KQED's Forum

Marion Nestle on the Powerful Forces Shaping What We Eat

For more than five decades, renowned nutritionist, molecular biologist and food activist Marion Nestle has worked to expose the connections between Americans’ health and

Newsom Considers Commuting Death Row Sentences

Amid the news of Tennessee’s botched execution of Christa Pike and the Pentagon saying it will live-stream its execution of an army psychiatrist convicted of a mass shoot

‘Oakland Faith Project’ Documents a Shifting Religious Landscape

Oakland is home to dozens of houses of worship, and the “Oakland Faith Project,” aims to document these spaces and their leaders at a time when many are turning away from

Novelist Min Jin Lee on Education, Sacrifice and ‘American Hagwon’

Much like her acclaimed novel “Pachinko,” author Min Jin Lee’s new book, “American Hagwon,” is a multi-generational story that spans decades and continents. This one, set

Is It Time to Rethink Fraternities?

Fraternities and sororities – but mostly fraternities – have faced decades of scandal nationwide: hazing deaths, binge drinking, sexual assault, among other problems. Col

The Youth Sports Affordability Crisis

Youth sports once gave opportunities for all kids to play, but the rise of club teams — which come with higher costs and are often backed by private equity — are pricing

Michael Lewis on the Civil Servants Who Tried to Stop DOGE

In his new book, “Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State” author Michael Lewis profiles seven civil servants who tried to stop Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency

The Battle Over Voter ID in California

Californians in this fall’s election will consider Proposition 39, which asks whether voters should be required to show ID when they cast a ballot. Supporters argue the r

Other Minds Festival Celebrates 30th Year of Highlighting Experimental Music

San Francisco’s Other Minds Festival turns 30 this weekend, with four days of music from world renowned experimental composers. There will be improvisation, chord repetit

Prop 45: Will California Vote to Trade Environmental Regulation for Quicker Housing Development?

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which requires most proposed public and private development projects to go through a thorough environmental impact review

The Bay Area’s Hotly Contested Congressional Races

Some of the Bay Area’s biggest political battles this fall are happening between fellow Democrats in hotly contested races for Congress. There’s a fierce fight for retiri

How the UC System Transformed California

Historian Miriam Pawel says the University of California system is unique in its commitment to being “an engine of social, intellectual, and economic mobility.” But even

Tech Writer Kevin Roose on the Trillion-Dollar Sprint to Build Artificial General Intelligence

AGI or “artificial general intelligence” has been both the holy grail of machine learning researchers, and also the source of their biggest fears. Whereas AI refers to ta

California Governor Candidate Steve Hilton Takes Your Questions

Republican candidate for governor Steve Hilton says California needs a dramatic break from years of Democratic party rule. He wants to slash income taxes, build new citie

KQED Investigates Abuse and Retaliation at CA’s Largest Women’s Prison

When Aliksandria Prout was released from the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla in 2022, she set out to bring the correctional officer who abused her to ju

The Babies Left Behind: Caitlin Dickerson on the New Family-Separation Crisis

In his second term, President Trump has aggressively targeted immigrant communities away from the border, and tens of thousands of immigrant parents are being detained an

Oakland Police Department Released from Federal Oversight After 23 Years

After 23 years, the Oakland Police Department has been released from federal oversight. The federal monitoring, the longest in U.S. history, traces back to the “Riders” s

How Social Media is Shaping How We Experience Our Lives IRL

What we choose to post (or not post) to social media — the moments we highlight, the wording of our captions — tells a story about who we are. Those stories, says author

How Data Center Backlash is Reshaping Politics

Opposition to data centers could play a role in who gets elected in November, especially in local races. Hundreds of new data centers have been popping up across the coun

Xavier Becerra Keeps Low Profile – and Solid Lead – in Race for Governor

In the race to be California’s next governor, Democrat and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has maintained a sizable lead despite keeping a low p