KQED's Forum

Ed Sullivan's America

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST

For his new book about the "Ed Sullivan Show," former San Francisco Chronicle columnist Gerald Nachman interviewed more than 60 artists who performed on the program including Carol Burnett, Jackie Mason and Alan King. Nachman joins us to discuss the show and its legacy. His new book is "Right Here on Our Stage Tonight!: Ed Sullivan's America." Nachman's other books include "Seriously Funny: The Rebel Comedians of the 1950s and 1960's" and "Raised on Radio."

Senate Health Care Vote

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST

The Senate faces a crucial vote on Saturday to decide whether it will move the health care bill forward to a floor debate. We get an update on the developments and discuss the next steps.

Class Size Reduction

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST

A state program that has invested billions to shrink class sizes is coming apart, and the number of kids in many California classrooms is at the highest level in more than a decade. That's according to a new investigation by California Watch, a project of the Center for Investigative Reporting in collaboration with KQED Public Radio. We'll find out how teachers are coping with kindergarten through third grade classes that have as many as 30 students, a situation now common in districts like San Jose and Contra Costa County. Meanwhile, some argue that with pressing budget cuts and inconclusive evidence about the benefit of small class sizes, class size reduction should not be a priority. We explore the debate.

State Politics Roundup

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:30:00 PST

Voters will go to the polls next year to elect a new governor, as well as to determine the political fate of the state's junior senator, Barbara Boxer. A year out, there's already a lot of action in the races. We take stock of the political jockeying and the issues facing California.

Students Occupy UC Berkeley Building / Bridge Toll Hike

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST

In response to the UC Regents' vote to raise tuition by 32 percent, a group of UC Berkeley students has taken over Wheeler Hall and barricaded themselves from police in protest. We get an update on the situation. Then, drivers on seven Bay Area bridges may soon see tolls go up $1 for cars, and for the first time see a $3 toll in the carpool lane. The Bay Area Toll Authority is holding hearings through next month on how much to raise tolls. Officials say they need to charge more due to rising costs, decreased bridge traffic and the need to seismically retrofit the Dumbarton and Antioch bridges. We discuss the various proposals, and how they might impact drivers.

'Denialism'

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST

Author and journalist Michael Specter believes that public fear and skepticism of technological developments -- from vaccines to genetically modified foods to synthetic biology -- threaten to undermine scientific progress. He joins us in studio to discuss his new book, "Denialism."

Hendrik Hertzberg

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST

New Yorker staff writer Hendrik Hertzberg joins us in studio to discuss his new book, "!OBAMANOS!- The Birth of a New Political Era."

Barbara Kingsolver

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST

In her new book "The Lacuna," bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver crafts a complex piece of historical fiction spanning three decades of Mexican and American history. Chronicling everything from the lives of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in 1930s Mexico to the McCarthy trials of the 1950s, "The Lacuna" follows one character's artistic development and search for identity amidst the defining moments of the 20th century.

Health and the Environment

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:30:00 PST

We discuss the impact of the environment on our health with the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health. We'll address the risks of plastic additives, lead and mercury -- and the connections between the environment and cancer, asthma and reproductive health.

Education Protests

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST

This week, some UC and CSU students are gearing up to walk out of classes in protest of another round of tuition hikes and course cutbacks. University and community college officials blame the state budget squeeze for forcing their hand. We look at how campuses are coping.

Ordinary Injustice

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST

The legal system is rife with stories of injustice. There are lawyers who sleep through trials, innocent men who wind up imprisoned and rapists who cut deals to avoid serving time. Journalist and lawyer Amy Bach says these miscarriages of justice happen far more than we'd like to admit -- and she argues it's because our legal system often eschews justice in favor of efficiency. We talk with Bach about her book, "Ordinary Injustice: How America Holds Court."

Obama in Asia

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:30:00 PST

We discuss President Obama's Asia trip with The Atlantic's national correspondent, James Fallows. Fallows recently returned to the U.S. after three years in China. He's the author of many books, most recently "Postcards from Tomorrow Square: Reports from China."

Trying Terrorism Suspects

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST

Last Friday, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-professed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees will be tried in New York City civilian federal court. Critics argue that military tribunals should be used instead. We discuss the move to civilian court.

Astronomical Update

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST

We turn our gaze to all things astronomical, from the discovery of water on the moon and the Leonid meteor shower that will light up the skies this week, to the discovery of a bloated planet that rotates backwards. We also discuss the science -- or lack thereof -- in the new movie "2012" which imagines Earth's end.

Cuts to In-Home Care

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST

How are state budget cuts and a recent federal lawsuit affecting California's In-Home Supportive Services Program? The program assists thousands of low-income seniors and disabled people. We examine the details.

'Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens'

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST

Like his brother J. Robert Oppenheimer, Frank Oppenheimer was a brilliant physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project. But Frank went on to become an educator, and to found San Francisco's Exploratorium, the interactive science museum celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. We talk with K.C. Cole, author of the new biography "Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens: Frank Oppenheimer and the World He Made Up."

Credit Card Reform

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST

Senator Christopher Dodd, chair of the Senate Banking Committee, introduced legislation this week to freeze credit card interest rates. The move follows consumer complaints of rapid rate hikes in advance of new federal limits that go into effect next February. Thursday, the Federal Reserve approved a new rule protecting debit card users from excessive overdraft charges. What does the new credit card landscape mean for consumers?

Mark Danner

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST

UC Berkeley journalism professor Mark Danner joins us to discuss his new book, "Stripping Bare the Body: Politics Violence War." It's an examination of U.S. attempts at nation-building over the past quarter century.

Ethics of Space Exploration

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST

Is it ethical to change the ecosystems of other planets to suit human needs? What about mining precious metals? Or what happens if we contaminate another planet with microbes? These are some of the questions being asked by ethicists, who say the science of space ethics is still in its infancy. We explore the ethics of space exploration.

Googled

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST

Author and journalist Ken Auletta joins us to discuss his latest book, "Googled: The End of the World as We Know It" in which he chronicles the evolution of Google and its impact on the media industry.

Americans Charged with Espionage

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:30:00 PST

Three American graduates of UC Berkeley stand accused of espionage by Iranian authorities who have held them since July 31st. The Obama administration is pursuing their release through diplomatic channels, both official and unofficial. We look at where those efforts stand, and what's likely to happen next.

SF Board Overrides Newsom on Sanctuary

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8-3 on Tuesday to override Mayor Gavin Newsom's veto of sanctuary legislation recently approved by the board. At issue is whether or not San Francisco authorities will report undocumented youth arrested on felonies to the federal government. We talk to two legal experts about the policy implications of Tuesday's vote.

Radical Elders

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST

Social historian and author Theodore 'Ted' Roszak helped define the boomer generation in 1969 with "The Making of a Counter-Culture." He joins us to discuss his new book, "The Making of an Elder Culture," in which he explores how the aging boomer generation may reshape society a second time.

Next Steps in Afghanistan

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST

As President Obama meets with military and diplomatic officials about how to proceed in Afghanistan, continued violence there has killed 58 American troops in October, triggered a temporary pullout of more than 600 United Nations personnel and resurrected concerns about the scale of U.S. involvement. We look at developments in the region.

The Future of Sharp Park

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST

Some environmentalists have been trying to shut down Sharp Park golf course in Pacifica, owned by the City and County of San Francisco, in an effort to create a national park and protect endangered species. But in a report released Friday, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department recommends preserving golf at the course while taking steps to restore habitat. We'll hear reactions from both sides of the debate.

House Passes Health Care Bill

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST

We discuss the House of Representatives' passage of landmark health care overhaul legislation on Saturday night.