Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

This program is part of our Ethics and Accountability series, underwritten by the Travers Family Foundation. George Will has been a columnist for The Washington Post since 1974 and is one of the most influential political pundits today. He is vocally dissatisfied with the directions that both the American Right and Left have dragged the nation. His new book, The Conservative Sensibility, asks Americans to revisit their history books and remind themselves of the values America was founded upon—values which he sees both sides of the aisle straying dangerously far from. The book covers everything from the natural rights of man and the history of American democracy to the modern capitulation of congressional checks on the power of the executive. He believes the solution to many of the high-profile political issues of today can be found by going back to the founders’ intentions for the nation, and by grounding modern solutions more solidly in a historical context. People of all political affiliations have found themselves in agreement with much of what he has to say. Join us for a conversation with one of the most respected journalists and political commentators in the nation.

With the dramatic decline in bird populations and insect species, how can we help birds flourish in our cities and backyards? With the hope of protecting their continued survival, artist Sharon Beals has photographed and documented the intricacies of birds’ nests and their occupants. Beals will cover the feat of migration, a journey of up to 5,000 miles that a fledgling travels without any parental guidance, and how in our own lives we might be affecting their survival, even from a distance. Beals is the author and photographer of Nests, a visual homage to birds, documenting the nest and eggs specimens dating from the 1800s to the present day. Beals’ sources include the California Academy of Sciences, the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology in Berkeley, the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo, Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates and the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian. Select images from Nests are currently on view at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, in the Farmer Gallery on the first floor until June 28. MLF Organizer: Lynn Curtis MLF: Arts

Building Blocks to the Future While the San Francisco Bay Area is booming with jobs and (for many) high wages, people are increasingly priced out of the housing market and the region is losing people to fill jobs that are essential to California’s economy. In response to this crisis, we have seen a proliferation of transit-oriented projects (TODs) which place high-density housing above or adjacent to transit centers. TODs provide easy mobility while offering less costly living space. Join us to learn the effective strategies used by planners, policy makers and advocates to implement high quality, equitable transit-oriented station areas. These and other innovations will be discussed at this free, half day summit. Schedule: 9–10:15 a.m. Keynote: Therese McMillan, Executive Director, Metropolitan Transportation Commission Moderator: Secretary Norman Mineta, Secretary (Ret.), U.S. Department of Transportation 10:15–10:30 a.m. Break 10:30–11:30 a.m. Panel Asha Agrawal, Ph.D., Director, Mineta Transportation Institute National Transportation Finance Center Carl Guardino, President and CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group Pedro Galvao, Senior Policy Manager, Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California Honorable Cindy Chavez, Santa Clara Supervisor (Invited) Abigail Thorne-Lyman, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Program Manager for the Strategic and Policy Planning Group, BART Moderator: Karen Philbrick, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute * This Podcast is 223 minutes in length as it contains both morning modules back to back. The segment-break is at 66.18.

The action-packed, technology-filled life of spies can be intoxicating to read about or watch on TV. Nowadays, it is hard to imagine these kinds of scenes playing out in real life—but for Jonna Mendez, a former covert operative in the Soviet Union and former chief of disguise for the CIA, everything from complex disguises to “Spiderman” rappelling technology to high-speed car chases were part of her daily life. Her new book, The Moscow Rules: The Secret CIA Tactics That Helped America Win the Cold War, recounts the most exciting parts of the job, as well as the moments with the highest stakes for U.S. interests. Together with her co-author and husband Antonio Mendez, she explains the techniques and technologies that helped the Americans get one step ahead of the KGB. Join us for a conversation with a real-life CIA spy about her experiences as a covert operative and her role in the advancement of the American intelligence strategy that helped America win the Cold War. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation.

What does a country do when it realizes it cannot win an outright war against the United States? It turns to new subversive, clandestine types of modern warfare. This, argues CNN chief national security expert Jim Sciutto, is exactly what China and Russia have been successfully doing—winning a new kind of war that the United States has barely realized it is currently fighting. Sciutto’s new book, The Shadow War: Inside Russia’s and China’s Secret Operations to Defeat America, is filled with a dizzying amount of on-the-ground reporting. From Ukraine to the South China Sea, from the belly of a submarine under the Arctic to the highest levels of America’s Space Command, Sciutto’s experience both as a reporter and as a diplomat give him unprecedented access and a uniquely informed perspective. His words of caution (and sometimes alarm) point to the areas in which Russia and China have successfully undermined America’s reputation and credibility. Join us for a conversation with someone reporting from the front lines of modern shadow warfare. ** This Podcast Contains Explicit Language **

In 2012, after moving up the ranks at Condé Nast, Elaine Welteroth became the first African-American to hold the title of beauty and health director at Teen Vogue. At 29, she was eventually promoted to editor in chief, making her the youngest to hold the title in the company’s 107-year history and the second person of African-American heritage. Her reign at Teen Vogue was undeniably historic as she led the magazine in a new, fresh direction that allowed her young staff to create content centered on not only fashion and beauty, but also politics, social activism, world news and other topics that painted a more realistic, well-rounded picture of teen life. Throughout her wildly successful career, Welteroth has often noted that she consistently found herself alone as the only black woman in the room. Her life is filled with stories of triumph despite the numerous roadblocks put in her way, and in her memoir, More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say), Welteroth offers invaluable advice to young women looking to change the world in their own terms. She joins INFORUM to chronicle her life as a pioneer in media and to inspire a new generation of trailblazers. This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation.

Produce, consume, discard; we all know the routine. Raw materials are extracted, produced into goods, and used – sometimes only once – before turning into waste. And maybe we think that recycling that Starbucks cup or Smartwater bottle is the best we can do for the planet. But that’s only one part of the story. Now, innovative companies are “going circular” by transforming how their products are designed, used, and remade. Can a circular economy salvage the climate and save the planet?

This program is part of our Food Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Founded in 2006 by former New York Times food contributor Ed Levine, food blog Serious Eats has combined storytelling and culinary expertise to become one of the most acclaimed food sites in the world. The site provides in-depth recipes and reviews of food products and kitchen equipment carefully tested by culinary professionals in order to provide thorough and trustworthy reviews for its readers. Levine’s forthcoming book, Serious Eater: A Food Lover’s Perilous Quest for Pizza and Redemption, recounts his challenging journey to create a successful online food publication. Levine bought the domain name Serious Eats for $100 and created the blog as a space to connect other like-minded eaters. Over the course of 10 years and with the help of a dedicated team and a supportive family, Levine has made Serious Eats into an established website with a large following. In addition to Serious Eater, Levine is also the author of New York Eats, New York Eats (More), and Pizza: A Slice of Heaven. He also hosts “Special Sauce,” a weekly podcast covering food in conversation with various prominent figures within the culinary landscape and beyond. Join Levine live at INFORUM as he reflects on his transformation from food writer to entrepreneur. This conversation will be moderated by Chef J. Kenji López-Alt, chief culinary adviser for Serious Eater and author of the James Beard Award–nominated column “The Food Lab.” ** This Podcast Contains Explicit Language **

Segment 1 - (10:15am - 11:45am) Is America Breaking Apart? The 2019 Travers Conference will bring together experts from around the country to assess the question of whether America is breaking apart politically. There is a sense among some that Americans are more divided than at any time since the Civil War. The conference will consider the nature of these divisions, how deep and genuine they really are, and how they are affecting governance. It will include three panels: "Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real?"; "Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization"; and "Identity and Politics in a Changing America." 10:15–10:25 a.m.: Introductory Remarks 10:30–11:45 a.m.: Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real? While there is little doubt that political elites in Washington, D.C. are highly polarized by party, to what extent are ordinary Americans ideologically divided? This panel will consider the extent to which policy preferences, partisanship and geography separate the country into different political camps. Morris P. Fiorina (Stanford) Leah Stokes (UCSB) Jessica Trounstine (UC Merced) 11:45–1 p.m.: Lunch Break Lunch provided for conference participants and attendees 1:15–2:30 p.m.: Identity and Politics in a Changing America? Many attributed Donald Trump’s election to a backlash against growing racial diversity in America. What is the relationship between demographic diversification and political change? What are the prospects for division or unity going forward? Marisa A. Abrajano (UCSD) Patrick Egan (NYU) Vincent Hutchings (University of Michigan) Ashley E. Jardina (Duke) 2:45–4 p.m.: Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization? Does polarization inevitably result in gridlock and paralysis? What are the prospects for finding solutions to pressing policy challenges in today’s divided Washington? Pamela Ban (UCSD) Steven Hayward (UCB) Jack Pitney (Claremont McKenna) Registration must be done through UC Berkeley at http://polisci.berkeley.edu/travers. Notes: Hosted by the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science, UC Berkeley In cooperation with The Commonwealth Club of California

Segment 2 - (1:15pm - 2:30pm): Is America Breaking Apart? The 2019 Travers Conference will bring together experts from around the country to assess the question of whether America is breaking apart politically. There is a sense among some that Americans are more divided than at any time since the Civil War. The conference will consider the nature of these divisions, how deep and genuine they really are, and how they are affecting governance. It will include three panels: "Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real?"; "Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization"; and "Identity and Politics in a Changing America." 10:15–10:25 a.m.: Introductory Remarks 10:30–11:45 a.m.: Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real? While there is little doubt that political elites in Washington, D.C. are highly polarized by party, to what extent are ordinary Americans ideologically divided? This panel will consider the extent to which policy preferences, partisanship and geography separate the country into different political camps. Morris P. Fiorina (Stanford) Leah Stokes (UCSB) Jessica Trounstine (UC Merced) 11:45–1 p.m.: Lunch Break Lunch provided for conference participants and attendees 1:15–2:30 p.m.: Identity and Politics in a Changing America? Many attributed Donald Trump’s election to a backlash against growing racial diversity in America. What is the relationship between demographic diversification and political change? What are the prospects for division or unity going forward? Marisa A. Abrajano (UCSD) Patrick Egan (NYU) Vincent Hutchings (University of Michigan) Ashley E. Jardina (Duke) 2:45–4 p.m.: Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization? Does polarization inevitably result in gridlock and paralysis? What are the prospects for finding solutions to pressing policy challenges in today’s divided Washington? Pamela Ban (UCSD) Steven Hayward (UCB) Jack Pitney (Claremont McKenna) Registration must be done through UC Berkeley at http://polisci.berkeley.edu/travers. Notes: Hosted by the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science, UC Berkeley In cooperation with The Commonwealth Club of California

Segment 3 - (2:45pm - 4:00pm): Is America Breaking Apart? The 2019 Travers Conference will bring together experts from around the country to assess the question of whether America is breaking apart politically. There is a sense among some that Americans are more divided than at any time since the Civil War. The conference will consider the nature of these divisions, how deep and genuine they really are, and how they are affecting governance. It will include three panels: "Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real?"; "Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization"; and "Identity and Politics in a Changing America." 10:15–10:25 a.m.: Introductory Remarks 10:30–11:45 a.m.: Divisions in the Public, Imagined or Real? While there is little doubt that political elites in Washington, D.C. are highly polarized by party, to what extent are ordinary Americans ideologically divided? This panel will consider the extent to which policy preferences, partisanship and geography separate the country into different political camps. Morris P. Fiorina (Stanford) Leah Stokes (UCSB) Jessica Trounstine (UC Merced) 11:45–1 p.m.: Lunch Break Lunch provided for conference participants and attendees 1:15–2:30 p.m.: Identity and Politics in a Changing America? Many attributed Donald Trump’s election to a backlash against growing racial diversity in America. What is the relationship between demographic diversification and political change? What are the prospects for division or unity going forward? Marisa A. Abrajano (UCSD) Patrick Egan (NYU) Vincent Hutchings (University of Michigan) Ashley E. Jardina (Duke) 2:45–4 p.m.: Prospects for Governing Amid Polarization? Does polarization inevitably result in gridlock and paralysis? What are the prospects for finding solutions to pressing policy challenges in today’s divided Washington? Pamela Ban (UCSD) Steven Hayward (UCB) Jack Pitney (Claremont McKenna) Registration must be done through UC Berkeley at http://polisci.berkeley.edu/travers. Notes: Hosted by the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science, UC Berkeley In cooperation with The Commonwealth Club of California

Since 2014, George F. Ridgely, Jr. has been the executive director of San Francisco Pride. Attracting nearly 1 million attendees and participants annually, San Francisco Pride is one of the largest gatherings of the LGBTQ community and its allies in the world. On June 29 and 30, SF Pride will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots with a 25-block celebration and rally in Civic Center; as well as a massive parade along Market Street, from the Embarcadero to Civic Center, on June 30th. On June 20, we will interview Ridgely and celebrate his years of work as SF Pride's executive director, a position he is leaving this year. Before joining San Francisco Pride, George was the director of operations for another iconic San Francisco event, Bay to Breakers, one of the oldest, largest and most unique footraces in the country. During his 11 years with the 12K race, George served as director of marketing before overseeing operations. For the past 16 years, George has also been involved with the Castro Street Fair; serving as their executive director from 2004–2013, and currently serving as treasurer on its board of directors. Castro Street Fair is a community celebration that was founded by Harvey Milk in 1974 and attracts about 40,000 attendees annually. Born and raised in southern Maryland, George relocated to California in 1988; he has lived and worked in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. Join us as Michelle Meow brings her long-running daily radio show to The Commonwealth Club one day each week. Meet fascinating—and often controversial—people discussing important issues of interest to the LGBTQ community, and have your questions ready.

As any traveler knows, some of the best and most honest conversations take place during car rides. So, when a long-time NPR correspondent wanted to learn more about the real China, he started driving a cab and discovered a country amid seismic political and economic change. China—America's most important competitor—is at a turning point. With economic growth slowing, Chinese people face inequality and uncertainty as their leaders tighten control at home and project power abroad. In his adventurous book The Shanghai Free Taxi, Frank Langfitt provides details about his free taxi service and how he got to know a wide range of colorful, compelling characters representative of the new China. They include folks such as Beer, a slippery salesman who tries to sell Langfitt a used car; Rocky, a farm boy turned Shanghai lawyer; and Chen, who runs an underground Christian church and moves his family to America in search of a better, freer life. Langfitt is currently NPR's London correspondent, covering the UK, Ireland and Europe. He previously spent five years covering China for NPR. In China, he reported on the government's infamous black jails—secret detention centers—as well as his own travails taking China's driver's test, which he failed three times. Before coming to NPR, Langfitt spent five years as a correspondent in Beijing for The Baltimore Sun, covering a swath of Asia, from East Timor to the Khyber Pass. He is a graduate of Princeton and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard. Come for a fascinating conversation that will help make sense of the world's other superpower at this extraordinary moment in history. In association with the Asia Society of Northern California

The future for LGBTQ seniors could be quite different from the past. Join us for a discussion about the challenges and new opportunities facing LGBTQ seniors. We'll hear about the latest research into what seniors need to age and thrive at home, even if their health worsens or they experience cognitive changes. Our panelists will also discuss how and why LGBTQ seniors experience health disparities and high levels of isolation, while also under-utilizing existing aging services right here in the Bay Area. ** This Program Contains Explicit Language **

When President Trump entered office, his administration immediately began rescinding new federal protections for transgender students in public schools. President Trump later announced, via Twitter, a ban on transgender individuals from serving "in any capacity" in the United States Armed Forces. In Trump’s second year, the administration continued to introduce anti-trans policies. They created a new Health and Human Services (HHS) Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, which is expected to offer greater protections for health care workers who do not wish to treat transgender patients. The year ended with a leaked memo, which considered narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a government-wide effort to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people under federal civil rights law. Yet trans Americans and their allies have fought back, defining their resiliency and ability to personally succeed at historic levels. We will highlight and discuss trans policy under the Trump administration. MLF Organizer: Patrick O'Reilly MLF: Psychology