KQED's Forum

Paula Poundstone may be best known to NPR listeners as a panelist on the comedy quiz show “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” But she has been making fun of current events and cultural norms since the 1980s when she got her start in San Francisco's comedy scene. We'll talk to Poundstone about how comedy has changed over the past 40 years, her new podcast, “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone," and her special connection to the Bay Area.

2018 was a tumultuous year for Facebook, the latest controversy being reports that Russians used the network to discourage African-American voter turnout in the 2016 election. The world's largest social media company, which also owns Instagram, has repeatedly sparked outrage over its handling of user data, its lack of transparency and its attempts to discredit its critics. In this segment, we discuss where Facebook stands with its users and with regulators in DC. And we'd like to hear from you: What does Facebook need to do to keep you on the network?

Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned on Thursday, writing in his resignation letter that President Trump has "a right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned" with his. According to the New York Times, Mattis resigned after an unsuccessful attempt to convince the president to not pull American troops out of Syria. Forum will talk about what Mattis's departure means for national security policy, the military and for a Trump Administration already roiled by turnover.

With the new year around the corner, Forum partners with KQED Arts to look (and listen) to the best local music of 2018. From Girlz n' the Hood to the Tune-Yards, the Bay Area music scene reflected the region's political activism and diversity. We discuss the can't miss music from 2018 and what's next for Bay Area music.

From a “Falling Wall” of dancers to the surrealist work of René Magritte, visual artists gave Bay Area residents plenty of reasons to stop, watch and think this year. But even as artists pushed boundaries and created standout works, the local art world faced fresh challenges: 2018 saw the trimming of curatorial staff and programs. Forum considers the year in visual art. Tell us: what did you see this year that resonated or stayed with you?

On Wednesday, President Trump tweeted that ISIS has been defeated in Syria and called for an immediate removal of American troops. In this segment, we'll speak to Middle East experts about the declaration of victory and get their thoughts on who are the winners and the losers of an American exit from Syria.

In "Lessons From A Dark Time," Bay Area journalist Adam Hochschild has assembled essays from his reporting on issues of human rights and social justice. Written through a historical and activist lens, Hochschild's book takes readers from the 1898 Battle of Omdurman to Nelson Mandela's campaign trail to a gun show at the Cow Palace. We'll talk to Hochschild about his new book and how history informs his present view.

Outgoing California Governor Jerry Brown shared some farewell thoughts at the Sacramento Press Club on Tuesday, including a quintessential Brown disclaimer:“I’m not here to make news, I’m here to enlighten you." Brown's remarkable career includes serving as California governor (twice), state attorney general and mayor of Oakland. He leaves his successor, Gavin Newsom, a budget surplus and a slew of globally-recognized environmental protections. We'll take stock of Brown's legacy and look at his record on issues like climate change, criminal justice, water, and infrastructure. What moments in Jerry Brown's leadership had the most effect on you?

Soliel Ho is the San Francisco Chronicle's new restaurant. A trained chef and host of the podcast "Racist Sandwich," Ho is expected to push local food writing forward with a focus on culture and issues such as appropriation, race and access. Forum talks with Ho about her views on food writing and what stories and cuisines she's excited to explore. And we want to hear from you: What restaurants should Soliel Ho check out?

The de Young's " Contemporary Muslim Fashion” exhibit is the first at a major museum to examine the breadth of contemporary Muslim women's clothing. Although mainstream narratives about traditional Islamic dress often focus on burkas and the hijab, practitioners of Islam make up 24 percent of the global population and their sartorial choices span innumerable styles. We’ll discuss the de Young’s current foray into fashion, which is open until January 6th. If you’ve had a chance to visit, tell us, what did you think of the exhibit?

The last remaining evacuation orders were lifted in and around Paradise, California on Saturday, more than a month after the Camp Fire broke out. The fire was the most deadly and destructive in state history, killing at least 86 people and destroying 14,000 homes. We’ll get the latest on the recovery with Tess Vigeland, host of “After Paradise" on North State Public Radio, a show dedicated to covering the aftermath of the Camp Fire.

One-fifth of high school seniors questioned in a recent survey had vaped nicotine in the past month. That's double the number of teens who reported doing so in last year's annual survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Critics of e-cigarettes say that the industry targets kids with flavored products and is creating a new generation addicted to nicotine. We'll discuss the potential long-term health effects of vaping and the growing popularity of e-cigarettes.

In his new book "A Few Thousand Dollars," Prosperity Now founder Robert Friedman puts forward a plan to curtail wealth inequality in the United States. Building on initiatives from the past such as the Homestead Act and the GI Bill, Friedman proposes a “Prosperity Bill” that would match, on a sliding scale, several thousand dollars in savings for every American. Friedman sees this as key to changing a system that currently punishes low-income Americans who seek to improve their lives via a higher education or home ownership. Friedman joins us to lay out his proposal.

Forum reviews, analyzes and answers your questions about the latest news from Washington.

On your marks, get set, bake! It's the holidays, which for many people is the season to bake! Whether you're looking to step up your cookie decorating game or you’re a Great British Bake Off fan who wants to wow your guests with a showstopper, we have a panel of bakers on hand to offer their advice. Tell us: what are your baking quandaries and questions this holiday season?