KQED's Forum

The new term of the Supreme Court opened on Monday. The Court's slate of cases touch on some of the country's most divisive issues -- including immigration, abortion, religion, guns and rights for gay and transgender people. On Tuesday, the Court will hear arguments on whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which makes workplace discrimination on the basis of sex illegal, extends to gay, lesbian and transgender employees. This is the first full term with Justice Brett Kavanaugh on the bench, and the five-member conservative bloc on the court could block or roll back existing laws.

As our climate changes, so does our health. Health researchers are warning of serious risks that go along with a warming planet, including a longer, more intense allergy season, higher risk of disease from smoke and air pollution, and intensified mental health issues due to extreme heat and climate anxiety. Forum discusses the toll that climate change may have on our society's physical and mental health.

This week marks the two-year anniversary of the destructive wildfires in the North Bay. Last Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed 22 wildfire related bills in an effort to curb the increasing threat of wildfire damage in the state. Forum discusses the bills, which range from increased state authority over PG&E to financial assistance to homeowners making fire safety upgrades.

Last week, President Trump’s former envoy to Ukraine revealed texts from top diplomats expressing their concern about the president’s political dealings with Ukraine. Forum reviews the latest developments on the impeachment inquiry and President Trump’s actions regarding Ukraine.

Forum gets an update on the latest developments in the Trump impeachment inquiry.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 857 into law on Wednesday, authorizing California cities and counties to establish public banks. These banks would be operated by individual municipalities and finance loans for local businesses, affordable housing, infrastructure and other projects at lower interest rates than commercial banks. Proponents of the new law point to rising economic inequality and predatory lending practices by private banks. Those opposed to it emphasize the high start-up costs and lack of government expertise in banking. In this hour, we'll break down how public banking works, how feasible it is and how it could impact Californians.

California is one of only eight states currently requiring the topic of consent to be included in sex education curriculum. For San Francisco health educator Shafia Zaloom, an education in consent is essential to protecting kids and fostering healthy interactions. In her new book "Sex, Teens, & Everything in Between," Zaloom shares stories and advice to help parents and teens navigate relationships, sex, and personal safety. We'll hear tips from Zaloom based on her more than two decades of experience and we want to hear from you: how have you talked with your teen about sex?

It was a tumultuous day in Washington Wednesday. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo admitted he was on President Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukraine, and the president raged against the media and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff during a news conference with the president of Finland. Meanwhile, the State Department inspector general met congressional staffers for a closed-door briefing on Ukraine. We'll talk about the latest from the Capitol as well as a new election survey by the Public Policy Institute of California.

It is close to two hundred years since the Cherokee Nation signed a treaty with the U.S. that--in compensation for their forced move to Oklahoma--gave them authority to send a delegate to Congress. The seat had never been filled, though, until last month when the Cherokee Nation nominated former Obama appointee, Kimberly Teehee. Teehee joins us to talk about what it means to become the first delegate representing a sovereign Native American government in Congress and how she plans to represent Native Americans in the nation's capitol.

Scientists have said eating less red meat is healthier for the body, but a new, controversial study is challenging that widely held recommendation. According to research published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, any health benefits from reducing the consumption of beef and pork are small and don't warrant a shift in eating habits. In this hour, we'll learn more about the study, what it means for nutritional guidelines and why some researchers are questioning the results.