KCBS Radio In Depth

Peninsula Congresswoman Jackie Speier's political career has taken her to leadership roles in San Mateo County, the California state legislature and, of course, Washington, D.C. But before all that her life was marked by tragedy when she suffered five gunshot wounds during her harrowing escape in 1978 from the Peoples Temple compound in Guyana. 

Her new memoir, "Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage, and Fighting Back," recounts that struggle and the many others faced by Speier in both her political and personal life. 

In this edition of In Depth, we discuss how a decades-long political career was forged in the face of personal tragedy, and also consider how those experiences have informed Speier's legislative work.

Hosts: KCBS reporters Keith Menconi and Holly Quan 

Guest: Congresswoman Jackie Speier 

It's cold and flu season, and on this edition of In Depth we're going to be speaking with health experts from the Bay Area and beyond about what you'll need to do to steer clear of all those pesky bugs. 

When it comes to the flu, it seems like we’re getting off easy so far as the spread of the virus remains relatively mild this year -- especially compared to the severe season we had last year -- but this is one disease that is notoriously difficult to predict, so that could all change quickly. We’ll discuss why even with flu season well underway it’s still important to get a flu shot (if you haven’t already). 

Then in the second half: All parents want to keep their kids healthy and cold-free, but new survey results show that well over half are using cold-prevention methods that have absolutely no basis in science. We speak to one of the researchers behind the study about some of the biggest misconceptions about cold prevention, and how we can all do a better job of staying informed about our health. 

Host:Keith Menconi, KCBS Radio reporter 

Guests:

Art Reingold, who heads the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health

Dr. George Han, deputy health officer with the County of Santa Clara’s Public Health Department

Garry Freed, professor of pediatrics and health policy at the University of Michigan and a pediatrician at the Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's cold and flu season, and on this edition of In Depth we're going to be speaking with health experts from the Bay Area and beyond about what you'll need to do to steer clear of all those pesky bugs. 

When it comes to the flu, it seems like we’re getting off easy so far as the spread of the virus remains relatively mild this year -- especially compared to the severe season we had last year -- but this is one disease that is notoriously difficult to predict, so that could all change quickly. We’ll discuss why even with flu season well underway it’s still important to get a flu shot (if you haven’t already). 

Then in the second half: All parents want to keep their kids healthy and cold-free, but new survey results show that well over half are using cold-prevention methods that have absolutely no basis in science. We speak to one of the researchers behind the study about some of the biggest misconceptions about cold prevention, and how we can all do a better job of staying informed about our health. 

Host: Keith Menconi, KCBS Radio reporter 

Guests:

Art Reingold, who heads the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health

Dr. George Han, deputy health officer with the County of Santa Clara’s Public Health Department

Garry Freed, professor of pediatrics and health policy at the University of Michigan and a pediatrician at the Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor

We may be living in the information age, but somehow it seems to be getting harder and harder to understand what’s really going on. 

With political parties, special interest groups and entire countries flooding the internet with misinformation the challenge of the modern era is not in locating sources of knowledge, but in sorting out the nuggets of fact from the overwhelming torrent of fiction.

In the edition of In Depth, we speak with Stanford University education professor Sam Wineburg who argues that one way we could get a better handle on the truth would be to start thinking a little bit more like historians. 

His new book "Why Learn History (When It's Already on Your Phone)" examines how our loose relationship with the truth oftentimes begins with shortcomings in the classroom. It also offers practical advice for how we can all be savvier truth seekers in the digital age.

Host:Keith Menconi, KCBS Radio Reporter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We may be living in the information age, but somehow it seems to be getting harder and harder to understand what’s really going on. 

With political parties, special interest groups and entire countries flooding the internet with misinformation the challenge of the modern era is not in locating sources of knowledge, but in sorting out the nuggets of fact from the overwhelming torrent of fiction.

In the edition of In Depth, we speak with Stanford University education professor Sam Wineburg who argues that one way we could get a better handle on the truth would be to start thinking a little bit more like historians. 

His new book "Why Learn History (When It's Already on Your Phone)" examines how our loose relationship with the truth oftentimes begins with shortcomings in the classroom. It also offers practical advice for how we can all be savvier truth seekers in the digital age.

Host: Keith Menconi, KCBS Radio Reporter

The future of California’s largest utility was thrown into question this week as it emerged that Pacific Gas and Electric is planning to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

The math isn’t hard to figure out: PG&E could be on the hook for the immense financial costs associated with the devastating wildfires that have strurck California over the last two year with potential liabilities now estimated in the tens of billions of dollars. But what’s less clear is how this massive shakeup in California’s energy sector will unfold as the bankruptcy proceeds. 

On this edition of In Depth we’re going to try to get a handle on what consequences the bankruptcy could have on two fronts: First, what will it mean for California politics as lawmakers untangle a web of challenges? And then we’ll look at growing concern among clean energy developers that the bankruptcy could throw California off its aggressive clean energy targets. 

Host:Keith Menconi, KCBS Radio reporter  

Guests: 

Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter 

Sammy Roth, energy reporter for the Los Angeles Times

Ralph Cavanagh, Energy Co-Director for the Climate and Clean Energy Program with the Natural Resources Defense Council

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of California’s largest utility was thrown into question this week as it emerged that Pacific Gas and Electric is planning to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

The math isn’t hard to figure out: PG&E could be on the hook for the immense financial costs associated with the devastating wildfires that have strurck California over the last two year with potential liabilities now estimated in the tens of billions of dollars. But what’s less clear is how this massive shakeup in California’s energy sector will unfold as the bankruptcy proceeds. 

On this edition of In Depth we’re going to try to get a handle on what consequences the bankruptcy could have on two fronts: First, what will it mean for California politics as lawmakers untangle a web of challenges? And then we’ll look at growing concern among clean energy developers that the bankruptcy could throw California off its aggressive clean energy targets. 

Host: Keith Menconi, KCBS Radio reporter  

Guests: 

• Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter 
• Sammy Roth, energy reporter for the Los Angeles Times
• Ralph Cavanagh, Energy Co-Director for the Climate and Clean Energy Program with the Natural Resources Defense Council

This week in California politics kicked off with the inauguration of the state’s new governor, Gavin Newsom. And as the week progressed Newsom has been laying out his priorities with a series of appearances and releases culminating in a near two-hour address Thursday in which Newsom submitted his first budget proposal. 

On this adition of in Depth, we’re going to look at how Governor Newsom’s agenda is taking shape one week in and how the state is reacting. 

Host: KCBS Reporter Keith Menconi 

Guests:

KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern

Dr. Andrew Bindman, a professor of medicine and a faculty member at the Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California San Francisco

Ron Coleman, former California state fire marshal

Ted Lempert, the president of Children Now

Dr. Michael Boskin, a professor of economics and a Hoover Institution senior fellow at Stanford University

Henry Brady, the dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy and a professor of political science and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week in California politics kicked off with the inauguration of the state’s new governor, Gavin Newsom. And as the week progressed Newsom has been laying out his priorities with a series of appearances and releases culminating in a near two-hour address Thursday in which Newsom submitted his first budget proposal. 

On this adition of in Depth, we’re going to look at how Governor Newsom’s agenda is taking shape one week in and how the state is reacting. 

Host: KCBS Reporter Keith Menconi 

Guests:

• KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern
• Dr. Andrew Bindman, a professor of medicine and a faculty member at the Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California San Francisco
• Ron Coleman, former California state fire marshal
• Ted Lempert, the president of Children Now
• Dr. Michael Boskin, a professor of economics and a Hoover Institution senior fellow at Stanford University

• Henry Brady, the dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy and a professor of political science and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley

As we begin the new year it’s a good time to reflect on the year just passed. 2018 was of course a year with no shortage of news, and KCBS Radio has been there to cover every minute of it: 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

On this edition of In Depth we’re going to be turning the microphone onto our own newsroom and speaking to some of the folks that make KCBS Radio news happen to hear their takes on what 2018 stories are worth remembering as we enter 2019. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.