KQED's Forum

Californians have until January 31 to sign up for health insurance provided by Covered California, the state’s Obamacare plan. Because Congress let health care tax credits expire, the cost of insurance has radically increased for many customers, and some are opting out of health insurance altogether. We’ll hear how skyrocketing costs are affecting your healthcare decisions and take your questions.

Guests:

Jessica Altman, executive director, Covered California, the state health insurance exchange

Cynthia Cox, senior vice-president, KFF, an independent source for health policy research, polls and news - Cox is also the director of KFF's Affordable Care Act Program

Katelyn Jackson, executive director, Clinic by the Bay, a free medical clinic for uninsured patients

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In vitro fertilization, or IVF, can cost upwards of $20,000 in California — for one cycle. For that reason, it’s put financial strain on many California families and been completely out of reach for others, including couples who have faced insurance denials because they are LGBTQ+. But a California law that went into effect this month, SB 729, requires large employer-sponsored health plans to cover up to three cycles of IVF, along with other infertility services, regardless of sexual orientation. We’ll hear what the new law means for family planning in California, and for you: Does this put IVF within reach for you? What’s been your experience with IVF?

Guests:

Caroline Menjivar, member of the California State Senate representing the 20th district (San Fernando Valley)

Shefali Luthra, reproductive health reporter, The 19th

Sarah Jolly, has been trying to conceive with her husband for five years

Dr. Alexander Quaas, medical director Shady Grove Fertility San Diego; fertility specialist; wrote an article for the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology titled, “The California infertility insurance mandate: another step toward reproductive justice?”

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You may know Mo Willems from his books about “The Pigeon” – who asks, pleads, even demands to do things like drive a school bus. Or from unlikely best friends “Elephant & Piggie,” who will soon have their own Paramount+ streaming series. We talk with the acclaimed children’s book author about his approach to involving and inspiring children with interactive stories, and his latest projects — including two upcoming stage performances at San Francisco’s comedy festival, Sketchfest.

Mo Willems has two upcoming stage performances at San Francisco’s comedy festival, Sketchfest, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18. Tickets can be found here.

Guests:

Mo Willems, children's book author

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Marin Country rang in the New Year with the worst flooding in decades. Heavy storms combined with king tides turned parts of Highway 101 into lakes, pushed water over levees, and caused damage to hundreds of homes and businesses. While many people were caught off guard, the floods were not a surprise to researchers and planners who study sea-level rise. The question now is how well cities and regional agencies will respond and make changes. We’ll talk about the floods and what it will take to adapt to rising sea levels in the Bay Area.

Guests:

Ezra David Romero, climate reporter, KQED

Kristina Hill, director, Institute for Urban and Regional Development, College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley

Bart Ney, acting deputy director of external affairs, Caltrans

Michael Germeraad, resilience planner, Association of Bay Area Governments & Metropolitan Transportation Commission

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Americans are getting their clearest picture yet of how thoroughly Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is remaking federal public health policy. In a move that’s drawn widespread criticism, the health secretary announced a dramatic reduction in the number of vaccinations recommended for children. In a second initiative — one that’s drawn qualified praise from public health experts — Kennedy unveiled new dietary recommendations that emphasize meat, dairy products and so-called “healthy fats.” We look at these changes in policy and what they may mean for you … and for overall public health.

Guests:

Marcia Brown, food and agriculture reporter, POLITICO

Grace Lee, associate chief medical officer for practice innovation and pediatric infectious diseases physician, Stanford Children’s Health; member, U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP); member, COVID-19 Vaccines Workgroup

Maria Godoy, health correspondent, NPR

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The fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer has sparked protests and anger in the Bay Area and across the country. We get the latest on the fallout from the shooting and the Trump Administration’s handling  of it. And we talk about what it all might mean for the president’s immigration agenda and the future of ICE.

Guests:

Nick Miroff, staff writer, The Atlantic

Matt Sepic, Correspondent, Minnesota Public Radio

Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco District Attorney

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On Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom delivered his final State of the State address laying out his vision for California – in contrast to what he calls a chaotic federal government under President Trump. He highlighted California’s work on homelessness, education and healthcare. And framed the state as taking a leadership role in these issues across the country. We take a closer look at what Governor Newsom is proposing for California in the new year, and how he aims to close a state budget shortfall of nearly $18 billion.

Guests:

Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown

Lindsey Holden, California politics reporter, Politico

Patrick Ahrens, state Assemblymember representing California's 26th district, including Santa Clara county

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From convenience store pork chops to a distinct take on Peking duck, KQED food editor Luke Tsai discovered a lot of great dishes over the year. He joins us to dish on the best things he ate in 2025 and recommend places you might want to try in the new year. Despite continued restaurant closures, the Bay Area continues to offer amazing culinary options from all over the world, so how do you decide? We’ll hear from Tsai and other local food writers, Lauren Saria of The SF Standard and freelancer Octavio Peña, on their picks for what  you should nosh on in 2026.

Guests:

Luke Tsai, food editor, KQED Arts and Culture

Lauren Saria, food editor, The SF Standard

Octavio Peña, food writer and contributor, KQED

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Get out your crystal ball, trust your spidey-senses and look back at 2025’s major takeaways, because it’s time to help us predict 2026. Whether you think Democrats will win big in the midterms, that an entirely AI-generated song will top the Billboard charts or that we’ll finally stop Venmo charging our friends for dinner, we want to hear your predictions. We speak with three journalists about what they expect — and what we’ve learned from 2025. And we hear from you: Whether it’s good, bad or neutral, what do you think will happen this year?

Guests:

Izzie Ramirez, deputy editor of Future Perfect, a section focused on the myriad challenges and efforts in making the world a better place, Vox Media

Emma Goldberg, reporter covering political subcultures and the way we live now for the Styles section, The New York Times

Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist, The Washington Post; she writes the nationally syndicated personal finance column "The Color of Money"

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When writer Anna Holmes began to get forgetful, she wondered if it was middle age, menopause or dementia-inflected memory loss. The brain fog made her reflect on not just her health, but her mortality. Having watched her mother slip away from dementia, she wondered if it was now happening to her. We talk to a neurologist and Holmes about her recent piece in the New Yorker, “My Mother’s Memory Loss, and Mine.”

Guests:

Anna Holmes, writer and editor; her latest piece in the New Yorker is titled "My Mother's Memory Loss, and Mine"

Dr. Niyatee Samudra, clinical assistant professor of adult neurology, Stanford University Medical School

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