Shows / KQED's Forum
KQED's Forum
Forum tells remarkable and true stories about who we are and where we live. In the first hour, Alexis Madrigal convenes the diverse voices of the Bay Area, before turning to Mina Kim for the second hour to chronicle and center Californians’ experience. In an increasingly divided world, Mina and Alexis host conversations that inform, challenge and unify listeners with big ideas and different viewpoints. Want to call/submit your comments during our live Forum program Mon-Fri, 9am-11am? We'd love…
Episodes
KQED's ForumFDA Covid-19 Vaccine Approval Imminent, As UK Starts Giving Shots
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…
KQED's ForumBay Area Sports Columnist Lowell Cohen Takes “Gloves Off” in New Memoir
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…
KQED's ForumMichael Eric Dyson on the Racial Reckoning That Was 'Long Time Coming'
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…
KQED's ForumBay Area Program Offers Free Mental Healthcare for Essential Workers
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…
KQED's ForumCalifornia Healthcare Workers Share Experiences from COVID's Frontlines
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…
KQED's ForumBay Area Counties Institute Stay-at-Home Orders
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…
KQED's ForumPresident E. Toby Boyd on Why Schools Should Not Rush to Reopen
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…
KQED's ForumKimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham on ‘Black Futures’
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…
KQED's ForumGovernor Announces "Emergency Brake" Regional Stay-at-Home Order to Curb Covid-19
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…
KQED's ForumSFMTA Budget Shortfall Could Lead to Massive Layoffs
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…
KQED's ForumWith Payments Soon to Resume, Demands Grow for Student Loan Cancellation
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…
KQED's ForumAllegations of Corruption and Bad Decisions Rock SF City Hall
San Francisco’s City Administrator took a leave of absence Wednesday after federal prosecutors charged her husband, former San Francisco Public Utilities…
KQED's ForumCalifornia Weighs New Stay-at-Home Order As It Prepares to Distribute First Vaccine Doses
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…
KQED's ForumErik Larson’s ‘The Splendid and the Vile’ Mixes Myth and Reality to Portray Churchill and the Blitz
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…
KQED's ForumCalifornia Prisons Contend with Another Surge in Coronavirus Infections
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…
KQED's ForumRents Fall in Parts of California, But Housing Insecurity Still High
As pandemic-induced remote work frees up some employees to live anywhere they have Internet access, vacancy rates are rising in parts of California. That's…
KQED's ForumHow the Bay Area’s Live Music Venues Are Fighting to Survive the Pandemic
The last few weeks have brought welcome news of promising vaccines, and at least a faint light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. But for many of the Bay…
KQED's ForumIncoming Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón Promises Criminal Justice Reform
Nearly 20 years ago George Gascón was the assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. This month he was elected as the city’s new district attorney…
KQED's ForumUCSF's Dr. Wachter on Bay Area Vaccine Distribution
In a recent tweet, Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, wrote that in “about 3 weeks we’re…
KQED's ForumRep. Ro Khanna Talks Coronavirus Relief, Biden Cabinet
Before the election, Silicon Valley congressman Ro Khanna criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for refusing to take up President Trump’s $1.8 trillion…
KQED's ForumRebroadcast: What’s In Your Wallet? Fiction, Says Author Jacob Goldstein
Many of us take money for granted as a certainty, but what exactly is money? Jacob Goldstein, co-host of NPR’s Planet Money podcast, explores that question in…
KQED's ForumRebroadcast: How to Fix Distance Learning with the Man Behind Khan Academy
K-12 education has gone online, prompting no shortage of complaints from parents and kids alike. But as teachers get better at engaging students with screens…
KQED's ForumKids & Organized Outdoor Play During the Pandemic
In this hour, we’re going to focus on elementary age children and organized outdoor play during the pandemic. California’s stay at home order and pandemic…
KQED's Forum'The Queen's Gambit' Spurs Renewed Interest In Chess
The new Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit” follows a chess prodigy named Beth who takes on the male-dominated world of chess in the 1960s. We’ll hear how the…
KQED's ForumBiden Transition Officially Begins, as Michigan Certifies Election Results
General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy informed President-elect Joe Biden Monday that she would release the post-election funds and resources…
KQED's ForumLisa Lucas on Diversifying the Publishing Industry and the Power of Books
Four years ago, Lisa Lucas became the first African American to lead the National Book Foundation, the organization that runs the National Book Awards and…
KQED's ForumSan Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin Talks About Filing Criminal Charges For Police Killing of Keita O'Neil
In a long-awaited move, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin filed charges against a police officer who fatally shot a man in 2017 after a car chase…
KQED's ForumEd Yong on the Latest Coronavirus Surge
California has seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases since the end of October, as well as an increase in hospitalizations. The state coronavirus test positivity…
KQED's ForumEDD Puts Unemployment Benefits Claimants at Risk of Identity Theft, State Audit Finds
California’s unemployment agency has been under scrutiny ever since claims surged as the pandemic took a toll on jobs. Criticism has revolved around outdated…
KQED's ForumAsian American Business Face Distinct Challenges Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Businesses across the country are struggling because of the pandemic, but Asian American establishments face particular challenges. In addition to steep drops…
KQED's ForumBay Area, Nation, Beset With Pandemic Fatigue
As coronavirus cases surge in the state, Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a curfew for most of the state and many counties are reinstating restrictions that…
KQED's ForumAs Newsom Tightens Restrictions, New Questions Emerge about His French Laundry Visit
Governor Gavin Newsom this week announced a dramatic rollback of reopening plans--including a curfew in a majority of the state’s counties. But the governor…
KQED's ForumTips for Remixing Thanksgiving Amid the Pandemic
With coronavirus case numbers rising in California and across the country, public officials are telling families to stay home and avoid gathering for…
KQED's ForumThousands of Bay Area Homeless People Were Given Hotel Rooms During the Pandemic, Where Will They Go Next?
Programs that temporarily house elderly and vulnerable homeless people in hotel rooms during the pandemic got a boost earlier this week when Governor Newsom…
KQED's ForumHollywood Rewrites the Script To Adapt To the Coronavirus Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has jolted many industries and Hollywood is no exception. With only a few weeks of material left to shoot, the blockbuster “Jurassic…
KQED's ForumStanford University Distances Itself from Coronavirus Advisor and Hoover Fellow Dr. Scott Atlas
Stanford University distanced itself from Trump administration task force member and Hoover Institution senior fellow Dr. Scott Atlas on Monday after Atlas…
KQED's ForumTrump Administration Announces Further Troop Drawdowns in Afghanistan and Iraq
The Pentagon announced Tuesday that it will continue to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, leaving 2500 in each nation by January 15. The move…
KQED's ForumWhy White Voters Overwhelmingly Supported Trump -- Again
A recurring theme of post-election punditry was that President Trump gained ground among groups like Latino and Black men, a fact that surprised some…
KQED's ForumAs Coronavirus Cases Spike, Vaccine News Offers Hope
Biotechnology company Moderna announced Monday that its coronavirus vaccine candidate appears to be 94.5% effective against the disease. The news comes one…
KQED's ForumSan Francisco Sees Troubling Rise in Drug Overdose Deaths
San Francisco has recorded more than 460 drug overdose deaths from January to August of this year, compared to 441 in all of 2019, according to the city's…
KQED's ForumPushed Off Twitter, Extreme Right Finds Home on 'Free Speech' Social Networks
In the weeks leading up to the presidential election, Twitter and Facebook drew praise from political misinformation watchdogs for attaching warning labels to…
KQED's ForumCalifornia Wildfire Survivors Will Start Getting Emergency PG&E Payments this Month
Wildfire survivors eligible for compensation from PG&E for the 2017 wine country fires and the 2018 Camp Fire will begin getting emergency payments of up to…
KQED's ForumJournalist Robert Costa on the Latest Political News
Forum reviews, analyzes and answers your questions about the latest in national political news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
KQED's ForumBallot Measure Recap: What 2020's Results Tell Us About Californians' Political Values
The majority of California voters may label themselves liberal or progressive, but some of the results of statewide propositions in last week’s election may…
KQED's ForumHow Distance Learning Is Affecting Kids
As coronavirus cases spike across California, Bay Area school districts continue to weigh when and how to reopen. San Jose Unified School District recently…
KQED's ForumSpike in California Coronavirus Cases Raise Concerns About Reopening, Holiday Travel
Coronavirus cases reached their highest level with nearly 140,000 cases nationwide reported on Tuesday. Much of the surge is concentrated in the Midwest, but…
KQED's ForumAs Emergency Funds Run Out, Golden Gate Bridge Considers Toll Hike
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District will vote Friday whether or not to raise the Golden Gate Bridge toll by $2. With car traffic, along…
KQED's ForumFormer Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul on Threats to U.S. Democracy
President Trump’s refusal to concede the presidential race, his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, and his replacement of Pentagon officials with…
KQED's ForumBay Area Counties Impose New COVID Restrictions
After reporting increases in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, San Francisco and Contra Costa counties announced Tuesday that they will roll back some…
KQED's ForumWhat a Vice President Kamala Harris Means for the Country and California
When Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is sworn in, in addition to being the first woman and first woman of color, she will become the second Californian in…
KQED's ForumStill Refusing to Concede, Trump Obstructs Biden Transition
President Trump's refusal to concede President-elect Biden's electoral college victory stretched into a third day Tuesday, as his campaign pursues a long-shot…
KQED's ForumFirst Coronavirus Vaccine Could Come to Market Early Next Year
Early tests show that a coronavirus vaccine from drug makers Pfizer and BioNTech could be 90 percent effective at preventing COVID-19, a disease that has now…
KQED's ForumHousing Activist Carroll Fife Rides to Victory in Oakland's District Three
Moms 4 Housing founder and longtime racial and social justice advocate Carroll Fife became Oakland's newest councilmember-elect on Monday. Upsetting two-term…
KQED's ForumThe Supreme Court Hears Latest Challenge to the Affordable Care Act
On Tuesday, for the third time in eight years, the Supreme Court will again hear a constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act. The Republican state…
- KQED's Forum
What to Expect from a Defiant, Lame-Duck Trump
As President Trump continues to refuse to concede, we'll discuss what to look for as he enters his lame-duck period. We'll also talk about the role of…
- KQED's Forum
Biographer Evan Osnos Describes Unifying Personality in ‘Joe Biden’
As a 30-year-old first-time senator from Delaware, Joe Biden had high hopes that he would end up in the White House. Over the course of more than three decades…
- KQED's Forum
Rep. Barbara Lee on Kamala Harris’ Historic VP Win
We'll talk with East Bay Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee about Oakland native Kamala Harris' historic election as the first female vice president, as well…
- KQED's Forum
Election 2020: Biden Leads in Georgia and Pennsylvania
In the race for the presidency, early this morning Georgia and Pennsylvania moved into Joe Biden’s column, where he holds a very small margin. With Biden’s…
- KQED's Forum
Election 2020: Biden Gets Closer to 270
As the ballot count continues, we’ll bring you the latest on the presidential race as well as other state and national election results. Learn more about your…
- KQED's Forum
How Prop. 22 Could Reshape Labor Laws and the Future of Work
California voters have approved Proposition 22, the most expensive ballot measure in state history, that will set new labor regulations for a group of delivery…