KQED's Forum

Geeta Gandbhir’s documentary, “The Perfect Neighbor” was a massive hit on Netflix last year. Told mostly through police body camera and security footage, the film gripped viewers with an immersive look at the events leading up to the murder of a mother of four children in Florida. Gandbhir is nominated for two Academy Awards this year for “The Perfect Neighbor” and a short documentary, “The Devil is Busy.” She joins us to talk about American violence, surveillance and the flood of filming happening all around us.

Guests:

Geeta Gandbhir, documentary filmmaker

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California senator Adam Schiff says that President Donald Trump will try to “subvert” the midterm elections this year by attempting to overturn any result that disadvantages Congressional Republicans. The President has recently called for nationalizing elections, made multiple unproven claims about voter fraud and pushed the FBI to seize ballots from a Georgia district he lost in 2020. Meanwhile, election integrity experts say U.S. voting systems are secure and that the courts will continue to reject election challenges brought by Trump. We unpack what we might see come November and how election officials are preparing.

David Graham, staff writer, The Atlantic

Wendy Weiser, vice president for democracy, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law

Natalie Adona, registrar of voters, Marin County

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Facing a $376 million deficit, BART announced that without more funding, it will consider drastic cuts including closing one-third of its 50 stations and raising fares by 30%. The agency is pinning its financial future on a proposed sales tax on the November ballot as it struggles to recover from a changed post-pandemic commuting pattern. What would the Bay Area be without BART? We talk to the agency’s manager and hear from you.

Guests:

Robert Powers, general manager, Bay Area Rapid Transit

Jesse Arreguin, California state senator, District 7

Dionne Adams, mayor, Pittsburgh, CA

Melissa Hernandez, president, BART board of directors; former mayor, Dublin, CA

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Breakthrough treatments for high blood pressure, HIV infection and obesity: they’re all available in part because of studies done on animals. And though the Animal Welfare Act has for many years regulated the treatment of lab animals, more than 95% of those used in research today are excluded from its protections. Larry Carbone is a veterinarian who’s spent decades caring for animals in research facilities. We talk to him about the value and ethics of animal research and what he thinks needs to change. His new book is “The Hidden Lives of Lab Animals.”

Guests:

Larry Carbone, laboratory veterinarian; author, "The Hidden Lives of Lab Animals: A Vet's Vision for a More Humane Future"

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In her new book, “Tiny Gardens Everywhere,” MIT environmental historian Kate Brown uses the global history of gardening to help us imagine cities that are resilient and self-sufficient. She unearths a rich history of the role small urban gardens have played in supplementing wages, keeping families fed and nurturing community and resilience in times of economic upheaval, war and environmental damage. We’ll talk to Brown about the past, present and future of gardens as critical infrastructure of cities that can help sustain communities even when our systems fail.

Guests:

Kate Brown, author, "Tiny Gardens Everywhere"

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From The Washington Post to CBS, mass layoffs, shifts in editorial direction and even direct interference in coverage are raising questions about whether the press can still hold power accountable, from their own bosses to the current administration. As reporters leave and subscribers drop, we look at the challenges the fourth estate is facing and the ways the right wing is expanding its influence over U.S. media.

Guests:

Matt Gertz, senior fellow, Media Matters

Jeremy Barr, media and power reporter, The Guardian

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Elon Musk’s merger of SpaceX with his AI start-up xAI has created what the New York Times calls “the most valuable private company on earth,” allowing Musk to forge ahead with new plans to develop data centers in outer space and an IPO expected later this year. Musk’s companies hold billions in government contracts as his own net worth tops $800 billion, and his decisions affect not just his shareholders but global communications, national security and international politics. We talk about how so much power has aggregated in one person and the perils for the rest of us.

Guests:

Ryan Mac, tech reporter, The New York Times; co-author, "Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter"

Nitasha TIku, tech culture reporter

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Despite an explosion of dating apps and social media that seemingly make it easier to meet people, rates of marriage and couples living together have steadily decreased since 1990, according to the Pew Research Center. For singles looking for a relationship, dating is even harder than meeting potential partners. So, how do you go from the meet-cute to a lasting relationship? We’ll talk with coaches and experts about whether dating is becoming a lost art and how to improve your dating game.

Guests:

Myisha Battle, sex and dating coach, host of KCRW's "How's Your Sex Life" podcast; author of "This Is Supposed to Be Fun: Finding Joy In Hooking Up, Settling Down, and Everything In Between" and the upcoming "Sexual Pleasure For Dummies."

Daniel Yi, co-host, "I Hate Dating Apps" podcast

Lauren Josephine, dating coach; author, "Looking for Something Serious"

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Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare workers are on strike across California over stalled contract talks, staffing levels and pay. But Kaiser, the state’s largest private employer, says it’s offered its strongest wage proposal yet, with increases to come. As negotiations falter, we’ll talk about the issues at stake and the impacts on patients. Are you a Kaiser worker or a patient affected by the strikes?

Guests:

Farida Jhabvala Romero, labor correspondent, KQED

John Logan, director of labor studies, San Francisco State University

Dr. Robert Pearl, former CEO, The Permanente Medical Group; lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Truc Le, certified registered nurse anesthetist, Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento

Carrie Esqueda, Kaiser patient

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When the marquee lights of the Castro Theater dimmed two years ago, many worried that this grande dame of cinema would never be the same. Now after a $41 million renovation, the 104-year old SF icon is ready for its coming out party. The organ has been refurbished, the ceiling cleaned, and hidden gems, like a gold proscenium have been discovered. No longer just a movie house, the theater will host both films and musical acts, including a sold out 20-night stand by Sam Smith. As music venues and movie theaters continue to close post-pandemic, we talk about what the theater’s renewal and reopening means for nightlife and the arts in San Francisco.

Guests:

Gabe Meline, senior editor, KQED Arts and Culture

Tom DeCaigny, program officer of performing arts, Hewlett Foundation; former director of cultural affairs for the City and County of San Francisco, where he led the San Francisco Arts Commission

Mary Conde, senior vice president, Another Planet Entertainment

Gabrielle Armand, CEO, SF Jazz

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