KQED's Forum

For the first time since passing a 2017 law moving California's primary election date from June to March, the state's nearly 20 million registered voters are able to cast their ballots on Super Tuesday. California is one of 20 states allowing same-day voter registration where citizens can cast a provisional ballot. We'll take your voter registration and Election Day questions and we'll check in on how smoothly the voting process is going in the Bay Area.

After promising a victory in Tuesday’s Democratic debate, former Vice President Joe Biden is relying on a big win in South Carolina's primary Saturday. With 54 delegates at stake, the candidates are competing to build momentum and chip away at Senator Bernie Sanders' growing lead. We'll break down the results of the South Carolina primary, look ahead at Super Tuesday and review the latest political news.

Amid growing concern about the novel coronavirus epidemic, the U.S. stock market suffered its worst week since 2008. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell responded on Friday by announcing the central bank would consider cutting interest rates, if necessary. Here in California, Facebook canceled its biggest industry conference of the year and San Francisco's Chinatown has experienced steep declines in revenue. As uncertainty remains, we sit down with industry experts to discuss the economic impact coronavirus is having on California.

When Susan Fowler published her 2017 blog post exposing a culture of sexism at Uber, she says she feared being known as "that woman who was sexually harassed." But Fowler also says she wished there had been a book or blog post by someone with a similar experience to help her navigate a sexist work environment. In her new memoir "Whistleblower: My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber," Fowler recounts the life experiences that led up to her decision to speak out and shares what she went through after she blew the whistle on what was one of the most celebrated startups in Silicon Valley.

The biggest reservoir in Santa Clara County must be completely drained starting October 1st due to the risk of its dam collapsing in a major earthquake, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Santa Clara Valley Water District says the order will deplete groundwater and harm endangered steelhead trout. We'll hear what's next for Anderson Dam and the two million Silicon Valley residents who depend on it.  And we'll get an update on whether California may be heading back into a drought.

California has no plans to declare a state of emergency for the novel coronavirus, and the risk to the public remains low. That was according to Governor Gavin Newsom, whose remarks Thursday came a day after a Solano County woman became the first to contract the virus from an unknown source. But across the state, residents, businesses and hospitals are bracing for the worst. We discuss the latest developments and answer your questions about how best to prepare.

This week, McClymonds High School students attended classes, but not at their campus. McClymonds abruptly closed last Thursday after district officials found trichlorethylene, or TCE, in groundwater below the school. TCE, a known carcinogen, can vaporize and contaminate the air. While preliminary tests at the school show the air to be safe, community members remain skeptical, highlighting long-standing concerns about environmental justice in West Oakland. Meanwhile, the school's 350 students have been assigned to nearby schools as lab testing continues. We'll hear from local officials and community members on this news and we want to hear from you: is your family impacted by the school closure?

When historian Lonnie Bunch was offered the position of founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, he tried to talk himself out of it. The museum had no staff or collection -- just the daunting mission to document the African American experience and help the nation understand its dark history of slavery. Bunch took the job, and his new book "A Fool's Errand" recounts his work on what he calls his life's "grandest challenge." Last June, Bunch was appointed Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He joins us to discuss his book and the contributions he’s made in preserving American history.

A new Covid-19 case in Solano County could be the first spread of the virus in the U.S. Meanwhile, President Trump has named Vice President Pence to head up the response to the outbreak and is clashing with Congress and public health officials over the gravity of the threat posed by the coronavirus. We’ll get the latest on the California case and the federal response to coronavirus.

The fast food industry is often called out for its harmful impact on low-income communities and communities of color -- from perpetuating food deserts to contributing to increased rates of obesity to paying low wages to workers. But there is a surprising history in fast food becoming one of the biggest generators of black wealth in America. In her new book, "Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America," historian Marcia Chatelain traces the story of how the fast food industry, black entrepreneurs, civil rights leaders and the federal government all cooperated to ensure fast food was here to stay. Chatelain joins us in studio to discuss the book and how fast food "became black."