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Waymo Robotaxis Are Everywhere. How Do We Feel About That? Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Self-driving Waymo robotaxis are now commonplace on the streets of San Francisco. Feelings about these autonomous vehicles vary — from excitement, to amusement, to outright hostility. Some have even gone so far as to vandalize the cars.

In this episode from KQED’s Close All Tabs podcast, Morgan Sung speaks with Bloomberg journalist Ellen Huet and law professor Ryan Calo to explore the rise of Waymo vandalism, and its roots in our collective anxiety over AI.

Links:

Waymo’s Expansion Provokes Anxieties of AI Takeover – Ellen Huet, Bloomberg
The next big robotaxi push is almost here — Harri Weber, Quartz
The Courts Can Handle the Deadly Uber Self-Driving Car Crash. But that doesn’t mean the law is ready for autonomous vehicles. — Ryan Calo, Slate
Good Robot, Bad Robot: Dark and Creepy Sides of Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles, and AI — Jo Ann Oravec, Professor at the University of Wisconsin

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California Students Sue Trump Administration Over Visa Cancellations Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

The Trump administration has revoked hundreds of student visas across the country, claiming many have participated in ‘pro-Hamas’ activism on college campuses. Now, two international students at California colleges are suing the federal government after their student visas were revoked and their records in a federal database were terminated, effectively stripping them of their ability to continue studying in the U.S.

Links:

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How Trump’s Tariffs Are Impacting Local Businesses Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imports go into effect today, and businesses around the Bay Area are already feeling the impact. Some worry that the costs will trickle down to consumers and discourage businesses already struggling to afford operating in the Bay Area.

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The A’s Promised Coliseum Workers Help. Some Haven’t Gotten Any Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

As the A’s begin their first season in Sacramento, KQED found that some Coliseum workers promised financial assistance from the A’s ahead of the team’s transition out of Oakland haven’t gotten anything.

Links:

Some Oakland Coliseum Workers Say They Never Received Assistance From A’s Farewell Fund

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A Generation of Black Men Is Being Lost to Overdoses in San Francisco Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

In San Francisco, Black men born between 1951 and 1970 accounted for 12% of overdose deaths between January 2020 and October 2024, despite representing less than 1% of the city's population. The disparity in San Francisco is greater than any other major city.

Today, we hear from Richard Beal, director of recovery services at the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, about his personal story of addiction and recovery, and later talk with The San Francisco Standard’s David Sjostedt about what’s behind this trend of Black overdose deaths in the city.

Links:

SF is losing a generation of Black men to overdoses. It’s worse here than anywhere

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Inside a Self-Defense Class for Trans People Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

President Donald Trump’s executive orders and rhetoric have created a climate of fear in queer and transgender communities, including here in the Bay Area. KQED’s Bianca Taylor reports on a self-defense class in San Francisco’s Transgender District that teaches people skills to protect themselves while also building community.

Links:

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Marin School Board Backlash, Another Roadblock for La Pulga, and Eid Festival in the Tenderloin Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

In this month’s edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, Alan, Jessica, and Ericka talk about what happened when a Marin County school board member questioned the term “toxic masculinity,” delays in finding a new site for San Jose’s iconic flea market, and an Eid festival coming to San Francisco’s Tenderloin. Plus, we discuss threats to public media funding.

Links:

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SF Rolls Out Speed Cameras. Will They Make Roads Safer? Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

This month, San Francisco rolled out speed cameras at dozens of locations throughout the city. After seeing one of SF's deadliest years on the road, advocates hope the cameras will make walking and driving in San Francisco safer.

This episode first ran on Jan 15, 2025.

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It’s Time to Pick Oakland’s Next Mayor Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

It’s time for Oakland voters to pick a new mayor. Voting is underway in Oakland’s special election until April 15. Once a mayor is picked, they’ll have to hit the ground running in order to balance the city’s budget and address voters’ concerns about public safety and homelessness.

Links:

Oakland Special Election: Candidate Guide and How to Vote

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For Immigrant Day Laborers, Hiding Is Not a Viable Option Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Day laborers, or jornaleros, can often be found standing at specific street corners, where they are hired on the spot for inexpensive manual labor. Most are Latino migrants and can be found all over the Bay Area.

Berkeleyside’s Ximena Natera joins us to talk about how jornaleros in Berkeley are dealing with increased fears of deportation, and where these workers are finding support in difficult times.

Links:

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