KQED's Forum

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.

In late March, Dr. Matthew Willis, Marin County’s top public health official, became his county’s 39th confirmed case of COVID-19. After taking a leave of absence to recuperate, he is now back on the job leading Marin’s response to the biggest public health emergency in decades. Marin County, with about 260,000 residents, is sparsely populated and has had fewer coronavirus infections than other Bay Area counties. Willis said he “underestimated how bad” his illness would be, which has given him perspective on how to promote safety at a time when many people want to reopen the economy. We talk to Willis about his coronavirus journey.

According to the APM Research Lab, the current COVID-19 mortality rate for African Americans is over two times higher than that of all other racial groups. And initial findings from a recent COVID-19 testing project in San Francisco’s Mission District show that Latinos are also being disproportionately impacted by coronavirus. This hour, we discuss the latest data and the history behind these racial disparities.

An overwhelming majority of Californians are worried about a family member getting sick, according to a recent survey by PPIC, or about taking a financial hit from the coronavirus. Add to that the day -to-day stresses of shutdowns and sheltering in place. And while talk of reopening the economy brings relief to some, it is provoking new fear and anxiety in others. In this hour, we’ll get tips from psychologist Rick Hanson about how to build resilience and better cope with uncertainty and fear.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, about a third of all kids in the US five and under attended a preschool or childcare center. Now many of those facilities are closed or face an uncertain future. In daycares and preschools that remain open teachers and providers put themselves at risk, often without protective gear. We'll talk about how parents, kids, and early education teachers and providers are dealing with the childcare crisis and what will happen when more parents start returning to work.

The coronavirus pandemic has put millions of people out of work going back to mid-March. That loss of income is now reverberating in the housing market. Tenants throughout the Bay Area are organizing “rent strikes” and calling for landlords to “cancel the rent” to ease housing costs for people who have lost income. At the same time, California’s statewide eviction moratorium ends May 31, leaving many renters anxious that they will be evicted soon after. We talk to experts about the challenges tenants and landlords are facing.

A pioneer in virology who co-invented the rotavirus vaccine for children, Dr. Paul Offit worries that hurrying the path to a COVID-19 vaccine could mean missing some of the important testing phases of vaccine development. Offit joins us to talk about the timeline to a vaccine and lessons to be learned from the coronavirus pandemic so far. We’ll also discuss his new book "Overkill: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far."

November 2020 seems rather distant at a time when most Americans are focused on the coronavirus pandemic. But the U.S. presidential race is far from stagnant. President Donald Trump lashed out against his campaign manager after recent polls showed Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, beating him in several states. Meanwhile, Biden is responding to an accusation of sexual assault from a former staffer. We take a look at the now-virtual campaign trail, questions about election safety amid the pandemic and other national political news.

With music venues closed and festivals postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, music fans have been gathering online to watch livestreamed concerts, DJ sets and more. We’ll talk about upcoming music events you can stream at home and we want to hear from you: what music and artists are keeping you company in quarantine?

About 60 million U.S. workers are providing essential services such as keeping the internet running, delivering groceries, maintaining utilities and caring for the sick, but many lack the proper protections on the job, says Silicon Valley Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna. He is working with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to craft the Essential Workers Bill of Rights. The legislation would ensure Americans working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic receive adequate compensation, paid sick leave, protections for union workers, child care assistance, and other provisions. Khanna joins us to dive into the proposal and other issues lawmakers are addressing.