The San Francisco Experience

Two days after the Midterm elections and we are still waiting to find out if Democrats or Republicans will control the US Congress. And what happened to the Republican Red Wave ? David McCuan shares his perspective on the outcome.

As America's Muslim population increases, and integrates into the mainstream, their depiction in popular culture must move beyond the stereotypes of terrorist, veiled women, greedy oil sheik and fanatical religious extremist. More nuanced Muslim characters are beginning to appear on the screen.  Crisis Diversity has helped usher in more realistic portrayals of Muslims as Professor Alsultany d...

Clay Small's second novel is an intricate crime story with the themes of art forgery, revenge and redemption featuring prominently in the plot. And notorious Dutch forger who copied Dutch masterpieces of Old Master Vermeer, Han Van Meegeren,  plays a central role.

In the closing days of Campaign 2022, polls remain very close in four key Senate races which will determine which party controls the Upper House.  The House of Representatives appears to be on track to gain a Republican majority. Inflation, gas prices, sliding 401K values,  rising mortgage rates and crime seem to be top of voters' minds. The Democrats are trying to shift the narrative to...

Saudi Arabia announced oil production cuts at the OPEC meeting in October by 2million barrels daily or 2% of global production. President Biden had asked the Kingdom's leadership to increase production in July. The Saudi move seemed to favor Russia and work against Western economic sanctions against Russia's Ukraine war. Why did they do it and what do they have to gain ? Professor  Nicholas G...

Rishi Sunak, 42 became Britain's youngest Prime Minister in 200 years. Born in Southampton of immigrant parents, he is the first Prime Minister of Asian descent. But he takes over amidst the financial turmoil of the Liz Truss government, Covid recovery , soaring energy prices and  lingering Brexit economic uncertainty. Professor Jonathan Hopkin profiles Rishi Sunak and the challenges facing h...

Elon Musk has said he is overpaying for Twitter at $44 billion. The deal must close by Friday night, October 28, to avoid a trial in Delaware's Chancery Court. How did he get trapped in this morass ? Bill Cohan walks us through the missteps that have led up to this point.

Critically acclaimed author Liz Nugent talks about her body of work in the Emerald Noir subgenre and shares with us a preview of her upcoming book, "Strange Sally Diamond"

Ana de Armas plays Marilyn Monroe in the screen adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates novel, "Blonde". Described by Oates as a fantasy or even fairytale , Blonde is a fictional and at times brutal take on events in the Hollywood star's life. It is a study of American celebrity as personified by Marilyn Monroe.

Created by President Eisenhower in 1956, SCI fosters people to people contacts and programs between Americans and the global community. American soft diplomatic power and influence, cultural, educational, technical and professional, is a key part of US foreign policy. Bill Boerum shares with us his perspective and impressions from attending three  international conferences in his role as a ci...

The 2022 Nobel Prize for Economics was awarded to Ben Bernanke, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank, Douglas Diamond,  University of Chicago and Philip Dybvig, Washington University in St. Louis. All three and their research played a pivotal role in successfully navigating the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis. Professor Chincarini shares his commentary.

President Biden announced a blanket pardon for Americans federally charged with minor drug possession. Is this a turning point ?

Our guest is geopolitical strategist and noted Atlanticist, Alp Sevimlisoy of the Atlantic Council. Ukraine is not only a battleground for Russian territorial aggrandizement, but also for a confrontation between two competing world views, Atlanticism and Eurasianism. The former enshrines Western liberal democracy ideals while the latter eschews the rule of law and promotes authoritarianism.

Today's episode is a presentation which will be made on Saturday, October 8, 2022 to commemorate the 160 anniversary of the founding of St. Teresa of Avila Church and to celebrate its' pioneer founders.

Turmoil in UK financial markets has pummeled the value of Sterling and caused havoc with UK Government bonds, in the wake of a large tax cut announced last week by Kwasi Karteng, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Is Supply side economics back in the UK ? Listen to James Herlihy's perspective.

Frisco is a historical novel set in San Francisco in 1934, amidst the first General Strike in US History.  The General Strike was one of our City's defining moments, along with the Gold Rush of 1849 and the 1906 Earthquake.

How do you plan for a secure financial future with headline inflation running at 9%, rising interest rates, a looming recession and global turmoil ?  Professor Damodaran shares his insights.

Last week marked a turning point in Russia's war in Ukraine. Ukrainian troops re-took the city of Kharkiv in the North East, along with 2000 square miles of territory, routing the Russian Army.  That humiliating defeat likely prompted Putin's address to the nation, announcing a mobilization of 300,000 Army reservists and a series of referenda to be conducted this weekend in four Ukrainian ter...

This award winning 1997 film portrays Los Angeles in 1953, where Hollywood celebrity collides with police corruption.  Michael Nathanson produced  LA Confidential which won two Oscars, and Shaun Chang interviews him.

Bass Reeves was one of the first African Americans to be named a Deputy US Marshal West of the Mississippi  in the late 1800s.  He arrested more than 3000 fugitives in the Oklahoma Territory and the West. With a photographic memory, he was able to recall warrant details which stood him in good stead, as he couldn't read or write. Charlie Ray shines the light of history on the prominent role that A...

Last week saw momentous change in the UK as a new Prime Minister was appointed on Tuesday.  Thursday  the Queen suddenly passed, succeeded by her eldest son Charles III. Georgina joins us to put it all in perspective and gives us a sense of what to expect.

With the death of Queen Elizabeth II after a 70 year reign, the second Elizabethan Age draws to a close. Her son and heir, King Charles III ascends the throne with Camilla as Consort Queen. Today's episode is a series of reminiscences about the Queen.

Are America's energy companies being distracted from creating shareholder value by Environmental, Social and Governance mandates (ESG) ? And do the large asset managers like BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street for instance with $20 Trillion of assets under management wielding too much power in corporate boardrooms and shareholder meetings and out step with average American investors ? Is Excellen...

Turkey has adroitly maneuvered between the warring parties of Ukraine and Russia during the current conflict.  But Turkey clearly wants Ukraine to win and has supplied drones and other materiel to its' neighbor. At the same time it is trying to broker a peace deal between the warring parties. Rich Outzen walks us through Turkey's grand strategy.

North Korea is a hereditary, dynastic dictatorship, under the control of the Kim family for 77 years. Kim Jong Un is the third member of the family to rule this impoverished, Stalinist nation of 22 million people.