Fifth & Mission

The flagship news podcast of the San Francisco Chronicle. Producer/host Cecilia Lei and director of news Demian Bulwa 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
76
COVID, RSV and the Flu: Tips for a Healthy Holiday
UCSF's Dr. Peter Chin-Hong joins Cecilia Lei to discuss the "tripledemic" that figures to make this season challenging, as well as how to stay safe. And he reflects on nearly three years of the coronavirus pandemic.
17 min
77
Life After Pelosi for House Democrats
It's All Political on Fifth & Mission host Joe Garofoli joins Cecilia Lei to talk about who will follow Nancy Pelosi as Democratic leader, and then Joe chats with John Lawrence, Pelosi’s former chief of staff, about her leadership style.
21 min
78
What Another Trump Run Means for California
The former president on the ballot for a second presidential term is bad news for California Republicans — not to mention all the people he’s maligned with his racist, sexist, homophobic rhetoric. Reporters Shira Stein and Dustin Gardiner join host Joe Garofoli to talk about the Former Guy's new White House run.
19 min
79
How UC Academic Workers Became Labor Organizers
Amid a groundswell of labor actions in recent years, University of California academic workers have organized the largest strike in the history of U.S. higher education. Chronicle reporter Nanette Asimov joins host Cecilia Lei to discuss what they're demanding, and Ken Jacobs, the director of UC Berkeley's Labor Center, explains why organized labor is making a comeback.
19 min
80
Cultural District Gives S.F. Pacific Islanders ...
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors is expected to adopt legislation Tuesday that will establish a Pacific Islander Cultural District. Reporter Elissa Miolene joins host Cecilia Lei to discuss the unique challenges facing the population, and activist Gaynorann Siataga talks about the decades of work that have made the cultural district a reality.
21 min
81
How Elon Musk is "Destroying" Twitter's Value
Since buying Twitter, the billionaire's leadership has resulted in massive layoffs, executive resignations and other questionable business decisions. Casey Newton, editor of the Platformer newsletter and co-host of the Hard Fork podcast, joins host Cecilia Lei to discuss the internal chaos at Twitter, and the tech industry's future as a possible recession nears.
14 min
82
Lifting Veterans From San Francisco's Streets
The Edwin M. Lee Apartments are a supportive housing complex for veterans. They're a model for how to attack homelessness, Chronicle reporter Kevin Fagan tells host Demian Bulwa. Fagan discusses why the national homeless count among veterans dropped dramatically from 2010 to 2016 — and why that trend stalled under the Trump administration.
14 min
83
Willie Mays: "He Changed Lives, He Changed Minds"
Chronicle national baseball writer and Willie Mays biographer John Shea, who appears in the new HBO documentary "Say Hey, Willie Mays!" chats with host Cecilia Lei about his relationship with the San Francisco icon and his part in the film.
19 min
84
Election Night: What Happened and What's Next
Gavin Newsom was re-elected and San Francisco D.A. Brooke Jenkins was heading toward victory. Nationally, the Republicans' "red wave" didn't materialize as abortion rights and the specter of Donald Trump and election denial loomed large. Joe Garofoli, Mallory Moench and Demian Bulwa break down the results from Tuesday's pivotal election.
16 min
85
Embattled Election Officials Face the Midterms
A new survey found that one in five elections officials say they are likely to leave their jobs before the 2024 election. Escalating hostility and conspiracy theories, including 2020's "Big Lie," are to blame. Chronicle reporter Shwanika Narayan joins host Cecilia Lei to talk about how election workers are faring.
18 min
86
Your Catalytic Converter Got Stolen. Where Did ...
Brazen thefts of catalytic converters are exploding around the Bay Area. So what's going on and why can't we stop it? Chronicle reporter Nora Mishanec tells host Demian Bulwa the answers lie in a shocking case in which the converters were sawed off cars, trafficked through a Northern California family and shipped across the country.
13 min
87
What Elon Musk's Twitter Takeover Means for You
Emily Dreyfuss, the co-author of “Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America,” joins host Cecilia Lei to talk about how the social media landscape will change in the wake of Musk buying the bird app.
22 min
88
Can’t Afford to Live in the Bay Area? Your New ...
In response to high living costs, many California residents have moved to more affordable areas of the state that will also face the highest temperature increases by the end of the century. non-white communities will face key challenges to adapt to climate change.
13 min
89
Will Alliances Sway the Race For Oakland Mayor?
Bay Area Democratic consultant Jim Ross explains why political alliances may not be the best strategy, and Chronicle East Bay reporter Sarah Ravani shares the details on an ongoing ethical investigation into one of the leading candidates.
18 min
90
Paul Pelosi Attack: How To Address Political Vi...
Dr. Garen Wintemute of UC Davis joins host Cecilia Lei to discuss findings from a nationwide study he led that shows how Americans are resorting to violence to achieve political objectives, and he shares possible solutions.
19 min
91
Are the 49ers Trying to Sway Santa Clara's Elec...
The San Francisco 49ers have long had a contentious relationship with Santa Clara, their home since 2014. Team owner Jed York has spent millions on 49ers-friendly candidates in local elections, including $3.8 million this year. Chronicle reporter Dustin Gardiner joins host Cecilia Lei to discuss the corporate influence on local democracy.
15 min
92
Opaque Oil Refineries, Record-High Gas Prices
Why do outages at refineries take place without a lot of public transparency, and what else might be contributing to California's punishibng gas prices? Chronicle reporter Claire Hao joins host Cecilia Lei to explain why state lawmakers and energy experts are scrutinizing oil refineries closely.
11 min
93
S.F. Housing Props D & E Got You Confused? Here...
Both propositions aim to speed up housing construction in San Francisco by streamlining the approval process. But why are there two? And will either one work? Reporter Noah Arroyo joins host Cecilia Lei to explain the competing measures.
20 min
94
Beyond Policing: How to Keep S.F. Asian America...
In an SFNext Solutions Conference panel discussion with host Cecilia Lei, activists Sarah Wan and Eddy Zheng say that San Francisco should invest in racial solidarity and long-term solutions to achieve public safety in the Asian American community.
26 min
95
Test Scores Show COVID's Toll on Students
New state and national standardized test scores released on Monday may help shed light on the struggles kids have had during the pandemic. Chronicle reporter Jill Tucker joins host Cecilia Lei to explain the data and what it means for local districts as they try to recover.
12 min
96
NIMBY Cities Push Bogus Housing Plans
California cities must show how they plan to build needed housing in the coming years. But some cities plans include homes on seemingly improbable sites — in one case on the site of City Hall. Will the state crack down on cities' fake blueprints for housing? Joe Garofoli reports.
12 min
97
Ignore the N.Y. Times: San Francisco's Art Scen...
An August piece in the Times said the Bay Area scene is "struggling," and that artists were "fleeing" to Los Angeles. Chronicle arts and culture writer Tony Bravo joins host Cecilia Lei to offer a rebuttal. Plus: Alison Gass, the founding director of the new Institute of Contemporary Arts San Francisco shares why she believes the local art scene is booming.
20 min
98
Are Bay Area School Districts Facing a Conserva...
Has the national movement of right-leaning groups funding conservative school board candidates hit the Bay Area? Chronicle reporters Sophia Bollag and Joshua Sharpe join host Cecilia Lei to discuss what's been going on in Contra Costa County.
14 min
99
The $1.7 Million Bathroom: A San Francisco Story
In a city known for the high price of everything, the estimated cost of a new public bathroom in Noe Valley is still a shocker: $1.7 million. Chronicle City Hall columnist and Total SF co-host Heather Knight joins host Demian Bulwa to talk about how a 150-square-foot room with a single toilet could cost so much.
14 min
100
Dorsey vs. Mahogany: The District Six Showdown
District Six Supervisor Matt Dorsey, a London Breed appointee, faces a challenge in November from Honey Mahogany, who would be the city's first transgender supervisor. Chronicle reporter J.D. Morris joins host Cecilia Lei to discuss where they stand on critical issues, and why this race matters for all city residents.
15 min