The Bay

This year’s midterm elections are consequential for Bay Area residents. From the governor’s race to statewide propositions and local measures, we give you a snapshot of election night from inside the KQED newsroom.

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The Trump administration has been ramping up efforts to find voter fraud in California. Claims of voter fraud can have real-world consequences for communities. Today, Stanford Political Science Professor Justin Grimmer tells us about a group of traveling election skeptics who target mostly rural, conservative communities to spread their claims of fraud.

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In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, we discuss Marin County’s Measure P, a parcel tax to increase access to childcare, and why school board races might actually be more important than you think. We also discuss the fate of the iconic Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate just south of Oakland. Some say the once grand mansion has taken a turn for the worse.

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For decades, Nancy Pelosi has represented San Francisco in Congress. Now she’s retiring, making way for a truly competitive race for California’s 11th Congressional District. Today, we talk about the candidates — San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan and state Sen. Scott Wiener — and discuss how they differ on the big issues. 

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After hollowing out during the pandemic, San Francisco’s office vacancy rate is hovering at around 30%. Pair that volume of empty space with an escalating housing crisis, and it’s enough to make you wonder: Could you turn those empty offices into apartments? Today, we talk with two developers about what it actually takes to make these conversion projects a reality.

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As the Golden State Valkyries prepare for Game 4 of the WNBA finals Saturday, KALW’s BOUNCE introduces us to the team’s star player, Gabby Williams. From her roots in Oakland to her leadership as an out, queer player, host Erin Lim tells us more about the forces that have shaped her into the player and person she is today.

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The federal corruption trial against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao kicked off this month. Thao and her three codefendants — Andre Jones, David Doung, and Andy Doung — are facing conspiracy and bribery charges. Prosecutors allege that the group engaged in a quid pro quo to advance the Doungs’ companies in exchange for money and support for Thao’s 2022 mayoral campaign. KQED’s Alex Hall joins us to break it all down.

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Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local.

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The vast majority of commercial kitchens in California — some 85% — rely on gas to power their appliances. But scientists say that will have to change if the state hopes to reach its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Bay Area food franchise Flour + Water is one of many local shops leading the charge away from gas appliances. In today’s episode, KQED reporter Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman visits an electric pizza kitchen to help us understand the benefits of electrification and what’s preventing more kitchens from making the switch. 

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Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local.

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In September, prescribed burns on Angel Island sent smoke and at-times dangerous air quality to residents around the Bay Area. While Air District officials want to improve controlled burns on the island, environmental managers say the recent burn was a win. Today, Bay Nature reporter Daniella Garcia-Loos Almeida takes us on a journey to Angel Island to see the burn area through the eyes of the environmental stewards behind it.

Links:

Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local.

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Just last month, San Mateo County announced that they’d bought an apartment building to house teachers and school staff. It is just one recent example of local school districts working to tackle the affordability crisis with workforce housing.

This episode first published April 20, 2026

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