Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

The U.S. is gearing up for a presidential election between a climate advocate and a climate denier. Scientists have given humanity a deadline to drastically reduce the use of fossil fuels if we want a habitable Earth. While there has been some progress, it’s not anywhere nearly enough, and the consequences of our failure to address our fossil fuel addiction is becoming more and more obvious. All of which generates lots of anxiety about the election’s outcome. So what are some ways we can address that anxiety? Can that worry be put to good use? Guests: Lise Van Susteren, General and forensic psychiatrist; Author Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President & CEO, Hip Hop Caucus David Hogg, Gun control activist; Cofounder, March for Our Lives, Leaders We Deserve Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today for just $5/month. 🎟️ Climate One has three incredible live shows on the horizon! Join us for conversations featuring Jane Goodall, Justin J. Pearson, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Bill McKibben, and Abigail Dillen. Tickets are on sale now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamala Harris is going toe-to-toe with Donald Trump in a high-stakes race for the presidency. Though she has served as vice president for four years, many Americans don’t know a lot about her. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we know her from her days as San Francisco district attorney and then California attorney general and senator. But perhaps no observer knows her as well as journalist Dan Morain, whose biography of Harris—Kamala’s Way—gives insight into her history in the Bay Area. And Morain returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs to talk about Harris on the cusp of making history on the national stage. There’s very little that’s conventional about Kamala Harris, and yet her personal story also represents many Americans. She grew up the eldest daughter of a single mother, a no-nonsense cancer researcher who emigrated from India at the age of 19 in search of a better education. She and her husband, an accomplished economist from Jamaica, split up when Kamala was only five. The Kamala Harris the public knows today is tough, smart, quick-witted, and demanding. She’s a prosecutor—her one-liners are legendary—but she’s more reticent when it comes to sharing much about herself, even in her memoirs. Fortunately, former Los Angeles Times reporter Dan Morain has been there from the start. Join us in-person in San Francisco or online to learn more about the person who might well be America’s first female president, its first southeast Asian president, and its second Black president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for our second installment of a new series of lively discussion on the future of San Francisco. Featuring leaders in community, service and volunteerism. "People Power & Service" will explore the opportunities for the people of San Francisco to play an active role in the next chapter of our city and the impact that neighbors leading local change can have. Hear strategy and on-the-ground learnings from Josh Fryday, California’s chief service officer, Jess Blackshaw, founder of the Bay Area’s innovative Y Core young professional service program, and Dean Fealk, author and researcher on changemakers and service. By harnessing the collective energy and dedication of community members, we can breathe new life into urban spaces, foster stronger connections, and address critical social needs. Learn how grassroots efforts are leading sustainable change, driving economic growth, social cohesion, and a renewed sense of pride in San Francisco. Join us in imagining the role of volunteerism in building the vibrant and resilient city of the future. UP NEXT. . . Part 3, coming soon: "A Thriving, Natural City," how should we shape a sustainable San Francisco future? See Part 1: "The Future of Downtown" "What's Good, SF!” is a compelling series delving into the post-pandemic revitalization of San Francisco. Through three insightful programs, the series navigates the city's landscape of opportunity and challenge. Join us as we uncover the stories of resilience, adaptation and transformation that define San Francisco's journey toward a new, vibrant and sustainable future. This program is generously supported Levi Strauss & Co. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone knows her name. Mary Trump grew up in a family divided by its patriarch’s relentless drive for money and power. The daughter of Freddy Trump—the highly accomplished, dashing eldest son of wealthy real estate developer Fred Trump—and Linda Clapp—a flight attendant from a working-class family—Mary lived in the shadow of Freddy’s humiliation at the hands of his father. Fred Trump embodied the ethos of the zero-sum game and among his five children: there could only be one winner. That was supposed to be Freddy, his namesake, but Fred found him wanting―too sensitive, too kind, too interested in pursuits beyond the realm of the real estate empire he was meant to inherit. In Donald, Fred found a kindred spirit, a “killer,” who would stop at nothing to get his own way. Even after Freddy’s short-lived career as a professional pilot for TWA came to an end, he never stopped trying to gain his father’s approval. Finally, at the age of 42, he succumbed to Fred’s lethal contempt and died alone in an emergency room, with no family by his side. Mary Trump returns to the Club for a special online-only talk about the issues raised in her new memoir Who Could Ever Love You, in which she pulls back the curtains on what she calls the twisted family whose patriarch ignored, froze out, and eventually destroyed his own. Freddy Trump’s decline into alcoholism and illness, along with Linda’s suffering after their divorce, left Mary dangerously vulnerable as a very young girl. Inadequately and only conditionally loved, there were no adults in her life except for the father she loved but lost before she could know him; and a mother abandoned by her ex-husband’s rich and powerful family who demanded her loyalty but left her with nothing. She says that cold, selfish cruelty has come to define the Trump family thanks in large part to her uncle, whose ambition has divided the nation and much of the world. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For 13 turbulent and consequential months, H.R. McMaster served as President Donald Trump’s national security advisor. McMaster entered an administration beset by conflict and the hyper partisanship of American politics. Join us as McMaster shares his stories of helping an unpredictable president drive necessary shifts in U.S. foreign policy at a critical moment in history. He says that while all administrations are subject to backstabbing and infighting, some of Trump’s more unscrupulous political advisors were determined to undermine McMaster and others to advance their narrow agendas. Hear about Cabinet officials who, deeply disturbed by Trump’s language and behavior, prioritized controlling the president over collaborating to provide the president with options. McMaster offers a frank and fresh assessment of the achievements and failures of his tenure as national security advisor and the challenging task of maintaining one’s bearings and focus on the mission in a hectic and malicious environment. Determined to transcend the war within the administration and focus on national security priorities, McMaster forged coalitions in Washington and internationally to help Trump advance U.S. interests. Trump’s character and personality helped him make tough decisions, but sometimes prevented him from sticking to them, says McMaster. And now with the 2024 election on the horizon, hear McMaster highlight the crucial importance of competence in foreign policy, and make plain the need for leaders who possess the character and intellect to guide the United States in a tumultuous world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Steyer rose to public prominence as the billionaire investor and climate organizer who ran for president in the 2020 election on a climate-first platform. While he didn’t secure the Democratic nomination, his dedication to supporting and advancing climate solutions has remained steadfast. In his new book, “Cheaper, Better, Faster: How We’ll Win the Climate War,” Steyer argues that we are in a defining moment: we face the daunting, existential threat of climate change. And yet, with this great challenge comes a great opportunity for innovation, global leadership and economic growth. But can capitalism, the system that helped create and exacerbate the climate crisis, be the system that fixes climate chaos? Guests: Tom Steyer, Co-Executive Chair of Galvanize Climate Solutions, Investor, Author Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today for just $5/month. 🎟️ Climate One has three incredible live shows on the horizon! Join us for conversations featuring Jane Goodall, Justin J. Pearson, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Bill McKibben, and Abigail Dillen. Tickets are on sale now. For show notes and related links, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. military is one of the world’s largest consumers of fossil fuels. And its carbon pollution is equally huge. At the same time, climate disruption is already amplifying crises and conflicts around the world — making climate change, in the words of one military expert, “a threat multiplier.” The Department of Defense has been making moves to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. The Air Force has recently invested in electric aircraft, and several bases are tapping into geothermal energy — capturing heat from deep underground. Others are building their own microgrids — islands of electricity that can run on clean sources. This week we explore how the U.S. military is trying to balance global security with climate threats. This episode also features a reported story by NPR’s Quil Lawrence, originally broadcast on NPR’s All Things Considered on October 2, 2023. Guests: Sherri Goodman, Secretary General, International Military Council on Climate & Security Neta C. Crawford, Montague Burton Professor of International Relations, University of Oxford 📞 With the presidential election just a few months away, many of us are experiencing increased anxiety and uncertainty. If you're finding it challenging to manage your stress or are looking for support during this tense time, we want to hear from you. We’re inviting you to call in with your questions for our expert therapist, who will provide insights and practical advice on how to cope that may be shared in an upcoming episode. Call ‪(650) 382-3869 to leave us a voicemail ‬and let us know what you’re feeling. Thanks for sharing! Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today for just $5/month. 🎟️ Climate One has three incredible live shows on the horizon! Join us for conversations featuring Jane Goodall, Justin J. Pearson, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Bill McKibben, and Abigail Dillen. Tickets are on sale now. For show notes and related links, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has the U.S. Constitution become a threat to American democracy? Does it need to be dramatically changed or replaced if secession is to be avoided? Join us as Erwin Chemerinsky returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs to share his deeply troubled thoughts of the Constitution’s inherent flaws. The dean of the UC Berkeley law school came to the sobering conclusion that our nearly 250-year-old founding document is responsible for the crisis now facing American democracy. Chemerinsky points out that just 15 of the 11,848 amendments proposed since 1789 have passed, and he contends that the very nature of our polarization results from the Constitution’s “bad bones,” which have created a government that no longer works or has the confidence of the public. Yet he says political Armageddon can still be avoided if a new constitutional convention is empowered to replace the Constitution of 1787, much as the Founding Fathers replaced the outdated Articles of Confederation. And if that’s not possible? He has an even more radical proposal: That Americans must give serious thought to forms of secession―including a United States structured like the European Union―based on a recognition that what divides us as a country is, in fact, greater than what unites us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bankruptcy is the busiest federal court in America. In theory, bankruptcy in America exists to cancel or restructure debts for people and companies that have way too many debts—a safety valve designed to provide a mechanism for restarting lives and businesses when things go wrong financially. Legal scholar Melissa B. Jacoby argues that bankruptcy has also become an escape hatch for powerful individuals, corporations, and governments, contributing in unseen and poorly understood ways to race, gender, and class inequality in America. When cities go bankrupt, for example, police unions enjoy added leverage while police brutality victims are denied a seat at the negotiating table; the system is more forgiving of civil rights abuses than of the parking tickets disproportionately distributed in African American neighborhoods. Across a broad range of crucial issues, Jacoby reveals the hidden mechanisms by which bankruptcy impacts everything from sexual harassment to health care, police violence to employment discrimination, and the opioid crisis to gun violence. Join us for a special online-only program with Professor Jacoby in conversation with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People think they know what an autocratic state looks like: There is an all-powerful leader at the top; he controls the police; the police threaten the people with violence; there are evil collaborators, and maybe some brave dissidents. But in the 21st century, that bears little resemblance to reality. Nowadays, autocracies are underpinned not by one dictator, but by sophisticated networks composed of kleptocratic financial structures, surveillance technologies, and professional propagandists, all of which operate across multiple regimes, from China to Russia to Iran. Corrupt companies in one country do business with corrupt companies in another. The police in one country can arm and train the police in another, and propagandists share resources and themes, pounding home the same messages about the weakness of democracy and the evil of America. So what can be done? Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times bestselling author Anne Applebaum says that international condemnation and economic sanctions cannot move the autocrats. Even popular opposition movements, from Venezuela to Hong Kong to Moscow, don't stand a chance. The members of “Autocracy, Inc.,” as she dubs the movement, aren't linked by a unifying ideology, like communism, but rather a common desire for power, wealth, and impunity. Applebaum joins us for a special online program to share her urgent call for the world’s democracies to fundamentally reorient their policies to fight a new kind of threat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The leaders at the top of the Republican Party want the U.S. to double down on carbon-intensive oil and gas — and avoid reckoning with the damage they cause. As temperatures continue to rise, a majority of young Republican voters say clinging to that stance could spell trouble for the sustainability of the GOP. And yet, conservatives aren’t a monolith when it comes to climate. A small wing of the party is warming up to the idea of climate action. The question is: Can those Republicans, who take climate seriously, move the needle on bipartisan climate action? Guests: Emma Dumain, Reporter, E&E News Heather Reams, President, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Mariannette Miller-Meeks, U.S. Representative (R-IA 1st District) and Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus Danielle Butcher Franz, CEO, American Conservation Coalition 📞 With the presidential election just a few months away, many of us are experiencing increased anxiety and uncertainty. If you're finding it challenging to manage your stress or are looking for support during this tense time, we want to hear from you. We’re inviting you to call in with your questions for our expert therapist, who will provide insights and practical advice on how to cope that may be shared in an upcoming episode. Call ‪(650) 382-3869 to leave us a voicemail ‬and let us know what you’re feeling. Thanks for sharing! Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today for just $5/month. 🎟️ Climate One has four upcoming live shows, featuring Tom Steyer, Jane Goodall, Justin J. Pearson, and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. Tickets are on sale now. For show notes and related links, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Paul Alan Cox is an American ethnobotanist whose scientific research focuses on discovering new medicines by studying patterns of wellness and illness among Indigenous peoples. Chosen by Time magazine as one of 11 Heroes of Medicine, Dr. Cox leads a remarkable team of world-class scientists. Their objective is singular: to improve patient outcomes for individuals suffering from Alzheimer's, ALS and Parkinson's disease—known collectively as "tangle diseases." His team has sought to discover how to stop protein tangles in the brain. This has led to new ways to prevent, diagnose, and slow the progression of these debilitating diseases. Join us for this fascinating deep dive into a hopeful new look at tangle diseases. MLF Organizer: Robert Lee Kilpatrick A Health & Medicine Member-led Forum program. Forums and Chapters at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2020, Latinos became the second largest ethnic voting group in the United States. They make up the largest plurality of residents in the most populous states in the union, as well as the fastest-growing segment of the most important swing states in the U.S. Electoral College. Fitting neither the stereotype of the aggrieved minority voter nor the traditional assimilating immigrant group, Latinos are challenging both political parties' notions of race, religious beliefs, economic success, and the American dream. Given their exploding numbers—and their growing ability to determine the fate of local, state, and national elections—many people would think the two major political parties would understand Latino voters. After all, their emergence on the national scene is not a new phenomenon. But the parties still don’t. Mike Madrid, veteran political consultant and author of the new book The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy, says that Republicans, not because of their best efforts but rather despite them, are just beginning to see a movement of Latinos toward the GOP. Democrats, for the moment, still win a commanding share of the Latino vote, but that share is dwindling fast. Madrid draws on 30 years of research and campaign experience at some of the highest levels on both sides of the aisle to address what might be the most critical questions of our time: Will the rise of Latino voters continue to foment the hyper-partisan and explosive tribalism of our age, or will they usher in a new pluralism that advances the arc of social progress? How and why are both political parties so uniquely unprepared for the coming wave of Latino votes? And what must each party do to win those votes? The answers will shape our democracy for years to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race on July 21, and in the few weeks since, Vice President Kamala Harris has garnered enough delegates to become the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. During the Democratic National Convention in a couple of weeks, the party will feature its new challenger to Donald Trump. For months, Biden had trailed Trump in the polls, but Harris has since rallied the hopes of Democratic Party voters. Now the 2024 presidential election is a toss-up, and there are signs that Harris' momentum is upending the race. On August 12, please join us for a conversation about what to expect at the 2024 DNC, and how the introduction of Harris's running mate, Tim Walz, may impact the contest for the battleground states. Stuart Stevens, former chief Republican strategist and author of Conspiracy to End America, will join Ray Suarez to discuss the state of the race, and make predictions for the final 90 days of the 2024 presidential election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The nation’s electric grid needs to be expanded and made more reliable for our future energy demands and climate forecasts. The way we’ve built transmission in the past — regionally siloed with short term planning — is now suffering from reliability and capacity issues and won’t work for the next century. The Department of Energy is drafting plans for national transmission corridors to help speed new construction. It’s also handing out funds to build new lines and upgrade existing infrastructure to increase capacity. Meanwhile, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently passed a rule requiring utilities to work together and take a longer view on planning their transmission needs. But it will still take years to accomplish these changes. Can we build a robust national transmission system that serves our decarbonized future at the speed we need? Guests: Shelley Welton, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Law and Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law and the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy Maria Robinson, Director, Grid Deployment Office, Department of Energy Danielle Fidler, Senior Attorney, Clean Energy Program, Earthjustice Pat Wood, CEO, Hunt Energy Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today for just $5/month. 🎟️ Climate One has four upcoming live shows, featuring Tom Steyer, Jane Goodall, Justin J. Pearson, and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. Tickets are on sale now. For show notes and related links, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, John J. Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador in Moscow, was warning that it would happen. When troops finally crossed the border, he was woken in the middle of the night with a prearranged code. The signal was even more bracing than the February cold: it meant that Sullivan needed to collect his bodyguards and get to the embassy as soon as possible. The war had begun, and the world would never be the same. Sullivan has laid down his story in his new book Midnight in Moscow, in which he leads readers into the offices of the U.S. embassy and the halls of the Kremlin during this climactic period—among the most dangerous since World War II. He shows how the Putin regime repeatedly lied about its intentions to invade Ukraine in the weeks leading up to the attack, while also devoting huge numbers of personnel and vast resources to undermining the U.S. diplomatic mission in Russia. And he explains how, when Putin ultimately gave the order to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, he proved that Russia was not just at war with its neighbor: it was also at war, in a very real sense, with the United States, and with everything that it represents. But while Putin decided how this conflict started, its ending will be shaped by us. Join us for an online-only talk with Ambassador Sullivan as he shares his unique perspective on a pivotal moment in world history, how our relationship with Russia has deteriorated, where it’s headed, and how far we should be prepared to go in standing up to the menace in Moscow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year was the hottest in recorded history, and this summer, much of the United States has already experienced record-shattering heat waves. That leaves millions of workers risking their health and possibly even their lives while on the job. And the danger is not limited to those who work outdoors. Warehouses, restaurants, and other indoor spaces are heating up. Most jobs lack heat protection from the federal or state government, but the same groups that brought us the 40-hour work week, child labor laws, and the weekend are now fighting for new worker protections. Unions across the country — from Texas UPS drivers to the Chicago Teachers Union — are negotiating to keep their workers protected from the effects of the climate crisis. Some are even going one step further and negotiating for their employers to cut the carbon pollution that’s adding to global heating. How has the climate crisis spurred union action? Guests: Terri Gerstein, Director, The Labor Initiative, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University Stacy Davis Gates, President, Chicago Teachers Union Anita Seth, President, UNITE HERE Local 8 Emily Minkus, Member, UNITE HERE Local 8 Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today for just $5/month. 🎟️ We've added yet another event to our stacked fall calendar. This program will feature Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson in conversation with Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen and Co-Host Greg Dalton. Tickets are on sale now. For show notes and related links, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join author Jeffrey Fuhrer , whose 27 years of experience at the Boston Fed informed his breakthrough expose about how false narratives about racism and meritocracy broke our economy. He argues that systemic racism continues to produce vastly disparate outcomes, and that our brand of capitalism doesn't reduce disparities. Jeffrey will be joined in conversation by Akilah Monifa, a trained lawyer and law professor, who's published many op-eds. She is the former director of public affairs and communications for CBS television and radio stations in San Francisco. She is now a retired Black lesbian mother and grandmother, and is the founder of BlackHistoryEveryDay.com. MLF Organizer: Ian McCuaig A Social Impact Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. Main image detail from The Myth That Made Us book cover; speaker photos courtesy the speakers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In about a week’s time, the election changed—bigly, you might say. An assassination attempt, a huge court victory for former President Trump, the Republican National Convention, President Biden ends his reelection campaign, and Vice President Harris grabs the baton. It’s a whole new ballgame, and we’ll tackle those developments and more in our next political roundtable. Join us for a mid-summer dive into politics in this high-stakes election year. As usual with Week to Week, our panelists will discuss the latest political developments in an informed, civil (and fun) manner. And come early before the program for our social hour for some wine and light bites and an opportunity to talk with other Club members and friends. See other upcoming Week to Week political roundtables, as well as audio and video of past Week to Week programs. This program contains EXPLICIT language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of August 8, 1974, the day President Richard Nixon resigned, and to remember an era in which there were still stark limits to what presidents could do and keep a straight face. Stephen Talbot will screen his film, The Movement and the "Madman", which debuted in 2023 on the PBS series "American Experience." Talbot’s 82-minute film tells the story of how two major anti-Vietnam War protests in the fall of 1969 pressured President Nixon to cancel what he privately called his "madman" plans for a major escalation of the war, including the possibility of his threatening to use nuclear weapons. After Talbot’s film is screened, he will answer questions about both the history of that time and his artistry making documentary films. Those who took part in the 1969 protests in the Bay Area are especially welcome to join the discussion, which will also include Talbot’s perspective on the relevance of Nixon’s resignation to our current international political situations―where threatening to use nuclear weapons no longer seems to cause irreparable shame and dishonor. MLF Organizer: George Hammond A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. This program contains EXPLICIT language. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices