Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

What do concussions, cigarettes and climate have in common? A common narrative. When tobacco companies started facing public scrutiny about the link between cancer and smoking, the industry launched a campaign questioning the scientific evidence. One executive famously wrote, “Doubt is our product.” New evidence shows ExxonMobil and other companies used the same playbook to confuse the public about the link between burning fossil fuels and rising temperatures and seas. Confronted with new evidence linking repeated head trauma and brain disease, the NFL is now going down a similar path. Some of the arguments are strikingly similar—the science is unclear, more research is needed, the industry is doing everything it can to solve the problem and protect people. Join us for a conversation with experts involved in some of the most compelling tobacco, oil and football narratives of our times.

Sifting through the Trump administration’s misleading statements on climate change can be a daunting task. That’s where scientist Bill Nye comes in. The Science Guy is on a quest to set the record straight when it comes to anti-scientific thinking and climate denial. A new documentary, Bill Nye: Science Guy, chronicles the beloved children’s show host as he pivots into the role of one of the country’s leading scientific voices. The film is directed by Jason Sussberg, who takes viewers on an intimate, behind-the-scenes journey as Nye confronts climate change deniers and those who don't believe in science-based facts. Join us for a conversation about Nye's new documentary, climate science and planet Earth.

Zero is the new hundred. Designing and operating a home that generates as much energy as it uses used to be a theoretical concept. Now it’s becoming a reality. Some homes are also catching as much water as they use. Pricey? Sure. But not as pricey as you might think. We’ll discuss real homes that are exploring the boundaries of efficient living without reducing comfort. San Francisco aims to produce zero waste by 2020. Is that really possible in a city with a booming economy and growing population? The city is ahead of the curve but policy, culture and psychology need to come together to reach the finish line. Other cities and universities are joining in and shaping the habits of big institutions and future generations.

from Daniel Ellsberg: The Doomsday Machine held on December 12, 2017 In 1971, young defense analyst Daniel Ellsberg took on the Nixon administration, risking his career and freedom to leak the Pentagon Papers and show the world that the U.S. government had lied repeatedly about winning the war in Vietnam. Since then, Ellsberg has been a tireless activist for freedom of the press, whistleblowers’ rights and government accountability. Now, for the first time, Ellsberg is sharing his findings from his most ambitious project yet, The Doomsday Machine—a stunning insider’s tale of the American nuclear regime in the 1960s. Ellsberg will reveal the terrifying truth behind the American Cold War defense strategy, from the disturbingly large number of people with the ability to initiate a nuclear strike to the shocking plans developed by the Eisenhower administration for all-out nuclear war. Ellsberg will also discuss his fears that the Trump administration’s current policies will plunge the world’s great powers back into a costly arms race with the potential for global annihilation. Ellsberg is an award-winning defense analyst, author, speaker and activist. A Harvard-educated nuclear strategist and former Department of Defense policy expert, Ellsberg gained national attention when he leaked the Pentagon Papers to The New York Times, creating a scandal for the U.S. military and greatly discrediting those who advocated for continuing the Vietnam War. Ellsberg is also a co-founder of the Freedom of the Press Foundation. Join Ellsberg for an important conversation about truth and deception, military excesses, and the very survival of the human race. This event was recorded in-front of a live audience on December 12th, 2017 at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco.

The Seventh Annual Lundberg Institute Lecture focuses on how the U.S. health-care industry became big business. It is now by far the most expensive in the world, with prices for drugs, procedures and hospitalizations many times that of those in other developed countries—and generally without better care or results. Its evolution over the last three decades moved it from a caring endeavor to a financially driven system. Elisabeth Rosenthal will trace how commercial forces and interests insinuated themselves, step by step, so no one protested much. But we now live in a system where medical machinery comes with brochures on how to recoup return on investment (ROI), and ambulance companies as well as dialysis units are owned by venture capital firms. Still, while explaining ways to push back, Rosenthal's ultimate message is one of optimism and hope. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities In association with The Lundberg Institute

In association with UC San Francisco’s Preterm Birth Initiative (PTBi) Racism affects all aspects of health. For women, mothers, children and babies, the devastating effects of racism can create vastly unequal starts to life. What can be done to create stronger systems for equity, beginning at birth? Join Lateefah Simon, president of the Akonadi Foundation, as she shares her personal experiences and her hopes for health equity. Simon, who was born prematurely, is now a mother herself; she’ll discuss how racism affects the health and experiences of individuals and families. She will also share her thoughts on what communities, organizations and individuals can do to level the playing field. Simon stepped into her role as Akonadi Foundation's president in August 2016. A nationally recognized advocate for civil rights and racial justice, Simon brings over 20 years of executive experience, advancing opportunities for communities of color and low-income communities in the Bay Area. Prior to joining Akonadi, she served as program director for the San Francisco-based Rosenberg Foundation. SPEAKERS Lateefah Simon President, Akonadi Foundation; BART Board Director for District 7; Member, Board of Trustees at California State University Michael McAfee, Ed.D. President, PolicyLink—Moderator

The national security experts and intelligence contributors of NBC News discuss the United States’ role on the global stage and its position as a world leader in diplomatic scenarios. NOTES In partnership with NBC News and MSNBC

The Hello Girls tells the captivating story of America's first women soldiers and their fight for equality. It details how these soldiers helped win World War I and earned women the right to vote. In 1918, the U.S. Army Signal Corps sent 223 women to France. They were masters of the latest technology: the telephone switchboard. General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, demanded female “wire experts” when he discovered that inexperienced doughboys were unable to keep him connected with troops under fire. While suffragettes picketed the White House and President Woodrow Wilson struggled to persuade a segregationist Congress to give women of all races the vote, these competent and courageous young women swore the Army oath. In this program, Elizabeth Cobbs will also reveal how, after serving under fire on the front, the Hello Girls were dismissed without veteran's benefits. They continued to fight hard for equal treatment until their work was finally recognized. MLF ORGANIZER NAME George Hammond NOTES MLF: Humanities SPEAKERS Elizabeth Cobbs Melbern G. Glasscock Professor of History, Texas A&M University; Research Fellow, Hoover Institution at Stanford University; Author, The Hello Girls: America’s First Women Soldiers

Join us for our year-end Week to Week and members holiday social! It's been a long year, and you deserve an opportunity to mingle with other Commonwealth Club members and guests, talk politics, and make good holiday cheer. During our political roundtable, we'll discuss the biggest, most controversial and sometimes the surprising political issues with expert commentary by panelists who are smart, are civil and have a good sense of humor. Join our panelists for informative and engaging commentary on political and other major news, audience discussion of the week’s events, and our live news quiz! And come early before the program to meet other smart and engaged individuals and discuss the news over snacks and wine at our member social (open to all attendees). In the meantime, take our latest Week to Week News Quiz. SPEAKERS Carson Bruno Assistant Dean for Admission and Program Relations, School of Public Policy, Pepperdine University; Author, California Realpolitik Newsletter; Twitter @CarsonJFBruno Barbara Marshman Editorial Pages Editor, The Mercury News; Twitter @bmarshman C.W. Nevius Columnist, Santa Rosa Press Democrat; Former Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle; Twitter @cwnevius

Will Jeff Sessions appoint a special prosecutor to target Hillary Clinton? Who will Mueller indict next? What will the GOP do about Roy Moore? What will the Senate do about tax reform? What's behind the Feinstein-de León race? We'll discuss the biggest, most controversial and sometimes the surprising political issues with expert commentary by panelists who are smart, are civil and have a good sense of humor. Join our panelists for informative and engaging commentary on political and other major news, audience discussion of the week’s events, and our live news quiz! And come early before the program to meet other smart and engaged individuals and discuss the news over snacks and wine at our member social (open to all attendees). SPEAKERS Marisa Lagos Reporter, California Politics and Government, KQED; Twitter @mlagos Dan Schnur Director, Los Angeles Region of the American Jewish Committee; Former Chairman, California's Fair Political Practices Commission; Former Director, Unruh Institute; Twitter @danschnur Doug Sovern Reporter, KCBS; Twitter @SovernNation

Since the turn of the century, new developments in technology have forever changed the way patients experience health care. From highly advanced surgical robots to quick and convenient telemedicine apps, the practice of medicine has become significantly more efficient than before. Indeed, the average time a doctor spends with a patient has been cut down to less than 10 minutes. Is this newfound efficiency leading to better health outcomes or lower costs for patients? Victoria Sweet, a veteran physician and acclaimed author, argues the opposite: that the drive for efficiency and the incorporation of new technology has actually changed American health care for the worse. In her new book, Slow Medicine, Sweet boldly challenges the impersonal health care status quo, making the case that doctors must slow down, take the time to form connections with their patients, and carefully consider their patients’ circumstances until the right diagnoses and treatments can be determined. Drawing on historical research, interviews with health care professionals around the country and her own experience working at a hospital for the impoverished in San Francisco, Sweet dismantles conventional thought about the construction of the modern American health-care system. Victoria Sweet, M.D. Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, UC San Francisco; Author, Slow Medicine: The Way to Healing NOTES Photo © Denise Zmekhol

Who is God? According to Reza Aslan, our desire to humanize God is hardwired in our brains, making it a central feature of nearly every religious tradition. Regardless of our actions or beliefs, Aslan says the majority of us consider God to be a divine version of ourselves. We bestow upon God not just all that is good in human nature but also our greed, bigotry and violence. All these qualities are reflected in our religion, culture and government. Whether you believe in one God, many gods or no God at all, Aslan’s work will challenge the way you think about the role of the divine in our everyday lives. SPEAKERS Reza Aslan Author, God: A Human History; Twitter @rezaaslan Kirk Hanson Executive Director, the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics—Moderator

This program is part of our Ethics and Accountability series, underwritten by the Charles Travers Family. It seems hardly a week goes by without another controversy over free speech on college campuses. On one side, there are increased demands to censor hateful, disrespectful and bullying expression and to ensure an inclusive and nondiscriminatory learning environment. On the other side, traditional free speech advocates charge that recent demands for censorship coddle students and threaten free inquiry. In his new book, Free Speech on Campus, Dean Erwin Chemerinsky argues that campuses must provide supportive learning environments for an increasingly diverse student body but can never restrict the expression of ideas. Come for a spirited conversation about what constitutes free speech on campus and the implications for society at large. Erwin Chemerinsky Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, UC Berkeley Law School; Co-Author, Free Speech on Campus In Conversation with Janet Napolitano President, University of California; Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security; Former Governor of Arizona

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. One of the most memorable speeches from last year’s Democratic National Convention was given by Gold Star parent Khizr Khan. With his wife Ghazala by his side, Khan spoke about equality, sacrifice and the ideals symbolized by the U.S. Constitution. Khan’s son Humayun Khan, a U.S. Army captain, was killed in the line of duty in Iraq and posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. “Like many immigrants, we came to this country empty-handed,” Khan said. “We believed in American democracy—that with hard word and the goodness of this country, we could share in and contribute to its blessings.” From his family’s move from Pakistan to becoming an American citizen, Khan shares his personal story of immigration, courage and patriotism. SPEAKERS Khizr Khan Author, An American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice Judge LaDoris Cordell (Ret.) Chair, Santa Clara County Jail Commission—Moderator NOTES Khan photo © Edwin Tse

The 1968 U.S. presidential election fundamentally shaped modern American politics, and it was a transformative event in the life of a young Lawrence O’Donnell. Nothing went according to plan: Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson believed he would easily defeat Richard Nixon, former Republican vice president and California senator, until anti-war protests forced his withdrawal. The upstart Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy quickly secured the national spotlight, only to be tragically assassinated in Los Angeles that June. While Nixon remained the front-runner, Hubert Humphrey, the last remaining cog of the Democratic political machine, was closing in. To defeat him, Nixon pulled off one of the greatest dirty tricks in American political history. 1968 set the tone for Watergate and all else that has followed in the new era of modern politics. For decades, O’Donnell has been a pioneer in the field of political commentary and entertainment. As both a producer of The West Wing and as the host of his own MSNBC show, “The Last Word,” he has served as a voice of wisdom and integrity throughout the evolution of our political sphere. His new book, Playing With Fire, tells the story of a country coming apart at the seams in real time; it is a master class in the electioneering that took advantage of the chaos. Lawrence O’Donnell Host, "The Last Word" on MSNBC; Author, Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics John Diaz Editorial Page Editor, San Francisco Chronicle SPEAKERS Lawrence O’Donnell Host, "The Last Word" on MSNBC; Author, Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics John Diaz Editorial Page Editor, San Francisco Chronicle