KQED's Forum

Concerts, Art, and Festivals Not to Miss in the Bay This Fall

Fall is one of the most exciting times of year for arts and culture. To celebrate the start of the season, we’ve invited KQED’s Arts & Culture team to share their picks f

Can Anyone Solve America’s $40 Trillion Debt Problem?

At this week’s G20 summit in Asheville, N.C., global finance leaders met amid a bond sell-off that threatened to raise the cost of long-term borrowing and upend global ec

In Daniel Mason’s Comic Novel ‘Country People,’ California Collides with New England

Acclaimed novelist Daniel Mason’s latest book, “Country People,” centers on Miles, a stalled PhD student of Russian folklore, who is married to a brilliant academic. A vi

Rozina Ali Traces Islamophobia’s Long Shadow

After the Sept. 11 attacks, assaults against Muslims in the U.S. surged. At the same time the U.S. government launched a sweeping War on Terror that brought arrests, depo

Can the Trump Administration Allow Private Development in Yosemite?

The Trump Administration is reportedly considering letting a private Nevada developer take control of a parcel of land in Yosemite National Park. Conservationists and ele

Who Should Pay When Utilities Companies Start a Fire?

Wildfire season is underway in California, but the state’s wildfire fund is running low after billions went to victims of last year’s massive Altadena fire, sparked by fa

What Does Bay Area Democratic Socialism Look Like?

Democratic socialists are on a winning streak. Candidates back by the Democratic Socialists of America have toppled establishment Democrats in primaries from New York to

What’s Driving the Anti-Sunscreen Movement?

Are you still wearing sunscreen? There’s been a recent wave of viral TikToks declaring that sunscreen is “toxic,” and they’ve helped ignite an anti-sunscreen movement. Wi

The Long Reach of the “Marinaissance”

Growing up in San Rafael in the 80’s and 90’s, writer David Perlis sensed that he had just missed something incredible. “I wanted to know what happened here before I was

The Iran War at Six Months: Has the U.S. Already Lost?

Six months into the war with Iran, the quick victory President Trump predicted remains elusive. As Iran’s hardline regime remains defiant, Atlantic writer and military af

What Are the Objects That Define the Bay Area?

A few years ago, a black Patagonia vest or a Timbuktu messenger bag were a telltale sign that a person might be from the Bay Area. Now, you might look for an Oaklandish

How Will Meta’s Landmark Settlement Change Social Media?

Meta will pay up to $17 billion to settle a lawsuit alleging Facebook and Instagram violated child privacy and consumer protection laws. The case, brought by 47 states an

Trump Trade War with Canada Pits the U.S. Against a Once-Staunch Ally

Canada was once one of America’s staunchest allies, but a trade war between the two nations has put the friendship under strain. Following a collapse in trade talks, the

Remembering Dolly Parton

A uniquely and universally beloved musician and philanthropist, Dolly Parton died Tuesday at 80. One of country music’s most celebrated performers, her signature songs in

Historian Jill Lepore Warns Against Letting Robots Take Over Our Democracy

In her new book, “The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State,” Harvard historian and New Yorker writer Jill Lepore issues a warning that in our desire for more efficient,

The Hidden Psychology Behind Procrastination

We’ve all done it: put off that email, project… or even something we genuinely want to do. But why do we procrastinate? Researcher Itamar Schatz says it’s not that we’re

KQED Investigates Botched Clipper 2.0 Launch

Last December, Bay Area transit officials launched Clipper 2.0 – a revamp of the payment system used across the region’s 22 public transportation systems. The new version

Should You Rethink How Much You’re Drinking?

In their groundbreaking 1976 book, “How to Control Your Drinking,” William R. Miller and Ricardo F. Muñoz offered a guide for moderate alcohol use. Back then about two-th

Why California is Rethinking its Nuclear Exit

California’s only remaining active nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon on California’s Central Coast, was supposed to shutter in 2025, but a series of heat waves and stres

Are Health Trackers Making Us Obsessed?

Fitness trackers have exploded in popularity, and wearable users swear by the data. But psychologists say these devices can lead to anxiety and obsession. Endlessly check