Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

The so-called hockey stick papers, published in 1999, ignited an assault on the science of climate change that still rages to this day. But lead author Michael Mann hasn’t backed off on his mission to educate the public on the science of global warming. Mann was awarded the seventh annual Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication, by Climate One. Jonathan Foley, Executive Director, California Academy of Sciences Dr. Michael Mann, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science, Penn State University This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, CA on January 16, 2018.

What should climate-conscious people do to eat most sustainably? How people approach their diet is deeply personal and can be extremely controversial. Roughly 1 in 9 people in the world are undernourished. Addressing hunger while making the food chain more sustainable is critical for addressing climate change. Are GMOs the answer to food shortages, or do they jeopardize our crops with destructive cycles of pesticide resistance? Is our appetite for animal protein unsustainable, is worldwide veganism possible? Greg asks farmers, scientists and others what’s best for climate and our health.

A.J. Baime takes on the dramatic story of Harry Truman’s first four months in office, when, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the small-town farmer and haberdasher stepped into FDR's shoes to take on Germany, Japan and Stalin. Heroes are often defined as ordinary characters who get thrust into extraordinary circumstances and, through courage and a dash of luck, cement their place in history. When Truman was chosen as vice president for his well-praised work ethic, good judgment and lack of enemies, he was still an obscure Missouri politician. But during the founding of the United Nations, the Potsdam Conference, the Manhattan Project, the Nazi surrender, the liberation of concentration camps and the decision to drop the atomic bomb to end World War II, Truman had to play both judge and jury. Tightly focused and meticulously researched using previously unavailable papers, The Accidental President escorts readers into the president's situation room during these tumultuous 120 days. MLF Organizer Name George Hammond Notes MLF: Humanities This event was recorded in-front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on January 23rd, 2018.

Pulitzer Prize finalist Stephen Kotkin continues his definitive biography of Stalin with a second volume, Stalin: Waiting for Hitler, 1929–1941, which covers collectivization and the Great Terror until the eve of the war with Hitler's Germany. Once Stalin had achieved dictatorial power over the Soviet empire, he began transforming Russia's vast peasant economy into a modern socialist one, using the most relentless campaign of shock industrialization the world had ever seen. This is the story of five-year plans, new factory towns and the integration of a huge system of penal labor into the larger economy. With the Great Depression throwing global capitalism into crisis, the New Soviet man looked like the man of the future. But as the shadows of the 1930s deepened, Stalin's urgent transformations challenged the ambitions of Nazi Germany, and Hitler declared that communism was simply a global Judeo-Bolshevik conspiracy to bring the Slavic race to power. Stalin's paranoia wreaked havoc on Soviet life and severely weakened its military leadership, diplomatic corps and intelligence apparatus. His 1939 pact with Hitler left the Soviet Union further unprepared for World War II. Still, in just 12 years of power, Stalin had taken his country from a peasant economy to a formidable modern war machine. This eventually proved crucial in stopping Hitler from achieving his goals.

Some pundits and politicians imply that investments from China are somehow not aboveboard and are detrimental to the U.S. economy. Even though Wanxiang America has been investing in and acquiring U.S. companies since 1994, most of the American public has likely never heard of the company. Much of Wanxiang’s focus is in the automotive components sector, and their annual revenue has topped $4 billion. Join us for a discussion of Wanxiang, a company that serves as a case study, shedding light on the pros and cons of China's investments in the United States. Pin Ni, president of Wanxiang America Corporation, will focus on Wanxiang's operation in America, addressing issues such as net gain or loss of employment in the United States because of investment and, in turn, motivation to invest in the United States. He will also discuss comparative advantages of China versus the United States, since not all of Wanxiang investments have succeeded, and some have involved rescuing failing operations. Yukon Huang, a renowned economist, former country director for China at World Bank and author of the new book, Cracking the China Conundrum: Why Conventional Economic Wisdom Is Wrong, will further clarify and explain common misconceptions about China’s investments in the United States. Moderator George Koo is a retired China business consultant and contributor to Asia Times. He has served as a board member of the only three-party, Sino-American-Nippon joint venture in automotive components in China. Notes In association with the Committee of 100

Twenty-seven-year-old Michael Tubbs has already made history as both Stockton’s first African-American mayor and as the youngest mayor in American history of a city of more than 100,000 people—and he’s just getting started. He recently made headlines when Stockton became the first city in the nation to pilot a universal basic income program. Tubbs also hopes to use his tenure to reduce violent crime, foster economic development and partner with local school districts to improve public education. Tubbs’ bold leadership and commitment to his community have earned him recognition as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 young stars for 2017, and The Root named him one of their 100 most influential African-Americans in 2017. As a member of the Stockton City Council, Tubbs founded the Reinvent South Stockton Coalition and played an instrumental role in the planning efforts of the South Stockton Promise Zone. He also served as a college course instructor for Aspire Langston Hughes Academy and as a fellow and lecturer at the design school at Stanford University. Tubbs was born and raised in Stockton to a teenage mother and an incarcerated father. He graduated with honors from Stanford University. During his time as a student, Tubbs founded both the Phoenix Scholars and the Summer Success and Leadership Academy at the University of the Pacific, both of which aim to increase access to higher education for underrepresented students. Tubbs also interned in the White House and at Google.

While Twitter feuds and Russian hackers dominate news headlines, President Donald Trump’s administration is radically changing the policies and programs that define the American way of life. In their first year, the Trump administration’s efforts to defund Obamacare, repeal LGBT protections in the workplace, impose tax cuts and deport undocumented immigrants have significantly impacted millions of Americans, all while the mainstream media has struggled to keep up. Beyond the tweets, firings, scandals and indictments, how will Trump’s policy agenda continue to affect our daily lives? Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Cay Johnston says he has the answers. Since 1988, Johnston has been chronicling Trump’s personal life and business dealings—from his casinos to his marriages and beyond. In his new book, It’s Even Worse Than You Think, Johnston is going where the media won’t—into the weeds—to shed new light on the Trump administration’s policies and bureaucratic choices and how they will change America. Join Johnston for a revealing conversation about the Trump administration’s impact on our finances, health care, safety and much, much more.

We're celebrating our sixth anniversary with a special Thursday-night edition of the Week to Week political roundtable! Join us as we 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. Join our panelists for informative and engaging commentary on political and other major news, 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).

Author Kelly Corrigan knows that words matter. Sometimes finding the right words to say in a difficult situation seems almost impossible, but the right words at the right moment can change everything. In her new book, Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I’m Learning to Say, Corrigan recounts the conversations and experiences throughout her life that have shaped the way she connects and empathizes with family, friends and her community. Join master storyteller Corrigan, or as she's been called, “the poet laureate of the ordinary,” as she shares stories that serve to remind us that we’re all human and all deserving of compassion and understanding.

How are cities coping with political and climatic upheaval? Battles over immigration, sanctuary status, federal funding and other hot-button issues are creating tension between local and federal government at a time when the impacts of climate change are hitting home.

Miami and Houston are recovering from epic storms that were amplified by a climate destabilized by burning fossil fuels. Both cities have dynamic mayors advancing economic recovery in a time when the federal government—aside from disaster relief—is providing less money to cities for infrastructure and other projects that have traditionally facilitated civic development. Miami voters reached into their own pockets to fund $400 million in Miami Forever bonds to deal with rising seas and other climate impacts. Newly-elected Mayor Francis Suarez is now tasked with figuring out how to spend that money to prevent his city from more sunny day flooding. Houston is still waiting for Congress to finalize funds to help Texas recover from Hurricane Harvey, which brought unprecedented rain bombs down on a city that largely has been paved over. What is Mayor Sylvester Turner doing to restore its economy, create jobs and prepare for a volatile future?

A Democratic mayor in one of the reddest states in the country, Steve Benjamin blasted Donald Trump for leaving the Paris climate accord and is spearheading a push for cities across the country to run on 100 percent renewable energy. As the new chief of the United States Conference of Mayors, how does Benjamin think cities can advance a clean energy economy while also addressing housing, jobs, equity and other pressing concerns?

Join us for a conversation on where America's cities are headed.