Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

Join The Bulwark for an evening of politics and laughs among friends. Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Jonathan V. Last, founders of The Bulwark and hosts of “The Next Level” podcast, bring their signature style of banter to the stage for an evening of sharp political insights, lots of laughs . . . and maybe even a few tears.With the U.S. electorate hurtling toward a rematch of Biden v. Trump, the gang will react to the Iowa caucuses and the state of the GOP race, Biden’s State of the Union, the latest polling and other pressing events of the day.At An Evening with The Bulwark you can expect a fun night with a community built on good faith where we tell you what we really think.Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Plan to stick around after the show to meet fellow attendees and the gang from The Bulwark.About the SpeakersTim Miller is The Bulwark’s writer-at-large, an MSNBC political analyst and the author of the New York Times best seller Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell. He was previously political director for Republican Voters Against Trump and communications director for Jeb Bush 2016.Sarah Longwell is the publisher of The Bulwark and host of “The Focus Group” podcast. She is president and CEO of Longwell Partners in Washington, D.C., and co-founder with Bill Kristol of the organizations Defending Democracy Together and the Republican Accountability Project. A long-time Republican strategist and former national board chair of the Log Cabin Republicans, her recent DDT projects are Republican Voters Against Trump and Republicans for the Rule of Law.Jonathan V. Last is the editor of The Bulwark, where he writes the daily “Triad” newsletters. He hosts “The Secret Podcast” with Sarah and “The Next Level” podcast. He is the author of What to Expect When No One Is Expecting and the editor of The Dadly Virtues: Adventures from the Worst Job You'll Ever Love.This program contains explicit content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie Coleman, cancer survivor and founder of the Chromophobe and Oncocytic Tumor Alliance, discusses the need for patient-centered care in cancer research. She highlights the importance of optimizing care for patients, rather than sponsor outcomes or payer reimbursement. Topics include new tools for patient empowerment, easy access to medical records, advancements in genomic profiling, and the benefits of widespread genetic testing for cancer.

Jane Fonda has spent the last several decades fighting for Indigenous peoples' rights, economic justice, LGBTQ rights, peace, gender equality and more. Now, she is devoting herself to the climate emergency, beginning with Fire Drill Fridays, the national movement to protest government inaction on climate change she started in October 2019. Through the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, she is focused on defeating political allies of the fossil fuel industry. At 85, Fonda continues to fight for the most vulnerable among us, consistently pointing out the intersection between the myriad of causes. What keeps the iconic Jane Fonda going strong? Revisit our discussion with this activist icon today.GuestJane Fonda, actor, activistSupport Climate One by going ad-free! Subscribe to our Patreon for just $5/month to get all future episodes free of ads, as well as opportunities to engage with  Climate One staff and fellow listeners for episode discussions and live event streams.For show notes and related links, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A comedic actor becomes president of a country on the brink of war. When a brutal invasion by Russia surprises the world, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky creates even more surprise—by quickly showing himself to be an inspiring wartime leader of his country as it fights off the much larger forces of Russia.Time correspondent Simon Shuster was given unprecedented access to President Zelensky and his team, and comes to San Francisco to report about the president's evolution from a slapstick actor to a symbol of resilience, revealing how he managed to rally the world's democracies behind his cause. From President Zelensky's days in a nuclear bunker in the opening weeks of the invasion to his military's crucial victories, Shuster offers an in-depth and up-close picture of the invasion as experienced by its number-one target and improbable hero.Join us in-person to hear about leadership, human fallibility and triumph, and the attempt to change the course of history.This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story of the Sword of Damocles, often associated with the imminent peril of those in power, also speaks to the ever-present balance of joy and responsibility and the universal human condition of mortality. Livingston Taylor's journey as an artist offers a profound narrative of the complexities and paradoxes of a creative life. On the surface, his life may appear charmed, marked by artistic freedom and the allure of fame. Beneath this lies a relentless journey of self-discovery, discipline, and the constant navigation of artistic challenges. Like Damocles, who discovered the weight of the king's crown was far heavier than he had imagined, Livingston has also experienced the pressures and demands that accompany a life dedicated to art. While growing up in a family of very talented individuals, including his brother James Taylor, Livingston's career reflects the trials that come with it and is a testament to his resilience and dedication to carving out his own unique and successful identity in the music industry. His journey highlights that behind every seemingly effortless display of talent and success lies a backdrop of hard work, sacrifice, and personal battles.Join us as Livingston integrates his songs in a live performance in between conversations about his life story, which, when mirrored against the tale of the Sword of Damocles, is a powerful reminder that the creative path is as much about embracing the joys and rewards as it is about enduring struggles and uncertainties. It underscores the importance of cherishing one's journey, with all its ups and downs, in pursuing artistic fulfillment and personal expression. Light reception with beer, wine, and snacks included after the program.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a celebration of Chinese culture and cuisine and look forward to the Year of the Dragon!Come celebrate with us with traditional Chinese food and alcohol as we transition from the Year of the Rabbit to the Year of the Dragon. What does the new year bring to the People's Republic of China?We will talk to Consulate General Zhang Jianmin from the People’s Republic of China, who will present his views on China’s role in California, the United States and the recent APEC conference. Afterward, all attendees are invited to sample regional Chinese cuisine and alcohol sponsored by the Chinese consulate.MLF ORGANIZER: Dr. Kalidip ChoudhuryAn Asia Pacific Affairs 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don’t miss this rare chance—right here in the Bay Area—to hear directly from Ukrainian heroes at the forefront of rebuilding their nation while under attack. Go beyond the headlines to truly understand how life in Ukraine changed after the brutal and unrelenting Russian invasion that began almost two years ago. Discover how the whole-of-nation response has unfolded: driving back Russian forces while steeling national resolve and overcoming the war’s destruction.Join us for personal insight as we host a distinguished Ukrainian delegation of parliament members, governing officials, civic leaders and cultural heritage experts. Hear the mayor of Irpin’s experience of devastating attacks as retaliation for halting Russia’s advance on Kyiv. Learn about Kharkiv, a city just 20 miles from the Russian border, where its citizens are rebuilding while on the frontlines of entrenched war in eastern Ukraine. Discover the inspiring story of Dobrobat, a volunteer builders’ brigade, leading the civil response to rapid response repair. Our resilient and inspiring guests will share their experiences and strategies for mending and rebuilding physical infrastructure, entire communities and cultural heritage vital to national identity.Stick around after the program to mingle with the community and enjoy delicious local cuisine from Leleka, a San Francisco-based family-run restaurant serving Ukrainian food with a modern twist.Co-presented by the Center for Innovation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American institutions of higher education have long been the targets of critical books from the right, arguing they have betrayed their fundamental educational role. Now from the left comes a book that takes the author's own institution, the University of California, Berkeley, to task for what he says is its culpability in some of the cruelest chapters of U.S. history.UC Berkeley, popularly known as Cal, is famous worldwide as a hotbed of left-wing activism and academics. But Tony Platt, who has taught at Berkeley as well as Cal State, Sacramento, says that UC Berkeley hasn't owned up to its roots in "plunder, warfare, and the promotion of white supremacy." He takes it to task for involvement in the eugenics movement, hoarding of Indigenous remains, and its "complicity with the military-industrial complex and its incubation of unprecedented violence through the Manhattan Project." In this era in which many institutions, educational and otherwise, are reckoning with their histories, join us as Dr. Tony Platt talks with Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of Cal's law school, about his call for the institution to deal honestly with its controversial past.MLF ORGANIZER: George HammondA Humanities 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the United States officially denounces prejudice based on race and gender, it has fostered the growth of another form of prejudice: class and income discrimination. Through state-sponsored government policies, millions of working-class Americans have opportunities blocked by exclusionary "snob zoning," making housing unaffordable, frustrating the goals of the Civil Rights Movement, and locking in inequality in our urban and suburban landscapes.Through poignant accounts of families caught in the web of new redlining, Richard Kahlenberg, in his new book Excluded, brings to life the human consequences of these policies, revealing how economic segregation extends its tendrils into every aspect of life. Access to transportation, employment opportunities, health care, and quality education hang in the balance, disproportionately favoring the affluent.Kahlenberg will explain the hidden mechanisms that perpetuate America's housing crisis, underscoring the profound impact of where one lives. He'll shed light on a shocking paradox—that the most restrictive zoning flourishes in politically liberal cities, where progressive racial views should hold sway.It's a compelling indictment of America's housing policy, revealing the intricate web of social engineering that perpetuates segregation by economic class. Join us in unlocking the hidden truths behind America's housing crisis as Kahlenberg explains our problems and offers hope for change. NOTESThis program has 2 types of tickets available: In-person and online-only. Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.The Commonwealth Club of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.All in-person attendees will receive a copy of Excluded compliments of the Ken & Jaclyn Broad Family Fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We often talk about a “just transition” from dirty to clean energy as if the term means the same thing to everyone. Indigenous people have seen their resources extracted and exploited to further the wealth of others for centuries. Now renewable energy is looking to expand to Indigenous land. How can renewable energy help Tribes leapfrog the twentieth century technologies that put them at the end of the line for corporate-controlled electricity? How can we, as Chéri Smith, Founder of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, says, “make sure that Tribes are not only having a seat at the table, but they're building the table and inviting everyone else to it?”Guests:Chéri Smith, President & CEO, Founder at Alliance for Tribal Clean EnergySteven Wadsworth, Vice Chairman, Pyramid Lake Paiute TribeRaylene Whitford, Founder, Canative EnergyMaui Solomon, Executive Chairman, Moriaori Imi Settlement TrustFor show notes and related links, visit our website.This episode was produced in collaboration with On Shifting Ground with Ray Suarez, featuring Suarez as a guest host. Additionally, Sarah Howard provides field reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices