KQED's Forum KQED

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"

There are two new laws in California set to eliminate hidden fees, taking effect next month. In a statement released by the attorney general’s office, the purpose of the “Honest Pricing Law” is to ensure that “the price a Californian sees should be the price they pay.” While the laws are aimed at protecting consumers from unexpected charges on purchases like concert tickets and hotel reservations, many restaurant owners are concerned. They fear they may be forced to raise prices, potentially driving away customers. A third bill is swiftly moving through the Capitol with hopes of exempting restaurants from these regulations. We look into the details of these laws and their potential impact on you. Have hidden fees affected you?

Guests:

Lauren Saria, deputy food editor; The San Francisco Standard

Dan Walters, columnist; CalMatters

Bill Dodd, California state senator, district 3; which includes Napa County and parts of Sonoma county

In her new book, “The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America’s Next Economy,” author Natalie Foster argues for an American economy that guarantees governmental support for seven core areas: housing, health care, a college education, dignified work, family care, an inheritance, and an income floor. Foster is president and co-founder of the Economic Security Project, a nonprofit that advocates for economic stability. She joins to talk about her vision to improve individual lives and society as a whole. 

Guests:

Natalie Foster, president and co-founder, Economic Security Project, a research center focused on guaranteed income programs, and senior fellow, The Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative

Anthony Fauci was the face of the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic, guiding the public through the upheavals of school closures and stay-at-home orders and unprecedented loss of life. He implored people to get vaccinated and weathered near constant partisan attacks. The COVID-19 pandemic was one of a number of global public health crises – including AIDS, bird flu, Ebola and Zika – that Fauci handled during his nearly six-decade career. We’ll talk to Fauci about what we’ve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, how we should prepare for the next infectious disease crisis and what he values most about his life in public service. His new autobiography is “On Call.”

As part of our “Doing Democracy” series, we look at state courts and constitutions. Each state has its own constitution, and they generally offer more rights than the U.S. Constitution. For example, the California constitution guarantees the right to happiness, reproductive freedom, and the ability to fish on public land, among other enumerated rights. With a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, activists are increasingly looking at states to protect – and even expand – rights. But will this strategy work? We’ll talk to legal experts about how state courts and constitutions are increasingly becoming battle grounds for preserving or expanding civil rights, and what the impact in California and neighboring states might be.