Commonwealth Club of California Podcast
1) S.F. Politics Preview 2026: Lurie Enters Year 2, Pelosi Exits, and More
San Francisco politics is rarely dull, but 2026 is shaping up to be particularly eventful. Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman elected U.S. House speaker, has announced her retirement after nearly ...Show More
2) Carol Leonnig and Aaron Davis: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America's Justice Department
In 1861, abolitionist Wendell Phillips said, “I think the first duty of society is justice.” What, then, would he think about the current state of America’s Department of Justice? Pulitzer-Prize-win...Show More
3) Breaking the Polarization Trap: A New Approach to Political Cooperation
Political polarization has become a top concern for Americans, surpassing issues such as immigration, inflation or crime, according to an October 2025 poll by The New York Times and Siena University. ...Show More
4) CLIMATE ONE: Crop Shoot: Farmers Caught Up In Policy Turmoil
Agriculture is directly responsible for 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and farmers and ranchers face growing climate impacts every day, from more severe storms to intense droughts, makin...Show More
5) The History of Political Resistance—And What Lessons Can We Apply to Today's Democratic Crisis?
Political resistance is as old as injustice itself, fighting with tools that span from civil disobedience (boycotts, strikes, sit-ins) to armed struggle, challenging tyranny, colonialism, racism, and ...Show More
6) CLIMATE ONE: Inside The Chaotic, Lucrative ‘Disaster Economy’ With Grist
It’s been a year since catastrophic fires tore through Los Angeles. For those who lived through them, the impacts are still being felt. Rebuilding in the aftermath of more frequent and severe fossil-f...Show More
7) Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer: Lessons for Anyone Who Wants to Make a Difference
It’s not just governors and presidents who have to confront and overcome huge challenges; we all do at every stage of our life. Now Gretchen Whitmer shares advice and stories from her life, from her c...Show More
8) CLIMATE ONE: ENCORE: Gloria Walton and Wawa Gatheru Believe in Grassroots Change, Not Just Charity
Those standing up to climate and environmental injustice face challenges they weren’t seeing a year ago. But Gloria Walton, head of The Solutions Project, sees a bigger picture: “ The reality is that...Show More
9) CLIMATE ONE: ENCORE: Solar Power to the People
At this moment, the cheapest way to create electricity is by pointing a solar panel at the sun. That’s good news for the climate. It’s also good news for communities who want to take control of their ...Show More
10) Jonathan Karl: Donald Trump and His Campaign of Retribution
Election Day in the November 2024 presidential election was a pivotal moment in American history, and in his second term, President Trump has moved quickly to imprint his vision on the country and its...Show More