The San Francisco Experience

In this sweeping amalgam of history, politics, philosophy and culture, Professor Hoodbhoy gives us a detailed profile of Pakistan. Perceptive insights about this strategic nation that straddles the Middle East and Central Asia.

Ursula Parrott was a very successful author from 1929 to the late 1940s. A member of the Lost Generation, her body of work consists of 130 novels, short stories and magazine articles that recounted the lives of young women navigating the post WWI world of women's equality. Largely forgotten since the 1950s, Marsha Gordon is re-introducing Parrott's work to the reading public.

What do we celebrate on Memorial Day ?

Del Seymour, the founder of Code Tenderloin, shares his personal journey from addiction to recovery on the streets of the Tenderloin.

San Francisco in the 1970s was dominated by larger than life characters like Jim Jones of the Peoples' Temple, Patty Hearst the heiress turned terrorist, the Zodiac killer, Harvey Milk, George Moscone and Dan White. Author George Albert Brown evokes those heady times with equally colorful characters in "Who killed Jerusalem", in this whodunit with a literary homage to 18th Century English poet William Blake set against the backdrop of San Francisco.

Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel Airport was turned into the successful 1970 film Airport. And through the 1970s a series of other Airport films were produced inspired by the popular Disaster genre. Shaun Chang discusses the genre, the cast and the backstory of Airport 1975.

Prevention, Intervention and Harm Reduction in the face of a Fentanyl crisis in San Francisco.

Turkey is headed for an historic presidential runoff election on Sunday May 28, 2023 with incumbent Erdogan facing challenger Kilicdaroglu. Alp Sevimlisoy outlines what is at stake for the Turkish Republic and its people.

ESG investment considerations for the last ten years have had a growing influence on the asset management industry. But of late, they have generated controversy and some states have even enacted anti ESG legislation. What is at play in this debate that impacts every investor and publicly traded company, why is it important and how will your investments and 401K be impacted ?

What goes through the minds of non-combatant civilians when war comes to their doorstep as in Ukraine ? Greta Uehling looks at war from the inside perspective of non-combatants and how they rise to heights of bravery in what she terms the dialectic between violent conflict and the ethics of care.

Professor Madry recounts the rapid integration of AI and Machine Learning into the US Economy and the fundamental impact it will have on our way of life. Every aspect of life - Business, Healthcare, Academia and Government will be profoundly transformed and adoption is already under way.

Dexter Roberts worked as a journalist for Bloomberg Businessweek in their Beijing bureau for over 20 years. He brings a unique perspective and is able to draw back the curtain on the Chinese economy, in particular the growing wealth gap between wealthy urban middle classes and impoverished rural dwellers. The 300 million migrant workers who were drawn to factory jobs in coastal cities are often left in a no man's land of uncertainty because of Hukou registration tying them to their poor, native rural villages for social benefits.

Professor Harcourt outlines a theory based on cooperative initiatives called Cooperism. This is a political theory grounded in the recognition of our interdependence. It draws on existing cooperative practices common in Western society and is especially timely given the polarization in our political system today.

The Peking to Paris motor race began in 1907 as a long distance endurance motor rally and was revived in 1997. For 36 days covering 8,500 miles, across 11 countries, and 8 time zones, 100 plus competitors raced their classic and collectible cars across Asia and Europe in June 2019. Jim Gately relates his epic journey in his 1937, 4 door, Cadillac convertible.

Turner Classic Movies hosts an annual four day film festival in Hollywood featuring a selection of top classic films as well as panel discussions with stars and industry leaders. Shaun attended the 14th Festival last weekend and shares his first hand impressions of the extravaganza.

Mark Sneed talks about the lack of diversity among popular superheroes and in his latest book The Pawn, he creates one. He explores how the protagonist Ren Armitage begins to recognize that he possesses unusual powers of strength and popularity. It's a tale that draws the reader in, wanting more.

Every adolescent has a right to experiment and make mistakes on the path to adulthood. Unfortunately, our Juvenile Justice System is more likely to treat black kids more harshly than whites and is quicker to criminalize. And Police in schools may have become counter productive. Professor Henning details the disparities but ends on an upbeat note of reforms.

In today's episode Rich Outzen reviews Turkey's support for Ukraine in the first year of its' war with Russia while maintaining a delicate balance of diplomatic and commercial ties with Russia. He also discusses the outlook for Turkey's Ukraine policy in light of the May presidential and parliamentary elections.

Bob Smith covered the White House for the New York Times during the Nixon Administration. Acting FBI Director L. Patrick Gray gave him an early scoop on the Watergate scandal, before Woodward and Bernstein began publishing their revelations in the Washington Post. But inexplicably, the Times failed to publish the story. He also contrasts the NYT coverage of President Nixon and President Trump.

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 Trump's political fortunes as the 2024 campaign begins.

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 there is a move to regulate their use of social media the same as we do for tobacco and alcohol, given its' similar addictive qualities.

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 published in the Fall of 2023.

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 ? 2023 will be a critical year for the company.

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 through this little studied chapter in American history.

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 the Academy voters. 

Ambassador Charles Ray kicks off TSFEP's celebration of Black History Month. A true renaissance man, he has had distinguished careers as an Army officer, a senior Foreign Service Officer and an author. You will enjoy his interview.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, science grew to dominate the  practice of medicine, all but abandoning the practice of healing which had been its  cornerstone  for millennia. Ed Cohen shows that the revival of healing as a part of medical practice has an important and fulfilling role to play.

In December 2022, nuclear fusion ignition occurred at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Physicists have pursued the technology to achieve such a break through for decades. Nuclear fusion power promises limitless, clean energy. It is the energy that fuels the sun and the stars. 

In the 1990s the US accounted for 37% of global chip production. Today that metric has plummeted to 12%. In October the Biden Administration introduced tough export measures against China to stem the flow of advanced technology. And the 2022 CHIPS Act earmarks $280 billion over 10 years to boost R&D, onshore  chip plant construction and STEM education to regain a leading role in the Semiconductor industry. Is it enough ?

Prince Harry's memoir is a combination of a car crash interview and a settling of scores to let his father, brother and step mother know what he really thinks of them. All 410 pages of it.

As inflation surges and wages fail to keep pace, housing costs and especially rents are rising. Numerous US cities and states are adopting rent control measures but in the long run, do we create even more housing unaffordability ?

Richard Allen, Director of the UC Berkeley Seismology Lab and his team, have developed an early warning system for earthquakes. The app can be downloaded to smartphones. During December's 6.4 quake in Ferndale, California, the app alerted 3 million users before the shaking started. Download the app at the App store, either IOS or Android

The World Balance of Power emerging in the 2020s is dividing into two blocs : the Authoritarians (China and Russia) and the Democratic West (US, EU, Nato, UK, Japan, Australia).  China's increasing economic clout is prompting it to challenge the existing international order starting with the global reserve currency the US Dollar. At the same time, Xi Jin Ping's 7 No's represent a repudiation of fundamental Western values. Are we facing a Super Power Struggle and a new Cold War ? The Thucydides Trap. 

Ruth Paine is one of the last surviving Warren Commission witnesses. She was a key witness in helping the Commission establish Oswald's whereabouts in the October and November weekends leading up to the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963. She secured the job for him at the Texas School Book Depository and he spent his last night of freedom at her home on November 21, 1963. His rifle was stored in her garage, unbeknownst to her. She was interviewed by Jim Garrison the New Orleans DA and testified at the Clay Shaw trial. She shares her recollections of Oswald in this podcast interview.

Michael takes on the conventional wisdom of both liberals and conservatives looking at the reasons for poverty while offering a detailed agenda for increasing wealth, income and opportunity. Criminal justice reform,  education innovation, housing equity and access to financial products are all elements of his reform agenda.

While major market indices for 2022 ended the year on a down note, 2023 offers more challenges. Rising interest rates, the prospect of a recession and inflation at a 40 year high make managing your 401k and investments more complex. Joe Gilbert of Integrity Asset Management shares his firm's strategies for 2023 to help navigate your choices.

Part of the Holiday tradition for many of us is to watch classic Christmas movies that take us back to our childhood celebrating with loved ones. Shaun Chang picks his three most favorite films to enjoy over the Holidays.

2022 has been a year of global turmoil starting with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, roiled energy markets and realignment of global powers. NATO has experienced a renaissance and regional powers like Turkey are playing a bigger role on the world stage. Democracies versus authoritarian regimes are increasingly reliant on tradecraft to understand what their adversaries next moves might be.

     Black athletes have used their influence to force social change for over 100 years. Today's Sport Justice Movement is the next iteration of this tradition.

New York Times bestselling author William D. Cohan discusses his latest book Power Failure. Bill interviewed  three of the last four CEOs of General Electric, among many other insiders, to get a first hand account about the demise of General Electric. Under new leadership, the once corporate colossus is a mere shadow of what it was at its' peak under CEO Jack Welch in the 1980s and 1990s. Bill's very readable book is a corporate autopsy of what went wrong at GE and why. It should be required reading for any student of corporate management and any investor .