KQED's Forum

California synth-pop duo PRXZM joins us in studio for a live musical performance. Classically trained musicians Nick Ortega and Emma Maidenberg host a weekly livestream where fans can watch them compose in real-time and offer feedback. PRXZM’s latest project? Remixing our Forum theme song! We’ll talk to them about the process of remixing and what it’s like to collaborate so closely with their fans. Guests: Nick Ortega, synth, PRXZM Emma Maidenberg, vocals, PRXZM Daniel Reiter, guitar, PRXZM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Salman Rushdie is one of the most consequential living writers – artistically, culturally and politically. “The 11th Hour” is his latest collection of short stories and his first work of fiction after being stabbed, nearly to death, at a speaking event in 2022. We talk to Rushdie about his reflections on mortality, the limits of language and what he believes literature provides us with in times of uncertainty. Guests: Salman Rushdie, novelist and essayist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re now in the longest shutdown in U.S. history after lawmakers on Tuesday again failed to advance a deal to extend health care subsidies and re-open the government. As President Trump calls for an end to the filibuster to force a resolution and as Democrats dig in after decisive election victories, we talk about the latest political maneuverings. And we’ll hear from Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley about what he thinks it will take to bring the warring parties to the table. Guests: Nicholas Wu, congressional reporter, Politico Kevin Kiley, U.S. Congressman representing California's 3rd District Russell Berman, staff writer, The Atlantic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This summer, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said he’d like to see psychedelic therapies for depression, trauma and other hard-to-treat disorders approved for use within the next 12 months. Last year the FDA rejected psychedelic-assisted therapy for use in treating PTSD. We check in with long-time researchers about how state and federal governments can influence the momentum of their field, how they’re reconciling the new right wing support, and what it all means for the future of psychedelic research and therapy. Guests: Michael Silver, director, UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics Marlena Robbins, Indigenous public health and policy consultant; doctor of public health candidate, UC Berkeley Berra Yazar-Klosinski, founder and CEO, Yazar Lab, LLC; former chief scientific officer, Lykos Therapeutics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We look at how California voted on Proposition 50, which would temporarily redraw the state’s congressional districts to favor Democratic candidates. Governor Gavin Newsom and other top Democrats, including Barack Obama, back the measure, calling it a response to Republican-led redistricting efforts in Texas. We talk to KQED’s politics team about what the results mean for voters across the state and look at the impacts of consequential races in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City. Guests: Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED - co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown Benjamin Oreskes, reporter, New York Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“AI may not simply be 'a bubble,' or even an enormous bubble. It may be the ultimate bubble,” writes tech journalist Brian Merchant. In the first half of the year, AI contributed to 1.1% of GDP growth and eight tech companies are now valued at $1 trillion or more. While investors are giddy at the pace of growth, many economic analysts are more sober. We get to the bottom of the bubble and what might happen if it pops. Guests: Charlie Warzel, staff writer, The Atlantic. Warzel is also the author of "Galaxy Brain," a newsletter about the internet and big ideas. - he co-authored the piece "Here is How the AI Crash Happens" Brian Merchant, tech journalist, writes the "Blood in the Machine" newsletter, author, "Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion against Big Tech; his most recent piece in Wired is "AI is the Bubble to Burst Them All" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Mike Rothschild has for the last decade studied and written about the rise and spread of conspiracy theories, hoaxes and scams. But after he lost his home in Altadena to the Eaton fire, Rothschild witnessed firsthand how conspiracies take hold of people in the throes of a traumatic event. We talk to him about why his community was vulnerable to disinformation about the causes of and responses to the fire — and why conspiracy theories spread when major disasters strike. His new piece for MIT Technology Review is “What it’s like to be in the middle of a conspiracy theory (according to a conspiracy theory expert).” Guests: Mike Rothschild, journalist and expert on conspiracy theories and disinformation, author, “The Storm Is Upon Us" and “Jewish Space Lasers"; His new article in MIT Technology Review is “What it’s like to be in the middle of a conspiracy theory (according to a conspiracy theory expert)” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than 350,000 Californians are now behind on their student loan payments – the highest delinquency rate for any type of debt in over two decades, according to the California Policy Lab. Experts say the missed payments are a symptom of a financial safety net that was already broken before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted loan payments and is now further unraveling as borrowers face higher bills, fewer repayment options, inconsistent eligibility for loan forgiveness, and a very confusing system. We talk to a researcher tracking student debt, an advocate fighting on behalf of borrowers in court, and a former government official who has seen the system from the inside. Do you have a student loan? Tell us what you’ve been experiencing. Guests: Evan White, executive director, California Policy Lab, University of California-Berkeley Julie Margetta Morgan, president, The Century Foundation, independent think tank that researches public policy - Morgan served as the associate director of research, monitoring, and regulations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Mike Pierce, executive director and co-founder, Protect Borrowers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wikipedia, the crowdsourced encyclopedia, is one of the world’s most visited websites, with 11 billion page views each month. Its founder, Jimmy Wales, credits its success to one thing — trust — which he sees at odds with our increasing loss of faith in institutions and in each other. In his new book, he lays out what he calls a “blueprint for building things that last” in volatile times. We’ll talk to Wales about the site’s history and why right wing figures like Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson are attacking it. The book is “The Seven Rules of Trust.” Has Wikipedia earned your trust? Guests: Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As mayor of San Jose, Matt Mahan has touted his business credentials and his common sense approach to handling issues like homelessness and crime. In 2024, Mahan was reelected to the office with 87% of the vote, and his profile has risen recently as he has criticized Governor Gavin Newsom’s trolling of President Trump. According to Mahan, “As mayors, we don’t get rewarded for clever tweets or inspiring speeches.” Instead, Mahan says he is focused on concrete results. We talk to Mahan and take your questions. Guests: Matt Mahan, mayor, San Jose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Minutes before his high-stakes meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping on Thursday, President Trump took to social media to say the U.S. would resume nuclear weapons tests for the first time in decades. It’s the latest in a foreign policy approach that veteran New York Times national security reporter David Sanger calls a mix of instinct, grievance and ego, marked by swerves and reversals. We talk to Sanger about how Trump’s approach is affecting our standing on the world stage. Guests: David Sanger, White House and national security correspondent, The New York Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Orange marigolds, sugar skulls, skeleton face paint, and altars lined with photos and candles have become familiar elements for commemorating Day of the Dead, the ritual practice of honoring the deceased that has become a cultural phenomenon. Many of the traditions go back thousands of years to the indigenous peoples of Mexico, but others have roots in the United States, where the some of the first Día de los Muertos celebrations took place in 1972 with an altar in front of the Galería de la Raza in San Francisco’s Mission District. We’ll talk about the essence of this holiday and how the traditions, iconography and meaning continue to evolve. Guests: Liv Styler, artist and writer; her piece, “Memento (Me)mori(as),” is part of the SOMArts exhibit "Día de Los Muertos 2025: We Love You" Luisa Navarro, boutique owner, Mexico in My Pocket; author, "Mexico's Day of the Dead" Rio Yañez, artist and curator, co-curator, "Día de Los Muertos 2025: We Love You" at SOMArts Dr. Belinda Hernandez Arriaga, executive director and founder, ALAS, Ayudando Latinos A Soñar; licensed clinical social worker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Costco, the bulk grocery chain known for consistency, devoted employees and discounts, has 145 million members worldwide. New Yorker staff writer Molly Fischer grew up going to a Costco in San Jose (Warehouse No. 148, on Senter Road), and she says “being a child of California in the eighties and nineties offered a front-row seat to the rise of a retail juggernaut.” But new management and Wall Street pressure means that things are changing at Costco, even as its hot dog-and-soda deal remains $1.50. We’ll talk with Fischer about her new piece, “Can the Golden Age of Costco Last?” Guests: Molly Fischer, staff writer, The New Yorker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For 20 years, the Emmy- and James Beard-award winning show “Check, Please! Bay Area” has brought together local diners to kibbitz about their favorite restaurants. The concept is simple: three locals each recommend a restaurant, everyone tries the places out, and they meet for a spirited conversation about what they liked, what they loved, and what they could do without. The restaurants reviewed range from mom and pop shops to Michelin-award winning, but one thing they all have in common is at least one passionate fan. “Check, Please! Bay Area” host Leslie Sbrocco and producer Lori Halloran join us to talk about the imprint the show has made on local dining over the last two decades. Guests: Leslie Sbrocco, host, "Check Please! Bay Area" Lori Halloran, series producer, "Check Please! Bay Area" Gypsy Love, artist and former "Check Please! Bay Area" guest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next week, California voters will decide whether to approve Proposition 50, which would temporarily redraw Congressional district maps to favor Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections. This comes after Republican lawmakers in Texas have redrawn districts to favor their party – with Republican leaders in Indiana, North Carolina and Missouri looking to follow suit. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court appears poised to further weaken the Voting Rights Act and further fuel a “redistricting arms race.” We look at how that case, and the escalating efforts to redistrict along partisan lines, could affect election outcomes in 2026 and beyond. Guests: Hansi Lo Wang, correspondent, NPR Erin Covey, editor, U.S. House of Representatives, The Cook Political Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the federal government shutdown extends to its fifth week, its impacts have become more widespread. Over one million federal workers are either on furlough or working unpaid. Most federal parks remain closed. Head Start programs are at risk of closure. And the USDA has announced it would suspend funding for SNAP, a food program that serves over 40 million Americans, including 5.38 million Californians. We’ll talk about the impacts of this government impasse on the Bay Area, and hear from you: How have you been affected by the government shutdown? Guests: Luke Broadwater, White House reporter, New York Times - his recent article on the shutdown is titled "The Shutdown Is Stretching On. Trump Doesn’t Seem to Mind" Chris Lehnertz, president and CEO, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Carly Severn, senior editor of audience news, KQED Tee Tran, founder and owner, Monster Pho, a restaurant located in Oakland Yasmeem Watson, case advocate, Treasury Department - Watson has been a federal employee for over 25 years, and serves as a steward and board member for the local affiliate of the National Treasury Employees Union Caitlin Sly, president and CEO, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joyce Vance was a federal prosecutor for 25 years, resigning on the eve of Donald Trump’s first inauguration. Now, she’s a law professor, a legal analyst for NBC and MSNBC and author of the popular Substack “Civil Discourse,” signing off every post with the four words: “We’re in this together.” In a new book she encourages readers to not despair at the erosion of democratic norms, but to fight back. As she writes, “Progress may not be linear, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look forward beyond these difficult years we are living through and prepare to regain our America.” Vance joins us to talk about the latest legal challenges to the Trump administration and about her book, “Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy.” Guests: Joyce Vance, Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law, University of Alabama School of Law - legal analyst for NBC and MSNBC; writes the popular Substack "Civil Discourse"; author of the new book, "Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy"; was a career federal prosecutor for 25 years Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the main drivers of homelessness in the Bay Area is simply a lack of affordable housing for people with the very lowest incomes. In Part 4 of our series “In Search of Home: Solutions for the Homelessness Crisis” we’ll take a look at some innovative strategies developers and cities are exploring to fund projects and lower the cost of construction. We bring together housing developers, housing experts and Bay Area residents to discuss what works to bring more permanent housing that formerly homeless people can actually afford. Guests: Patrick Kennedy, owner, Panoramic Interests - a development firm that has been building in the Bay Area since 1990 Carolina Reid, professor in affordable housing and urban policy, Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of California at Berkeley Matt Franklin, president and CEO, MidPen Housing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you watched a movie review on YouTube or an album takedown on TikTok? Cultural criticism is available for free everywhere which might explain why publications like the New York Times and Vanity Fair are trimming their staffs of professional reviewers. We talk to pop culture critic Angelica Jade Bastién and music critic Kelefa Sanneh about why traditional criticism should endure, even when everyone has a platform. Where do you turn for reliable reviews? Guests: Kelefa Sanneh, staff writer, The New Yorker Angelica Jade Bastién, critic covering film and pop culture, New York Magazine's Vulture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Pentagon announced Friday that the military is sending an aircraft carrier to South America. It’s the latest in the escalating show of force against Venezuela, including strikes on ten boats that the Trump administration says were involved in drug smuggling, which killed 43 people. We talk about the legality of the actions and what the administration hopes to achieve. Then, we turn to the mighty California condor. Once nearly extinct — with only 23 birds remaining in 1982 — the largest bird in North America is making a remarkable comeback. Biologists have recently tracked 30 condors soaring over Alameda and Contra Costa counties, areas where they haven’t been seen in a century. We’ll explore what’s driving their return and the threats they still face in the wild. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices