the Styles section, The New York Times Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist, The Washington Post; she writes the nationally syndicated personal finance column "The Color of Money" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When writer Anna Holmes began to get forgetful, she wondered if it was middle age, menopause or dementia-inflected memory loss. The brain fog made her reflect on not just her health, but her mortality. Having watched her mother slip away from dementia, she wondered if it was now happening to her. We talk to a neurologist and Holmes about her recent piece in the New Yorker, “My Mother’s Memory Loss, and Mine.” Guests: Anna Holmes, writer and editor; her latest piece in the New Yorker is titled "My Mother's Memory Loss, and Mine" Dr. Niyatee Samudra, clinical assistant professor of adult neurology, Stanford University Medical School Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin has been sounding the alarm about creeping authoritarianism, warning of military forces on U.S. streets and extrajudicial killings on the high seas. Now, following a military raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, those warnings feel newly urgent. Slotkin joins us to discuss what the Maduro operation reveals about presidential power, and what Congressional oversight mechanisms are available. Furthermore, President Trump says the U.S. will now control Venezuela’s massive oil reserves — over 300 billion barrels of crude oil. Later in the hour, we talk about why the U.S. might keep Venezuela’s existing government in place, the real challenges of extracting Venezuela’s oil resources and how Trump’s use of the Monroe Doctrine is reshaping global politics. Guests: Elissa Slotkin, U.S. Senator representing Michigan; member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services Antonia Juhasz, investigative journalist covering energy and the environment for Rolling Stone and other outlets. She is the author of several books on the industry, including "The Tyranny of Oil." Kevin Whitaker, former U.S. ambassador to Colombia and deputy chief of mission in Venezuela. He is senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a non-partisan think tank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A blackout that left one-third of San Francisco customers without power – some up to three days – was one of six outages that plagued PG&E throughout the holidays. Disabled Waymos blocked streets. The Nutcracker was cancelled. Restaurants and businesses were closed. Customers and politicians are demanding answers and calling for the end of PG&E’s monopoly. We’ll talk about the blackout and what it can tell us about the reliability of our power sources and Waymo’s vulnerabilities, and we’ll hear how it affected you. Guests: Joe Eskenazi, managing editor and columnist, Mission Local Jeffrey Tumlin, former Director of Transportation, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Brad Templeton, entrepreneur, writer; Templeton is the chairman emeritus of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and previously worked at Waymo Bilal Mahmood, supervisor, District 5, Board of Supervisors San Francisco Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s world, it seems there’s a remedy for every modern ailment. Anxiety. Diabetes. Heart disease. There’s a pill for that! But what do the drugs we take to make us better really do? And where do they fit in the big picture of the disease business? In the new podcast, Drug Story, journalist Thomas Goetz digs into modern medicine, examining some of the most prescribed drugs one diagnosis and side effect at a time. Guests: Thomas Goetz, journalist, author and entrepreneur. Host of the podcast 'Drug Story' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

January 7 marks one year since the Palisades and Eaton fires ignited in Los Angeles County. MS NOW senior political reporter Jacob Soboroff reported on the fires, an assignment he pursued because he grew up in Pacific Palisades, despite the emotional challenges of the task. As he writes in his new book, “Firestorm,” “What are you supposed to say when the entire community you were born and raised in is wiped off the map, literally burning to the ground before your eyes?” Soboroff joins us to share how he found the words, where recovery stands in LA and why we’re now in “America’s New Age of Disaster.” Guests: Jacob Soboroff, senior political and national reporter, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC); author, "Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America's New Age of Disaster" and "Separated: Inside An American Tragedy" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Plastic is everywhere” writes former EPA official Judith Enck, “wrapped around our food, stitched into our clothes, even coursing through our veins.” Enck says we need to drastically reduce our dependency on plastic to save our oceans, our air and ourselves. We talk to her about why it’s so hard to regulate plastic – and the individual ways we can free ourselves from its “synthetic embrace.” Each American uses about five hundred pounds of plastic a year. Enck’s new book is “The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late.” Have you tried to cut plastic out of your life? Guests: Judith Enck, president, Beyond Plastics; served as a regional administrator with the EPA during the Obama Administration Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a press conference on Saturday after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured, President Trump said the U.S. would “run” Venezuela until a proper transition was in place. Trump said “he’s not afraid of boots on the ground,” and that the U.S. will sell seized Venezuelan oil, but the U.S. plan and next steps are far from clear. We’ll talk about Maduro’s capture and what it means for the U.S. and Venezuela. Guests: David Sanger, White House and National Security Correspondent, New York Times - His most recent book is "New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion and America’s Struggle to Save the West" Elizabeth Dickinson, Deputy Director of Latin America, International Crisis Group John Garamendi, U.S. Representative for California's 8th congressional district, former California Lt Governor Lateefah Simon, U.S. representative for California's 12th congressional district Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wikipedia, the crowdsourced encyclopedia, is one of the world’s most visited websites, with 11 billion page views each month. Its founder, Jimmy Wales, credits its success to one thing — trust — which he sees at odds with our increasing loss of faith in institutions and in each other. In his new book, he lays out what he calls a “blueprint for building things that last” in volatile times. We’ll talk to Wales about the site’s history and why right wing figures like Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson are attacking it. The book is “The Seven Rules of Trust.” Has Wikipedia earned your trust? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sonoma native and former U.S. poet laureate Ada Limón’s collection of new and selected poetry contemplates her relationship to nature, the role of art in an unruly world, and our connection to one another. Her hope is to create “some strange idiosyncratic song, an imperfect echo, to nature and humanity so they will know how much they are loved.” We listen back to our conversation with Limón about her new collection, “Startlement.” Guests: Ada Limón, poet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl leads the largest synagogue in New York City. But she says she’s never been so afraid to talk about Israel. That’s because she thinks that compassion for people suffering on either side of the war in Gaza has come to be seen as disloyal and even threatening – a zero sum empathy calculus that also applies to ideological battles fought in our country every day. Buchdahl is the first Asian American to be ordained a rabbi, a journey she describes in her new memoir “Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi’s Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging.” We talk to her about why knowing what it feels like to be an outsider has helped her enable connection among people with disparate views and what happens when we become incapable of empathy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Singing along with the crowd at a concert. Cheering together at a sports game. Laughing with the audience at a funny moment in a movie. Even getting work done in a busy cafe or library. These are moments when you might experience what has been called collective effervescence, a feeling of social unity that comes from a shared moment. As the year draws to a close, we want to celebrate the uniquely human moments that people share together. Tell us about a recent moment of collective effervescence that you’ve experienced. Guests: Shira Gabriel, psychology professor, University at Buffalo DJ D Sharp, official DJ for the Golden State Warriors Zoe Ellis, director of music ministries, GLIDE memorial church Bryan Steele, communications director, Golden Gate Triathalon Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When New York Times critic Amanda Hess was told her baby had a rare genetic condition, her first instinct was to “Google [her] way out of it.” But instead of comfort, she found anxiety – a feeling that would come to define her journey into parenthood. We talk to Hess about how technology, including fertility apps and high-end gadgets, are reshaping parenthood. Her new book is “Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take a look back at our favorite books of 2025. This year's best seller lists and critic choices were scattered with no clear big hits but there were still many excellent titles, says Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast. We'll hear from critics, local authors and our bookworm listeners about what's worth reading in the new year. What was your best read of 2025? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bay Area native and acclaimed director of “Crazy Rich Asians” and “In the Heights,” Jon M. Chu now brings one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals to the big screen with the conclusion of his box office-smashing two-part adaptation of “Wicked.” He joined Mina Kim onstage in San Francisco for a KQED Live event where he reflected on his Bay Area roots, his rise through Hollywood and the beauty of reimagining stories that feel larger than life. We listen to that conversation from December 3rd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ICE raids. Tariffs. National Guard deployment. Ukraine. Venezuela. The longest federal shutdown in history. There was no shortage of major news headlines in 2025. We’ll try to make sense of the biggest stories of the past year with a panel of journalists, and look at what 2026 might hold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fred Armisen, the comedian, actor and musician known for “Portlandia,” “Documentary Now!” and “SNL,” has a new album out called “100 Sound Effects.” There’s a jacket zipping, glass shattering, the “ooh” of receiving room service and even the sound we make when “Walking into a Video Room at an Art Museum and then Walking Out Quickly,” as the effect is titled. We’ll talk with Armisen about recording the sounds of the everyday, and we want to hear from you: What’s a sound you’d record in your life or would want preserved in a sound effect library decades from now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beyond just a wardrobe staple, jeans are often key parts of signature looks and core memories. Levi Strauss, the San Francisco company that brought jeans to the masses, has reopened its history museum, The Vault, with an exhibit called “Amped” that celebrates iconic denim looks worn by musicians including Kurt Cobain, Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Freddie Mercury. We listen back to our conversation about the exhibit and hear stories of your favorite pair of jeans. Tell us about the jeans that made you feel brave, the ones covered in patches that you refused to retire or maybe the pair that you were wearing when you met your first love. Guests: Gregory Climer, chair, fashion design program at California College of the Arts Audrey Kalman, created a denim archive for her master's degree from the University of Oregon Tracey Panek, Levi Strauss and Co. historian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The dog, writes poet Billy Collins, moves through the world unencumbered, with “nothing but her brown coat and her modest blue collar.” In a new collection called “Dog Show,” the former U.S. Poet Laureate turns his gaze toward the quiet wisdom of our canine friends — their reminders to slow down, pay attention and let the ordinary become radiant. We talk to Collins about dogs, poetry and why it’s a good idea to get close to both in hard times. Has a dog changed the way you see the world? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many, poetry is a balm. But for others, poetry feels inaccessible and hard to understand. In her latest book, “Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times” former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith aims to make poetry less intimidating. We listen back to our conversation with Smith about how to read poems, how to “listen at the widest possible angle” and how to use poetry to connect to one another across our differences. Guests: Tracy K. Smith, former U.S. Poet Laureate; professor of English and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University - Smith's latest book is "Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In groundbreaking experiments with mice, Boston University neuroscientist Steve Ramirez has succeeded in turning memories on and off, even implanting new ones. He says that someday we’ll be able to do the same in humans. But should we? We talk to Ramirez about the ethical dilemma and the personal experience that caused him to consider erasing his own memory. His new book is “How to Change a Memory: One Neuroscientist’s Quest to Alter the Past.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you ask someone with aphantasia to visualize an apple, a tree, or the house they grew up in, their mind draws a blank. Literally. The inability to conjure up mental images was discovered in the 1880s but only recently has been given a name and become the subject of more serious study. Aphantasia is found in approximately one percent of the population and can also affect the ability to recall sounds, touch and the sensation of movement. Some aphantasics experience their condition as a loss, while others say the freedom from being bound by visual memory allows them to live fully in the present. We listen back to our conversation about aphantasia and what it tells us about how our brains perceive and remember. Guests: Larissa MacFarquhar, staff writer for The New Yorker, her most recent article is titled "Some People Can’t See Mental Images. The Consequences Are Profound" Tom Ebeyer, founder, Aphantasia Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s your favorite audiobook? Chances are, it’s one with a great narrator. Audiobook performers can make, or break, the experience for listeners. But what goes into their work? Julia Whelan has been dubbed “the Adele of audiobooks” and has narrated over 700 audiobooks – including Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl,” Tara Westover’s “Educated” and Ottessa Moshfegh’s “My Year of Rest and Relaxation.” She joins us to share her insights into the craft, how AI is reshaping the industry, and what we love about listening to stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices