Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Jason Kander is no stranger to courage. From his beginnings as a combat veteran in Afghanistan to his position as an unlikely rising star in American politics, Kander’s trajectory is a fascinating example of bravery rooted in moral ethics. This bravery has put him at the forefront of the country’s political realm, with leaders such as Barack Obama touting him as the future of the Democratic Party. Kander’s rise to prominence is marked by several unconventional accomplishments. At 31, as secretary of state in Missouri, he was the country’s youngest statewide elected official—and the first millennial. During the 2016 U.S. Senate election, Kander became an overnight viral sensation in a gun control ad where he advocated for stricter background checks while assembling a rifle blindfolded. In 2017, Kander founded Let America Vote, an action organization dedicated to ending voter suppression, and in 2018 Kander proved his loyalty to local community by officially announcing his run for Kansas City mayor. In his new memoir, Outside the Wire, Kander not only details his fascinating life but also imparts wisdom to readers looking to make a difference on their own terms. Join us for an undoubtedly candid conversation about civic duty and staying true to your ideals. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation

We will discuss the biggest, most controversial and sometimes the surprising political issues with expert commentary by panelists who are smart, are civil and have a good sense of humor. Our panelists will provide informative and engaging commentary on political and other major news, and we'll have audience discussion of the week’s events and our live news quiz! And come early before the program to meet other smart and engaged individuals and discuss the news over snacks and wine at our members social (open to all attendees).

In State of Resistance, Professor Manuel Pastor reviews the last several decades of economic, social and environmental transformations in California and what they can tell us about the road ahead for the United States. Pastor traces the redemptive arc of California's recent history and offers a clear path through the political polarization that grips the nation. The New York Times calls his conclusions "concise, clear and convincing.” MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities This program is generously supported by Blue Shield of California Foundation.

Over the course of its 150-year history, California has successfully protected its scenic wilderness areas, restricted coastal oil drilling, regulated automobile emissions, preserved coastal access and improved energy efficiency. Back in 1963 when the Clean Air Act was written, legislators acknowledged that California was ahead of the curve and wrote a waiver into the law allowing the Golden State to set its own stricter standards. In 2018, that exception is being used in fighting—and so far winning—the loosening of national CAFE standards. Join us for a conversation about the past, present and future of California’s leadership in environmental policy. We will look at the lessons—as laid out by David Vogel—offered by California to the nation and the world. What has worked and where has the state fallen short?

Join us for a conversation about how employers should respond to sexual harassment complaints, how the #MeToo movement has impacted this and how it could change employer practices. The panelists will discuss what the future may hold for the workplace in terms of the prevention and response to harassment. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Cathy Curtis NOTES MLF: Business & Leadership

Has size and scale become a liability in business? Venture capitalist Hemant Taneja believes it has. He will describe how the unscaled economy is reshaping and creating a new world of opportunities for entrepreneurs and companies. The unscaled phenomenon has allowed new companies such as Warby Parker, Airbnb and Stripe to become global competitors among established businesses. Taneja explains why embracing the unscaled mindset is the new business model for the future. NOTES In association with Idea to IPO

This event is the latest in our member-led forums’ Crisis in Our Country summer series. North Korea has become arguably the most urgent national security issue facing the United States today, in part due to decades of inadequate expertise, attention and action by the United States. This reflects a larger set of problems of America’s inability to engage seriously with Asia, the fastest-growing economic region in the world and the center of potential political and security conflicts in the future. You are invited to hear these issues analyzed and explained by Glen S. Fukushima, who has spent his entire career dealing with U.S.-Asia relations in the context of academia, journalism, law, business and the nonprofit sector. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities

This program is part of our Food Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Communities such as San Francisco’s Mission District often center on food—it’s part of the fabric of the neighborhood and the economy. But what has happened to food culture and business as the neighborhood and the city at large grows and shifts? Join Gayle Pirie and John Clark, the chefs and co-owners of long-time beloved Mission District restaurant Foreign Cinema; Caleb Zigas, executive director of La Cocina; and William Ortiz-Cartagena, commissioner of the San Francisco Office of Small Business, for a conversation with moderator Julian Mark of Mission Local about the past, present and future of the vibrant neighborhood and city they work, cook and eat in every day. Come early for light bites from Foreign Cinema and La Cocina! NOTE: This program contains explicit language

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Phoebe Apperson Hearst was one of the Gilded Age’s most prominent and powerful women in the Bay Area. She was a financial manager, businesswoman, reformer and philanthropist. She was born into a middle-class, rural Missouri family in 1842, and she died a powerful member of society’s urban elite in 1919. Most people know her as the mother of William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper mogul, and as the wife of George Hearst, the mining tycoon and U.S. senator. But from age 48 until her own death, Phoebe Apperson Hearst shepherded the family fortune, demonstrating intelligence and skill as a financial manager. She supported significant campaigns for children, health reform, women’s rights, higher education, municipal policy formation, progressive voluntary associations, and urban architecture and design. She contributed ideas and funds to the burgeoning Progressive movement, and she was the first female regent of the University of California. Alexandra Nickliss renders a penetrating portrait of this powerful and often contradictory woman, examining the opportunities and challenges she faced as she navigated local, national and international corridors of influence. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities

Andy Weir was unexpectedly thrust into the world of science fiction stardom when his debut novel, The Martian, became a best-selling book turned Oscar-nominated blockbuster movie starring Matt Damon. With that success, Weir has been living out his dream of writing full time and releasing his second novel, Artemis. Don't miss an out-of-this-world program as Weir discusses how he combines his lifelong love of space, science and humor—along with a healthy dose of research—to create compelling stories for the science and science fiction fans among us. NOTES In association with Wonderfest Note: This program contains explicit language.