KQED's Forum

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will nominate Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General. The polarizing MAGA congressman from Florida engineered the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and is the subject of an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation for sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. We talk about the implications of Gaetz’s nomination and what the Department of Justice could look like under a second Trump term. Guests: Benjamin Wittes, editor-in-chief of Lawfare; senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institute Claudia Grisales, congressional correspondent, NPR

Across the Bay Area, voters signaled a move away from progressive politics. A progressive mayor and DA were recalled in Oakland. A Levi’s heir was elected as San Francisco’s new mayor. The Bay Area rejected efforts to expand rent control and supported increasing criminal penalties for theft and certain drug crimes. What kind of platform do left wing political leaders need to appeal to this Bay Area electorate? We talk to political leaders about where progressives go from here. Guests: Jesse Arreguin, mayor, City of Berkeley; president, Association of Bay Area Governments; candidate, California State Senate District 7 Betty Duong, supervisor-elect, Santa Clara County, Board of Supervisors, District 2 Connie Chan, supervisor, District 1, San Francisco Board of Supervisors Edward Wright, director-elect, BART Board representing district 9. Wright is a former president of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club

Many factors contributed to Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss in the 2024 election. But for those hoping that Americans would elect the country’s first woman president — especially when picking between a Black and Asian woman and an adjudicated rapist — her defeat stung deeply. At the same time, 45% of female voters – and a majority of white women voters – cast their ballots for president-elect Donald Trump. We’ll talk about the roles racism and sexism could have played in this election, and whether the U.S. could have a female president in our lifetimes. Guests: Caroline Heldman, political scientist and professor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, political scientist and professor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Anna Sampaio, Professor of Ethnic Studies and Political Science, Santa Clara University Chaya Crowder, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Loyola Marymount University - author of the forthcoming book, “Intersectional Solidarity: Black Women and the Politics of Group Consciousness”

More than 60% of Oakland voters chose to recall mayor Sheng Thao last week, making her the first mayor to be recalled in the city’s history. Soon after the election is certified in December, Oakland will have four months to throw a special election for a new mayor. We’ll talk about what’s next for the city in the meantime. And we’ll check in with Oaklanders invested in the people, culture and functioning of the city about their hopes for the future of Oakland and what they’ll most be looking for from a new mayor. We want to hear from our Oakland listeners. Now that the old order has been tossed out, what do you want from a new one? Guests: Alex Hall, enterprise and accountability reporter, KQED Liam O'Donoghue, host and producer, East Bay Yesterday Nigel Jones, restaurateur, Calabash - an Afro-Caribbean and Jamaican restaurant, market and bar. Owned Kingston 11, which has now closed. Noni Session, executive director and co-founder, East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative Dorothy Lazard, author, What You Don’t Know Will Make a Whole New World - Former Head Librarian of the Oakland History Center Allison Brooks, executive director, Bay Area Regional Collaborative Janet Heller, executive director, Chapter 510 Angela Glover Blackwell, founder in residence, PolicyLink, an Oakland- based non-profit dedicated to advancing economic and social equity.

“The time to fight, with all our ingenuity and tenacity, and love and fury, is now.” That sounds like a rallying cry for democrats after their profound election defeat last week. But it’s in fact an environmental call to action from Katherine Rundell, whose new book “Vanishing Treasures” celebrates some of the earth’s most imperiled and unusual creatures. We’ll talk to Rundell about wombats that carry their young in upside-down pouches and excrete cube-shaped poop; the American wood frog that freezes itself solid to get through winter; the golden mole that’s evolved to be iridescent. What extraordinary creatures would you like to pay tribute to? Guests: Katherine Rundell, author, "Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures", Her previous books include "Impossible Creatures" and "Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Aren't So Old and Wise"

Transgender kids and their families have become a frequent target of president-elect Donald Trump and other conservative politicians. While the Bay Area and California have some of the strongest protections for trans people, federal policies could pose major challenges here. We’ll talk about the future of trans rights, whether access to gender-affirming care will remain possible, and what could happen during a second Trump administration. Guests: Honey Mahogany, Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives, City of San Francisco - former chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party and cofounder of the Transgender District in the Tenderloin Tom Temprano, managing director of external affairs, Equality California, an LGBTQ+ rights advocacy organization Kate Redburn, academic fellow, lecturer and co-director, The Center for Gender and Sexuality Law, Columbia Law School Nadine Pourier Blumenshine, vice president, PFLAG Fresno, a nonprofit organization of LGBTQ+ people, parents, families, and allies focused on creating an equitable and inclusive world

Donald Trump had a rocky relationship with Silicon Valley during his 2016 presidential campaign, and he clashed with Big Tech during his first term. This time around, he had the support of some high profile tech leaders, including Elon Musk. Dramatic changes have also come to Silicon Valley, which has been shaken up by the emergence of artificial intelligence. While there is growing concern over AI’s potential impact on society, Trump is expected to take a hands-off approach to regulation. The same might be true with antitrust enforcement against tech companies, which the Biden administration has prioritized. We’ll look at how Trump’s second term is likely to impact the tech industry from AI to social media to cryptocurrency. Guests: Elizabeth Dwoskin, Silicon Valley correspondent, The Washington Post Kelsey Piper, senior writer, Vox's Future Perfect newsletter Jeremy Owens, technology editor and San Francisco bureau chief, MarketWatch

Donald Trump has called climate change a “hoax”, opined that sea level rise caused by melting glaciers “could create more oceanfront property,” and has said “nuclear warming” is just as concerning as a hotter planet. During his first administration, Trump made a point of dismantling Obama-era climate rules, and in his second, he has vowed to double down on production of fossil fuels. We talk to experts about what climate efforts may look like during a Trump Administration, and how California will respond. Guests: Ethan Elkind, director of the Climate Program at the Center for Law, Energy and the Environment, UC Berkeley School of Law; host of the podcast, Climate Break Lisa Friedman, reporter on the climate desk, New York Times Jesse Jenkins, assistant professor, engineering, Princeton University Aru Shiney-Ajay, Executive Director, Sunrise movement, a grassroots organization of students and young people focused on climate change

Political strategist Mike Madrid says that democrats are in for a “long overdue reckoning” following an election where Trump support among self-identifying Hispanic voters was up some 14 percentage points compared to 2020, according to an Edison Research exit poll. We talk to Madrid about why he says the democratic party is less ethnically diverse than it was and what it needs to do to regain working class and Latino voters. Guests: Mike Madrid, political strategist, his new book is "The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority is Transforming Democracy" ; co-founder, The Lincoln Project

On the face of it, California and Florida – the homestates of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – are polar opposites. The divisions between the states came to symbolize the nation’s red/blue divide in the starkly different responses to the pandemic and the rivalry between their ambitious and politically powerful governors. But we also share a lot of the same concerns, including a housing affordability crisis and disasters caused by extreme weather. In this hour we team up with South Florida public radio station WLRN for a post-election conversation about where the country is headed and what unites and divides us. Guests: Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown

Donald Trump has long had it in for California. He’s threatened to withhold federal aid for wildfire recovery, tried to revoke the state’s Clean Air Act waiver and referred to Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff as examples of the “enemy from within.” Now that Trump has secured another term, California officials are preparing for what CalMatters reporter Alexei Koseff calls the “return of the resistance state.” How would you like California to respond to a second Trump Administration? Guests: Melanie Mason, senior political correspondent, Politico Alexei Koseff, reporter, CalMatters Eleni Kounalakis, lieutenant governor for the state of California, chairs the California Advisory Council for International Trade and Investment Anita Chabria, columnist, Los Angeles Times

In a recent post on Substack, writer and longtime political observer James Fallows wrote, “By the standards of any presidential race in modern times, Kamala Harris ran a very ‘good’ campaign… By those same standards, Trump ran a very bad campaign… And none of it mattered.” So, what did matter on election day? And, how does the Bay Area make sense of an election where the country voted overwhelmingly against one of our region’s most prominent politicians, Kamala Harris? Fallows joins Forum to help us understand what happened in the election and to discuss his recent Wired article, “After the Election, California (Yes, That Hellscape) Will Keep Moving the World Forward No Matter What.” Guests: James Fallows, journalist; former national correspondent for The Atlantic and author of the newsletter Breaking the News. His new article in Wired titled “After the Election, California (Yes, That Hellscape) Will Keep Moving the World Forward No Matter What.”

On the day after the election, we’ll bring you the latest results in the presidential race and the battle for Congress as well as key California contests and ballot measures. Politics reporters Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos of KQED and Andrew Prokop of Vox join us to analyze what we know so far, and where votes are still being tallied. Guests: Scott Shafer, senior editor, KQED’s California Politics and Government; co-host, Political Breakdown Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED - co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown Andrew Prokop, senior politics reporter, Vox

Bay Area voters were faced with pivotal decisions in Tuesday’s election that could have major impacts on our region. KQED reporters join us to talk about results from local and regional races and ballot measures. We’ll discuss the ranked choice results from San Francisco’s mayoral race and the recalls of Oakland’s mayor and Alameda County’s District Attorney. Voters also weighed in on controversial propositions such as Sonoma’s Measure J, an attempt to ban large-scale animal farms, and Measure K, deciding the future of San Francisco’s Great Highway. And we’ll hear from you, what Bay Area races were you watching? Guests: Alex Hall, enterprise and accountability reporter, KQED Annelise Finney, reporter, KQED Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk Sydney Johnson, reporter, KQED News

For many Americans, the 2024 election has caused rifts between family members, created animosity among friends and made civil political debate all but impossible. We share tips on navigating political differences and repairing relationships, especially when an election outcome doesn’t go your way. How are you handling political conflict in your family or social circle? Guests: A Martinez, host of Morning Edition and Up First, NPR Dr. Tania Israel, Professor of Counseling Psychology, UC Santa Barbara - author of her newest book, "Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation"

After a grueling campaign season, Election Day has arrived. Here at Forum, we asked ourselves what we would want to hear on an anxiety-inducing day. To that end, we’ve brought together a panel of thinkers including Tracy K. Smith, Pulitzer prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate, Jenny Odell, an artist and author who has thought deeply about nature and time, and Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor, who has written about awe and wonder. We’ll talk with them about how they find beauty, discovery and meaning in the face of worrying times, and hear from you: What is keeping you grounded today? Guests: Jenny Odell, author of "Saving Time: Discovering A Life Beyond the Clock". Odell is also the author of "How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy" Tracy K. Smith, poet; professor of English and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University - She served as the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 2012 for her book, "Life on Mars." She is the author of five poetry collections, including "Such Color," "Wade in Water," among other volumes Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley -Keltner is the author of "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life." He served as a consultant on the Pixar films, "Inside Out" and "Inside Out 2".

Donald Trump on Thursday called former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney a “radical war hawk” who should have guns “trained on her face.” This has become increasingly typical of the rhetoric coming from the Trump campaign — a campaign Atlantic staff writer David Graham says is “premised around violence, disregard for the rule of law, and retribution for anyone who might disagree with him.” We’ll talk with Graham and experts on extremism and extremist rhetoric about the impacts of Trump’s threatening messaging. Guests: David Graham, staff writer, The Atlantic Juliette Kayyem, faculty chair of the Homeland Security and Security and Global Health Projects Jennifer Mercieca, professor, Department of Communication & Journalism, Texas A&M University; author, “Demagogue For President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump”

For most of us the presidential race is top of mind. But voters on Tuesday will also decide which party controls Congress. Across the country, 34 Senate seats and all 435 House seats are contested in this election. In a historically tight race, with Democrats controlling the Senate and Republicans holding a majority in the House by razor thin margins, a small number of races will decide which party controls each chamber of Congress. We’ll talk to experts breaking down the battleground congressional races in California and nationwide. Guests: Jessica Taylor, Senate/Governors Editor, The Cook Political Report Nicholas Wu, congressional reporter, Politico Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk

Dia de los Muertos gives us a yearly opportunity to remember loved ones who have passed away. In honor of the holiday, we provide our listeners with a radio altar. It’s a chance to call in and share testimonials – or audio ofrendas – for those who’ve left us. Have you recently lost a family member, a neighbor, a friend or even a celebrity you admired? Tell us what they meant to you. Guests: Martina Ayala, executive director, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Antonieta Mercado, professor and director of the Program in Latin American Studies, University of San Diego

The modern witch is more than a character from “Harry Potter.” She, he or they could be a co-worker, a neighbor or a friend who uses spells, spirituality and study to connect with ancestors, mystery or the divine. Throughout history and across cultures, witches have been persecuted – labeled as heretics, Satanists or just plain weird. But witches have also been revered (and feared) for their ability to cure ailments with herbs and tinctures, to commune with nature and to summon the spirits. We talk about witches, witchcraft and the powerful spell they hold on us. Guests: Michelle Tea, author and poet, Her latest book is "Modern Magic: Stories, Rituals and Spells for Contemporary Witches"; She also hosts the podcast "Your Magic" where she has read the tarot cards for Roxane Gay, Phoebe Bridgers and other celebrities. Bri Luna, founder of the website "The Hoodwitch", Her most recent book is "Blood Sex Magic: Everyday Magic for the Modern Mystic from the Creator of The Hoodwitch". Helen Berger, visiting scholar, Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard Divinity School; Berger is considered one of the country's foremost experts on Witches. She is the author of four books, including "Solitary Pagans" among other books on Witches, Wiccans and contemporary Pagans.