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The U.S. Has Never Felt This Divided. History Suggests Otherwise. Nov 02, 2020

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As Americans draw political battle lines over everything from mask-wearing to immigration policy to post-election ballot-counting, it can feel as if the nation’s never been so ideologically divided. But historians say that Americans have always been deeply split on major policy issues -- it’s just that those splits haven’t fallen along partisan lines as sharply as they do today. We’ll look at past instances of U.S. electoral and political strife to help understand and address today’s disunity.

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Secretary of State Alex Padilla on Voting in California Nov 02, 2020

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California is experiencing a record number of early votes with over 9 million ballots cast as of Friday. Secretary of State Alex Padilla is encouraging voters to keep it up as high turnout and COVID-19 safety protocols will likely lead to longer lines on Election Day. We'll check in with Sec. Padilla about early voting, how to make sure your ballot gets counted and what to expect when voting in person this year.

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Electoral College in the Spotlight Nov 02, 2020

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After election ballots are cast, the spotlight turns to the Electoral College with its 538 electors. Unlike most elections in the U.S., the presidency is decided not directly by voters, but by members of the Electoral College, who are assigned based on the results of the popular vote in each state. In this hour, we break down the role of the Electoral College and hear why there’s ongoing debate over its relevance.

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As High Stakes Presidential Election Looms, Anxiety Spikes Oct 30, 2020

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Is the presidential election keeping you up at night? Straining your relationships? Maybe even giving you panic attacks? You’re not alone. An American Psychological Association survey found that nearly 70% of adults in the U.S. are finding the election a significant source of stress. That’s a dramatic jump since 2016, and it’s worse for Democrats than Republicans. What are you doing to calm your nerves? And what will you do if the election doesn’t go your way? We’ll get tips on how to manage these times.

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On Immigration, the Contrast Between Trump and Biden is Stark Oct 30, 2020

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President Donald Trump has made restricting immigration a central component of his administration and campaign messaging. On the other side, former Vice President Joe Biden has promised to reverse some of Trump’s policies, such as family separation, setting up a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and to establish a “fair and humane” immigration system. With the election approaching next week, we’ll discuss each candidates’ policy positions on one of the nation’s most divisive issues.

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San Francisco Public Health Director Grant Colfax Oct 30, 2020

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San Francisco has moved very cautiously thus far in the coronavirus pandemic, recently distinguishing itself for being the first California city to reach the “minimal” spread tier on the state’s coded system. And while the Bay Area is reporting the first significant uptick in cases since August, regional numbers are far lower than a growing national outbreak. San Francisco Department of Public Health Director Grant Colfax joins us to discuss his strategy for weathering the upcoming holiday season in a pandemic that’s taking a heavy toll on the city’s economy and shows no sign of slowing down.

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Pandemic Amplifies Meaning of Dia De Los Muertos This Year Oct 29, 2020

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Dia de los Muertos, the annual Latin American tradition of honoring the dead, will take on a special significance this year, in which the pandemic has created a collective sense of grief. While coronavirus has impacted everyone, Latinos have disproportionately felt the brunt of the pandemic both in terms of deaths and economic hardship. Dia de los Muertos is, in essence, a time of confronting death and remembering loved ones who have passed. In a society that prefers to neglect feelings of grief, cultural and spiritual expert Lara Medina says the tradition provides lessons in how to heal, cope and understand death. With Dia de los Muertos approaching next week, Medina joins us to talk about what the tradition can teach us in a year so heavily marked by loss.

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U.S. Seeing Surge of Get-Out-the-Vote Enthusiasm Oct 29, 2020

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Every election cycle includes “Get Out the Vote” campaigns, but the 2020 election is seeing extraordinary levels of voter enthusiasm, engagement and messaging -- even amidst the pandemic. Research shows that the U.S. lags behind most other democratic countries when it comes to voter turnout. This year, however, states across the country are shattering early voting records, signaling the potential for historic turnout. We’ll talk about the strategies and push to get out the vote in 2020.

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State Allows In-Person Visits at Nursing Homes in Low-Risk Areas Oct 29, 2020

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Families across California will finally be permitted to visit loved ones in nursing homes, after months of being unable to have in-person visits. Updated guidelines released Friday allow indoor visits in California’s 46 counties currently in red, orange and yellow tiers; it also only applies to long-term care facilities, like nursing homes, but not to assisted or independent living communities. We’ll hear about the new guidance and how the state is keeping elder care facilities safe during the pandemic.

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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Takes Stock of Pandemic Response in “American Crisis” Oct 29, 2020

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New York City, an international travel hub and region with 19 million people, was particularly vulnerable to a fast-spreading pandemic like coronavirus. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new book “American Crisis” takes stock of what his state and its largest city have been through, details the shortfalls of the federal response, and offers a blueprint for future outbreaks.

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