KQED's Forum

With more than three thousand infections and 102 deaths from coronavirus as of Monday, the Navajo Nation in the southwestern U.S. currently has the third highest per-capita infection rate after New York and New Jersey. The virus is taking a devastating toll on an already under-resourced community where issues like access to water and crowded housing arrangements make virus prevention methods more difficult. And it was only last Wednesday that the nation received its roughly $600 million portion of much needed federal relief funds. We'll hear from Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer and get the latest on conditions there.

Production resumed at Tesla's plant in Fremont on Monday despite Alameda County shelter in place orders that bar non-essential businesses from operating. Musk tweeted that he will personally be on the assembly line and "if anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me". The defiant opening comes after Musk said he'd move the plant and headquarters to Texas or Nevada and after he filed a lawsuit against Alameda County on Saturday over its regulations. Forum discusses the showdown between Musk and local officials and the implications for the company, the county and the state.

As Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to release reopening guidelines for restaurants this week, the industry remains mired in uncertainty.  The California Restaurant Association estimates that before the pandemic there were more than 76,000 establishments and nearly 1.5 million workers in the state, making it one of the state’s largest industries. The rising cost of doing business had already pushed many restaurants to the brink of shuttering. Now with shelter-in-place, the majority of Bay Area restaurants have closed their doors and those that remain open for takeout and delivery have seen their sales plummet. In this hour, we talk about the challenges restaurants are facing and what adaptations could become permanent as California gradually reopens.

As the stressful coronavirus pandemic continues, many are still searching for clear cut answers to questions like “Should I wear a mask?” and “Who is most at risk of dying from COVID-19?” But with sometimes conflicting information surrounding the virus, it can be hard to make sense of what one should or shouldn’t do. In this hour, we’ll talk with experts about finding the best information for navigating the pandemic.

We are now living in a world where how we interact and get things done has changed dramatically due to the coronavirus pandemic. And while practices like social distancing may eventually expire when there's a vaccine, what about some of the new practices and workarounds we've been creating and adapting to at work, home and in our social lives? We'll consider some of the changes and we want to hear from you: What new practices or norms do you hope continue when the pandemic is over?

California faces the worst budget deficit in the state's history, at $54 billion.  That's according to an analysis released Thursday by the state Department of Finance.  The projected shortfall comes after a $21 billion surplus last year, and as the state continues to reel from the coronavirus pandemic, which has thrown more than 4 million Californians into unemployment. We’ll talk about what the deficit could mean for schools, social services, and the state’s response to the virus.

Victim Rights advocates say they’ll challenge in court education secretary Betsy DeVos’ final regulations for how schools that receive federal funding handle allegations of sexual harassment. The regulations roll back a controversial Obama Administration directive that DeVos says turned campus disciplinary hearings into “kangaroo courts”.  The new rules narrow the definition of sexual assault, raise the standard for finding a student responsible for misconduct and allow cross examination of both students.  Forum discusses the regulations and what they mean for students.

Throughout U.S. history, Asian Americans have had a significant, but often overlooked impact on shaping our national identity. A new five-part PBS docuseries titled "Asian Americans," highlights those contributions to U.S. history and culture, from building railroads in the 1860s to influencing technology, politics and the arts in modern society. By focusing on the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States according to the 2010 U.S. Census, "Asian Americans" seeks to deepen our understanding of what it means to be an American. We'll talk to Academy Award-nominated series producer Renee Tajima-Peña about the docuseries and what she hopes audiences will gain from it.

Many of us have replaced the company of our friends with the companionship of TV during shelter-at-home orders. Some are soothing themselves with the virtual carb loading of “The Great British Baking Show” while others are embracing mayhem with “Tiger King”. Or maybe this is the time to watch every Hitchcock movie ever made. We’ll talk with television and movie critics about their picks for the best things to watch during quarantine. And we want to hear from you! What TV shows and movies are keeping you sane during the pandemic?

San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi is the most powerful woman in American politics, but she has consistently been underestimated. That's according to Time magazine's Molly Ball in her new biography, "Pelosi". Ball tells the story of a politically-polarizing and effective leader who hadn't run for office until age 47. We'll talk with Ball about the congresswoman's life and career as well as her handling of the coronavirus pandemic.