KQED's Forum

Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, withdrew as a nominee on Thursday amid growing controversy over sexual misconduct accusations. While Gaetz was a uniquely unpopular and fraught pick, the incident was a reminder that the president-elect might not always get everything he wants from the GOP- controlled Congress, at least not right away. Given the slim majorities and infighting among Republicans, how fast will Trump be able to move his agenda forward? We’ll preview his first 100 days with politics reporters Kadia Goba of Semafor and David Graham of the Atlantic.

Guests:

Kadia Goba, politics reporter, Semafor

David Graham, staff writer, The Atlantic

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Have you ever reread something you wrote years earlier and cringed? Or maybe you were surprised by the depth, heart and complexity of what your younger self put to the page. Ann Patchett had both experiences recently when she reread her award-winning 2001 book "Bel Canto." She's now reissued the novel with her own handwritten margin notes -- both complimentary and critical. We'll talk to Patchett about what she loves about the original and what she would change, and what it's like to edit your own work decades later. Patchett's new book is "Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition."

Guest:

Ann Patchett, author, "Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition"

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LaRussell is known for a lot of things. His prolific music drops. His backyard concerts from his hometown, the “itty bitty city near the Bay,” Vallejo. And, for making a name in the world of hip hop on his own – no record deal needed. LaRussell is one of the Bay Area’s hottest musicians not just because of his talent and artistry, but also his business savvy. He is the founder of Good Compenny, a collective of independent artists. LaRussell joins us in studio for a special musical performance and to talk about growing up in Vallejo, what it means to “leave empty” and how he’s forged a career on his own terms.

Guests:

LaRussell, artist and founder, Good Compenny - an organization that promotes rising Bay Area artists.

Michael Prince, violin, Good Compenny

Kenivah Bockari, dj, Good Compenny

Simon Ajero, piano, Good Compenny

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Should you throw out your black plastic spatula — and any other cookware made of black plastic? Unfortunately, yes, probably. A new study finds that black plastic contains higher amounts of flame retardants and other toxic materials than other plastics. And health experts say that means we should try to keep it away from heat… and our food. We’ll talk about how concerned we should be about the plastics in our kitchen and how to evaluate the risks.

Guests:

Zoë Schlanger, staff writer at The Atlantic, wrote the piece “Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula”

Desiree LaBeaud, associate dean of global health and professor of pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine; Pediatric infectious disease physician who leads the university’s plastic working group.

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Running a small business in the Bay Area is not for the faint of heart. A complex regulatory environment, rising costs, crime, and a sluggish post-COVID economy are just some of the challenges. But for small business owners, the chance to be their own boss, create community, and turn a passion into a profitable enterprise keeps them going. Can small business be the engine that supercharges the local economy? We talk to small business owners about what sustains them and what they need to thrive.

Guests:

Katy Tang, executive director, San Francisco Office of Small Business - which offers advice and counseling for small businesses operating in San Francisco.

Nicole Schwieterman, founder and owner, Fleetwood, a shop on Clement street in SF; Schwieterman is co-director of the Clement Street Merchants Association.

Victor Diaz, owner of Renegade Running, a run-specialty store located in downtown Oakland, CA

Angela Tsay, owner, Oaklandish, located in Oakland; Oaklandish, has three brick and mortar stores. It designs, prints and sells clothing and accessories that focus on Oakland spirit and pride.

Tomra Palmer, co-owner, Gravel + Gold, a clothing shop based in the Mission

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Are you one of the 20 million people on Bluesky? The social media platform has nearly doubled its user base since the election as more people migrate away from Elon Musk’s X. We talk about what’s drawing people to Bluesky and the pros and cons of the platform, and we’ll hear what you’re looking for in an online social network. We're on Bluesky now! Follow us @kqedforum.bsky.social!

Guests:

Zoe Schiffer, managing editor, Platformer - author of "Extremely Hardcore: Inside Elon Musk’s Twitter"

Damon Beres, senior editor, The Atlantic

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A conspiracy-theorist and vaccine denier to run the Department of Health and Human Services. A Russia-friendly intelligence chief. And an attorney general pick who has been accused of sexual misconduct. President-elect Donald Trump is appointing cabinet members at a breakneck pace, with one more norm-busting than the next. We’ll get the latest on Trump’s picks–and other recent political news– with journalists Molly Ball of the Wall Street Journal and Philip Bump of the Washington Post

Guests:

Molly Ball, senior political correspondent, Wall Street Journal

Philip Bump, national columnist, Washington Post - Bump is the author of "The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America"

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President-elect Trump and his team want to end DACA and the Temporary Protected Status program – which could make nearly a million people vulnerable to deportation. They’ve said they’d use the military to carry out mass detentions and deportations. If enacted, these proposals are all but guaranteed to face legal challenges — as they did during the last Trump administration. But some advocates worry that federal courts could prove friendlier to Trump policies than last time. We’ll talk with UCLA law professor Ahilan Arulanantham about the likelihood Trump’s latest proposals will become reality and the impact they’ll have on immigrant communities.

Guests:

Ahilan Arulanantham, Faculty Co-Director, Center for Immigration Law and Policy, UCLA Law - former Legal Director ACLU of Southern California

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Bay Area transit agencies have struggled to recover ever since the pandemic decimated ridership and revenue. Several measures on the ballot aimed to shore up public transportation. In San Francisco, Prop. L, which would have provided more funding for Muni, failed. But in Napa, voters approved Measure U to bring $25 million a year to improve transit. With a Republican administration and Congress set to take power in January, local transit agencies, concerned there may be a lack of federal support, are thinking about long term solutions to their funding shortfalls and looking to the state to do more. We’ll talk about the future of Bay Area transit funding and what it means for you.

Guests:

Dan Brekke, editor and reporter, KQED News

Rebecca Long, Director of Legislation and Public Affairs, Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Sebastian Petty, Senior Advisor, Transportation Policy| SPUR

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The push to harness renewable energy sources like wind and solar has sparked a massive demand for critical metals such as cobalt, nickel, and lithium, according to journalist Vince Beiser. To meet this demand, intensive mining operations are underway in regions like China, Chile, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), extracting rare metals needed for solar panels, electric vehicles, smartphones, and the infrastructure that supports them. In his new book, “Power Metal: The Race for Resources That Will Shape the Future,” Beiser explores the “terrifying” scale of metal extraction our electro-digital age requires and the global environmental and public health crises it may trigger. Beiser joins us.

Guests:

Vince Beiser, journalist; author of “Power Metal: The Race for Resources That Will Shape the Future”

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