The San Francisco Experience

Donald Trump's unorthodox political career will mark a new precedent next Tuesday when the former President is arraigned in a Manhattan courtroom on charges of paying and covering up hush money payments to a porn star. The sealed indictment will be opened so we will know the full scope of the charges against him. David McCuan brings his signature insight and analysis to this latest chapter in...

Donald Trump's indictment by the Manhattan DA regarding the payment and cover up of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels is an unprecedented development for a sitting or former President. He will turn himself in on Tuesday in New York, and the sealed indictment may be opened at that time. Matt Bennett walks us through the legal process and the impact on Campaign 2024.

The majority of Americans get their news from social media sites like Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook rather than dedicated news sites like the BBC, The New York Times, Bloomberg. Often social media substitutes opinion for factual news. Our ability to seek out reliable information, analyze and critique it is essential to know what is happening in our world. Youngsters are especially at risk and th...

By any standard, the CEO of Tik Tok, Shou Chew did little to shore up the credibility of the social media giant or his own image during the Congressional hearing. When the hearing was over Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy said he would consider a ban on Tik Tok. It was a very bad day for the 40 year old millennial executive.

In addition to having served as Chair of the Federal Election Commission and California's Fair Political Practices Commission, Ann has also served as an International Election Observer in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Puerto Rico. Committed to the democratic process at home and abroad.

On March 10, 2023 Silicon Valley Bank collapsed . More than 90% of its' deposits exceeded the FDIC limit of $250,000 but the regulators acted quickly to assure the financial markets by extending the guarantee to all of SVB's deposits. Professor Admati dissects the SVB debacle - it is a cautionary tale. She also discusses her 2013 book The Bankers' New Clothes and the 2023 update to be...

Professor Danielsson discusses global banking turmoil and the role of Risk Management in banks. His new book, Illusion of Control, takes a fresh look at managing risk. Diversification of banks' business models should provide shock absorbers to financial markets, helping to lessen the impact of bank failures on the economy.

Irene recounts working with Elvis Presley, Jimmy Stewart, John Ford, John Wayne, Jeff Bridges and Doris Day. For two years, she dated Frank Sinatra. With 80 credits to her name she has been a presence in the entertainment world since the 1960s.

The 95th Oscar Award Show was held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel.  Everything, Everywhere All at Once swept the awards as expected. Shaun gives a frank review of the film and its' stars.

Though the United States and Cuba enjoy diplomatic relations, the US bans general tourism to the island.  To travel to Cuba the purpose of the trip must fall into one of twelve generally humanitarian categories. Bill relates the rules and regulations for compliant US travel to Cuba and his impressions of the country and its' people while on a recent visit.

Silicon Valley Bank, the 16th largest bank in the US, collapsed on Friday and its assets were transferred to the FDIC.  Market fears for contagion are of concern, since 95% of SVB's deposits exceeded the $250,000 limit. Will a large bank acquire the remains of SVB to keep all depositors whole ? And what about the ripple effects on the tech economy which is already contracting ?

The 76 million Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964 are retiring and putting pressure on Social Security and housing values. But the Millennials an equally large generation born between 1981 and 1996, have other social, economic and political priorities. Is generational tension likely to play out to the benefit of one or both generations ?

Author of eleven books, Adam Hochschild discusses the 1917 to 1921 period a tumultuous but little studied period in US history spanning our involvement in WWI. The war plays out against a backdrop of social upheaval at home: Labor versus Capital, Nativists versus Immigrants and Black versus White. 

As Black History Month draws to a close, Jonathan Speed profiles the highly decorated 92nd All Black Division, in which his uncle, Bill Perry served with distinction. The 92nd earned more than 12,000 decorations and citations, as well as two Medals of Honor - America's highest award for for military valor in action.

Philanthropy plays an outsize role in animal welfare. The EE Mori Foundation and the South Florida SPCA are collaborating to assist in the care of larger mammals like horses, cows and other animals who are abandoned and overlooked. Mark Lees the Vice President of the EE Mori Foundation and Chris Septer the Executive Director of the South Florida SPCA discuss philanthropy for larger mammals.

Salesforce has been one of Silicon Valley's big success stories. But in 2022 the company's fortunes suffered a setback resulting in 8000 layoffs and five shareholder activist groups demanding change. While the company is profitable and counts Walmart and Amazon among its biggest customers, change is coming. Will CEO and founder Marc Benioff lead the company to continued growth and profitability ?...

2022 saw trends like Energy Security, US China Rivalry, emergence of a Global Authoritarian block and Deepening Digitization dominate global markets. Chris Watling, founder of Longview Economics puts emerging global trends in perspective  for investors, avoiding pitfalls to enhance investment returns.

W.E.B. Du Bois and the African American Experience in the First World War is the subject of the book. 380,000 African Americans served  in the War and their experience  both on the battlefield in France and when they returned home was a seminal moment for American Society in the 20th Century.  The after effects are still reverberating to this day. Historian Chad L. Williams walks us...

Raquel Welch and Stella Stevens, two iconic actresses of the 1960s and 1970s passed away last week. Both were hardworking and driven to succeed in the film industry and left a lasting legacy in popular American culture through their screen personas. Shaun Chang discusses their careers.

Oliver Stone's JFK film popularized a conspiracy theory that was set in New Orleans. The District Attorney Jim Garrison, crusaded or grandstanded - depending on your point of view -  a weak case that ended up putting Clay Shaw on trial. He was acquitted and the conspiracy theory rejected by the jury after one hour of deliberation.

In the business cycle, the first quarter of the year in corporate America is Performance Evaluation season, where you sit down with your boss to review the past year's performance and discuss compensation. Gone are the days of Jack Welch's forced ranking system but what new evaluation techniques are being implemented post Covid ? Matthew Boyle of Bloomberg News gives us an update.

California for all of its' wealth and abundance has the highest poverty rate in the nation. Overburdened with regulation that makes housing unaffordable, skilled jobs hard to access , criminal justice in short supply and education too ideological, Michael Tanner's report prescribes 24 reforms to level the playing field and make the economy more inclusive.

Professor Harcourt represents death penalty cases originating in the state of Alabama. He shares with us several recent cases he has worked on.

The Human Freedom Index presents the state of human freedom around the world based on a broad measure that covers personal , civil and economic freedom.  The United States ranks 23 out of 165 nations included in the index. 

To most cineastes' surprise, Andrea Riseborough was nominated for Best Actress - one of five coveted slots in the category - for her role in "To Leslie". Were Academy lobbying rules broken as Hollywood stars pushed for her nomination ?  And some lamented that more deserving actresses were passed over. But the Academy decided not to rescind her nomination. So it is now  in the hands of th...