Guantánamo Diary
What is it like to be trapped in the war on terror? Nothing symbolizes the endless cycle and contradictions of the conflict as much as Guantánamo prison does. The remarkable memoir Guantánamo Diary is an acclaimed international bestseller…
Do the People Rule?
On June 7, Californians will vote in the state's Presidential primary. How did this system get its start? What does that mean for political machinations today? Author and scholar Geoffrey Cowan, the former dean of the USC Annenberg School for…
The Emperor of Lies: A Masterwork of Holocaust Fiction
"It would seem difficult," says the New York Times Book Review, "after so much retelling, to write a freshly felt, fully absorbing novel about the Holocaust—and yet that is precisely what Steve Sem-Sandberg has done." Coming to us from Sweden,…
Right Out of California: Big Ag, Labor, and the Rise of Modern American Conservatism
The explosive labor disputes in the agricultural fields of Depression-era California left an enduring legacy. This discussion, featuring three experts on the topic, considers how farm issues have shaped not only labor organizing, but also the…
Changing the Conversation about Israel and Palestine
Writer Ben Ehrenreich, author of the forthcoming The Way to the Spring, speaks with Ed Wasserman, dean of UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, about reporting from the West Bank and working to break through a media conversation about…
Beyond Watchdogs and Lapdogs: Power Relationships in Political Journalism
Since the Progressive Era, journalists have maintained a wide variety of relationships with the public officials they cover. How have those relationships shaped the news—and American public life—at critical moments in our history?
Adam Hochschild on "Spain in Our Hearts": Hope, Failure, and the Spanish Civil War
From the acclaimed, best-selling author Adam Hochschild comes a sweeping history of the Spanish Civil War, told through a dozen characters, including Ernest Hemingway and George Orwell. It is a tale of idealism, heartbreaking suffering, and…
San Francisco's Secret Histories: Chinatown, the Tenderloin, and Legacy Bars
Who speaks for the Tenderloin? For Chinatown? When it comes to the writing of San Francisco history, not all neighborhoods are created equal. Come to this session for an underground tour. These writers share insights into the the rich histories…
Scheer Intelligence: "Spiral: Trapped in the Forever War" with Mark Danner and Robert Scheer
The legendary Robert Scheer has covered wars, politics, international affairs, and social issues for decades. His new podcast, "Scheer Intelligence," features provocative conversations with leading thinkers of our times. This event's podcast…
The Art of Tough
Sometimes lauded, sometimes vilified, but always standing tough, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer has fought for her convictions even when they have conflicted with her party or the majority rule. Here to launch her new memoir, The Art of Tough, with…