Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

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 NewsHeather Reams, President, Citizens for Responsible Energy SolutionsMariannette Miller-Meeks, U.S. Representative (R-IA 1st District) and Chair of the Conservative Climate CaucusDanielle 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 PolicyMaria Robinson, Director, Grid Deployment Office, Department of Energy Danielle Fidler, Senior Attorney, Clean Energy Program, EarthjusticePat Wood, CEO, Hunt EnergySupport 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 UniversityStacy Davis Gates, President, Chicago Teachers UnionAnita Seth, President, UNITE HERE Local 8Emily Minkus, Member, UNITE HERE Local 8Support 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