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Forum (KQED) (World Talk)

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  • Host: Michael Krasny
  • The live public affairs program broadcast in the San Francisco Bay Area presents balanced discussions of local, state, national, and world issues. Also included are in-depth interviews with leading figures in politics, science, entertainment, and the arts.
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Class Size Reduction

today Listen
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...

State Politics Roundup

today Listen
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

today Listen
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...

'Denialism'

Thu, Nov 19 Listen
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

Thu, Nov 19 Listen
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

Wed, Nov 18 Listen
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

Wed, Nov 18 Listen
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

Wed, Nov 18 Listen
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

Tue, Nov 17 Listen
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

Tue, Nov 17 Listen
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

Tue, Nov 17 Listen
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

Mon, Nov 16 Listen
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

Mon, Nov 16 Listen
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'

Fri, Nov 13 Listen
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

Fri, Nov 13 Listen
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

Thu, Nov 12 Listen
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

Thu, Nov 12 Listen
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

Wed, Nov 11 Listen
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.

Radical Elders

Tue, Nov 10 Listen
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

Tue, Nov 10 Listen
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

Mon, Nov 9 Listen
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

Mon, Nov 9 Listen
We discuss the House of Representatives' passage of landmark health care overhaul legislation on Saturday night.

Shooting at Fort Hood

Sat, Nov 7 Listen
Thirteen people were killed and scores injured in yesterday's shooting at Fort Hood Military Base in Texas. We get an update on the latest news on the incident, and hear from psychiatry experts and members of the Arab and Muslim communities.

UC Berkeley's Sports Budget

Sat, Nov 7 Listen
As California's universities face increasing budget shortfalls, some professors at UC Berkeley insist that subsidizing intercollegiate athletics should be stopped immediately. Others argue that to do so would have drastic consequences for campus life. We discuss the issue, and options for resolving athletic and academic funding.

Susan Wels on Amelia Earhart

Thu, Nov 5 Listen
Amelia Earhart has captivated public attention for decades. In a new biography, Susan Wels explores all aspects of Earhart's storied life using never-before-seen photographs and artifacts. Wels' new book is "Amelia Earhart: The Thrill of It."

Parole and Phillip Garrido

Thu, Nov 5 Listen
A new report by California's corrections watchdog blasts the state's parole department for failing to properly supervise Phillip Garrido. Garrido is in jail facing charges of kidnapping and sexually assaulting then 11 year old Jaycee Dugard over the course of 18 years. California's inspector general says California's parole system is riddled with systemic problems that jeopardize public safety.

Cuts to California State Parks

Wed, Nov 4 Listen
We look at the impact of budget cuts to California state parks, and discuss a proposed state ballot measure, announced Tuesday, that would raise funds for the park system by imposing an annual car registration surcharge.

State Water Plan

Wed, Nov 4 Listen
The California State Senate has passed the first in a series of bills that seeks to settle a long standing battle over the control and flow of water through the California Delta. As stakeholders work to protect their interests, observers say this comprehensive package of bills has moved further toward fruition than any in the past.

Election Results

Wed, Nov 4 Listen
We take a look at Tuesday's election results and discuss how they might impact California.

Wendell Berry

Tue, Nov 3 Listen
Author, poet and farmer Wendell Berry was writing about the virtues of slow food and sustainable agriculture decades before it became fashionable. He joins us to discuss "Bringing it to the Table: On Farming and Food," his new book of essays. Berry is also the author of a new book of poetry, titled "Leavings."

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