KQED's Forum

Join Marisa Lagos, KQED's politics correspondent, Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist at The Washington Post, and Dr. Jocelyn Sze, psychologist at UC Berkeley, as they dive into how Trump's first 100 days have reshaped daily life. They discuss community reactions, the emotional toll of political changes, and the impact on mental health. Hear personal stories about job loss anxiety, shifting finances, and the importance of community connections in navigating these turbulent times.

Christine Wu Nordahl, a UC Davis professor and autism expert, joins Mary HK Choi, an author who was diagnosed with autism in her 40s, and Holden Thorp, an editor who discovered his diagnosis at 53. They discuss the rising autism diagnosis rates and the often overlooked experiences of women and adults on the spectrum. The guests share insights on the complexity of neurodiversity, the impact of late diagnoses, and the importance of supportive environments. They also address societal narratives that often paint autism negatively, emphasizing thriving within the spectrum.

Kathy Ryan, the former director of photography at The New York Times Magazine for 37 years, shares her wealth of experience in visual storytelling. She discusses how photographs shape our understanding of history, including monumental events like 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryan explores what makes a photograph impactful in today's image-saturated world, emphasizing emotional resonance and the role of captions. Personal anecdotes reveal the transformative power of images in collective memory, while she reflects on the challenges faced by modern photojournalists.

Clint Smith, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of 'How the Word is Passed,' joins Key Jo Lee, chief of curatorial affairs at the Museum of the African Diaspora. They dive into the political battle over American history narratives amid efforts to erase uncomfortable truths. Smith discusses the implications of whitewashing history and the importance of confronting racial injustices. Lee highlights the critical role of museums in preserving marginalized stories and the ongoing challenges they face due to funding cuts and ideological pressures.

Brie Jensen, host of the popular Pontifacts podcast, joins Jeffrey Guhin, a sociology professor at UCLA, and Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam, chair at the Salesian Pontifical University, to discuss the future of the papacy after Pope Francis's passing. They explore the conclave process and potential successors, emphasizing the need to continue Francis's legacy of environmentalism and social justice. The conversation highlights hopes for an inclusive and compassionate leader who prioritizes global issues like poverty and climate change.

Caregiving is the most universal of human acts. But also one of the most invisible. While caring for a child, parent or loved one can be meaningful, and life defining, it can also be exhausting and life breaking. Drawing on her groundbreaking research on baby’s brains, UC Berkeley psychologist and philosopher Alison Gopnik is leading a multidisciplinary project to better understand the social science of caregiving with hopes of translating those insights into practical policies. Gopnik and policymaker Anne-Marie Slaughter join us to talk about how rethinking our approach to caregiving and how we support care providers, could lead to a better, more functional society.Guests:Alison Gopnik, professor of psychology and affiliate professor of philosophy, UC Berkeley; author, "The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children"Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America, a non-profit think tank; author of "Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Adam Serwer, a Staff Writer at The Atlantic, Mark Joseph Stern from Slate Magazine, and Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, former justice and now president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, as they dissect the growing tensions between the Trump administration and federal courts. They explore the implications of executive defiance on the rule of law and the potential for a constitutional crisis. The conversation also addresses the judiciary's struggle to maintain authority and the broader impact on democracy and civic engagement.

Graham Lustig, artistic director of both the Angel Island Project and Oakland Ballet, discusses the emotional ballet based on the immigrant experiences at Angel Island. Phil Chan, choreographer and co-founder of Final Bow for Yellowface, highlights the fusion of classical and Chinese dance styles that give voice to these powerful stories. Ed Tepporn, from the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, emphasizes the historical significance of these narratives. Together, they explore themes of resilience and representation, connecting past struggles with modern immigration issues.

Overturning Roe v. Wade was never the end goal of the anti-abortion movement, says UC Davis law professor and leading abortion historian Mary Ziegler. It was always to establish personhood for a fertilized egg, subject to equal protection under the Constitution. Should the “fetal personhood” movement succeed, then providing, assisting and even obtaining an abortion could be criminal acts. Ziegler joins us to break down the fetal personhood movement’s legal strategy — and what it could mean for abortion access, contraception and in vitro fertilization. Ziegler’s new book is “Personhood: The New Civil War Over Reproduction.”Guests:Mary Ziegler, professor of law, UC Davis School of Law Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doug Belkins, a higher education reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Molly Gibbs from the East Bay Times, and Aarya Mukherjee of The Daily Californian dive into the Trump administration's controversial policies affecting international students in California. They discuss how visa terminations have sparked fear among students and impacted university finances. The trio also explores legal battles between educational institutions and the administration, and the broader implications for academic freedom and diversity in higher education.