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KPBS Roundtable offers perspectives from those who tell San Diego’s stories. Join host Andrew Bracken for a weekly discussion with reporters, adding depth and context to the headlines driving the news in the San Diego region. KPBS Roundtable airs each Friday at 12 p.m. and again Sunday at 6 a.m. across San Diego on 89.5 FM and Imperial County on 97.7 FM. You can also catch the show on all podcast apps. New episodes drop every Friday afternoon.
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Mexico has settled from the unrest that struck parts of the country earlier this week. Vehicles were burned, blocking roads. Some buildings were set ablaze.All of this comes in reaction to the killing of a high-ranking cartel leader — "El Mencho" — on Sunday.We talk about the continued fallout in Mexico and what comes next with a longtime Tijuana journalist.Also this week, immigration officials detained at least four volunteers documenting arrests at the federal building downtown. And, new reporting reveals an operation by authorities to monitor activists supporting immigrants in San Diego. We talk to a reporter who covered both those stories.Plus, how the border fence is impacting natural habitats near the Jacumba mountains — especially the endangered bighorn sheep.Guests:Vicente Calderón, founder and editor in chief of Tijuanapress.comKate Morrissey, immigration reporter and co-founder, Daylight San DiegoTammy Murga, environment reporter, KPBSMatthew Bowler, photojournalist, KPBS
Federal agents arrested at least 5,000 people in San Diego last year.That's an average of 20 people each day.We talk about the network of volunteers organizing community patrols to watch out for immigration enforcement in their neighborhoods.Plus, more North County transit riders are evading fares amid a "hands off" enforcement strategy from the North County Transit District. We talk about fare evasion and increased safety concerns on public transit.And, a familiar San Diego voice breaks down what it means to be a play-by-play announcer ahead of San Diego FC's upcoming season.Guests:Gustavo Solis, investigative border reporter, KPBSElaine Alfaro, reporter, KPBSAdrian García Márquez, broadcaster and play-by-play announcer, San Diego FC
A new investigation by WIRED magazine reveals a secret campaign by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to expand their physical presence across the country.Federal records show that more than 150 leases on office spaces for new facilities in nearly every state — including a facility in San Diego.We discuss the findings and what this could mean for ICE's expansion moving forward.Plus, some RV dwellers are protesting newly issued tickets from the city following the opening of the H Barracks safe parking site.And, a romance literature convention, LoveLitCon, is celebrating love in San Diego just in time for Valentine's Day.Guests:Leah Feiger, senior politics editor, WIREDBlake Nelson, homelessness reporter, The San Diego Union-TribuneLeslie Gonzalez, web producer, KPBS
San Diego is known to be one of the most expensive cities. A new KPBS series looks to tackle San Diego's high cost of living, and the various of ways it impacts daily life.Then, the journalism landscape is rapidly shifting amid mass lay-offs and the changing consumption of news.On KPBS Roundtable this week, we hear from some of San Diego's student journalists about their outlook on the current media landscape, as they start their journalism careers during a precarious time for the industry.Guests: Katie Anastas, education reporter, KPBSAlina Ajaz, production director, KCR, student assistant, KPBSSydney Brammer, editor-in-chief, The PointRoman Aguilar, sports editor, The Daily AztecStories mentioned:"Price of San Diego"— KPBS"Young Adults and the Future of News" — Pew Research Center"Letter from the Editor in Chief" by Sydney Brammer — The Point"San Diego’s phantom stadium costs taxpayers nearly $5 million annually" by Roman Aguilar — The Daily Aztec"How Lahore Became One of the World's Most Polluted Cities" by Alina Ajaz — Pulitzer Center
Gregory Bovino has become one of the most recognizable faces of President Trump’s mass deportation efforts.But after the latest killing by immigration officers in Minneapolis — the second this month — multiple reports say Bovino is now returning to El Centro to lead the Border Patrol sector there.On KPBS Roundtable this week, we talk about how community members there are pushing back.Then, a new HBO documentary, "Critical Incident: Death at the Border" explores the 2010 death of Anastasio Hernández-Rojas at the San Ysidro Port of Entry after a violent altercation with Border Patrol officers — and his family's pursuit of justice.Finally, the San Diego Unified School District is moving forward with a series of new proposals that would bring thousands of affordable housing units to district-owned land.We talk about what this could mean for San Diego's housing landscape.Guests:Andrew Dyer, military and veterans affairs reporter, KPBSJohn Carlos Frey, investigative journalist, host of "The Raid" podcastRichard Rowley, director, "Critical Incident: Death at the Border"Jakob McWhinney, education reporter, Voice of San DiegoStories mentioned:"With Unprecedented Housing Moves, San Diego Unified Enters Its YIMBY Era" — Voice of San Diego
The first year of Donald Trump's second term has upended the rules of immigration enforcement.In San Diego, enforcement has included an ICE raid at an industrial paint business in El Cajon, arrests at green card appointments and yet another raid at Buona Forchetta in South Park. We've also seen student visas revoked and arrests at their immigration court hearings.KPBS reporting has found that the increase in detention by ICE is fueled by immigrants without criminal records.On KPBS Roundtable, we discuss changes to the immigration system in Trump's first year in office and how covering immigration has changed.Guests:Gustavo Solis, investigative reporter, KPBSShelby Bremer, reporter, NBC7 San DiegoElliot Spagat, U.S. immigration news editor, Associated Press
This week, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria delivered his annual State of the City speech. We talk about where the city is and where it's headed.Plus, a former San Diego sailor is sentenced for selling Navy secrets to China.And, we check in on the state of San Diego sports ahead of San Diego FC's upcoming season.Guests:Andrew Bowen, metro reporter, KPBSMariana Martínez Barba, City Hall reporter, Voice of San DiegoAndrew Dyer, military and veteran affairs reporter, KPBSRyan Finley, sports editor, The San Diego Union-Tribune
New fees to park in Balboa Park implemented this week were met with confusion and frustration after a series of mistakes and lack of information for city residents.San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has since defended the Balboa Park fees in response to a memo earlier this week calling the parking system "haphazard." We break down the parking saga and what you should know.Plus, we discuss how Los Angeles communities are recovering one year after wildfires destroyed thousands of homes and killed dozens.Then, a New York Times investigation finds that home insurers are pushing families back into homes still contaminated by smoke. We unpack the findings.Guests:David Garrick, reporter, San Diego Union-TribuneLibby Rainey, general assignment reporter, LAistRukmini Callimachi, real estate and housing correspondent, The New York TimesBlacki Migliozzi, reporter, The New York Times
"Housing First" has been the preferred approach to tackling homelessness in recent years. It involves getting people into housing quickly with as few hurdles as possible. But even though Housing First shows promise for keeping people housed, the model is facing challenges. We discuss the latest.Plus, a new set of California state laws took effect at the start of 2026, covering everything from artificial intelligence to health. We break down what you should know about the new legislation.Then, we dive into the science and psychology of New Year's resolutions — why we often break them, and how to make them more sustainable. Guests:Blake Nelson, homelessness reporter, The San Diego Union-TribuneKristen Hwang, health reporter, CalMattersKhari Johnson, technology reporter, CalMattersRiley Arthur, web producer, KPBS
As the year comes to a close, we reflect on some of the biggest KPBS stories of the year with the reporters who covered them.We discuss the changing landscape of immigration enforcement and mass deportation. Plus, the local housing picture in San Diego — from ADUs to the effects of statewide legislation.Then, we talk about the top stories on the science and technology beat this year, including artificial intelligence and nuclear fusion.Guests:Gustavo Solis, investigative border reporter, KPBSAndrew Bowen, metro reporter, KPBSThomas Fudge, science and technology reporter, KPBS
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a Ukrainian immigrant who was arrested last week after her green card interview.Viktoriia Bulavina said she was held for days inside a federal building in downtown San Diego, where ICE officers put her and other women in shackles and chains.We talk about Bulvina's story and the broader picture of immigration enforcement in San Diego.Then, we sit down with local food journalists to recap culinary trends from the year and restaurants on their radar for the holiday season.Guests:Kori Suzuki, South Bay and Imperial Valley reporter, KPBSJackie Bryant, lifestyle journalist and co-host of the Happy Half Hour podcastHelen Hwang, food and travel journalist
The San Diego FC inaugural season has officially come to an end.This week on Roundtable, we recap Saturday’s 3–1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps with local soccer experts, unpacking the team’s success both on the scoreboard and in the stands.Then, a new report from UC San Diego shows a sharp rise in first-year students lacking high school math proficiency. At UC San Diego — where more than half of undergraduates pursue STEM degrees that require math — that’s a growing concern.We break down why sum things aren’t adding up for math education, and why math skills have declined since 2020.Guests:Darren Smith, radio host, San Diego FC and Section 1904 podcastHector Trujillo, soccer writer, the Times of San Diego and El LatinoTony Sanchez, co-founder, San Diego.futbolJacob Aere, reporter, KPBSStories mentioned:UC San Diego is trying to solve a remedial math problemSan Diego FC falls to Whitecaps 3-1, capping off historic inaugural season
For public radio listeners, NPR voices often become part of our morning ritual. A Martínez, NPR Morning Edition and Up First co-host, is one of those personalities.He joins KPBS Roundtable to talk about his public media journey, from covering sports all the way to hosting public radio’s morning flagship.Then, we dig into how immigration lawyers are filing habeas corpus petitions to protect their clients and challenge immigration holds.And finally, San Diego County is struggling to handle the costs of Proposition 36 and its tough-on-crime policies. Hear how the county is managing the extra dollars needed in a time when budgets are tight.Guests:A Martínez, co-host, NPR Morning Edition and Up FirstGustavo Solis, investigative border reporter, KPBSLisa Halverstadt, senior investigative reporter, Voice of San DiegoStories mentioned:Lawyers using Habeas Corpus in last-ditch efforts to free immigrants from detention — KPBSProposition 36 Hits County Budget Hard — Voice of San Diego
In case you missed it, there was a special election this week in California.We take stock of Proposition 50 and other political headlines from the week, including Nancy Pelosi's retirement announcement after a 20-term career in Congress.Plus, National City this week rejected a proposed biofuel depot project over air quality concerns.And, we sit down with our colleagues at "The Finest" podcast to hear about their season one finale and their reflections from their first 25 episodes.Guests:Alexei Koseff, Washington, D.C. correspondent, San Francisco ChroniclePhilip Salata, environment and energy reporter, inewsourceKori Suzuki, South Bay and Imperial Valley reporter, KPBSJulia Dixon Evans, arts reporter and host of "The Finest", KPBSAnthony Wallace, podcast producer, "The Finest"
Water bills are going up for San Diegans.Despite ongoing cost of living concerns, San Diego’s city council voted this week to increase water and sewer rates by 31% over the next two years. We talk about what that means for you and your water bill.Plus, for Halloween, local horror writers talk about their approach to telling scary stories, and why we love to be scared.Guests: Mackenzie Elmer, energy and environment reporter, Voice of San DiegoDavid Garrick, reporter, San Diego Union-TribuneKC Grifant, horror, fantasy and science fiction writerShane Hawk, horror writer and editorJon Cohn, horror writer and board game designerHorror stories:Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger (Monster Gunslingers Book 1)Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction AnthologyKill Beth
San Diego soccer fans are gearing up for playoffs season, rallying behind Major League Soccer’s San Diego FC and the National Women’s Soccer League’s San Diego Wave FC.Both teams are headed to the playoffs in the next few weeks. We take a look at their seasons and what they'll need to reach their championship goals.Then, we hear about one San Diego preschool making a difference in the lives of children recovering from family trauma, including domestic violence.Guests: Alejandro Villaseñor, co-founder of SanDiego.Futbol and co-host of the podcast "Two Balls and a Mic"Hector Trujillo, sports journalist and contributor to The Times of San DiegoAdriana Heldiz, assistant visuals editor, CalMattersIf you or a loved one are in need of support, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.Resources:City of San Diego Domestic Violence ResourcesYMCA San Diego: Domestic Violence ServicesCenter for Community SolutionsSouth Bay Community Services (SBCS)Community Resource CenterWomen's Resource CenterInterfaith Shelter NetworkCrisis House San DiegoFather Joe’s Villages
Housing challenges in San Diego's North County reflect much of the region — from a lack of affordable options to rising rents.We discuss how new state legislation and recent legal challenges over development could affect housing stock in North County.Plus, convention goers are back on the streets of downtown San Diego this weekend for TwitchCon. The conference celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, bringing hundreds of online creators and their fans to San Diego.We talk about how streaming has changed culture over the past decade.Guests:Alexander Nguyen, North County multimedia producer, KPBSTigist Layne, North County reporter, Voice of San DiegoDrew Harwell, technology reporter, The Washington PostConnorEatsPants, Twitch streamer and content creator
Voice of San Diego brought a "solutions showdown" to its annual Politifest last weekend.A pair of panels took on different facets of San Diego's homelessness crisis: what to do about street homelessness and how to respond when people with behavioral health problems refuse treatment. We discuss the takeaways.Plus, a new book by a local science journalist tackles how to prevent future pandemics.Guests:Lisa Halverstadt, senior investigative reporter, Voice of San DiegoJim Hinch, South County reporter, Voice of San DiegoJon Cohen, science journalist and author of "Planning Miracles: How to Prevent Future Pandemics"
The San Diego Padres finished their season after losing to the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the 2025 National League Wild Card Series.We recap how they played this season and the biggest questions ahead for the team.Plus, we sit down with local theater makers to hear what makes San Diego theater so unique. And, why theater remains a powerful art form in an increasingly digital world.Guests:Darren Smith, longtime sports radio host, host of the Section 1904 podcast and broadcaster with the San Diego FCWilfred Paloma, director of education and community engagement, Diversionary TheatreDesireé Clarke Miller, executive artistic director, Moxie TheatreCraig Campbell, producing director, Cygnet Theatre
Pollution and trash from the Tijuana River Valley have impacted the San Diego-Tijuana border region for decades. New research shows that it's not just the water that's affected. Toxic materials are also degrading the region’s air quality.A panel of environment reporters in the San Diego-Tijuana region joins us to talk about the origins of the cross-border sewage crisis. How did it all start? We look into the Tijuana River Valley’s eco-history — and how its water and air came to be polluted.Then, a look ahead to the Major League Baseball playoffs. The Padres are set to face the Chicago Cubs in the wildcard round on Tuesday. This weekend will determine where the series begins — it’s looking like Chicago, but there's still a chance it could come to Petco Park.Padres beat writer AJ Cassavell says this will be the first time these two teams have met in the playoffs since 1984.And finally, our weekly roundup of other stories from the week.Guests:Tammy Murga, environmental reporter, KPBSMackenzie Elmer, environment and energy reporter, Voice of San DiegoPhilip Salata, environment reporter, inewsourceAJ Cassavell, writer, PadresAndrew Bowen, metro reporter, KPBSJulianna Domingo, producer, KPBS
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