KQED's Forum

As the nation grapples with the question of impeachment, following House Democrats' launch of an inquiry this week,  we’ll look back at how history has treated this question.  We’ll examine the examples of the only two presidents ever impeached -- Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton -- and assess the case against Trump in light of historical precedent.

Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire concluded his testimony before the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday, answering questions from lawmakers about his handling of a bombshell complaint by a whistleblower.  The complaint, which was made public Thursday, alleges that President Trump illegally solicited interference from a foreign country in the 2020 election during a July 25 phone call in which he pressured the president of Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden’s son. The complaint further alleges that senior white house officials quote “intervened to ‘lock down’ all records of the phone call.

In her debut memoir, "I'm Telling the Truth, But I'm Lying," writer and mental health advocate Bassey Ikpi takes readers into her mind as a Nigerian American woman living with bipolar II disorder and anxiety. Ikpi describes in visceral, poetic language her journey to a diagnosis and the impact her mental illness had on her relationships. Ikpi is also the founder of The Siwe Project, an organization that promotes mental health awareness among people of African descent. She joins us to talk about her experience and her advocacy work.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Tuesday that the House is moving forward with a formal impeachment inquiry against President Trump. Calling "no one above the law," Pelosi said that Trump breached his constitutional duties in pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden's son. President Trump called the announcement "presidential harassment" and said the unredacted transcript of his call with Ukraine's president will be released on Wednesday. We'll discuss the latest developments.

When New York Times reporters Kate Kelly and Robin Pogrebin began their 10-month investigation of the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh, they drew wisdom from an unlikely source: Justice Kavanaugh's mother. Martha Kavanaugh, a prosecutor, used to tell juries to use common sense to decide "what rings true." Their new book "The Education of Brett Kavanaugh" sifts through thousands of documents and hours of testimony to assess the case against the Justice--both "through the prism of reporting and the lens of common sense."  Kelly and Pogrebin join Forum to share their conclusions about the accusers' accounts and gender dynamics at play during the confirmation hearings.

Three House committees asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday for documents related to President Trump's July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. On the call, President Trump reportedly asked Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden’s son’s former role on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. On Sunday, Trump acknowledged discussing Biden and his son on the call, but didn't confirm the reports that he asked Zelensky to investigate. Forum discusses the implications of the phone call and whether Democrats will unite to call for  impeachment.

"Never treat books like a chore." That's one of the key bits of advice New York Times Book Review Editor Pamela Paul has for parents who want their children to experience what she calls the "natural, timeless, time-stopping joys of reading." Paul's new book, co-written with her colleague Maria Russo, is "How to Raise a Reader." She joins Forum with tips — from creating read-aloud routines to championing genre fiction — to nurture a love of books in kids of all ages.

George Takei may be best known for his role in Star Trek, but his legacy extends far beyond the screen. In addition to his activism for LBGTQ rights, Takei is the author of five books. His newest, "They Called Us Enemy," is a graphic memoir that recounts Takei's experience of being forced into a Japanese American internment camp with his family at age 4. Takei joins us in studio.

Writer Colson Whitehead's new novel "The Nickel Boys" was inspired by the true story of a so-called reform school in Florida that was more of a state-sponsored prison during the Jim Crow era. There, boys and young men — especially African Americans — were subjected to cruel and sometimes even fatal punishment. It’s his first book since "The Underground Railroad," which earned him the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Whitehead joins us to talk about his new book.

It’s been nearly 20 years since Malcolm Gladwell’s book "The Tipping Point" put him on the map. His new book "Talking to Strangers" examines how communication and misunderstanding between people is influenced by how well they know each other. He joins us in the studio to talk about the book, which weaves together stories ranging from Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff, to Adolf Hitler, to the wrongfully convicted Amanda Knox.