KQED's Forum

KQED’s live call-in program presents balanced discussions of local, state, national, and world issues as well as in-depth interviews with leading figures in politics, science, entertainment, and the arts.

Rank #1: How to Navigate Your Marriage’s ‘Rough Patch’.
Hitting a "rough patch" in a long-term relationship doesn't mean the end is near, nor inevitable. According to psychologist Daphne de Marneffe, "rough patches" can make a marriage stronger when partners work through it together. Her book, "The Rough Patch: Marriage and the Art of Living Together," explores how to improve communication, respect and empathy in a partnership. De Marneffe joins us in studio to share her relationship advice and workarounds.

Rank #2: A Late Bloomer Makes a Case Against Early Achievement.
Forbes is known for its annual “30 Under 30” lists, which highlight the achievements of young, bold entrepreneurs around the world. But the magazine’s publisher, Rich Karlgaard, says that at age 25 he could barely handle his job as a security guard at a trucking yard. He joins us to talk about social pressure to … Continue reading A Late Bloomer Makes a Case Against Early Achievement →

KQED's The California Report

KQED’s statewide radio news program, providing daily coverage of issues, trends, and public policy decisions affecting California and its diverse population.

Rank #1: What’s Next for Senator Kamala Harris?.
Duncan Hunter Pleads Guilty to Corruption Charge Congressman Duncan Hunter dodged reporters as he entered a courthouse to plead guilty to conspiracy. Faced with 60 counts, which for the past year he insisted were part of a “witch hunt,” he ultimately admitted to a single charge use at least $150,000 in campaign cash on personal expenses. What’s Next for Kamala Harris? Senator Kamala Harris is giving up on her run for the Democratic presidential nomination. As recently as this summer, the money was pouring into her campaign after some impressive debate performances launched her into the top tier. But the campaign contributions ran dry, and she’s headed back to the Senate. Guest: Scott Shafer, KQED Politics Editor First Latina To Take the Gavel on LA’s City Council For the first time in history, a Latina will be in charge of the Los Angeles City Council, shaping policy that impacts the lives of around 4 million city residents. Reporter: Libby Denkmann, KPCC

Rank #2: How Affairs and Eggburt Forced Rep. Hunter’s Hand.
State Regulators’ Report: PG&E’s Maintenance Backlog Led to Camp Fire Investigators for the state’s Public Utilities Commission have published a 700-page report on the cause of the Camp Fire The report finds that PG&E didn’t do enough inspections or keep up its transmission lines in the years leading up to the fire that was sparked by one of those high-powered lines. Guest: Russell Gold, Wall Street Journal reporter The Political Implications of Rep. Duncan Hunter’s Guilty Plea Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter of San Diego is expected to plead guilty to illegally using his campaign fund as a personal piggy bank. At first, he said the 60 criminal charges amounted to a “witch hunt.” Then his wife was prepared to testify against him. Some of that campaign cash was allegedly spent on extramarital affairs. Guest: Scott Shafer, KQED Politics Editor Lawmakers Call on Trump to Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes A bipartisan group of national lawmakers, including seven from California, are calling on President Trump to ban all flavored e-cigarettes. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED Bloomberg to Campaign on Facebook with Key Hire Ex-New York Mayor turned Democratic presidential contender Mike Bloomberg has hired a former Facebook executive to oversee the digital advertising part of his campaign. Reporter: Alice Woelfle, KQED LAUSD Considers Ambitious Clean Energy Goals The Los Angeles Unified School District is looking to go green. The board of the nation’s second-largest school district will vote on whether to set far-reaching clean energy goals. Reporter: Avishay Artsy, KCRW Research Shows “At-Large” Elections Help Minority Candidates In recent years, a lot of California cities have changed how they elect their council representatives. A law from 2002 called the California Voting Rights Act made it easier for cities to switch from what’s called “at-large” to “district-based” elections. New research from UC Riverside looks at the impact as more California cities make the change. Reporter: Libby Denkmann, KPCC

WorldAffairs

WorldAffairs is a deep exploration of today's pressing global issues. In the age of the rehearsed soundbite and the talking point, each hour-long episode marries expert analysis with compelling conversation. Our hosts, former Senior National Security Council Director Jane Wales, and renowned journalists Ray Suarez and Markos Kounalakis, take listeners on a journey of what's happening in the world and why it matters to you. We want to hear from you! Please take part in a quick survey to tell us how we can improve our podcast:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWZ7KMW

Rank #1: Chris Matthews and Michael Krasny: Will Politics in Washington Ever Work Again?.
There was a time when civility and compromise lay at the heart of politics in Washington; when political and ideological rivals could serve together to forge compromises for the benefit of the country. Today it's hard to believe that this was ever the case, and it begs the question: will civility and compromise ever return to American politics? Having served as the Chief of Staff for Tip O'Neill, Chris Matthews offers a unique perspective on a time when the Speaker of the House and the President, Ronald Reagan, were able to "temper their philosophical divide with a public, and sometimes personal, cordiality." Chris Matthews sits down with the World Affairs Council to discuss a political heroism that once was and the lessons it offers for today's political climate.Speaker Chris Matthews is Host of Hardball on MSNBC.For more information about this event, visit: http://www.worldaffairs.org/events/2013/will-politics-in-washington.html

Rank #2: Adam Segal: States, Spies and War in the Digital Age.
In the Information Age, modern society has gone digital. Computer technology has revolutionized nearly every aspect of our world, including international warfare. Where geopolitical power once depended solely on military might and regional diplomacy, cyberwarfare provides new tools for political influence and conflict. As cyberspace expands across borders, new state and non-state actors engage in acts of virtual aggression and use social media to control mainstream narratives. What does this new source of power mean for international foreign relations and how can the US negotiate its superpower status to gain control over this virtual battleground? Are US defenses prepared for global cyber terrorism threats? How can civilian populations be protected from cyber threats, given our reliance on the Internet and computer technology? How will Internet governance and surveillance affect user privacy? Join us for a conversation on these questions and more with Adam Segal, the Maurice R. Greenberg Senior Fellow for China Studies and Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations. His book "The Hacked World Order: How Nations Fight, Trade, Maneuver, and Manipulate in the Digital Age" describes the increasingly contentious geopolitics of cyberspace. Speaker Adam Segal is the Maurice R. Greenberg Senior Fellow for China Studies and Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program for the Council on Foreign Relations. Raj Shah, Managing Partner of Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, moderates the discussion. For more information about this event please visit: http://www.worldaffairs.org/event-calendar/event/1612

California Politics Podcast

Launched in 2006, this is the Golden State's longest running political podcast. Hosted by John Myers, Sacramento bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times.

Rank #1: September 16: The End of Session, 2017 Edition.
This week, a late-night edition of the podcast as we offer some quick takeaways from the now adjourned 2017 session of the California Legislature. We talk illegal immigration, housing and more. With John Myers, Melanie Mason and Liam Dillon of the Los Angeles Times.

Rank #2: September 29: More Housing, An Early California Primary.
This week: Gov. Jerry Brown signs a package of closely watched bills taking a bite out of California's housing crisis. And he agrees to shake up national politics by moving the state's primary to March. We also talk a Prop 13 inspired ballot measure, and an eye-catching poll number for Sen. Dianne Feinstein. With John Myers and Liam Dillon of the Los Angeles Times and Marisa Lagos of KQED.

The Takeaway

A fresh alternative in daily news featuring critical conversations, live reports from the field, and listener participation. The Takeaway provides a breadth and depth of world, national, and regional news coverage that is unprecedented in public media.

Rank #1: Politics with Amy Walter: Democratic Socialism is Having a Moment; Will Voters be Receptive to its Message? .
Throughout most of the 20th century and beyond, the term "socialism" has carried a lot of baggage in U.S. political history. Socialism itself has deep historical roots in the U.S. But the ideology became a toxic brand thanks in part to the Cold War, as Soviet republics and their imitators around the world saw authoritarians seize power under the guise of socialism. But almost 30 years after the fall of the Soviet Union, socialism is once again having a moment in mainstream U.S. politics. As politicians like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pitch their Democratic Socialism to a generation not familiar with Cold War rhetoric, skeptics remain unconvinced about the promise of sweeping social reform. Guests: Bernie Sanders, United States Senator from Vermont, Democratic presidential candidate Peter Beinart, contributing editor for The Atlantic and professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Congressional Correspondent for The New York Times Ilya Somin, Professor of Law at George Mason University

Rank #2: 1619: The Enduring Legacy of Slavery in the United States .
1619: The Truth About 400 Years of Slavery Four hundred years ago this month, the first group of enslaved Africans were forcibly brought by British colonists to what is now the United States.  1619: The Racist Roots of the U.S. Racial Wealth Gap Sandy Darity breaks down the long term economic consequences of the aftermath of slavery and ties it into the racial wealth gap that we’re seeing today. 1619: How Slavery Has Impacted the Empathy Gap in our Country Scholar Clint Smith explains why we don’t show the same empathy to those who suffer the consequences of our country’s actions against African Americans even today. Read the 1619 Project here. Guests:  Dr. Ibram X Kendi Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers William Darity, who goes by Sandy. Clint Smith

Aspen Ideas to Go

Aspen Ideas to Go is a show about big ideas that will open your mind. Featuring compelling conversations with the world’s top thinkers and doers from a diverse range of disciplines, Aspen Ideas to Go gives you front-row access to the Aspen Ideas Festival and other events presented by the Aspen Institute.

Rank #1: Millennials and Motivation, Featuring Simon Sinek and Adam Grant.
Millennials shoulder a lot of stereotypes. They’re called entitled and in need of instant gratification. They’re not committed to their work and expect a work-life balance at their very first job. Do these labels actually define them? Are they really any different than the generations before them? In this lighthearted and informative conversation, organizational psychologist Adam Grant and inspirational teacher Simon Sinek sit down with Katie Couric. Couric is an award-winning journalist. They explore what motivates Millennials at work and how the digital world is impacting their productivity.

Rank #2: First Lady Michelle Obama on Making Sports Accessible and Affordable.
First Lady Michelle Obama says play, nutrition, and physical activity aren’t available to every child and, that’s a problem. With the cost of sports participation around $2,200 each year per child, these opportunities are increasingly only available to wealthier families. Plus, a report from the Sports and Society Program at the Aspen Institute shows parents have concerns around risk of injury, the quality or behavior of coaches, time commitment, and the emphasis on winning over having fun. What can be done to ensure children are being physically active and learning team skills? Obama discusses accessibility and affordability of sports with her brother and ESPN analyst Craig Robinson. Michael Wilbon, host of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption,” moderates the conversation.

PBS NewsHour - Shields and Brooks

Listen to Mark Shields and David Brooks analyze the political news of the week. Posted each Friday by 9 p.m., the Shields and Brooks podcast includes the full audio of every on-air segment. Is this not what you're looking for? Don't miss our other podcasts for our full shows, individual segments, Politics Monday, Brief but Spectacular, and more. Find them in iTunes or in your favorite podcasting app.

Rank #1: Shields and Brooks on public impeachment hearings, Kentucky election results.
Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's political news, including the impact of released impeachment inquiry transcripts, what we might learn from the upcoming public hearings, the possible entry of Michael Bloomberg into the 2020 presidential race and results from state elections in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Rank #2: Ruth Marcus and Michael Gerson on impeachment inquiry, withdrawal of Beto O'Rourke.
Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus and syndicated columnist Michael Gerson join Amna Nawaz to analyze the week's political news, including details emerging from witness depositions in the impeachment inquiry about President Trump's dealings with Ukraine, current public opinion on Trump and impeachment and 2020 campaign updates, including the withdrawal of Democrat Beto O'Rourke.

The Brian Lehrer Show

Brian Lehrer leads the conversation about what matters most now in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives.

Rank #1: NYC's Flavored E-Cig Ban .
NYC Councilmember Mark Levine (7th, Northern Manhattan) talks about yesterday's City Council vote to ban flavored e-cigarettes in NYC.

Rank #2: Veterans React to the President's Interference in a Navy SEAL's Fate .
After President Trump interfered in the Navy's effort to punish a SEAL convicted of misconduct, Allison Jaslow, former executive director of IAVA, Iraq war veteran and advocate for veterans, talks about what the president's actions mean for members of the armed forces, and how veterans are reacting to the whole messy affair.

To the Point

A weekly reality-check on the issues Americans care about most. Host Warren Olney draws on his decades of experience to explore the people and issues shaping – and disrupting - our world. How did everything change so fast? Where are we headed? The...

Rank #1: Does facial recognition software threaten our freedom?.
Surveillance cameras are capturing what we do on the streets, at airports, in stores, and in much of our public space. Facial recognition software is touted as making us safer. But mass surveillance has downsides of major proportions. Kade Crawford of the Massachusetts ACLU is concerned about violation of privacy. She worries that law enforcement agencies will have access to databases that show: “You’ve been in the vicinity of an abortion clinic six times; that you’ve been in the vicinity of a sex shop six times; that you’ve visited a therapist every week at the same time for five years.” That can lead to the kind of systemic repression imposed on the Muslim Uighurs in Western China, she says.Many countries in Europe have imposed restrictions on camera surveillance, but the US has not. Now, San Francisco and other cities are banning its use by local police. But others say the genie’s out of the bottle. Scientist and science-fiction writer David Brin says attempting to “bottle technology is… absolutely, diametrically, 100% wrong.” He insists that when it comes to invasive new technology, human history demonstrates that “elites of government, commerce and criminality will not let themselves be blinded... they will simply use these technologies in secret.” Beyond the political disagreements, some applications have surprising benefits. David Learned Miller is a computer scientist who writes facial identification software. He says it can identify symptoms of obscure diseases long before doctors can, so “it could potentially help people lead better lives.” And he tells us that research on facial recognition is a key to understanding intelligence and the workings of the human brain.

Rank #2: Trump’s Turkey debacle.
Republican U.S. Senator Mitt Romney says President Trump’s withdrawal of soldiers protecting the Kurds “will stand as a bloodstain in the annals of American history.” The move took the Pentagon by surprise, but it had been high on the wish list for Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.  Syria also stands to benefit when the Kurds no longer enjoy the protection of the U.S. It’s not clear what it means for Kurdish soldiers or their families. In Wasington and elsewhere, U.S. diplomacy looks increasingly confused and chaotic as the president acts on impulse rather than planning or principle.

Political Breakdown

Join hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos as they unpack the week in politics with a California perspective. Featuring interviews with reporters and other insiders involved in the craft of politics—including elected officials, candidates, pollsters, campaign managers, fundraisers, and other political players—Political Breakdown pulls back the curtain to offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics works today.

Rank #1: Inside the Horseshoe With Newsom Chief of Staff Ann O’Leary.
Gavin Newsom places a moratorium on executions in California, and Scott and Marisa delve into the factors that weighed into the governor’s decision. Then, Newsom’s chief of staff Ann O’Leary joins to discuss life inside the governor’s office, her childhood in Maine, clipping newspapers in the Clinton White House, running the Clinton-Kaine transition, and the days leading up to Newsom’s death penalty decision.

Rank #2: Bill Dodd on Utility Reform, Leaving the GOP and His High School Cover Band.
As the Kincade Fire threatens homes in Sonoma County, Scott and Marisa discuss a new KQED/Change Research poll on PG&E’s decision to shut off power in hopes of avoiding future blazes (0:20). Then, Napa State Senator Bill Dodd joins to talk about his childhood in Napa, switching to the Democratic party, and the future of California law governing utilities (5:53).

The World

Host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories that remind us just how small our planet really is.

Rank #1: How do you define impeachable behavior?.
Four constitutional scholars testified Wednesday at the House Judiciary Committee and tried to tackle how to define impeachable behavior as part of the next phase of the impeachment inquiry into US President Donald Trump. Also, the summit of NATO leaders wrapped up in the United Kingdom with a joint statement and photo op — but the show of unity masks tensions. Also, Native American children in Canada and Alaska have declared a climate emergency. They're headed to the climate summit in Madrid to make their voices heard.The World is a public media news program that relies on the support of listeners like you. Donate today during our NewsMatch campaign and have your donation doubled.

Rank #2: Tension between allies as NATO summit begins.
All eyes are on NATO as the 70th anniversary summit gets underway in London. We speak with Ambassador Karen Pierce, the UK's representative to the United Nations, about the tension that's opened up between US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. Also, Trump is making additional international headlines while in London by threatening new tariffs against Argentinian and Brazilian steel, along with some French luxury goods. And, "Baby Shark" gets a Navajo language cover.Today is #GivingNewsDay, an opportunity to show your support for the high-quality, nonprofit journalism you hear on The World. Make a gift now, and your donation will be doubled. Consider becoming a recurring donor by making an $8 a month donation.  Donate here.

Bill Moyers Journal (Audio) | PBS

Veteran journalist Bill Moyers returns to PBS with Bill Moyers Journal, a weekly program of interviews and news analysis on a wide range of subjects, including politics, arts and culture, the media, the economy, and issues facing democracy.

Rank #1: Domestic Spying, The Terror Presidency from the Inside, Mountaintop Mining.
Bill Moyers interviews executive director of the American Civil liberties Union Anthony D. Romero and former Republican Congressman Mickey Edwards about wiretapping and domestic surveillance. And, Jack Goldsmith, former head the Office of legal Counsel at the Justice Department, gives an insider's view of advising the President on the limits of executive power during the war on terror. Also on the program, as proposed new rules may allow coal companies to expand mountain top removal mining, Bill Moyers Journal takes viewers to the mountains of West Virginia, which are being stripped for their coal with often disastrous environmental consequences for surrounding communities, to report on local evangelical Christians who are turning to their faith to help save the earth.

Rank #2: Michael Pollan's National Food Fight.
As Americans gather to give thanks this week, food - quality, quantity, cost - remains a national issue. Bill Moyers Journal takes a hard look at how America's food policies - trade rules, farm subsidies, and regulation - affect larger issues including global warming, healthcare, and even homeland security. Bill Moyers sits down with Michael Pollan, Knight Professor of Journalism at UC Berkeley, to discuss what direction the U.S. should pursue in the often-overlooked question of food policy. Pollan is author of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto.

All Of It

ALL OF IT is a show about culture and its consumers.ALL OF IT is a show about culture and context.ALL OF IT is a show about culture and the culture.Our aim is to engage the thinkers, doers, makers, and creators, about the what and why of their work. People make the culture and we hope, need, and want the WNYC community to be a part of our show. As we build a community around ALL OF IT, we know that every guest and listener has an opinion. We won’t always agree, but our varied perspectives and diversity of experience is what makes New York City great.ALL OF IT will be both companion for and curator of the myriad culture this city has to offer. In the words of Cristina De Rossi, anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College, London:"Culture encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we behave with loved ones, and a million other things."...In other words, ALL OF IT.---Join us for ALL OF IT with Alison Stewart, weekdays from 12:00 - 2:00PM on WNYC.

Rank #1: 'Dolly Parton's America' .
Creator of Radiolab, Jad Abumrad, joins us to discuss the new podcast from WNYC Studios, Dolly Parton's America. 

Rank #2: 'A History of New York in 27 Buildings' .
New York Times contributor Sam Roberts joins us to discuss his new book, A History of New York in 27 Buildings: The 400-Year Untold Story of an American Metropolis. Event:  Roberts will be in coversation with Andrew Dolkart on Monday, November 4 at the Brooklyn Historical Society. 

Truth, Politics and Power

THE DEMOCRACY TEST with Heather Cox Richardson and Neal ConanThe presidency of Donald Trump has sparked a national conversation .Is our democracy at risk? Across the country, scholars, activists and citizens are taking stock.  With an eye on how democracies have failed throughout history, and on the rise of authoritarian leaders across the globe, they ask the question … can it happen here? The Democracy Test gives a broad and diverse national platform to this work as we seek to understand what is truly unique in this moment of our nation’s history, what brought us here, and what it would take to emerge with an even stronger understanding of what democracy means in America and what we can do now to move toward an even stronger expression of  its ideals.

Rank #1: Deep State.
Some Trump supporters claim that progressives burrowed into federal agencies to thwart the new President’s agenda, and even that President Obama stayed in Washington to run a “shadow government.” In this episode: civil service, bureaucratic opposition and the cautionary example of Turkey.

Rank #2: The Wall.
Candidate Donald Trump described his big, beautiful wall along the Mexican frontier in existential terms; If you don’t have a border, you don’t have a country. Host Neal Conan explores how secure borders became part of the definition of a state, how well walls worked through history and talks with Peter Robinson, the speechwriter who came up withPresident Ronald Reagan’s famous line in Berlin: “Mister Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

Washington Week (audio) | PBS

For 50 years, Washington Week has been the most intelligent and up to date conversation about the most important news stories of the week. Washington Week is the longest-running news and public affairs program on PBS and features journalists -- not pundits -- lending insight and perspective to the week's important news stories.

Rank #1: Recapping President Trump's NATO meeting.
After the president spent several days in London for a NATO meeting this week, moderator Robert Costa and the panelists discussed what came out of the gathering.

Rank #2: Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushes ahead on impeachment .
It's official: Speaker Nancy Pelosi has directed the House Judiciary Committee to draft articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, moving the process closer to a floor vote.