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"slug": "how-two-exiled-russian-journalists-took-refuge-in-the-bay-area",
"title": "How 2 Exiled Russian Journalists Took Refuge in the Bay Area",
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"content": "\u003cp>Roman Badanin was at home in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> seven months ago when he heard a knock on his door. To the independent Russian journalist’s surprise, two FBI agents had come to see him in the middle of the day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He was not in any trouble locally, the agents said. They had come to inform him that he was likely a person of interest for a foreign intelligence service.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin could imagine what country they were talking about, the agents said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Although an FBI visit was a “new experience” for Badanin, the Russian state’s intrusion into his life was not.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since 2018, he has served as editor-in-chief and founder of Proekt, an independent media outlet known for publishing bold investigations into Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian state. Those stories, he said, have often led the Kremlin and powerful elites to intimidate and weaponize the law against staff members.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091595\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Journalist Mikhail Rubin completed a fellowship at Stanford University after fleeing Russia. (Courtesy of George Porteous)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2021, Russian authorities raided Badanin and his colleagues’ apartments in Moscow. Only a few weeks later, the state designated Proekt’s journalists “foreign agents” under a law that Putin has used to punish dissent. To save themselves from imprisonment or worse, many made the difficult decision to leave their country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Almost five years later, Badanin and his deputy editor, Mikhail Rubin, were able to recount the raids from the relative safety of Northern California. The John S. Knight (JSK) journalism fellowship at Stanford University created an opportunity for them to move here with their young families and continue investigative reporting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the FBI visit came as a reminder of the Russian state’s watchful eye — even on the other side of the world — and the dangers of returning home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Today, Proekt’s full-time staff of 17 people is scattered across the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their situation is typical for independent journalists from Russia, which consistently \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/2026-rsf-index-press-freedom-25-year-low\">ranks\u003c/a> near the bottom of global press freedom rankings. According to Reporters Without Borders, nearly 50 journalists are currently jailed inside the country, while almost 70 exiles have been \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/exiled-convicted-surveilled-how-russia-has-prosecuted-nearly-70-journalists-beyond-its-borders\">prosecuted\u003c/a> in absentia. Dozens of reporters have been \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/reports/2006/11/russia-murders/\">murdered\u003c/a> or killed in suspicious \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/04/21/604497554/why-do-russian-journalists-keep-falling\">falls\u003c/a> from windows or balconies over the past few decades.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin, 49, and Rubin, 38, described their predicament with a mix of humor and malaise, acknowledging the high price they’ve paid for their work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Most [exiled journalists] are depressed, totally unhappy,” Rubin said. “It’s stupid to be covering your country from Europe, from the States, from wherever. It’s definitely way better than being in prison, but this is it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Kremlin blocks their website inside Russia, as well as internet platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube, which Proekt has relied on to engage audiences. With little access to on-the-ground reporting, gathering information about Russia has never been more difficult.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Whatever work used to take us one week, now takes a month,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yet producing independent journalism for Russian audiences still motivates Badanin and Rubin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alongside a daily news sub-outlet named Agentstvo or “Agency” — a play on the “foreign agent” designation — Proekt’s investigative work has continued. The team increasingly relies on leaks and data while taking precautions to protect sources.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In November 2025, they \u003ca href=\"https://www.proekt.media/guide/otsy-i-dedy/\">published\u003c/a> a sweeping investigation of nepotism and extreme wealth among Russia’s elite, tracking over 1,000 government officials.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I still love this job,” Badanin said. “If I can enter Russia safely and not be arrested, I would do a lot of good things as a journalist being inside.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But trying to raise his children there is another story. “I’m not ready to bet all I have on this trip,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A winding path to journalism\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin never expected to become a journalist as a young man. He saw it as an unserious path compared to the rigor of history, his chosen field at Moscow State University, where he studied medieval Spain.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But when he entered Russia’s turbulent economy during the 1990s, his only way of making a living was working at the news website Gazeta.ru.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I realized I [could] talk to real people about their real problems in real time,” he said. “I fell in love with journalism.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For his part, Rubin took an early interest in politics, despite his father’s wishes for him to become a scientist. When his father brought up physics on long walks together, Rubin remembers feeling “terribly bored.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m stupid in these things,” he said. “Understood nothing. But the moment he started talking to me about politics, about history — I think I was 7 or 8 — I was so interested in what he was telling me.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Later, as an undergraduate at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Rubin chose to study journalism, which he jokingly calls “the worst decision in my life.” Beginning in the aughts, he reported extensively on the Kremlin for Russian outlets like Izvestia and RBC.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a shift from the relative openness that followed the Soviet collapse, the early 2000s brought signs of weakening press freedom in Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin lost his job at Gazeta.ru in 2011 when the Kremlin expressed disappointment in the outlet’s coverage of parliamentary elections. Putin returned to the presidency the following year, intensifying Russia’s authoritarian turn.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As domestic political freedoms steadily vanished and Russia’s foreign policy became increasingly aggressive, Badanin moved from outlet to outlet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As editor-in-chief of RBC, Russia’s largest media holding, Badanin faced the Kremlin’s wrath for covering the annexation of Crimea. He and his colleagues were fired after publishing an investigation into the massive wealth of Putin’s daughter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin’s final role before he first came to Stanford was as editor-in-chief of TV Rain, a young, independent television channel. But he sensed the outlet would soon be punished, shuttered or bought out by the Kremlin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I perfectly understood that my time in Russia, basically, is limited,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He knew his RBC colleague Elizaveta Osetinskaya had once been a JSK Fellow at Stanford. The program seemed like an ideal opportunity to learn about tech and media, while finding a new path if his worst fears were realized.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When he arrived on campus in 2017, he remembers being struck by Silicon Valley’s diversity and dynamism. At the same time, he began to recognize the struggle for press freedom as a global one, including the decline of local journalism in the United States.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have a saying in Russian, ‘to wear pink sunglasses,’ which means to see everything better than it is,” he said. “That was my feeling when I came to the U.S. … One day, I realized that not everything is as cool as I imagined it before.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the yearlong fellowship came to an end, he learned he was the subject of a criminal investigation in Russia over alleged defamation, which carries a punishment of prison time. A man close to Putin had filed the charges in what Badanin believed was retaliation for an investigation he published.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067139\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Memorial Court through arches at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fellowship permitted Badanin to extend his stay at Stanford, given the risks he faced at home. He spent that time working remotely with colleagues in Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, he was eager to return to Moscow. When the defamation charges expired, he did just that, founding Proekt in 2018.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The next few years were some of the most productive for Badanin and Rubin, who first met while both worked at Gazeta.ru in the early 2010s. They dedicated themselves to writing taboo stories that few other outlets would touch, covering corruption, killings and crimes by state-related actors.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 drew near, Russia’s crackdown on journalists and internet freedom escalated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The decision to flee \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The summer of 2021 brought an end to Proekt’s work inside the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin was asleep when the raid on his Moscow apartment began at 6 a.m. on June 29. About 10 men — Russian law enforcement and Federal Security Service (FSB) agents — arrived with orders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was clear that they wanted to intimidate us, to threaten us, to give us a feeling that we need to, at best, flee Russia, or to stop doing what we were doing,” Badanin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091714\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roman Badanin at Stanford University in Stanford on July 17, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the men burst into the home Badanin shared with his wife, their 5-month-old daughter began to cry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was not uncommon for Russian security services to conduct these kinds of searches in the early morning — the tradition had been inherited from Stalinism. Showing up early ensured that agents would find their targets asleep and likely disorient them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin was shocked and furious. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What are you doing in my house at this early time?” he said, confronting the men. Only later did he realize his luck not to be killed, poisoned or imprisoned for life. “At that exact moment, my fate was decided,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The men began to confiscate electronics and CDs from the apartment. One agent, speaking to his superior over the phone, received approval to seize an expired Bank of America credit card.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They went on to interrogate Badanin, focusing in part on his ties to the United States.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That same morning, in another part of Moscow, Rubin received a text from Maria Zholobova, another member of Proekt. Police were pounding on her door, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He hurried in a taxi to Zholobova’s home. From messages with a lawyer and his colleagues, the orchestrated nature of the raids was becoming clear. Badanin was not responding. “I should have understood that I would be next,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A car filled with police was waiting for Rubin when he arrived at Zholobova’s building. Several burst out of the vehicle, shouting, “Stop, buster, don’t move.” None wore uniforms.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They looked like criminals,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the rest of the day, Rubin \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/2021/06/russian-police-interrogate-3-journalists-with-investigative-outlet-proekt-raid-apartments/\">endured\u003c/a> mind-numbing interrogations, searches and bureaucratic absurdities, going hours without hearing a concrete charge against him. Authorities took his laptop.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their final move before leaving was to place Rubin’s passport down on the table in front of him. “It was a very clear signal,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ten days after the interrogations, Badanin flew with his family to Morocco for a pre-planned vacation. Rubin took charge of Proekt’s staff in Moscow. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1311\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091716\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-1536x1007.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along the Floating Bridge over the Moskva River against the backdrop of the Moscow Kremlin tower and St. Basil’s Cathedral on June 29, 2026, in Moscow, Russia. (Contributor/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One evening, news broke that the Russian Federation had classified Proekt as an “undesirable organization” and Badanin and Rubin as “foreign agents.” Rubin’s colleagues urged him to leave the country. One journalist associated with the Kremlin who Rubin knew personally warned him he could be arrested. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that was a provocation, but who knows,” Rubin said. The next morning, he boarded a flight to the United States with a small bag and a ticket purchased by his brother, who lived in America.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin did not learn of the designations until he reached a small village in the Saharan desert and regained WiFi access. Returning to Russia now posed the immediate risk of imprisonment. While his wife and sons returned to Moscow to pick up his baby daughter, he flew to New York City using an American visa, bringing only a backpack. He and Rubin reunited there, making plans to continue Proekt’s work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then came a lucky offer: JSK invited Badanin to return to Stanford as a senior fellow.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was not a difficult offer to accept. “I needed a place just to settle,” he said. Five years later, he has held several roles at Stanford and remains in Northern California with his family.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rubin’s path to the Bay Area was less direct.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He lived with a friend in Los Angeles before moving to Tbilisi, Georgia, for a year, where Rubin met his wife, who was on vacation from Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rubin returned to the U.S. with her by his side, beginning a fellowship in Washington, D.C. After Rubin applied for and won the JSK fellowship in 2024, the couple made a cross-country road trip. Nine months later, their son was born at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adjusting to life in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Bay Area brought a different pace of life for Badanin and Rubin. Although raising children and the complexity of their work left little free time, both men came to enjoy California’s natural beauty and national parks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m in love with sequoias and redwoods,” Rubin said. “I love when things are big.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s forgiving climate is another perk compared with frigid Moscow. “I always hated running before I came here, but with this climate, you don’t have an excuse,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Just as Badanin discovered in 2017, a two-year JSK fellowship gave Rubin time to improve his education, a lifelong goal. His classes ranged from history to politics, theatrical improv and public speaking at the business school.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When Badanin and Rubin came to the Bay Area, they joined a wider community of politically like-minded Russian emigrants who have settled here in recent years. Many connect over Telegram channels to share immigration advice and organize social events.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area is not the first destination, because it’s quite far and not easy to get access to the U.S.A.,” said Emil Kamalov, a postdoctoral fellow and political scientist at Stanford \u003ca href=\"https://outrush.io/eng\">researching\u003c/a> political emigration out of Russia. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Based on his survey data, however, around 40% of those who have left Russia since 2022 are connected to the IT sector, with the Bay Area as a “very obvious destination for this.” Tighter internet restrictions and Western sanctions following the full-scale invasion have \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/technology/russia-tech-workers.html\">driven\u003c/a> a “brain drain” of Russian tech companies and workers out of the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other emigrants were drawn by academic opportunities at Stanford and the University of California, including Kamalov himself. “That’s a brain drain,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stanford’s Russian-speaking community is composed of “amazing people,” Rubin said. “Language does matter.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin, however, draws a distinction between himself and Russians who moved to the Bay Area for high-paying jobs in tech. “It’s very difficult to find a common ground with many of them, because the vast majority of them came here voluntarily,” he said. “I came here involuntarily…I had to do that. I’m not a software engineer.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Proekt’s work to engage ordinary Russians remains their focus, despite an uncertain future. While Badanin now holds a green card, Rubin’s fellowship with JSK ended this summer. For now, he and his wife have embarked on a move to the East Coast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In April, Russia \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2026/04/15/russia-undesirable-label/\">labeled\u003c/a> Stanford University with the same “undesirable” designation as Proekt. Perhaps Badanin and Rubin really had found a new home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>George Porteous is editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091595\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Journalist Mikhail Rubin completed a fellowship at Stanford University after fleeing Russia.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091595\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Journalist Mikhail Rubin completed a fellowship at Stanford University after fleeing Russia.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 2021, Russian authorities raided Badanin and his colleagues’ apartments in Moscow. Only a few weeks later, the state designated Proekt’s journalists “foreign agents” under a law that Putin has used to punish dissent. To save themselves from imprisonment or worse, many made the difficult decision to leave their country.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Almost five years later, Badanin and his deputy editor, Mikhail Rubin, were able to recount the raids from the relative safety of Northern California. The John S. Knight (JSK) journalism fellowship at Stanford University created an opportunity for them to move here with their young families and continue investigative reporting.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Almost five years later, Badanin and his deputy editor, Mikhail Rubin, were able to recount the raids from the relative safety of Northern California. The John S. Knight (JSK) journalism fellowship at Stanford University created an opportunity for them to move here with their young families and continue investigative reporting.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the FBI visit came as a reminder of the Russian state’s watchful eye — even on the other side of the world — and the dangers of returning home.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Today, Proekt’s full-time staff of 17 people is scattered across the world.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Their situation is typical for independent journalists from Russia, which consistently \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/2026-rsf-index-press-freedom-25-year-low\">ranks\u003c/a> near the bottom of global press freedom rankings. According to Reporters Without Borders, nearly 50 journalists are currently jailed inside the country, while almost 70 exiles have been \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/exiled-convicted-surveilled-how-russia-has-prosecuted-nearly-70-journalists-beyond-its-borders\">prosecuted\u003c/a> in absentia. Dozens of reporters have been \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/reports/2006/11/russia-murders/\">murdered\u003c/a> or killed in suspicious \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/04/21/604497554/why-do-russian-journalists-keep-falling\">falls\u003c/a> from windows or balconies over the past few decades.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Their situation is typical for independent journalists from Russia, which consistently \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/2026-rsf-index-press-freedom-25-year-low\">ranks\u003c/a> near the bottom of global press freedom rankings. According to Reporters Without Borders, nearly 50 journalists are currently jailed inside the country, while almost 70 exiles have been \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/exiled-convicted-surveilled-how-russia-has-prosecuted-nearly-70-journalists-beyond-its-borders\">prosecuted\u003c/a> in absentia. Dozens of reporters have been \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/reports/2006/11/russia-murders/\">murdered\u003c/a> or killed in suspicious \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/04/21/604497554/why-do-russian-journalists-keep-falling\">falls\u003c/a> from windows or balconies over the past few decades.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin, 49, and Rubin, 38, described their predicament with a mix of humor and malaise, acknowledging the high price they’ve paid for their work.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Most [exiled journalists] are depressed, totally unhappy,” Rubin said. “It’s stupid to be covering your country from Europe, from the States, from wherever. It’s definitely way better than being in prison, but this is it.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Most [exiled journalists] are depressed, totally unhappy,” Rubin said. “It’s stupid to be covering your country from Europe, from the States, from wherever. It’s definitely way better than being in prison, but this is it.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Kremlin blocks their website inside Russia, as well as internet platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube, which Proekt has relied on to engage audiences. With little access to on-the-ground reporting, gathering information about Russia has never been more difficult.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Kremlin blocks their website inside Russia, as well as internet platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube, which Proekt has relied on to engage audiences. With little access to on-the-ground reporting, gathering information about Russia has never been more difficult.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Whatever work used to take us one week, now takes a month,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Whatever work used to take us one week, now takes a month,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yet producing independent journalism for Russian audiences still motivates Badanin and Rubin.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Alongside a daily news sub-outlet named Agentstvo or “Agency” — a play on the “foreign agent” designation — Proekt’s investigative work has continued. The team increasingly relies on leaks and data while taking precautions to protect sources.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Alongside a daily news sub-outlet named Agentstvo or “Agency” — a play on the “foreign agent” designation — Proekt’s investigative work has continued. The team increasingly relies on leaks and data while taking precautions to protect sources.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In November 2025, they \u003ca href=\"https://www.proekt.media/guide/otsy-i-dedy/\">published\u003c/a> a sweeping investigation of nepotism and extreme wealth among Russia’s elite, tracking over 1,000 government officials.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In November 2025, they \u003ca href=\"https://www.proekt.media/guide/otsy-i-dedy/\">published\u003c/a> a sweeping investigation of nepotism and extreme wealth among Russia’s elite, tracking over 1,000 government officials.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I still love this job,” Badanin said. “If I can enter Russia safely and not be arrested, I would do a lot of good things as a journalist being inside.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But trying to raise his children there is another story. “I’m not ready to bet all I have on this trip,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But trying to raise his children there is another story. “I’m not ready to bet all I have on this trip,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "A winding path to journalism",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A winding path to journalism\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin never expected to become a journalist as a young man. He saw it as an unserious path compared to the rigor of history, his chosen field at Moscow State University, where he studied medieval Spain.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Badanin never expected to become a journalist as a young man. He saw it as an unserious path compared to the rigor of history, his chosen field at Moscow State University, where he studied medieval Spain.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But when he entered Russia’s turbulent economy during the 1990s, his only way of making a living was working at the news website Gazeta.ru.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I realized I [could] talk to real people about their real problems in real time,” he said. “I fell in love with journalism.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For his part, Rubin took an early interest in politics, despite his father’s wishes for him to become a scientist. When his father brought up physics on long walks together, Rubin remembers feeling “terribly bored.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m stupid in these things,” he said. “Understood nothing. But the moment he started talking to me about politics, about history — I think I was 7 or 8 — I was so interested in what he was telling me.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I’m stupid in these things,” he said. “Understood nothing. But the moment he started talking to me about politics, about history — I think I was 7 or 8 — I was so interested in what he was telling me.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Later, as an undergraduate at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Rubin chose to study journalism, which he jokingly calls “the worst decision in my life.” Beginning in the aughts, he reported extensively on the Kremlin for Russian outlets like Izvestia and RBC.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Later, as an undergraduate at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Rubin chose to study journalism, which he jokingly calls “the worst decision in my life.” Beginning in the aughts, he reported extensively on the Kremlin for Russian outlets like Izvestia and RBC.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a shift from the relative openness that followed the Soviet collapse, the early 2000s brought signs of weakening press freedom in Russia.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin lost his job at Gazeta.ru in 2011 when the Kremlin expressed disappointment in the outlet’s coverage of parliamentary elections. Putin returned to the presidency the following year, intensifying Russia’s authoritarian turn.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As domestic political freedoms steadily vanished and Russia’s foreign policy became increasingly aggressive, Badanin moved from outlet to outlet.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As editor-in-chief of RBC, Russia’s largest media holding, Badanin faced the Kremlin’s wrath for covering the annexation of Crimea. He and his colleagues were fired after publishing an investigation into the massive wealth of Putin’s daughter.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin’s final role before he first came to Stanford was as editor-in-chief of TV Rain, a young, independent television channel. But he sensed the outlet would soon be punished, shuttered or bought out by the Kremlin.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I perfectly understood that my time in Russia, basically, is limited,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He knew his RBC colleague Elizaveta Osetinskaya had once been a JSK Fellow at Stanford. The program seemed like an ideal opportunity to learn about tech and media, while finding a new path if his worst fears were realized.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When he arrived on campus in 2017, he remembers being struck by Silicon Valley’s diversity and dynamism. At the same time, he began to recognize the struggle for press freedom as a global one, including the decline of local journalism in the United States.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When he arrived on campus in 2017, he remembers being struck by Silicon Valley’s diversity and dynamism. At the same time, he began to recognize the struggle for press freedom as a global one, including the decline of local journalism in the United States.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have a saying in Russian, ‘to wear pink sunglasses,’ which means to see everything better than it is,” he said. “That was my feeling when I came to the U.S. … One day, I realized that not everything is as cool as I imagined it before.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We have a saying in Russian, ‘to wear pink sunglasses,’ which means to see everything better than it is,” he said. “That was my feeling when I came to the U.S. … One day, I realized that not everything is as cool as I imagined it before.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As the yearlong fellowship came to an end, he learned he was the subject of a criminal investigation in Russia over alleged defamation, which carries a punishment of prison time. A man close to Putin had filed the charges in what Badanin believed was retaliation for an investigation he published.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As the yearlong fellowship came to an end, he learned he was the subject of a criminal investigation in Russia over alleged defamation, which carries a punishment of prison time. A man close to Putin had filed the charges in what Badanin believed was retaliation for an investigation he published.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067139\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Memorial Court through arches at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The fellowship permitted Badanin to extend his stay at Stanford, given the risks he faced at home. He spent that time working remotely with colleagues in Russia.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Still, he was eager to return to Moscow. When the defamation charges expired, he did just that, founding Proekt in 2018.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The next few years were some of the most productive for Badanin and Rubin, who first met while both worked at Gazeta.ru in the early 2010s. They dedicated themselves to writing taboo stories that few other outlets would touch, covering corruption, killings and crimes by state-related actors.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 drew near, Russia’s crackdown on journalists and internet freedom escalated.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The summer of 2021 brought an end to Proekt’s work inside the country.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin was asleep when the raid on his Moscow apartment began at 6 a.m. on June 29. About 10 men — Russian law enforcement and Federal Security Service (FSB) agents — arrived with orders.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It was clear that they wanted to intimidate us, to threaten us, to give us a feeling that we need to, at best, flee Russia, or to stop doing what we were doing,” Badanin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It was clear that they wanted to intimidate us, to threaten us, to give us a feeling that we need to, at best, flee Russia, or to stop doing what we were doing,” Badanin said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091714\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roman Badanin at Stanford University in Stanford on July 17, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As the men burst into the home Badanin shared with his wife, their 5-month-old daughter began to cry.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As the men burst into the home Badanin shared with his wife, their 5-month-old daughter began to cry.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It was not uncommon for Russian security services to conduct these kinds of searches in the early morning — the tradition had been inherited from Stalinism. Showing up early ensured that agents would find their targets asleep and likely disorient them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It was not uncommon for Russian security services to conduct these kinds of searches in the early morning — the tradition had been inherited from Stalinism. Showing up early ensured that agents would find their targets asleep and likely disorient them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“What are you doing in my house at this early time?” he said, confronting the men. Only later did he realize his luck not to be killed, poisoned or imprisoned for life. “At that exact moment, my fate was decided,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The men began to confiscate electronics and CDs from the apartment. One agent, speaking to his superior over the phone, received approval to seize an expired Bank of America credit card.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They went on to interrogate Badanin, focusing in part on his ties to the United States.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That same morning, in another part of Moscow, Rubin received a text from Maria Zholobova, another member of Proekt. Police were pounding on her door, she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He hurried in a taxi to Zholobova’s home. From messages with a lawyer and his colleagues, the orchestrated nature of the raids was becoming clear. Badanin was not responding. “I should have understood that I would be next,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A car filled with police was waiting for Rubin when he arrived at Zholobova’s building. Several burst out of the vehicle, shouting, “Stop, buster, don’t move.” None wore uniforms.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They looked like criminals,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For the rest of the day, Rubin \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/2021/06/russian-police-interrogate-3-journalists-with-investigative-outlet-proekt-raid-apartments/\">endured\u003c/a> mind-numbing interrogations, searches and bureaucratic absurdities, going hours without hearing a concrete charge against him. Authorities took his laptop.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For the rest of the day, Rubin \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/2021/06/russian-police-interrogate-3-journalists-with-investigative-outlet-proekt-raid-apartments/\">endured\u003c/a> mind-numbing interrogations, searches and bureaucratic absurdities, going hours without hearing a concrete charge against him. Authorities took his laptop.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Their final move before leaving was to place Rubin’s passport down on the table in front of him. “It was a very clear signal,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ten days after the interrogations, Badanin flew with his family to Morocco for a pre-planned vacation. Rubin took charge of Proekt’s staff in Moscow. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One evening, news broke that the Russian Federation had classified Proekt as an “undesirable organization” and Badanin and Rubin as “foreign agents.” Rubin’s colleagues urged him to leave the country. One journalist associated with the Kremlin who Rubin knew personally warned him he could be arrested. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think that was a provocation, but who knows,” Rubin said. The next morning, he boarded a flight to the United States with a small bag and a ticket purchased by his brother, who lived in America.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin did not learn of the designations until he reached a small village in the Saharan desert and regained WiFi access. Returning to Russia now posed the immediate risk of imprisonment. While his wife and sons returned to Moscow to pick up his baby daughter, he flew to New York City using an American visa, bringing only a backpack. He and Rubin reunited there, making plans to continue Proekt’s work.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Then came a lucky offer: JSK invited Badanin to return to Stanford as a senior fellow.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It was not a difficult offer to accept. “I needed a place just to settle,” he said. Five years later, he has held several roles at Stanford and remains in Northern California with his family.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It was not a difficult offer to accept. “I needed a place just to settle,” he said. Five years later, he has held several roles at Stanford and remains in Northern California with his family.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rubin’s path to the Bay Area was less direct.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He lived with a friend in Los Angeles before moving to Tbilisi, Georgia, for a year, where Rubin met his wife, who was on vacation from Russia.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rubin returned to the U.S. with her by his side, beginning a fellowship in Washington, D.C. After Rubin applied for and won the JSK fellowship in 2024, the couple made a cross-country road trip. Nine months later, their son was born at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Rubin returned to the U.S. with her by his side, beginning a fellowship in Washington, D.C. After Rubin applied for and won the JSK fellowship in 2024, the couple made a cross-country road trip. Nine months later, their son was born at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Bay Area brought a different pace of life for Badanin and Rubin. Although raising children and the complexity of their work left little free time, both men came to enjoy California’s natural beauty and national parks.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m in love with sequoias and redwoods,” Rubin said. “I love when things are big.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state’s forgiving climate is another perk compared with frigid Moscow. “I always hated running before I came here, but with this climate, you don’t have an excuse,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The state’s forgiving climate is another perk compared with frigid Moscow. “I always hated running before I came here, but with this climate, you don’t have an excuse,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Just as Badanin discovered in 2017, a two-year JSK fellowship gave Rubin time to improve his education, a lifelong goal. His classes ranged from history to politics, theatrical improv and public speaking at the business school.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Just as Badanin discovered in 2017, a two-year JSK fellowship gave Rubin time to improve his education, a lifelong goal. His classes ranged from history to politics, theatrical improv and public speaking at the business school.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When Badanin and Rubin came to the Bay Area, they joined a wider community of politically like-minded Russian emigrants who have settled here in recent years. Many connect over Telegram channels to share immigration advice and organize social events.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When Badanin and Rubin came to the Bay Area, they joined a wider community of politically like-minded Russian emigrants who have settled here in recent years. Many connect over Telegram channels to share immigration advice and organize social events.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area is not the first destination, because it’s quite far and not easy to get access to the U.S.A.,” said Emil Kamalov, a postdoctoral fellow and political scientist at Stanford \u003ca href=\"https://outrush.io/eng\">researching\u003c/a> political emigration out of Russia. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Based on his survey data, however, around 40% of those who have left Russia since 2022 are connected to the IT sector, with the Bay Area as a “very obvious destination for this.” Tighter internet restrictions and Western sanctions following the full-scale invasion have \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/technology/russia-tech-workers.html\">driven\u003c/a> a “brain drain” of Russian tech companies and workers out of the country.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Based on his survey data, however, around 40% of those who have left Russia since 2022 are connected to the IT sector, with the Bay Area as a “very obvious destination for this.” Tighter internet restrictions and Western sanctions following the full-scale invasion have \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/technology/russia-tech-workers.html\">driven\u003c/a> a “brain drain” of Russian tech companies and workers out of the country.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Other emigrants were drawn by academic opportunities at Stanford and the University of California, including Kamalov himself. “That’s a brain drain,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Stanford’s Russian-speaking community is composed of “amazing people,” Rubin said. “Language does matter.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin, however, draws a distinction between himself and Russians who moved to the Bay Area for high-paying jobs in tech. “It’s very difficult to find a common ground with many of them, because the vast majority of them came here voluntarily,” he said. “I came here involuntarily…I had to do that. I’m not a software engineer.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Badanin, however, draws a distinction between himself and Russians who moved to the Bay Area for high-paying jobs in tech. “It’s very difficult to find a common ground with many of them, because the vast majority of them came here voluntarily,” he said. “I came here involuntarily…I had to do that. I’m not a software engineer.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Proekt’s work to engage ordinary Russians remains their focus, despite an uncertain future. While Badanin now holds a green card, Rubin’s fellowship with JSK ended this summer. For now, he and his wife have embarked on a move to the East Coast.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Proekt’s work to engage ordinary Russians remains their focus, despite an uncertain future. While Badanin now holds a green card, Rubin’s fellowship with JSK ended this summer. For now, he and his wife have embarked on a move to the East Coast.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In April, Russia \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2026/04/15/russia-undesirable-label/\">labeled\u003c/a> Stanford University with the same “undesirable” designation as Proekt. Perhaps Badanin and Rubin really had found a new home.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In April, Russia \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2026/04/15/russia-undesirable-label/\">labeled\u003c/a> Stanford University with the same “undesirable” designation as Proekt. Perhaps Badanin and Rubin really had found a new home.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>George Porteous is editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"headline": "How 2 Exiled Russian Journalists Took Refuge in the Bay Area",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Roman Badanin was at home in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> seven months ago when he heard a knock on his door. To the independent Russian journalist’s surprise, two FBI agents had come to see him in the middle of the day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He was not in any trouble locally, the agents said. They had come to inform him that he was likely a person of interest for a foreign intelligence service.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin could imagine what country they were talking about, the agents said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Although an FBI visit was a “new experience” for Badanin, the Russian state’s intrusion into his life was not.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since 2018, he has served as editor-in-chief and founder of Proekt, an independent media outlet known for publishing bold investigations into Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian state. Those stories, he said, have often led the Kremlin and powerful elites to intimidate and weaponize the law against staff members.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091595\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Journalist Mikhail Rubin completed a fellowship at Stanford University after fleeing Russia. (Courtesy of George Porteous)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2021, Russian authorities raided Badanin and his colleagues’ apartments in Moscow. Only a few weeks later, the state designated Proekt’s journalists “foreign agents” under a law that Putin has used to punish dissent. To save themselves from imprisonment or worse, many made the difficult decision to leave their country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Almost five years later, Badanin and his deputy editor, Mikhail Rubin, were able to recount the raids from the relative safety of Northern California. The John S. Knight (JSK) journalism fellowship at Stanford University created an opportunity for them to move here with their young families and continue investigative reporting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the FBI visit came as a reminder of the Russian state’s watchful eye — even on the other side of the world — and the dangers of returning home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Today, Proekt’s full-time staff of 17 people is scattered across the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their situation is typical for independent journalists from Russia, which consistently \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/2026-rsf-index-press-freedom-25-year-low\">ranks\u003c/a> near the bottom of global press freedom rankings. According to Reporters Without Borders, nearly 50 journalists are currently jailed inside the country, while almost 70 exiles have been \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/exiled-convicted-surveilled-how-russia-has-prosecuted-nearly-70-journalists-beyond-its-borders\">prosecuted\u003c/a> in absentia. Dozens of reporters have been \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/reports/2006/11/russia-murders/\">murdered\u003c/a> or killed in suspicious \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/04/21/604497554/why-do-russian-journalists-keep-falling\">falls\u003c/a> from windows or balconies over the past few decades.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin, 49, and Rubin, 38, described their predicament with a mix of humor and malaise, acknowledging the high price they’ve paid for their work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Most [exiled journalists] are depressed, totally unhappy,” Rubin said. “It’s stupid to be covering your country from Europe, from the States, from wherever. It’s definitely way better than being in prison, but this is it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Kremlin blocks their website inside Russia, as well as internet platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube, which Proekt has relied on to engage audiences. With little access to on-the-ground reporting, gathering information about Russia has never been more difficult.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Whatever work used to take us one week, now takes a month,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yet producing independent journalism for Russian audiences still motivates Badanin and Rubin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alongside a daily news sub-outlet named Agentstvo or “Agency” — a play on the “foreign agent” designation — Proekt’s investigative work has continued. The team increasingly relies on leaks and data while taking precautions to protect sources.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In November 2025, they \u003ca href=\"https://www.proekt.media/guide/otsy-i-dedy/\">published\u003c/a> a sweeping investigation of nepotism and extreme wealth among Russia’s elite, tracking over 1,000 government officials.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I still love this job,” Badanin said. “If I can enter Russia safely and not be arrested, I would do a lot of good things as a journalist being inside.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But trying to raise his children there is another story. “I’m not ready to bet all I have on this trip,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A winding path to journalism\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin never expected to become a journalist as a young man. He saw it as an unserious path compared to the rigor of history, his chosen field at Moscow State University, where he studied medieval Spain.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But when he entered Russia’s turbulent economy during the 1990s, his only way of making a living was working at the news website Gazeta.ru.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I realized I [could] talk to real people about their real problems in real time,” he said. “I fell in love with journalism.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For his part, Rubin took an early interest in politics, despite his father’s wishes for him to become a scientist. When his father brought up physics on long walks together, Rubin remembers feeling “terribly bored.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m stupid in these things,” he said. “Understood nothing. But the moment he started talking to me about politics, about history — I think I was 7 or 8 — I was so interested in what he was telling me.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Later, as an undergraduate at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Rubin chose to study journalism, which he jokingly calls “the worst decision in my life.” Beginning in the aughts, he reported extensively on the Kremlin for Russian outlets like Izvestia and RBC.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a shift from the relative openness that followed the Soviet collapse, the early 2000s brought signs of weakening press freedom in Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin lost his job at Gazeta.ru in 2011 when the Kremlin expressed disappointment in the outlet’s coverage of parliamentary elections. Putin returned to the presidency the following year, intensifying Russia’s authoritarian turn.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As domestic political freedoms steadily vanished and Russia’s foreign policy became increasingly aggressive, Badanin moved from outlet to outlet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As editor-in-chief of RBC, Russia’s largest media holding, Badanin faced the Kremlin’s wrath for covering the annexation of Crimea. He and his colleagues were fired after publishing an investigation into the massive wealth of Putin’s daughter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin’s final role before he first came to Stanford was as editor-in-chief of TV Rain, a young, independent television channel. But he sensed the outlet would soon be punished, shuttered or bought out by the Kremlin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I perfectly understood that my time in Russia, basically, is limited,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He knew his RBC colleague Elizaveta Osetinskaya had once been a JSK Fellow at Stanford. The program seemed like an ideal opportunity to learn about tech and media, while finding a new path if his worst fears were realized.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When he arrived on campus in 2017, he remembers being struck by Silicon Valley’s diversity and dynamism. At the same time, he began to recognize the struggle for press freedom as a global one, including the decline of local journalism in the United States.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have a saying in Russian, ‘to wear pink sunglasses,’ which means to see everything better than it is,” he said. “That was my feeling when I came to the U.S. … One day, I realized that not everything is as cool as I imagined it before.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the yearlong fellowship came to an end, he learned he was the subject of a criminal investigation in Russia over alleged defamation, which carries a punishment of prison time. A man close to Putin had filed the charges in what Badanin believed was retaliation for an investigation he published.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067139\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Memorial Court through arches at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fellowship permitted Badanin to extend his stay at Stanford, given the risks he faced at home. He spent that time working remotely with colleagues in Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, he was eager to return to Moscow. When the defamation charges expired, he did just that, founding Proekt in 2018.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The next few years were some of the most productive for Badanin and Rubin, who first met while both worked at Gazeta.ru in the early 2010s. They dedicated themselves to writing taboo stories that few other outlets would touch, covering corruption, killings and crimes by state-related actors.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 drew near, Russia’s crackdown on journalists and internet freedom escalated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The decision to flee \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The summer of 2021 brought an end to Proekt’s work inside the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin was asleep when the raid on his Moscow apartment began at 6 a.m. on June 29. About 10 men — Russian law enforcement and Federal Security Service (FSB) agents — arrived with orders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was clear that they wanted to intimidate us, to threaten us, to give us a feeling that we need to, at best, flee Russia, or to stop doing what we were doing,” Badanin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091714\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roman Badanin at Stanford University in Stanford on July 17, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the men burst into the home Badanin shared with his wife, their 5-month-old daughter began to cry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was not uncommon for Russian security services to conduct these kinds of searches in the early morning — the tradition had been inherited from Stalinism. Showing up early ensured that agents would find their targets asleep and likely disorient them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin was shocked and furious. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What are you doing in my house at this early time?” he said, confronting the men. Only later did he realize his luck not to be killed, poisoned or imprisoned for life. “At that exact moment, my fate was decided,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The men began to confiscate electronics and CDs from the apartment. One agent, speaking to his superior over the phone, received approval to seize an expired Bank of America credit card.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They went on to interrogate Badanin, focusing in part on his ties to the United States.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That same morning, in another part of Moscow, Rubin received a text from Maria Zholobova, another member of Proekt. Police were pounding on her door, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He hurried in a taxi to Zholobova’s home. From messages with a lawyer and his colleagues, the orchestrated nature of the raids was becoming clear. Badanin was not responding. “I should have understood that I would be next,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A car filled with police was waiting for Rubin when he arrived at Zholobova’s building. Several burst out of the vehicle, shouting, “Stop, buster, don’t move.” None wore uniforms.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They looked like criminals,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the rest of the day, Rubin \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/2021/06/russian-police-interrogate-3-journalists-with-investigative-outlet-proekt-raid-apartments/\">endured\u003c/a> mind-numbing interrogations, searches and bureaucratic absurdities, going hours without hearing a concrete charge against him. Authorities took his laptop.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their final move before leaving was to place Rubin’s passport down on the table in front of him. “It was a very clear signal,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ten days after the interrogations, Badanin flew with his family to Morocco for a pre-planned vacation. Rubin took charge of Proekt’s staff in Moscow. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1311\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091716\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-1536x1007.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along the Floating Bridge over the Moskva River against the backdrop of the Moscow Kremlin tower and St. Basil’s Cathedral on June 29, 2026, in Moscow, Russia. (Contributor/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One evening, news broke that the Russian Federation had classified Proekt as an “undesirable organization” and Badanin and Rubin as “foreign agents.” Rubin’s colleagues urged him to leave the country. One journalist associated with the Kremlin who Rubin knew personally warned him he could be arrested. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that was a provocation, but who knows,” Rubin said. The next morning, he boarded a flight to the United States with a small bag and a ticket purchased by his brother, who lived in America.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin did not learn of the designations until he reached a small village in the Saharan desert and regained WiFi access. Returning to Russia now posed the immediate risk of imprisonment. While his wife and sons returned to Moscow to pick up his baby daughter, he flew to New York City using an American visa, bringing only a backpack. He and Rubin reunited there, making plans to continue Proekt’s work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then came a lucky offer: JSK invited Badanin to return to Stanford as a senior fellow.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was not a difficult offer to accept. “I needed a place just to settle,” he said. Five years later, he has held several roles at Stanford and remains in Northern California with his family.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rubin’s path to the Bay Area was less direct.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He lived with a friend in Los Angeles before moving to Tbilisi, Georgia, for a year, where Rubin met his wife, who was on vacation from Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rubin returned to the U.S. with her by his side, beginning a fellowship in Washington, D.C. After Rubin applied for and won the JSK fellowship in 2024, the couple made a cross-country road trip. Nine months later, their son was born at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adjusting to life in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Bay Area brought a different pace of life for Badanin and Rubin. Although raising children and the complexity of their work left little free time, both men came to enjoy California’s natural beauty and national parks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m in love with sequoias and redwoods,” Rubin said. “I love when things are big.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s forgiving climate is another perk compared with frigid Moscow. “I always hated running before I came here, but with this climate, you don’t have an excuse,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Just as Badanin discovered in 2017, a two-year JSK fellowship gave Rubin time to improve his education, a lifelong goal. His classes ranged from history to politics, theatrical improv and public speaking at the business school.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When Badanin and Rubin came to the Bay Area, they joined a wider community of politically like-minded Russian emigrants who have settled here in recent years. Many connect over Telegram channels to share immigration advice and organize social events.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area is not the first destination, because it’s quite far and not easy to get access to the U.S.A.,” said Emil Kamalov, a postdoctoral fellow and political scientist at Stanford \u003ca href=\"https://outrush.io/eng\">researching\u003c/a> political emigration out of Russia. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Based on his survey data, however, around 40% of those who have left Russia since 2022 are connected to the IT sector, with the Bay Area as a “very obvious destination for this.” Tighter internet restrictions and Western sanctions following the full-scale invasion have \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/technology/russia-tech-workers.html\">driven\u003c/a> a “brain drain” of Russian tech companies and workers out of the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other emigrants were drawn by academic opportunities at Stanford and the University of California, including Kamalov himself. “That’s a brain drain,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stanford’s Russian-speaking community is composed of “amazing people,” Rubin said. “Language does matter.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin, however, draws a distinction between himself and Russians who moved to the Bay Area for high-paying jobs in tech. “It’s very difficult to find a common ground with many of them, because the vast majority of them came here voluntarily,” he said. “I came here involuntarily…I had to do that. I’m not a software engineer.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Proekt’s work to engage ordinary Russians remains their focus, despite an uncertain future. While Badanin now holds a green card, Rubin’s fellowship with JSK ended this summer. For now, he and his wife have embarked on a move to the East Coast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In April, Russia \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2026/04/15/russia-undesirable-label/\">labeled\u003c/a> Stanford University with the same “undesirable” designation as Proekt. Perhaps Badanin and Rubin really had found a new home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>George Porteous is editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "US Men’s Team Returns to Bay Area World Cup Stage, 32 Years After Historic Stanford Match",
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"headTitle": "US Men’s Team Returns to Bay Area World Cup Stage, 32 Years After Historic Stanford Match | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Much has changed since the last time the U.S. Men’s National Team played a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> match in the Bay Area — on July 4, 1994, at Stanford Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Professional soccer didn’t yet have a strong foothold here. Ticket prices have soared. Fanbases have grown. Stadiums have sprung up across the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those who attended, played in the game, or helped bring the event to life, say the California-hosted World Cup matches at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, and the U.S. team’s Round of 16 game against soccer powerhouse Brazil at Stanford University drew sellout crowds and helped \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087770/how-the-bay-area-helped-shape-u-s-soccer-ahead-of-the-2026-world-cup\">drive interest in the sport\u003c/a> for generations to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was fantastic to see the turnout for all of these games and to see how much support we got from our home fans,” Cobi Jones, who played for the men’s team at the time, said in an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the current squad advances and gears up for a knockout game at the\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086949/levis-stadium-is-no-more-san-francisco-bay-area-stadium-hosts-world-cup\"> temporarily renamed Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> on July 1, Jones said the reaction from fans all those years ago showed the sport was “building” in the U.S., and laid the groundwork for the event’s popularity today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would say that ‘94 team was the foundation for everything going forward,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087233\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087233\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ray Purpur looks through photographs and memorabilia from the 1994 FIFA World Cup in his office at Stanford University on June 11, 2026. Stanford Stadium hosted World Cup matches during the tournament. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Long before the games could be played at Stanford Stadium, an aging facility built in 1921, it had to be prepared to host professional soccer matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The job was a big undertaking, and for Ray Purpur, who was hired in January 1994 as a deputy director of athletics overseeing facilities, it was a feat he won’t forget.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m glad I didn’t realize everything that had to go into it, or I may not have made it,” Purpur said with a chuckle during an interview in his office. “Stanford Stadium was almost a perfect candidate on paper. There was a lot of seats, there was a whole lot of parking, the field was an incredible field.”[aside postID=arts_13990640 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/20260528-WORLDCUPBARS-JY-02-KQED.jpg']But some things needed upgrades, like old wooden seating that needed to be removed and replaced with more comfortable metal-clad seats. The press box also needed a major overhaul to accommodate an influx of media, and much like today’s game, FIFA had specifications for the playing field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And they, kind of late in the game, decided that the crown [the rise in the center of the field] was too much, so we went in, and we scalped the crown off of it and flattened the field just slightly,” Purpur said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once the games were underway, he said the massive crowds were something he had never witnessed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hadn’t been to a game that big before. There were very few photos of Stanford football being sold out like that,” he said. “And every seat was full.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michael Mastrocola, a San José native and soccer fan, joined the USA94 organizing committee in the Bay Area, which helped to get Stanford selected as a host site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said the pieces for a dramatic, entertaining game between the U.S. and Brazil were already in place, as the Brazilian team’s World Cup base camp was in Los Gatos.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088814\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088814\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A general view of Stanford Stadium during the Brazil-USA World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on July 4, 1994. \u003ccite>(Peter Robinson/PA Images via Getty Ima)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Diehard supporters of the team \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/los-gatos-looks-toward-renewal-of-world-cup-madness/\">flooded \u003c/a>the small South Bay town.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When Brazil came to Los Gatos, it was insane. Everything was yellow and green. They were samba [dancing] all through the streets of Los Gatos, and they really lit the city up,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Independence Day, the gameplay and the Stanford venue didn’t disappoint.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everywhere you went, it was red, white and blue mixed in with the sea of the Sambas, of course,” he said, referring to U.S. and Brazil supporters, filling 84,000 seats. “It was electric.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When they introduced the players, you could just see the glow on people’s faces,” he said. “I remember walking out looking at the turf and the turf was like a carpet. You know, it was perfectly green and bright and manicured.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>International professional soccer was still “a baby brother to football and basketball and Super Bowls,” Mastrocola said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It wasn’t lost on the U.S. players that a strong showing against a three-time World Cup champion like Brazil could boost their credibility on an international stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088819\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088819\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1299\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED-1536x998.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Happy Brazilian fans celebrate during Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Russian in World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on June 20, 1994. \u003ccite>(Steve Dunn/ALLSPORT via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We were weathering the storm,” Jones said, recalling the matchup and some of Brazil’s best players. “Because they had such talent in the Romários, the Bebetos, the Dungas all over the field.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, Brazil won the game, scoring a goal late in the match. But Mastrocola said the U.S. team proved themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They had good coaching. They had great excitement and enthusiasm,” he said. “They wanted to make the USA proud, and they did.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the rise in soccer professionalization and interest domestically has also tracked with the increasing price of admission for major tournaments like the World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Admission to the group stage games for the current World Cup generally costs fans a minimum of several hundred dollars per ticket, and tickets to the later stages and final matches are akin to buying seats at the Super Bowl.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tickets for the U.S. game on July 1 are currently reselling on the FIFA official marketplace for a minimum of several thousand dollars, and listing as high as more than $20,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088815\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088815\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cobi Jones of USA chases down the ball in the Brazil-USA World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on July 4, 1994. \u003ccite>(Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It really is ring-fenced around those who can afford these kinds of very high prices,” said Matthew Atencio, a professor of kinesiology and co-director of the Center for Sport and Social Justice at California State University East Bay. “So many of your kids in the Bay Area who love the game or might be interested or curious about the matches that are being hosted are not able to go to those, and I’m disappointed in that aspect.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atencio drove down from Washington state to see Brazil take on Cameroon at Stanford in 1994. Tickets were less than $100, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For young fans like Atencio and his friends, who played soccer at the time, those in-person experiences with the game were inspirational and influential.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That was a real catalyst to us still wanting to be part of the game. And it drove us to keep playing, it drove us to keep coaching,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’d go on to play on teams and in leagues around the world. He noted players now have many more avenues to play domestically, whether in college, academies, or semi-professionally in various leagues that were not around in the ‘90s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mastrocola, who sold ticket and hospitality packages around the World Cup in 1994, said he’s happy soccer has taken off, but sad to see prices shooting up so high.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087234\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087234\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ray Purpur, Stanford’s deputy athletics director, sits with photographs and memorabilia from the 1994 FIFA World Cup in his office at Stanford University on June 11, 2026. Purpur helped oversee preparations when Stanford Stadium hosted matches during the tournament. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The World Cup has become quite corporate,” he said. “You can tell by the price of tickets, it’s not for the fan, it doesn’t seem like it’s for the fans anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atencio said he’s encouraged to see how community-based organizations have stepped up with grassroots soccer programs to help sustain the sport for youth and in lower-income communities, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086356/an-oakland-soccer-program-helps-immigrant-youth-find-belonging\">Soccer Without Borders\u003c/a>, Street Soccer USA and 3v3 soccer tournaments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel like they’re really on the line of how this sport can be for the masses, for the people, and especially for people who simply can’t afford to be part of a pay-to-play system,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/kmizuguchi\">\u003cem>Keith Mizuguchi\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/agonzalez\">\u003cem>Alex Gonzalez\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "US Men’s Team Returns to Bay Area World Cup Stage, 32 Years After Historic Stanford Match | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Much has changed since the last time the U.S. Men’s National Team played a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> match in the Bay Area — on July 4, 1994, at Stanford Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Professional soccer didn’t yet have a strong foothold here. Ticket prices have soared. Fanbases have grown. Stadiums have sprung up across the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those who attended, played in the game, or helped bring the event to life, say the California-hosted World Cup matches at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, and the U.S. team’s Round of 16 game against soccer powerhouse Brazil at Stanford University drew sellout crowds and helped \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087770/how-the-bay-area-helped-shape-u-s-soccer-ahead-of-the-2026-world-cup\">drive interest in the sport\u003c/a> for generations to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was fantastic to see the turnout for all of these games and to see how much support we got from our home fans,” Cobi Jones, who played for the men’s team at the time, said in an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the current squad advances and gears up for a knockout game at the\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086949/levis-stadium-is-no-more-san-francisco-bay-area-stadium-hosts-world-cup\"> temporarily renamed Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> on July 1, Jones said the reaction from fans all those years ago showed the sport was “building” in the U.S., and laid the groundwork for the event’s popularity today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would say that ‘94 team was the foundation for everything going forward,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087233\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087233\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ray Purpur looks through photographs and memorabilia from the 1994 FIFA World Cup in his office at Stanford University on June 11, 2026. Stanford Stadium hosted World Cup matches during the tournament. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Long before the games could be played at Stanford Stadium, an aging facility built in 1921, it had to be prepared to host professional soccer matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The job was a big undertaking, and for Ray Purpur, who was hired in January 1994 as a deputy director of athletics overseeing facilities, it was a feat he won’t forget.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m glad I didn’t realize everything that had to go into it, or I may not have made it,” Purpur said with a chuckle during an interview in his office. “Stanford Stadium was almost a perfect candidate on paper. There was a lot of seats, there was a whole lot of parking, the field was an incredible field.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>But some things needed upgrades, like old wooden seating that needed to be removed and replaced with more comfortable metal-clad seats. The press box also needed a major overhaul to accommodate an influx of media, and much like today’s game, FIFA had specifications for the playing field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And they, kind of late in the game, decided that the crown [the rise in the center of the field] was too much, so we went in, and we scalped the crown off of it and flattened the field just slightly,” Purpur said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once the games were underway, he said the massive crowds were something he had never witnessed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hadn’t been to a game that big before. There were very few photos of Stanford football being sold out like that,” he said. “And every seat was full.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michael Mastrocola, a San José native and soccer fan, joined the USA94 organizing committee in the Bay Area, which helped to get Stanford selected as a host site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said the pieces for a dramatic, entertaining game between the U.S. and Brazil were already in place, as the Brazilian team’s World Cup base camp was in Los Gatos.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088814\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088814\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A general view of Stanford Stadium during the Brazil-USA World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on July 4, 1994. \u003ccite>(Peter Robinson/PA Images via Getty Ima)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Diehard supporters of the team \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/los-gatos-looks-toward-renewal-of-world-cup-madness/\">flooded \u003c/a>the small South Bay town.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When Brazil came to Los Gatos, it was insane. Everything was yellow and green. They were samba [dancing] all through the streets of Los Gatos, and they really lit the city up,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Independence Day, the gameplay and the Stanford venue didn’t disappoint.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everywhere you went, it was red, white and blue mixed in with the sea of the Sambas, of course,” he said, referring to U.S. and Brazil supporters, filling 84,000 seats. “It was electric.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When they introduced the players, you could just see the glow on people’s faces,” he said. “I remember walking out looking at the turf and the turf was like a carpet. You know, it was perfectly green and bright and manicured.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>International professional soccer was still “a baby brother to football and basketball and Super Bowls,” Mastrocola said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It wasn’t lost on the U.S. players that a strong showing against a three-time World Cup champion like Brazil could boost their credibility on an international stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088819\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088819\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1299\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED-1536x998.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Happy Brazilian fans celebrate during Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Russian in World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on June 20, 1994. \u003ccite>(Steve Dunn/ALLSPORT via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We were weathering the storm,” Jones said, recalling the matchup and some of Brazil’s best players. “Because they had such talent in the Romários, the Bebetos, the Dungas all over the field.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, Brazil won the game, scoring a goal late in the match. But Mastrocola said the U.S. team proved themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They had good coaching. They had great excitement and enthusiasm,” he said. “They wanted to make the USA proud, and they did.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the rise in soccer professionalization and interest domestically has also tracked with the increasing price of admission for major tournaments like the World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Admission to the group stage games for the current World Cup generally costs fans a minimum of several hundred dollars per ticket, and tickets to the later stages and final matches are akin to buying seats at the Super Bowl.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tickets for the U.S. game on July 1 are currently reselling on the FIFA official marketplace for a minimum of several thousand dollars, and listing as high as more than $20,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088815\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088815\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cobi Jones of USA chases down the ball in the Brazil-USA World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on July 4, 1994. \u003ccite>(Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It really is ring-fenced around those who can afford these kinds of very high prices,” said Matthew Atencio, a professor of kinesiology and co-director of the Center for Sport and Social Justice at California State University East Bay. “So many of your kids in the Bay Area who love the game or might be interested or curious about the matches that are being hosted are not able to go to those, and I’m disappointed in that aspect.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atencio drove down from Washington state to see Brazil take on Cameroon at Stanford in 1994. Tickets were less than $100, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For young fans like Atencio and his friends, who played soccer at the time, those in-person experiences with the game were inspirational and influential.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That was a real catalyst to us still wanting to be part of the game. And it drove us to keep playing, it drove us to keep coaching,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’d go on to play on teams and in leagues around the world. He noted players now have many more avenues to play domestically, whether in college, academies, or semi-professionally in various leagues that were not around in the ‘90s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mastrocola, who sold ticket and hospitality packages around the World Cup in 1994, said he’s happy soccer has taken off, but sad to see prices shooting up so high.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087234\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087234\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ray Purpur, Stanford’s deputy athletics director, sits with photographs and memorabilia from the 1994 FIFA World Cup in his office at Stanford University on June 11, 2026. Purpur helped oversee preparations when Stanford Stadium hosted matches during the tournament. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The World Cup has become quite corporate,” he said. “You can tell by the price of tickets, it’s not for the fan, it doesn’t seem like it’s for the fans anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atencio said he’s encouraged to see how community-based organizations have stepped up with grassroots soccer programs to help sustain the sport for youth and in lower-income communities, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086356/an-oakland-soccer-program-helps-immigrant-youth-find-belonging\">Soccer Without Borders\u003c/a>, Street Soccer USA and 3v3 soccer tournaments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel like they’re really on the line of how this sport can be for the masses, for the people, and especially for people who simply can’t afford to be part of a pay-to-play system,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/kmizuguchi\">\u003cem>Keith Mizuguchi\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/agonzalez\">\u003cem>Alex Gonzalez\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "bts-stanford-stadium-arirang-tickets-2026-bag-policy-setlist-parking-guide",
"title": "Seeing BTS at the Stanford Stadium This Weekend? From Bag Policy to Parking, What to Know",
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"headTitle": "Seeing BTS at the Stanford Stadium This Weekend? From Bag Policy to Parking, What to Know | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082588/bts-stanford-may-2026-stadium-army-kpop-things-to-do-bay-area-peninsula\">BTS is returning to the Bay Area\u003c/a> for the first time as a group in eight years for their \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>World Tour — and they’re stopping at the Stanford Stadium on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s been such a buildup,” said KQED’s resident BTS expert, the \u003cem>California Report Magazine’s\u003c/em> producer \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/sracho\">Suzie Racho\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em> “They’re really making a concerted effort to get to as many fans as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The anticipation is high as fans like Racho — also known as BTS ARMY — have been eagerly waiting for the group’s return since the hiatus in 2022, where members spent time fulfilling their mandatory service in the Korean military and pursuing their solo projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for a group that is performing elsewhere at some of \u003ca href=\"https://ibighit.com/en/bts/tour/\">the biggest stadiums in the world\u003c/a>, some may be a little surprised that BTS’s Bay Area shows are at Stanford Stadium, the university’s football stadium near Palo Alto. But Racho said she’s hopeful she is a chance that the venue may actually help fans “experience it a little bit more immersively.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This will be the second-ever touring concert engagement hosted at Stanford, one year after Coldplay played two sold-out shows here. And when it comes to the imminent BTS concerts, “there’s a pride of place — that this is happening here,” said Stanford Live director Iris Nemani.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1329\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-1536x1031.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan of Korean boy band BTS poses for a photo in front of a poster at Tokyo Dome before the start of the first BTS World Tour “Arirang” in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We’re not going to become a stadium venue that’s going to do 100 concerts a year,” Nemani said, “but when we have very special artists like BTS … the university has decided to say yes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you have tickets to one of the three Stanford shows on May 16, 17 or 19, we’ve compiled this guide on everything you need to know about seeing BTS next week, from parking to bag policy to public transportation and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re looking for themed things to do in the Bay Area before the BTS shows, take a look at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082588/bts-stanford-may-2026-stadium-army-kpop-things-to-do-bay-area-peninsula\">our recommendations for K-Pop inspired stories, events and parties happening this weekend.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CanIstillgetticketsforBTSsStanfordshows\">Can I still get tickets for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatisthebagpolicyforStanfordStadium\">What is the bag policy for Stanford Stadium?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What time are the BTS shows at Stanford?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The BTS shows are scheduled to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-19-2026/event/1C006435858268EC?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">start at 7 p.m.\u003c/a> for all three nights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gates will \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bt\">open at 4:30 p.m.\u003c/a>\u003cu>,\u003c/u> with public entrances at Stanford Stadium’s Gates 2, 4, 5, 10 and 12. If you leave the venue, you cannot reenter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083385\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1435px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1435\" height=\"857\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap.jpg 1435w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap-160x96.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1435px) 100vw, 1435px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A map of Stanford Stadium. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While some BTS concerts have started late in other cities, it is worth noting that Stanford has a \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">strict sound curfew at 10 p.m.\u003c/a> All in all, it might be reasonable to expect these shows to start on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhatisthebagpolicyforStanfordStadium\">\u003c/a>What is the bag policy for the BTS shows at Stanford?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bags that are \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/stanford-athletics-fan-policies\">allowed at Stanford Stadium\u003c/a> include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags that do not exceed 12″x6″x12″\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Small clutch bags or purses no larger than 4.5” x 6.5” x 2” (with or without a handle or strap), in addition to a clear bag\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Non-clear “\u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">medically necessary” bags\u003c/a>, including diaper bags — although these will be subjected to additional screening\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Backpacks are not permitted, including those \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">sold at the Official BTS Merchandise stands.\u003c/a> There \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">are three bag checks\u003c/a> located near Gate 10, inside the main entrance of Sunken Diamond and the main entrance of Cobb Track and Angell Field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Items that are allowed at Stanford Stadium include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>BTS Official Light sticks with batteries\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Blankets\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sealed or empty soft plastic bottles smaller than 20 oz\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Plush toys\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Small, portable phone chargers, handheld fans and neck fans\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Keychains\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Liquid sunscreen\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Non-professional still cameras \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">(disposable, Polaroid, lenses less than 6” in length)\u003c/a> for personal use\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Signs smaller than 11”x15” (but be nice to your fellow fans and try not to wave your sign throughout the entire concert – you’ll block their view)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Seat cushions \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">smaller than 18″\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">Items that are \u003cem>not\u003c/em> allowed\u003c/a> at Stanford Stadium include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Balls, frisbees, whole fruit (seriously) or “other potential projectiles,” according to Stanford\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bicycles, skates, scooters, or skateboards\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Hard plastic, glass, ceramic or metal bottles\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Chairs (unless ADA compliant)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Horns or artificial noisemakers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Laser lights, strobes and flashlights\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Open umbrellas\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Poles, selfie-sticks, GoPros, monopods and tripods\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Flags\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strollers (unless ADA compliant)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What if it rains during the BTS concert in this outdoor stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Stanford’s Nemani confirmed the BTS show will go on in this outdoor stadium, rain or shine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to keep \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.417&lon=-122.1477\">an eye out for the weather in the coming days\u003c/a>. If you are not local to the area, keep in mind that the Bay Area can get deceptively cold at night.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Should I have cash on hand at the BTS concert?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Stanford Stadium is a cashless venue, so you need a debit card, credit card or mobile wallet like Apple Pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know I have a good seat at Stanford Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can check out \u003ca href=\"https://preview.3ddigitalvenue.com/stanford-stadium-football\">a 3-D rendering\u003c/a> of Stanford Stadium on the university’s website. But the \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>tour is performed in the round, on a 360-degree stage, making it even easier for fans to actually see the BTS members.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will the setlist be for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you don’t mind spoilers, \u003cem>Billboard\u003c/em> has \u003ca href=\"https://www.billboard.com/lists/bts-setlist-every-song-arirang-tour-tampa/?link_source=ta_thread_link&taid=69ede39154073e0001f57435&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=threads.net\">the tour’s setlist from Tampa, Florida\u003c/a>, which includes some of their big hits like “Fake Love” and “Butter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about parking at Stanford for the BTS show?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Keitch Juricich, from the Stanford Athletics Operations and Events team, said the University has been working with the city on traffic flows and parking — and that more staffing will be available on BTS concert nights, “to make sure that we are moving people as quickly as we possibly can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can buy \u003ca href=\"https://tickets.gostanford.com/p/parking-for-bts-arirang-in-stanford\">parking passes, including ADA parking passes\u003c/a>, on the Stanford website. According to Stanford\u003cu>,\u003c/u> these \u003ca href=\"https://tickets.gostanford.com/p/parking-for-bts-arirang-in-stanford\">passes must be purchased\u003c/a> by 12 a.m. on the day of the event. You will need to create an account on the Stanford website, and you can buy up to four passes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parking lots will be open at 1:30 p.m. on show days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082781\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082781\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1276\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342-1536x990.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans await the BTS concert as part of the “Love Yourself” North American Tour at Staples Center on Sept. 9, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If these passes are sold out, you can try your luck with \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/\">third-party parking websites like SpotHero\u003c/a> for other non-Stanford parking options farther away. You may find residents of nearby Stanford neighborhoods are selling parking spots for the night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are from out of town and have rented a car, be sure to read KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11959799/how-to-avoid-a-car-break-in-bay-area\">guide on the unfortunately common problem of break-ins\u003c/a> in the Bay Area and keep your vehicle safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that Stanford is a pretty spread-out campus, and it could be worth wearing comfortable shoes for any walking you need to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will there be road closures on the day of the BTS concerts?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are driving, be aware that there will be some reroutes happening on the day of the concert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#closures\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a>, there will be street closures on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Arboretum/Palm intersection between Palm Drive & Galvez Street, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lasuen Street between Campus Drive & Arboretum Road, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lasuen Street between Campus Drive & Roth Way, closed all day on show days\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Galvez Street between Campus Drive and Jane Stanford Way, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where are the Uber and Lyft pickup/dropoff spots for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On BTS concert night, the Wilbur Lot (660 Escondido Road) will be \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">the spot for pickup and dropoff\u003c/a>, which is around a 20-minute walk from the Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before and after the show, there will be ADA golf transportation for guests available.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s the best way to take public transit to the BTS show?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To avoid some of the hassles of parking and rideshare costs, public transportation can be a great option for getting to these concerts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For some of these transportation options, you can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052690/bart-fares-2025-credit-card-clipper-tap-and-ride-contactless\">a Clipper Card, a card or Apple/Google Pay to tap on and off these services\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to check when the last train leaves for the night. While the concert is likely to end at 10 p.m. sharp, there is a chance that the crowds might make it hard to exit the stadium.[aside postID=news_12082588 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/BTS-Bay-Area-Illustration_2.jpg']Stanford has \u003ca href=\"https://transportation.stanford.edu/getting-stanford/public-transit\">a pretty comprehensive guide\u003c/a> on public transportation in the area, but here are the highlights:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Caltrain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The closest Caltrain station to the campus is \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/stanford\">the Palo Alto stop\u003c/a>. You can plan your route by using \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=trip_planner_tab\">Caltrain’s Trip Planner\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re working with Caltrain to really encourage alternative transportation modes,” Nemani said, adding that fans can expect themed Caltrain cars and Stanford merch giveaways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Caltrain station is less than a mile away from Stanford Stadium, but you could catch the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://transportation.stanford.edu/marguerite/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">free Marguerite Shuttle\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to help you get closer. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A spokesperson for Caltrain said in an email to KQED that \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/event/bts-concert\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">on the weekend concerts\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the last northbound train leaving the Palo Alto Station will be at 11:58 p.m. The last southbound train of the night will leave at 12:56 a.m.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the Tuesday concert, the final northbound train of the night will leave the Palo Alto Station at 11:57 p.m. The last southbound train will leave at 12:54 p.m.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A heads-up: While there is a Stanford stop on the Caltrain, it will \u003cem>not\u003c/em> be in use during the BTS concerts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For younger fans 18 and under, Caltrain rides are under $1 for one day and $2 for a Day pass.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART provides service through the Peninsula and the East Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">BART’s Trip Planner\u003c/a> for an exact route, but in general, \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">to get to Stanford\u003c/a>, you would need to transfer to the Caltrain at the Millbrae, Fremont and Union City stops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082782\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082782\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1288\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351-1536x999.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Drones illuminate the night sky with BTS logo during a drone light show at a riverside park in Seoul on March 20, 2026, ahead of the comeback concert of K-pop boy band BTS. \u003ccite>(Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>SamTrans\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SamTrans connects to the Palo Alto train station to all of San Mateo County. You can \u003ca href=\"https://www.samtrans.com/\">plan your trip on the SamTrans’ website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>VTA\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The VTA, which serves Santa Clara, goes along El Camino Real. The VTA Trip Planner is \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/\">available on the agency’s website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to VTA’s \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/VTA/status/2052102342778974493\">social media\u003c/a> accounts, Bus Routes 22 and 522 are the best ways to get to Stanford Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Biking\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will be first-come, first-served bike parking on Nelson Road across from Gate 4 and Sam MacDonald Road across from Gate 3. Your bikes will be looked after by \u003ca href=\"http://bikesiliconvalley.org/?DB_OEM_ID=30600\">the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility for the BTS shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#ada\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a>, if a fan needs accessible seating, they should contact Ticketmaster to switch their ticket to an ADA seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ADA seating is available in:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Row Y of all 100-level sections and Row V of 200-level sections in seats 201-207, 219-227, and 239-240\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Select portions of Sections 208, 218, 228, and 238\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>ADA platforms in Sections B, F, and P on the floor\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083382\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083382\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSADA-scaled-e1778624702494.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1198\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stanford’s accessibility policy. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fans with floor access should enter through Gate 1B. There will be a golf cart available. However, there are no escort services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get ASL access, fans should reach out to \u003ca href=\"mailto:athleticstickets@stanford.edu\">athleticstickets@stanford.edu\u003c/a> a week before the day of the concert.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I tailgate at the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, fans can tailgate around their vehicles “during the day, during the hours that the campus is open for the concerts,” Nemani said. Tailgate setups should not be blocking any pathways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some fans have been known to \u003ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/bts-fans-camp-overnight-raymond-153039408.html\">camp out overnight\u003c/a> to get a head start on merch lines. However, Nemani said “there is no overnight camping” on the Stanford campus: “None at all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What do I need to know about merch at the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There will be BTS merch trailers at the Stanford shows, where Nemani said the venue will be using \u003ca href=\"https://www.justwalkout.com/\">Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology\u003c/a>, which allows customers to pay at entry and walk out with merch without formally checking out their purchases. “Hopefully that will move people through quickly,” Nemani said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will be \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#merch\">an early merch day\u003c/a> at the Stanford Hammer Throw on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Friday only: If you are being dropped off at the sale, go to Maples Pavilion (655 Campus Drive). If you are driving, there will be parking at the IM South lot, which will open at 9 a.m. Parking costs $10, and cash will not be accepted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083381\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083381\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1628\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch-160x130.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch-1536x1250.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Where early merch can be found near Stanford Stadium. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>There will also be BTS merch sales on the days of the show, when trailers will open at 9 a.m. There will also be merch sales within the stadium itself. Early parking will be available at 8 a.m. for merch opening at lots like the IM South Lot and Roth Garage — although bear in mind these spots will \u003ca href=\"http://www.gostanford.com/btsparking\">require a parking pass\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As people leave the BTS shows, “we will keep the main merch tent open for about an hour afterwards,” Nemani said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, she also emphasized that these trailers will not be pickup areas for \u003ca href=\"https://shop.weverse.io/en/home\">merch bought through Weverse Shop\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"CanIstillgetticketsforBTSsStanfordshows\">\u003c/a>Can I still get tickets for the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to Ticketmaster, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-16-2026/event/1C006429C95EA2B8?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">all\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-17-2026/event/1C006429C9DDA300?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">three\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-19-2026/event/1C006435858268EC?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">nights\u003c/a> of the \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>World Tour remain sold out. Box office, near Gate 2, opens at 2 p.m., but will not be able to help with BTS tickets on \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">non-show days\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You \u003ca href=\"https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/tickets/how-to-buy-bts-world-tour-tickets-online-prices-sites-deals-1235505013/\">could try\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/bts-tickets/performer/1503185?=&PCID=PSUSADWHOME730428403FF837&MetroRegionID=&psc=&ps=&ps_p=0&ps_c=23758590705&ps_ag=194340684174&ps_tg=kwd-16956083&ps_ad=805812870716&ps_adp=&ps_fi=&ps_li=&ps_lp=9061275&ps_n=g&ps_d=c&ps_ex=&pscpag=&gcid=C12289X486&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_sub_medium=prospecting&utm_term=nb&utm_campaign=23758590705%3Adefault&utm_content=default&keyword=194340684174_kwd-16956083_c&creative=805812870716&utm_kxconfid=s2rshsbmv&kwt=nb&mt=b&kw=bts&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23758590705&gbraid=0AAAAAD3ylY2A5_YLx9b6hHJpzUpuEvi9b&gclid=CjwKCAjwzevPBhBaEiwAplAxvpb-AUnpIzFOFYV6vxLatRhqnv-Yygjp8Zs8EYnQ30KNkf5NBFuCRRoC9K8QAvD_BwE&ct=\">resale vendors like StubHub\u003c/a>, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/bts-stanford-tickets-5-16-2026/event/160262168/?backUrl=%2Fbts-tickets%2Fperformer%2F1503185<=37.427467&lg=-122.1702445&quantity=2\">tickets can range\u003c/a> from $250 to more than $900.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But remember, it’s worth being cautious about online resales, \u003cem>especially\u003c/em> with social media ticket trades. And some fans have \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/stubhub/comments/1sef583/bts_tickets_canceled/\">posted online\u003c/a> that their resale tickets for the earlier shows, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketnews.com/2026/04/bts-fans-cry-foul-after-ticketmaster-cancells-tickets-claining-glitch/\">like Tampa\u003c/a>, were being canceled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vendors like StubHub may be able to help you \u003ca href=\"https://www.syracuse.com/live-entertainment/2026/03/is-stubhub-legit-for-bts-tickets-what-to-know-before-buying-resale.html\">refund your tickets \u003c/a>if a situation like this arises.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "BTS is back together and coming to the Bay Area this weekend. If you've got tickets, here's what to know about attending one of these three concerts at Stanford Stadium.",
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"title": "Seeing BTS at the Stanford Stadium This Weekend? From Bag Policy to Parking, What to Know | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082588/bts-stanford-may-2026-stadium-army-kpop-things-to-do-bay-area-peninsula\">BTS is returning to the Bay Area\u003c/a> for the first time as a group in eight years for their \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>World Tour — and they’re stopping at the Stanford Stadium on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s been such a buildup,” said KQED’s resident BTS expert, the \u003cem>California Report Magazine’s\u003c/em> producer \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/sracho\">Suzie Racho\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em> “They’re really making a concerted effort to get to as many fans as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The anticipation is high as fans like Racho — also known as BTS ARMY — have been eagerly waiting for the group’s return since the hiatus in 2022, where members spent time fulfilling their mandatory service in the Korean military and pursuing their solo projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for a group that is performing elsewhere at some of \u003ca href=\"https://ibighit.com/en/bts/tour/\">the biggest stadiums in the world\u003c/a>, some may be a little surprised that BTS’s Bay Area shows are at Stanford Stadium, the university’s football stadium near Palo Alto. But Racho said she’s hopeful she is a chance that the venue may actually help fans “experience it a little bit more immersively.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This will be the second-ever touring concert engagement hosted at Stanford, one year after Coldplay played two sold-out shows here. And when it comes to the imminent BTS concerts, “there’s a pride of place — that this is happening here,” said Stanford Live director Iris Nemani.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1329\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-1536x1031.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan of Korean boy band BTS poses for a photo in front of a poster at Tokyo Dome before the start of the first BTS World Tour “Arirang” in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We’re not going to become a stadium venue that’s going to do 100 concerts a year,” Nemani said, “but when we have very special artists like BTS … the university has decided to say yes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you have tickets to one of the three Stanford shows on May 16, 17 or 19, we’ve compiled this guide on everything you need to know about seeing BTS next week, from parking to bag policy to public transportation and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re looking for themed things to do in the Bay Area before the BTS shows, take a look at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082588/bts-stanford-may-2026-stadium-army-kpop-things-to-do-bay-area-peninsula\">our recommendations for K-Pop inspired stories, events and parties happening this weekend.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CanIstillgetticketsforBTSsStanfordshows\">Can I still get tickets for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatisthebagpolicyforStanfordStadium\">What is the bag policy for Stanford Stadium?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What time are the BTS shows at Stanford?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The BTS shows are scheduled to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-19-2026/event/1C006435858268EC?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">start at 7 p.m.\u003c/a> for all three nights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gates will \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bt\">open at 4:30 p.m.\u003c/a>\u003cu>,\u003c/u> with public entrances at Stanford Stadium’s Gates 2, 4, 5, 10 and 12. If you leave the venue, you cannot reenter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083385\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1435px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1435\" height=\"857\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap.jpg 1435w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap-160x96.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1435px) 100vw, 1435px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A map of Stanford Stadium. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While some BTS concerts have started late in other cities, it is worth noting that Stanford has a \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">strict sound curfew at 10 p.m.\u003c/a> All in all, it might be reasonable to expect these shows to start on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhatisthebagpolicyforStanfordStadium\">\u003c/a>What is the bag policy for the BTS shows at Stanford?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bags that are \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/stanford-athletics-fan-policies\">allowed at Stanford Stadium\u003c/a> include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags that do not exceed 12″x6″x12″\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Small clutch bags or purses no larger than 4.5” x 6.5” x 2” (with or without a handle or strap), in addition to a clear bag\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Non-clear “\u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">medically necessary” bags\u003c/a>, including diaper bags — although these will be subjected to additional screening\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Backpacks are not permitted, including those \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">sold at the Official BTS Merchandise stands.\u003c/a> There \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">are three bag checks\u003c/a> located near Gate 10, inside the main entrance of Sunken Diamond and the main entrance of Cobb Track and Angell Field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Items that are allowed at Stanford Stadium include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>BTS Official Light sticks with batteries\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Blankets\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sealed or empty soft plastic bottles smaller than 20 oz\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Plush toys\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Small, portable phone chargers, handheld fans and neck fans\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Keychains\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Liquid sunscreen\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Non-professional still cameras \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">(disposable, Polaroid, lenses less than 6” in length)\u003c/a> for personal use\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Signs smaller than 11”x15” (but be nice to your fellow fans and try not to wave your sign throughout the entire concert – you’ll block their view)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Seat cushions \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">smaller than 18″\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">Items that are \u003cem>not\u003c/em> allowed\u003c/a> at Stanford Stadium include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Balls, frisbees, whole fruit (seriously) or “other potential projectiles,” according to Stanford\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bicycles, skates, scooters, or skateboards\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Hard plastic, glass, ceramic or metal bottles\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Chairs (unless ADA compliant)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Horns or artificial noisemakers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Laser lights, strobes and flashlights\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Open umbrellas\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Poles, selfie-sticks, GoPros, monopods and tripods\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Flags\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strollers (unless ADA compliant)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What if it rains during the BTS concert in this outdoor stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Stanford’s Nemani confirmed the BTS show will go on in this outdoor stadium, rain or shine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to keep \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.417&lon=-122.1477\">an eye out for the weather in the coming days\u003c/a>. If you are not local to the area, keep in mind that the Bay Area can get deceptively cold at night.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Should I have cash on hand at the BTS concert?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Stanford Stadium is a cashless venue, so you need a debit card, credit card or mobile wallet like Apple Pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know I have a good seat at Stanford Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can check out \u003ca href=\"https://preview.3ddigitalvenue.com/stanford-stadium-football\">a 3-D rendering\u003c/a> of Stanford Stadium on the university’s website. But the \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>tour is performed in the round, on a 360-degree stage, making it even easier for fans to actually see the BTS members.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will the setlist be for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you don’t mind spoilers, \u003cem>Billboard\u003c/em> has \u003ca href=\"https://www.billboard.com/lists/bts-setlist-every-song-arirang-tour-tampa/?link_source=ta_thread_link&taid=69ede39154073e0001f57435&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=threads.net\">the tour’s setlist from Tampa, Florida\u003c/a>, which includes some of their big hits like “Fake Love” and “Butter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about parking at Stanford for the BTS show?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Keitch Juricich, from the Stanford Athletics Operations and Events team, said the University has been working with the city on traffic flows and parking — and that more staffing will be available on BTS concert nights, “to make sure that we are moving people as quickly as we possibly can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can buy \u003ca href=\"https://tickets.gostanford.com/p/parking-for-bts-arirang-in-stanford\">parking passes, including ADA parking passes\u003c/a>, on the Stanford website. According to Stanford\u003cu>,\u003c/u> these \u003ca href=\"https://tickets.gostanford.com/p/parking-for-bts-arirang-in-stanford\">passes must be purchased\u003c/a> by 12 a.m. on the day of the event. You will need to create an account on the Stanford website, and you can buy up to four passes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parking lots will be open at 1:30 p.m. on show days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082781\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082781\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1276\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342-1536x990.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans await the BTS concert as part of the “Love Yourself” North American Tour at Staples Center on Sept. 9, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If these passes are sold out, you can try your luck with \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/\">third-party parking websites like SpotHero\u003c/a> for other non-Stanford parking options farther away. You may find residents of nearby Stanford neighborhoods are selling parking spots for the night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are from out of town and have rented a car, be sure to read KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11959799/how-to-avoid-a-car-break-in-bay-area\">guide on the unfortunately common problem of break-ins\u003c/a> in the Bay Area and keep your vehicle safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that Stanford is a pretty spread-out campus, and it could be worth wearing comfortable shoes for any walking you need to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will there be road closures on the day of the BTS concerts?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are driving, be aware that there will be some reroutes happening on the day of the concert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#closures\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a>, there will be street closures on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Arboretum/Palm intersection between Palm Drive & Galvez Street, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lasuen Street between Campus Drive & Arboretum Road, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lasuen Street between Campus Drive & Roth Way, closed all day on show days\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Galvez Street between Campus Drive and Jane Stanford Way, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where are the Uber and Lyft pickup/dropoff spots for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On BTS concert night, the Wilbur Lot (660 Escondido Road) will be \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">the spot for pickup and dropoff\u003c/a>, which is around a 20-minute walk from the Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before and after the show, there will be ADA golf transportation for guests available.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s the best way to take public transit to the BTS show?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To avoid some of the hassles of parking and rideshare costs, public transportation can be a great option for getting to these concerts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For some of these transportation options, you can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052690/bart-fares-2025-credit-card-clipper-tap-and-ride-contactless\">a Clipper Card, a card or Apple/Google Pay to tap on and off these services\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to check when the last train leaves for the night. While the concert is likely to end at 10 p.m. sharp, there is a chance that the crowds might make it hard to exit the stadium.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Stanford has \u003ca href=\"https://transportation.stanford.edu/getting-stanford/public-transit\">a pretty comprehensive guide\u003c/a> on public transportation in the area, but here are the highlights:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Caltrain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The closest Caltrain station to the campus is \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/stanford\">the Palo Alto stop\u003c/a>. You can plan your route by using \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=trip_planner_tab\">Caltrain’s Trip Planner\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re working with Caltrain to really encourage alternative transportation modes,” Nemani said, adding that fans can expect themed Caltrain cars and Stanford merch giveaways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Caltrain station is less than a mile away from Stanford Stadium, but you could catch the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://transportation.stanford.edu/marguerite/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">free Marguerite Shuttle\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to help you get closer. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A spokesperson for Caltrain said in an email to KQED that \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/event/bts-concert\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">on the weekend concerts\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the last northbound train leaving the Palo Alto Station will be at 11:58 p.m. The last southbound train of the night will leave at 12:56 a.m.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the Tuesday concert, the final northbound train of the night will leave the Palo Alto Station at 11:57 p.m. The last southbound train will leave at 12:54 p.m.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A heads-up: While there is a Stanford stop on the Caltrain, it will \u003cem>not\u003c/em> be in use during the BTS concerts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For younger fans 18 and under, Caltrain rides are under $1 for one day and $2 for a Day pass.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART provides service through the Peninsula and the East Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">BART’s Trip Planner\u003c/a> for an exact route, but in general, \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">to get to Stanford\u003c/a>, you would need to transfer to the Caltrain at the Millbrae, Fremont and Union City stops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082782\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082782\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1288\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351-1536x999.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Drones illuminate the night sky with BTS logo during a drone light show at a riverside park in Seoul on March 20, 2026, ahead of the comeback concert of K-pop boy band BTS. \u003ccite>(Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>SamTrans\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SamTrans connects to the Palo Alto train station to all of San Mateo County. You can \u003ca href=\"https://www.samtrans.com/\">plan your trip on the SamTrans’ website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>VTA\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The VTA, which serves Santa Clara, goes along El Camino Real. The VTA Trip Planner is \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/\">available on the agency’s website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to VTA’s \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/VTA/status/2052102342778974493\">social media\u003c/a> accounts, Bus Routes 22 and 522 are the best ways to get to Stanford Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Biking\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will be first-come, first-served bike parking on Nelson Road across from Gate 4 and Sam MacDonald Road across from Gate 3. Your bikes will be looked after by \u003ca href=\"http://bikesiliconvalley.org/?DB_OEM_ID=30600\">the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility for the BTS shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#ada\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a>, if a fan needs accessible seating, they should contact Ticketmaster to switch their ticket to an ADA seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ADA seating is available in:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Row Y of all 100-level sections and Row V of 200-level sections in seats 201-207, 219-227, and 239-240\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Select portions of Sections 208, 218, 228, and 238\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>ADA platforms in Sections B, F, and P on the floor\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083382\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083382\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSADA-scaled-e1778624702494.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1198\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stanford’s accessibility policy. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fans with floor access should enter through Gate 1B. There will be a golf cart available. However, there are no escort services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get ASL access, fans should reach out to \u003ca href=\"mailto:athleticstickets@stanford.edu\">athleticstickets@stanford.edu\u003c/a> a week before the day of the concert.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I tailgate at the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, fans can tailgate around their vehicles “during the day, during the hours that the campus is open for the concerts,” Nemani said. Tailgate setups should not be blocking any pathways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some fans have been known to \u003ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/bts-fans-camp-overnight-raymond-153039408.html\">camp out overnight\u003c/a> to get a head start on merch lines. However, Nemani said “there is no overnight camping” on the Stanford campus: “None at all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What do I need to know about merch at the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There will be BTS merch trailers at the Stanford shows, where Nemani said the venue will be using \u003ca href=\"https://www.justwalkout.com/\">Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology\u003c/a>, which allows customers to pay at entry and walk out with merch without formally checking out their purchases. “Hopefully that will move people through quickly,” Nemani said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will be \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#merch\">an early merch day\u003c/a> at the Stanford Hammer Throw on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Friday only: If you are being dropped off at the sale, go to Maples Pavilion (655 Campus Drive). If you are driving, there will be parking at the IM South lot, which will open at 9 a.m. Parking costs $10, and cash will not be accepted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083381\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083381\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1628\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch-160x130.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch-1536x1250.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Where early merch can be found near Stanford Stadium. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>There will also be BTS merch sales on the days of the show, when trailers will open at 9 a.m. There will also be merch sales within the stadium itself. Early parking will be available at 8 a.m. for merch opening at lots like the IM South Lot and Roth Garage — although bear in mind these spots will \u003ca href=\"http://www.gostanford.com/btsparking\">require a parking pass\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As people leave the BTS shows, “we will keep the main merch tent open for about an hour afterwards,” Nemani said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, she also emphasized that these trailers will not be pickup areas for \u003ca href=\"https://shop.weverse.io/en/home\">merch bought through Weverse Shop\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"CanIstillgetticketsforBTSsStanfordshows\">\u003c/a>Can I still get tickets for the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to Ticketmaster, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-16-2026/event/1C006429C95EA2B8?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">all\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-17-2026/event/1C006429C9DDA300?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">three\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-19-2026/event/1C006435858268EC?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">nights\u003c/a> of the \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>World Tour remain sold out. Box office, near Gate 2, opens at 2 p.m., but will not be able to help with BTS tickets on \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">non-show days\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You \u003ca href=\"https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/tickets/how-to-buy-bts-world-tour-tickets-online-prices-sites-deals-1235505013/\">could try\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/bts-tickets/performer/1503185?=&PCID=PSUSADWHOME730428403FF837&MetroRegionID=&psc=&ps=&ps_p=0&ps_c=23758590705&ps_ag=194340684174&ps_tg=kwd-16956083&ps_ad=805812870716&ps_adp=&ps_fi=&ps_li=&ps_lp=9061275&ps_n=g&ps_d=c&ps_ex=&pscpag=&gcid=C12289X486&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_sub_medium=prospecting&utm_term=nb&utm_campaign=23758590705%3Adefault&utm_content=default&keyword=194340684174_kwd-16956083_c&creative=805812870716&utm_kxconfid=s2rshsbmv&kwt=nb&mt=b&kw=bts&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23758590705&gbraid=0AAAAAD3ylY2A5_YLx9b6hHJpzUpuEvi9b&gclid=CjwKCAjwzevPBhBaEiwAplAxvpb-AUnpIzFOFYV6vxLatRhqnv-Yygjp8Zs8EYnQ30KNkf5NBFuCRRoC9K8QAvD_BwE&ct=\">resale vendors like StubHub\u003c/a>, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/bts-stanford-tickets-5-16-2026/event/160262168/?backUrl=%2Fbts-tickets%2Fperformer%2F1503185<=37.427467&lg=-122.1702445&quantity=2\">tickets can range\u003c/a> from $250 to more than $900.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But remember, it’s worth being cautious about online resales, \u003cem>especially\u003c/em> with social media ticket trades. And some fans have \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/stubhub/comments/1sef583/bts_tickets_canceled/\">posted online\u003c/a> that their resale tickets for the earlier shows, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketnews.com/2026/04/bts-fans-cry-foul-after-ticketmaster-cancells-tickets-claining-glitch/\">like Tampa\u003c/a>, were being canceled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vendors like StubHub may be able to help you \u003ca href=\"https://www.syracuse.com/live-entertainment/2026/03/is-stubhub-legit-for-bts-tickets-what-to-know-before-buying-resale.html\">refund your tickets \u003c/a>if a situation like this arises.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "bts-stanford-may-2026-stadium-army-kpop-things-to-do-bay-area-peninsula",
"title": "BTS Is Coming to Stanford. How to Have a Very K-Pop Day in the Bay Area to Celebrate",
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"headTitle": "BTS Is Coming to Stanford. How to Have a Very K-Pop Day in the Bay Area to Celebrate | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>After several years, K-Pop juggernaut BTS is returning to the stage for their \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>world tour — and they’re stopping at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985347/bts-tickets-presale-info-stanford-tour\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a> next week on May 16, 17 and 19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BTS announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/06/14/1104980432/bts-announces-break\">a break in 2022\u003c/a> for the band to pursue their solo projects as well as to fulfill their mandatory service in the Korean military.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now the seven members (RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook) have \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5753931/bts-arirang-comeback-k-pop\">reunited \u003c/a>on the album \u003cem>Arirang, \u003c/em>which came out in March, and for which their new tour is named.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Needless to say,\u003ca href=\"https://www.usbtsarmy.com/\"> BTS ARMY\u003c/a> is \u003cem>thrilled\u003c/em>. And since the Bay Area – and \u003ca href=\"https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=617f82c1-03ff-45cb-8da4-2589808f8816\">the West Coast in general\u003c/a> – is home to a huge community of passionate K-Pop fans, there will be plenty of events leading up to the concert weekend to celebrate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To mark BTS’s first touring show on our home turf \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/bts-heads-to-gma-after-oakland-concert/4285071/\">since 2018\u003c/a>, we’ve compiled ways fans can celebrate BTS and K-Pop in general in the Bay Area that weekend, including cup sleeve events, opportunities for freebie trading, parties and themed desserts – whether you got a ticket to the shows or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just be sure to snag spots at ticketed events, because they may sell out quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1329\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-1536x1031.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan of Korean boy band BTS poses for a photo in front of a poster at Tokyo Dome before the start of the first BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you’re BTS ARMY visiting the Bay \u003cem>just \u003c/em>for the concert, welcome!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our region has a comparatively robust public transportation system, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/guide\">BART\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/\">Caltrain\u003c/a>, that can help you get to some of these spots, and you can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052690/bart-fares-2025-credit-card-clipper-tap-and-ride-contactless\">a Clipper Card, a card or Apple/Google Pay\u003c/a> to tap on and off these services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’ll also be publishing a guide to visiting Stanford Stadium itself for you in a few days, so check back.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Friday, May 15\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Before the BTS concert weekend starts, you can still have a \u003cem>very \u003c/em>full day of concert prep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the East Bay, you can start the day at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kpn_oakland/\">K-Pop Nation\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>a retail store dedicated solely to K-Pop music and merch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, you can grab a bite to eat at \u003ca href=\"https://www.pctofu.com/\">Pyeong Chang Tofu House\u003c/a>. Gangnam Jajang also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13984330/best-dishes-sf-bay-area-2025\">highly recommended Korean comfort food\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082664\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12082664 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS speak onstage during Spotify x BTS: SWIMSIDE at Pier 17 on March 23, 2026, in New York City. \u003ccite>(Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday in Hayward\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>Max’s Cakes will have \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/hayward/bts-in-the-bay-popup-event/\">an array of BTS themed desserts,\u003c/a> as well as first-come, first-served freebies made by fans, like a BTS World Tour \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>tote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rather stay closer to San Francisco? Take a look at beloved merch store \u003ca href=\"https://www.yelp.com/biz/kpop-nara-sf-san-francisco\">KPop Nara\u003c/a> in the Sunset District, or Stonestown Galleria’s own \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOFg0vmjhPx/\">Moonlly Fashion\u003c/a>, with photocards, lightsticks and music for sale. Near Stonestown is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13961328/bay-pocha-late-night-korean-pub-bossam-army-stew-sf\">Bay Pocha\u003c/a>, a Korean pub.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SFMOMA \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13982078/rm-bts-curates-sfmoma-exhibit-2026\">will be collaborating with RM\u003c/a> on an exhibit later this year. And while the art show isn’t yet on display, you could do some \u003ca href=\"https://medium.com/publiclibrarysg/the-art-of-namjooning-books-bts-and-a-guide-to-slow-living-and-reading-c35d81ad6f82\">Namjooning \u003c/a>by visiting the museum to prepare (and you might even be able to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11943906/how-to-find-free-museum-tickets-in-the-bay-area\">do so for free\u003c/a>) or checking out the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081122/bay-area-book-lovers-we-have-highly-literary-date-or-friend-hang-ideas-for-your-weekend?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=%7Bcampaign%7D&utm_content=807361520818&utm_campaign_id=23712169357&utm_ad_id=%7Badid%7D&utm_term=bay%20area%20bookstores&content_pillar=Free_Low_Cost_Things_to_Do&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23712169357&gbraid=0AAAAACreV8g3qckzOMaslbCjmsBLZSAP0&gclid=CjwKCAjwzevPBhBaEiwAplAxvhoKP7_n9-G2MSeHmoszE1Uuo8hlC7_d-pnuPj9HcGpspiK_hVuLQhoCY7cQAvD_BwE\">many best bookish spots\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or you could also grab a group of friends to recreate \u003ca href=\"https://www.usbtsarmy.com/bts-army-in-usa/bay-area\">BTS’s own iconic photo opportunity in front of the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a>.[aside postID=news_12080384 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-1020x716.jpg']At night, you can head over to the Mission District, where The Korner Store Bites is hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXIjZLIivVK/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">pre-concert party\u003c/a> featuring BTS music, an anju buffet, raffle prizes and themed drinks. There is \u003cem>also \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/purenightclub/events/bts-tribute-rave-tour-185098\">a BTS-themed rave\u003c/a> at Pure Nightclub in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re looking for a more private way to party, \u003ca href=\"https://www.k-box-karaoke.com/\">K-Box in the city’s Japantown\u003c/a> is a reliably good karaoke spot with rooms for rent. Other private karaoke room spots in the city include \u003ca href=\"https://pandorakaraoke.com/\">Pandora Karaoke\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/auracinemasf/\">Aura Cinema\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.karaokesf.com/k-time-karaoke\">K-Time\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://taishosf.com/\">Taisho\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this author would be remiss to not mention her favorite Korean barbecue spot in the city, \u003ca href=\"https://brothersrestaurantsf.com/\">Brothers in the Richmond district\u003c/a>. For late-night chicken, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13981034/toyose-korean-chicken-garage-late-night-san-francisco\">Toyose\u003c/a> is an excellent option as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For K-Pop fans in the South Bay, there is \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kpop-army-preshow-social-tickets-1983324591242?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">a pre-concert social\u003c/a> at the Hyatt in Mountain View from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. You can follow that event up with an \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVg9WkhD-pi/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">Armyang BTS Army Dance Party\u003c/a> at The Hub RWC in Redwood City.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But remember, if you’re attending one of the coming shows: Save your strength.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Saturday, May 16\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On concert days, it’s probably best to stick to the South Bay and Peninsula area to make sure you get to the Stanford Stadium on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has a thorough list of some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/109872/bay-area-bites-guide-to-5-cant-miss-south-bay-korean-barbecue-restaurants\">best Korean restaurants\u003c/a> in the South Bay, including Gooyi Gooyi and Jang Su Jang in Santa Clara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, Ryokucha Cafe in Palo Alto will have \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/palo-alto/bts-arirang-themed-cupsleeve-event/\">a cupsleeve event\u003c/a> with a themed BTS menu, giveaways and fan merch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11782708\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11782708\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Stanford's campus spans 8,180 acres in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and is one of the largest in the country\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1265\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-800x527.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-1020x672.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-1200x791.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stanford’s campus spans 8,180 acres in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and is one of the largest in the country. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also head to Sunnyvale for \u003ca href=\"https://www.citylinesunnyvale.com/get-ready-for-bangtan-sunnyvale-1\">its huge BTS ARMY meetup\u003c/a>, featuring 90+ local vendors and dance performances. The event is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if the vibes are immaculate, be sure to head to Stanford early for the concert, which starts at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exact time gates open for the concert has not been published on the Stanford Stadium website yet. (For Coldplay’s tour engagement at this venue last year, \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">gates opened at 5 p.m.\u003c/a> for a 5:25 p.m. showtime.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Sunday, May 17\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Start the day at Ryokucha Cafe in Palo Alto, which will have \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXp_ZGrjP5I/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">a BTS-themed vendor market and desserts\u003c/a> from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elsewhere in the city, Mr. Sun Tea is also celebrating with \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXW2w0Ngjgo/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">boba and freebie bundles\u003c/a>, from 12 to 3:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A little farther away is \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kloudkpop.sj\">Kloud K-Pop\u003c/a> in San José, which is hosting a pre-game event featuring photocard decorating and a lightstick giveaway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>After \u003c/em>the concert, for those who want the party to keep going, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/purenightclub/events/bts-tribute-rave-tour-185099\">BTS Rave Tour\u003c/a> is throwing a Night 2 event at Pure Nightclub in San Francisco, starting at 10 p.m. But if you’re going to the concert, be realistic that with travel from Stanford to San Francisco after the show, you’ll probably be arriving at the club closer to midnight.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Tuesday, May 19\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Fewer fan events are happening on the Tuesday show, but it is also a pretty good opportunity to check out the many stores dedicated to Korean pop culture in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are closer to the East Bay, visit \u003ca href=\"https://www.12kstshop.com/\">12KST Shop\u003c/a> in Concord or \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/confetti_kpop?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D\">Confetti K-Pop\u003c/a> in San Leandro. If you are closer to the South Bay, take a look at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kloudkpop.sj\">Kloud K-Pop\u003c/a> in San Jose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11754389\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11754389\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/GettyImages-77152290-e1560402492305.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An aerial view of downtown San Jose. \u003ccite>(Helene Labriet-Gross/AFP/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In Santa Clara, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988444/best-korean-barbecue-santa-clara-charcoal-grill-korean-spring-late-night\">Korean Spring BBQ\u003c/a> is one of the last places in the Bay Area where the meat is still grilled over wood charcoal, according to KQED’s Luke Tsai. Or head over to the city’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13973430/best-korean-spicy-raw-crabs-ondam-santa-clara-late-night\">Ondam restaurant\u003c/a> for spicy raw marinated crabs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again, be sure to leave with plenty of time to get to Stanford’s campus – especially on a weekday, where you will be competing with commuters and the workday rush.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>More BTS and K-Pop events happening this week\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Through Tuesday, May 19: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/dublin/bts-bay-area-takeover/\">BTS Take Over\u003c/a> at Boba & More Dublin\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, May 7:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://tockify.com/kpopinyourarea/detail/232/1778198400000\">K-Pop Takeover at Downtown First Thursday\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, May 8\u003c/strong>: \u003ca href=\"https://tockify.com/kpopinyourarea/detail/227/1778292000000\">K-Pop Fireworks Night at Oracle Park\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-make-freebies-for-bts-arirang-stanford-registration-1988058417243\">Making freebies with other fans\u003c/a> at Sunset Commons in San Francisco.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://partiful.com/e/a2Kr5XxnX1PpEs0im1fC\">Bangtan Beach Bonfya\u003c/a> at Ocean Beach in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9 and May 10: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXbH8ihDEj9/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">Pre-concert event\u003c/a> at Konditorei Cafe in Portola Valley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9 and May 10: \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bts-20-last-minute-pre-concert-prep-event-tickets-1988814015257?aff=erelexpmlt\">Last-minute pre-concert prep event\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> at DIY Decoden Art Studio in Cupertino\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9\u003c/strong>: \u003ca href=\"https://paloalto.bibliocommons.com/events/69cd8ae6b48451fc3c0cba28\">A BTS Celebration\u003c/a> with a concert screening and dance class at the Mitchell Park Community Center\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/san_jose/bts-world-tour-2026-preconcert-cupsleeve-event/\">Pre-Concert Cupsleeve Event\u003c/a> at A Sack of Potatoes in San Jose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/82allnight/p/DX0Y6EOFIuG/\">K-Pop Karaoke takeover\u003c/a> on Larkin Street in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, May 10:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/rohnert-park/bangtan-is-back-cupsleeve-event/\">Cupsleeve Event\u003c/a> at ThirsTea in Rohnert Park\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Suzie Racho and Luke Tsai contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Ahead of BTS’ first Bay Area concert in 8 years, here are the K-Pop-themed parties, events, stores and restaurants to visit – whether you’re a local or BTS ARMY visiting us from afar.\r\n",
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"title": "BTS Is Coming to Stanford. How to Have a Very K-Pop Day in the Bay Area to Celebrate | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>After several years, K-Pop juggernaut BTS is returning to the stage for their \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>world tour — and they’re stopping at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985347/bts-tickets-presale-info-stanford-tour\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a> next week on May 16, 17 and 19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BTS announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/06/14/1104980432/bts-announces-break\">a break in 2022\u003c/a> for the band to pursue their solo projects as well as to fulfill their mandatory service in the Korean military.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now the seven members (RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook) have \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5753931/bts-arirang-comeback-k-pop\">reunited \u003c/a>on the album \u003cem>Arirang, \u003c/em>which came out in March, and for which their new tour is named.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Needless to say,\u003ca href=\"https://www.usbtsarmy.com/\"> BTS ARMY\u003c/a> is \u003cem>thrilled\u003c/em>. And since the Bay Area – and \u003ca href=\"https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=617f82c1-03ff-45cb-8da4-2589808f8816\">the West Coast in general\u003c/a> – is home to a huge community of passionate K-Pop fans, there will be plenty of events leading up to the concert weekend to celebrate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To mark BTS’s first touring show on our home turf \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/bts-heads-to-gma-after-oakland-concert/4285071/\">since 2018\u003c/a>, we’ve compiled ways fans can celebrate BTS and K-Pop in general in the Bay Area that weekend, including cup sleeve events, opportunities for freebie trading, parties and themed desserts – whether you got a ticket to the shows or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just be sure to snag spots at ticketed events, because they may sell out quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1329\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-1536x1031.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan of Korean boy band BTS poses for a photo in front of a poster at Tokyo Dome before the start of the first BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you’re BTS ARMY visiting the Bay \u003cem>just \u003c/em>for the concert, welcome!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our region has a comparatively robust public transportation system, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/guide\">BART\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/\">Caltrain\u003c/a>, that can help you get to some of these spots, and you can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052690/bart-fares-2025-credit-card-clipper-tap-and-ride-contactless\">a Clipper Card, a card or Apple/Google Pay\u003c/a> to tap on and off these services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’ll also be publishing a guide to visiting Stanford Stadium itself for you in a few days, so check back.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Friday, May 15\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Before the BTS concert weekend starts, you can still have a \u003cem>very \u003c/em>full day of concert prep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the East Bay, you can start the day at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kpn_oakland/\">K-Pop Nation\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>a retail store dedicated solely to K-Pop music and merch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, you can grab a bite to eat at \u003ca href=\"https://www.pctofu.com/\">Pyeong Chang Tofu House\u003c/a>. Gangnam Jajang also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13984330/best-dishes-sf-bay-area-2025\">highly recommended Korean comfort food\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082664\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12082664 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS speak onstage during Spotify x BTS: SWIMSIDE at Pier 17 on March 23, 2026, in New York City. \u003ccite>(Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday in Hayward\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>Max’s Cakes will have \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/hayward/bts-in-the-bay-popup-event/\">an array of BTS themed desserts,\u003c/a> as well as first-come, first-served freebies made by fans, like a BTS World Tour \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>tote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rather stay closer to San Francisco? Take a look at beloved merch store \u003ca href=\"https://www.yelp.com/biz/kpop-nara-sf-san-francisco\">KPop Nara\u003c/a> in the Sunset District, or Stonestown Galleria’s own \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOFg0vmjhPx/\">Moonlly Fashion\u003c/a>, with photocards, lightsticks and music for sale. Near Stonestown is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13961328/bay-pocha-late-night-korean-pub-bossam-army-stew-sf\">Bay Pocha\u003c/a>, a Korean pub.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SFMOMA \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13982078/rm-bts-curates-sfmoma-exhibit-2026\">will be collaborating with RM\u003c/a> on an exhibit later this year. And while the art show isn’t yet on display, you could do some \u003ca href=\"https://medium.com/publiclibrarysg/the-art-of-namjooning-books-bts-and-a-guide-to-slow-living-and-reading-c35d81ad6f82\">Namjooning \u003c/a>by visiting the museum to prepare (and you might even be able to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11943906/how-to-find-free-museum-tickets-in-the-bay-area\">do so for free\u003c/a>) or checking out the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081122/bay-area-book-lovers-we-have-highly-literary-date-or-friend-hang-ideas-for-your-weekend?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=%7Bcampaign%7D&utm_content=807361520818&utm_campaign_id=23712169357&utm_ad_id=%7Badid%7D&utm_term=bay%20area%20bookstores&content_pillar=Free_Low_Cost_Things_to_Do&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23712169357&gbraid=0AAAAACreV8g3qckzOMaslbCjmsBLZSAP0&gclid=CjwKCAjwzevPBhBaEiwAplAxvhoKP7_n9-G2MSeHmoszE1Uuo8hlC7_d-pnuPj9HcGpspiK_hVuLQhoCY7cQAvD_BwE\">many best bookish spots\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or you could also grab a group of friends to recreate \u003ca href=\"https://www.usbtsarmy.com/bts-army-in-usa/bay-area\">BTS’s own iconic photo opportunity in front of the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>At night, you can head over to the Mission District, where The Korner Store Bites is hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXIjZLIivVK/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">pre-concert party\u003c/a> featuring BTS music, an anju buffet, raffle prizes and themed drinks. There is \u003cem>also \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/purenightclub/events/bts-tribute-rave-tour-185098\">a BTS-themed rave\u003c/a> at Pure Nightclub in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re looking for a more private way to party, \u003ca href=\"https://www.k-box-karaoke.com/\">K-Box in the city’s Japantown\u003c/a> is a reliably good karaoke spot with rooms for rent. Other private karaoke room spots in the city include \u003ca href=\"https://pandorakaraoke.com/\">Pandora Karaoke\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/auracinemasf/\">Aura Cinema\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.karaokesf.com/k-time-karaoke\">K-Time\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://taishosf.com/\">Taisho\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this author would be remiss to not mention her favorite Korean barbecue spot in the city, \u003ca href=\"https://brothersrestaurantsf.com/\">Brothers in the Richmond district\u003c/a>. For late-night chicken, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13981034/toyose-korean-chicken-garage-late-night-san-francisco\">Toyose\u003c/a> is an excellent option as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For K-Pop fans in the South Bay, there is \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kpop-army-preshow-social-tickets-1983324591242?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">a pre-concert social\u003c/a> at the Hyatt in Mountain View from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. You can follow that event up with an \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVg9WkhD-pi/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">Armyang BTS Army Dance Party\u003c/a> at The Hub RWC in Redwood City.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But remember, if you’re attending one of the coming shows: Save your strength.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Saturday, May 16\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On concert days, it’s probably best to stick to the South Bay and Peninsula area to make sure you get to the Stanford Stadium on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has a thorough list of some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/109872/bay-area-bites-guide-to-5-cant-miss-south-bay-korean-barbecue-restaurants\">best Korean restaurants\u003c/a> in the South Bay, including Gooyi Gooyi and Jang Su Jang in Santa Clara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, Ryokucha Cafe in Palo Alto will have \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/palo-alto/bts-arirang-themed-cupsleeve-event/\">a cupsleeve event\u003c/a> with a themed BTS menu, giveaways and fan merch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11782708\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11782708\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Stanford's campus spans 8,180 acres in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and is one of the largest in the country\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1265\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-800x527.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-1020x672.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-1200x791.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stanford’s campus spans 8,180 acres in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and is one of the largest in the country. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also head to Sunnyvale for \u003ca href=\"https://www.citylinesunnyvale.com/get-ready-for-bangtan-sunnyvale-1\">its huge BTS ARMY meetup\u003c/a>, featuring 90+ local vendors and dance performances. The event is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if the vibes are immaculate, be sure to head to Stanford early for the concert, which starts at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exact time gates open for the concert has not been published on the Stanford Stadium website yet. (For Coldplay’s tour engagement at this venue last year, \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">gates opened at 5 p.m.\u003c/a> for a 5:25 p.m. showtime.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Sunday, May 17\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Start the day at Ryokucha Cafe in Palo Alto, which will have \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXp_ZGrjP5I/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">a BTS-themed vendor market and desserts\u003c/a> from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elsewhere in the city, Mr. Sun Tea is also celebrating with \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXW2w0Ngjgo/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">boba and freebie bundles\u003c/a>, from 12 to 3:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A little farther away is \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kloudkpop.sj\">Kloud K-Pop\u003c/a> in San José, which is hosting a pre-game event featuring photocard decorating and a lightstick giveaway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>After \u003c/em>the concert, for those who want the party to keep going, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/purenightclub/events/bts-tribute-rave-tour-185099\">BTS Rave Tour\u003c/a> is throwing a Night 2 event at Pure Nightclub in San Francisco, starting at 10 p.m. But if you’re going to the concert, be realistic that with travel from Stanford to San Francisco after the show, you’ll probably be arriving at the club closer to midnight.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Tuesday, May 19\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Fewer fan events are happening on the Tuesday show, but it is also a pretty good opportunity to check out the many stores dedicated to Korean pop culture in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are closer to the East Bay, visit \u003ca href=\"https://www.12kstshop.com/\">12KST Shop\u003c/a> in Concord or \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/confetti_kpop?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D\">Confetti K-Pop\u003c/a> in San Leandro. If you are closer to the South Bay, take a look at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kloudkpop.sj\">Kloud K-Pop\u003c/a> in San Jose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11754389\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11754389\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/GettyImages-77152290-e1560402492305.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An aerial view of downtown San Jose. \u003ccite>(Helene Labriet-Gross/AFP/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In Santa Clara, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988444/best-korean-barbecue-santa-clara-charcoal-grill-korean-spring-late-night\">Korean Spring BBQ\u003c/a> is one of the last places in the Bay Area where the meat is still grilled over wood charcoal, according to KQED’s Luke Tsai. Or head over to the city’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13973430/best-korean-spicy-raw-crabs-ondam-santa-clara-late-night\">Ondam restaurant\u003c/a> for spicy raw marinated crabs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again, be sure to leave with plenty of time to get to Stanford’s campus – especially on a weekday, where you will be competing with commuters and the workday rush.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>More BTS and K-Pop events happening this week\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Through Tuesday, May 19: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/dublin/bts-bay-area-takeover/\">BTS Take Over\u003c/a> at Boba & More Dublin\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, May 7:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://tockify.com/kpopinyourarea/detail/232/1778198400000\">K-Pop Takeover at Downtown First Thursday\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, May 8\u003c/strong>: \u003ca href=\"https://tockify.com/kpopinyourarea/detail/227/1778292000000\">K-Pop Fireworks Night at Oracle Park\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-make-freebies-for-bts-arirang-stanford-registration-1988058417243\">Making freebies with other fans\u003c/a> at Sunset Commons in San Francisco.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://partiful.com/e/a2Kr5XxnX1PpEs0im1fC\">Bangtan Beach Bonfya\u003c/a> at Ocean Beach in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9 and May 10: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXbH8ihDEj9/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">Pre-concert event\u003c/a> at Konditorei Cafe in Portola Valley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9 and May 10: \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bts-20-last-minute-pre-concert-prep-event-tickets-1988814015257?aff=erelexpmlt\">Last-minute pre-concert prep event\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> at DIY Decoden Art Studio in Cupertino\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9\u003c/strong>: \u003ca href=\"https://paloalto.bibliocommons.com/events/69cd8ae6b48451fc3c0cba28\">A BTS Celebration\u003c/a> with a concert screening and dance class at the Mitchell Park Community Center\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/san_jose/bts-world-tour-2026-preconcert-cupsleeve-event/\">Pre-Concert Cupsleeve Event\u003c/a> at A Sack of Potatoes in San Jose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/82allnight/p/DX0Y6EOFIuG/\">K-Pop Karaoke takeover\u003c/a> on Larkin Street in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, May 10:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/rohnert-park/bangtan-is-back-cupsleeve-event/\">Cupsleeve Event\u003c/a> at ThirsTea in Rohnert Park\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Suzie Racho and Luke Tsai contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Stanford Pro-Palestinian Protesters Case Ends in Mistrial",
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"content": "\u003cp>A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of five pro-Palestinian protesters arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the Stanford University president’s office. The news on Friday came after more than a week of jury deliberation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hanley Chew said the jury was “hopelessly deadlocked” on both charges, felony conspiracy to trespass and felony vandalism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The jury favored conviction by a count of 8-4 for the conspiracy charge and 9-3 for the vandalism charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jurors affirmed to Chew on Friday that more time to deliberate on the counts would not make a difference in the outcome, after which he declared the mistrial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A mistrial ends the case against the five current and former Stanford students, but Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen has the right to retry the case, which he said Friday he would do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065944\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065944\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen (center) addresses the media outside the county’s Juvenile Center in San José on Dec. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This case is about a group of people who destroyed someone else’s property and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. That is against the law, and that is why we will retry the case,” Rosen said in an emailed statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Deputy Public Defender Avi Singh, one of the defense attorneys in the case, said he is grateful for the jury’s time and attention, even if a verdict wasn’t reached.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our position is that the proof was insufficient. We had a jury really wrestle with the arguments that were presented, and we are appreciative of everyday people who sacrificed so much in order to make due process real,” Singh said Friday afternoon.[aside postID=news_12066592 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-9_qed.jpg']The trial \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069585/felony-trial-begins-for-stanford-pro-palestinian-protesters\">began on Jan. 9\u003c/a>, and closing arguments wrapped on Jan. 30. Jury deliberations began on Feb. 2. During deliberation, jurors sent notes to Chew to let him know they were having trouble reaching consensus on the first count, asking for guidance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chew encouraged them to continue deliberating and reach a verdict if they could. The jury also took a day off during the first week. The case stems from the actions by a group of what were originally 12 protesters, who were arrested on June 5, 2024, after they barricaded themselves inside the president’s office at Stanford in the early morning hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group refused to come out in their effort to get Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” the group said on social media at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their action came amid a series of larger campus demonstrations aimed at pressuring the school to divest from companies that support Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza. The group was charged with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12035346/santa-clara-da-charges-12-pro-palestinian-protesters-took-over-stanford-university-presidents-office\">two felonies in April 2025\u003c/a>, when Rosen said the group crossed a “clear and bright line” in their political protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12035380\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12035380\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen presented a do-it-yourself guide, saying it closely matches what the students brought with them and how they broke in, suggesting they did some research beforehand. \u003ccite>(Gilare Zada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Dissent is American, vandalism is criminal,” Rosen said at the time. His office later secured a grand jury indictment against the group for the two felonies, superseding the initial charges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five defendants chose to go to trial: Hunter Taylor-Black, Maya Burke, Germán González, Taylor McCann and Amy Zhai.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Six of the other protesters who were initially charged in the case entered into mental health diversion programs or said late last year they planned to take a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064351/stanford-protesters-negotiating-plea-deals-as-trial-begins\">court-offered deal\u003c/a> that would include pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges, with a pathway to potential dismissal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One other protester, Jack Richardson, served as a witness for prosecutors in the grand jury indictment and is now enrolled in a youth deferred entry of judgment program, which also offers a path to dismissal, under court-supervised requirements.[aside postID=news_12073176 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260211-OAKLAND-FEDERAL-COURTHOUSE-MD-01-KQED.jpg']Defense attorneys focused their case on the motivations of the protesters, who they said were acting out of a humanitarian concern during what they view as an ongoing genocide, and fear that doing nothing would lead to more suffering in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anthony Brass, one of the attorneys, said the actions came only after Stanford leaders ignored months of demands for discussion about divestment from companies supporting Israel’s military.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The school put the students in an “impossible situation,” he said during opening statements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prosecutor Rob Baker told the jury that the case was simple, and said protesters planned and prepared for their action, including bringing equipment and tools to block doors and cover cameras. He said they caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Baker, in his closing arguments, told the jury that their verdict “does not mean that you are supporting genocide” or that they don’t support Palestinians, and he said he believed the defendants were good people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Singh said Friday he hopes the DA’s office takes another look at the motivations of the protesters in its decision to retry the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of supporters gathered for a rally outside the Hall of Justice in San José on Nov. 17, 2025, after a court hearing for a group of pro-Palestinian protesters indicted for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There was no question or dispute that these people were motivated by a deep commitment to human rights. And the district attorney’s office should consider that as they weigh whether the interests of justice support bringing a new case,” Singh said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/21/us/campus-protests-arrests.html\">thousands\u003c/a> of protesters were arrested at college campuses across the country for protest-related activity over the Gaza war in 2024, few of the cases saw felony charges filed, and many of the lesser charges were eventually dropped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the defendants and their supporters accused the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office of seeking overly harsh punishment to chill political protests and speech related to the plight of Palestinians, which the DA’s office refuted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The case also saw heated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12066592/arguments-over-genocide-dominate-stanford-protester-trial-hearing\">pretrial motions\u003c/a> over whether and how often the word “genocide” could be used during the trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A hearing to set a date for a new trial is scheduled for Feb. 25.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of five pro-Palestinian protesters arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the Stanford University president’s office. The news on Friday came after more than a week of jury deliberation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hanley Chew said the jury was “hopelessly deadlocked” on both charges, felony conspiracy to trespass and felony vandalism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The jury favored conviction by a count of 8-4 for the conspiracy charge and 9-3 for the vandalism charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jurors affirmed to Chew on Friday that more time to deliberate on the counts would not make a difference in the outcome, after which he declared the mistrial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A mistrial ends the case against the five current and former Stanford students, but Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen has the right to retry the case, which he said Friday he would do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065944\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065944\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen (center) addresses the media outside the county’s Juvenile Center in San José on Dec. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This case is about a group of people who destroyed someone else’s property and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. That is against the law, and that is why we will retry the case,” Rosen said in an emailed statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Deputy Public Defender Avi Singh, one of the defense attorneys in the case, said he is grateful for the jury’s time and attention, even if a verdict wasn’t reached.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our position is that the proof was insufficient. We had a jury really wrestle with the arguments that were presented, and we are appreciative of everyday people who sacrificed so much in order to make due process real,” Singh said Friday afternoon.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The trial \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069585/felony-trial-begins-for-stanford-pro-palestinian-protesters\">began on Jan. 9\u003c/a>, and closing arguments wrapped on Jan. 30. Jury deliberations began on Feb. 2. During deliberation, jurors sent notes to Chew to let him know they were having trouble reaching consensus on the first count, asking for guidance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chew encouraged them to continue deliberating and reach a verdict if they could. The jury also took a day off during the first week. The case stems from the actions by a group of what were originally 12 protesters, who were arrested on June 5, 2024, after they barricaded themselves inside the president’s office at Stanford in the early morning hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group refused to come out in their effort to get Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” the group said on social media at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their action came amid a series of larger campus demonstrations aimed at pressuring the school to divest from companies that support Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza. The group was charged with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12035346/santa-clara-da-charges-12-pro-palestinian-protesters-took-over-stanford-university-presidents-office\">two felonies in April 2025\u003c/a>, when Rosen said the group crossed a “clear and bright line” in their political protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12035380\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12035380\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen presented a do-it-yourself guide, saying it closely matches what the students brought with them and how they broke in, suggesting they did some research beforehand. \u003ccite>(Gilare Zada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Dissent is American, vandalism is criminal,” Rosen said at the time. His office later secured a grand jury indictment against the group for the two felonies, superseding the initial charges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five defendants chose to go to trial: Hunter Taylor-Black, Maya Burke, Germán González, Taylor McCann and Amy Zhai.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Six of the other protesters who were initially charged in the case entered into mental health diversion programs or said late last year they planned to take a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064351/stanford-protesters-negotiating-plea-deals-as-trial-begins\">court-offered deal\u003c/a> that would include pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges, with a pathway to potential dismissal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One other protester, Jack Richardson, served as a witness for prosecutors in the grand jury indictment and is now enrolled in a youth deferred entry of judgment program, which also offers a path to dismissal, under court-supervised requirements.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Defense attorneys focused their case on the motivations of the protesters, who they said were acting out of a humanitarian concern during what they view as an ongoing genocide, and fear that doing nothing would lead to more suffering in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anthony Brass, one of the attorneys, said the actions came only after Stanford leaders ignored months of demands for discussion about divestment from companies supporting Israel’s military.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The school put the students in an “impossible situation,” he said during opening statements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prosecutor Rob Baker told the jury that the case was simple, and said protesters planned and prepared for their action, including bringing equipment and tools to block doors and cover cameras. He said they caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Baker, in his closing arguments, told the jury that their verdict “does not mean that you are supporting genocide” or that they don’t support Palestinians, and he said he believed the defendants were good people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Singh said Friday he hopes the DA’s office takes another look at the motivations of the protesters in its decision to retry the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of supporters gathered for a rally outside the Hall of Justice in San José on Nov. 17, 2025, after a court hearing for a group of pro-Palestinian protesters indicted for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There was no question or dispute that these people were motivated by a deep commitment to human rights. And the district attorney’s office should consider that as they weigh whether the interests of justice support bringing a new case,” Singh said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/21/us/campus-protests-arrests.html\">thousands\u003c/a> of protesters were arrested at college campuses across the country for protest-related activity over the Gaza war in 2024, few of the cases saw felony charges filed, and many of the lesser charges were eventually dropped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the defendants and their supporters accused the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office of seeking overly harsh punishment to chill political protests and speech related to the plight of Palestinians, which the DA’s office refuted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The case also saw heated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12066592/arguments-over-genocide-dominate-stanford-protester-trial-hearing\">pretrial motions\u003c/a> over whether and how often the word “genocide” could be used during the trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A hearing to set a date for a new trial is scheduled for Feb. 25.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "stanfords-aradshar-chaddar-dreamed-big-and-left-a-lasting-impact",
"title": "Stanford’s Aradshar Chaddar Dreamed Big — and Left a Lasting Impact",
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"content": "\u003cp>Aradshar Chaddar spent his life chasing big dreams — from debate halls and stages in Lahore to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This spring, at 21, the Stanford sophomore was killed in a bike collision on campus, a death that stunned friends and family across two continents and cut short a life defined by ambition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His death — the first bike fatality on Stanford’s campus in nearly six years — rattled those who knew him as more than an accomplished student. To loved ones, Chaddar was someone who lifted up the people around him, carried the hopes of his family in Pakistan, and made others believe in the magnitude of their own dreams.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the gravest blow,” his father, Sessions Judge Zafaryab Chaddar, said to KQED from Pakistan. “I would have gone to a grave before Aradshar, but life is very cruel.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was so smart, he was so beautiful.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s determination showed early. At 7, he was one of the top students in his school’s debate competitions. The topics for first graders were simple, but his peers could tell he was something special. Born in the United States and raised in Pakistan, he quickly stood out among his classmates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067143\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067143\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The intersection of Arboretum Road and Palm Drive, where 21-year-old Stanford sophomore Aradshar Chaddar was hit and killed in a bike collision this past summer at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He was way ahead of everyone else around him,” said Ismail Iftikhar, his classmate and friend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 13, Chaddar, known as Arad or Chad to friends and family, began going to Model United Nations conferences, where he came alive during long, winding speeches about world affairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You could tell that beneath the words, there were larger dreams and visions of a world that’s better,” said Mustafa Khan, who attended the same high school as Chaddar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 18, he shot up to 6-foot-3 — a college student with glasses, neat dark hair, a wide smile and a glimmer in his eyes as he would rope his friend Léon Garcia to help him run the Stanford Democrats or into a last-minute trek to San Francisco’s Chinatown.[aside postID=news_12047968 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250630-HUMANITARIANPAROLEDEEPDIVE-13-BL-KQED.jpg']“He would go out of his way to talk to people on the street whom he ran into, who he thought he could learn something interesting from,” Garcia said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 21, Chaddar ran into his high school history teacher, Shaan Tahir, in Lahore, Pakistan. His teacher asked him: “Arad. Ambitious as ever?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sir. Is there any other way?” Chaddar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What are you aiming for?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“President of the USA,” he confidently responded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tahir laughed, then remembered who he was talking to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t doubt it,” he said to his former student.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Months later, at a memorial service at the high school, Tahir recalled the memory as he sat among a crowd wracked with grief.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I knew that he meant it … He is possibly the most ambitious person that I’ve ever met in my life,” Tahir told KQED. “Extremely determined to be someone in life and be something in life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s story is “about dreaming,” Khan said. “Not just for yourself, but dreaming for other people. Recognizing other people’s dreams and making them feel like they’re capable of achieving them because they are.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Chasing big dreams\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar was 7 when he met Chaddar, and the first impression was not positive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I thought he was full of himself,” Iftikhar said, laughing. “I thought he was incredibly selfish.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even then, he could tell Chaddar was ambitious and smart. They were among the top students at their school in Lahore, a city of over 14 million people and Pakistan’s academic center. Their friendly rivalry persisted until eighth grade, when Chaddar asked Iftikhar to join his Model United Nations team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar agreed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067034\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067034\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chaddar once described himself as “an avid mountaineer.” In a 2023 Instagram post, he said he hoped to “summit all the eight thousander peaks.” \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Ismail Iftikhar)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I realized that selfish is the last word I would use for him,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was the type of friendship only two high achievers could have, one that endlessly pushed each other. They were prefects together and ran the Model UN club together. They poured over films together, diving into dialogue, politics and themes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I couldn’t name a single thing he hadn’t seen,” he said. “There was basically nothing I could beat him in.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s favorite directors were Ingmar Bergman and Akira Kurosawa. He devoured books. While it’s common for Americans to be fans of the 2015 biographical musical \u003cem>Hamilton\u003c/em>, it’s less common for a kid from Pakistan — and Iftikhar said that Chaddar knew the dialogue by heart. He commanded English and Urdu with ease. He had a course load that confounded teachers. He brought home awards and distinctions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vulnerability was hard for Chaddar, who felt deeply for the people around him, as if there was no separation between someone’s sorrow and his own. Their happiness was his.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes the emotions got to him. In high school, Iftikhar and Chaddar’s team lost a Model UN competition. Chaddar was “a really bad loser, because he wasn’t used to losing,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At home, after the rest of the team left, Iftikhar found Chaddar lying down on the couch. He was clearly distressed, almost on the verge of tears. Iftikhar walked over and hugged him. Chaddar cried.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Later on, he told me that that was like his favorite memory of us,” Iftikhar, now 21 and living in Southern California, said. “It just holds a special place in my heart.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It felt natural that they would be the only two of their class to go to California for college — Iftikhar to Claremont McKenna College near Los Angeles, Chaddar to Stanford in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A life cut short\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chaddar arrived at Stanford in fall 2023 on a scholarship, planning to study political science and international relations. He tried to convince Garcia, a fellow freshman, to drop physics and pursue the same path.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was a big evangelist for the humanities,” Garcia said. “He believed that it was his job to lift up the people around him.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If Chaddar’s goal was to be president, spending time with him felt like being on the campaign trail. To Garcia, he was a “Don Quixote-style character.” When he wasn’t studying, Chaddar was pushing Garcia to leave the Stanford bubble and venture into San Francisco, where Chaddar knew people and places as if he lived in the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067144\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067144\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vigil for 21-year-old Stanford sophomore Aradshar Chaddar, who was hit and killed in a bike collision this past summer, sits under a tree at Terman Fountain at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He kind of lived life in his own world, almost, and he brought everybody around him into that world,” Garcia said. “He was like one of the last true romantics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He would spontaneously pop up at the San Francisco apartment of Khan, who graduated from Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“His energy is quite infectious as well. Always having this cheeky grin on his face,” Khan said. “It was hard not to fall in love with.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was hard to imagine someone so full of life being gone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On May 31, Chaddar was riding an electric bike on the Stanford University campus when, around 3 a.m., he was struck by a car. He was taken to a hospital, where he died at 3:25 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He had been crossing the intersection of Palm Drive and Arboretum Road in the dark, with limited visibility, when an Uber driver entered the intersection and hit him on his left side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When a collision on campus results in an injury, CHP responds for an investigation and a report, said Bill Larson, public information officer for Stanford’s Department of Public Safety.[aside postID=news_12067175 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/250418-SFPDFile-46-BL_qed.jpg']Stanford data shows that from December 2018 to November 2025, there were 120 bike collisions on campus that resulted in a CHP investigation. Around 60% of those collisions were between a bike and a vehicle that resulted in an injury.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When expanding the dataset beyond collisions resulting in a CHP investigation, there have been almost 240 bike accidents on campus reported from September 2018 to October 2025. According to the Stanford Daily, some \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2020/02/11/mapping-bike-accidents-on-campus/\">spots on campus\u003c/a> have a kind of notoriety for being dangerous for cyclists. For example, the roundabout near the school’s Clock Tower is called the “Circle of Death.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of the roads at Stanford are not very well lit,” Khan said. “I am so afraid every time I drive through.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar said around the time of the collision, speculation arose about what happened. It made sense that people were searching for more answers, he said, trying to understand the sudden death of someone so loved. But he wasn’t sure there was more to know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar learned about Chaddar at 7:20 a.m. on June 2, 2025, after getting a message from Chaddar’s mother. Iftikhar was working on the Claremont McKenna College campus that summer and was the closest of his friends to the Bay Area. He booked a flight the same day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s aunt from North Carolina also arrived. What followed was a succession of office visits. They went to the medical examiner’s office. They couldn’t see the body right away because the investigation was still ongoing. So they went to a funeral home and talked to the coroner. They signed documents and packed his dorm room. They attended a hastily organized vigil on campus, joining more than 200 students, staff and faculty as stories were shared and music played. Even more watched online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A courier company predicted it would take at least weeks to bring Chaddar home to Pakistan, citing logistics. Iftikhar worked with Chaddar’s aunt to expedite the process — filling out documents, contacting the U.S. State Department and the Pakistani embassy. In early June, Chaddar was able to be transported back to Pakistan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just was very restless,” he said. “I don’t know. I just ended up doing things, and that’s my way of dealing with things.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The boys went to California together. Now they were going home together.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A life remembered\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While he went to school in Lahore, Chaddar’s family was from Mano Chak, a village three hours away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar was buried there, near his younger sister, who died a few years earlier. At the service, Iftikhar said he saw “more people than I’ve ever seen” in the village — all gathered for him. Friends from Stanford, including his girlfriend, also flew from California to see him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He is survived by his father, mother and his 12-year-old sister.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067141\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067141\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He was such a friendly baby,” his mother, gynecologist Sadia Chaddar, said. He had a sweet disposition and happily chirped, “Yes, I can do it, Mama!” whenever she needed his help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She laughed when remembering how the kids called him Mr. President.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I used to argue with him,” she said. “Ardi, there are many other options. Why do you want to be the President of the USA?’ But she supported him, no matter what. Whatever he wanted to do, she would be there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t get my baby out of my mind,” his mother said. “I just sleep with his thoughts in my mind. I wake up with his thoughts in my mind.”[aside postID=arts_13893843 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/guillaume-de-germain-Z_br8TOcCpE-unsplash-1020x681.jpg']She thinks of him when she looks at her daughter, Farazeen. She is just like her big brother – sharp, thoughtful, ambitious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He’s basically my motivation whenever I’m studying,” Farazeen said. “He was a role model for me growing up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s room – and library full of books he devoured – is preserved just the way it was when he would visit home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His father pores over his son’s writing, his debates, his speeches, his pictures, the tributes to him. His pride and love radiate as he talks about his eldest child; his grief immense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is not my personal loss. People claim that it is a national loss,” his father said. “Pakistan has lost a brilliant man.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a \u003ca href=\"https://theazb.com/does-the-american-dream-still-hold-true/#google_vignette\">June column\u003c/a> for an English-language online publication focused on Pakistan, Chaddar wrote that his middle-class background gave him opportunities not afforded to others in his village. When he was home, he said it was common to hear advice like, “There is nothing for you here,” and “Get out of here as soon as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite this, being from Mano Chak and Pakistan meant everything to Chaddar. He missed home fiercely, especially when coming to the United States, Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar knew his ambition would always take him away from home and the family he loved. He struggled with that, writing his thoughts out in his journal and sharing them with Iftikhar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The village was a place that offered a lot of peace, a lot of security,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It is also where he drew his strength from. Chaddar wanted to be the best. Even more, his friend said, “He wanted to make his family proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Aradshar Chaddar, a 21-year-old Stanford student born in the U.S. and raised in Pakistan, died in a campus bike accident, leaving friends and family mourning his ambition and impact.",
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"title": "Stanford’s Aradshar Chaddar Dreamed Big — and Left a Lasting Impact | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Aradshar Chaddar spent his life chasing big dreams — from debate halls and stages in Lahore to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This spring, at 21, the Stanford sophomore was killed in a bike collision on campus, a death that stunned friends and family across two continents and cut short a life defined by ambition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His death — the first bike fatality on Stanford’s campus in nearly six years — rattled those who knew him as more than an accomplished student. To loved ones, Chaddar was someone who lifted up the people around him, carried the hopes of his family in Pakistan, and made others believe in the magnitude of their own dreams.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the gravest blow,” his father, Sessions Judge Zafaryab Chaddar, said to KQED from Pakistan. “I would have gone to a grave before Aradshar, but life is very cruel.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was so smart, he was so beautiful.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s determination showed early. At 7, he was one of the top students in his school’s debate competitions. The topics for first graders were simple, but his peers could tell he was something special. Born in the United States and raised in Pakistan, he quickly stood out among his classmates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067143\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067143\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The intersection of Arboretum Road and Palm Drive, where 21-year-old Stanford sophomore Aradshar Chaddar was hit and killed in a bike collision this past summer at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He was way ahead of everyone else around him,” said Ismail Iftikhar, his classmate and friend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 13, Chaddar, known as Arad or Chad to friends and family, began going to Model United Nations conferences, where he came alive during long, winding speeches about world affairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You could tell that beneath the words, there were larger dreams and visions of a world that’s better,” said Mustafa Khan, who attended the same high school as Chaddar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 18, he shot up to 6-foot-3 — a college student with glasses, neat dark hair, a wide smile and a glimmer in his eyes as he would rope his friend Léon Garcia to help him run the Stanford Democrats or into a last-minute trek to San Francisco’s Chinatown.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“He would go out of his way to talk to people on the street whom he ran into, who he thought he could learn something interesting from,” Garcia said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 21, Chaddar ran into his high school history teacher, Shaan Tahir, in Lahore, Pakistan. His teacher asked him: “Arad. Ambitious as ever?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sir. Is there any other way?” Chaddar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What are you aiming for?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“President of the USA,” he confidently responded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tahir laughed, then remembered who he was talking to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t doubt it,” he said to his former student.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Months later, at a memorial service at the high school, Tahir recalled the memory as he sat among a crowd wracked with grief.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I knew that he meant it … He is possibly the most ambitious person that I’ve ever met in my life,” Tahir told KQED. “Extremely determined to be someone in life and be something in life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s story is “about dreaming,” Khan said. “Not just for yourself, but dreaming for other people. Recognizing other people’s dreams and making them feel like they’re capable of achieving them because they are.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Chasing big dreams\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar was 7 when he met Chaddar, and the first impression was not positive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I thought he was full of himself,” Iftikhar said, laughing. “I thought he was incredibly selfish.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even then, he could tell Chaddar was ambitious and smart. They were among the top students at their school in Lahore, a city of over 14 million people and Pakistan’s academic center. Their friendly rivalry persisted until eighth grade, when Chaddar asked Iftikhar to join his Model United Nations team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar agreed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067034\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067034\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chaddar once described himself as “an avid mountaineer.” In a 2023 Instagram post, he said he hoped to “summit all the eight thousander peaks.” \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Ismail Iftikhar)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I realized that selfish is the last word I would use for him,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was the type of friendship only two high achievers could have, one that endlessly pushed each other. They were prefects together and ran the Model UN club together. They poured over films together, diving into dialogue, politics and themes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I couldn’t name a single thing he hadn’t seen,” he said. “There was basically nothing I could beat him in.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s favorite directors were Ingmar Bergman and Akira Kurosawa. He devoured books. While it’s common for Americans to be fans of the 2015 biographical musical \u003cem>Hamilton\u003c/em>, it’s less common for a kid from Pakistan — and Iftikhar said that Chaddar knew the dialogue by heart. He commanded English and Urdu with ease. He had a course load that confounded teachers. He brought home awards and distinctions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vulnerability was hard for Chaddar, who felt deeply for the people around him, as if there was no separation between someone’s sorrow and his own. Their happiness was his.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes the emotions got to him. In high school, Iftikhar and Chaddar’s team lost a Model UN competition. Chaddar was “a really bad loser, because he wasn’t used to losing,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At home, after the rest of the team left, Iftikhar found Chaddar lying down on the couch. He was clearly distressed, almost on the verge of tears. Iftikhar walked over and hugged him. Chaddar cried.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Later on, he told me that that was like his favorite memory of us,” Iftikhar, now 21 and living in Southern California, said. “It just holds a special place in my heart.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It felt natural that they would be the only two of their class to go to California for college — Iftikhar to Claremont McKenna College near Los Angeles, Chaddar to Stanford in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A life cut short\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chaddar arrived at Stanford in fall 2023 on a scholarship, planning to study political science and international relations. He tried to convince Garcia, a fellow freshman, to drop physics and pursue the same path.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was a big evangelist for the humanities,” Garcia said. “He believed that it was his job to lift up the people around him.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If Chaddar’s goal was to be president, spending time with him felt like being on the campaign trail. To Garcia, he was a “Don Quixote-style character.” When he wasn’t studying, Chaddar was pushing Garcia to leave the Stanford bubble and venture into San Francisco, where Chaddar knew people and places as if he lived in the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067144\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067144\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vigil for 21-year-old Stanford sophomore Aradshar Chaddar, who was hit and killed in a bike collision this past summer, sits under a tree at Terman Fountain at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He kind of lived life in his own world, almost, and he brought everybody around him into that world,” Garcia said. “He was like one of the last true romantics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He would spontaneously pop up at the San Francisco apartment of Khan, who graduated from Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“His energy is quite infectious as well. Always having this cheeky grin on his face,” Khan said. “It was hard not to fall in love with.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was hard to imagine someone so full of life being gone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On May 31, Chaddar was riding an electric bike on the Stanford University campus when, around 3 a.m., he was struck by a car. He was taken to a hospital, where he died at 3:25 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He had been crossing the intersection of Palm Drive and Arboretum Road in the dark, with limited visibility, when an Uber driver entered the intersection and hit him on his left side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When a collision on campus results in an injury, CHP responds for an investigation and a report, said Bill Larson, public information officer for Stanford’s Department of Public Safety.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Stanford data shows that from December 2018 to November 2025, there were 120 bike collisions on campus that resulted in a CHP investigation. Around 60% of those collisions were between a bike and a vehicle that resulted in an injury.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When expanding the dataset beyond collisions resulting in a CHP investigation, there have been almost 240 bike accidents on campus reported from September 2018 to October 2025. According to the Stanford Daily, some \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2020/02/11/mapping-bike-accidents-on-campus/\">spots on campus\u003c/a> have a kind of notoriety for being dangerous for cyclists. For example, the roundabout near the school’s Clock Tower is called the “Circle of Death.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of the roads at Stanford are not very well lit,” Khan said. “I am so afraid every time I drive through.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar said around the time of the collision, speculation arose about what happened. It made sense that people were searching for more answers, he said, trying to understand the sudden death of someone so loved. But he wasn’t sure there was more to know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar learned about Chaddar at 7:20 a.m. on June 2, 2025, after getting a message from Chaddar’s mother. Iftikhar was working on the Claremont McKenna College campus that summer and was the closest of his friends to the Bay Area. He booked a flight the same day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s aunt from North Carolina also arrived. What followed was a succession of office visits. They went to the medical examiner’s office. They couldn’t see the body right away because the investigation was still ongoing. So they went to a funeral home and talked to the coroner. They signed documents and packed his dorm room. They attended a hastily organized vigil on campus, joining more than 200 students, staff and faculty as stories were shared and music played. Even more watched online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A courier company predicted it would take at least weeks to bring Chaddar home to Pakistan, citing logistics. Iftikhar worked with Chaddar’s aunt to expedite the process — filling out documents, contacting the U.S. State Department and the Pakistani embassy. In early June, Chaddar was able to be transported back to Pakistan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just was very restless,” he said. “I don’t know. I just ended up doing things, and that’s my way of dealing with things.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The boys went to California together. Now they were going home together.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A life remembered\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While he went to school in Lahore, Chaddar’s family was from Mano Chak, a village three hours away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar was buried there, near his younger sister, who died a few years earlier. At the service, Iftikhar said he saw “more people than I’ve ever seen” in the village — all gathered for him. Friends from Stanford, including his girlfriend, also flew from California to see him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He is survived by his father, mother and his 12-year-old sister.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067141\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067141\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He was such a friendly baby,” his mother, gynecologist Sadia Chaddar, said. He had a sweet disposition and happily chirped, “Yes, I can do it, Mama!” whenever she needed his help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She laughed when remembering how the kids called him Mr. President.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I used to argue with him,” she said. “Ardi, there are many other options. Why do you want to be the President of the USA?’ But she supported him, no matter what. Whatever he wanted to do, she would be there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t get my baby out of my mind,” his mother said. “I just sleep with his thoughts in my mind. I wake up with his thoughts in my mind.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>She thinks of him when she looks at her daughter, Farazeen. She is just like her big brother – sharp, thoughtful, ambitious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He’s basically my motivation whenever I’m studying,” Farazeen said. “He was a role model for me growing up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s room – and library full of books he devoured – is preserved just the way it was when he would visit home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His father pores over his son’s writing, his debates, his speeches, his pictures, the tributes to him. His pride and love radiate as he talks about his eldest child; his grief immense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is not my personal loss. People claim that it is a national loss,” his father said. “Pakistan has lost a brilliant man.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a \u003ca href=\"https://theazb.com/does-the-american-dream-still-hold-true/#google_vignette\">June column\u003c/a> for an English-language online publication focused on Pakistan, Chaddar wrote that his middle-class background gave him opportunities not afforded to others in his village. When he was home, he said it was common to hear advice like, “There is nothing for you here,” and “Get out of here as soon as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite this, being from Mano Chak and Pakistan meant everything to Chaddar. He missed home fiercely, especially when coming to the United States, Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar knew his ambition would always take him away from home and the family he loved. He struggled with that, writing his thoughts out in his journal and sharing them with Iftikhar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The village was a place that offered a lot of peace, a lot of security,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It is also where he drew his strength from. Chaddar wanted to be the best. Even more, his friend said, “He wanted to make his family proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>A hearing in the case of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a> president’s office was marked Tuesday by heated discussions over the word genocide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the court session focused on pretrial motions — which attorneys and the judge use to lay out the ground rules for a trial — a debate over whether the term genocide should be allowed during the proceedings elicited the most impassioned arguments from defense attorneys and a deputy district attorney alike.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At one point, defense attorneys and the county prosecutor verbally sparred over whether Israel’s actions in Gaza being characterized as a genocide is a settled fact.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Using the word genocide is the same as saying the sky is blue. It is what it is,” Leah Gillis, a defense attorney in the case, said in court.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Robert Baker, the prosecutor heading up the case for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, said Gillis’ comment was offensive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s absolutely absurd. And I think there’s people who were murdered in World War II that would probably think that the word genocide is a lot different than just the word blue,” Baker said, raising his voice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The flashpoint between attorneys in court stemmed from discussions on Tuesday about one of the central fights in the case thus far: the motivations of the protesters during their action on June 5, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12066600\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12066600\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Robert Baker listens during a Dec. 9, 2025, pretrial hearing in San José in the case of a group of pro-Palestinian protesters charged with vandalism and conspiracy for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office last year. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Gillis and other defense attorneys representing the five former and current Stanford students in the trial have emphasized in court filings and in court on Tuesday that their clients’ actions were motivated by what they believe is a genocide in Gaza, and their protest was aimed at saving Palestinian lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The prosecution has questioned the validity of those arguments and has tried to limit the scope of what the jury could be influenced by during the trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s very clear the whole point of this argument is to prevent the defense from blaming a country that is currently litigating that very point,” Baker said of Israel’s dispute over its actions being labeled as genocide. “It is currently the subject of litigation in the United Nations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hanley Chew ultimately agreed to allow the use of the word genocide, he asked defense attorneys to be “very judicious” about it, and warned that if he felt they overused it, he would change his mind.[aside postID=news_12064351 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-7_qed.jpg']“I’m not going to exclude the use of the word genocide, but I don’t want the word genocide paraded throughout this trial. And if it is, I will exclude it,” Chew said. “As all of you have pointed out, the word genocide is very powerful and is very politically charged. And if I feel that the parties are exploiting that word with their own use … I will exclude its further use.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San José was packed with several dozen people on Tuesday, nearly all of whom appeared to be supporting the protesters and donning keffiyehs, patterned black and white scarves that have become a visible signifier of Palestinian solidarity and resistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group of what was 12 protesters said on social media at the time they entered the university offices that they wanted Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The action came amid a series of larger campus demonstrations aimed at pressuring the school to divest from companies that support Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys emphasized that international bodies and experts, such as the International Association of Genocide Scholars and an independent United Nations commission, have labeled Israel’s actions genocide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using a word like genocide is “setting the stage” for what was in the minds of their clients when they took their actions, Gillis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062229\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062229\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The prosecution asked the court to bar all use of the word genocide, arguing it is “inflammatory” and could prejudice the case, and also sought to exclude explanations of the motives of the protesters during testimony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Baker said the motives of the protesters are irrelevant to a jury trying to decide whether they are guilty of felony vandalism and conspiracy charges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they were protesting the Gaza War, if they were protesting the 2020 election, if they were protesting President Biden, if they were protesting President Trump, it makes no difference,” Baker said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re going to transform this trial into a political forum rather than a search for the truth and determinative facts,” Baker said. “I think there needs to be significant limitations to sanitize what is presented to a jury.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Judge Chew took a middle stance in his ruling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062228\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062228\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students walk and bike past the fountain outside Memorial Auditorium at Stanford University in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I’m not going to do a blanket prohibition on defendants speaking about their motivation. However, I will severely limit that ability to speak about motivation,” Chew said, noting he would ban any hearsay evidence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chew also decided to exclude, for now, testimony from a professor of human rights whom Gillis argued the defense should be able to use during the trial as an expert witness, to help establish facts around “Palestine and the genocide and the motivations of these young people in their request to Stanford to divest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At one point during the hearing, some people in the audience of the courtroom chuckled, sighed or let out brief comments in response to arguments from Baker, prompting Chew to later issue a warning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the court, and you should act in accordance with the fact that you are in a courtroom. If there are any additional outbursts, I will clear this courtroom. You understand that?” Chew said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hunter Taylor-Black, one of the defendants, said the trial amounts to “political persecution.”[aside postID=news_12065375 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/240508-Berkeley-High-File-MD-03_qed.jpg']Taylor-Black said the case from prosecutors feels “meant to discourage future student activists from acting on the things they believe in in the ways that student activists have acted in the past.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While students at campuses across the country were arrested last spring for Gaza-related demonstrations, few of those arrests resulted in felony charges or trials, making the Stanford case unusual. And defense attorneys argued earlier this year that the District Attorney’s office was overcharging the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The five defendants chose to go to trial last month, after six other protesters who were charged in the case entered into mental health diversion programs, or indicated they would take a court-offered deal that would include pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges, with a pathway to potential dismissal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One other protester, Jack Richardson, served as a witness for prosecutors in a grand jury indictment and is now enrolled in a youth deferred entry of judgment program. Such programs allow young people to eventually have a charge dismissed if they do not commit crimes while free, and often include rehabilitative requirements like counseling and community service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Germán González, also a defendant in the trial, said after the court hearing that it was disheartening to hear “genocide denialism” in the courtroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Throughout this sort of fear and anxiety that I do feel in the courtroom, I am just reminding myself that it is a privilege,” González said. “Nothing that happens in a courtroom or what happened to me is as severe as what’s happening to the Palestinians, who are facing genocide right now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More pretrial conferences are scheduled this week, including a hearing over whether or not the provost of Stanford, Jenny Martinez, will be called to testify as a witness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jury selection in the trial is set to begin in early January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Robert Baker, the prosecutor heading up the case for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, said Gillis’ comment was offensive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s absolutely absurd. And I think there’s people who were murdered in World War II that would probably think that the word genocide is a lot different than just the word blue,” Baker said, raising his voice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The flashpoint between attorneys in court stemmed from discussions on Tuesday about one of the central fights in the case thus far: the motivations of the protesters during their action on June 5, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12066600\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12066600\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Robert Baker listens during a Dec. 9, 2025, pretrial hearing in San José in the case of a group of pro-Palestinian protesters charged with vandalism and conspiracy for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office last year. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Gillis and other defense attorneys representing the five former and current Stanford students in the trial have emphasized in court filings and in court on Tuesday that their clients’ actions were motivated by what they believe is a genocide in Gaza, and their protest was aimed at saving Palestinian lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The prosecution has questioned the validity of those arguments and has tried to limit the scope of what the jury could be influenced by during the trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s very clear the whole point of this argument is to prevent the defense from blaming a country that is currently litigating that very point,” Baker said of Israel’s dispute over its actions being labeled as genocide. “It is currently the subject of litigation in the United Nations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hanley Chew ultimately agreed to allow the use of the word genocide, he asked defense attorneys to be “very judicious” about it, and warned that if he felt they overused it, he would change his mind.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“I’m not going to exclude the use of the word genocide, but I don’t want the word genocide paraded throughout this trial. And if it is, I will exclude it,” Chew said. “As all of you have pointed out, the word genocide is very powerful and is very politically charged. And if I feel that the parties are exploiting that word with their own use … I will exclude its further use.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San José was packed with several dozen people on Tuesday, nearly all of whom appeared to be supporting the protesters and donning keffiyehs, patterned black and white scarves that have become a visible signifier of Palestinian solidarity and resistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group of what was 12 protesters said on social media at the time they entered the university offices that they wanted Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The action came amid a series of larger campus demonstrations aimed at pressuring the school to divest from companies that support Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys emphasized that international bodies and experts, such as the International Association of Genocide Scholars and an independent United Nations commission, have labeled Israel’s actions genocide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using a word like genocide is “setting the stage” for what was in the minds of their clients when they took their actions, Gillis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062229\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062229\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The prosecution asked the court to bar all use of the word genocide, arguing it is “inflammatory” and could prejudice the case, and also sought to exclude explanations of the motives of the protesters during testimony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Baker said the motives of the protesters are irrelevant to a jury trying to decide whether they are guilty of felony vandalism and conspiracy charges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they were protesting the Gaza War, if they were protesting the 2020 election, if they were protesting President Biden, if they were protesting President Trump, it makes no difference,” Baker said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re going to transform this trial into a political forum rather than a search for the truth and determinative facts,” Baker said. “I think there needs to be significant limitations to sanitize what is presented to a jury.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Judge Chew took a middle stance in his ruling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062228\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062228\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students walk and bike past the fountain outside Memorial Auditorium at Stanford University in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I’m not going to do a blanket prohibition on defendants speaking about their motivation. However, I will severely limit that ability to speak about motivation,” Chew said, noting he would ban any hearsay evidence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chew also decided to exclude, for now, testimony from a professor of human rights whom Gillis argued the defense should be able to use during the trial as an expert witness, to help establish facts around “Palestine and the genocide and the motivations of these young people in their request to Stanford to divest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At one point during the hearing, some people in the audience of the courtroom chuckled, sighed or let out brief comments in response to arguments from Baker, prompting Chew to later issue a warning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the court, and you should act in accordance with the fact that you are in a courtroom. If there are any additional outbursts, I will clear this courtroom. You understand that?” Chew said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hunter Taylor-Black, one of the defendants, said the trial amounts to “political persecution.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Taylor-Black said the case from prosecutors feels “meant to discourage future student activists from acting on the things they believe in in the ways that student activists have acted in the past.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While students at campuses across the country were arrested last spring for Gaza-related demonstrations, few of those arrests resulted in felony charges or trials, making the Stanford case unusual. And defense attorneys argued earlier this year that the District Attorney’s office was overcharging the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The five defendants chose to go to trial last month, after six other protesters who were charged in the case entered into mental health diversion programs, or indicated they would take a court-offered deal that would include pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges, with a pathway to potential dismissal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One other protester, Jack Richardson, served as a witness for prosecutors in a grand jury indictment and is now enrolled in a youth deferred entry of judgment program. Such programs allow young people to eventually have a charge dismissed if they do not commit crimes while free, and often include rehabilitative requirements like counseling and community service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Germán González, also a defendant in the trial, said after the court hearing that it was disheartening to hear “genocide denialism” in the courtroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Throughout this sort of fear and anxiety that I do feel in the courtroom, I am just reminding myself that it is a privilege,” González said. “Nothing that happens in a courtroom or what happened to me is as severe as what’s happening to the Palestinians, who are facing genocide right now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More pretrial conferences are scheduled this week, including a hearing over whether or not the provost of Stanford, Jenny Martinez, will be called to testify as a witness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jury selection in the trial is set to begin in early January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Veronica Martinez woke up early one recent morning to make a fresh batch of cookies. She packed them in a box and headed to a community center in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/east-oakland\">East Oakland\u003c/a>, where a \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandtrybe.org/\">nonprofit called Trybe\u003c/a> invites families to get the things they need — produce, milk, eggs and even diapers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of the families set up appointments first, but Martinez didn’t have one, so she shared the box of homemade cookies with staff in exchange for access to the pantry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They do a lot of hard work, you know, and I appreciate the community for helping us out,” Martinez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The longest-ever federal government shutdown \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060770/snap-calfresh-food-stamps-government-shutdown-november-payments-ebt\">delayed Martinez’s monthly food benefits\u003c/a>, and she needed help to feed herself and her teenage son and daughter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When [the shutdown] happened, wow, it was a shock because I only get paid once a month, and that money goes right away to bills, rent and whatnot, and then the rest I had to save for groceries,” Martinez said. “This month I didn’t even pay my rent on time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065189\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-21-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065189\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-21-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-21-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-21-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-21-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A child holds a carton of eggs during a food distribution event hosted by Trybe at San Antonio Park in Oakland on Nov. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Martinez makes a living caring for the young sons of her sister-in-law, Berenis Miranda, while she goes to work as a security guard. Miranda receives a $2,000 monthly state child care subsidy to pay Martinez for her work, but Martinez said that isn’t enough to get by in a region where the cost of living is outpacing wages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s hard to afford stuff nowadays,” Martinez said. “You go to the grocery store, you spend $100, and you come back out with nothing, actually. And you’re like, where did my $100 go?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Miranda said she wishes she could pay Martinez more, but she’s struggling too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area is not cheap,” she said. “Sometimes I have to rely on the food bank as well.”[aside postID=news_12061440 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/013_KQED_SanFranciscoMarinFoodBank_03182020_9229_qed.jpg']Both women’s situations underscore the precarity of raising young children in an expensive state. The Stanford Center on Early Childhood recently \u003ca href=\"https://rapidsurveyproject.com/article/three-years-of-california-parent-voices-show-families-struggle-to-meet-basic-needs-and-experience-emotional-distress-as-a-result/\">reported\u003c/a> that three in four California families with young children can’t cover at least one basic need, such as food, housing, utilities, child care or health care — the highest level of families experiencing material hardship since the center began its RAPID survey in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The findings come on the heels of a report from Tipping Point Community that the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064764/how-a-surge-in-bay-area-poverty-wiped-out-a-decade-of-progress\">Bay Area’s poverty rate climbed \u003c/a>over 4 percentage points after a decade of steady decline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And it’s not just low-income families who are feeling the pinch. In July, 86% of middle-income families reported having difficulty meeting a basic need, according to the RAPID survey. A higher percentage of parents in rural areas faced material hardship (93%) than parents in urban and suburban areas (72%).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A separate RAPID survey found that an increasing number of \u003ca href=\"https://rapidsurveyproject.com/article/hunger-is-increasing-among-those-who-provide-care-to-young-children/\">child care providers nationwide are experiencing hunger.\u003c/a> Nearly 45% of child care providers reported experiencing hunger between June 2021 and May of this year. The figure jumped to 58% in June — the highest level in four years of the survey.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parents of young kids are often first to experience economic strain because they’re in the most expensive phase of life, said Abigail Stewart-Kahn, managing director of the Stanford Center on Early Childhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065182\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-07-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065182\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yolanda Monroe picks up items at a food distribution event hosted by Trybe at San Antonio Park in Oakland on Nov. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“They’re usually earlier in their career — perhaps earning less as a result — their costs are higher because they have to pay for child care or stay home to provide it themselves,” she said. “There’s no public school system to take care of their children yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A majority of the parents surveyed said they experienced elevated levels of anxiety, depression and stress. Stewart-Kahn said that’s a concern, because their emotional distress can negatively affect \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12051850/as-californias-electricity-rates-rise-parents-struggle-to-pay-their-bills\">their kids’ development\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Miranda said she’s aware of the potential ripple effects on her sons’ development, but as a single-income earner in her household, she’s focused on making ends meet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t be depressed, I can’t be sad, because I have to do what I have to do for my kids,” she said. “The only thing I can do is stay strong and just stay on survival mode.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Veronica Martinez woke up early one recent morning to make a fresh batch of cookies. She packed them in a box and headed to a community center in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/east-oakland\">East Oakland\u003c/a>, where a \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandtrybe.org/\">nonprofit called Trybe\u003c/a> invites families to get the things they need — produce, milk, eggs and even diapers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of the families set up appointments first, but Martinez didn’t have one, so she shared the box of homemade cookies with staff in exchange for access to the pantry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They do a lot of hard work, you know, and I appreciate the community for helping us out,” Martinez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The longest-ever federal government shutdown \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060770/snap-calfresh-food-stamps-government-shutdown-november-payments-ebt\">delayed Martinez’s monthly food benefits\u003c/a>, and she needed help to feed herself and her teenage son and daughter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When [the shutdown] happened, wow, it was a shock because I only get paid once a month, and that money goes right away to bills, rent and whatnot, and then the rest I had to save for groceries,” Martinez said. “This month I didn’t even pay my rent on time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065189\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-21-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065189\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-21-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-21-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-21-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-21-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A child holds a carton of eggs during a food distribution event hosted by Trybe at San Antonio Park in Oakland on Nov. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Martinez makes a living caring for the young sons of her sister-in-law, Berenis Miranda, while she goes to work as a security guard. Miranda receives a $2,000 monthly state child care subsidy to pay Martinez for her work, but Martinez said that isn’t enough to get by in a region where the cost of living is outpacing wages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s hard to afford stuff nowadays,” Martinez said. “You go to the grocery store, you spend $100, and you come back out with nothing, actually. And you’re like, where did my $100 go?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Miranda said she wishes she could pay Martinez more, but she’s struggling too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area is not cheap,” she said. “Sometimes I have to rely on the food bank as well.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Both women’s situations underscore the precarity of raising young children in an expensive state. The Stanford Center on Early Childhood recently \u003ca href=\"https://rapidsurveyproject.com/article/three-years-of-california-parent-voices-show-families-struggle-to-meet-basic-needs-and-experience-emotional-distress-as-a-result/\">reported\u003c/a> that three in four California families with young children can’t cover at least one basic need, such as food, housing, utilities, child care or health care — the highest level of families experiencing material hardship since the center began its RAPID survey in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The findings come on the heels of a report from Tipping Point Community that the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064764/how-a-surge-in-bay-area-poverty-wiped-out-a-decade-of-progress\">Bay Area’s poverty rate climbed \u003c/a>over 4 percentage points after a decade of steady decline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And it’s not just low-income families who are feeling the pinch. In July, 86% of middle-income families reported having difficulty meeting a basic need, according to the RAPID survey. A higher percentage of parents in rural areas faced material hardship (93%) than parents in urban and suburban areas (72%).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A separate RAPID survey found that an increasing number of \u003ca href=\"https://rapidsurveyproject.com/article/hunger-is-increasing-among-those-who-provide-care-to-young-children/\">child care providers nationwide are experiencing hunger.\u003c/a> Nearly 45% of child care providers reported experiencing hunger between June 2021 and May of this year. The figure jumped to 58% in June — the highest level in four years of the survey.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parents of young kids are often first to experience economic strain because they’re in the most expensive phase of life, said Abigail Stewart-Kahn, managing director of the Stanford Center on Early Childhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065182\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-07-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065182\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251120-FAMILIESFINANCIALINSECURITY-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yolanda Monroe picks up items at a food distribution event hosted by Trybe at San Antonio Park in Oakland on Nov. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“They’re usually earlier in their career — perhaps earning less as a result — their costs are higher because they have to pay for child care or stay home to provide it themselves,” she said. “There’s no public school system to take care of their children yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A majority of the parents surveyed said they experienced elevated levels of anxiety, depression and stress. Stewart-Kahn said that’s a concern, because their emotional distress can negatively affect \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12051850/as-californias-electricity-rates-rise-parents-struggle-to-pay-their-bills\">their kids’ development\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Miranda said she’s aware of the potential ripple effects on her sons’ development, but as a single-income earner in her household, she’s focused on making ends meet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t be depressed, I can’t be sad, because I have to do what I have to do for my kids,” she said. “The only thing I can do is stay strong and just stay on survival mode.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Nearly a year and a half after a group of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/pro-palestinian-protest\">pro-Palestinian protesters\u003c/a> were arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a> president’s office, a trial is set to get underway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A group of five protesters is scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 24. They face felony vandalism and conspiracy charges stemming from a grand jury indictment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While hundreds of students have been arrested at college campuses across the country for protest-related activity since the war in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gaza\">Gaza\u003c/a> began, few of the cases have progressed this far. Attorneys for the defendants and their supporters have accused the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office of seeking overly harsh punishment to quell further protests and speech.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Monday morning, three other protesters told the court they intend to take a deal offered to them by a judge, which would require them to plead guilty to misdemeanors, a plan opposed by prosecutors. Three other protesters recently enrolled in mental health diversion programs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The details of the misdemeanor deal remain vague for now, but attorneys for those defendants said it would likely include a path for their clients to ultimately have the charges dismissed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>EmilyRose Johns, an attorney representing Cameron Pennington, said the deal would likely require her client to perform community service and avoid any criminal behavior for a certain amount of time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064524\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064524\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-2_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-2_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-2_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-2_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hunter Taylor-Black, center, one of five pro-Palestinian protesters going to trial for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office, speaks to a group of supporters outside the Hall of Justice in San José on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The court has indicated that if they’re successful, it may ultimately allow withdrawal of the plea and a diversion deal, which would mean that the clients have no conviction history,” Johns told KQED after a court hearing on Monday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prosecutors from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office oppose the deal, which attorneys said was offered late last week to all the defendants by Judge Deborah Ryan, following private discussions between attorneys and Ryan in court chambers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office didn’t respond to a request for comment on Monday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The judge is the current arbiter of justice. The judge is the person who decides what is just and appropriate and can dismiss cases over the district attorney’s objection and can make court offers to clients over the district attorney’s objection,” Johns said.[aside postID=news_12035346 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/240605-STANFORD-JG-10-KQED-1020x680.jpg']“The reason that misdemeanors are even on the table is that Judge Ryan has indicated that she didn’t believe this resembled felony conduct,” Johns said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The case stems from a June 5, 2024, action by a group of a dozen protesters, mostly made up of current or former Stanford students at the time, who broke into the president’s office in the early morning hours and barricaded themselves inside before being arrested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group said on social media at the time they wanted Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza.” It came amid a series of larger campus demonstrations aimed at pressuring the school to divest from companies that support Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in April, when he brought initial felony charges against the group, that they “crossed the clear and bright line between dissent and destruction.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kaiden Wang, one of the defendants who intends to take the court deal, said the group’s actions fit into a legacy of protest in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think that our action is part of the long history of activism in the Bay Area,” Wang said. “The Bay Area seems to be one of the earliest brewing grounds for these types of actions and these kinds of resistance towards systems of oppression.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11989555\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11989555\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/240605-STANFORD-JG-15-1-e1744310968489.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Building 10 at Stanford University, where pro-Palestinian protesters broke into the university president’s office and occupied it before being arrested on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The protesters who intend to take the deal, as well as those who are headed to trial, will all still have to contend with the issue of a $329,000 claim for restitution by Stanford for damages caused by the group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tony Brass, an attorney representing Hunter Taylor-Black, who is proceeding to trial, said Stanford has refused to talk with attorneys about the figure, which could amount to “crippling debt” for some of the protesters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brass said the number could increase or decrease after a restitution hearing, and Stanford’s lack of engagement on the topic makes it hard to know what consequences his client and others may face, and is part of the reason they are going to trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What they’re trying to avoid is unknown consequences, unfair consequences, extreme consequences. And this could all be clarified,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064526\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064526\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of supporters gathered for a rally outside the Hall of Justice in San José on Nov. 17, 2025, after a court hearing for a group of pro-Palestinian protesters indicted for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One other protester, Jack Richardson, served as a witness for prosecutors in the grand jury and is now enrolled in a youth deferred judgment program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brass and other attorneys have also taken issue with the district attorney’s motions asking a judge to ban any mention of the word “genocide” from the trial. In those filings, the DA’s office said the word “genocide” is “inflammatory” and would prejudice the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rosen’s office also filed motions asking to exclude the motives behind the actions of the protesters, saying the defense will likely “attempt to use this trial as another form of protest,” instead of focusing on guilt or innocence.[aside postID=news_12063531 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/240214-GOLDEN-GATE-BRIDGE-PROTEST-JCL-02-KQED-1020x680.jpg']“What matters is only that they agreed to occupy the building and that vandalism was necessary to accomplish the occupation. Their reasons for doing so have no relevance to the issues the jury will be asked to decide,” the filings say. “While such evidence might be relevant at sentencing, it serves no purpose at jury trial.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The DA’s filings said the defense will attempt to “make this proceeding an extension of the June 5, 2024, political protest by falsely accusing Stanford University of supporting genocide.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brass said those motions show Rosen is trying to “present this trial completely sanitized,” without full context.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These students were acting for a greater good. And their inaction was something they, out of a sense of conscience, couldn’t live with,” Brass said. “They had to draw more attention to it, had to amplify their voice, and this is what they did.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also noted that the protesters went into the building when it was empty and did not harm anyone or threaten anyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maya Burke, one of the protesters going to trial, said the motions trying to limit the scope of the defendant’s arguments are “alarming.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Burke said they are seeking justice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are war crimes on,” Burke said, “and I would hope to see that acknowledged in the court and acknowledged in public.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Nearly a year and a half after a group of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/pro-palestinian-protest\">pro-Palestinian protesters\u003c/a> were arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a> president’s office, a trial is set to get underway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A group of five protesters is scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 24. They face felony vandalism and conspiracy charges stemming from a grand jury indictment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While hundreds of students have been arrested at college campuses across the country for protest-related activity since the war in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gaza\">Gaza\u003c/a> began, few of the cases have progressed this far. Attorneys for the defendants and their supporters have accused the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office of seeking overly harsh punishment to quell further protests and speech.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Monday morning, three other protesters told the court they intend to take a deal offered to them by a judge, which would require them to plead guilty to misdemeanors, a plan opposed by prosecutors. Three other protesters recently enrolled in mental health diversion programs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The details of the misdemeanor deal remain vague for now, but attorneys for those defendants said it would likely include a path for their clients to ultimately have the charges dismissed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>EmilyRose Johns, an attorney representing Cameron Pennington, said the deal would likely require her client to perform community service and avoid any criminal behavior for a certain amount of time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064524\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064524\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-2_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-2_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-2_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-2_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hunter Taylor-Black, center, one of five pro-Palestinian protesters going to trial for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office, speaks to a group of supporters outside the Hall of Justice in San José on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The court has indicated that if they’re successful, it may ultimately allow withdrawal of the plea and a diversion deal, which would mean that the clients have no conviction history,” Johns told KQED after a court hearing on Monday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prosecutors from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office oppose the deal, which attorneys said was offered late last week to all the defendants by Judge Deborah Ryan, following private discussions between attorneys and Ryan in court chambers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office didn’t respond to a request for comment on Monday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The judge is the current arbiter of justice. The judge is the person who decides what is just and appropriate and can dismiss cases over the district attorney’s objection and can make court offers to clients over the district attorney’s objection,” Johns said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“The reason that misdemeanors are even on the table is that Judge Ryan has indicated that she didn’t believe this resembled felony conduct,” Johns said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The case stems from a June 5, 2024, action by a group of a dozen protesters, mostly made up of current or former Stanford students at the time, who broke into the president’s office in the early morning hours and barricaded themselves inside before being arrested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group said on social media at the time they wanted Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza.” It came amid a series of larger campus demonstrations aimed at pressuring the school to divest from companies that support Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in April, when he brought initial felony charges against the group, that they “crossed the clear and bright line between dissent and destruction.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kaiden Wang, one of the defendants who intends to take the court deal, said the group’s actions fit into a legacy of protest in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think that our action is part of the long history of activism in the Bay Area,” Wang said. “The Bay Area seems to be one of the earliest brewing grounds for these types of actions and these kinds of resistance towards systems of oppression.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11989555\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11989555\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/240605-STANFORD-JG-15-1-e1744310968489.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Building 10 at Stanford University, where pro-Palestinian protesters broke into the university president’s office and occupied it before being arrested on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The protesters who intend to take the deal, as well as those who are headed to trial, will all still have to contend with the issue of a $329,000 claim for restitution by Stanford for damages caused by the group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tony Brass, an attorney representing Hunter Taylor-Black, who is proceeding to trial, said Stanford has refused to talk with attorneys about the figure, which could amount to “crippling debt” for some of the protesters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brass said the number could increase or decrease after a restitution hearing, and Stanford’s lack of engagement on the topic makes it hard to know what consequences his client and others may face, and is part of the reason they are going to trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What they’re trying to avoid is unknown consequences, unfair consequences, extreme consequences. And this could all be clarified,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064526\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064526\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of supporters gathered for a rally outside the Hall of Justice in San José on Nov. 17, 2025, after a court hearing for a group of pro-Palestinian protesters indicted for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One other protester, Jack Richardson, served as a witness for prosecutors in the grand jury and is now enrolled in a youth deferred judgment program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brass and other attorneys have also taken issue with the district attorney’s motions asking a judge to ban any mention of the word “genocide” from the trial. In those filings, the DA’s office said the word “genocide” is “inflammatory” and would prejudice the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rosen’s office also filed motions asking to exclude the motives behind the actions of the protesters, saying the defense will likely “attempt to use this trial as another form of protest,” instead of focusing on guilt or innocence.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“What matters is only that they agreed to occupy the building and that vandalism was necessary to accomplish the occupation. Their reasons for doing so have no relevance to the issues the jury will be asked to decide,” the filings say. “While such evidence might be relevant at sentencing, it serves no purpose at jury trial.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The DA’s filings said the defense will attempt to “make this proceeding an extension of the June 5, 2024, political protest by falsely accusing Stanford University of supporting genocide.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brass said those motions show Rosen is trying to “present this trial completely sanitized,” without full context.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These students were acting for a greater good. And their inaction was something they, out of a sense of conscience, couldn’t live with,” Brass said. “They had to draw more attention to it, had to amplify their voice, and this is what they did.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also noted that the protesters went into the building when it was empty and did not harm anyone or threaten anyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maya Burke, one of the protesters going to trial, said the motions trying to limit the scope of the defendant’s arguments are “alarming.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Burke said they are seeking justice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are war crimes on,” Burke said, “and I would hope to see that acknowledged in the court and acknowledged in public.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Who Killed Jane Stanford? Inside a 120-Year-Old Mystery",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n[baycuriouspodcastinfo]\u003cbr>\nFounded in 1885, Stanford University is famed for its world-class research in medicine, business, law and the humanities, not to mention its 20 living Nobel laureates.\u003cbr>\nThis manicured institution on the San Francisco peninsula isn’t necessarily the kind of place you’d expect to harbor a century-old murder mystery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But 120 years ago this year, the university’s co-founder, Jane Stanford, died suddenly one winter evening. And although the official verdict was natural causes, the original coroner’s report indicated something far more sinister: poisoning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what really happened to Jane Stanford in 1905? It’s a question that preoccupies Richard White, Stanford University history professor emeritus and author of \u003ca href=\"https://history.stanford.edu/people/richard-white\">\u003cem>Who Killed Jane Stanford\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>?\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several years ago, White was teaching his students how to use the Stanford University archives. He asked them to research the curious history of Jane Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I thought, if I can’t get them interested in the story that supposedly somebody murdered the founder of the university, I cannot get them interested in anything,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12061787\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 1594px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12061787\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1594\" height=\"2500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED.jpg 1594w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED-160x251.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED-979x1536.jpg 979w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED-1306x2048.jpg 1306w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1594px) 100vw, 1594px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Portrait of Jane Stanford with her son, Leland Jr., before he died of typhoid in 1884. \u003ccite>(Special Collections & University Archives, Stanford University Libraries)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When his students kept hitting roadblocks in the archives, an intrigued White couldn’t resist looking into the story himself — and soon found himself baffled that the death of Jane Stanford wasn’t a bigger source of intrigue. Especially since Stanford Medical School physician Robert Cutler had \u003ca href=\"https://www.sup.org/books/history/mysterious-death-jane-stanford\">already published a 2003 book\u003c/a> concluding that she did not die of natural causes, but had instead been killed by strychnine poisoning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The university had contended from the very beginning that she’d died of a heart attack,” White said. “And that contradiction, I thought, would have a lot of public interest and certainly bring some response from the university — but it hadn’t.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.stanford.edu/about/history/\">The university’s history webpage\u003c/a> doesn’t mention the death of Jane Stanford at all, let alone the fact that she may well have been murdered. (Stanford University didn’t respond to our request for official comment on their co-founder’s death.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But one thing is certain: strychnine poisoning is a particularly horrible way to die. When this white powder gets into the body, it attacks the chemical that normally controls nerve signals to a person’s muscles, inducing waves of painful spasms. The jaw locks tight and the limbs start twisting in on themselves. In high amounts, strychnine can kill within minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Strychnine tastes bitter but is odorless, making it a notoriously popular way to poison a person in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was also an ingredient in rat bait — and even some medicines — making it easy to obtain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have to be able to follow the evidence, and I follow the evidence,” White said. And after much research, he has a theory about who ended Jane Stanford’s life.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A ‘personal fiefdom’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Jane Stanford was born Jane Lathrop in 1828 in upstate New York. At the age of 22, she married Leland Stanford, a railroad baron, who briefly served as governor of California from 1862 to 1863, and then a U.S. senator for almost a decade starting in 1885.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At age 39, Jane Stanford gave birth to \u003ca href=\"https://stanfordmag.org/contents/about-a-boy\">her only child, Leland Stanford Jr\u003c/a>., but Leland Jr. died from typhoid in his teens. “She never gets over that,” White said. “She will be in mourning for the rest of her life.”[aside postID=news_11893685 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39771_4.34-qut.jpg']In their grief, the Stanfords sought ways to honor Leland Jr.’s memory. At this time, “California has great ambitions beyond just being a sort of outpost of wealth in the West,” White said. “It wants to become a cultural leader, an industrial leader. And so, founding universities and founding colleges is very much in the mind of the San Francisco elite.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, in 1891, Jane and Leland opened their university on the San Francisco Peninsula, called Leland Stanford Junior University. But Leland Stanford Sr would only live two more years before he too died, in 1893.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At age 65, Jane Stanford found herself in charge of the new university — a heavy responsibility compounded, White said, by Leland Sr’s financial mismanagement of both the university’s funds and the Stanfords’ own money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It turned out that Leland Stanford was not nearly as competent as most people thought,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the next several years, Jane Stanford was constantly fighting to keep the university afloat in a way that wouldn’t further tank her considerable fortune. But her methods of managing the university’s affairs swiftly made her very unpopular.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Once she gets power, she uses it ruthlessly,” White said. “She knows the power of wealth and she exerts that power — so much so that she makes a great many enemies.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane Stanford was a walking contradiction. She was an advocate for women’s rights and insisted Stanford admit female students, but then treated those same students poorly. The women in her personal life found this out firsthand — chief among them her longtime companion and secretary, Bertha Berner, “who wasn’t really a servant, but Jane Stanford often treated her like one,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12061782\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-04-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12061782\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1387\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-04-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-04-KQED-160x111.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-04-KQED-1536x1065.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Stanford women’s basketball team circa 1896. Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University, insisted that women be admitted from the school’s inception in 1891. \u003ccite>(Special Collections & University Archives, Stanford University Libraries)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While running the university as what White called “a personal fiefdom,” Jane Stanford butted heads often with the institution’s president, David Starr Jordan. While “devoted” to the university, Jordan knew “that the university and his own job depend on pleasing Jane Stanford,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane Stanford’s religious beliefs were also a major headache for Jordan. She was a Spiritualist: a belief system that hinged on making contact with the dead. Like many people who turned to Spiritualism in the 19th century, Stanford was motivated by the losses in her own life: the death of her son and husband.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in the Victorian era, the sheer prevalence of death through disease and infant mortality meant that virtually everyone was surrounded by tragedies like Stanford’s. But it was one thing for well-to-do ladies to be conducting seances in their free time, and quite another for the leader of a major university. Not least because Stanford told people that she was using those seances to receive instructions on how to run the university.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jordan and his Stanford University colleagues lived in fear of their boss’s Spiritualism becoming common knowledge, White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s going to endanger all the legal documents she signs,” he said. “It’s very hard to uphold a legal document when you say the ghosts are the ones telling you to sign it or not.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But for Jordan, things soon got even worse, White said – when he realized “that Leland Stanford had endowed the university in such a way that the university really has no free and clear access to its funds or even a guarantee of its funds until Jane Stanford is dead.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of this leads us to 1905, when 76-year-old Jane Stanford was poisoned not once but twice. She did not survive the second attempt.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A cover-up across an ocean\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The first poisoning attempt in January 1905, inside Jane Stanford’s San Francisco mansion, was unsuccessful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford complained of feeling sick after drinking from a bottle of Poland Spring water and called out for her household staff, including her secretary and companion, Bertha Berner. After vomiting, Stanford recovered — and when the water was tested, strychnine was found.[aside postID=news_11700225 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33251_composite_2-qut.jpg'] However, it wasn’t a pure form of the poison in the bottle. “Somebody who didn’t know much about poisoning people had dumped rat poison in it,” White said. Other ingredients in the rat poison had caused Stanford to vomit, which saved her life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford’s inner circle advised her to keep the incident under wraps to prevent a scandal that could taint the university, and to get far away from San Francisco and a poisoner who might try again. So just over a month later, Stanford departed for Hawaii with just two trusted employees: a maid and Bertha Berner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her attempts to evade her poisoner proved unsuccessful. On February 28, 1905, Stanford woke up in her Oahu hotel in the middle of the night and screamed out for Berner. She knew she’d been poisoned again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She died within 10 minutes of the doctor coming in,” White said — and the medical evaluation swiftly concluded she showed all the symptoms of strychnine poisoning. “Later on, the coroner’s jury would determine that it had been strychnine poisoning and that she had been poisoned by party or parties unknown,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This was the story reported by the earliest newspaper accounts, like that of \u003ca href=\"https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=BT19050304.2.29&srpos=10&e=------190-en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22jane+stanford%22----1905---\">the Oceanside Blade in Southern California\u003c/a> on March 4, 1905, which noted the “suspicious circumstances which point to poisoning by strychnine.\u003cstrong>”\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12061783\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 2047px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-scaled.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12061783\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2047\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-scaled.jpg 2047w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-2000x2501.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-1228x1536.jpg 1228w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-1638x2048.jpg 1638w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2047px) 100vw, 2047px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">David Starr Jordan was the first president of Stanford University and butted heads with Jane Stanford often. He died in 1931, outliving Jane by more than 20 years. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While Stanford’s household fell under suspicion, another person absolutely had the motive, White said: Stanford University’s president, David Starr Jordan. Just a few weeks before the first poisoning attempt, Jordan had not only discovered that Stanford intended to fire him, but had been working with colleagues to try to take control of the university’s finances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the news of Jane Stanford’s death, Jordan jumped on a boat to Oahu: “Ostensibly to bring her body home,” White said, “but what he’s really in Hawaii for is to suppress the coroner’s jury verdict.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On arrival in Honolulu, Jordan hired another doctor to deliver a verdict on the death, one who contradicted the earlier account of strychnine poisoning, “though he has not examined the body,” and “doesn’t know anything about strychnine poisoning,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jordan then used that new verdict to suppress the investigation back in San Francisco, an inquiry which neatly concluded that rather than being poisoned, Stanford had instead died of a heart attack. \u003ca href=\"https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19051231.2.17&srpos=5&e=------190-en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22jane+stanford%22----1905---\">He also used the local papers\u003c/a> to discredit the Hawaii authorities, creating a general air of — as White put it — “There’s nothing to see here, there’s nothing to look at, let’s get on with things.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For a long time, this becomes the official story from Stanford University: That she died a natural death and that she was not poisoned by strychnine,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A suspect in plain sight\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While Jordan certainly acted suspiciously, White said that “the other stuff with Jordan doesn’t really add up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jordan may have had several reasons to want Jane Stanford out of the picture, but he wasn’t actually present at either poisoning attempt. He lacked the opportunity to poison her himself. “Sometimes you just get really lucky,” White said. “He wanted her killed, and she was killed.\u003cbr>\n[aside postID=news_11894939 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/11/3738571926_99e9526967_o-1020x683.jpg']For White, there’s a far more persuasive suspect hiding in plain sight: Stanford’s longtime, long-suffering companion and secretary Bertha Berner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Berner had been in Stanford’s service from a young age, ever since they met at the memorial service for Leland Junior. She was, by all accounts, “a very attractive, very smart, and very capable woman,” White said — and he believes Berner’s decision not to marry was a strategic, practical move.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not only would marriage have meant giving up traveling the world with Jane Stanford and access to high society, but Berner was also the sole caretaker for her sick mother. “She really cannot afford to give up this job,” White said. And Stanford knew it, even going so far as to sabotage any romantic relationships Berner dared to have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The relationship between the two women became “incredibly rocky,” White said, to the point where Berner quit Stanford’s employ several times. “But she always comes back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not convinced? How about this for motive — Berner was a beneficiary in Jane Stanford’s will.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And at the time of the second poisoning attempt, Berner’s mother became even sicker. Berner even declined to join Stanford on her Hawaii trip due to fears about her mother’s ailing health, but her employer insisted that Berner make the trip if she wanted to keep the job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Stanford clearly did not harbor any suspicions that her trusted companion and secretary of many years had anything to do with the first attempt on her life, she was nonetheless aware that Berner was romantically involved with Stanford’s own butler — and that the pair had been “embezzling money from her,” White said. “She can hang that over Bertha Berner’s head.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A killer walks free?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To White, when added together, Berner’s motives are convincing. Her trusted position meant she also had the opportunity to poison Stanford, and she was present at both attempts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>White’s research shows Berner also had the means to kill Jane Stanford. By the time Berner left for Hawaii, she’d started a relationship with a Palo Alto pharmacist. This association provided “a place where Bertha Berner can get free, pure strychnine,” White said. “Otherwise, that would be very difficult to do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12061780\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-02-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12061780\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1362\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-02-KQED-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-02-KQED-1536x1046.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">David Starr Jordan, the first president of Stanford University, bats in a faculty versus student baseball game, a tradition on campus. Jordan often butted heads with Jane Stanford over how to run the university and covered up her death by poisoning in 1905. \u003ccite>(Special Collections & University Archives, Stanford University Libraries)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>White suspects that university president Jordan may have suspected Berner at the time, and that he may have actively protected her after Jane Stanford’s demise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He does it in writing,” White said: “He reassures her that, ‘we know you didn’t do it; we’re going take care of you; you have nothing to worry about.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And even if other people close to Jane Stanford suspected there’d been a murder and a cover-up, nobody wanted to bring that kind of scandal upon Stanford University, White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane Stanford was buried in the mausoleum at Stanford University, next to her husband and son. As her body was carried to its final resting place, the procession was full of people who had butted heads with her while she was alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The man who led the cover-up of her murder now led the walk from the church to her tomb. And walking pride of place, behind the casket, was Bertha Berner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/63j9eNYdy78nVPUzUJ791e?utm_source=generator&theme=0\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katrina Schwartz:\u003c/strong> Stanford University is undeniably a Bay Area icon with the pedigree to match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Founded back in the late 19th century, this private institution sprawling over 8,000 manicured acres on the sunny San Francisco peninsula is famed for its world-class research in medicine, business, law and the humanities. It has 20 living Nobel laureates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In short: not the kind of place you’d necessarily expect to harbor a century-old mystery full of skulduggery, lies and poison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But that’s exactly what lies beneath Stanford’s history. Because the woman who co-founded this place, Jane Stanford, died in very strange circumstances in 1905. And although the official verdict was natural causes, some suspect something far more sinister happened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today on Bay Curious, we’re following the historic breadcrumbs to discover who might have been responsible. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katrina Schwartz:\u003c/strong> What really happened to Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University, who died suddenly in 1905?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED’s Carly Severn brings us the historic mystery — and dastardly cover-up — that a lot of people in the Bay Area still don’t know about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn:\u003c/strong> Death by poisoning is a nasty way to go. But strychnine poisoning is a particularly horrible way to die.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When this white powder gets into your body, it attacks the chemical that normally controls nerve signals to your muscles resulting in overwhelming, painful spasms all over. Your jaw locks tight. Your limbs start twisting in on themselves. In high amounts, strychnine can kill you within minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Strychnine tastes bitter but it doesn’t smell of anything. And as an ingredient in rat bait, and even some medicines in the 19th and early twentieth centuries, it was a very popular way to poison someone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what if I told you that 120 years ago, the co-founder of Stanford University found this out first-hand. And almost nobody is talking about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>You have to be able to follow the evidence, and I follow the evidence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Richard White is a professor emeritus in Stanford University’s history department. Several years ago he was TEACHING students how to use the university’s own archives to investigate historical conundrums … and he asked them to find out what happened to Jane Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>I thought, if I can’t get them interested in the story that supposedly somebody murdered the founder of the university, I cannot get them interested in anything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Richard found there was a lot his students couldn’t uncover about this case, prompting him to turn historical detective after the class had long ended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When he started looking into it he was baffled this wasn’t a bigger source of intrigue. Especially because a physician at Stanford Medical School had already written a book showing that Jane Stanford had 100% been killed by strychnine poisoning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>And the university had contended from the very beginning that she’d died of a heart attack. And that contradiction, I thought, would have a lot of public interest and certainly bring some response from the university, but it hadn’t.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>To get to the bottom of this mystery, let’s wind back all the way to 1828 when Jane Stanford entered this world in upstate New York.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a young woman, Jane married Leland Stanford, a businessman and politician who made his fortune in the railroad business, and who briefly served as governor of California in the 1860s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane gave birth to her only child — also called Leland — when she was 39. And she doted on him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But then tragedy struck in 1884, when that son died of typhoid. And in their grief, the Stanfords looked for ways to honor his memory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Founding universities and founding colleges is very much in the mind of the San Francisco elite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>And so, in 1891, Jane and Leland opened a university on the Peninsula calling it Leland Stanford Junior University, after their son.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But just two years later, Jane’s husband died. And at age 65, Jane found herself in charge of the university.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>But it turned out that Leland Stanford was not nearly as competent as most people thought.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Richard says Leland Stanford had mismanaged University funds and his own fortune for a long time. So for the next several years, Jane was constantly fighting to keep the university afloat in a way that wouldn’t tank her considerable fortune.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this is really where the trouble began. Because Jane’s way of managing affairs at Stanford University made her very unpopular.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White:\u003c/strong> Once she gets power she uses it ruthlessly. She knows the power of wealth and she exerts that power, so much so that she makes a great many enemies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Jane was a walking contradiction. She was an advocate for women’s rights and insisted Stanford admit female students, but treated those students terribly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And when it came to men, Jane particularly butted heads with the president of Stanford University: David Starr Jordan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Jane Stanford runs Stanford University as a personal fiefdom. David Starr Jordan is devoted to the university, but he knows that the university and his own job depend on pleasing Jane Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Jane Stanford was also a Spiritualist, a belief system that hinged on making contact with the dead. And like many people who turned to Spiritualism in the 19th century, Jane was motivated by personal tragedy beginning with the death of her son.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>She never gets over that. She will be in mourning for the rest of her life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>But it was one thing for well-to-do ladies to be conducting seances in their free time and quite another for the leader of a major university.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane’s Spiritualism became a big problem for Stanford University and for its president, Jordan. Because Jane told people that she was using her seances to receive instructions from her dead husband and son on how to run Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>The great fear of Stanford University is that they’re gonna discover that Jane Stanford is a spiritualist and that’s gonna endanger all the legal documents she signs. It’s very hard to uphold the legal document when you say the ghosts are the ones telling you to sign it or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Jane’s beliefs were a constant source of stress for Jordan. And their relationship deteriorated even further when Jane made him fire a professor friend of his, sparking a scandal about academic freedom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while trying to navigate all of this, Jordan made a discovery:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>He also realizes that Leland Stanford had endowed the university in such a way that the university really has no free and clear access to its funds or even a guarantee of its funds until Jane Stanford is dead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>In 1905, when Jane was 76, someone tried to poison her not once, but twice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first attempt, at her Nob Hill mansion, was unsuccessful. Jane complained of feeling sick after drinking from a bottle of spring water and called for her staff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>One of them was her secretary and companion, Bertha Berner, who wasn’t really a servant, but Jane Stanford often treated her like one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Bertha and the maids helped Jane to vomit. And when that water bottle was tested, the verdict came back: it was strychnine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>But it wasn’t pure strychnine. Somebody who didn’t know much about poisoning people, had dumped rat poison in it. The rat poison had caused her to vomit. She felt very sick, but she recovered from it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>The people around Jane advised her to keep the incident under wraps to prevent a scandal. And to get the hell out of dodge away from the poisoner who might try again with something even stronger than rat poison this time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So Jane left for Hawaii with just two trusted employees: a maid and Bertha Berner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Which leads us to the second poisoning. Just over a month after the first attempt, Jane woke up in the middle of the night in her Oahu hotel and screamed for Bertha. She knew she’d been poisoned again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Somebody obtained pure strychnine, put it in her water and she died within 10 minutes of the doctor coming in. The doctors looked at her, she showed all the symptoms of strychnine poisoning. Later on, the coroner’s jury would determine that it had been strychnine poisoning and that she had been poisoned by party or parties unknown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>And this was the story that was reported by the earliest newspaper accounts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice reads newspaper clipping: \u003c/strong>Oceanside Blade, March 1905: Mrs. Jane Stanford of San Francisco … died at Honolulu Wednesday under suspicious circumstances which point to poisoning by strychnine which had been mixed with bicarbonate of soda taken as a medicine … Mrs. Stanford had taken the medicine and retired but was soon afterward seized with violent convulsions dying in a few minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Naturally, Jane’s household was under suspicion. But another person absolutely had the motive — David Starr Jordan, the president of Stanford University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just a few weeks before Jane was poisoned the first time he’d found out that she was planning to fire him. And Richard says Jordan had also been trying to take control from Jane of those Stanford finances via some pretty shady means.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And now, Jane was dead and Jordan was on a boat to Hawaii.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Ostensibly to bring her body home, but what he’s really in Hawaii for is to suppress the coroner’s jury verdict. He hires another doctor. He says she didn’t die of strychnine poisoning, though he has not examined the body, doesn’t know anything about strychnine poisoning, and he discredits doctors who in fact are much more senior and well-known than him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Jordan then used that new verdict to suppress the investigation back in San Francisco, which neatly concluded that instead of being poisoned, Jane had died of a heart attack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jordan also used the newspapers to discredit the Hawaii authorities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice reading newspaper clipping: \u003c/strong>Press Democrat, December 1905: According to Dr. Jordan no strychnine was found in Mrs. Stanford’s room.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>There’s nothing to see here. There’s nothing to look at. Let’s get on with things. And it is a conspiracy to cover up her death and the conspiracy worked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Because in 1905 — before widespread telephones, before the internet — covering up someone’s death like this across an ocean no less was in many ways a lot simpler.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>For a long time, this becomes the official story from Stanford University, that she died a natural death and that she was not poisoned by strychnine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>So you’re hearing all this and thinking: well, it’s so clearly this guy right? David Starr Jordan’s the murderer? He’s the one trying to cover up her death! I mean, what more do we need??\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>And that’s what a lot of people think, except that the other stuff with Jordan doesn’t really add up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>For one thing, he’s not present at the scene of either poisoning attempt. And he definitely wasn’t anywhere near Hawaii the second time. So while he had the motive, he doesn’t actually have the opportunity to poison her himself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>It’s one of those times where for David Starr Jordan, you just think sometimes you just get really lucky. He wanted her killed and she was killed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>So if it wasn’t David Starr Jordan, who did kill Jane Stanford?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Well if you’ve watched one murder mystery in your life, you’ve probably learned to watch out for that one “harmless” background character who keeps popping up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so you might be wondering, what about Jane’s longtime, long-suffering companion and secretary: Bertha Berner?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bertha had been employed by Jane from a young age, ever since they met at the memorial service for Jane’s son.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>And Bertha Berner, by all accounts, was both a very attractive, very smart, and very capable woman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Bertha never married, which wasn’t that unusual for the time, but Richard says that was a strategic, practical decision she made.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>First of all, it would give up her job that she has with Stanford, traveling around the world, the access to a society which otherwise she would have no access to. And secondly, she becomes the sole support of her mother. She really cannot afford to give up this job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>And Jane knew it. Richard says this gave her carte blanche to treat Bertha like a true “frenemy,” even going so far as to sabotage Bertha’s romantic relationships when she dared to have them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Their relationship becomes incredibly rocky. Bertha Berner refuses to put up with it. And several times, which rarely shows up until I started looking at it, she leaves Jane Stanford’s employ, sometimes for years at a time. But she always comes back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Another reason that Bertha stuck around through it all … she was in Jane Stanford’s will.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this is where we come to Richard’s theory about Bertha.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the second poisoning attempt coincides with Bertha’s mother getting really sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>When Jane Stanford asked her to come to Hawaii, says, I can’t. My mother’s dying. I have to stay here and take care of her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>But Jane insisted she make the journey if she wanted to keep the job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane clearly still trusted Bertha and harbored zero suspicions she’d been involved in the first poisoning. Although she did have some dirt on Bertha:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Bertha Berner has had an affair with Albert Beverly, who’s Jane Stanford’s butler at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Yup, there’s a shady butler in this mystery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Jane Stanford knows about that. And she also knows that both of them have been embezzling money from her. She can hang that over Bertha Berners head.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>As all good mysteries show, a killer needs the means, the motive, and the opportunity. And according to Richard, Bertha had all three.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She had the motive: anger at her years of mistreatment by Jane, fear that her embezzlement might be exposed, and financial incentive, from being in the will.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>If she can get away with the murder, she will have money in the will. She will in fact be able to continue to take care of her mother and she can set herself up not comfortably, but well enough to last for the rest of her life, which she does do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>She also had the physical opportunity. All of Jane’s servants were suspects in the first poisoning, but Bertha was the only one who’d been present for both attempts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Which brings us to the means. That first poisoning, with the rat poison, had been clumsy. But by the time Bertha left for Hawaii, Richard says she’d started a relationship with a Palo Alto pharmacist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>He becomes a place where Bertha Berner can get free, pure strychnine. Otherwise, that would be very difficult to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Guess the Butler was out of the picture?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some time after Jane died, Bertha also did something really weird. She wrote a tell-all book about Jane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>She doesn’t mention the affairs, she doesn’t mentioned the embezzling, but what she says is Jane Stanford had money and she knew the power of money. She used it like a queen. She dominated everyone around her. She got what she wanted and she forced people to do what she want them to do because she has control over her money. Which sounds very much like the reason why, in fact, in the end, she will kill her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>So if it was Bertha, even if Stanford president David Starr Jordan wasn’t in on it, did he know?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Richard says he’s pretty sure the answer is yes, given how Jordan treated Bertha after the murder:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>What he does, and this he does in writing, is he reassures her that we know you didn’t do it, we’re gonna take care of you, you have nothing to worry about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>And even if other people close to Jane suspected there’d been a murder and a cover-up, they didn’t want to bring that kind of smoke to Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane was buried in the mausoleum at Stanford University next to her husband and son. As her body was carried to her final resting place, the procession was full of people who had butted heads with her while she was alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>David Starr Jordan — the man who led the cover-up of her murder — led the walk from the church to her tomb.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the final insult? Walking pride of place, behind the casket, was Bertha Berner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>The woman I think, murdered her.\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>When you made as many enemies in life as Jane Stanford not even your funeral is safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katrina Schwartz:\u003c/strong> That was KQED’s Carly Severn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious has published many episodes over the years that get into the spookier side of Bay Area history. If you’re looking for a little thrill this All Hallow’s Eve, check out our spooky Spotify playlist linked in the show notes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And, don’t forget to grab yourself a ticket to our trivia night. It’s on Thursday, November 13 at KQED headquarters in San Francisco. Come alone or with a team. It will be a lot of fun! Tickets are at kqed.org/events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious is produced at member-supported KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our show is made by Christopher Beale, Gabriela Glueck, Olivia Allen-Price, and me, Katrina Schwartz.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With extra support from Maha Sanad, Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween tomorrow. See you next week!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003caside class=\"alignleft utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__bayCuriousPodcastShortcode__bayCurious\">\u003cimg src=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bayCuriousLogo.png alt=\"Bay Curious Podcast\" loading=\"lazy\" />\n \u003ca href=\"/news/series/baycurious\">Bay Curious\u003c/a> is a podcast that answers your questions about the Bay Area.\n Subscribe on \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple Podcasts\u003c/a>,\n \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NPR One\u003c/a> or your favorite podcast platform.\u003c/aside>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cbr>\nFounded in 1885, Stanford University is famed for its world-class research in medicine, business, law and the humanities, not to mention its 20 living Nobel laureates.\u003cbr>\nThis manicured institution on the San Francisco peninsula isn’t necessarily the kind of place you’d expect to harbor a century-old murder mystery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But 120 years ago this year, the university’s co-founder, Jane Stanford, died suddenly one winter evening. And although the official verdict was natural causes, the original coroner’s report indicated something far more sinister: poisoning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what really happened to Jane Stanford in 1905? It’s a question that preoccupies Richard White, Stanford University history professor emeritus and author of \u003ca href=\"https://history.stanford.edu/people/richard-white\">\u003cem>Who Killed Jane Stanford\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>?\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several years ago, White was teaching his students how to use the Stanford University archives. He asked them to research the curious history of Jane Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I thought, if I can’t get them interested in the story that supposedly somebody murdered the founder of the university, I cannot get them interested in anything,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12061787\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 1594px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12061787\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1594\" height=\"2500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED.jpg 1594w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED-160x251.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED-979x1536.jpg 979w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-06-KQED-1306x2048.jpg 1306w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1594px) 100vw, 1594px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Portrait of Jane Stanford with her son, Leland Jr., before he died of typhoid in 1884. \u003ccite>(Special Collections & University Archives, Stanford University Libraries)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When his students kept hitting roadblocks in the archives, an intrigued White couldn’t resist looking into the story himself — and soon found himself baffled that the death of Jane Stanford wasn’t a bigger source of intrigue. Especially since Stanford Medical School physician Robert Cutler had \u003ca href=\"https://www.sup.org/books/history/mysterious-death-jane-stanford\">already published a 2003 book\u003c/a> concluding that she did not die of natural causes, but had instead been killed by strychnine poisoning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The university had contended from the very beginning that she’d died of a heart attack,” White said. “And that contradiction, I thought, would have a lot of public interest and certainly bring some response from the university — but it hadn’t.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.stanford.edu/about/history/\">The university’s history webpage\u003c/a> doesn’t mention the death of Jane Stanford at all, let alone the fact that she may well have been murdered. (Stanford University didn’t respond to our request for official comment on their co-founder’s death.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But one thing is certain: strychnine poisoning is a particularly horrible way to die. When this white powder gets into the body, it attacks the chemical that normally controls nerve signals to a person’s muscles, inducing waves of painful spasms. The jaw locks tight and the limbs start twisting in on themselves. In high amounts, strychnine can kill within minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Strychnine tastes bitter but is odorless, making it a notoriously popular way to poison a person in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was also an ingredient in rat bait — and even some medicines — making it easy to obtain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have to be able to follow the evidence, and I follow the evidence,” White said. And after much research, he has a theory about who ended Jane Stanford’s life.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A ‘personal fiefdom’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Jane Stanford was born Jane Lathrop in 1828 in upstate New York. At the age of 22, she married Leland Stanford, a railroad baron, who briefly served as governor of California from 1862 to 1863, and then a U.S. senator for almost a decade starting in 1885.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At age 39, Jane Stanford gave birth to \u003ca href=\"https://stanfordmag.org/contents/about-a-boy\">her only child, Leland Stanford Jr\u003c/a>., but Leland Jr. died from typhoid in his teens. “She never gets over that,” White said. “She will be in mourning for the rest of her life.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>In their grief, the Stanfords sought ways to honor Leland Jr.’s memory. At this time, “California has great ambitions beyond just being a sort of outpost of wealth in the West,” White said. “It wants to become a cultural leader, an industrial leader. And so, founding universities and founding colleges is very much in the mind of the San Francisco elite.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, in 1891, Jane and Leland opened their university on the San Francisco Peninsula, called Leland Stanford Junior University. But Leland Stanford Sr would only live two more years before he too died, in 1893.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At age 65, Jane Stanford found herself in charge of the new university — a heavy responsibility compounded, White said, by Leland Sr’s financial mismanagement of both the university’s funds and the Stanfords’ own money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It turned out that Leland Stanford was not nearly as competent as most people thought,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the next several years, Jane Stanford was constantly fighting to keep the university afloat in a way that wouldn’t further tank her considerable fortune. But her methods of managing the university’s affairs swiftly made her very unpopular.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Once she gets power, she uses it ruthlessly,” White said. “She knows the power of wealth and she exerts that power — so much so that she makes a great many enemies.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane Stanford was a walking contradiction. She was an advocate for women’s rights and insisted Stanford admit female students, but then treated those same students poorly. The women in her personal life found this out firsthand — chief among them her longtime companion and secretary, Bertha Berner, “who wasn’t really a servant, but Jane Stanford often treated her like one,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12061782\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-04-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12061782\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1387\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-04-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-04-KQED-160x111.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-04-KQED-1536x1065.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Stanford women’s basketball team circa 1896. Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University, insisted that women be admitted from the school’s inception in 1891. \u003ccite>(Special Collections & University Archives, Stanford University Libraries)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While running the university as what White called “a personal fiefdom,” Jane Stanford butted heads often with the institution’s president, David Starr Jordan. While “devoted” to the university, Jordan knew “that the university and his own job depend on pleasing Jane Stanford,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane Stanford’s religious beliefs were also a major headache for Jordan. She was a Spiritualist: a belief system that hinged on making contact with the dead. Like many people who turned to Spiritualism in the 19th century, Stanford was motivated by the losses in her own life: the death of her son and husband.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in the Victorian era, the sheer prevalence of death through disease and infant mortality meant that virtually everyone was surrounded by tragedies like Stanford’s. But it was one thing for well-to-do ladies to be conducting seances in their free time, and quite another for the leader of a major university. Not least because Stanford told people that she was using those seances to receive instructions on how to run the university.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jordan and his Stanford University colleagues lived in fear of their boss’s Spiritualism becoming common knowledge, White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s going to endanger all the legal documents she signs,” he said. “It’s very hard to uphold a legal document when you say the ghosts are the ones telling you to sign it or not.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But for Jordan, things soon got even worse, White said – when he realized “that Leland Stanford had endowed the university in such a way that the university really has no free and clear access to its funds or even a guarantee of its funds until Jane Stanford is dead.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of this leads us to 1905, when 76-year-old Jane Stanford was poisoned not once but twice. She did not survive the second attempt.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A cover-up across an ocean\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The first poisoning attempt in January 1905, inside Jane Stanford’s San Francisco mansion, was unsuccessful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford complained of feeling sick after drinking from a bottle of Poland Spring water and called out for her household staff, including her secretary and companion, Bertha Berner. After vomiting, Stanford recovered — and when the water was tested, strychnine was found.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp> However, it wasn’t a pure form of the poison in the bottle. “Somebody who didn’t know much about poisoning people had dumped rat poison in it,” White said. Other ingredients in the rat poison had caused Stanford to vomit, which saved her life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford’s inner circle advised her to keep the incident under wraps to prevent a scandal that could taint the university, and to get far away from San Francisco and a poisoner who might try again. So just over a month later, Stanford departed for Hawaii with just two trusted employees: a maid and Bertha Berner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her attempts to evade her poisoner proved unsuccessful. On February 28, 1905, Stanford woke up in her Oahu hotel in the middle of the night and screamed out for Berner. She knew she’d been poisoned again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She died within 10 minutes of the doctor coming in,” White said — and the medical evaluation swiftly concluded she showed all the symptoms of strychnine poisoning. “Later on, the coroner’s jury would determine that it had been strychnine poisoning and that she had been poisoned by party or parties unknown,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This was the story reported by the earliest newspaper accounts, like that of \u003ca href=\"https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=BT19050304.2.29&srpos=10&e=------190-en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22jane+stanford%22----1905---\">the Oceanside Blade in Southern California\u003c/a> on March 4, 1905, which noted the “suspicious circumstances which point to poisoning by strychnine.\u003cstrong>”\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12061783\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 2047px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-scaled.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12061783\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2047\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-scaled.jpg 2047w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-2000x2501.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-1228x1536.jpg 1228w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-05-KQED-1638x2048.jpg 1638w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2047px) 100vw, 2047px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">David Starr Jordan was the first president of Stanford University and butted heads with Jane Stanford often. He died in 1931, outliving Jane by more than 20 years. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While Stanford’s household fell under suspicion, another person absolutely had the motive, White said: Stanford University’s president, David Starr Jordan. Just a few weeks before the first poisoning attempt, Jordan had not only discovered that Stanford intended to fire him, but had been working with colleagues to try to take control of the university’s finances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the news of Jane Stanford’s death, Jordan jumped on a boat to Oahu: “Ostensibly to bring her body home,” White said, “but what he’s really in Hawaii for is to suppress the coroner’s jury verdict.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On arrival in Honolulu, Jordan hired another doctor to deliver a verdict on the death, one who contradicted the earlier account of strychnine poisoning, “though he has not examined the body,” and “doesn’t know anything about strychnine poisoning,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jordan then used that new verdict to suppress the investigation back in San Francisco, an inquiry which neatly concluded that rather than being poisoned, Stanford had instead died of a heart attack. \u003ca href=\"https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19051231.2.17&srpos=5&e=------190-en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22jane+stanford%22----1905---\">He also used the local papers\u003c/a> to discredit the Hawaii authorities, creating a general air of — as White put it — “There’s nothing to see here, there’s nothing to look at, let’s get on with things.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For a long time, this becomes the official story from Stanford University: That she died a natural death and that she was not poisoned by strychnine,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A suspect in plain sight\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While Jordan certainly acted suspiciously, White said that “the other stuff with Jordan doesn’t really add up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jordan may have had several reasons to want Jane Stanford out of the picture, but he wasn’t actually present at either poisoning attempt. He lacked the opportunity to poison her himself. “Sometimes you just get really lucky,” White said. “He wanted her killed, and she was killed.\u003cbr>\n\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>For White, there’s a far more persuasive suspect hiding in plain sight: Stanford’s longtime, long-suffering companion and secretary Bertha Berner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Berner had been in Stanford’s service from a young age, ever since they met at the memorial service for Leland Junior. She was, by all accounts, “a very attractive, very smart, and very capable woman,” White said — and he believes Berner’s decision not to marry was a strategic, practical move.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not only would marriage have meant giving up traveling the world with Jane Stanford and access to high society, but Berner was also the sole caretaker for her sick mother. “She really cannot afford to give up this job,” White said. And Stanford knew it, even going so far as to sabotage any romantic relationships Berner dared to have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The relationship between the two women became “incredibly rocky,” White said, to the point where Berner quit Stanford’s employ several times. “But she always comes back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not convinced? How about this for motive — Berner was a beneficiary in Jane Stanford’s will.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And at the time of the second poisoning attempt, Berner’s mother became even sicker. Berner even declined to join Stanford on her Hawaii trip due to fears about her mother’s ailing health, but her employer insisted that Berner make the trip if she wanted to keep the job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Stanford clearly did not harbor any suspicions that her trusted companion and secretary of many years had anything to do with the first attempt on her life, she was nonetheless aware that Berner was romantically involved with Stanford’s own butler — and that the pair had been “embezzling money from her,” White said. “She can hang that over Bertha Berner’s head.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A killer walks free?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To White, when added together, Berner’s motives are convincing. Her trusted position meant she also had the opportunity to poison Stanford, and she was present at both attempts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>White’s research shows Berner also had the means to kill Jane Stanford. By the time Berner left for Hawaii, she’d started a relationship with a Palo Alto pharmacist. This association provided “a place where Bertha Berner can get free, pure strychnine,” White said. “Otherwise, that would be very difficult to do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12061780\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-02-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12061780\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1362\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-02-KQED-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251027-JANE-STANFORD-ARCHIVAL-02-KQED-1536x1046.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">David Starr Jordan, the first president of Stanford University, bats in a faculty versus student baseball game, a tradition on campus. Jordan often butted heads with Jane Stanford over how to run the university and covered up her death by poisoning in 1905. \u003ccite>(Special Collections & University Archives, Stanford University Libraries)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>White suspects that university president Jordan may have suspected Berner at the time, and that he may have actively protected her after Jane Stanford’s demise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He does it in writing,” White said: “He reassures her that, ‘we know you didn’t do it; we’re going take care of you; you have nothing to worry about.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And even if other people close to Jane Stanford suspected there’d been a murder and a cover-up, nobody wanted to bring that kind of scandal upon Stanford University, White said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane Stanford was buried in the mausoleum at Stanford University, next to her husband and son. As her body was carried to its final resting place, the procession was full of people who had butted heads with her while she was alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The man who led the cover-up of her murder now led the walk from the church to her tomb. And walking pride of place, behind the casket, was Bertha Berner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/63j9eNYdy78nVPUzUJ791e?utm_source=generator&theme=0\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katrina Schwartz:\u003c/strong> Stanford University is undeniably a Bay Area icon with the pedigree to match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Founded back in the late 19th century, this private institution sprawling over 8,000 manicured acres on the sunny San Francisco peninsula is famed for its world-class research in medicine, business, law and the humanities. It has 20 living Nobel laureates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In short: not the kind of place you’d necessarily expect to harbor a century-old mystery full of skulduggery, lies and poison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But that’s exactly what lies beneath Stanford’s history. Because the woman who co-founded this place, Jane Stanford, died in very strange circumstances in 1905. And although the official verdict was natural causes, some suspect something far more sinister happened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today on Bay Curious, we’re following the historic breadcrumbs to discover who might have been responsible. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katrina Schwartz:\u003c/strong> What really happened to Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University, who died suddenly in 1905?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED’s Carly Severn brings us the historic mystery — and dastardly cover-up — that a lot of people in the Bay Area still don’t know about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn:\u003c/strong> Death by poisoning is a nasty way to go. But strychnine poisoning is a particularly horrible way to die.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When this white powder gets into your body, it attacks the chemical that normally controls nerve signals to your muscles resulting in overwhelming, painful spasms all over. Your jaw locks tight. Your limbs start twisting in on themselves. In high amounts, strychnine can kill you within minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Strychnine tastes bitter but it doesn’t smell of anything. And as an ingredient in rat bait, and even some medicines in the 19th and early twentieth centuries, it was a very popular way to poison someone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what if I told you that 120 years ago, the co-founder of Stanford University found this out first-hand. And almost nobody is talking about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>You have to be able to follow the evidence, and I follow the evidence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Richard White is a professor emeritus in Stanford University’s history department. Several years ago he was TEACHING students how to use the university’s own archives to investigate historical conundrums … and he asked them to find out what happened to Jane Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>I thought, if I can’t get them interested in the story that supposedly somebody murdered the founder of the university, I cannot get them interested in anything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Richard found there was a lot his students couldn’t uncover about this case, prompting him to turn historical detective after the class had long ended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When he started looking into it he was baffled this wasn’t a bigger source of intrigue. Especially because a physician at Stanford Medical School had already written a book showing that Jane Stanford had 100% been killed by strychnine poisoning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>And the university had contended from the very beginning that she’d died of a heart attack. And that contradiction, I thought, would have a lot of public interest and certainly bring some response from the university, but it hadn’t.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>To get to the bottom of this mystery, let’s wind back all the way to 1828 when Jane Stanford entered this world in upstate New York.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a young woman, Jane married Leland Stanford, a businessman and politician who made his fortune in the railroad business, and who briefly served as governor of California in the 1860s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane gave birth to her only child — also called Leland — when she was 39. And she doted on him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But then tragedy struck in 1884, when that son died of typhoid. And in their grief, the Stanfords looked for ways to honor his memory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Founding universities and founding colleges is very much in the mind of the San Francisco elite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>And so, in 1891, Jane and Leland opened a university on the Peninsula calling it Leland Stanford Junior University, after their son.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But just two years later, Jane’s husband died. And at age 65, Jane found herself in charge of the university.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>But it turned out that Leland Stanford was not nearly as competent as most people thought.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Richard says Leland Stanford had mismanaged University funds and his own fortune for a long time. So for the next several years, Jane was constantly fighting to keep the university afloat in a way that wouldn’t tank her considerable fortune.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this is really where the trouble began. Because Jane’s way of managing affairs at Stanford University made her very unpopular.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White:\u003c/strong> Once she gets power she uses it ruthlessly. She knows the power of wealth and she exerts that power, so much so that she makes a great many enemies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Jane was a walking contradiction. She was an advocate for women’s rights and insisted Stanford admit female students, but treated those students terribly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And when it came to men, Jane particularly butted heads with the president of Stanford University: David Starr Jordan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Jane Stanford runs Stanford University as a personal fiefdom. David Starr Jordan is devoted to the university, but he knows that the university and his own job depend on pleasing Jane Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Jane Stanford was also a Spiritualist, a belief system that hinged on making contact with the dead. And like many people who turned to Spiritualism in the 19th century, Jane was motivated by personal tragedy beginning with the death of her son.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>She never gets over that. She will be in mourning for the rest of her life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>But it was one thing for well-to-do ladies to be conducting seances in their free time and quite another for the leader of a major university.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane’s Spiritualism became a big problem for Stanford University and for its president, Jordan. Because Jane told people that she was using her seances to receive instructions from her dead husband and son on how to run Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>The great fear of Stanford University is that they’re gonna discover that Jane Stanford is a spiritualist and that’s gonna endanger all the legal documents she signs. It’s very hard to uphold the legal document when you say the ghosts are the ones telling you to sign it or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Jane’s beliefs were a constant source of stress for Jordan. And their relationship deteriorated even further when Jane made him fire a professor friend of his, sparking a scandal about academic freedom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while trying to navigate all of this, Jordan made a discovery:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>He also realizes that Leland Stanford had endowed the university in such a way that the university really has no free and clear access to its funds or even a guarantee of its funds until Jane Stanford is dead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>In 1905, when Jane was 76, someone tried to poison her not once, but twice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first attempt, at her Nob Hill mansion, was unsuccessful. Jane complained of feeling sick after drinking from a bottle of spring water and called for her staff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>One of them was her secretary and companion, Bertha Berner, who wasn’t really a servant, but Jane Stanford often treated her like one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Bertha and the maids helped Jane to vomit. And when that water bottle was tested, the verdict came back: it was strychnine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>But it wasn’t pure strychnine. Somebody who didn’t know much about poisoning people, had dumped rat poison in it. The rat poison had caused her to vomit. She felt very sick, but she recovered from it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>The people around Jane advised her to keep the incident under wraps to prevent a scandal. And to get the hell out of dodge away from the poisoner who might try again with something even stronger than rat poison this time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So Jane left for Hawaii with just two trusted employees: a maid and Bertha Berner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Which leads us to the second poisoning. Just over a month after the first attempt, Jane woke up in the middle of the night in her Oahu hotel and screamed for Bertha. She knew she’d been poisoned again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Somebody obtained pure strychnine, put it in her water and she died within 10 minutes of the doctor coming in. The doctors looked at her, she showed all the symptoms of strychnine poisoning. Later on, the coroner’s jury would determine that it had been strychnine poisoning and that she had been poisoned by party or parties unknown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>And this was the story that was reported by the earliest newspaper accounts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice reads newspaper clipping: \u003c/strong>Oceanside Blade, March 1905: Mrs. Jane Stanford of San Francisco … died at Honolulu Wednesday under suspicious circumstances which point to poisoning by strychnine which had been mixed with bicarbonate of soda taken as a medicine … Mrs. Stanford had taken the medicine and retired but was soon afterward seized with violent convulsions dying in a few minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Naturally, Jane’s household was under suspicion. But another person absolutely had the motive — David Starr Jordan, the president of Stanford University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just a few weeks before Jane was poisoned the first time he’d found out that she was planning to fire him. And Richard says Jordan had also been trying to take control from Jane of those Stanford finances via some pretty shady means.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And now, Jane was dead and Jordan was on a boat to Hawaii.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Ostensibly to bring her body home, but what he’s really in Hawaii for is to suppress the coroner’s jury verdict. He hires another doctor. He says she didn’t die of strychnine poisoning, though he has not examined the body, doesn’t know anything about strychnine poisoning, and he discredits doctors who in fact are much more senior and well-known than him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Jordan then used that new verdict to suppress the investigation back in San Francisco, which neatly concluded that instead of being poisoned, Jane had died of a heart attack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jordan also used the newspapers to discredit the Hawaii authorities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice reading newspaper clipping: \u003c/strong>Press Democrat, December 1905: According to Dr. Jordan no strychnine was found in Mrs. Stanford’s room.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>There’s nothing to see here. There’s nothing to look at. Let’s get on with things. And it is a conspiracy to cover up her death and the conspiracy worked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Because in 1905 — before widespread telephones, before the internet — covering up someone’s death like this across an ocean no less was in many ways a lot simpler.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>For a long time, this becomes the official story from Stanford University, that she died a natural death and that she was not poisoned by strychnine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>So you’re hearing all this and thinking: well, it’s so clearly this guy right? David Starr Jordan’s the murderer? He’s the one trying to cover up her death! I mean, what more do we need??\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>And that’s what a lot of people think, except that the other stuff with Jordan doesn’t really add up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>For one thing, he’s not present at the scene of either poisoning attempt. And he definitely wasn’t anywhere near Hawaii the second time. So while he had the motive, he doesn’t actually have the opportunity to poison her himself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>It’s one of those times where for David Starr Jordan, you just think sometimes you just get really lucky. He wanted her killed and she was killed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>So if it wasn’t David Starr Jordan, who did kill Jane Stanford?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Well if you’ve watched one murder mystery in your life, you’ve probably learned to watch out for that one “harmless” background character who keeps popping up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so you might be wondering, what about Jane’s longtime, long-suffering companion and secretary: Bertha Berner?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bertha had been employed by Jane from a young age, ever since they met at the memorial service for Jane’s son.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>And Bertha Berner, by all accounts, was both a very attractive, very smart, and very capable woman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Bertha never married, which wasn’t that unusual for the time, but Richard says that was a strategic, practical decision she made.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>First of all, it would give up her job that she has with Stanford, traveling around the world, the access to a society which otherwise she would have no access to. And secondly, she becomes the sole support of her mother. She really cannot afford to give up this job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>And Jane knew it. Richard says this gave her carte blanche to treat Bertha like a true “frenemy,” even going so far as to sabotage Bertha’s romantic relationships when she dared to have them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Their relationship becomes incredibly rocky. Bertha Berner refuses to put up with it. And several times, which rarely shows up until I started looking at it, she leaves Jane Stanford’s employ, sometimes for years at a time. But she always comes back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Another reason that Bertha stuck around through it all … she was in Jane Stanford’s will.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this is where we come to Richard’s theory about Bertha.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the second poisoning attempt coincides with Bertha’s mother getting really sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>When Jane Stanford asked her to come to Hawaii, says, I can’t. My mother’s dying. I have to stay here and take care of her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>But Jane insisted she make the journey if she wanted to keep the job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane clearly still trusted Bertha and harbored zero suspicions she’d been involved in the first poisoning. Although she did have some dirt on Bertha:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Bertha Berner has had an affair with Albert Beverly, who’s Jane Stanford’s butler at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Yup, there’s a shady butler in this mystery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>Jane Stanford knows about that. And she also knows that both of them have been embezzling money from her. She can hang that over Bertha Berners head.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>As all good mysteries show, a killer needs the means, the motive, and the opportunity. And according to Richard, Bertha had all three.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She had the motive: anger at her years of mistreatment by Jane, fear that her embezzlement might be exposed, and financial incentive, from being in the will.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>If she can get away with the murder, she will have money in the will. She will in fact be able to continue to take care of her mother and she can set herself up not comfortably, but well enough to last for the rest of her life, which she does do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>She also had the physical opportunity. All of Jane’s servants were suspects in the first poisoning, but Bertha was the only one who’d been present for both attempts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Which brings us to the means. That first poisoning, with the rat poison, had been clumsy. But by the time Bertha left for Hawaii, Richard says she’d started a relationship with a Palo Alto pharmacist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>He becomes a place where Bertha Berner can get free, pure strychnine. Otherwise, that would be very difficult to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>Guess the Butler was out of the picture?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some time after Jane died, Bertha also did something really weird. She wrote a tell-all book about Jane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>She doesn’t mention the affairs, she doesn’t mentioned the embezzling, but what she says is Jane Stanford had money and she knew the power of money. She used it like a queen. She dominated everyone around her. She got what she wanted and she forced people to do what she want them to do because she has control over her money. Which sounds very much like the reason why, in fact, in the end, she will kill her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>So if it was Bertha, even if Stanford president David Starr Jordan wasn’t in on it, did he know?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Richard says he’s pretty sure the answer is yes, given how Jordan treated Bertha after the murder:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>What he does, and this he does in writing, is he reassures her that we know you didn’t do it, we’re gonna take care of you, you have nothing to worry about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>And even if other people close to Jane suspected there’d been a murder and a cover-up, they didn’t want to bring that kind of smoke to Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jane was buried in the mausoleum at Stanford University next to her husband and son. As her body was carried to her final resting place, the procession was full of people who had butted heads with her while she was alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>David Starr Jordan — the man who led the cover-up of her murder — led the walk from the church to her tomb.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the final insult? Walking pride of place, behind the casket, was Bertha Berner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Richard White: \u003c/strong>The woman I think, murdered her.\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carly Severn: \u003c/strong>When you made as many enemies in life as Jane Stanford not even your funeral is safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katrina Schwartz:\u003c/strong> That was KQED’s Carly Severn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious has published many episodes over the years that get into the spookier side of Bay Area history. If you’re looking for a little thrill this All Hallow’s Eve, check out our spooky Spotify playlist linked in the show notes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And, don’t forget to grab yourself a ticket to our trivia night. It’s on Thursday, November 13 at KQED headquarters in San Francisco. Come alone or with a team. It will be a lot of fun! Tickets are at kqed.org/events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious is produced at member-supported KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our show is made by Christopher Beale, Gabriela Glueck, Olivia Allen-Price, and me, Katrina Schwartz.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With extra support from Maha Sanad, Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween tomorrow. See you next week!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>"
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"title": "Chess Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, a Bay Area Child Prodigy, Dies at 29",
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"content": "\u003cp>Chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, a child prodigy and professional player who grew up in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a>, died Monday. He was 29.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naroditsky rose quickly through the ranks to the highest title in the sport — aside from World Chess Champion — at 18. Through social media and livestreaming, he became one of the most influential teachers and players in the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Let us remember Daniel for his passion and love for the game of chess, and for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all every day,” his family said in a statement through the Charlotte Chess Center in North Carolina, where Naroditsky worked and trained professionally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naroditsky grew up in Foster City in San Mateo County. At 6, he began playing chess with his father, Vladimir, and brother, Alan, \u003ca href=\"https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/local-youth-wins-chess-championship/article_2f1e5805-c7c2-5841-9489-57e2fde2f489.html\">according to the \u003cem>San Mateo Daily Journal\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“To the world, Daniel is the chess grandmaster, passionate commentator and the gifted educator who we know and love. To me, he is all of those things — but he will always be Danya, my little brother,” Alan told KQED in a statement. He said the two loved watching Warriors games together, calling each other to discuss NBA highlights and swapping puns and inside jokes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was my best friend, and one of the best human beings I have ever known,” he continued. “His death is a huge loss to us all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a child, he won tournaments across the world, from his first locally in Burlingame to the under-12 world championship in Turkey.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Chess is its own world,” Naroditsky told the \u003cem>San Mateo Daily Journal\u003c/em> in 2007. “I enjoy being in it and staying in it; the tactics and strategies.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He attended Crystal Springs Uplands School, a private middle and high school in Hillsborough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“During his years at Crystal, Daniel was known not only for his extraordinary intellect and chess mastery, but also for his warmth, humility, and kindness,” Head of School Kelly Sortino said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Through the years, the school has shared updates on Naroditsky’s burgeoning career, and he played \u003ca href=\"https://www.crystal.org/news-detail?pk=718336\">against a chess computer\u003c/a> there in an educational event organized by other alumni after his graduation.[aside postID=news_12060853 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/DougMartinRaidersGetty.jpg']“Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones, as well as to all who were inspired by his talent and character. His loss is felt deeply within the Crystal community,” Sortino’s statement continued.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As an undergraduate at Stanford University from 2015 to 2019, \u003ca href=\"https://www.twitch.tv/stanfordchess/about\">Naroditsky was part of the chess club\u003c/a>. He served as president during his senior year, helping host events like a rivalry match between Stanford and UC Berkeley and sharing livestreams of the team’s matches on Twitch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After graduating, he moved to North Carolina, where he continued to stream professionally and coached top junior chess players at the Charlotte Chess Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naroditsky also posted frequent videos on YouTube that taught the sport to hundreds of thousands of followers, many of whom called him “Danya” or “Sensei.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rqPeGKVPbA\">most recent video last week\u003c/a> marked his return after a monthslong break.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You thought I was gone forever, but little do you know I am back and better than ever,” he said, adding that he’d been posting less frequently in recent months as part of a “creative break.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since his death, comments from fans thanked him for piquing their interest in the sport and helping them with their mental health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“His passion for the game was contagious,” wrote one viewer, who said they watched his streams with their husband.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t even guess how many hours I spent watching his content and how much it comforted me in my own time of depression,” another said. “He didn’t only get me into chess, but also helped me — and I’m certain many others as well — through an extremely difficult time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, a child prodigy and professional player who grew up in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a>, died Monday. He was 29.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naroditsky rose quickly through the ranks to the highest title in the sport — aside from World Chess Champion — at 18. Through social media and livestreaming, he became one of the most influential teachers and players in the sport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Let us remember Daniel for his passion and love for the game of chess, and for the joy and inspiration he brought to us all every day,” his family said in a statement through the Charlotte Chess Center in North Carolina, where Naroditsky worked and trained professionally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naroditsky grew up in Foster City in San Mateo County. At 6, he began playing chess with his father, Vladimir, and brother, Alan, \u003ca href=\"https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/local-youth-wins-chess-championship/article_2f1e5805-c7c2-5841-9489-57e2fde2f489.html\">according to the \u003cem>San Mateo Daily Journal\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“To the world, Daniel is the chess grandmaster, passionate commentator and the gifted educator who we know and love. To me, he is all of those things — but he will always be Danya, my little brother,” Alan told KQED in a statement. He said the two loved watching Warriors games together, calling each other to discuss NBA highlights and swapping puns and inside jokes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was my best friend, and one of the best human beings I have ever known,” he continued. “His death is a huge loss to us all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a child, he won tournaments across the world, from his first locally in Burlingame to the under-12 world championship in Turkey.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Chess is its own world,” Naroditsky told the \u003cem>San Mateo Daily Journal\u003c/em> in 2007. “I enjoy being in it and staying in it; the tactics and strategies.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He attended Crystal Springs Uplands School, a private middle and high school in Hillsborough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“During his years at Crystal, Daniel was known not only for his extraordinary intellect and chess mastery, but also for his warmth, humility, and kindness,” Head of School Kelly Sortino said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Through the years, the school has shared updates on Naroditsky’s burgeoning career, and he played \u003ca href=\"https://www.crystal.org/news-detail?pk=718336\">against a chess computer\u003c/a> there in an educational event organized by other alumni after his graduation.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones, as well as to all who were inspired by his talent and character. His loss is felt deeply within the Crystal community,” Sortino’s statement continued.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As an undergraduate at Stanford University from 2015 to 2019, \u003ca href=\"https://www.twitch.tv/stanfordchess/about\">Naroditsky was part of the chess club\u003c/a>. He served as president during his senior year, helping host events like a rivalry match between Stanford and UC Berkeley and sharing livestreams of the team’s matches on Twitch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After graduating, he moved to North Carolina, where he continued to stream professionally and coached top junior chess players at the Charlotte Chess Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naroditsky also posted frequent videos on YouTube that taught the sport to hundreds of thousands of followers, many of whom called him “Danya” or “Sensei.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rqPeGKVPbA\">most recent video last week\u003c/a> marked his return after a monthslong break.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You thought I was gone forever, but little do you know I am back and better than ever,” he said, adding that he’d been posting less frequently in recent months as part of a “creative break.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since his death, comments from fans thanked him for piquing their interest in the sport and helping them with their mental health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“His passion for the game was contagious,” wrote one viewer, who said they watched his streams with their husband.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t even guess how many hours I spent watching his content and how much it comforted me in my own time of depression,” another said. “He didn’t only get me into chess, but also helped me — and I’m certain many others as well — through an extremely difficult time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "California Journalist, Others on Second Gaza Aid Flotilla Released From Israeli Prison",
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"content": "\u003cp>Less than a week after Israeli forces \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058820/ca-families-officials-call-for-release-of-us-citizens-detained-with-gaza-aid-flotilla\">intercepted a global flotilla\u003c/a> attempting to deliver aid to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gaza\">Gaza\u003c/a> and detained hundreds of participants, a second contingent of international activists, medical workers and journalists was captured on Wednesday — including a California-based journalist reporting on the barriers to covering the ongoing war.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Emily Wilder, a Stanford University graduate and former reporter for Santa Rosa’s \u003cem>Press Democrat\u003c/em>, had joined the second flotilla as a reporter for \u003cem>Jewish Currents\u003c/em>, a left-leaning magazine based in New York. Israel deported her to Istanbul on Friday alongside many others from the flotilla, \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/JewishCurrents/status/1976650360530804938\">according to \u003cem>Jewish Currents\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/RepJimmyGomez/status/1976653231326638395\">said\u003c/a> she “is on her way home\u003cem>.\u003c/em>”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of Wilder’s goals was to shed light on the struggle journalists are facing to report on the war and conditions in Gaza from the ground, two years after Israel blocked foreign journalists from accessing the region, \u003cem>Jewish Currents\u003c/em> associate editor Mari Cohen said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There was a specific call for media and medical workers to join [the flotilla] with the idea … for there to be an opportunity for journalists to cover Gaza on the ground,” Cohen said. “She went on this mission partly for the sake of this broader coverage — to cover the Israeli blockade of Gaza.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her release came as Israeli forces began pulling back from Gaza after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/10/10/nx-s1-5567998/israeli-forces-begin-pullback-in-gaza-after-government-agrees-to-ceasefire-plan\">approved phase one of a ceasefire deal\u003c/a> that would end the two-year war. Many details remain unknown, but NPR reported that as of midday Friday in Gaza, Israeli forces had retreated to an agreed-upon line and airstrikes had ceased. The deal, brokered by the Trump administration, would mean the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza next week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059497\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12059497\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/GazaFlotillaGetty-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/GazaFlotillaGetty-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/GazaFlotillaGetty-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/GazaFlotillaGetty-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vessel of the Gaza-bound flotilla is tugged toward the port of Ashdod in southern Israel on Oct. 8, 2025. The Israeli Navy intercepted an international aid flotilla on its way to Gaza in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement. \u003ccite>(Jamal Awad/Xinhua via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Wilder, a freelance journalist based in Los Angeles, was aboard the Conscience, a 100-person boat that set sail on Sept. 30 with a\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DPjOfGTAB4M/?img_index=2\"> fleet of international ships\u003c/a> carrying humanitarian aid days after the high-profile Global Sumud Flotilla. Both were part of an ongoing movement to break Israel’s yearslong blockade of Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout Wilder’s career, much of her work has focused on social justice, including reporting on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to Alana Minkler, a former coworker and close friend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know her as someone who is very brave and fearless, and also just very committed to reporting about the conditions in Gaza,” said Minkler, who worked with Wilder at the \u003cem>Press Democrat \u003c/em>from 2021 to 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Minkler met Wilder when they were both interns at the Phoenix-based \u003cem>Arizona Republic, \u003c/em>covering the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd’s murder in 2020.[aside postID=news_12058820 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/GazaFlotillaGetty.jpg']“She’s always been incredibly dedicated to covering social justice and human rights issues across the world and in her own communities,” Minkler said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Minkler said she wasn’t surprised to hear that Wilder would be joining the flotilla last month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Emily was already aware of a lot of the backlash that a lot of journalists, including herself, have faced when reporting on these issues,” she told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2021, Wilder was hired as a news associate for the \u003cem>Associated Press\u003c/em> but was fired after a little more than two weeks over “violations of its social media policy that took place after she became an employee.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time, the organization \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-journalists-797ea15c03fadff692ced0f6dfc4281c\">reported on its decision\u003c/a>, citing in its coverage a number of posts Wilder had retweeted on the social media platform X, then known as Twitter, that were “sympathetic to Palestinians in the current Gaza conflict,” including a video in which demonstrators chanted “Free Palestine!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wilder’s termination came days after a student group at Stanford blasted the AP on social media, calling it biased against Israel for hiring her, since she had formerly been a “leader” in pro-Palestinian student organizations at the university.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Cohen, Wilder had brought the idea to join the Conscience to \u003cem>Jewish Currents\u003c/em>, in part to bring attention to the difficulty and danger of reporting on the war and conflict in Gaza generally. Throughout her time on the boat, which set off Sept. 30, Wilder shared updates from the journey via social media that the outlet was re-sharing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11956028\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11956028\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"An ornate sandstone-colored building with a series of arches sitting on a brick plaza.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-800x528.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1020x673.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1536x1014.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1920x1267.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The arches of the Main Quadrangle buildings on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto on Oct. 2, 2021. \u003ccite>(David Madison/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Up until the day before the Conscience was intercepted, Cohen said they were in touch daily, discussing what reporting would come out of the endeavor. She said she last heard from Wilder the afternoon before Israeli military forces intercepted the Conscience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She went to bed and we knew that it was possible the following morning,” Cohen said. “The next time I got updates and was in communication with her family was that evening when we saw on the live feed [streamed from the ship] that they were being intercepted and that they were on the deck and wearing life jackets and putting their hands up and preparing for arrest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cohen said the detainees were taken to Israel’s Ashdod Port and were held in Ketziot Prison, like members of the Global Sumud Flotilla were last week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While most of the more than 400 people detained as part of that fleet have now been deported, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DPlhCZvAs1T/\">according to organizers\u003c/a>, many Americans remained in custody for nearly a week, where they \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058820/ca-families-officials-call-for-release-of-us-citizens-detained-with-gaza-aid-flotilla\">reportedly went without food, water and medication\u003c/a> and had to sleep in overcrowded cells and on floors with little support from the U.S. government.[aside postID=news_12059351 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/68e5df0e9817d.jpg']San Francisco resident Sidney Hollar, whose son Logan Hollarsmith was among the American detainees from the Global Sumud Flotilla, told KQED that she struggled to get support from state and federal lawmakers despite repeated attempts, and that “the U.S. Embassy offered no help [to detainees] when they were deported.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cohen said it appears the Embassy was responding more quickly to support detainees from the Conscience and had visited Wilder, who they said was safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She was deported to Turkey on Friday morning and would be flying back to Los Angeles from there, according to Minkler.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cohen said that while the magazine’s decision to send Wilder on the flotilla might have been different after hearing reports of the treatment of Global Sumud Flotilla participants, “it was her decision and something she wanted to do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“One of the reasons that Emily went on this trip was to shed light on the conditions of the free press and trying to report on these issues in Gaza,” Minkler said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Israeli attacks have killed at least 245 media workers since the war began two years ago, according to lists published by Palestinian journalists. The United Nations has reported a similar number killed. More have been taken into captivity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t speak for Emily, but she really wanted to raise awareness about the need to have journalism in the ongoing conflict,” Minkler said. “Emily would not want this story to be about Emily. This is about what she was trying to cover as a journalist, which is the conditions in Palestine and about these efforts to deliver humanitarian aid.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara\">\u003cem>Juan Carlos Lara\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Less than a week after Israeli forces \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058820/ca-families-officials-call-for-release-of-us-citizens-detained-with-gaza-aid-flotilla\">intercepted a global flotilla\u003c/a> attempting to deliver aid to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gaza\">Gaza\u003c/a> and detained hundreds of participants, a second contingent of international activists, medical workers and journalists was captured on Wednesday — including a California-based journalist reporting on the barriers to covering the ongoing war.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Emily Wilder, a Stanford University graduate and former reporter for Santa Rosa’s \u003cem>Press Democrat\u003c/em>, had joined the second flotilla as a reporter for \u003cem>Jewish Currents\u003c/em>, a left-leaning magazine based in New York. Israel deported her to Istanbul on Friday alongside many others from the flotilla, \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/JewishCurrents/status/1976650360530804938\">according to \u003cem>Jewish Currents\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/RepJimmyGomez/status/1976653231326638395\">said\u003c/a> she “is on her way home\u003cem>.\u003c/em>”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of Wilder’s goals was to shed light on the struggle journalists are facing to report on the war and conditions in Gaza from the ground, two years after Israel blocked foreign journalists from accessing the region, \u003cem>Jewish Currents\u003c/em> associate editor Mari Cohen said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There was a specific call for media and medical workers to join [the flotilla] with the idea … for there to be an opportunity for journalists to cover Gaza on the ground,” Cohen said. “She went on this mission partly for the sake of this broader coverage — to cover the Israeli blockade of Gaza.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her release came as Israeli forces began pulling back from Gaza after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/10/10/nx-s1-5567998/israeli-forces-begin-pullback-in-gaza-after-government-agrees-to-ceasefire-plan\">approved phase one of a ceasefire deal\u003c/a> that would end the two-year war. Many details remain unknown, but NPR reported that as of midday Friday in Gaza, Israeli forces had retreated to an agreed-upon line and airstrikes had ceased. The deal, brokered by the Trump administration, would mean the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza next week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12059497\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12059497\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/GazaFlotillaGetty-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/GazaFlotillaGetty-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/GazaFlotillaGetty-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/GazaFlotillaGetty-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vessel of the Gaza-bound flotilla is tugged toward the port of Ashdod in southern Israel on Oct. 8, 2025. The Israeli Navy intercepted an international aid flotilla on its way to Gaza in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement. \u003ccite>(Jamal Awad/Xinhua via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Wilder, a freelance journalist based in Los Angeles, was aboard the Conscience, a 100-person boat that set sail on Sept. 30 with a\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DPjOfGTAB4M/?img_index=2\"> fleet of international ships\u003c/a> carrying humanitarian aid days after the high-profile Global Sumud Flotilla. Both were part of an ongoing movement to break Israel’s yearslong blockade of Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout Wilder’s career, much of her work has focused on social justice, including reporting on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to Alana Minkler, a former coworker and close friend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know her as someone who is very brave and fearless, and also just very committed to reporting about the conditions in Gaza,” said Minkler, who worked with Wilder at the \u003cem>Press Democrat \u003c/em>from 2021 to 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Minkler met Wilder when they were both interns at the Phoenix-based \u003cem>Arizona Republic, \u003c/em>covering the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd’s murder in 2020.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“She’s always been incredibly dedicated to covering social justice and human rights issues across the world and in her own communities,” Minkler said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Minkler said she wasn’t surprised to hear that Wilder would be joining the flotilla last month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Emily was already aware of a lot of the backlash that a lot of journalists, including herself, have faced when reporting on these issues,” she told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2021, Wilder was hired as a news associate for the \u003cem>Associated Press\u003c/em> but was fired after a little more than two weeks over “violations of its social media policy that took place after she became an employee.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time, the organization \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-journalists-797ea15c03fadff692ced0f6dfc4281c\">reported on its decision\u003c/a>, citing in its coverage a number of posts Wilder had retweeted on the social media platform X, then known as Twitter, that were “sympathetic to Palestinians in the current Gaza conflict,” including a video in which demonstrators chanted “Free Palestine!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wilder’s termination came days after a student group at Stanford blasted the AP on social media, calling it biased against Israel for hiring her, since she had formerly been a “leader” in pro-Palestinian student organizations at the university.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Cohen, Wilder had brought the idea to join the Conscience to \u003cem>Jewish Currents\u003c/em>, in part to bring attention to the difficulty and danger of reporting on the war and conflict in Gaza generally. Throughout her time on the boat, which set off Sept. 30, Wilder shared updates from the journey via social media that the outlet was re-sharing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11956028\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11956028\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"An ornate sandstone-colored building with a series of arches sitting on a brick plaza.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-800x528.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1020x673.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1536x1014.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1920x1267.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The arches of the Main Quadrangle buildings on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto on Oct. 2, 2021. \u003ccite>(David Madison/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Up until the day before the Conscience was intercepted, Cohen said they were in touch daily, discussing what reporting would come out of the endeavor. She said she last heard from Wilder the afternoon before Israeli military forces intercepted the Conscience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She went to bed and we knew that it was possible the following morning,” Cohen said. “The next time I got updates and was in communication with her family was that evening when we saw on the live feed [streamed from the ship] that they were being intercepted and that they were on the deck and wearing life jackets and putting their hands up and preparing for arrest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cohen said the detainees were taken to Israel’s Ashdod Port and were held in Ketziot Prison, like members of the Global Sumud Flotilla were last week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While most of the more than 400 people detained as part of that fleet have now been deported, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DPlhCZvAs1T/\">according to organizers\u003c/a>, many Americans remained in custody for nearly a week, where they \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12058820/ca-families-officials-call-for-release-of-us-citizens-detained-with-gaza-aid-flotilla\">reportedly went without food, water and medication\u003c/a> and had to sleep in overcrowded cells and on floors with little support from the U.S. government.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>San Francisco resident Sidney Hollar, whose son Logan Hollarsmith was among the American detainees from the Global Sumud Flotilla, told KQED that she struggled to get support from state and federal lawmakers despite repeated attempts, and that “the U.S. Embassy offered no help [to detainees] when they were deported.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cohen said it appears the Embassy was responding more quickly to support detainees from the Conscience and had visited Wilder, who they said was safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She was deported to Turkey on Friday morning and would be flying back to Los Angeles from there, according to Minkler.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cohen said that while the magazine’s decision to send Wilder on the flotilla might have been different after hearing reports of the treatment of Global Sumud Flotilla participants, “it was her decision and something she wanted to do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“One of the reasons that Emily went on this trip was to shed light on the conditions of the free press and trying to report on these issues in Gaza,” Minkler said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Israeli attacks have killed at least 245 media workers since the war began two years ago, according to lists published by Palestinian journalists. The United Nations has reported a similar number killed. More have been taken into captivity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t speak for Emily, but she really wanted to raise awareness about the need to have journalism in the ongoing conflict,” Minkler said. “Emily would not want this story to be about Emily. This is about what she was trying to cover as a journalist, which is the conditions in Palestine and about these efforts to deliver humanitarian aid.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara\">\u003cem>Juan Carlos Lara\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"marketplace": {
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"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
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"mindshift": {
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"order": 12
},
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
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"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
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"onourwatch": {
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"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"perspectives": {
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"planet-money": {
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"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
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"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
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"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
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"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
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},
"pri-the-world": {
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"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
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},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
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},
"link": "/radio/program/reveal",
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"rss": "http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"
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