KQED's Forum

David Brooks, an opinion columnist for The New York Times and PBS NewsHour contributor, discusses the pressing need for a mass movement to counter the rise of populist authoritarianism. He questions the absence of a robust resistance and argues that Trumpism could persist for a generation. Brooks suggests leveraging stories and historical movements to unite diverse groups against authoritarianism. He emphasizes the importance of deepening our connections with others to build meaningful alliances and reclaim patriotism through social mobility.

Chloe Dillon and Elisa Brasil, both former federal immigration judges, delve into the troubling firings during the Trump administration. Chloe highlights how these dismissals jeopardize due process for millions of immigrants and how the immigration court system has deteriorated. They discuss the heavy burdens on judges, the rushed nature of asylum hearings, and the impact of expedited removals on legal rights. Tyche Hendricks adds insights on community reactions and the broader implications for immigrant populations in the Bay Area.

Lester Black, cannabis editor at SFGATE, and Dr. Brian Hurley, an addiction physician, delve into the alarming rise of 7-OH, a potent synthetic derivative of kratom. They discuss its shocking potency—over ten times that of morphine—and the troubling accessibility of this drug in gas stations. Black shares personal stories of rapid addiction, while Hurley highlights the concerning local overdose statistics. Together, they explore public health responses, treatment challenges, and the potential impact of banning this dangerous substance.

Join Jay McClelland, a Stanford professor specializing in neural networks, and Gaurav Suri, a computational neuroscientist at San Francisco State, as they delve into how both human and artificial intelligence operate. They explore how simple, interconnected neural units create complex behaviors and the importance of top-down expectations in perception. The duo also discusses consciousness, the challenges of reading memories from brain scans, and AI's limitations in common sense. Together, they reveal how understanding these concepts can bridge the gap between minds and machines.

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in NYC and author of "Heart of a Stranger," discusses the challenges of expressing empathy amidst political divides. She reveals her fear of discussing Israel due to concerns about community fallout and reflects on shared suffering after crises. Buchdahl emphasizes the dangers of a zero-sum empathy mindset, linking her biracial upbringing to her commitment to compassion. She also highlights the importance of storytelling and listening as pathways to repair emotional connections and foster understanding.

Larry Levitt, an expert in U.S. health policy, joins Jessica Altman, Executive Director of Covered California, to discuss the looming expiration of enhanced ACA premium tax credits. They break down how these credits work and the significant consequences for Californians if subsidies end. Premiums could skyrocket for millions, especially those most vulnerable. They explore the implications for the uninsured population and the broader healthcare system, emphasizing the crucial role of insurance in preventative care and chronic disease management.

William Gould IV, Professor emeritus at Stanford Law School and former chair of the National Labor Relations Board, shares insights on the current challenges facing federal workers. He discusses the impact of recent layoffs and the political attacks on labor rights, stressing the importance of grassroots organizing. Gould reflects on his career as the first Black professor at Stanford Law and offers thoughts on racism in unions, legal battles, and necessary reforms. His new memoir reveals personal anecdotes that shaped his journey in labor law.

Cory Doctorow coined a word to describe how what we once loved about the internet, and relied on, has become exploitative, corrosive, and anti-user. And now he’s written a book about it, “Enshittification: Why Everything Got Worse and What to Do About It.” He analyzes how TikTok, Google Search, email, music streaming and other services and platforms  – technology that we expect to always improve – have declined so fast. But the tech activist and science fiction writer insists it can be fixed. “This era, the Enshittocene, is the result of specific policy decisions, made by named individuals,” he writes, and those policies can be reversed and the individuals can be held accountable. We talk to him about what’s gone wrong and how we can make a new, good internet.  Guests: Cory Doctorow, science fiction writer, technology activist and journalist. Author, "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glynn Washington, host of KQED and Snap Judgment’s “Spooked,” joins us to talk about the podcast’s new season called The Crossroads. It takes stories about encounters with the unknown to new levels by exploring what happens when desperation drives us to bargain with dark forces. As “Spooked” tours the West Coast — with shows on Oct. 23 in Los Angeles and Oct. 25 in Oakland – we’ll talk about why we crave frights, scares and ghosts this month, and what they can teach us about our world year-round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do we leave our homelands? That is the central question which animates the newest work of San Francisco poet laureate Genny Lim and the Bay Area-based Del Sol Quartet. Together, Lim and the musicians explore the implications of migration and the search for a new home in their work, “Facing the Moon: Songs of the Diaspora.” They join us live in the studio for a performance and conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices