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Rozina Ali Traces Islamophobia’s Long Shadow Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

After the Sept. 11 attacks, assaults against Muslims in the U.S. surged. At the same time the U.S. government launched a sweeping War on Terror that brought arrests, deportations and surveillance into Muslim communities. Journalist Rozina Ali was a teenager at the time and remembers her father warning her, “Don’t tell anyone you’re Muslim.” In her new book, “Seasons of Fury,” Ali traces the rise and persistence of Islamophobia through the lives of four Muslim American families. We talk to her about how the War on Terror reshaped Muslim life in America and what it will take to counter Islamophobia now.

Guests:

Rozina Ali, contributing writer, The New York Times Magazine; author, “Seasons of Fury: Four Families and the Rise of Islamophobia in America”

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Can the Trump Administration Allow Private Development in Yosemite? Sep 02, 2026

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The Trump Administration is reportedly considering letting a private Nevada developer take control of a parcel of land in Yosemite National Park. Conservationists and elected officials have pushed back hard, though the Interior Department disputes parts of the reporting. We’ll talk about the consequences of privatizing a cherished landmark and the efforts to stop it.

Guests:

Anna Kramer, reporter covering government and policy with a focus on energy and environment, NOTUS – broke the story with her article, “Trump Is Quietly Working to Give Part of Yosemite to a Private Developer”
John Buckley, director, Central Sierra Environmental Resources Center an environmental group that’s worked for 35 years to defend water, wildlife, and wild places of the Northern Yosemite region
Jared Huffman, U.S. Representative, California’s 2nd congressional district – Which covers six counties including all of Marin and Mendocino and much of Sonoma

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Who Should Pay When Utilities Companies Start a Fire? Sep 01, 2026

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Wildfire season is underway in California, but the state’s wildfire fund is running low after billions went to victims of last year’s massive Altadena fire, sparked by faulty equipment owned by Southern California Edison. Governor Newsom and the legislature’s debate over fixing the wildfire fund has hinged on the extent utilities, insurance companies and homeowners would pay into it. We’ll dig into the details, and hear your thoughts on who should pay to rebuild after wildfires.

Guests:

Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED’s California Politics and Government Desk
Michael Wara, policy director for the Sustainability Accelerator at the Doerr School of Sustainability, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program, senior research scholar at the Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University
Joy Chen, executive director, Every Fire Survivor’s Network

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What Does Bay Area Democratic Socialism Look Like? Sep 01, 2026

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Democratic socialists are on a winning streak. Candidates back by the Democratic Socialists of America have toppled establishment Democrats in primaries from New York to Florida, and national membership has surged past 120,000. In California, DSA candidates are running for mayor in Los Angeles and Richmond, and current incumbents like Assemblyman Alex Lee are members. We talk about what the party stands for and how its politicians and policies — credited with pushing the Democratic Party left — are making local impacts.

Guests:

Alex Lee, assemblymember, California State Assembly – represents California’s 24th Assembly District which includes the Alameda County communities of Fremont, Newark, and Sunol, and the Santa Clara County communities of Milpitas and San Jose
Charles Homans, writer, New York Times – His latest piece for the New York Times Magazine is titled “Moderates See Socialists as a Threat to the Democratic Party. Socialists Agree”
Cecilia Lunaparra, councilmember, Berkeley City Council – Lunaparra is the first undergraduate elected to Berkeley City Council

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What’s Driving the Anti-Sunscreen Movement? Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Are you still wearing sunscreen? There’s been a recent wave of viral TikToks declaring that sunscreen is “toxic,” and they’ve helped ignite an anti-sunscreen movement. With recent surveys showing that millions of Americans are cutting back on sun protection, dermatologists worry that misinformation will lead to higher rates of skin cancer and melanoma. We look at what’s driving “sunscreen hesitancy,” dig into the social media claims and hear how health providers are pushing back against misinformation.

Guests:

Brian Underwood, beauty and grooming director of Men’s Health and Women’s Health and writer of “The Anti-Sunscreen Movement Is Coming for You”
Heather Woolery-Lloyd, board-certified dermatologist and founder of DermFriends

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The Long Reach of the “Marinaissance” Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Growing up in San Rafael in the 80’s and 90’s, writer David Perlis sensed that he had just missed something incredible. “I wanted to know what happened here before I was born,” he writes. That kicked off a quest to uncover Marin County’s “seismic cultural awakening” throughout the midcentury that he chronicles in his new book “Morning in Marin: Zen, Drugs, and Ewoks on the California Coast.” Perlis argues that what emerged from “the Marinaissance” was adopted by popular culture across America — yet its influence has been overlooked. We talk to Perlis about the long reach of Marin’s cultural influence and the legendary artists and thought leaders who found refuge there, including Alan Watts, Robin Williams, Anna Halprin, George Lucas and many more.

Guest:

David Perlis, writer, musician, filmmaker and author, “Morning in Marin: Zen, Drugs, and Ewoks on the California Coast”

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The Iran War at Six Months: Has the U.S. Already Lost? Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Six months into the war with Iran, the quick victory President Trump predicted remains elusive. As Iran’s hardline regime remains defiant, Atlantic writer and military affairs expert Tom Nichols says the United States has already lost strategically: Iran has gained control of the Strait of Hormuz, strained U.S. alliances and depleted American military resources. Nichols also argues that the ongoing conflict has made Trump more reckless, driving him to make ever more irrational foreign policy choices. We talk to Nichols about the costs of the war and where it goes from here.

Guest:

Tom Nichols, staff writer, The Atlantic; professor emeritus of national security affairs, U.S. Naval War College

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What Are the Objects That Define the Bay Area? Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

A few years ago, a black Patagonia vest or a Timbuktu messenger bag were a telltale sign that a

person might be from the Bay Area. Now, you might look for an Oaklandish hoodie, a water bottle covered in outdoorsy stickers, a t-shirt advertising a non-alcoholic beer or a Tesla with an Elon disclaimer on the bumper. We’ll dive into the objects and accessories that are hella Bay Area and just how they became so ubiquitous. And, we want to hear from you, what are the items that define the Bay Area for you?

Guests:

Carly Severn, senior editor of audience news, KQED

Liam O’Donoghue, host and producer, East Bay Yesterday

Baruch Porras-Hernandez, performer, organizer, host, curator, stand up comedian, author of “I Miss You, Delicate” and “Lovers of the Deep Fried Circle,” and co-organizer of KQED’s ¿Dónde Esta Mi Gente? Literary Series

Pendarvis “Pen” Harshaw, columnist, KQED Arts

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How Will Meta’s Landmark Settlement Change Social Media? Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Meta will pay up to $17 billion to settle a lawsuit alleging Facebook and Instagram violated child privacy and consumer protection laws. The case, brought by 47 states and the District of Columbia, could mark a turning point for social media in the United States. “Meta has agreed to make massive transformations that will reduce the risk of harm from its platforms — and will do it within months,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta when announcing the deal, which includes a $2.2 billion payout to California. “We are talking about time limits, stopping notifications during school, a block on the app during critical overnight hours, bans on plastic surgery filters, and so much more.”

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Trump Trade War with Canada Pits the U.S. Against a Once-Staunch Ally Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Canada was once one of America’s staunchest allies, but a trade war between the two nations has put the friendship under strain. Following a collapse in trade talks, the Trump administration is hitting Canada with a 50% tariff that targets hockey equipment, cement, dairy, and plywood. Canada vowed to strike back dollar for dollar, issuing nearly $28 billion in tariffs on American steel, seafood, appliances, electronics and more. Canadians are boycotting U.S. products and cancelling trips south. We look at what this means for the two economies, consumers and the future of America’s trade relationships.

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