KQED's Forum

If we don't act on climate change now, in about 50 years San Francisco could see as many as 30 above-90-degree days annually, according to a new report. Forum talks about the report from the Union of Concerned Scientists, how Bay Area temperatures will likely change in coming decades and the health impacts of extreme heat.

Forbes is known for its annual "30 Under 30" lists, which highlight the achievements of young, bold entrepreneurs around the world. But the magazine's publisher, Rich Karlgaard, says that at age 25 he could barely handle his job as a security guard at a trucking yard. He joins us to talk about social pressure to succeed young, the unsung benefits of coming into ourselves later in life and his new book "Late Bloomers: The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early Achievement." Did you benefit from peaking later in life? Are you feeling washed up at the ripe age of 40? Please share your experience with us!

From the ongoing fall out around financier Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking charges to expected raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, we discuss the latest news and what you need to know to start your week.

State lawmakers on Thursday approved a multi-billion dollar fund aimed at reforming the way utilities and the state cover the cost of future wildfires. The approval of AB 1054 creates a $21 billion fund to pay for damages linked to fires caused by utility equipment. Proponents of the bill say it limits rate increases while adding safety restrictions. But critics argue it shifts the burden of proving a utility's negligence onto victims. We discuss the measure, which Governor Newsom is expected to sign on Friday.

Derick Almena, the master tenant of the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland, where 36 people died in a fire in 2016, testified in court this week. Almena said he wasn't aware the building was dangerous, and that he had repeatedly asked the owner of the building to make improvements. Almena and co-defendant Max Harris have each been charged with 36 counts of felony involuntary manslaughter and face up to 39 years in prison for what is considered the deadliest fire in Oakland's history.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are planning to execute raids on at least 2,000 undocumented immigrants in 10 metro areas, according to a New York Times report Thursday. The sweeps, which are expected to begin on Sunday and continue into next week, could reportedly include "collateral" arrests of family members or others on the scene. Last month President Trump in a tweet canceled similar planned raids shortly before they were to take place, in order to give lawmakers more time to find "a solution to the Asylum and Loophole problems at the Southern Border." We'll discuss the latest developments, and the law and politics governing the raids.

BART is getting creative and trying out new fare gate designs in order to address the issue of fare cheats, which BART management estimates drains anywhere from $15 to $25 million a year in revenue. BART installed the first of their new prototypes, the double-decker gate, on June 9 at the Richmond Station to mixed reviews. Critics recoil at the design, function and accessibility of the new design. Supporters appreciate that BART is trying to crack down on fare evaders. We talk with KQED reporter, Dan Brekke and hear your thoughts on BART's new gates.

Adam Morris’ new book “American Messiahs: False Prophets of a Damned Nation” traces a lineage of fringe evangelical "messiah" figures in the U.S. While these figures, like civil rights leader Father Divine and cult leader Jim Jones, were eccentric, manipulative, and even violent in their practices, Morris also finds them making social criticisms that were ahead of their time. We talk to Morris about how these radical movements--from the Shakers of the 1700s to Jim Jones’ disastrous Peoples Temple--have influenced and been shaped by American culture.

A new bill seeks to impose more barriers on California charter schools, including requiring all teachers to be credentialed. Another aspect of the controversial proposal would allow districts to reject charters if they are deemed to have a negative impact on enrollment and funding of surrounding schools. Opponents say the bill is an attempt to curtail the growth of charter schools, which now number more than 1300 in California. We hear from both sides of the issue.

The California State Assembly Committee on Higher Education passed the "Fair Pay to Play Act" on Tuesday, clearing the way for California student athletes to profit from the use of their name, image or likeness. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) currently bans collegiate athletes from this practice and has opposed the bill, along with the University of California, California State University, and the Association of Independent of California Colleges and Universities, claiming it will lead to funding cuts and threaten athletic scholarships. We explore both sides of the long-brewing debate over who should profit from the talents of a student.