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
626
Are We Ready to Shed Our Masks?
The CDC says it’s OK to stop wearing them if you’re vaccinated, but host Demian Bulwa isn’t so sure he’s ready. Erin Allday says that makes sense. We’ve all been through trauma and we’re nervous and scared.
15 min
627
Bay Area Tent Cities: What Next?
The CDC urged city officials to avoid clearing homeless encampments during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, some unhoused people face eviction and uncertain futures. Reporter Lauren Hepler talked to tent city residents about their fears.
14 min
628
Are We Headed Toward Fare-Free Muni?
Two San Francisco supervisors moved their plan for three free months of Muni forward on Wednesday, but Muni officials don't like the idea.
18 min
629
California Has Extra Cash. How to Spend it?
Despite the pandemic, state officials are projecting a $38 billion surplus in the upcoming fiscal year. The question: How to spend it?
16 min
630
Kids Can Get Vaccinated: Will They?
Reporter Catherine Ho on federal approval of the Pfizer vaccine for 12-15-year-olds. But will enough parents give permission, considering the coronavirus hasn't hit young people as hard? Plus: A 15-year-old talks about her feelings about the shot.
13 min
631
California's Math Wars
San Francisco public schools moved Algebra 1 out of middle school and into high school for all students in 2014, and the state might recommend that all public school districts do the same. But some parents don't like the controversial move, saying kids should be able to advance in math if they're able. Education reporter Jill Tucker adds it all up.
16 min
632
Is San Francisco's Exodus Over?
San Franciscans fled the city in droves during the pandemic. Now that the city's reopening, will its citizens return?
14 min
633
Happy Birthday, Willie Mays
S.F. Giants great Willie Mays celebrates his 90th birthday today.
24 min
634
Welcome to the Yellow Tier
It became official Tuesday: San Francisco is advancing to the yellow tier of coronavirus restrictions.
16 min
635
Are STDs Really Down in the Pandemic?
Chronicle health reporter Erin Allday discusses her look at reports of sexually transmitted diseases in the past year.
13 min
636
Sneaker Waves: Death at the Beach
Unique to parts of the North American West Coast and Iceland, these deadly waves have crashed over unsuspecting beachgoers again and again, including Arunay Pruthi, 12, who was swept to sea in front of his family.
19 min
637
Misery in India
As life in the United States is beginning to return to normal, India has been crushed by a deadly surge of the coronavirus
18 min
638
Why 49ers Fans Are in a Frenzy
San Francisco 49ers fans are on pins and needles as they await Thursday's NFL Draft. The reason? The team of Joe Montana, Steve Young and Colin Kaepernick is under intense pressure to pick a quarterback of the future. But which QB? And what will happen to the current Niners starter, Jimmy Garoppolo? Chronicle sports columnists Ann Killion and Scott Ostler weigh in on the tension, give their preferred picks, and lament the continued racist stereotypes often placed on Black quarterbacks.
16 min
639
City Hall's Top Lawyer Moves On
City Attorney Dennis Herrera has been nominated to take over the Public Utilities Commission after 20 years of representing San Francisco in court. He talks about his biggest cases, trying to reopen schools, and having Trump as a foil.
31 min
640
California's Slow Growth Costs a House Seat
For the first time in history, California is about to lose an elected representative in Congress, even as Texas picks up two seats. The shift was cemented by numbers released Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau. What does it mean for California? What about the balance of power between Republicans and Democrats? And how will the state form its new congressional districts? Chronicle Washington correspondent Tal Kopan explains.
18 min
641
Small Towns to Remote Workers: We'll Pay You to...
From Michigan to Maine, communities are dangling incentives of up to $20,000 to out-of-state folks, hoping to convince tech workers and others in the expanding remote workforce to move in. Reporter Carolyn Said talks about these pandemic perks, which in some places include home lots, bicycles and even free Jimmy John's sandwiches — though you have to commit to staying for awhile.
14 min
642
Addressing San Francisco's Homelessness and Dru...
City Hall is debating fixes for San Francisco's most pressing problems including funding sanctioned tent encampments and opening a long-discussed safe injection site. Reporter Mallory Moench explains the proposals and why they're far from sure things.
16 min
643
A Sixth Accuser for Foppoli
Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli has been accused of sexual assault by five women — and now another is sharing her story with The Chronicle. Reporter Cynthia Dizikes discusses the latest allegations.
18 min
644
Derek Chauvin Guilty: Now What?
Activists Melina Abdullah and Akil Riley, Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer and police reform expert Alex Vitale talk about where America goes from here following the conviction of the ex-cop who killed George Floyd in Minneapolis.
26 min
645
Making Muni Faster
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is trying to add HOV lanes to highways in the city, but some residents are fighting back. Reporter Ricardo Cano explains why the SFMTA seems to be at the center of so many pandemic squabbles.
16 min
646
Oscar Grant’s Mom Is Right
With Daunte Wright the latest in a long string of Black men dying at the hands of police, Wanda Johnson says it's past time for the country to get armed cops out of traffic stops. Columnist Justin Phillips agrees.
13 min
647
Racism in the Bay Area Food Industry
Anti-Asian attacks and rhetoric are rising, and they're impacting Asian food workers who have to interact with the public in a big way
12 min
648
Different Pandemics for Different Neighborhoods
Not every part of San Francisco has been equally fortunate. Reporter Susie Neilson talks about the Chronicle's analysis of Covid-19 cases by neighborhood. Plus: Trisha Thadani on the’s city’s efforts to vaccinate its hardest-hit communities.
14 min
649
Johnson & Johnson Suspension: How Bad Is It?
The pause on one of the country's three vaccines comes at a bad time as everyone 16 and up becomes eligible for shots this week in California. Reporter Erin Allday talks about why it happened and what it means for the race to herd immunity.
19 min
650
What the First Day of School Looked Like in S.F.
Education reporter Jill Tucker takes you behind the scenes of the first day back in school in San Francisco. The district, which was among the last big public systems in the country to bring students back, opened 22 elementary schools.
18 min