News In Context

01/12/2023

This week’s episode is a rebroadcasting of a conversation with Lynn Parramore about the ways economic issues are discussed in ways that can minimize the needs of those who may not have the means to withstand economic downturns.
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Lynn Parramore is a writer and researcher with the Institute for New Economic Thinking.
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10/11/2023

In this episode, we explore the importance of strong neighborhood and community relationships to the health of nations… and discuss how many neighborhoods in the U.S. don’t have strong local ties and need structural and systemic help.

My guest is Seth Kaplan - Author of Fragile Neighborhoods Repairing American Society One Zip Code at a Time. Seth is also an international relations expert whose job is to help fragile states around the world. He consults with organizations such as the World Bank and U.S. State Department, and he teaches international relations at Johns Hopkins University.

03/11/2023

Catch next week’s episode with Seth Kaplan on Friday, Nov. 10th!

28/10/2023

In this episode, we explore the persistent challenge of how to ensure that everyone has adequate housing. We discuss why the U.S. faces these issues, and what can – and can’t – be done at various levels of government. We also explore how we might re-frame the way we discuss housing and homelessness, to help us rethink solutions.

My guest is Tony Sparks, Associate Professor of Urban Studies & Planning in the Public Affairs & Civic Engagement (PACE) program at San Francisco State University.

29/09/2023

In this episode, we explore how much of the information we get is mediated - edited - and we all get different edits based on what the algorithm thinks we want. This means we see and understand things differently, and that has contributed to polarization and othering.

My Guest is Riaz Patel, executive producer and director focusing on reality shows with positive transformations. His show The Connect Effect seeks to counter the edits we all see by bringing people face-to-face, so they can build relationships without labels that define us in the media. This can help reduce polarization and increase connection.


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22/06/2023

Welcome to News in Context – I’m Gina Baleria. In this episode, we talk with former San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin, founding executive director of the newly created Criminal Law & Justice Center at UC Berkeley School of Law. We discuss Boudin’s new role at UC Berkeley, and his plans for advanci...

28/04/2023

In this episode, we explore how economic issues are often talked about in ways that minimize the needs of those who may not have the means to withstand recessions, contractions, or other economic downturns. This issue takes on greater urgency in an era of trying to control inflation… and deal with...

14/04/2023

In this episode, we explore how othering has led to increased marginalization and vilification of people who are un-housed, and how civity can help counter this trend by helping people who are housed see the humanity of those without housing. My guest is Eric Tars, Legal Director of National Homeles...

03/03/2023

In this episode, we explore how engaging across our racial and class divides can help bring us together to care for and nurture our democracy. My guest is Ian Haney López, professor at UC Berkeley School of Law, and author of several books, including Dog Whistle Politics: How Coded Racial Appeals H...

24/02/2023

In this episode, we explore the strategic use of racism in electoral politics to divide citizens across racial and other differences in an effort to retain power and wealth. My guest is Ian Haney López, professor at UC Berkeley School of Law, and author of several books, including Dog Whistle Polit...

26/10/2020

In this episode, we talk with four college students from and/or attending school in the Bay Area - all of them taking classes right now online. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the majority of schools across the country to move classes online – both K-12 and higher ed. The goal is to prevent the...

23/10/2020

In this episode, we talk with four college students from and/or attending school in the Bay Area - all of them taking classes right now online. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the majority of schools across the country to move classes online – both K-12 and higher ed. The goal is to prevent the...

16/10/2020

In this episode, we talk with John Wood, Jr., national ambassador for Braver Angels, an organization also working to build relationships across the divides that fracture Americans. John discusses how Braver Angels is working to bridge the divides that fracture us and build community.

09/10/2020

In this episode, we take a closer look at the response among many in the medical and public health communities to the president’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, his own diagnosis, and the national response to U.S. citizens reeling from those choices. My guest is Dr. Mike Reid, Assistant Profes...

02/10/2020

In this episode, we seek to make sense of the recent New York Times articles about the President’s tax returns. We also explore the U.S. tax system - in particular who benefits, who doesn’t, and how the tax code reflects and doesn’t reflect our goals and priorities. My guests are Annette Nelle...

25/09/2020

In this episode, we explore how some tenets of media literacy can be co-opted by conspiracy theorists, and how to approach media literacy education in a way that ensures students have the skills and abilities to navigate this landscape and assess information holistically. My guest is Renee Hobbs –...

18/09/2020

In this episode, we explore the allure and growing influence of conspiracy theories, and how they are both combated by and influenced by Media Literacy. This includes the role of conspiracy theories in our sociopolitical context, and the issues and challenges in our current marketplace of ideas - in...

11/09/2020

In this episode, we explore the influence and impact of framing - in particular how mainstream news tends to frame national issues as gamified, two-sided face-offs - democrat vs. republican... conservative vs. progressive… this politician vs. that politician. This can happen even when the two-side...

04/09/2020

In this episode, we explore California’s history of and relationship to fire, in particular how native populations worked with fire, and how colonizers from Europe suppressed and prohibited cultural fire management with what we now know are devastating consequences. Over the past four years, the G...

28/08/2020

In this episode, we explore California’s dynamic and shifting climate, which impacts so much across the Bay area, region, and state, including our weather, our water, our land, our crops, our snowpack, and our air. Just during the past few weeks, we have seen an intense heat wave and spectacular a...

21/08/2020

In this episode, we talk about the post office with Dr. Richard R. John, Professor of History & Communications in the Columbia Journalism School at Columbia University. Dr. John teaches courses on the history of communications, capitalism, and American political development - and all of these factor...

14/08/2020

In this episode, we explore allyship - How to support black people and other people of color in the fight for equity, protection from police brutality, and to dismantle systemic racism. We also discuss how allyship can go wrong when well-meaning white people take the mantle of ally but fail to check...

07/08/2020

I want to share an article I wrote for the
Perspectives Blog on the journalistic roles & responsibilties of op-ed sections... as well as our responsibilities as news consumers and citizens.

Putting

Recent conversations and controversies surrounding the venerable op-ed pages at

30/07/2020

In this episode, I continue my conversation with three Bay Area theatre makers of color who are working to ensure diverse voices and stories are heard and represented… both on stage… and throughout the threatre ecosystem. We also discuss the importance of looking at the issues and challenges we ...

28/07/2020

I am so proud of my latest episode on the role of arts and artists in crisis. I spoke with an incredible panel of Bay Area theatre makers who discussed how they are navigating COVID-19, , and .

This is Part 1. Part 2 will air on Friday. Thank you for listening!

https://newsincontext.podbean.com/e/the-role-of-arts-artists-in-crisis/

18/07/2020

I feel we've abdicated a piece of our ideals when we stand by and allow unidentified security officials to grab people off the street without revealing who they are, what agency they work for, or why they are apprehending the person. Also, no Miranda rights (until later), and other violations of well established arrest procedure.

I would hope that supporters of "law and order" would also decry violations of well established law and order practices.

Not to mention the violations to our First Amendment rights of assembly and expression. This is not the way I want us to deal with protesters. The larger question for me is - what exactly do we want to be as a nation? And, does this fit with our vision? Would we be ok if our loved ones were treated this way? If we were treated this way?

I hope we keep talking about this, and I will endeavor to do so on my podcast.

“I was terrified” says man who was apprehended, driven away in an unmarked minivan, then later released by Customs and Border Protection agents.

18/07/2020

Thank you for listening! :)

18/07/2020

I had such a great time discussing the role of libraries in times of crisis. Thank you Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and SFPL!

Listen here: https://newsincontext.podbean.com/e/the-role-of-libraries-in-communities-every-day-in-crisis/

18/07/2020