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feat(route): add KQED - #23105

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@IvanWng97 IvanWng97 commented Aug 24, 2026

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Involved Issue / 该 PR 相关 Issue

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Example for the Proposed Route(s) / 路由地址示例

/kqed
/kqed/arts
/kqed/news
/kqed/science
/kqed/forum
/kqed/mindshift
/kqed/perspectives
/kqed/education

New RSS Route Checklist / 新 RSS 路由检查表

  • New Route / 新的路由
  • Anti-bot or rate limit / 反爬/频率限制
    • If yes, do your code reflect this sign? / 如果有, 是否有对应的措施?
  • Date and time / 日期和时间
    • Parsed / 可以解析
    • Correct time zone / 时区正确
  • New package added / 添加了新的包
  • Puppeteer

Note / 说明

KQED is Northern California's public media station (NPR/PBS member).

Why a route. The current site at www.kqed.org publishes no feed at all. The legacy site still serves one, but it marks essentially every image loading="lazy" with sizes="auto, …" — 164 of the 167 images in ww2.kqed.org/arts/feed/ carry both, and 23 of its 24 items have it on the very first image — so readers that never trigger lazy loading show almost no pictures. This route strips those attributes (from iframe embeds as well) and returns the full post.

Where the data comes from. Each section is a separate site in a WordPress multisite reachable at ww2.kqed.org/<section>/wp-json/wp/v2. That API still returns legacy lp-post-preview permalinks, so link is rebuilt as www.kqed.org/<section>/<id>/<slug>, which is the current site's canonical URL (verified 200). Only the seven sections that still publish are listed; food, bayareabites, stateofhealth, futureofyou, pop, lowdown and liveblog have been dormant since 2018–2025 and are left out.

*_gmt timestamps are parsed as UTC, and the author taxonomy (which just repeats the byline as slugs) is excluded from the categories.

🤖 Generated with Claude Code

@github-actions github-actions Bot added the route label Aug 24, 2026
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github-advanced-security Bot found potential problems Aug 24, 2026
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Comment thread lib/routes/kqed/index.tsx Fixed
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Successfully generated as following:

http://localhost:1200/kqed - Success ✔️ 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0">
  <channel>
    <title>KQED - Arts</title>
    <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts</link>
    <atom:link href="http://localhost:1200/kqed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"></atom:link>
    <description>Public media for Northern California: Bay Area news, arts and culture, science and education. - Powered by RSSHub</description>
    <generator>RSSHub</generator>
    <webMaster>contact@rsshub.app (RSSHub)</webMaster>
    <language>en</language>
    <lastBuildDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:08:39 GMT</lastBuildDate>
    <ttl>5</ttl>
    <item>
      <title>10 Concerts Not to Miss in the Bay Area This Fall</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_Portola_day1_GH-2_qed.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;large crowd cheers, shipping cranes in background&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crowd gathers at the Crane Stage for German rapper Ski Aggu on the first day of Portola Festival at Pier 80 in San Francisco, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Be sure to check out our full &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026&quot;&gt;2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;026 Fall Arts Guide&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;em&gt;to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Abundance is the word that comes to mind when looking at the Bay Area’s concert offerings this fall. Local legends are celebrating major milestones; several grassroots music festivals are spotlighting independent artists; and Bay Area musicians are mingling with boundary-pushing acts from across the globe. Below you’ll find 10 shows you shouldn’t miss.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2560&quot; height=&quot;1920&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-scaled.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13934882&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Hieroglyphics on stage at Hiero Day in Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, Sept. 4, 2023. (Eric Arnold/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.tixr.com/groups/midwaysf/events/hiero-day-189661&quot;&gt;Hiero Day &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 7, 2 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Midway, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;What started as a grassroots block party in Oakland over a decade ago has evolved into one of the Bay Area’s staple celebrations of hip-hop culture. For the second year, &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hiero-day&quot;&gt;Hiero Day&lt;/a&gt; returns to San Francisco’s Midway for a day party with headliners Killer Mike, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mereba and, of course, its namesake hip-hop collective, Oakland’s own Hieroglyphics. Joining them on the bill is San Francisco rapper &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985660/frak-four-square-mixtape&quot;&gt;Frak&lt;/a&gt;, who recently blew minds with his interactive, videogame-themed concert, Foursquare at The Independent. Multilingual MC &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/ruby-ibarra&quot;&gt;Ruby Ibarra&lt;/a&gt;, who won 2025’s Tiny Desk Contest, will take the stage with her band the Balikbayans, alongside Young Bari, Boss Life Big Spence, Chuy Gomez and a formidable lineup of rappers, singers and DJs.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1082&quot; height=&quot;724&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Lil Kayla holding court during a performance at The Chapel on Friday August 12, 2022.&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13917667&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Lil Kayla holding court during a performance at The Chapel on Aug. 12, 2022. (Pendarvis Harshaw)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://crybaby.live/tm-attraction/lil-kayla/&quot;&gt;Lil Kayla&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 11, 9 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Crybaby, Oakland&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Ever since she burst onto the scene with her scammer anthem, “Make His Pockets Hurt,” in 2019, Lil Kayla has established herself as one of the hardest rappers in the San Francisco scene. Full of witty bars and lyrical mischief, tracks like “Throw Dat Shit” and “11:11” are what you crank up when you want to feel like you’re on your worst behavior. Lil Kayla’s legions of young, female fans are bound to be screaming in the front at her show at the intimate Oakland club Crybaby.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1280&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13962540&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Kaytranada performs at Outside Lands on Aug. 11, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sleeping-on-gems-fest-w-kaytranada-more-discovery-meadow-san-jose-tickets-1993569655505&quot;&gt;Sleeping on Gems Fest with Kaytranada&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 13, 2–9 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Discovery Meadow, San José&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Whether it’s his timeless remix of Teedra Moses’ “Just Wanna Be Your Girl” or his 3 a.m. dance floor heater “Drip Sweat” with Chanel Tres, Kaytranada’s signature blend of house music with rap and R&amp;amp;B has drawn a massive global fanbase. At Discovery Meadow in San José, the Montreal producer will spin alongside standout house vocalist Rochelle Jordan, L.A. rap duo Partyof2, Amsterdam electronic producer Jael, the Bay’s own Ruby Ibarra, and more.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;798&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/HeroImage_SarahDavis.png&quot; alt=&quot;group of musicians pose on a street&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13982833&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Spiritual Cramp. (Sarah Davis)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bottomofthehill.com/20260919.html&quot;&gt;Spiritual Cramp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 19, 8:30 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Since they formed in San Francisco in 2017, punk rockers Spiritual Cramp have spread out all over the country, but the City remains their muse. In their video for the charmingly self-deprecating banger, “At My Funeral,” singer Mike Bingham frolics through Green Apple Books, Kilowatt and Oracle Park, paying homage to the places that shaped him. Spiritual Cramp will pack out the legendary rock club Bottom of the Hill for a homecoming show this fall.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1024&quot; height=&quot;683&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;a Black man with a guitar, gold outfit and hat sings into a microphone onstage while holding a guitar&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13970421&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Fantastic Negrito performing at the Annual Americana Honors Awards in September 2024 in Nashville. (Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2026-27/Fantastic-Negrito&quot;&gt;Fantastic Negrito and San Francisco Symphony&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fantastic-negrito&quot;&gt;Fantastic Negrito&lt;/a&gt; might be a three-time Grammy winner, but he remains deeply rooted in his hometown of Oakland, tending to his urban farm and writing and recording in his West Oakland studio. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of his landmark album &lt;em&gt;The Last Days of Oakland&lt;/em&gt;, a fiery, blues-rock meditation on the working-class struggle in a rapidly gentrifying city. At Davies Symphony Hall, he’ll perform reimagined versions of tracks from his discography, backed by a full orchestra.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;800&quot; height=&quot;533&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13903425&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Erykah Badu performs at Lights On Festival at Concord Pavilion on Sept. 18, 2021. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://thegreekberkeley.com/events/erykah-badu-260927&quot;&gt;Erykah Badu&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 27, 7 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Greek Theatre, Berkeley&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Few artists’ influence on music, fashion and culture is as deeply felt as Erykah Badu’s. Almost two decades since her genre-defining neo-soul debut, &lt;em&gt;Baduizm&lt;/em&gt;, the singer’s career remains a blueprint for creative excellence and free-spirited self-expression. This month, she’ll release her highly anticipated collaborative album with producer The Alchemist, who’ll join her on her North American tour along with St. Louis rapper Smino.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A blonde, white singer strikes a pose in front of a diverse crew of female dancers. &quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992906&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Zara Larsson performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on July 31, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Joshua Applegate/WireImage)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://portolamusicfestival.com/&quot;&gt;Portola Festival&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 26–27&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Pier 80, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Electronic music giants, cult-favorite DJs and left-field pop acts unite for &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/portola-festival&quot;&gt;Portola&lt;/a&gt;, a festival whose eclectic lineup just makes sense for San Francisco. 2026 seems to be somewhat of a &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13990263/portola-festival-lineup-2026-robyn-zara-larsson-four-tet&quot;&gt;Swedish takeover&lt;/a&gt;, with EDM supergroup Swedish House Mafia and pop stars Robyn and Zara Larsson. Also among the headliners are Skrillex and Boys Noize’s duo Dog Blood, Four Tet and Tiësto. Legendary San José turntablist DJ Shadow will celebrate 30 years of his album &lt;em&gt;Endtroducing….. &lt;/em&gt;Other highlights from the bill include City Girls rapper JT, Argentinian perreo-rave singer Six Sex, San Francisco hyperpop artist Underscores, trip-hop legend Tricky and more.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2560&quot; height=&quot;1638&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-scaled.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;a woman with white hair and sunglasses smiles as she plays guitar on an outdoor stage&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13917394&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Hardly Strictly Bluegrass veteran Emmylou Harris will return to this year’s free musical festival. (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/headline/2026-lineup-announcements/&quot;&gt;Hardly Strictly Bluegrass&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 2–4&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Golden Gate Park, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;San Francisco’s second summer typically lasts well into October, and &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hardly-strictly-bluegrass&quot;&gt;Hardly Strictly&lt;/a&gt; is a capstone event of the season. The free, family-friendly music festival takes over Golden Gate Park with performances by singer, fiddler and music producer Alison Krauss and her band Union Station, Yemeni band El Khat (who make their own instruments), country-rock legend Emmylou Harris and rockers My Morning Jacket.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A Black hip-hop artist raps into a microphone, flanked by backup singers and musicians. &quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992907&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Cameron McCloud (center) of Cure for Paranoia performs in concert during NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour at Emo’s Austin on June 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.theindependentsf.com/tm-event/cure-for-paranoia/&quot;&gt;Cure for Paranoia&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 6, 8 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Independent, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;With irresistible charisma, an off-kilter flow and bold lyrics about Black, queer life in Texas, Cure for Paranoia is blowing up after winning NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest this year. The alternative hip-hop collective will bring their dynamic live show, backed by a full band, to San Francisco’s Independent.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A Mexican DJ smiles as he looks up from behind the decks. &quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992908&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Mexican Institute of Sound spins at Family Time: Arrullos Mexicanos at The GRAMMY Museum on July 29, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://fest.psychedradiosf.com/psychedfest-sf-2026/&quot;&gt;Psyched! Fest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 11–Nov. 6&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Various venues, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;D.I.Y. online radio station &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.psychedradiosf.com/&quot;&gt;Psyched! Radio&lt;/a&gt; is one of San Francisco’s homes for the underground music scene, and its festival takes over independent venues including Rickshaw Stop, Great American Music Hall and Neck of the Woods for a month of shows this fall. The expansive lineup features several notable acts from Mexico — including Mexican Institute of Sound, Diles Que No Me Maten and Amantes del Futuro — sharing stages with Bay Area and stateside artists.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992902/bay-area-fall-2026-best-concerts-san-francisco-oakland-san-jose</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992902/bay-area-fall-2026-best-concerts-san-francisco-oakland-san-jose</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Nastia Voynovskaya</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Music</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Fall Guide 2026</category>
      <category>Fantastic Negrito</category>
      <category>featured-arts</category>
      <category>Hardly Strictly Bluegrass</category>
      <category>Hiero Day</category>
      <category>Oakland</category>
      <category>Portola Festival</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
      <category>San Jose</category>
      <category>The Do List</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
      <category>Music</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>‘Dreams in Nightmares’ Is a Road-Trip Movie About Living on Your Own Terms</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/dreams-in-nightmares.png&quot; alt=&quot;Three young Black women stand close together in a field at sunset, smiling and cheering, the sky purple behind them.&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lauren (Dezi Bing), Z (Denée Benton) and Tasha (Sasha Compère) embark on a road trip in search of a fourth friend in ‘Dreams in Nightmares.’&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A few years ago, I saw a quietly shattering debut feature called &lt;em&gt;Test Pattern&lt;/em&gt;, from the writer and director Shatara Michelle Ford. Set mostly in the hours following a sexual assault, the movie was full of sharp, damning insights into how America’s healthcare and law-enforcement systems routinely fail Black women. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In their second feature, &lt;em&gt;Dreams in Nightmares&lt;/em&gt;, Ford has lightened the mood and loosened the tension. This is a warm, sprawling, sweetly bickersome comedy-drama about a group of close friends who, at a turning point in their lives, decide to hit the road together. But Ford remains focused on the physical and emotional well-being of their characters — in this case, four queer Black friends in their mid-30s.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The one we get to know best is Z, a Los Angeles-based writer, played by Denée Benton from &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.npr.org/2022/01/20/1074046871/the-gilded-age-hbo-julian-fellowes-review&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Gilded Age&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, who’s just been laid off from her job as a professor. By unhappy coincidence, Z’s Brooklyn-based friend Tasha, played by Sasha Compère, loses her consulting gig around the same time. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On a whim, Z flies to New York to hang with Tasha and their friend Lauren, played by Dezi Bing. From there, the three hop in a car and drive west to Iowa City to visit their friend Kel, who’s an artist. Kel hasn’t returned the group’s texts and calls in a while, and they want to make sure that they’re OK.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Despite the last-minute decision, Lauren, Tasha and Z embark on their trip with a sense of purpose and a measure of caution. They know they’ll have to be on alert, especially when traveling outside major cities. Early on, too, Lauren insists that, whenever possible, the three of them will eat only at Black-owned restaurants. At one such eatery, they sit down at a table and find a cup filled with strips of paper, each one printed with a conversation-starting question, prompting a discussion about whether their favorite attributes about themselves are physical or not.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Z and Lauren are both pursuing their artistic dreams: Lauren is a poet, as we hear firsthand when they perform at a queer poetry slam during a quick stopover in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Z wonders if her layoff is the motivation she needs to finally write that book she’s been planning. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Tasha, by contrast, is the practical-minded, no-nonsense member of the group, and she sometimes finds herself at odds with her more free-spirited friends. We learn that, at one point, Tasha wanted to become an actor, a dream she gave up for what she thought would be a steadier career in business. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On paper, that might sound too obvious — the bohemian artistes versus the high-strung corporate sellout. But the actors, especially Compère as Tasha, are too vivid to be reduced to mere types, and there’s more joy and solidarity in the characters’ dynamic than there is resentment or tension.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-embed is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-embed__wrapper&quot;&gt;
        &lt;iframe title=&quot;Dreams In Nightmares | Official Trailer | In Theaters August 21&quot; width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;360&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/irnCquH3qB0?feature=oembed&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;As in many road trip movies, the journey has its share of twists and turns. We learn that Kel left Iowa City some time ago, and so the friends have to spend a stormy night, in every sense, with Kel’s annoying ex-girlfriend. She’s played, in a scene-stealing comic turn, by Jasmin Savoy Brown. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;From there, they head south to Kansas City and have an awkward visit with Kel’s estranged and very conservative parents, who clearly have yet to accept their child’s queer identity. Without revealing exactly where the story goes, we do eventually meet Kel, who, as warmly played by Mars Storm Rucker, makes it easy to see why Z and Lauren care about them so deeply. We also see why Tasha feels resentful of, and perhaps even threatened by, Kel’s sense of freedom.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And freedom is ultimately what &lt;em&gt;Dreams in Nightmares&lt;/em&gt; is all about — the hope that these four characters and many others like them might be able to live life on their own terms. Throughout this intimate and gorgeously shot film, Ford shows us glimpses of that freedom — like when Tasha enjoys a rare moment of release at a Brooklyn nightclub. Or when Z checks in with her boyfriend in LA, with whom she enjoys a mutually supportive polyamorous relationship. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Most of all, there’s freedom in Z’s lyrical visions of a mysterious desert landscape, which appear throughout the film, calling her toward some unknown yet promising destination. In a way, this is what Ford longs to give all their characters — the time, space and imagination to dream of a future that still has yet to be written.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Copyright © 2026 NPR&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993161/dreams-in-nightmares-review-road-trip-movie-black-queer</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993161/dreams-in-nightmares-review-road-trip-movie-black-queer</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:20:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Rae Alexandra</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Movies</category>
      <category>Pop Culture</category>
      <category>Gen Z</category>
      <category>NPR</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The 10 Best Museum and Gallery Shows to See this Fall</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/F0514_Reid_BlackCatPowerFlag.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;linocut of black cats holding signs&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;A work by Dorian Reid, ‘Black Cat Power.’&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Be sure to check out our full &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;2026 Fall Arts Guide&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;em&gt;to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;I’ll be honest with you: making this list is hard. There’s simply too much great stuff going on in the Bay Area’s visual arts scene to do it justice in 10 or so blurbs.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In just the next three months, we’ve got the Richmond Art Center turning 90 years old (and &lt;a href=&quot;https://richmondartcenter.org/events/90th-birthday-party-8-29-26/&quot;&gt;celebrating accordingly&lt;/a&gt;). We’ve got &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992388/rm-bts-sfmoma-ticket-alert&quot;&gt;RM of BTS&lt;/a&gt; co-curating a truly good-looking show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. And we’ve got a gloriously packed third annual &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nexus-sfbay.com/&quot;&gt;Black Art Week&lt;/a&gt;, led by the Museum of the African Diaspora.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The arts community has been &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985413/california-college-of-the-arts-sfai-mills-art-school-closures&quot;&gt;through&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12071507/financial-crisis-forces-sfs-mission-cultural-center-for-latino-arts-to-close&quot;&gt;a lot&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992653/sf-camerawork-nonprofit-photo-gallery-closing-fort-mason-center&quot;&gt;this year&lt;/a&gt;. And while few of us have the funds or the power to single-handedly save our arts institutions from obsolescence, we &lt;em&gt;can&lt;/em&gt; go to things. We can show up at talks, screenings, openings and walks. Because sometimes the difference between something existing and something ceasing to be is an enthusiastic crowd.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1310&quot; height=&quot;834&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ObjectsUSA_NgoMarquis.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;colorful wacky shaped table lamp with blue shade, blown glass vase with stars and stripes&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993101&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;L: A lamp by Jolie Ngo, one of the contemporary artists in ‘OBJECTS: USA’; R: A glass vase by Richard Marquis, one of the original artists from the 1969 presentation. (Museum of Craft and Design)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://sfmcd.org/exhibitions/objects-usa/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;OBJECTS: USA&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 5, 2026–Jan. 17, 2027&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Museum of Craft and Design, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;I have a distinct memory of a book with this title existing on my parents’ coffee table. Turns out it was the catalog of a landmark 1969 Smithsonian exhibition on the previously un-exalted subject of American studio craft. Revisiting this premise nearly 60 years later, R &amp;amp; Company, a New York design gallery, has organized an exhibition that features artists from the original show, as well as a roster of contemporary artists working with clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, enamel, mosaic and more. A must-see for fans of funky materials, lively interiors and colorful objets d’art.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;2000&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Thomas_Unnamed-but-Not-Unknown-II-Promise-2026_LTH0123DR_John-Janca_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;graphite portrait of Black woman in diamond-shaped frame&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993124&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Lava Thomas, ‘Unnamed but Not Unknown II (Promise),’ 2026. (Jessica Silverman Gallery)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lava Thomas, ‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://jessicasilvermangallery.com/online-shows/lava-thomas/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lineage&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 10–Oct. 24, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Jessica Silverman Gallery, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s been eight years since Lava Thomas’ last solo exhibition in the Bay Area — the 2018 show &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13841129/drawn-out-of-history-lava-thomas-mug-shots-at-rena-bransten-gallery&quot;&gt;Mugshots&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/em&gt;at Rena Bransten Gallery, which featured portraits of women arrested during the Montgomery bus boycott. Now, Thomas has turned to her own family history for her large-scale graphite and Conté crayon drawings. Delicate lines and shading give luminous three-dimensionality to Thomas’ images of her ancestors in post-Emancipation Texas. (Opening upstairs the same night is new work from &lt;a href=&quot;https://jessicasilvermangallery.com/online-shows/sadie-barnette/&quot;&gt;Sadie Barnette&lt;/a&gt;, whose equally precise drawings include dollops of rainbow-hued color.)&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1323&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/CD_DaCorte_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;person in Frankenstein monster costume lays on ground with colorful plastic brooms&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993141&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Alex Da Corte, ‘Slow Graffiti,’ 2017; video still. (Courtesy of the artist, KADIST collection)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://kadist.org/program/exhibition-character-development/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Character Development&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 10–Oct. 31, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;1201 Minnesota St., San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;KADIST and the Minnesota Street Project Foundation are teaming up to present video installations by Sophia Al-Maria, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Sara Cwynar, Alex Da Corte, Beatrice Gibson and Martine Syms in the project’s cavernous warehouse space. In each piece, the artist appears on-screen in a “guise.” I’ve seen only one of these works — Cwynar’s &lt;em&gt;Baby Blue Benzo&lt;/em&gt;, an elaborately orchestrated video that exposes the artifice of how images are made — but that one alone is worth lining up for.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1899&quot; height=&quot;1320&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Kentercombo.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;two wall-mounted sculptures of architectural objects: a fan vent and a window full of stuff&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993126&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;L: Malcolm Kenter, ‘Hawk and Fan Intervention,’ 2025; R: ‘Hoarder Window Shadow Box (ode to Distant Cousin Cornell),’ 2026. (Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Malcolm W. Kenter, ‘Synechdoche’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 16–Dec. 13, 2026&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum-art&quot;&gt;St. Mary’s College Museum of Art&lt;/a&gt;, Moraga&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Malcolm Kenter, a whiz at creating homages to utilitarian and underappreciated facets of the urban environment, will show a decade of his work in his first museum solo show. Kenter takes a variety of material approaches in his work: needlepoint, miniatures, life-sized replicas of architectural features. In all these forms, you can see Kenter’s appreciation for the accumulation of history, building styles and daily grime that gives San Francisco its essential, beautiful character.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1389&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Photosculpture_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;old advertisement in French for photosculpture&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993127&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A. Van Geleyn, ‘Photosculpture. Sculpture d’après nature obetenue mécaniquement. Dix secondes de pose,’ 1865; Lithograph. (Bibliothèque nationale de France)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://museum.stanford.edu/exhibitions/solid-pictures&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Solid Pictures: Photosculpture and the Making of Modern Likeness&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 17, 2026–Jan. 18, 2027&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Cantor Arts Center, Stanford&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In 1859, long before we had 3D scanning and printing, a 29-year-old French artist and inventor came up with a means to translate photographs into solid objects. These photosculptures were an attempt to make portraiture more affordable for a growing middle class. Ultimately, the technology didn’t take off — it’s hard to be ahead of one’s time. But that means we’ll have even more to learn from the first major exhibition of this strange, hybrid approach to capturing likenesses.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1500&quot; height=&quot;1000&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Friedman_PaloAlto.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;multicolored and textured textile with the word YES in the lower right corner&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993120&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Terri Friedman, ‘Yes. Yes.’ 2022; Wool, cotton, acrylic, hemp, metallic, chenille fibers. (Courtesy of the artist)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/Community-Services/Arts-Sciences/Palo-Alto-Art-Center/See-Art/Exhibitions/Upcoming&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Live the moment light&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 19–Dec. 13, 2026&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Palo Alto Art Center&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This show, curated by Christine Koppes, gathers work by Solée Darrell, Terri Friedman and Angelica Trimble-Yanu to trace the influence of Corita Kent, the artist and one-time nun whose bright colors and lessons on curious, close looking have shaped generations. The pleasure in this one will be seeing how Kent’s work interacts with Darrell’s dye on velvet paintings, Friedman’s kaleidoscopic textiles and Trimble-Yanu’s monochrome prints.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1747&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/web-Crumpler-07-26-125.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;dynamic painting of containers falling into ocean from cargo ship&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993121&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Dewey Crumpler, ‘Breach,’ 2023; Acrylic and metal leaf on canvas. (Courtesy of the artist and Jenkins Johnson Gallery New York and San Francisco)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nexus-sfbay.com/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Nexus: SF/Black Art Week&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 30–Oct. 4, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Various locations&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The third edition of Black Art Week, founded by the Museum of African Diaspora, packs a dense schedule of talks, shows, open studios, screenings and parties into spaces all around the Bay. Not to miss: Dewey Crumpler’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.moadsf.org/exhibitions/dewey-crumpler-sonic-lineages&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sonic Lineages&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at MoAD; Dread Scott’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://ybca.org/yerba-buena-center-for-the-arts-announces-upcoming-season-of-exhibitions-and-programs-for-2026/&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Body Politic&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; and what’s sure to be an excellent conversation between &lt;a href=&quot;https://nexus2026a.sched.com/event/2VOLi/open-studio-x-artist-talk-ashara-ekundayo-in-conversation-with-emory-douglas?iframe=no&quot;&gt;Emory Douglas and Ashara Ekundayo&lt;/a&gt; at Minnesota Street Project.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1250&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Daviel_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;green glowing woman looks astonished, two red glowing women missing one eye flank her&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993113&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A still from Daviel Shy’s ‘After the Pleasure Dome,’ 2026. (Courtesy of the artist)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.slashart.org/sideways-glance/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Sideways Glance&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 3, 2026–Feb. 20, 2027&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Slash, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;We are &lt;em&gt;rich&lt;/em&gt; in interestingly framed group exhibitions this fall. This one focuses on artists exploring the lesbian body, feminist practices and work that has a physical effect on the viewer. Curator Elena Gross pulls together installation, sculpture and video from Alexa Burrell, Sienna Freeman, Daviel Shy and the late Barbara Hammer (subject of a recent, fantastic documentary, &lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/event/barbara-forever&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Barbara Forever&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;). “In the act of a woman looking at a woman, specificity is introduced,” Shy writes in &lt;a href=&quot;https://medium.com/@davielshy/women-seeing-women-c29fc53e2f82&quot;&gt;the essay&lt;/a&gt; that lends this show its name. “Once there are two women in the equation, neither can be &lt;em&gt;the&lt;/em&gt; symbol of woman.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1890&quot; height=&quot;1484&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/Screen-Shot-2021-08-10-at-12.36.56-PM.png&quot; alt=&quot;Girls dance with garlands while ducks fly overhead at Lake Merritt&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13900999&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A scene from 1923’s Annual Duck Festival, held on New Year’s Day at Lake Merritt. (Courtesy of the California Historical Society)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.docomomo-noca.org/more-news/2026/1/22/tourday-2026?rq=lake%20merritt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lake Merritt Tour Day&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 10, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Lake Merritt, Oakland&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This event comes from the wonderfully acronymed &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.docomomo-noca.org/mission-history&quot;&gt;Docomomo&lt;/a&gt;, an international organization committed to documenting and conserving sites associated with the modern architecture movement. As part of a national tour day devoted to recreation and play, our local chapter will lead a walk around Lake Merritt to point out the park pavilions, boathouses, playgrounds and athletic facilities that contribute to the lake’s public space. Anticipate thoughts on how this landscape has shifted over time and who gets to access it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;(If you can’t wait until October, and have a penchant for brutalism, there’s a Docomomo tour of the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.docomomo-noca.org/events/2026/9/12/modernism-born-in-california-transit-landscape-and-glen-park-bart-brutalism-tour&quot;&gt;Glen Park BART station&lt;/a&gt; on Sept. 12.)&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1583&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/PaulHarris_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;stuffed textile works of women sitting or reclining, melding into furniture&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993133&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A undated photograph of Paul Harris’ fabric and cloth sculptures in the artist’s studio in Bolinas. (Paul Harris / Marguerite Kirk Harris Survivor’s Trust)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Paul Harris, ‘The Boy Sews Like An Angel’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 31, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolinasmuseum.org/&quot;&gt;Bolinas Museum&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Bolinas Museum is on a roll. It just opened a show of &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolinasmuseum.org/exhibitions/all-this-every-day-bolinas-community-publishing-in-the-seventies/&quot;&gt;community publishing&lt;/a&gt; from the ’70s (including the town’s own take on the Yellow Pages, on view through Sept. 27) and it will soon mount a retrospective exhibition of the late Bolinas resident Paul Harris. The onetime California College of the Arts professor produced work in a variety of mediums, but his most unique format has to be his stuffed textile pieces, which merged figures with furniture. Organized by the artist’s estate, the show sounds possibly bigger than Bolinas itself, with nearly 40 works and an accompanying catalog.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1462&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/SarahSze_2000b.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;swirling lines and shapes in architectural space, small figures point up&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993136&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A rendering of Sarah Sze’s ‘Forever is Composed of Nows’ in the SFMOMA atrium. (Sarah Sze Studio)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Sarah Sze, ‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.sfmoma.org/exhibition/sarah-sze/&quot;&gt;Forever is Composed of Nows&lt;/a&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Nov. 21, 2026–ongoing&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;San Francisco Museum of Modern Art&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For some reason, I thought the Julie Mehretu paintings that currently flank the main staircase inside SFMOMA’s Third Street entrance were a permanent fixture. Not so! Sarah Sze, known for her dazzling, complex installations of small, colorful objects, has been commissioned to create a new piece for the atrium. Created with accessibility in mind, the work includes video projections, three monumental paintings and a “rhythmic, pulsating soundscape.” (We hope, for the sake of SFMOMA staffers at the coat check, that the sound levels are conducive to long-term exposure.)&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1500&quot; height=&quot;1137&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/F0514_Reid_BlackCatPowerFlag.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;linocut of black cats holding signs&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993123&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A work by Dorian Reid, ‘Black Cat Power.’ (Museum of the African Diaspora)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Other things to look forward to this fall&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;September&lt;/strong&gt;: Masaki Fujihata’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://museumca.org/on-view/behere-1942-a-new-lens-on-the-japanese-american-incarceration/&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;BeHere / 1942: A New Lens on the Japanese American Incarceration&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at OMCA; Dorian Reid’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.moadsf.org/exhibitions/calling-all-cats&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Calling All Cats!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at MoAD; the group exhibition &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.berkeleyartcenter.org/i-see-every-wave&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;I see every wave&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at the Berkeley Art Center; &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.icasanjose.org/upcoming-exhibitions/gregito-togiveandtake/&quot;&gt;Greg Ito’s solo show&lt;/a&gt; at the ICA San José.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;October:&lt;/strong&gt; an unobstructed view of the Ferry Building, when the giant lady is finally deinstalled; Leila Weefur’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.thelab.org/projects/2026/10/9/leila-weefur-the-chapel-of-becoming&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Chapel of Becoming&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at the Lab.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;November:&lt;/strong&gt; the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.indexical.org/events/2026-11-14-within-mirrors-films-of-paul-clipson&quot;&gt;films of Paul Clipson&lt;/a&gt;, screening at Indexical in Santa Cruz.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993086/best-museum-gallery-shows-visual-art-guide-fall-2026-bolinas-moraga-palo-alto</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993086/best-museum-gallery-shows-visual-art-guide-fall-2026-bolinas-moraga-palo-alto</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Sarah Hotchkiss</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Visual Arts</category>
      <category>bolinas</category>
      <category>cantor arts center</category>
      <category>Fall Guide 2026</category>
      <category>featured-arts</category>
      <category>lake merritt</category>
      <category>Palo Alto</category>
      <category>SFMOMA</category>
      <category>thedolist</category>
      <category>The Do List</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>North Bay</category>
      <category>Oakland</category>
      <category>Peninsula</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Massive New Oakland Mural Inspires Lasting Friendships and New Life Callings</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260814-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-09-BL-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Two student artists, an older man and a younger woman, hug in front of a colorful wall.&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ernesto Cortes hugs fellow student Kiana Tondre from Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course as they gather to see their completed mural in Oakland on Aug. 14, 2026. The class worked together to create the mural on a Peralta Community College District warehouse.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;This story is part of&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/findingyourpeople&quot;&gt;Finding Your People&lt;/a&gt;, a series celebrating the Bay Area’s meetups and subcultures that bring people together IRL in an increasingly online world.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;There’s a new gigantic work of art on 5th Avenue in Oakland, and it’s as colorful as the community that created it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Sorbet-like shades of yellow and red provide a background for an array of flora. An Iranian dancer in orange strikes a fierce pose on one side. And on the other, a young Aztec dancer with piercing eyes holds a drum. Double meanings and secret messages are interlaced throughout the piece.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Painted on a Peralta Community College District warehouse, the mural centers the four school mascots from the network of East Bay junior colleges: a Merritt College black panther, a Berkeley City College owl, a College of Alameda cougar and a Laney College eagle.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-20-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992971&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ernesto Cortes (left) and instructor Fredericko Alvarado touch up a mural created during Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course in Oakland. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Roughly 20 students and a handful of volunteers painted the murals as part of &lt;a href=&quot;https://laney.edu/news/unity-through-diversity-mural-celebrates-oakland-education-community&quot;&gt;Laney’s Art 129 summer course&lt;/a&gt;. It covers the broadside of a nondescript building, visible to a steady flow of thousands of daily commuters on 5th Avenue and Interstate 880.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This undertaking shows the power of individuals coming together in pursuit of a simple lesson in art. When they signed up for the class, they knew they’d create a gigantic mural. What they didn’t realize was that they’d also walk away with cross-cultural connections and lasting bonds with dope artists that go beyond paint on a wall.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Mural making is a cross-section between labor, psychotherapy, art making and community work,” says instructor &lt;a href=&quot;https://fredalvaradoarchives.space/?utm_source=ig&amp;amp;utm_medium=social&amp;amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;amp;fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAae14fUv8GL1aoaws95Lc4vfKaUaVlLIo8WvWSMBoxZy4vGRxISkLOIpMlyalg_aem_vFPtRnB2d61orrWem_4YVA&quot;&gt;Fredericko Alvarado&lt;/a&gt;, who has taught the class for the past four years. All of this happens at once, he stresses while painting in the sun.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It’s labor-intensive and heavy on the body,” adds Alvarado, a longtime muralist himself, “especially at the scale that we were working.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-08-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992958&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;(From left) Ernesto Cortes, Fredericko Alvarado and Emilio Hernandez look at the mural created during Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course after a fence blocking it from view was removed in Oakland on Aug. 18, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Yet according to his students, the hard work pays off.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I’m finally giving myself permission to go to art school,” says Malena Mayorga, standing on a patch of grass near the sprawling mural.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Mayorga, a longtime Oakland resident originally from El Salvador, contributed a tree that represents the original people of this land, the Ohlone people. Her painting of a large oak has cultural references etched into the bark. There’s a Chinese dragon, Brazilian flags and an Aztec Quetzalcōātl, as well as a Palestinian keffiyeh, Filipino markings, West African Adinkra symbols, Ethiopian embroidery, a Mayan figure that represents the universe and more.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260814-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-04-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992969&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ernesto Cortes speaks with fellow student Malena Mayorga from Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course as they gather to see their completed mural. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Looking at the bigger picture, Mayorga professes, “We need to be changing the world [and moving] in the direction we want to see.” For her, the mural embodies that idea.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The artists had to first agree on what the mural would collectively depict, and then design their individual contributions before placing them on a wall. They made minor miscalculations and adjusted them along the way.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;13992955&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-03-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992955&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Sketches for a mural created during Laney College’s ART 129 course. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;13992954&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-01-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992954&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A completed sketch of the mural. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The end result is a towering community collage that illustrates the importance of community college. It stands about a paint bucket-toss from the Peralta District headquarters, a place that has recently dealt with a storm of budgetary issues.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Recently, California’s community colleges lost the support of &lt;a href=&quot;https://calmatters.org/education/2025/06/california-bay-area-community-colleges-funding-formula/&quot;&gt;a cost-of-living fund&lt;/a&gt;, and the Peralta School District dealt with a $11.8 million deficit by cutting numerous classes and over 60 positions. This past spring they began closing &lt;a href=&quot;https://peraltacitizen.com/2026/02/03/laney-college-tower-to-retire/&quot;&gt;the Laney tower building&lt;/a&gt;, and in June they agreed to &lt;a href=&quot;https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/peralta/Board.nsf/files/DURLE55624C7/$file/25_26-212%20RESOLUTION%20AFFIRMING%20THE%20DISTRICT%20TRANSFORMATION%20PLAN%20AND%20THE%20CREATION%20OF%20OAKLAND%20CITY%20COLLEGE.pdf&quot;&gt;move forward with a plan to consolidate two schools&lt;/a&gt; — Merritt and Laney — under one umbrella, Oakland City College.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Despite the instability, this summer voters overwhelmingly approved a nine-year &lt;a href=&quot;https://ballotpedia.org/Peralta_Community_College_District,_California,_Measure_A,_Reauthorize_Parcel_Tax_to_Fund_Community_Colleges_Measure_(June_2026)&quot;&gt;parcel tax&lt;/a&gt; to help fund the district, easing the tension and assuring students that the district plans on remaining affordable and accessible.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260814-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-20-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992973&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Emilio Hernandez looks at the mural he helped paint during Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The class of muralists reflects the wide array of reasons people choose to pursue their education at a community college. Some students are dealing with housing insecurity and physical health issues. Some are elders finally prioritizing art careers, and others are young students chasing their creative dreams.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Twenty-year-old &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.instagram.com/vintage.vrtbre&quot;&gt;Kiana Tondre&lt;/a&gt;, born and raised in Oakland, is a studio arts major at San Francisco State University. Partially inspired by her grandfather, a former California College of the Arts and Crafts professor, Tondre has long known that she’s an artist. And after taking this course at Laney over the past two summers, she honed in on murals as her preferred format. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“This is what I want to do with my life,” she says.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-06-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992957&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Student Kiana Tondre and instructor Fredericko Alvarado prepare to touch up a mural created during Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-05-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992956&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Student Kiana Tondre and instructor Fredericko Alvarado prepare paint for a mural touch-up. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Through the class she got connected to the legendary community arts organization &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.precitaeyes.org/&quot;&gt;Precita Eyes&lt;/a&gt;, as well as a world of students she wouldn’t have met at her more expensive four-year college.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;”In terms of community, I think Laney brings people together a lot more,” Tondre says.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Tondre painted a beautifully stoic Iranian dancer, an image that’s emblematic of a group of women who are “very misrepresented,” she explains. An Iranian woman herself, Tondre imagined the design as an homage to her grandmother. “She is kind of like one of the guardians to the mural,” Tondre says.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260814-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-08-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992964&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Qi Han takes a photo of Kiana Tondre in front of the section of the mural she created during Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course in Oakland on Aug. 14, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On the other side of that stands Ernesto Cortes’ painting based on an old photo of his nephew, who began learning about traditional Aztec dances and culture at nine years old. Cortes tells KQED in Spanish that his nephew is now a young adult, and teaches cultural classes at the college level. Noting the importance of remaining steadfast in your calling and cultural pride, despite racism and other oppressive forces, Cortes says he had to honor his nephew’s vision.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Below Cortes’ dancing nephew, depicted in vibrant shades of green and blue, are the Ngíva words for grass and water. And to the righthand side of that image is a mocha-colored owl with spread wings and huge eyes, painted by traditionally trained fine artist &lt;a href=&quot;https://hanqiart.com/&quot;&gt;Qi Han&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-21-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992974&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ernesto Cortes touches up a section of the mural he created. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260814-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-03-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992972&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ernesto Cortes speaks with fellow student Qi Han. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Before taking Alvarado’s class, Han had never painted a mural. Now, she’s already completed a second one through connections she made in the class. “Yeah, I think I’m hooked,” sa

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      <title>10 Concerts Not to Miss in the Bay Area This Fall</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/250920_Portola_day1_GH-2_qed.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;large crowd cheers, shipping cranes in background&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crowd gathers at the Crane Stage for German rapper Ski Aggu on the first day of Portola Festival at Pier 80 in San Francisco, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Be sure to check out our full &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026&quot;&gt;2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;026 Fall Arts Guide&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;em&gt;to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Abundance is the word that comes to mind when looking at the Bay Area’s concert offerings this fall. Local legends are celebrating major milestones; several grassroots music festivals are spotlighting independent artists; and Bay Area musicians are mingling with boundary-pushing acts from across the globe. Below you’ll find 10 shows you shouldn’t miss.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2560&quot; height=&quot;1920&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Hiero.Group_.2023-scaled.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13934882&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Hieroglyphics on stage at Hiero Day in Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, Sept. 4, 2023. (Eric Arnold/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.tixr.com/groups/midwaysf/events/hiero-day-189661&quot;&gt;Hiero Day &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 7, 2 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Midway, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;What started as a grassroots block party in Oakland over a decade ago has evolved into one of the Bay Area’s staple celebrations of hip-hop culture. For the second year, &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hiero-day&quot;&gt;Hiero Day&lt;/a&gt; returns to San Francisco’s Midway for a day party with headliners Killer Mike, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mereba and, of course, its namesake hip-hop collective, Oakland’s own Hieroglyphics. Joining them on the bill is San Francisco rapper &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985660/frak-four-square-mixtape&quot;&gt;Frak&lt;/a&gt;, who recently blew minds with his interactive, videogame-themed concert, Foursquare at The Independent. Multilingual MC &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/ruby-ibarra&quot;&gt;Ruby Ibarra&lt;/a&gt;, who won 2025’s Tiny Desk Contest, will take the stage with her band the Balikbayans, alongside Young Bari, Boss Life Big Spence, Chuy Gomez and a formidable lineup of rappers, singers and DJs.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1082&quot; height=&quot;724&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/DBCDF006-A71C-4C63-AECE-36723CC08E8C.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Lil Kayla holding court during a performance at The Chapel on Friday August 12, 2022.&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13917667&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Lil Kayla holding court during a performance at The Chapel on Aug. 12, 2022. (Pendarvis Harshaw)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://crybaby.live/tm-attraction/lil-kayla/&quot;&gt;Lil Kayla&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 11, 9 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Crybaby, Oakland&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Ever since she burst onto the scene with her scammer anthem, “Make His Pockets Hurt,” in 2019, Lil Kayla has established herself as one of the hardest rappers in the San Francisco scene. Full of witty bars and lyrical mischief, tracks like “Throw Dat Shit” and “11:11” are what you crank up when you want to feel like you’re on your worst behavior. Lil Kayla’s legions of young, female fans are bound to be screaming in the front at her show at the intimate Oakland club Crybaby.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1280&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/240811_OutsideLands__EG_038.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13962540&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Kaytranada performs at Outside Lands on Aug. 11, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sleeping-on-gems-fest-w-kaytranada-more-discovery-meadow-san-jose-tickets-1993569655505&quot;&gt;Sleeping on Gems Fest with Kaytranada&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 13, 2–9 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Discovery Meadow, San José&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Whether it’s his timeless remix of Teedra Moses’ “Just Wanna Be Your Girl” or his 3 a.m. dance floor heater “Drip Sweat” with Chanel Tres, Kaytranada’s signature blend of house music with rap and R&amp;amp;B has drawn a massive global fanbase. At Discovery Meadow in San José, the Montreal producer will spin alongside standout house vocalist Rochelle Jordan, L.A. rap duo Partyof2, Amsterdam electronic producer Jael, the Bay’s own Ruby Ibarra, and more.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;798&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/HeroImage_SarahDavis.png&quot; alt=&quot;group of musicians pose on a street&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13982833&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Spiritual Cramp. (Sarah Davis)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bottomofthehill.com/20260919.html&quot;&gt;Spiritual Cramp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 19, 8:30 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Since they formed in San Francisco in 2017, punk rockers Spiritual Cramp have spread out all over the country, but the City remains their muse. In their video for the charmingly self-deprecating banger, “At My Funeral,” singer Mike Bingham frolics through Green Apple Books, Kilowatt and Oracle Park, paying homage to the places that shaped him. Spiritual Cramp will pack out the legendary rock club Bottom of the Hill for a homecoming show this fall.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1024&quot; height=&quot;683&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/GettyImages-2173024199.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;a Black man with a guitar, gold outfit and hat sings into a microphone onstage while holding a guitar&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13970421&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Fantastic Negrito performing at the Annual Americana Honors Awards in September 2024 in Nashville. (Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2026-27/Fantastic-Negrito&quot;&gt;Fantastic Negrito and San Francisco Symphony&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fantastic-negrito&quot;&gt;Fantastic Negrito&lt;/a&gt; might be a three-time Grammy winner, but he remains deeply rooted in his hometown of Oakland, tending to his urban farm and writing and recording in his West Oakland studio. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of his landmark album &lt;em&gt;The Last Days of Oakland&lt;/em&gt;, a fiery, blues-rock meditation on the working-class struggle in a rapidly gentrifying city. At Davies Symphony Hall, he’ll perform reimagined versions of tracks from his discography, backed by a full orchestra.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;800&quot; height=&quot;533&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/D7A5194.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13903425&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Erykah Badu performs at Lights On Festival at Concord Pavilion on Sept. 18, 2021. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://thegreekberkeley.com/events/erykah-badu-260927&quot;&gt;Erykah Badu&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 27, 7 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Greek Theatre, Berkeley&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Few artists’ influence on music, fashion and culture is as deeply felt as Erykah Badu’s. Almost two decades since her genre-defining neo-soul debut, &lt;em&gt;Baduizm&lt;/em&gt;, the singer’s career remains a blueprint for creative excellence and free-spirited self-expression. This month, she’ll release her highly anticipated collaborative album with producer The Alchemist, who’ll join her on her North American tour along with St. Louis rapper Smino.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2288547681.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A blonde, white singer strikes a pose in front of a diverse crew of female dancers. &quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992906&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Zara Larsson performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on July 31, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Joshua Applegate/WireImage)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://portolamusicfestival.com/&quot;&gt;Portola Festival&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 26–27&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Pier 80, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Electronic music giants, cult-favorite DJs and left-field pop acts unite for &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/portola-festival&quot;&gt;Portola&lt;/a&gt;, a festival whose eclectic lineup just makes sense for San Francisco. 2026 seems to be somewhat of a &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13990263/portola-festival-lineup-2026-robyn-zara-larsson-four-tet&quot;&gt;Swedish takeover&lt;/a&gt;, with EDM supergroup Swedish House Mafia and pop stars Robyn and Zara Larsson. Also among the headliners are Skrillex and Boys Noize’s duo Dog Blood, Four Tet and Tiësto. Legendary San José turntablist DJ Shadow will celebrate 30 years of his album &lt;em&gt;Endtroducing….. &lt;/em&gt;Other highlights from the bill include City Girls rapper JT, Argentinian perreo-rave singer Six Sex, San Francisco hyperpop artist Underscores, trip-hop legend Tricky and more.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2560&quot; height=&quot;1638&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-859339040-1-scaled.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;a woman with white hair and sunglasses smiles as she plays guitar on an outdoor stage&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13917394&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Hardly Strictly Bluegrass veteran Emmylou Harris will return to this year’s free musical festival. (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/headline/2026-lineup-announcements/&quot;&gt;Hardly Strictly Bluegrass&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 2–4&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Golden Gate Park, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;San Francisco’s second summer typically lasts well into October, and &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/hardly-strictly-bluegrass&quot;&gt;Hardly Strictly&lt;/a&gt; is a capstone event of the season. The free, family-friendly music festival takes over Golden Gate Park with performances by singer, fiddler and music producer Alison Krauss and her band Union Station, Yemeni band El Khat (who make their own instruments), country-rock legend Emmylou Harris and rockers My Morning Jacket.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-2283245764.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A Black hip-hop artist raps into a microphone, flanked by backup singers and musicians. &quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992907&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Cameron McCloud (center) of Cure for Paranoia performs in concert during NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour at Emo’s Austin on June 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.theindependentsf.com/tm-event/cure-for-paranoia/&quot;&gt;Cure for Paranoia&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 6, 8 p.m.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Independent, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;With irresistible charisma, an off-kilter flow and bold lyrics about Black, queer life in Texas, Cure for Paranoia is blowing up after winning NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest this year. The alternative hip-hop collective will bring their dynamic live show, backed by a full band, to San Francisco’s Independent.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/GettyImages-1579120072.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A Mexican DJ smiles as he looks up from behind the decks. &quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992908&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Mexican Institute of Sound spins at Family Time: Arrullos Mexicanos at The GRAMMY Museum on July 29, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://fest.psychedradiosf.com/psychedfest-sf-2026/&quot;&gt;Psyched! Fest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 11–Nov. 6&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Various venues, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;D.I.Y. online radio station &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.psychedradiosf.com/&quot;&gt;Psyched! Radio&lt;/a&gt; is one of San Francisco’s homes for the underground music scene, and its festival takes over independent venues including Rickshaw Stop, Great American Music Hall and Neck of the Woods for a month of shows this fall. The expansive lineup features several notable acts from Mexico — including Mexican Institute of Sound, Diles Que No Me Maten and Amantes del Futuro — sharing stages with Bay Area and stateside artists.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992902/bay-area-fall-2026-best-concerts-san-francisco-oakland-san-jose</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992902/bay-area-fall-2026-best-concerts-san-francisco-oakland-san-jose</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Nastia Voynovskaya</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Music</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Fall Guide 2026</category>
      <category>Fantastic Negrito</category>
      <category>featured-arts</category>
      <category>Hardly Strictly Bluegrass</category>
      <category>Hiero Day</category>
      <category>Oakland</category>
      <category>Portola Festival</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
      <category>San Jose</category>
      <category>The Do List</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
      <category>Music</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>‘Dreams in Nightmares’ Is a Road-Trip Movie About Living on Your Own Terms</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/dreams-in-nightmares.png&quot; alt=&quot;Three young Black women stand close together in a field at sunset, smiling and cheering, the sky purple behind them.&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lauren (Dezi Bing), Z (Denée Benton) and Tasha (Sasha Compère) embark on a road trip in search of a fourth friend in ‘Dreams in Nightmares.’&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A few years ago, I saw a quietly shattering debut feature called &lt;em&gt;Test Pattern&lt;/em&gt;, from the writer and director Shatara Michelle Ford. Set mostly in the hours following a sexual assault, the movie was full of sharp, damning insights into how America’s healthcare and law-enforcement systems routinely fail Black women. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In their second feature, &lt;em&gt;Dreams in Nightmares&lt;/em&gt;, Ford has lightened the mood and loosened the tension. This is a warm, sprawling, sweetly bickersome comedy-drama about a group of close friends who, at a turning point in their lives, decide to hit the road together. But Ford remains focused on the physical and emotional well-being of their characters — in this case, four queer Black friends in their mid-30s.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The one we get to know best is Z, a Los Angeles-based writer, played by Denée Benton from &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.npr.org/2022/01/20/1074046871/the-gilded-age-hbo-julian-fellowes-review&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Gilded Age&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, who’s just been laid off from her job as a professor. By unhappy coincidence, Z’s Brooklyn-based friend Tasha, played by Sasha Compère, loses her consulting gig around the same time. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On a whim, Z flies to New York to hang with Tasha and their friend Lauren, played by Dezi Bing. From there, the three hop in a car and drive west to Iowa City to visit their friend Kel, who’s an artist. Kel hasn’t returned the group’s texts and calls in a while, and they want to make sure that they’re OK.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Despite the last-minute decision, Lauren, Tasha and Z embark on their trip with a sense of purpose and a measure of caution. They know they’ll have to be on alert, especially when traveling outside major cities. Early on, too, Lauren insists that, whenever possible, the three of them will eat only at Black-owned restaurants. At one such eatery, they sit down at a table and find a cup filled with strips of paper, each one printed with a conversation-starting question, prompting a discussion about whether their favorite attributes about themselves are physical or not.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Z and Lauren are both pursuing their artistic dreams: Lauren is a poet, as we hear firsthand when they perform at a queer poetry slam during a quick stopover in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Z wonders if her layoff is the motivation she needs to finally write that book she’s been planning. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Tasha, by contrast, is the practical-minded, no-nonsense member of the group, and she sometimes finds herself at odds with her more free-spirited friends. We learn that, at one point, Tasha wanted to become an actor, a dream she gave up for what she thought would be a steadier career in business. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On paper, that might sound too obvious — the bohemian artistes versus the high-strung corporate sellout. But the actors, especially Compère as Tasha, are too vivid to be reduced to mere types, and there’s more joy and solidarity in the characters’ dynamic than there is resentment or tension.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-embed is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-embed__wrapper&quot;&gt;
        &lt;iframe title=&quot;Dreams In Nightmares | Official Trailer | In Theaters August 21&quot; width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;360&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/irnCquH3qB0?feature=oembed&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;As in many road trip movies, the journey has its share of twists and turns. We learn that Kel left Iowa City some time ago, and so the friends have to spend a stormy night, in every sense, with Kel’s annoying ex-girlfriend. She’s played, in a scene-stealing comic turn, by Jasmin Savoy Brown. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;From there, they head south to Kansas City and have an awkward visit with Kel’s estranged and very conservative parents, who clearly have yet to accept their child’s queer identity. Without revealing exactly where the story goes, we do eventually meet Kel, who, as warmly played by Mars Storm Rucker, makes it easy to see why Z and Lauren care about them so deeply. We also see why Tasha feels resentful of, and perhaps even threatened by, Kel’s sense of freedom.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And freedom is ultimately what &lt;em&gt;Dreams in Nightmares&lt;/em&gt; is all about — the hope that these four characters and many others like them might be able to live life on their own terms. Throughout this intimate and gorgeously shot film, Ford shows us glimpses of that freedom — like when Tasha enjoys a rare moment of release at a Brooklyn nightclub. Or when Z checks in with her boyfriend in LA, with whom she enjoys a mutually supportive polyamorous relationship. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Most of all, there’s freedom in Z’s lyrical visions of a mysterious desert landscape, which appear throughout the film, calling her toward some unknown yet promising destination. In a way, this is what Ford longs to give all their characters — the time, space and imagination to dream of a future that still has yet to be written.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Copyright © 2026 NPR&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993161/dreams-in-nightmares-review-road-trip-movie-black-queer</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993161/dreams-in-nightmares-review-road-trip-movie-black-queer</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:20:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Rae Alexandra</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Movies</category>
      <category>Pop Culture</category>
      <category>Gen Z</category>
      <category>NPR</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The 10 Best Museum and Gallery Shows to See this Fall</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/F0514_Reid_BlackCatPowerFlag.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;linocut of black cats holding signs&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;A work by Dorian Reid, ‘Black Cat Power.’&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Be sure to check out our full &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;2026 Fall Arts Guide&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;em&gt;to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;I’ll be honest with you: making this list is hard. There’s simply too much great stuff going on in the Bay Area’s visual arts scene to do it justice in 10 or so blurbs.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In just the next three months, we’ve got the Richmond Art Center turning 90 years old (and &lt;a href=&quot;https://richmondartcenter.org/events/90th-birthday-party-8-29-26/&quot;&gt;celebrating accordingly&lt;/a&gt;). We’ve got &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992388/rm-bts-sfmoma-ticket-alert&quot;&gt;RM of BTS&lt;/a&gt; co-curating a truly good-looking show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. And we’ve got a gloriously packed third annual &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nexus-sfbay.com/&quot;&gt;Black Art Week&lt;/a&gt;, led by the Museum of the African Diaspora.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The arts community has been &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985413/california-college-of-the-arts-sfai-mills-art-school-closures&quot;&gt;through&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12071507/financial-crisis-forces-sfs-mission-cultural-center-for-latino-arts-to-close&quot;&gt;a lot&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992653/sf-camerawork-nonprofit-photo-gallery-closing-fort-mason-center&quot;&gt;this year&lt;/a&gt;. And while few of us have the funds or the power to single-handedly save our arts institutions from obsolescence, we &lt;em&gt;can&lt;/em&gt; go to things. We can show up at talks, screenings, openings and walks. Because sometimes the difference between something existing and something ceasing to be is an enthusiastic crowd.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1310&quot; height=&quot;834&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/ObjectsUSA_NgoMarquis.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;colorful wacky shaped table lamp with blue shade, blown glass vase with stars and stripes&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993101&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;L: A lamp by Jolie Ngo, one of the contemporary artists in ‘OBJECTS: USA’; R: A glass vase by Richard Marquis, one of the original artists from the 1969 presentation. (Museum of Craft and Design)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://sfmcd.org/exhibitions/objects-usa/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;OBJECTS: USA&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 5, 2026–Jan. 17, 2027&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Museum of Craft and Design, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;I have a distinct memory of a book with this title existing on my parents’ coffee table. Turns out it was the catalog of a landmark 1969 Smithsonian exhibition on the previously un-exalted subject of American studio craft. Revisiting this premise nearly 60 years later, R &amp;amp; Company, a New York design gallery, has organized an exhibition that features artists from the original show, as well as a roster of contemporary artists working with clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, enamel, mosaic and more. A must-see for fans of funky materials, lively interiors and colorful objets d’art.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;2000&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Thomas_Unnamed-but-Not-Unknown-II-Promise-2026_LTH0123DR_John-Janca_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;graphite portrait of Black woman in diamond-shaped frame&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993124&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Lava Thomas, ‘Unnamed but Not Unknown II (Promise),’ 2026. (Jessica Silverman Gallery)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lava Thomas, ‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://jessicasilvermangallery.com/online-shows/lava-thomas/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lineage&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 10–Oct. 24, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Jessica Silverman Gallery, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s been eight years since Lava Thomas’ last solo exhibition in the Bay Area — the 2018 show &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13841129/drawn-out-of-history-lava-thomas-mug-shots-at-rena-bransten-gallery&quot;&gt;Mugshots&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/em&gt;at Rena Bransten Gallery, which featured portraits of women arrested during the Montgomery bus boycott. Now, Thomas has turned to her own family history for her large-scale graphite and Conté crayon drawings. Delicate lines and shading give luminous three-dimensionality to Thomas’ images of her ancestors in post-Emancipation Texas. (Opening upstairs the same night is new work from &lt;a href=&quot;https://jessicasilvermangallery.com/online-shows/sadie-barnette/&quot;&gt;Sadie Barnette&lt;/a&gt;, whose equally precise drawings include dollops of rainbow-hued color.)&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1323&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/CD_DaCorte_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;person in Frankenstein monster costume lays on ground with colorful plastic brooms&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993141&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Alex Da Corte, ‘Slow Graffiti,’ 2017; video still. (Courtesy of the artist, KADIST collection)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://kadist.org/program/exhibition-character-development/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Character Development&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 10–Oct. 31, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;1201 Minnesota St., San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;KADIST and the Minnesota Street Project Foundation are teaming up to present video installations by Sophia Al-Maria, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Sara Cwynar, Alex Da Corte, Beatrice Gibson and Martine Syms in the project’s cavernous warehouse space. In each piece, the artist appears on-screen in a “guise.” I’ve seen only one of these works — Cwynar’s &lt;em&gt;Baby Blue Benzo&lt;/em&gt;, an elaborately orchestrated video that exposes the artifice of how images are made — but that one alone is worth lining up for.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1899&quot; height=&quot;1320&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Kentercombo.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;two wall-mounted sculptures of architectural objects: a fan vent and a window full of stuff&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993126&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;L: Malcolm Kenter, ‘Hawk and Fan Intervention,’ 2025; R: ‘Hoarder Window Shadow Box (ode to Distant Cousin Cornell),’ 2026. (Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Malcolm W. Kenter, ‘Synechdoche’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 16–Dec. 13, 2026&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum-art&quot;&gt;St. Mary’s College Museum of Art&lt;/a&gt;, Moraga&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Malcolm Kenter, a whiz at creating homages to utilitarian and underappreciated facets of the urban environment, will show a decade of his work in his first museum solo show. Kenter takes a variety of material approaches in his work: needlepoint, miniatures, life-sized replicas of architectural features. In all these forms, you can see Kenter’s appreciation for the accumulation of history, building styles and daily grime that gives San Francisco its essential, beautiful character.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1389&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Photosculpture_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;old advertisement in French for photosculpture&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993127&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A. Van Geleyn, ‘Photosculpture. Sculpture d’après nature obetenue mécaniquement. Dix secondes de pose,’ 1865; Lithograph. (Bibliothèque nationale de France)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://museum.stanford.edu/exhibitions/solid-pictures&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Solid Pictures: Photosculpture and the Making of Modern Likeness&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 17, 2026–Jan. 18, 2027&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Cantor Arts Center, Stanford&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In 1859, long before we had 3D scanning and printing, a 29-year-old French artist and inventor came up with a means to translate photographs into solid objects. These photosculptures were an attempt to make portraiture more affordable for a growing middle class. Ultimately, the technology didn’t take off — it’s hard to be ahead of one’s time. But that means we’ll have even more to learn from the first major exhibition of this strange, hybrid approach to capturing likenesses.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1500&quot; height=&quot;1000&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Friedman_PaloAlto.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;multicolored and textured textile with the word YES in the lower right corner&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993120&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Terri Friedman, ‘Yes. Yes.’ 2022; Wool, cotton, acrylic, hemp, metallic, chenille fibers. (Courtesy of the artist)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/Community-Services/Arts-Sciences/Palo-Alto-Art-Center/See-Art/Exhibitions/Upcoming&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Live the moment light&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 19–Dec. 13, 2026&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Palo Alto Art Center&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This show, curated by Christine Koppes, gathers work by Solée Darrell, Terri Friedman and Angelica Trimble-Yanu to trace the influence of Corita Kent, the artist and one-time nun whose bright colors and lessons on curious, close looking have shaped generations. The pleasure in this one will be seeing how Kent’s work interacts with Darrell’s dye on velvet paintings, Friedman’s kaleidoscopic textiles and Trimble-Yanu’s monochrome prints.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1747&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/web-Crumpler-07-26-125.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;dynamic painting of containers falling into ocean from cargo ship&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993121&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Dewey Crumpler, ‘Breach,’ 2023; Acrylic and metal leaf on canvas. (Courtesy of the artist and Jenkins Johnson Gallery New York and San Francisco)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nexus-sfbay.com/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Nexus: SF/Black Art Week&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 30–Oct. 4, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Various locations&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The third edition of Black Art Week, founded by the Museum of African Diaspora, packs a dense schedule of talks, shows, open studios, screenings and parties into spaces all around the Bay. Not to miss: Dewey Crumpler’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.moadsf.org/exhibitions/dewey-crumpler-sonic-lineages&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sonic Lineages&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at MoAD; Dread Scott’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://ybca.org/yerba-buena-center-for-the-arts-announces-upcoming-season-of-exhibitions-and-programs-for-2026/&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Body Politic&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; and what’s sure to be an excellent conversation between &lt;a href=&quot;https://nexus2026a.sched.com/event/2VOLi/open-studio-x-artist-talk-ashara-ekundayo-in-conversation-with-emory-douglas?iframe=no&quot;&gt;Emory Douglas and Ashara Ekundayo&lt;/a&gt; at Minnesota Street Project.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1250&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Daviel_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;green glowing woman looks astonished, two red glowing women missing one eye flank her&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993113&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A still from Daviel Shy’s ‘After the Pleasure Dome,’ 2026. (Courtesy of the artist)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.slashart.org/sideways-glance/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Sideways Glance&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 3, 2026–Feb. 20, 2027&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Slash, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;We are &lt;em&gt;rich&lt;/em&gt; in interestingly framed group exhibitions this fall. This one focuses on artists exploring the lesbian body, feminist practices and work that has a physical effect on the viewer. Curator Elena Gross pulls together installation, sculpture and video from Alexa Burrell, Sienna Freeman, Daviel Shy and the late Barbara Hammer (subject of a recent, fantastic documentary, &lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/event/barbara-forever&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Barbara Forever&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;). “In the act of a woman looking at a woman, specificity is introduced,” Shy writes in &lt;a href=&quot;https://medium.com/@davielshy/women-seeing-women-c29fc53e2f82&quot;&gt;the essay&lt;/a&gt; that lends this show its name. “Once there are two women in the equation, neither can be &lt;em&gt;the&lt;/em&gt; symbol of woman.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1890&quot; height=&quot;1484&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/Screen-Shot-2021-08-10-at-12.36.56-PM.png&quot; alt=&quot;Girls dance with garlands while ducks fly overhead at Lake Merritt&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13900999&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A scene from 1923’s Annual Duck Festival, held on New Year’s Day at Lake Merritt. (Courtesy of the California Historical Society)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.docomomo-noca.org/more-news/2026/1/22/tourday-2026?rq=lake%20merritt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lake Merritt Tour Day&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 10, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Lake Merritt, Oakland&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This event comes from the wonderfully acronymed &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.docomomo-noca.org/mission-history&quot;&gt;Docomomo&lt;/a&gt;, an international organization committed to documenting and conserving sites associated with the modern architecture movement. As part of a national tour day devoted to recreation and play, our local chapter will lead a walk around Lake Merritt to point out the park pavilions, boathouses, playgrounds and athletic facilities that contribute to the lake’s public space. Anticipate thoughts on how this landscape has shifted over time and who gets to access it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;(If you can’t wait until October, and have a penchant for brutalism, there’s a Docomomo tour of the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.docomomo-noca.org/events/2026/9/12/modernism-born-in-california-transit-landscape-and-glen-park-bart-brutalism-tour&quot;&gt;Glen Park BART station&lt;/a&gt; on Sept. 12.)&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1583&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/PaulHarris_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;stuffed textile works of women sitting or reclining, melding into furniture&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993133&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A undated photograph of Paul Harris’ fabric and cloth sculptures in the artist’s studio in Bolinas. (Paul Harris / Marguerite Kirk Harris Survivor’s Trust)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Paul Harris, ‘The Boy Sews Like An Angel’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 31, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolinasmuseum.org/&quot;&gt;Bolinas Museum&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Bolinas Museum is on a roll. It just opened a show of &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolinasmuseum.org/exhibitions/all-this-every-day-bolinas-community-publishing-in-the-seventies/&quot;&gt;community publishing&lt;/a&gt; from the ’70s (including the town’s own take on the Yellow Pages, on view through Sept. 27) and it will soon mount a retrospective exhibition of the late Bolinas resident Paul Harris. The onetime California College of the Arts professor produced work in a variety of mediums, but his most unique format has to be his stuffed textile pieces, which merged figures with furniture. Organized by the artist’s estate, the show sounds possibly bigger than Bolinas itself, with nearly 40 works and an accompanying catalog.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1462&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/SarahSze_2000b.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;swirling lines and shapes in architectural space, small figures point up&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993136&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A rendering of Sarah Sze’s ‘Forever is Composed of Nows’ in the SFMOMA atrium. (Sarah Sze Studio)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Sarah Sze, ‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.sfmoma.org/exhibition/sarah-sze/&quot;&gt;Forever is Composed of Nows&lt;/a&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Nov. 21, 2026–ongoing&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;San Francisco Museum of Modern Art&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For some reason, I thought the Julie Mehretu paintings that currently flank the main staircase inside SFMOMA’s Third Street entrance were a permanent fixture. Not so! Sarah Sze, known for her dazzling, complex installations of small, colorful objects, has been commissioned to create a new piece for the atrium. Created with accessibility in mind, the work includes video projections, three monumental paintings and a “rhythmic, pulsating soundscape.” (We hope, for the sake of SFMOMA staffers at the coat check, that the sound levels are conducive to long-term exposure.)&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1500&quot; height=&quot;1137&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/F0514_Reid_BlackCatPowerFlag.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;linocut of black cats holding signs&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993123&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A work by Dorian Reid, ‘Black Cat Power.’ (Museum of the African Diaspora)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Other things to look forward to this fall&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;September&lt;/strong&gt;: Masaki Fujihata’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://museumca.org/on-view/behere-1942-a-new-lens-on-the-japanese-american-incarceration/&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;BeHere / 1942: A New Lens on the Japanese American Incarceration&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at OMCA; Dorian Reid’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.moadsf.org/exhibitions/calling-all-cats&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Calling All Cats!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at MoAD; the group exhibition &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.berkeleyartcenter.org/i-see-every-wave&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;I see every wave&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at the Berkeley Art Center; &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.icasanjose.org/upcoming-exhibitions/gregito-togiveandtake/&quot;&gt;Greg Ito’s solo show&lt;/a&gt; at the ICA San José.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;October:&lt;/strong&gt; an unobstructed view of the Ferry Building, when the giant lady is finally deinstalled; Leila Weefur’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.thelab.org/projects/2026/10/9/leila-weefur-the-chapel-of-becoming&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Chapel of Becoming&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; at the Lab.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;November:&lt;/strong&gt; the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.indexical.org/events/2026-11-14-within-mirrors-films-of-paul-clipson&quot;&gt;films of Paul Clipson&lt;/a&gt;, screening at Indexical in Santa Cruz.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993086/best-museum-gallery-shows-visual-art-guide-fall-2026-bolinas-moraga-palo-alto</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993086/best-museum-gallery-shows-visual-art-guide-fall-2026-bolinas-moraga-palo-alto</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Sarah Hotchkiss</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
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      <category>Visual Arts</category>
      <category>bolinas</category>
      <category>cantor arts center</category>
      <category>Fall Guide 2026</category>
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    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Massive New Oakland Mural Inspires Lasting Friendships and New Life Callings</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260814-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-09-BL-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Two student artists, an older man and a younger woman, hug in front of a colorful wall.&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ernesto Cortes hugs fellow student Kiana Tondre from Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course as they gather to see their completed mural in Oakland on Aug. 14, 2026. The class worked together to create the mural on a Peralta Community College District warehouse.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;This story is part of&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/findingyourpeople&quot;&gt;Finding Your People&lt;/a&gt;, a series celebrating the Bay Area’s meetups and subcultures that bring people together IRL in an increasingly online world.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;There’s a new gigantic work of art on 5th Avenue in Oakland, and it’s as colorful as the community that created it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Sorbet-like shades of yellow and red provide a background for an array of flora. An Iranian dancer in orange strikes a fierce pose on one side. And on the other, a young Aztec dancer with piercing eyes holds a drum. Double meanings and secret messages are interlaced throughout the piece.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Painted on a Peralta Community College District warehouse, the mural centers the four school mascots from the network of East Bay junior colleges: a Merritt College black panther, a Berkeley City College owl, a College of Alameda cougar and a Laney College eagle.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-20-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992971&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ernesto Cortes (left) and instructor Fredericko Alvarado touch up a mural created during Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course in Oakland. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Roughly 20 students and a handful of volunteers painted the murals as part of &lt;a href=&quot;https://laney.edu/news/unity-through-diversity-mural-celebrates-oakland-education-community&quot;&gt;Laney’s Art 129 summer course&lt;/a&gt;. It covers the broadside of a nondescript building, visible to a steady flow of thousands of daily commuters on 5th Avenue and Interstate 880.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This undertaking shows the power of individuals coming together in pursuit of a simple lesson in art. When they signed up for the class, they knew they’d create a gigantic mural. What they didn’t realize was that they’d also walk away with cross-cultural connections and lasting bonds with dope artists that go beyond paint on a wall.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Mural making is a cross-section between labor, psychotherapy, art making and community work,” says instructor &lt;a href=&quot;https://fredalvaradoarchives.space/?utm_source=ig&amp;amp;utm_medium=social&amp;amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;amp;fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAae14fUv8GL1aoaws95Lc4vfKaUaVlLIo8WvWSMBoxZy4vGRxISkLOIpMlyalg_aem_vFPtRnB2d61orrWem_4YVA&quot;&gt;Fredericko Alvarado&lt;/a&gt;, who has taught the class for the past four years. All of this happens at once, he stresses while painting in the sun.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It’s labor-intensive and heavy on the body,” adds Alvarado, a longtime muralist himself, “especially at the scale that we were working.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-08-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992958&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;(From left) Ernesto Cortes, Fredericko Alvarado and Emilio Hernandez look at the mural created during Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course after a fence blocking it from view was removed in Oakland on Aug. 18, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Yet according to his students, the hard work pays off.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I’m finally giving myself permission to go to art school,” says Malena Mayorga, standing on a patch of grass near the sprawling mural.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Mayorga, a longtime Oakland resident originally from El Salvador, contributed a tree that represents the original people of this land, the Ohlone people. Her painting of a large oak has cultural references etched into the bark. There’s a Chinese dragon, Brazilian flags and an Aztec Quetzalcōātl, as well as a Palestinian keffiyeh, Filipino markings, West African Adinkra symbols, Ethiopian embroidery, a Mayan figure that represents the universe and more.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260814-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-04-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992969&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ernesto Cortes speaks with fellow student Malena Mayorga from Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course as they gather to see their completed mural. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Looking at the bigger picture, Mayorga professes, “We need to be changing the world [and moving] in the direction we want to see.” For her, the mural embodies that idea.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The artists had to first agree on what the mural would collectively depict, and then design their individual contributions before placing them on a wall. They made minor miscalculations and adjusted them along the way.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;13992955&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-03-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992955&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Sketches for a mural created during Laney College’s ART 129 course. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;13992954&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-01-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992954&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A completed sketch of the mural. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The end result is a towering community collage that illustrates the importance of community college. It stands about a paint bucket-toss from the Peralta District headquarters, a place that has recently dealt with a storm of budgetary issues.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Recently, California’s community colleges lost the support of &lt;a href=&quot;https://calmatters.org/education/2025/06/california-bay-area-community-colleges-funding-formula/&quot;&gt;a cost-of-living fund&lt;/a&gt;, and the Peralta School District dealt with a $11.8 million deficit by cutting numerous classes and over 60 positions. This past spring they began closing &lt;a href=&quot;https://peraltacitizen.com/2026/02/03/laney-college-tower-to-retire/&quot;&gt;the Laney tower building&lt;/a&gt;, and in June they agreed to &lt;a href=&quot;https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/peralta/Board.nsf/files/DURLE55624C7/$file/25_26-212%20RESOLUTION%20AFFIRMING%20THE%20DISTRICT%20TRANSFORMATION%20PLAN%20AND%20THE%20CREATION%20OF%20OAKLAND%20CITY%20COLLEGE.pdf&quot;&gt;move forward with a plan to consolidate two schools&lt;/a&gt; — Merritt and Laney — under one umbrella, Oakland City College.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Despite the instability, this summer voters overwhelmingly approved a nine-year &lt;a href=&quot;https://ballotpedia.org/Peralta_Community_College_District,_California,_Measure_A,_Reauthorize_Parcel_Tax_to_Fund_Community_Colleges_Measure_(June_2026)&quot;&gt;parcel tax&lt;/a&gt; to help fund the district, easing the tension and assuring students that the district plans on remaining affordable and accessible.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260814-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-20-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992973&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Emilio Hernandez looks at the mural he helped paint during Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The class of muralists reflects the wide array of reasons people choose to pursue their education at a community college. Some students are dealing with housing insecurity and physical health issues. Some are elders finally prioritizing art careers, and others are young students chasing their creative dreams.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Twenty-year-old &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.instagram.com/vintage.vrtbre&quot;&gt;Kiana Tondre&lt;/a&gt;, born and raised in Oakland, is a studio arts major at San Francisco State University. Partially inspired by her grandfather, a former California College of the Arts and Crafts professor, Tondre has long known that she’s an artist. And after taking this course at Laney over the past two summers, she honed in on murals as her preferred format. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“This is what I want to do with my life,” she says.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-06-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992957&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Student Kiana Tondre and instructor Fredericko Alvarado prepare to touch up a mural created during Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-05-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992956&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Student Kiana Tondre and instructor Fredericko Alvarado prepare paint for a mural touch-up. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Through the class she got connected to the legendary community arts organization &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.precitaeyes.org/&quot;&gt;Precita Eyes&lt;/a&gt;, as well as a world of students she wouldn’t have met at her more expensive four-year college.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;”In terms of community, I think Laney brings people together a lot more,” Tondre says.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Tondre painted a beautifully stoic Iranian dancer, an image that’s emblematic of a group of women who are “very misrepresented,” she explains. An Iranian woman herself, Tondre imagined the design as an homage to her grandmother. “She is kind of like one of the guardians to the mural,” Tondre says.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260814-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-08-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992964&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Qi Han takes a photo of Kiana Tondre in front of the section of the mural she created during Laney College’s ART 129 summer mural course in Oakland on Aug. 14, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On the other side of that stands Ernesto Cortes’ painting based on an old photo of his nephew, who began learning about traditional Aztec dances and culture at nine years old. Cortes tells KQED in Spanish that his nephew is now a young adult, and teaches cultural classes at the college level. Noting the importance of remaining steadfast in your calling and cultural pride, despite racism and other oppressive forces, Cortes says he had to honor his nephew’s vision.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Below Cortes’ dancing nephew, depicted in vibrant shades of green and blue, are the Ngíva words for grass and water. And to the righthand side of that image is a mocha-colored owl with spread wings and huge eyes, painted by traditionally trained fine artist &lt;a href=&quot;https://hanqiart.com/&quot;&gt;Qi Han&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260818-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-21-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992974&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ernesto Cortes touches up a section of the mural he created. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260814-FYP-CommunityCollegeArtClass-03-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992972&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ernesto Cortes speaks with fellow student Qi Han. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Before taking Alvarado’s class, Han had never painted a mural. Now, she’s already completed a second one through connections she made in the class. “Yeah, I think

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      <title>Monterey Park Becomes a Role Model for Banning Data Centers</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MontereyParkGetty.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;City officials had previously welcomed its plans to build a sprawling new data center and the jobs and tax revenue that would follow, but suddenly city opposition to the plan sprang up. Signs of protest pepper front yards in a nearby residential neighborhood in Monterey Park, California, on April 1, 2026.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Here are the morning’s top stories on Monday, August 24, 2026&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;Across the US, communities are mobilizing in the fight against data centers. And they’re turning to Monterey Park in LA County, which this year became the first city in the US to ban them. That was entirely due to the efforts of a group of residents called, appropriately, No Data Center Monterey Park. So, what advice do they have?&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;The California Supreme Court will hear arguments today in two separate lawsuits over the Riverside County sheriff’s seizure of hundreds of thousands of ballots earlier this year.&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;Counties up and down the state are reporting decreases in their homeless populations. It’s the second year in a row we’re seeing these figures drop. &lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kcrw.com/shows/kcrw-reports/stories/monterey-park-data-centers-san-gabriel-valley?srsltid=AfmBOooW08p_qJoOr8cARO3oMeWfMS69PapBjkPorcceRzEdolFya3X4&quot;&gt;Communities Across the Country are Rejecting Data Centers – Monterey Park is “Ahead of the Pack”&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;After a group of Monterey Park residents organized under the banner&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nodatacentermpk.org/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;No Data Center Monterey Park&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;and made their city&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kcrw.com/shows/kcrw-reports/stories/monterey-park-data-center?srsltid=AfmBOoopVoyOm-a9hPlVGL3IFhpokYAMJlGMXrhTuUSu1c_a8meqrSRt&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;the first in the nation&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;to ban the facilities in April, “it put us on the maps of other small cities looking to ban data centers,” says Steven Kung, one of the lead organizers.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;They started getting messages from other communities from the San Gabriel Valley to Ohio. Nearly a dozen so far, asking the same question:&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;How’d you do it&lt;/em&gt;?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;As his fellow organizer Hrag Balian puts it: “We’ve kind of awakened the beast.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Monterey Park organizers are now putting together a playbook to share with other groups. Balian, who’s a software engineer, also created a toolkit that combines all the apps they found useful, for everything from sending newsletters to writing petitions.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Nationwide, polling shows that&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://news.gallup.com/poll/709772/americans-oppose-data-centers-area.aspx&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;70 percent of residents&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;are against a data center in their communities. Locally,&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2026-06-02/monterey-park-to-take-landmark-vote-on-banning-data-centers-ban&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;Montebello, Baldwin Park, and El Monte&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;have passed moratoria. Alhambra made a zoning change that basically bans data centers. And in April, LA County&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://planning.lacounty.gov/long-range-planning/data-centers/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;launched a study&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;into the impacts of data centers on health, environment, and grid.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;All these groups that mobilized for their specific local concerns might have just stayed in their little bubbles. But now they’re part of a growing network — people who might not have ever found each other if not for the common cause of data centers, and what they’re powering: the looming specter of artificial intelligence.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Montana’s Alessandro Mitchell slid into the DMs of Monterey Park activists after their victory in the spring. He’s head of&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://missoulaneighborsunited.neocities.org/our-work&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;Missoula Neighbors United&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, a tenants-rights organization. When a developer proposed a data center in the next town over, Mitchell went looking for help.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“That’s when the Monterey Park people come in, because I saw their victory, and I thought, ‘Well, these people are ahead of the pack,’” says Mitchell.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;He sought out their advice, which included: Skip the ballot measure.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Having a referendum means a lot of canvassing, it means starting a ballot measure committee,” says Kung. “It means fundraising. It’s a lot of work.” Kung and Balian say an ordinance does just about everything organizers would want, and it’s a lot easier than trying to put a ban on the ballot.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But Kung says the&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;real&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;secret to success is “having weekly meetings really keeps everyone accountable, keeps the fight up, keeps everyone’s spirits up.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;An organization in Coachella called&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.instagram.com/vivalacausa_/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;Viva La Causa&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;sought out the Monterey Park activists, too. Viva La Causa was formed years ago to fight against things like police brutality and gentrification. And now, data centers.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On Aug. 10th, the Coachella council&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nbcpalmsprings.com/2026/08/10/coachella-council-set-to-take-up-permanent-data-center-ban&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;passed an ordinance banning data centers&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. But despite Monterey Park cautioning them about how much of a pain a ballot initiative can be, Viva La Causa still wants to push for a citywide vote. Organizer Cecilia Lemus says they just don’t trust their city council: “If the city council votes it in, they can also vote it out.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In Missoula, the organizing paid off. The site owner for that data center project bailed out as a result of&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://montanafreepress.org/2026/07/06/property-owner-of-proposed-bonner-data-center-backs-out/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;“the public’s feedback.”&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;There’s also now a moratorium on data-center development, as the county considers energy use and impacts to health and environment.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Mitchell says the fear of artificial intelligence is highly motivating, “because it is going to do so much to change society. So I think, yes, it is creating a huge outpouring around the country, and it’s activating people in a way that I haven’t seen in my lifetime.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article316967864.html&quot;&gt;Bianco Says he was Investigating Voter Fraud. Riverside County Says there Wasn’t Any. &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The court will weigh two issues. First is whether Sheriff Chad Bianco broke California law when his deputies seized the 650,000 ballots in March.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Acting on a tip from a local watchdog, Bianco got a warrant for the seizure. It took place amid a furious national debate over states redrawing congressional districts to favor their own majority parties in advance of the 2026 midterm elections.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Bianco was running for governor at the time. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The second issue before the court is whether the attorney general has authority to tell Bianco to stop his investigation.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Bianco, who is a Republican, took the ballots after last year’s vote on Proposition 50… which asked whether to redraw California’s congressional map to favor Democrats.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Bianco said he was investigating allegations of voter fraud. However, Riverside County’s Registrar of Voters said there wasn’t any.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The court has 90 days to issue a decision.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Attorneys for Bianco and the Attorney General’s office did not respond to requests for comment.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2026/08/pit-counts-2026/&quot;&gt;State Investments in Reducing Homelessness Starting to Pay Off &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California reduced its official homeless count in 2025 after years of increases. Now, preliminary data for 2026 shows counties up and down the state are reporting decreases in their homeless populations. It’s the second year in a row we’re seeing these figures drop.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Some of the drops were significant. San Joaquin County cut its total unhoused population by nearly a third compared to 2024 and nearly halved the number of people sleeping on the street without shelter. Others were more modest, such as San Francisco’s 4% drop.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Officials in counties where the homeless count dropped credit their progress to creating more shelter beds and low-income housing, which they say was made possible by new state funds released over the past several years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;At the same time, some activists are questioning whether the numbers really are as rosy as they seem. Cities have ramped up enforcement against unhoused people in recent years – clearing encampments and citing people for illegal camping more frequently – which causes people to scatter and become harder to count. Just because someone is missing from an official count doesn’t mean they moved off the street and into housing.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Even in counties celebrating wins this year, officials wonder whether they can maintain those gains in the face of recent&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://calmatters.org/health/2026/08/medi-cal-the-cut-healthcare-threatened/&quot;&gt;federal cuts to Medi-Cal&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;and social services.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In addition, there were several reminders this year that the point-in-time counts are not perfect.&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-08-11/accounting-glitch-caused-nearly-half-of-l-a-s-increase-in-homeless-count&quot;&gt;The Los Angeles Times&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;uncovered an accounting glitch that inflated the city’s homeless count by more than 600 people.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In Central California, Fresno and Madera counties, which combined reported a 34% drop in homelessness compared to last year, appeared to have the largest reduction in the state. But the counties&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cc7bc02e8ba44aa938ccd4f/t/6a234bea54fe294ede543e7c/1780698092853/2026+PIT+Preliminary+Summary.pdf&quot;&gt;changed&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;the way they counted this year, potentially skewing the numbers. Instead of tallying everyone who was visible on the street as they did in 2025, this year, volunteers counted only people who confirmed they are homeless and agreed to participate in a survey. That change makes this year’s count difficult to compare to 2025 data,&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fresnobee.com/article316062827.html&quot;&gt;officials admitted&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;San Joaquin County, which boasted one of the biggest drops in overall homelessness and unsheltered homelessness in California, added more than 100 shelter beds and more than 1,000 permanent housing units between 2024 and 2026. That allowed the county to increase the number of people living in permanent housing by 86%.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“There just wasn’t money available 10 years ago like there is now,” said Dawn McLeish, deputy director of the county’s human services department. “It just took a couple years for those investments to get all the way off the ground.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/news/12096476/monterey-park-becomes-a-role-model-for-banning-data-centers</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/news/12096476/monterey-park-becomes-a-role-model-for-banning-data-centers</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:43:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Christopher Alam</author>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>data center</category>
      <category>TCRAM</category>
      <category>tcrarchive</category>
      <category>The California Report</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Exclusive: Errors Plagued Clipper 2.0 Long Before Botched Launch, Records Reveal</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-1_7.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Internal emails reviewed by KQED between the MTC and Cubic staff show that transit agency leaders and officials at the MTC had, for months, complained that Cubic was struggling to resolve persistent errors with the software, while Cubic staffers said MTC hadn’t authorized the company to complete enough testing to ensure the system’s success.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The day before &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area&quot;&gt;Bay Area&lt;/a&gt; transit agencies rolled out Clipper 2.0 — a long-anticipated upgrade to the region’s electronic train, bus and ferry tickets — a high-level staffer overseeing the project raised an important red flag.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Known as “next generation Clipper” and used by 22 Bay Area operators, the software promised to make riding transit easier with bank card tap-to-pay, rider discounts and other features. It had taken Cubic Transportation Systems, the contractor in charge of the update, seven years — nearly three more than initially promised — to deliver the new system.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But on the eve of the launch, Jason Weinstein, director of Clipper at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), which oversees Cubic’s contract, issued a formal letter, saying the MTC did not have confidence that the process for collecting fares and distributing them to the appropriate operator — a main function of the software — was happening appropriately. The problem, according to the MTC, was that it was not yet fully automated and relied too heavily on manual oversight in a system that handles hundreds of thousands of transactions daily.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Weinstein said the commission would “hold Cubic accountable” for meeting the requirements of its contract.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096267&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Passengers board Caltrain at the 22nd Street Caltrain station on July 29, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The incident revealed a fissure that had been deepening over the past year. Internal communications reviewed by KQED between the MTC and Cubic staff show software bugs like these were present long before Weinstein’s warning and Clipper 2.0’s public debut. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Transit agency leaders and officials at the MTC had for months complained the company was struggling to resolve persistent errors with the software, while Cubic staffers said MTC hadn’t authorized the company to complete enough testing to ensure the system’s success.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For the MTC, there was little time to spare. Executive Director Andrew Fremier said commissioners were eager to get the upgrades installed before the Super Bowl and World Cup, when hundreds of thousands of fans were expected to descend upon the Bay Area — and take transit to get to matches. With assurances from Cubic leadership that issues would be fixed quickly, Fremier said the commission determined the potential benefit of launching the systems’ new features outweighed the known risks.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“You’re probably never going to have a perfect system,” Fremier told KQED. “ We didn’t want to be so risk-averse that we weren’t getting good products into people’s hands.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096162&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Andrew Fremier, executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, at the Bay Area Transit offices in San Francisco on Aug. 5, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In the days that followed, however, Weinstein’s warning proved prescient, and Clipper 2.0 began to unravel. Upon attempting to log in to their accounts, some customers were locked out by error messages; others were charged incorrect fares; ticket vending machines took some riders’ money without crediting their accounts; fare inspection devices failed; and hold times to speak to customer service staff soared up to 100 minutes.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;During one outage that began on May 18 and lasted approximately 27 hours, BART riders were unable to purchase or add value to their Clipper cards at the agency’s ticket vending machines and faced delays with transactions at BART fare gates, according to a staff memo. The culprit turned out to be Cubic’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12085683/zero-credibility-major-clipper-outage-caused-by-cubics-failure-to-pay-att-bill&quot;&gt;failure to pay an AT&amp;amp;T bill&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The botched rollout comes at a particularly inopportune time for the agencies that rely on the platform to collect fares. The largest among them — BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit — are all facing existential budget crises and are seeking relief from voters through &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal&quot;&gt;two&lt;/a&gt; separate tax &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12087755/san-francisco-voters-will-vote-on-munis-future-in-november&quot;&gt;measures&lt;/a&gt; in order to avoid drastic service cuts.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“The reputational damage that we are facing on an item that should have been a win at a time when we really need a win is just unacceptable,” Julie Kirschbaum, director of transportation at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), said at a June meeting of the Clipper Executive Board.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096265&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A rider refills their Clipper card at the North Berkeley BART station on July 28, 2026. (Miles Cull/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Cubic Transportation Systems, a division of the San Diego-based global technology company Cubic Corporation, declined to answer specific questions about Clipper 2.0.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In a statement, Cubic spokesperson Cory Shields described Clipper 2.0 as “one of the most complex fare payment systems in the world.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Integrating the distinct fare structures and operating needs of each agency creates unique challenges that require close coordination among Cubic, MTC and the region’s operators,” Shields told KQED. “Our commitment to our partners and Bay Area riders is unwavering, and we will continue to build upon this progress to deliver the reliable system riders deserve.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The MTC initially estimated that upgrading the system’s roughly 15 million cards to Clipper 2.0 would take two to three months, but as of July 16, only about 15% of those cards have been converted to the new system.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1600&quot; height=&quot;2000&quot; data-id=&quot;12096269&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_courtesy1-1-Edit-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096269&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;An error message is displayed on a Clipper vending machine. An error message on a Clipper vending machine. The photo was obtained via a California Public Records Act request seeking information about the rollout of Clipper 2.0. (Courtesy of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1600&quot; height=&quot;2000&quot; data-id=&quot;12096252&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_vending-machine-error_veritcle-.00_00_21_01.Still001-Edit.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096252&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;An error message on a Clipper vending machine at the 16th Street BART Station on March 11, 2026. (Erin Baldassari/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The glitches, delays and service outages have increased the program’s cost by millions, and estimates by multiple transit agencies indicate more than $100,000 in lost fare revenue combined, although the MTC said it is still calculating the total revenue lost.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In June, the leaders of those agencies urged the commission to pursue “all contractual remedies” against Cubic to recover lost fares.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Fremier said his first focus is ensuring Clipper 2.0 actually works.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“What we’ve asked Cubic to focus on most directly is getting the system stable to the point where we can shut down the old Clipper system and be functioning in the brand-new Clipper 2 environment,” he told KQED, “and then try to pick up the pieces about who might be responsible for what.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Fremier said he expects those conversations to play out “over the next few months.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Years in the making&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Next generation Clipper, or Clipper 2.0, is the first update to Clipper since it launched in 2010.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The hope, Fremier said, was to offer a better product to riders that would in turn incentivize more people to take transit. Across the Bay Area’s nine counties, &lt;a href=&quot;https://vitalsigns.mtc.ca.gov/indicators/commute-mode-choice&quot;&gt;more than two-thirds of commuters&lt;/a&gt; drove to work alone in 2024, according to the MTC. Just 8% took transit on a typical workday.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But the original Clipper infrastructure wouldn’t support the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12065714/clipper-card-&quot;&gt;suite of new features&lt;/a&gt; that the MTC envisioned, including family accounts, reduced or free transfers and improvements to how users add funds. The update moved Clipper from a “card-based” system to an “account-based” system, Fremier said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1240&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096159&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Cubic was the sole bidder for the MTC’s contract, which officials acknowledge is uniquely complex. The system is used by nearly two dozen transit operators across nine counties with a variety of accepted payment methods, internal hardware, software programs and fare structures. (Darren Tu/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt; “The card used to do all the work, and it could only hold a certain amount of information, and that limited our ability to offer different fare products,” Fremier said. “By moving into newer technology, it offered us a lot more flexibility.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In 2018, MTC awarded Cubic a 10-year, $393 million contract, not including contingency funds, to develop and operate Clipper 2.0 for 10 years. That contract has since increased to $436 million to accommodate additional equipment and features. The company has held the previous contract for the original version of Clipper since 2009.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Cubic has developed and upgraded fare payment systems in other major cities, including New York City’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2024/05/20/mtas-demotes-omny-contractor-cubic-in-hopes-of-speeding-up-commuter-rail-fare-integration&quot;&gt;OMNY&lt;/a&gt;, Chicago’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.courthousenews.com/to-really-foul-things-up-chicagoprivatizes-transit-payment-system/&quot;&gt;Ventra&lt;/a&gt;, and Boston’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/23/mbta-proposes-more-tweaks-to-long-delayed-fare-transformation-initiative&quot;&gt;MBTA&lt;/a&gt; —&amp;nbsp;projects that also faced many of the same &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-announces-steps-to-address-ventra-issues/&quot;&gt;issues&lt;/a&gt; and delays that plague Clipper 2.0.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But Cubic was the sole bidder for the MTC’s contract, which officials acknowledge is uniquely complex. The system is used by nearly two dozen transit operators across nine counties with a variety of accepted payment methods, internal hardware, software programs and fare structures.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1332&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096308&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;The Cubic Corporation logo at the Satellite 2024 conference and exhibition in Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2024. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Rebecca Long, a spokesperson for MTC, said that while the commission did “everything it could do from a legal and business perspective” to attract multiple bids, its priority was minimizing disruptions for customers, which meant it had to keep Clipper 1.0 running through the transition. She said, however, that decision “added complexity” to the contract.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“That would be hard for anyone but Cubic,” Long said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Cubic also has very few competitors in the industry that are able to supply a full suite of services, according to Fremier. Still, he said commissioners thought Cubic’s previous experience running Clipper would be a “helpful benefit.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cubic responds&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In public meetings, Cubic representatives have apologized for the rocky rollout.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It’s completely unacceptable, and I’m deeply sorry for the experiences that you are having,” Peter Montgomery-Torrellas, the former president of Cubic Transportation Systems, told the Clipper Executive Board at a Jan. 26 meeting.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Montgomery-Torrellas left the company in June.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096264&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A rider scans their Clipper card at the North Berkeley BART station on July 28, 2026, in Berkeley. (Miles Cull/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In private communications, however, company representatives blamed some of Clipper 2.0’s issues on the MTC for not authorizing sufficient field testing prior to the launch.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Nine months before the rollout of Clipper 2.0, Cubic requested MTC increase the number of participants testing the new system from approximately 60 to at least 1,000.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“To solidify the potential launch date for the C2 program, it is crucial to maximize the use of the production system,” Dennis Dewan, contracts manager at Cubic, wrote in an email to Weinstein on March 14, 2025.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Dewan said since the start of that year, fewer than 1,000 rides had been processed across only nine agencies, involving fewer than 100 unique accounts.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Comprehensive validation of the system necessitates many more taps across a larger range of use cases,” Dewan wrote, referring to when riders “tap” their Clipper card on a card reader.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096263&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A Caltrain rider scans their phone on a Clipper machine at the 22nd Street Caltrain station in San Francisco on July 29, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But despite Cubic’s assertions that the system was ready for significantly larger pilot activity, the MTC declined to expand the number of testers, demanding Cubic resolve a known list of problems first.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“MTC does not plan to open the current field testing or to start [the] pilot with the public until an agreeable list of items is complete,” Weinstein told Dewan less than a week later.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Those items included successfully demonstrating that customer data — such as account credentials, payment methods and travel history — could be migrated from the old system to the new one.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In mid-April, 2025, testing by Cubic still showed “significant failure rates,” with only 49% of tests passing and more than 500 open software bugs, according to a formal letter to Cubic signed by Fremier. The back-and-forth about whether to expand the pilot continued through the spring and summer.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;By October, the first time a possible launch date was discussed, field testing was 30% complete, and Google Wallet — a digital wallet where people could store their Clipper card on their smartphone — remained blocked, Fremier wrote.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096268&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Super Bowl attendees exit a VTA light rail train at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Asked whether field testing was ever fully completed, Long told KQED, “Field testing was conducted on all components that could be validated in real-world conditions,” including Clipper device functionality, system reporting and website performance.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But even a week before launch, Diana Hammons, senior manager of revenue growth and reporting at the SFMTA, which runs Muni, expressed dissatisfaction with Cubic’s handling of known errors, asking the company to collate them into a master list.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“This e-mail chain is not an ideal way for us to be tracking the progress on these issues and for me to be able to effectively update our General Manager,” she wrote on Dec. 3. “We are seven days away from the scheduled launch date.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Despite known issues, Cubic officials assured MTC it could meet a Dec. 10 launch date for Clipper 2.0, Fremier said, with the MTC agreeing to continue testing in “a more live environment” — a decision he later defended.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“ I do think the decision and the reason why we made it was the right one at the time,” Fremier said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1975&quot; height=&quot;1317&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096206&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Dave Mangot stands at the 24th Street BART station in San Francisco on Aug. 3, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Dave Mangot, the founder and CEO of the software delivery consultancy Mangoteque, who reviewed Cubic’s outage reports obtained by KQED, said the MTC should not have relied on “assurances” from Cubic that the company would be able to fix the problems in a timely manner.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Assurances are nonsense in software. Either the tests pass, or they don’t. That’s it,” Mangot said. “ Show me that this thing works like it’s supposed to.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Doing a comprehensive pilot with well-planned, well-defined and well-managed outcomes, including full systems load testing, would have been very important for a rollout of this magnitude, according to Shyam Dunna, the principal at nMomentum Corporation, a technology consulting and IT services firm that specializes in fare collection systems.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It appears that this was not done thoroughly enough based on the reports of system issues,” Dunna said, acknowledging that it can be difficult to comment without a forensic inspection of what caused them.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Whac-A-Mole&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Clipper 2.0 launched on Dec. 10, 2025, with an eager crowd of transit agency heads and local leaders crowding a podium at the Embarcadero BART/Muni station to celebrate.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“As a city, we are moving in the right direction, and our economy is coming back,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said. “But that progress relies on a stable transit system.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That night, Angus Davol, assistant director of Clipper development and budget at MTC, told transit agency staff in an email that bankcard tap-to-pay acceptance “went smoothly overall,” but Cubic was investigating several issues, including customers “unable to manage their accounts.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096275&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A BART fare gate displays an “Out of Service” message at North Berkeley Station on July 28, 2026. (Miles Cull/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In the days that followed, internal emails and reports from MTC, transit agency staff and Cubic describe a software rollout similar to a game of Whac-A-Mole, in which issues would worsen and multiply while solutions remained elusive.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;By January, MTC staff expressed doubts the company would be able to meet its initial schedule for upgrading original Clipper accounts to Clipper 2.0.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“They did not design a system and migration process that can handle 600 passes and the significant number of rules and devices that we have in use,” Kelley Jackson, assistant director of Clipper Operations and Customer Experience at MTC, wrote in an email.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In several instances when problems did occur, Cubic’s initial response was to perform rolling restarts of servers, which Mangot described as a “turn everything off and on again” approach.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096277&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A rider scans their Clipper card at the 19th Street Oakland BART station on July 28, 2026. (Miles Cull/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“ Which is great if my mom has a problem with her Mac and she needs help, but this isn’t that,” Mangot said. “This is a payment system that’s running 22 different transit agencies. ‘Have you tried turning it off and on again’ isn’t the answer.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In response to a two-hour outage on March 25, when Clipper ticket vending machines were unable to process credit or debit card payments, a Cubic staffer wrote that the company should “estimate the cost of building and maintaining a proper load test environment,” as an action item in response to the outage.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Mangot said that response “seemed backwards.” Load testing, the process of testing a system under its expected peak capacity, typically happens before a new system launches.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“ So many of these issues that they are running into with [servers] being overutilized, that’s why we do load testing,” he said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘Cheated’ and ‘embarrassed’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Following the December launch, the Clipper Customer Service center became overwhelmed with around &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12071026/a-hot-mess-transit-riders-officials-skewer-contractor-over-flawed-clipper-2-0-rollout&quot;&gt;47,000 calls&lt;/a&gt; to agents in roughly its first month of operation, nearly four times the amount it was originally contracted to handle. At the same time, Clipper’s customer service staff reported delays accessing customer accounts.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;BART riders like Omar Sultan found themselves locked out of their accounts for weeks, unable to access the money they had set aside for riding transit. Sultan told the BART Board of Directors in a January email that he missed the reimbursement deadline for transit through his employer because he was unable to access his account for so long.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Riders are being charged for BART trips without the ability to audit those charges — a situation that would not be acceptable in any other payment system. I contacted Clipper customer service regarding this issue and received no response or guidance,” Sultan wrote.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1240&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096160&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;In the days following the launch of Clipper 2.0 — the region’s electronic train, bus and ferry tickets — the system began to unravel, with some customers locked out by error messages, others charged incorrect fares and ticket vending machines taking some riders’ money without crediting their accounts. (Darren Tu/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;AC Transit General Manager Salvador Llamas said the ongoing issues made it difficult to recruit passengers who qualify for Clipper START, a discount program for low-income riders.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It’s getting difficult to encourage people to get on Clipper START or other programs when the [ticket vending machines] don’t even work,” Llamas said at a July Clipper executive board meeting. “It’s hard for us to encourage people to trust the system.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;One longtime BART station agent who spoke to KQED on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak with the press said the problems with Clipper 2.0 made it harder to come to work, calling it “the worst systemwide morale killer amongst agents since I started working here.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The agent described months of problems with BART ticket vending machines where the machines would take riders’ money but not issue a Clipper card, and station agents “didn’t have an acceptable way to resolve the problem.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;blockquote class=&quot;bluesky-embed&quot; data-bluesky-uri=&quot;at://did:plc:dv5kwqbcc24iv2xrvlc5s33o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnsatydsds27&quot; data-bluesky-cid=&quot;bafyreifdfglkqclqpxzovr4utk4g5f4urxiifc4kwgcr7mlcgoamd77n7q&quot; data-bluesky-embed-color-mode=&quot;system&quot;&gt;&lt;p lang=&quot;en&quot;&gt;BART Station Agent Audio:
        @BART was having Problems with
        Parking Validation &amp;amp; Clipper Card Vending Machines
        Especially at El Cerrito del Norte and
        Richmond BART Stations
        June 8, 2026, 6:08 AM @danbrekke.bsky.social&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dv5kwqbcc24iv2xrvlc5s33o/post/3mnsatydsds27?ref_src=embed&quot;&gt;[image or embed]&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— bartfare.bsky.social (&lt;a href=&quot;https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dv5kwqbcc24iv2xrvlc5s33o?ref_src=embed&quot;&gt;@bartfare.bsky.social&lt;/a&gt;) &lt;a href=&quot;https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dv5kwqbcc24iv2xrvlc5s33o/post/3mnsatydsds27?ref_src=embed&quot;&gt;June 8, 2026 at 10:54 AM&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I care about our riders’ experience and can’t help but feel personally embarrassed, and organizationally incompetent, when our ‘product’ falls so far short of any reasonable expectations,” the station agent said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The station agent said eventually they turned the vending machine’s ticket dispensing capability off “so passengers wouldn’t get cheated out of their money.” Those problems persisted for months until an update by Cubic on Aug. 3 solved the problem, the station agent said, but “These software issues never should have taken this long to be fixed.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;While problems persisted, transit agencies lost money. Caltrain estimated in a March 5 email to MTC staff that from Clipper 2.0’s launch through Jan. 31, it lost $70,000 because fare inspection devices had failed.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On March 18, the MTC’s Davol told transit agency staff in an email that Cubic had identified around 125,000 card taps — when a rider pays for their trip using a Clipper card — that had not been priced, meaning the fares had not been deducted from customer accounts or settled with operators. Five days later, he said Cubic had suspended processing those taps because customers were being charged for trips that pre-existing passes should have otherwise covered, and that Cubic was reporting new instances of unpriced taps. By March, BART projected $33,000 in lost revenue because station agents had to give out free rides.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;!-- iframe plugin v.4.9 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ --&gt;
        &lt;iframe src=&quot;https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/iZooa/2/&quot; width=&quot;800&quot; height=&quot;600&quot; scrolling=&quot;yes&quot; class=&quot;iframe-class&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Other errors included failing to update fare tables on New Year’s Day and charging some customers a local fare for express routes.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“In this fiscal environment, Caltrain cannot afford to continue to [go] down this path,” Bruce Thompson, manager of fare program operations at Caltrain, wrote in one email to MTC staff, citing the agency’s forecasted $75 million annual budget &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.caltrain.com/caltrain-budget-deficit&quot;&gt;deficit&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Super Bowl and World Cup did indeed bring &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12081663/the-ohtani-effect-and-more-whats-behind-bay-area-transits-comeback&quot;&gt;record-setting&lt;/a&gt; ridership to &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.caltrain.com/news/ridership-records-broken-fifa-world-cup-stadium-opener&quot;&gt;Caltrain&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2026/news20260615-0&quot;&gt;BART&lt;/a&gt; and the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12091975/vtas-record-breaking-world-cup-ridership-nets-just-around-1-per-trip&quot;&gt;Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority&lt;/a&gt;. But the ongoing issues with Clipper 2.0 forced the agencies to delay introducing new promotions and led some to promote other fare payment platforms, such as the Token Transit app, instead.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt; “There’s no question that it hasn’t been a good rollout, and it hasn’t served our customers well,” Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard told KQED in June.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Between Dec. 10, 2025 and Aug. 10, 2026, Cubic logged 20 major incidents with the system, defined as an outage affecting things like card readers, or the Clipper website or app for more than an hour. The average length of the outages was approximately five hours. Of those 20 incidents, 19 were related to Cubic-managed systems, while one was related to a regional Microsoft outage, Long said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096260&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A Caltrain rider uses a Clipper card machine at the Palo Alto Caltrain station on July 29, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;None of those outages affected riders’ ability to take transit if their Clipper card already had value on it, or if they could pay with a bank card, Long said, but she added that the outages did have “customer-facing impacts.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The last major outage was on June 10.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Long said the MTC is still evaluating the total financial impact of Clipper 2.0 to transit operators. In June, the Clipper Executive Board tacked on &lt;a href=&quot;https://mtc.ca.gov/sites/default/files/meetings/attachments/6584/3c_Clipper_Two_Year_Budget.pdf?cb=a83f1316&quot;&gt;another $11 million&lt;/a&gt; to its fiscal year 2026-27 budget for costs related to Clipper 2.0 delays, including $3.4 million to keep the previous version of Clipper operational for up to nine more months and an additional $7.6 million for increased customer service center staffing.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This came shortly after Cubic blew through a self-imposed May 30 deadline to resolve all critical issues and begin upgrading accounts to Clipper 2.0 en masse.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Learning from mistakes&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For Adina Levin, the executive director of the Bay Area transit advocacy nonprofit Seamless Bay Area, the problems with Clipper 2.0’s delivery are representative of broader issues when government agencies are in charge of overseeing large-scale technology projects.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“ What is needed is a learning process on what are the attributes of a well-managed technology project, and so what needs to be put in place to do things differently,” Levin said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Levin said the MTC needs to be more involved in the technical planning of systems like Clipper 2.0 in order for them to be successful.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096280&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Adina Levin sits at the Menlo Park Caltrain station on Aug. 7, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“What is the network environment of this project, and is the system designed to work in this network? What is the testing plan to work in the network? The customer needs to be able to understand that in order to be able to manage it,” Levin said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Levin suggested that for future projects, MTC could structure the contract with smaller components that could allow for more “competitive choices,” as Cubic being the single bidder meant there was no competition or alternatives to choose from.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;As contract manager, Fremier said the MTC’s job “is to make sure that Cubic produces the system that they bid on and that we specified in the contract.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But he said so much of the work is done behind the scenes by programmers and people with technical expertise that there wasn’t much more the MTC could do to improve delivery of the system.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“ That’s not what we have on staff. We aren’t programmers. That’s a place that most owners, including us, do not have that expertise,” Fremier said. “That’s why you hire a professional contractor to do that.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For Fremier, one takeaway is that the complexity of the Bay Area’s fare payment system contributed to issues rolling out the system.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Some agencies like Caltrain and BART charge riders based on how far they ride, while others like MUNI and AC Transit charge a flat fee. Long said agencies’ inspection devices and ticket vending machines all rely on different underlying software which must interact with Clipper 2.0. Even the discount offered to senior or youth riders varies between agencies, Long said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“ We’ve all learned lessons about what we might be able to do better, including maybe down the road simplifying some of the connectivity challenges that we have with all the different systems,” Fremier said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Fremier said he’s confident that over the course of the summer and into the fall, the MTC will be able to shut down the old version of Clipper and manage the entire system on Clipper 2.0.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Once that is done, it may be time to start on Clipper 3.0.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“ These contracts take several years to procure and several years to build, which is multiple years in the making, which means we need to almost get started now on trying to figure out what that next generation might be,” he said.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/news/12096240/exclusive-errors-plagued-clipper-2-0-long-before-botched-launch-records-reveal</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/news/12096240/exclusive-errors-plagued-clipper-2-0-long-before-botched-launch-records-reveal</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:57:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Steph Rodriguez</author>
      <category>Local</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Transportation</category>
      <category>BART</category>
      <category>Bay Area</category>
      <category>commuting</category>
      <category>featured-news</category>
      <category>investigation</category>
      <category>oakland</category>
      <category>public transit</category>
      <category>public transportation</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
      <category>transportation</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Oakland</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>49ers Owner Jed York Pleads No Contest to 2 Misdemeanor Charges in Ohio</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/AP26236557712207.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;San Francisco 49ers team owner Jed York speaks at a news conference in San Francisco, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/49ers&quot;&gt;San Francisco 49ers&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;owner Jed York was arrested over the weekend in Ohio and pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;York was arrested Sunday in East Palestine, Ohio, and was released after posting a $5,000 bond. He was sentenced to one day in jail for both offenses to be served concurrently and was credited with one day served when he pleaded no contest Monday morning. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;He also was fined $1,150.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Court records show that York initially was charged with engaging in prostitution, but prosecutors amended that to disorderly conduct. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1980&quot; height=&quot;1321&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2260236530.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12096502&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Jed York speaks during a press conference after Super Bowl LX on Feb. 9, 2026 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. (Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Records also show that York had a cellphone returned to him and that $160 that was seized was to be given to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force as part of the plea agreement. York also completed an online course.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The 49ers and the NFL didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The 46-year-old York took over day-to-day control of the 49ers from his parents in 2008. He became the team’s principal owner in 2024. After some initial struggles under York’s leadership, the team has been a consistent contender since hiring coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in 2017.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Niners have made the Super Bowl three times under York’s leadership, losing in the 2012 season under coach Jim Harbaugh and the 2019 and ’23 seasons under Shanahan and Lynch.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;York also oversaw the building of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The team moved from San Francisco to the new stadium in 2014. The stadium has hosted two Super Bowls, a World Cup and a College Football Playoff title game.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/news/12096497/49ers-owner-jed-york-pleads-no-contest-to-2-misdemeanor-charges-in-ohio</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/news/12096497/49ers-owner-jed-york-pleads-no-contest-to-2-misdemeanor-charges-in-ohio</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:52:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Gilare Zada</author>
      <category>California</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Sports</category>
      <category>arrest</category>
      <category>Bay Area</category>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <category>San Francisco 49ers</category>
      <category>sports</category>
      <category>Super Bowl</category>
      <category>California</category>
      <category>News</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>As ICE Custody Deaths Rise, State Bill Would Force Release of 911 Call Data</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/GettyImages-450371179-scaled-e1787347782575.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A hand reaches out from a cell to use a pay phone in a detention facility.&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;An immigrant detainee makes a call from his “segregation cell” at the Adelanto Detention Facility on Nov. 15, 2013, in Adelanto, California. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A bill that would require local agencies to release data on 911 calls originating from &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/immigrant-detention-centers&quot;&gt;privately operated detention facilities&lt;/a&gt; is heading for a vote on the state assembly floor this week.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s part of a raft of new bills by state lawmakers aiming for more scrutiny of immigration detention in California, at a time when deaths in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody have spiked, and &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12092950/a-judge-sent-a-doctor-to-evaluate-californias-largest-ice-detention-center-what-he-found&quot;&gt;investigations and courts have found&lt;/a&gt; facilities failing to provide essential medical care.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, said she introduced &lt;a href=&quot;https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB423&quot;&gt;SB 423&lt;/a&gt; because the number of people in ICE detention in California has grown dramatically during President Donald Trump’s second term, to &lt;a href=&quot;https://sd33.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd33.senate.ca.gov/files/pdf/SB%20423%20(Gonzalez)%20Private%20Detention%20Facility%20Fact%20Sheet_0.pdf&quot;&gt;more than 6,000 people&lt;/a&gt;, and many are held for long periods in sometimes inhumane conditions.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1760&quot; height=&quot;1174&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/JPR-wwii.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12091944&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Members of the Tule Lake pilgrimage, including survivors of the incarceration camp, protest the conditions in modern-day immigrant detention facilities on July 4, 2026. (Peyton Gast/JPR)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;While she does not have an ICE facility in her district, she said she does have many immigrant constituents, including some whose family members have been incarcerated in immigration jails.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“When families’ safety, health and wellbeing are at stake, transparency is not optional—it is urgent,” she said in a statement. “No private contract or detention center wall should be used to hide dangerous conditions or silence people who have been mistreated inside these facilities.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The bill would require local agencies to turn over recordings and written records of 911 calls from privately run detention facilities, if a member of the public requests them. It includes an exception if there’s an active investigation underway and requires the names of affected individuals to be redacted.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;At least &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.ice.gov/detain/detainee-death-reporting&quot;&gt;55 people&lt;/a&gt; have died &lt;a href=&quot;https://phr.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PHR-HRW-Report-US-Deaths-ICE-detention-2026.pdf&quot;&gt;in ICE custody&lt;/a&gt; since President Trump returned to office — six of them in California. The state attorney general and other watchdog organizations have documented medical neglect and inhumane treatment in the eight facilities currently operating throughout the state.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Private prison companies operate all of those facilities. Though the federal government &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12089974/private-prison-company-sells-two-of-californias-immigrant-detention-centers-to-the-federal-government&quot;&gt;recently purchased two&lt;/a&gt; from CoreCivic — Otay Mesa Detention Center, in San Diego County, and California City Detention Facility, in K

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      <title>San Francisco’s Dahlia Show Celebrates a Century of Floral Diversity</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-29-KQED-1.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Selina Yep admires a dahlia at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the dahlia being named San Francisco’s official flower.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Hundreds of dahlias turned a corner of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco into a showcase of color, shape and genetic diversity this past weekend.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Dahlia Society of California’s annual show returned to the park, this time to mark the 100th anniversary of San Francisco naming the dahlia its official flower.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This year was themed “San Francisco Icons,” with dahlia arrangements evoking the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, the Painted Ladies, Coit Tower and other city landmarks.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-18-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001729&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Single-bloom dahlias are displayed at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001724&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-12-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001724&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Marzieh Yaghini admires a dahlia at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001733&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-25-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001733&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A Golden Gate Bridge dahlia arrangement is displayed at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Visitors wandered among rows of carefully cultivated blooms, many of them competing for ribbons and recognition from judges and, for attendees, simply offering a chance to slow down and look closely at a flower that can be surprisingly complex.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“One of the reasons we love San Francisco is because there’s so many different kinds of people here. And Dahlias are kind of the San Francisco of floral society,” said Deborah Dietz, corresponding secretary for the Dahlia Society and longtime volunteer in Golden Gate Park.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“There’s 21 forms of dahlias, there’s 15 official colors and there’s five different sizes,” she added. “And that’s just categories.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001728&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-17-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001728&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Judges examine dahlias at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001727&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-16-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001727&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Members of the public enjoy the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001725&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-13-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001725&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A Raeann’s Tiger Eye dahlia is displayed at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001717&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-2-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001717&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;An Ask With Minnie dahlia is displayed at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Dahlias can resemble water lilies, daisies, golf balls or spiky cacti. Some have multiple colors within a single petal. And because of their unusual genetics, new variations can arise through cloning and sexual reproduction.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Dahlia tubers can be divided into genetically identical plants, said Erik Gaensler, president of the Dahlia Society of California. But growing from seed produces something entirely new.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“If you plant 100 dahlia seeds, most won’t be that great,” Gaensler said. “So we have some people in our society who will grow hundreds of seedlings, and they only save the best.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-22-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001731&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Jenna Kaiser, a dahlia ambassador with the Dahlia Society of California, poses for a photo at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001730&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-19-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001730&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ivy Lou, 70, takes a photo with dahlias at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1312&quot; data-id=&quot;2001721&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-8-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001721&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Addie Lee, 2, takes photos of dahlias at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Those seedlings can be cultivated for years before eventually being named and entered into competitions. Many dahlias grown in San Francisco originated locally, Gaensler said, making them particularly well suited to the city’s climate.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The flower’s history in San Francisco dates back more than a century. When the Sunset and Richmond districts were undeveloped and still largely dunes, dahlias could thrive in the sandy soil. By the 1920s, several commercial dahlia growers operated in the area, and the Palace Hotel hosted annual shows. In 1926, the city officially adopted the dahlia as its flower.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For Dietz, that history is part of what makes the flower special, but so is the scientific curiosity surrounding it. Dahlias have eight sets of chromosomes and genetic elements that can shift around within their DNA, occasionally producing new traits.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-26-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001734&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Sir Richard Dahlias are displayed at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001732&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-24-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001732&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Nathan Gomez makes petal art at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1335&quot; data-id=&quot;2001720&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-6-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001720&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Natalie Samuels, left, and Abby Klinkenberg, right, admire dahlias at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Dahlia Society of America has funded work to map the dahlia genome, Dietz said, which could help researchers better understand which genetic sequences determine traits such as shape and color.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That diversity was also what drew first-time visitors Natalie Samuels and Abby Klinkenberg to the weekend’s show.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It’s a chance to reorient ourselves and connect to the things around us,” Klinkenberg said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Samuels said the flowers encouraged her to slow down and observe each individually, a welcome contrast to the pace of modern San Francisco.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;You can see the winning blooms on the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.instagram.com/sfdahliasociety/&quot;&gt;Dahlia Society’s Instagram page&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/science/2001738/san-franciscos-dahlia-show-celebrates-a-century-of-floral-diversity</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/science/2001738/san-franciscos-dahlia-show-celebrates-a-century-of-floral-diversity</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:43:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Sarah Mohamad</author>
      <category>Events</category>
      <category>Local</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Science</category>
      <category>bay area</category>
      <category>featured-science</category>
      <category>flowers</category>
      <category>photography</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
      <category>science</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
      <category>Science</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Strong El Niño May Bring Record Sea Level and Coastal Flooding to Bay Area</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-155-KQED.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sea levels have risen by around 8 inches since the 1800s in the Bay Area, but scientists expect human-caused climate change to raise them by as much as 6 feet by the end of the century. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Derek Bentley’s San Rafael karate studio &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay&quot;&gt;flooded&lt;/a&gt; in January, when a heavy storm hit during one of the highest tides of the year.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Several inches of water rose from under the foundation and filled the building from the inside, soaking the karate mats so thoroughly that they squirted water when Bentley stepped across them.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We were closed for about a week after the flood,” Bentley said. “Then we opened, but we used air dryers and some of the mats were still wet, and we had no carpet for a couple months.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Now he fears a bout of déjà vu could be in his future if very strong &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter&quot;&gt;El Niño&lt;/a&gt; conditions steer strong storms toward the Bay Area and once again flood his dojo.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001559&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Kristina Hill, professor of landscape architecture and environmental planning and urban design at UC Berkeley, looks out at the South Richmond Marshes in Richmond on July 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“My fear is we will lose this place because it’ll just be too much water,” Bentley said. He runs Taylor’s House of Karate a few yards away from a marina on San Rafael Creek in &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12068644/marin-county-looked-like-a-lagoon-after-king-tides-heavy-rain&quot;&gt;Marin County&lt;/a&gt;. “I’ve never seen us beat water around here.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California is no stranger to the impacts of periodic warming of water in the tropical Pacific. These conditions, what researchers call El Niño, have been associated with some of California’s most powerful and punishing storms.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For many months, weather experts have warned of what could be one of the strongest El Niño events on record. Federal scientists &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml&quot;&gt;forecast &lt;/a&gt;a greater than 90% % chance of a very strong El Niño this fall and winter. The forecast raises the possibility of a worst-case flooding scenario that Bay Area officials and climate scientists have long been concerned about — in part because warm water expands, raising sea levels.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In terms of emergency planning, you can think of it as the coastal flooding equivalent of “the Big One”, when the highest tides, biggest storms and largest waves all coincide on top of the elevated sea levels. That superimposition is possible in any given year, but warm water from El Niño will temporarily elevate sea levels this year.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001619&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Water floods the Embarcadero in San Francisco on March 17, 2026. (Courtesy of The Exploratorium)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We’re expecting likely the highest sea levels ever recorded on the California coast,” said Mark Merrifield, director of the Scripps Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation, in a recent &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmmXUkRp6-g&quot;&gt;virtual town hall&lt;/a&gt; focused on El Niño. “As a sort of unlucky coincidence, the tidal cycle is also gonna be at a peak around the end of this year.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;El Niño forms when tropical trade winds weaken or reverse, allowing warm ocean water near Asia to slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming can reshape the jet stream and bring stormier weather while &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/2001047/scientists-worry-el-nino-could-supercharge-marine-heat-wave-roiling-coastal-california&quot;&gt;disrupting the ocean’s nutrient-rich upwelling&lt;/a&gt;, heating coastal waters, raising sea levels and stressing marine life.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;While El Niño is a natural cycle, human-caused climate change is &lt;a href=&quot;https://science.nasa.gov/earth/explore/the-ocean-and-climate-change/&quot;&gt;warming oceans&lt;/a&gt;, with large-scale ramifications, including long-term changes in weather and rising seas. This monthslong window into higher tides offers a glimpse of the Bay Area’s climate-altered future.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“El Niño is a good opportunity to see where our vulnerabilities are throughout the state,” Merrifield said. “It also is a sobering look at what we could expect with climate change.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘The worst coastal flooding on record’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Melissa Lunden, a climate scientist-in-residence at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, is building an exhibit at Pier 15 that features a chart showing how the bay’s water level has risen since 1890. Every few years there’s a really large spike.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“During El Niño years the water levels are often higher,” Lunden said. Not every El Niño results in higher-than-average water levels. “But overall, the trend is increasing over the decades.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The temporary rise researchers anticipate this year may come from several forces stacking together. First, the water levels in San Francisco Bay have risen about 8 inches &lt;a href=&quot;https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/0yfSCjRnyNIDGV2niWfAjhmEaue?domain=tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov&quot;&gt;since the 1890s&lt;/a&gt;. State scientists project another foot or more by 2050.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2560&quot; height=&quot;1069&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-scaled.png&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001620&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Sea levels have risen by around 8 inches since the 1800s in the Bay Area, but scientists expect human-caused climate change to raise them by as much as 6 feet by the end of the century. This graph showcases monthly tide levels over time, and the peaks often represent El Niño events. (Courtesy of The Exploratorium)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Second, warm water piling up in the Pacific expands, raising sea levels by several inches. As that water slowly sloshes east, it eventually smacks into South America and forces “local ocean water to push against the coast instead of flowing westward,” flattening out into the Pacific, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;These Kelvin waves are the delivery system for warm water associated with El Niño, and Swain said this process can cause up to 9 inches or more of additional temporary sea level rise along the coast and San Francisco Bay over days or weeks.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That rise will be “felt all the way inland into the Delta and Stockton,” Swain said. This El Niño “now appears to be most likely to become the singularly strongest on record and so I think there’s a decent chance we actually break historical records.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Add natural king tides, which will be among the highest on record in December, changes in pressure, storm surge and back-to-back storms, and some places could experience as much as 5-to-6 feet of temporary inundation above historical high tide levels, Swain said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We could get all of those stacked at once,” Swain said, noting that flooding could occur even if only a few of the potential impacts occur in tandem.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This short-term flooding “could be comparable to, or greater than, the worst coastal flooding on record in the San Francisco Bay region,” Swain said. “I foresee this being a major problem for the Bay Area this year.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The high water anomaly has already begun. The tide gauge near the Golden Gate Bridge is running about &lt;a href=&quot;https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=9414290&quot;&gt;6 inches higher&lt;/a&gt; than where it typically is for this time of year, “and that’s partially because of El Niño,” said Sean Vitousek, a research oceanographer at the U.S. Geological Survey.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Water levels are here to stay,” Vitousek said. “They will probably get larger in the winter as El Niño ramps up and we get more storm surge, waves and atmospheric pressure effects.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘Do the prep work’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In preparation, the California Department of Water Resources is staging more than 200 shipping containers filled with flood-response supplies across the state. Officials have stockpiled 4.3 million sandbags, 55,000 super sacks that can be filled with rocks or sand, and 400,000 tons of rock for emergencies such as levee repairs.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We preposition materials around the state to make it faster to have them deployed,” said Michael Anderson, the state climatologist. The department is also working with the Army Corps of Engineers to have pumps ready and has partnered with NOAA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on a &lt;a href=&quot;https://cw3e.ucsd.edu/aqpi/&quot;&gt;system of radar units&lt;/a&gt; to help detect hazardous weather events.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001571&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A tide gauge in between Piers 15 and 17 next to the Exploratorium in San Francisco on July 24, 2026. The water level reached around 8 feet in January 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“That can really help communities know where the heavy rains are coming,” Anderson said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Around the Bay Area, cities are also gearing up ahead of the year’s highest tides, which fall right around Thanksgiving and Christmas.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;San Rafael, where high tides already flood streets and pumps weren’t designed for saltwater, is coordinating with critical agencies to improve communication so that roads can be closed quickly when it floods.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“That unfortunately doesn’t reduce the risk that those roads flood or those facilities are impacted,” said Kate Hagemann, a climate adaptation resilience planner with San Rafael.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Parts of Alameda, &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/2000377/for-this-bay-area-island-city-water-is-coming-from-all-sides&quot;&gt;a low-lying island city&lt;/a&gt; with a shallow water table, often floods during high tides and storms. The city is preparing barricades and sandbags, readying pumps and clearing storm drains.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We have a vacuum truck that’s able to quickly dislodge material that may prevent stormwater from flowing,” said Erin Smith, public works director for the City of Alameda.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001569&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Piers 15 and 17 in San Francisco on July 24, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/1997729/oysters-snails-and-a-wall-that-protects-against-climate-change-one-tile-at-a-time&quot;&gt;Port of San Francisco&lt;/a&gt; is taking similar steps: clearing drains, planning traffic detours and staging pumps.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“King tides and these El Niño events are a glimpse into the future,” said Brad Benson, waterfront resilience program director for the Port. “In some of these areas, we have very important assets for the functioning of the city.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;One of Benson’s biggest concerns is the low-lying Muni tunnel entrance near the Ferry Building. About 60% of the city’s light rail fleet passes through it each night to reach the maintenance yard, making it critical to protect.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Californians can sign up for emergency alerts and create disaster plans by visiting the state’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.listoscalifornia.org/&quot;&gt;Ready California&lt;/a&gt; site.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Do the prep work,” said Nate Ortiz, assistant director for planning and preparedness with the California Office of Emergency Services. He suggested creating a go bag with documents, cash, food, water, medication and clothing. “Even if you can just get it started and incrementally build that out, it’s a great way to be a bit more prepared&lt;em&gt;.&lt;/em&gt;”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘We’ve been trying to fill the cracks in the bathtub’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The dangerous conditions may expose the weaknesses in flood protections across Bay Area cities, said Kristina Hill, a professor in the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley who studies &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912604/as-sea-levels-rise-what-will-it-take-to-protect-the-bay-area-from-flooding&quot;&gt;sea level rise&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Many cities, including San Francisco, have treated their waterfronts like “a medieval town with a wall around them,” Hill said. Others, like San Rafael, have a patchwork of private levees. This winter will likely put those barriers to the test.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We’ve been trying to fill the cracks in the bathtub by putting out little informal levees, and then occasionally a very big project like the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12018103/king-tides-foreshadow-far-wetter-future-sf-shoreline&quot;&gt;San Francisco seawall&lt;/a&gt;,” Hill said. “We may see some of those informal things fail in surprising and important ways.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001566&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Kristina Hill, professor of Landscape Architecture &amp;amp; Environmental Planning and Urban Design at UC Berkeley, poses for a photo at the San Rafael Yacht Harbor in San Rafael on July 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Depending on the level of flooding, Hill said, it could show the region that it’s time “to do business differently” by building with more imagination and constructing buildings that are ready for higher seas. She dreams of floating buildings along the bay, like the Ferry Building, or entire blocks of housing as a way to live on the water.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“The things we’ve done in the past to prevent coastal flooding won’t work when that water doesn’t go back down again,” Hill said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Bentley said that future — where the water doesn’t recede and daily tides inundate shorelines — is something he worries about at the dojo in San Rafael. From inside his practice, Bentley has a front-row view of the boats in the marina as they move up and down with the tide. He can tell when the water is rising.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It was kind of crazy to drive in here and see the boats above you,” Bentley said. “Over the last three years I’ve noticed the boats are getting higher and higher and higher.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And every time it rains, Bentley remembers the memory of the January flood that nearly shut down his practice.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“As someone who has lived and worked near water, I’ve only seen flooding get worse,” Bentley said. “We should just start preparing for it versus crossing our fingers.”&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 18:22:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Climate</category>
      <category>Environment</category>
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      <category>California</category>
      <category>California coast</category>
      <category>climate</category>
      <category>climate change</category>
      <category>el nino</category>
      <category>featured-science</category>
      <category>flooding</category>
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    </item>
    <item>
      <title>California’s Solar and Battery Boom Is Transforming the Power Grid</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/ClimateSolutionsGetty.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s biggest solar and battery storage plant, the Eland Solar and Storage Center, on Nov. 25, 2024, near California City, California.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;This story is part of KQED’s series “Flipping the Switch,” examining California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. Find the series and more of our climate coverage &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/climate&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;here&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California’s electric grid is cleaner today than it has ever been, thanks to renewable energy sources like solar power.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;These sources of carbon-free power, including wind, hydroelectric power, geothermal and nuclear, &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2024-total-system-electric-generation&quot;&gt;provided 62% of California’s electricity in 2024&lt;/a&gt;, according to the California Energy Commission. This is up from &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2023-total-system-electric-generation&quot;&gt;58% in 2023&lt;/a&gt;, largely due to more electricity coming from solar. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Solar is now the state’s largest renewable source, though natural gas remains one of the single largest sources of electricity, particularly after sunset. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Although that is changing with explosive growth this decade in California’s ability to store power in large batteries. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1536&quot; height=&quot;1092&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Estimated-Annual-Clean-Energy-1536x1092-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001644&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Renewable and carbon-free sources — including solar, wind, hydroelectric and nuclear power — make up the majority of California’s electricity mix. (Courtesy of California Energy Commission)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The state is now home to one of the world’s largest battery fleets, capable of punching through enough electricity to power more than fifteen San Franciscos at the time of day the city needs it the most. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It’s very steadily and significantly becoming more green,” said Andrew Campbell, executive director of the Energy Institute at UC Berkeley Haas. “The big change over the last 10 years is the dramatic growth in utility-scale solar and the growth of battery storage.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“California has more batteries installed than any other state or country at this point,” Campbell said. “The batteries alone could probably satisfy about a quarter of the state’s demand at peak times and maybe even half the demand at off-peak times.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Batteries have transformed how California uses renewable energy. They store excess electricity generated during the day, when production exceeds demand, and discharge it in the evening after the sun sets, when more people use electricity.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;California’s electricity has changed dramatically in just one decade&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2021-total-system-electric-generation/2016&quot;&gt;decade ago, natural gas was the main source of California’s electricity supply&lt;/a&gt;, with solar providing just 8% of the energy mix. In 2024, solar’s share had more than doubled to 20%.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Large solar farm projects have cropped up across California, and &lt;a href=&quot;https://environmentamerica.org/california/articles/2026-solar-strong-priorities-for-california/&quot;&gt;more than 2 million homes now have rooftop solar&lt;/a&gt;. Geothermal sources and &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/2000835/the-view-inside-californias-last-nuclear-power-plant&quot;&gt;Diablo Canyon nuclear plant&lt;/a&gt; continue providing carbon-free electricity around the clock. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California now has the largest fleet of batteries in the country, producing roughly &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.energy.ca.gov/news/2026-08/california-surpasses-21000-megawatts-battery-resources-supporting-states&quot;&gt;21,000 megawatts&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;of power.&amp;nbsp;Just five years ago, that number was only a fraction of today’s capacity.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1125&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Total-California-Power-Mix-08102026.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001679&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;California’s electricity mix in 2014 and 2024. Data for 2024 are the latest available from the California Energy Commission. (Source: California Energy Commission. Credit: Sarah Mohamad/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“The grid has been transformed not just by solar, but really coupled with the growth of battery projects,” Campbell said. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Last year, California ran on 100% clean energy for 1,856 hours — that’s up from 147 hours in 2022, according to the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/clean-energy-serving-california/tracking-progress-toward-100-clean-energy&quot;&gt;Energy Commission&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;During that time, solar, wind and other renewables collectively generated enough electricity to meet statewide demand, although some natural gas plants are still operating and helping to keep the grid stable. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This illustrates how rapidly renewable energy and storage have changed grid operations.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Why the state’s energy mix changes throughout the day&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California’s electricity mix changes minute by minute.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Keeping electricity flowing 24 hours a day means the state still relies on natural gas, imports power from neighboring states and constantly balances supply and demand in real time.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;alignleft size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;668&quot; height=&quot;426&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Duck-Curve.png&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001652&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;The duck curve shows how solar generation peaks during the day, then drops as people return home and electricity demand rises. (Credit: U.S. Department of Energy)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which manages about 80% of the state’s power grid, constantly adjusts which power plants, batteries and imports are supplying electricity to match demand.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Around midday, solar panels across California produce enormous amounts of electricity.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Then the sun begins to set. Between about 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., solar production falls rapidly as millions of Californians return home, cook dinner, charge electric vehicles, and turn on air conditioners.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Grid operators call this the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.energy.gov/cmei/solar/articles/confronting-duck-curve-how-address-over-generation-solar-energy&quot;&gt;Duck Curve&lt;/a&gt;, the famous phenomenon in which solar generation spikes during the day but drops off just as evening energy demand peaks.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For years, natural gas plants have covered that steep evening spike in demand for energy. Today, batteries increasingly do.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;What role do batteries play for a greener grid?&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Batteries now provide more than 60% of the power to cover the evening surge in demand during hot months as people get home and turn on their appliances, according to CAISO.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That doesn’t mean natural gas has disappeared.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;While California relies less on natural gas on a normal day because the state uses more wind and solar, “gas plants are still essential for meeting energy needs during,” [the busiest times] said Stacey Shepard, a senior information officer at the California Energy Commission.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Battery storage has dramatically reduced how often gas plants are needed, but they are still needed during prolonged heat waves, cloudy periods, wildfire-related power outages and other emergencies.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;What happens when there’s too much solar power&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On some sunny afternoons, California generates more solar power than it can use. Thanks to batteries, that energy can be stored for later use in the evening.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“That energy is then put back onto the grid in the evenings after the sun sets,” Campbell said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California also exports extra energy to neighboring states. “It can be a positive thing where California is essentially making money by selling electricity to [for example] Arizona when the weather may be hot there,” Campbell said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Over the course of a year, California imports more electricity than it exports. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1992&quot; height=&quot;1504&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/GettyImages-812546100.jpeg&quot; alt=&quot;Solar panels and wind turbines in desert with mountains in the distance.&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-1985612&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A solar and wind farm in Palm Springs that generates 100% renewable energy. (Murat Taner/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The state often sends out electricity in the middle of a spring or summer day before bringing power in again in the evening.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The negative of having too much solar energy is that CAISO asks solar and wind farms to shut down or back off to avoid overloading the system; what the grid operator calls “curtailment.” &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In 2024, &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65364&quot;&gt;CAISO curtailed &lt;/a&gt;29% more output from these farms than in the previous year.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“[Electricity] supply and demand have to be precisely equal at all times. What’s happening more and more is that some of these big [wind and solar] plants are being turned off,” Campbell said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;If renewable energy is so cheap, why are electric bills in California still so high?&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;While solar and wind are some of the cheapest sources of electricity ever built, utilities have spent billions upgrading poles, wires and substations, expanding transmission lines and making all this equipment more secure and less likely to touch off a destructive wildfire.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“[High costs are] entirely related to the distribution grid,” Campbell said. Investments in the network that delivers electricity to homes and businesses are one of the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/1999400/bay-area-electricity-bills-are-some-of-the-highest-where-does-your-money-go&quot;&gt;biggest drivers of California’s electric rates&lt;/a&gt;, which are the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a&quot;&gt;highest in the country&lt;/a&gt; outside of Hawaii.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Energy Commission said it’s trying to reduce future costs by focusing on improving energy efficiency, investing in emerging technologies and identifying the lowest-cost clean energy mix.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;What about AI and data centers?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Electricity demand is expected to grow substantially over the next two decades because of electric vehicles, building electrification and AI data centers.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California already has &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/topics/data-centers&quot;&gt;more than 200 data centers&lt;/a&gt;, and the state forecasts power demand from those facilities to more than quadruple by 2040.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Whether that raises consumer electricity bills depends largely on policy.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Campbell said the best outcome is for data centers to pay the full cost of connecting to the grid, which could actually help spread infrastructure costs across more customers and reduce the cost for everyone.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If they don’t, existing ratepayers may shoulder more of those expenses.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;What can Californians do to help?&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;When you use electricity increasingly matters as much as how much you use.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Twenty years ago, using electricity in the middle of the day was a very bad idea,” Campbell said, referencing the energy crisis in the early 2000s when the grid relied on fossil fuels. “Now it’s entirely different. The middle of the day is the best time to use electricity.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Power generation from solar panels peaks in the middle of the day. When you charge an electric vehicle, run the dishwasher or do laundry during sunny hours, you are using abundant solar power. &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12023805/pge-bills-keep-rising-what-can-you-do-to-potentially-lower-your-bills&quot;&gt;Rates are also lower during this time.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;As California builds more renewable energy and batteries, residents shifting the time they use appliances is one of the easiest ways they can help make the grid greener.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;img class=&quot;size-medium aligncenter&quot; style=&quot;width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png&quot; alt=&quot;Your support makes this work possible.&quot; width=&quot;1000&quot; height=&quot;706&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;
        From KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by&amp;nbsp;donating today.
        &lt;a href=&quot;https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noopener&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;aligncenter&quot; style=&quot;width: 272px;margin: 40px auto&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png&quot; alt=&quot;Button: Support KQED journalism&quot; width=&quot;544&quot; height=&quot;114&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/science/2001611/californias-solar-and-battery-boom-is-transforming-the-power-grid</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/science/2001611/californias-solar-and-battery-boom-is-transforming-the-power-grid</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Steph Rodriguez</author>
      <category>Climate</category>
      <category>Energy</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Science</category>
      <category>bay area</category>
      <category>California</category>
      <category>clean energy</category>
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      <category>California</category>
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    </item>
    <item>
      <title>California Teens Don’t Want to Hide Behind Screens. They Want More Places to Belong</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-58-KQED.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;A group of allcove San Mateo youth advisers talks with each other on the couch in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For years, parents have watched their teenagers disappear behind &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?q=kqed+social+media+tagged&amp;amp;sca_esv=b0e23ee05b473abd&amp;amp;sxsrf=APpeQnvz49MVS1V9f84iyWpMciC6gfcItQ%3A1786126776991&amp;amp;ei=uCF2atmHPNS80PEPo-ibkAY&amp;amp;biw=1286&amp;amp;bih=694&amp;amp;ved=0ahUKEwjZw8PgkI-WAxVUHjQIHSP0BmIQ4dUDCBA&amp;amp;uact=5&amp;amp;oq=kqed+social+media+tagged&amp;amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGGtxZWQgc29jaWFsIG1lZGlhIHRhZ2dlZDIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUiuElCeBFi3EXAEeACQAQCYAY0BoAHFB6oBAzcuM7gBA8gBAPgBAZgCDaAC5QfCAgYQABgWGB7CAgsQABiABBiKBRiGA8ICBRAAGO8FwgIIEAAYiQUYogTCAgUQIRirAsICBRAhGJ8FwgIHECEYChigAZgDAIgGAZIHBDEwLjOgB8wisgcDNy4zuAfeB8IHAzYuN8gHEIAIAQ&amp;amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp&quot;&gt;glowing screens&lt;/a&gt;, texting more than talking, and asking chatbots the kinds of questions they used to ask a friend.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;New research suggests the fix may not be prying phones out of teenagers’ hands, but instead, giving them somewhere to go once they put them down.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A new &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.calpartnersproject.org/thirdplaces&quot;&gt;statewide survey&lt;/a&gt;, released by the nonprofit &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.calpartnersproject.org/&quot;&gt;California Partners Project&lt;/a&gt;, co-founded by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, found teens need more places where they feel like they belong.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Nearly nine in 10 teens say being with friends in person matters to them, and more than half wish they saw friends in person more often. And among teens who lean on artificial intelligence for friendship or advice, nearly half say they’d use them less if they had more chances to connect with peers face to face.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-44-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001626&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Francis Martinez (left) and Ethan Liu, youth advisers at allcove San Mateo, play air hockey in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Sociologists call these spaces for connection “third places” or places that are neither home nor school, but somewhere else to exist without a specific purpose.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The kind of aimless afternoons spent in a 7-Eleven parking lot many adults may remember from their own adolescence have become less acceptable. Parents are more reluctant to let teens roam, and teens say that when they do gather in public, they often feel like they’re being watched instead of welcomed. Whether they’re browsing in a bookstore or lingering in a coffee shop, many say adults treat them like they’re loitering rather than simply spending time together.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“The teens are sending us a clear signal,” said Jennifer Heifferon, the survey’s lead. “Teens are wanting more places to connect with their peers in person. And when they don’t find those places, many of them are defaulting to digital alternatives.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;ZIP codes tend to influence why teens say they can’t find places to hang out, according to the study, based on responses from more than 1,000 California teens, ages 13-18. Suburban teens say they don’t have enough free time between school, sports, jobs and college preparation. Urban teens point to cost, saying even casual outings often come with an expectation to buy coffee or shop. Rural teens are more likely to say they didn’t feel welcome in the places available to them.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But underneath those differences, teens across the state wanted the same basic thing: somewhere affordable to gather with friends, without fear of being judged or left out, and where cheap food is available.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That’s exactly what &lt;a href=&quot;https://allcove.org/centers/san-mateo/&quot;&gt;allcove Youth Center in San Mateo&lt;/a&gt; is trying to be. On a warm summer afternoon, teenagers painted flowers by number, battled it out over foosball, and sipped free boba while music videos played overhead. The teens themselves painted the murals on the walls.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s one of 18-year-old Ariya Kaushek’s favorite places. Her anxiety and isolation started in middle school, right around when she started scrolling. She said TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat fed an endless inner critic.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I think it’s really hard navigating the digital world,” Kaushek said, describing “this kind of sense of constant comparison and worthlessness.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260804-THIRDSPACES-NG-36-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001629&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ariya Kaushek poses for a photo at a duck park near the Menlo Park Library in Menlo Park on Aug. 4, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;More than half of California teens reported experiencing some degree of loneliness, even if they regularly spent time with friends. Kaushek said that’s because relationships aren’t just about being together, but about feeling safe enough to be yourself.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Instead, many teens are navigating a never-ending stream of messages about how they should look, dress, speak and even how wealthy they should appear. That pressure, she said, chips away at kids’ confidence and makes authentic connection harder to find.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Things started to shift for Kaushek after she joined &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.safespace.org/&quot;&gt;SafeSpace&lt;/a&gt;, a youth mental health nonprofit in Redwood City. Over casual meals with other teens, she began talking, really talking, about how hollow she felt on the inside.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Being present was such a rare feeling that it almost felt like I could unmask and take off this cloak of anxiety and just be.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-39-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001625&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Dayanna Alvarado, Isabella Chin and Taryn Hwang, youth advisers at allcove San Mateo, play Apples to Apples in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For 17-year-old Vihaan Bhardwaj, that place is a small public library overlooking the ocean in Del Mar. He’s not necessarily going there to make friends.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I think that just being around other people can be super helpful,” he said. “Just hearing other people talk, hearing other people play is very healing, especially when we spend most of our time in our rooms and on our screens.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Public libraries have the “highest unused potential” to connect young people, according to the study, with 43% of teens having access to one but not visiting in the past month.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Bhardwaj lives on the outskirts of San Diego County, where homes are a half-mile apart, and his high school is a 30-minute drive away. His surroundings can lead him to reach for a phone, but after realizing social media consistently left him feeling angry and insecure, Bhardwaj deleted his accounts.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260803-THIRDSPACES-NG-54-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001627&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Isla Beltzner (center) shows fellow allcove San Mateo youth adviser Lia Finn (left) something on her phone in the wellness center at allcove San Mateo in San Mateo on Aug. 3, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Now, I’m seeing exactly what I want to see, when I want to see it, where I want to see it,” he said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Bhardwaj still texts to stay in touch with friends, but said he’d rather spend his afternoons running through a park. After the library, that’s where he feels most like himself.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Seeing other people doing the same thing as you, putting in the same effort, can be super motivating, especially when we’re doing so much of our daily lives in isolation,” he said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/science/2001615/california-teens-dont-want-to-hide-behind-screens-they-want-more-places-to-belong</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/science/2001615/california-teens-dont-want-to-hide-behind-screens-they-want-more-places-to-belong</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Steph Rodriguez</author>
      <category>Health</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Science</category>
      <category>bay area</category>
      <category>California</category>
      <category>children</category>
      <category>featured-news</category>
      <category>featured-science</category>
      <category>health</category>
      <category>mental health</category>
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      <category>technology</category>
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    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Shield Yourself From Wildfire Smoke: What You Need to Know</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/RS58543_GettyImages-1334977490-qut.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;hazy skyscrapers in the distance with a ferry boat in foreground&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Wildfire smoke hangs over the San Francisco skyline as a ferry boat makes its way across the bay, as seen from Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland on Aug. 18, 2021.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;As &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/11960130/4-things-about-californias-wildfire-smoke-climate-change&quot;&gt;wildfires worsen&lt;/a&gt;, it’s become a familiar routine. You wake to see a haze in the sky, and a strange tinge to the light. You start to feel burning in your throat and irritation in your eyes.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Then, &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/1930023/map-heres-your-daily-air-quality-report-for-the-bay-area&quot;&gt;the online air quality map&lt;/a&gt; — the one you probably have bookmarked by now — confirms what you already suspected: that smoke from nearby wildfires is in the air once again.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;!-- to be implemented later --&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Unhealthy air quality caused by fires has become an unfortunate reality for Bay Area residents, especially for those whose jobs or living circumstances mean they must spend most of the day outdoors. It might be tempting to try to go on with your day as normal. But the risks to your health from poor air quality due to wildfire smoke are serious and can cause long-lasting damage.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Luckily, there are several ways you can protect yourself and your loved ones from hazardous air.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Jump straight to: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/1926793/protecting-your-health-from-toxic-wildfire-smoke#wildfire-smoke-air-quality&quot;&gt;How to stay safe when it’s smoky&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Keep reading to find out how to prep your home for more smoky days, when it’s time to really worry about the air outdoors, and what to do when wildfire smoke hits your neighborhood.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And remember: The following advice can also help protect your respiratory health on days that a &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.sparetheair.org/&quot;&gt;Spare the Air alert&lt;/a&gt; has been issued, when concentrations of smog are expected to be unhealthy.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2&gt;Why is smoke from a wildfire so dangerous to my health?&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;What we call “wildfire smoke” is actually an ever-changing mix of particles and gases, including carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other organic chemicals, nitrogen oxides and trace minerals. Many of these compounds are toxic.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But the most dangerous thing for your health in wildfire smoke is the particulate matter: that is, the tiny pieces of soot and ash that are invisible to the naked eye. These particles are so small they’re measured in &lt;a href=&quot;https://sciencenotes.org/what-is-a-micron

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    <item>
      <title>Why California is Rethinking its Nuclear Exit</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2022/05/Diablo-Canyon.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Aerial view of the Diablo Canyon, the only operational nuclear plant left in California, due to be shutdown in 2024 despite safely producing nearly 15% of the state’s green electrical energy power, is viewed in these aerial photos taken on December 1, 2021, near Avila Beach, California.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Monday, August 24, 2026 at 9 am&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;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 stress on the grid prompted state leaders to keep it running through 2030. And now, as demand for electricity skyrockets, a new push is growing to reverse the state’s decision to abandon nuclear power, and to extend the plant’s life through 2045. We’ll talk to advocates who have been fighting the nuclear plant since the very beginning about the risks of continuing operations, and from those who believe&amp;nbsp;nuclear power is necessary to meet California’s mandate to switch to 100% carbon-free energy by 2045.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guests:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michael Wara,&lt;/strong&gt; policy director for the Sustainability Accelerator at the Doerr School of Sustainability and director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program and senior research scholar at the Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Laura Klivans,&lt;/strong&gt; climate reporter, KQED&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Adrian Covert,&lt;/strong&gt; senior vice president of public policy, Bay Area Council&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jane Swanson,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;president and spokesperson, San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Episode Transcript&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Welcome to &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;, I’m Alexis Madrigal. California has had a remarkable turn toward renewable energy for the last couple of decades. Wind and solar now power a big chunk of our electrical grid. We’ve gone away from gas and imported coal-fired electricity. Nuclear has never been a huge part of our energy mix, but we do have one plant still sending electrons into the grid, Diablo Canyon.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That power station, located near San Luis Obispo, is a massive facility that alone generates something like 9% of the state’s electricity and more than 15% of the state’s carbon-free kilowatt-hours. But this is an old facility. It’s in a fault zone. There are risks with nuclear power that simply don’t exist for solar and wind. Maybe this particular type of power plant belongs to an old regime that’s being outmoded by new renewables and batteries.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So that’s the setup. Here to talk with us about Diablo Canyon, we’re joined first by Laura Klivans, climate reporter for KQED. Welcome.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Laura Klivans:&lt;/strong&gt; Thank you.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; And we’ve got Michael Wara, senior research scholar at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Welcome, Michael.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michael Wara:&lt;/strong&gt; Good morning.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; So, Laura, just tell us, give us the quick sort of narrative of what has happened with Diablo Canyon, you know, over the last 10 years.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Laura Klivans:&lt;/strong&gt; Okay, so 2016, PG&amp;amp;E, labor unions and environmentalists came to this agreement saying, “We’re going to close Diablo Canyon.” There are a bunch of reasons for that. You’ve mentioned some of them. It’s near fault lines. That’s scary to people. Anti-nuclear sentiments were up after Fukushima in 2011. They also use ocean water for cooling, which harms submarine life. And so that’s something. And the licenses were already going to expire in 2024 and 2025 anyway.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Also, energy demand, interestingly, at the time, was flat. So it was kind of like, not in the place now where it’s just — pre-AI data center land.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Yeah, yeah, and electrifying everything as much as we are now. So we were also building out a ton of renewables. So it’s like, okay, let’s close it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Then 2020, we’re all in this hellscape of COVID and heat, and the climate effects are really being felt in this state. And so there was a ton of stress on the grid, and we had some rolling blackouts. In California, that’s a politically really charged issue. We have had recalls for governors if they have been through blackouts. People want the grid to work. They want us to work.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So Newsom legislation acted in 2022. They extended the life of Diablo Canyon and said it’s not going to be decommissioned anymore. Also, we did not build out the renewables at the pace we were hoping to, even though we have had a huge growth.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Um, so — and then we also started to see this demand for more power with our electrification of buildings and cars, and now with data centers, too. So now we are on track to be open to 2030 for Diablo Canyon, but people — there’s a growing movement for that to extend longer, to 2045.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Um, Michael, I wanted to just ask you: What is involved, you know, if we think we’re going to shut down a plant and then we decide to keep it going? Did it have to get retrofitted? Were there things that had to be done and paid for there?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michael Wara:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, the plant had been in this kind of “we’re going to close” mode, and that involved, as Laura mentioned, workforce issues, getting people ready to be retired or moved to other parts of the company. And that’s really significant because, actually, to run nuclear power plants in the United States, the team that runs it has to be trained on that power plant. So you can’t just move around like you can for other jobs, which is probably good from a safety perspective.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Also, there were components of the plant that had reached the end of their lives. And it was sort of like with an old car: If you know you’re going to get rid of it, maybe you don’t replace the transmission. But this power plant in particular needed new high-pressure turbines, which are very expensive components in the power plant that have, since the decision to run it for another decade, been replaced at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. And who paid for that? PG&amp;amp;E customers.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Michael, how would you contextualize the 9% of the electricity grid that Diablo Canyon provides? Is that a lot? Is it a special kind of 9%? How should people be thinking about this in the scheme of things?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michael Wara:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, it is special in the sense that Diablo provides power — especially, this is special, especially for California — Diablo provides power when it’s dark. And that is an especially valuable kind of power for California because our renewables transition is so dependent on solar.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Mm-hmm.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michael Wara:&lt;/strong&gt; And increasingly, especially even relative to 2020 when this decision was made, dependent on solar plus batteries that last for about four hours. And so, as you get into the middle of the night, the alternatives shrink. They really involve imports, some hydroelectric power, Diablo Canyon, and then a lot of natural gas-fired power plants.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so getting rid of Diablo right now would be a choice to burn more natural gas.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; And do we even have the capacity to do that, or would we be importing from Nevada, I suppose, or something?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michael Wara:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, our gas plants could run a bit more. I think the way that our system works, we’d be looking for the most cost-effective sources of energy and also capacity, and Diablo can be one of those. It’s not always — you know, when there’s a lot of solar on the grid, all kinds of other resources start to be uncompetitive with, you know, the sun.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But at night, and especially also with the advent of much more available battery storage, right? Even during the day, you can buy Diablo Canyon power, store it and serve it to customers at night. And that’s much more feasible today than it was five years ago.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Laura, what is KQED — what does KQED — what’s PG&amp;amp;E saying about what they’d like to do?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Laura Klivans:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, they would like to extend it to 2045. So what they have is they have permission to do that from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. And so they applied for their license, and they applied for the maximum license, which is 20 years, and so they got it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so now what is hanging in the balance here is legislation. So we need state legislation to make it possible for them to keep going.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; And do you see, like, who are the sort of forces here that are aligned, you know, for and against, Laura?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Laura Klivans:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, I mean, it’s really — I think you can speak to this, too, Michael — but it’s really changed over time. But there’s a lot of people who are for nuclear power at this point. I think as climate change — we’re really seeing the effects of that and feeling it. People are seeing, hey, this is a carbon-free power source.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So we’ve got PG&amp;amp;E and we’ve — but, um, we’ve got — we also have, like, a bunch of business folks who are lining up behind this. They’ve created a coalition. I think we’re going to hear from somebody on the show about this later, like the Bay Area Council. They would like to see it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On the flip side, people against it are — we’ve had these staunch groups. For example, there’s one group that’s been around since the sixties or seventies, who we’ll also hear from, I believe, in this hour: Mothers for Peace.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Mothers for Peace, yeah.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Laura Klivans:&lt;/strong&gt; Who also say, you know, the risk is still there. Diablo Canyon and other nuclear power plants still produce waste that we do not have a solution for. And then you have other entities. There’s, like, the Coastal Commission that is concerned about the impact on marine life because of the cooling system that the plant uses.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Um, I want to get into some of the trade-offs here that might exist for Diablo Canyon. Like, were we to try and make up for this with solar capacity — like, Michael, like, how much would it be? I mean, we’re talking probably seven gigawatts of, like, so what does that look like in terms of sort of —&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michael Wara:&lt;/strong&gt; Look like in terms of sort of industrial scale? So I just want to make one additional point about kind of the situation that’s changed since 2020. At the time when we made the decision to extend the life until 2030, we also were assuming that we would be building significant amounts of offshore wind.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And because of the Trump administration’s decisions about wind, because of their role that the federal government plays in permitting offshore wind, and especially offshore wind in federal waters, which this would be, I think it’s not realistic to think that we’re going to have that additional generation in place when we thought we would. And so that increases the value of Diablo Canyon.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It is true, Alexis, that in order to replace it with a mix of solar and batteries, you would need to build a multiple of the nameplate capacity. That’s the amount of energy it can produce in any given second or moment. In solar, and even then it’d be hard to replace. You’d also have to build a lot of battery storage because the value of Diablo Canyon is firm capacity. Like, it’s always available. It’s gonna be — well, except when it’s shut down for refueling — but it’s a kind of power plant that you can sort of depend on no matter what the weather looks like, no matter the season.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Solar obviously is less productive during the winter. Winter is going to become a source — a time when there’s more energy demand than at present, as we electrify cars and buildings. And so that is an increasing challenge for us.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So there’s a lot of characteristics of a nuclear power plant that make it especially valuable.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, and some folks have talked about this kind of baseload power eventually being provided by something like enhanced geothermal, which might have those same properties. But are we, like, ready to roll out, you know, a two-gigawatt enhanced geothermal plant right now?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michael Wara:&lt;/strong&gt; Not yet. And I’m really excited to see the future for enhanced geothermal. There are contracts that have been signed, especially by Southern California Edison, to provide a lot of enhanced geothermal. We’re going to see that technology proved out or not in the next few years, at which point we’ll be able to make a much more intelligent decision about whether to kind of put our chips on enhanced geothermal as an alternative to nuclear, a zero-carbon firm energy source, or whether it’s too expensive.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And I would just emphasize one thing that’s changed about the conversation with nuclear: There are many people that are supportive of nuclear that were not in the past, if it is affordable. And the key question is cost, and cost relative to alternatives that are also firm and also zero-carbon.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so Diablo might be a great deal for the state of California to get some — approximately 10% of its power and capacity from zero-carbon energy sources — but not if it costs an arm and a leg. And that’s an important part of the conversation.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, at least my understanding — and Laura, maybe you can correct me if I’m wrong in this one — basically, older nuclear power plants, their power ends up being quite cheap because the cost has already sort of been paid for the construction and all the loans. And so what ends up coming out of the plant is really inexpensive relative to building a new nuclear power plant.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Laura Klivans:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, I mean, we’ve paid back. We were about to decommission it. So we’ve — we pretty much paid off this loan to build this huge thing, which is a very impressive facility when you go and see it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Um, and so you’re seeing estimates from both the CPUC and then folks at Stanford, MIT, where Diablo Canyon can save us tons of money, billions of dollars by some estimates, over a period of like 10 years.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But the criticism that comes up from a bunch of researchers as well is that the deal that was struck in 2022 was a bad one financially for ratepayers.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; We’re talking about the future of California’s last functioning nuclear power plant. We are joined by Laura Klivans, climate reporter for KQED, of course, and Michael Wara, senior research scholar at Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Of course, we’re gonna take your calls, too. What do you think? 866-733-6786, forum@kqed.org. I’m Alexis Madrigal. Stay tuned.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914993/why-california-is-rethinking-its-nuclear-exit</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914993/why-california-is-rethinking-its-nuclear-exit</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:03:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Jeremy Garza</author>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Forum</category>
      <category>Criminal Justice</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Should You Rethink How Much You’re Drinking?</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2026/08/Untitled-design-1.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Rethinking Drinking” by William Miller and Ricardo Muñoz.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Monday, August 24, 2026 at 10 am&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;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-thirds of American adults drank, and now about half do. As Americans drink less and question whether any amount of alcohol is healthy, Miller and Muñoz are out with a new book called “Rethinking Drinking,” to help us figure out what role, if any, drinking should have in our lives.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guests:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;William R. Miller,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;American clinical psychologist, an emeritus distinguished professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque; co-author of “How to Control Your Drinking” (1976) and “Rethinking Drinking” (2026)&amp;nbsp;&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ricardo F. Muñoz,&lt;/strong&gt; Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology, Emeritus, Palo Alto University; Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine; co-author of “How to Control Your Drinking” (1976) and “Rethinking Drinking” (2026)&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Episode Transcript&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Welcome to &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;, I’m Mina Kim. A new Gallup poll finds that about half of Americans drink now — a record low — with 13% saying they sometimes drink too much, compared to 35% who said that in 1989. So what’s changed?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For more than 50 years, doctors William R. Miller and Ricardo F. Muñoz have been looking at what makes people’s attitudes and behavior change. In 1976, they co-authored &lt;em&gt;How to Control Your Drinking&lt;/em&gt;. And since then, they’ve revised it five times. The newest version, &lt;em&gt;Rethinking Drinking&lt;/em&gt;, will be released next month and incorporates the latest research and social trends.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Muñoz is Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology Emeritus at Palo Alto University, an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the UCSF School of Medicine, where he was Chief Psychologist at San Francisco General Hospital for 25 years. Miller is an emeritus distinguished professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He’s known for originating motivational interviewing and also for his work on alcohol use disorders.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Ricardo Muñoz, welcome to &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ricardo F. Muñoz:&lt;/strong&gt; I’m very happy to be here. Thank you, Mina.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Bill Miller, really glad to have you with us as well.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;William R. Miller:&lt;/strong&gt; Good morning!&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; So, Bill, take me back to 1976. What were the attitudes and norms around drinking back then?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;William R. Miller:&lt;/strong&gt; It was very common to have a three-martini lunch. People, on average, drank about 20 beers a week, and of course, drinking and driving was a huge problem. Bars had huge parking lots, and in fact, if you didn’t drink, people asked you why. It was kind of unusual not to drink alcohol at the time.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, Ricardo, you’ve talked about how people had sort of a binary view about drinking and drinkers. What was their conception?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ricardo F. Muñoz:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, back then it was thought that there were only two kinds of drinkers. There were alcoholics who really couldn’t drink at all, otherwise they couldn’t stop drinking. And everybody else who didn’t have to worry about drinking. And Bill actually was one of the pioneers in beginning to try controlled drinking approaches. So there were people who had problems with alcohol, but they could learn to moderate their drinking.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, but they didn’t believe that they had the problems because they didn’t view themselves as, quote unquote, an alcoholic.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ricardo F. Muñoz:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, many people who had problem drinking did not think they were alcoholics, and again, Bill’s work was one of the first to try to see whether we could help people.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ricardo F. Muñoz:&lt;/strong&gt; To moderate drinking.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Bill, what made you challenge, yeah, that commonly held idea that Ricardo was describing? What prompted you to take up studying this and to come up with, you know, the idea of moderation as a tool?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;William R. Miller:&lt;/strong&gt; I had a summer internship on an alcoholism unit in a veterans hospital and firsthand witnessed the devastation that that can do in people’s lives. And my passion really was to try to go upstream and see if we couldn’t prevent this and help people get their drinking turned around before it has the devastating consequences that I was seeing.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, what would you say was sort of the kind of public health information about drinking that was available at the time?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;William R. Miller:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, that’s changed so much over the decades. I mean, up until about the 1920s, public education was that this is such a dangerous drug that no one can use it safely. And then when Prohibition was repealed, suddenly, it was available everywhere. And so we had this national case of cognitive dissonance, and by the time that we were writing our first book in the 1970s, drinking was so normalized that people wondered what was wrong with you if you didn’t drink.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; So then, Ricardo, how did you realize the dangers of drinking if the general social, you know, conversation was what Bill describes? Can you talk about when you were an undergrad at Stanford?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ricardo F. Muñoz:&lt;/strong&gt; Yes, I was an undergrad living at Lagunita Court, a dorm there, and marijuana joints were passed around when we would get together on weekends, you know, and I would just pass the joint to the next person and…&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Oh, you didn’t smoke it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ricardo F. Muñoz:&lt;/strong&gt; I didn’t smoke it, and one of the guys said, well, you don’t smoke? And I said, no. Do you drink? And I say, yeah. He said, well, drinking is a lot more dangerous than marijuana, and if you don’t believe me, look it up. So I did. I went to the undergraduate library — we called it Ugly back then — and I looked up alcohol and marijuana, and he was absolutely right.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;You know, the amount of risk involved with alcohol drinking, both at the individual level — cirrhosis of the liver, problems with dementia and so on — were already known back in the ’70s. But in addition to that, what really convinced me not to drink was all these social risks. I mean, alcohol was involved, obviously, with traffic accidents, but also was involved with violence. It was involved with sexual assaults, date rapes. Also having sex with someone you didn’t intend to because you were under the influence, and domestic violence, all these things that were happening.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So I decided — the guy wanted me to begin using marijuana, but I decided that the reasonable thing to do was stop using alcohol. So I haven’t drunk alcohol since then. It was just a logical choice for me.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yes, and it’s a good point to underscore just how much alcohol does come with social harms as much as individual harms.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So, Bill, you know, the book you and Ricardo co-authored in 1976, &lt;em&gt;How to Control Your Drinking&lt;/em&gt;, it was considered the first self-help book on moderate alcohol use, as I understand it. What did it address? What were you recommending then?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;William R. Miller:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, again, we were just trying to help people cut down their drinking, which now is what your doctor tells you. When you go to the doctor’s office, they now ask you how much you drink. And if it’s over an amount they think is too much, they encourage you to cut it down.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;We were giving very practical strategies for doing just that, of keeping track of how much you’re drinking, of reducing the speed, slowing down your drinking, and just getting out of situations that are high-risk situations. So just, you know, not rocket science, just very straightforward ways to reduce your drinking. And we put that into a self-help format that, to our surprise, we found people could use on their own, even without working with a therapist.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Are there things in that book that you would not include in your book now, you know, that you would consider dated, Bill?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;William R. Miller:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, one thing we said in earlier versions was that moderate drinking may be beneficial to your health. And I think that has changed. I mean, that was in the ’70s and ’80s, almost an accepted fact that, well, moderate drinking is good for you. Not so much now.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The World Health Organization says there really is no truly safe level of alcohol consumption. And I think we’re just much more aware as a society of both the social and the physical risks attached to alcohol use, and whatever level of drinking you do.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, I’ve noticed that the title is different. So you have revised this book five times, Ricardo, and each time it is some version of &lt;em&gt;How to Control Your Drinking&lt;/em&gt;. This time, it is called &lt;em&gt;Rethinking Drinking&lt;/em&gt;. Why the change in title?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ricardo F. Muñoz:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, back in the 1970s, in psychology, it was a move to help people to learn ways of controlling themselves. That was a big deal. There was a book called, for example, &lt;em&gt;Power to the Person&lt;/em&gt;, which was a take-off on “power to the people.” But the whole idea was that you could learn what was making you do the things you did.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; So control was a trendy thing.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ricardo F. Muñoz:&lt;/strong&gt; Control was a trendy thing, so we had incorporated it. Yes, so &lt;em&gt;How to Control Your Drinking&lt;/em&gt;. I also co-authored the book called &lt;em&gt;Control Your Depression&lt;/em&gt;, for example, so control was a big deal then — self-control — and that’s what the focus of the book was, to try to help people who felt they had problems.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Now we are thinking, given the data that’s now known about health problems — for example, all the cancers that are related to alcohol — now that people, in terms of controlling their drinking, should think about control all the way down to zero. That is, that one way of controlling your drinking is not to use it at all.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Though one of the things that I notice is that you really do try to make the point that you’re not telling people, don’t drink. I mean, the subtitle to &lt;em&gt;Rethinking Drinking&lt;/em&gt;, Bill, is &lt;em&gt;Making the Right Choice for You&lt;/em&gt;. So am I interpreting that correctly, that you still drink on occasion and you’re not necessarily saying with this book you shouldn’t drink any alcohol at all?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;William R. Miller:&lt;/strong&gt; Oh, definitely. Yeah, I mean, I’ve been a drinker all the time that Ricardo’s been an abstainer. I’m a very moderate drinker, I must say. But it’s up to people. It’s — we take risks every day, just in driving cars and so forth.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But what we’re trying to do is help people just be aware of when and how alcohol use can be risky. And how much risk do you want to take with it? So it’s respecting people’s choice to make their own decisions about how they will use alcohol and just giving them the information that they can use to make good decisions.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, do you also feel like that with all the new research that has come out saying that no amount of alcohol is good for you, right, that people are, you’re hearing people sort of wondering what place, what role drinking should have, if any, Bill?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;William R. Miller:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, that really is part of the audience for this book now as well. We’re not just writing for people who are drinking way too much and want to moderate it. There are lots of people who are saying, do I want to drink at all? And how do I make that choice? How do I decide that? And so that’s part of the audience for whom we’re writing this book as well, if you’re just thinking about what role does alcohol have in my life. Uh, and it’s not the way I want it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; The social conversation has really changed.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;We’re talking with Bill Miller, American clinical psychologist, distinguished professor of psychology and psychiatry emeritus at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, co-author with Ricardo F. Muñoz of the new book &lt;em&gt;Rethinking Drinking&lt;/em&gt;. They were co-authors of a book like this, though, you know, it’s been revised five times since 1976, but in 1976 it was called &lt;em&gt;How to Control Your Drinking&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And listeners, join the conversation. Have you started drinking less? And if you have, tell us why. How are you going about it if you are? And what is the hardest part, do you find, of reducing the amount of drinking or probably going cold turkey? What questions do you have about the effects of alcohol on your health? And if you drink, where does alcohol fit into your life?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;You can tell us by calling 866-733-6786, by emailing forum@kqed.org, and finding us on Discord, Blue Sky, Facebook, or Instagram at KQED Forum.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;More after the break. I’m Mina Kim.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914989/should-you-rethink-how-much-youre-drinking</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914989/should-you-rethink-how-much-youre-drinking</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:56:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Jeremy Garza</author>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Forum</category>
      <category>Health</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Nina LaCour Weaves an Intimate Story of the Great Migration to California in Novel’Meet Me in the Garden’</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2026/08/Annalee-Newitz-6.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;San Francisco’s Nina LaCour is a bestselling YA author who has turned to adult novels in the past few years. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Friday, August 21, 2026 at 9 AM&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;San Francisco’s Nina LaCour is a bestselling YA author who has turned to adult novels in the past few years. Her new book, “Meet Me In the Garden” is a shimmering novel about a Creole family’s migration from New Orleans to California and the ways that they reinterpret their racial and queer identities in their new home. We talk about the Great Migration, the promise of California, and writing characters readers actually love.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guest: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Nina LaCour&lt;/strong&gt;, author, “Meet Me in the Garden,” “Yerba Buena” and “We Are Okay”&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914983/nina-lacour-weaves-an-intimate-story-of-the-great-migration-to-california-in-novelmeet-me-in-the-garden</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914983/nina-lacour-weaves-an-intimate-story-of-the-great-migration-to-california-in-novelmeet-me-in-the-garden</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:21:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Forum</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>California</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Are Health Trackers Making Us Obsessed?</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2016/04/applewatch800.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Apple Watch&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fitness trackers have exploded in popularity, but psychologists say these devices can lead to anxiety and obsession.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Friday, August 21, 2026 at 10 AM&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Fitness trackers have exploded in popularity, and wearable users swear by the data. But&lt;br&gt;psychologists say these devices can lead to anxiety and obsession. Endlessly checking sleep scores and step counts is part of the problem, but the bigger concern is that even favorable numbers don’t mean we’re actually healthy. Adam Clark Estes, senior technology correspondent for Vox, did his own fitness tracking experiment, and Dr. Thea Gallagher is a psychologist who works with patients with obsessive disorders. They’ll join us to talk about what’s driving our desire to quantify our lives, and how we can get better at using tech to support our physical and mental health.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guests: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dr. Thea Gallagher&lt;/strong&gt;, clinical associate professor, Department of Psychiatry at NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine; Digital Mental Health, Outcomes, and Wellness Coordinator at NYU Langone Health; licensed clinical psychologist and anxiety specialist&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Adam Clark Estes&lt;/strong&gt;, senior technology correspondent, Vox&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914975/are-health-trackers-making-us-obsessed</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914975/are-health-trackers-making-us-obsessed</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 20:38:21 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Forum</category>
      <category>Health</category>
      <category>Science</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The USS Abraham Lincoln and the Toll of the Iran War</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2026/08/2000-x-1333-3.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;The San Diego-based naval carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed to the Middle East to support Iran war operations for nearly nine months.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 10 AM&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The San Diego-based naval carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed to the Middle East to support Iran war operations for nearly nine months. The ship has not stopped at port since&lt;br&gt;December 2025, setting a record for the most consecutive days at sea without a port call. Sailors aboard the Lincoln and their families are now sounding the alarm, reporting food shortages, sanitation issues and deteriorating mental health among personnel. One crew member was rescued after going overboard. We look at what the Lincoln’s historic deployment reveals about the demands of the war in Iran — and the military’s ability to protect service members.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guests: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;John Ismay&lt;/strong&gt;, reporter, The New York Times; former naval officer&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Kate Kuzminski&lt;/strong&gt;, Director of Studies, Center for a New American Security&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alison Bath, &lt;/strong&gt;covers the Navy for Stars and Stripes&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alex Padilla, &lt;/strong&gt;U.S. Senator representing California&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Episode Transcript&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Welcome to &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;. I’m Mina Kim. Sailors and their family members say service members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have endured food and water shortages, disruptions in mail and communication with family, and long workdays without a port stop for a record length of time, when sailors can get off the ship for a couple of days. The Lincoln left San Diego in November of last year for a Pacific deployment that was expected to end in May, when it was redirected to the Middle East with still no announced end date.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This hour, we take a closer look at why this is happening and the toll it’s taking. And joining me first is Alison Bath, who covers the Navy for Stars and Stripes. Alison, welcome to &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alison Bath:&lt;/strong&gt; Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here today.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; So you’ve been in touch with sailors on the Lincoln, as well as their family members. What have they told you about the mental and physical toll this is taking?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alison Bath:&lt;/strong&gt; What they told me was that they had endured food shortages, that there had been problems on the ship with water, specifically having hot water for showers, and that they had a stretch — about a 10-day stretch — where they had not been able to do any laundry.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;They had also told me about concerns about mental health. And these were reports that we were getting in July and earlier this month: concerns about mental health, concerns that some sailors may be thinking about harming themselves, those type of things. And that was very disturbing.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, we’ve heard very disturbing reports about sailors attempting to jump overboard or expressing a desire to. What were some of these messages that family members were receiving or even sailors were communicating?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alison Bath:&lt;/strong&gt; I think about some of the ones that we received. And one of the first ones I received was from a family member who reached out to us because their sailor asked them to. And their sailor had expressed the fact that they were under physical and mental strain and that they really needed help.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And what was very heartbreaking, if you will, was the family member’s reaction when I was speaking with them. They mentioned that they were very concerned because this sailor had said that there were sailors who were thinking about self-harm, and this family member was concerned that their sailor was one of them.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alison Bath:&lt;/strong&gt; I also went to a meeting earlier this month that the Navy had with spouses and a board that have sailors aboard the ship. And one of the poignant things that was shared with me by another spouse was that there was a spouse there who told officials that she had heard from her husband that very day a message that said he hoped he didn’t wake up the next day.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And that, again, was a very profound moment and very hard to hear. And I also think about the mother who wrote us and told us that it was very difficult for her to hear her son, who was a sailor, and his fellow sailors talking about jumping off the ship just for relief.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yes. What has the Navy and administration said in response to these reports, these stories of deteriorating mental health?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alison Bath:&lt;/strong&gt; When I reported my story at that meeting earlier this month, they told the spouses that they had mental health resources on the ship. That they had counselors, that they had doctors, that they had chaplains, and that they were working to get more there.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Since then, the Navy has come out and said that they have these resources on this ship. Also, that the ship has among the lowest rates of mental health cases among all carriers.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;They did also say that there had been a sailor that had fallen overboard earlier this month, but that was not the case that I discovered when sailors told me that a few months prior to this, that a sailor had been talked out of jumping off the ship by watchstanders, and that that event was announced via the ship’s system to say that that sailor had been stopped and that sailor was getting the resources that they needed.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; So I also heard Admiral Brad Cooper state that the USS Abraham Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of mental health cases. So, Alison, is that a reliable reflection of what’s happening on the ship, the case numbers?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alison Bath:&lt;/strong&gt; I do not have the case numbers. I’ve asked the Navy for them, and I have not received a response to that yet. I don’t know that it is a reliable reflection, mainly because we need the numbers to know that.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;I think that, you know, it is important to recognize that the Navy is taking actions to address mental health among sailors. And I think one of the things that can point to this is Admiral Cottle’s order about this time last year that no sailors should have to live on ships unless they wanted to.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so the Navy has moved thousands of junior sailors that were assigned to live on ships off of those ships. So, for example, here in Naples, where I am, the command and control ship, Mount Whitney, had about 54 junior sailors that were recently moved off of that ship.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And that was really important, that they weren’t living on the ship day in and day out, and they now are in private housing. So the Navy is making efforts to address mental health and the well-being of its sailors. What those numbers mean and what Admiral Cooper was talking about, I don’t know yet.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; We’ve been hearing reports that sailors are saying that the hardest part of all, among the many difficulties that they’ve experienced with regard to conditions, is the open-ended nature of the deployment, Alison.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alison Bath:&lt;/strong&gt; Yes, absolutely. They wanted, when I spoke with them, and I have spoken with them since my story published, they wanted an end date. They want to know, you know, that date. I had a sailor explain to me that that date is everything, whether that date that you’re going to go home or it’s the date that you’re going to make a port call.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s the day that you hold on to. It’s the date that makes everything seem, you know, that there’s something to look forward to. And then when that date either doesn’t come, as in the case of having regular port calls, or you don’t know exactly, your deployment is open-ended, it can really play havoc with a sailor and their sense, their morale.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah. And what kind of toll is this taking on the families who’ve been absorbing messages from the sailors, the media reports that are saying that, you know, the president and the defense secretary have been somewhat dismissive of their concerns and, of course, the fact that they just have not seen their sailors for nine months, have no clear idea when they will?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alison Bath:&lt;/strong&gt; What the families told me is that they were very concerned. They were very worried. And they wanted to know that their sailors were being well taken care of, that their sailors were eating, that their sailors had mail, another important thing for sailors to have when they’re deployed or at sea, and that their mental health issues were being addressed.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That’s what I was hearing repeatedly from the families. And the families wanted them to come home, too.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Alison, there was a line in one of your pieces where a family member said, “I’m just actively watching my sailor kind of break down.” I really appreciate you coming on and sharing your reporting with us. Alison, thank you so much.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alison Bath:&lt;/strong&gt; It’s my pleasure. Thank you.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Alison Bath is a reporter who covers the Navy for Stars and Stripes. And listeners, join the conversation with your questions and reactions to all this at 866-733-6786, by posting on Discord, Bluesky, Facebook or Instagram, or by emailing &lt;a href=&quot;mailto:forum@kqed.org&quot;&gt;forum@kqed.org&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;I want to bring John Ismay into the conversation now. New York Times reporter covering the Pentagon and a naval officer. John, thank you so much for being with us.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;John Ismay:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, thanks for having me.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; So you were deployed on the USS Nimitz for 239 days between 2009 and 2010. Help us understand the environment these Navy officers are in. What’s it like on an aircraft carrier?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;John Ismay:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, life is a lot different on a carrier than it is on a smaller ship, like a destroyer, which is what I deployed on my first time in 2000.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On an aircraft carrier, you often don’t really have a sense of relative motion from the sea, whereas on a small ship like a destroyer, if the seas are rough, you will definitely feel it. There’s definitely more room on a carrier than a smaller combatant.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But this type of situation that Lincoln has been in certainly presents a profound leadership challenge all up and down the chain of command on that ship, from the commanding officer, through the wardroom of officers to the chiefs’ mess, where the chief petty officers lead enlisted sailors.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so I don’t think any of them are super happy about the length of time that they’ve been out. And they’re doing their best to keep everyone going and keep the ship going so that it can accomplish its mission. But it is challenging.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, I’ve heard you compare it to, you know, being in your office, unable to leave it, or the floor that your office is on, you know, for almost a year and not being able to take any weekends off. So is that what it’s like, just a series of small rooms?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;John Ismay:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, I mean, of varying sizes, but certainly where sailors sleep, it’s pretty close quarters. For a junior enlisted sailor, you might be in a single space with 70 or 80 other sailors, whereas if you’re a junior officer like I was, I was fortunate enough to have my living quarters just shared with one other person.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So you’re seeing the same people day after day after day, and the routine can feel the same, too. I think on my last deployment, we were officially banned from using the term Groundhog Day to describe it, an allusion to that Bill Murray movie where it’s the same day every day when he wakes up. But that’s honestly how it felt a lot of the time.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;One thing about a carrier versus a smaller ship is that the carriers tend to deploy for slightly longer periods of time. And they often spend much longer stretches of time at sea between ports, whereas, you know, say, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer might have to pull into port far more frequently, you know, just because of the wear and tear on the crew.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; We’re talking with John Ismay, New York Times reporter covering the Pentagon and naval officer, who also knows what it’s like to be deployed on an aircraft carrier like the USS Lincoln. And we’ll have more with him and with you, our listeners, after the break. Stay with us.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914965/the-uss-abraham-lincoln-and-the-toll-of-the-iran-war</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914965/the-uss-abraham-lincoln-and-the-toll-of-the-iran-war</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 22:53:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Forum</category>
      <category>News</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ICE Airport Arrests Attract Legal Outcry</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2026/07/GettyImages-2256432634-scaled.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Federal immigration agents arrested more than 50 thousand people in July, a record number for the Trump administration which has demanded 2,000 ICE arrests daily&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 9 AM&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Federal immigration agents arrested more than 50 thousand people in July, a record number for the Trump administration which has demanded 2,000 ICE arrests daily. The surge has brought new tactics including arresting travelers at U.S. airports with pending green card applications or valid work permits. And the public nature of the airport arrests have flooded social media. We talk about the ways in which ICE is targeting individuals who have legal protections and what may come next.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guests: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michelle Hackman&lt;/strong&gt;, reporter, Wall Street Journal&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ghassan Shamieh&lt;/strong&gt;, immigration attorney and managing partner, Law Offices of Shamieh, Shamieh &amp;amp; Ternieden&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Deep Gulasekaram&lt;/strong&gt;, professor of law and director of Byron White Center for the Study of Constitutional Law, University of Colorado Boulder Law School&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Huy Tran&lt;/strong&gt;, executive director, SIREN, an immigrant rights organization with offices in San Jose and Fresno&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider&lt;/strong&gt;, Oakland resident&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Episode Transcript&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Welcome to &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;. I’m Alexis Madrigal.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Clip:&lt;/strong&gt; Help us! ICE is here! Help us! Help us! No, don’t show me in!&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; That was a friend of Chantal Rojas Morales, an Oakland resident, as she was detained by ICE agents at the Denver airport. This clip of a young woman being muscled out of an airport terminal went hugely viral, as have similar stories at other airports.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;As we look at the new mandates and tactics that ICE is operating with, we’re joined first this morning by Lauren Schneider, another friend of Morales, to discuss what happened at the airport and how Morales got back to the Bay. Thanks for joining us, Lauren.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, good morning, Alexis. Thanks for having me.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; So what happened? I know you weren’t there. It was another friend that was there, but you got deeply involved. So what happens at the Denver airport?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, so Chantal had been in Denver. She lives here in Oakland, but she’s been in Denver with some friends for the weekend and everybody returning home. And she was there with the family that she’d been an au pair with previously, but also some other friends.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So she was at the gate coming back to Oakland when a plainclothes ICE officer approached her and asked about her visa. And she declined to share it. And when my friend Alicia, whose voice you just heard, came back from filling her water bottle, Chantal shared that this happened. And they decided to board the plane.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;At that point, an alarm went off. The plane closed, officers closed the shuttle into the jetway and started the detention process.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; So at this point, what did Chantal’s friends and family know? Like, when did you actually know where she was and what was happening?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, well, luckily, my friend Alicia was with her, as well as several other people in the community, so they were able to witness it and film it. And right away, our other friend Lauren — another Lauren — was at another gate, actually boarding her plane with her two sons and husband, and got the phone call from Alicia that Chantal had been detained.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So Lauren immediately decided not to board her flight and then gave me a phone call right away. My sister is an immigration attorney, and so we were trying to mobilize resources as quickly as possible to figure out what was happening with Chantal and how we could help her.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; So, you know, at the time that she was detained, what was Chantal’s immigration status?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; Um, you know, so Chantal came to the U.S. lawfully in 2023 as an au pair. Before that program ended, she filed an immigration application that is still under review. And so with that, DHS has granted her authorization to work in the U.S., and she’s committed no crime.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; So what was the reason given for her detention?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; They did not give a reason at the moment, and I actually have not seen the warrant myself, so I’m not sure. But it just was a continued process of not having full access to information.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; So, you know, I think many people out there have seen some of these videos. They may have people in their community who have been detained by ICE or are beginning to imagine seeing something like this happen in their communities. What did you end up doing after Chantal was detained?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; Um, yeah, so my two friends were able to stay in Denver, and I took the first flight out the next day to go out also in solidarity and support and to work to mobilize resources.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So my friend Lauren and I were able to stay on and off in Denver for the next almost two weeks while she was in detention, working for her release. So we got there, we mobilized resources to find her an attorney and start to navigate the system and advocate on her behalf.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; So what are you doing during that time? You’re actually, like, going to the detention center, you’re talking to local immigration lawyers, like, what’s happening?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; It’s a bunch of different things. So, yeah, first we were trying to find an immigration attorney who could work on her behalf.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Again, because of Alicia’s ability to catch that video and get attention, we mobilized an incredible amount of resources through a GoFundMe. And so we were able — Chantal had the freedom to find an attorney who could work on her behalf. So, yeah, finding Laura Lichter, who’s a great attorney in Denver.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And then figuring out ways to contact her. While we wanted to get her out, we also wanted her to know that she wasn’t alone as soon as possible, and going through all the hoops to figure out what are the different ways to have visiting hours. So we were able to visit her. There are two days a week that I have visiting hours.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And then also setting up different platforms for text messages, et cetera.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; And were some people in this kind of care group of folks around Chantal able to get in touch with her family in Ecuador and these kinds of things so they knew what was going on?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, absolutely. There was, like, a very rapid response in terms of people connecting with other people. So, yeah, there were many different WhatsApp groups just trying to keep people informed.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But, of course, you know, it was hard to get information or to know what was happening. And so I think there was a lot of desperation for more information when we all were limited by what we could learn at any given moment.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; So given how all these folks around her, given she was able to have legal counsel, given her actual status and work authorization and stuff, you were able to get her out, right? And where is she now? Is she back home?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; She is finally back home in Oakland, and thank goodness. But that really, I think, only happened as quickly as it did because of this insane amount of resources that were mobilized.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But, yeah, it took many days of not just advocating — you know, my friend Lauren and I knocking on the door at the ICE office in Aurora every single day to keep moving the work forward. And, of course, obviously, her lawyer working tirelessly to file different proceedings.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But also working with Representative Lateefah Simon’s office, as well as Senator Hickenlooper’s office, working at the federal level to advocate. So, yeah, it was happening at every level.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; To anyone who’d answer the phone you were calling.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; Exactly.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; You know, a lot of us have seen ICE detentions in video or watched things that have happened around the country, but now having had this happen to a friend who was legally in this country, I mean, how do you feel about what’s happening?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; I feel a lot of things. I definitely feel a sense of moral outrage. I feel grief. And at times, I felt a profound sense of powerlessness in the face of this system.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But at times, I found the power through community, through connection, through mobilizing together.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; And also, we’re going to talk about stories of folks who did not have this wonderful group of friends come together and work on their behalf. Thank you so much for joining us, Lauren Schneider.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lauren Schneider:&lt;/strong&gt; Absolutely. Thanks, Alexis.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ale

...

@IvanWng97 @claude
feat(route): add KQED
b55d3a2 
KQED's current site publishes no feed, and the legacy feed marks every
image `loading="lazy"` with `sizes="auto"`, which stops many readers from
ever loading them. This route reads the WordPress REST API behind each
section, strips those attributes, and links to the current site.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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      <title>The ‘Bitch Talk’ Podcast Will Fight Your Dancing Robot</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-736_websize-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Two Asian American women stand before a purple backdrop, clutching microphones close to their faces. The woman on the left wears a leopard print t-shirt and black jeans; the one of the right wears a black jumpsuit.&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Erin Lim and Angela ‘Ange’ Tabora, hosts of San Francisco podcast ‘Bitch Talk.’&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s a sunny San Francisco day and &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.bitchtalkpodcast.com/&quot;&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt; podcast co-hosts Erin Lim and Angela Tabora are hanging out in The Sitting Room, the cozy Fillmore venue where they both work as bartenders. They are describing, very entertainingly, a recent afternoon downtown when they encountered crowds of tech professionals outside the Moscone Center applauding a dancing robot. Suddenly aghast, Lim responded by putting herself front and center and instinctively flipping off the machine.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“This robot is dancing to ’70s funk, of all music!” Tabora exclaims. “That’s soul music! For things with souls to dance to!”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“And so I was flipping it off,” Lim says. “There’s this whole crowd of people clapping with no rhythm, cheering it on, and I was just like, get me out of this fucking place.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This is the story Lim and Tabora tell when asked how they’ve kept their culture podcast going for 13 years. Somehow, they’ve made it work as indie broadcasters in a region known for both its extreme affordability crisis and the creeping ubiquity of AI.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We’re inundated,” Lim sighs. “We’re being colonized by AI. But if we’re not here, then who’s going to take our place? It makes me sad with all the AI billboards everywhere and the people that come in thinking they know San Francisco, and they don’t. White saviors. They’re not curious about this space and they’re not willing to learn. But we’re here too.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Indeed, as frustrated as Lim and Tabora are about ever-encroaching tech and exorbitant rents, they remain absolutely dedicated to staying in the city, where they continue their mission of honoring local culture and communities. Lim, originally from Los Angeles, first moved to San Francisco in 1999. Tabora — who joined &lt;em&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/em&gt; 100 episodes in, after original cohost Karyn Paige bowed out — was raised in San Leandro before moving to San Francisco in 2005.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“The thing that keeps me loving San Francisco is that community,” Tabora says. “Artists, local business owners, musicians. Of course, a lot of [my old friends don’t] live in the city anymore. But good stuff’s still here. Things like &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12078524/hunky-jesus-contest-2026-foxy-mary-dolores-park-sisters-of-perpetual-indulgence-san-francisco-history-easter-in-the-park-what-time-how-to-enter&quot;&gt;Hunky Jesus&lt;/a&gt;, the chili cook-off every year at &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPOpOTCw5M0&quot;&gt;Standard Deviant Brewing&lt;/a&gt;, all the film festivals. &lt;em&gt;So many&lt;/em&gt; film festivals. That’s what keeps me going.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1500&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes.jpeg&quot; alt=&quot;A Black man wearing a yellow outfit and very tall misshapen hat sits on a movie theater stage talking into a mic. To his left are two Asian women sitting in directors&#39; chairs and laughing uproariously.&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993187&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Lim and Tabora on stage at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood in Berkeley, moderating a Q&amp;amp;A with Boots Riley, after a screening of ‘I Love Boosters,’ May 2026. (Steve Rhodes)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/em&gt;, now approaching 1,000 episodes, is a labor of love for Lim and Tabora. The pair, who self-fund the podcast with the help of only an annual fundraiser and occasional sponsorships, first met while working at a television production company in Marin. Lim still works as an audio journalist for &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kalw.org/&quot;&gt;KALW&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We’ve gotten advice from people that we really respect, that have gone far in this industry, that have told us, ‘To become more mainstream, I think you need to change the name,’” Tabora says. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We will stick with &lt;em&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/em&gt;, thanks,” Lim adds. “I don’t care. Where’s my pearls?” 
&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Lim and Tabora’s podcast started as a gathering of friends, led by Lim, who got together over a bottle of whiskey to discuss pop culture and events of the day from a distinctly Asian American perspective. The show was specifically designed to fight back against the overwhelmingly “pale and male” (as Lim puts it) nature of podcasting.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Over time, due in part to Lim’s background in movie PR and Tabora’s ongoing work in documentary filmmaking, &lt;em&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/em&gt; expanded from a chat and analysis show into one that also focused on moviemakers and film festivals, as well as local events, actors and musicians. When Lim and Tabora aren’t reviewing, they’re interviewing the likes of Barry Jenkins, W. Kamau Bell, Olivia Wilde, Ron Howard, Daveed Diggs and Ruby Ibarra. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;When they’re not interviewing, they talk to each other and their audience in so-called ‘Basic Bitch’ episodes, in which they visit their favorite locations around the Bay and explain why they’re special. (A September 2025 episode recorded in Costco is one of the finest examples of this.)&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I think the beauty of our podcast is we don’t have anyone to answer to,” Tabora says. “So we don’t have to focus on any one thing.” &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1177&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Two middle aged, colorfully dressed women of Asian descent sit at a bar table, sipping cocktails with microphones set up in front of them.&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993275&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ange Tabora and Erin Lim. (Chloe Jackman)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The duo’s efforts and outspoken style have not gone unnoticed, winning Best Podcast honors from &lt;em&gt;San Francisco Magazine&lt;/em&gt;’s Best of the Bay awards for three years straight between 2022 and 2024. One of the most appealing elements of Lim and Tabora’s work together is their chemistry. They’ve been friends and coworkers for so long, they frequently finish each other’s sentences. They are also unintentionally hilarious, with Lim often playing the straight (wo)man during Tabora’s wildcard moments.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We have grown a lot together,” Tabora tells KQED earnestly. “I think we push each other. She fills my holes and vice versa.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Lim quickly glares at Tabora.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Gaps! I mean gaps, not holes!” Tabora corrects. “You know what I mean? Like, she does the things that I don’t do so well, and vice versa.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We complement each other,” Lim affirms.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Oh God, please don’t say we fill each other’s holes!” laughs the mortified Tabora, head in hands. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;One of the benefits of Lim and Tabora’s chatty, comedic exteriors is their ability to share political content in an easily digestible manner. Earlier this year, they created an &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.bitchtalkpodcast.com/activism-1&quot;&gt;activism&lt;/a&gt; page on their website that categorizes their back catalog according to topic: LGBTQ+, race, and women’s rights. So many episodes in, the hosts are aware that they’ve quietly built an important archive of activist information.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I just think we’ve done all this work, and all these interviews, and watched all these films,” Lim says. “If you are even thinking about [activism] or have a question about it, we have the resources. Our podcast has social impact — and I hate using that term — but it’s true.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So, what’s next for &lt;em&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/em&gt;? Their annual fundraiser is happening in October, so they can keep the podcast afloat for another year. Lim and Tabora are also learning to lean into middle age as loudly and proudly as possible.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We’re kind of the first generation that looks and acts this way as middle-aged bitches.” Tabora says. “I’m proud of that. We’re not trying to defy science. We’re talking about first colonoscopies, perimenopause, my hysterectomy. I want to talk about these things, especially in the space of social media and Hollywood — so much anti-aging everywhere. Don’t make me bust out my pocket fan!”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“That’s why we call ourselves the &lt;em&gt;Golden Girls&lt;/em&gt; of podcasting,” Lim adds, “because we are.”&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13990773/bitch-talk-podcast-san-francisco-aapi-pop-culture-analysis</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:15:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Rae Alexandra</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Pop Culture</category>
      <category>AAPI</category>
      <category>Asian American</category>
      <category>featured-arts</category>
      <category>podcasts</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lean Into Suspense With 5 Books This Fall</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Books_1920.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;five book covers on gradient background&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Five book recommendations for the fall season, to help you acclimate to spookier times.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Be sure to check out our full&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026&quot;&gt;2026 Fall Arts Guide&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Horror for fall? Groundbreaking. I didn’t set out to put together a list of creepy, suspenseful and, dare I say, spooky books for this seasonal guide — it just naturally happened.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If you’re in need of inspiration to get back into the habit of reading every day this fall, or if you are still striving to reach the overambitious goals you set for yourself in January, you should consider adding these new and upcoming page-turners to your must-read lists.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/4.png&quot; alt=&quot;book cover on gradient background&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993311&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Cynthia Gómez’s novel published in early June 2026. (Penguin Random House)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/788211/muneca-by-cynthia-gomez/&quot;&gt;Muñeca&lt;/a&gt;’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;By Cynthia Gómez&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Out now&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Oakland author Cynthia Gómez delivers a beautifully written gothic novel about a queer, Latine, working-class witch in her debut novel. &lt;em&gt;Muñeca&lt;/em&gt; is the story of Natalia Fuentes, who decides to help reverse a dark magic spell that left a wealthy woman in town paralyzed. In the process, the two women have to face their feelings for each other and the ghosts of their past.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Taking place in the Oakland of 1968, &lt;em&gt;Muñeca&lt;/em&gt; is a heartwarming read that will put you in the mood for a spooky season.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Gómez gives &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://oaklandlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/69ab43becd3d863bd92423ac&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;a talk&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt; at the Oakland Public Library (125 14th St.) on Sept. 10 and is part of the &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://cynthiasaysboo.wordpress.com/events-appearances/&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;VIVA Latinx Celebration&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt; at the San Francisco Public Library (100 Larkin St.) on Sept. 26.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/3.png&quot; alt=&quot;book cover on gradient background&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993310&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Sarah Langan’s novel is set at a fictional Black Swan Farm. (Simon &amp;amp; Schuster)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Trad-Wife/Sarah-Langan/9781668229651&quot;&gt;Trad Wife&lt;/a&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;By Sarah Langan&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Available Sept. 29, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If you’ve read &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13989727/5-best-books-summer-2026&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Yesteryear&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; — a brilliantly crafted satire about a “trad wife” TikTok influencer — and were underwhelmed by the lack of eerie, magical creatures haunting the farm, Sarah Langlan’s &lt;em&gt;Trad Wife&lt;/em&gt; is the perfect fall read for you.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The novel follows New York City journalist Jenny Kaplan who, in an attempt to save her career after a controversial story gets her fired, agrees to write a feature article about swapping roles for a week with trad wife influencer and multi-level marketing leader Mia Wright. Expecting to write a scathing feminist exposé, Jenny finds herself puzzled by everything that’s going on in the farmhouse — the cherry-scented candles and soaps, the locked storage room, the children’s odd behavior, the diseased and dead animals, and nine-months pregnant Mia’s nonchalant alcoholism.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;You will not be able to put down &lt;em&gt;Trad Wife&lt;/em&gt; until Jenny finally figures out what makes the Black Swan Farm so unique and terrible.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/1.png&quot; alt=&quot;book cover on gradient background&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993308&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Micaiah Johnson’s novel imagines a house where nothing bad can happen. (Penguin Random House)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/812306/the-unhaunting-by-micaiah-johnson/&quot;&gt;The Unhaunting&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;By Micaiah Johnson&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Available&lt;/em&gt; Sept. 29, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Micaiah Johnson’s &lt;em&gt;The Unhaunting&lt;/em&gt; is a perfectly-timed novel that blends the genres of haunted house horror with historical fiction to examine Black American life in the Deep South, through the history of a 170-year-old manor in Mississippi.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;When Shantell and Avery decide to move into the inherited house, they find it in much better shape than they expected. But the place, built by a daughter of the Confederacy at the end of the Civil War who wished for a house where nothing bad could happen, holds a lot of secrets beneath its upkept surface.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Equal parts American history, social commentary and ghost story, &lt;em&gt;The Unhaunting&lt;/em&gt; beckons to be devoured in one sitting this fall.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/2.png&quot; alt=&quot;book cover on gradient background&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993309&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;In Samantha Josephs’ novel, pretend pregnancy turns very real. (Penguin Random House)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/809818/carrying-by-samantha-josephs/&quot;&gt;Carrying&lt;/a&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;By Samantha Josephs&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Available&lt;/em&gt; Oct. 6, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The premise of Samantha Josephs’ debut novel is irresistible: Martha is a trans woman who hides her identity from everyone, including her husband, and goes to great lengths to fake morning sickness and miscarriages — until she curiously becomes &lt;em&gt;actually &lt;/em&gt;pregnant.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;With her body changing and suffering from severe insomnia, Martha stumbles upon an online alternative medicine community and decides to join their late-night meetings. What follows is a completely bonkers web of lies, Martha’s inexplicably gruesome pregnancy cravings, and a husband who takes entirely too long to realize his stay-at-home wife is acting strange.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;I got to read &lt;em&gt;Carrying&lt;/em&gt; in June, lounging by the pool, in one weekend, but it’s a perfectly unsettling novel to breeze through this fall.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Josephs will have a &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://samantha-josephs.com/events&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;book launch&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt; at Pegasus Books (2349 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley) on Oct. 8.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/5.png&quot; alt=&quot;book cover on gradient background&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993312&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;In Amber Blaeser-Wardzala’s novel, an Anishinaabe woman looks for her missing sister. (Penguin Random House)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/797167/another-name-for-red-by-amber-blaeser-wardzala/&quot;&gt;Another Name for Red&lt;/a&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;By Amber Blaeser-Wardzala&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Available&lt;/em&gt; Oct. 13, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;There’s at least one thing about author Amber Blaeser-Wardzala’s debut novel &lt;em&gt;Another Name for Red&lt;/em&gt; that will catch you off guard: the protagonist is mainly referred to as “Middle Sister.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Taking place on an Indigenous reservation, the novel follows an Anishinaabe woman whose older sister has gone missing a year ago and who, after authorities prove to be no help, decides to track down her sister herself. When her investigation leads to clashes with two white men, one living on the reservation and one from a neighboring town, she has to bring her family and friends together to continue her fight.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Based on the realities of missing and murdered Indigenous women in North America, Blaeser-Wardzala succeeds in illustrating the uphill battles facing her community in her tense, suspenseful debut novel.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993306/best-books-fall-2026-horror-suspense-spooky</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993306/best-books-fall-2026-horror-suspense-spooky</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Sarah Hotchkiss</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Books</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>books</category>
      <category>Fall Guide 2026</category>
      <category>featured-arts</category>
      <category>thedolist</category>
      <category>The Do List</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A New Book Honors ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ for His 100th Birthday</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/howabearbecameabook-9781250358448-int-04-05-jpeg-scaled.jpeg&quot; alt=&quot;How a Bear Became a Book, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt;, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;100 years ago, Edward Bear — also known as Winnie-the-Pooh — also known as Pooh — went &lt;em&gt;bump, bump, bump&lt;/em&gt; down the stairs for the first time.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Though he made an earlier appearance in the 1924 book of poems &lt;em&gt;When We Were Very Young&lt;/em&gt; — “Our Teddy Bear is short and fat, Which is not to be wondered at” — 1926’s &lt;em&gt;Winnie-the-Pooh&lt;/em&gt; was author A.A. Milne and illustrator Ernest H. Shepard’s first collection of stories about the honey-loving bear.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Now, a kids’ book celebrates that anniversary and the relationship between Milne and Shepard. It’s called &lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book: The Collaboration That Created Winnie-the-Pooh&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It opens with our narrator, Christopher Robin, asking the reader, “Would you like a story?” A translucent Pooh-shaped character appears (“Hallo?”) and wonders, “But where did I come from?” And so back, back, back we go through the pages of time.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;776&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/howabearbecameabook-9781250358448-int-12-13.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;How a Bear Became a Book, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993287&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt;, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Alan Alexander Milne was an author,” writes author Annette Bay Pimentel. “He wrote stories. One day he had an idea and wrote down some words about a bear.” Then, our narrator explains, he waited for an editor to edit his words and an illustrator to turn his words into pictures. Meanwhile, the semi-solid bear character nudges the story along by asking, “Why? What do pictures do?”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It was a very, very close working relationship,” explains Pimentel. “Ernest Shepard was a sketcher and he always carried his sketchbook. And so he arranged to go to where A.A. Milne lived out near Ashdown Forest in the U.K., and he spent time with the Milne family, sketching Christopher Robin and sketching his toys. And then he went back to his studio, and … that’s when he started adding imaginative elements.” Like a doorway into an old tree and a rabbit hole with a functioning kitchen.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;1543&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/how-a-bear-became-a-book-cover.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993288&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Both Pimentel and illustrator Faith Pray wanted to pay homage to Milne and Shepard in the text and illustrations in &lt;em&gt;their&lt;/em&gt; children’s book. “I tried very consciously to make Winnie-the-Pooh’s voice echo Winnie-the-Pooh’s voice in the books,” says Pimentel. “So I spent a lot of time going back through the books trying to figure out okay, like, does he use contractions? What kinds of phrases does he use?”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Then there’s the scene in &lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt; that explains the part of the publishing process where Milne and Shepard were figuring out the page design for &lt;em&gt;Winnie-the-Pooh&lt;/em&gt;. “Previously, when people printed, there would just be pages of words” and then separate pages of pictures, explains Pimentel. But Methuen Publishing was using a new technology called offset printing — and it allowed illustrations to be printed on the page with the text. “This was something that Milne and Shepard and the editorial team were playing with,” says Pimentel. “And they did some beautiful, beautiful page designs where the page design mimicked the action of the story.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;795&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/screenshot-2026-07-25-100529.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Winnie-the-Pooh, written by A.A. Milne and illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993289&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;776&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/howabearbecameabook-9781250358448-int-32-33.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;How a Bear Became a Book, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993290&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book, &lt;/em&gt;written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray &lt;cite&gt; (&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;)&lt;/cite&gt;&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“They stacked words on top of each other, tall as the trees in the Hundred Acre Wood,” writes Pimentel in her book. “They bounced words up and down, right off the line.” In Pray’s illustration, the words are piled on top of each other next to a tree — just as Shepard did in the original.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;As the story in &lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt; continues (“At last, the book was published and sent to bookstores,”) Pray’s see-through bear character becomes more and more solid. Where he began as a flurry of words, existing only in his author’s head, by the end of the book he’s a very recognizable Winnie-the-Pooh. Proving that, as Pimentel writes, “Sometimes words need pictures and pictures need words. When they find each other, characters spring to life.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;776&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/howabearbecameabook-9781250358448-int-36-37.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;How a Bear Became a Book, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993291&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt;, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;hr class=&quot;wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity&quot;&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;‘&lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt;’ &lt;em&gt;by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray is out now, via Macmillan.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993285/how-a-bear-became-a-book-winnie-the-pooh-review-pimentel-pray-aa-milne</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993285/how-a-bear-became-a-book-winnie-the-pooh-review-pimentel-pray-aa-milne</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:27:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Rae Alexandra</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Books</category>
      <category>Pop Culture</category>
      <category>children&#39;s literature</category>
      <category>kids</category>
      <category>kids books</category>
      <category>NPR</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Colin Kaepernick Is Coming to the East Bay With a New Memoir</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/colinkaepernickheadshot_amari-kenoly-for-kaepernick-publishing_sq-ac9ab56d11882769a2c34308c77825b1b273bda3-scaled-e1678390101713.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A mixed race man with close-cropped beard and large afro faces the camera.&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;In a new graphic novel, Colin Kaepernick details how he wrestled with his identity within his blended adoptive family.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Ten year ago, before a preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers on Sept. 1, 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/colin-kaepernick&quot;&gt;Colin Kaepernick&lt;/a&gt; decided to kneel during pregame performances of “The Star Spangled Banner.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Fed up with the extrajudicial killings of Black people in this country, Kaepernick took a knee and also took a stand. While it brought much-needed attention to an issue plaguing our society, it also drastically changed the course of Kaepernick’s career. Months later, the former Super Bowl quarterback was effectively pushed out of the NFL for his weekly quiet protest; he would later &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.npr.org/2019/02/15/695213705/colin-kaepernick-reaches-agreement-with-the-nfl-his-lawyer-says&quot;&gt;successfully sue the NFL for collusion&lt;/a&gt;, alleging that teams blackballed him and former teammate Eric Reid.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Now, a decade after first quietly taking a knee in protest, Kaepernick is speaking about his journey, as he shares his new book with the world.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2560&quot; height=&quot;1705&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/02/gettyimages-613006826_custom-f97a5013d911721d6d056c2efd00c749ed8f41c5-scaled.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13908962&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Eli Harold (from left), Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the national anthem prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On Wednesday, Sept. 23, Berkeley’s Black Repertory Group will open its doors, allowing audience members a chance to hear &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colin-kaepernick-x-marcus-books-the-perilous-fight-tickets-1997421539594?aff=erelpanelorg&quot;&gt;Kaepernick discuss&lt;/a&gt; his new memoir, &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/colin-kaepernick/the-perilous-fight/9781538777879/&quot;&gt;The Perilous Fight&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt; (Hachette Book Group). Each attendee will also receive a signed copy of the book, which covers Kaepernick’s upbringing in Turlock, his experience as a professional athlete, and how he found footing in the world of activism.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Kaepernick will be in conversation with comedian and award-winning host &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/w-kamau-bell&quot;&gt;W. Kamau Bell&lt;/a&gt;; they’ll be joined that evening by appearances from the former head of the Black Panther Party’s Oakland Community School &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13940221/black-panthers-oakland-community-school-50th-anniversary&quot;&gt;Ericka Huggins&lt;/a&gt; and Black Panther Party illustrator &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13984778/emory-douglas-in-our-lifetime-aaacc-san-francisco&quot;&gt;Emory Douglas&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The event is backed by the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nab2.org/&quot;&gt;National Association of Black Bookstores&lt;/a&gt; and hosted by Oakland’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://marcusbooks.com/&quot;&gt;Marcus Books&lt;/a&gt;. The collaboration between Kaepernick, one of the most high-profile activists of the last decade; the &lt;a href=&quot;https://blackrepertorygroup.com/&quot;&gt;Black Repertory Group&lt;/a&gt;, founded in 1964 as one of the longest-running African American theatrical organizations; and Marcus Books, the United States’ oldest bookstore specializing in African American literature, is a rare confluence of greats. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;alignright size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1695&quot; height=&quot;2560&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Colin-K-scaled.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Colin Kaepernick&#39;s book &#39;The Perilous Fight&#39;.&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993330&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Colin Kaepernick’s book ‘The Perilous Fight’ publishes Sept. 15, 2026.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It is also, according to Marcus Books owner Blanche Richardson, “the direct result of the work of the National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2).”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In an email to KQED, Richardson gives credit to NAB2, which is only in its second year of existence, for coordinating Kaepernick’s book tour with the publisher. “[NAB2] demands equity in sending Black authors to Black bookstores where their fan bases are,” writes Richardson.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Kaepernick has signed thousands of bookplates for this tour, so all ticket-holders will receive signed books. There will also be Q&amp;amp;A session after the conversation with W. Kamau Bell. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“All are welcome to have their pictures taken with the author,” Richardson adds, noting that VIP tickets have sold out and regular tickets are selling fast. “We will be adding a number of lesser-priced tickets for seats in the ‘overflow’ room once the $50 tickets are sold out.” (The overflow crowd will also receive signed books and be able to take photos.)&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Kaepernick’s rare public appearance outside of his foundation, the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.knowyourrightscamp.org/&quot;&gt;Know Your Rights Camp,&lt;/a&gt; is part of a book tour that will also stop at the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colin-kaepernick-author-talk-tickets-1997911346620&quot;&gt;Guild Theater&lt;/a&gt; in Sacramento on Sept. 21 and the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.ebellofla.org/events/writers-bloc-and-the-ebell-present-football-legend-colin-kaepernick&quot;&gt;Ebell Dining Room&lt;/a&gt; in Los Angeles on Sept. 22.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Oakland’s Marcus Books regularly hosts convenings with authors and cultural figures. In the coming month they also have events with civil rights attorney and activist &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walter-riley-x-marcus-books-civil-rights-and-structural-attacks-tickets-1997521565775?aff=erelpanelorg&quot;&gt;Walter Riley &lt;/a&gt;on Sept. 6, author &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deborah-santana-x-marcus-books-loving-the-fire-tickets-1997526462421?aff=erelpanelorg&quot;&gt;Deborah Santana&lt;/a&gt; on Sept. 20 and poet &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kevin-powell-w-kwc-complex-jazz-trio-x-marcus-books-tickets-1997528025095?aff=erelpanelorg&quot;&gt;Kevin Powell&lt;/a&gt; (with KWC Complex Jazz Trio) on Sept. 26.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;hr class=&quot;wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity&quot;&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Colin Kaepernick discusses his book ‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/colin-kaepernick/the-perilous-fight/9781538777879/&quot;&gt;The Perilous Fight&lt;/a&gt;’ at the Black Repertory Group Theater (3201 Adeline St., Berkeley) on Sept. 22, &lt;em&gt;6–8 p.m&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colin-kaepernick-x-marcus-books-the-perilous-fight-tickets-1997421539594?aff=erelpanelorg&quot;&gt;Check here&lt;/a&gt; for further information. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993293/colin-kaepernick-memoir-the-perilous-fight-book-tour-berkeley</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993293/colin-kaepernick-memoir-the-perilous-fight-book-tour-berkeley</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Pendarvis Harshaw</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Books</category>
      <category>The Do List</category>
      <category>Book</category>
      <category>colin kaepernick</category>
      <category>featured-arts</category>
      <category>memoir</category>
      <category>thedolist</category>
      <category>The Do List</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Berkeley</category>
      <category>Events</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The 11 Best Films and Festivals to See This Fall</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/My-Name-Ain_t-Suzie11.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;woman looks mysterious in round sunglasses&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;A still from Angie Chen’s ‘My Name Ain’t Suzie (Fa gai si doi),’ 1985.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Be sure to check out our full&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026&quot;&gt;2026 Fall Arts Guide&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Bay Area is fertile ground for film festivals year-round, but peak harvest season arrives in September and October. Toss in a bumper crop of ambitious (and political) wide releases and some tasty revivals from cinema’s past and we have the fixings for a fabulous fall feast. And that’s before the avalanche of Oscar-touted movies arrives around the holidays.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;There are so many intriguing choices that the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive retrospective &lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/program/martin-scorsese-pictures&quot;&gt;Martin Scorsese Pictures&lt;/a&gt; (Sept. 5, 2026–June 2027) and the SF Silent Film Festival’s centennial celebration of Buster Keaton’s still-astounding &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://silentfilm.org/event/buster-keatons-the-general/&quot;&gt;The General&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt; (Sept. 18 at the Orinda Theater with live musical accompaniment) didn’t make my cut. Nor did a pair of long-awaited adaptations of female-powered novels, &lt;em&gt;Verity&lt;/em&gt; (starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, opening Oct. 2) and &lt;em&gt;Klara and the Sun&lt;/em&gt; (Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams, Oct. 23). Have I whetted your appetite?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1125&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/TheUprising_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;disheveled white man in medieval peasant clothes &quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992922&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Andrew Garfield stars as Ploughman in director Paul Greengrass’ ‘The Uprising.’ (Focus Features)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘The Uprising’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Opens Sept. 11, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In the late 1300s, still mourning their plague deaths, England’s overtaxed farmers organized against the elites who manipulated teenage King Richard II for their own benefit. Lacking the right to vote, the populace had few options besides rebellion. (Unrelated public service announcement: Election Day is Nov. 3.) Paul Greengrass (&lt;em&gt;The Last Bus&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Captain Phillips&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Bloody Sunday&lt;/em&gt;) has a penchant for unlikely heroes, and casts Andrew Garfield as a slight, bearded, principled widower who emerges as one of the leaders. Kill the rich! No kings! Up the revolution! Volunteers, anyone?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1034&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/WesternSnowyPlover_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;small puffy shorebird on sand with foam of waves behind&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992927&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A still from Danny Roberts’ short documentary ‘The Western Snowy Plover,’ screening as part of SF CritterFest. (Courtesy of the filmmaker)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://sfcritterfest.eventive.org/welcome&quot;&gt;SF CritterFest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 17–20, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;4 Star Theater, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The SF IndieFest family has a new sibling in this vocal and colorful compendium of movies starring the animal kingdom, wild and domestic (with a couple human cameos). Head honcho Jeff Ross and ace programmers Chris Metzler and Jason Wolos return to the 4 Star Oct. 15–22 with the très cool &lt;a href=&quot;https://filmfreeway.com/sfgreenfilmfest&quot;&gt;Green Film Festival&lt;/a&gt; of San Francisco and the &lt;a href=&quot;https://filmfreeway.com/SFShorts&quot;&gt;San Francisco Short Film Festival&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Akin_Crossing_007.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;young man leans back against ferry railing with eyes closed and cigarette in hand&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992931&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A still from Levan Akin’s ‘Crossing,’ 2024. (BAMPFA)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/program/georgian-cinema-now-part-1&quot;&gt;Georgian Cinema Now: Part 1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 23–Oct. 2, 2026&lt;br&gt;Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For over a decade, Director of Film and Senior Film Curator Susan Oxtoby has shared with Bay Area audiences her affinity for the underappreciated films of the small nation of Georgia. Now, when the country’s authoritarian rulers are punishing all forms of free speech — uh, I’m talking about Georgia — BAMPFA embarks on a year-long act of cultural solidarity. In the first leg, nine filmmakers and scholars bring their art, ideas and struggle to the Bay Area for 10 days. (In addition to Georgia and &lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/program/martin-scorsese-pictures&quot;&gt;Scorsese&lt;/a&gt;, this fall BAMPFA also showcases rare and classic &lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/program/hong-kong-cinema-rarities-and-restorations&quot;&gt;Hong Kong movies&lt;/a&gt; and the late ’50s-early ’60s masterpieces of &lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/program/kobayashi&quot;&gt;Masaki Kobayashi&lt;/a&gt;. Just … wow.)&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1036&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/My-Name-Ain_t-Suzie11.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;woman looks mysterious in round sunglasses&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992933&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A still from Angie Chen’s ‘My Name Ain’t Suzie (Fa gai si doi),’ 1985. (SF Film Preserve)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992827/Festival%20of%20Restoration%20and%20Rediscovery&quot;&gt;Re:Vision: Festival of Restoration and Rediscovery&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 24–27, 2026&lt;br&gt;Roxie Theater, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Access must be the end point of all preservation initiatives,” declares the website of the San Francisco Film Preserve. The SFFP’s inaugural festival collects 14 rarely seen features — excavated treasure for cinephiles — each paired with a short. Angie Chen’s grittily affirmational 1985 drama &lt;em&gt;My Name Ain’t Suzie&lt;/em&gt;, set in the brothels of Hong Kong after World War II, kicks off the weekend. Every program is catnip, but none more than &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://roxie.com/film/revision-lepers-sex-aka-santo-vs-the-riders-of-terror/&quot;&gt;Lepers &amp;amp; Sex AKA Santo vs The Riders of Terror&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;, Rene Cardona’s 1970 entry in the long-running El Santo franchise chronicling the action adventures of a good-guy Mexican wrestler in a silver mask. That’s entertainment!&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/WildHorseNine_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;two men sit in grasses at foot of Easter Island head sculptures&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992935&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich in Martin McDonagh’s ‘Wild Horse Nine,’ 2026. (Diego Araya Corvalán/Searchlight Pictures)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.mvff.com/&quot;&gt;Mill Valley Film Festival&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 1–11, 2026&lt;br&gt;Various locations&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The 49th edition of Marin County’s sun-dappled autumn jewel is the first since beloved creative director Zoe Elton transitioned to a part-time role and Rose Kuo came aboard as artistic director. The lineup always boasts a fine selection of local documentaries and foreign fiction gems, as well as a tempting array of arthouse titles poised for end-of-year kudos. Irish writer-director Martin McDonagh will be on hand opening night to present &lt;em&gt;Wild Horse Nine&lt;/em&gt; (opening Nov. 6 in theaters), his follow-up to &lt;em&gt;The Banshees of Inisherin&lt;/em&gt;. Sam Rockwell, who stars opposite John Malkovich, will be honored the following night with a tribute. The festival introduces two sections this year, New Directors (first and second features) and Animation (for adults). Keep an eye out for &lt;em&gt;Clarissa&lt;/em&gt;, an adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s &lt;em&gt;Mrs. Dalloway&lt;/em&gt; set in contemporary Nigeria that opens at the end of the year.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Digger_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;older white man raises arms in auditorium with large crowd watching&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992934&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell in a scene from Alejandro Iñárritu’s ‘Digger,’ 2026. (Warner Bros. Pictures)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘Digger’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Opens Oct. 2, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The gifted Alejandro G. Iñárritu (&lt;em&gt;The Revenant&lt;/em&gt;) is back, finally, after the critically dismissed, occasionally indulgent and altogether jaw-dropping &lt;em&gt;Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths&lt;/em&gt; (dive into Netflix’s depths to find it). Inspired, presumably, by the current plague of insufferable billionaire megalomaniacs, &lt;em&gt;Digger&lt;/em&gt; centers on a larger-than-life, louder-than-God oilman (T. Boone Pickens meets Slim Pickens) who triggers a global catastrophe that he, and only he, can thwart. Extending Iñárritu’s streak of casting Hollywood unknowns, some dude named Tom Cruise tries his hand at black comedy.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.drunkenfilmfest.com/&quot;&gt;Drunken Film Festival Oakland&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 4–9, 2026&lt;br&gt;Various locations&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Raise your glass, put down your phone and focus on the screen. This is an art function, not a social event. Who am I kidding? Every film festival takes creators seriously, of course, but the Drunken — by virtue of its bar-hopping ambience — encourages you to participate in a way you might not (or are frowned at) in a theater.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;675&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/SocialReckoning.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;a white man in a gray sweatshirt sits very upright at a desk with large headphones around neck&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993357&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Jeremy Strong stars as Mark Zuckerberg in Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The Social Reckoning.’ (Sony Pictures)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘The Social Reckoning’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Opens Oct. 9, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Sixteen years after penning &lt;em&gt;The Social Network&lt;/em&gt; (2010), which made the slippery Silicon Valley nebbish Mark Zuckerberg a household name, Aaron Sorkin has written and directed a sequel. This chapter revisits the fallout after the 2021 leak of an internal document describing Facebook’s adverse effects on teenage users. “Profits over people” is plainly a recurring theme this fall, though I’m most curious to see/hear Mikey Madison (&lt;em&gt;Anora&lt;/em&gt;), Jeremy Allen White (&lt;em&gt;The Bear&lt;/em&gt;) and Jeremy Strong (&lt;em&gt;Succession&lt;/em&gt;) deliver Sorkin’s rhythmic lines while walking in circles.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;800&quot; height=&quot;450&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Fatherland2.jpeg&quot; alt=&quot;black and white image of woman and older man, sitting at table&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992936&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A still from Paweł Pawlikowski’s ‘Fatherland,’ 2026. (MUBI)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘Fatherland’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Opens Oct. 23, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;You might pigeonhole Paweł Pawlikowski (&lt;em&gt;Ida&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Cold War&lt;/em&gt;) as a writer-director of gorgeously shot, black-and-white travelogues through postwar Europe. That’s OK with me. &lt;a href=&quot;https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Santayana&quot;&gt;Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it&lt;/a&gt;, don’t you know. Pawlikowski received the Best Director award at Cannes for this fictionalized 1949 road trip taken by the renowned German writer Thomas Mann (Hanns Zischler) and his daughter Erika (Sandra Hüller). If you are interested in the intersection of art and politics (&lt;em&gt;and&lt;/em&gt; history, of course), &lt;em&gt;Fatherland&lt;/em&gt; is a must-see.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://sffilm.org/event/doc-stories-2026/#sffilm-event-description&quot;&gt;Doc Stories&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Nov. 5–8, 2026&lt;br&gt;Vogue Theatre, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;SFFILM’s stellar concentration of pithy nonfiction is invariably thought-provoking and big fun. An odd thing to say about often-dismal reality, I know. But if a subject fascinates a good filmmaker, the odds are excellent that they will convey that interest in an interesting way. A contingent of local filmmakers turns up for most programs, and you might find yourself eavesdropping on their conversations outside the theater afterward.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Madden_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;two men on football field punch fists toward camera with championship rings on fingers, one holds a football&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992937&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Christian Bale as Al Davis and Nicolas Cage as John Madden in ‘Madden.’ (Amazon MGM Studios)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘Madden’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Streaming Nov. 18, 2026&lt;br&gt;Prime Video&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Ahoy, East Bay pirates, dig out your silver and black. The late, great John Madden, everyone’s favorite football coach and television announcer, is heading your way. The producers enlisted another unique character, Nicolas Cage, to play him. Christian Bale rekindles our love-hate relationship with Raiders owner Al Davis, while Kathryn Hahn portrays Virginia Madden. David O. Russell’s biopic is slated for an Oscar-qualifying, one-week release but not a theatrical run, which is fitting since its subject was a longtime denizen of the small screen.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992827/best-movies-film-festivals-fall-2026-sf-bampfa-mvff</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992827/best-movies-film-festivals-fall-2026-sf-bampfa-mvff</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Michael Fox</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Movies</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>BAMPFA</category>
      <category>Fall Guide 2026</category>
      <category>featured-arts</category>
      <category>Film</category>
      <category>movies</category>
      <category>SFFILM</category>
      <category>thedolist</category>
      <category>The Do List</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
      <category>Events</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Black Men’s Chess League Finds Fellowship Through Friendly Competition</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260817-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-29-BL.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Participants play chess during a Black Men’s Chess League one-year anniversary event at Prescott Market in West Oakland. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;This story is part of&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/findingyourpeople&quot;&gt;Finding Your People&lt;/a&gt;, a series celebrating the Bay Area’s meetups and subcultures that bring people together IRL in an increasingly online world.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On an August afternoon at West Oakland’s Prescott Market, a young man with locs and glasses and a woman with a high bun sat at a chess board, their faces tense with contemplation as they tried to anticipate each other’s next move. Iman Bearde, 38, of East Oakland and Tristen Williams, 18, of San Pablo are both novice players, and they decided to test their skills after meeting for the first time. The game is all about strategy and patience, they explained.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260816-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-01-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993180&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Iman Bearde (right) plays chess with Tristen Williams during a Black Men’s Chess League one-year anniversary event. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“ Chess is learning how to slow down and learning how to think a little bit more,” Bearde said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.instagram.com/blackmenschessleague&quot;&gt;The Black Men’s Chess League&lt;/a&gt; put on this gathering to celebrate their one year anniversary, bringing people of all ages together to play a game that’s been around for more than 1,000 years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The group has come a long way since Alton Kennedy, Chris Morgan and JaColbrian Benard (better known as the musician Profhit) started it as an invite-only party in an East Oakland backyard. It all began when Morgan and Benard met by chance on a hiking trail in 2025. Morgan recognized the chess app on Benard’s phone, and the two exchanged information and began playing online.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1966&quot; height=&quot;1310&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260817-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-25-BL-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993057&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Participants play chess during a Black Men’s Chess League one-year anniversary event at Prescott Market in Oakland on Aug. 16, 2026. The group organizes community chess events and youth programs around the Bay Area. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260817-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-26-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992852&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;League co-founders Alton Kennedy (left) and JaColbrian Benard take photos during a Black Men’s Chess League one-year anniversary event at Prescott Market in Oakland on Aug. 16, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“[Benard] had the brilliant idea to say, ‘Hey, let’s get together in person,’” Morgan recalled. “Because in person is way different than playing online. Coming together in person has created that space, initially, for Black men, or brothers who look like us, sound like us and act like us.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Eventually the Black Men’s Chess League left the backyard, and the three friends began organizing events around the Bay, mainly in Vallejo and Oakland. Over the past year, the meetup has grown into a community of men, women and youth who are interested in learning chess and sharpening their skills.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;At the anniversary party, experts and beginners alike got into some friendly competition while the DJ mixed Afrobeats and R&amp;amp;B. Some people danced as others carefully chose their next moves. Will Daleney, 81, of Richmond brought a homemade multicolored chess board with an orange, blue, green and pink design. He sat across from a young man, teaching him the rules of the game.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;13993052&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260817-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-16-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993052&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Will Delaney (left) plays chess with Jason Moffitt, offering guidance as they play. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;13992848&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260817-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-14-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992848&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Will Delaney sets up a color-coded chess board he made to help teach the game. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“ My favorite thing to do is not to play,” Delaney said. “It’s to teach somebody.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Black Men’s Chess League has helped some attendees rediscover their love of the game. Jerry Lewis, 36, first learned to play chess as a child and began taking it more seriously over the past two years. He recently attended his first Black Men’s Chess League event after his mom showed him a Facebook post about a Vallejo meetup.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1890&quot; height=&quot;1260&quot; src=&quot;htt

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    <item>
      <title>The ‘Bitch Talk’ Podcast Will Fight Your Dancing Robot</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-736_websize-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Two Asian American women stand before a purple backdrop, clutching microphones close to their faces. The woman on the left wears a leopard print t-shirt and black jeans; the one of the right wears a black jumpsuit.&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Erin Lim and Angela ‘Ange’ Tabora, hosts of San Francisco podcast ‘Bitch Talk.’&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s a sunny San Francisco day and &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.bitchtalkpodcast.com/&quot;&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt; podcast co-hosts Erin Lim and Angela Tabora are hanging out in The Sitting Room, the cozy Fillmore venue where they both work as bartenders. They are describing, very entertainingly, a recent afternoon downtown when they encountered crowds of tech professionals outside the Moscone Center applauding a dancing robot. Suddenly aghast, Lim responded by putting herself front and center and instinctively flipping off the machine.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“This robot is dancing to ’70s funk, of all music!” Tabora exclaims. “That’s soul music! For things with souls to dance to!”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“And so I was flipping it off,” Lim says. “There’s this whole crowd of people clapping with no rhythm, cheering it on, and I was just like, get me out of this fucking place.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This is the story Lim and Tabora tell when asked how they’ve kept their culture podcast going for 13 years. Somehow, they’ve made it work as indie broadcasters in a region known for both its extreme affordability crisis and the creeping ubiquity of AI.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We’re inundated,” Lim sighs. “We’re being colonized by AI. But if we’re not here, then who’s going to take our place? It makes me sad with all the AI billboards everywhere and the people that come in thinking they know San Francisco, and they don’t. White saviors. They’re not curious about this space and they’re not willing to learn. But we’re here too.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Indeed, as frustrated as Lim and Tabora are about ever-encroaching tech and exorbitant rents, they remain absolutely dedicated to staying in the city, where they continue their mission of honoring local culture and communities. Lim, originally from Los Angeles, first moved to San Francisco in 1999. Tabora — who joined &lt;em&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/em&gt; 100 episodes in, after original cohost Karyn Paige bowed out — was raised in San Leandro before moving to San Francisco in 2005.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“The thing that keeps me loving San Francisco is that community,” Tabora says. “Artists, local business owners, musicians. Of course, a lot of [my old friends don’t] live in the city anymore. But good stuff’s still here. Things like &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12078524/hunky-jesus-contest-2026-foxy-mary-dolores-park-sisters-of-perpetual-indulgence-san-francisco-history-easter-in-the-park-what-time-how-to-enter&quot;&gt;Hunky Jesus&lt;/a&gt;, the chili cook-off every year at &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPOpOTCw5M0&quot;&gt;Standard Deviant Brewing&lt;/a&gt;, all the film festivals. &lt;em&gt;So many&lt;/em&gt; film festivals. That’s what keeps me going.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1500&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Boots-Riley-QA-2026-_photo-credit-Steve-Rhodes.jpeg&quot; alt=&quot;A Black man wearing a yellow outfit and very tall misshapen hat sits on a movie theater stage talking into a mic. To his left are two Asian women sitting in directors&#39; chairs and laughing uproariously.&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993187&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Lim and Tabora on stage at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood in Berkeley, moderating a Q&amp;amp;A with Boots Riley, after a screening of ‘I Love Boosters,’ May 2026. (Steve Rhodes)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/em&gt;, now approaching 1,000 episodes, is a labor of love for Lim and Tabora. The pair, who self-fund the podcast with the help of only an annual fundraiser and occasional sponsorships, first met while working at a television production company in Marin. Lim still works as an audio journalist for &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kalw.org/&quot;&gt;KALW&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We’ve gotten advice from people that we really respect, that have gone far in this industry, that have told us, ‘To become more mainstream, I think you need to change the name,’” Tabora says. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We will stick with &lt;em&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/em&gt;, thanks,” Lim adds. “I don’t care. Where’s my pearls?” 
&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Lim and Tabora’s podcast started as a gathering of friends, led by Lim, who got together over a bottle of whiskey to discuss pop culture and events of the day from a distinctly Asian American perspective. The show was specifically designed to fight back against the overwhelmingly “pale and male” (as Lim puts it) nature of podcasting.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Over time, due in part to Lim’s background in movie PR and Tabora’s ongoing work in documentary filmmaking, &lt;em&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/em&gt; expanded from a chat and analysis show into one that also focused on moviemakers and film festivals, as well as local events, actors and musicians. When Lim and Tabora aren’t reviewing, they’re interviewing the likes of Barry Jenkins, W. Kamau Bell, Olivia Wilde, Ron Howard, Daveed Diggs and Ruby Ibarra. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;When they’re not interviewing, they talk to each other and their audience in so-called ‘Basic Bitch’ episodes, in which they visit their favorite locations around the Bay and explain why they’re special. (A September 2025 episode recorded in Costco is one of the finest examples of this.)&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I think the beauty of our podcast is we don’t have anyone to answer to,” Tabora says. “So we don’t have to focus on any one thing.” &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1177&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/BitchTalk-Studio-Shoot-Chloe-Jackman-Photography-2025-1007_websize.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Two middle aged, colorfully dressed women of Asian descent sit at a bar table, sipping cocktails with microphones set up in front of them.&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993275&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ange Tabora and Erin Lim. (Chloe Jackman)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The duo’s efforts and outspoken style have not gone unnoticed, winning Best Podcast honors from &lt;em&gt;San Francisco Magazine&lt;/em&gt;’s Best of the Bay awards for three years straight between 2022 and 2024. One of the most appealing elements of Lim and Tabora’s work together is their chemistry. They’ve been friends and coworkers for so long, they frequently finish each other’s sentences. They are also unintentionally hilarious, with Lim often playing the straight (wo)man during Tabora’s wildcard moments.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We have grown a lot together,” Tabora tells KQED earnestly. “I think we push each other. She fills my holes and vice versa.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Lim quickly glares at Tabora.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Gaps! I mean gaps, not holes!” Tabora corrects. “You know what I mean? Like, she does the things that I don’t do so well, and vice versa.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We complement each other,” Lim affirms.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Oh God, please don’t say we fill each other’s holes!” laughs the mortified Tabora, head in hands. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;One of the benefits of Lim and Tabora’s chatty, comedic exteriors is their ability to share political content in an easily digestible manner. Earlier this year, they created an &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.bitchtalkpodcast.com/activism-1&quot;&gt;activism&lt;/a&gt; page on their website that categorizes their back catalog according to topic: LGBTQ+, race, and women’s rights. So many episodes in, the hosts are aware that they’ve quietly built an important archive of activist information.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I just think we’ve done all this work, and all these interviews, and watched all these films,” Lim says. “If you are even thinking about [activism] or have a question about it, we have the resources. Our podcast has social impact — and I hate using that term — but it’s true.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So, what’s next for &lt;em&gt;Bitch Talk&lt;/em&gt;? Their annual fundraiser is happening in October, so they can keep the podcast afloat for another year. Lim and Tabora are also learning to lean into middle age as loudly and proudly as possible.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We’re kind of the first generation that looks and acts this way as middle-aged bitches.” Tabora says. “I’m proud of that. We’re not trying to defy science. We’re talking about first colonoscopies, perimenopause, my hysterectomy. I want to talk about these things, especially in the space of social media and Hollywood — so much anti-aging everywhere. Don’t make me bust out my pocket fan!”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“That’s why we call ourselves the &lt;em&gt;Golden Girls&lt;/em&gt; of podcasting,” Lim adds, “because we are.”&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13990773/bitch-talk-podcast-san-francisco-aapi-pop-culture-analysis</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13990773/bitch-talk-podcast-san-francisco-aapi-pop-culture-analysis</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:15:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Rae Alexandra</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Pop Culture</category>
      <category>AAPI</category>
      <category>Asian American</category>
      <category>featured-arts</category>
      <category>podcasts</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lean Into Suspense With 5 Books This Fall</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Books_1920.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;five book covers on gradient background&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Five book recommendations for the fall season, to help you acclimate to spookier times.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Be sure to check out our full&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026&quot;&gt;2026 Fall Arts Guide&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Horror for fall? Groundbreaking. I didn’t set out to put together a list of creepy, suspenseful and, dare I say, spooky books for this seasonal guide — it just naturally happened.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If you’re in need of inspiration to get back into the habit of reading every day this fall, or if you are still striving to reach the overambitious goals you set for yourself in January, you should consider adding these new and upcoming page-turners to your must-read lists.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/4.png&quot; alt=&quot;book cover on gradient background&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993311&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Cynthia Gómez’s novel published in early June 2026. (Penguin Random House)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/788211/muneca-by-cynthia-gomez/&quot;&gt;Muñeca&lt;/a&gt;’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;By Cynthia Gómez&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Out now&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Oakland author Cynthia Gómez delivers a beautifully written gothic novel about a queer, Latine, working-class witch in her debut novel. &lt;em&gt;Muñeca&lt;/em&gt; is the story of Natalia Fuentes, who decides to help reverse a dark magic spell that left a wealthy woman in town paralyzed. In the process, the two women have to face their feelings for each other and the ghosts of their past.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Taking place in the Oakland of 1968, &lt;em&gt;Muñeca&lt;/em&gt; is a heartwarming read that will put you in the mood for a spooky season.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Gómez gives &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://oaklandlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/69ab43becd3d863bd92423ac&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;a talk&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt; at the Oakland Public Library (125 14th St.) on Sept. 10 and is part of the &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://cynthiasaysboo.wordpress.com/events-appearances/&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;VIVA Latinx Celebration&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt; at the San Francisco Public Library (100 Larkin St.) on Sept. 26.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/3.png&quot; alt=&quot;book cover on gradient background&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993310&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Sarah Langan’s novel is set at a fictional Black Swan Farm. (Simon &amp;amp; Schuster)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Trad-Wife/Sarah-Langan/9781668229651&quot;&gt;Trad Wife&lt;/a&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;By Sarah Langan&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;Available Sept. 29, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If you’ve read &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13989727/5-best-books-summer-2026&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Yesteryear&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; — a brilliantly crafted satire about a “trad wife” TikTok influencer — and were underwhelmed by the lack of eerie, magical creatures haunting the farm, Sarah Langlan’s &lt;em&gt;Trad Wife&lt;/em&gt; is the perfect fall read for you.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The novel follows New York City journalist Jenny Kaplan who, in an attempt to save her career after a controversial story gets her fired, agrees to write a feature article about swapping roles for a week with trad wife influencer and multi-level marketing leader Mia Wright. Expecting to write a scathing feminist exposé, Jenny finds herself puzzled by everything that’s going on in the farmhouse — the cherry-scented candles and soaps, the locked storage room, the children’s odd behavior, the diseased and dead animals, and nine-months pregnant Mia’s nonchalant alcoholism.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;You will not be able to put down &lt;em&gt;Trad Wife&lt;/em&gt; until Jenny finally figures out what makes the Black Swan Farm so unique and terrible.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/1.png&quot; alt=&quot;book cover on gradient background&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993308&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Micaiah Johnson’s novel imagines a house where nothing bad can happen. (Penguin Random House)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/812306/the-unhaunting-by-micaiah-johnson/&quot;&gt;The Unhaunting&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;By Micaiah Johnson&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Available&lt;/em&gt; Sept. 29, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Micaiah Johnson’s &lt;em&gt;The Unhaunting&lt;/em&gt; is a perfectly-timed novel that blends the genres of haunted house horror with historical fiction to examine Black American life in the Deep South, through the history of a 170-year-old manor in Mississippi.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;When Shantell and Avery decide to move into the inherited house, they find it in much better shape than they expected. But the place, built by a daughter of the Confederacy at the end of the Civil War who wished for a house where nothing bad could happen, holds a lot of secrets beneath its upkept surface.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Equal parts American history, social commentary and ghost story, &lt;em&gt;The Unhaunting&lt;/em&gt; beckons to be devoured in one sitting this fall.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/2.png&quot; alt=&quot;book cover on gradient background&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993309&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;In Samantha Josephs’ novel, pretend pregnancy turns very real. (Penguin Random House)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/809818/carrying-by-samantha-josephs/&quot;&gt;Carrying&lt;/a&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;By Samantha Josephs&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Available&lt;/em&gt; Oct. 6, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The premise of Samantha Josephs’ debut novel is irresistible: Martha is a trans woman who hides her identity from everyone, including her husband, and goes to great lengths to fake morning sickness and miscarriages — until she curiously becomes &lt;em&gt;actually &lt;/em&gt;pregnant.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;With her body changing and suffering from severe insomnia, Martha stumbles upon an online alternative medicine community and decides to join their late-night meetings. What follows is a completely bonkers web of lies, Martha’s inexplicably gruesome pregnancy cravings, and a husband who takes entirely too long to realize his stay-at-home wife is acting strange.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;I got to read &lt;em&gt;Carrying&lt;/em&gt; in June, lounging by the pool, in one weekend, but it’s a perfectly unsettling novel to breeze through this fall.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Josephs will have a &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://samantha-josephs.com/events&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;book launch&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt; at Pegasus Books (2349 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley) on Oct. 8.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/5.png&quot; alt=&quot;book cover on gradient background&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993312&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;In Amber Blaeser-Wardzala’s novel, an Anishinaabe woman looks for her missing sister. (Penguin Random House)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/797167/another-name-for-red-by-amber-blaeser-wardzala/&quot;&gt;Another Name for Red&lt;/a&gt;’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;By Amber Blaeser-Wardzala&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Available&lt;/em&gt; Oct. 13, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;There’s at least one thing about author Amber Blaeser-Wardzala’s debut novel &lt;em&gt;Another Name for Red&lt;/em&gt; that will catch you off guard: the protagonist is mainly referred to as “Middle Sister.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Taking place on an Indigenous reservation, the novel follows an Anishinaabe woman whose older sister has gone missing a year ago and who, after authorities prove to be no help, decides to track down her sister herself. When her investigation leads to clashes with two white men, one living on the reservation and one from a neighboring town, she has to bring her family and friends together to continue her fight.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Based on the realities of missing and murdered Indigenous women in North America, Blaeser-Wardzala succeeds in illustrating the uphill battles facing her community in her tense, suspenseful debut novel.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993306/best-books-fall-2026-horror-suspense-spooky</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993306/best-books-fall-2026-horror-suspense-spooky</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Sarah Hotchkiss</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Books</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>books</category>
      <category>Fall Guide 2026</category>
      <category>featured-arts</category>
      <category>thedolist</category>
      <category>The Do List</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A New Book Honors ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ for His 100th Birthday</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/howabearbecameabook-9781250358448-int-04-05-jpeg-scaled.jpeg&quot; alt=&quot;How a Bear Became a Book, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt;, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;100 years ago, Edward Bear — also known as Winnie-the-Pooh — also known as Pooh — went &lt;em&gt;bump, bump, bump&lt;/em&gt; down the stairs for the first time.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Though he made an earlier appearance in the 1924 book of poems &lt;em&gt;When We Were Very Young&lt;/em&gt; — “Our Teddy Bear is short and fat, Which is not to be wondered at” — 1926’s &lt;em&gt;Winnie-the-Pooh&lt;/em&gt; was author A.A. Milne and illustrator Ernest H. Shepard’s first collection of stories about the honey-loving bear.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Now, a kids’ book celebrates that anniversary and the relationship between Milne and Shepard. It’s called &lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book: The Collaboration That Created Winnie-the-Pooh&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It opens with our narrator, Christopher Robin, asking the reader, “Would you like a story?” A translucent Pooh-shaped character appears (“Hallo?”) and wonders, “But where did I come from?” And so back, back, back we go through the pages of time.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;776&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/howabearbecameabook-9781250358448-int-12-13.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;How a Bear Became a Book, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993287&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt;, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Alan Alexander Milne was an author,” writes author Annette Bay Pimentel. “He wrote stories. One day he had an idea and wrote down some words about a bear.” Then, our narrator explains, he waited for an editor to edit his words and an illustrator to turn his words into pictures. Meanwhile, the semi-solid bear character nudges the story along by asking, “Why? What do pictures do?”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It was a very, very close working relationship,” explains Pimentel. “Ernest Shepard was a sketcher and he always carried his sketchbook. And so he arranged to go to where A.A. Milne lived out near Ashdown Forest in the U.K., and he spent time with the Milne family, sketching Christopher Robin and sketching his toys. And then he went back to his studio, and … that’s when he started adding imaginative elements.” Like a doorway into an old tree and a rabbit hole with a functioning kitchen.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;1543&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/how-a-bear-became-a-book-cover.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993288&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Both Pimentel and illustrator Faith Pray wanted to pay homage to Milne and Shepard in the text and illustrations in &lt;em&gt;their&lt;/em&gt; children’s book. “I tried very consciously to make Winnie-the-Pooh’s voice echo Winnie-the-Pooh’s voice in the books,” says Pimentel. “So I spent a lot of time going back through the books trying to figure out okay, like, does he use contractions? What kinds of phrases does he use?”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Then there’s the scene in &lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt; that explains the part of the publishing process where Milne and Shepard were figuring out the page design for &lt;em&gt;Winnie-the-Pooh&lt;/em&gt;. “Previously, when people printed, there would just be pages of words” and then separate pages of pictures, explains Pimentel. But Methuen Publishing was using a new technology called offset printing — and it allowed illustrations to be printed on the page with the text. “This was something that Milne and Shepard and the editorial team were playing with,” says Pimentel. “And they did some beautiful, beautiful page designs where the page design mimicked the action of the story.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;795&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/screenshot-2026-07-25-100529.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Winnie-the-Pooh, written by A.A. Milne and illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993289&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;776&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/howabearbecameabook-9781250358448-int-32-33.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;How a Bear Became a Book, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993290&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book, &lt;/em&gt;written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray &lt;cite&gt; (&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;)&lt;/cite&gt;&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“They stacked words on top of each other, tall as the trees in the Hundred Acre Wood,” writes Pimentel in her book. “They bounced words up and down, right off the line.” In Pray’s illustration, the words are piled on top of each other next to a tree — just as Shepard did in the original.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;As the story in &lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt; continues (“At last, the book was published and sent to bookstores,”) Pray’s see-through bear character becomes more and more solid. Where he began as a flurry of words, existing only in his author’s head, by the end of the book he’s a very recognizable Winnie-the-Pooh. Proving that, as Pimentel writes, “Sometimes words need pictures and pictures need words. When they find each other, characters spring to life.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;776&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/howabearbecameabook-9781250358448-int-36-37.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;How a Bear Became a Book, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993291&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt;, written by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;hr class=&quot;wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity&quot;&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;‘&lt;em&gt;How a Bear Became a Book&lt;/em&gt;’ &lt;em&gt;by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Faith Pray is out now, via Macmillan.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993285/how-a-bear-became-a-book-winnie-the-pooh-review-pimentel-pray-aa-milne</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993285/how-a-bear-became-a-book-winnie-the-pooh-review-pimentel-pray-aa-milne</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:27:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Rae Alexandra</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Books</category>
      <category>Pop Culture</category>
      <category>children&#39;s literature</category>
      <category>kids</category>
      <category>kids books</category>
      <category>NPR</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Colin Kaepernick Is Coming to the East Bay With a New Memoir</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/colinkaepernickheadshot_amari-kenoly-for-kaepernick-publishing_sq-ac9ab56d11882769a2c34308c77825b1b273bda3-scaled-e1678390101713.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;A mixed race man with close-cropped beard and large afro faces the camera.&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;In a new graphic novel, Colin Kaepernick details how he wrestled with his identity within his blended adoptive family.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Ten year ago, before a preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers on Sept. 1, 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/colin-kaepernick&quot;&gt;Colin Kaepernick&lt;/a&gt; decided to kneel during pregame performances of “The Star Spangled Banner.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Fed up with the extrajudicial killings of Black people in this country, Kaepernick took a knee and also took a stand. While it brought much-needed attention to an issue plaguing our society, it also drastically changed the course of Kaepernick’s career. Months later, the former Super Bowl quarterback was effectively pushed out of the NFL for his weekly quiet protest; he would later &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.npr.org/2019/02/15/695213705/colin-kaepernick-reaches-agreement-with-the-nfl-his-lawyer-says&quot;&gt;successfully sue the NFL for collusion&lt;/a&gt;, alleging that teams blackballed him and former teammate Eric Reid.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Now, a decade after first quietly taking a knee in protest, Kaepernick is speaking about his journey, as he shares his new book with the world.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2560&quot; height=&quot;1705&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/02/gettyimages-613006826_custom-f97a5013d911721d6d056c2efd00c749ed8f41c5-scaled.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13908962&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Eli Harold (from left), Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the national anthem prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On Wednesday, Sept. 23, Berkeley’s Black Repertory Group will open its doors, allowing audience members a chance to hear &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colin-kaepernick-x-marcus-books-the-perilous-fight-tickets-1997421539594?aff=erelpanelorg&quot;&gt;Kaepernick discuss&lt;/a&gt; his new memoir, &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/colin-kaepernick/the-perilous-fight/9781538777879/&quot;&gt;The Perilous Fight&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt; (Hachette Book Group). Each attendee will also receive a signed copy of the book, which covers Kaepernick’s upbringing in Turlock, his experience as a professional athlete, and how he found footing in the world of activism.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Kaepernick will be in conversation with comedian and award-winning host &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/w-kamau-bell&quot;&gt;W. Kamau Bell&lt;/a&gt;; they’ll be joined that evening by appearances from the former head of the Black Panther Party’s Oakland Community School &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13940221/black-panthers-oakland-community-school-50th-anniversary&quot;&gt;Ericka Huggins&lt;/a&gt; and Black Panther Party illustrator &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13984778/emory-douglas-in-our-lifetime-aaacc-san-francisco&quot;&gt;Emory Douglas&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The event is backed by the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nab2.org/&quot;&gt;National Association of Black Bookstores&lt;/a&gt; and hosted by Oakland’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://marcusbooks.com/&quot;&gt;Marcus Books&lt;/a&gt;. The collaboration between Kaepernick, one of the most high-profile activists of the last decade; the &lt;a href=&quot;https://blackrepertorygroup.com/&quot;&gt;Black Repertory Group&lt;/a&gt;, founded in 1964 as one of the longest-running African American theatrical organizations; and Marcus Books, the United States’ oldest bookstore specializing in African American literature, is a rare confluence of greats. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;alignright size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1695&quot; height=&quot;2560&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Colin-K-scaled.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Colin Kaepernick&#39;s book &#39;The Perilous Fight&#39;.&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993330&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Colin Kaepernick’s book ‘The Perilous Fight’ publishes Sept. 15, 2026.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It is also, according to Marcus Books owner Blanche Richardson, “the direct result of the work of the National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2).”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In an email to KQED, Richardson gives credit to NAB2, which is only in its second year of existence, for coordinating Kaepernick’s book tour with the publisher. “[NAB2] demands equity in sending Black authors to Black bookstores where their fan bases are,” writes Richardson.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Kaepernick has signed thousands of bookplates for this tour, so all ticket-holders will receive signed books. There will also be Q&amp;amp;A session after the conversation with W. Kamau Bell. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“All are welcome to have their pictures taken with the author,” Richardson adds, noting that VIP tickets have sold out and regular tickets are selling fast. “We will be adding a number of lesser-priced tickets for seats in the ‘overflow’ room once the $50 tickets are sold out.” (The overflow crowd will also receive signed books and be able to take photos.)&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Kaepernick’s rare public appearance outside of his foundation, the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.knowyourrightscamp.org/&quot;&gt;Know Your Rights Camp,&lt;/a&gt; is part of a book tour that will also stop at the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colin-kaepernick-author-talk-tickets-1997911346620&quot;&gt;Guild Theater&lt;/a&gt; in Sacramento on Sept. 21 and the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.ebellofla.org/events/writers-bloc-and-the-ebell-present-football-legend-colin-kaepernick&quot;&gt;Ebell Dining Room&lt;/a&gt; in Los Angeles on Sept. 22.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Oakland’s Marcus Books regularly hosts convenings with authors and cultural figures. In the coming month they also have events with civil rights attorney and activist &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walter-riley-x-marcus-books-civil-rights-and-structural-attacks-tickets-1997521565775?aff=erelpanelorg&quot;&gt;Walter Riley &lt;/a&gt;on Sept. 6, author &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deborah-santana-x-marcus-books-loving-the-fire-tickets-1997526462421?aff=erelpanelorg&quot;&gt;Deborah Santana&lt;/a&gt; on Sept. 20 and poet &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kevin-powell-w-kwc-complex-jazz-trio-x-marcus-books-tickets-1997528025095?aff=erelpanelorg&quot;&gt;Kevin Powell&lt;/a&gt; (with KWC Complex Jazz Trio) on Sept. 26.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;hr class=&quot;wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity&quot;&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Colin Kaepernick discusses his book ‘&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/colin-kaepernick/the-perilous-fight/9781538777879/&quot;&gt;The Perilous Fight&lt;/a&gt;’ at the Black Repertory Group Theater (3201 Adeline St., Berkeley) on Sept. 22, &lt;em&gt;6–8 p.m&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colin-kaepernick-x-marcus-books-the-perilous-fight-tickets-1997421539594?aff=erelpanelorg&quot;&gt;Check here&lt;/a&gt; for further information. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993293/colin-kaepernick-memoir-the-perilous-fight-book-tour-berkeley</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993293/colin-kaepernick-memoir-the-perilous-fight-book-tour-berkeley</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Pendarvis Harshaw</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Books</category>
      <category>The Do List</category>
      <category>Book</category>
      <category>colin kaepernick</category>
      <category>featured-arts</category>
      <category>memoir</category>
      <category>thedolist</category>
      <category>The Do List</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Berkeley</category>
      <category>Events</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The 11 Best Films and Festivals to See This Fall</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/My-Name-Ain_t-Suzie11.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;woman looks mysterious in round sunglasses&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;A still from Angie Chen’s ‘My Name Ain’t Suzie (Fa gai si doi),’ 1985.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Be sure to check out our full&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://kqed.org/arts/tag/fall-guide-2026&quot;&gt;2026 Fall Arts Guide&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more in the Bay Area.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Bay Area is fertile ground for film festivals year-round, but peak harvest season arrives in September and October. Toss in a bumper crop of ambitious (and political) wide releases and some tasty revivals from cinema’s past and we have the fixings for a fabulous fall feast. And that’s before the avalanche of Oscar-touted movies arrives around the holidays.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;There are so many intriguing choices that the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive retrospective &lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/program/martin-scorsese-pictures&quot;&gt;Martin Scorsese Pictures&lt;/a&gt; (Sept. 5, 2026–June 2027) and the SF Silent Film Festival’s centennial celebration of Buster Keaton’s still-astounding &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://silentfilm.org/event/buster-keatons-the-general/&quot;&gt;The General&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt; (Sept. 18 at the Orinda Theater with live musical accompaniment) didn’t make my cut. Nor did a pair of long-awaited adaptations of female-powered novels, &lt;em&gt;Verity&lt;/em&gt; (starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, opening Oct. 2) and &lt;em&gt;Klara and the Sun&lt;/em&gt; (Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams, Oct. 23). Have I whetted your appetite?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1125&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/TheUprising_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;disheveled white man in medieval peasant clothes &quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992922&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Andrew Garfield stars as Ploughman in director Paul Greengrass’ ‘The Uprising.’ (Focus Features)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘The Uprising’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Opens Sept. 11, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In the late 1300s, still mourning their plague deaths, England’s overtaxed farmers organized against the elites who manipulated teenage King Richard II for their own benefit. Lacking the right to vote, the populace had few options besides rebellion. (Unrelated public service announcement: Election Day is Nov. 3.) Paul Greengrass (&lt;em&gt;The Last Bus&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Captain Phillips&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Bloody Sunday&lt;/em&gt;) has a penchant for unlikely heroes, and casts Andrew Garfield as a slight, bearded, principled widower who emerges as one of the leaders. Kill the rich! No kings! Up the revolution! Volunteers, anyone?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1034&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/WesternSnowyPlover_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;small puffy shorebird on sand with foam of waves behind&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992927&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A still from Danny Roberts’ short documentary ‘The Western Snowy Plover,’ screening as part of SF CritterFest. (Courtesy of the filmmaker)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://sfcritterfest.eventive.org/welcome&quot;&gt;SF CritterFest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 17–20, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;em&gt;4 Star Theater, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The SF IndieFest family has a new sibling in this vocal and colorful compendium of movies starring the animal kingdom, wild and domestic (with a couple human cameos). Head honcho Jeff Ross and ace programmers Chris Metzler and Jason Wolos return to the 4 Star Oct. 15–22 with the très cool &lt;a href=&quot;https://filmfreeway.com/sfgreenfilmfest&quot;&gt;Green Film Festival&lt;/a&gt; of San Francisco and the &lt;a href=&quot;https://filmfreeway.com/SFShorts&quot;&gt;San Francisco Short Film Festival&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Akin_Crossing_007.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;young man leans back against ferry railing with eyes closed and cigarette in hand&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992931&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A still from Levan Akin’s ‘Crossing,’ 2024. (BAMPFA)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/program/georgian-cinema-now-part-1&quot;&gt;Georgian Cinema Now: Part 1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 23–Oct. 2, 2026&lt;br&gt;Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For over a decade, Director of Film and Senior Film Curator Susan Oxtoby has shared with Bay Area audiences her affinity for the underappreciated films of the small nation of Georgia. Now, when the country’s authoritarian rulers are punishing all forms of free speech — uh, I’m talking about Georgia — BAMPFA embarks on a year-long act of cultural solidarity. In the first leg, nine filmmakers and scholars bring their art, ideas and struggle to the Bay Area for 10 days. (In addition to Georgia and &lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/program/martin-scorsese-pictures&quot;&gt;Scorsese&lt;/a&gt;, this fall BAMPFA also showcases rare and classic &lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/program/hong-kong-cinema-rarities-and-restorations&quot;&gt;Hong Kong movies&lt;/a&gt; and the late ’50s-early ’60s masterpieces of &lt;a href=&quot;https://bampfa.org/program/kobayashi&quot;&gt;Masaki Kobayashi&lt;/a&gt;. Just … wow.)&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1036&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/My-Name-Ain_t-Suzie11.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;woman looks mysterious in round sunglasses&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992933&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A still from Angie Chen’s ‘My Name Ain’t Suzie (Fa gai si doi),’ 1985. (SF Film Preserve)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992827/Festival%20of%20Restoration%20and%20Rediscovery&quot;&gt;Re:Vision: Festival of Restoration and Rediscovery&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sept. 24–27, 2026&lt;br&gt;Roxie Theater, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Access must be the end point of all preservation initiatives,” declares the website of the San Francisco Film Preserve. The SFFP’s inaugural festival collects 14 rarely seen features — excavated treasure for cinephiles — each paired with a short. Angie Chen’s grittily affirmational 1985 drama &lt;em&gt;My Name Ain’t Suzie&lt;/em&gt;, set in the brothels of Hong Kong after World War II, kicks off the weekend. Every program is catnip, but none more than &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://roxie.com/film/revision-lepers-sex-aka-santo-vs-the-riders-of-terror/&quot;&gt;Lepers &amp;amp; Sex AKA Santo vs The Riders of Terror&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;, Rene Cardona’s 1970 entry in the long-running El Santo franchise chronicling the action adventures of a good-guy Mexican wrestler in a silver mask. That’s entertainment!&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/WildHorseNine_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;two men sit in grasses at foot of Easter Island head sculptures&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992935&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich in Martin McDonagh’s ‘Wild Horse Nine,’ 2026. (Diego Araya Corvalán/Searchlight Pictures)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.mvff.com/&quot;&gt;Mill Valley Film Festival&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 1–11, 2026&lt;br&gt;Various locations&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The 49th edition of Marin County’s sun-dappled autumn jewel is the first since beloved creative director Zoe Elton transitioned to a part-time role and Rose Kuo came aboard as artistic director. The lineup always boasts a fine selection of local documentaries and foreign fiction gems, as well as a tempting array of arthouse titles poised for end-of-year kudos. Irish writer-director Martin McDonagh will be on hand opening night to present &lt;em&gt;Wild Horse Nine&lt;/em&gt; (opening Nov. 6 in theaters), his follow-up to &lt;em&gt;The Banshees of Inisherin&lt;/em&gt;. Sam Rockwell, who stars opposite John Malkovich, will be honored the following night with a tribute. The festival introduces two sections this year, New Directors (first and second features) and Animation (for adults). Keep an eye out for &lt;em&gt;Clarissa&lt;/em&gt;, an adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s &lt;em&gt;Mrs. Dalloway&lt;/em&gt; set in contemporary Nigeria that opens at the end of the year.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Digger_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;older white man raises arms in auditorium with large crowd watching&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992934&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell in a scene from Alejandro Iñárritu’s ‘Digger,’ 2026. (Warner Bros. Pictures)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘Digger’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Opens Oct. 2, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The gifted Alejandro G. Iñárritu (&lt;em&gt;The Revenant&lt;/em&gt;) is back, finally, after the critically dismissed, occasionally indulgent and altogether jaw-dropping &lt;em&gt;Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths&lt;/em&gt; (dive into Netflix’s depths to find it). Inspired, presumably, by the current plague of insufferable billionaire megalomaniacs, &lt;em&gt;Digger&lt;/em&gt; centers on a larger-than-life, louder-than-God oilman (T. Boone Pickens meets Slim Pickens) who triggers a global catastrophe that he, and only he, can thwart. Extending Iñárritu’s streak of casting Hollywood unknowns, some dude named Tom Cruise tries his hand at black comedy.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.drunkenfilmfest.com/&quot;&gt;Drunken Film Festival Oakland&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Oct. 4–9, 2026&lt;br&gt;Various locations&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Raise your glass, put down your phone and focus on the screen. This is an art function, not a social event. Who am I kidding? Every film festival takes creators seriously, of course, but the Drunken — by virtue of its bar-hopping ambience — encourages you to participate in a way you might not (or are frowned at) in a theater.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;675&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/SocialReckoning.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;a white man in a gray sweatshirt sits very upright at a desk with large headphones around neck&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993357&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Jeremy Strong stars as Mark Zuckerberg in Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The Social Reckoning.’ (Sony Pictures)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘The Social Reckoning’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Opens Oct. 9, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Sixteen years after penning &lt;em&gt;The Social Network&lt;/em&gt; (2010), which made the slippery Silicon Valley nebbish Mark Zuckerberg a household name, Aaron Sorkin has written and directed a sequel. This chapter revisits the fallout after the 2021 leak of an internal document describing Facebook’s adverse effects on teenage users. “Profits over people” is plainly a recurring theme this fall, though I’m most curious to see/hear Mikey Madison (&lt;em&gt;Anora&lt;/em&gt;), Jeremy Allen White (&lt;em&gt;The Bear&lt;/em&gt;) and Jeremy Strong (&lt;em&gt;Succession&lt;/em&gt;) deliver Sorkin’s rhythmic lines while walking in circles.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;800&quot; height=&quot;450&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Fatherland2.jpeg&quot; alt=&quot;black and white image of woman and older man, sitting at table&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992936&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A still from Paweł Pawlikowski’s ‘Fatherland,’ 2026. (MUBI)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘Fatherland’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Opens Oct. 23, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;You might pigeonhole Paweł Pawlikowski (&lt;em&gt;Ida&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Cold War&lt;/em&gt;) as a writer-director of gorgeously shot, black-and-white travelogues through postwar Europe. That’s OK with me. &lt;a href=&quot;https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Santayana&quot;&gt;Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it&lt;/a&gt;, don’t you know. Pawlikowski received the Best Director award at Cannes for this fictionalized 1949 road trip taken by the renowned German writer Thomas Mann (Hanns Zischler) and his daughter Erika (Sandra Hüller). If you are interested in the intersection of art and politics (&lt;em&gt;and&lt;/em&gt; history, of course), &lt;em&gt;Fatherland&lt;/em&gt; is a must-see.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://sffilm.org/event/doc-stories-2026/#sffilm-event-description&quot;&gt;Doc Stories&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Nov. 5–8, 2026&lt;br&gt;Vogue Theatre, San Francisco&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;SFFILM’s stellar concentration of pithy nonfiction is invariably thought-provoking and big fun. An odd thing to say about often-dismal reality, I know. But if a subject fascinates a good filmmaker, the odds are excellent that they will convey that interest in an interesting way. A contingent of local filmmakers turns up for most programs, and you might find yourself eavesdropping on their conversations outside the theater afterward.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Madden_2000.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;two men on football field punch fists toward camera with championship rings on fingers, one holds a football&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992937&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Christian Bale as Al Davis and Nicolas Cage as John Madden in ‘Madden.’ (Amazon MGM Studios)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘Madden’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Streaming Nov. 18, 2026&lt;br&gt;Prime Video&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Ahoy, East Bay pirates, dig out your silver and black. The late, great John Madden, everyone’s favorite football coach and television announcer, is heading your way. The producers enlisted another unique character, Nicolas Cage, to play him. Christian Bale rekindles our love-hate relationship with Raiders owner Al Davis, while Kathryn Hahn portrays Virginia Madden. David O. Russell’s biopic is slated for an Oscar-qualifying, one-week release but not a theatrical run, which is fitting since its subject was a longtime denizen of the small screen.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992827/best-movies-film-festivals-fall-2026-sf-bampfa-mvff</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992827/best-movies-film-festivals-fall-2026-sf-bampfa-mvff</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Michael Fox</author>
      <category>Arts</category>
      <category>Movies</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>BAMPFA</category>
      <category>Fall Guide 2026</category>
      <category>featured-arts</category>
      <category>Film</category>
      <category>movies</category>
      <category>SFFILM</category>
      <category>thedolist</category>
      <category>The Do List</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
      <category>Events</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Black Men’s Chess League Finds Fellowship Through Friendly Competition</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260817-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-29-BL.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Participants play chess during a Black Men’s Chess League one-year anniversary event at Prescott Market in West Oakland. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;This story is part of&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/findingyourpeople&quot;&gt;Finding Your People&lt;/a&gt;, a series celebrating the Bay Area’s meetups and subcultures that bring people together IRL in an increasingly online world.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On an August afternoon at West Oakland’s Prescott Market, a young man with locs and glasses and a woman with a high bun sat at a chess board, their faces tense with contemplation as they tried to anticipate each other’s next move. Iman Bearde, 38, of East Oakland and Tristen Williams, 18, of San Pablo are both novice players, and they decided to test their skills after meeting for the first time. The game is all about strategy and patience, they explained.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260816-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-01-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993180&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Iman Bearde (right) plays chess with Tristen Williams during a Black Men’s Chess League one-year anniversary event. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“ Chess is learning how to slow down and learning how to think a little bit more,” Bearde said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.instagram.com/blackmenschessleague&quot;&gt;The Black Men’s Chess League&lt;/a&gt; put on this gathering to celebrate their one year anniversary, bringing people of all ages together to play a game that’s been around for more than 1,000 years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The group has come a long way since Alton Kennedy, Chris Morgan and JaColbrian Benard (better known as the musician Profhit) started it as an invite-only party in an East Oakland backyard. It all began when Morgan and Benard met by chance on a hiking trail in 2025. Morgan recognized the chess app on Benard’s phone, and the two exchanged information and began playing online.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1966&quot; height=&quot;1310&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260817-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-25-BL-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993057&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Participants play chess during a Black Men’s Chess League one-year anniversary event at Prescott Market in Oakland on Aug. 16, 2026. The group organizes community chess events and youth programs around the Bay Area. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260817-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-26-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992852&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;League co-founders Alton Kennedy (left) and JaColbrian Benard take photos during a Black Men’s Chess League one-year anniversary event at Prescott Market in Oakland on Aug. 16, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“[Benard] had the brilliant idea to say, ‘Hey, let’s get together in person,’” Morgan recalled. “Because in person is way different than playing online. Coming together in person has created that space, initially, for Black men, or brothers who look like us, sound like us and act like us.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Eventually the Black Men’s Chess League left the backyard, and the three friends began organizing events around the Bay, mainly in Vallejo and Oakland. Over the past year, the meetup has grown into a community of men, women and youth who are interested in learning chess and sharpening their skills.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;At the anniversary party, experts and beginners alike got into some friendly competition while the DJ mixed Afrobeats and R&amp;amp;B. Some people danced as others carefully chose their next moves. Will Daleney, 81, of Richmond brought a homemade multicolored chess board with an orange, blue, green and pink design. He sat across from a young man, teaching him the rules of the game.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;13993052&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260817-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-16-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13993052&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Will Delaney (left) plays chess with Jason Moffitt, offering guidance as they play. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;13992848&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/260817-FYP-BlackMensChessLeague-14-BL.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-13992848&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Will Delaney sets up a color-coded chess board he made to help teach the game. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“ My favorite thing to do is not to play,” Delaney said. “It’s to teach somebody.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Black Men’s Chess League has helped some attendees rediscover their love of the game. Jerry Lewis, 36, first learned to play chess as a child and began taking it more seriously over the past two years. He recently attended his first Black Men’s Chess League event after his mom showed him a Facebook post about a Vallejo meetup.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1890&quot; height=&quot;1260&quot

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      <title>Highway 1 Closes Again as Big Sur Wildfires Grow, Tourists Urged to Stay Away</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BigSurGetty4.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Traffic crosses Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, California, on May 30, 2026. The crowds have gotten so bad at the bridge and created a hazardous situation that the Monterey County Board of Supervisors is working on a plan to ban parking for one year at the landmark.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Tourists are once more being urged to stay away from Big Sur as &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12094533/big-sur-wildfire-map-evacuation-timber-fire-august-2026&quot;&gt;Highway 1 closed&lt;/a&gt; Thursday afternoon amid the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/timber-fire&quot;&gt;Timber Fire&lt;/a&gt; — now the &lt;a href=&quot;https://next.kqed.org/news/12096883/timber-fire-now-third-largest-in-state-chp-announces-highway-1-closure&quot;&gt;third-largest&lt;/a&gt; in the state this year.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;After igniting earlier this month, the fire is still only 23% contained and has burned more than 19,000 acres of remote coastal terrain.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Warm, dry conditions and immediate danger to people and structures had started to wane last week. But new fire growth on Wednesday and “critical &lt;a href=&quot;https://wfca.com/wildfire-articles/what-is-backburning/&quot;&gt;backburning&lt;/a&gt; operations” — a burning technique used to remove fuels and stop forward progress of a fire — scheduled for Thursday have prompted Monterey County officials to implement new &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.readymontereycounty.org/emergency/alerts&quot;&gt;evacuation orders&lt;/a&gt; on Thursday afternoon.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/timber-fire-4-scaled-e1786481390761.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12094806&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A view of flames and smoke as the Timber Fire continues in Big Sur, California, on Aug. 10, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Overnight, the Timber Fire pushed east and north deep into the Ventana Wilderness,” &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2026/8/8/timber-fire&quot;&gt;a CalFire update&lt;/a&gt; said. “Critical fire weather remains the primary driver of this fire.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A second fire, named &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2026/8/26/plaskett-fire/updates/79674372-a8ef-4d57-8c94-22f093f69ab7&quot;&gt;the Plaskett Fire&lt;/a&gt;, broke out south of the Timber Fire in Monterey County around 11 a.m. on Wednesday. As of Thursday, this new fire is 50 acres and is 0% contained, prompting additional evacuations.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Also on Thursday, the National Weather Service &lt;a href=&quot;https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=CAZ530&amp;amp;warncounty=CAC053&amp;amp;firewxzone=CAZ530&amp;amp;local_place1=2%20Miles%20SE%20Big%20Sur%20CA&amp;amp;product1=Red+Flag+Warning&amp;amp;lat=36.2529&amp;amp;lon=-121.7873&quot;&gt;issued a Red Flag Warning &lt;/a&gt;in the region for Friday morning, anticipating lightning amid isolated thunderstorms and winds up to 50 miles per hour.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Lightning strikes may result in new fire ignitions,” the agency said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘Do not come to Big Sur’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This coastal stretch is home to many of Big Sur’s most popular hotels, restaurants and campgrounds, as well as state parks. Last week, some of those businesses had begun reopening and welcoming visitors back, like the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.henrymiller.org/&quot;&gt;Henry Miller Memorial Library&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.phoenixshopbigsur.com/&quot;&gt;Nepenthe Restaurant.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jump straight to: &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12097092/timber-fire-big-sur-highway-1-closed-again-wildfire-map-evacuation-august-2026#advice&quot;&gt;I have plans to visit Big Sur. What should I do?&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But a social media post from the library on Wednesday alerted would-be visitors that they would be closing once again starting Thursday “until further notice.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Again, we implore you: Do not come to Big Sur,” the business &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.instagram.com/p/DchPwPBkiSy/?hl=en&quot;&gt;wrote on Instagram.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Aengus Wagner, wine and service director for Nepenthe, said the restaurant had just reopened on Aug. 20 after being closed for 10 days during the initial outbreak of the Timber Fire. Now, they’re closing again at least through Sunday.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It’s not fun to close a restaurant ever, let alone twice in a month,” Wagner said, “let alone that being your busiest month of the year when all your employees are collecting their acorns for the winter.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;After reopening briefly, all state parks in Big Sur — &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=582&quot;&gt;Andrew Molera&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=578&quot;&gt;Julia Pfeiffer Burns, &lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=570&quot;&gt;Pfeiffer Big Sur &lt;/a&gt;and &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=565&quot;&gt;Point Sur&lt;/a&gt; state parks — are once again &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30009&quot;&gt;closed&lt;/a&gt; due to the threat from the Timber Fire.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Stretches of the coast to the north and south of the mandatory evacuation zone are currently under &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/11834901/fire-evacuation-what-actually-happens-and-how-can-you-plan&quot;&gt;evacuation warnings&lt;/a&gt; — the step that comes before an evacuation order, which acts as a warning to residents that they may need to evacuate soon.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Highway 1 is closed again&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On Wednesday afternoon, &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1544014817765868&amp;amp;set=pb.100064720926577.-2207520000&quot;&gt;Monterey California Highway Patrol announced on Facebook&lt;/a&gt; that Highway 1 through the area is closed starting at 1 p.m. on Thursday from just south of Andrew Molera State Park to the north and Deetjens Big Sur Inn to the south.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The status of Highway 1 has been changeable and unpredictable for drivers in the last month. After its initial closure in early August, the road reopened to drivers on Aug. 22.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If you’re looking at alternative routes around Big Sur right now, bear in mind that the one narrow road connecting Big Sur south of Lucia to Highway 101 over the Santa Lucia mountains — &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nacimiento-Fergusson+Rd,+California/@35.9907059,-121.3662903,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x809296a8a7f9159b:0x70441b9f4863105b!8m2!3d35.9907059!4d-121.3637154!16s%2Fm%2F02rk30k!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&amp;amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDgwOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D&quot;&gt;Nacimiento-Fergusson Road&lt;/a&gt; — is notoriously steep and winding.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Fire closures have ‘huge impact’ on businesses, locals&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Wagner said employees at Nepenthe are “locking down the hatches and getting ready to head home,” after the abrupt announcement last night that the highway would close down again.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;While the closure is going to have a “huge impact” on the business, Wagner said given the near-constant back-and-forth of &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12069761/californias-highway-1-fully-opens-through-big-sur-years-after-major-landslides&quot;&gt;openings and closures for years,&lt;/a&gt; “we’re kind of professional at it now.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We have less than three hours to complete that to get home, to not be visible on the highway if we choose to stay,” he said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is telling anyone considering staying behind to be “prepared to self-sustain for up to 7 days.” Wagner said many locals were processing the news at a vigil last night held for &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.montereycountynow.com/opinion/local_spin/three-people-are-killed-in-one-weekend-amid-dystopian-reality-of-car-week/article_e9614c2c-4c23-4246-aec6-8e41c5fa10a9.html&quot;&gt;a local killed on Highway 1 earlier this month&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“People had to make a quick decision,” he said. “My feeling is most people stay.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Wagner, who grew up in Big Sur and came back in 1991 to make it his full-time residence, said he’s watched fires burn on Mount Manuel near his home in both 2008 and 2016, and “now, I’m not afraid of it,” he said. “Unless the weather pattern changes dramatically, historically, the way this is moving, it’s just a big pain in the ass.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;He said locals are grateful to the firefighting efforts that — so far — have meant no loss of buildings or life in the blaze. And they’re resilient, he said, given the past 10 years of fire and rain affecting Highway 1’s status.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Tourists, on the other hand, he said, “have no idea.” Weddings are having to be relocated, and last week’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.seemonterey.com/events/monterey-car-week/&quot;&gt;Monterey Car Week&lt;/a&gt; — an event which organizers say draws &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/monterey-car-week--pebble-beach-concours-delegance-returns-august-716-2026-302839650.html&quot;&gt;100,000 people &lt;/a&gt;every year — was “another huge debacle,” he said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We are open any chance we can,” he said. “We just remind [tourists]: we’ll be here.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot; id=&quot;advice&quot;&gt;Advice for visitors to Big Sur right now&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If you have existing plans to visit the Big Sur region, keep a close eye out for any email or voicemail notification from your hotel advising you of any cancellations — and your options.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If you’re trying to get in contact with your accommodation yourself, bear in mind that the property may have been directly affected by the Timber Fire evacuations, and that cellphone service in the area is spotty.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/timber-fire-getty-4.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12094837&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A bulldozer helps battle the Timber Fire in Big Sur, California, on Aug. 10, 2026. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;See Monterey, the county’s tourism group, is &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.seemonterey.com/plan-your-visit/travel-alert/&quot;&gt;advising visitors&lt;/a&gt; who are already in the affected areas of Big Sur to “follow evacuation instructions, take essential belongings and medications, and bring their pets.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;According to See Monterey, several hotels throughout Monterey County are now also “offering evacuation rates for residents and visitors in need,” through &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.seemonterey.com/resources/community-connection/&quot;&gt;a spreadsheet of available lodgings&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Monterey County has established a temporary emergency shelter at &lt;a href=&quot;https://maps.app.goo.gl/jD58jfurSmbyjGdG8&quot;&gt;Carmel Mission Inn Conference Room &lt;/a&gt;in Carmel.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Big Sur Timber Fire links and resources&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2026/8/8/timber-fire&quot;&gt;CalFire’s Timber Fire evacuation map and updates&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30009&quot;&gt;Current California state park closures&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.seemonterey.com/plan-your-visit/travel-alert/&quot;&gt;See Monterey’s spreadsheet of hotel evacuation rates&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/?view=36.3458%2C-121.8507%2C12&amp;amp;layers=full_closures%2Clane_closures%2Cspeed&quot;&gt;Caltrans map of highway closures&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/news/12097092/timber-fire-big-sur-highway-1-closed-again-wildfire-map-evacuation-august-2026</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/news/12097092/timber-fire-big-sur-highway-1-closed-again-wildfire-map-evacuation-august-2026</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 23:08:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Steph Rodriguez</author>
      <category>California</category>
      <category>Guides and Explainers</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>audience-news</category>
      <category>Big Sur</category>
      <category>California</category>
      <category>featured-audience-news</category>
      <category>featured-news</category>
      <category>outdoors</category>
      <category>public safety</category>
      <category>Tourism</category>
      <category>travel</category>
      <category>wildfires</category>
      <category>California</category>
      <category>News</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>California Labor Leader on AI Bills and Billionaire Tax Measure Splitting Unions</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260827-LORENA-GONZALEZ-ON-PB-MD-04-KQED.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lorena Gonzalez is interviewed by Marisa Lagos on Political Breakdown at KQED in San Francisco on Aug. 27, 2026.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Lorena Gonzalez heads up the powerful California Federation of Labor Unions, making her one of the most prominent voices for working people in the state. The group represents more than 1,300 unions and 2.3 million workers in sectors including manufacturing, retail, construction, hospitality, healthcare and entertainment.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;One of the federation’s priorities in Sacramento this year is Artificial Intelligence policy. In the final days of the legislative session, Marisa sits down with Gonzalez to talk about the AI and data center bills that have failed, the ones still on the table and working with unions across the country on these regulations.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;They also discuss the backroom negotiations behind a proposed ballot measure tax on California billionaires that has split the labor community. Despite the federation’s endorsement of the measure, Gonzalez said she’d prefer it not be on the ballot.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Check out&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/political-breakdown&quot;&gt;Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter&lt;/a&gt;, delivered straight to your inbox.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/news/12097046/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/news/12097046/california-labor-leader-on-ai-bills-and-billionaire-tax-measure-splitting-unions</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 23:05:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Izzy Bloom</author>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Politics</category>
      <category>AI</category>
      <category>billionaire tax</category>
      <category>featured politics</category>
      <category>legislature</category>
      <category>lorena gonzalez</category>
      <category>Political Breakdown</category>
      <category>Politics</category>
      <category>Political Breakdown</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>San Francisco Democratic Party Endorses Manny Yekutiel for Supervisor After Sexual Assault Allegations</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-1298782065-scaled-e1787855098587.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Manny Yekutiel and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer during Steyer’s appearance at Manny’s in San Francisco, California, on July 17, 2019.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The San Francisco Democratic Party voted to endorse Manny Yekutiel for District 8 supervisor despite &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12090065/sexual-assault-allegations-against-manny-yekutiel-roil-san-francisco-democrats&quot;&gt;sexual assault allegations&lt;/a&gt; against the local cafe owner who has forged close ties with many of the city’s prominent political leaders.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The endorsement arrived the same day the local party announced the conclusion of an investigation into allegations made by Brad Chapin, who claimed Yekutiel assaulted him at a party in 2020. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;An ombudsperson tasked with reviewing Chapin’s complaint said that no judgment could be made about whether the alleged incident occurred.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Yekutiel said in a statement that he was grateful for the party’s endorsement.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1980&quot; height=&quot;1321&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-1298791153.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12090328&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Manny Yekutiel introduces U.S. presidential candidate Tom Steyer during Steyer’s appearance at Manny’s in San Francisco, California, on July 17, 2019. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images))&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Our campaign is focused on delivering results on the issues voters care about most, making San Francisco more affordable, building the housing we need, supporting small businesses and keeping our neighborhood safe,” he said. “I’m proud of the momentum behind this campaign, and I’m going to keep taking that message directly to voters across District 8.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Chapin’s case was one of the first tests for the San Francisco Democratic Party’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12016733/sf-democrats-adopt-new-sexual-assault-reporting-policies&quot;&gt;newly created policy&lt;/a&gt; for reporting sexual misconduct in political spaces. Chapin, a city gardener who previously worked as an organizer in local politics, filed a police report in April before reporting the incident to the local Democratic Party.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Chapin said he did not receive a response through the reporting process until he came forward publicly with his story in the media, however.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;An adjudication panel met on Tuesday to review the investigator’s findings, according to a letter sent to Democratic Party Chair Nancy Tung.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“The accusation cannot be substantiated,” the letter said, stating that the event in question was not at an official meeting or event sponsored by a political club. “This is not a determination on the merits of whether a sexual assault occurred.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Speaking during public comment at Wednesday night’s Democratic Party meeting, Chapin called the process a “sham.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I’m really disappointed in your investigation,” he said. “You should all be…ashamed of yourselves.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Yekutiel has powerful allies in City Hall, including Mayor Daniel Lurie, with whom he started the nonprofit Civic Joy Fund. His restaurant, Manny’s, serves as a civic gathering space that has hosted prominent political figures both local and national.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Yekutiel has endorsements from the majority of the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who is a member of the Democratic Party’s committee on sexual assault, abstained from the vote on Wednesday night but has personally endorsed Yekutiel.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2278646743-scaled-e1782502896455.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12086413&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Mayor Daniel Lurie during a news conference on his budget proposal in San Francisco on June 1, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I support him because he embodies Democratic values and he’s lived through them for years doing civic engagement, bringing people together, championing equality and inclusion. He has truly built community,” a District 8 resident named Trey Gwen said at Wednesday’s meeting.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Yekutiel is facing off against three other candidates also running to represent District 8, which includes the Castro, Noe Valley and Glen Park neighborhoods. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;They include Gary McCoy, a former aide for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi; Democratic Party member and lawyer Michael Nguyen; and former DoorDash employee Darshini Patel.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Democratic Party narrowly voted against backing McCoy, who has an endorsement from Pelosi, as a second-rank candidate.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I know Gary very well. He is somebody I consider a friend, and I think he would be a terrific colleague,” said Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who said the two met through drug recovery meetings. “It would mean a lot to people in the recovery community.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Catie Stewart, a spokesperson for McCoy’s campaign, said in a statement on Wednesday that they share “grave concerns” about the Democratic Party’s process and findings around Chapin’s assault allegations against Yekutiel.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;alignleft size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1600&quot; height=&quot;2000&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250105-LurieInaugurationCleanup-51.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12020498&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie walks with Supervisor Rafael Mandelman and Manny Yekutiel during a trash pickup in the Mission District on Jan. 5, 2025, during a weekend of service before his inauguration. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Its conclusion on the day of a critical endorsement meeting, after months of initially ignoring Brad Chapin’s complaint, is suspect, bordering on absurd,” the statement said. “That the ombudsperson says they are both unable to substantiate the claim nor determine whether or not a sexual assault happened provides no meaningful information.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Yekutiel has asserted that Chapin’s complaint was politically motivated, which Chapin has denied outright.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;San Francisco’s Democratic Party created its sexual assault reporting policy following accusations against prominent political organizers including John Jacobo and Kevin Ortiz, two progressives who have both denied the allegations. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The goal was to create an independent process for vetting complaints outside of the inherently political body.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But concerns around the reporting process more generally, including its appeal process and notification system, were echoed by members of the city’s political community after Wednesday’s endorsement vote.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Gina Roccanova, a professional mediator and arbitrator who chairs the Democratic Party’s judicial committee tasked with the investigation, declined to comment.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“The policy is sloppy and wasn’t adequately considered. They were not effective at creating an environment where they could hear from a variety of survivors about what our needs were, and so those needs are not reflected in the policy,” said a woman who has accused Ortiz of sexual assault and who requested anonymity to discuss the policy because she has not come forward publicly. “It’s a betrayal to all survivors because you can’t just pick and choose which assaults matter based on who politically aligns with you.”&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/news/12097058/san-francisco-democratic-party-endorses-manny-yekutiel-for-supervisor-after-sexual-assault-allegations</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/news/12097058/san-francisco-democratic-party-endorses-manny-yekutiel-for-supervisor-after-sexual-assault-allegations</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:45:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Steph Rodriguez</author>
      <category>Local</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Politics</category>
      <category>Bay Area</category>
      <category>California Democrats</category>
      <category>featured-politics</category>
      <category>Politics</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
      <category>sexual assault</category>
      <category>Local Politics</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Santa Clara County Leaders Commit $1 Billion to Revamp Jails</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/main-jail-sc_qed.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Santa Clara County Main Jail on March 28, 2016.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12011618/santa-clara-county-among-first-in-california-to-enroll-incarcerated-people-in-medi-cal-before-release&quot;&gt;Santa Clara County&lt;/a&gt; leaders approved a broad plan to spend roughly $1 billion over several years to revamp significantly outdated jail facilities described as “awful” by county officials, and bring them into compliance with longstanding court orders to improve safety and conditions.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The unanimous decision by the Board of Supervisors came over the protests of dozens of residents and advocates for people who are or have been incarcerated, who called on leaders to avoid further spending on new jail buildings, and to instead invest more in preventive and intervention programs, housing and education.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Supervisors said the decision reflects dual realities in the county, with leaders pledging to continue efforts to reduce incarceration and recidivism, while also facing a legal mandate to have adequate, safe facilities for people who are jailed and the people who work there.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Today is not about an either-or decision,” Supervisor Susan Ellenberg said just before voting to support the plans this week. “We need to do everything we can to prevent people from entering the criminal legal system. When those investments are not successful, our obligation to care for people doesn’t end when they are incarcerated.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1999&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250612-SCCVERMONT-JG-4_qed.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12044070&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg speaks during an event celebrating the opening of Vermont House, a new residential treatment facility in San José for people leaving jail with mental health needs. (Joseph Geha/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“The punishment of incarceration itself, while it has debatable value, is the deprivation of liberty,” Ellenberg said, and “should not be the exposure to unsafe, deteriorating or inhumane conditions.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The county plans are aimed at addressing the most pressing needs at both its jail facilities: the Main Jail near downtown San José and the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas. The changes include major investments in spaces for better medical and mental-health care, more efficient intake and processing and better assessment of people’s needs as they are coming into the jails.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga said she has toured both jail facilities and was “shocked” by the conditions. “It’s beyond just cleaning the facilities. It’s really quite deplorable,” she said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The lack of proper facilities, including layouts that make it harder for staff to supervise people, and the lack of access to adequate mental health and medical facilities have contributed to devastating outcomes like jail deaths and assaults, which led to costly lawsuits and two federal consent decrees mandating improvements with court oversight.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The jail system in the county has faced periods of intense scrutiny that started gaining more traction following the 2015 death of &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/11489517/three-santa-clara-sheriffs-deputies-found-guilty-of-killing-mentally-ill-inmate&quot;&gt;Michael Tyree&lt;/a&gt;, a mentally ill man who three sheriff’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12010532/santa-clara-jail-deputies-who-admitted-to-fatal-beating-will-be-freed&quot;&gt;correctional deputies&lt;/a&gt; beat to death in his cell.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Overall, county staff said their plans would reduce the total number of jail beds in the system from 4,872 to 3,457, in line with estimated need for the 2035 jail population.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The biggest changes would happen at Elmwood, a sprawling 675,123-square-foot complex where more than two-thirds of the buildings are over 40 years old, with some more than 100 years old. County reports said the facilities there “were designed to meet the operational needs of a bygone era.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The county plans to demolish the minimum-security camp portion of Elmwood, known colloquially as “the farm,” which would eliminate 1,130 beds. County reports said some of the units there are already closed due to poor conditions, and the minimum-security people it was built for are “a group no longer held in custody.” &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The barracks-style facility was the site of a &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12084364/fired-south-bay-jail-guard-sentenced-for-allowing-beating-of-incarcerated-man&quot;&gt;fatal assault&lt;/a&gt; of an incarcerated man by other incarcerated men in January 2025, in an attack that lasted 15 minutes, much of which was captured on surveillance cameras, but not seen in real time by officers.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Elmwood would also gain a new 145,000-square-foot medical and behavioral health facility. The undersized medical facilities there currently lack a functional infirmary and an acute psychiatric unit, forcing people in jail who need those services to be transferred to the Main Jail, which increases risk to themselves and others, the report said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250401-REGIONALMED-JG-6_qed.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12034078&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Sylvia Arenas, the District 1 supervisor for Santa Clara County, speaks during a ceremony at Regional Medical Center in East San José to mark the county’s first day of ownership of the facility, on April 1, 2025. (Joseph Geha/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The new facility would also “provide 300 new dedicated and purpose-built beds specifically for people with serious mental illness,” according to the report.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Another men’s housing unit at Elmwood with 540 beds would be demolished, with a new 672-bed modern facility to replace it, allowing some of the high-security inmates from the Main Jail to be transferred there.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Main Jail would be in line for a new 56,000-square-foot intake, booking and short-term housing facility that would provide “dedicated space for medical, mental health, and custody assessments,” the report said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Supervisor Sylvia Arenas said she wants the county to be “equally ambitious” about spending on youth violence prevention programs, education and other efforts to lower incarceration rates.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“I take this work really seriously because it impacts me as a mom of a 17-year-old who’s going to school on the East Side,” she said. “I don’t want a new jail. I don’t want any additional jails, because guess what? The people who are in there are going to look like me.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Raj Jayadev, the director of Silicon Valley De-Bug, a community organization that advocates for criminal justice reform, told supervisors the county should “prioritize housing and healthcare and education and youth instead of cages and jails.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Jayadev said the county’s plan — which spans about eight years for the first phases but up to 15 years in forecasted phases — lacks perspective.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We are limiting our thinking of what’s possible based on the limitations of how the county thinks of the world today. We should allow for the possibility of the next generation, of what they could become,” he said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The initial phases will likely be funded through lease revenue bonds, county reports said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Future phases contemplated in the longer plan include up to another $1.5 billion in demolition, new construction and renovations, including new women’s housing units, and more new men’s units. Those future phases were not up for approval this week, and county staff noted the funding for those projects is unlikely to be available under current forecasts.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/news/12097041/santa-clara-county-leaders-commit-1-billion-to-revamp-jails</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:10:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Steph Rodriguez</author>
      <category>Law and Justice</category>
      <category>Local</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>civil rights</category>
      <category>incarcerated</category>
      <category>Jails</category>
      <category>Law and Justice</category>
      <category>prison reform</category>
      <category>Santa Clara County</category>
      <category>South Bay</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>South Bay</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ICE Agent’s Gun Found at SFO the Day Before High-Profile Arrest of Ukrainian Woman</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/GETTYIMAGES-2244764792-KQED.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;A flight attendant found the weapon before the arrest of Iryna Gorb, a San Francisco resident who was traveling home from out of state, as was captured in a viral video. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A flight attendant last month found a gun belonging to a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in a &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-international-airport&quot;&gt;San Francisco International Airport&lt;/a&gt; bathroom, a SFO spokesperson said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;After finding the gun in a men’s bathroom stall past the Terminal 2 security checkpoint, the attendant notified security, who closed the restroom and called 911. San Francisco police responded within five minutes and were on scene when the ICE agent returned to retrieve his gun.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s unclear if the gun was loaded and if the ICE agent was at the airport to board a flight or as part of an operation.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Pablo Lastra, an immigration attorney with law firm Fellom &amp;amp; Solorio in San Francisco, questioned why the officer was armed.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-SFOEating-86-BL_qed.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12067210&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Passengers wait for their flight at San Francisco International Airport on Dec. 10, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Even if they were getting on a plane to do an operation in Chicago, you don’t need a gun,” he said. “You can put it in your luggage. There is an element of a lack of training and carelessness.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The incident, first reported by &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/ice-agents-gun-found-in-sfo-bathroom/4133652/&quot;&gt;NBC Bay Area&lt;/a&gt;, took place one day before the high-profile &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12092491/it-wasnt-right-woman-arrested-by-ice-at-sfo-is-a-san-francisco-photographer-barista&quot;&gt;arrest of Iryna Gorb, a Ukrainian woman&lt;/a&gt; who was returning home to San Francisco from out of state. It comes as part of a growing presence of immigration agents at airports, as the Trump administration opens up new fronts in its aggressive immigration crackdown.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Advocates say more than a dozen travelers have been &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12092697/bay-area-immigrant-advocates-warn-noncitizens-to-avoid-air-travel-after-ice-arrests&quot;&gt;detained at Bay Area airports&lt;/a&gt; since June 27, some of which have played out in dramatic and public arrests captured on video, like Gorb’s July 22 arrest. A photographer and barista who has lived in the U.S. since 2010, Gorb remains in detention.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Transportation Security Administration, the federal agency that handles airport security, has increasingly &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12077581/bay-area-officials-raise-privacy-concerns-after-ice-arrest-at-sfo&quot;&gt;shared passenger information&lt;/a&gt; with ICE, which is also part of the Department of Homeland Security. TSA has shared names, photos and other details from flight manifests, which ICE checks against its own records.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;KQED reached out to both TSA and ICE for comment, and neither responded in time for publication.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Previously, enforcement at airports centered on international travelers coming into the U.S. without a visa, said Milli Atkinson, director of the San Francisco Bar Association’s Immigrant Legal Defense Program and leads the San Francisco Rapid Response Network. But over the past year and a half, focus has shifted to immigrants who have lived in the country for years, but overstayed their visa and then chose to travel domestically.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We didn’t really see anything locally until this year, and it has really ramped up in the past couple of weeks at both San Francisco and Oakland airports,” Atkinson said. “For the first time, we started seeing people detained when they were waiting at the gates to board their flights, including people who have pending asylum applications. It’s really concerning.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Atkinson said that the arrests are being made by both uniformed ICE agents and by plainclothes officers wearing tactical vests. She advises anyone without permanent status, such as DACA recipients or those who have overstayed their visa —even if they have been in the country for many years —to consult with an immigration attorney prior to travel, even if domestically.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Lastra said that there has always been a possibility that people not authorized to be in the U.S. could be arrested during travel, but enforcement was previously sporadic.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“The airport is a Constitution-light zone where agents can search you, detain you and take your phone,” Lastra said. “Airports are considered a border area, so there is always a risk.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;KQED’s &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Juan Carlos Lara&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;em&gt;contributed to this report.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/news/12097037/ice-agents-gun-found-at-sfo-the-day-before-high-profile-arrest-of-ukrainian-woman</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:44:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Steph Rodriguez</author>
      <category>Immigration</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Transportation</category>
      <category>Bay Area</category>
      <category>ICE agents</category>
      <category>immigration</category>
      <category>public safety</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
      <category>San Francisco international Airport</category>
      <category>transportation</category>
      <category>U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement</category>
      <category>Immigration</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>San Francisco</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Partial Lunar Eclipse to Bring a ‘Blood Moon’ to the Bay Area Thursday</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/lunar-eclipse-1.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;A partially eclipsed Blood Moon rises over San Francisco’s Coit Tower on May 15, 2022, in Sausalito, California. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;As summer draws to a close, a lunar eclipse will turn August’s full moon a rusty red on Thursday, creating a “blood moon” that astronomers say will be visible across &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/category/california&quot;&gt;California&lt;/a&gt; and the U.S.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Around 96% of the moon will be eclipsed by Earth’s shadow, according to NASA.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;When that happens, the moon will appear almost entirely red with “just a little sliver up at the north part of the moon” remaining light, said Gerald McKeegan, an astronomer with the Chabot Space &amp;amp; Science Center in Oakland.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Nature, every once in a while, likes to put on a little show for us,” McKeegan said. “It reminds us that we’re part of a much larger universe.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1307&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/RS29081_GettyImages-912652168-qut.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-11647245&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A partially eclipsed super blue blood moon sets behind the Golden Gate Bridge on Jan. 31, 2018, in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The partial eclipse will begin around 7:33 p.m. and end around 10:52 p.m. This means that the eclipse will already be underway when the moon begins to rise over the Bay around 7:36 p.m.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The eclipse will reach its maximum, or the peak moment when the moon moves closest to the center of Earth’s dark shadow, at 9:13 p.m.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Andrew Fraknoi, a retired astronomy professor who taught at San Francisco State University, wrote KQED that the exact color of the glow will depend, in part, on what he called the&amp;nbsp;“sooty-ness” of our atmosphere. The degree of “sooty-ness” depends on fire smoke, air quality, volcanic eruptions and even cloud cover, Fraknoi said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Lunar eclipses happen when the Earth orbits between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow over humanity’s most loyal companion on our journey through space.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In classic Bay Area fashion, Thursday night will be mostly cloudy, according to Roger Gass, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, who said that most of the region will be covered by its typical low-lying fog.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Gass said that eclipse-gazers may have more luck viewing in places like Livermore, Concord, San Mateo and San José, where the clouds will roll in later on Thursday night. However, even those areas will have some high cloud cover that could partially obstruct the moon.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This partial lunar eclipse will last for hours&amp;nbsp;— giving viewers ample time to find a gap in the clouds.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The &lt;a href=&quot;https://chabotspace.org/&quot;&gt;Chabot Space &amp;amp; Science Center&lt;/a&gt; in Oakland will host a partial lunar eclipse watch party from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. McKeegan said the event will livestream the start of the eclipse from a location farther east to make sure everyone can see the full eclipse process. Once the moon gets high enough in the sky, attendees will be able to view the blood moon through their telescope, McKeegan said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The last lunar eclipse visible in the Bay occurred in &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/2000186/when-can-i-see-blood-moon-2026-total-lunar-eclipse-san-francisco-bay-area-march-3&quot;&gt;March&lt;/a&gt; — though it peaked at 3:33 a.m., so residents might have slept through it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The next total lunar eclipse visible to the Bay will not be until June 2029, so this is the show to catch, McKeegan said.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/news/12096650/partial-lunar-eclipse-to-bring-a-blood-moon-to-the-bay-area-thursday</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:13:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Karina Ioffee</author>
      <category>California</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Science</category>
      <category>astronomy</category>
      <category>Bay Area</category>
      <category>California</category>
      <category>lunar eclipse</category>
      <category>science</category>
      <category>California</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Science</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>‘A Chromebook in the Hand of Every Child.’ Did Schools Go Too Far?</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081226-SCHOOLTECHBANS-05-MC_QED-1-1.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Suki Reddy poses for a portrait in Leo J. Ryan Park on Wednesday, Aug.12, 2026, in San Mateo.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Last year, Suki Reddy started to enter her third-grader’s bedroom to find him, face &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/66537/the-school-year-begins-in-la-with-one-big-change-limited-screen-time&quot;&gt;lit up behind the glow of a computer&lt;/a&gt;, watching YouTube.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This didn’t seem possible, she thought; she had put controls on his iPad and closely monitored his screen time.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But Reddy’s son didn’t have to use his personal tablet to watch videos in bed. He could open YouTube on his school-issued Chromebook.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“They had less controls on their school computer than families have,” Reddy said. “There’s families who don’t have any phones or iPads for their kids. The only access that their kids are getting is through the school computer.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Reddy’s two children are in the San Mateo–Foster City School District, which includes 21 elementary and middle schools across the two cities. For years, the district has issued each child a Chromebook and integrated them into students’ learning, using them for access to textbooks, class handouts and homework as early as transitional kindergarten.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1999&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081226-SchoolTechBans-09-MC_qed.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12095056&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Bowditch Middle School on Wednesday, Aug.12, 2026, in Foster City. (Miles Cull/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Last year, as Reddy became concerned about the amount of screen time her children had through school, she started to speak with other parents who were also &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/66517/families-and-teachers-are-questioning-ed-tech-are-schools-and-districts-starting-to-listen&quot;&gt;growing worried&lt;/a&gt;. They saw their kids getting distracted by entertainment apps, noticed their attention spans deteriorating and their mental health suffering from the effects of spending hours online.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;While many parents already had their own rules for their kids’ use of social media and personal devices, educational technology had opened up a new front. Even when guardrails were put in place to limit the school devices’ usage, parents learned that children had found tricks to bypass protections.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;SMFCSD spokesperson Diego Perez said via email that the district has “a ton of restrictions” on its Chromebooks but did not respond to direct questions about whether YouTube was blocked on the devices.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It really made me realize it’s time to look at schools,” Reddy said. “That’s when I started asking questions directly to them.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1386&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/StudentsTabletsGetty.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12097071&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Students explore the possibilities with their new LAUSD-provided iPads on Aug. 27, 2013. (Bob Chamberlin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Over the last 15 years, classroom technology use has increased rapidly in districts across the country. Most now have 1:1 device programs, sending children as young as 5 and 6 home with personal tablets or computers.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But as more research emerges about the potential harms of screen use for children, while test scores in schools across the U.S. struggle to rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic, districts are at an inflection point.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California has mandated &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12094226/ousd-cellphone-ban-for-students-takes-effect-on-the-first-day-of-the-school-year&quot;&gt;school cellphone restrictions&lt;/a&gt; across the state, and parents in the Bay Area are pushing their school boards and administrators to pass new policies that limit screen time and institute content guardrails for students — following in the footsteps of the Los Angeles Unified School District, whose board passed a landmark resolution this year.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We’re not anti-technology,” Reddy said. “We’re very much a group in the Bay Area. Many parents work in the tech industry and work for the very companies who produce these tech tools. But because of that, we have a very unique stance where we recognize that there’s not just an upside to this — there are actually a lot of potential problems.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;The rise of ed tech&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;One-to-one device programs are now in 88% of public schools across the U.S., according to &lt;a href=&quot;https://ies.ed.gov/learn/press-release/more-half-public-school-leaders-say-cell-phones-hurt-academic-performance&quot;&gt;data from the National Center for Education Statistics&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;They gained traction throughout the 2010s, according to neuroscientist and former teacher Jared Cooney Horvath, who said education technology companies pitched their products as an unrivaled opportunity to individualize learning and, later, as the great equalizer for students across demographic groups.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Put a Chromebook in the hand of every child, and that’s how you’re going to close the equity gap,” said Anya Meksin, the deputy director of parent organization Schools Beyond Screens, which advocated for the LAUSD policy. “This idea was sold to school districts without really any data to back it up. It was really a sales pitch.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-566010757.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12097074&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Students in Karen Finkel’s class at Broadacres Elementary School in Carson explore the possibilities with their new LAUSD-provided iPads on Aug. 27, 2013. (Bob Chamberlin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;While 1:1 device programs first jumped significantly in 2010, Horvath said, they became pervasive during the COVID-19 pandemic.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Many school districts used federal grants to buy and distribute technology to their students at home, which allowed teachers to continue connecting with their classes and provide some instruction — if limited.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It’s a Band-Aid,” Horvath said. “The problem is, [districts] invested so much in the tech infrastructure that when COVID ended, rather than pulling the Band-Aid off and going back to what we know works, we just stuck with it.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Schools Beyond Screens&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In 2025, after California passed statewide legislation restricting students’ cellphone use in school, a group of Los Angeles parents founded Schools Beyond Screens, asking LAUSD to rethink its technology policies.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“When I toured 10 local public elementary schools to decide where my kid was going to go, I was completely appalled to see kindergartners on almost every single school tour sitting on computers with headphones on in a darkened room,” Meksin said. They were “not looking at the teacher, not looking at each other. A lot of times, the kids were just scrolling on YouTube.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Meksin and other parents spent months rallying supporters on dozens of district campuses, flooded the public comment period of school board meetings, lobbied district representatives and board members, and redlined draft legislation before passing a slate of historic policies in June.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1999&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081226-SchoolTechBans-14-MC_qed.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12095057&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Audubon Elementary School on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Foster City. (Miles Cull/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Beginning this fall, the country’s second-largest school district banned the use of student digital devices in early education through first-grade classrooms, and put strict minute caps on older students’ screen time.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;LAUSD also rolled back its 1:1 device program, no longer making it the default for a student entering the district to be issued a personal tablet or laptop to use in the classroom and at home.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We have to acknowledge that we now know more,” said LAUSD board member Nick Melvoin, who put forward the district’s “Using Technology With Intention” resolution that passed in April. “Yes, we’ve seen some academic benefits, but we’ve also seen a lot of the harms with kids on screens and the addictive nature of things like YouTube algorithms and all that.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“When you know better, you need to do better,” he continued.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;‘A hard Pandora’s box to close’&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Parents in the Bay Area said they also started to question school device use after seeing declines in their children’s learning outcomes.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Nationally, standardized reading and math test scores were lower in 2025 than they were in 2015 in &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/upshot/test-scores-school-districts-us.html?unlocked_article_code=1.iFA.G_Ub.cXbz5_-EC4R3&amp;amp;smid=url-share&quot;&gt;83% and 70% of school districts&lt;/a&gt;, respectively. School districts have cited the pandemic as one of the main causes for a dip in the early 2020s, but scores haven’t rebounded since then as education professionals had hoped.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;San Mateo–Foster City’s &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/upshot/look-up-district-test-scores.html?unlocked_article_code=1.iFA.zJm-.fi1gEuALEaT6&amp;amp;smid=url-share&quot;&gt;reading scores declined&lt;/a&gt; by 1.2 grade levels over the 10-year period, with the sharpest drop coming between 2022 and 2025. Math scores followed a similar trend.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1999&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081226-SchoolTechBans-02-MC_qed.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-12097080&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Suki Reddy poses for a portrait in Leo J. Ryan Park on Aug. 12, 2026, in San Mateo. (Miles Cull/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It made me look at their curriculum more closely, look at the materials they had and the distractions they were up against,” Reddy said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“There was no textbook where [students] could go back and forth between pages to see how to do something and where [they’re] getting things wrong,” she continued.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Despite growing anecdotal concern and research revealing the pitfalls of ed tech, Meksin said rolling it back “was a hard Pandora’s box to close.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;During the 2014-15 school year, California public school districts transitioned statewide standardized testing online with the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), eliminating the need for Scantron forms and #2 pencils.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In some districts, digital testing software is also used to track student benchmarks throughout the year and determine which students are placed into advanced courses or receive extra support. Reading quizzes and other small assessments are often embedded in online learning management systems.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Parents said apps such as i-Ready, a digital program that provides diagnostic math and language arts testing and associated curriculum, are now too ingrained to remove — even if their merit is in question.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“There’s no evidence that it actually helps kids, and a lot of anecdotal evidence that what it does do is create a distance between the student and the teacher, create a lot of confusion and anxiety for the parent because they’re getting these scores and they don’t know what they mean,” Candace Wei, a parent in the Palo Alto Unified School District, said of i-Ready’s format.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;She said despite this, when Mountain View’s school district tried to get rid of the software, “parents revolted.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“They said, ‘If our kids don’t do the i-Ready curriculum, how will they be prepared for the diagnostic [test]? How will they get into honors algebra?”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Mountain View Whisman School District spokesperson Shelly Hausman said the district is moving away from using i-Ready diagnostic assessments this year.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“MVWSD is moving toward teacher-created tests that are more closely aligned with California state standards and statewide tests,” she said via email. “This work, based on the district’s systems study, ensures our benchmark assessments align with the rigor of state SBAC assessments.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This year, fifth- through eighth-grade students will still take i-Ready math diagnostic exams three times.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For now, i-Ready Math is one of two measures used to determine their placement in math classes, she said.&lt;/p&

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      <title>California Lawmakers Greenlight Solar Panels You Can Plug Into the Wall</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Plug-in solar panels sit on top of an accessory dwelling unit in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley on Aug. 23, 2026.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;California is transitioning to clean energy. KQED is reporting on what that means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX22&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;donating today&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt;.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In as little as a year, lowering your electricity bill could be as simple as &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/1997918/forget-rooftops-bay-area-residents-are-plugging-solar-into-the-wall&quot;&gt;buying a kit&lt;/a&gt; with a few solar panels and accessories, completing a quick online registration form, and plugging it into a standard outlet.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday night to formally legalize &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/small-plug-in-solar-panels-gain-traction-as-an-affordable-way-to-cut-electricity-bills&quot;&gt;plug-in&lt;/a&gt;, or balcony, solar: small, portable and relatively inexpensive systems that do not require rewiring or the costly installation fees that often come with rooftop solar.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The legislation, &lt;a href=&quot;https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868&quot;&gt;SB 868&lt;/a&gt;, sailed through the state assembly and senate with bipartisan support. The bill now moves to the governor’s desk for signature.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The devices can be tented in a backyard, hung off a balcony or placed on a roof. Models range from as low as &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.brightsaver.org/&quot;&gt;$300&lt;/a&gt; to &lt;a href=&quot;https://craftstrom.com/&quot;&gt;$2200&lt;/a&gt;, depending on size. The bill would open the solar market to people who were previously left out: renters, people with unsuitable roofs, and those lacking the capital to build out a rooftop system, which can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1331&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001854&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of California Solar &amp;amp; Storage Association, speaks during a press conference with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm during a visit to a solar-powered Berkeley home on Aug. 20, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“There’s no question SB 868 is the most exciting clean energy and energy affordability bill right now up for consideration in California,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that co-sponsored the bill. “You never get to pass a big controversial bill in one year. We’re poised to do that. It is a huge win.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;A wave of state legislation over the past 18 months is making balcony solar — a nascent technology in the U.S. — within reach of everyday Americans. Utah pioneered a law passed in March 2025, and others quickly followed.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Eight states now have bills on the books that allow a relatively straightforward process for purchasing and setting up balcony solar systems, including Colorado, Virginia and Maine. Bills in New York and New Jersey are awaiting the governors’ signatures, like California.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Advocates believe California’s market has massive potential. They’re motivated by Germany, where millions of solar panels dot balconies across the country.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Some of the state’s largest investor-owned utilities, however, opposed the legislation, citing safety and a concern that the systems would shift energy costs to people without solar power. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;PG&amp;amp;E initially said it supported the bill if it were amended, but opposed the final version. Spokesperson Paul Doherty said the utility is concerned that certain safety and certification requirements on some systems would not be enforced until 2030. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But he said that the company “supports plug-in solar and the opportunities it could create for customers, particularly renters and others who have not had easy access to traditional rooftop solar.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;San Diego Gas &amp;amp; Electric also opposed the legislation, citing concerns that even if balcony solar is designed to prevent feeding power back to the grid, systems may malfunction and endanger workers or customers.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Southern California Edison originally opposed the bill but later took a neutral stance after bill authors updated safety standards and how people notify their utility of their systems, spokesperson David Eisenhauer said.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Notably, labor unions representing firefighters and PG&amp;amp;E employees dropped their opposition and took a neutral stance on the bill after lawmakers amended it to explicitly comply with state and national electrical codes.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If signed into law by Newsom, the legislation would exempt plug-in solar devices from what critics say is a cumbersome and expensive interconnection application process, and replace registration with a free and straightforward online form.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1337&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-1999772&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during his last State of the State address on Jan. 8, 2026, in Sacramento, California. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Some Californians have already installed plug-in solar panels, but utilities ask them to complete an interconnection agreement, citing &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Rule21/&quot;&gt;state rules&lt;/a&gt;. If done through PG&amp;amp;E, for example, representatives from the utility said that process would cost roughly $100 to $800 and take about an hour. Typically, the approval comes through in three days, PG&amp;amp;E staff said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But plug-in solar advocates argued that the interconnection process defeats the plug-and-play nature of the technology, and could double or triple its cost.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Their goal is to make the panels as ubiquitous and easy to install as any off-the-shelf appliance dotting the racks of a Home Depot or Costco.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The newly passed bill outlines several device requirements. The balcony solar systems must be capped at generating 1,200 watts per home, plug into a standard outlet, offset a customer’s onsite electricity use and meet state and national electrical codes. They also must be certified by an outside safety organization like Underwriters Laboratories and have a feature that would prevent electricity from feeding back into the grid if there’s a power outage.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1999&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001208&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Current plug-in solar models do not yet meet the outlined requirements, and customers therefore must still register their systems as though they are rooftop solar. Del Chiaro said there are already a few companies developing devices that will meet the standards in the new California legislation.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The bill is meant to help reduce the cost of power for Californians and “eliminates red tape, so that people in California can actually use plug-in solar right now,” bill author and state Sen. Scott Wiener said during an Assembly hearing in June.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Del Chiaro estimated that just one 400-watt solar panel would cover about 14% of a typical renter’s apartment’s annual electricity bill and translate to energy-bill savings of roughly $250 a year. That system would provide enough juice to run a refrigerator, modem and Wi-Fi. A larger, 1,200-watt system would generate enough energy to power a window air conditioning unit, “enabling families, especially in our hotter regions, to afford to cool their home on increasingly hot days,” Del Chiaro said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Dozens of environmental and community groups and a few cities supported the bill.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Plug-in solar advocacy group and nonprofit Bright Saver tentatively celebrated the action.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1334&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-1997031&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Rupert Mayer monitors the power produced by the newly installed solar panels at Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It’s a clear statement that the biggest state in the union wants this,” said Cora Stryker, the group’s co-founder, although she said she was not happy with an amendment sunsetting the legislation in 2030 and other provisions that could slow down the market for balcony solar.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“The devil in the details makes it not a home run. It makes it a fight that continues,” she said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Fiscal analysis of the bill estimates implementation will cost the state between $200,000 and $500,000 annually to fund program administrator positions.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If Newsom signs, staff in Wiener’s office estimated that people would be able to buy compatible plug-in solar kits in the spring of 2027.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;From KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by&amp;nbsp;donating today.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;img class=&quot;size-medium aligncenter&quot; style=&quot;width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png&quot; alt=&quot;Your support makes this work possible.&quot; width=&quot;1000&quot; height=&quot;706&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;
        From KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by&amp;nbsp;donating today.
        &lt;a href=&quot;https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noopener&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;aligncenter&quot; style=&quot;width: 272px;margin: 40px auto&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png&quot; alt=&quot;Button: Support KQED journalism&quot; width=&quot;544&quot; height=&quot;114&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:57:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Steph Rodriguez</author>
      <category>Climate</category>
      <category>Energy</category>
      <category>News</category>
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      <category>California</category>
      <category>climate</category>
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    </item>
    <item>
      <title>These Animals May Sting You, Spray You With Stinky Fluid or Explode In Your Face</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/DL904_vinegaroon_spray1.gif&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vinegaroon spraying for defense (Mike Seely).&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-embed__wrapper&quot;&gt;
        &lt;iframe title=&quot;These Animals May Sting You, Spray You With Stinky Fluid or Explode In Your Face | Deep Look&quot; width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;480&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/KT3vyVBacSA?feature=oembed&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Meet four animals that have mastered the art of chemical defense and offense. Sneak up on a bombardier beetle and it will shoot boiling acid from its behind. Cone snails will inject a fish with venom and swallow it whole, while the reclusive vinegaroon has a stinky surprise for anyone who messes with it. The Arizona bark scorpion has a sting powerful enough to send humans to the hospital, but it doesn’t seem to bother the tiny southern grasshopper mouse.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;TRANSCRIPT&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Lookout! Duck! Run for cover! These four wild creatures use chemical weapons for offense and defense.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The mysterious vinegaroon sprays a vinegary blast into the face of hungry predators.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Arizona bark scorpion is powerful – but this cute mouse is basically immune to it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Attackers beware of the Bombardier beetle’s explosive backside.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;First, cone snails use a hidden harpoon to inject a fish with venom and swallow it whole.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Cone snails are striking, in more ways than one.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;They lurk in the sand around coral reefs.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And wait til you see what’s under the hood.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That pretty veneer is hiding an impressive array of tools and weapons.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A cone snail’s breathing tube, called a siphon, is actually more like a sheet of muscle rolled into a snorkel.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Besides drawing water to gills deep in its shell, the siphon also can pick up the scent of unsuspecting prey.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That’s when the cone snail goes spearfishing.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Its extendible proboscis is packing a concealed weapon.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A tiny, hollow harpoon made of chitin, the same tough stuff in a lobster shell.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And the end of the proboscis is tricked out with receptors – taste buds that help it close in on its target.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;When it strikes, the snail’s pace jumps to light speed.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The embedded harpoon doubles as a hypodermic needle to inject the victim with paralyzing venom.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;As it reels in the catch, the cone snail uses another covert tool called a rostrum.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It opens up to swallow the fish whole.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Some cone snails hunt more familiar prey. Other snails.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The smaller snail digs down to hide its shell opening.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The predator looks for a way in.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;When it finds it, the hunter hits its prey with more than one shot of venom.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A lot is going on in the fifth of a second before the snail fires that harpoon.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So let’s rewind and break it down.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;First the proboscis flexes as the muscles inside prepare for the strike. Then the venom floods into the proboscis, but stops just short of the harpoon. A round muscle holds the lethal fluid in check, like a kink in a hose, building even more pressure.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Then, everything blows, and propels the venom into the harpoon, the harpoon into the prey.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;What has scientists interested in cone snails is that their venom varies not only from species to species but also from individual to individual, and even from shot to shot.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In fact they seem to mix their venom cocktail on the fly from thousands of unique ingredients, each with its own purpose.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;All this variety means a world of new drugs could lie under that shell.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Novel ways to treat things like chronic pain, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Most cone snail strikes hurt as much as a bee sting. A few can kill you though, like this geography cone, it has the most venomous sting in the world.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Here’s a tip: Don’t go gathering these shells when you’re snorkeling in Australia.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If you love learning about wildlife, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It’s free! Link in the description.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;How about a little defense? The reclusive and well-armoured vinegaroon has a stinky surprise for anyone who messes with it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Late at night, after a rain in Arizona’s high desert, a dark shape creeps out from its underground lair. It’s as big as your palm, and it’s hungry.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And if it feels bothered…&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;OK what just happened? And seriously, what is this thing?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A mutant land lobster?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;I mean, it’s got claws like a scorpion…&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The mouth of a spider?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Antennae-like things coming out of its armpits.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A long, skinny tail like a rat?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This surprising combo of monster body parts is a vinegaroon, also known as a whip scorpion.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s in a group of animals called arachnids, that includes scorpions and spiders.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But it doesn’t sting like a scorpion, or hunt with a web like many spiders.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A vinegaroon has its very own style.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This tail may look dangerous, but it’s actually a finely-tuned sensor. It picks up vibrations and chemicals in the air, in this case, to stalk its prey&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Up front, those antennae-looking things are actually specialized legs. They help the vinegaroon feel its way around.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s basically blind. So it relies on touch and smell to close in on its meal.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It will break through this cricket’s tough exoskeleton with its claws and bristly mouth.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The vinegaroon also uses these wicked claws to excavate its burrow.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Adults and their young use the burrows for protection from predators, and to stay out of the scorching desert sun. Vinegaroons and their ancestors have survived this way for hundreds of millions of years.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So, what does it need that spray for? Researchers observe it by gently holding the animal with forceps.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Despite those frightening looks, this surprising spritz is actually its strongest defense against anything that wants to eat them – like skunks, raccoons or coyotes.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Even with poor eyesight, the vinegaroon sprays with incredible accuracy.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Inside, two pygidial glands, also known as “stink glands,” hold the foul fluid.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The base of the tail is extremely flexible, and can aim the blast in any direction.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Touché, skunk!&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The instant it sprays, the gland openings appear as two retractable nozzles.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;An adult vinegaroon can shoot up to five times before it needs to let its stink glands fill up again. The spray reeks.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That’s because the solution is mostly acetic acid, the same stuff in the vinegar in your salad dressing, except this cocktail is 16 times stronger. A blast of that to the face of a larger predator is like pepper spray.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;While the vinegaroon’s signature defense is unlikely to do any lasting damage, it will certainly leave a lasting impression.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Arizona bark scorpion has a sting potent enough to send humans to the hospital, so why isn’t this fuzzy mouse afraid of that venom?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;There’s an arms race underway in the Sonoran desert: mouse versus scorpion.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Locked in a battle of one-upmanship, each animal evolving better, stronger chemical defenses against the other.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Consider the Arizona bark scorpion.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Its tail contains the most powerful venom of any scorpion in the United States, delivering white hot electrical pain.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This sting sends hundreds of people to the hospital each year.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That venom isn’t just potent – it’s sophisticated.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Researchers at The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco are studying how this venom has become increasingly complex over time to deal with the threats scorpions face.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;They milk the scorpion. They use a piece of wax paper to coax it into stinging.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That droplet contains a complex brew of chemicals, including neurotoxins that quickly paralyze prey, like this cricket….&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But venom also serves as a powerful] defense… against being eaten…&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That’s… where the mouse comes in.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Do not be fooled by its cuteness.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The southern grasshopper mouse is a ferocious hunter, which is rare among mice.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And it’s got a taste for scorpion.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Which would seem like a death wish. But it isn’t.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Scientists at Michigan State University are studying how the battle unfolds – not just physically, but at a chemical level.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This mouse is on the attack.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But the scorpion is not having it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;See how it keeps stinging the mouse?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For any other animal – including you or me – this would hurt. Badly.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And for a second, with the grasshopper mouse, it does.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;See how it’s rubbing its face?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But after a brief moment of pain, its nerves go numb.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Most animals its size would be dead by now.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But the grasshopper mouse has evolved a specific defense against scorpion venom.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A protein built into the mouse’s nerve cells – binds to the toxin.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It blocks it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Instead of causing pain and paralysis, the toxin does the opposite.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It acts like a painkiller – an analgesic.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;After the first couple stings, the mouse barely feels anything.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Bad news for the scorpion.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Researchers think this trick could point the way to more precise pain medications for people, with fewer side effects.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Once upon a time, the scorpion’s venom was enough to protect it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But today – in this desert arms race – the mouse has the upper paw.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;At least for now.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Next up: get too close and the back end of this beetle will literally explode in your face.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The bombardier beetle is one of nature’s most improbable creatures.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For some, it throws a monkey wrench into the whole idea of evolution.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This beetle is a walking powder keg.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That cloud you see is the result of a lightning fast chemical reaction inside his body.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;When attacked, the beetle sets off the explosion, releasing a boiling hot, stinging poison that sends his enemies running.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;He can even aim it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This potent mixture inside the beetle is made up of three main ingredients.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Mix the first two of them together and nothing happens – but throw in the third, and boom.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So the beetle has a trick – he keeps these ingredients separate inside his body.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;From an evolutionary standpoint that’s what’s interesting.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In fact, people have been scratching their heads over this for decades.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;How did this complex system evolve over time?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Wouldn’t earlier generations of beetles have blown themselves up, like a bunch of amateur bomb-makers?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;To some, this beetle’s very survival is proof that the whole theory of evolution is wrong.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But it turns out there is a way this system could have evolved gradually.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Remember that third ingredient?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s an enzyme. It’s like a spark. It sets the explosion in motion. and enzymes…evolve.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;At first, maybe this one wasn’t so dangerous. But gradually, it became more potent, more specialized, more explosive.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;As the beetle’s body changed to contain it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Scientists at UC Berkeley are trying to figure out how this system came together.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;They think one of those explosive chemicals evolved from the same raw materials as the beetle’s shell.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;That happens a lot in evolution. It’s called “exaptation.” one body part repurposed for something else.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The improbable bombardier beetle.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Living proof that what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/science/2001759/these-animals-may-sting-you-spray-you-with-stinky-fluid-or-explode-in-your-face</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/science/2001759/these-animals-may-sting-you-spray-you-with-stinky-fluid-or-explode-in-your-face</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 03:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Kate Lowpensky</author>
      <category>Animals</category>
      <category>Science</category>
      <category>Deep Look</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Residents Near Chevron’s Richmond Refinery Face Higher Risk of Cancer, Air District Says</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/06/250603-POLLUTERSPAY-21-BL-KQED.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Chevron Richmond Refinery, seen from the Point Richmond neighborhood in Richmond on June 3, 2025.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;People living close to the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/chevron-refinery&quot;&gt;Chevron Refinery&lt;/a&gt; in &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond&quot;&gt;Richmond&lt;/a&gt; face an elevated risk of developing cancer over a lifetime, and illness from short exposure to excess emissions, according to a &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/facility-risk-reduction/hra-facilities/fid10/fid10_preliminary-hra.pdf&quot;&gt;preliminary health risk assessment&lt;/a&gt; by the Bay Area Air District released Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Most of the cancer risk came from benzo[a]pyrene and other toxic air contaminants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) that seeped from pipe fittings and storage tanks throughout the refinery.&amp;nbsp;Diesel particulate matter and arsenic emissions were also found to be above the regulator’s allowed limit.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“There are multiple sources with multiple pollutants that are beyond the risk threshold,” said Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna, the Air District’s health officer. “That can harm people’s health, and [it] needs to be reduced.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The model analysis examines the highest cancer risk over a lifetime posed by exposure to facility emissions. The Air District found the Richmond refinery exposure to be 37 chances in a million, which is more than three times higher than its threshold for action.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The air regulator requires facilities to take action to reduce the risk if it equals or exceeds 10 in a million.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2145&quot; height=&quot;1228&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CRR-Summary_Fig-3-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001825&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;The Air District’s breakdown of cancer risk from pollutants at Chevron’s Richmond refinery. (Courtesy of Bay Area Air District Staff)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It is an estimate based on worst-case scenarios,” said Ariana Husain, the regulator’s risk assessment manager. “It does not represent the average risk to residents in Richmond.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Nor does it mean that 37 more people in a million will develop cancer, Husain said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It’s really the first step in understanding risk posed by emissions from facility operations to the nearby community,” Husain said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The health risk assessment is a tool to measure the risk of toxic air contaminants from high-impact industrial facilities like Chevron’s Richmond refinery, Husain said. The Air District is empowered to conduct these assessments &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.baaqmd.gov/rules-and-compliance/rules/regulation-11-rule-18-reduction-of-risk-from-air-toxic-emissions-at-existing-facilities&quot;&gt;under regulations&lt;/a&gt; it adopted in 2017 and modified in June.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The rules require those facilities to work with the air regulator to reduce emissions and the risk to communities.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Caitlin Powell, a Chevron Richmond spokesperson, pushed back in an email and said the company found “significant issues” with the assessment “that we believe materially overstate the Richmond refinery’s emissions and modeled health risk.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Chevron also quickly circulated an &lt;a href=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/CHEVRON-RICHMOND-info-on-Bay-Area-Air-District-Draft-HRA-of-Richmond-Refinery-FAQ_Aug-2026.pdf&quot;&gt;FAQ document&lt;/a&gt; to reporters about the assessment that categorized the tool as “conservative” and meant to understand where regulators should “focus efforts and resources to improve air quality and protect public health.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Scientific methods used in HRAs cannot be used to link individual illnesses to chemical exposures,” the document said.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;It also noted that the refinery’s cancer risk assessment “is not itself a violation” and fell below the “action” levels set by air districts in Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Chevron has 90 days to challenge the Air District’s findings and suggest modifications to the risk assessment. During that time, the public may also submit comments to the air regulator.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Long-term exposure to these substances may increase cancer risk and harm developmental, reproductive and immune systems. Children under two are more susceptible to effects.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Air District measured the potential impact of excess emissions on three categories of people with varying degrees of exposure. First, residents who they assumed to have 24 hours a day of exposure, non-resident refinery workers who face 8 hours of exposure a day, and students who attended school near the refinery but lived elsewhere.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The assessment found that people who live within approximately 3 miles of the refinery, including in the communities of Achitson, Brickyard Cove, Iron Triangle, Point Richmond and North Richmond, face the greatest health risk.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1616&quot; height=&quot;1265&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/Figure-2.png&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001806&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;This map shows where the cancer risk is highest around Chevron’s Richmond refinery, according to air regulators. (Courtesy of Bay Area Air District Staff)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Chevron workers who live out of town did not face an increased risk of cancer, but are subject to acute one-hour releases of benzene that can evaporate from the refinery’s waste treatment system.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“That is a toxic air contaminant that you can get irritated by in a very short amount of time,”&amp;nbsp;Radhakrishna said. “Smelling it in your nose, in your mouth, in your throat, in your lungs, coughing attacks, and exacerbation of existing health conditions.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The effects of benzene are temporary and based on proximity to the refinery, according to the report, but Radhakrishna noted that repeated exposure to benzene can also contribute to cancer over the long term.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The health risk assessment found that children who attend schools near the refinery but don’t live in the area did not face an elevated risk of cancer, but are exposed to risks from the one-hour releases, as are residents and anyone within approximately three miles of the facilities when it releases emissions.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Air District scheduled a public meeting to explain the findings and the comment process on Monday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Richmond Memorial Civic Auditorium and Convention Center.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The air regulators will consider both public comment and responses from Chevron before issuing a final risk assessment for the Richmond refinery. Then the company is required to submit a plan to reduce the risk, which will also be open to public comment and must ultimately be approved by the Air District.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/science/2001777/residents-near-chevrons-richmond-refinery-face-higher-risk-of-cancer-air-district-says</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/science/2001777/residents-near-chevrons-richmond-refinery-face-higher-risk-of-cancer-air-district-says</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 20:03:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Environment</category>
      <category>Health</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Science</category>
      <category>air quality</category>
      <category>bay area</category>
      <category>cancer</category>
      <category>Chevron</category>
      <category>emissions</category>
      <category>featured-science</category>
      <category>health</category>
      <category>Public health</category>
      <category>refinery</category>
      <category>richmond</category>
      <category>science</category>
      <category>East Bay</category>
      <category>Health</category>
      <category>News</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Could California’s 1 Million Electric Car Batteries Help Power the State’s Grid?</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Electric cars are growing in the Bay Area but are only 6% of new vehicle sales statewide.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California is in the middle of a &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/2001611/californias-solar-and-battery-boom-is-transforming-the-power-grid&quot;&gt;battery boom&lt;/a&gt;. Yet to meet its clean energy goals, the state needs a lot more storage capacity — &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/10/24/california-reaches-energy-storage-milestone/&quot;&gt;52,000 megawatts&lt;/a&gt;, to be exact. That’s about double what it currently has online.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The state’s electric vehicles could help provide some of that energy through the magic of a technology called bidirectional charging. It allows electric vehicles to store energy generated by solar, wind, and other clean sources and utilities to tap into the car batteries when they need extra power.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California has over &lt;a href=&quot;https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10962&quot;&gt;1 million&lt;/a&gt; electric vehicles parked at homes and offices across the state — the most of any state in the U.S. Today, these vehicles primarily take electricity from the grid, but if they could send it back, then they could contribute to the state’s storage capacity and get paid for their contributions.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1183&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_16-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-1931183&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Electric cars use the carpool lane onramp to the Bay Bridge. Bidirectional charging technology would allow electric vehicles to store energy generated by solar, wind, and other clean sources and utilities to tap into the car batteries when they need extra power. (Anne Wernikoff/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;On Monday, PG&amp;amp;E &lt;a href=&quot;https://investor.pgecorp.com/news-events/press-releases/press-release-details/2026/More-California-EV-Owners-Can-Now-Power-Their-Homes-Save-on-Energy-Costs-and-Support-the-Grid-Through-PGEs-Expanded-Vehicle-to-Everything-Program/default.aspx&quot;&gt;announced&lt;/a&gt; an expansion of its “vehicle to everything” pilot program designed to test this technology.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The program first launched in 2023 with select cars and chargers, according to Kristin Landry, PG&amp;amp;E’s product manager of Vehicle-Grid Integration. Kia, Volvo, Polestar and Nissan will now participate in the program along with new car models from existing partners. The utility also brought on new charging and software from Wallbox, dcbel, PowerFlex and Bidirectional Energy.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“Part of what is exciting is that all of these [partners] are really interested in this grid-tied capability, so they are helping customers through the interconnection process,” Landry said.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The fledgling program is still small, with just 51 residential customers right now. And, according to Landry, these customers can only generate backup power — meaning that they can power their home if the electricity gets cut.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Landry said that customers cannot sell energy back to PG&amp;amp;E and contribute to California’s overall energy storage capacity until they go through an &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Rule21/&quot;&gt;interconnection process&lt;/a&gt; mandated by the California Public Utilities Commission; the same as for anyone who wants to generate or store energy on their property.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This process can be time-consuming and expensive for consumers. General Motors’ “vehicle to home” &lt;a href=&quot;https://gmenergy.gm.com/&quot;&gt;kits&lt;/a&gt; cost between $8,998 and $29,997 — though they are currently on sale. In addition to the specialized equipment, consumers have to pay for the vehicle, the permits and, potentially, for an electrical upgrade if their home does not have the recommended 200-amp capacity.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;According to &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.bidirectional.energy/learn/california&quot;&gt;Bidirectional Energy’s&lt;/a&gt; website, the whole process can take three to five months.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Benjamin Tuff, the chief marketing officer at dcbel, one of the companies building bidirectional chargers, said that the company wants to handle most of the installation, site inspection and permitting to “make the process as white glove as possible.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The utility and participating companies currently offer incentives to sweeten the deal for consumers interested in joining the program. All participants receive a $2,500 rebate from PG&amp;amp;E; the first 250 to join pocket an additional $1,500 — as of this month, the utility had 199 spots left, Landry said.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;There are also rebates for the Bidirectional Energy’s and dcbel’s charging systems, which range from $9,000 to $13,800, and customers can “stack” those on top of other incentives that California offers like its $3,500 &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12091276/how-does-californias-3500-ev-rebate-work&quot;&gt;electric vehicle&lt;/a&gt; rebate.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;4674&quot; height=&quot;3138&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/GettyImages-103634156-1.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-1930311&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A vehicle-charging station is seen near San Francisco City Hall on Aug. 25, 2010. All participants in PG&amp;amp;E bidirectional charging pilot program will receive a $2,500 utility rebate, plus an extra $1,500 for the first 250 to join. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;After the upfront costs are paid, participants can reduce their annual energy costs — &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.dcbel.energy/ara&quot;&gt;dcbel&lt;/a&gt; estimates people can save $1,300 a year with software that automatically charges vehicles when energy prices are the cheapest, typically between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;And they can earn $3,200 each year by selling power back when electricity is at its most expensive, usually between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Tuff said that their system takes care of all the technical and financial decisions for the consumer. For example, if a customer were to plug in their car after work when prices were high, the system would use the car battery to power the home and then switch over to charging later at night when prices drop.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The &lt;a href=&quot;http://iea.org/reports/vehicle-to-grid-technology&quot;&gt;International Energy Agency&lt;/a&gt; found that battery degradation due to overuse has been a key concern for vehicle owners, but noted that recent testing found well-managed charging and discharging can potentially help.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Greggory Kresge, senior manager of utility engagement and transportation electrification at the World Resources Institute, said that these programs appeal to utilities like PG&amp;amp;E because&amp;nbsp;these vehicles can “be this amazing resource that the utility doesn’t own, but that they can take advantage of” to help manage the grid and onboard more renewable energy.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“As [these programs] mature, and EV adoption and bidirectional charging increases, the adoption of electric vehicles is forecasted to reach 8 million vehicles by 2035,” PG&amp;amp;E told KQED in an email. This level of adoption could displace some of the need for building out large industrial battery parks.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/science/2001775/could-californias-1-million-electric-car-batteries-help-power-the-states-grid</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/science/2001775/could-californias-1-million-electric-car-batteries-help-power-the-states-grid</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Gilare Zada</author>
      <category>Climate</category>
      <category>Environment</category>
      <category>Local</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Science</category>
      <category>batteries</category>
      <category>clean energy</category>
      <category>climate</category>
      <category>electric vehicles</category>
      <category>energy</category>
      <category>featured-science</category>
      <category>PG&amp;E</category>
      <category>science</category>
      <category>Science</category>
      <category>Technology</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>San Francisco’s Dahlia Show Celebrates a Century of Floral Diversity</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-29-KQED-1.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Selina Yep admires a dahlia at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the dahlia being named San Francisco’s official flower.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Hundreds of dahlias turned a corner of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco into a showcase of color, shape and genetic diversity this past weekend.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Dahlia Society of California’s annual show returned to the park, this time to mark the 100th anniversary of San Francisco naming the dahlia its official flower.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This year was themed “San Francisco Icons,” with dahlia arrangements evoking the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, the Painted Ladies, Coit Tower and other city landmarks.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-18-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001729&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Single-bloom dahlias are displayed at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001724&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-12-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001724&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Marzieh Yaghini admires a dahlia at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001733&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-25-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001733&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A Golden Gate Bridge dahlia arrangement is displayed at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Visitors wandered among rows of carefully cultivated blooms, many of them competing for ribbons and recognition from judges and, for attendees, simply offering a chance to slow down and look closely at a flower that can be surprisingly complex.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“One of the reasons we love San Francisco is because there’s so many different kinds of people here. And Dahlias are kind of the San Francisco of floral society,” said Deborah Dietz, corresponding secretary for the Dahlia Society and longtime volunteer in Golden Gate Park.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“There’s 21 forms of dahlias, there’s 15 official colors and there’s five different sizes,” she added. “And that’s just categories.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001728&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-17-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001728&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Judges examine dahlias at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001727&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-16-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001727&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Members of the public enjoy the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001725&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-13-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001725&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;A Raeann’s Tiger Eye dahlia is displayed at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001717&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-2-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001717&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;An Ask With Minnie dahlia is displayed at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Dahlias can resemble water lilies, daisies, golf balls or spiky cacti. Some have multiple colors within a single petal. And because of their unusual genetics, new variations can arise through cloning and sexual reproduction.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Dahlia tubers can be divided into genetically identical plants, said Erik Gaensler, president of the Dahlia Society of California. But growing from seed produces something entirely new.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“If you plant 100 dahlia seeds, most won’t be that great,” Gaensler said. “So we have some people in our society who will grow hundreds of seedlings, and they only save the best.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-22-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001731&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Jenna Kaiser, a dahlia ambassador with the Dahlia Society of California, poses for a photo at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001730&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-19-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001730&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Ivy Lou, 70, takes a photo with dahlias at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1312&quot; data-id=&quot;2001721&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-8-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001721&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Addie Lee, 2, takes photos of dahlias at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Those seedlings can be cultivated for years before eventually being named and entered into competitions. Many dahlias grown in San Francisco originated locally, Gaensler said, making them particularly well suited to the city’s climate.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The flower’s history in San Francisco dates back more than a century. When the Sunset and Richmond districts were undeveloped and still largely dunes, dahlias could thrive in the sandy soil. By the 1920s, several commercial dahlia growers operated in the area, and the Palace Hotel hosted annual shows. In 1926, the city officially adopted the dahlia as its flower.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For Dietz, that history is part of what makes the flower special, but so is the scientific curiosity surrounding it. Dahlias have eight sets of chromosomes and genetic elements that can shift around within their DNA, occasionally producing new traits.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-image&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;aligncenter size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-26-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001734&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Sir Richard Dahlias are displayed at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/div&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex&quot;&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; data-id=&quot;2001732&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-24-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001732&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Nathan Gomez makes petal art at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1335&quot; data-id=&quot;2001720&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260815_SFDAHLIA_GC-6-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001720&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Natalie Samuels, left, and Abby Klinkenberg, right, admire dahlias at the annual Dahlia Show &amp;amp; Competition at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 15, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Dahlia Society of America has funded work to map the dahlia genome, Dietz said, which could help researchers better understand which genetic sequences determine traits such as shape and color.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;That diversity was also what drew first-time visitors Natalie Samuels and Abby Klinkenberg to the weekend’s show.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“It’s a chance to reorient ourselves and connect to the things around us,” Klinkenberg said.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Samuels said the flowers encouraged her to slow down and observe each individually, a welcome contrast to the pace of modern San Francisco.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;You can see the winning blooms on the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.instagram.com/sfdahliasociety/&quot;&gt;Dahlia Society’s Instagram page&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/science/2001738/san-franciscos-dahlia-show-celebrates-a-century-of-floral-diversity</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/science/2001738/san-franciscos-dahlia-show-celebrates-a-century-of-floral-diversity</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:43:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Sarah Mohamad</author>
      <category>Events</category>
      <category>Local</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Science</category>
      <category>bay area</category>
      <category>featured-science</category>
      <category>flowers</category>
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      <category>San Francisco</category>
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    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Strong El Niño May Bring Record Sea Level and Coastal Flooding to Bay Area</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-155-KQED.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sea levels have risen by around 8 inches since the 1800s in the Bay Area, but scientists expect human-caused climate change to raise them by as much as 6 feet by the end of the century. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Derek Bentley’s San Rafael karate studio &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay&quot;&gt;flooded&lt;/a&gt; in January, when a heavy storm hit during one of the highest tides of the year.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Several inches of water rose from under the foundation and filled the building from the inside, soaking the karate mats so thoroughly that they squirted water when Bentley stepped across them.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“We were closed for about a week after the flood,” Bentley said. “Then we opened, but we used air dryers and some of the mats were still wet, and we had no carpet for a couple months.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Now he fears a bout of déjà vu could be in his future if very strong &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter&quot;&gt;El Niño&lt;/a&gt; conditions steer strong storms toward the Bay Area and once again flood his dojo.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;img width=&quot;2000&quot; height=&quot;1333&quot; src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-2001559&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;wp-element-caption&quot;&gt;Kristina Hill, professor of landscape architecture and environmental planning and urban design at UC Berkeley, looks out at the South Richmond Marshes in Richmond on July 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;“My fear is we will lose this place because it’ll just be too much water,” Bentley said. He runs Taylor’s House of Karate a few yards away from a marina on San Rafael Creek in &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.kqed.org/news/12068644/marin-county-looked-like-a-lagoon-after-king-tides-heavy-rain&quot;&gt;Marin County&lt;/a&gt;. “I’ve never seen us beat water around here.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;California is no stranger to the impacts of periodic warming of water in

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    <item>
      <title>The Iran War at Six Months: Has the U.S. Already Lost?</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2026/03/GettyImages-2263990208-scaled.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;An Iranian flag is planted in the rubble of a police station, damaged in airstrikes on March 3, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Friday, August 28, 2026 at 10 AM&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;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 affairs expert Tom Nichols says the United States has already lost strategically: Iran has gained control of the Strait of Hormuz, strained U.S. alliances and depleted American military resources. Nichols also argues that the ongoing conflict has made Trump more reckless, driving him to make ever more irrational foreign policy choices. We talk to Nichols about the costs of the war and where it goes from here.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guest&lt;/strong&gt;: &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Tom Nichols&lt;/strong&gt;, staff writer, The Atlantic; professor emeritus of national security affairs, U.S. Naval War College&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915070/the-iran-war-at-six-months-has-the-u-s-already-lost</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:03:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Forum</category>
      <category>News</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>What Are the Objects That Define the Bay Area?</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2021/07/Picnic.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;We’ll dive into the objects and accessories that are hella Bay Area and just how they became so ubiquitous. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Friday, August 28, 2026 at 9 AM&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;A few years ago, a black Patagonia vest or a Timbuktu messenger bag were a telltale sign that a&lt;br&gt;person might be from the Bay Area. Now, you might look for an Oaklandish hoodie, a water bottle covered in outdoorsy stickers, a t-shirt advertising a non-alcoholic beer or a Tesla with an Elon disclaimer on the bumper. We’ll dive into the objects and accessories that are hella Bay Area and just how they became so ubiquitous. And, we want to hear from you, what are the items that define the Bay Area for you?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guests: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Carly Severn&lt;/strong&gt;, senior editor of audience news, KQED&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Liam O’Donoghue&lt;/strong&gt;, host and producer, East Bay Yesterday&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Baruch Porras-Hernandez&lt;/strong&gt;, performer, organizer, host, curator, stand up comedian, author of “I Miss You, Delicate” and “Lovers of the Deep Fried Circle,” and co-organizer of KQED’s ¿Dónde Esta Mi Gente? Literary Series&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Pendarvis “Pen” Harshaw&lt;/strong&gt;, columnist, KQED Arts&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915067/what-are-the-objects-that-define-the-bay-area</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915067/what-are-the-objects-that-define-the-bay-area</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:56:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Forum</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
      <category>Entertainment</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How Will Meta’s Landmark Settlement Change Social Media?</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2021/09/Facebook-Investigation.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this photo illustration, a person looks at a smart phone with a Facebook App logo displayed on the background, on August 17, 2021, in Arlington, Virginia.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 10 AM&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;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 and the District of Columbia, could mark a turning point for social media in the United States. “Meta has agreed to make massive transformations that will reduce the risk of harm from its platforms — and will do it within months,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta when announcing the deal, which includes a $2.2 billion payout to California. “We are talking about time limits, stopping notifications during school, a block on the app during critical overnight hours, bans on plastic surgery filters, and so much more.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guests: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Racheal Myrow&lt;/strong&gt;, reporter and senior editor, KQED&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dr. Jason Nagata&lt;/strong&gt;, adolescent medicine specialist, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Peter Ormerod&lt;/strong&gt;, associate professor of law, Villanova Law School&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Episode Transcript&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Welcome to &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;. I’m Mina Kim. In a landmark settlement, Meta will pay up to $17 billion and make changes to its products in a case brought by 47 states, D.C. and U.S. territories, claiming Meta’s addictive social media platforms harmed children. In announcing the deal, State Attorney General Rob Bonta said it includes more than a $2 billion payout to California.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Rob Bonta:&lt;/strong&gt; This is a major breakthrough, a milestone moment, a watershed moment, because when it comes to protecting our children’s mental health, there is no time to lose. Instead of getting tied up in years of trials and appeals, we have secured the changes we were after.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; For more on the impact the settlement could have on social media companies and on the way kids use Facebook, Instagram and potentially other major platforms, we begin with KQED’s senior editor of our Silicon Valley news desk, Racheal Myrow. Hi, Racheal.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Racheal Myrow:&lt;/strong&gt; Hi, Mina.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; So glad to have you on with us. Explain to me why $17.1 billion. What is that for? And what are the major changes that Meta has agreed to make?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Racheal Myrow:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, so it’s going to be a little unclear how the money gets spent, and there are contingencies we’re going to talk about this hour. Part of it, California shares more than a billion dollars — between $1.5 and $2.2 billion. The range depends on whether Meta’s rivals sign on — TikTok, YouTube — because part of the money, $5 billion, that’s roughly a third of that $17 billion figure, is contingent on those rivals signing on. It’s a very curious settlement agreement for that reason.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But the money for California is earmarked for youth mental health. And, of course, the legislature and the governor get to decide the specifics. So that fight moves to Sacramento this fall.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Now, onto some of the specifics, the things that a family with children is going to see as a result of this settlement: Teenagers get a two-hour daily cap across Facebook and Instagram combined. That’s cumulative. So, right, a second Instagram account doesn’t buy more time for the kid who’s, quote-unquote, addicted.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The apps go dark midnight to 6 a.m., notifications muted during the school day, like counts hidden. Only a parent can lift any of that.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But I’ll tell you, Mina, a few of the things I caught only after a good night’s sleep: Direct messages are exempt. So think of all the teens we hear about who are hit up with dubious drug offers or attempts to groom them for sex trafficking.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And again, going back to that idea of the contingency built into this agreement, the two-hour limit is a five-year commitment, not 10. It only extends to 10 if competitors sign off.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Hmm. It’s such an interesting deal. So when you say they’re exempt, you mean they continue to receive direct messages even during these sort of block times when notifications are blocked?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Racheal Myrow:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, I mean, then presumably they can see the drug offer after school’s out, you know what I mean? So, talk about —&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; You know, these changes are being touted as significant. Why did Meta make — what was Meta being accused of by the —&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Racheal Myrow:&lt;/strong&gt; So Meta was accused of knowing that it had millions — and I mean millions — of children under the age of 13 on its platforms, which is a violation of federal law.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Meta would say, and did say in court during the one week of trial that we got, “Hey, we’re cutting them off.” But internal research and documents also showed that they were enthusiastic about the interest from underage users because those people, long term, could be another set of eyeballs to sell to advertisers.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so the states were basically arguing that, but also violation of state consumer protection laws, you know, designed — basically arguing not that, you know, this is not a free speech case, right? This is not bad people posting bad things on social media platforms and then holding the platforms accountable for that. They’re arguing, no, this is a consumer product liability, personal injury liability situation where you’ve got a faulty design leading to damaging products, and then you’re lying to the American public about that, and also what you’re —&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Doing about it. Hmm. And so that’s why the states were alleging violations of consumer protection laws.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;You’ve been talking about, you know, the contingencies with this, right? Initially, Meta will pay out $12 billion, but the additional five will depend on if Snap, TikTok and YouTube settle with the states as well and agree to similar changes. Did you reach out to these companies to see what they’re thinking?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Racheal Myrow:&lt;/strong&gt; KQED has, and heard nothing back, and you can understand it, right? I’m sure they’ve got the turkey sandwiches out in some kind of a meeting room trying to figure out how they want to respond.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And it’s worth saying that all of these companies are facing major lawsuits from state attorneys general, from individuals, from school districts that have finally had it. Finally had it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; I want to bring Peter Ormerod into the conversation now, associate professor of law at Villanova Law School. Peter, thanks so much for being with us.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Peter Ormerod:&lt;/strong&gt; Thanks for having me.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; I’d love to get your assessment of this settlement and why you think Meta agreed to settle, what incentives they had.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Peter Ormerod:&lt;/strong&gt; Sure. I think that this is a momentous waypoint in changing the way that young people, youths and teens use social media, the extent to which they do use social media. I don’t think anyone should expect that this is going to be the end of the matter or that this is going to be a cure-all. But it certainly is, I think, an indication of the current trajectory that cases like this — and there are many other cases like this — are currently taking.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so, you know, the conclusion to the story hasn’t been written yet. But certainly, this is a very important chapter in that story, and I think it’s, you know, certainly emboldening for a lot of plaintiffs, for a lot of advocacy groups that want to change the way that the platforms work and the effects that they have on children.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In terms of why — why do we think Meta settled? My sense about this, and, you know, is just from following the trial, is that it was not going particularly well for them. And I think — I mean, the settlement agreement itself is 130 pages. It clearly was not something that was, you know, put together pretty quickly. So I think it’s fair to speculate that the parties have been negotiating for some time.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But my sense is, from especially the testimony on Tuesday featuring Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, my sense of it is that that examination was going quite poorly for the company. Mosseri was expected to come back on Wednesday morning. Zuckerberg was expected to testify later. And so I think just the direction that things were going really sort of, you know, it would not surprise me if the calculus of their trial lawyers was, you know, taking a deal now is probably the best thing that can happen just because it was not going well.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; I’m sorry, the head of Instagram and obviously Zuckerberg of Meta, and they had lost some cases recently, right?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Peter Ormerod:&lt;/strong&gt; Yes, they have. I mean, the other sort of most important — there was a verdict in California state court in Southern California in March. That’s the KGM case, advancing a very similar theory, but that was a sort of an individual private plaintiff.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And then there’s an ongoing proceeding in New Mexico that is brought by the New Mexico attorney general. That is not covered by this settlement. That is a completely separate and parallel proceeding.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And in both cases, the company had lost and was facing both significant civil liability in addition to mandated changes to the platform.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Do you think the company was also feeling very sensitive about its reputation? Has this narrative started taking hold that they treat young users badly?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Peter Ormerod:&lt;/strong&gt; You know, I think I am reluctant to say that I think that this is going to be the beginning of a large change from the company. Meta has a reputation as being a particularly sort of vexatious litigator. They often press very aggressive legal theories in forums in which they are not likely to succeed.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so the fact that they settled this is quite — quite significant. If anything, it just signals that this case they did not see going their way.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But I don’t expect their legal strategy on the whole to change. I’m happy to talk a little bit more about the legal arguments that they have available, including the First Amendment, Section 230, which provides them with immunity under federal law. I expect that they are going to continue pressing those legal theories in other cases and in places where, including the KGM litigation, possibly also the New Mexico litigation.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And I don’t really see them stopping that until they get a definitive signal from the United States Supreme Court that those theories are not going to be successful.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Now, if they were to ultimately prevail on those theories, that would not have an effect on this settlement because they are voluntarily agreeing to make these changes and make this payment.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But I — I don’t personally, just given having followed the company in its litigation strategy for many years, I don’t personally see that this is going to be some kind of watershed moment in which they change their business and their strategy more generally.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, and of course, Section 230, as we know, shields companies from liability for what users post. And that has been one of the ways that they have argued in the past why they should not be held responsible for the effect of their platforms.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so given that, Peter, do you think the other companies will sign on to the settlement the way that Racheal has been describing that it’s been written, right, with these contingencies, that it’ll go up to $17 billion if these other companies sign on and various other product changes will be made?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Peter Ormerod:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, and the contingencies are a really interesting wrinkle here. It is quite unusual. It’s not something that I can remember encountering in other contexts.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Do I think the other companies will sign on? I think they’re under an enormous amount of pressure to do so. These same parties, the same companies, were parties to the KGM litigation, and both Snap and TikTok settled that before the trial started.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So I think you already see, to some extent, that maybe they have less appetite for litigation, and so they might be more likely to settle in this circumstance.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;YouTube’s attitude is very different, as YouTube maintains that they’re not a social media network at all and that they really don’t belong in these cases. Now, I’m, you know, I think there’s lots of reasons to disagree with that — the sort of short-form video, algorithmically recommended, things of that nature. What the attorneys general argue is sort of the most addictive of the features are shared by YouTube, so you can see why they’re in the case.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But Google’s calculus, I think, is probably a little different from the likes of TikTok and Snap. And so, to me, the thing that I’ll be watching is if there is a holdout, that’s who I would back.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Listeners, what are your reactions to this settlement between Meta and the states? What questions do you have about how the settlement will work? More after the break. I’m Mina Kim.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915053/how-will-metas-landmark-settlement-change-social-media</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915053/how-will-metas-landmark-settlement-change-social-media</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 22:15:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Forum</category>
      <category>Health</category>
      <category>News</category>
      <category>Science</category>
      <category>Technology</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Trump Trade War with Canada Pits the U.S. Against a Once-Staunch Ally</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2025/03/iStock-481722560-canada.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Following a collapse in trade talks, the Trump administration is hitting Canada with a 50% tariff that targets hockey equipment, cement, dairy, and plywood.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 9 AM&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;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 Trump administration is hitting Canada with a 50% tariff that targets hockey equipment, cement, dairy, and plywood. Canada vowed to strike back dollar for dollar, issuing nearly $28 billion in tariffs on American steel, seafood, appliances, electronics and more. Canadians are boycotting U.S. products and cancelling trips south. We look at what this means for the two economies, consumers and the future of America’s trade relationships.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guests: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Kyle Handley&lt;/strong&gt;, Associate Professor of Economics at the School of Global Policy &amp;amp; Strategy and Director of the Center for Commerce and Diplomacy, UC San Diego&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Daniel Desrochers&lt;/strong&gt;, international trade reporter, Politico&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Matina Stevis-Gridneff&lt;/strong&gt;, Canada bureau chief, New York Times&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Episode Transcript&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Welcome to &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;. I’m Alexis Madrigal. Well, here we are, talking about tariffs again. Donald Trump’s favorite foreign policy has been a constant feature of his time in office. But this time around, he’s targeted not just China, but many longtime American allies like Canada. This has managed to make the Canadians angry, transforming their internal politics and creating the conditions for an all-out trade war.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In any case, let’s figure out what’s going on with the tariffs. This time we’re joined this morning by Kyle Handley, associate professor of economics and director of the Center for Commerce and Diplomacy at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at UC San Diego. Welcome, Kyle.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Kyle Handley:&lt;/strong&gt; Thank you.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; We’re also joined by Daniel Desrochers, who’s international trade reporter at POLITICO. Welcome, Daniel.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Daniel Desrochers:&lt;/strong&gt; Thank you for having me.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; And we’ve got Matina Stevis-Gridneff, who’s Canada bureau chief for The New York Times and based in Toronto. Welcome, Matina.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Matina Stevis-Gridneff:&lt;/strong&gt; Great to be here.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; So let’s just dive in. Daniel, Canada has largely been a quite friendly neighbor to the north over the entire history of these countries. Now we’re in a trade war with this ally. What are the current tariffs that we are imposing on Canada before all this stuff goes into effect?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Daniel Desrochers:&lt;/strong&gt; So you kind of have to go through the laundry list here, right? So for a pretty long time, about like March or April of last year, we’ve had tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles and auto parts from Canada. And those have been tariffs that have been on the rest of the world, and Canada has been included in that.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Generally, most products that are shipped under a North American trade agreement called USMCA, those products have been exempt from tariffs. Now, what happened this week or this weekend is the Trump administration went through with putting a 50 percent tariff on about $20 billion worth of products. That’s things like furs and hockey equipment, but also things like paper and paper products and wood.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so those, you know, where often these tariffs that the U.S. has threatened on Canada, you can say that most of the products were exempted. This was kind of the first, you know, non-steel, aluminum, automobile tariff where just everyday items, you know, businesses that before had no tariffs, now they are facing a 50 percent tariff. And so it’s kind of an escalation in what we saw before.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; I mean, is this something where Americans could see sort of immediate price changes on things where we get a lot of a particular product from Canada, like, for example, toilet paper?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Daniel Desrochers:&lt;/strong&gt; Uh, yeah, I mean, it depends on the item. So, yeah, toilet paper might be a big one. Um, you know, a lot of newspapers used to be printed up in Canada. Newsprint would have been one of those items that is a big one.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But at the end of the day, this is a kind of targeted measure, right? They didn’t go after some of the things that Canada exports to us the most or that are the most important to the U.S., like energy, for example. That’s a really huge one that has remained exempt.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;They also didn’t go after potash, which is a key component of fertilizer that would have been really devastating for farmers. And so if you talk to the U.S. side, they’d say this is a pretty kind of measured attack — or not attack, you know, pretty measured package that they’re going after here.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But that’s it. I mean, if you’re in the cement industry, if you were in the wood industry, yeah, this is a big deal.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; So Canada says after this, hey, we’re going to respond dollar for dollar with tariffs. So what American goods then have the Canadians decided to tar?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Daniel Desrochers:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, so the Canadians are also trying to be strategic, and they were really going after kind of the swing states that they’re trying to make a political message. So one of those big examples would be washers and dryers.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Washers and dryers are made out of a Whirlpool factory in Ohio. Ohio is a key swing state that might control — might determine the control of the Senate this year. You know, the U.S. Trade Representative has gone and toured the Whirlpool factory in Ohio.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so it was items like that. There’s also clothing items that they went after. They went after steel and raised those up to 50 percent.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But already we’re seeing that Canada has walked back some of their tariffs. So they had originally gone after the seafood industry, and that would have hit Maine. Maine is obviously a key state that will help determine control of the Senate. And they already pulled that back after the Canadian seafood industry was outraged by it because those products are sent back and forth over the border.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So Canada is still making their adjustments. Theirs don’t go into effect until September 8th. But yes, they’re trying, you know, it’s $20 billion worth of goods, and they’re trying to be strategic about what they’re hitting.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Matina, you and a colleague at The New York Times have a fantastic sort of TikTok on what happened here with these trade talks, because at least my understanding is, as recently as last week, it seemed like a trade deal was going to be put into place, but then Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pulled the team back. What happened?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Matina Stevis-Gridneff:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, no, I think that’s right. And thanks for acknowledging our work. You know, there was just a lot of noise and mis- or disinfo in the space. But really, the two sides have signed a confidentiality agreement over the talks. And so it was hard to wade through what happened, especially quite an emotional situation, because trade talks, I know, sound boring. But actually, they’re not that boring, particularly at the very end.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So I think an accounting of what happened last week is that the broad strokes of an agreement were in place by Monday, Tuesday. There were two phone calls between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Trump. And that was at the back of three and a half weeks of talks in Washington by the negotiating teams of both sides. And then they had to get down to business and resolve those final things.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And my understanding, or our understanding with Anna Swanson, who covers trade for The New York Times in Washington, is that things began to fall apart. There was a lot of volatility on things that were settled or appeared to have been verbally settled.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And I think it’s important for people to understand the physicality of trade talks. So all these people are kind of cooped up in the USTR building just across from the White House, but they break up in little teams and they go to different rooms. And then there’s kind of like aides going between the rooms and listening in and then typing up the notes and then printing off, and there’s draft upon draft.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So it’s not a neat and tidy process. And unlike what one might expect toward the end, instead of things becoming settled, resolved and sort of the emotional elements going low and settling, actually it’s the opposite. Teams try and grab whatever they can at the last minute.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Our understanding is that there were a number of outstanding issues toward the end, which were not shocking or new. They had been lurking as problems throughout the talks. And broadly speaking, I would say they pertained to the tariffs on steel, tariffs on autos and auto parts, and then there were secondary issues such as control of content online, particularly with U.S. streamers.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Mm-hmm.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Matina Stevis-Gridneff:&lt;/strong&gt; Which are regulated here in Canada. And then over all of those topics that started being kind of thrown into disarray toward the last 48 hours, there was the question of trust and sovereignty.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so the United States, not just toward Canada, but toward all its partners, demands a certain leeway, a certain latitude as to what they do next. They don’t want to commit to not changing their mind tomorrow, particularly this administration.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And eventually Prime Minister Carney would call this the signature of the U.S. in pencil. But this really started to creep into the kind of atmosphere in the talks.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And on top of that, I think the Canadians were seeking sufficient reductions in tariffs, particularly in those strategic industries of steel and autos, that would make it worth their while to allow the United States to set effectively tariff rates Canada would take out on other partners, let’s say Brazil or Turkey. And those were, you know, focused on steel.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But I think had a general philosophy that if we’re going to create a free or semi-free trading zone between the United States and Canada, the fence between the two countries, those tariffs should be really, really low. And then together, we can erect higher walls to the outside.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And ultimately, that fence that the U.S. side was offering was just not low enough to make it worth Canada’s while, and Carney walked away.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Which is sort of in keeping, or at least to me, it resonated with Mark Carney’s speech at Davos, which really came in response to President Trump saying, claiming the U.S. should annex Greenland and just kind of building up all this stuff about Canada as a 51st state, very offensive to many Canadians.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;I just wanna listen to a cut here on Mark Carney talking about sort of the sovereignty and integrity of smaller countries that are not the United States.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mark Carney:&lt;/strong&gt; In a world of great power rivalry, the countries in between have a choice: compete with each other for favor or to combine to create a third path with impact. We shouldn’t allow the rise of hard power to blind us to the fact that the power of legitimacy, integrity and rules will remain strong if we choose to wield them together.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Kyle Handley, how much do you think that particular sentiment informed this round of trade talks between the U.S. and Canada?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Kyle Handley:&lt;/strong&gt; I think that that was probably a major factor in why the talks broke down right at the end, especially Canada feeling like they’re being pushed around by the United States. And also what Mark Carney is saying is, hey, a lot of countries are being pushed around by the economic size of the United States.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And I think — I don’t want to say I know what Mark Carney is thinking, but there’s an element to this where he was given an excuse to maybe discontinue these negotiations on terms that he could explain to the Canadians as like, we’re standing up for ourselves, because obviously they’re not very happy about this.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And that, you know, maybe — I mean, I think they’ll eventually get back to the negotiating table.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And I think what the issue is, is that Canada doesn’t want to put all these concessions on the table and then have the United States in four months’ time or after the election say, “Oh, we actually want to raise the tariff on this, and by the way, we want you to raise your tariff on China or, you know, on this particular good,” and just ceding some of that control.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so I think that is a big issue for the Canadians.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Kind of hard to be a leader of the third way if, in fact, you’re sort of just a hand of the United States.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Yeah, we’re talking about the trade war between the U.S. and Canada, what it means for our economy, for their economy and for the security of the United States. We are joined by Kyle Handley, associate professor of economics at UC San Diego; we’ve got Daniel Desrochers, international trade reporter at POLITICO; and we’ve got Matina Stevis-Gridneff, who’s the Canada bureau chief at The New York Times.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Of course, we’ll take your comments, your questions, your concerns about these tariffs. Maybe you’re a Canadian expat, or you have family in Canada. How’s all this stuff playing up there? Give us a call. 866-733-6786. That’s 866-733-6786, &lt;a href=&quot;mailto:forum@kqed.org&quot;&gt;forum@kqed.org&lt;/a&gt;. I’m Alexis Madrigal. Stay tuned.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915050/trump-trade-war-with-canada-pits-the-u-s-against-a-once-staunch-ally</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915050/trump-trade-war-with-canada-pits-the-u-s-against-a-once-staunch-ally</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:02:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Forum</category>
      <category>News</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Remembering Dolly Parton</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2026/08/GettyImages-74289186-scaled.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;DECEMBER 1980: Country singer Dolly Parton acts in a scene from the movie “9 to 5” which was released on December 19, 1980.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 10 am&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;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 including “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” resonated across generations. We talk to Parton biographers about the singer’s life and legacy, and what made her such a distinct American icon. What did Dolly Parton mean to you?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guests:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Robert K. Oermann,&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;author, &lt;em&gt;Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lydia Hamessley&lt;/strong&gt;, professor of music at Hamilton College; author, &lt;em&gt;Unlikely Angel: The Songs of Dolly Parton&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Dolly Parton’s Jolene&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jacob Stensberg&lt;/strong&gt;, artistic director &amp;amp; conductor, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Episode Transcript&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Welcome to &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;. I’m Mina Kim. The Times headline announcing Dolly Parton’s death called her simply “superstar” because she was more than a chart-topping country music singer, movie star, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Dolly Parton was a legend. And from San Francisco’s Castro to the halls of D.C., she made people of different genders, races and political affiliations feel embraced.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Dolly Parton would say, and did more than once on NPR and public media, that she was mainly a songwriter. Here she is with Kermit the Frog in 1987.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dolly Parton:&lt;/strong&gt; Folks sometimes forget that we’re just everyday people.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Kermit the Frog:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, yeah. You want to talk about it?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dolly Parton:&lt;/strong&gt; Not really.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Kermit the Frog:&lt;/strong&gt; You wanna sing about it?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dolly Parton:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, I’d love to, Kermit, but I have a frog in my throat.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Dolly Parton’s death at the age of 80 was announced yesterday, and listeners tell us: What did Dolly Parton mean to you? The number is 866-733-6786. The email address is &lt;a href=&quot;mailto:forum@kqed.org&quot;&gt;forum@kqed.org&lt;/a&gt;, and you can find us on Discord, Bluesky, Facebook or Instagram. We’re at KQED Forum.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Joining me this hour, Robert K. Oermann, author of &lt;em&gt;Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics&lt;/em&gt;. Robert, really glad to have you with us.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Robert K. Oermann:&lt;/strong&gt; Thank you. Good to be here.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Lydia Hamessley is also with us, professor of music at Hamilton College and author of &lt;em&gt;Unlikely Angel: The Songs of Dolly Parton&lt;/em&gt;. Lydia, really appreciate you being with us, too. Thank you very much.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And Jacob Stensberg, artistic director and conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Jacob, welcome to &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;. Thank you so much.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So, Robert, you wrote, as I mentioned, &lt;em&gt;Songteller&lt;/em&gt;. Tell me, what was your reaction to receiving news of her death?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Robert K. Oermann:&lt;/strong&gt; Oh, God, it was the worst day of my life. Several people called and asked me, “Was it a hoax?” You know, because there’s so much misinformation out there, and nobody wants to believe that there’s a world without Dolly Parton in it, including me.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And it was devastating, but I didn’t have time to think. CNN called and all, you know, NBC and ABC and CBS. I mean, just had a — I never had time to grieve. I never had time to cry, and I still want to cry. I still haven’t had time. I have never wept over a celebrity’s death before, but this one is the worst.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, I so appreciate you being here to share that, given what you just shared. And also, just the point that you made that nobody wants to imagine a world without Dolly Parton. Why is that, do you think, Robert?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Robert K. Oermann:&lt;/strong&gt; The one thing that they left out in their introduction about her, you know, philanthropist and musician, star and movie star — how about best dang human being ever? She touched people in profound ways with her life and her music. Yes, a luminous superstar, a great music talent, but above that, a great humanitarian and a person who gave empathy to the world. She gave compassion and understanding and love. And that is the legacy. We should all carry that forward.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Lydia, you know, similar question that we’re asking Robert and also our audience, but what did Dolly Parton mean to you? You wrote so deeply about her songs, her lyrics.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lydia Hamessley:&lt;/strong&gt; Thank you. Well, I had a similar experience as Robert did with assuming it was a hoax, but what she meant to me was just — it was even hard to describe.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;You know, I titled my book &lt;em&gt;Unlikely Angel&lt;/em&gt;, partly because people think of her as an angel a lot. She often played angels. She wrote a song called “Unlikely Angels.” But to me, in my life, she was also an unlikely angel. I hadn’t expected to fall in love with her in the way that I did.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And just so much joy in her music and modeling of what it might be to be a good human being in the world with, as Robert said, the kindness and empathy.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And as he said, I had just sat down to dinner. I’m in Germany right now, so it was evening, 8:30 p.m. I just sat down, had my phone out to kill time before my food came, and there it was. And I thought, “No, no, that can’t be right.” And I started texting my friends back in the States. And then someone posted immediately the New York Times obituary. And I just choked up and started blubbering. And I thought, “I’m a woman alone at a table in Germany. I don’t really think I should just be crying here. That might look weird,” you know? So I just kept breathing and I ate.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And then, like Robert, I got back to my room and couldn’t cry because I had my phone blew up, this thing.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah. And actually, we’re going to see, Lydia, if we can get you on a slightly better line because your phone being in Germany is making a bit of a clicking sound, but we’ll see if we can try to figure that out.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;In the meantime, Jacob, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus just did a tribute concert to Dolly in June. Talk about why — why Dolly Parton in particular, what she means to you and the chorus.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jacob Stensberg:&lt;/strong&gt; Thank you. Yeah, last Pride, Dolly was our muse for the entire Pride season here in San Francisco in the Bay Area, and I was so eager to program a concert completely from her songbook and songwriting, because I discovered that much of our membership, especially the younger generations, knew more about Dolly’s activism and sort of her ethos and the way she made them feel, but didn’t necessarily know all of her incredible music.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And so it was amazing to watch singers take some of her songs, which were incredibly autobiographical, and find so much identity and connection with them, feeling like they were singing about their own experiences and not necessarily just hers.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, your lineup included “Travelin’ Thru” and “Coat of Many Colors,” as I understand it. Talk about those songs in particular. “Coat of Many Colors,” in particular, has been described as a queer anthem by some. What makes those songs particularly meaningful, Jacob?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jacob Stensberg:&lt;/strong&gt; You know, she has a way of writing these incredible lyrics that can be both hyper-specific to a moment in time, but also universal. And both of those songs that maybe are about, in a really broad sense, going from dark to light or hardship to the other side of that catharsis or healing — especially in a time when all communities, but especially the queer community, is seeking catharsis, healing and joy — singing about those experiences that are both honest but have kind of a happy ending, I think mean a lot to us right now. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; That was “Coat of Many Colors.” We’re talking right now with Jacob Stensberg, artistic director and conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus; Lydia Hamessley, a professor of music at Hamilton College who wrote &lt;em&gt;Unlikely Angel: The Songs of Dolly Parton&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Dolly Parton’s Jolene&lt;/em&gt;; and Robert K. Oermann, co-author with Dolly Parton of &lt;em&gt;Songteller: My Life in Lyrics&lt;/em&gt;. And you, our listeners, are joining the conversation with your reflections and memories.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Corey writes, “I’m a columnist at the Sydney Morning Herald and just published a piece about her. My argument in the piece is that Dolly built a congregation around the idea of American individualism done right. She was completely herself and carefully avoided defining anyone else, but gave them permission to be whoever they could be. In doing that, she created one of the last places in American life where people could be different together.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Robert, I’m so struck by the choice of the word “Songteller” to describe Dolly Parton for your book. Why “Songteller” as opposed to, say, “songwriter”?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Robert K. Oermann:&lt;/strong&gt; First of all, I’m not the author. I am the co-author. Dolly and I wrote that together.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; That’s right, you co-wrote it together, yeah.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Robert K. Oermann:&lt;/strong&gt; We spent days and days together working on that book, and it was Dolly’s idea to call it &lt;em&gt;Songteller&lt;/em&gt;. It was completely her idea. I had mentioned to her that Tom T. Hall was a big, huge country music influence on me, and that he was called the storyteller, and he was a great songwriter as well. She thought, “If he’s the storyteller, then I’m the Songteller.” And she’s also named her downtown Nashville hotel the Songteller Hotel. And it will open this fall, sadly without her.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; Yes. What were the types of stories, Lydia, that Dolly would like to tell through her songs that you noticed by looking so deeply at them?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lydia Hamessley:&lt;/strong&gt; Well, there are several kind of categories. One of them is the uplifting, very much hope and joy and optimism. So there are many of those kinds of songs where she really thinks there’s one better [world] to get to live in, you know, and don’t complain. Like, if you want things to be different, do it, make it different.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So she has a lot of those, but then she can go the other way and write songs that she would have called “sad-ass songs,” and those are the ones that are the dead-baby songs, you know. I think of one called “Evening Shade,” which is just a horror of orphans being mistreated, and they all band together and burn down the orphanage with the evil matron in it. And her last line in that is, “Evening Shade was burning just like the—” It was, you know.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So she could go from the sublime to the morose to everything in between, and yet in each of those categories you can find 10, 20, 30 songs.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So she has these kind of tropes that she kept revisiting, and in fact, in the book I had to try to figure out, how am I going to talk about all these songs? I can’t do it chronologically. That seemed haphazard. I did it by topic because she revisits these things over the course of a career.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So she might have a song about the dead babies in the ’70s and then another in the ’90s and another, you know, a couple years later. So she’s got these kind of clumps of, for want of a better word, of ideas.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And one thing that she said, especially, I think, about the really sad songs, is that she can tell stories for other people who can’t tell their own stories.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; And she really took that role very seriously, didn’t she?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lydia Hamessley:&lt;/strong&gt; Absolutely. Yeah, yeah. She felt that that could empower people who didn’t have a voice or, as she said, the gift of rhyme or being able to write a song.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mina Kim:&lt;/strong&gt; We’re remembering Dolly Parton this hour with Lydia Hamessley, professor of music at Hamilton College; Robert K. Oermann, co-author with Dolly Parton of &lt;em&gt;Songteller&lt;/em&gt;; and Jacob Stensberg of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, and with you, our listeners. Stay with us. This is &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;. I’m Mina Kim.&lt;/p&gt;
      </description>
      <link>https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915035/remembering-dolly-parton</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101915035/remembering-dolly-parton</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 22:38:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>Jeremy Garza</author>
      <category>Podcast</category>
      <category>Forum</category>
      <category>Arts and Culture</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Historian Jill Lepore Warns Against Letting Robots Take Over Our Democracy</title>
      <description>&lt;figure&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2026/08/Untitled-design-3.jpg&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;no-referrer&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jill Lepore is the author of “The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Airdate: Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 9 am&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;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, data-driven governance we’re falling into “the rule of humans by machines manufactured by corporations.” Her book is an alarming call to action and, she writes, an “inquiry into what humans mean and intend in abandoning constitutional democracy, the liberal nation-state and even humanity itself for rule by automation, government by machine and replacement by artificial intelligence.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guest:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;ul class=&quot;wp-block-list&quot;&gt;
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jill Lepore,&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;professor of American history, Harvard University; staff writer, The New Yorker; author, “The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State”&lt;/li&gt;
        &lt;/ul&gt;
        &lt;h2 class=&quot;wp-block-heading&quot;&gt;Episode Transcript&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Welcome to &lt;em&gt;Forum&lt;/em&gt;. I’m Alexis Madrigal. When you stop to think about it, the idea — as much an assumption as anything else — that if we develop superintelligent machines, they will immediately turn on humanity and try to kill us is so strange. Why wouldn’t these superintelligences just go off on their own and leave us be, as they do in, for instance, Ursula K. Le Guin’s &lt;em&gt;Always Coming Home&lt;/em&gt;? Or maybe they’d like humans. Seems possible, at least.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But that is not the orthodox view within many Silicon Valley circles, where the human extinction risk from superintelligence is solid cocktail-party conversation. And one way to read Jill Lepore’s new book, &lt;em&gt;The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State&lt;/em&gt;, is as an X-ray machine for the strange set of beliefs that have accompanied the rise of the genuinely astonishing success of recent machine-learning techniques.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;If you’ve ever wanted an intellectual history of this very powerful and very unusual fantasy about humans, the Earth and our world governments, this is the book. And we have its author, Harvard historian Jill Lepore, with us this morning. Welcome.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jill Lepore:&lt;/strong&gt; Hey, thanks so much for having me.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; So in this book, you approach AI, Silicon Valley, from a bunch of different very clever angles, and you bring your own expertise from American history to bear on the topic. But let’s just start with the basics here. What do you mean by the artificial state?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jill Lepore:&lt;/strong&gt; So we live in the United States in a liberal democratic nation-state, a constitutional democracy. This is historically a novelty. We are celebrating this year the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States — the world’s first modern democracy, right? So 250 years is a long time in human lifetime, but it’s really not long in the history of humanity. So we shouldn’t really particularly expect the liberal nation-state to live forever, to endure forever.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So what I wanted to do in this book is give a name to what I think is emerging and challenging the liberal nation-state. So the artificial state is, in lieu of government by consent, government by machines, where — and it’s not something that has been built. Its construction is underway. Much of it happened by accident, and a lot of it is a fantasy, but in which increasingly we have surrendered more and more of our obligations, the exercise of our obligations as citizens, to machines and sort of outsourced things that we are supposed to be doing face-to-face with other human beings.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;You know, democracy requires participation, representation and deliberation. I’m not sure people are really doing those things anymore. There are tools that have been given to us that can do some of those things for us, or we believe are doing those things for us. But in fact, we’re, I think, yielding our own sovereignty to machines owned by corporations that have very different interests than governments do.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, I guess that’s the first question. How did we lose this agency? Did we give away the consent somehow, or did it get taken away from us?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jill Lepore:&lt;/strong&gt; I don’t know, maybe it’s a little bit of both. I mean, it depends on what you’re looking at.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;I mean, obviously, states use machines all the time for the running of governments, right? Like, our census is tabulated by computer and has been since the 1950 census, which was the first tabulated on a mainframe computer. We have had Social Security numbers since 1935, and those were used largely to provide benefits of the social welfare state to people.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;There’s a lot of data that governments have — state, municipal, national governments — about people, and the machines that organize that data can be used for good purposes, and they can be used for malign purposes.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;It’s not really the machines that are the problem. I think it really isn’t that this is coming from government. It is coming from tools that are available commercially and are sold to us commercially, but that have gradually replaced the functions of citizenship.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So if you think about the degree to which social media is really largely responsible for the decline of local news coverage and really the crisis of journalism, and therefore the kind of what people call the epistemological crisis — like, no one knows what’s true anymore — there’s an incredible rise of conspiratorial thinking, and there’s not kind of an agreed-upon national anything that really is from social media.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Is that what social media was designed to do? Although when it started doing it, like when Facebook News — when Facebook released Facebook News and it saw the effects Facebook News was having on local journalism, I think Facebook was actually pleased about that rather than regretting it.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So have we given those things up? I mean, social media is probably the easiest way for people to see whether they have or have not surrendered or abandoned or failed to meet the obligations of citizens to stay well-informed and make good decisions, make informed choices as voters.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Social media is not helping you make better decisions. And this is the first election where people are actually using AI to make decisions. So this is a lot of anecdotal reporting about people saying, “Here are the issues I care about. Who should I vote for?” Which doesn’t seem like an irrational thing to do.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Nor does checking social media to find out what the news of the day is seem like quick, efficient, fast, easy and seemingly to you cheap. I mean, the costs are hidden from you. But then when you think about what it’s supplanting, that’s the piece that I think most people find hard to do.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Like, all right, well, you’re going to ask ChatGPT. That’s different than what about having a dinner party, talking to a bunch of your friends? Let’s actually try to work this out. Like, “Oh, I’m gonna go for a walk with my cousin and see how she’s thinking about this election,” or, “I was just talking to my neighbor over the fence. Like, I don’t know, he seems to want to vote for this guy, but I was trying to convince him to vote for that guy.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;All those kind of daily interactions that are full of friction, that’s nevertheless the kind of glue that holds civil society together. So you just kind of picture the scale of that, of like each of the conversations that you might have chatting with somebody about the upcoming election. Maybe they’re arguments, maybe they’re not that fun, versus each of those being abandoned, set aside, replaced with, like, “Dear Claude, what should I do?” Like, that’s a diminishment of our capacity.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; And Claude’s like, “Great question. I can’t wait to answer this for you.”&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;So we have this rollout of these social media platforms. That data, of course, is informing, training all these artificial intelligence models. You know, the whole internet has been sunk into them, more or less.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;What about the possibility that governments can rein in these actors, these technology companies? I mean, obviously I’m thinking about this morning, you know, Meta paying $17 billion — this is The New York Times headline — in a landmark settlement over social media addiction claims. You know, it’s not the only thing the government has ever done. The Biden administration made various moves. The Trump administration before that was very annoyed with social media companies at times.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;To what extent can the current nation-state actually respond to this sort of insurgent artificial state that you describe, in which many of the functions of the government just become sort of obviated?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jill Lepore:&lt;/strong&gt; So I think what you’re seeing now, of course, with the settlement today, but if you think of, like, Australia’s ban on social media for people under 16 and the EU contemplating something similar, these are legislative and judicial ways of dealing with known harms. They are social harms, and they’ve been known for a long time.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;And you could think, well, some of these people who are happy about the settlements are really gratified that it came about. I think other people would find it’s kind of late in the day.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;We can look back to — remember those hearings, those Facebook hearings, where —&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; 2017.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jill Lepore:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah. Senator Orrin Hatch famously asked Mark Zuckerberg, like, “I don’t understand. How do you make money? Do you sell ads?” And we’re just like, does he not have a staff? I mean, I understand these guys are all like — is there no one explaining how these tools work?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;This is a person we are paying to represent our interests. Like, there’s — you didn’t prepare for the hearing?&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, “We sell ads, Senator,” was the like, uh —&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jill Lepore:&lt;/strong&gt; So I think that congressional inaction is a part of the piece of the story. And you see now there’s so much more action in the states than there is federally regarding AI.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;But, you know, the House passed a bill in 2025, I think, prohibiting states from limiting the development of AI in any way.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; Mm-hmm.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jill Lepore:&lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, the Senate didn’t pass it, so it didn’t go anywhere. But, like, it’s not just that Congress hasn’t acted on the AI point, but has actually — is really trying hard to prevent action from taking place.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alexis Madrigal:&lt;/strong&gt; And I think it’s worth, just in terms of the Meta settlement, contextualizing in terms of their capital expenditures on data centers and AI, probably going to be something in the range of $130 billion, $140 billion. So if they pay off the states with $17 billion, it’s just worth keeping in mind the s

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@IvanWng97 @github-advanced-security