KQED's Forum

In his most recent book, "The Splendid and the Vile," author Erik Larson portrays Winston Churchill — and the family members and advisors around him — during his first year as prime minister of the United Kingdom. Larson, a bestselling nonfiction writer and author of "Devil in the White City," joins us to talk about Churchill’s leadership, from his taking office on the day Germany invaded Holland and Belgium to the way he’s remembered today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following her critically-acclaimed debut novel "Homegoing," novelist Yaa Gyasi returns with “Transcendent Kingdom.” The story follows Gifty, a doctoral candidate in neuroscience at Stanford University. After losing her brother to a heroin overdose and while caring for her suicidal mother, she is determined to find a scientific reason for suffering. But even as Gifty embarks on her scientific quest, she finds herself longing for the faith of her childhood to help reckon with her family’s pain. Like Gyasi, the character Gifty comes from an immigrant family from Ghana and grew up in an evangelical household in Alabama. We'll talk to Gyasi, who spent time in California as an undergraduate at Stanford, about the book and the desire to understand human pain and suffering. (Originally broadcast 9/18/20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Lysley Tenorio’s new novel “The Son of Good Fortune,” depicts the coming-of-age story of Excel, a young undocumented person living in the United States who was born during a flight between the Philippines and San Francisco. The novel explores Excel’s life “in hiding” and his struggle to avoid calling attention to himself even as he forms relationships, leaves home for the first time and attempts to survive on his own. The book is a follow up to Tenorio’s 2012 story collection, “Monstress.” Tenorio, who lives in San Francisco, was born in the Philippines and teaches at Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga. Tenorio joins us to discuss his writing and latest book. (Originally broadcast Sept. 1, 2020) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to Dr. Larry Brilliant, CEO of Pandefense and an epidemiologist who helped eradicate smallpox, we are living through "the best of times and the worst of times." While the vaccine, which was discovered, developed and produced within a year’s time, gives hope that the pandemic will end, experts predict the U.S. death toll will continue to rise through the winter unless more steps are taken to put in public health policies on a nationwide basis. We listen back to Michael Krasny's recent interview with Larry Brilliant about the vaccine, its rollout and what we can expect in the months ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The coronavirus-induced recession has exacerbated income inequality in California and will only worsen unless political leaders take action, according to a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California. The pandemic is essentially pushing millions of Californians who were already living in poverty or paycheck to paycheck to the brink of financial disaster. We’ll listen back to Mina Kim's Dec. 9 interview with PPIC's Sarah Bohn about the report and the economic consequences of the pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered about those colorful squiggly lines you see painted on California's city sidewalks? They’re actually color-coded utility markings that represent an underground world of sewer pipes, electric cables and telecommunication lines. They're also an example of what Roman Mars calls the “boring stuff” of urban design -- the unnoticed elements that he says are just as essential as skyscrapers, bridges and parks. Mars is the host of the design and architecture podcast 99% Invisible and the author of the new book “The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design." He joins us to talk about why we should celebrate the overlooked and ordinary parts of our built urban environment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Padilla joins us to discuss his new appointment as the first Latino to serve as California U.S. Senator. California Gov. Gavin Newsom selected Padilla, who serves as Secretary of State, to take over the seat vacated by Kamala Harris, vice president-elect of the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So far this month, two Bay Area tech heavyweights, Oracle Corp. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, said they would move their headquarters to Texas. The news set off fears that the Bay Area and California are losing their allure to big employers and could spell future economic distress. While companies have routinely moved out of the Bay Area, some experts say this time is different -- in a troubling way. Other experts say that while the moves are noteworthy, they won’t derail the Bay Area’s economy or tech industry in the long term. We discuss the state of the Bay Area exodus and the region’s economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a year, and we want to know what's helped you through it. Whether you've gotten lost in the outdoors, discovered a new passion or re-ignited a friendship online, tell us how you've managed the chaos, stress and uncertainty of 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The pandemic is complicating the already stressful lives of California’s foster children. Surveys show that most lack technical support or internet access, which has made transitioning to online classes challenging. On top of that, stay-at-home orders have made it harder to visit with biological parents and siblings. In this hour, we’ll hear how the pandemic is affecting foster youth and how state and local services are responding. In this hour, we’ll hear how the pandemic is affecting foster youth and how state and local services are responding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recall effort against Governor Gavin Newsom is gaining momentum. The campaign started long before photos surfaced of Newsom dining at an exclusive Napa restaurant with lobbyist friends. The Republicans behind the recall effort are also upset by Newsom's endorsement of a bill to compel companies to classify independent contractors as employees, and by his decisions to grant inmates early parole, and give undocumented immigrants Covid relief funds. We'll discuss the recall effort and if it stands a chance with voters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The number of COVID-19 patients filling hospital intensive care units continues ticking up across California. Hospitals in hard hit areas such as Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley had no remaining ICU beds available as of Sunday. We talk with Los Angeles Times healthcare reporter Soumya Karlamangla about how hospitals are handling the recent surge in coronavirus patients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congressional leaders have reached an agreement on a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, and vaccination efforts are underway across the country--both of which might relieve a California besieged by surging COVID-19 cases and severe ICU shortages. We check in with Los Angeles Congressman Adam Schiff about how Southern California is handling COVID-19 cases and the potential impacts of the relief bill on Californians. We'll also hear about the government's response to the recent cyberattack on federal agencies thought to be Russian-led. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his tenure as mayor of Stockton, Michael Tubbs drew national attention for championing a guaranteed income policy and launching a pilot program to test it out. But he lost his bid for a second term this year, amid criticism that he failed to fix the city's persistent problems with poverty and homelessness. Tubbs says says a four-year misinformation campaign contributed to his defeat. We'll talk to Tubbs about what's next and what he's learned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his new book, “The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food,” acclaimed chef Marcus Samuelsson highlights Black chefs and recipes that he says have been underrated and overlooked for far too long. When Americans think of Black cuisine, they think soul food, he said, but that is only one of numerous traditions. Samuelsson, a regular on Food Network and PBS, operates over a dozen restaurants in the United States and abroad. We’ll discuss the book, Black cooking and hear his thoughts on the dire state of the restaurant industry amid the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congressional leaders and the White House on Thursday appeared to inch closer to finalizing a $900 billion coronavirus relief package, but several sticking points remain. Among them: Republicans want to restrict the power of the Federal Reserve to bail out businesses while Democrats are demanding more help for states. We’ll hear the latest on the negotiations. We’ll also get an update on President-elect Joe Biden’s latest cabinet appointments including his historic pick of Native American Rep. Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lake Tahoe region has been changed by the pandemic. With many people fleeing cities and moving to the mountains or into their second homes, schools and grocery stores are crowded. Many mountain resorts are requiring reservations for lift tickets as a public health precaution. Will there be room for holiday skiers? Even some business owners are saying visitors should wait until the surge is over to make plans to head to Tahoe and, under the stay-at-home order, hotels are supposed to cancel reservations for leisure travel. We'll talk about the precautions on the mountain, the boom in backcountry skiing, Tahoe's red-hot housing market and what it all means for the region. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Filipino Americans make up about four percent of the nation's nursing workforce but account for more than 30 percent of its COVID-related deaths, according to data compiled by National Nurses United. In California, as in other states, Filipino American nurses are more likely to work in ICUs and bedside settings, which in part explains the staggering disparity. But other factors are at work too, including a legacy of discrimination against migrant nurses. We'll talk about the outsized toll the pandemic is taking on the state's Filipino American nurses and what we can do to address it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Animator Frank E. Abney III, who worked on blockbuster films including Pixar's "Coco" and "Toy Story 4," makes his directorial debut with the new animated short film "Canvas" on Netflix. A meditation on grief, love and family, "Canvas" tells the story of a grandfather struggling to feel inspired after experiencing the death of a loved one. Abney, a Bay Area native now based in Los Angeles, was influenced by losses in his own life when writing the film, including losing his father when he was five years old. Abney joins us to talk about the film and his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of us have taken to the hills this past year, hiking and walking to cope with the pandemic. Others have gone to the birds, observing birds and wildlife outside our windows for the first time. There's more to see: elephant seals courting, gray whales migrating, a rainbow of mushrooms and flights of sand hill cranes. We'll talk with naturalist Michael Ellis of Footloose Forays about where to go and what to look for while staying close to home. Call in with your questions about animal behavior and species in your local parks or your backyard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twenty-five years after her death, Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez enjoys rare staying power among generations of fans who love her music, fashion and performances. A new hit Netflix series about her rise to stardom builds on that legacy. Selena grew up singing Tejano music with her family band, Selena y Los Dinos, and was a platinum-selling artist when she was murdered in 1995 at the age of 23. Today, Selena’s level of fame, influence and commercial success is still rare for other American-born Latinas in music and entertainment to achieve. We discuss why Selena remains so relevant and her evolving role as a Mexican-American icon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a $500 million grants program for nonprofits, small businesses and cultural institutions in an attempt to alleviate COVID-19’s impact on California’s arts industry. Still, the pandemic’s toll on the state’s large and small arts institutions has been devastating, as venues and theaters have closed, ticket revenue has vanished and funding sources have become scarcer. But a number of organizations are finding new and creative ways to survive. We’ll talk with the leaders of some Bay Area arts organizations about the pandemic’s impacts, how they’ve adapted and what’s ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When shelter-in-place began in March, we watched as TV hosts filmed shows from home, unstyled and in casual clothes, and later followed the NBA into its bubble. And we turned to the internet even more for connection and entertainment, spurring a unique “Quarantine Culture” according E. Alex Jung, senior writer at New York Magazine. It’s a culture where, as Jung wrote, "the internet became more internet — an ever-thickening soup of private derangements and niche dramas." Whether it was comedian Sarah Cooper lip-synching Trump’s speeches for the app TikTok, building a virtual world in games like “Animal Crossing” or enjoying the otherwise unlikely opportunity to see your favorite artists perform a show from home — “we were all extremely online,” Jung said. We talk with Jung about the year in “Quarantine Culture” and the forms of entertainment we enjoyed — or made ourselves — on the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite the welcome arrival of the coronavirus vaccine, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned on Tuesday that the state is "not at the finish line." California faces a worsening shortage of ICU beds, with only 5.7 percent capacity currently remaining statewide, he said. We'll check in with Los Angeles Times reporter Rong-Gong Lin about how hospitals are coping with the virus surge, particularly in hard-hit Southern California. We'll also talk with him about the widespread flouting of lockdown rules in some parts of the state, which health officials say is impeding the battle against the virus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine were administered to healthcare workers in California and several other states. That same day, the death toll from Covid-19 surpassed 300,000 people. According to Dr. Larry Brilliant, CEO of Pandefense and an epidemiologist who helped eradicate smallpox, we are living through "the best of times and the worst of times." While the vaccine, which was discovered, developed and produced within a year’s time, gives hope that the pandemic will end, experts predict the U.S. death toll will continue to rise unless more steps are taken to put in public health policies on a nationwide basis. We talk to Larry Brilliant about the vaccine, its rollout and what we can expect in the months ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The coronavirus pandemic has plunged millions of Californians into unemployment and economic uncertainty. Some have seen years-long careers put on hold as shutdown orders have crushed business at hair salons, bars and events. Others are choosing between staying home to help their kids with remote school or going to work to pay the bills. And many are looking at money, budgets and work in a whole new way. In this hour, we’ll hear some personal stories of surviving lost jobs, reduced income and other financial challenges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trailblazing California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is said to be suffering from significant memory lapses that impede her ability to do her job, according to an article published in the New Yorker this week. Jane Mayer, who interviewed a number of staffers on the condition of anonymity, reported that Feinstein is prone to forgetting whether she’s been briefed on a topic and even what she’s just said. Feinstein told CNN on Friday that she feels capable of carrying out her duties but did not commit to serving out her full term, which expires in 2025. We’ll talk about what Mayer’s story brought to light and what may be next for the senator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the winter solstice approaches, nights grow long, and you're stuck at home because of the pandemic, it's a good time to curl up with a book. New York Times Book Review editor Pamela Paul joins us to share her favorite books of 2020. We'll also hear from some local authors to get their picks, and open the phone lines for listener recommendations for a great read. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the pandemic is in the rear window and we can go out safely and breathe within 6 feet of friends and strangers, what are the first things you’re going to do? We want to hear your post-pandemic fantasy. Is it a crowded dance floor? A trip around the globe? Or just simply dropping your kid off at school? And, what will you miss from this time? Is there anything from your pandemic lifestyle that you hope to hold on to, even after the world opens up again? We’ll open the phones to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The federal government and 46 states filed sweeping antitrust lawsuits against Facebook on Wednesday, alleging that the social media company is illegally maintaining a monopoly that crushes competition and harms users. The lawsuits, filed in Washington, D.C., seek remedies that could require Facebook to sell off WhatsApp and Instagram. We'll talk about the complaints and what's at stake for the Menlo Park-based social networking giant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump’s lawsuits to contest the election results, riddled with errors and bogus claims, have consistently failed in the courts. Even so, more than 100 House Republicans on Thursday signed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit by Texas’ attorney general seeking to overturn the results in four swing states. We talk with New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg about the dangers of Trump’s efforts, including threats against election officials by his supporters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a recent piece for medical journal The Lancet, professor of medicine Dr. Kimberly Manning shares her experience of being a Black enrollee in a COVID-19 vaccine trial. A graduate of Tuskegee University, Manning also writes about the historical roots of mistrust between African Americans and the U.S. healthcare system, in part due to the horrific Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment on Black men from 1932 to 1972. While the majority of Americans now say they would get the vaccine, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center, Black Americans are the least inclined to get vaccinated compared to other racial groups. As the COVID-19 vaccine nears FDA approval in the U.S., we talk to Manning about the challenges of building trust with different communities. We'll also learn more about the findings of the Pew report on whether people intend to get the vaccine and what factors inform their thinking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The West Wing. The Social Network. A Few Good Men. Those are just a few of the iconic series and films created and/or written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter, director, producer and playwright Aaron Sorkin. His latest film is The Trial of the Chicago 7 which is now available on Netflix. And he is being honored this week by SFFILM, presenter of the San Francisco International Film Festival, with its Kanbar Award, which acknowledges "the critical importance that storytelling plays in the creation of outstanding films." We talk to Sorkin about his career. But first, we check in with SFFILM executive director Anne Lai about its annual awards, and the state of cinema. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The coronavirus-induced recession has exacerbated income inequality in California and will only worsen unless political leaders take action, according to a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California. The pandemic is essentially pushing millions of Californians who were already living in poverty or paycheck to paycheck to the brink of financial disaster. After months of shutdowns and stay-at-home orders, many Californians face the end of unemployment benefits, about one in eight households are behind on rent or mortgage payments and any federal stimulus or economic relief remains uncertain. Public policy professor and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich joins us to talk about this growing problem and how to address it. We’ll also hear more about the PPIC report and the economic consequences of the pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California launches a new coronavirus notification app on Thursday in a bid to help slow the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the state. The CA Notify app will send smartphone notifications to users who have been exposed to someone who tested positive to the coronavirus. Officials say it will help curb the spread of COVID-19, but only if a large number of people opt in. We’ll hear how the app works, and how it deals with data collection and privacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Joe Biden announced an ambitious plan Tuesday to vaccinate 50 million Americans against the coronavirus in his first 100 days of office. The announcement came as the FDA reported that Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, paving the way for U.S. approval as soon as this week. Meanwhile, British citizens began receiving their first doses. We'll talk about the latest COVID-19 vaccine developments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former San Francisco Chronicle and Santa Rosa Press Democrat sportswriter Lowell Cohn’s career spans four decades. In his new memoir “Gloves Off” he revisits some of the most memorable moments, from his relationship with legendary 49ers coach Bill Walsh to the rise of Warriors phenomenon Steph Curry. We talk with Cohn about his career, the book, and how sportswriting has changed in the last 40 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his new book “Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America," sociologist and cultural critic Michael Eric Dyson looks at the history of systemic racism in the U.S. and how it led to this year’s unrest and protests for racial justice. Written as letters to Black victims of systemic racism and police brutality, including Eric Garner and Breonna Taylor, Dyson traces the genealogy of anti-blackness from slavery to the present. We’ll talk to Dyson about the book and why he remains hopeful in the fight for racial and social justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Bay Area heads again into shutdown and Covid-19 cases surge, essential workers continue to struggle with the mental health toll of being on the front line. This is where the Frontline Workers Counseling Project comes in. Founded at the start of the pandemic, the project offers free mental health counseling to essential workers, from doctors and nurses to firefighters and postal delivery workers. We’ll talk with the project's co-founder and one of its therapists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As of Friday, more than 9000 Californians are hospitalized with a confirmed case of COVID-19 -- a state record more than 90 percent higher than two weeks ago, according to state public health data. The surge comes as California grapples with a third wave of infections, and for healthcare workers who treat very sick COVID patients, it's taking a particularly hard toll. We'll hear from a panel of medical professionals about their experiences and reflections on the frontlines of COVID care in California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Friday, five Bay Area counties and the city of Berkeley announced that they would impose stay-at-home orders immediately, and would not wait for the state to enact its own order. As of Monday morning, residents of San Francisco, Santa Clara, Contra Costa and Alameda counties and Berkeley will be under the stay-at-home order, and Marin County's restrictions will go into place Tuesday at noon. The orders stay in effect until January 4th, 2021. We'll talk about what these orders will and won't allow, what it means for the holidays, and the public response. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most powerful voices in the debate over whether and when to reopen schools during the pandemic has been teachers unions. Unions have argued that school districts shouldn’t rush to reopen because they say it endangers the health and safety of teachers. But that stance has angered many parents and public officials as data mounts on the toll of remote learning on kids’ physical and mental health. We talk to E. Toby Boyd, president of the state's largest teachers union, the California Teachers Association, about what the recent surge in COVID-19 cases may mean for reopening Bay Area schools and about the frustration expressed by many over the power of teachers unions to keep classrooms shuttered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to be Black and alive right now? That’s the question co-editors Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham explore in their new book, “Black Futures,” a multimedia anthology which they call an “archive of collective memory and exuberant testimony.” The 500-plus-page, non-linear book consists of submissions from artists, essayists, activists and more, navigating a range of themes including justice, ownership, legacy and joy. Kimberly Drew, a writer and art curator, and New York Times Magazine staff writer Jenna Wortham join us to talk about their book and the beauty and power of Black culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a regional stay-at-home order to curb rising Covid-19 infections. The order divides the state into five regions and will go into effect when ICU bed capacity in a region drops below 15%. While no region currently meets that threshold, experts predict that most of California will be impacted soon. Under the order, essential businesses and schools may remain open, but indoor dining at restaurants, bars, hair salons, among other businesses will be closed for at least three weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal student loan relief is set to expire at the end of the year, burdening many -- who are already struggling amid the pandemic -- with another monthly payment to consider. President-elect Biden has committed to cancelling $10,000 in student debt for all borrowers. Other Democratic leaders, such as Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren, are calling for up to $50,000 in forgiveness. Critics say loan cancellation is regressive, since those with college degrees typically earn more, and that it doesn’t address the underlying issues with student debt. We’ll discuss what will happen if federal student loan relief expires, growing demands for student debt cancellation, and how student loans have burdened people of color particularly heavily. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As many as 22% of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency personnel could be laid off over the next year as the transit agency faces a massive budget shortfall of $68 million this fiscal year and a projected $168 million deficit next year. The agency, which operates Muni and the city's taxis and street parking has been hard hit by sharp declines in fare revenue and parking fees. We'll hear about the massive budget crisis and what it may mean for the agency's essential workers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco’s City Administrator took a leave of absence Wednesday after federal prosecutors charged her husband, former San Francisco Public Utilities Commission chief Harlan Kelley with accepting bribes earlier this week. Naomi Kelly is the fifth city department head to step down since federal authorities launched a wide ranging corruption investigation. We’ll discuss the scandal and the criticisms lobbed at mayor London Breed for attending a party at the French Laundry restaurant in Napa as COVID-19 cases surge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge across California and much of the nation, Gov. Gavin Newsom is considering a second stay-at-home order on top of the nightly curfew for nearly all of the state’s residents. If projections hold, the state’s intensive care units could be overloaded by mid-December and hospitals could be dangerously full by Christmas. The sobering projections come as the state is set to receive 327,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine this month, but questions remain about who gets the vaccine first, and when. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his most recent book "The Splendid and the Vile," author Erik Larson portrays Winston Churchill — and the family members and advisors around him — during his first year as prime minister of the United Kingdom. Larson, a bestselling nonfiction writer and author of "Devil in the White City," joins us to talk about Churchill’s leadership, from his taking office on the day Germany invaded Holland and Belgium to the way he’s remembered today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COVID-19 cases are rising again in California's state prisons with over 3,600 active cases reported as of Sunday. Early releases, done to ease crowding, have slowed and prisons remain overcrowded systemwide. Positive cases among prison staff are also of concern and some staff are failing to comply with personal protective equipment protocols. Meanwhile, county jails continue to struggle with a backlog of inmates awaiting transfers to state prisons. This latest surge prompted California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials to again stop transfers as of last Thursday. After coming under fire for the poor handling of previous outbreaks, critics now say CDCR has been too slow to learn from past mistakes. We'll discuss the latest news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices