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By 5-4 Vote, Supreme Court Refuses to Block Texas Abortion Law, Most Restrictive in Nation Sep 02, 2021

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Late Wednesday night in an unsigned majority opinion, the Supreme Court declined to block a Texas law that prohibits any abortions after six weeks, making it the most restrictive in the nation. The law, which prohibits abortions even in the case of rape and incest, is not enforced by the state; instead it deputizes private citizens to sue anyone who performs or “aids and abets” an abortion procedure. Chief Justice John Roberts, siding with the minority, described the law “unusual” and “unprecedented” in its attempt to delegate enforcement to private citizens. And writing in dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor called the Court’s order “stunning” and criticized the majority for allowing the law to remain in effect while appeals are ongoing. We’ll talk about the Texas law, the latest developments and what this means for Roe v. Wade.

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Caldor Fire Intensifies, Residents Evacuate South Lake Tahoe Area Sep 01, 2021

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The South Lake Tahoe area remains under evacuation orders while the Caldor Fire continues to spread. At least 191,607 acres had burned as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire. One of the major issues firefighting efforts have to contend with are spot fires. According to Scott Stephens, professor of fire science at UC Berkeley, almost 90% of the fire’s embers have a chance of sparking a new fire because of current drought conditions and ongoing winds. Stephens and KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero join us for the latest news and analysis on the Caldor Fire.

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Investigation Looks Into Heat-Related Deaths of California Workers Sep 01, 2021

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In the last 10 years, nearly four dozen California workers have died from heat related-illnesses, according to an investigation by Columbia Journalism Investigations, NPR, KPCC and The California Newsroom. Public health experts say heat-related deaths are 100% preventable. But the investigation finds they still occur because of the chronic underfunding and understaffing of California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health — Cal/OSHA, which is charged with enforcing heat standards and protocols. Without proper inspections, employers can skirt regulations, placing farmworkers, construction workers, landscapers and others who work outdoors at a higher risk for heat-related deaths. With climate change only making California’s temperatures hotter, we’ll talk to the story’s reporters about the breadth of the issue and what’s being done to address it.

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Is Watching Football Ethical? Sep 01, 2021

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With football season beginning, some fans are conflicted about whether or not to change the channel. Amid mounting evidence on player brain injuries, compensation questions for college athletes and the National Football League’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick, some once-diehard fans feel they can’t ethically continue to watch. Still, even though the 2021 Super Bowl reported decreased viewership, 96.4 million still tuned in. We want to hear from you: What’s the moral math of your football consumption?

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Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes Stands Trial for Allegedly Defrauding Stakeholders Sep 01, 2021

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College dropout Elizabeth Holmes once claimed her start-up Theranos would transform blood tests and modern medicine. At its peak in 2015, the company was worth $9 billion and was set to roll out its products across the country. But that came crashing down when investigations revealing that the technology was unreliable resulted in criminal charges against Holmes for defrauding investors and clients. Delayed by the pandemic, Holmes’ trial is finally underway in San Jose. We discuss what you need to know to follow along with the proceedings, and hear how the controversy has shaken Silicon Valley and startup culture.

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As U.S. Occupation Ends, Future Uncertain for Women and Girls in Afghanistan Aug 31, 2021

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After a 20-year U.S.-led war and occupation, the Taliban control Afghanistan once again, calling into doubt the continued exercise of freedoms gained by Afghan women, particularly those in urban areas. We'll talk about what Taliban rule may mean for Afghan women and girls. We'll also talk about President Biden's resettlement plans for Afghan refugees and the political backlash he's facing.

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Looking to Past Military Withdraws for Hints on the Future of Afghanistan Aug 31, 2021

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The United States military has officially pulled out of Afghanistan and the withdrawal has brought comparisons to the fall of Saigon in 1975. But a superficial historical analogy can be as misleading as it is enlightening. We’ll look back at the end of American interventions with scholars of Vietnam, Afghanistan and the Middle East. We’ll ask what can happen after the military leaves and what we can learn about the possible future of Afghanistan by looking at examples from history.

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Eyal Press Explores Hazards of Hidden Essential Jobs in ‘Dirty Work’ Aug 30, 2021

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From the undocumented immigrants who work in industrial slaughterhouses to the guards charged with keeping order in the most notorious U.S. prisons: they're the hidden workers journalist Eyal Press writes about in his latest book, "Dirty Work." Press explores the psychic and emotional toll borne by poor people and people of color who are disproportionately trapped in jobs that the public at large sees as morally tainted, but essential to maintaining our prevailing social order. We'll talk with Press about what he uncovered.

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August Book Club: 'Radiant Fugitives' by Nawaaz Ahmed Aug 30, 2021

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The Forum Book Club pick for August 2021 is Nawaaz Ahmed’s debut novel “Radiant Fugitives.” Set in San Francisco in and around 2010, it tells the story of Seema, a lesbian and political organizer with doubts about the efficacy of politics even as she works on the campaigns of President Obama, District Attorney Kamala Harris and California’s 2008 proposition on gay marriage. Over the course of the final five days of her pregnancy, she tries to reconnect with her estranged, terminally ill mother who has travelled from India for the birth, and her devout Muslim sister, in from Texas. Narrated by Seema’s newborn son, the novel weaves together three generations’ stories, drawing inspiration from the Quran and the poetry of Wordsworth and Keats.

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Baseball Has a New Superstar in Shohei Ohtani Aug 27, 2021

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Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani is having the season of his career. Last week the Los Angeles Angels pitcher hit his 40th home run of the season, setting a franchise record for the fastest player to reach the figure. Ohtani’s performance both on the mound and at the plate is drawing comparisons to another top pitcher with a big swing: baseball legend Babe Ruth. Amidst all the fanfare, though, Ohtani’s rising stardom is revealing long-standing biases in baseball and sports media after two commentators made ignorant and offensive remarks regarding his race and nationality. We’ll talk about the excitement surrounding Ohtani and his impact on baseball.

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