KQED's Forum

Toni Morrison

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

We speak with Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison about her celebrated writing career and creative process. Her latest novel is "A Mercy," a haunting work about history, motherhood and loss. Morrison's other books include "The Bluest Eye," "Song of Solomon" and "Beloved," which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988.

Building Obama's Cabinet

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:00:00 PST

Over the last week, President-elect Barack Obama and his transition team named senior staff and announced several members of his Cabinet, subject to Senate confirmation. As the rumor mill churns with speculation on who might be next, we look at the names in the mix and what these appointments mean for California.

Stem Cells - Breakthroughs and Restrictions

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

Physicians in Europe this week said they had successfully transplanted a woman's windpipe using the patient's own stem cells. Meanwhile, there is speculation that an Obama administration will loosen restrictions on stem cell research. We talk with a panel of local scientists about recent developments involving stem cells.

CSU Budget Crisis

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:00:00 PST

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has asked universities in the CSU system to make an additional $66 million in mid-semester cuts to their programs. We take a look at how these cuts will affect current students, enrollment requirements and the future of the Cal State educational system.

Palestine Inside Out / Breaking News

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

Palestinian scholar Saree Makdisi joins us to discuss his recent book, "Palestine Inside Out," a first-hand account of daily life for the Palestinian people. In the second half hour, we talk with veteran foreign correspondent Martin Fletcher about his 30 year career covering conflict zones around the world. Fletcher is the author "Breaking News."

U.S.-Iraqi Security Pact / Jerry Yang Steps Down

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:00:00 PST

If Iraqi government officials approve the newest version of a U.S.-Iraqi security agreement, American combat forces would leave Iraqi cities, towns and villages by next July. All U.S. troops would be gone from the country by December 31, 2011. But Iraqi approval of the plan is anything but certain. We look at some of the challenges in the first half hour. In the second half hour, we discuss the resignation of Yahoo! founder Jerry Yang. Yang announced that he's stepping down this week after facing criticism for his handling of a proposed Microsoft takeover and partnership with Google. What does Yang's resignation mean for the Sunnyvale-based company?

Tony Curtis

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

Acclaimed actor Tony Curtis joins us to discuss his new memoir, "American Prince," in which he describes his experiences during the golden age of Hollywood cinema. Curtis will appear at tonight's "A Tribute to Tony Curtis" at San Francisco's Castro Theatre.

Jonestown 30 Years Later

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:00:00 PST

Thirty years ago today more than 900 people -- many of them from the Bay Area -- died in a mass suicide at Jonestown. We reflect on memories and lessons from Jonestown with several survivors of the tragedy.

Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

Author and journalist Sharon Waxman joins us to discuss her new book, "Loot: The Battle Over the Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World." We look at some of the high-profile battles over ownership of the world's most priceless artifacts.

Guantanamo Bay

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:00:00 PST

President-elect Barack Obama has called for the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay to be closed, and legal rights to be restored to the approximately 250 detainees left at the facility. A new report from UC Berkeley's School of Law and the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center states that those already released from the wartime prison are suffering long term psychological damage. We talk with a panel of experts about the upcoming political tussle over 'Gitmo.'

Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

The economic crisis is creating increased demand at the nation's food pantries and soup kitchens. At the same time, food banks are suffering from a falloff in donations. How are non-profit food distributors in Northern California dealing with the crisis?

Climate Change's Price Tag

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:00:00 PST

A new UC Berkeley study finds that $2.5 trillion worth of California real estate is at risk from wildfires, sea level rise and extreme weather linked to global warming. We talk to the authors of the study, who advocate turning the threat into an opportunity for economic renewal.

H.W. Brands - "Traitor to His Class"

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

The financial crisis has sparked widespread calls for a New Deal-style recovery program to stimulate the economy. It's also focused renewed attention on the life and legacy of the New Deal's creator, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. F.D.R. biographer H.W. Brands joins us to discuss his new book, "Traitor to His Class." Brands is a professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of over 20 books on history and politics, including acclaimed biographies of Andrew Jackson and Benjamin Franklin, for which he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for biography.

House Rules

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:00:00 PST

The Bush administration has announced new plans to modify mortgage loans to prevent more foreclosures. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has also floated similar plans. We discuss what such proposals would mean for homeowners in California.

Darrell Steinberg / Don Perata

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:00 PST

Darrell Steinberg / Don Perata -- On December 1, former labor lawyer Darrell Steinberg succeeds Don Perata as the president pro tem of the California State Senate. Steinberg, who the Sacramento Bee calls "one of the nicest guys in the Capitol", will have to deal with a state budget mess and the mortgage foreclosure crisis, among other pressing problems. Steinberg joins us in our Sacramento studios in the first half hour. Then in the second half hour, we talk with Don Perata about his tenure as one of the most powerful Democrats in California, and his plans going forward as he prepares to leave office.

African-Americans and Gay Marriage

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

African-American voters turned out in overwhelming numbers across the nation last Tuesday. According to exit polls, about 70 percent of California's black voters voted for Prop. 8, banning gay marriage. We discuss tensions between the gay and black communities.

Darrell Steinberg / Don Perata

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:00:00 PST

On December 1, former labor lawyer Darrell Steinberg succeeds Don Perata as president pro tem of the California State Senate. Steinberg, who the Sacramento Bee calls "one of the nicest guys in the Capitol," will have to deal with a state budget mess and the mortgage foreclosure crisis, among other pressing problems. Steinberg joins us in our Sacramento studios in the first half hour. Then in the second half hour, we talk with Don Perata about his tenure as one of the most powerful Democrats in California, and his plans going forward as he prepares to leave office.

John Updike

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

Celebrated author John Updike reflects on his extensive career as a novelist, short story writer, poet and literary critic, and discusses his new novel "The Widows of Eastwick." The new work is a sequel to his 1984 best seller, "The Witches of Eastwick." The author of more than 50 books, Updike received the Pulitzer Prize for two of the novels in his Rabbit series.

Female Soldiers

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:00:00 PST

Officially, the Pentagon bars female soldiers from direct combat duty. But in Iraq, women have found themselves in the line of fire more than ever before. On Veterans Day, we talk with some female soldiers about their experiences.

Jonathan Kirsch

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

The Spanish Inquisition was the world's first experience with sanctioned terror, and a precursor to episodes like the Salem Witch Trials, McCarthyism and even Abu Ghraib, writes author Jonathan Kirsch. We speak with Kirsch about his latest book, "The Grand Inquisitor's Manual: A History of Terror in the Name of God."

Diabetes Spike

forum@kqed.org (KQED Public Radio) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:00:00 PST

The rate of new cases of type 2 diabetes has nearly doubled in the United States in the last decade, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control. We look at the reasons for the increase, and find out about new treatment and prevention methods.