KQED's Forum

Israel denied entry to U.S. Democratic Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar on Thursday after President Trump urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to block them. Tlaib and Omar, both outspoken supporters of Palestinian rights, planned to visit the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel's announcement and Trump's involvement has drawn wide criticism, including from strongly pro-Israel groups. Forum talks about what it means for the President to encourage a foreign ally's punishment of his domestic political rivals, and we'll discuss the state of U.S. and Israeli relations.

Poet and literary critic Stephanie Burt likes to imagine a world where discovering an enticing new poem would happen as readily as, say, enjoying a new song from a band. In her book "Don't Read Poetry," Burt introduces readers to poetry as "a living art form" and looks to demystify it from its stereotype as a more exclusive or high-brow craft. Burt joins us to discuss the diverse world of poetry, why it matters, and the pleasure of finding a poem that speaks to you.

On Monday, two weeks after the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting claimed the lives of two children from his city, San Jose mayor Sam Liccardo proposed requiring gun owners to buy liability insurance. If approved, the law would be the first of its kind in the country.  In this hour, Liccardo joins us to talk about his gun proposal and a range of other issues including housing, homelessness, and immigration.

Sutter Health, the owner of Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, is planning to close the facility, including the emergency room, by 2030. The nonprofit hospital operator says that it is not able to make the seismic upgrades required by the state. East Bay leaders and community activists say closing the hospital at a time when the region's population is growing will put lives at risk and create a "healthcare desert," with patients forced to travel further to access emergency care. Forum talks about what the closure means for the community.

Protests continued for a second day at Hong Kong International Airport, with riot police clashing with demonstrators. Tensions have been high since early June in response to a law, which has since been suspended, that would have extradited alleged criminals to mainland China. We'll get the latest on the protests, which have led to chaos and flight cancellations at the busy airport.

The San Francisco school board is revisiting the issue of a controversial mural at George Washington High School that depicts slavery and a dead Native American man. The school board planned to discuss preserving the mural behind a covering, instead of painting over it, Tuesday night. In June, the board unanimously voted to paint over the mural, citing the emotional toll it takes on students. George Washington alumnus and actor Danny Glover held a press conference Tuesday in favor of the mural's preservation as a reminder of America's past and a source of "historic introspection." Forum will discuss Tuesday's school board meeting and the ongoing debate over the mural.

Air pollution prematurely kills seven million people around the world and more than 100,000 Americans a year, according to environmental journalist Beth Gardiner. In her new book, "Choked: Life and Breath in the Age of Air Pollution," Gardiner travels the world, from China to the San Joaquin Valley, to understand how political and economic forces impact our air quality. Gardiner joins Forum to discuss the current state of air pollution, the legacy of the 1970 U.S. Clean Air Act, and what needs to happen next to ensure a cleaner future.

The Trump administration is moving forward with changes to the Endangered Species Act that will weaken protections for "threatened" species and make room for greater corporate input. Credited with saving the bald eagle and grizzly bear, the 1973 Endangered Species Act currently protects more than 1,600 species in the United States and its territories. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, among other state attorneys general, have already promised to fight back against these rollbacks. Forum takes a closer look at what these changes mean for the future of wildlife in California and the greater United States.

Since being sworn in to her second term in January, Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf has faced a teachers' strike, a conflict with President Trump over ICE immigration raids, and a report showing a dramatic rise in homelessness. In this hour we'll hear Mayor Schaaf's perspective on these challenges, and take your questions.

Greenland may be the world's least-populated country, but its vast and dwindling ice sheet can predict the global effects of climate, according to New York Times magazine contributing science writer Jon Gertner. In his new book, "The Ice at the End of the World: An Epic Journey into Greenland's Buried Past and Our Perilous Future," Gertner takes readers across the massive island to understand the forces driving the ice melt, which is set to impact hundreds of millions of people living in coastal areas. Gertner joins Forum to discuss Greenland, the role technology plays in the fight against climate change, and why the fight isn't a lost cause.