♪ ♪ ♪ >>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST STORIES FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M JOHN CARROLL.

COMING UP, ISOLATION AMONG IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

HEALTH EXPERTS WARN OF THE LASTING CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT HAS BEEN A STRESSFUL YEAR.

>>> PUBLIC MEDIA TOOK A HIT IN 2025.

MONTHS AFTER A LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDING, WE CHECKED BACK IN WITH SAN DIEGO'S OTHER PUBLIC MEDIA STATION TO SEE HOW IT IS SURVIVING.

>>> AND A LOOK BACK AT PORT OF ENTRY'S BUSY YEAR, FROM EVENTS, TO COLLABORATIONS, THE TEAM BEHIND THE KPBS PODCAST REFLECT ON THE STORIES TOLD IN OUR CROSS-BORDER REGION.

>>> THIS WEEKEND BRINGS A RETURN OF KING TIDES TO SAN DIEGO'S COAST.

THAT IS THE PHENOMENON WHEN CHANGES IN OCEAN WATER LEVELS ARE AT THEIR GREATEST.

THE EFFECTS GO BEYOND OUR BEACHES.

KPBS TECH REPORTER, THOMAS FUDGE, TELLS US ABOUT CHANGES TO THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND MISSION BAY.

>> Reporter: THIS WEEKEND, THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL SEE HIGH TIDES ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF ABOVE NORMAL.

THESE KING TIDES OCCUR WHEN THE GRAVITATIONAL FORCE OF THE MOON AND THE SUN ARE AT THEIR GREATEST, PULLING OUR OCEANS TO EXTREMES.

OF COURSE, THE EFFECT IS ALSO SEEN IN BAYS AND ESTUARIES.

I AM STANDING ON A BRIDGE OVER ROSE CREEK WHICH FLOWS INTO MISSION BAY, BACK THERE.

THE HABITAT ALONG THE SHORES IS CALLED SALTMARSH AND THE IMPACT ON THIS ENVIRONMENT WILL GET THE ATTENTION OF CERTAIN PEOPLE COMING OUT HERE ON SATURDAY MORNING TO OBSERVE THE KING TIDES.

KARIN ZIRK, WITH FRIENDS OF ROSE CREEK, SAYS THAT KING TIDES GIVE US OUR BEST LOOK AT THE REALITY OF RISING SEA LEVELS.

>> WHAT THE COASTAL CONDITION IS TELLING US, IS THAT THE KING TIDE IS APPROXIMATELY WHAT AN AVERAGE HIGH TIDE WOULD BE BY 2050.

>> Reporter: SO, THE KING TIDES WE SEE ON SATURDAY WILL JUST BE A NORMAL HIGH TIDE, 25 YEARS FROM NOW.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> PLACES LIKE MISSION BAY HI -- WHICH IS RIGHT OVER HERE -- IS GOING TO BE AT HIGH FLOOD RISK, ESPECIALLY IF THE HIGH TIDE COINCIDES WITH A LOT OF RAIN.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE UNDERWATER.

>> WE HAVE SOME NICE BIRDS AROUND HERE, WE HAVE SOME CODES WHICH HAVE LITTLE, WHITE BEAKS AND BLACKHEADS.

THERE IS A WEDGE IN, RIGHT OUT THERE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A DOG SQUEAKY TOY A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU HEAR THEM CHATTERING.

>> Reporter: SAVANNAH STALLINGS IS THE CONSERVATION ADVOCATE FOR THE SAN DIEGO BIRD ALLIANCE, AND WHAT YOU ALSO SEE HERE IS WILDLIFE HABITAT CREATED BY MARSHES, RISING SEA LEVELS IN THE FUTURE WILL FORCE THOSE SALT MARSHES TO MIGRATE INLAND, BUT NOT IF THE BUILT IN ENVIRONMENT STANDS IN THEIR WAY.

>> THAT CAN MIGRATE OVER TIME AS SEA LEVELS RISE AND THERE WILL BE MARSH REMAINING AS THE WATER LEVELS RISE.

BUT, IF, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE LOWER MARSH AND MID-MARCH, AND IN A PARKING LOT, THERE IS NOWHERE FOR THE MARSH TO GO, SO IT WILL DISAPPEAR.

>> Reporter: COASTAL CITIES ARE LOOKING AT WAYS FOR THE MAN- MADE ENVIRONMENT TO RETREAT FROM THE COAST AS OCEANS GET HIGHER.

STALLINGS SAYS WE HAVE TO ASK THE SAME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

>> AS THIS AREA IS REDEVELOPED, AS THE DE ANZA NATURAL PLAN MOVES FORWARD, THE CITY NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY THINK ABOUT WHERE THE MARSH WILL MIGRATE OVER TIME, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, LIKE, AN ENTIRELY BAD THING AND THE HABITAT DOESN'T COMPLETELY DISAPPEAR, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT WILL.

>> Reporter: ON SATURDAY, THE FRIENDS OF ROSE CREEK AND THE SAN DIEGO BIRD ALLIANCE WILL HOST A GATHERING OF VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL TAKE PICTURES OF THE KING TIDE LEVELS.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COME AND THE INFORMATION THEY GATHER WILL BE SHARED WITH THE CALIFORNIA KING TIDES PROJECT.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, MANY IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ARE STAYING HOME.

NOT BY CHOICE, BUT OUT OF FEAR.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER, HEIDI DiMARCO, SAYS AS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT RAMPS UP, EXPERTS WARN THE ISOLATION IT IS CAUSING COULD HAVE LASTING CONSEQUENCES.

>> Reporter: FOR SOME IMMIGRANT FAMILIES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, IT IS MARKED BY ISOLATION.

NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ALONE, BUT BECAUSE FEAR OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS KEEPING THEM INSIDE.

USDC PSYCHOLOGIST, DR.

SHAWN SINGH SIDHU, COMPARES THIS TO ANOTHER HEALTH CRISIS.

>> WE HAVE SEEN HOW MUCH COVID IMPACTED KIDS AND FAMILIES, NOW IMAGINE ANOTHER COVID, IF YOU WILL, FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS THAT LAST FOUR YEARS.

>> Reporter: A NEW SURVEY FROM KFF AND "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SHOWS THAT ABOUT 41% OF IMMIGRANTS SAY THAT THEY WORRY THAT DAY, OR SOMEONE IN THEIR FAMILY, COULD BE DETAINED OR DEPORTED.

THAT IS UP FROM 26%, JUST TWO YEARS AGO.

SIDHU SAYS FEAR IS CUTTING THINGS OFF FROM THE VERY THING THAT HELPS THEM COPE.

>> WHEN PEOPLE ARE FEELING SO SCARED THAT THEY CAN'T GO OUT, THEY CAN'T SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE THEY CARE ABOUT, THEY CAN'T GO TO WORK, THEY CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL, THAT IDENTITY AND THAT RESILIENCE GETS STRIPPED AWAY.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE CONSEQUENCES ARE ALREADY SHOWING UP.

>> WE ARE LIVING IN TRULY UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

TIMES IN WHICH PEOPLE REALLY DO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOME.

>> Reporter: SIDHU WORRIES THE IMPACT COULD LAST WELL BEYOND THE HOLIDAYS.

>> THE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRST COVID PANDEMIC REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME, AND WILL CONTINUE TO, FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

I DON'T THINK IT IS AN OVERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT WHAT SOME OF THESE FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH, IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, MAY END UP HAVING REALLY LIFELONG IMPLICATIONS FOR THEM.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW, HE SAYS, EVEN SMALL ACTS OF CONNECTION MATTER, ESPECIALLY IN A SEASON MEANT FOR GATHERING.

>> THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, NOT TO SEE THEM AS DIFFERENT, OR OTHER, OR LESS HUMAN THAN WE ARE, BUT TO OPEN OUR HEARTS, OPEN OUR COMMUNITIES, OPEN OUR HOMES, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN FEEL LIKE THEY ACTUALLY ARE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THIS, AND BE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND FEEL WELCOME.

>> Reporter: HEIDI DE MARCO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> EIGHT YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA SALES BECAME LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA.

THAT IS ALSO OPENED UP NEW REVENUE STREAMS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

SAN DIEGO RECENTLY RAISED ITS CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX TO HELP FILL A BUDGET HOLE, BUT KPBS METRO REPORTER, ANDREW BOWEN, SAYS THE MOVE IS NOT GOING AS WELL AS THE CITY HOPED.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO FINANCE OFFICIALS ARE PROJECTING A SHORTFALL IN REVENUE FROM THE CITY'S CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX.

THE CITY SAYS THAT THE INDUSTRY STILL STRUGGLES WITH COMPETITION FROM THE UNTAXED, ILLICIT MARKET.

KIMBERLY SIMS IS A SAN DIEGO- BASED ATTORNEY IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

SHE SAYS SHE IS NOT SURPRISED THE TAX HIKE IS BACKFIRING.

>> AS THE COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO RISE ALL AROUND US, PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES.

AND IF THERE IS READILY AVAILABLE CANNABIS ON THE ILLICIT MARKET, AND YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE IT MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE ON THE REGULATED MARKET, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE DRIVEN BACK TO THE ILLICIT MARKET.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO HAS DOUBLED ITS CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX SINCE IT WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 2016.

THIS YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL RAISED IT TO 10%, FOR BOTH RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS.

MEANWHILE, ANCITAS HAS A TAX RATE OF 7% FOR RETAIL OUTLETS AND 4% FOR MANUFACTURERS.

LA MESA TAXES RETAILERS AT 4% AND MANUFACTURERS AT 2.5%.

SIMS SAYS CANNABIS TAXES ARE NOT A FANTASY FOR LOCAL BUDGET WOES, AND SAN DIEGO MAY BE LOSING BUSINESS TO THE SUBURBS.

>>'S CITIES ARE REALIZING THAT IT IS BETTER TO HAVE SOME PIECES OF THE PIE THEN NO PIECE OF THE PIE AND I THINK IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE THIS TREND OF INCREASING TAXES, THEN IT JUST CONTINUES TO BOLSTER THE ILLICIT MARKET.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO HAS ALSO ALLOW DISPENSARIES TO STAY OPEN LATER, BUT THE CITY'S AND THE PENSION BUDGET ANALYST SAYS THAT SOME SHOPS ARE NOT OPTING FOR EXTENDED HOURS AND THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE SHORTFALL.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS TO GET A LIST OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES.

HERE ARE SOME FROM THIS WEEK.

CAMP PENDLETON MARINES MAINTAIN A PRESENCE AT THE BORDER, UNDER A NEW, LEGAL DESIGNATION.

>>> OUR LATEST "WHY IT MATTERS" SEGMENT, THE SAN DIEGO SCHOOL BOARD RECONSIDERS OPTION FOR A EMPLOYEE HOUSING PROJECT.

>>> AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE HOLIDAY BOWL AND PARADE WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER NEW YEAR'S DAY IN SAN DIEGO.

>>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT MAKE SAN DIEGO THE GREAT PLACE IT IS, INCLUDING THE FACT WE HAVE NOT ONE, BUT TWO GRADE PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS.

SO, WHEN FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS HIT THIS SUMMER, BOTH KPBS AND KSDS JAZZ 88.3 TOOK BIG HITS.

I DROPPED BY EARLIER THIS WEEK TO SEE HOW SAN DIEGO'S OTHER PUBLIC RADIO STATION IS WEATHERING THE STORM.

>> SAN DIEGO'S KSDS JAZZ 88.3, DUANE CLEMENS.

>> Reporter: THIS ISN'T GARY BECK'S FIRST TIME AT THE RADIO RODEO.

>> OH, MY GOD.

52 YEARS, THIS OCTOBER.

>> Reporter: BECK WAS BORN IN SAN DIEGO, AND HE GOT HIS START HERE, BUT HE ALSO HAS BEEN ON THE AIR IN LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK.

HE HAS BEEN BACK ON THE AIR AT KSDS FOR 15 YEARS, NOW.

IN THE LAST HALF-CENTURY, HE HAS SEEN AND HEARD IT ALL, WITH ALL OF THAT UNDER HIS BROADCAST BELT, HE IS CONTENT TO SPEND HIS LAST FEW YEARS AT ONE OF THE LAST TRUE JAZZ RADIO STATIONS IN THE U.S.

YOU GET TO PLAY THE MUSIC UNLIKE ALL THE OTHERS?

YOU GET TO PLAY THE MUSIC YOU LIKE?

>> WE PICK IT, YEAH.

WE ALL ADD SOMETHING TO THE STATION AND WE KNOW THE MUSIC.

IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THE MUSIC, YOU COULDN'T DO IT.

>> Reporter: WE VISITED KSDS LAST AUGUST, A FEW DAYS AFTER THEY HAD GOTTEN THE NEWS OF A MORE THAN $200,000 HOLE BEING BLOWN RIGHT THROUGH THEIR BUDGET.

THEY DID A SPECIAL THREE DAY FUNDRAISER RIGHT AFTER THAT AND HAVE HAD A MEMBERSHIP DRIVE, SINCE THEN.

>> I THINK WE ARE ABOUT 70%, MAYBE.

SO, WE ARE PRETTY MUCH ON SCHEDULE.

>> Reporter: PART OF GENERAL MANAGER KEN POSTON'S JOB IS WORRYING ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE.

BUT, AS 2025 COMES TO A CLOSE, HE IS SEEING POSITIVE SIGNS.

>> BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TAKE ON A NORMAL AMOUNT OF MEMBERSHIP, WHICH MEANS THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TO TAKE IN $200,000 MORE IN SOME COMBINATION.

SO, IT IS -- ALL INDICATIONS ARE, THAT WE ARE ON TRACK TO DO THAT.

BUT, I'M JUST CAUTIOUS, BUT OPTIMISTIC.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

>> Reporter: PART OF KEEPING THE DOLLARS FLOWING IN HAS TO DO WITH HOW THE STATION POSITIONS ITSELF.

A LOT OF THAT INVOLVES REMINDING LISTENERS OF JUST HOW RARE THIS PLACE IS.

>> SAN DIEGO IS ONE OF THE LAST PLACES THAT ACTUALLY HAS THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST A HANDFUL OF FULL-TIME JAZZ RADIO STATIONS LEFT.

>> Reporter: AND, THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE UNIQUE ABOUT PUBLIC RADIO IN SAN DIEGO -- OTHER CITIES, LIKE L.A., HAVE MORE THAN ONE STATION, LIKE KPBS, THAT ARE IN PR MEMBER STATIONS.

THEY, IN ESSENCE, COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE, HERE.

>> WE COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER, THE PEOPLE, AND THERE IS PEOPLE -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT BOTH STATIONS.

>> NEXT STOP, NEW YEAR'S.

SUNNY CLOUD, COOL STROKE.

>> Reporter: BACK IN THE ON AIR BOOTH, AND GARY BECK IS DOING HIS THING.

KEEPING THE JAZZ ROLLING, AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE.

>> WITH THE GREAT MYSTERIES THAT WE HAVE, AND THE GOOD STAFF THAT WE HAVE, WE JUST KEEP GOING, YOU KNOW?

YOU CAN LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER, YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING FORWARD.

>> YOU CAN HELP KEEP BOTH KSDS AND KPBS MOVING FORWARD.

TO SUPPORT KSDS, JUST GO TO JAZZ88.ORG/DONATE.

AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, LIKE KSDS, IN ANY AMOUNT THAT IS COMFORTABLE FOR YOU.

YOU CAN SUPPORT US A KPBS.ORG AND YOU'LL SEE THE BIG, BLUE "GIVE NOW" BUTTON IN THE RIGHT CORNER AND YOU HAVE OUR THANKS.

>>> THAT STORY IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE NEW POLITICAL CLIMATE TOUCHED SO MANY PARTS OF EVERYDAY LIFE IN 2025.

WE ALSO SAW PLENTY OF PROTESTS AS A RESULT.

KPBS IS LOOKING BACK AT THE TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR, WITH SOME OF THE REPORTERS WHO COVERED THEM.

HERE IS A PORTION OF OUR KPBS NEWS SPECIAL.

>> I, DONALD JOHN TRUMP, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR -- >> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE -- >> WELL, IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE WHIRLWIND.

>> FIRST, WE HAVE A LIST OF PARDONS AND COMMUTATIONS, RELATING TO EVENTS THAT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 6, 2021.

>> AND I THINK WE KNEW, FROM THE GATE, FROM THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, PART TWO -- >> WE DON'T HAVE THE CARDS RIGHT NOW.

WITH US, YOU HAVE THE CARDS.

>> I'M NOT PLAYING CARDS.

>> WE NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH IT, BUT WHAT WE COULD DO, IS PULL AT THE MOST IMPORTANT THREADS, AND WE DID THAT.

>> RESEARCHERS TOLD KPBS' AMITA SHARMA THAT THEIR WORK IS AT RISK IF IT CONTAINS LANGUAGE DEEMED PROBLEMATIC BY THE WHITE HOUSE, INCLUDING THE WORD, "WOMEN."

>> IF I CAN'T SAY THE WORD, "WOMEN," I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT AN ABORTION BAN IS GOING TO HURT WOMEN, OR I CAN'T DOCUMENT THE WAY AN ABORTION BAN IS GOING TO HURT WOMEN.

I GUESS A WORD THAT ISN'T ON HERE IS "MEN."

AND I GUESS A WORD I DON'T SEE ON HERE IS "FIGHT," SO WE WILL SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH WHITE MEN AND WHAT THEY NEED.

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, UCSD RESEARCHERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TOLD TO SCRUB THEIR WEBSITES OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND OCCLUSION LANGUAGE, AND THE BLOWS TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY KEEP COMING.

>> YOU JUST LOST A $35 MILLION USAID GLOBAL RESEARCH GRANT ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND NUTRITION.

>> Reporter: AND, OTHER FEDERAL GRANTS ARE IN JEOPARDY.

>> IT IS REALLY IMPEDING THE ABILITY OF THE SCIENTISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO DESCRIBE WHAT THEY WERE RESEARCHING, ACCURATELY.

>> [ CROWD CHANTING ] ♪ NO ONE IS HERE TODAY.

♪ >> Reporter: TWICE A WEEK, PARENTS AND CHILDREN GATHER IN SPRING VALLEY, THE GOAL IS TO GIVE FAMILIES THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO OVERCOME BEHAVIORS LIKE TANTRUMS, AGGRESSIVE AND SEPARATION ANXIETY.

>> THIS IS A FEDERAL GRANT THAT CAME OUT OF A BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO FUND MORE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN SCHOOLS, AFTER THE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN UVALDE, TEXAS.

>> Reporter: THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AWARDED THE LA MESA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT MORE THAN $12 MILLION OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS.

IN MAY, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TOLD SCHOOL DISTRICTS IT WOULD STOP FUNDING THE GRANT PROGRAM TWO YEARS EARLY, AND -- >> TO HAVE NOBODY EVEN COME IN AND LOOK AT THE WORK WE WERE DOING, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING OR TO SEE WHAT WE WERE DOING AND HOW IT IS CHANGING LIVES AND HOW THAT WOULD JUST BE STRIPPED FROM US, IT WAS SHOCKING, IT WAS SAD, IT MADE ME ANGRY.

>> I JUST FINISHED 32 YEARS IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE I WAS RESTRICTED WHERE I COULD GO, WHAT I COULD SAY, WHO I COULD MEET WITH.

>> Reporter: WHAT KIND OF EXPLANATION WERE YOU GIVEN FOR THOSE LIMITATIONS?

>> SOME OF IT WAS, IT WAS WHERE TRAVEL WAS BANNED, BASICALLY, AS SIMPLE AS THAT, NO EXPLANATION.

>> HE PUT A REAL HUMAN FACE ON THE LOSS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF EXPERTISE, WHILE ELON MUSK WAS GOING IN AND MAKING CUTS UNDER DOGE, YOU KNOW, MILLIONS OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.

ALEX DIDN'T LOSE HIS JOB, HE DECIDED TO QUIT.

>> THERE IS AN INEQUITY IN THE SYSTEM THAT REQUIRES A RESPONSE, AND YOU ARE TRYING TO -- YOU KNOW, TO TAKE ACTION, IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

>> AT THE MOMENT I AM WRITING, PEOPLE ARE FREAKING OUT AND RIGHTFULLY SO, BECAUSE IN AMERICA, WE HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF RADICAL SHIFT.

>> [ CROWD CHANTING ] DONALD TRUMP HAS GOT TO GO, HEY, HEY, , !

>> Reporter: AN ESTIMATED 60,000 PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS PEACEFULLY JOINED TOGETHER IN SAN DIEGO ON SATURDAY.

>> I THINK THAT THE SHIFT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE PROTESTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN SAN DIEGO.

AND THE PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE ALSO MUCH LARGER.

AND SO, WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE A PART OF SOMETHING EAGER.

AND IT IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE I DID THAT STORY ABOUT SORT OF THE HISTORY OF PROTESTING IN SAN DIEGO, AND THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THAT PROTEST CORNER, THAT FIFTH AND E DOWNTOWN AND THAT WAS A MAJOR FOCAL POINT THAT ACTUALLY LED TO A SUPREME COURT DECISION BECAUSE THEY BAN PROTESTING IN DOWNTOWN.

SO, SAN DIEGO ACTUALLY HAS A LONG AND KIND OF DEEP HISTORY WITH PROTESTS IN PARTICULAR.

>> STATEWIDE PROPOSITION ASKS VOTERS ONE QUESTION -- SHOULD THE STATE TEMPORARILY REDRAW ITS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS TO FAVOR DEMOCRATS?

>> WE WERE HEARING ABOUT, HERE IN SAN DIEGO, LINES OUT THE DOOR IN POLLING PLACES FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO REGISTER TO VOTE ON THE SAME DAY, SO THAT THEY COULD ACTUAL VOTE.

>> AFTER POKING THE BEAR, THE SPARE ROARED.

>> THE THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS ABOUT A NATIONWIDE REDISTRICTING BATTLE, THIS IS ABOUT THE COUNTRY, THIS IS ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY, THIS IS ABOUT THE 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS WHICH ARE A REFERENDUM ON PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO WATCH OUR TOP STORIES OF 2025 SPECIAL, INCLUDING OUR STREAMING PLATFORM, KPBS+, AND THE KPBS NEWS YOUTUBE PAGE.

MORE YEAR END COVERAGE CAN BE FOUND AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> IN THE COMING DAYS, FREE PARKING IN BALBOA PARK WILL COME TO AN END, SO KPBS ARTS REPORTER, BETH ACCOMANDO, SUGGESTS CHECKING OUT THE "ALFREDO CASTANEDA: BEYOND SURREALISM" EXHIBIT AT THE SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART.

>> Reporter: ENTERED THE WORLD AND IMAGINATION OF ALFREDO CASTANEDA.

>> THE SURREALIST MOVEMENT PRIORITIZED GETTING INTO THE SUBCONSCIOUS, AND EXPLORING THE IMPORTANCE OF DREAMS SEPARATED FROM RATIONAL THOUGHT, RATIONAL LIFE.

YOU FIND UNEXPECTED JUXTAPOSITIONS, PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER THAT DON'T NECESSARILY MAKE SENSE, BUT MIGHT REVOKE A RESPONSE IN THE VIEWER, SOMETIMES THOUGHT-PROVOKING, SOMETIMES COMIC, SOMETIMES VERY DEEP AND DISTURBING.

>> Reporter: THE SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART IS HOSTING THE FIRST U.S.

MUSEUM RETROSPECTIVE OF MEXICAN ARTIST, ALFREDO CASTANEDA.

>> SEEING ALL OF HIS WORKS TOGETHER, WE GET TO SEE A JOURNEY OVER FIVE DECADES OF HIS WORK, FROM 1960, UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 2010.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL BROWN, SENIOR CURATOR OF EUROPEAN ART, OVERSAW THE INSTALLATION.

>> SEEING SOMETHING TRULY ORIGINAL IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT IS UNPARALLELED.

IN FACT, WE HAD THE INSTALL TEAM, WHILE WE WERE PUTTING THESE PAINTINGS UP, THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OF CASTANEDA, AS THEY WERE PHYSICALLY HANGING THESE PAINTINGS, IT CAN BE VERY CLOSE TO THE PAINT SURFACE, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO APPRECIATE THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND THE WONDER OF THE WORKS OF ART.

>> Reporter: THE TEXTURE OF CASTANEDA'S BRUSH STROKES AND THE INTRICATE PATTERNS HIDDEN WITHIN WHAT FIRST APPEARS TO BE A SOLID COLOR, CAN ONLY FULLY BE APPRECIATED IN PERSON.

>> THIS PAINTING IS CALLED, "ENTER THROUGH THE OPENING."

AND IF YOU LOOK UP CLOSE, TOO, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE ARTIST, IN THIS GOLD AREA, HE HAS USED A TOOL TO CREATE THESE ROSETTE PATTERNS.

>> Reporter: CASTANEDA, FOLLOWING IN THE TRADITION OF FREDA KAHLO, OFTEN INSERTS HIMSELF INTO HIS WORK, SERVING AS AN EMOTIONAL GUIDE AND A WRY COMMENTATOR.

>> THIS PAINTING IS CALLED "WAITING TO LEAVE," AND IT WAS PAINTED DURING THE LAST YEAR OF THE ARTIST'S LIFE.

THE IDEA OF CROSSING THE RIVER STICKS AT THE END OF ONE'S LIFE, AND SAFE PASSAGE BEING EARNED THROUGH THE OFFERING OF A GOLD COIN, TOO, SORT OF A PILOT OF THE BOAT THAT WOULD GO ACROSS THE RIVER STICKS.

WHEN WE LOOK UP CLOSE TO THE PAINTING, WE SEE THAT THE ARTIST IS WEARING A SIGNET RING WITH A CIRCULAR, GOLD COIN.

WE IMAGINE HE IS WAITING HIS PASSAGE ACROSS THE RIVER STICKS.

>> Reporter: CASTANEDA REVEALS A KEEN SENSE OF INTROSPECTION PAIRED WITH THE LIGHT WHIMSY AS HE EXPLORES THEMES OF MIGRATION, FAMILY HISTORIES, AND FAMILY SEPARATION.

>> THERE IS AN IMAGINARY, SEPIA TONE PHOTOGRAPH OF A FAMILY WHERE EACH OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE ARTIST, HIMSELF.

AND SO, HE AND HIS FAMILY HAD MOVED FROM THEIR NATIVE MEXICO TO SPAIN.

>> Reporter: I WAS IMMEDIATELY DRAWN TO A PAINTING TITLED, "NO."

>> THIS IS REALLY AN ANSWER TO A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE PAINTING WAS FINISHED.

THE PAINTING WAS NOT FINISHED UNTIL HE WROTE, "NO."

AND IT REALLY IS ONE OF THE MOST MODERNIST TYPE THINGS IN THE SHOW, WHERE HE ULTIMATELY BREAKS THE FOURTH WALL WITH THE AUDIENCE.

>> Reporter: AS YOU LOOK AT THE PAINTINGS, YOU START TO FEEL CASTANEDA SLYLY SMILING AT YOU LIKE HE HAS A SECRET HE IS DARING YOU TO UNCOVER.

WHILE THE THEMES MAY BE DARK, THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE JOY IN THE ART.

THE MUSEUM WANTS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE ART BY HANGING OUT AROUND A TABLE, LIKE CASTANEDA USED TO DO.

>> THIS IDEA OF THE SOBRE MESA, OR THE CHAT AROUND THE TABLE, ANYTHING GOES.

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

IT IS A VERY WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE.

WE HAVE SET UP OUR -- OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM HAD SET UP A SPACE FOR JUST THIS TYPE OF DISCUSSION, REFLECTION.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN REFLECT ON ALFREDO CASTANEDA -- "ALFREDO CASTANEDA: BEYOND SURREALISM" THROUGH MARCH 1st AT THE SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART IN BALBOA PARK.

BETH ACCOMANDO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ROOTED IN SAN DIEGO AND TIJUANA, KPBS' BILINGUAL PODCAST, "PORT OF ENTRY", TELLS POWERFUL STORIES FROM COMMUNITIES ALONG THE BORDER.

IN 2025, THE TEAM NOT ONLY PRODUCED MEMORABLE EPISODES, THEY ALSO SPENT THE YOUR MEETING LISTENERS AND CONNECTING WITH CREATORS ACROSS THE REGION.

HERE ARE THE TEAM'S REFLECTIONS ON THE LAST YEAR.

♪ >> CONNECTING WITH THEM -- THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE US COME ALIVE, IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THIS SHOW DOESN'T EXIST WITHOUT PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THIS BORDER COMMUNITY, SO IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO BE OUT IN FRONT OF THEM, TO CONNECT WITH THEM IN A REAL WAY.

>> AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE TELLING THE STORIES OF THIS COMMUNITY, SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY AND SPEND TIME WITH THEM, AND LISTEN TO WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO SAY.

♪ >> PREDOMINANTLY "PORT OF ENTRY" LISTENERS OR PUBLIC MEDIA LISTENERS SO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THEY HAD WERE PRETTY IN TUNE WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE, SO I WAS EXCITED.

>> WE HAD A TEENAGE GIRL AND HER MOM SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY GREW UP LEARNING ENGLISH THROUGH KPBS, RIGHT?

AND THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES LIKE THAT.

>> I WOULD SAY, 4.9 OUT OF FIVE STARS, WITH THE STIPULATION THAT WE COULD UPGRADE.

IF WE DO MORE VEGAN FOOD AND SOME MORE ART.

>> MY ONLY COMPLAINT WOULD BE THAT THE TACO TOUR HASN'T HAPPENED.

>> YES.

>> I THINK THE BIG THING, FOR ME, WAS HOW COOL IT WAS TO SEE SO MANY STUDENTS, INTERESTED IN, LIKE, LONGFORM STORYTELLING.

>> I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL, LIKE, OBLIGATED TO BE THERE.

BUT, THEN, AT THE END OF THE TALK, THEY ALL HAD QUESTIONS, AND I REALIZED THEY WERE ALL WORKING ON A PODCAST, SO THAT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING.

I REALIZED THEY WERE ACTUALLY THERE BECAUSE THEY CARED.

♪ >> WE WENT TO CENTRAL UNION HIGH SCHOOL IN PRAIRIE VALLEY, TO MEET THE STUDENTS THAT CREATED THE PODCAST VOICES.

>> IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING, HOW TALENTED SOME OF THEM WERE.

LIKE, JUST BEING ABLE TO ENCOURAGE THAT, AND WATER THOSE PLANTS AND, YOU KNOW, HELP THEM REALIZE THE POWER THAT THEY DO HAVE IN THEIR VOICES AND IN THEIR STORYTELLING, WAS REALLY COOL.

♪ >> IT'S THE FIRST PRESENTATION CLOSEST TO THE BORDER ON THE U.S.

SIDE.

AND WE GOT TO MEET A LOT OF TRANCE -- TRANSBORDER FOLK.

>> WHY WE THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT "PORT OF ENTRY" EXISTS, RIGHT NOW IN THIS.

SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST PLATFORMS IN PUBLIC MEDIA, IT WAS LIKE, AN, "OH, MY GOD, OH, MY GOD, OH, MY GOD."

MOMENT.

>> I HAD SOME BULLET POINTS ON MY COMPUTER AND HE WAS JUST LIKE, "OH, YEAH, LET'S GO."

[ LAUGHTER ] ♪ >> THAT IS IT FOR THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE A LOT OF UPDATES AND EXCITING STORIES TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS YEAR, SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

[ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M JOHN CARROLL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

♪ ♪