KQED's Forum KQED

Project 2025, the sweeping right-wing agenda drafted by the Heritage Foundation, calls for expanding presidential powers, eliminating federal agencies and programs and implementing substantial tax cuts. Created by close allies of former President Trump, it mirrors much of his campaign rhetoric. Meanwhile, Democrats are using it as a call to action. We examine the specifics of Project 2025 and how closely it aligns with Trump’s agenda.

Guests:

Philip Bump, national columnist, the Washington Post

Nicholas Wu, congressional reporter, Politico

Michael Hirsh, senior correspondent, Foreign Policy; author, "Inside the Next Republican Revolution" a Politico article on Project 2025

Michael Andor Broudeur is a classical music critic for the Washington Post and he’s also a self-described “meathead” with an relentless desire to make his body bigger. In his book “Swole: The Making of Man and the Meaning of Muscle” Broudeur grapples with the contradictions and complexities of male body image and masculinity. He embraces the gay male gym culture he’s a part of but writes that it would be silly “to try and distance the symbol of the buff male bod from its long and wide lineage of unsavory cultural signifiers. As a mascot for classical beauty, the meathead must also embody white supremacy, hetero-patriarchy, and a vast panoply of nationalisms.” We’ll talk with Brodeur about how weight training has shifted his perspective on what it means to be a man.

Guests:

Michael Andor Brodeur, author, "Swole: The Making of Men and the Meaning of Muscle"; classical music critic, the Washington Post

Immigrants to any country learn to adapt. So it was the case for food writer and cookbook author Khushbu Shah’s family who came to the States from India. Hoping to recreate dishes from home, but not finding the ingredients they needed, Shah’s family like other members of the Indian diaspora, used the ingredients on hand — Bisquick for khoya an ingredient in the dessert Galub Jamun, peanut butter in chutneys, or Cream of Wheat to take the place Upma, a polenta-like dish. What emerged was a distinctly Indian-American cuisine, which is the focus of Shah’s cookbook, “Amrikan.” We talk to Shah about her favorite recipes and her tips for turning pantry staples into Indian comfort meals.

Guests:

Khushbu Shah, author, "Amrikan"; food writer and journalist; She was most recently the restaurant editor at Food and Wine magazine.

Meteorologists are predicting this summer will be one of the hottest on record, and they’re warning we’re likely in for a big wildfire season. Heavy rains in recent years enabled a couple of mild years of fire. But this year’s heat and drier conditions are already fueling blazes. So far, major fires have forced evacuations and singed homes in Sonoma County and Southern California. We’ll talk about the weather, what we can expect the rest of the year and what you can do to prepare for an active fire season.

Guests:

Brian Garcia, warning coordination meteorologist, National Weather Service SF Bay Area/Monterey

Isaac Sanchez, deputy chief of communications, Cal Fire

Daniel Swain, climate scientist, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA

Danielle Venton, science reporter, KQED News

A new Biden Administration policy announced this week will allow undocumented people who are married to American citizens to remain in the U.S. while pursuing citizenship, as long as they have no criminal record and have lived in the country for at least 10 years. The policy, which could protect a half-million people from deportation, comes two weeks after an executive order banning asylum for unauthorized migrants at the southern border — the most restrictive action on asylum by a Democratic president. We’ll talk about Biden’s election-year approach toward immigration, the Trump campaign’s rhetoric and how both are using the border to court voters.

Guests:
Hamed Aleaziz, covers the Department of Homeland Security and immigration policy, The New York Times
Molly O'Toole, fellow, Wilson Center - Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter currently working on a book on immigration for Penguin Random House

In the Oscar-winning animated movie “Inside Out,” emotions like joy, anger and sadness populate the brain of 11-year-old Riley, the film’s heroine. In the sequel, “Inside Out 2,” Riley is now a teen, and the emotions running headquarters have to make room for new feelings…. Hello, anxiety! Pixar’s Pete Docter joins us to talk about the movie.

Guests:
Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer, Pixar - He directed "Inside Out," which won the 2016 Oscar for Best Animated Feature. He also directed "Monsters, Inc." and Oscar winners "Soul" and Up." He was the third animator to be brought on board at Pixar.
Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley - He served as a consultant on the Pixar film, "Inside Out 2". Keltner is the author of "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life."
Riya Richardson, member of "Riley's Crew," the group of teen girls who served as consultants to the movie "Inside Out 2"