KQED's Forum

Filipino Americans make up about four percent of the nation's nursing workforce but account for more than 30 percent of its COVID-related deaths, according to data compiled by National Nurses United. In California, as in other states, Filipino American nurses are more likely to work in ICUs and bedside settings, which in part explains the staggering disparity. But other factors are at work too, including a legacy of discrimination against migrant nurses. We'll talk about the outsized toll the pandemic is taking on the state's Filipino American nurses and what we can do to address it.

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Animator Frank E. Abney III, who worked on blockbuster films including Pixar's "Coco" and "Toy Story 4," makes his directorial debut with the new animated short film "Canvas" on Netflix. A meditation on grief, love and family, "Canvas" tells the story of a grandfather struggling to feel inspired after experiencing the death of a loved one. Abney, a Bay Area native now based in Los Angeles, was influenced by losses in his own life when writing the film, including losing his father when he was five years old. Abney joins us to talk about the film and his career.

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Many of us have taken to the hills this past year, hiking and walking to cope with the pandemic. Others have gone to the birds, observing birds and wildlife outside our windows for the first time. There's more to see: elephant seals courting, gray whales migrating, a rainbow of mushrooms and flights of sand hill cranes. We'll talk with naturalist Michael Ellis of Footloose Forays about where to go and what to look for while staying close to home. Call in with your questions about animal behavior and species in your local parks or your backyard.

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Twenty-five years after her death, Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez enjoys rare staying power among generations of fans who love her music, fashion and performances. A new hit Netflix series about her rise to stardom builds on that legacy. Selena grew up singing Tejano music with her family band, Selena y Los Dinos, and was a platinum-selling artist when she was murdered in 1995 at the age of 23. Today, Selena’s level of fame, influence and commercial success is still rare for other American-born Latinas in music and entertainment to achieve. We discuss why Selena remains so relevant and her evolving role as a Mexican-American icon.

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Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a $500 million grants program for nonprofits, small businesses and cultural institutions in an attempt to alleviate COVID-19’s impact on California’s arts industry. Still, the pandemic’s toll on the state’s large and small arts institutions has been devastating, as venues and theaters have closed, ticket revenue has vanished and funding sources have become scarcer. But a number of organizations are finding new and creative ways to survive. We’ll talk with the leaders of some Bay Area arts organizations about the pandemic’s impacts, how they’ve adapted and what’s ahead.

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When shelter-in-place began in March, we watched as TV hosts filmed shows from home, unstyled and in casual clothes, and later followed the NBA into its bubble. And we turned to the internet even more for connection and entertainment, spurring a unique “Quarantine Culture” according E. Alex Jung, senior writer at New York Magazine. It’s a culture where, as Jung wrote, "the internet became more internet — an ever-thickening soup of private derangements and niche dramas." Whether it was comedian Sarah Cooper lip-synching Trump’s speeches for the app TikTok, building a virtual world in games like “Animal Crossing” or enjoying the otherwise unlikely opportunity to see your favorite artists perform a show from home — “we were all extremely online,” Jung said. We talk with Jung about the year in “Quarantine Culture” and the forms of entertainment we enjoyed — or made ourselves — on the internet.

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Despite the welcome arrival of the coronavirus vaccine, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned on Tuesday that the state is "not at the finish line." California faces a worsening shortage of ICU beds, with only 5.7 percent capacity currently remaining statewide, he said. We'll check in with Los Angeles Times reporter Rong-Gong Lin about how hospitals are coping with the virus surge, particularly in hard-hit Southern California. We'll also talk with him about the widespread flouting of lockdown rules in some parts of the state, which health officials say is impeding the battle against the virus.

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On Monday, the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine were administered to healthcare workers in California and several other states. That same day, the death toll from Covid-19 surpassed 300,000 people. According to Dr. Larry Brilliant, CEO of Pandefense and an epidemiologist who helped eradicate smallpox, we are living through "the best of times and the worst of times." While the vaccine, which was discovered, developed and produced within a year’s time, gives hope that the pandemic will end, experts predict the U.S. death toll will  continue to rise unless more steps are taken to put in public health policies on a nationwide basis. We talk to Larry Brilliant about the vaccine, its rollout and what we can expect in the months ahead.

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The coronavirus pandemic has plunged millions of Californians into unemployment and economic uncertainty. Some have seen years-long careers put on hold as shutdown orders have crushed business at hair salons, bars and events. Others are choosing between staying home to help their kids with remote school or going to work to pay the bills. And many are looking at money, budgets and work in a whole new way. In this hour, we’ll hear some personal stories of surviving lost jobs, reduced income and other financial challenges.

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Trailblazing California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is said to be suffering from significant memory lapses that impede her ability to do her job, according to an article published in the New Yorker this week. Jane Mayer, who interviewed a number of staffers on the condition of anonymity, reported that Feinstein is prone to forgetting whether she’s been briefed on a topic and even what she’s just said. Feinstein told CNN on Friday that she feels capable of carrying out her duties but did not commit to serving out her full term, which expires in 2025. We’ll talk about what Mayer’s story brought to light and what may be next for the senator.

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