window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={
"attachmentsReducer": {
"audio_0": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_0",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_1": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_1",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_2": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_2",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_3": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_3",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_4": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_4",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"
}
}
},
"placeholder": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "placeholder",
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"small": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 32,
"height": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 50,
"height": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 64,
"height": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 96,
"height": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 128,
"height": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
}
},
"news_12104429": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12104429",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12104429",
"found": true
},
"title": "Warner Bros",
"publishDate": 1792016504,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12104425,
"modified": 1792016532,
"caption": "California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks during a press conference, Oct. 8, 2024, in San Francisco. ",
"credit": "Minh Connors/AP Photo",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-160x114.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 114,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-1536x1091.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1091,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1420
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12104620": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12104620",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12104620",
"found": true
},
"title": "Young birder at Berkeley Bird Festival 2023 by Ryan Nakano",
"publishDate": 1792095807,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12104610,
"modified": 1792095832,
"caption": "A young birder at the Berkeley Bird Festival.\n",
"credit": "Courtesy of Ryan Nakano",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Young-birder-at-Berkeley-Bird-Festival-2023-by-Ryan-Nakano-ba31beb5-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Young-birder-at-Berkeley-Bird-Festival-2023-by-Ryan-Nakano-ba31beb5-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Young-birder-at-Berkeley-Bird-Festival-2023-by-Ryan-Nakano-ba31beb5-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Young-birder-at-Berkeley-Bird-Festival-2023-by-Ryan-Nakano-ba31beb5-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Young-birder-at-Berkeley-Bird-Festival-2023-by-Ryan-Nakano-ba31beb5-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Young-birder-at-Berkeley-Bird-Festival-2023-by-Ryan-Nakano-ba31beb5-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Young-birder-at-Berkeley-Bird-Festival-2023-by-Ryan-Nakano-ba31beb5.JPG",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12102955": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12102955",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12102955",
"found": true
},
"title": "261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-06-BL-KQED",
"publishDate": 1791241056,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1791241191,
"caption": "“Yes on Esmeralda” signs are displayed in Cloverdale on Oct. 1, 2026. The proposed development would transform a former industrial site on the city’s southeastern edge into a new neighborhood with housing, a hotel, businesses and public open space.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-06-BL-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-06-BL-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-06-BL-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-06-BL-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-06-BL-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12103942": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12103942",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12103942",
"found": true
},
"title": "10092026Valkyries Friday Night_GH_019_qed",
"publishDate": 1791647169,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12103702,
"modified": 1791647195,
"caption": "A Golden State Valkyries fan wearing a No. 15 jersey throws his arms in the air during the team's game against the Las Vegas Aces at Standard Deviant Brewing in San Francisco on Oct. 9, 2026.",
"credit": "Gustavo Hernandez/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_019_qed-9d5b3406-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_019_qed-9d5b3406-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_019_qed-9d5b3406-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_019_qed-9d5b3406-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_019_qed-9d5b3406-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_019_qed-9d5b3406-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_019_qed-9d5b3406.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12088984": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12088984",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12088984",
"found": true
},
"title": "260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-11-BL-KQED",
"publishDate": 1782491125,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12088904,
"modified": 1782496514,
"caption": "The National Archives and Records Administration facility in San Bruno on June 25, 2026, stores historical federal records from Northern California and the Pacific region.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-11-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-11-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-11-BL-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-11-BL-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-11-BL-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-11-BL-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-11-BL-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12104319": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12104319",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12104319",
"found": true
},
"title": "261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-08-BL-KQED",
"publishDate": 1791995357,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1791995438,
"caption": "Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026, for the opening day of her federal corruption trial.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-08-BL-KQED-f375e87d-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-08-BL-KQED-f375e87d-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-08-BL-KQED-f375e87d-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-08-BL-KQED-f375e87d-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-08-BL-KQED-f375e87d-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-08-BL-KQED-f375e87d-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-08-BL-KQED-f375e87d.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12097765": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12097765",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12097765",
"found": true
},
"title": "GettyImages-2051760641",
"publishDate": 1788279340,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12096560,
"modified": 1788279368,
"caption": "Skiers flock Palisades Tahoe ski resort in Olympic Valley, California, on March 4, 2024 as blizzard warning issued for California's Sierra Nevada. ",
"credit": "Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2051760641-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2051760641-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2051760641-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2051760641-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2051760641-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2051760641-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2051760641.jpg",
"width": 1980,
"height": 1320
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
}
},
"audioPlayerReducer": {
"postId": "stream_live",
"isPaused": true,
"isPlaying": false,
"pfsActive": false,
"pledgeModalIsOpen": true,
"playerDrawerIsOpen": false,
"liveAudioPlayStartedAt": 0,
"liveAudioPlayContext": ""
},
"authorsReducer": {
"lfitzgerald": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "12033",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "12033",
"found": true
},
"name": "Laura Fitzgerald",
"firstName": "Laura",
"lastName": "Fitzgerald",
"slug": "lfitzgerald",
"email": "lfitzgerald@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": null,
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5d0c7e3bd84e0b6570305007f6804a66f0aff7a0e6c93cdfc39cd714346d57c9?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Laura Fitzgerald | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5d0c7e3bd84e0b6570305007f6804a66f0aff7a0e6c93cdfc39cd714346d57c9?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5d0c7e3bd84e0b6570305007f6804a66f0aff7a0e6c93cdfc39cd714346d57c9?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/lfitzgerald"
},
"abandlamudi": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11672",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11672",
"found": true
},
"name": "Adhiti Bandlamudi",
"firstName": "Adhiti",
"lastName": "Bandlamudi",
"slug": "abandlamudi",
"email": "abandlamudi@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "KQED Housing Reporter",
"bio": "Adhiti Bandlamudi reports for KQED's Housing desk. She focuses on how housing gets built across the Bay Area. Before joining KQED in 2020, she reported for WUNC in Durham, North Carolina, WABE in Atlanta, Georgia and Capital Public Radio in Sacramento. In 2017, she was awarded a Kroc Fellowship at NPR where she reported on everything from sprinkles to the Golden State Killer's arrest. When she's not reporting, she's baking new recipes in her kitchen or watching movies with friends and family. She's originally from Georgia and has strong opinions about Great British Bake Off.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/868129c8b257bb99a3500e2c86a65400?s=600&d=mm&r=g",
"twitter": "oddity_adhiti",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Adhiti Bandlamudi | KQED",
"description": "KQED Housing Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/868129c8b257bb99a3500e2c86a65400?s=600&d=mm&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/868129c8b257bb99a3500e2c86a65400?s=600&d=mm&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/abandlamudi"
},
"calam": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11834",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11834",
"found": true
},
"name": "Christopher Alam",
"firstName": "Christopher",
"lastName": "Alam",
"slug": "calam",
"email": "calam@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Christopher Alam is a radio newscast intern working on local news and general assignment reporting. Before joining KQED he was active in college radio and journalism at UC Davis, where he received a bachelor's degree in English and professional writing in 2021. He is also a creative writer and does freelance work. Born in Fresno, he is now based in San Francisco and Oakland.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b3a8308c5aaa97024a7274f0a617bd7083c2b6c50039ea7d1c08f831158d1951?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "_chrisalam",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": "christopher_alam",
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Christopher Alam | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b3a8308c5aaa97024a7274f0a617bd7083c2b6c50039ea7d1c08f831158d1951?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b3a8308c5aaa97024a7274f0a617bd7083c2b6c50039ea7d1c08f831158d1951?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/calam"
},
"nkhan": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11867",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11867",
"found": true
},
"name": "Nisa Khan",
"firstName": "Nisa",
"lastName": "Khan",
"slug": "nkhan",
"email": "nkhan@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Nisa Khan is a reporter for KQED's Audience News Desk. She was formerly a data reporter at Michigan Radio. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Information from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts in Communication from Stanford University.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8720459eef081ff64582b3506b124d58523e80e120704a0cbd9892533c914991?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "mnisakhan",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor",
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Nisa Khan | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8720459eef081ff64582b3506b124d58523e80e120704a0cbd9892533c914991?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8720459eef081ff64582b3506b124d58523e80e120704a0cbd9892533c914991?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/nkhan"
},
"kdebenedetti": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11913",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11913",
"found": true
},
"name": "Katie DeBenedetti",
"firstName": "Katie",
"lastName": "DeBenedetti",
"slug": "kdebenedetti",
"email": "kdebenedetti@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news",
"science"
],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Katie DeBenedetti is a digital reporter covering daily news for the Express Desk. Prior to joining KQED as a culture reporting intern in January 2024, she covered education and city government for the Napa Valley Register.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6e31073cb8f7e4214ab03f42771d0f45?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Katie DeBenedetti | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6e31073cb8f7e4214ab03f42771d0f45?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6e31073cb8f7e4214ab03f42771d0f45?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/kdebenedetti"
},
"skennedy": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11935",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11935",
"found": true
},
"name": "Samantha Kennedy",
"firstName": "Samantha",
"lastName": "Kennedy",
"slug": "skennedy",
"email": "SKennedy@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": null,
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/adc7b14bf1e801793202a156ecc864d4ad505b0fd63162a2f3da0e5ba57222d0?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Samantha Kennedy | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/adc7b14bf1e801793202a156ecc864d4ad505b0fd63162a2f3da0e5ba57222d0?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/adc7b14bf1e801793202a156ecc864d4ad505b0fd63162a2f3da0e5ba57222d0?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/skennedy"
},
"sarahwright": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11956",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11956",
"found": true
},
"name": "Sarah Wright",
"firstName": "Sarah",
"lastName": "Wright",
"slug": "sarahwright",
"email": "swright@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "Outdoors Engagement Reporter",
"bio": "Sarah Wright is KQED's Outdoors Engagement Reporter. Originally from Lake Tahoe, she completed a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019 and was a U.S. Fulbright Program grantee to Argentina in 2023. Her journalism has appeared in The Guardian, The San Francisco Standard, The Palo Alto Weekly and the Half Moon Bay Review.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c161a3d6441865cba25e6db4fa561099ad665799e9432e34da2b84d7e371524c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"contributor",
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Sarah Wright | KQED",
"description": "Outdoors Engagement Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c161a3d6441865cba25e6db4fa561099ad665799e9432e34da2b84d7e371524c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c161a3d6441865cba25e6db4fa561099ad665799e9432e34da2b84d7e371524c?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/sarahwright"
}
},
"pagesReducer": {
"root-site_home": {
"type": "pages",
"id": "root-site_22817",
"meta": {
"index": "pages_1716337520",
"site": "root-site",
"id": "22817",
"score": 0
},
"slug": "home",
"title": "Home Page",
"headTitle": "Home Page | KQED",
"pagePath": "home",
"pageMeta": {
"sticky": false,
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include"
},
"headData": {
"title": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"description": "",
"ogTitle": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"ogDescription": "KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California.",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"twDescription": "KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California.",
"twImgId": "",
"socialTitle": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"canonicalUrl": "https://www.kqed.org",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"name": "KQED Inc.",
"description": "KQED serves the people of Northern California with a community-supported alternative to commercial media. We provide people with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone; and engage audiences to share their stories. We help students and teachers thrive in 21st century classrooms, and take people of all ages on journeys of exploration—exposing them to new people, places and ideas.",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/KQED-logo_Black-01.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"areaServed": [
{
"@type": "AdministrativeArea",
"name": "San Francisco Bay Area",
"sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Bay_Area"
},
{
"@type": "AdministrativeArea",
"name": "Sacramento Metropolitan Area",
"sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_metropolitan_area"
},
{
"@type": "AdministrativeArea",
"name": "Northern California MegaRegion",
"sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_California_megaregion"
}
],
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
],
"contactPoint": [
{
"@type": "ContactPoint",
"contactType": "Member Services",
"telephone": "+1-415-553-2150"
},
{
"@type": "ContactPoint",
"contactType": "KQED News Tips",
"telephone": "+1-415-553-2361",
"email": "assignmentdesk@kqed.org"
},
{
"@type": "ContactPoint",
"contactType": "Gift Planning",
"telephone": "+1-415-553-2230",
"email": "legacy@kqed.org"
},
{
"@type": "ContactPoint",
"contactType": "Perspectives",
"telephone": "+1-415-553-2108",
"email": "myperspective@kqed.org"
},
{
"@type": "ContactPoint",
"contactType": "Forum",
"telephone": "+1-866-733-6786",
"email": "forum@kqed.org"
}
],
"diversityPolicy": "https://www.kqed.org/about/dei",
"ethicsPolicy": "https://www.kqed.org/about/code-ethics",
"missionCoveragePrioritiesPolicy": "https://www.kqed.org/about/who-is-kqed-and-what-do-we-do",
"masthead": "https://www.kqed.org/about/editorial-and-programming-leadership",
"publishingPrinciples": "https://www.kqed.org/about/what-are-our-editorial-policies-and-practices",
"telephone": "+1-415-864-2000",
"duns": "004770921",
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"streetAddress": "2601 Mariposa Street",
"addressLocality": "San Francisco",
"addressRegion": "CA",
"postalCode": "94110",
"addressCountry": "US"
},
"subOrganization": [
{
"@type": "RadioStation",
"name": "KQED-FM",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org/radio",
"description": "KQED Public Radio is a leading public radio station providing informative and engaging news, culture, and entertainment programming to listeners in the San Francisco Bay Area.",
"areaServed": {
"@type": "AdministrativeArea",
"name": "San Francisco Bay Area",
"sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Bay_Area"
},
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"streetAddress": "2601 Mariposa Street",
"addressLocality": "San Francisco",
"addressRegion": "CA",
"postalCode": "94110",
"addressCountry": "US"
}
},
{
"@type": "TelevisionStation",
"name": "KQED",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org/tv",
"description": "KQED broadcasts the best available programs from PBS, APT, and other distributors, and also produces its own unique national and local programs.",
"areaServed": {
"@type": "AdministrativeArea",
"name": "San Francisco Bay Area",
"sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Bay_Area"
},
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"streetAddress": "2601 Mariposa Street",
"addressLocality": "San Francisco",
"addressRegion": "CA",
"postalCode": "94110",
"addressCountry": "US"
}
}
]
}
},
"labelTerm": {
"site": ""
},
"publishDate": 1695846257,
"content": "\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003csection class=\"wp-block-kqed-v2-vertical-video-gallery vertical-video-gallery\" aria-label=\"How We Get By: Inside KQED’s Affordability Series\">\u003cdiv class=\"vertical-video-gallery__inner\">\u003ch2 class=\"vertical-video-gallery__title\">How We Get By: Inside KQED’s Affordability Series\u003c/h2>\u003cdiv class=\"vertical-video-gallery__track\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Led9LGvK.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/HGIbNudS.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/JjkYhYzt.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/KtYCGb1u.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/qfKuIB2K.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/div>\u003c/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\u003c/div>\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\u003c/div>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\u003c/div>\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\u003c/div>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-kqed-blocksetter\">\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>6aaafddd39c8520ae60be0e3\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>6ac45922cfb9d018fde4a752\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>6ab5eb32aaa43d0a4d6e0898\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/homepage-ticker",
"attrs": {
"header1": "On 88.5 FM in The Bay",
"header2": "Tonight on TV",
"header3": "Fall Guides",
"link1": "https://www.kqed.org/radio/schedule",
"link2": "https://www.kqed.org/tv/schedules/daily",
"textOne": "Best outdoor festivals",
"textOneLink": "outdoor festivals",
"textOneURL": "https://www.kqed.org/arts/13992952/best-outdoor-festivals-bay-area-fall-2026",
"textTwo": "Top museums and galleries",
"textTwoLink": "museums and galleries",
"textTwoURL": "https://www.kqed.org/arts/13993086/best-museum-gallery-shows-visual-art-guide-fall-2026-bolinas-moraga-palo-alto",
"radioSchedule": [
{
"startTime": "11:00 AM",
"programTitle": "Here & Now",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org/"
},
{
"startTime": "12:30 PM",
"programTitle": "All Things Considered",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org/"
}
],
"schedule": [
{
"airtimeStr": "8:00 PM",
"seriesTitle": "Nature"
},
{
"airtimeStr": "9:00 PM",
"seriesTitle": "Ken Burns"
}
]
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/top-story",
"attrs": {
"featureQuery": "posts?tag=featured-news&queryId=7d4c987316",
"query": "posts?tag=featured-news&queryId=7d4c987316",
"eyebrow": "Today's Top Story",
"eyebrow2": "Election 2026",
"promoImg1": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/10/Promo-California-Voter-Guide-2026-Midterm-Election-600x600@2x.png ",
"promoImg2": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/023_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-1536x1024.jpg",
"title1": "Voter Guide 2026",
"title2": "How to Mail Your Ballot",
"excerpt1": "Key races for the Nov 3 election",
"excerpt2": "Learn about changes to USPS",
"link1": "https://www.kqed.org/voterguide",
"link2": "https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/more-stories",
"attrs": {
"query": "posts?category=news&queryId=ca9a0337d3",
"eyebrow": "More Stories",
"posts": [
{
"attributes": {
"mediaType": "",
"programName": ""
}
},
{
"attributes": {
"mediaType": "",
"programName": ""
}
},
{
"attributes": {
"mediaType": "",
"programName": ""
}
},
{
"attributes": {
"mediaType": "",
"programName": ""
}
}
],
"featureQuery": "posts?tag=featured-news&queryId=ca9a0337d3"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/horizontal-topic",
"attrs": {
"title": "Sheng Thao Trial",
"description": "Allegations of a pay-to-play scheme involving city contracts, campaign mailers and a no show job are central to the conspiracy federal prosecutors hope to prove in the criminal trial of Oakland's former mayor.",
"query": "posts?tag=sheng-thao-trial&queryId=2790f687f8",
"linkText": "More Sheng Thao Trial",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sheng-thao-trial",
"posts": [],
"featureQuery": ""
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/vertical-video-gallery",
"attrs": {
"title": "How We Get By: Inside KQED’s Affordability Series"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003csection class=\"wp-block-kqed-v2-vertical-video-gallery vertical-video-gallery\" aria-label=\"How We Get By: Inside KQED’s Affordability Series\">\u003cdiv class=\"vertical-video-gallery__inner\">\u003ch2 class=\"vertical-video-gallery__title\">How We Get By: Inside KQED’s Affordability Series\u003c/h2>\u003cdiv class=\"vertical-video-gallery__track\">\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/div>\u003c/section>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003csection class=\"wp-block-kqed-v2-vertical-video-gallery vertical-video-gallery\" aria-label=\"How We Get By: Inside KQED’s Affordability Series\">\u003cdiv class=\"vertical-video-gallery__inner\">\u003ch2 class=\"vertical-video-gallery__title\">How We Get By: Inside KQED’s Affordability Series\u003c/h2>\u003cdiv class=\"vertical-video-gallery__track\">",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/div>\u003c/div>\u003c/section>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/video",
"attrs": {
"className": "is-vertical-video",
"controls": true,
"preload": "metadata",
"tracks": []
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Led9LGvK.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Led9LGvK.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/video",
"attrs": {
"className": "is-vertical-video",
"controls": true,
"preload": "metadata",
"tracks": []
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/HGIbNudS.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/HGIbNudS.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/video",
"attrs": {
"className": "is-vertical-video",
"controls": true,
"preload": "metadata",
"tracks": []
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/JjkYhYzt.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/JjkYhYzt.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/video",
"attrs": {
"className": "is-vertical-video",
"controls": true,
"preload": "metadata",
"tracks": []
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/KtYCGb1u.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/KtYCGb1u.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/video",
"attrs": {
"className": "is-vertical-video",
"controls": true,
"preload": "metadata",
"tracks": []
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/qfKuIB2K.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/qfKuIB2K.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n"
]
}
]
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/horizontal-topic",
"attrs": {
"title": "Flipping the Switch",
"description": "A KQED climate series examining California’s transition to clean energy. We’re exploring solutions, their limitations, and ultimately, how much money they will cost — or save — us.",
"query": "posts?ids=science_2002089,science_2002120,science_2002033&queryId=bda518cf0e",
"linkText": "More Flipping the Switch",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/flippingtheswitch",
"posts": [],
"featureQuery": ""
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/columns",
"attrs": {
"isStackedOnMobile": true
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n\n\u003c/div>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-columns\">",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/div>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/column",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/featured-topic",
"attrs": {
"headline": "Explainers and Guides",
"description": "Clear, practical stories from KQED News to help you navigate life in the Bay Area. (Particularly, when it’s expensive.)",
"query": "posts?tag=audience-news&queryId=a885ec58f8",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/explainers",
"linkText": "More Explainers & Guides",
"included": []
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
}
],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column\">\u003c/div>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column\">",
null,
"\u003c/div>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/column",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/featured-topic",
"attrs": {
"headline": "Arts and Culture",
"description": "Explore the Bay Area's best music, art, food, theater and more through our informed profiles and reviews.",
"query": "posts/arts?&queryId=10519afd0af",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/arts",
"linkText": "More Arts",
"included": []
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
}
],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column\">\u003c/div>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column\">",
null,
"\u003c/div>\n"
]
}
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/columns",
"attrs": {
"isStackedOnMobile": true
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n\n\u003c/div>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-columns\">",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/div>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/column",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/featured-topic",
"attrs": {
"headline": "Politics",
"description": "Follow the policies and politicians shaping life in California and the Bay Area through clear, insightful reporting and analysis that makes sense of the political landscape.",
"query": "posts?tag=politics&queryId=89cfd9cea4",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/politics",
"linkText": "More Politics",
"included": []
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
}
],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column\">\u003c/div>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column\">",
null,
"\u003c/div>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/column",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/featured-topic",
"attrs": {
"headline": "Housing",
"description": "In-depth investigations and human-centered storytelling to help you understand why housing in California is so expensive — and what we can do about it. ",
"query": "posts?tag=housing, affordable-housing&queryId=4540d47fe5",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/housing",
"linkText": "More Housing",
"included": []
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
}
],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column\">\u003c/div>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column\">",
null,
"\u003c/div>\n"
]
}
]
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"adType": "inHouseHome"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/horizontal-topic",
"attrs": {
"title": "Science",
"description": "Follow the science, climate and health stories shaping life in California and the Bay Area through clear, insightful reporting that makes sense of the issues.",
"query": "posts/news,science?category=science&queryId=100f4488e10",
"linkText": "More Science",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/science",
"posts": [],
"featureQuery": ""
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/horizontal-topic",
"attrs": {
"title": "Immigration",
"description": "Context-rich coverage to help you make sense of immigration issues and policy — and how they shape life across the Bay Area and California.",
"query": "posts/news,science,arts?tag=immigration&queryId=985557e1b3",
"linkText": "More Immigration ",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/immigration",
"posts": [],
"featureQuery": ""
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/email-signup",
"attrs": {
"newsletterSlug": "news2"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/programs",
"attrs": {
"title": "KQED Original Podcasts",
"programIDs": [
"closealltabs",
"thebay",
"baycurious",
"politicalbreakdown",
"forum",
"californiareportmagazine",
"mindshift"
]
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/post-list",
"attrs": {
"layout": "cardTextHeavyLarge",
"query": "posts?category=news&queryId=2d366f190b",
"featureQuery": "posts?tag=featured-news&queryId=2d366f190b",
"title": "More Top Stories",
"seeMore": true
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/blocksetter",
"attrs": {
"blockName": "kqed/youth-media",
"attributeString": "{\"title\":\"Youth Media\",\"tagline\":\"Their Stories, Their Voices\",\"link\":\"https://youthmedia.kqed.org/showcase\",\"buttonTitle\":\"View Youth Media\",\"cardsData\":[]}"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-kqed-blocksetter\">\u003c/div>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-kqed-blocksetter\">",
null,
"\u003c/div>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/list",
"attrs": {
"ordered": false,
"values": ""
},
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>6aaafddd39c8520ae60be0e3\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>6aaafddd39c8520ae60be0e3\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>6ac45922cfb9d018fde4a752\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>6ac45922cfb9d018fde4a752\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>6ab5eb32aaa43d0a4d6e0898\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>6ab5eb32aaa43d0a4d6e0898\u003c/li>\n"
]
}
],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/ul>\n"
]
}
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1792096247,
"format": "standard",
"path": "/",
"redirect": {
"type": "internal",
"url": "/"
},
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003csection class=\"wp-block-kqed-v2-vertical-video-gallery vertical-video-gallery\" aria-label=\"How We Get By: Inside KQED’s Affordability Series\">\u003cdiv class=\"vertical-video-gallery__inner\">\u003ch2 class=\"vertical-video-gallery__title\">How We Get By: Inside KQED’s Affordability Series\u003c/h2>\u003cdiv class=\"vertical-video-gallery__track\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Led9LGvK.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/HGIbNudS.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/JjkYhYzt.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/KtYCGb1u.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-video is-vertical-video\">\u003cvideo controls src=\"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/qfKuIB2K.m3u8\">\u003c/video>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/div>\u003c/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\u003c/div>\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\u003c/div>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\u003c/div>\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\u003c/div>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-kqed-blocksetter\">\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>6aaafddd39c8520ae60be0e3\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>6ac45922cfb9d018fde4a752\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>6ab5eb32aaa43d0a4d6e0898\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"label": "root-site",
"isLoading": false
}
},
"pfsSessionReducer": {},
"postsReducer": {
"stream_live": {
"type": "live",
"id": "stream_live",
"audioUrl": "https://streams.kqed.org/kqedradio",
"title": "Live Stream",
"excerpt": "Live Stream information currently unavailable.",
"link": "/radio",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "KQED Live",
"link": "/"
}
},
"stream_kqedNewscast": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "stream_kqedNewscast",
"audioUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1",
"title": "KQED Newscast",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "88.5 FM",
"link": "/"
}
},
"news_12104425": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12104425",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12104425",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1792097126000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "california-officials-denounce-trump-dojs-demands-to-prove-voters-citizenship",
"title": "Trump Administration Sues California After Demands to Prove Voters’ Citizenship",
"publishDate": 1792097126,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Trump Administration Sues California After Demands to Prove Voters’ Citizenship | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/trump-administration\">Trump administration\u003c/a> sued California and state elections officials on Thursday, two days after demanding that they prove U.S. citizenship for tens of thousands of registered voters — or set aside their ballots.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The unusual lawsuit, filed weeks before Election Day, immediately drew criticism from Gov. Gavin Newsom and state officials, who have accused President Trump and the federal government of stoking unfounded concerns about voter fraud and trying to intimidate voters.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In letters sent Tuesday to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters Dean Logan, who are also named as defendants in the lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Justice gave officials two days to confirm the voters’ citizenship status, ramping up its pressure on the state to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/election-integrity\">root out alleged voter fraud\u003c/a> ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The letters sent by acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter were accompanied by a password-protected thumb drive that the DOJ said contained the names of over 20,000 voters who the federal government “believes are likely noncitizens.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In its complaint filed Thursday, the Justice Department asked a federal court to order California to set aside the vote-by-mail ballots sent to those people and to block the state from counting those ballots until the voters’ citizenship status can be confirmed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104428\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The U.S. Department of Justice logo is seen on a podium before a press conference, May 6, 2025, at the Justice Department in Washington. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is a sad, desperate attempt by Trump to use his politicized Justice Department to try to suppress California voters just three weeks before Election Day,” Newsom said in a statement. “Courts have made clear the federal government has no role in running state elections. We will defend free and fair elections in the Golden State and call out every authoritarian attempt to undermine our democracy.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Attorney General Todd Blanche said the 20,000 individuals were flagged as likely noncitizens by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We provided California an opportunity to self correct its records and we requested that it segregate the suspected illegal ballots for the upcoming election,” Blanche said in a statement. “California has refused to comply and intends to facilitate noncitizens in voting, which is a violation of federal law.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a statement, Logan said Los Angeles County election officials did not try accessing the thumb drive because it didn’t meet the registrar’s security standards.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After McCotter sent the letters to Weber and Logan, California Attorney General Rob Bonta denounced the Trump administration for taking such a step while voters across the state are already filling out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103647/dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide-california-midterm-elections-2026-vote-for-governor\">vote-by-mail ballots\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“During an election, he now comes forward and purports to suggest that there are ineligible voters on the rolls in California. And so, you know, we have to understand who the messenger is, what they’ve said in the past — they have zero credibility,” Bonta said when asked at a press conference on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Thursday, Weber’s office released a response to McCotter’s letter in which the state’s top elections official said she aimed “to set the record straight.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She noted “serious doubts” with the accuracy of the list as well as an earlier claim from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin that over 190,000 registered California voters “may be” noncitizens. California has yet to receive any response to a request for the data and methodology behind those claims, Weber said, noting that courts have found the federal government’s citizenship records to be unreliable.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If the federal government possesses proof that certain registered voters in California are ineligible, we will welcome the opportunity to review that evidence and any supporting data or methodology,” Weber wrote in her letter to McCotter. “However, I will not disenfranchise thousands of Californians—or order any county elections official to do so—based solely upon an unsupported and likely inaccurate ‘belie[f]’ that certain voters are ‘likely’ noncitizens.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Department of Justice’s demands come after most California counties already began mailing ballots to voters last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2285787606-scaled-e1791586238561.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091600\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House on July 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Saul Loeb/Pool via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California’s voter lists are public, and this administration has had 21 months with total control of the federal government to review those public lists. … One must question why the DOJ would violate its own rules about investigating elections close to Election Day, and over a week after they knew the state had already mailed ballots out, particularly when their past claims have been full of errors,” said David Becker, a former federal prosecutor and the founder and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It wasn’t immediately clear whether any other county elections offices received similar letters from the Trump administration, though several Northern California counties contacted by KQED had not as of Wednesday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Unless we hear otherwise from the California Secretary of State, there will be no changes to Vote-by-Mail procedures in Sonoma County for the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election,” Wendy Hudson, deputy chief registrar of voters for Sonoma County, said in a statement to KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Officials in Marin, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Solano and Yolo counties also said they hadn’t received any communication from the federal government demanding proof of citizenship for the voters on their rolls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Registration data is cross-cheeked at the state level, with other state and federal agencies to ensure that only eligible people are registered,” Hudson said. “If someone does not confirm on a voter registration application that they are a U.S. citizen, we would not process their voter registration application.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/mlagos\">\u003cem>Marisa Lagos\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ibloom\">\u003cem>Izzy Bloom\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/trump-administration\">Trump administration\u003c/a> sued California and state elections officials on Thursday, two days after demanding that they prove U.S. citizenship for tens of thousands of registered voters — or set aside their ballots.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/trump-administration\">Trump administration\u003c/a> sued California and state elections officials on Thursday, two days after demanding that they prove U.S. citizenship for tens of thousands of registered voters — or set aside their ballots.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The unusual lawsuit, filed weeks before Election Day, immediately drew criticism from Gov. Gavin Newsom and state officials, who have accused President Trump and the federal government of stoking unfounded concerns about voter fraud and trying to intimidate voters.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The unusual lawsuit, filed weeks before Election Day, immediately drew criticism from Gov. Gavin Newsom and state officials, who have accused President Trump and the federal government of stoking unfounded concerns about voter fraud and trying to intimidate voters.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In letters sent Tuesday to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters Dean Logan, who are also named as defendants in the lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Justice gave officials two days to confirm the voters’ citizenship status, ramping up its pressure on the state to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/election-integrity\">root out alleged voter fraud\u003c/a> ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In letters sent Tuesday to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters Dean Logan, who are also named as defendants in the lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Justice gave officials two days to confirm the voters’ citizenship status, ramping up its pressure on the state to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/election-integrity\">root out alleged voter fraud\u003c/a> ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The letters sent by acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter were accompanied by a password-protected thumb drive that the DOJ said contained the names of over 20,000 voters who the federal government “believes are likely noncitizens.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The letters sent by acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter were accompanied by a password-protected thumb drive that the DOJ said contained the names of over 20,000 voters who the federal government “believes are likely noncitizens.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In its complaint filed Thursday, the Justice Department asked a federal court to order California to set aside the vote-by-mail ballots sent to those people and to block the state from counting those ballots until the voters’ citizenship status can be confirmed.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In its complaint filed Thursday, the Justice Department asked a federal court to order California to set aside the vote-by-mail ballots sent to those people and to block the state from counting those ballots until the voters’ citizenship status can be confirmed.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12104428,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104428\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The U.S. Department of Justice logo is seen on a podium before a press conference, May 6, 2025, at the Justice Department in Washington. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104428\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The U.S. Department of Justice logo is seen on a podium before a press conference, May 6, 2025, at the Justice Department in Washington. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This is a sad, desperate attempt by Trump to use his politicized Justice Department to try to suppress California voters just three weeks before Election Day,” Newsom said in a statement. “Courts have made clear the federal government has no role in running state elections. We will defend free and fair elections in the Golden State and call out every authoritarian attempt to undermine our democracy.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“This is a sad, desperate attempt by Trump to use his politicized Justice Department to try to suppress California voters just three weeks before Election Day,” Newsom said in a statement. “Courts have made clear the federal government has no role in running state elections. We will defend free and fair elections in the Golden State and call out every authoritarian attempt to undermine our democracy.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Attorney General Todd Blanche said the 20,000 individuals were flagged as likely noncitizens by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Attorney General Todd Blanche said the 20,000 individuals were flagged as likely noncitizens by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We provided California an opportunity to self correct its records and we requested that it segregate the suspected illegal ballots for the upcoming election,” Blanche said in a statement. “California has refused to comply and intends to facilitate noncitizens in voting, which is a violation of federal law.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We provided California an opportunity to self correct its records and we requested that it segregate the suspected illegal ballots for the upcoming election,” Blanche said in a statement. “California has refused to comply and intends to facilitate noncitizens in voting, which is a violation of federal law.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a statement, Logan said Los Angeles County election officials did not try accessing the thumb drive because it didn’t meet the registrar’s security standards.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In a statement, Logan said Los Angeles County election officials did not try accessing the thumb drive because it didn’t meet the registrar’s security standards.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"label": "2026 California Voter Guide",
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/09/Aside-California-Voter-Guide-2026-Midterm-Election-1200x1200@2x.png",
"heroImageLink": "https://www.kqed.org/voterguide",
"manualLinks": [
{
"url": "https://www.kqed.org/voterguide",
"title": "Learn everything you need to cast an informed ballot for the 2026 election"
}
],
"query": "",
"postIds": [],
"labelWasCleared": false,
"maxPosts": 3,
"showImages": true,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After McCotter sent the letters to Weber and Logan, California Attorney General Rob Bonta denounced the Trump administration for taking such a step while voters across the state are already filling out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103647/dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide-california-midterm-elections-2026-vote-for-governor\">vote-by-mail ballots\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>After McCotter sent the letters to Weber and Logan, California Attorney General Rob Bonta denounced the Trump administration for taking such a step while voters across the state are already filling out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103647/dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide-california-midterm-elections-2026-vote-for-governor\">vote-by-mail ballots\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“During an election, he now comes forward and purports to suggest that there are ineligible voters on the rolls in California. And so, you know, we have to understand who the messenger is, what they’ve said in the past — they have zero credibility,” Bonta said when asked at a press conference on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“During an election, he now comes forward and purports to suggest that there are ineligible voters on the rolls in California. And so, you know, we have to understand who the messenger is, what they’ve said in the past — they have zero credibility,” Bonta said when asked at a press conference on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Thursday, Weber’s office released a response to McCotter’s letter in which the state’s top elections official said she aimed “to set the record straight.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>On Thursday, Weber’s office released a response to McCotter’s letter in which the state’s top elections official said she aimed “to set the record straight.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She noted “serious doubts” with the accuracy of the list as well as an earlier claim from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin that over 190,000 registered California voters “may be” noncitizens. California has yet to receive any response to a request for the data and methodology behind those claims, Weber said, noting that courts have found the federal government’s citizenship records to be unreliable.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>She noted “serious doubts” with the accuracy of the list as well as an earlier claim from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin that over 190,000 registered California voters “may be” noncitizens. California has yet to receive any response to a request for the data and methodology behind those claims, Weber said, noting that courts have found the federal government’s citizenship records to be unreliable.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If the federal government possesses proof that certain registered voters in California are ineligible, we will welcome the opportunity to review that evidence and any supporting data or methodology,” Weber wrote in her letter to McCotter. “However, I will not disenfranchise thousands of Californians—or order any county elections official to do so—based solely upon an unsupported and likely inaccurate ‘belie[f]’ that certain voters are ‘likely’ noncitizens.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“If the federal government possesses proof that certain registered voters in California are ineligible, we will welcome the opportunity to review that evidence and any supporting data or methodology,” Weber wrote in her letter to McCotter. “However, I will not disenfranchise thousands of Californians—or order any county elections official to do so—based solely upon an unsupported and likely inaccurate ‘belie[f]’ that certain voters are ‘likely’ noncitizens.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Department of Justice’s demands come after most California counties already began mailing ballots to voters last week. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Department of Justice’s demands come after most California counties already began mailing ballots to voters last week. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12091600,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": ""
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2285787606-scaled-e1791586238561.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091600\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House on July 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Saul Loeb/Pool via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2285787606-scaled-e1791586238561.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091600\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House on July 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Saul Loeb/Pool via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“California’s voter lists are public, and this administration has had 21 months with total control of the federal government to review those public lists. … One must question why the DOJ would violate its own rules about investigating elections close to Election Day, and over a week after they knew the state had already mailed ballots out, particularly when their past claims have been full of errors,” said David Becker, a former federal prosecutor and the founder and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“California’s voter lists are public, and this administration has had 21 months with total control of the federal government to review those public lists. … One must question why the DOJ would violate its own rules about investigating elections close to Election Day, and over a week after they knew the state had already mailed ballots out, particularly when their past claims have been full of errors,” said David Becker, a former federal prosecutor and the founder and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It wasn’t immediately clear whether any other county elections offices received similar letters from the Trump administration, though several Northern California counties contacted by KQED had not as of Wednesday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It wasn’t immediately clear whether any other county elections offices received similar letters from the Trump administration, though several Northern California counties contacted by KQED had not as of Wednesday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Unless we hear otherwise from the California Secretary of State, there will be no changes to Vote-by-Mail procedures in Sonoma County for the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election,” Wendy Hudson, deputy chief registrar of voters for Sonoma County, said in a statement to KQED.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Unless we hear otherwise from the California Secretary of State, there will be no changes to Vote-by-Mail procedures in Sonoma County for the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election,” Wendy Hudson, deputy chief registrar of voters for Sonoma County, said in a statement to KQED.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Officials in Marin, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Solano and Yolo counties also said they hadn’t received any communication from the federal government demanding proof of citizenship for the voters on their rolls.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Officials in Marin, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Solano and Yolo counties also said they hadn’t received any communication from the federal government demanding proof of citizenship for the voters on their rolls.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Registration data is cross-cheeked at the state level, with other state and federal agencies to ensure that only eligible people are registered,” Hudson said. “If someone does not confirm on a voter registration application that they are a U.S. citizen, we would not process their voter registration application.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Registration data is cross-cheeked at the state level, with other state and federal agencies to ensure that only eligible people are registered,” Hudson said. “If someone does not confirm on a voter registration application that they are a U.S. citizen, we would not process their voter registration application.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/mlagos\">\u003cem>Marisa Lagos\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ibloom\">\u003cem>Izzy Bloom\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/mlagos\">\u003cem>Marisa Lagos\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ibloom\">\u003cem>Izzy Bloom\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "Just weeks before Election Day, the U.S. Department of Justice is asking a federal court to order California to withhold ballots from 20,000 voters it flagged as potentially ineligible.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1792098757,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 21,
"wordCount": 993
},
"headData": {
"title": "Trump Administration Sues California After Demands to Prove Voters’ Citizenship | KQED",
"description": "Just weeks before Election Day, the U.S. Department of Justice is asking a federal court to order California to withhold ballots from 20,000 voters it flagged as potentially ineligible.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Trump Administration Sues California After Demands to Prove Voters’ Citizenship",
"datePublished": "2026-10-15T13:45:26-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-10-15T14:12:37-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 13,
"slug": "politics",
"name": "Politics"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12104425",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"showOnAuthorArchivePages": "No",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12104425/california-officials-denounce-trump-dojs-demands-to-prove-voters-citizenship",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/trump-administration\">Trump administration\u003c/a> sued California and state elections officials on Thursday, two days after demanding that they prove U.S. citizenship for tens of thousands of registered voters — or set aside their ballots.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The unusual lawsuit, filed weeks before Election Day, immediately drew criticism from Gov. Gavin Newsom and state officials, who have accused President Trump and the federal government of stoking unfounded concerns about voter fraud and trying to intimidate voters.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In letters sent Tuesday to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters Dean Logan, who are also named as defendants in the lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Justice gave officials two days to confirm the voters’ citizenship status, ramping up its pressure on the state to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/election-integrity\">root out alleged voter fraud\u003c/a> ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The letters sent by acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter were accompanied by a password-protected thumb drive that the DOJ said contained the names of over 20,000 voters who the federal government “believes are likely noncitizens.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In its complaint filed Thursday, the Justice Department asked a federal court to order California to set aside the vote-by-mail ballots sent to those people and to block the state from counting those ballots until the voters’ citizenship status can be confirmed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104428\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DOJAPPhoto-196de4d3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The U.S. Department of Justice logo is seen on a podium before a press conference, May 6, 2025, at the Justice Department in Washington. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is a sad, desperate attempt by Trump to use his politicized Justice Department to try to suppress California voters just three weeks before Election Day,” Newsom said in a statement. “Courts have made clear the federal government has no role in running state elections. We will defend free and fair elections in the Golden State and call out every authoritarian attempt to undermine our democracy.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Attorney General Todd Blanche said the 20,000 individuals were flagged as likely noncitizens by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We provided California an opportunity to self correct its records and we requested that it segregate the suspected illegal ballots for the upcoming election,” Blanche said in a statement. “California has refused to comply and intends to facilitate noncitizens in voting, which is a violation of federal law.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a statement, Logan said Los Angeles County election officials did not try accessing the thumb drive because it didn’t meet the registrar’s security standards.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After McCotter sent the letters to Weber and Logan, California Attorney General Rob Bonta denounced the Trump administration for taking such a step while voters across the state are already filling out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103647/dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide-california-midterm-elections-2026-vote-for-governor\">vote-by-mail ballots\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“During an election, he now comes forward and purports to suggest that there are ineligible voters on the rolls in California. And so, you know, we have to understand who the messenger is, what they’ve said in the past — they have zero credibility,” Bonta said when asked at a press conference on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Thursday, Weber’s office released a response to McCotter’s letter in which the state’s top elections official said she aimed “to set the record straight.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She noted “serious doubts” with the accuracy of the list as well as an earlier claim from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin that over 190,000 registered California voters “may be” noncitizens. California has yet to receive any response to a request for the data and methodology behind those claims, Weber said, noting that courts have found the federal government’s citizenship records to be unreliable.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If the federal government possesses proof that certain registered voters in California are ineligible, we will welcome the opportunity to review that evidence and any supporting data or methodology,” Weber wrote in her letter to McCotter. “However, I will not disenfranchise thousands of Californians—or order any county elections official to do so—based solely upon an unsupported and likely inaccurate ‘belie[f]’ that certain voters are ‘likely’ noncitizens.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Department of Justice’s demands come after most California counties already began mailing ballots to voters last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2285787606-scaled-e1791586238561.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091600\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House on July 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Saul Loeb/Pool via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California’s voter lists are public, and this administration has had 21 months with total control of the federal government to review those public lists. … One must question why the DOJ would violate its own rules about investigating elections close to Election Day, and over a week after they knew the state had already mailed ballots out, particularly when their past claims have been full of errors,” said David Becker, a former federal prosecutor and the founder and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It wasn’t immediately clear whether any other county elections offices received similar letters from the Trump administration, though several Northern California counties contacted by KQED had not as of Wednesday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Unless we hear otherwise from the California Secretary of State, there will be no changes to Vote-by-Mail procedures in Sonoma County for the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election,” Wendy Hudson, deputy chief registrar of voters for Sonoma County, said in a statement to KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Officials in Marin, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Solano and Yolo counties also said they hadn’t received any communication from the federal government demanding proof of citizenship for the voters on their rolls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Registration data is cross-cheeked at the state level, with other state and federal agencies to ensure that only eligible people are registered,” Hudson said. “If someone does not confirm on a voter registration application that they are a U.S. citizen, we would not process their voter registration application.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/mlagos\">\u003cem>Marisa Lagos\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ibloom\">\u003cem>Izzy Bloom\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12104425/california-officials-denounce-trump-dojs-demands-to-prove-voters-citizenship",
"authors": [
"12033"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_1169",
"news_6188",
"news_28250",
"news_8",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_4750",
"news_1323",
"news_36336",
"news_27626",
"news_34377",
"news_20202",
"news_17968",
"news_36929"
],
"featImg": "news_12104429",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12104610": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12104610",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12104610",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1792096098000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "the-berkeley-bird-festival-might-be-calling-you-this-weekend-and-its-free",
"title": "The Berkeley Bird Festival Might Be Calling You This Weekend (and It’s Free)",
"publishDate": 1792096098,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "The Berkeley Bird Festival Might Be Calling You This Weekend (and It’s Free) | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\n\u003cp>Still looking for weekend plans (and want to avoid the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103119/half-moon-bay-pumpkin-festival-traffic-tips-2026\">chaos of the coast during the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival\u003c/a>)? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You could head east instead and check out the \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/\">Berkeley Bird Festival\u003c/a> on Sunday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This free annual event is back with a packed schedule of guided birding tours, performances, arts and crafts and presentations on topics from birdsong to bird-inspired folklore.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year’s theme is “myth and memory,” said Ryan Nakano, communications director for the \u003ca href=\"https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/\">Golden Gate Bird Alliance\u003c/a>, which is hosting the event alongside the \u003ca href=\"https://californiaican.org/\">California Institute for Community, Arts, and Nature.\u003c/a> With the exception of the birding walks, the event will mostly be held in or near the David Brower Center on the UC Berkeley campus. Allston Way will be closed this weekend for one block between Oxford and Shattuck streets.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The idea behind it was to try to address the fact that our relationship to birds can be very personal, but they can also be very community-based,” he said. “Different communities have different relationships to birds, and oftentimes, it’s through the stories we’re told, or we grow up with.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The big events during the Berkeley Bird Festival on Sunday\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For birders especially interested in exploring those themes of myth and memory, Nakano suggested checking out \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/thepeoplecouldfly/\">the hands-on writing workshop\u003c/a> with author Ashia Ajani, scheduled for 1:25 p.m. in the Goldman Theater. Here, participants will discuss African storytelling and come ready to creatively write.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nakano also suggested a \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/sunbird-songs-of-nectar-hanan-masri-walter-brents-iii/\">12:30 p.m. presentation\u003c/a> from Berkeley poet laureate Hanan Masri and educator Walker Brents III, who plan to discuss the poem “Sunbird,” by Fady Joudah in the Tamalpais Room. Plus, the 4:15 \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/wild-parrots-myths-and-memories/\">talk on wild parrots in San Francisco\u003c/a> is sure to attract a crowd, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a.JPG\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104622\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a.JPG 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A birding tour at the Berkeley Bird Festival. (Courtesy of Xiao Wan)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The biggest can’t-miss moments of the event, he said, are the 4:35 p.m. \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/splitting-skies-dancing-for-the-birds-and-our-future/\">“Splitting Skies” dance performance\u003c/a> and the 3:15 keynote conversation between \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/3804/\">authors Ed Yong and Lauren Markham. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The conversation “will be focused on the climate crisis and how we reckon with that on an interpersonal, inter-communal level,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I’m new to birding. What festival events should I see? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For those who aren’t already hooked on birding, Nakano suggested taking advantage of all the local birding groups that will be tabling there, like the American Birding Association and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043590/pride-2025-outdoor-meetups-lgbtq-hiking-bay-area#BirdwatchwithQueerBirdersBayArea\">Queer Birders Bay Area\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plus, while many of the birding walks are already at capacity, more \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/birding-on-campus/\">free tours will be running all afternoon on campus\u003c/a>, guided by Bears for Birds, the Cal birding club. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80.JPG\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104626\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80.JPG 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meeting birds at the Berkeley Bird Festival.\u003cbr> (Courtesy of Ryan Nakano)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And don’t miss the afternoon \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/tour-the-museum-of-vertebrate-zoology/\">tours of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology\u003c/a>, where you look at bird specimens up close.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Obviously it’s a little bit macabre, but it’s science,” Nakano said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The entire event is free, and most of its talks and workshops don’t require any registration. There won’t be food at the event, but a few local Berkeley restaurants will be offering attendees discounts during the festival.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’ll also be a raffle where participants can win birding gear and merchandise.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the less experienced birders or birding-curious attendees, Nakano said to come with an open mind, ready to learn about the breadth of species of birds and habitat here in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You may even learn a thing or two about how to help protect birds, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Really, you can kind of find birds everywhere, even in your own neighborhoods and backyards,” he said, “but also just in these very surprising locations that unless you were birding, you might not even really go out there.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It gives you this fun excuse to explore the Bay in a completely different way,” Nakano said.\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Still looking for weekend plans (and want to avoid the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103119/half-moon-bay-pumpkin-festival-traffic-tips-2026\">chaos of the coast during the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival\u003c/a>)? \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Still looking for weekend plans (and want to avoid the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103119/half-moon-bay-pumpkin-festival-traffic-tips-2026\">chaos of the coast during the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival\u003c/a>)? \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You could head east instead and check out the \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/\">Berkeley Bird Festival\u003c/a> on Sunday. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You could head east instead and check out the \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/\">Berkeley Bird Festival\u003c/a> on Sunday. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This free annual event is back with a packed schedule of guided birding tours, performances, arts and crafts and presentations on topics from birdsong to bird-inspired folklore.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This free annual event is back with a packed schedule of guided birding tours, performances, arts and crafts and presentations on topics from birdsong to bird-inspired folklore.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This year’s theme is “myth and memory,” said Ryan Nakano, communications director for the \u003ca href=\"https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/\">Golden Gate Bird Alliance\u003c/a>, which is hosting the event alongside the \u003ca href=\"https://californiaican.org/\">California Institute for Community, Arts, and Nature.\u003c/a> With the exception of the birding walks, the event will mostly be held in or near the David Brower Center on the UC Berkeley campus. Allston Way will be closed this weekend for one block between Oxford and Shattuck streets.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This year’s theme is “myth and memory,” said Ryan Nakano, communications director for the \u003ca href=\"https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/\">Golden Gate Bird Alliance\u003c/a>, which is hosting the event alongside the \u003ca href=\"https://californiaican.org/\">California Institute for Community, Arts, and Nature.\u003c/a> With the exception of the birding walks, the event will mostly be held in or near the David Brower Center on the UC Berkeley campus. Allston Way will be closed this weekend for one block between Oxford and Shattuck streets.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The idea behind it was to try to address the fact that our relationship to birds can be very personal, but they can also be very community-based,” he said. “Different communities have different relationships to birds, and oftentimes, it’s through the stories we’re told, or we grow up with.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The idea behind it was to try to address the fact that our relationship to birds can be very personal, but they can also be very community-based,” he said. “Different communities have different relationships to birds, and oftentimes, it’s through the stories we’re told, or we grow up with.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "The big events during the Berkeley Bird Festival on Sunday",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The big events during the Berkeley Bird Festival on Sunday\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The big events during the Berkeley Bird Festival on Sunday\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For birders especially interested in exploring those themes of myth and memory, Nakano suggested checking out \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/thepeoplecouldfly/\">the hands-on writing workshop\u003c/a> with author Ashia Ajani, scheduled for 1:25 p.m. in the Goldman Theater. Here, participants will discuss African storytelling and come ready to creatively write.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>For birders especially interested in exploring those themes of myth and memory, Nakano suggested checking out \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/thepeoplecouldfly/\">the hands-on writing workshop\u003c/a> with author Ashia Ajani, scheduled for 1:25 p.m. in the Goldman Theater. Here, participants will discuss African storytelling and come ready to creatively write.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nakano also suggested a \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/sunbird-songs-of-nectar-hanan-masri-walter-brents-iii/\">12:30 p.m. presentation\u003c/a> from Berkeley poet laureate Hanan Masri and educator Walker Brents III, who plan to discuss the poem “Sunbird,” by Fady Joudah in the Tamalpais Room. Plus, the 4:15 \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/wild-parrots-myths-and-memories/\">talk on wild parrots in San Francisco\u003c/a> is sure to attract a crowd, he said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Nakano also suggested a \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/sunbird-songs-of-nectar-hanan-masri-walter-brents-iii/\">12:30 p.m. presentation\u003c/a> from Berkeley poet laureate Hanan Masri and educator Walker Brents III, who plan to discuss the poem “Sunbird,” by Fady Joudah in the Tamalpais Room. Plus, the 4:15 \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/wild-parrots-myths-and-memories/\">talk on wild parrots in San Francisco\u003c/a> is sure to attract a crowd, he said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12104622,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a.JPG 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a.JPG\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104622\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a.JPG 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A birding tour at the Berkeley Bird Festival.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Xiao Wan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a.JPG\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104622\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A birding tour at the Berkeley Bird Festival.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Xiao Wan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The biggest can’t-miss moments of the event, he said, are the 4:35 p.m. \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/splitting-skies-dancing-for-the-birds-and-our-future/\">“Splitting Skies” dance performance\u003c/a> and the 3:15 keynote conversation between \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/3804/\">authors Ed Yong and Lauren Markham. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The biggest can’t-miss moments of the event, he said, are the 4:35 p.m. \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/splitting-skies-dancing-for-the-birds-and-our-future/\">“Splitting Skies” dance performance\u003c/a> and the 3:15 keynote conversation between \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/3804/\">authors Ed Yong and Lauren Markham. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The conversation “will be focused on the climate crisis and how we reckon with that on an interpersonal, inter-communal level,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The conversation “will be focused on the climate crisis and how we reckon with that on an interpersonal, inter-communal level,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "I’m new to birding. What festival events should I see? ",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I’m new to birding. What festival events should I see? \u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I’m new to birding. What festival events should I see? \u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For those who aren’t already hooked on birding, Nakano suggested taking advantage of all the local birding groups that will be tabling there, like the American Birding Association and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043590/pride-2025-outdoor-meetups-lgbtq-hiking-bay-area#BirdwatchwithQueerBirdersBayArea\">Queer Birders Bay Area\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>For those who aren’t already hooked on birding, Nakano suggested taking advantage of all the local birding groups that will be tabling there, like the American Birding Association and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043590/pride-2025-outdoor-meetups-lgbtq-hiking-bay-area#BirdwatchwithQueerBirdersBayArea\">Queer Birders Bay Area\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Plus, while many of the birding walks are already at capacity, more \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/birding-on-campus/\">free tours will be running all afternoon on campus\u003c/a>, guided by Bears for Birds, the Cal birding club. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Plus, while many of the birding walks are already at capacity, more \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/birding-on-campus/\">free tours will be running all afternoon on campus\u003c/a>, guided by Bears for Birds, the Cal birding club. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12104626,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80.JPG 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80.JPG\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104626\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80.JPG 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meeting birds at the Berkeley Bird Festival.\u003cbr>\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Ryan Nakano)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80.JPG\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104626\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meeting birds at the Berkeley Bird Festival.\u003cbr>\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Ryan Nakano)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And don’t miss the afternoon \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/tour-the-museum-of-vertebrate-zoology/\">tours of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology\u003c/a>, where you look at bird specimens up close.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And don’t miss the afternoon \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/tour-the-museum-of-vertebrate-zoology/\">tours of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology\u003c/a>, where you look at bird specimens up close.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Obviously it’s a little bit macabre, but it’s science,” Nakano said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Obviously it’s a little bit macabre, but it’s science,” Nakano said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The entire event is free, and most of its talks and workshops don’t require any registration. There won’t be food at the event, but a few local Berkeley restaurants will be offering attendees discounts during the festival.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The entire event is free, and most of its talks and workshops don’t require any registration. There won’t be food at the event, but a few local Berkeley restaurants will be offering attendees discounts during the festival.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_11804822"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/03/owlz.jpg",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’ll also be a raffle where participants can win birding gear and merchandise.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>There’ll also be a raffle where participants can win birding gear and merchandise.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For the less experienced birders or birding-curious attendees, Nakano said to come with an open mind, ready to learn about the breadth of species of birds and habitat here in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>For the less experienced birders or birding-curious attendees, Nakano said to come with an open mind, ready to learn about the breadth of species of birds and habitat here in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You may even learn a thing or two about how to help protect birds, he said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You may even learn a thing or two about how to help protect birds, he said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Really, you can kind of find birds everywhere, even in your own neighborhoods and backyards,” he said, “but also just in these very surprising locations that unless you were birding, you might not even really go out there.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Really, you can kind of find birds everywhere, even in your own neighborhoods and backyards,” he said, “but also just in these very surprising locations that unless you were birding, you might not even really go out there.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It gives you this fun excuse to explore the Bay in a completely different way,” Nakano said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It gives you this fun excuse to explore the Bay in a completely different way,” Nakano said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "If you’re still in need of weekend plans, this free day is packed with tours, workshops and hands-on activities to bring out your inner birder.\n",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1792100269,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 19,
"wordCount": 658
},
"headData": {
"title": "The Berkeley Bird Festival Might Be Calling You This Weekend (and It’s Free) | KQED",
"description": "If you’re still in need of weekend plans, this free day is packed with tours, workshops and hands-on activities to bring out your inner birder.\n",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "The Berkeley Bird Festival Might Be Calling You This Weekend (and It’s Free)",
"datePublished": "2026-10-15T13:28:18-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-10-15T14:37:49-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12104610",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12104610/the-berkeley-bird-festival-might-be-calling-you-this-weekend-and-its-free",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Still looking for weekend plans (and want to avoid the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103119/half-moon-bay-pumpkin-festival-traffic-tips-2026\">chaos of the coast during the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival\u003c/a>)? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You could head east instead and check out the \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/\">Berkeley Bird Festival\u003c/a> on Sunday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This free annual event is back with a packed schedule of guided birding tours, performances, arts and crafts and presentations on topics from birdsong to bird-inspired folklore.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year’s theme is “myth and memory,” said Ryan Nakano, communications director for the \u003ca href=\"https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/\">Golden Gate Bird Alliance\u003c/a>, which is hosting the event alongside the \u003ca href=\"https://californiaican.org/\">California Institute for Community, Arts, and Nature.\u003c/a> With the exception of the birding walks, the event will mostly be held in or near the David Brower Center on the UC Berkeley campus. Allston Way will be closed this weekend for one block between Oxford and Shattuck streets.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The idea behind it was to try to address the fact that our relationship to birds can be very personal, but they can also be very community-based,” he said. “Different communities have different relationships to birds, and oftentimes, it’s through the stories we’re told, or we grow up with.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The big events during the Berkeley Bird Festival on Sunday\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For birders especially interested in exploring those themes of myth and memory, Nakano suggested checking out \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/thepeoplecouldfly/\">the hands-on writing workshop\u003c/a> with author Ashia Ajani, scheduled for 1:25 p.m. in the Goldman Theater. Here, participants will discuss African storytelling and come ready to creatively write.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nakano also suggested a \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/sunbird-songs-of-nectar-hanan-masri-walter-brents-iii/\">12:30 p.m. presentation\u003c/a> from Berkeley poet laureate Hanan Masri and educator Walker Brents III, who plan to discuss the poem “Sunbird,” by Fady Joudah in the Tamalpais Room. Plus, the 4:15 \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/wild-parrots-myths-and-memories/\">talk on wild parrots in San Francisco\u003c/a> is sure to attract a crowd, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a.JPG\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104622\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a.JPG 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/Field-Trip-by-Xiao-Wan-8619981a-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A birding tour at the Berkeley Bird Festival. (Courtesy of Xiao Wan)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The biggest can’t-miss moments of the event, he said, are the 4:35 p.m. \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/splitting-skies-dancing-for-the-birds-and-our-future/\">“Splitting Skies” dance performance\u003c/a> and the 3:15 keynote conversation between \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/3804/\">authors Ed Yong and Lauren Markham. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The conversation “will be focused on the climate crisis and how we reckon with that on an interpersonal, inter-communal level,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I’m new to birding. What festival events should I see? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For those who aren’t already hooked on birding, Nakano suggested taking advantage of all the local birding groups that will be tabling there, like the American Birding Association and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043590/pride-2025-outdoor-meetups-lgbtq-hiking-bay-area#BirdwatchwithQueerBirdersBayArea\">Queer Birders Bay Area\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plus, while many of the birding walks are already at capacity, more \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/birding-on-campus/\">free tours will be running all afternoon on campus\u003c/a>, guided by Bears for Birds, the Cal birding club. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80.JPG\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104626\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80.JPG 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/DSC_0660-c2a90a80-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meeting birds at the Berkeley Bird Festival.\u003cbr> (Courtesy of Ryan Nakano)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And don’t miss the afternoon \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/bbf-events/tour-the-museum-of-vertebrate-zoology/\">tours of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology\u003c/a>, where you look at bird specimens up close.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Obviously it’s a little bit macabre, but it’s science,” Nakano said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The entire event is free, and most of its talks and workshops don’t require any registration. There won’t be food at the event, but a few local Berkeley restaurants will be offering attendees discounts during the festival.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’ll also be a raffle where participants can win birding gear and merchandise.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the less experienced birders or birding-curious attendees, Nakano said to come with an open mind, ready to learn about the breadth of species of birds and habitat here in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You may even learn a thing or two about how to help protect birds, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Really, you can kind of find birds everywhere, even in your own neighborhoods and backyards,” he said, “but also just in these very surprising locations that unless you were birding, you might not even really go out there.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It gives you this fun excuse to explore the Bay in a completely different way,” Nakano said.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12104610/the-berkeley-bird-festival-might-be-calling-you-this-weekend-and-its-free",
"authors": [
"11956"
],
"categories": [
"news_34168",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_1386",
"news_129",
"news_2426",
"news_18352",
"news_34081",
"news_35888",
"news_36379"
],
"featImg": "news_12104620",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12103495": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12103495",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12103495",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1792091405000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "software-engineers-proposed-neighborhood-event-center-gets-preliminary-green-light",
"title": "Software Engineer’s Proposed Neighborhood, Event Center Gets Preliminary Green Light",
"publishDate": 1792091405,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Software Engineer’s Proposed Neighborhood, Event Center Gets Preliminary Green Light | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\n\u003cp>Esmeralda, a new neighborhood in the North Bay where \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/siliconvalley\">Silicon Valley\u003c/a> thinkers and culture makers can gather and share ideas, got a preliminary green light on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Cloverdale City Council voted 3-2 to approve the project’s overall plan for some 600 homes, a resort hotel, an event center, a preschool and more than 160 acres of parks and open space — making it one of the largest developments in the small Sonoma County town’s recent history. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A second reading of an ordinance to approve the project is scheduled for mid-November. It would include changes to the site’s current zoning, a draft map of the project and an extensive developer agreement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While the project faced \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12059557/esmeralda-courts-locals-as-it-tries-to-learn-from-california-forevers-mistakes\">little organized opposition\u003c/a> when former software engineer and Esmeralda Land Company CEO Devon Zuegel first started hosting informational public meetings about the project in 2024, backlash began to grow as it inched closer to reality. Earlier this year, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103065/as-new-north-bay-neighborhood-nears-approval-environmental-concerns-weigh-heavy\">vocal group of residents\u003c/a> started raising concerns about the project’s environmental impacts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102962\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Land Company founder and president Devon Zuegel speaks during a Planning Commission public hearing on the proposed Esmeralda development at the Cloverdale Veterans Memorial Building on Oct. 1, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But during the five-hour meeting, residents were evenly split on whether to proceed with the project. Vice Mayor Todd Lands said overwhelming public sentiment — including residents not present for public testimony — favored approving Esmeralda, which promises to revitalize the rural community’s dwindling population and jobs’ base. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You’ll never please every single person, but we have been elected or appointed to be here to represent you,” Lands said before casting a vote in favor of the project. “Sometimes, we have to make the hard decisions, and we have to do what is best for the entire community as a whole.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Skeptics of the project, however, have called the approval premature and are asking for more environmental review before it can proceed. The project would be sited on an approximately 260-acre property that once housed a wood treatment plant that was known to discharge hazardous waste into the soil and groundwater before it shut down in 1976.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But rather than complete a new environmental impact report, the project’s developers are relying on an update — or addendum — to an existing report completed in 2009. Cloverdale city staff concluded the more focused review was sufficient for the project. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jennifer Sullivan, a staunch opponent, said she’s concerned new construction could unearth dangerous chemicals, hurting existing residents. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m not anti-growth, I’m about doing things right,” she said. “A [full environmental impact report] takes time because good planning takes time.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Proponents pushed back, however, pointing out that the site had been extensively studied by the developer, the site owner and state agencies, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cloverdale.net/DocumentCenter/View/6953/EIR-Addendum\">verified it had been decontaminated\u003c/a> of hazardous waste in 2012. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Esmeralda Land Company has also agreed to conduct more studies to ensure the site is safe for people to live there before starting construction and to have a city-hired environmental consultant review those studies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The whole point of it is to do additional testing, if additional testing is needed, and then to report that testing and to develop a soil management plan for those specific contaminants if those contaminants are found,” said Michael Yarne, Esmeralda’s director of development. “No construction before testing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ann Elston, who said she has lived in Cloverdale for the past 30 years, argued the project would provide much-needed tax revenue for the city, which has seen its population decline in recent years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What is the plan to attract new businesses and new residents to increase that tax base?” she asked. “We all love the small town charm of Cloverdale. And if we’re honest, there probably is a little bit of NIMBYism in all of us. Unfortunately, towns that are not growing and well-funded wither and may eventually fade away.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102957\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A mural in downtown Cloverdale on Oct. 1, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The City Council was originally scheduled to vote on Esmeralda last week, but ultimately postponed the vote so they could spend more time talking with residents and reading over the project’s lengthy entitlements package. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Wednesday’s meeting, Zuegel said the project’s investors were getting nervous that it might never progress if the council refused to make a decision. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What our investors need to hear — if Cloverdale wants to have this happen— is that [the council is] even interested in taking it to the next step,” she said. “We don’t need a final approval tonight.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But two council members — Andres Marquez and Marjorie Morgenstern, who are both running for reelection this year and voted against the project — made it clear they didn’t mind making the investors wait. They want to refrain from making a decision until the city hosts a series of public meetings, scheduled later this month, to discuss community concerns, including questions about the project’s completed environmental reviews. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think it’s an opportunity to share information with the community [and] have the involvement that people are requesting,” Marquez said. “I think people are asking for time and that’s what we can give them.”\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Esmeralda, a new neighborhood in the North Bay where \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/siliconvalley\">Silicon Valley\u003c/a> thinkers and culture makers can gather and share ideas, got a preliminary green light on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Esmeralda, a new neighborhood in the North Bay where \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/siliconvalley\">Silicon Valley\u003c/a> thinkers and culture makers can gather and share ideas, got a preliminary green light on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Cloverdale City Council voted 3-2 to approve the project’s overall plan for some 600 homes, a resort hotel, an event center, a preschool and more than 160 acres of parks and open space — making it one of the largest developments in the small Sonoma County town’s recent history. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Cloverdale City Council voted 3-2 to approve the project’s overall plan for some 600 homes, a resort hotel, an event center, a preschool and more than 160 acres of parks and open space — making it one of the largest developments in the small Sonoma County town’s recent history. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A second reading of an ordinance to approve the project is scheduled for mid-November. It would include changes to the site’s current zoning, a draft map of the project and an extensive developer agreement.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A second reading of an ordinance to approve the project is scheduled for mid-November. It would include changes to the site’s current zoning, a draft map of the project and an extensive developer agreement.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While the project faced \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12059557/esmeralda-courts-locals-as-it-tries-to-learn-from-california-forevers-mistakes\">little organized opposition\u003c/a> when former software engineer and Esmeralda Land Company CEO Devon Zuegel first started hosting informational public meetings about the project in 2024, backlash began to grow as it inched closer to reality. Earlier this year, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103065/as-new-north-bay-neighborhood-nears-approval-environmental-concerns-weigh-heavy\">vocal group of residents\u003c/a> started raising concerns about the project’s environmental impacts. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>While the project faced \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12059557/esmeralda-courts-locals-as-it-tries-to-learn-from-california-forevers-mistakes\">little organized opposition\u003c/a> when former software engineer and Esmeralda Land Company CEO Devon Zuegel first started hosting informational public meetings about the project in 2024, backlash began to grow as it inched closer to reality. Earlier this year, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103065/as-new-north-bay-neighborhood-nears-approval-environmental-concerns-weigh-heavy\">vocal group of residents\u003c/a> started raising concerns about the project’s environmental impacts. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12102962,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102962\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Land Company founder and president Devon Zuegel speaks during a Planning Commission public hearing on the proposed Esmeralda development at the Cloverdale Veterans Memorial Building on Oct. 1, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102962\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Land Company founder and president Devon Zuegel speaks during a Planning Commission public hearing on the proposed Esmeralda development at the Cloverdale Veterans Memorial Building on Oct. 1, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But during the five-hour meeting, residents were evenly split on whether to proceed with the project. Vice Mayor Todd Lands said overwhelming public sentiment — including residents not present for public testimony — favored approving Esmeralda, which promises to revitalize the rural community’s dwindling population and jobs’ base. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But during the five-hour meeting, residents were evenly split on whether to proceed with the project. Vice Mayor Todd Lands said overwhelming public sentiment — including residents not present for public testimony — favored approving Esmeralda, which promises to revitalize the rural community’s dwindling population and jobs’ base. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You’ll never please every single person, but we have been elected or appointed to be here to represent you,” Lands said before casting a vote in favor of the project. “Sometimes, we have to make the hard decisions, and we have to do what is best for the entire community as a whole.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“You’ll never please every single person, but we have been elected or appointed to be here to represent you,” Lands said before casting a vote in favor of the project. “Sometimes, we have to make the hard decisions, and we have to do what is best for the entire community as a whole.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Skeptics of the project, however, have called the approval premature and are asking for more environmental review before it can proceed. The project would be sited on an approximately 260-acre property that once housed a wood treatment plant that was known to discharge hazardous waste into the soil and groundwater before it shut down in 1976.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Skeptics of the project, however, have called the approval premature and are asking for more environmental review before it can proceed. The project would be sited on an approximately 260-acre property that once housed a wood treatment plant that was known to discharge hazardous waste into the soil and groundwater before it shut down in 1976.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But rather than complete a new environmental impact report, the project’s developers are relying on an update — or addendum — to an existing report completed in 2009. Cloverdale city staff concluded the more focused review was sufficient for the project. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But rather than complete a new environmental impact report, the project’s developers are relying on an update — or addendum — to an existing report completed in 2009. Cloverdale city staff concluded the more focused review was sufficient for the project. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12103065"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-13-BL-KQED.jpg",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jennifer Sullivan, a staunch opponent, said she’s concerned new construction could unearth dangerous chemicals, hurting existing residents. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Jennifer Sullivan, a staunch opponent, said she’s concerned new construction could unearth dangerous chemicals, hurting existing residents. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m not anti-growth, I’m about doing things right,” she said. “A [full environmental impact report] takes time because good planning takes time.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I’m not anti-growth, I’m about doing things right,” she said. “A [full environmental impact report] takes time because good planning takes time.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Proponents pushed back, however, pointing out that the site had been extensively studied by the developer, the site owner and state agencies, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cloverdale.net/DocumentCenter/View/6953/EIR-Addendum\">verified it had been decontaminated\u003c/a> of hazardous waste in 2012. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Proponents pushed back, however, pointing out that the site had been extensively studied by the developer, the site owner and state agencies, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cloverdale.net/DocumentCenter/View/6953/EIR-Addendum\">verified it had been decontaminated\u003c/a> of hazardous waste in 2012. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Esmeralda Land Company has also agreed to conduct more studies to ensure the site is safe for people to live there before starting construction and to have a city-hired environmental consultant review those studies. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Esmeralda Land Company has also agreed to conduct more studies to ensure the site is safe for people to live there before starting construction and to have a city-hired environmental consultant review those studies. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The whole point of it is to do additional testing, if additional testing is needed, and then to report that testing and to develop a soil management plan for those specific contaminants if those contaminants are found,” said Michael Yarne, Esmeralda’s director of development. “No construction before testing.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The whole point of it is to do additional testing, if additional testing is needed, and then to report that testing and to develop a soil management plan for those specific contaminants if those contaminants are found,” said Michael Yarne, Esmeralda’s director of development. “No construction before testing.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ann Elston, who said she has lived in Cloverdale for the past 30 years, argued the project would provide much-needed tax revenue for the city, which has seen its population decline in recent years. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Ann Elston, who said she has lived in Cloverdale for the past 30 years, argued the project would provide much-needed tax revenue for the city, which has seen its population decline in recent years. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“What is the plan to attract new businesses and new residents to increase that tax base?” she asked. “We all love the small town charm of Cloverdale. And if we’re honest, there probably is a little bit of NIMBYism in all of us. Unfortunately, towns that are not growing and well-funded wither and may eventually fade away.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“What is the plan to attract new businesses and new residents to increase that tax base?” she asked. “We all love the small town charm of Cloverdale. And if we’re honest, there probably is a little bit of NIMBYism in all of us. Unfortunately, towns that are not growing and well-funded wither and may eventually fade away.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12102957,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102957\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A mural in downtown Cloverdale on Oct. 1, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102957\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A mural in downtown Cloverdale on Oct. 1, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The City Council was originally scheduled to vote on Esmeralda last week, but ultimately postponed the vote so they could spend more time talking with residents and reading over the project’s lengthy entitlements package. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The City Council was originally scheduled to vote on Esmeralda last week, but ultimately postponed the vote so they could spend more time talking with residents and reading over the project’s lengthy entitlements package. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At Wednesday’s meeting, Zuegel said the project’s investors were getting nervous that it might never progress if the council refused to make a decision. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>At Wednesday’s meeting, Zuegel said the project’s investors were getting nervous that it might never progress if the council refused to make a decision. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“What our investors need to hear — if Cloverdale wants to have this happen— is that [the council is] even interested in taking it to the next step,” she said. “We don’t need a final approval tonight.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“What our investors need to hear — if Cloverdale wants to have this happen— is that [the council is] even interested in taking it to the next step,” she said. “We don’t need a final approval tonight.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But two council members — Andres Marquez and Marjorie Morgenstern, who are both running for reelection this year and voted against the project — made it clear they didn’t mind making the investors wait. They want to refrain from making a decision until the city hosts a series of public meetings, scheduled later this month, to discuss community concerns, including questions about the project’s completed environmental reviews. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But two council members — Andres Marquez and Marjorie Morgenstern, who are both running for reelection this year and voted against the project — made it clear they didn’t mind making the investors wait. They want to refrain from making a decision until the city hosts a series of public meetings, scheduled later this month, to discuss community concerns, including questions about the project’s completed environmental reviews. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think it’s an opportunity to share information with the community [and] have the involvement that people are requesting,” Marquez said. “I think people are asking for time and that’s what we can give them.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I think it’s an opportunity to share information with the community [and] have the involvement that people are requesting,” Marquez said. “I think people are asking for time and that’s what we can give them.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "The Cloverdale City Council voted Wednesday to forward Esmeralda, a controversial new housing development and event center in the small Sonoma County town. The project faced a recent wave of backlash over environmental concerns. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1792099178,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 20,
"wordCount": 889
},
"headData": {
"title": "Software Engineer’s Proposed Neighborhood, Event Center Gets Preliminary Green Light | KQED",
"description": "The Cloverdale City Council voted Wednesday to forward Esmeralda, a controversial new housing development and event center in the small Sonoma County town. The project faced a recent wave of backlash over environmental concerns. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Software Engineer’s Proposed Neighborhood, Event Center Gets Preliminary Green Light",
"datePublished": "2026-10-15T12:10:05-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-10-15T14:19:38-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 6266,
"slug": "housing",
"name": "Housing"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12103495",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12103495/software-engineers-proposed-neighborhood-event-center-gets-preliminary-green-light",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Esmeralda, a new neighborhood in the North Bay where \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/siliconvalley\">Silicon Valley\u003c/a> thinkers and culture makers can gather and share ideas, got a preliminary green light on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Cloverdale City Council voted 3-2 to approve the project’s overall plan for some 600 homes, a resort hotel, an event center, a preschool and more than 160 acres of parks and open space — making it one of the largest developments in the small Sonoma County town’s recent history. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A second reading of an ordinance to approve the project is scheduled for mid-November. It would include changes to the site’s current zoning, a draft map of the project and an extensive developer agreement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While the project faced \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12059557/esmeralda-courts-locals-as-it-tries-to-learn-from-california-forevers-mistakes\">little organized opposition\u003c/a> when former software engineer and Esmeralda Land Company CEO Devon Zuegel first started hosting informational public meetings about the project in 2024, backlash began to grow as it inched closer to reality. Earlier this year, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103065/as-new-north-bay-neighborhood-nears-approval-environmental-concerns-weigh-heavy\">vocal group of residents\u003c/a> started raising concerns about the project’s environmental impacts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102962\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-29-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Land Company founder and president Devon Zuegel speaks during a Planning Commission public hearing on the proposed Esmeralda development at the Cloverdale Veterans Memorial Building on Oct. 1, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But during the five-hour meeting, residents were evenly split on whether to proceed with the project. Vice Mayor Todd Lands said overwhelming public sentiment — including residents not present for public testimony — favored approving Esmeralda, which promises to revitalize the rural community’s dwindling population and jobs’ base. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You’ll never please every single person, but we have been elected or appointed to be here to represent you,” Lands said before casting a vote in favor of the project. “Sometimes, we have to make the hard decisions, and we have to do what is best for the entire community as a whole.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Skeptics of the project, however, have called the approval premature and are asking for more environmental review before it can proceed. The project would be sited on an approximately 260-acre property that once housed a wood treatment plant that was known to discharge hazardous waste into the soil and groundwater before it shut down in 1976.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But rather than complete a new environmental impact report, the project’s developers are relying on an update — or addendum — to an existing report completed in 2009. Cloverdale city staff concluded the more focused review was sufficient for the project. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jennifer Sullivan, a staunch opponent, said she’s concerned new construction could unearth dangerous chemicals, hurting existing residents. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m not anti-growth, I’m about doing things right,” she said. “A [full environmental impact report] takes time because good planning takes time.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Proponents pushed back, however, pointing out that the site had been extensively studied by the developer, the site owner and state agencies, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cloverdale.net/DocumentCenter/View/6953/EIR-Addendum\">verified it had been decontaminated\u003c/a> of hazardous waste in 2012. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Esmeralda Land Company has also agreed to conduct more studies to ensure the site is safe for people to live there before starting construction and to have a city-hired environmental consultant review those studies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The whole point of it is to do additional testing, if additional testing is needed, and then to report that testing and to develop a soil management plan for those specific contaminants if those contaminants are found,” said Michael Yarne, Esmeralda’s director of development. “No construction before testing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ann Elston, who said she has lived in Cloverdale for the past 30 years, argued the project would provide much-needed tax revenue for the city, which has seen its population decline in recent years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What is the plan to attract new businesses and new residents to increase that tax base?” she asked. “We all love the small town charm of Cloverdale. And if we’re honest, there probably is a little bit of NIMBYism in all of us. Unfortunately, towns that are not growing and well-funded wither and may eventually fade away.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102957\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261001-ESMERALDAPROJECT-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A mural in downtown Cloverdale on Oct. 1, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The City Council was originally scheduled to vote on Esmeralda last week, but ultimately postponed the vote so they could spend more time talking with residents and reading over the project’s lengthy entitlements package. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Wednesday’s meeting, Zuegel said the project’s investors were getting nervous that it might never progress if the council refused to make a decision. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What our investors need to hear — if Cloverdale wants to have this happen— is that [the council is] even interested in taking it to the next step,” she said. “We don’t need a final approval tonight.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But two council members — Andres Marquez and Marjorie Morgenstern, who are both running for reelection this year and voted against the project — made it clear they didn’t mind making the investors wait. They want to refrain from making a decision until the city hosts a series of public meetings, scheduled later this month, to discuss community concerns, including questions about the project’s completed environmental reviews. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think it’s an opportunity to share information with the community [and] have the involvement that people are requesting,” Marquez said. “I think people are asking for time and that’s what we can give them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12103495/software-engineers-proposed-neighborhood-event-center-gets-preliminary-green-light",
"authors": [
"11672"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_19906",
"news_6266",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_3921",
"news_1386",
"news_34061",
"news_1775",
"news_6615",
"news_34586"
],
"featImg": "news_12102955",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12104461": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12104461",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12104461",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1792090800000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "ballhalla-better-be-prepping-where-to-cheer-on-the-valkyries-in-the-wnba-finals",
"title": "‘Ballhalla Better Be Prepping’: Where to Cheer on the Valkyries in the WNBA Finals",
"publishDate": 1792090800,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "‘Ballhalla Better Be Prepping’: Where to Cheer on the Valkyries in the WNBA Finals | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\n\u003cp>The Golden State Valkyries have made it \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103702/golden-state-valkyries-advance-to-wnba-finals-after-sweeping-las-vegas-aces\">to the 2026 Women’s National Basketball Association Finals\u003c/a> in their second year ever.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And they’re stunningly close to \u003ca href=\"https://frontofficesports.com/article/natalie-nakase-valkyries-coach-wnba/\">fulfilling owner Joe Lacob’s request to coach Natalie Nakase\u003c/a> to win a championship in the first five years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s been an exhilarating season for the Valkyries — now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103702/golden-state-valkyries-advance-to-wnba-finals-after-sweeping-las-vegas-aces\">the most valuable team in the league \u003c/a>— and its passionate fanbase that turns homecourt Chase Center into “Ballhalla.” And the stakes just got higher when the Valkyries won 3 games out of 5 against defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(It’s worth noting that this outcome was \u003cem>very\u003c/em> much not expected by \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/50090641/wnba-playoffs-2026-semifinals-preview-postseason-prediction-odds-aces-valkyries-dream-liberty\">sports commentators\u003c/a>. As Valkyries forward Gabby Williams said during a post-game conference, \u003ca href=\"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/golden-state-valkyries-earned-wnba-201306407.html\">“We about to have some bandwagoners.”\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103944\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Four Golden State Valkyries fans wear matching Kaitlyn Chen jerseys while watching the team’s playoff game against the Las Vegas Aces at Standard Deviant Brewing in San Francisco on Oct. 9, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact, this year will be the first WNBA finals since 2021 without either the Las Vegas Aces or the New York Liberty — both knocked out during the semifinals. Instead, the Valkyries will be going up against the Atlanta Dream, who also won three games out of five. The Dream have also never won a championship and are hungry for it — especially with WNBA star Angel Reese taking the stage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nakase rallied the fans during \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeexaPdC_2D/\">an interview during a Valkyries practice\u003c/a> this week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Ballhalla better be prepping for a game plan. As soon as [the Atlanta Dream] is announced, I need some hostility,” Nakase said. “If they are shooting free throws, I need that thing to be rocking.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We definitely gotta use Ballhalla’s essence,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading to find out where you can cheer on the Valkyries and how you can follow the WNBA finals this month. And if you’re entirely new to the whole basketball thing, don’t worry: We got you. KQED has a guide to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096884/in-the-midst-of-basketball-and-baseball-season-how-to-join-womens-sports-fandom-in-the-bay-area\">joining the WNBA fandom in the Bay\u003c/a> and what to know about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-schedule-fandom-chase-center-san-francisco-ballhalla\">the Valkyries’ inaugural year\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First, when is the Valkyries game this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Valkyries will play the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in Game 1 of the WNBA finals on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remind me: How do the WNBA finals work?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WNBA finals are a best-of-7 format — meaning Game 5, 6 and 7 may not happen if one team sweeps the first four. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12101439\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Golden State Valkyries flag flies outside San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco ahead of the Valkyries playoff push on Sept. 25, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After Saturday’s Game 1, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyries/p/DecMDPbNKfw/?hl=en\">schedule is as follows\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After pushback from WNBA fans and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/JanieMcCAP/status/2110106023520502236?s=46\">even Valkyries owner Lacob\u003c/a>, the Atlanta Dream will now be \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/50174735/wnba-finals-games-3-4-held-atlanta-state-farm-arena\">playing their first two home games at the State Farm Arena\u003c/a>, which can seat more than 17,000 people, rather than its much smaller regular venue in College Park.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I watch the WNBA playoff games?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the games online\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The WNBA website has \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all\">a list of ways to watch each game\u003c/a>, since this can change for specific matches. For the finals, it’s primarily \u003ca href=\"https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/wnba#ib-section-section-6\">Peacock/NBC\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.usanetwork.com/usa-insider/2026-wnba-schedule-how-to-watch-on-usa-network-online-streaming\">USA\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/\">CNBC.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also get access to these channels through platforms like \u003ca href=\"https://tv.youtube.com/learn/wnba/\">YouTube TV\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fubo.tv/welcome\">Fubo\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/leaguepass?plan=annual\">WNBA League Pass\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102726\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet lies on the court after the team defeated the Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3 of their WNBA first-round playoff series at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 2, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the game in person\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>KQED has a thorough guide on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-schedule-fandom-chase-center-san-francisco-ballhalla#chase-center-san-francisco-parking\">how to attend a Valkyries game at Chase Center\u003c/a>, including transportation, parking and bag policy. Keep in mind that if you are driving into San Francisco, over a mile of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104093/101-i-80-closure-san-francisco-october-16-19-valkyries-wnba-finals-chase-center-bay-bridge-detour-traffic\">Highway 101 southbound is closed\u003c/a> this weekend.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Finals tickets are available on \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all\">the Valkyries’ website\u003c/a>. The \u003cem>guaranteed \u003c/em>games at Chase Center are Saturday, Oct. 17 and Monday, Oct. 19. But expect higher-than-usual price tags — for Saturday, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C006529C5D8349C?brand=valkyries&artistid=3369949&wt.mc_id=WNBA_TEAM_GS_R3_A_PLAYOFFS_SGT_PG&utm_source=WNBA.com&utm_medium=client_PM&utm_campaign=WNBA_TEAM_GS&utm_content=R3_A_PLAYOFFS_SGT_PG\">the tickets range from $223 to over $1,300\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If necessary, the next games played at home will be on Monday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you do end up attending in person, get ready to be loud. Ballhalla is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12101576/fans-rally-at-chase-center-as-valkyries-win-their-first-playoff-game-on-sunday\">already known as the loudest WNBA fandom around\u003c/a>, sometimes even known as the team’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12101576/fans-rally-at-chase-center-as-valkyries-win-their-first-playoff-game-on-sunday\">“sixth man”\u003c/a> on court.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the game at a bar\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For away games, there’ll be \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DefNZk-Bdee/\">watch parties inside Chase Center\u003c/a>. According to the Valkyries’ Instagram account, tickets for these events will \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DefNZk-Bdee/\">go live on Thursday\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But even if you don’t have tickets to Chase Center, you can still enjoy the vibes of Ballhalla at plenty of spots across the Bay, as detailed in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096884/in-the-midst-of-basketball-and-baseball-season-how-to-join-womens-sports-fandom-in-the-bay-area#basketball\">KQED’s guide to the WNBA season\u003c/a> — which also includes a map from \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/roughnotes.mgs/\">sports journalist Maya Goldberg-Safir\u003c/a> of key places to meet other fans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(Remember: If you’re going to watch at a sports bar, be sure to get there at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>an hour and a half early. Rooms get packed very quickly.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Highlights include:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://partiful.com/e/wCPDm5uWjBpyTOpS21qr?\">Valkyries Tailgate\u003c/a> on Saturday at Chase Center in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valqueeries/\">ValQueeries\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thepeopleswatchparty/\">The People’s Watch Party\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/hysteriasportsbar/\">Hysteria\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">Rikki’s\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://hitopsbar.com/san-francisco/\">Hi Tops\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mothersf.com/\">Mother\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.standarddeviantbrewing.com/\">Standard Deviant Brewing\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DeZ57cjyJXS\">Valley Tavern\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-finals-watch-party-game-1-at-providence-sf-tickets-2003382664479?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Providence Night Club\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-vs-dream-wnba-finals-watch-party-at-woodbury-tickets-2003389742650?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Woodbury Bar\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-vs-atlanta-dream-watch-party-101726-tickets-2003326878622?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Skylark\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/georgeandwaltsbar/?hl=en\">George & Walt’s\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://xingones.com/\">Xingones Cantina\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandathleticclub.com/\">Oakland Athletic Club\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dedf-mhO6Fh/\">Understory\u003c/a> in Oakland \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.barebottle.com/santa-clara-taproom\">Barebottle Brewing Company\u003c/a> in Santa Clara\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.rookieslodge.com/\">Rookie’s Sports Lodge\u003c/a> in San José\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The team’s own website also has \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/bar-network\">a list of bars in the Bay\u003c/a> to go to for Valkyries games.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you have time, swing by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/\">“Boohalla”\u003c/a> — a Valkyries-themed Halloween display in San Francisco’s Inner Richmond district, featuring \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/reel/DeSYb4XyxtK/\">“Natalie NaCauldron”\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/p/DeC3BpYEj9z/\">“G. Wicked Williams.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Golden State Valkyries have made it \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103702/golden-state-valkyries-advance-to-wnba-finals-after-sweeping-las-vegas-aces\">to the 2026 Women’s National Basketball Association Finals\u003c/a> in their second year ever.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Golden State Valkyries have made it \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103702/golden-state-valkyries-advance-to-wnba-finals-after-sweeping-las-vegas-aces\">to the 2026 Women’s National Basketball Association Finals\u003c/a> in their second year ever.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And they’re stunningly close to \u003ca href=\"https://frontofficesports.com/article/natalie-nakase-valkyries-coach-wnba/\">fulfilling owner Joe Lacob’s request to coach Natalie Nakase\u003c/a> to win a championship in the first five years.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And they’re stunningly close to \u003ca href=\"https://frontofficesports.com/article/natalie-nakase-valkyries-coach-wnba/\">fulfilling owner Joe Lacob’s request to coach Natalie Nakase\u003c/a> to win a championship in the first five years.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s been an exhilarating season for the Valkyries — now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103702/golden-state-valkyries-advance-to-wnba-finals-after-sweeping-las-vegas-aces\">the most valuable team in the league \u003c/a>— and its passionate fanbase that turns homecourt Chase Center into “Ballhalla.” And the stakes just got higher when the Valkyries won 3 games out of 5 against defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s been an exhilarating season for the Valkyries — now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103702/golden-state-valkyries-advance-to-wnba-finals-after-sweeping-las-vegas-aces\">the most valuable team in the league \u003c/a>— and its passionate fanbase that turns homecourt Chase Center into “Ballhalla.” And the stakes just got higher when the Valkyries won 3 games out of 5 against defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>(It’s worth noting that this outcome was \u003cem>very\u003c/em> much not expected by \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/50090641/wnba-playoffs-2026-semifinals-preview-postseason-prediction-odds-aces-valkyries-dream-liberty\">sports commentators\u003c/a>. As Valkyries forward Gabby Williams said during a post-game conference, \u003ca href=\"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/golden-state-valkyries-earned-wnba-201306407.html\">“We about to have some bandwagoners.”\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>(It’s worth noting that this outcome was \u003cem>very\u003c/em> much not expected by \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/50090641/wnba-playoffs-2026-semifinals-preview-postseason-prediction-odds-aces-valkyries-dream-liberty\">sports commentators\u003c/a>. As Valkyries forward Gabby Williams said during a post-game conference, \u003ca href=\"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/golden-state-valkyries-earned-wnba-201306407.html\">“We about to have some bandwagoners.”\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12103944,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103944\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Four Golden State Valkyries fans wear matching Kaitlyn Chen jerseys while watching the team’s playoff game against the Las Vegas Aces at Standard Deviant Brewing in San Francisco on Oct. 9, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103944\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Four Golden State Valkyries fans wear matching Kaitlyn Chen jerseys while watching the team’s playoff game against the Las Vegas Aces at Standard Deviant Brewing in San Francisco on Oct. 9, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In fact, this year will be the first WNBA finals since 2021 without either the Las Vegas Aces or the New York Liberty — both knocked out during the semifinals. Instead, the Valkyries will be going up against the Atlanta Dream, who also won three games out of five. The Dream have also never won a championship and are hungry for it — especially with WNBA star Angel Reese taking the stage.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In fact, this year will be the first WNBA finals since 2021 without either the Las Vegas Aces or the New York Liberty — both knocked out during the semifinals. Instead, the Valkyries will be going up against the Atlanta Dream, who also won three games out of five. The Dream have also never won a championship and are hungry for it — especially with WNBA star Angel Reese taking the stage.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nakase rallied the fans during \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeexaPdC_2D/\">an interview during a Valkyries practice\u003c/a> this week.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Nakase rallied the fans during \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeexaPdC_2D/\">an interview during a Valkyries practice\u003c/a> this week.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Ballhalla better be prepping for a game plan. As soon as [the Atlanta Dream] is announced, I need some hostility,” Nakase said. “If they are shooting free throws, I need that thing to be rocking.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Ballhalla better be prepping for a game plan. As soon as [the Atlanta Dream] is announced, I need some hostility,” Nakase said. “If they are shooting free throws, I need that thing to be rocking.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We definitely gotta use Ballhalla’s essence,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We definitely gotta use Ballhalla’s essence,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Keep reading to find out where you can cheer on the Valkyries and how you can follow the WNBA finals this month. And if you’re entirely new to the whole basketball thing, don’t worry: We got you. KQED has a guide to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096884/in-the-midst-of-basketball-and-baseball-season-how-to-join-womens-sports-fandom-in-the-bay-area\">joining the WNBA fandom in the Bay\u003c/a> and what to know about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-schedule-fandom-chase-center-san-francisco-ballhalla\">the Valkyries’ inaugural year\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Keep reading to find out where you can cheer on the Valkyries and how you can follow the WNBA finals this month. And if you’re entirely new to the whole basketball thing, don’t worry: We got you. KQED has a guide to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096884/in-the-midst-of-basketball-and-baseball-season-how-to-join-womens-sports-fandom-in-the-bay-area\">joining the WNBA fandom in the Bay\u003c/a> and what to know about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-schedule-fandom-chase-center-san-francisco-ballhalla\">the Valkyries’ inaugural year\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "First, when is the Valkyries game this weekend?",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First, when is the Valkyries game this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First, when is the Valkyries game this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Valkyries will play the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in Game 1 of the WNBA finals on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Valkyries will play the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in Game 1 of the WNBA finals on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Remind me: How do the WNBA finals work?",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remind me: How do the WNBA finals work?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remind me: How do the WNBA finals work?\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>WNBA finals are a best-of-7 format — meaning Game 5, 6 and 7 may not happen if one team sweeps the first four. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>WNBA finals are a best-of-7 format — meaning Game 5, 6 and 7 may not happen if one team sweeps the first four. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12101439,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12101439\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Golden State Valkyries flag flies outside San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco ahead of the Valkyries playoff push on Sept. 25, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12101439\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Golden State Valkyries flag flies outside San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco ahead of the Valkyries playoff push on Sept. 25, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After Saturday’s Game 1, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyries/p/DecMDPbNKfw/?hl=en\">schedule is as follows\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>After Saturday’s Game 1, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyries/p/DecMDPbNKfw/?hl=en\">schedule is as follows\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/list",
"attrs": {
"items": [
"Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. (home)",
"Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. (away)",
"Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. (away)",
"Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. (home)",
"Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. (away)",
"Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. (home)"
],
"ordered": false,
"values": ""
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/ul>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n"
]
}
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After pushback from WNBA fans and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/JanieMcCAP/status/2110106023520502236?s=46\">even Valkyries owner Lacob\u003c/a>, the Atlanta Dream will now be \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/50174735/wnba-finals-games-3-4-held-atlanta-state-farm-arena\">playing their first two home games at the State Farm Arena\u003c/a>, which can seat more than 17,000 people, rather than its much smaller regular venue in College Park.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>After pushback from WNBA fans and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/JanieMcCAP/status/2110106023520502236?s=46\">even Valkyries owner Lacob\u003c/a>, the Atlanta Dream will now be \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/50174735/wnba-finals-games-3-4-held-atlanta-state-farm-arena\">playing their first two home games at the State Farm Arena\u003c/a>, which can seat more than 17,000 people, rather than its much smaller regular venue in College Park.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Where can I watch the WNBA playoff games?",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I watch the WNBA playoff games?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I watch the WNBA playoff games?\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "How to watch the games online"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the games online\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the games online\u003c/h3>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The WNBA website has \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all\">a list of ways to watch each game\u003c/a>, since this can change for specific matches. For the finals, it’s primarily \u003ca href=\"https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/wnba#ib-section-section-6\">Peacock/NBC\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.usanetwork.com/usa-insider/2026-wnba-schedule-how-to-watch-on-usa-network-online-streaming\">USA\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/\">CNBC.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The WNBA website has \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all\">a list of ways to watch each game\u003c/a>, since this can change for specific matches. For the finals, it’s primarily \u003ca href=\"https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/wnba#ib-section-section-6\">Peacock/NBC\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.usanetwork.com/usa-insider/2026-wnba-schedule-how-to-watch-on-usa-network-online-streaming\">USA\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/\">CNBC.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can also get access to these channels through platforms like \u003ca href=\"https://tv.youtube.com/learn/wnba/\">YouTube TV\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fubo.tv/welcome\">Fubo\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/leaguepass?plan=annual\">WNBA League Pass\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can also get access to these channels through platforms like \u003ca href=\"https://tv.youtube.com/learn/wnba/\">YouTube TV\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fubo.tv/welcome\">Fubo\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/leaguepass?plan=annual\">WNBA League Pass\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12102726,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102726\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet lies on the court after the team defeated the Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3 of their WNBA first-round playoff series at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 2, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102726\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet lies on the court after the team defeated the Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3 of their WNBA first-round playoff series at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 2, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "How to watch the game in person"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the game in person\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the game in person\u003c/h3>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>KQED has a thorough guide on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-schedule-fandom-chase-center-san-francisco-ballhalla#chase-center-san-francisco-parking\">how to attend a Valkyries game at Chase Center\u003c/a>, including transportation, parking and bag policy. Keep in mind that if you are driving into San Francisco, over a mile of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104093/101-i-80-closure-san-francisco-october-16-19-valkyries-wnba-finals-chase-center-bay-bridge-detour-traffic\">Highway 101 southbound is closed\u003c/a> this weekend.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>KQED has a thorough guide on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-schedule-fandom-chase-center-san-francisco-ballhalla#chase-center-san-francisco-parking\">how to attend a Valkyries game at Chase Center\u003c/a>, including transportation, parking and bag policy. Keep in mind that if you are driving into San Francisco, over a mile of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104093/101-i-80-closure-san-francisco-october-16-19-valkyries-wnba-finals-chase-center-bay-bridge-detour-traffic\">Highway 101 southbound is closed\u003c/a> this weekend.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Finals tickets are available on \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all\">the Valkyries’ website\u003c/a>. The \u003cem>guaranteed \u003c/em>games at Chase Center are Saturday, Oct. 17 and Monday, Oct. 19. But expect higher-than-usual price tags — for Saturday, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C006529C5D8349C?brand=valkyries&artistid=3369949&wt.mc_id=WNBA_TEAM_GS_R3_A_PLAYOFFS_SGT_PG&utm_source=WNBA.com&utm_medium=client_PM&utm_campaign=WNBA_TEAM_GS&utm_content=R3_A_PLAYOFFS_SGT_PG\">the tickets range from $223 to over $1,300\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Finals tickets are available on \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all\">the Valkyries’ website\u003c/a>. The \u003cem>guaranteed \u003c/em>games at Chase Center are Saturday, Oct. 17 and Monday, Oct. 19. But expect higher-than-usual price tags — for Saturday, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C006529C5D8349C?brand=valkyries&artistid=3369949&wt.mc_id=WNBA_TEAM_GS_R3_A_PLAYOFFS_SGT_PG&utm_source=WNBA.com&utm_medium=client_PM&utm_campaign=WNBA_TEAM_GS&utm_content=R3_A_PLAYOFFS_SGT_PG\">the tickets range from $223 to over $1,300\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If necessary, the next games played at home will be on Monday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If necessary, the next games played at home will be on Monday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you do end up attending in person, get ready to be loud. Ballhalla is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12101576/fans-rally-at-chase-center-as-valkyries-win-their-first-playoff-game-on-sunday\">already known as the loudest WNBA fandom around\u003c/a>, sometimes even known as the team’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12101576/fans-rally-at-chase-center-as-valkyries-win-their-first-playoff-game-on-sunday\">“sixth man”\u003c/a> on court.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you do end up attending in person, get ready to be loud. Ballhalla is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12101576/fans-rally-at-chase-center-as-valkyries-win-their-first-playoff-game-on-sunday\">already known as the loudest WNBA fandom around\u003c/a>, sometimes even known as the team’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12101576/fans-rally-at-chase-center-as-valkyries-win-their-first-playoff-game-on-sunday\">“sixth man”\u003c/a> on court.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "How to watch the game at a bar"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the game at a bar\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the game at a bar\u003c/h3>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12103702"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_032_qed-b3563058.jpg",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For away games, there’ll be \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DefNZk-Bdee/\">watch parties inside Chase Center\u003c/a>. According to the Valkyries’ Instagram account, tickets for these events will \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DefNZk-Bdee/\">go live on Thursday\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>For away games, there’ll be \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DefNZk-Bdee/\">watch parties inside Chase Center\u003c/a>. According to the Valkyries’ Instagram account, tickets for these events will \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DefNZk-Bdee/\">go live on Thursday\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But even if you don’t have tickets to Chase Center, you can still enjoy the vibes of Ballhalla at plenty of spots across the Bay, as detailed in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096884/in-the-midst-of-basketball-and-baseball-season-how-to-join-womens-sports-fandom-in-the-bay-area#basketball\">KQED’s guide to the WNBA season\u003c/a> — which also includes a map from \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/roughnotes.mgs/\">sports journalist Maya Goldberg-Safir\u003c/a> of key places to meet other fans.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But even if you don’t have tickets to Chase Center, you can still enjoy the vibes of Ballhalla at plenty of spots across the Bay, as detailed in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096884/in-the-midst-of-basketball-and-baseball-season-how-to-join-womens-sports-fandom-in-the-bay-area#basketball\">KQED’s guide to the WNBA season\u003c/a> — which also includes a map from \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/roughnotes.mgs/\">sports journalist Maya Goldberg-Safir\u003c/a> of key places to meet other fans.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>(Remember: If you’re going to watch at a sports bar, be sure to get there at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>an hour and a half early. Rooms get packed very quickly.)\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>(Remember: If you’re going to watch at a sports bar, be sure to get there at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>an hour and a half early. Rooms get packed very quickly.)\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Highlights include:\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Highlights include:\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/list",
"attrs": {
"items": [
"Valkyries Tailgate on Saturday at Chase Center in San Francisco",
"Events hosted by ValQueeries",
"Events hosted by The People’s Watch Party",
"Events hosted by Hysteria",
"Rikki’s in San Francisco",
"Hi Tops in San Francisco",
"Mother in San Francisco",
"Standard Deviant Brewing in San Francisco",
"Valley Tavern in San Francisco",
"Providence Night Club in San Francisco",
"Woodbury Bar in San Francisco",
"Skylark in San Francisco",
"George & Walt’s in Oakland",
"Xingones Cantina in Oakland",
"Oakland Athletic Club in Oakland",
"Understory in Oakland ",
"Barebottle Brewing Company in Santa Clara",
"Rookie’s Sports Lodge in San José"
],
"ordered": false,
"values": ""
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/ul>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://partiful.com/e/wCPDm5uWjBpyTOpS21qr?\">Valkyries Tailgate\u003c/a> on Saturday at Chase Center in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://partiful.com/e/wCPDm5uWjBpyTOpS21qr?\">Valkyries Tailgate\u003c/a> on Saturday at Chase Center in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valqueeries/\">ValQueeries\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valqueeries/\">ValQueeries\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thepeopleswatchparty/\">The People’s Watch Party\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thepeopleswatchparty/\">The People’s Watch Party\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/hysteriasportsbar/\">Hysteria\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/hysteriasportsbar/\">Hysteria\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">Rikki’s\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">Rikki’s\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://hitopsbar.com/san-francisco/\">Hi Tops\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://hitopsbar.com/san-francisco/\">Hi Tops\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mothersf.com/\">Mother\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mothersf.com/\">Mother\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.standarddeviantbrewing.com/\">Standard Deviant Brewing\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.standarddeviantbrewing.com/\">Standard Deviant Brewing\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DeZ57cjyJXS\">Valley Tavern\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DeZ57cjyJXS\">Valley Tavern\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-finals-watch-party-game-1-at-providence-sf-tickets-2003382664479?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Providence Night Club\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-finals-watch-party-game-1-at-providence-sf-tickets-2003382664479?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Providence Night Club\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-vs-dream-wnba-finals-watch-party-at-woodbury-tickets-2003389742650?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Woodbury Bar\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-vs-dream-wnba-finals-watch-party-at-woodbury-tickets-2003389742650?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Woodbury Bar\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-vs-atlanta-dream-watch-party-101726-tickets-2003326878622?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Skylark\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-vs-atlanta-dream-watch-party-101726-tickets-2003326878622?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Skylark\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/georgeandwaltsbar/?hl=en\">George & Walt’s\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/georgeandwaltsbar/?hl=en\">George & Walt’s\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://xingones.com/\">Xingones Cantina\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://xingones.com/\">Xingones Cantina\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandathleticclub.com/\">Oakland Athletic Club\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandathleticclub.com/\">Oakland Athletic Club\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dedf-mhO6Fh/\">Understory\u003c/a> in Oakland \u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dedf-mhO6Fh/\">Understory\u003c/a> in Oakland \u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.barebottle.com/santa-clara-taproom\">Barebottle Brewing Company\u003c/a> in Santa Clara\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.barebottle.com/santa-clara-taproom\">Barebottle Brewing Company\u003c/a> in Santa Clara\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.rookieslodge.com/\">Rookie’s Sports Lodge\u003c/a> in San José\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.rookieslodge.com/\">Rookie’s Sports Lodge\u003c/a> in San José\u003c/li>\n"
]
}
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The team’s own website also has \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/bar-network\">a list of bars in the Bay\u003c/a> to go to for Valkyries games.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The team’s own website also has \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/bar-network\">a list of bars in the Bay\u003c/a> to go to for Valkyries games.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if you have time, swing by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/\">“Boohalla”\u003c/a> — a Valkyries-themed Halloween display in San Francisco’s Inner Richmond district, featuring \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/reel/DeSYb4XyxtK/\">“Natalie NaCauldron”\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/p/DeC3BpYEj9z/\">“G. Wicked Williams.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And if you have time, swing by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/\">“Boohalla”\u003c/a> — a Valkyries-themed Halloween display in San Francisco’s Inner Richmond district, featuring \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/reel/DeSYb4XyxtK/\">“Natalie NaCauldron”\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/p/DeC3BpYEj9z/\">“G. Wicked Williams.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "Where you can watch the Valkyries’ games as the team makes it to the WNBA Finals in its second year.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1792091030,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 25,
"wordCount": 1056
},
"headData": {
"title": "‘Ballhalla Better Be Prepping’: Where to Cheer on the Valkyries in the WNBA Finals | KQED",
"description": "Where you can watch the Valkyries’ games as the team makes it to the WNBA Finals in its second year.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "‘Ballhalla Better Be Prepping’: Where to Cheer on the Valkyries in the WNBA Finals",
"datePublished": "2026-10-15T12:00:00-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-10-15T12:03:50-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12104461",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12104461/ballhalla-better-be-prepping-where-to-cheer-on-the-valkyries-in-the-wnba-finals",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The Golden State Valkyries have made it \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103702/golden-state-valkyries-advance-to-wnba-finals-after-sweeping-las-vegas-aces\">to the 2026 Women’s National Basketball Association Finals\u003c/a> in their second year ever.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And they’re stunningly close to \u003ca href=\"https://frontofficesports.com/article/natalie-nakase-valkyries-coach-wnba/\">fulfilling owner Joe Lacob’s request to coach Natalie Nakase\u003c/a> to win a championship in the first five years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s been an exhilarating season for the Valkyries — now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103702/golden-state-valkyries-advance-to-wnba-finals-after-sweeping-las-vegas-aces\">the most valuable team in the league \u003c/a>— and its passionate fanbase that turns homecourt Chase Center into “Ballhalla.” And the stakes just got higher when the Valkyries won 3 games out of 5 against defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(It’s worth noting that this outcome was \u003cem>very\u003c/em> much not expected by \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/50090641/wnba-playoffs-2026-semifinals-preview-postseason-prediction-odds-aces-valkyries-dream-liberty\">sports commentators\u003c/a>. As Valkyries forward Gabby Williams said during a post-game conference, \u003ca href=\"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/golden-state-valkyries-earned-wnba-201306407.html\">“We about to have some bandwagoners.”\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103944\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/10092026Valkyries-Friday-Night_GH_017_qed-121b07fd-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Four Golden State Valkyries fans wear matching Kaitlyn Chen jerseys while watching the team’s playoff game against the Las Vegas Aces at Standard Deviant Brewing in San Francisco on Oct. 9, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact, this year will be the first WNBA finals since 2021 without either the Las Vegas Aces or the New York Liberty — both knocked out during the semifinals. Instead, the Valkyries will be going up against the Atlanta Dream, who also won three games out of five. The Dream have also never won a championship and are hungry for it — especially with WNBA star Angel Reese taking the stage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nakase rallied the fans during \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeexaPdC_2D/\">an interview during a Valkyries practice\u003c/a> this week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Ballhalla better be prepping for a game plan. As soon as [the Atlanta Dream] is announced, I need some hostility,” Nakase said. “If they are shooting free throws, I need that thing to be rocking.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We definitely gotta use Ballhalla’s essence,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading to find out where you can cheer on the Valkyries and how you can follow the WNBA finals this month. And if you’re entirely new to the whole basketball thing, don’t worry: We got you. KQED has a guide to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096884/in-the-midst-of-basketball-and-baseball-season-how-to-join-womens-sports-fandom-in-the-bay-area\">joining the WNBA fandom in the Bay\u003c/a> and what to know about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-schedule-fandom-chase-center-san-francisco-ballhalla\">the Valkyries’ inaugural year\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First, when is the Valkyries game this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Valkyries will play the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in Game 1 of the WNBA finals on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remind me: How do the WNBA finals work?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WNBA finals are a best-of-7 format — meaning Game 5, 6 and 7 may not happen if one team sweeps the first four. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12101439\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260925-VioletDay-NG-16-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Golden State Valkyries flag flies outside San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco ahead of the Valkyries playoff push on Sept. 25, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After Saturday’s Game 1, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyries/p/DecMDPbNKfw/?hl=en\">schedule is as follows\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. (away)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. (home)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After pushback from WNBA fans and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/JanieMcCAP/status/2110106023520502236?s=46\">even Valkyries owner Lacob\u003c/a>, the Atlanta Dream will now be \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/50174735/wnba-finals-games-3-4-held-atlanta-state-farm-arena\">playing their first two home games at the State Farm Arena\u003c/a>, which can seat more than 17,000 people, rather than its much smaller regular venue in College Park.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I watch the WNBA playoff games?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the games online\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The WNBA website has \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all\">a list of ways to watch each game\u003c/a>, since this can change for specific matches. For the finals, it’s primarily \u003ca href=\"https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/wnba#ib-section-section-6\">Peacock/NBC\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.usanetwork.com/usa-insider/2026-wnba-schedule-how-to-watch-on-usa-network-online-streaming\">USA\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/\">CNBC.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also get access to these channels through platforms like \u003ca href=\"https://tv.youtube.com/learn/wnba/\">YouTube TV\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fubo.tv/welcome\">Fubo\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/leaguepass?plan=annual\">WNBA League Pass\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102726\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261002-ValkyriesRound1-52-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet lies on the court after the team defeated the Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3 of their WNBA first-round playoff series at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 2, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the game in person\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>KQED has a thorough guide on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-schedule-fandom-chase-center-san-francisco-ballhalla#chase-center-san-francisco-parking\">how to attend a Valkyries game at Chase Center\u003c/a>, including transportation, parking and bag policy. Keep in mind that if you are driving into San Francisco, over a mile of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104093/101-i-80-closure-san-francisco-october-16-19-valkyries-wnba-finals-chase-center-bay-bridge-detour-traffic\">Highway 101 southbound is closed\u003c/a> this weekend.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Finals tickets are available on \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all\">the Valkyries’ website\u003c/a>. The \u003cem>guaranteed \u003c/em>games at Chase Center are Saturday, Oct. 17 and Monday, Oct. 19. But expect higher-than-usual price tags — for Saturday, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C006529C5D8349C?brand=valkyries&artistid=3369949&wt.mc_id=WNBA_TEAM_GS_R3_A_PLAYOFFS_SGT_PG&utm_source=WNBA.com&utm_medium=client_PM&utm_campaign=WNBA_TEAM_GS&utm_content=R3_A_PLAYOFFS_SGT_PG\">the tickets range from $223 to over $1,300\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If necessary, the next games played at home will be on Monday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you do end up attending in person, get ready to be loud. Ballhalla is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12101576/fans-rally-at-chase-center-as-valkyries-win-their-first-playoff-game-on-sunday\">already known as the loudest WNBA fandom around\u003c/a>, sometimes even known as the team’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12101576/fans-rally-at-chase-center-as-valkyries-win-their-first-playoff-game-on-sunday\">“sixth man”\u003c/a> on court.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to watch the game at a bar\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For away games, there’ll be \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DefNZk-Bdee/\">watch parties inside Chase Center\u003c/a>. According to the Valkyries’ Instagram account, tickets for these events will \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DefNZk-Bdee/\">go live on Thursday\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But even if you don’t have tickets to Chase Center, you can still enjoy the vibes of Ballhalla at plenty of spots across the Bay, as detailed in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096884/in-the-midst-of-basketball-and-baseball-season-how-to-join-womens-sports-fandom-in-the-bay-area#basketball\">KQED’s guide to the WNBA season\u003c/a> — which also includes a map from \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/roughnotes.mgs/\">sports journalist Maya Goldberg-Safir\u003c/a> of key places to meet other fans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(Remember: If you’re going to watch at a sports bar, be sure to get there at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>an hour and a half early. Rooms get packed very quickly.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Highlights include:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://partiful.com/e/wCPDm5uWjBpyTOpS21qr?\">Valkyries Tailgate\u003c/a> on Saturday at Chase Center in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valqueeries/\">ValQueeries\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thepeopleswatchparty/\">The People’s Watch Party\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Events hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/hysteriasportsbar/\">Hysteria\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">Rikki’s\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://hitopsbar.com/san-francisco/\">Hi Tops\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mothersf.com/\">Mother\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.standarddeviantbrewing.com/\">Standard Deviant Brewing\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DeZ57cjyJXS\">Valley Tavern\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-finals-watch-party-game-1-at-providence-sf-tickets-2003382664479?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Providence Night Club\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-vs-dream-wnba-finals-watch-party-at-woodbury-tickets-2003389742650?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Woodbury Bar\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-vs-atlanta-dream-watch-party-101726-tickets-2003326878622?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Skylark\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/georgeandwaltsbar/?hl=en\">George & Walt’s\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://xingones.com/\">Xingones Cantina\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandathleticclub.com/\">Oakland Athletic Club\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Dedf-mhO6Fh/\">Understory\u003c/a> in Oakland \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.barebottle.com/santa-clara-taproom\">Barebottle Brewing Company\u003c/a> in Santa Clara\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.rookieslodge.com/\">Rookie’s Sports Lodge\u003c/a> in San José\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The team’s own website also has \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/bar-network\">a list of bars in the Bay\u003c/a> to go to for Valkyries games.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you have time, swing by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/\">“Boohalla”\u003c/a> — a Valkyries-themed Halloween display in San Francisco’s Inner Richmond district, featuring \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/reel/DeSYb4XyxtK/\">“Natalie NaCauldron”\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/boohalla/p/DeC3BpYEj9z/\">“G. Wicked Williams.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12104461/ballhalla-better-be-prepping-where-to-cheer-on-the-valkyries-in-the-wnba-finals",
"authors": [
"11867"
],
"categories": [
"news_34168",
"news_28250",
"news_8",
"news_10"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_18058",
"news_1386",
"news_34081",
"news_35888",
"news_27626",
"news_34044",
"news_38",
"news_34078",
"news_33257",
"news_1131",
"news_25293"
],
"featImg": "news_12103942",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12104514": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12104514",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12104514",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1792089433000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "bonta-sues-federal-government-to-stop-bay-area-national-archives-closure",
"title": "Bonta Sues Federal Government to Stop Bay Area National Archives Closure",
"publishDate": 1792089433,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Bonta Sues Federal Government to Stop Bay Area National Archives Closure | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing the federal government to block the Bay Area’s National Archives facility from closing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/complaint-california-v-nara-nd-cal-326-cv-11868.pdf\">lawsuit\u003c/a>, filed Wednesday in federal court, seeks a court order to prevent the closure, alleging that it violates federal administrative law — because the agency did not consult the public in deciding to rehome records. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088904/exclusive-the-bay-areas-national-archives-office-is-closing-researchers-are-worried\">told employees in a June email\u003c/a> that the National Archives at San Francisco, a San Bruno facility that hosts more than 75,000 cubic feet of historical records — with even more preserved in Chicago — would close “within the next few months.” That would mean immigration, genealogical and court records about subjects like Native American boarding schools and Japanese American internment would be moved to others across the country. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These records aren’t just part of California’s past. They serve a critical purpose for families, for communities and institutions across our state,” Bonta said at a press conference on Wednesday. “They depend on having local access to these records. Moving those records across the country puts that access at risk.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1420\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104429\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-1536x1091.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks during a press conference, Oct. 8, 2024, in San Francisco. (Minh Connors/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin, who represents the area where the San Bruno facility is located, in August led a coalition of lawmakers urging a halt to the closure and introduced legislation that would prevent NARA from closing facilities without congressional approval. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mullin said he was glad Bonta filed the lawsuit, but that he would continue his own efforts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“While I’m pleased to see the Attorney General take action today, I am also pushing for federal legislation with the National Archives Protection Act and will be doing everything in my power to prevent the closure through other means like the federal budget process,” Mullin wrote in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The National Archives and Records Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but told employees in their email announcing the decision that it was made in an effort to support the “long-term financial health and viability” of funding that goes toward facility operations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>NARA’s official announcement on its website in August \u003ca href=\"https://www.archives.gov/research/news\">said\u003c/a> the move addressed underutilized space due to a shift to electronic recordkeeping and that the facilities required upgrades that are “fiscally unviable.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agency said records from the San Bruno facility are currently and will still be available to the public, following their relocation to facilities in Riverside, Colorado, Maryland, Texas and Missouri. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The relocation of records, however, could take years and run the risk of records being separated or irreparably damaged, the lawsuit claims. Digitizing records, too, is not so easy due to the mass amounts of documents — with some too fragile to be copied. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agency said that currently, less than 4% of all records are digitized. According to NARA, only 3.35% of records from the Bureau of Indian Affairs — a federal agency whose job includes overseeing federally recognized tribes — have been digitized.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Four Native organizations said in a separate \u003ca href=\"https://narf.org/nill/documents/20261014-nara-letter.pdf\">joint letter to NARA\u003c/a>, issued the same day as Bonta’s lawsuit, that the closure has proceeded without “meaningful consultation” with tribes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088981\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The National Archives and Records Administration facility in San Bruno on June 25, 2026, stores historical federal records from Northern California and the Pacific region. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These archives hold documents and records that sovereign Tribal Nations rely on to vindicate the rights of Tribal members and to hold the federal government accountable for its trust and treaty obligations,” said letter cosigner John Echohawk, executive director of the Native Americans Rights Fund, in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>NARA hosted two tribal listening sessions this month to “lessen or mitigate the impacts of the closure.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bonta characterized that move as “inchoate.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The “‘consultation’ with the tribes is illusory and evidence of NARA’s failure to consider the impacts of its decision to close the Archives,” the lawsuit said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When NARA previously tried to sell its facility in Seattle in 2019, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget switched gears after lawmakers and tribes rallied against the closure.\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing the federal government to block the Bay Area’s National Archives facility from closing. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing the federal government to block the Bay Area’s National Archives facility from closing. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/complaint-california-v-nara-nd-cal-326-cv-11868.pdf\">lawsuit\u003c/a>, filed Wednesday in federal court, seeks a court order to prevent the closure, alleging that it violates federal administrative law — because the agency did not consult the public in deciding to rehome records. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/complaint-california-v-nara-nd-cal-326-cv-11868.pdf\">lawsuit\u003c/a>, filed Wednesday in federal court, seeks a court order to prevent the closure, alleging that it violates federal administrative law — because the agency did not consult the public in deciding to rehome records. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088904/exclusive-the-bay-areas-national-archives-office-is-closing-researchers-are-worried\">told employees in a June email\u003c/a> that the National Archives at San Francisco, a San Bruno facility that hosts more than 75,000 cubic feet of historical records — with even more preserved in Chicago — would close “within the next few months.” That would mean immigration, genealogical and court records about subjects like Native American boarding schools and Japanese American internment would be moved to others across the country. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088904/exclusive-the-bay-areas-national-archives-office-is-closing-researchers-are-worried\">told employees in a June email\u003c/a> that the National Archives at San Francisco, a San Bruno facility that hosts more than 75,000 cubic feet of historical records — with even more preserved in Chicago — would close “within the next few months.” That would mean immigration, genealogical and court records about subjects like Native American boarding schools and Japanese American internment would be moved to others across the country. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“These records aren’t just part of California’s past. They serve a critical purpose for families, for communities and institutions across our state,” Bonta said at a press conference on Wednesday. “They depend on having local access to these records. Moving those records across the country puts that access at risk.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“These records aren’t just part of California’s past. They serve a critical purpose for families, for communities and institutions across our state,” Bonta said at a press conference on Wednesday. “They depend on having local access to these records. Moving those records across the country puts that access at risk.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12104429,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-1536x1091.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104429\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-1536x1091.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks during a press conference, Oct. 8, 2024, in San Francisco. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Minh Connors/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104429\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks during a press conference, Oct. 8, 2024, in San Francisco. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Minh Connors/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin, who represents the area where the San Bruno facility is located, in August led a coalition of lawmakers urging a halt to the closure and introduced legislation that would prevent NARA from closing facilities without congressional approval. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin, who represents the area where the San Bruno facility is located, in August led a coalition of lawmakers urging a halt to the closure and introduced legislation that would prevent NARA from closing facilities without congressional approval. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mullin said he was glad Bonta filed the lawsuit, but that he would continue his own efforts. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Mullin said he was glad Bonta filed the lawsuit, but that he would continue his own efforts. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“While I’m pleased to see the Attorney General take action today, I am also pushing for federal legislation with the National Archives Protection Act and will be doing everything in my power to prevent the closure through other means like the federal budget process,” Mullin wrote in a statement.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“While I’m pleased to see the Attorney General take action today, I am also pushing for federal legislation with the National Archives Protection Act and will be doing everything in my power to prevent the closure through other means like the federal budget process,” Mullin wrote in a statement.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12088904"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-04-BL-KQED.jpg",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The National Archives and Records Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but told employees in their email announcing the decision that it was made in an effort to support the “long-term financial health and viability” of funding that goes toward facility operations. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The National Archives and Records Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but told employees in their email announcing the decision that it was made in an effort to support the “long-term financial health and viability” of funding that goes toward facility operations. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>NARA’s official announcement on its website in August \u003ca href=\"https://www.archives.gov/research/news\">said\u003c/a> the move addressed underutilized space due to a shift to electronic recordkeeping and that the facilities required upgrades that are “fiscally unviable.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>NARA’s official announcement on its website in August \u003ca href=\"https://www.archives.gov/research/news\">said\u003c/a> the move addressed underutilized space due to a shift to electronic recordkeeping and that the facilities required upgrades that are “fiscally unviable.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The agency said records from the San Bruno facility are currently and will still be available to the public, following their relocation to facilities in Riverside, Colorado, Maryland, Texas and Missouri. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The agency said records from the San Bruno facility are currently and will still be available to the public, following their relocation to facilities in Riverside, Colorado, Maryland, Texas and Missouri. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The relocation of records, however, could take years and run the risk of records being separated or irreparably damaged, the lawsuit claims. Digitizing records, too, is not so easy due to the mass amounts of documents — with some too fragile to be copied. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The relocation of records, however, could take years and run the risk of records being separated or irreparably damaged, the lawsuit claims. Digitizing records, too, is not so easy due to the mass amounts of documents — with some too fragile to be copied. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The agency said that currently, less than 4% of all records are digitized. According to NARA, only 3.35% of records from the Bureau of Indian Affairs — a federal agency whose job includes overseeing federally recognized tribes — have been digitized.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The agency said that currently, less than 4% of all records are digitized. According to NARA, only 3.35% of records from the Bureau of Indian Affairs — a federal agency whose job includes overseeing federally recognized tribes — have been digitized.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Four Native organizations said in a separate \u003ca href=\"https://narf.org/nill/documents/20261014-nara-letter.pdf\">joint letter to NARA\u003c/a>, issued the same day as Bonta’s lawsuit, that the closure has proceeded without “meaningful consultation” with tribes. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Four Native organizations said in a separate \u003ca href=\"https://narf.org/nill/documents/20261014-nara-letter.pdf\">joint letter to NARA\u003c/a>, issued the same day as Bonta’s lawsuit, that the closure has proceeded without “meaningful consultation” with tribes. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12088981,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088981\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The National Archives and Records Administration facility in San Bruno on June 25, 2026, stores historical federal records from Northern California and the Pacific region.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088981\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The National Archives and Records Administration facility in San Bruno on June 25, 2026, stores historical federal records from Northern California and the Pacific region.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“These archives hold documents and records that sovereign Tribal Nations rely on to vindicate the rights of Tribal members and to hold the federal government accountable for its trust and treaty obligations,” said letter cosigner John Echohawk, executive director of the Native Americans Rights Fund, in a statement. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“These archives hold documents and records that sovereign Tribal Nations rely on to vindicate the rights of Tribal members and to hold the federal government accountable for its trust and treaty obligations,” said letter cosigner John Echohawk, executive director of the Native Americans Rights Fund, in a statement. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>NARA hosted two tribal listening sessions this month to “lessen or mitigate the impacts of the closure.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>NARA hosted two tribal listening sessions this month to “lessen or mitigate the impacts of the closure.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bonta characterized that move as “inchoate.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Bonta characterized that move as “inchoate.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The “‘consultation’ with the tribes is illusory and evidence of NARA’s failure to consider the impacts of its decision to close the Archives,” the lawsuit said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The “‘consultation’ with the tribes is illusory and evidence of NARA’s failure to consider the impacts of its decision to close the Archives,” the lawsuit said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When NARA previously tried to sell its facility in Seattle in 2019, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget switched gears after lawmakers and tribes rallied against the closure.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>When NARA previously tried to sell its facility in Seattle in 2019, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget switched gears after lawmakers and tribes rallied against the closure.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "Attorney General Rob Bonta is the latest to step in to save the facility housing thousands of historic records.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1792097098,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 18,
"wordCount": 696
},
"headData": {
"title": "Bonta Sues Federal Government to Stop Bay Area National Archives Closure | KQED",
"description": "Attorney General Rob Bonta is the latest to step in to save the facility housing thousands of historic records.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Bonta Sues Federal Government to Stop Bay Area National Archives Closure",
"datePublished": "2026-10-15T11:37:13-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-10-15T13:44:58-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 31795,
"slug": "california",
"name": "California"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12104514",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12104514/bonta-sues-federal-government-to-stop-bay-area-national-archives-closure",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing the federal government to block the Bay Area’s National Archives facility from closing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/complaint-california-v-nara-nd-cal-326-cv-11868.pdf\">lawsuit\u003c/a>, filed Wednesday in federal court, seeks a court order to prevent the closure, alleging that it violates federal administrative law — because the agency did not consult the public in deciding to rehome records. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088904/exclusive-the-bay-areas-national-archives-office-is-closing-researchers-are-worried\">told employees in a June email\u003c/a> that the National Archives at San Francisco, a San Bruno facility that hosts more than 75,000 cubic feet of historical records — with even more preserved in Chicago — would close “within the next few months.” That would mean immigration, genealogical and court records about subjects like Native American boarding schools and Japanese American internment would be moved to others across the country. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These records aren’t just part of California’s past. They serve a critical purpose for families, for communities and institutions across our state,” Bonta said at a press conference on Wednesday. “They depend on having local access to these records. Moving those records across the country puts that access at risk.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1420\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104429\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/RobBontaAPPhoto-abaecf7c-1536x1091.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks during a press conference, Oct. 8, 2024, in San Francisco. (Minh Connors/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin, who represents the area where the San Bruno facility is located, in August led a coalition of lawmakers urging a halt to the closure and introduced legislation that would prevent NARA from closing facilities without congressional approval. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mullin said he was glad Bonta filed the lawsuit, but that he would continue his own efforts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“While I’m pleased to see the Attorney General take action today, I am also pushing for federal legislation with the National Archives Protection Act and will be doing everything in my power to prevent the closure through other means like the federal budget process,” Mullin wrote in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The National Archives and Records Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but told employees in their email announcing the decision that it was made in an effort to support the “long-term financial health and viability” of funding that goes toward facility operations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>NARA’s official announcement on its website in August \u003ca href=\"https://www.archives.gov/research/news\">said\u003c/a> the move addressed underutilized space due to a shift to electronic recordkeeping and that the facilities required upgrades that are “fiscally unviable.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agency said records from the San Bruno facility are currently and will still be available to the public, following their relocation to facilities in Riverside, Colorado, Maryland, Texas and Missouri. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The relocation of records, however, could take years and run the risk of records being separated or irreparably damaged, the lawsuit claims. Digitizing records, too, is not so easy due to the mass amounts of documents — with some too fragile to be copied. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agency said that currently, less than 4% of all records are digitized. According to NARA, only 3.35% of records from the Bureau of Indian Affairs — a federal agency whose job includes overseeing federally recognized tribes — have been digitized.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Four Native organizations said in a separate \u003ca href=\"https://narf.org/nill/documents/20261014-nara-letter.pdf\">joint letter to NARA\u003c/a>, issued the same day as Bonta’s lawsuit, that the closure has proceeded without “meaningful consultation” with tribes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088981\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260625-NATIONALARCHIVESCLOSURE-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The National Archives and Records Administration facility in San Bruno on June 25, 2026, stores historical federal records from Northern California and the Pacific region. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These archives hold documents and records that sovereign Tribal Nations rely on to vindicate the rights of Tribal members and to hold the federal government accountable for its trust and treaty obligations,” said letter cosigner John Echohawk, executive director of the Native Americans Rights Fund, in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>NARA hosted two tribal listening sessions this month to “lessen or mitigate the impacts of the closure.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bonta characterized that move as “inchoate.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The “‘consultation’ with the tribes is illusory and evidence of NARA’s failure to consider the impacts of its decision to close the Archives,” the lawsuit said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When NARA previously tried to sell its facility in Seattle in 2019, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget switched gears after lawmakers and tribes rallied against the closure.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12104514/bonta-sues-federal-government-to-stop-bay-area-national-archives-closure",
"authors": [
"11935"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_6188",
"news_8",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_18538",
"news_1323",
"news_19954",
"news_21891",
"news_17968",
"news_3674",
"news_38"
],
"featImg": "news_12088984",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12104365": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12104365",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12104365",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1792088124000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "politics-as-profit-or-pure-fiction-bribery-trial-of-ex-oakland-mayor-kicks-off",
"title": "Ex-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s Trial Brings Alleged Quid Pro Quo Into Focus",
"publishDate": 1792088124,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Ex-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s Trial Brings Alleged Quid Pro Quo Into Focus | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\n\u003cp>More than a year after former Oakland Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sheng-thao\">Sheng Thao\u003c/a> and three codefendants were \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022517/fbi-raids-home-san-leandro-council-member-joined-vietnam-trip-sheng-thao\">indicted\u003c/a> in an alleged bribery scheme that roiled the city’s political circles, their \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103084/ex-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-is-going-on-trial-for-bribery-heres-what-you-need-to-know\">long-awaited trial\u003c/a> got underway Wednesday with five very different storylines. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors allege Thao, her longtime romantic partner Andre Jones, and father and son Andy and David Duong engaged in a quid pro quo: In the run-up to the 2022 mayoral election, the Duongs would fund a negative ad campaign against Thao’s opponents and pay Jones $300,000 for a no-show job. In exchange, Thao would use her power if elected mayor to give favorable treatment to the Duongs’ business, California Waste Solutions, as well as to a housing startup called Evolutionary Homes that sought to turn shipping containers into homes for people exiting homelessness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sheng Thao was a public official on the take, and she and Andre Jones were open for business,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Abraham Fine said during his opening statement to the court. “David and Andy Duong were looking for results and were willing to pay bribes to get them.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104353\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Assistant United States Attorney Abraham Fine gives his opening statement during the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, as codefendants Andre Jones, Andy Duong and David Duong sit to the side, at the U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026. (Vicki Behringer for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is not politics as usual,” he said, “this is politics as profit.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Each of the defendants has pleaded not guilty, and none spoke to reporters after opening statements on Tuesday. While each of their attorneys painted a different picture of what actually happened between the parties, they all agreed that Mario Juarez — the Duongs’ former business partner and the prosecution’s key witness — should not be believed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The narrator of this story is that person named Mario Juarez, and what you will quickly discover is that the story that has been introduced to you is pure fiction,” Thao’s attorney, Jeffrey Tsai, said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The trial comes more than two years after the FBI executed early morning raids of the home Thao shared with Jones, as well as Andy and David Duong’s homes and California Waste Solutions’ headquarters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The operation added fuel to a campaign already underway to recall Thao. She was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12012357/sheng-thao-accepts-defeat-in-contentious-oakland-mayoral-recall\">removed from office\u003c/a> in November 2024 and indicted on the bribery, fraud and conspiracy charges shortly after. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sheng Thao was not for sale\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tsai painted Thao as a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11931400/sheng-thao-oaklands-next-mayor\">young, determined politician\u003c/a> who came into office in January 2023 prepared to tackle major challenges facing the city of Oakland — from a homelessness crisis and budget deficit to gun violence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thao had known Juarez from her years as a staffer in Oakland City Hall, but Tsai said Thao kept him at a comfortable distance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tsai alleged Juarez repeatedly tried to offer Thao support throughout her 2022 mayoral campaign. When they finally met in October, just weeks before Election Day, Juarez allegedly told Thao that labor unions sent him to help her win, and he planned to produce a political mailer in support of her race.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104424\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jeffrey Tsai (left), attorney for former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao (second from right), gives his opening statements in the federal corruption trial of Thao and codefendants Andre Jones, Andy Duong and David Duong, at the U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026. (Vicki Behringer for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There was certainly no agreement for any bribe of any kind, no discussion of $300,000 or modular housing units,” Tsai said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tsai said that after her election, Juarez repeatedly appealed to Thao, advocating for city contracts for companies he was affiliated with, including ABC Security Service Inc. — which provides \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2025/12/17/oakland-leaders-reluctantly-extend-security-contract-again/\">security services\u003c/a> at city properties — and urging her to appoint his favored candidates to top city positions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tsai said Thao repeatedly rebuked his requests and had no knowledge of any bribery scheme promising city contracts and staff appointments.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The evidence will show that the real Sheng Thao is not the profile of someone who would sell her office that she fought so hard to earn in the first place,” Tsai told the jury.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Andre Jones had a ‘real job’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jones’ defense attorney, Mark Goldrosen, spent his opening on behalf of Thao’s longtime romantic partner defending the “government relations” role Jones held with the container home startup Juarez and Andy Duong founded that’s at the center of the case. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andre Jones, longtime partner of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and a codefendant in her federal corruption trial, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Goldrosen said Evolutionary Homes aligned with Jones’ interests and qualifications, both in reducing homelessness and working with local governments. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He was hired to serve as a consultant and would be paid on commission. But as the company got off the ground, Goldrosen said he was paid advances, totaling $75,000, to “keep him available” to Evolutionary Homes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">David Duong: A normal businessman\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Like Thao, David Duong’s attorney told the court he was oblivious to any scheme. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jeff Schenk described David as a hardworking immigrant from Vietnam and a legitimate businessman. He held the financial power, Schenk said, but had no knowledge of any bribery scheme or deals that his son and Juarez allegedly made with Thao and Jones. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">David Duong, co-owner of California Waste Solutions and a codefendant in former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s federal corruption trial, left, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He referred the jury to a series of texts between Andy Duong and Juarez in March 2023, in which Juarez asked Andy if they should “tell David” about updates to their alleged arrangement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If David Duong was a partner in crime … why, five months after the beginning, does Juarez have to ask if they should share?” Schenk said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Andy Duong didn’t break any laws\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>None of the other defendants’ stories, however, seemed to vindicate Andy Duong — who prosecutors allege spearheaded negotiations in the scheme with Juarez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>His counsel, Winston Chan, acknowledged that some of the text communication he had with Juarez, taken out of context, couldn’t be denied. However, he said the government had crafted a story based on “cherry-picked” messages and notes. He said Duong’s texts cheering Thao’s victory were not unusual for a politically engaged voter, and his response to Juarez saying Thao would buy housing units from Evolutionary Homes reflected a startup founder’s shock and excitement that a city might invest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104322\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andy Duong, son of California Waste Solutions CEO David Duong and a codefendant in former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s federal corruption trial, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Not one bit of these facts equals the bribery scheme the government is alleging,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Whether the pieces of evidence the prosecution presents add up to the story of bribery the government has alleged “lives or dies” on Juarez’s testimony, Chan told the jury, and whether, “when he takes the stand, you believe what he says.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mario Juarez: A ‘consummate hustler’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Throughout the day, defense attorneys repeatedly undermined Juarez’s credibility, describing him as a “consummate hustler” and “vengeful” with a tendency to tell “half truths.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When the source of the information is unreliable, you see that the allegations fall apart,” Schenk said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fine got ahead of the criticism in his own opening statement, saying of Juarez: “You’ll hear and see, he is no angel.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, he said, the Evolutionary Homes cofounder would “give you an insider’s view of this bribery scheme.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“He’ll talk about the evidence, what was said in the meetings,” Fine told the jury, “tell you some about his history of doing dirty work for the Duong family.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fine pledged that throughout the trial, prosecutors planned to present copious text messages, taped phone calls, video recordings and financial records chronicling the conspiracy and bribery scheme — and corroborating Juarez’s claims. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When you hear Juarez’s testimony, will see how it lines up with all of that other evidence,” Fine told the court.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During the first day of testimony on Thursday, prosecutors plan to call Leigh Hanson, who served as Thao’s chief of staff. Hanson parted with the city shortly after Kevin Jenkins took office as interim mayor following Thao’s recall and subsequently \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/04/01/leigh-hanson-oakland-mayor-chief-of-staff-whistleblower-lawsuit/\">filed a lawsuit\u003c/a> against Oakland alleging that she was wrongfully fired.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ahall\">Alex Hall\u003c/a> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>More than a year after former Oakland Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sheng-thao\">Sheng Thao\u003c/a> and three codefendants were \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022517/fbi-raids-home-san-leandro-council-member-joined-vietnam-trip-sheng-thao\">indicted\u003c/a> in an alleged bribery scheme that roiled the city’s political circles, their \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103084/ex-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-is-going-on-trial-for-bribery-heres-what-you-need-to-know\">long-awaited trial\u003c/a> got underway Wednesday with five very different storylines. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>More than a year after former Oakland Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sheng-thao\">Sheng Thao\u003c/a> and three codefendants were \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022517/fbi-raids-home-san-leandro-council-member-joined-vietnam-trip-sheng-thao\">indicted\u003c/a> in an alleged bribery scheme that roiled the city’s political circles, their \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103084/ex-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-is-going-on-trial-for-bribery-heres-what-you-need-to-know\">long-awaited trial\u003c/a> got underway Wednesday with five very different storylines. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors allege Thao, her longtime romantic partner Andre Jones, and father and son Andy and David Duong engaged in a quid pro quo: In the run-up to the 2022 mayoral election, the Duongs would fund a negative ad campaign against Thao’s opponents and pay Jones $300,000 for a no-show job. In exchange, Thao would use her power if elected mayor to give favorable treatment to the Duongs’ business, California Waste Solutions, as well as to a housing startup called Evolutionary Homes that sought to turn shipping containers into homes for people exiting homelessness.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Prosecutors allege Thao, her longtime romantic partner Andre Jones, and father and son Andy and David Duong engaged in a quid pro quo: In the run-up to the 2022 mayoral election, the Duongs would fund a negative ad campaign against Thao’s opponents and pay Jones $300,000 for a no-show job. In exchange, Thao would use her power if elected mayor to give favorable treatment to the Duongs’ business, California Waste Solutions, as well as to a housing startup called Evolutionary Homes that sought to turn shipping containers into homes for people exiting homelessness.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Sheng Thao was a public official on the take, and she and Andre Jones were open for business,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Abraham Fine said during his opening statement to the court. “David and Andy Duong were looking for results and were willing to pay bribes to get them.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Sheng Thao was a public official on the take, and she and Andre Jones were open for business,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Abraham Fine said during his opening statement to the court. “David and Andy Duong were looking for results and were willing to pay bribes to get them.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12104353,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-1200x675.jpg 1200w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104353\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Assistant United States Attorney Abraham Fine gives his opening statement during the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, as codefendants Andre Jones, Andy Duong and David Duong sit to the side, at the U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Vicki Behringer for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104353\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Assistant United States Attorney Abraham Fine gives his opening statement during the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, as codefendants Andre Jones, Andy Duong and David Duong sit to the side, at the U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Vicki Behringer for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This is not politics as usual,” he said, “this is politics as profit.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“This is not politics as usual,” he said, “this is politics as profit.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Each of the defendants has pleaded not guilty, and none spoke to reporters after opening statements on Tuesday. While each of their attorneys painted a different picture of what actually happened between the parties, they all agreed that Mario Juarez — the Duongs’ former business partner and the prosecution’s key witness — should not be believed.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Each of the defendants has pleaded not guilty, and none spoke to reporters after opening statements on Tuesday. While each of their attorneys painted a different picture of what actually happened between the parties, they all agreed that Mario Juarez — the Duongs’ former business partner and the prosecution’s key witness — should not be believed.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The narrator of this story is that person named Mario Juarez, and what you will quickly discover is that the story that has been introduced to you is pure fiction,” Thao’s attorney, Jeffrey Tsai, said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The narrator of this story is that person named Mario Juarez, and what you will quickly discover is that the story that has been introduced to you is pure fiction,” Thao’s attorney, Jeffrey Tsai, said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The trial comes more than two years after the FBI executed early morning raids of the home Thao shared with Jones, as well as Andy and David Duong’s homes and California Waste Solutions’ headquarters. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The trial comes more than two years after the FBI executed early morning raids of the home Thao shared with Jones, as well as Andy and David Duong’s homes and California Waste Solutions’ headquarters. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The operation added fuel to a campaign already underway to recall Thao. She was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12012357/sheng-thao-accepts-defeat-in-contentious-oakland-mayoral-recall\">removed from office\u003c/a> in November 2024 and indicted on the bribery, fraud and conspiracy charges shortly after. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The operation added fuel to a campaign already underway to recall Thao. She was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12012357/sheng-thao-accepts-defeat-in-contentious-oakland-mayoral-recall\">removed from office\u003c/a> in November 2024 and indicted on the bribery, fraud and conspiracy charges shortly after. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Sheng Thao was not for sale",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sheng Thao was not for sale\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sheng Thao was not for sale\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Tsai painted Thao as a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11931400/sheng-thao-oaklands-next-mayor\">young, determined politician\u003c/a> who came into office in January 2023 prepared to tackle major challenges facing the city of Oakland — from a homelessness crisis and budget deficit to gun violence.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Tsai painted Thao as a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11931400/sheng-thao-oaklands-next-mayor\">young, determined politician\u003c/a> who came into office in January 2023 prepared to tackle major challenges facing the city of Oakland — from a homelessness crisis and budget deficit to gun violence.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Thao had known Juarez from her years as a staffer in Oakland City Hall, but Tsai said Thao kept him at a comfortable distance. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Thao had known Juarez from her years as a staffer in Oakland City Hall, but Tsai said Thao kept him at a comfortable distance. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Tsai alleged Juarez repeatedly tried to offer Thao support throughout her 2022 mayoral campaign. When they finally met in October, just weeks before Election Day, Juarez allegedly told Thao that labor unions sent him to help her win, and he planned to produce a political mailer in support of her race.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Tsai alleged Juarez repeatedly tried to offer Thao support throughout her 2022 mayoral campaign. When they finally met in October, just weeks before Election Day, Juarez allegedly told Thao that labor unions sent him to help her win, and he planned to produce a political mailer in support of her race.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12104424,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-1200x675.jpg 1200w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104424\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jeffrey Tsai (left), attorney for former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao (second from right), gives his opening statements in the federal corruption trial of Thao and codefendants Andre Jones, Andy Duong and David Duong, at the U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Vicki Behringer for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104424\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jeffrey Tsai (left), attorney for former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao (second from right), gives his opening statements in the federal corruption trial of Thao and codefendants Andre Jones, Andy Duong and David Duong, at the U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Vicki Behringer for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There was certainly no agreement for any bribe of any kind, no discussion of $300,000 or modular housing units,” Tsai said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“There was certainly no agreement for any bribe of any kind, no discussion of $300,000 or modular housing units,” Tsai said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Tsai said that after her election, Juarez repeatedly appealed to Thao, advocating for city contracts for companies he was affiliated with, including ABC Security Service Inc. — which provides \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2025/12/17/oakland-leaders-reluctantly-extend-security-contract-again/\">security services\u003c/a> at city properties — and urging her to appoint his favored candidates to top city positions. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Tsai said that after her election, Juarez repeatedly appealed to Thao, advocating for city contracts for companies he was affiliated with, including ABC Security Service Inc. — which provides \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2025/12/17/oakland-leaders-reluctantly-extend-security-contract-again/\">security services\u003c/a> at city properties — and urging her to appoint his favored candidates to top city positions. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Tsai said Thao repeatedly rebuked his requests and had no knowledge of any bribery scheme promising city contracts and staff appointments.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Tsai said Thao repeatedly rebuked his requests and had no knowledge of any bribery scheme promising city contracts and staff appointments.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The evidence will show that the real Sheng Thao is not the profile of someone who would sell her office that she fought so hard to earn in the first place,” Tsai told the jury.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The evidence will show that the real Sheng Thao is not the profile of someone who would sell her office that she fought so hard to earn in the first place,” Tsai told the jury.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Andre Jones had a ‘real job’",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Andre Jones had a ‘real job’\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Andre Jones had a ‘real job’\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jones’ defense attorney, Mark Goldrosen, spent his opening on behalf of Thao’s longtime romantic partner defending the “government relations” role Jones held with the container home startup Juarez and Andy Duong founded that’s at the center of the case. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Jones’ defense attorney, Mark Goldrosen, spent his opening on behalf of Thao’s longtime romantic partner defending the “government relations” role Jones held with the container home startup Juarez and Andy Duong founded that’s at the center of the case. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12104320,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andre Jones, longtime partner of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and a codefendant in her federal corruption trial, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104320\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andre Jones, longtime partner of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and a codefendant in her federal corruption trial, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Goldrosen said Evolutionary Homes aligned with Jones’ interests and qualifications, both in reducing homelessness and working with local governments. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Goldrosen said Evolutionary Homes aligned with Jones’ interests and qualifications, both in reducing homelessness and working with local governments. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He was hired to serve as a consultant and would be paid on commission. But as the company got off the ground, Goldrosen said he was paid advances, totaling $75,000, to “keep him available” to Evolutionary Homes.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He was hired to serve as a consultant and would be paid on commission. But as the company got off the ground, Goldrosen said he was paid advances, totaling $75,000, to “keep him available” to Evolutionary Homes.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "David Duong: A normal businessman",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">David Duong: A normal businessman\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">David Duong: A normal businessman\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Like Thao, David Duong’s attorney told the court he was oblivious to any scheme. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Like Thao, David Duong’s attorney told the court he was oblivious to any scheme. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jeff Schenk described David as a hardworking immigrant from Vietnam and a legitimate businessman. He held the financial power, Schenk said, but had no knowledge of any bribery scheme or deals that his son and Juarez allegedly made with Thao and Jones. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Jeff Schenk described David as a hardworking immigrant from Vietnam and a legitimate businessman. He held the financial power, Schenk said, but had no knowledge of any bribery scheme or deals that his son and Juarez allegedly made with Thao and Jones. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12104321,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">David Duong, co-owner of California Waste Solutions and a codefendant in former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s federal corruption trial, left, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104321\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">David Duong, co-owner of California Waste Solutions and a codefendant in former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s federal corruption trial, left, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He referred the jury to a series of texts between Andy Duong and Juarez in March 2023, in which Juarez asked Andy if they should “tell David” about updates to their alleged arrangement. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He referred the jury to a series of texts between Andy Duong and Juarez in March 2023, in which Juarez asked Andy if they should “tell David” about updates to their alleged arrangement. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If David Duong was a partner in crime … why, five months after the beginning, does Juarez have to ask if they should share?” Schenk said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“If David Duong was a partner in crime … why, five months after the beginning, does Juarez have to ask if they should share?” Schenk said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Andy Duong didn’t break any laws",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Andy Duong didn’t break any laws\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Andy Duong didn’t break any laws\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>None of the other defendants’ stories, however, seemed to vindicate Andy Duong — who prosecutors allege spearheaded negotiations in the scheme with Juarez. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>None of the other defendants’ stories, however, seemed to vindicate Andy Duong — who prosecutors allege spearheaded negotiations in the scheme with Juarez. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>His counsel, Winston Chan, acknowledged that some of the text communication he had with Juarez, taken out of context, couldn’t be denied. However, he said the government had crafted a story based on “cherry-picked” messages and notes. He said Duong’s texts cheering Thao’s victory were not unusual for a politically engaged voter, and his response to Juarez saying Thao would buy housing units from Evolutionary Homes reflected a startup founder’s shock and excitement that a city might invest. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>His counsel, Winston Chan, acknowledged that some of the text communication he had with Juarez, taken out of context, couldn’t be denied. However, he said the government had crafted a story based on “cherry-picked” messages and notes. He said Duong’s texts cheering Thao’s victory were not unusual for a politically engaged voter, and his response to Juarez saying Thao would buy housing units from Evolutionary Homes reflected a startup founder’s shock and excitement that a city might invest. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12104322,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104322\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andy Duong, son of California Waste Solutions CEO David Duong and a codefendant in former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s federal corruption trial, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104322\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andy Duong, son of California Waste Solutions CEO David Duong and a codefendant in former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s federal corruption trial, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Not one bit of these facts equals the bribery scheme the government is alleging,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Not one bit of these facts equals the bribery scheme the government is alleging,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Whether the pieces of evidence the prosecution presents add up to the story of bribery the government has alleged “lives or dies” on Juarez’s testimony, Chan told the jury, and whether, “when he takes the stand, you believe what he says.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Whether the pieces of evidence the prosecution presents add up to the story of bribery the government has alleged “lives or dies” on Juarez’s testimony, Chan told the jury, and whether, “when he takes the stand, you believe what he says.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Mario Juarez: A ‘consummate hustler’",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mario Juarez: A ‘consummate hustler’\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mario Juarez: A ‘consummate hustler’\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Throughout the day, defense attorneys repeatedly undermined Juarez’s credibility, describing him as a “consummate hustler” and “vengeful” with a tendency to tell “half truths.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Throughout the day, defense attorneys repeatedly undermined Juarez’s credibility, describing him as a “consummate hustler” and “vengeful” with a tendency to tell “half truths.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“When the source of the information is unreliable, you see that the allegations fall apart,” Schenk said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“When the source of the information is unreliable, you see that the allegations fall apart,” Schenk said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12103084"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/IMG_1640.jpg",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fine got ahead of the criticism in his own opening statement, saying of Juarez: “You’ll hear and see, he is no angel.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Fine got ahead of the criticism in his own opening statement, saying of Juarez: “You’ll hear and see, he is no angel.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>However, he said, the Evolutionary Homes cofounder would “give you an insider’s view of this bribery scheme.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>However, he said, the Evolutionary Homes cofounder would “give you an insider’s view of this bribery scheme.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“He’ll talk about the evidence, what was said in the meetings,” Fine told the jury, “tell you some about his history of doing dirty work for the Duong family.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“He’ll talk about the evidence, what was said in the meetings,” Fine told the jury, “tell you some about his history of doing dirty work for the Duong family.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fine pledged that throughout the trial, prosecutors planned to present copious text messages, taped phone calls, video recordings and financial records chronicling the conspiracy and bribery scheme — and corroborating Juarez’s claims. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Fine pledged that throughout the trial, prosecutors planned to present copious text messages, taped phone calls, video recordings and financial records chronicling the conspiracy and bribery scheme — and corroborating Juarez’s claims. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“When you hear Juarez’s testimony, will see how it lines up with all of that other evidence,” Fine told the court.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“When you hear Juarez’s testimony, will see how it lines up with all of that other evidence,” Fine told the court.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>During the first day of testimony on Thursday, prosecutors plan to call Leigh Hanson, who served as Thao’s chief of staff. Hanson parted with the city shortly after Kevin Jenkins took office as interim mayor following Thao’s recall and subsequently \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/04/01/leigh-hanson-oakland-mayor-chief-of-staff-whistleblower-lawsuit/\">filed a lawsuit\u003c/a> against Oakland alleging that she was wrongfully fired.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>During the first day of testimony on Thursday, prosecutors plan to call Leigh Hanson, who served as Thao’s chief of staff. Hanson parted with the city shortly after Kevin Jenkins took office as interim mayor following Thao’s recall and subsequently \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/04/01/leigh-hanson-oakland-mayor-chief-of-staff-whistleblower-lawsuit/\">filed a lawsuit\u003c/a> against Oakland alleging that she was wrongfully fired.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ahall\">Alex Hall\u003c/a> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ahall\">Alex Hall\u003c/a> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "In the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, prosecutors claimed Thao put her political power up for sale, while defense attorneys attempted to impeach the government’s star witness. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1792089838,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 35,
"wordCount": 1458
},
"headData": {
"title": "Ex-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s Trial Brings Alleged Quid Pro Quo Into Focus | KQED",
"description": "In the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, prosecutors claimed Thao put her political power up for sale, while defense attorneys attempted to impeach the government’s star witness. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Ex-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s Trial Brings Alleged Quid Pro Quo Into Focus",
"datePublished": "2026-10-15T11:15:24-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-10-15T11:43:58-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34167,
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"name": "Criminal Justice"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12104365",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12104365/politics-as-profit-or-pure-fiction-bribery-trial-of-ex-oakland-mayor-kicks-off",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>More than a year after former Oakland Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sheng-thao\">Sheng Thao\u003c/a> and three codefendants were \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022517/fbi-raids-home-san-leandro-council-member-joined-vietnam-trip-sheng-thao\">indicted\u003c/a> in an alleged bribery scheme that roiled the city’s political circles, their \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103084/ex-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-is-going-on-trial-for-bribery-heres-what-you-need-to-know\">long-awaited trial\u003c/a> got underway Wednesday with five very different storylines. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors allege Thao, her longtime romantic partner Andre Jones, and father and son Andy and David Duong engaged in a quid pro quo: In the run-up to the 2022 mayoral election, the Duongs would fund a negative ad campaign against Thao’s opponents and pay Jones $300,000 for a no-show job. In exchange, Thao would use her power if elected mayor to give favorable treatment to the Duongs’ business, California Waste Solutions, as well as to a housing startup called Evolutionary Homes that sought to turn shipping containers into homes for people exiting homelessness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sheng Thao was a public official on the take, and she and Andre Jones were open for business,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Abraham Fine said during his opening statement to the court. “David and Andy Duong were looking for results and were willing to pay bribes to get them.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104353\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch1_VB-KQED-1da243ee-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Assistant United States Attorney Abraham Fine gives his opening statement during the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, as codefendants Andre Jones, Andy Duong and David Duong sit to the side, at the U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026. (Vicki Behringer for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is not politics as usual,” he said, “this is politics as profit.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Each of the defendants has pleaded not guilty, and none spoke to reporters after opening statements on Tuesday. While each of their attorneys painted a different picture of what actually happened between the parties, they all agreed that Mario Juarez — the Duongs’ former business partner and the prosecution’s key witness — should not be believed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The narrator of this story is that person named Mario Juarez, and what you will quickly discover is that the story that has been introduced to you is pure fiction,” Thao’s attorney, Jeffrey Tsai, said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The trial comes more than two years after the FBI executed early morning raids of the home Thao shared with Jones, as well as Andy and David Duong’s homes and California Waste Solutions’ headquarters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The operation added fuel to a campaign already underway to recall Thao. She was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12012357/sheng-thao-accepts-defeat-in-contentious-oakland-mayoral-recall\">removed from office\u003c/a> in November 2024 and indicted on the bribery, fraud and conspiracy charges shortly after. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sheng Thao was not for sale\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tsai painted Thao as a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11931400/sheng-thao-oaklands-next-mayor\">young, determined politician\u003c/a> who came into office in January 2023 prepared to tackle major challenges facing the city of Oakland — from a homelessness crisis and budget deficit to gun violence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thao had known Juarez from her years as a staffer in Oakland City Hall, but Tsai said Thao kept him at a comfortable distance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tsai alleged Juarez repeatedly tried to offer Thao support throughout her 2022 mayoral campaign. When they finally met in October, just weeks before Election Day, Juarez allegedly told Thao that labor unions sent him to help her win, and he planned to produce a political mailer in support of her race.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104424\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/ShengThaoOpeningStatements_Sketch2_VB-KQED-e1ec0350-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jeffrey Tsai (left), attorney for former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao (second from right), gives his opening statements in the federal corruption trial of Thao and codefendants Andre Jones, Andy Duong and David Duong, at the U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026. (Vicki Behringer for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There was certainly no agreement for any bribe of any kind, no discussion of $300,000 or modular housing units,” Tsai said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tsai said that after her election, Juarez repeatedly appealed to Thao, advocating for city contracts for companies he was affiliated with, including ABC Security Service Inc. — which provides \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2025/12/17/oakland-leaders-reluctantly-extend-security-contract-again/\">security services\u003c/a> at city properties — and urging her to appoint his favored candidates to top city positions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tsai said Thao repeatedly rebuked his requests and had no knowledge of any bribery scheme promising city contracts and staff appointments.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The evidence will show that the real Sheng Thao is not the profile of someone who would sell her office that she fought so hard to earn in the first place,” Tsai told the jury.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Andre Jones had a ‘real job’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jones’ defense attorney, Mark Goldrosen, spent his opening on behalf of Thao’s longtime romantic partner defending the “government relations” role Jones held with the container home startup Juarez and Andy Duong founded that’s at the center of the case. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-13-BL-KQED-e1d5bdc5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andre Jones, longtime partner of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and a codefendant in her federal corruption trial, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Goldrosen said Evolutionary Homes aligned with Jones’ interests and qualifications, both in reducing homelessness and working with local governments. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He was hired to serve as a consultant and would be paid on commission. But as the company got off the ground, Goldrosen said he was paid advances, totaling $75,000, to “keep him available” to Evolutionary Homes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">David Duong: A normal businessman\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Like Thao, David Duong’s attorney told the court he was oblivious to any scheme. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jeff Schenk described David as a hardworking immigrant from Vietnam and a legitimate businessman. He held the financial power, Schenk said, but had no knowledge of any bribery scheme or deals that his son and Juarez allegedly made with Thao and Jones. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-14-BL-KQED-8b44fd15-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">David Duong, co-owner of California Waste Solutions and a codefendant in former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s federal corruption trial, left, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He referred the jury to a series of texts between Andy Duong and Juarez in March 2023, in which Juarez asked Andy if they should “tell David” about updates to their alleged arrangement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If David Duong was a partner in crime … why, five months after the beginning, does Juarez have to ask if they should share?” Schenk said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Andy Duong didn’t break any laws\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>None of the other defendants’ stories, however, seemed to vindicate Andy Duong — who prosecutors allege spearheaded negotiations in the scheme with Juarez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>His counsel, Winston Chan, acknowledged that some of the text communication he had with Juarez, taken out of context, couldn’t be denied. However, he said the government had crafted a story based on “cherry-picked” messages and notes. He said Duong’s texts cheering Thao’s victory were not unusual for a politically engaged voter, and his response to Juarez saying Thao would buy housing units from Evolutionary Homes reflected a startup founder’s shock and excitement that a city might invest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12104322\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261014-ShengThaoOpeningStatements-23-BL-KQED-11da677f-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andy Duong, son of California Waste Solutions CEO David Duong and a codefendant in former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s federal corruption trial, enters the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Not one bit of these facts equals the bribery scheme the government is alleging,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Whether the pieces of evidence the prosecution presents add up to the story of bribery the government has alleged “lives or dies” on Juarez’s testimony, Chan told the jury, and whether, “when he takes the stand, you believe what he says.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mario Juarez: A ‘consummate hustler’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Throughout the day, defense attorneys repeatedly undermined Juarez’s credibility, describing him as a “consummate hustler” and “vengeful” with a tendency to tell “half truths.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When the source of the information is unreliable, you see that the allegations fall apart,” Schenk said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fine got ahead of the criticism in his own opening statement, saying of Juarez: “You’ll hear and see, he is no angel.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, he said, the Evolutionary Homes cofounder would “give you an insider’s view of this bribery scheme.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“He’ll talk about the evidence, what was said in the meetings,” Fine told the jury, “tell you some about his history of doing dirty work for the Duong family.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fine pledged that throughout the trial, prosecutors planned to present copious text messages, taped phone calls, video recordings and financial records chronicling the conspiracy and bribery scheme — and corroborating Juarez’s claims. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When you hear Juarez’s testimony, will see how it lines up with all of that other evidence,” Fine told the court.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During the first day of testimony on Thursday, prosecutors plan to call Leigh Hanson, who served as Thao’s chief of staff. Hanson parted with the city shortly after Kevin Jenkins took office as interim mayor following Thao’s recall and subsequently \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/04/01/leigh-hanson-oakland-mayor-chief-of-staff-whistleblower-lawsuit/\">filed a lawsuit\u003c/a> against Oakland alleging that she was wrongfully fired.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ahall\">Alex Hall\u003c/a> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12104365/politics-as-profit-or-pure-fiction-bribery-trial-of-ex-oakland-mayor-kicks-off",
"authors": [
"11913"
],
"categories": [
"news_34167",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_260",
"news_19522",
"news_17725",
"news_36570",
"news_37498",
"news_27626",
"news_34054",
"news_34661",
"news_5690",
"news_37497"
],
"featImg": "news_12104319",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12104504": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12104504",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12104504",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1792083344000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "what-this-winters-super-el-nino-could-mean-for-californias-ski-season",
"title": "What This Winter’s ‘Super El Niño’ Could Mean for California’s Ski Season",
"publishDate": 1792083344,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "What This Winter’s ‘Super El Niño’ Could Mean for California’s Ski Season | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Here are the morning’s top stories on Thursday, October 15, 2026\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>The Trump administration this week is threatening to take legal action against California unless election officials \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104425/california-officials-denounce-trump-dojs-demands-to-prove-voters-citizenship\">verify the citizenship of some people\u003c/a> on the state’s voter rolls.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>With the potential for heavy rain this El Niño winter, a state audit warns that \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/10/california-dam-safety-audit-enforcement/\">dozens of California dams pose a risk to public safety.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Report after report says a Super El Niño could slam the west coast with rain and snow. So \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">what can skiers expect on the slopes?\u003c/a> To help answer that question, we’re joined by KQED outdoor reporter Sarah Wright, who’s been talking with experts and joins us now.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104425/california-officials-denounce-trump-dojs-demands-to-prove-voters-citizenship\">DOJ Asserts Ineligible Voters on CA Voter Rolls, Asks to “Segregate” Ballots\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The federal Department of Justice sent letters to California’s Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the Los Angeles Registrar of Voters Dean Logan, asserting there are ineligible voters on California’s voter rolls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. DOJ gave officials two days to confirm the voters’ citizenship status, ramping up its pressure on the state to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/election-integrity\">root out alleged voter fraud\u003c/a> ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The letters were accompanied by a password-protected thumb drive that the DOJ said contained the names of voters who the federal government “believes are likely noncitizens.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“For individuals whom you cannot independently confirm citizenship status, we request that you immediately instruct the appropriate elections officials to segregate — not cancel — those individuals’ vote-by-mail ballots until their citizenship status can be determined,” acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter wrote in the letters to Weber and Logan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State Attorney General Rob Bonta denounced Trump for stoking concerns about voter fraud, which he says are unfounded.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“During an election, he now comes forward and purports to suggest that there are ineligible voters on the rolls in California,” said Bonta. “And so, you know, we have to understand who the messenger is, what they’ve said in the past, they have zero credibility.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bonta denounced the Trump administration for taking such a step while voters across the state are already filling out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103647/dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide-california-midterm-elections-2026-vote-for-governor\">vote-by-mail ballots\u003c/a>. Most California counties already began mailing out ballots on October 5th.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/10/california-dam-safety-audit-enforcement/\">State Audit Finds 57 Dams Across CA in Poor Condition\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With an El Niño winter threatening heavy rain, the State Auditor warns that California’s aging dams “continue to pose a risk to public safety,” especially in the Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/author/rachel-becker/\">Rachel Becker\u003c/a> is a reporter with our California Newsroom partner CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She says lawmakers gave the state the power to penalize dam owners that violate safety requirements following the Oroville spillway failure in 2017.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The state’s Department of Water Resources told the auditor, they haven’t been able to adequately staff an enforcement branch and aren’t cofnident they actually have the resources to afford to defend their actions in a hearing. And when it comes down to it, these dam repairs are so expensive. And state law never required dam owners to create a fund or maintain some sort of bond or assurance that they can do these safety repairs or eventually decommission a dam.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While dam disasters are extremely rare, if they do happen, it can be catastrophic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The audit found that if the state’s riskiest dams fail they could collectively endanger a million and a half people and cause more than $260 billion dollars in damage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">Small Sample Size of Past “Super El Niños” Shows Varied Snowfall\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This interview was edited for length and clarity. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Report after report says a Super El Niño could slam the west coast with rain and snow. So what can skiers expect on the slopes? To help answer that question, we’re joined by KQED outdoor reporter Sarah Wright, who’s been talking with experts and joins us now. So Sarah, why is it so hard to tell what to expect this ski season?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So the short answer is we just don’t have enough data. I spoke with Brian Allegretto. He is a forecaster with OpenSnow, which gives predictions for the Sierra Nevada area. He told me that since 1970, there have only been four winters that are considered strong El Niño’s. Just half of those produced above average snowfall. Some might remember the 1982-1983 season, which had a 170% of average snowfall. But the other half produced below average snow fall, like the disappointing 2015-2016 season. Here’s Allegretto to explain.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: The question will be what’s happening around the rest of the globe? What’s happening in the North Pacific, what’s happening in Eastern US in December, January and February? We will have no idea until we get there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Okay, so what is the El Niño forecast saying today?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So, technically we still don’t even know if it’s going to be a Super El Niño, but the water in the Pacific Ocean right now is warm. It’s about 2.2 degrees above average, and it’s getting warmer. Brian addressed this when I chatted with him.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: But what is that going to do when you have no historical records to point to anything? It’s hard to know. But in theory, it should enhance the southern jet stream and we should see a pretty active pattern into California and the southwest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: What’s really impossible to know, Allegretto said, is whether the El Niño pattern will actually dominate the forecast, or if other weather patterns will move in to drown out its effects. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: So, what does this all mean for ski season this winter? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So good news, it just snowed in the Sierra on Monday, but let’s not get too excited. The reality is, snowfall should start to pick up in November. It might dip a bit in December and then hopefully we’ll see big numbers in January and February. Allegretto called those months the make-or-break months.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: I look at this forecast going, OK, I’m cautiously optimistic. This looks like we’re probably going to have an active season, probably going have at least slightly above average snowfall. So I’m pretty excited.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: But in addition to the potential for more snowfall, El Niño’s are also characterized by being warm, generally. So, Allegretto warned that we could actually end up with more rain than snow, especially at low elevations. So basically, don’t get too sucked into the snow hype this early, but signs are good for a big season ahead. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Okay, so people who are looking forward to this, when will ski resorts be open? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So most in Tahoe are slated for a late November opening or even early December. So now is the time to figure out your ski season plans. But be patient. Don’t expect amazing conditions when you get out there for the first month or even for the two months of the season.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Alrighty, that was KQED Outdoor Reporter Sarah Wright. Sarah, thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: Thank you. \u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Here are the morning’s top stories on Thursday, October 15, 2026\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Here are the morning’s top stories on Thursday, October 15, 2026\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/list",
"attrs": {
"items": [
"The Trump administration this week is threatening to take legal action against California unless election officials verify the citizenship of some people on the state’s voter rolls.",
"With the potential for heavy rain this El Niño winter, a state audit warns that dozens of California dams pose a risk to public safety.",
"Report after report says a Super El Niño could slam the west coast with rain and snow. So what can skiers expect on the slopes? To help answer that question, we’re joined by KQED outdoor reporter Sarah Wright, who’s been talking with experts and joins us now."
],
"ordered": false,
"values": ""
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/ul>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>The Trump administration this week is threatening to take legal action against California unless election officials \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104425/california-officials-denounce-trump-dojs-demands-to-prove-voters-citizenship\">verify the citizenship of some people\u003c/a> on the state’s voter rolls.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>The Trump administration this week is threatening to take legal action against California unless election officials \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104425/california-officials-denounce-trump-dojs-demands-to-prove-voters-citizenship\">verify the citizenship of some people\u003c/a> on the state’s voter rolls.\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>With the potential for heavy rain this El Niño winter, a state audit warns that \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/10/california-dam-safety-audit-enforcement/\">dozens of California dams pose a risk to public safety.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>With the potential for heavy rain this El Niño winter, a state audit warns that \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/10/california-dam-safety-audit-enforcement/\">dozens of California dams pose a risk to public safety.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Report after report says a Super El Niño could slam the west coast with rain and snow. So \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">what can skiers expect on the slopes?\u003c/a> To help answer that question, we’re joined by KQED outdoor reporter Sarah Wright, who’s been talking with experts and joins us now.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Report after report says a Super El Niño could slam the west coast with rain and snow. So \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">what can skiers expect on the slopes?\u003c/a> To help answer that question, we’re joined by KQED outdoor reporter Sarah Wright, who’s been talking with experts and joins us now.\u003c/li>\n"
]
}
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "DOJ Asserts Ineligible Voters on CA Voter Rolls, Asks to “Segregate” Ballots",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104425/california-officials-denounce-trump-dojs-demands-to-prove-voters-citizenship\">DOJ Asserts Ineligible Voters on CA Voter Rolls, Asks to “Segregate” Ballots\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104425/california-officials-denounce-trump-dojs-demands-to-prove-voters-citizenship\">DOJ Asserts Ineligible Voters on CA Voter Rolls, Asks to “Segregate” Ballots\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The federal Department of Justice sent letters to California’s Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the Los Angeles Registrar of Voters Dean Logan, asserting there are ineligible voters on California’s voter rolls.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The federal Department of Justice sent letters to California’s Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the Los Angeles Registrar of Voters Dean Logan, asserting there are ineligible voters on California’s voter rolls.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The U.S. DOJ gave officials two days to confirm the voters’ citizenship status, ramping up its pressure on the state to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/election-integrity\">root out alleged voter fraud\u003c/a> ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The U.S. DOJ gave officials two days to confirm the voters’ citizenship status, ramping up its pressure on the state to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/election-integrity\">root out alleged voter fraud\u003c/a> ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The letters were accompanied by a password-protected thumb drive that the DOJ said contained the names of voters who the federal government “believes are likely noncitizens.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The letters were accompanied by a password-protected thumb drive that the DOJ said contained the names of voters who the federal government “believes are likely noncitizens.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“For individuals whom you cannot independently confirm citizenship status, we request that you immediately instruct the appropriate elections officials to segregate — not cancel — those individuals’ vote-by-mail ballots until their citizenship status can be determined,” acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter wrote in the letters to Weber and Logan.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“For individuals whom you cannot independently confirm citizenship status, we request that you immediately instruct the appropriate elections officials to segregate — not cancel — those individuals’ vote-by-mail ballots until their citizenship status can be determined,” acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter wrote in the letters to Weber and Logan.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>State Attorney General Rob Bonta denounced Trump for stoking concerns about voter fraud, which he says are unfounded.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>State Attorney General Rob Bonta denounced Trump for stoking concerns about voter fraud, which he says are unfounded.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“During an election, he now comes forward and purports to suggest that there are ineligible voters on the rolls in California,” said Bonta. “And so, you know, we have to understand who the messenger is, what they’ve said in the past, they have zero credibility.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“During an election, he now comes forward and purports to suggest that there are ineligible voters on the rolls in California,” said Bonta. “And so, you know, we have to understand who the messenger is, what they’ve said in the past, they have zero credibility.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bonta denounced the Trump administration for taking such a step while voters across the state are already filling out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103647/dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide-california-midterm-elections-2026-vote-for-governor\">vote-by-mail ballots\u003c/a>. Most California counties already began mailing out ballots on October 5th.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Bonta denounced the Trump administration for taking such a step while voters across the state are already filling out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103647/dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide-california-midterm-elections-2026-vote-for-governor\">vote-by-mail ballots\u003c/a>. Most California counties already began mailing out ballots on October 5th.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "State Audit Finds 57 Dams Across CA in Poor Condition",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/10/california-dam-safety-audit-enforcement/\">State Audit Finds 57 Dams Across CA in Poor Condition\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/10/california-dam-safety-audit-enforcement/\">State Audit Finds 57 Dams Across CA in Poor Condition\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>With an El Niño winter threatening heavy rain, the State Auditor warns that California’s aging dams “continue to pose a risk to public safety,” especially in the Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles areas. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>With an El Niño winter threatening heavy rain, the State Auditor warns that California’s aging dams “continue to pose a risk to public safety,” especially in the Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles areas. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/author/rachel-becker/\">Rachel Becker\u003c/a> is a reporter with our California Newsroom partner CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/author/rachel-becker/\">Rachel Becker\u003c/a> is a reporter with our California Newsroom partner CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She says lawmakers gave the state the power to penalize dam owners that violate safety requirements following the Oroville spillway failure in 2017.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>She says lawmakers gave the state the power to penalize dam owners that violate safety requirements following the Oroville spillway failure in 2017.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The state’s Department of Water Resources told the auditor, they haven’t been able to adequately staff an enforcement branch and aren’t cofnident they actually have the resources to afford to defend their actions in a hearing. And when it comes down to it, these dam repairs are so expensive. And state law never required dam owners to create a fund or maintain some sort of bond or assurance that they can do these safety repairs or eventually decommission a dam.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The state’s Department of Water Resources told the auditor, they haven’t been able to adequately staff an enforcement branch and aren’t cofnident they actually have the resources to afford to defend their actions in a hearing. And when it comes down to it, these dam repairs are so expensive. And state law never required dam owners to create a fund or maintain some sort of bond or assurance that they can do these safety repairs or eventually decommission a dam.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While dam disasters are extremely rare, if they do happen, it can be catastrophic.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>While dam disasters are extremely rare, if they do happen, it can be catastrophic.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The audit found that if the state’s riskiest dams fail they could collectively endanger a million and a half people and cause more than $260 billion dollars in damage.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The audit found that if the state’s riskiest dams fail they could collectively endanger a million and a half people and cause more than $260 billion dollars in damage.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Small Sample Size of Past “Super El Niños” Shows Varied Snowfall",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">Small Sample Size of Past “Super El Niños” Shows Varied Snowfall\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">Small Sample Size of Past “Super El Niños” Shows Varied Snowfall\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This interview was edited for length and clarity. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This interview was edited for length and clarity. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Report after report says a Super El Niño could slam the west coast with rain and snow. So what can skiers expect on the slopes? To help answer that question, we’re joined by KQED outdoor reporter Sarah Wright, who’s been talking with experts and joins us now. So Sarah, why is it so hard to tell what to expect this ski season?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Report after report says a Super El Niño could slam the west coast with rain and snow. So what can skiers expect on the slopes? To help answer that question, we’re joined by KQED outdoor reporter Sarah Wright, who’s been talking with experts and joins us now. So Sarah, why is it so hard to tell what to expect this ski season?\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So the short answer is we just don’t have enough data. I spoke with Brian Allegretto. He is a forecaster with OpenSnow, which gives predictions for the Sierra Nevada area. He told me that since 1970, there have only been four winters that are considered strong El Niño’s. Just half of those produced above average snowfall. Some might remember the 1982-1983 season, which had a 170% of average snowfall. But the other half produced below average snow fall, like the disappointing 2015-2016 season. Here’s Allegretto to explain.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So the short answer is we just don’t have enough data. I spoke with Brian Allegretto. He is a forecaster with OpenSnow, which gives predictions for the Sierra Nevada area. He told me that since 1970, there have only been four winters that are considered strong El Niño’s. Just half of those produced above average snowfall. Some might remember the 1982-1983 season, which had a 170% of average snowfall. But the other half produced below average snow fall, like the disappointing 2015-2016 season. Here’s Allegretto to explain.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: The question will be what’s happening around the rest of the globe? What’s happening in the North Pacific, what’s happening in Eastern US in December, January and February? We will have no idea until we get there.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: The question will be what’s happening around the rest of the globe? What’s happening in the North Pacific, what’s happening in Eastern US in December, January and February? We will have no idea until we get there.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Okay, so what is the El Niño forecast saying today?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Okay, so what is the El Niño forecast saying today?\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So, technically we still don’t even know if it’s going to be a Super El Niño, but the water in the Pacific Ocean right now is warm. It’s about 2.2 degrees above average, and it’s getting warmer. Brian addressed this when I chatted with him.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So, technically we still don’t even know if it’s going to be a Super El Niño, but the water in the Pacific Ocean right now is warm. It’s about 2.2 degrees above average, and it’s getting warmer. Brian addressed this when I chatted with him.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: But what is that going to do when you have no historical records to point to anything? It’s hard to know. But in theory, it should enhance the southern jet stream and we should see a pretty active pattern into California and the southwest.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: But what is that going to do when you have no historical records to point to anything? It’s hard to know. But in theory, it should enhance the southern jet stream and we should see a pretty active pattern into California and the southwest.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: What’s really impossible to know, Allegretto said, is whether the El Niño pattern will actually dominate the forecast, or if other weather patterns will move in to drown out its effects. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: What’s really impossible to know, Allegretto said, is whether the El Niño pattern will actually dominate the forecast, or if other weather patterns will move in to drown out its effects. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: So, what does this all mean for ski season this winter? \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: So, what does this all mean for ski season this winter? \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So good news, it just snowed in the Sierra on Monday, but let’s not get too excited. The reality is, snowfall should start to pick up in November. It might dip a bit in December and then hopefully we’ll see big numbers in January and February. Allegretto called those months the make-or-break months.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So good news, it just snowed in the Sierra on Monday, but let’s not get too excited. The reality is, snowfall should start to pick up in November. It might dip a bit in December and then hopefully we’ll see big numbers in January and February. Allegretto called those months the make-or-break months.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: I look at this forecast going, OK, I’m cautiously optimistic. This looks like we’re probably going to have an active season, probably going have at least slightly above average snowfall. So I’m pretty excited.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: I look at this forecast going, OK, I’m cautiously optimistic. This looks like we’re probably going to have an active season, probably going have at least slightly above average snowfall. So I’m pretty excited.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: But in addition to the potential for more snowfall, El Niño’s are also characterized by being warm, generally. So, Allegretto warned that we could actually end up with more rain than snow, especially at low elevations. So basically, don’t get too sucked into the snow hype this early, but signs are good for a big season ahead. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: But in addition to the potential for more snowfall, El Niño’s are also characterized by being warm, generally. So, Allegretto warned that we could actually end up with more rain than snow, especially at low elevations. So basically, don’t get too sucked into the snow hype this early, but signs are good for a big season ahead. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Okay, so people who are looking forward to this, when will ski resorts be open? \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Okay, so people who are looking forward to this, when will ski resorts be open? \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So most in Tahoe are slated for a late November opening or even early December. So now is the time to figure out your ski season plans. But be patient. Don’t expect amazing conditions when you get out there for the first month or even for the two months of the season.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So most in Tahoe are slated for a late November opening or even early December. So now is the time to figure out your ski season plans. But be patient. Don’t expect amazing conditions when you get out there for the first month or even for the two months of the season.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Alrighty, that was KQED Outdoor Reporter Sarah Wright. Sarah, thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Alrighty, that was KQED Outdoor Reporter Sarah Wright. Sarah, thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: Thank you. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: Thank you. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "Forecasters say there is not enough data yet to be certain, but are optimistic for above average snowfall",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1792084432,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 30,
"wordCount": 1242
},
"headData": {
"title": "What This Winter’s ‘Super El Niño’ Could Mean for California’s Ski Season | KQED",
"description": "Forecasters say there is not enough data yet to be certain, but are optimistic for above average snowfall",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "What This Winter’s ‘Super El Niño’ Could Mean for California’s Ski Season",
"datePublished": "2026-10-15T09:55:44-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-10-15T10:13:52-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34165,
"slug": "climate",
"name": "Climate"
},
"source": "The California Report ",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrarchive/",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC5946840068.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12104504",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12104504/what-this-winters-super-el-nino-could-mean-for-californias-ski-season",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Here are the morning’s top stories on Thursday, October 15, 2026\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>The Trump administration this week is threatening to take legal action against California unless election officials \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104425/california-officials-denounce-trump-dojs-demands-to-prove-voters-citizenship\">verify the citizenship of some people\u003c/a> on the state’s voter rolls.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>With the potential for heavy rain this El Niño winter, a state audit warns that \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/10/california-dam-safety-audit-enforcement/\">dozens of California dams pose a risk to public safety.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Report after report says a Super El Niño could slam the west coast with rain and snow. So \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">what can skiers expect on the slopes?\u003c/a> To help answer that question, we’re joined by KQED outdoor reporter Sarah Wright, who’s been talking with experts and joins us now.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104425/california-officials-denounce-trump-dojs-demands-to-prove-voters-citizenship\">DOJ Asserts Ineligible Voters on CA Voter Rolls, Asks to “Segregate” Ballots\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The federal Department of Justice sent letters to California’s Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the Los Angeles Registrar of Voters Dean Logan, asserting there are ineligible voters on California’s voter rolls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. DOJ gave officials two days to confirm the voters’ citizenship status, ramping up its pressure on the state to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/election-integrity\">root out alleged voter fraud\u003c/a> ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The letters were accompanied by a password-protected thumb drive that the DOJ said contained the names of voters who the federal government “believes are likely noncitizens.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“For individuals whom you cannot independently confirm citizenship status, we request that you immediately instruct the appropriate elections officials to segregate — not cancel — those individuals’ vote-by-mail ballots until their citizenship status can be determined,” acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter wrote in the letters to Weber and Logan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State Attorney General Rob Bonta denounced Trump for stoking concerns about voter fraud, which he says are unfounded.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“During an election, he now comes forward and purports to suggest that there are ineligible voters on the rolls in California,” said Bonta. “And so, you know, we have to understand who the messenger is, what they’ve said in the past, they have zero credibility.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bonta denounced the Trump administration for taking such a step while voters across the state are already filling out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103647/dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide-california-midterm-elections-2026-vote-for-governor\">vote-by-mail ballots\u003c/a>. Most California counties already began mailing out ballots on October 5th.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/10/california-dam-safety-audit-enforcement/\">State Audit Finds 57 Dams Across CA in Poor Condition\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With an El Niño winter threatening heavy rain, the State Auditor warns that California’s aging dams “continue to pose a risk to public safety,” especially in the Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/author/rachel-becker/\">Rachel Becker\u003c/a> is a reporter with our California Newsroom partner CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She says lawmakers gave the state the power to penalize dam owners that violate safety requirements following the Oroville spillway failure in 2017.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The state’s Department of Water Resources told the auditor, they haven’t been able to adequately staff an enforcement branch and aren’t cofnident they actually have the resources to afford to defend their actions in a hearing. And when it comes down to it, these dam repairs are so expensive. And state law never required dam owners to create a fund or maintain some sort of bond or assurance that they can do these safety repairs or eventually decommission a dam.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While dam disasters are extremely rare, if they do happen, it can be catastrophic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The audit found that if the state’s riskiest dams fail they could collectively endanger a million and a half people and cause more than $260 billion dollars in damage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103307/cautiously-optimistic-the-latest-on-el-nino-and-tahoes-ski-season\">Small Sample Size of Past “Super El Niños” Shows Varied Snowfall\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This interview was edited for length and clarity. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Report after report says a Super El Niño could slam the west coast with rain and snow. So what can skiers expect on the slopes? To help answer that question, we’re joined by KQED outdoor reporter Sarah Wright, who’s been talking with experts and joins us now. So Sarah, why is it so hard to tell what to expect this ski season?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So the short answer is we just don’t have enough data. I spoke with Brian Allegretto. He is a forecaster with OpenSnow, which gives predictions for the Sierra Nevada area. He told me that since 1970, there have only been four winters that are considered strong El Niño’s. Just half of those produced above average snowfall. Some might remember the 1982-1983 season, which had a 170% of average snowfall. But the other half produced below average snow fall, like the disappointing 2015-2016 season. Here’s Allegretto to explain.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: The question will be what’s happening around the rest of the globe? What’s happening in the North Pacific, what’s happening in Eastern US in December, January and February? We will have no idea until we get there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Okay, so what is the El Niño forecast saying today?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So, technically we still don’t even know if it’s going to be a Super El Niño, but the water in the Pacific Ocean right now is warm. It’s about 2.2 degrees above average, and it’s getting warmer. Brian addressed this when I chatted with him.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: But what is that going to do when you have no historical records to point to anything? It’s hard to know. But in theory, it should enhance the southern jet stream and we should see a pretty active pattern into California and the southwest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: What’s really impossible to know, Allegretto said, is whether the El Niño pattern will actually dominate the forecast, or if other weather patterns will move in to drown out its effects. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: So, what does this all mean for ski season this winter? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So good news, it just snowed in the Sierra on Monday, but let’s not get too excited. The reality is, snowfall should start to pick up in November. It might dip a bit in December and then hopefully we’ll see big numbers in January and February. Allegretto called those months the make-or-break months.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>ALLEGRETTO: I look at this forecast going, OK, I’m cautiously optimistic. This looks like we’re probably going to have an active season, probably going have at least slightly above average snowfall. So I’m pretty excited.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: But in addition to the potential for more snowfall, El Niño’s are also characterized by being warm, generally. So, Allegretto warned that we could actually end up with more rain than snow, especially at low elevations. So basically, don’t get too sucked into the snow hype this early, but signs are good for a big season ahead. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Okay, so people who are looking forward to this, when will ski resorts be open? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: So most in Tahoe are slated for a late November opening or even early December. So now is the time to figure out your ski season plans. But be patient. Don’t expect amazing conditions when you get out there for the first month or even for the two months of the season.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BOLANOS: Alrighty, that was KQED Outdoor Reporter Sarah Wright. Sarah, thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WRIGHT: Thank you. \u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12104504/what-this-winters-super-el-nino-could-mean-for-californias-ski-season",
"authors": [
"11834"
],
"programs": [
"news_72"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_34165",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_21998",
"news_21268"
],
"featImg": "news_12097765",
"label": "source_news_12104504"
}
},
"podcastsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"podcasts": {}
},
"radioProgramsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"radioPrograms": {}
},
"radioSearchSegmentsReducer": {},
"programsReducer": {
"all-things-considered": {
"id": "all-things-considered",
"title": "All Things Considered",
"info": "Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/all-things-considered"
},
"american-suburb-podcast": {
"id": "american-suburb-podcast",
"title": "American Suburb: The Podcast",
"tagline": "The flip side of gentrification, told through one town",
"info": "Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 19
},
"link": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"
}
},
"baycurious": {
"id": "baycurious",
"title": "Bay Curious",
"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Bay Curious",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/baycurious",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 3
},
"link": "/podcasts/baycurious",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9a90d476-aa04-455d-9a4c-0871ed6216d4/bay-curious",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"
}
},
"bbc-world-service": {
"id": "bbc-world-service",
"title": "BBC World Service",
"info": "The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "BBC World Service"
},
"link": "/radio/program/bbc-world-service",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/",
"rss": "https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"
}
},
"californiareport": {
"id": "californiareport",
"title": "The California Report",
"tagline": "California, day by day",
"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareport",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 8
},
"link": "/californiareport",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/26099305-72af-4542-9dde-ac1807fe36d5/kqed-s-the-california-report",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"
}
},
"californiareportmagazine": {
"id": "californiareportmagazine",
"title": "The California Report Magazine",
"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
"airtime": "FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report Magazine",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareportmagazine",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 10
},
"link": "/californiareportmagazine",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"
}
},
"city-arts": {
"id": "city-arts",
"title": "City Arts & Lectures",
"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.cityarts.net/",
"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
"subscribe": {
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/",
"rss": "https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"
}
},
"closealltabs": {
"id": "closealltabs",
"title": "Close All Tabs",
"tagline": "Your irreverent guide to the trends redefining our world",
"info": "Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAT_2_Tile-scaled.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Close All Tabs",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 1
},
"link": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-all-tabs/id214663465",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC6993880386",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/92d9d4ac-67a3-4eed-b10a-fb45d45b1ef2/close-all-tabs",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6LAJFHnGK1pYXYzv6SIol6?si=deb0cae19813417c"
}
},
"code-switch-life-kit": {
"id": "code-switch-life-kit",
"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
"airtime": "SUN 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"
}
},
"commonwealth-club": {
"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"
}
},
"forum": {
"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/forum",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
"link": "/forum",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"
}
},
"freakonomics-radio": {
"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"
}
},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
"info": "Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
}
},
"here-and-now": {
"id": "here-and-now",
"title": "Here & Now",
"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
"airtime": "MON-THU 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/here-and-now",
"subsdcribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"
}
},
"how-i-built-this": {
"id": "how-i-built-this",
"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
"imageAlt": "KQED Hyphenación",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hyphenaci%C3%B3n/id1191591838",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
"youtube": "https://www.youtube.com/c/kqedarts",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6c3dd23c-93fb-4aab-97ba-1725fa6315f1/hyphenaci%C3%B3n",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC2275451163"
}
},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/",
"tuneIn": "http://tun.in/pjGcK",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/44420f75-3b0e-4301-ab3b-16da6b09e543/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown"
}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/",
"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"
}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
}
},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"
}
},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Political Breakdown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"
}
},
"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
}
},
"pri-the-world": {
"id": "pri-the-world",
"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "PRI"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pri-the-world",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/",
"rss": "http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"
}
},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
"airtime": "SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/radiolab",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/",
"rss": "https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"
}
},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/reveal",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/",
"rss": "http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"
}
},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 16
},
"link": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"
}
},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
"airtime": "FRI 11am-1pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/science-friday",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"
}
},
"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
"airtime": "SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Snap-Judgment-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Snap Judgment",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 4
},
"link": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snap-judgment/id283657561",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/449018144/snap-judgment",
"stitcher": "https://www.pandora.com/podcast/snap-judgment/PC:241?source=stitcher-sunset",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3Cct7ZWmxHNAtLgBTqjC5v",
"rss": "https://snap.feed.snapjudgment.org/"
}
},
"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/soldout",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 13
},
"link": "/podcasts/soldout",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america",
"tunein": "https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/"
}
},
"spooked": {
"id": "spooked",
"title": "Spooked",
"tagline": "True-life supernatural stories",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Spooked-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Spooked",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 7
},
"link": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spooked/id1279361017",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/549547848/snap-judgment-presents-spooked",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/76571Rfl3m7PLJQZKQIGCT",
"rss": "https://feeds.simplecast.com/TBotaapn"
}
},
"tech-nation": {
"id": "tech-nation",
"title": "Tech Nation Radio Podcast",
"info": "Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.",
"airtime": "FRI 10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://technation.podomatic.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "Tech Nation Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tech-nation",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
}
},
"ted-radio-hour": {
"id": "ted-radio-hour",
"title": "TED Radio Hour",
"info": "The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/ted-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"
}
},
"thebay": {
"id": "thebay",
"title": "The Bay",
"tagline": "Local news to keep you rooted",
"info": "Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Bay",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/thebay",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 2
},
"link": "/podcasts/thebay",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d800ea4c-7a2c-42f2-b861-edaf78a5db0b/the-bay",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"
}
},
"thelatest": {
"id": "thelatest",
"title": "The Latest",
"tagline": "Trusted local news in real time",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Latest-2025-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Latest",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/thelatest",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 6
},
"link": "/thelatest",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-latest-from-kqed/id1197721799",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1257949365/the-latest-from-k-q-e-d",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/5KIIXMgM9GTi5AepwOYvIZ?si=bd3053fec7244dba",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9137121918"
}
},
"theleap": {
"id": "theleap",
"title": "The Leap",
"tagline": "What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?",
"info": "Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Leap",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/theleap",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 17
},
"link": "/podcasts/theleap",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"
}
},
"the-moth-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-moth-radio-hour",
"title": "The Moth Radio Hour",
"info": "Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.",
"airtime": "SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://themoth.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "prx"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/",
"rss": "http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"
}
},
"the-new-yorker-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"title": "The New Yorker Radio Hour",
"info": "The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.",
"airtime": "SAT 10am-11am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"
}
},
"the-sam-sanders-show": {
"id": "the-sam-sanders-show",
"title": "The Sam Sanders Show",
"info": "One of public radio's most dynamic voices, Sam Sanders helped launch The NPR Politics Podcast and hosted NPR's hit show It's Been A Minute. Now, the award-winning host returns with something brand new, The Sam Sanders Show. Every week, Sam Sanders and friends dig into the culture that shapes our lives: what's driving the biggest trends, how artists really think, and even the memes you can't stop scrolling past. Sam is beloved for his way of unpacking the world and bringing you up close to fresh currents and engaging conversations. The Sam Sanders Show is smart, funny and always a good time.",
"airtime": "FRI 12-1pm AND SAT 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Sam-Sanders-Show-Podcast-Tile-400x400-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "KCRW"
},
"link": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feed.cdnstream1.com/zjb/feed/download/ac/28/59/ac28594c-e1d0-4231-8728-61865cdc80e8.xml"
}
},
"the-splendid-table": {
"id": "the-splendid-table",
"title": "The Splendid Table",
"info": "\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.splendidtable.org/",
"airtime": "SUN 10-11 pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-splendid-table"
},
"this-american-life": {
"id": "this-american-life",
"title": "This American Life",
"info": "This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.",
"airtime": "SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wbez"
},
"link": "/radio/program/this-american-life",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"rss": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"
}
},
"tinydeskradio": {
"id": "tinydeskradio",
"title": "Tiny Desk Radio",
"info": "We're bringing the best of Tiny Desk to the airwaves, only on public radio.",
"airtime": "SUN 8pm and SAT 9pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/300x300-For-Member-Station-Logo-Tiny-Desk-Radio-@2x.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-52030/tiny-desk-radio",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tinydeskradio",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/g-s1-52030/rss.xml"
}
},
"wait-wait-dont-tell-me": {
"id": "wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"title": "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!",
"info": "Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.",
"airtime": "SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"
}
},
"weekend-edition-saturday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-saturday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Saturday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.",
"airtime": "SAT 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"
},
"weekend-edition-sunday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-sunday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Sunday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.",
"airtime": "SUN 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"
}
},
"racesReducer": {},
"racesGenElectionReducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026Reducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026PresidentialReducer": {},
"radioSchedulesReducer": {},
"listsReducer": {
"posts?tag=featured-news&queryId=2d366f190b": {
"isFetching": false,
"latestQuery": {
"from": 0,
"size": 1
},
"vitalsOnly": false,
"totalRequested": 1,
"isLoading": false,
"isLoadingMore": true,
"total": {
"value": 4249,
"relation": "eq"
},
"items": [
"news_12104425"
],
"complete": true
},
"posts?category=news&queryId=2d366f190b": {
"isFetching": false,
"latestQuery": {
"from": 0,
"size": 7
},
"vitalsOnly": false,
"totalRequested": 7,
"isLoading": false,
"isLoadingMore": true,
"total": {
"value": 10000,
"relation": "gte"
},
"items": [
"news_12104425",
"news_12104610",
"news_12103495",
"news_12104461",
"news_12104514",
"news_12104365",
"news_12104504"
],
"complete": true
}
},
"recallGuideReducer": {
"intros": {},
"policy": {},
"candidates": {}
},
"savedArticleReducer": {
"articles": [],
"status": {}
},
"newslettersReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"newsletters": {},
"isSubscribing": false,
"isUnsubscribing": false,
"subscribedNewsletters": {}
},
"termsReducer": {
"about": {
"name": "About",
"type": "terms",
"id": "about",
"slug": "about",
"link": "/about",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"arts": {
"name": "Arts & Culture",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"description": "KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts",
"slug": "arts",
"link": "/arts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"artschool": {
"name": "Art School",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "artschool",
"slug": "artschool",
"link": "/artschool",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareabites": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareabites",
"slug": "bayareabites",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareahiphop": {
"name": "Bay Area Hiphop",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareahiphop",
"slug": "bayareahiphop",
"link": "/bayareahiphop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"campaign21": {
"name": "Campaign 21",
"type": "terms",
"id": "campaign21",
"slug": "campaign21",
"link": "/campaign21",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"careers": {
"name": "Careers",
"type": "terms",
"id": "careers",
"slug": "careers",
"link": "/careers",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"checkplease": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "checkplease",
"slug": "checkplease",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"education": {
"name": "Education",
"grouping": [
"education"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "education",
"slug": "education",
"link": "/education",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"elections": {
"name": "Elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "elections",
"slug": "elections",
"link": "/elections",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"events": {
"name": "Events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "events",
"slug": "events",
"link": "/events",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"event": {
"name": "Event",
"alias": "events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "event",
"slug": "event",
"link": "/event",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"filmschoolshorts": {
"name": "Film School Shorts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "filmschoolshorts",
"slug": "filmschoolshorts",
"link": "/filmschoolshorts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"food": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "food",
"slug": "food",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"forum": {
"name": "Forum",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/forum?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "forum",
"slug": "forum",
"link": "/forum",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"futureofyou": {
"name": "Future of You",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou",
"slug": "futureofyou",
"link": "/futureofyou",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"jpepinheart": {
"name": "KQED food",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/food,bayareabites,checkplease",
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "jpepinheart",
"slug": "jpepinheart",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"liveblog": {
"name": "Live Blog",
"type": "terms",
"id": "liveblog",
"slug": "liveblog",
"link": "/liveblog",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"livetv": {
"name": "Live TV",
"parent": "tv",
"type": "terms",
"id": "livetv",
"slug": "livetv",
"link": "/livetv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"lowdown": {
"name": "The Lowdown",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/lowdown?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "lowdown",
"slug": "lowdown",
"link": "/lowdown",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"mindshift": {
"name": "Mindshift",
"parent": "news",
"description": "MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "mindshift",
"slug": "mindshift",
"link": "/mindshift",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news": {
"name": "News",
"grouping": [
"news",
"forum"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "news",
"slug": "news",
"link": "/news",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"newsletters": {
"name": "newsletters",
"type": "terms",
"id": "newsletters",
"slug": "newsletters",
"link": "/newsletters",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"perspectives": {
"name": "Perspectives",
"parent": "radio",
"type": "terms",
"id": "perspectives",
"slug": "perspectives",
"link": "/perspectives",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"podcasts": {
"name": "Podcasts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "podcasts",
"slug": "podcasts",
"link": "/podcasts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pop": {
"name": "Pop",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pop",
"slug": "pop",
"link": "/pop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pressroom": {
"name": "Pressroom",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pressroom",
"slug": "pressroom",
"link": "/pressroom",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"quest": {
"name": "Quest",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "quest",
"slug": "quest",
"link": "/quest",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"radio": {
"name": "Radio",
"grouping": [
"forum",
"perspectives"
],
"description": "Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "radio",
"slug": "radio",
"link": "/radio",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"root": {
"name": "KQED",
"image": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"imageWidth": 1200,
"imageHeight": 630,
"headData": {
"title": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"description": "KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."
},
"type": "terms",
"id": "root",
"slug": "root",
"link": "/root",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"science": {
"name": "Science",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"description": "KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "science",
"slug": "science",
"link": "/science",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"stateofhealth": {
"name": "State of Health",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "stateofhealth",
"slug": "stateofhealth",
"link": "/stateofhealth",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"support": {
"name": "Support",
"type": "terms",
"id": "support",
"slug": "support",
"link": "/support",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"thedolist": {
"name": "The Do List",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "thedolist",
"slug": "thedolist",
"link": "/thedolist",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"trulyca": {
"name": "Truly CA",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "trulyca",
"slug": "trulyca",
"link": "/trulyca",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"tv": {
"name": "TV",
"type": "terms",
"id": "tv",
"slug": "tv",
"link": "/tv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"voterguide": {
"name": "Voter Guide",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "voterguide",
"slug": "voterguide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"guiaelectoral": {
"name": "Guia Electoral",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "guiaelectoral",
"slug": "guiaelectoral",
"link": "/guiaelectoral",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news_31795": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_31795",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "31795",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 31812,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/california"
},
"news_1169": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1169",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1169",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1180,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/immigration"
},
"news_6188": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6188",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6188",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Law and Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Law and Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6212,
"slug": "law-and-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/law-and-justice"
},
"news_28250": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28250",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28250",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Local",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Local Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28267,
"slug": "local",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/local"
},
"news_8": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_8",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "8",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 8,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/news"
},
"news_13": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_13",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "13",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Politics",
"slug": "politics",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Politics | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 13,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/politics"
},
"news_4750": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_4750",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "4750",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "civil rights",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "civil rights Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4769,
"slug": "civil-rights",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/civil-rights"
},
"news_1323": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1323",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1323",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Donald Trump",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Donald Trump Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1335,
"slug": "donald-trump",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/donald-trump"
},
"news_36336": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36336",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36336",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Election 2026",
"slug": "election-2026",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Election 2026 | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36353,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/election-2026"
},
"news_27626": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_27626",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "27626",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "featured-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "featured-news Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 27643,
"slug": "featured-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/featured-news"
},
"news_34377": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34377",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34377",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "featured-politics",
"slug": "featured-politics",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "featured-politics Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34394,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/featured-politics"
},
"news_20202": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20202",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20202",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20219,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/immigration"
},
"news_17968": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17968",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17968",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Politics",
"slug": "politics",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Politics | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 18002,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/politics"
},
"news_36929": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36929",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36929",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Voting 2026",
"slug": "voting-2026",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Voting 2026 | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36946,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/voting-2026"
},
"news_33748": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33748",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33748",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33765,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/immigration"
},
"news_33734": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33734",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33734",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Local Politics",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Local Politics Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33751,
"slug": "local-politics",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/local-politics"
},
"news_33733": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33733",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33733",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33750,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/news"
},
"source_news_12104504": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12104504",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The California Report ",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrarchive/",
"isLoading": false
},
"news_34168": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34168",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34168",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Guides and Explainers",
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Guides and Explainers Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34185,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/guides-and-explainers"
},
"news_32707": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_32707",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "32707",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "audience-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "audience-news Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 32724,
"slug": "audience-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/audience-news"
},
"news_1386": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1386",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1386",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Bay Area",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Bay Area Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1398,
"slug": "bay-area",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bay-area"
},
"news_129": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_129",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "129",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Berkeley",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Berkeley Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 133,
"slug": "berkeley",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/berkeley"
},
"news_2426": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_2426",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "2426",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "birds",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "birds Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2441,
"slug": "birds",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/birds"
},
"news_18352": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18352",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18352",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "East Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "East Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18386,
"slug": "east-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/east-bay"
},
"news_34081": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34081",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34081",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "events",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "events Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 34098,
"slug": "events",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/events"
},
"news_35888": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35888",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35888",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "featured-audience-news",
"slug": "featured-audience-news",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "featured-audience-news | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35905,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/featured-audience-news"
},
"news_36379": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36379",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36379",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "outdoors",
"slug": "outdoors",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "outdoors | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36396,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/outdoors"
},
"news_33742": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33742",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33742",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Berkeley",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Berkeley Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33759,
"slug": "berkeley",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/berkeley"
},
"news_33740": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33740",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33740",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Events",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Events Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33757,
"slug": "events",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/events"
},
"news_19906": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19906",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19906",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Environment",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Environment Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 19923,
"slug": "environment",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/environment"
},
"news_6266": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6266",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6266",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6290,
"slug": "housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/housing"
},
"news_3921": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_3921",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "3921",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "affordable housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "affordable housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3940,
"slug": "affordable-housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/affordable-housing"
},
"news_34061": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34061",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34061",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "billionaires",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "billionaires Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 34078,
"slug": "billionaires",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/billionaires"
},
"news_1775": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1775",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1775",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1790,
"slug": "housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/housing"
},
"news_6615": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6615",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6615",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "North Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "North Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6639,
"slug": "north-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/north-bay"
},
"news_34586": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34586",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34586",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Silicon Valley",
"slug": "silicon-valley",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Silicon Valley | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34603,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/silicon-valley"
},
"news_33739": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33739",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33739",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33756,
"slug": "housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/housing"
},
"news_10": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_10",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "10",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Sports",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Sports Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 10,
"slug": "sports",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/sports"
},
"news_18058": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18058",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18058",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "basketball",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "basketball Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18092,
"slug": "basketball",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/basketball"
},
"news_34044": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34044",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34044",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Golden State Valkyries",
"slug": "golden-state-valkyries",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Golden State Valkyries | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34061,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/golden-state-valkyries"
},
"news_38": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_38",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "38",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 58,
"slug": "san-francisco",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/san-francisco"
},
"news_34078": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34078",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34078",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "sports",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "sports Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 34095,
"slug": "sports",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/sports"
},
"news_33257": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33257",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33257",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "WNBA",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "WNBA Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33274,
"slug": "wnba",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/wnba"
},
"news_1131": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1131",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1131",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "women's basketball",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "women's basketball Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1142,
"slug": "womens-basketball",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/womens-basketball"
},
"news_25293": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_25293",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "25293",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "women's sports",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "women's sports Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 25310,
"slug": "womens-sports",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/womens-sports"
},
"news_33749": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33749",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33749",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Entertainment",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Entertainment Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33766,
"slug": "entertainment",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/entertainment"
},
"news_18538": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18538",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18538",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 31,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california"
},
"news_19954": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19954",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19954",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Law and Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Law and Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 19971,
"slug": "law-and-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/law-and-justice"
},
"news_21891": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21891",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21891",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "lawsuits",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "lawsuits Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21908,
"slug": "lawsuits",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/lawsuits"
},
"news_3674": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_3674",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "3674",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Rob Bonta",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Rob Bonta Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3692,
"slug": "rob-bonta",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/rob-bonta"
},
"news_33729": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33729",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33729",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33746,
"slug": "san-francisco",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/san-francisco"
},
"news_34167": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34167",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34167",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Criminal Justice",
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Criminal Justice Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34184,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/criminal-justice"
},
"news_260": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_260",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "260",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Alameda County",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Alameda County Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 268,
"slug": "alameda-county",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/alameda-county"
},
"news_19522": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19522",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19522",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "corruption",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "corruption Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 19539,
"slug": "corruption",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/corruption"
},
"news_17725": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17725",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17725",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "criminal justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "criminal justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 17759,
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/criminal-justice"
},
"news_36570": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36570",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36570",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "FBI raids",
"slug": "fbi-raids",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "FBI raids | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36587,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/fbi-raids"
},
"news_37498": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_37498",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "37498",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Featured Sheng Thao Trial",
"slug": "featured-sheng-thao-trial",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Featured Sheng Thao Trial | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 37515,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/featured-sheng-thao-trial"
},
"news_34054": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34054",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34054",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "oakland",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "oakland Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 34071,
"slug": "oakland",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/oakland"
},
"news_34661": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34661",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34661",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Oakland Mayor",
"slug": "oakland-mayor",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Oakland Mayor | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34678,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/oakland-mayor"
},
"news_5690": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_5690",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "5690",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "political corruption",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "political corruption Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5714,
"slug": "political-corruption",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/political-corruption"
},
"news_37497": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_37497",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "37497",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Sheng Thao Trial",
"slug": "sheng-thao-trial",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Sheng Thao Trial | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 37514,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/sheng-thao-trial"
},
"news_33745": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33745",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33745",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Criminal Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Criminal Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33762,
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/criminal-justice"
},
"news_33730": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33730",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33730",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Oakland",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Oakland Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33747,
"slug": "oakland",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/oakland"
},
"news_72": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_72",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "72",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/TCR-2-Logo-Web-Banners-03.png",
"name": "The California Report",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "program",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "The California Report Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6969,
"slug": "the-california-report",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/program/the-california-report"
},
"news_34165": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34165",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34165",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Climate",
"slug": "climate",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Climate Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34182,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/climate"
},
"news_21998": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21998",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21998",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "TCRAM",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "TCRAM Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22015,
"slug": "tcram",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/tcram"
},
"news_21268": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21268",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21268",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "tcrarchive",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "tcrarchive Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21285,
"slug": "tcrarchive",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/tcrarchive"
}
},
"userPermissionsReducer": {
"wpLoggedIn": false
},
"eventsReducer": {},
"fssReducer": {},
"tvDailyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer": {},
"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer": {},
"userAccountReducer": {
"user": {
"email": null,
"emailStatus": "EMAIL_UNVALIDATED",
"loggedStatus": "LOGGED_OUT",
"loggingChecked": false,
"articles": [],
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"phoneNumber": null,
"fetchingMembership": false,
"membershipError": false,
"memberships": [
{
"id": null,
"startDate": null,
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"familyNumber": null,
"memberNumber": null,
"memberSince": null,
"expirationDate": null,
"pfsEligible": false,
"isSustaining": false,
"membershipLevel": "Prospect",
"membershipStatus": "Non Member",
"lastGiftDate": null,
"renewalDate": null,
"lastDonationAmount": null
}
]
},
"authModal": {
"isOpen": false,
"view": "LANDING_VIEW"
},
"error": null
},
"youthMediaReducer": {},
"checkPleaseReducer": {
"filterData": {
"region": {
"key": "Restaurant Region",
"filters": [
"Any Region"
]
},
"cuisine": {
"key": "Restaurant Cuisine",
"filters": [
"Any Cuisine"
]
}
},
"restaurantDataById": {},
"restaurantIdsSorted": [],
"error": null
},
"userAgentReducer": {
"userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)",
"isBot": true
},
"requestOutcomesReducer": {
"notFound": []
},
"navPromosReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": true,
"promos": {
"news": {
"name": "2026 Voter Guide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"imageURL": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Nav-News-Nov2026ElectionCoverage@2x-7bd4aad4.png",
"description": "Get informed in minutes with our Voter Guide for California’s November 3 election."
},
"podcasts-radio": {},
"video-tv": {},
"events": {},
"support": {}
}
}
}
