News In Context

In this episode, we explore the power of language – both the words we use and the larger context of narratives and stories we tell. My guest is Karen Yin – author of The Conscious Style Guide , and founder and curator of ConsciousStyleGuide.com — which has been called “A timeless, indispensable guide for anyone who wants to communicate with sensitivity and compassion.” (Photo Credit:Paul Beauchemi...

In this episode, we explore the recent history of women’s sports, particularly basketball, in college and professionally -including in the 90’s, when the first women’s professional league was established - the American Basketball League or ABL, followed closely by the WNBA. With increased attention and interest on women’s college basketball, and an acknowledgement of the high level of play and ski...

Welcome to News in Context. I’m Gina Baleria. In this episode, we explore how bridging by building relationships and being curious can connect people across differences - as well as provide lessons for news organizations that seek to inform. My guest is Monica Guzman, Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels; and author of I never thought of it that way: How to have fearlessly curious co...

Welcome to News in Context, I’m Gina Baleria. In this episode, we talk with New York Times columnist David Brooks, about his new book - How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. Brooks has been discussing politics and policy in the Times and on NPR for years. But as the social fabric of the U-S began to fray in recent years, he became more and more interested in...

In this episode, we explore the importance of strong neighborhood and community relationships to the health of nations… and discuss how many neighborhoods in the U.S. don’t have strong local ties and need structural and systemic help. My guest is Seth Kaplan - Author of Fragile Neighborhoods Repairing American Society One Zip Code at a Time. Seth is also an international relations expert whose job...

In this episode, we explore the persistent challenge of how to ensure that everyone has adequate housing. We discuss why the U.S. faces these issues, and what can – and can’t – be done at various levels of government. We also explore how we might re-frame the way we discuss housing and homelessness, to help us re-think solutions.   My guest is Tony Sparks, Associate Professor of Urban Studies & Pl...

In this episode, we explore how much of the information we get is mediated - edited - and we all get different edits based on what the algorithm thinks we want. This means we see and understand things differently, and that has contributed to polarization and othering. My Guest is Riaz Patel, executive producer and director focusing on reality shows with positive transformations. His show The Conne...

In this episode, we discuss press freedom in the U.S. in the wake of a police raid of the local paper in Marion, Kansas. In that raid, officers confiscated most of the paper’s computers and other equipment, leaving its journalists scrambling to be able to publish. Press freedom advocates have criticized Marion’s police chief for using tactics generally seen in authoritarian countries. But there ar...

In Part Two of my conversation with Chesa Boudin, we explore how his experiences as a child have informed his approach to criminal justice, and his efforts to seek reforms to how we engage with both the accused and the victims of crime. We also discuss the importance of communicating – both providing data and sharing stories – to help people understand context and demand policies that keep us all...

Welcome to News in Context – I’m Gina Baleria. In this episode, we talk with former San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin, founding executive director of the newly created Criminal Law & Justice Center at UC Berkeley School of Law. We discuss Boudin’s new role at UC Berkeley, and his plans for advancing victim's rights, true justice for all, and criminal justice reform by seeking evidence-based solutions...

In this episode, we explore how economic issues are often talked about in ways that minimize the needs of those who may not have the means to withstand recessions, contractions, or other economic downturns. This issue takes on greater urgency in an era of trying to control inflation… and deal with recent regional bank failures. My guest is Lynn Parramore, writer and researcher with the Institute f...

In this episode, we explore how othering has led to increased marginalization and vilification of people who are un-housed, and how civity can help counter this trend by helping people who are housed see the humanity of those without housing. My guest is Eric Tars, Legal Director of National Homelessness Law Center , who reminds us that housing is a human right. Tars hopes that helping people see...

In this episode, we explore how engaging across our racial and class divides can help bring us together to care for and nurture our democracy. My guest is Ian Haney López , professor at UC Berkeley School of Law, and author of several books, including Dog Whistle Politics: How Coded Racial Appeals Have Reinvented Racism & Wrecked the Middle Class, and Merge Left: Fusing Race & Class, Winning Elect...

In this episode, we explore the strategic use of racism in electoral politics to divide citizens across racial and other differences in an effort to retain power and wealth. My guest is Ian Haney López , professor at UC Berkeley School of Law, and author of several books, including Dog Whistle Politics: How Coded Racial Appeals Have Reinvented Racism & Wrecked the Middle Class, and Merge Left: Fus...

In this episode, we explore a massive new study on improving the health of democracy. The Strengthening Democracy Challenge invited more than 30-thousand people to engage with 25 interventions. The goal was to find ways to reduce things like partisan animosity, partisan violence, and anti-democratic attitudes, and increase social trust and a willingness to engage with people across socially salien...

In this episode, we explore the Bay Area housing market, and how mass corporate ownership of homes and apartments throughout the region affects communities and people trying to afford to rent or buy here. My Guest is Susie Neilson, Data Reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle - covering housing, domestic migration, and crime & criminal justice. Susie and a team at the SF Chronicle recently releas...

In this episode, we talk with Melissa Weintraub, founder & co-executive director of Resetting the Table. Resetting the table focuses on building dialogue and deliberation across political divides, focusing on seemingly intractable differences that are breeding distrust, a lack of empathy, and marginalization. To learn more about Resetting the Table, and to view the film Purple – which uncovers hum...

In this episode, we explore concepts of privilege - and how they color our systems and perpetuate inequities. We also discuss how building relationships across groups in a community can help us begin to address these systemic issues, while at the same time forging connections and building trust. My guest is Jacqueline Font-Guzman, vice president for diversity, equity, & inclusion at Eastern Mennon...

It’s no secret that polarization is deepening divides across the US. Over the past few years, many people have started or joined what are called bridging organizations to try and bring people together across those divides and help people bridge their differences by cultivating relationships -helping us see each other’s humanity and connecting on commonalities. The hope is that this helps us work t...

In this episode, we explore the sharp increase in fentanyl deaths across the country, including in San Francisco and the Bay Area, which had thus far had great success in combating the opioid epidemic. My guest is Dr. Philip Coffin, director of substance use research at the San Francisco Department of Public Health - who discusses how fentanyl is different than other opioids, and what we can do to...

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Stanford political scientist Dr. Kathryn Stoner… on the context of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Stoner is the Mosbacher Director of the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law; Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies; Political Scientist at Stanford; and Senior Fellow (by courtesy) at the Hoover Instit...

In this episode, we continue exploring the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - or as our guest, political scientist Dr. Kathryn Stoner, clarifies – Putin’s invasion. Stoner is the Mosbacher Director of the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law; Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies; Political Scientist at Stanford; and Senior Fellow (by court...

In this episode, we explore the historical and geo-political context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the role and actions of NATO. As we watch and read about Putin’s brutal actions in Ukraine and how they are affecting the people who live there, many of us find ourselves wondering why this is happening at all. Discussing this with me today is Dr. Amir Weiner , Director of the Center...

In this episode, we discuss the realities of COVID-19 and other diseases on our health and well being - and how vaccines have both saved us from the grim realities, and led us to forget just how bad diseases can get without vaccines to keep them at bay. My guest is Meredith Wadman , senior reporter with Science Magazine in Washington, D.C., and author of The Vaccine Race: Science, Politics, and th...

In this episode, we discuss vaccines – the science that has brought us such an incredible solution to public health crises; the human response to vaccines, mandates, and scientific information; and how misinformation has derailed clear communication. My guest is Greta Keenan, program specialist for science & society at the World Economic Forum .   Photo Credit: Wellcome Images