KQED's Forum

In calling for unity in the wake of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, President Joe Biden said political violence is “un-American and abhorrent.” But that’s more aspiration than historical reality. Political violence has been part of American history since our founding and has been on the rise since Trump was elected in 2016, according to experts. Elected officials and average citizens have been victims of politically motivated shooting sprees. We’ll talk about what constitutes political violence, why it keeps occurring, and what to make of the recent news.Guests:Gary LaFree, professor of criminology and criminal justice, University of MarylandMatthew Dallek, professor of political management, The George Washington University; author, "Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right"Rachel Kleinfeld, senior fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; studies democracy, the rule of law, and political violence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Florida federal judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case against Donald Trump on Monday, finding that the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith violated the constitution. The case — in which Trump stands accused of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate — had been considered the most straightforward of the criminal matters Trump faces. We look at the legal and political implications of the rulingFormer president Donald Trump has chosen 39-year old Ohio Senator JD Vance to be his running mate. Vance, once a fierce Trump critic who gained visibility during the 2016 election for explaining Trump’s appeal to white working class voters, has in recent years come to embrace core MAGA principles. We learn more about Vance and hear your reactions.Guests:David Graham, staff writer, The Atlantic; his new piece is "An Astonishing Ruling in Trump's Classified Documents Case"Grace Panetta, political reporter, The 19th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bay Area has a long tradition of producing Olympians and this year continues that legacy as athletes from the region prepare for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We check in with a few members of Team USA who will be heading to Paris and we’ll discuss how world events are going to impact the games, what lessons the committee has learned since Tokyo, and the most compelling storylines to follow at this summer’s games.Guests:Ann Killion, sports columnist, San Francisco ChronicleHans Henken, USA Olympic Team, SailingAlexander Massialas, USA Olympic Team, FencingChristella Garcia, USA Paralympic Team, Judo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, far-right Republicans pointed fingers at President Joe Biden, blaming his warnings about Trump’s threats to democracy for instigating the violence. For Vox reporter Zack Beauchamp, this “should cause us to reflect more broadly on how our political leaders should respond to political violence in our country.” For the last decade Beauchamp has been covering global challenges to democracy — and why democratic countries with deep political divisions can become vulnerable to violence and autocracy. We reflect on the assassination attempt and where it leaves us as a nation. Beauchamp’s new book is “The Reactionary Spirit: How America’s Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World.”Guests:Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent, Vox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans open their convention in Milwaukee today, just two days after former president Trump was shot in the ear by a sniper at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. President Biden gave a speech last night condemning the shooting and calling for a lowering of the temperature in politics. We’ll get the latest on the investigation into the shooting and we’ll talk about how the assassination attempt could change the Republican and the Democratic campaigns for the presidency.Guests:Scott Shafer, KQED's senior editor for politics and government and co-host of Political BreakdownDomenico Montanaro, senior political editor and correspondent, NPRHans Noel, associate professor of government, Georgetown; author, "Political Ideologies and Political Parties in America" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the last decade California hospitals have shut down nearly 50 maternity wards, leaving pregnant people in large swaths of the state without a place to deliver their babies. That’s according to an ongoing CalMatters investigation which has found that the closures have accelerated in the last four years as hospitals cite high costs, labor shortages and declining birth rates. We look at the scope of the problem and who’s most affected – and how midwives and birthing centers are advocating for solutions. And we’ll hear from you: Have you had trouble accessing maternity care, or have you had to travel a long distance to give birth?Guests:Kristen Hwang, health reporter, CalMattersHolly Smith, certified nurse-midwife and co-lead, Midwifery Access CaliforniaTiffany Leonhardt, director of business development, Plumas District Hospital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist William Gee Wong shares his family's Chinese-American journey in 'Sons of Chinatown.' He delves into the challenges of immigration, 'Paper Sons,' Chinatown culture, and family restaurant nostalgia. Wong reflects on balancing Chinese-American identity and family values amidst discrimination and triumphs.

The internet produces about a billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, roughly the same as the aviation industry, according to one recent study. Every time you click a photo, like a post, or get an e-mail and it’s backed up in the cloud, it’s stored in a data center – a massive facility filled with thousands of computer servers. And these data centers are projected to double their energy consumption by 2026 as companies such as Google and Microsoft invest heavily in AI. We discuss our digital carbon footprint and whether we can make a difference.Guests:Andrew R. Chow, correspondent, Time; author of the forthcoming book "Cryptomania"Jonathan Koomey, Ph.D., researcher and scientist, Koomey Analytics; author of 'Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Mastering the Art of Problem Solving' and 'Solving Climate Change: A Guide for Learners and Leaders'Danny Cullenward, climate economist and lawyer focused on the design and implementation of scientifically grounded climate policyMalcolm Hawker, head of data strategy, Profisee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In one of many historic cases this term, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine, which gave deference to federal agencies to interpret the laws they administer. Writing in dissent, Justice Elena Kagan, wrote that the Court’s decision would be a “massive shock to the legal system.” But what does this mean for the average citizen? Legal analysts predict that it could help big industry challenge regulations governing clean air and water or rules around how to bring drugs safely to market. We’ll talk to experts about this tectonic shift in the legal landscape and its consequences.Guests:Abigail Dillen, president, EarthjusticeRory Little, professor of constitutional law, UC School of Law, San FranciscoReshma Ramachandran, assistant professor, Yale School of Medicine; co-director, Yale Collaboration for Regulatory Rigor, Integrity and Transparency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great songs capture our imaginations and reveal truths about the human experience, transmuting stories into sound. Ben Arthur explores this alchemy on his podcast SongWriter. Each episode, Arthur challenges a musician to compose one original song based on the writing of literary greats like George Saunders, Neil Gaiman and Joyce Carol Oates. Arthur and two California-based songwriters – Mexican-American singer Diana Gameros, and Hector Flores of the band Las Cafeteras – join us to talk about their creative process and the stories that resonate with them. And we hear from you: What’s a story or song that has inspired you?Guests:Diana Gameros, Bay Area singer/songwriter originally from Cuidad Juarez, MexicoBen Arthur, singer/songwriter; creator, SongWriterHector Flores, LA based artist; co-founder, "Las Cafeteras" the band Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices