KQED's Forum

James Fallows - Obama Explained

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:54:20 PST

Since his inauguration three years ago, President Barack Obama has been dogged by criticism that he's too inexperienced and emotionally aloof for the job. James Fallows, national correspondent for The Atlantic, considers these points in a new cover article. He argues that Obama's presidency thus far has had its successes and failures, but that its ultimate legacy will come down to whether he wins a second term.

The State of San Jose

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:54:03 PST

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed gives his State of the City address this evening. He and other stakeholders join us in advance for a snapshot of how the third largest city in California is doing.

'The Life of Super-Earths'

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:56:15 PST

Astronomer Dimitar Sasselov, director of Harvard's Origins of Life Initiative, joins us to discuss his new book "The Life of Super-Earths" and to explain why he thinks planets larger than Earth offer the best prospects for finding life as we know it.

Syria's Future

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:55:57 PST

A White House spokesman says President Obama is considering sending humanitarian aid to Syrians, while at the same time ramping up pressure against President Bashar Assad. Growing sectors of the Syrian population have mounted demonstrations against the Assad regime, sparking violent government crackdowns resulting in thousands of deaths. The U.S. and several Gulf countries have closed their embassies and recalled their diplomats. We discuss the next steps in the region.

Prop. 8: The 9th Circuit Ruling

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:57:25 PST

The federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Proposition 8, California's same-sex marriage ban, is unconstitutional. The court found that Prop. 8 violates the equal protection clause under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. We discuss the ruling, which will likely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

More Plastic Bag Restrictions?

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:57:03 PST

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will vote on whether to expand the city's ban on plastic bags Tuesday. The new plan would ban the bags from all businesses -- not just large grocery stores and pharmacies -- and it would impose a surcharge on other bags.

'Revolution 2.0'

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:56:38 PST

Internet activist and Google marketing executive Wael Ghonim was thrust into the international spotlight last year as his Facebook page helped spark the Egyptian uprising. He joins us to talk about his new book "Revolution 2.0," and about recent political developments in Egypt.

'My Faraway One'

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:02:21 PST

Painter Georgia O'Keeffe and photographer Alfred Stieglitz are among art history's foremost couples. And they left an amazingly detailed record of their relationship in the form of more than 5,000 letters. Sarah Greenough of the National Gallery of Art has edited a new volume of these letters. She joins us to discuss the couple's relationship and their work.

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:46:44 PST

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg joins us to discuss the role of the FDA in protecting public health, how the agency approves new drugs and her views on what she calls "smart regulation."

The Athena Breast Health Network

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:46:24 PST

The Athena Breast Health Network is launching a series of face-to-face forums where patients, breast cancer experts and community members can exchange direct experience and research in breast health care. The first forum will examine breast cancer risk assessment and prevention - and the results will be fed back into the UC-based Athena Network of 150,000 women to improve survival and reduce suffering from breast cancer.

Epilepsy Treatment and Research

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:43:47 PST

Nearly 3 million Americans have epilepsy. It's as common as breast cancer, and can be as dangerous. But those with the disease say research is underfunded and epilepsy doesn't get the attention it deserves. We talk with participants in a major conference in San Francisco on emerging treatments for epilepsy.

The Trouble With Sugar

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:43:31 PST

Researchers at UCSF argue that sugar poses a danger to health and should be regulated like alcohol and tobacco. Is sugar just empty calories, or something much worse?

First Person: Lera Boroditsky

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:55:07 PST

Aboriginal people in Australia are better at finding their way around because they use compass directions instead of simply describing things as to the left or right. That's just one of several findings from Stanford psychologist Lera Boroditsky, who claims language greatly influences our thoughts and perceptions. It's a radical departure from modern linguistic theory.

Facebook's IPO

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:54:49 PST

Social networking giant Facebook has filed the paperwork to begin selling public shares. The long-anticipated filing is the largest Internet public offering ever. The website, with 845 million users, is expected to be valued at between $75 and $100 billion. We discuss the potential impact of the IPO on users, Silicon Valley and the financial industry.

Art and Spirituality at Grace Cathedral

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:04:52 PST

The dean of San Francisco's Grace Cathedral, Reverend Jane Shaw joins us along with artist-in-residence and performer Anna Deavere Smith to discuss Grace and spirituality.

Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:04:35 PST

California's lieutenant governor and former San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom joins us to discuss the role of the office of the lieutenant governor. And, as a board member of both the University of California and CSU, we'll hear Newsom's ideas about the changes in higher education in California.

The Real Rural California Project

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:48:27 PST

Writer and photographer Lisa Hamilton says the lack of direct contact between urban and rural Californians makes it feel as though California is made up of two wholly separate states. In a new project titled "Real Rural," Hamilton and her partners introduce California's unseen rural populations to their urban neighbors through photography, interviews and audio conversations.

Obama's Tuition Plan

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:48:11 PST

President Obama's message to colleges is simple: perpetual tuition hikes are no longer an option. Last week, he promised to reward colleges if they hold the line on tuition increases. On the other hand, he told college administrators that if they don't stop tuition from going up, then the funding they get from taxpayers each year will go down. We discuss the president's proposal.

The Struggle for Egypt

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:42:07 PST

Egypt recently marked the one-year anniversary of its Arab Spring revolution, which overthrew dictator Hosni Mubarak. Yet, the country remains in turmoil as different factions fight for political power. Steven Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins us to discuss his new book, "The Struggle for Egypt."

Occupy Oakland Arrests

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:41:49 PST

More than 400 people were arrested in clashes with police after a City Hall march and rally Saturday by Occupy Oakland. On Sunday, Mayor Jean Quan decried the damage and said the demonstrations have cost the budget-strapped city more than $5 million. Meanwhile, protesters criticized police conduct, saying the arrests were illegal and that OPD gave them no option to disperse. We discuss the weekend's developments.

SF Sketchfest

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:04:39 PST

San Francisco's comedy festival, SF Sketchfest, is in full swing. The festival, which lasts more than two weeks, brings big national names in comedy and local acts to the stage. We talk with members of San Francisco's venerable sketch comedy troupe Killing My Lobster. They'll perform live -- and we'll talk with two comedians and founders of SF Sketchfest.

Federal Housing Relief?

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:04:23 PST

Data released this week show a complex housing market with bidding wars in some Silicon Valley neighborhoods, and slow sales in much of the rest of the Bay Area. Nationally, foreclosures are down, mortgage rates remain at historic lows and President Obama just announced a plan to help struggling homeowners refinance. We take the temperature of the housing market, and look into the president's housing proposal.