May 2025 prog preview

Contact: John Zipperer, 415.597.6715 – jzipperer@commonwealthclub.org

SAN FRANCISCO (April 23, 2025)—The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California’s May lineup of speakers and programs includes everyone from the UC Berkeley chancellor to a street artist to journalists and more. The nation’s most active public forum is presenting nearly 30 programs in person in San Francisco and the Bay Area, and most are also live-streamed.

Here’s a list of what’s on the schedule (additional programs likely to be added), including links to individual event pages where you can read more about each program and speaker.

Thu, May 1 / 5:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-01/adam-becker-silicon-valleys-crusade-control-humanitys-fate 

Adam Becker says that powerful and sinister ideas are alive in Silicon Valley. Now he comes to the heart of the global tech world to challenge us to see how these visions of the future are foolish and dangerous.

Thu, May 1 / 6:30 PM PDT

Join us in the continuing conversation of human civilization—now meeting monthly, on every first Thursday, at 6:30 p.m. at the Orinda Public Library.

Fri, May 2 / 5:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-02/humanities-west-presents-lessons-unlearned-50th-anniversary-end-vietnam-war-part

Humanities West presents a variety of expert opinions while reviewing what went wrong, and what went right, during the Vietnam War that ended so abruptly on April 30, 1975.

Mon, May 5 / 6:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-05/recognizing-mental-health-awareness-month 

Join us for an important discussion of the mental health impact on our youth of the fast pace and changing environment—and the volatility and uncertainty—of the post-COVID era.

Mon, May 5 / 6:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-05/ed-helms-history-snafus

From nuclear weapons on the moon to training cats to be CIA spies to turning the weather into a weapon—Ed Helms talks with Casey Newton about the greatest foul-ups of modern times.

Wed, May 7 / 6:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-07/john-sullivan-front-lines-russias-war-against-west

John Sullivan served as the U.S. ambassador to Russia from February 2020 to September 2022. He shares behind-the-scenes activity in Moscow and the West in the lead-up to the war. It is a war that many have come to see—and that Putin has declared it to be—a struggle against the West itself, not just Ukraine.

Wed, May 7 / 6:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-07/what-exactly-international-rules-based-order-and-why-should-we-care 

UC Berkeley’s Darren Zook says that with the state of global trade, financial markets, instant communication, and logistics, the international community is tightly tied together, for better or worse. In a rapidly changing and anarchic world, there is still importance and utility for the international rules-based order.

Wed, May 7 / 7:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-07/bluff-justice-jeff-bleich-how-fight-trumps-court-subjugation-plan 

Jeff Bleich argues that Trump could be following the path blazed by autocrats Vladimir Putin and Victor Orban by seeking to strip courts of powers and then purge the judiciary. The result, unprecedented in the United States, would be an executive branch untethered to the rule of law.

Thu, May 8 / 5:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-08/abysmal-state-mental-health-care-country-how-and-why-we-got-here-and-what-we-can 

By taking a step back and examining how and why we developed our health-care system, with mental health care as the worst-case example of a dysfunctional model that has been abandoned by all other developed countries, we can understand our motives and actions, and chart a way out of our mess.

Thu, May 8 / 6:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-08/jaz-brisack-standing-better-workplace-and-better-world 

Jaz Brisack, the leader of the Starbucks and Tesla union movements, shares stories from the front lines to help us learn about the modern labor movement. Brisack argues that while workers often organize when their place of work is toxic, it’s equally important to organize when you love your job.

Mon, May 12 / 5:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-12/jenara-nerenberg-lee-fang-nuance-and-freethinking-distorted-world-self-silencing 

Why is it that groupthink and conformity seem to rule our neighborhoods, pop culture, friend circles, workplaces and social media feeds? It's time for us to learn how to sit with disagreement, debate better, appreciate our differences, and revel in the diversity of ideas and opinions that reflect our world.

Mon, May 12 / 6:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-12/hali-lee-big-we

Drawing from the experiences of real-life giving circles, philanthropy leader Hali Lee challenges our traditional understanding of giving, showing how everyday people can take back philanthropy from the billionaires and make the world a better place. Introduction by Ayesha Curry; moderator Mina Kim.

Thu, May 15 / 12:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-15/american-bar-association-president-bill-bay-defending-justice-rule-law

Join a can’t-miss discussion with American Bar Association President William R. “Bill” Bay to hear the latest on how America’s lawyers are responding to Trump administration actions—government moves they say threaten to dismantle constitutionally protected rights to equal justice and the rule of law.

Thu, May 15 / 3:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-15/robert-edsel-american-sacrifice-dutch-freedom-and-enduring-gratitude 

To remind us that civilizational alliances are not merely transactional, Robert Edsel tells personal World War II stories from the rural province of Limburg.

Thu, May 15 / 5:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-15/george-moscone-three-years-our-mayor 

Lincoln Mitchell demonstrates how George Moscone—through his work in the State Senate, victory in the very divisive 1975 mayor’s race, and brief tenure as mayor—was a key figure in San Francisco’s evolution.

Thu, May 15 / 6:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-15/chris-hughes-sen-scott-wiener-100-year-struggle-shape-american-economy 

Join us for an unexpected history of the rise of American capitalism—and an argument that entrepreneurial leaders in government, not the “free market,” created the most dynamic economy the world has ever known.

Thu, May 15 / 7:15 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-15/how-has-japan-escaped-plutocratic-populism 

Prof. Steven K. Vogel will describe how postwar Japan promoted economic growth while protecting economic equity, leaving the country less vulnerable to the populist backlash we see now in the United States and many other countries.

Fri, May 16 / 5:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-16/who-michael-jang-through-lens-artist 

Join us for a special evening featuring a screening of Who Is Michael Jang?, a discussion, and a reception with wine, beer and light bites.

Tue, May 20 / 3:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-20/leah-litman-disorder-court

Something is deeply rotten at the Supreme Court, says Leah Litman, an attorney and law professor at the University of Michigan. She explores what she calls the unabashed lawlessness embraced by the Supreme Court majority and shows people how to respond.

Wed, May 21 / 3:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-21/hivaids-honoring-past-taking-action-now 

Commonwealth Club World Affairs presents an important program on the history and current state of HIV/AIDS.

Thu, May 22 / 5:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-22/new-era-philanthropy-conversation-dimple-abichandani-and-tegan-acton 

On the cusp of the greatest wealth transfer in history—with $124 trillion moving between generations in the next 20 years—we explore how philanthropy can be transformative, and transformed.

Tue, May 27 / 5:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-27/joan-williams-how-left-lost-working-class 

Joan Williams talks with Pat Thurston about bridging the divide between college grads and everyone else she says has been driving politics to the far right in the United States.

Tue, May 27 / 6:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-27/patrick-mcgee-apple-china 

Join us for this timely and thought-provoking conversation about Apple’s uncertain future, the shifting balance of power in the tech world, and the far-reaching consequences for global innovation and economic stability. 

Wed, May 28 / 5:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-28/karen-hao-dreams-and-nightmares-openai 

Trailblazing AI journalist Karen Hao comes from Hong Kong to San Francisco to discuss the hard-hitting questions many people are afraid to face about the disruptive power of artificial intelligence and the forces driving its rapid ascent.

Wed, May 28 / 6:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-28/healthy-society-series-public-higher-education-crossroads 

UC Berkeley’s new chancellor, Rich Lyons, is working to launch a new era of excellence for his campus with the knowledge that many are watching how public higher education’s flagship university will take on a wide array of threats and opportunities at a time when the stakes could not be higher.

Thu, May 29 / 5:30 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-29/understanding-cholesterol 

Our esteemed panel of doctors/scientists will explain common questions about cholesterol.

Fri, May 30 / 6:00 PM PDT

https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-05-30/50-years-survival-strength-and-resilience 

Join us in San Francisco for an important program commemorating the Vietnam War and Cambodian genocide.

Many speakers are available for press interviews; comp press tickets are available to most programs; to inquire, contact us at jzipperer@commonwealthclub.org.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is the nation's oldest, largest and most active public forum. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, founded in 1903, produces hundreds of live programs each year on politics, business, the environment, international affairs, personal growth, education, arts, social issues, and more. Speakers have included presidents and scientists, activists and artists, business leaders and celebrities. The Club produces two nationally syndicated weekly radio programs, its videos have received tens of millions of views on YouTube, and its podcasts have been downloaded nearly 28 million times. Commonwealth Club World Affairs was formed in 2023 from a merger between The Commonwealth Club of California and World Affairs of Northern California. Additional information available at commonwealthclub.org. 

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