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How California Voted in the 2026 Midterms Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

We discuss post-election results, analysis and what to expect as major California races are finalized. With reporters from across the California Newsroom, we’ll talk about the contest for governor and key congressional seats, along with statewide ballot propositions and consequential local races. And we’ll answer your questions about what the election results mean for the future of California and national politics.

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How Did the Bay Area Vote on Local Races and Ballot Measures? Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

We recap the election results here in the Bay Area. Voters decided on key Congressional races, including who will replace former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Eric Swalwell. And they weighed in on measures that could increase the mayor’s power in San Francisco and Oakland. We’ll review what races have been called, which are pending and what the results say about the political tide here in the Bay.

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Why Eating Well is Simpler Than You Think Nov 03, 2026

Show notes

Figuring out what to eat can feel more complicated than ever. Are eggs healthy, or not? Is everything labeled ultra-processed bad for us? How much protein is enough protein? Stanford nutrition scientist Christopher Gardner says eating well is easier than you might think and that there’s more agreement among researchers than the latest viral diet fads suggest. We talk to Gardner about what the evidence shows. His new book is “Food Sense.”

Guests:

Dr. Christopher Gardner, professor and director of nutrition studies, Stanford University; author, “Food Sense: What to Eat and Why”

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Why Is Water So Expensive in California? Nov 03, 2026

Show notes

San Jose has the most expensive water in the country, according to a new report from Food & Water Watch. The report finds that, nationwide, household water bills have increased by an average of 62% over the last decade, and California is home to more than half of the 25 most expensive water systems in the country. So what’s driving up the cost of our household drinking water and is there a better way to pay for this essential service? We’ll hear from water policy experts about the hidden costs behind your water bill, how everything from climate change to agricultural policy is shaping rates, and what it would take to make water more affordable for Californians.

Guests:

Max Gomberg, senior policy advisor on water equity and affordability; formerly Climate and Conservation manager, State Water Resources Control Board
Mary Grant, water policy director, Food & Water Watch
Karla Nemeth, executive director, Association of California Water Agencies

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Trump’s Deal with Putin, and the Fate of Ukraine Nov 02, 2026

Show notes

In the past month, President Trump has cut a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel fuel to the US, lifted sanctions on Russia’s energy industry and pressured Ukraine to halt drone strikes on Russian refineries. Critics say it’s an attempt to lower U.S. gas prices ahead of the midterm elections and a betrayal of Ukraine, as the embattled country prepares for a difficult winter. We’ll talk about what Washington’s pivot toward Russia means for Ukraine’s future.

Guests:

Illia Ponomarenko, journalist and author, “The Land of Tears and Hope: The Ukrainian Story” – Former defense and security reporter, The Kyiv Post; co-founder, The Kyiv Independent. He has covered the war in eastern Ukraine since the conflict’s beginning, as well as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine since 2022
Simon Shuster, staff writer, Atlantic Magazine – author, “The Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky”
Michael McFaul, professor of political science; Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University; former U.S. Ambassador to Russia

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Polls Show a Blue Wave Coming. Why Are Democrats Still Nervous? Nov 02, 2026

Show notes

Democrats are poised to take the House of Representatives and maybe even the Senate on Tuesday – at least that’s what recent polls tell us. But as we learned in the 2016 election, polls can be wrong. We’ll talk to pollsters about how they gather their data, how their methods have changed over the years, and the key races they’re looking at this midterm election.

Guests:

Michael Dimock, president, Pew Research Center
Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, Marquette Law School
Mike Madrid, political strategist; author, “The Latino Century: How America’s Largest Minority is Transforming Democracy”; co-founder, The Lincoln Project

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What Are Your Last Minute Voting Questions? Oct 30, 2026

Show notes

California voters this election will usher in new representatives, vote on 14 statewide ballot measures and weigh in on many other local races and propositions. With just days to go until the midterms, we want to hear your last-minute voting questions. Are you wondering what you should do if you haven’t received your ballot? How can you find your polling place? How soon can you expect election results? Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation, and KQED’s Scott Shafer and Guy Marzorati join us to take all of your voting questions ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Guests:

Kim Alexander, president and founder, California Voter Foundation

Scott Shafer, senior politics correspondent and co-host, political breakdown, KQED

Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED’s California politics and government desk

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Reflecting on Loved Ones We Lost This Year During Día de los Muertos Oct 30, 2026

Show notes

As Día de los Muertos approaches, we take time to remember loved ones and notable people who have passed away this year. Just this week, influential labor activist Dolores Huerta died at age 96 months after the deaths of other icons including musician Dolly Parton, feminist Gloria Steinem and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. The ancient Mexican tradition of honoring the deceased offers an opportunity to process personal and collective grief along with celebrating life. We welcome listeners to share remembrances and we’ll reflect on what it means to memorialize someone.

Guests:

Farida Jhabvala Romero, labor correspondent, KQED

Ani Rivera, vice president, San Francisco’s commission of the department on the status of women

Lidia Ruelo-Salazar, healer, culture keeper and founder of Tierra Rituals

Sam Roberts, obituary writer, The New York Times; author, “Are They Dead Yet? The Art of the Obit”

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Priya Parker on How to Have a Productive Fight Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

Author Priya Parker, whose 2018 book “The Art of Gathering” was about bringing people together, is out with a new book called “The Art of Fighting.” It may seem like an entirely different topic, but Parker says forming and growing successful relationships is not possible being able to navigate disagreement. We’ll talk to Parker about how to handle all kinds of fights, and hear from you: How has conflict strengthened your own relationships?

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San Francisco ‘Top Chef’ Melissa King Cooks Her Way Home in New Memoir Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

As a kid, Melissa King rushed home from school to grab her meat cleaver and cook dinner for her family. In her new memoir, “The Girl Who Became King,” the Top Chef winner traces her path from her immigrant parents’ expectations to a career in Michelin kitchens. “I didn’t think my life was interesting,” she notes, but in talking with fans and writing this book, King started “owning who I am and being proud of all of those things that I used to tuck away and hide about being gay and even being Asian in America.”

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