KQED's Forum

The 98th Academy Awards will honor casting directors for the first time in the ceremony’s history. It’s the first new category in 25 years. We’ll speak with casting directors on the Academy Board of Governors about the joys and challenges of their work — and what it actually entails — before the inaugural “Achievement in Casting” Oscar is handed out on Sunday. Guests: Davia Nelson, radio producer, "The Kitchen Sisters Present" Debra Zane, casting director; governor on the Academy Board for the casting branch John Waters is set to receive San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ film festival Frameline’s eponymous award for his lifelong contributions to queer cinema. We’ll talk with Waters about what makes a great queer film, and the power of movies to challenge the status quo. Guests: John Waters, legendary director of works including "Hairspray" (1988), "Pink Flamingos" (1972) and "Polyester" (1981) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was a period of time about five years ago that came to be known as the Great Resignation, when workers quit their jobs en masse. The pandemic forced many people to reconsider different aspects of life, especially work. Many workers took that time as an opportunity to reinvent themselves or chase a dream they had long neglected. So, what happened to those who took a big risk? We’ll talk with people who made major career pivots after 2020 about how it’s played out and discuss whether workers still have the freedom to pursue their dreams in this economy. Guests: Simone Stolzoff, independent journalist, designer and consultant; author, "The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work" and upcoming "How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers" Azikiwee Anderson, founder and owner, Rize Up bakery Aki Ito, chief correspondent, Business Insider Alex Kniess, lead guide and owner, Wilder Walks - a company that organizes backpacking trips in the wilderness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The World Cup may be three months away, but it’s already making news. Iran, which was scheduled to play its first match in Los Angeles, announced Wednesday that it will not participate in the tournament — the first time that’s happened since 1950. And the Iran news is likely just the first geopolitical shakeup of the 2026 World Cup. With the United States, Mexico and Canada sharing hosting duties, the games could become a flashpoint for tariffs, visas and more. “Men in Blazers” host Roger Bennett previews what’s to come. Guests: Roger Bennett, author, "We Are the World (Cup): A Personal History of the World's Greatest Sporting Event"; co-host, "Men in Blazers" podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Supreme Court invalidated a tranche of Trump’s tariffs last month, businesses around the country and world began clamoring for a refund. To date, 2,000 lawsuits from businesses seeking refunds have been filed, and reports estimate that the administration may owe $175 billion in refunds to the 300,000 entities that were slapped with the now-illegal tax. We talk about how local businesses are responding, the impact on consumers, and how despite this court ruling, tariffs are here to stay. Guests: Zoe Tillman, senior reporter covering law and politics, Bloomberg News Alfred Mai, owner, ASM Games; co-inventor of the card games "Do You Really Know Your Family?" and "These Cards Will Get You Drunk" Daniel Desrochers, international trade reporter, Politico Lauren Crabbe, co-founder and co-owner, Andytown Coffee Deborah Baldini, owner, Biordi - retailer based in North Beach that sells imported Italian decor and art Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since President Trump’s return to office, his net worth has nearly doubled to an estimated $7 billion. He’s used his office to promote his family’s cryptocurrency businesses, pardoned investors and allies, accepted lavish personal gifts and tipped off oil executives before raiding Venezuela. “The Trump family’s staggering indifference to blurring the lines between politics and corporate interest once again demonstrates how Trump’s presidency is being used to enrich himself and his family rather than serving the needs of the American people,” reports the nonprofit, nonpartisan watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). We talk with CREW president Donald Sherman and investigative journalist Andrea Bernstein about the many ways corruption appears to be occurring in the second Trump Administration. Guests: Andrea Bernstein, Peabody and duPont-Columbia award-winning investigative journalist; author, “American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power"; co-host of four podcasts, including “Trump, Inc.” Donald K. Sherman, president and CEO, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month’s Super Bowl in Santa Clara drew thousands of visitors to the Bay Area, including some looking to pay for sex. Police set up an operation to stop sex trafficking and found 10 victims who were minors as young as 12 years old. The incident was one of many spotlighting the ongoing problem of child sex trafficking throughout the Bay Area. Survivors and advocates say more needs to be done to protect kids from exploitation, from building awareness to providing resources like therapy and housing. We talk about the prevalence of this crime, efforts to stop it, and the organizations helping survivors. Guests: Sharan Dhanoa, director, South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking Josh Singleton, lieutenant and commander, Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office Human Trafficking Task Force Aisha Mays, CEO and Founder, Dream Youth Clinics: a nonprofit that provides free health services to young people and survivors of sex trafficking Elizabeth Quiroz, co-founder, Redemption House Bay Area: a nonprofit that assists survivors of human trafficking; Quiroz survived child sex trafficking Viviana Nance, youth leader, Dream Youth Clinics: a nonprofit that provides free health services to young people and survivors of sex trafficking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthropic sued the U.S. Department of Defense on Monday over its decision to designate the San Francisco AI company a “supply-chain risk to America’s national security.” That’s after the firm refused to let its systems be used for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons. Meanwhile, OpenAI has struck a deal with the Pentagon to deploy its own AI tools – a move that has triggered backlash inside the tech world. We take a close look at the relationship between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon and the ethics and effectiveness of using AI in war. Guests: Paul Scharre, executive vice president, Center for the New American Security; author, "Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," and "Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War" Ro Khanna, U.S. Congressman for California's 17th Congressional District (Silicon Valley) Sheera Frenkel, technology reporter, The New York Times; co-athor, "An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, President Trump declared the war in Iran “very complete” as missile and drone strikes continue. Trump’s comments belie the situation on the ground. In its second week, the war in Iran that began with Israeli and US airstrikes has embroiled the Middle East. Iran has hit targets in Oman, Bahrain, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, among other Middle Eastern states. Oil prices have skyrocketed to over $100 a barrel and Iran has appointed a new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the recently killed supreme leader, who many expect to continue his father’s hardline tendencies. We’ll talk about the war, its impact on international alliances, and what might come next. Guests: Mona Yacoubian, director and senior advisor, Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) Dalia Dassa Kaye, senior fellow, UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations; author, "Enduring Hostility: The Making of America's Iran Policy" Nabih Bulos, Middle East bureau chief, Los Angeles Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Scott Eden’s new book, “A Killing in Cannabis,” tells the story of a tech industry veteran who set out to make his mark in the newly legal marijuana industry — and how that dream ended with his murder in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We’ll talk with Eden about the crime and what it tells us about the continuing dominance of the cannabis black market. What do you think it would take to fix California’s cannabis marketplace? Guests: Scott Eden, investigative reporter; author, "A Killing in Cannabis: A True Story of Love, Murder and California Weed" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Betty Reid Soskin was a civil rights pioneer, musician, and the nation’s oldest park ranger when, at the age of 100, she retired from Richmond’s Rosie the Riveter museum where she was dedicated to keeping experiences of Black Americans and women in the forefront of the historical narrative. She worked in the segregated homefront during World War II, was among the first Black families to integrate Walnut Creek, and she ran one of the first Black-owned record stores in the Bay Area. She died in December at 104 years old and as part of our Bay Area Legends series, we’ll listen back to Forum’s interviews with Soskin over the years and talk with those who loved her and worked with her. Guests: Bob Reid, musician activist and Betty Reid Soskin's son Kelli English, program manager, National Park Service, was Betty Reid Soskin's supervisor at the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we near one week since the start of Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iran, which killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, we take stock of where the war stands. We’ll look at what comes next for Iran’s government and what we know about the U.S. and Israel’s strategy. And we’ll hear reactions from Iranians in the U.S. Do you have a connection to Iran? How are you processing this week of developments? Join us. Guests: Arash Azizi, contributing writer, The Atlantic; author, "What Iranians Want: Women, Life, Freedom" Sina Toossi, senior nonresident fellow, Center for International Policy; his latest article for The Nation is "The Iranian Voices America Isn’t Hearing” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First-time YA novelists René Peña-Govea and Susie Nadler are both school librarians living in the Bay Area. Thus, it is no surprise that in their publishing debuts, San Francisco serves as both a setting and a character. Peña-Govea’s book, “Estela, Undrowning” follows the novel’s namesake as she navigates the pressures of an elite public high school, college admissions, and her family’s pending eviction. And in “Lies We Tell About the Stars,” Nadler tells the story of a young woman living in the aftermath of a major earthquake and the loss of her best friend. We talk to the authors about writing for young adults, how the Bay Area influences their work and how to keep young people reading. Guests: René Peña-Govea, teacher librarian; author, "Estela, Undrowning" Susie Nadler, school librarian; author, "Lies We Tell About the Stars" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a century-long absence, gray wolves are returning to California. Biologists estimate some 70 wolves are living in the state, and recently, a female wolf traveled into Los Angeles County, the first such sighting. But their comeback is not without controversy. Ranchers in rural counties say they’re losing livestock to predation, while conservationists say the wolves bring ecological benefits as they reclaim part of their historic range. How do you think the state should manage our wolves? Guests: Kaggie Orrick, director, California Wolf Project, UC Berkeley Paul Roen, Sierra County supervisor; manager, Sierra Valley Ranch Beth Pratt, executive director for the California region, National Wildlife Federation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People who ski in the Sierra Nevada backcountry say there’s no better way to experience the wonder of the mountains in winter. But the avalanche that killed nine backcountry skiers near Lake Tahoe last month has highlighted the dangers inherent in the sport. Those hazards include masses of snow racing down steep slopes — and a human tendency to sometimes underestimate risk. We talk about what can be done to address the dangers and heighten awareness for the growing number of people looking to explore the wilderness in winter. Guests: Sarah Wright, outdoors engagement reporter, KQED Sara Boilen, clinical psychologist; backcountry skier; co-host, "The Avalanche Hour" podcast Ethan Greene, director, Colorado Avalanche Information Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As recent court decisions make more people vulnerable to ICE detention, the Trump administration is purchasing massive warehouses that could detain upward of 5,000 people per site. Lawmakers and detainees describe existing ICE detention centers as grossly inadequate, with accounts of denied medical care, cruelty from guards and limited access to sunlight. Most immigrants detained by ICE have not committed a crime yet can be held for months or years. Now, resistance to these detention centers is growing nationwide – including in deeply red counties – and California activists and lawmakers are trying to prohibit ICE’s expansion here. We hear about the legal landscape and answer your questions. Guests: Ahilan Arulanantham, law professor and faculty co-director, Center for Immigration Law & Policy at UCLA School of Law; former legal director, ACLU of Southern California Matt Haney, District 17 representative, California State Assembly Wendy Fry, reporter covering poverty and inequality for the California Divide team, CalMatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“How We Get By,” a new series from KQED News, looks at how people in the Bay Area make due with the sky-high cost of living. Prices for necessities from housing and food to childcare and gas have shot up in the past decade and somehow, millions of people have managed to keep up – but how? For some people, it’s putting multiple generations under one roof, taking on a side hustle or cutting back on extras. What strategies help you afford to stay here? At what point do the costs outweigh the benefits? We examine the price of living in the Bay Area, how it has shaped us and hear your experience. Guests: Erin Baldassari, senior editor of housing affordability, KQED Neale Mahoney, professor of economics, Stanford University; former special policy advisor for economic policy, White House National Economic Council Abigail Lucia Sanchez, predoctoral researcher, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your kid a fussy eater? A lot of us have come to accept that there’s a period where children can only stomach dino nuggets, buttered noodles and PB&J’s. But American kids used to be “fabulous” eaters, writes historian Helen Zoe Veit. They ate “spicy relishes, vinegary pickles… raw oysters and looked forward to their daily coffee.” We talk to Veit about what happened, and what we can learn from the past to expand kids’ palates — and help parents feel less overwhelmed at dinner time. Veit’s new book is “Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History.” Guests: Helen Zoe Veit, associate professor of history, Michigan State University; author, "Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History" Dr. Erik Fernandez y Garcia, pediatrician and professor of pediatrics, UC Davis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“All my life I have tried to be a good woman,” writes Savala Nolan. Being “good” meant not rocking the boat. It meant following the rules and fitting herself into the mold of duty, excellence, sacrifice, and hard work. But as a Black woman and mother navigating a world built for men, Nolan learned that the lessons of being good no longer fit her life. In her new book of essays “Good Woman: A Reckoning,” Nolan, an attorney who heads UC Berkeley Law’s Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice, blends history and memoir as she examines the confining expectations of womanhood. We talk to Nolan. Guests: Savala Nolan, executive director, Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice, Berkeley Law; author, "Good Woman: A Reckoning," "Don't Let It Get You Down: Essays on Race, Gender, and the Body" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weeks after the Department of Justice released millions of pages of documents related to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, new questions are emerging about evidence that may implicate President Trump in assaulting a teenage trafficking victim. This comes as Bill and Hillary Clinton testify before the House Oversight Committee about their relationship to the disgraced financier. We’ll talk about the latest disclosures and what Epstein’s ties to political, academic and business elites reveal about the structure of power and influence in our society. Guests: Stephen Fowler, political reporter, NPR Maegan Vazquez, reporter, Washington Post Virginia Heffernan, journalist and critic; columnist, The New Republic; publisher of "Magic and Loss" newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States and Israel’s strikes against Iran continued throughout the weekend, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, top officials and civilians. Iran has retaliated with strikes on Israel, Gulf countries and U.S. bases. We talk with experts on Iran about what the attacks mean for the future of the Islamic Republic and the region, and what might happen next. Guests: Robin Wright, contributing writer, New Yorker; her most recent piece for the magazine is "What Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Meant to Iran, and What Comes Next" Wright is also the author of "Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East" Sahar Razavi, associate professor, Department of Political Science; director, Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies Center, California State University, Sacramento Nate Swanson, director, Iran Strategy Project at the Atlantic Council Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices