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KPFA - UpFront

KPFA
Donald Trump
Israel
Gaza
Ukraine
Kamala Harris
Russia
Climate Change
Trump Administration
Iran
Lebanon
Covid-19
California
United States
Amazon
San Francisco
Hamas
Syria
Hezbollah
Palestinian Rights
Sudan

UpFront delivers a mix of local, state, and international coverage through challenging interviews, civil debates, breaking updates, and in-depth discussions with authors. Pitch us at upfront@kpfa.org. Theme Music: Turn It Up by Digital Primitives, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1000Founded14 years ago
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Artwork for KPFA - UpFront

Latest Episodes

UpFront delivers a mix of local, state, and international coverage through challenging interviews, civil debates, breaking updates, and in-depth discussions with authors.

The post UpFront – June 12, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

00:08 — Steve Fisher is an investigative reporter based in Mexico City who focuses on security and immigration.

00:20 — Dean Baker is a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

00:33 — Arang Keshavarzian is Professor in the ... more

00:08 — Ramzi Kaiss, researcher at Human Rights Watch investigating human rights abuses in Lebanon.

00:33 — Joel Beinin Professor of Middle East History, Emeritus at Stanford University.

The post Israel continues Airstrikes in Lebanon; Plus Whats ... more

00:08 — Kathryn Ledebur is the Director of Andean Information Network.

00:33 — Dharna Noor is a fossil fuels and climate reporter at Guardian U.S.

00:45 — Laurel Paget-Seekins is Senior Policy Advocate for Transportation Justice at Public Advocates... more

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Recent Guests

Gloria Tavera
UCSF Gastroenterology Fellow, SEIU local
University of California, San Francisco; SEIU
Episode: Israeli Military Strikes Continue in Lebanon; Plus, How the Closure of the Strait of Hormuz Impacts Americans; And, UCSF Interns and Residents Protest New Union Contract
Sam Ribicoff
Reporter, journalism teacher, labor union communicator
LA Taco
Episode: Unpacking Election Results in California; Plus, Races in LA County and San Francisco
Seema Shahsari
Associate professor in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies, University of Minnesota; Let Iran Live organizer
Let Iran Live / University of Minnesota
Episode: UpFront – June 2, 2026
Katoyoun Amjadi
Tehran-born, Minneapolis-based interdisciplinary artist and educator; organizer with Let Iran Live
Let Iran Live / University of Minnesota
Episode: UpFront – June 2, 2026
Anthony D'Agostino
Emeritus Professor of History at San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
Episode: UpFront – June 1, 2026
John Schwarzberg
Clinical Professor Emeritus of Infectious Diseases at UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley
Episode: UpFront – June 1, 2026
Scott Kurashige
Interdisciplinary scholar, author of American Peril
University/ scholar network referenced in episode
Episode: Scott Kurashige on Racial Capitalism, Violence, and Asian America
Peter Boehnert
Editor-at-Large of Jewish Currents, proprietor of Boehnert Notebook, and author
Jewish Currents
Episode: UpFront – May 28, 2026
Tori Perrell
Senior Staff Attorney at Palestine Legal
Palestine Legal
Episode: Golden Gate 26 Trial; Plus, New CalFresh Requirements on June 1; And, Hunger Strike Protesting Inhumane Conditions at Adelanto ICE Facility

Host

Brian Edwards-Tiekert
Co-host with extensive background in political commentary and public affairs.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 57 ratings
  • This is a GREAT podcast

    You all are doing a wonderful wonderful job! All of you are terrific and I must say that Brian is an absolutely sensational interviewer - wow. I've never heard a more informed or inquisitive interviewer anywhere. I hope he returns after his time at Stanford. Thank you to all of you!!

    It is now December 2024 and I just want to say that all of KPFA is an absolute lifeline to life right now with what’s going on in the world and not only guy but so many many people need a KPFA now more than ever an... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    itunes-jan-rate
    United States2 years ago
  • Simply the best!

    Listen to the hosts insightful, probing questions you want to have light shown into those shady corners of the issues of our times. Brian has impressive roster of regular quests and brings in other experts one-time to explore what’s missing below the headlines. He digs in to get their thoughts and analysis with his amazingly well-informed intelligence and wit. I’m always impressed by his preparation and that he doesn’t ask softball questions of any of them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    G the Nurse
    United States3 years ago
  • Always informative, but hoodwinked on Ukraine

    Without fail 7am on Mondays the “Pacifica”, the Peace Foundation hosts a pro-war view with some horse blinders on. John Pfeffer is exclusively given the mike. He might as well get paid by the US State Dept. And that’s the beginning and end of Brian’s understanding of SE Ukraine and both Russian and US ambitions. 7:30am COVID second half is best 30 minutes on KPFA. Overall much improved with departure of Cat Brooks. Tuesday on has very good interviews, Brian does his homework! Keep up the great... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    cavies forever
    United States3 years ago
  • Can’t live without Upfront ❤️

    I listen every morning and go crazy trying to read all the books that are discussed on this show. Love Monday mornings with coverage on Ukraine and then COVID updates.

    I keep the podcast on my phone if I want to listen again.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KEPicturewoman
    United States3 years ago
  • Excellent resource

    Brian has been holding it down for years with excellent guests on well-researched topics. I especially appreciate the coverage on Palestine, COVID, and current event debriefs like the recent analysis by economist Dean Baker on the SVB bank run. Thanks for keeping us informed!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RobpertRaymond
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the high-quality interviews and depth of research, noting the hosts' ability to ask insightful questions that shed light on complex issues.
There are some criticisms regarding perceived biases in certain discussions, particularly around political interpretations and coverage of international events.
Many appreciate the diversity of topics and guests, finding the discussions on social justice, health, and politics to be both timely and relevant.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Unpacking Election Results in California; Plus, Races in LA County and San Francisco
Q: Thanks for joining us. Can you explain how Karen Bass became so unpopular?
The LA area guest explains that anger over immigration enforcement actions, the response to the Yen fire and Palisades fires, and ongoing homelessness contributed to a perception of ineffective crisis management, all of which dampened Bass's support and opened space for challengers.
UpFront – June 2, 2026
Q: How is immigrant legal services funding affecting nonprofits and service providers across the city?
Providers are frustrated by recurring supplemental funding instead of being baked into the baseline, which creates uncertainty; there is a push to embed immigrant services into the regular budget to ensure continuity and program integrity.
UpFront – June 2, 2026
Q: What can you tell us about the $16 billion budget and which programs are at risk?
The budget is constrained by pre-allocated set-asides and revenue-generating departments; immigrant legal services survived the cut, but funding is still precarious and likely to be revisited by the Board; agencies want baseline, year-after-year funding rather than intermittent supplements.
UpFront – June 1, 2026
Q: What are the practical steps individuals can take to improve pandemic preparedness and public health resilience?
Support for local and state health departments, elect leaders who prioritize public health, and engage in community-level resilience efforts, as well as advocating for sustained public health funding and professional collaboration to mitigate future outbreaks.
UpFront – June 1, 2026
Q: From Zelensky's Face the Nation appearance, what would it take to bring Putin to the negotiating table in a meaningful way?
The guest suggests it would require a credible outside push, especially from the United States, to bring both leaders together and negotiate around the current state of affairs, essentially leveraging the status quo to broker peace if the will were there.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About KPFA - UpFront

What is KPFA - UpFront about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content provides a blend of local, national, and international issues, focusing on current events through interviews, debates, and analyses that challenge listeners to think critically. The discussions often touch on political topics, economic implications, health matters, and social justice issues, with a unique slant toward progressive values and in-depth commentary on significant global events. Injecting urgency into the discussions, recent episodes have prominently featured topics such as cryptocurrency's intersection with political decisions, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and crucial public health updates regarding COVID-19 and vaccination strategies. Listeners can expect a rich mix of voices, including expe... more

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Which podcasts are similar to KPFA - UpFront?

These podcasts share a similar audience with KPFA - UpFront:

1. Background Briefing with Ian Masters
2. Ralph Nader Radio Hour
3. The Nation Podcasts
4. Democracy Now! Audio
5. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

How many episodes of KPFA - UpFront are there?

KPFA - UpFront launched 14 years ago and published 1000 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on KPFA - UpFront?

Recent guests on KPFA - UpFront include:

1. Gloria Tavera
2. Sam Ribicoff
3. Seema Shahsari
4. Katoyoun Amjadi
5. Anthony D'Agostino
6. John Schwarzberg
7. Scott Kurashige
8. Peter Boehnert

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