Tens of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets over the weekend to protest an amnesty bill for former President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces 27 years in prison for attempting to overturn the 2022 election. Trump, who has likened himself to Bolsonaro, called the trial a “witch hunt” and punished the country with 50% tariffs and sanctions on government officials. We look at the parallels between the two men, and what the U.S. can learn from Brazil’s effort to hold its leaders accountable and defend its democracy.

Guests:

Julia Vargas Jones, correspondent, CNN

Juliana Dal Piva, investigative reporter, ICL Noticias and Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística

Jack Nicas, Brazil bureau chief, The New York Times

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President Trump’s announcement Friday of a $100,000 dollar fee for H-1B visas has thrown the tech world – and communities of immigrants – into states of confusion and concern. Many employers, working with the scant information from the president, warned traveling workers to scramble back to the US immediately, before the administration later clarified that the fees wouldn’t apply to existing visa holders. But it’s still far from clear what the new rules mean for foreign workers and companies. We’ll talk about the new changes to H-1B visas, how communities and companies are responding and what it means for the future of tech hiring.

Guests:

Tanay Gokhale, independent journalist based in Oakland; formerly the community reporter at India Currents and continues to write for them on a freelance basis

Pranav Dixit, Meta correspondent covering Trump's H-1B visa fee, Business Insider

Emily Neumann, immigration attorney, Reddy Neumann Brown PC

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For decades, policy makers, politicians, and experts have blamed an absence of Black fathers as the reason Black children tend to not fare as well as white children. That reasoning has led to a lot of public policy pushing the two-parent family structure. In her new book, “Inherited Inequality: Why Opportunity Gaps Persist between Black and White Youth Raised in Two-Parent Families,” Harvard Sociologist Christina Cross argues that this claim is a distraction from addressing the systemic inequities that hold kids back such as racial discrimination in the housing market, schools and workplaces. We talk with Cross about how the two-parent paradigm became the standard and when that premise becomes harmful.

Guests:

Christina Cross, associate professor of sociology, Harvard University - author of, "Inherited Inequality: Why Opportunity Gaps Persist between Black and White Youth Raised in Two-Parent Families"

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A memorial service for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk became a political rally on Sunday, as President Trump told the crowd that unlike Kirk, he hates his opponents and blamed the “radical left” for political violence. Washington Post columnist Shadi Hamid says that as influential Republicans use Kirk’s killing to demonize the left, the country is failing a crucial test: the ability to absorb political violence without discarding democratic cornerstones like free speech, respect for dissent and due process. We talk to Hamid and to New York Times reporter Jeremy Peters about this fraught political moment, and how, in Hamid’s words, we can step back from the brink.

Guests:

Shadi Hamid, columnist at the Washington Post, his forthcoming book is "The Case for American Power"

Jeremy W. Peters, national reporter focusing on free speech, The New York Times - author, "Insurgency: How Republicans Lost Their Party and Got Everything They Ever Wanted"

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The mega-wealthy Silicon Valley group, California Forever, has announced a plan to build a manufacturing town in Solano County. Their intention to build the largest site for advanced manufacturing in North America comes at a moment where there is a lot of debate about whether we should reverse the decline of U.S. manufacturing and how to do it. We’ll talk about how the  manufacturing industry has changed from the American factory of the past, the role the industry currently plays in the Bay Area Area economy, and the future of manufacturing in our region.

Guests:

Kate Gordon, CEO, California Forward

Adhiti Bandlamudi, housing reporter, KQED

Mathew Bogoshian, Executive Director, American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (AMCC)

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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has long been one of the world’s largest providers of contraceptives and disaster relief. But recent funding cuts and orders from the Trump administration have dismantled programs, stranded millions of dollars’ worth of contraceptives, and left partner nations scrambling. We look at the unraveling of USAID’s work, the human impact on the ground and what America’s retreat means for the future of global health and humanitarian aid.

Guests:

Elissa Miolene, global development reporter, Devex, an independent news organization covering international development

Hana Kiros, assistant editor, The Atlantic - Her recent article is “Inside the USAID Fire Sale.”

Carson Christiano, executive director, Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA)

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California synth-pop duo PRXZM joins us in studio for a live musical performance. Classically trained musicians Nick Ortega and Emma Maidenberg host a weekly livestream where fans can watch them compose in real-time and offer feedback. PRXZM’s latest project? Remixing our Forum theme song! We’ll talk to them about the process of remixing and what it’s like to collaborate so closely with their fans.

Guests:

Nick Ortega, synth, PRXZM

Emma Maidenberg, vocals, PRXZM

Daniel Reiter, guitar, PRXZM

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been as full-throated in his support for President Trump’s aggressive immigration policies as California Governor Gavin Newsom has been in his opposition.  We team up with South Florida Public Radio station WLRN to talk about how our states’ different approaches on immigration enforcement are playing out on the ground, and the impact on our communities, economy and voters.

Guests:

Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED

Tom Hudson, president of news, WLRN; an anchor of "The Florida Roundup"

Jasmine Garsd, immigration correspondent, NPR; host of the podcast "The Last Cup," about soccer and the immigrant experience

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California’s prisons were so packed fifteen years ago that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled they violated the Constitution. Today, the state’s prison population has decreased dramatically and California is closing prison facilities. Governor Newsom has closed five during his tenure, with the latest – the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, California  –  slated to shut down next fall. We’ll take a closer look at what’s driving the turnaround, and the impact of prison closures on communities and the state’s criminal justice system.

Guests:

Heather Harris, research fellow specializing in criminal justice, Public Policy Institute of California

Caitlin O'Neil, principal fiscal and policy analyst, Legislative Analyst's Office - the California Legislature's nonpartisan fiscal and policy advisor

Nigel Duara, justice reporter, CalMatters

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Locals don’t always like to go where the tourists flock in their own town, and as a result there is a lot that they might be missing. A new program, Doors Open California hopes to change that by welcoming Californians to historic sites, movie locations, museums and more all in their backyard. We’ll talk to plugged-in locals about the cool sites and situations that are just around the corner, and hear from you about the Bay Area spots that you think are worth a visit.

Guests:

Peter Hartlaub, culture critic, The San Francisco Chronicle

Pendarvis "Pen" Harshaw, columnist, KQED Arts

Kara Newport, president and CEO, Filoli

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