Fifth & Mission

The flagship news podcast of the San Francisco Chronicle. Producer/host Cecilia Lei and co-host Laura Wenus discuss the biggest stories of the day with Chronicle journalists and newsmakers from around the Bay Area. | Get full digital access to the Chronicle: sfchronicle.com/pod

News
Politics
301
California High-Speed Rail's 'Hot Girl Summer'
The California high-speed rail line took a major leap forward when rail authorities approved a bullet train link that would zoom passengers from the Central Valley into downtown San Francisco.
13 min
302
Fixing Our City: Can San Francisco Learn From H...
Texas' largest city is getting national attention for its approach to homelessness. In this episode of The Chronicle's Fixing Our City podcast, host Laura Wenus explores what Houston's doing, and discovers that San Francisco is already trying to do many of the same things.
34 min
303
The Science Behind Bay Area Weather
Warming temperatures in the Bay Area have made for good small talk. The Chronicle's new weather team is here to level up those conversations. Weather science editor Heather Hagemann and the newsroom's first meteorologist, Gerry Diaz, join host Cecilia Lei.
19 min
304
San Francisco Students: Back to School and Back...
Summer's over for SFUSD students, who are returning to the classroom this week. After dealing with the pandemic and various school board controversies in recent years, what do students face? Education reporter Jill Tucker joins host Cecilia Lei.
18 min
305
S.F. D.A. Brooke Jenkins Calls Payment Controve...
Co-host and Chronicle director of news Demian Bulwa and crime reporter Megan Cassidy join host Cecilia Lei to discuss the San Francisco district attorney's defense of her six-figure consultancy work for a nonprofit linked to the Recall Chesa Boudin campaign.
21 min
306
Megafloods: California’s Next Climate Disaster?
California is in its third year of a historic drought but climate change also brings the risk of more severe storms that could cause catastrophic flooding.
19 min
307
Oakland's $50M Promise: “Students, Your City Lo...
Mayor Libby Schaaf's $50 million initiative will give secondary education scholarships to Oakland's low-income students and college savings accounts to every baby born to a low-income family. Mayor Schaaf joins host Cecilia Lei to talk about how the ambitious initiative will end generational poverty, and what it means for her legacy as mayor.
18 min
308
Secrets of Donald Trump’s Most Loyal Followers
Former longterm Republican strategist Tim Miller, a Never Trumper and author of the bestselling “Why We Did It: A Travelogue From the Republican Road to Hell," talks to Joe Garofoli about the state of the Republican Party, whether anyone can beat Trump, and his own journey out of the GOP.
23 min
309
How Brooke Jenkins Will Run the D.A.'s Office —...
In an interview recorded the day before the revelation she received more than $100,000 from a nonprofit tied to a backer of the Chesa Boudin recall, San Francisco’s new district attorney talks to host Cecilia Lei about her policy positions, and why she fired 15 staff members.
28 min
310
Home Restaurants Blossom, But Some Are Choking ...
Chefs serving food out of their homes isn't new in some communities, but pandemic lockdowns prompted a surge in interest. Reporters Elgin Nelson and Cesar Hernandez talk to Demian Bulwa about the sometimes burdensome licensing requirements that have followed.
15 min
311
What's Missing in the S.F. School Board Ann Hsu...
The San Francisco school board formally admonished a board for comments blaming Black and brown families for racial gaps in academic achievement. The debate over whether she should resign has been heated.
16 min
312
The Latest Battle for People's Park in Berkeley
UC Berkeley is constructing new development at People's Park in Berkeley. Protesters clashed with police as construction began on Wednesday.
13 min
313
New D.A., New Drug Crackdown in San Francisco
Brooke Jenkins has announced her plans to increase punishment for dealers while calling her predecessor, Chesa Boudin, too lenient. Chronicle reporter Megan Cassidy joins host Demian Bulwa to outline those plans and explain why many progressives are outraged by what they call a return to failed policies.
14 min
314
Why S.F.'s Laguna Honda Shouldn't Shut Down
After federal regulators decertified San Francisco's 700-bed nursing home because of mismanagement, it's dealing with botched patient transfers and the potential end of critical care to patients. Chronicle columnist Heather Knight joins host Cecilia Lei to talk about what she calls a "draconian" response.
18 min
315
Why San Francisco Rents Bounced Back to Sky High
The onset of the pandemic offered a brief silver lining — lower rents. But it didn't last. The average price of a 2-bedroom apartment means you need to make $61 an hour to afford one. Reporter Lauren Hepler joins host Cecilia Lei to talk about what happened.
14 min
316
San Francisco Declares a Monkeypox Emergency. I...
While San Francisco declared a state of emergency, members of the LGBTQ community are furious at limited vaccine access — and fearful of discrimination.
18 min
317
First There Were Fires. Now, Residents of Oakla...
Residents of the Wood Street encampment in West Oakland are fighting a pending eviction after a two alarm fire broke out on CalTrans property in mid-July.
20 min
318
Is More Black Political Representation Leading ...
Chronicle columnist Justin Phillips joins host Demian Bulwa to discuss the promises and reality of Black leadership in S.F.
13 min
319
Why Are Napa Valley Cabernets Tasting the Same?
Wine consultants have become essential for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
18 min
320
How Reporting Sexual Abuse May Put California A...
The story of an Ohio 10-year-old rape victim who traveled to Indiana for an abortion spotlighted the potential risks of mandated reporting for out-of-state abortion patients and their health providers.
14 min
321
The Man Who Tried to Start a Civil War in Oakland
Chronicle reporter Joshua Sharpe tells the story of the radicalization of Steven Carillo, a member of the far right, anti-government extremist group the Boogaloo Bois. Carillo shot and killed a federal security guard during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.
18 min
322
Another San Francisco School Board Controversy
One of the three San Francisco school board members appointed after this year's recall is already facing calls to resign.
16 min
323
Food is Political at Oakland’s Most Radical Res...
Oakland’s Understory restaurant won a James Beard award. But can it change the industry?
24 min
324
How Anti-Trump Resistance Group Swing Left Is P...
The new leader of Swing Left, explains how Democrats have a path forward to hold the House in November's midterm elections.
20 min
325
Why LGBTQ Protestors Say Monkeypox Is a "Public...
On Monday, advocates protested outside the U.S. Health and Human Services office in San Francisco to call out the slow federal response to the monkeypox outbreak and the low supply of monkeypox vaccines.
29 min