KQED's Forum

Even before the fires in Los Angeles, California’s insurance market was under enormous pressure. Extreme weather events like wildfires, which have been supersized due to climate change, previously led national carriers like Allstate and State Farm to stop writing new homeowners policies. And some property owners are facing non-renewal for homes deemed by insurance companies to be at risk. California is not alone in this dilemma. Florida has the highest insurance rates in the country, and its residents pay 37% more for coverage as compared to national averages. We’ll talk to experts about how these latest fires will impact the state’s insurance industry and the future of insurance in a climate change-charged world.

Guests:

Michael Wara, policy director, Sustainability Accelerator at the Doerr School of Sustainability, director, Climate and Energy Policy Program, senior research scholar, Woods Institute for the Environment; Stanford University

Dave Jones, former Insurance commissioner, California Department of Insurance; Dave Jones is the director of the Climate Risk Initiative at UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy and the Environment (CLEE).

Amy Bach, executive director and cofounder, United Policyholders - a San Francisco-based nonprofit that advocates for insurance consumers.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday declared the Los Angeles wildfires a public health emergency, as President Biden reiterated his promise to cover disaster response costs over the next six months. Displaced L.A. residents are mourning their lost pets, homes and schools, and entire communities are grieving the loss of arts institutions, hiking trails, businesses and restaurants. We provide an update on the latest and hear from you: What impact have the wildfires had on you – even from afar?

How to help.

Guests:

Saul Gonzalez, co-host, The California Report, KQED

Daniel Swain, climate scientist, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) & UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (UCLA IoES)

Chris Harvey, Public Information Officer with CalFire INT-4

Jake Viator, mastering and recording engineer, lost his home and property in the Eaton Fire in Altadena

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California could lose billions of dollars in health funding if the Trump administration follows through on GOP plans to overhaul Medicaid, which provides healthcare for low-income people. Trump policies could also have major implications for Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, and for health care programs addressing homelessness and reproductive health . We’ll talk with state assembly health committee chair Mia Bonta and others about what services are most vulnerable, and how California officials are preparing.

Guests:

Mia Bonta, state assemblymember representing the 18th assembly district in the East Bay and chair of the assembly health committee

Angela Hart, senior correspondent covering health care politics and policy in California and the West, KFF Health News

Mark Peterson, professor of public policy, political science, health policy and management, and law, UCLA; senior fellow at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI companion apps are becoming increasingly popular, with millions of users engaging with them for over an hour each day. Most users report positive experiences using their AI companions for entertainment, emotional support, and even therapeutic purposes. But their potential to become addictive, encourage harmful behaviors and ultimately exacerbate social isolation has sparked concern, especially among parents. We learn more about AI companions and hear about your experiences with them.

Guests:

Kevin Roose, technology columnist, New York Times; co-host of the podcast, Hard Fork

Nitasha Tiku, tech culture reporter, Washington Post

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meteorologists say firefighters may get a respite today and tomorrow from the strong Santa Ana winds fueling the massively destructive wildfires in Los Angeles. There have been 10 confirmed deaths so far and an estimated $135-$150 billion dollars in loss and damages.. We check in with reporters on the scene about how Angeleno’s are processing the swaths of destruction, evacuations, heartbreak and uncertainty.

Guests:

Rachael Myrow, senior editor, Silicon Valley News Desk, KQED

Saul Gonzalez, co-host, The California Report, KQED

Beans are rich in nutrients, easy to cultivate and transport, and are beloved in cuisines around the world. But on many plates, beans are a side dish, not the main attraction. That may be hard to believe if you’re someone who craves a simmering pot of frijoles negros or lives for the sweet and savory taste of Boston baked beans. We talk to Steve Sando, the founder of Rancho Gordo, a Napa company that revitalized the heirloom bean market, and Jessica Battlana, a chef, about how beans can and should be the center of any meal. What’s your favorite bean?

Guests:

Steve Sando, founder and CEO, Rancho Gordo; a company that sells heirloom varieties of beans; author, "The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans"

Jessica Battilana, co-author, "Rintaro: Japanese Food from an Izakaya in California"; Battilana is also the author of "Repertoire: All The Recipes You Need" and a staff editor at King Arthur Baking

Sponsored

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Food and lifestyle megacelebrity Martha Stewart was the country’s first female self-made billionaire when her media empire Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went public in 1999. Since then, her fortunes have fluctuated, reaching a low point in 2004 when she was sentenced to five months in prison for lying to prosecutors about a stock trade. R.J. Cutler got unprecedented access to Stewart for his documentary “Martha,” which is now streaming on Netflix. We’ll talk to Cutler about the making of the film and what Stewart taught him about the exercise of power. And we’ll hear from you: how has Martha Stewart influenced you?

Guests:

R.J. Cutler, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning director-producer, "Martha"; His other films include "Elton John: Never Too Late," "The War Room", "Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry", "BELUSHI" and "A Perfect Candidate"

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Multiple wildfires continue to sweep through LA county, causing massive evacuations and the most destructive fires Los Angeles has ever seen. We’ll provide an update on the fires, and the fierce winds and weather conditions intensifying their spread.

Guests:

Anthony Edwards, newsroom meteorologist, SF Chronicle

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to take up TikTok’s appeal challenging a federal law that could effectively ban the popular social media app beginning on January 19. President-elect Donald Trump has asked the court to delay implementation of the law, which requires TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the social media company to an American firm. We’ll preview the arguments and look at what a ban could mean for the company and creators.

Guests:

Emily Baker, an investigative reporter and senior writer, Forbes; She is currently writing a book on TikTok.

Jessica Levinson, professor of law, Loyola Law School; host of the podcast “Passing Judgment; Website URL: PoLawTics.lls.edu

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three major wildfires fueled by winds up to 100 miles an hour are tearing through the Los Angeles region of Southern California this morning. The fires are destroying property and forcing evacuations in Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and Malibu. Many homes have been lost and officials are warning that the worst is yet to come. We’ll provide an update and hear from you.

Guests:

Saul Gonzalez, co-host, The California Report, KQED

Nicholas Tuttle, South Pasadena resident; his home is now in the mandatory evacuation zone

A national funeral service will be held Thursday for former President Jimmy Carter, who died late last month at the age of 100. The peanut farmer-turned-Georgia governor’s long-shot presidential campaign centered reform and the restoration of trust in government after Watergate and the Vietnam War. As president, Carter brokered the Camp David Accords and championed human rights and the environment, though his handling of the Iran hostage crisis and slumping U.S. economy tanked his chances of re-election. In 2002, Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize. We’ll talk about Carter’s legacy and hear from you: What will you remember about Jimmy Carter?

Guests:

Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, served as the chief White House domestic policy adviser in the Carter administration; author, “President Carter: The White House Years”

Jonathan Alter, analyst, MSNBC; author, “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life”

Mary Frances Berry, professor of American Social Thought Emerita and professor of history, University of Pennsylvania; served as assistant secretary for education in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in the Carter administration

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco inaugurates its new mayor, Daniel Lurie, on Wednesday. Across the bay, councilmember Kevin Jenkins has been appointed as Oakland’s interim mayor while contenders, including longtime Congresswoman Barbara Lee, line up for the election to finish the term of former mayor Sheng Tao, who was ousted in a recall vote. Alameda County now has an interim district attorney taking the reins after the successful recall of DA Pamela Price. We learn more about these new officials and the key issues affecting your city.

Guests:

Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown

Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk

Scott Shafer, senior editor, KQED’s California Politics and Government; co-host, Political Breakdown

Alex Hall, enterprise and accountability reporter, KQED

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For some Gen-Z and millennials seeking “in real life” connection, nothing beats a heated game of Uno, Rummikub or mahjong. Board and card games are proliferating in their popularity as people – really of all ages– seek community, light-hearted entertainment and a chance to hang with friends. In the context of a game, you can learn a lot about a person: are they a savvy strategist, a sore loser, or quiet but insanely competitive? We’ll talk to some game lovers and experts and hear from you: What’s the game that gets you to gather round the table?

Guests:

Callie Holtermann, reporter, New York Times; Holtermann covers style, pop culture and Gen Z. Her recent piece is titled "The Extremely Offline Joy of the Board Game".

Gwendolyn Reza, co-owner, Games of Berkeley

Angela Lin, founder, East Never Loses, a company that hosts mahjong events and tutorials; With three friends, Lin also founded "Mahjong Mistress" a party for mahjong players in the LA-area.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices