KPBS Roundtable

KPBS Public Media

Mark Sauer hosts KPBS Roundtable, a lively discussion of the week's top stories. Local journalists join Sauer to provide insight into how these stories affect residents of the San Diego region.

  • 45 minutes
    Fallout after killing of Mexican cartel leader; ICE monitors activists; bighorn sheep

    Mexico has settled from the unrest that struck parts of the country earlier this week. Vehicles were burned, blocking roads. Some buildings were set ablaze.


    All of this comes in reaction to the killing of a high-ranking cartel leader — "El Mencho" — on Sunday.


    We talk about the continued fallout in Mexico and what comes next with a longtime Tijuana journalist.


    Also this week, immigration officials detained at least four volunteers documenting arrests at the federal building downtown. And, new reporting reveals an operation by authorities to monitor activists supporting immigrants in San Diego. We talk to a reporter who covered both those stories.


    Plus, how the border fence is impacting natural habitats near the Jacumba mountains — especially the endangered bighorn sheep.


    Guests:

    27 February 2026, 10:57 pm
  • 46 minutes
    ICE community patrols; Public transit fare evasion; SDFC season preview

    Federal agents arrested at least 5,000 people in San Diego last year.


    That's an average of 20 people each day.


    We talk about the network of volunteers organizing community patrols to watch out for immigration enforcement in their neighborhoods.


    Plus, more North County transit riders are evading fares amid a "hands off" enforcement strategy from the North County Transit District. We talk about fare evasion and increased safety concerns on public transit.


    And, a familiar San Diego voice breaks down what it means to be a play-by-play announcer ahead of San Diego FC's upcoming season.


    Guests:

    21 February 2026, 1:54 am
  • 46 minutes
    ICE's rapid expansion; RV dwellers fight tickets; LoveLitCon in San Diego

    A new investigation by WIRED magazine reveals a secret campaign by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to expand their physical presence across the country.


    Federal records show that more than 150 leases on office spaces for new facilities in nearly every state — including a facility in San Diego.


    We discuss the findings and what this could mean for ICE's expansion moving forward.


    Plus, some RV dwellers are protesting newly issued tickets from the city following the opening of the H Barracks safe parking site.


    And, a romance literature convention, LoveLitCon, is celebrating love in San Diego just in time for Valentine's Day.


    Guests:

    13 February 2026, 11:23 pm
  • 46 minutes 10 seconds
    The cost of living in San Diego, state of student journalism

    San Diego is known to be one of the most expensive cities. A new KPBS series looks to tackle San Diego's high cost of living, and the various of ways it impacts daily life.


    Then, the journalism landscape is rapidly shifting amid mass lay-offs and the changing consumption of news.


    On KPBS Roundtable this week, we hear from some of San Diego's student journalists about their outlook on the current media landscape, as they start their journalism careers during a precarious time for the industry.


    Guests:


    Stories mentioned:

    6 February 2026, 10:54 pm
  • 44 minutes 40 seconds
    Bovino's return to El Centro; new film revisits death at border; education housing

    Gregory Bovino has become one of the most recognizable faces of President Trump’s mass deportation efforts.

    But after the latest killing by immigration officers in Minneapolis — the second this month — multiple reports say Bovino is now returning to El Centro to lead the Border Patrol sector there.


    On KPBS Roundtable this week, we talk about how community members there are pushing back.


    Then, a new HBO documentary, "Critical Incident: Death at the Border" explores the 2010 death of Anastasio Hernández-Rojas at the San Ysidro Port of Entry after a violent altercation with Border Patrol officers — and his family's pursuit of justice.


    Finally, the San Diego Unified School District is moving forward with a series of new proposals that would bring thousands of affordable housing units to district-owned land.


    We talk about what this could mean for San Diego's housing landscape.


    Guests:

    Stories mentioned:

    30 January 2026, 10:10 pm
  • 45 minutes
    A year of dramatic change for immigration

    The first year of Donald Trump's second term has upended the rules of immigration enforcement.


    In San Diego, enforcement has included an ICE raid at an industrial paint business in El Cajon, arrests at green card appointments and yet another raid at Buona Forchetta in South Park. We've also seen student visas revoked and arrests at their immigration court hearings.


    KPBS reporting has found that the increase in detention by ICE is fueled by immigrants without criminal records.


    On KPBS Roundtable, we discuss changes to the immigration system in Trump's first year in office and how covering immigration has changed.


    Guests:

    23 January 2026, 10:38 pm
  • 46 minutes 10 seconds
    State of the City address; spy sentenced; SDFC preview

    This week, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria delivered his annual State of the City speech. We talk about where the city is and where it's headed.


    Plus, a former San Diego sailor is sentenced for selling Navy secrets to China.


    And, we check in on the state of San Diego sports ahead of San Diego FC's upcoming season.


    Guests:

    16 January 2026, 9:00 pm
  • 46 minutes 10 seconds
    Balboa Park's paid parking problems; reflecting on the LA fires a year later

    New fees to park in Balboa Park implemented this week were met with confusion and frustration after a series of mistakes and lack of information for city residents.


    San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has since defended the Balboa Park fees in response to a memo earlier this week calling the parking system "haphazard." We break down the parking saga and what you should know.


    Plus, we discuss how Los Angeles communities are recovering one year after wildfires destroyed thousands of homes and killed dozens.


    Then, a New York Times investigation finds that home insurers are pushing families back into homes still contaminated by smoke. We unpack the findings.


    Guests:


    9 January 2026, 9:07 pm
  • 46 minutes
    Housing First strategy, new CA laws, New Year's resolutions

    "Housing First" has been the preferred approach to tackling homelessness in recent years. It involves getting people into housing quickly with as few hurdles as possible. But even though Housing First shows promise for keeping people housed, the model is facing challenges. We discuss the latest.Plus, a new set of California state laws took effect at the start of 2026, covering everything from artificial intelligence to health. We break down what you should know about the new legislation.Then, we dive into the science and psychology of New Year's resolutions — why we often break them, and how to make them more sustainable. Guests:Blake Nelson, homelessness reporter, The San Diego Union-TribuneKristen Hwang, health reporter, CalMattersKhari Johnson, technology reporter, CalMattersRiley Arthur, web producer, KPBS

    3 January 2026, 12:32 am
  • 45 minutes 50 seconds
    Roundtable Wrapped: A year of reporting in review

    As the year comes to a close, we reflect on some of the biggest KPBS stories of the year with the reporters who covered them.We discuss the changing landscape of immigration enforcement and mass deportation. Plus, the local housing picture in San Diego — from ADUs to the effects of statewide legislation.Then, we talk about the top stories on the science and technology beat this year, including artificial intelligence and nuclear fusion.Guests:Gustavo Solis, investigative border reporter, KPBSAndrew Bowen, metro reporter, KPBSThomas Fudge, science and technology reporter, KPBS

    19 December 2025, 10:24 pm
  • 46 minutes
    Ukrainian immigrant released by ICE shares story; holiday cuisine

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a Ukrainian immigrant who was arrested last week after her green card interview.Viktoriia Bulavina said she was held for days inside a federal building in downtown San Diego, where ICE officers put her and other women in shackles and chains.We talk about Bulvina's story and the broader picture of immigration enforcement in San Diego.Then, we sit down with local food journalists to recap culinary trends from the year and restaurants on their radar for the holiday season.Guests:Kori Suzuki, South Bay and Imperial Valley reporter, KPBSJackie Bryant, lifestyle journalist and co-host of the Happy Half Hour podcastHelen Hwang, food and travel journalist

    12 December 2025, 11:19 pm
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