KQED's Forum - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Abortion on the Ballot, from Prop 1 in California to Races Nationwide Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

Since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, removing Americans’ constitutional right to an abortion, a dozen states have enacted near-total bans on the procedure and more are expected to do so in the coming months. That’s causing many candidates in California and across the nation to emphasize their support for reproductive rights, and Pew Research Center polling shows the issue is important to a majority of voters across both parties. We’ll talk about the role abortion is playing in the midterms here and in key states, and we want to hear from you: Is abortion driving your vote?

Guests:

Joe Garofoli, senior political writer, San Francisco Chronicle; host, the podcast “It’s All Political on Fifth and Mission”

Maya Prabhu, state government reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lauren Rankin , writer, speaker, and activist; author, "Bodies on the Line: At the Front Lines of the Fight to Protect Abortion in America"

Melanie Mason, national political correspondent, Los Angeles Times

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

State Assembymembers Launch Renters’ Caucus to Advocate for Tenant Rights Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

Nearly 44% of Californians rent their homes, but the vast majority of state legislators don’t. In the state assembly, only three out of 80 members are solely renters: Matt Haney, D-San Francisco; Isaac Bryan, D-Los Angeles; and Alex Lee, D-San Jose. The lawmakers say the imbalance between assembly members who are renters and those who are homeowners leads to fewer laws that address tenant needs. We’ll talk to Haney, Lee and Bryan about a caucus they are launching in the state assembly to advocate for tenants’ rights amid California’s ongoing housing crisis.

Guests:

Matt Haney, member, California State Assembly - represents the eastern portion of San Francisco.

Isaac Bryan, member, California State Assembly - he represents much of South Central Los Angeles.

Alex Lee, member, California State Assembly - he represents Santa Clara, Milpitas, Fremont, Newark and a small portion of western San Jose. He is the youngest state Asian American, first openly bisexual, and first Gen Z legislator state legislator in California history.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sports Betting and Taxes on Wealthy to Subsidize Electric Cars on November Ballot Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

On this November’s ballot, voters will decide on whether to legalize sports betting and whether to tax the rich to subsidize electric cars. Proposition 26 would legalize sports betting in Indian casinos and horse tracks and is opposed by gaming businesses. Proposition 27 would allow online betting and is generally opposed by gaming tribes. Together supporters and opponents of the two propositions have spent over $500 million on their campaigns, and polls predict that both will fail. Proposition 30 proposes a tax on personal income over two million dollars with 80% of the proceeds going to subsidize electric cars and charging stations and the remaining going to wildfire safety. We’ll talk about the three measures with our KQED Politics team and take your questions.

Guests:

Guy Marzorati, reporter and producer, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk

Kevin Stark, Reporter, KQED Science

Maanvi Singh, West Coast reporter, Guardian

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Saving Main Street’ Chronicles Small Business Owners Fighting to Survive the Pandemic Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

The pandemic shutdowns forced millions of small businesses across the country to close up shop or barely hang on. Journalist Gary Rivlin spent months following a group of small business owners struggling to survive the pandemic in his new book, “Saving Main Street: Small Business in the Time of COVID-19.” His book chronicles the personal and financial risks the owners had to take amid a contentious presidential election, confusing government aid programs and contradictory safety guidelines. Rivlin joins us to talk about how the pandemic forever changed how small businesses operate and how they are faring now.

Guests:

Gary Rivlin, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and author, "Saving Main Street Small Business in the Tine of COVID-19"

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Families of Victims of Anti-Asian Violence Speak Out in New PBS Documentary Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

On March 16, 2021, eight people were killed by a gunman in Atlanta, GA — the majority of whom were Asian women. The murders galvanized a political and social movement, according to Titi Yu, director of the new PBS documentary “Rising Against Asian Hate: One Day in March.” We’ll hear from family members of victims of anti-Asian violence about their attempts to bring justice to their loved ones, and the difficulties advocates and legislators face in attempting to prosecute acts of anti-Asian violence as hate crimes.

Guests:

Robert Peterson, son of Yong Ae Yue, who was killed in the Atlanta spa shootings on March 16, 2021

Titi Yu, director, "Rising Against Asian Hate"

Monthanus Ratanapakdee, daughter of Vicha Ratanapakdee who was fatally assaulted in San Francisco on January 28, 2021

Charles Jung, executive director, California Asian Pacific American Bar Association (Cal-APABA)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Election 2022: Key Races to Watch in and around San Jose Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

San Jose voters will decide on several key races this election including selecting the mayor, several city council members and the county sheriff. In the mayoral race, county supervisor Cindy Chavez and city council member Matt Mahan are competing to lead the nation’s 10th largest city. At the county level, voters will select a replacement for Sheriff Laurie Smith, who is not running for reelection amid grand jury allegations of misconduct and an ongoing investigation into cases of abuse at county jails. As part of KQED’s politics team’s takeover of Forum this week, we’ll talk about the candidates and the issues dominating the races – including housing, homelessness and crime – and we’ll take your election questions.

Guests:

Garrick Percival, professor and department chair, Department of Political Science, San Jose State University

Guy Marzorati, reporter and producer, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk

Alex Shoor, executive director and co-founder, Catalyze SV, a nonprofit focused on creating sustainable, equitable, and vibrant places for people in Silicon Valley

Trân Nguyễn, investigative reporter, San Jose Spotlight, and Report For America Corps Member

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Election 2022: Which California Races Are You Watching? Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

The outcomes of a number of competitive races up and down the state could determine which party controls the House of Representatives come January. We’ll talk about the congressional races in California to keep an eye on, and we’ll break down the statewide races on your ballot, from governor to controller to attorney general.

Guests:

Scott Shafer, senior editor for KQED’s California Politics and Government desk and co-host of Political Breakdown

Guy Marzorati, reporter and producer, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk

Seema Mehta, politics reporter, Los Angeles Times

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are You Election Ready? Making Sense Of The Bay Area’s Races and Ballot Measures Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

Ballots have landed in mailboxes across California. Now comes the hard part: figuring out what all the ballot measures mean. Senior editor Scott Shafer and the rest of KQED’s politics team has youcovered. We’ll talk about the most interesting items on Bay Area ballots, including mayoral and DA races, a slew of local housing measures and a state proposition that taxes the rich to tackle climate change. We’re here to answer your ballot questions.

Guests:

Guy Marzorati, reporter and producer, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk.

Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED - Co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown show.

Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Reporter/Producer covering politics, KQED News.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Abrams’ Hip-Hop History “The Come Up” Is a Rapper’s Delight Oct 14, 2022

Show notes

As an 11-year old kid growing up in the L.A. suburbs, writer Jonathan Abrams managed to wheedle a Tupac Shakur cassette from a sympathetic Circuit City employee. When his mom discovered the tape with its parental advisory sticker, she made him return it, but that didn’t deter Abrams’ love for hip-hop. In his new oral history of hip-hop “The Come Up,” Abrams goes back to the genre’s roots and traces its iterations, innovations, and impact on not just music, but global culture. We’ll talk to Abrams and hear from you, who’s your go to hip-hop artist and what’s on your essential hip-hop playlist?

Guests:

Jonathan Abrams, "The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop," Abrams is a staff writer for the New York Times and author of "All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of the Wire" and "Boys Among Men.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sheng Wang and Bay Area Comedians on Getting Their Start in the Bay Area Scene Oct 14, 2022

Show notes

Cal Berkeley alum Sheng Wang never expected himself to pursue a career in comedy. But after twenty years as a comedian, practicing his material at San Francisco venues, his hour-long Netflix special “Sweet and Juicy” has propelled him into the spotlight. We’ll talk with Sheng about the road to his new found fame and we’ll check in with local comedians about the Bay Area comedy scene.

Guests:

Sheng Wang, comedian, writer and actor.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

KQED’s Forum

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected