Weekly Political Analysis
As confusion continues to swirl over what exactly was said during President Trump’s private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in Helsinki, Finland, the White House announced that Trump will invite Putin to meet with him this fall in Washington, D.C. In the California Senate race, the state Democratic Party snubbed Sen. Dianne Feinstein by endorsing her rival, Kevin de León, in this November’s general election. The move comes as Feinstein prepares to take a lead role in the looming partisan battle over confirming Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Guests:
Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle senior political writer
Marisa Lagos, KQED politics and government reporter
Sean Walsh, Wilson Walsh Consulting
Wildfire Cleanup Bill
The North Bay wildfires last October burned more than 240,000 acres, claimed the lives of 43 people and cost more than $1 billion to clean up. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers supervised the removal of more than 2 million tons of debris in Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties. KQED criminal justice reporter Sukey Lewis found troubling flaws in how the cleanup contracts were awarded and executed in her investigation.
Climate Change and Fire Season
This year’s fire season in California is off to the worst start in a decade, and climate change may be partly to blame. Hot, dry conditions and warmer nights have made it harder to fight deadly wildfires, while the state’s multiyear drought left behind millions of dead trees that have increased the fire risk. KQED Science editor Craig Miller discusses the role that climate change has played in damaging California’s environment.