KQED's Forum

"Imagine if it had worked." So begins former acting solicitor general Neal Katyal's new book "Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump." Katyal argues that if President Trump's solicitation of personal political favors from Ukraine had gone undetected until after the 2020 election, our democracy's legitimacy would have been undermined. For that reason, he says that the President's actions constitute an abuse of power that the Constitution's framers specifically deemed impeachable. As the full House of Representatives prepares to vote on two articles of impeachment next week, we'll talk to Katyal about why he thinks legal precedent and the factual record support removing Trump from office.

Whether for a better night's rest or because of conflicting schedules, some couples are choosing to sleep in separate beds or bedrooms — a phenomenon some call "sleep divorce." A 2019 survey of 3,000 Americans nationwide found that 30% of respondents would prefer to consistently sleep apart from their respective partners. We'll talk with experts about the benefits and disadvantages of co-sleeping.

A national exit poll Thursday indicated that U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party was on track to win a substantial majority in the British Parliament, as the Labour Party appeared to suffer historic losses. A Conservative victory would virtually guarantee that Johnson's deal to exit the European Union gains Parliamentary approval at the end of January. We'll discuss the election results and what's next for Brexit.

The House Judiciary committee voted to approve the two articles of impeachment drafted against President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress Friday. This now sets up a vote on the House floor next week. We'll discuss what’s next for Congress and President Trump.

While you may have used a Lonely Planet guide to find lunch in Paris or a music venue in Cuba, its latest guidebook spans our planet... and even reaches into outer space. “Dark Skies: A Practical Guide to Astrotourism,” by Oakland-based travel and space tourism writer Valerie Stimac, details 35 dark-sky spots, stargazing tips and ventures into the future of commercial space travel. We'll talk with Stimac about astrotourism, including how and when to watch the Geminid meteor shower on Friday.

Melorra and Melonie Green share a job title as co-executive directors of the African American Art & Culture Complex in San Francisco's Western Addition neighborhood. They also share a birthday as twins. But most notably, they share a passion for showcasing black art and artists. Opening doors for underrepresented artists is important to the sisters and informs the community-driven mission behind the complex that they're shaping into a "center of black joy." Melorra and Melonie join us in-studio to talk about their work as part of Forum's First Person series, which profiles local innovators and leaders who make the Bay Area unique.

As a Republican member of Congress on the House Judiciary Committee, Tom McClintock has been on the front lines of recent impeachment proceedings. During Monday's hearings McClintock accused democrats of exercising a "stunning abuse of power" and said their refusal to respect the will of the voters threatens to collapse democracy "into chaos". McClintock has served a decade in Congress, representing California's 4th district which spans the Sierra Nevada from Truckee to the Sequoia National Forest. Forum talks to the congressman about impeachment and his legislative priorities.

Two lawsuits filed Tuesday on behalf of the Compton Unified School District claim that the University of California violates state civil rights law by requiring the SAT or ACT for admission. The suits allege that these standardized tests discriminate against students who are low-income, disabled, multilingual and underrepresented minorities. We'll talk about the lawsuit and what might happen if the 10-campus UC system drops its testing requirements.

“Code-switching,” a term for adapting one’s style of speech, appearance or behavior to gain acceptance and make others feel more comfortable, is one of the core dilemmas black employees face at work. That’s according to a study published last month in the Harvard Business Review that looked at the experiences of black college-educated employees in the United States. While code-switching is often seen as necessary for professional advancement, the study finds there’s great psychological cost to those who feel they can’t truly be themselves at work. We’ll talk to the study’s lead author about the findings and what organizations can do to foster more inclusive workplaces

The FBI's 2016 decision to investigate the Trump campaign's possible Russia ties was legally justified and free of political bias. That's according to a report released Monday by the Justice Department's inspector general, who also found "serious" errors in how agents carried out the warrants. Meanwhile, during a rancorous hearing before the House Judiciary Committee Monday, counsel for both parties made their cases for and against the impeachment of President Trump. We'll review the latest developments and answer your questions.