Fifth & Mission

The Bay Area has been begging for rain for months amid the worst drought in modern state history. Now that it's here, can we relax? Not so much. A potential atmospheric river in the forecast may cause mudslides. It also may not be enough to put an end to fire season or the growing need to conserve water. Chronicle reporters Jessica Flores and Tara Duggan join host Demian Bulwa to discuss what you need to know about the change of seasons, whether the winter will be wet or dry, and how technology is improving to predict local storms, even down to the neighborhood level. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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When Walgreens said it would close five stores in the city, the reaction was a firestorm. Why? Because the company blamed shoplifting, reigniting a polarizing debate over whether San Francisco is tough enough on property crimes. Reporters Shwanika Narayan and Susie Neilson join host Demian Bulwa to discuss the Chronicle's findings: that statistics on reported shoplifting cases from the SFPD do not support Walgreens' explanation. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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The state is entering the home stretch for drawing new maps for congressional and legislative seats based on 2020 Census data. The redistricting will shape partisan control as well as determine the power of minority voters, and the power lies in the hands of a 14-member nonpartisan commission. Washington correspondent Tal Kopan joins host Cecilia Lei to talk about the key dynamics at play as the deadline nears. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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After years of funding discrepancies and generations of racial division, the Marin County district was ordered by the California attorney general to desegregate. This fall, the district combined the student populations of mostly Black Marin City with the wealthy, predominantly white population of Sausalito. Cecilia Lei visits the district to check in on how it's going at the new, unified, two-campus school — and what comes next. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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The state is going it alone on one of the most controversial subjects in the nation: Reparations for African Americans. A task force is meeting this week to document California's little-known and seldom-taught history of slavery and recommend to the Legislature what to do about it. But the details are complicated, including what reparations should look like and who should qualify. Tammerlin Drummond of the ACLU of Northern California and Chronicle reporter Dustin Gardiner tell host Demian Bulwa what is at stake. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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Santa Clara County is home to Silicon Valley giants — and enduring poverty and homelessness. Reporter Lauren Hepler talks to host Dominic Fracassa about how officials want to house more than a thousand homeless families, and how they’ve given themselves a year to do it. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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Gov. Newsom wrapped up the legislative session by signing 770 new laws and vetoing 66. Chronicle reporter Dustin Gardiner joins host Cecilia Lei to chat about what the governor decided to sign, from banning new gas-powered leaf blowers and "stealthing" to requiring ethnic studies in high school and gender-neutral children's sections in large stores. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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By causing some of California's most destructive blazes in recent years, the utility put its own survival at risk. Now, under a new CEO, PG&E is marching out plans designed to cut down on the ignitions. Chronicle reporter J.D. Morris tells host Demian Bulwa that PG&E's hope is to bury 10,000 miles of power lines underground. But what will this and other projects cost customers, and will it restore the company's tarnished reputation? | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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Baseball writer John Shea calls it the sport's greatest rivalry — with apologies to the Yankees and Red Sox. He and Giants beat writer Susan Slusser join Cecilia Lei to talk about why San Francisco had an incredible season, as well as what they think it will take for the Giants to win what could be a classic series, the first postseason meeting between the fierce enemies since 1889. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

Related: Susan and John preview the series on Giants Splash: pod.fo/e/ee4ae

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Public health officials are set to establish new rules for when, where and how we can begin to uncover our faces. Meanwhile, a rush of San Francisco workers have been getting vaccinated to meet a city deadline, proving that vax mandates work, whether you’re a building inspector, a cop or a Golden State Warrior. Health reporter Erin Allday joins host Demian Bulwa to discuss two emerging pandemic storylines in the Bay Area. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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