KPBS Roundtable

A new months-long investigation by KPBS follows the money going to some county supervisors' offices. It finds some tapped influential companies, associations and individuals for monetary gifts. Some of the entities had business before the county at the time. We discuss the details. Plus, we explore whether the melting pot metaphor is accurate in the U.S. today ahead of its 250th anniversary. Plus, "Local News Day," a national effort to highlight the work of local newsrooms, was this week. We sit down with three local storytellers to discuss their community-oriented approach to journalism. Guests: Scott RoddGustavo SolisKate MorrisseyDaylight San DiegoDrew SittonYamir AguilarCalexico ChronicleImperial Valley WeeklyLinks: New SNAP rules push more San Diegans to find no-cost groceries‘No Data Center’ Chants Ring Out at Imperial County Board MeetingFor trans San Diegans, lack of public restroom access is causing lasting medical harm - San Diego woman says her credit card information was stolen while she was in ICE custodyMost immigrants no longer qualify for CalFresh. Agencies ‘scrounging’ for foodMovimiento Celebracion and March Honor Farmworkers

San Diego's North County isn't exactly known for housing affordability. But one North County city — San Marcos — is exceeding its state-mandated housing goals. From new housing projects to school board meetings, we sit down with three North County reporters to talk about their reporting and what it's like to cover the beat. Plus, a new KPBS series introduces us to some of San Diego's most interesting and underrated museums. Guests: Alexander NguyenTigist LayneKatie FuttermanJohn Carroll

San Diego County has hired an independent auditor to review how it works with contractors. The audit was announced in light of recent charges against a former executive at the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego, who misappropriated large sums of money meant for behavioral health care. We talk about how San Diego County is re-examining its oversight of contractors. Plus, California is one of 13 states where certain terminally ill patients can request medication to end their life. New KPBS reporting shares the story of one woman's end of life journey. Then, why concert tickets are more expensive than ever, as part of a series on the high price of living in San Diego. And, a look into one of San Diego's home kitchen businesses. Guests: Lisa HalverstadtHeidi de MarcoJulia Dixon EvansThe FinestCarlos Castillo Stories mentioned: "After Contractor Scandal, County Announces Outside Contracting Audit""California moves to strengthen end-of-life decisions, but gaps in access remain""From $20 to $1,200: How San Diego concert ticket prices got out of control "From family recipes to a home business"

The New York Times this week published an investigation revealing shocking sexual abuse allegations against labor leader and civil rights activist César Chávez. California lawmakers announced that they intend to change the name of César Chávez Day — just weeks away — to Farmworkers Day. As the gravity of the allegations settle in, many are asking what comes next. We sit down with two journalists to talk about their coverage of the ongoing fallout from the stunning revelations. Plus, a new Marine Corps report found that a rare fuse malfunction caused an artillery shell to explode over Interstate 5 last fall. Plus, we bring you a Padres season preview ahead of opening day next week. Guests: Gustavo ArellanoFarida Jhabvala RomeroAndrew DyerJesse AglerStories mentioned: "The grief behind the cascade of online Dolores Huerta photos""And just like that, the Cesar Chavez myth is punctured. What’s next?""César Chavez Was a Hero to Farmworkers. Now They Confront the Pain of Alleged Abuse""'One in a million' defect led to October I-5 artillery explosion, Marines say"

Two men behind a charity fraud scheme pleaded guilty to federal charges this week. The case involved a scheme to siphon money from concession stands at some of San Diego's most well-known stadiums, including Petco Park — the home of the San Diego Padres. The scheme was originally uncovered through reporting from Voice of San Diego. We sit down with the lead reporter for more details. Plus, farmers in Mexicali are protesting low payouts as part of an international agreement where they agreed to conserve Colorado River water. And, we sit down with the hosts of the KPBS podcast "Port of Entry" to learn about what drives them to tell cross-border stories about the San Diego-Tijuana region. Guests: Will HuntsberryMackenzie ElmerTijuanapress.comNatalie Gonzalez RodriguezAlan Lilienthal

On Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted to add a measure to the June primary ballot that would tax empty second homes. Also this week, paperwork was submitted for a measure that would stop trash fees for San Diego homeowners. We break down the upcoming ballot measures and the state of the city's budget. Then, we sit down with two military reporters to discuss the week on their beat after the U.S. and Israel began their attacks on Iran. Plus, we feature Peyk Magazine — a local arts and culture publication highlighting Persian culture, events and news in San Diego. Guests: Andrew BowenDavid GarrickAndrew DyerJeff SchogolPeyk Magazine

Mexico is recovering from unrest that struck parts of the country after the killing of a major cartel leader. Plus, immigration officials are using new tactics to monitor activists. Then, how the border wall is impacting bighorn sheep.

Federal agents arrested at least 5,000 people in San Diego last year. That's an average of 20 people each day. We talk about the network of volunteers organizing community patrols to watch out for immigration enforcement in their neighborhoods. Plus, more North County transit riders are evading fares amid a "hands off" enforcement strategy from the North County Transit District. We talk about fare evasion and increased safety concerns on public transit. And, a familiar San Diego voice breaks down what it means to be a play-by-play announcer ahead of San Diego FC's upcoming season. Guests: Gustavo SolisElaine AlfaroAdrian García Márquez

A new investigation by WIRED magazine reveals a secret campaign by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to expand their physical presence across the country. Federal records show that more than 150 leases on office spaces for new facilities in nearly every state — including a facility in San Diego. We discuss the findings and what this could mean for ICE's expansion moving forward. Plus, some RV dwellers are protesting newly issued tickets from the city following the opening of the H Barracks safe parking site. And, a romance literature convention, LoveLitCon, is celebrating love in San Diego just in time for Valentine's Day. Guests: Leah FeigerBlake NelsonLeslie Gonzalez

San Diego is known to be one of the most expensive cities. A new KPBS series looks to tackle San Diego's high cost of living, and the various of ways it impacts daily life. Then, the journalism landscape is rapidly shifting amid mass lay-offs and the changing consumption of news. On KPBS Roundtable this week, we hear from some of San Diego's student journalists about their outlook on the current media landscape, as they start their journalism careers during a precarious time for the industry. Guests: Katie AnastasSydney BrammerThe PointRoman AguilarThe Daily Aztec Stories mentioned: "Price of San Diego""Young Adults and the Future of News""Letter from the Editor in Chief""San Diego’s phantom stadium costs taxpayers nearly $5 million annually""How Lahore Became One of the World's Most Polluted Cities"

Gregory Bovino has become one of the most recognizable faces of President Trump’s mass deportation efforts. But after the latest killing by immigration officers in Minneapolis — the second this month — multiple reports say Bovino is now returning to El Centro to lead the Border Patrol sector there. On KPBS Roundtable this week, we talk about how community members there are pushing back. Then, a new HBO documentary, "Critical Incident: Death at the Border" explores the 2010 death of Anastasio Hernández-Rojas at the San Ysidro Port of Entry after a violent altercation with Border Patrol officers — and his family's pursuit of justice. Finally, the San Diego Unified School District is moving forward with a series of new proposals that would bring thousands of affordable housing units to district-owned land. We talk about what this could mean for San Diego's housing landscape. Guests: Andrew DyerJohn Carlos Frey, "The Raid""Critical Incident: Death at the Border"Jakob McWhinneyStories mentioned: "With Unprecedented Housing Moves, San Diego Unified Enters Its YIMBY Era"

The first year of Donald Trump's second term has upended the rules of immigration enforcement. In San Diego, enforcement has included an ICE raid at an industrial paint business in El Cajon, arrests at green card appointments and yet another raid at Buona Forchetta in South Park. We've also seen student visas revoked and arrests at their immigration court hearings. KPBS reporting has found that the increase in detention by ICE is fueled by immigrants without criminal records. On KPBS Roundtable, we discuss changes to the immigration system in Trump's first year in office and how covering immigration has changed. Guests: Gustavo SolisShelby BremerElliot Spagat

This week, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria delivered his annual State of the City speech. We talk about where the city is and where it's headed. Plus, a former San Diego sailor is sentenced for selling Navy secrets to China. And, we check in on the state of San Diego sports ahead of San Diego FC's upcoming season. Guests: Andrew BowenMariana Martínez BarbaAndrew DyerRyan Finley

New fees to park in Balboa Park implemented this week were met with confusion and frustration after a series of mistakes and lack of information for city residents. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has since defended the Balboa Park fees in response to a memo earlier this week calling the parking system "haphazard." We break down the parking saga and what you should know. Plus, we discuss how Los Angeles communities are recovering one year after wildfires destroyed thousands of homes and killed dozens. Then, a New York Times investigation finds that home insurers are pushing families back into homes still contaminated by smoke. We unpack the findings. Guests: David GarrickLibby RaineyRukmini CallimachiBlacki Migliozzi

"Housing First" has been the preferred approach to tackling homelessness in recent years. It involves getting people into housing quickly with as few hurdles as possible. But even though Housing First shows promise for keeping people housed, the model is facing challenges. We discuss the latest.Plus, a new set of California state laws took effect at the start of 2026, covering everything from artificial intelligence to health. We break down what you should know about the new legislation.Then, we dive into the science and psychology of New Year's resolutions — why we often break them, and how to make them more sustainable. Guests:Blake Nelson, homelessness reporter, The San Diego Union-TribuneKristen Hwang, health reporter, CalMattersKhari Johnson, technology reporter, CalMattersRiley Arthur, web producer, KPBS

As the year comes to a close, we reflect on some of the biggest KPBS stories of the year with the reporters who covered them.We discuss the changing landscape of immigration enforcement and mass deportation. Plus, the local housing picture in San Diego — from ADUs to the effects of statewide legislation.Then, we talk about the top stories on the science and technology beat this year, including artificial intelligence and nuclear fusion.Guests:Gustavo Solis, investigative border reporter, KPBSAndrew Bowen, metro reporter, KPBSThomas Fudge, science and technology reporter, KPBS

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a Ukrainian immigrant who was arrested last week after her green card interview.Viktoriia Bulavina said she was held for days inside a federal building in downtown San Diego, where ICE officers put her and other women in shackles and chains.We talk about Bulvina's story and the broader picture of immigration enforcement in San Diego.Then, we sit down with local food journalists to recap culinary trends from the year and restaurants on their radar for the holiday season.Guests:Kori Suzuki, South Bay and Imperial Valley reporter, KPBSJackie Bryant, lifestyle journalist and co-host of the Happy Half Hour podcastHelen Hwang, food and travel journalist

The San Diego FC inaugural season has officially come to an end.This week on Roundtable, we recap Saturday’s 3–1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps with local soccer experts, unpacking the team’s success both on the scoreboard and in the stands.Then, a new report from UC San Diego shows a sharp rise in first-year students lacking high school math proficiency. At UC San Diego — where more than half of undergraduates pursue STEM degrees that require math — that’s a growing concern.We break down why sum things aren’t adding up for math education, and why math skills have declined since 2020.Guests:Darren Smith, radio host, San Diego FC and Section 1904 podcastHector Trujillo, soccer writer, the Times of San Diego and El LatinoTony Sanchez, co-founder, San Diego.futbolJacob Aere, reporter, KPBSStories mentioned:UC San Diego is trying to solve a remedial math problemSan Diego FC falls to Whitecaps 3-1, capping off historic inaugural season

For public radio listeners, NPR voices often become part of our morning ritual. A Martínez, NPR Morning Edition and Up First co-host, is one of those personalities.He joins KPBS Roundtable to talk about his public media journey, from covering sports all the way to hosting public radio’s morning flagship.Then, we dig into how immigration lawyers are filing habeas corpus petitions to protect their clients and challenge immigration holds.And finally, San Diego County is struggling to handle the costs of Proposition 36 and its tough-on-crime policies. Hear how the county is managing the extra dollars needed in a time when budgets are tight.Guests:A Martínez, co-host, NPR Morning Edition and Up FirstGustavo Solis, investigative border reporter, KPBSLisa Halverstadt, senior investigative reporter, Voice of San DiegoStories mentioned:Lawyers using Habeas Corpus in last-ditch efforts to free immigrants from detention — KPBSProposition 36 Hits County Budget Hard — Voice of San Diego

In case you missed it, there was a special election this week in California.We take stock of Proposition 50 and other political headlines from the week, including Nancy Pelosi's retirement announcement after a 20-term career in Congress.Plus, National City this week rejected a proposed biofuel depot project over air quality concerns.And, we sit down with our colleagues at "The Finest" podcast to hear about their season one finale and their reflections from their first 25 episodes.Guests:Alexei Koseff, Washington, D.C. correspondent, San Francisco ChroniclePhilip Salata, environment and energy reporter, inewsourceKori Suzuki, South Bay and Imperial Valley reporter, KPBSJulia Dixon Evans, arts reporter and host of "The Finest", KPBSAnthony Wallace, podcast producer, "The Finest"