Fifth & Mission

California has sent thousands of its most vulnerable children to out-of-state facilities run by a for-profit company, despite laws meant to stop that practice. And often, allegations of rampant abuse and mistreatment have followed. Now, in response to a Chronicle investigation with the Imprint, the state is bringing every child home. Reporters Joaquin Palomino, Sara Tiano and Cynthia Dizikes talk about the story. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As California endures its worst wave yet of the pandemic, reporter Kurtis Alexander finds that residents and business owners in some places are defying new shutdown orders designed to preserve hospital beds and save lives. Also: Robot cars with no driver at all have finally arrived in San Francisco, which isn't exactly known for its easy streets. Reporter Carolyn Said has the details. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As cases, deaths and hospitalizations surge, California medical experts warn that hospital beds will soon run out. Chronicle reporter Aidin Vaziri lays out our scary next few weeks. Plus, education reporter Jill Tucker shares good news: reopened schools aren't causing coronavirus transmission. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-Elect Joe Biden's pick for a big cabinet job — Health and Human Services secretary — is California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra. That means the stakes are high for Gov. Gavin Newsom, who soon may need to appoint successors for both Becerra and Sen. Kamala Harris. Guest Joe Garofoli breaks down Biden's move and who's now jockeying to replace Becerra. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nine months into the pandemic, coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are surging. So five Bay Area counties have ordered the most strict rules since March, including a ban on outdoor dining. Erin Allday and Justin Phillips break down the impact on people and businesses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Gavin Newsom announces new restrictions for regions where fewer than 15% of ICU beds are available — which isn't the Bay Area yet, but could be soon. Capital reporter Alexei Koseff and food writer Janelle Bitker join Heather Knight to talk about what to expect. | Full COVID-19 coverage: sfchronicle.com/coronavirus New podcast: Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? sfchronicle.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hospitals say they're mostly ready for the onslaught of COVID-19 patients expected to fill their beds in the coming weeks, but political leaders are warning they could reach capacity by Christmas. Reporter Nanette Asimov talked to hospital administrators and healthcare workers about their plans — and their worries. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod New podcast: Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? sfchronicle.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Newsom wasn't the only elected official who lived it up at the opulent restaurant as he asked the public to limit movement amid the coronavirus pandemic. As Heather Knight first reported, San Francisco Mayor London Breed attended a birthday party at the Napa eatery one night after Newsom did. Why was the reaction so explosive? Why does it matter? Knight and Joe Garofoli on practicing what you preach, even when the food is three stars. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emergency Dr. Taylor Nichols saw the swastika tattoo on the chest of a patient and paused. Reporter Jill Tucker says that hesitation, a product of pandemic fatigue, made him question his own compassion. Plus: Erin Allday has a grim update on on the recent surge of the virus, which could leave hospitals without beds and prompt Gov. Gavin Newsom to tighten the rules again. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod New podcast! Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? sfchronicle.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coronavirus hospitalizations in the Bay Area were rising even before Thanksgiving. The beginning of the holiday season has health officials bracing for the worst surge yet. Erin Allday explains why, and talks about the extreme stress health care workers are under, and what the Biden administration will have to do in January. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod New podcast! Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? sfchronicle.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fifth & Mission is presenting episodes of other Chronicle podcasts this weekend. In this episode of Total SF, Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight welcome Lt. Eleanor Sadler from San Francisco Animal Care & Control, who's been bringing joy to Twitter and Instagram as Officer Edith for years. | Subscribe to Total SF: podfollow.com/totalsf Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album Community, with cable car bell ringing by 8-time champion Byron Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fifth & Mission is presenting episodes of other Chronicle podcasts this weekend. In the current episode of Soleil Ho and Justin Phillips’ food show, the author and host of the design and architecture podcast 99% Invisible talks about how the coronavirus pandemic has created an opportunity to make restaurant design more resilient through parklets and reclaimed outdoor space. He also digs into how delivery apps and contactless delivery are destroying people’s empathy toward restaurant workers. | Subscribe to Extra Spicy: podfollow.com/extra-spicy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fifth & Mission is presenting episodes of other Chronicle podcasts this weekend. In Episode 2 of the biographical miniseries Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? the former San Francisco district attorney is elected California attorney general, takes on Wall Street, and wins. It’s part of what she says is her career-long fight “for the people.” But there are times when Harris faces Wall Street and she's the one who blinks, and critics say her law enforcement record disqualifies her from being a true progressive. Reported by Tal Kopan and Joe Garofoli. Note: You don't have to have listened to Episode 1 for Episode 2 to make sense. Subscribe to Chronicled: podfollow.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

District Attorney Chesa Boudin has charged Christopher Samayoa with manslaughter for his role in the 2017 shooting of Keita O’Neil — the first time an SFPD officer has ever been charged with homicide in a use-of-force case. Reporter Rachel Swan joins guest host Dominic Fracassa to help put this development in context. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod New podcast! Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? sfchronicle.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Luke Rodda, the city's chief forensic toxicologist, talks about the devastating surge in overdose deaths — 563 through October, triple the number lost to COVID-19 — and why it's important to release monthly tallies. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod New podcast! Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? sfchronicle.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As coronavirus surges, experts are advising that your plans for the big day should be: Don't do it. Erin Allday and Annie Vainshtein join Heather Knight to talk about how realistic that is, and how to talk to relatives about it. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod New podcast! Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? sfchronicle.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Californians in counties where the coronavirus is raging the most must change their behavior starting Saturday. Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. anyway. Erin Allday and Heather Knight discuss Gov. Gavin Newsom's order for purple-tier counties, which follows similar efforts in New York City, Los Angeles and Europe, though scientists are dubious about its efficacy. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod New podcast! Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? sfchronicle.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Connie Chan won a close race and will represent the Richmond on the Board of Supervisors starting in January. She talks with Heather Knight about fighting for cash for small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus shutdown, as well as the need for more public transportation in District 1. She also weighs in on homelessness, property crime and the push to reopen public schools. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod New podcast! Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? sfchronicle.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S.-Mexico border has been a major focus of the Trump administration. But for some American citizens, it's simply a part of their day. They live in Mexico but work or go to school in the U.S. Producer Erika Carlos talks to people who cross the border on a daily basis, braving early hours, long lines and coronavirus danger. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod New podcast! Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? sfchronicle.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The dreaded cold-season coronavirus surge is upon us. And even as vaccine trials show promise, Gov. Gavin Newsom says many counties need to go to purple status, the most restrictive. Newsom also apologized for attending a crowded dinner at the French Laundry. Sacramento reporters Dustin Gardiner and Alexei Koseff are guests. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod New podcast! Chronicled: Who Is Kamala Harris? sfchronicle.com/chronicled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices