The San Francisco Experience

The Digital Democracy Project gives voters a secure, blockchain-based toolkit to let them tell legislators and politicians alike, how they should vote on specific bills. It also produces a record of accountability.

November 2024 marked a significant political turning point in this, the bluest of blue cities. Moderate Daniel Lurie and a newcomer to politics defeated incumbent Mayor London Breed 55-45%. And Nancy Tung advanced the number of moderates on the 24 elected member SF Central Committee from 2 to 18. Has SF's performative political theater given way to a more results oriented, pragmatic approach ?

Josh co-founded Plantd, a sustainable building supplies company that "Fast Company" named One of the Most Innovative Companies in 2024. And last year he created a podcast show called Supercool that showcases climate entrepreneurs.

According to the Gallup Survey, 45% of American adults identify as Political Independents rather than as members of an organized political party. At the same time 27% of adults consider themselves as Republicans and 27% identify as Democrats. Yet our politics have become even more polarized, perhaps as moderates flee extremes within organized parties. How can Independent voters be sure the system...

Frederick Rutland was a British double agent but a much decorated WWI hero and naval flyer ace who helped Japan to attack Pearl Harbor in 1941. He shared cutting aircraft carrier designs and aircraft technology with the Japanese during the 1920s and 1930s.

A nanoparticle nasal spray, to cross the blood/brain barrier and access the brain for medical application purposes and to expand the frontiers of Artificial Intelligence.

Fewer rural adults earn college degrees than their urban counterparts: 31% to 45%. That 14% shortfall is a telling difference and negatively impacts our society and the broader economy. How can we boost rural advanced education participation ? "Educated Out" highlights what is wrong and how to correct it.

Gladstone announced a major expansion today to bring in hundreds of new scientists and grow key research teams in San Francisco's Mission Bay area. Artificial Intelligence and biotech are increasingly converging.

Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan and Uzbekistan comprise the OTS. Turkmenistan, Hungary and Northern Cyprus have observer status. Azerbaijan borders Iran, has been attacked by missiles and has a sizeable minority in Iran. Where does the OTS stand ?

California voters may be asked to vote on a Billionaire Wealth Tax which has already seen the likes of Larry Page, Sergei Brin and Mark Zuckerberg consider relocating to Florida or Texas. Most European countries that had wealth taxes have scrapped them as they consider them hostile to innovators and entrepreneurs. So why would California consider a discredited tax strategy that even Governor Newso...

When you call 911 in an emergency you can be assured that committed and competent paramedics will show up in a matter of minutes. No one asks if you have insurance, can you pay or are you really in need. They take you at your word and show up. Joanna walks us through the world of a paramedic and why we are so fortunate to have them.

On January 6th, 2026, Volker set out on a six month journey through South America. His first port of call was Lima, Peru. In today's episode, he joins us from Tacna, Peru, in the SW of the country, 22 miles North of the Chilean border to share his impressions of this wonderful country.

A gifted but guileless young painter (Chris/Atlas) on scholarship to Harvard is drawn into the orbit of a dazzling, wealthy, Euro jetsetter student, Lucien, who manipulates him. Further, Lucien realizes that he can monetize his protege's painting genius by having him forge known artists work. But the narrative of great privilege and wealth begins to fall apart driving Lucien to pressure Chris...

Police searched Andrew's residence and seized documents, computer files and electronic devices looking for evidence to bolster their Public misconduct case. The Police are likely to call witnesses for interview who are familiar with his activity as UK Trade Envoy.

Every year the Chamber sponsors a poll of San Franciscans regarding the health and vitality of our economy and well being of the City by the Bay. The results were unveiled last week at the City Beat breakfast. Mayor Lurie gave the Keynote address and CEO Rodney Fong presided. In today's podcast, Rodney discusses the poll results.

A majority of young adults believe that they will not be as well off as their parents. In other words, they are falling behind. And the economic data bears it out. The average age of first time homebuyers is 40. But in the 1980s it was 30. What can the average young man or woman do to build wealth ?

Venezuela went from being one of Latin America's wealthiest countries to an economic disaster. More than 7 million Venezuelans have fled the country . And despite having the largest proven oil reserves in the world, daily oil production stands at a measly 500,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, Ex President Maduro sits in a NY jail awaiting trial as a narco terrorist.

The Great San Francisco Comeback is in full swing. And nowhere is the energy, drive and vision of The City that Knows How on display, than iconic Union Square. It's the heart and soul at the center of our Reimagining San Francisco, led by the Union Square Alliance.

Sir Keir Starmer's 18 month Premiership has been thrown into crisis as a result of Peter Mandelson's past associations with Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer appointed Mandelson UK Ambassador to Washington and then sacked him in September 2025. Can Starmer survive calls for his resignation ?

Author, essayist and literary critic, Bill Deresiewicz assembled a collection of forty essays written over a 30 year period. The themes include, Individuality vs. Networks, The Purpose of Education, Culture and Technology, Art and Criticism and Social Trends. The former Professor of English Literature at Yale University shares his opinions.

January 2026 saw a series of strategic foreign policy moves in Venezuela, Greenland, Iran, the Board of Peace which will continue to reverberate throughout 2026 and beyond.

As American Universities opened campuses in China and the Middle East in the early 2000s the wish was that our values of free speech and freedom would take root there. But increasingly their standards of censorship and authoritarianism seem to be pressuring our universities. How did this expansion go wrong ?

The International Spy Museum is dedicated to the history of tradecraft and the contemporary role of espionage. It features the world's largest collection of spy artifacts, gadgets, disguises and code machines. Executive Director Chris Costa had a distinguished career as a US Army Intelligence Officer. He was inducted into the Commando Hall of Fame in 2013 for extraordinary and enduring service...

Set in South Africa, this thriller is the latest novel by acclaimed author Deon Meyer. He writes about life in post Apartheid South Africa featuring the detective team of Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido. Inspired by a high profile case of graft and corruption, a team of former South African Special Forces soldiers scheme to pull of a high stakes heist with Benny and Vaughn in hot pursuit.

President Trump has stated that his Administration intends to purchase the Danish dependency Greenland. The US already has almost carte blanche to establish any military facilities in Greenland under the terms of a 1951 treaty. 3 times the size of Texas and the largest island in the world, Greenland's population is 57,000. NATO of which Denmark is a member, is siding with Denmark in opposing a...