KQED's Forum

Republicans open their convention in Milwaukee today, just two days after former president Trump was shot in the ear by a sniper at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. President Biden gave a speech last night condemning the shooting and calling for a lowering of the temperature in politics. We’ll get the latest on the investigation into the shooting and we’ll talk about how the assassination attempt could change the Republican and the Democratic campaigns for the presidency.

Guests:

Scott Shafer, KQED's senior editor for politics and government and co-host of Political Breakdown

Domenico Montanaro, senior political editor and correspondent, NPR

Hans Noel, associate professor of government, Georgetown; author, "Political Ideologies and Political Parties in America"

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In the last decade California hospitals have shut down nearly 50 maternity wards, leaving pregnant people in large swaths of the state without a place to deliver their babies. That’s according to an ongoing CalMatters investigation which has found that the closures have accelerated in the last four years as hospitals cite high costs, labor shortages and declining birth rates. We look at the scope of the problem and who’s most affected – and how midwives and birthing centers are advocating for solutions. And we’ll hear from you: Have you had trouble accessing maternity care, or have you had to travel a long distance to give birth?

Guests:

Kristen Hwang, health reporter, CalMatters

Holly Smith, certified nurse-midwife and co-lead, Midwifery Access California

Tiffany Leonhardt, director of business development, Plumas District Hospital

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As a journalist, William Gee Wong focused many of his stories on the Asian American experience. And in his new memoir, “Sons of Chinatown,” Wong trains his reporter’s eye on his own family’s sometimes uneasy immigration and assimilation story. It begins in 1912 with the immigration of his father, known as Pop, who came to the U.S. as a “Paper Son,” an individual who purchased partially fraudulent documents to establish residency. Over decades, Wong’s family established a foothold in the United States, but never managed to fully escape discrimination and racism. We talk to Wong, a former Wall Street Journal reporter and columnist for the Oakland Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle, about his family’s story.

Guest:

William Gee Wong, journalist; author of “Sons of Chinatown: A memoir rooted in China and America”

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The internet produces about a billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, roughly the same as the aviation industry, according to one recent study. Every time you click a photo, like a post, or get an e-mail and it’s backed up in the cloud, it’s stored in a data center – a massive facility filled with thousands of computer servers. And these data centers are projected to double their energy consumption by 2026 as companies such as Google and Microsoft invest heavily in AI. We discuss our digital carbon footprint and whether we can make a difference.

Guests:

Andrew R. Chow, correspondent, Time; author of the forthcoming book "Cryptomania"

Jonathan Koomey, Ph.D., researcher and scientist, Koomey Analytics; author of 'Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Mastering the Art of Problem Solving' and 'Solving Climate Change: A Guide for Learners and Leaders'

Danny Cullenward, climate economist and lawyer focused on the design and implementation of scientifically grounded climate policy

Malcolm Hawker, head of data strategy, Profisee

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In one of many historic cases this term, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine, which gave deference to federal agencies to interpret the laws they administer. Writing in dissent, Justice Elena Kagan, wrote that the Court’s decision would be a “massive shock to the legal system.” But what does this mean for the average citizen? Legal analysts predict that it could help big industry challenge regulations governing clean air and water or rules around how to bring drugs safely to market. We’ll talk to experts about this tectonic shift in the legal landscape and its consequences.

Guests:

Abigail Dillen, president, Earthjustice

Rory Little, professor of constitutional law, UC School of Law, San Francisco

Reshma Ramachandran, assistant professor, Yale School of Medicine; co-director, Yale Collaboration for Regulatory Rigor, Integrity and Transparency

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Great songs capture our imaginations and reveal truths about the human experience, transmuting stories into sound. Ben Arthur explores this alchemy on his podcast SongWriter. Each episode, Arthur challenges a musician to compose one original song based on the writing of literary greats like George Saunders, Neil Gaiman and Joyce Carol Oates. Arthur and two California-based songwriters – Mexican-American singer Diana Gameros, and Hector Flores of the band Las Cafeteras – join us to talk about their creative process and the stories that resonate with them. And we hear from you: What’s a story or song that has inspired you?

Guests:

Diana Gameros, Bay Area singer/songwriter originally from Cuidad Juarez, Mexico

Ben Arthur, singer/songwriter; creator, SongWriter

Hector Flores, LA based artist; co-founder, "Las Cafeteras" the band

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A defiant Joe Biden said Monday that he’s “firmly committed” to staying in the presidential race. Still, questions about Biden’s age and fitness have put the spotlight on alternatives like Vice President Kamala Harris and others, including California Governor Gavin Newsom. At least half a dozen Democratic lawmakers have called for Biden to step aside, but the party remains divided. If Biden does drop out, what would an open convention look like? We’ll discuss the growing pressure on the president, and the implications for the race.

Guests:

Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host, KQED's Political Breakdown

Molly Ball, senior political correspondent, Wall Street Journal

Richard Hasen, Gary T. Schwartz endowed chair in law, professor of political science, and director of the safeguarding democracy project at UCLA School of Law

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According to political writer John Ganz, a sense of “national despair” emerged in the U.S. during the early 1990s due to an economic recession that shrank America’s middle class and a growing cynicism about politics. This despair was exploited by various figures – some well known and some fringe – who would later gain influence within the Republican Party. He connects the current rise of right-wing populism, exemplified by figures like Trump, back to this pivotal period in American history. We talk to Ganz about the rise in right wing populism, both in the US and abroad, and its influence on electoral politics.

Guests:

John Ganz, author, "When the Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s"

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Richmond, Calif. is home to more than 115,000 residents and major corporations and refineries, including Chevron. But like many cities, Richmond had been left without a dedicated daily newspaper or consistent, independent news coverage. Now a new local publication, Richmondside, promises to bring residents more news about government, schools, public safety and local businesses. It’s part of Cityside, a journalism nonprofit that also runs Berkeleyside and Oaklandside. The founders spent about a year hearing from residents about the types of news they were missing. We’ll talk with them about their coverage plans and hear from you: What are the Richmond stories you want to read about?

Guests:

Tasneem Raja, editor-in-chief, The Oaklandside; former interactive editor, Mother Jones

Kari Hulac, editor-in-chief, Richmondside; editor, The Hayward Daily Review; features editor, The Oakland Tribune

Joel Umanzor, city hall reporter, Richmondside

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Rising housing costs are pushing more middle-class families in California to rent rather than buy. The average cost of ownership payments for a mid-tier house in California are currently double the cost of renting a similar home. And compared to January 2020, the combined monthly cost of mortgage payments, taxes and homeowners insurance has jumped by 80%, according to the state Legislative Analyst’s Office. Some tenants rent because they can’t afford a down payment, but others prefer the greater flexibility and savings they can get from renting. To meet demand, corporate homebuilders are developing more “build-for-rent” constructions, which is raising concerns for some state lawmakers. This hour on Forum, we’ll ask if the American dream of homeownership is dying in the Golden State. And we’ll hear from you: Are you debating between renting or buying?

Guests:

Liam Dillon, statewide housing affordability and neighborhood change reporter, Los Angeles Times

Erin Baldassari, senior editor of housing affordability, KQED

Adam Briones, CEO, California Community Builder

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