Nonprofits & advocacy · San Francisco · Cross-partisan

Commonwealth Club World Affairs

Public forum organization that hosts talks, debates and member-led forums on politics, public affairs and culture, with an election-night and weekly political roundtable.

Upcoming events

Tuesday, October 20

8–9 pm

The Gr8T Debate: The Race for San Francisco's District 8 (opens the host’s page in a new tab)

Commonwealth Club World Affairs, Taube Family Auditorium · Commonwealth Club World Affairs

Candidates for San Francisco's open District 8 supervisor seat (Castro, Noe Valley, Glen Park) debate ahead of the November 3 election.

Host: Nonpartisan
Principles: Elections
Type: Forum or debate

Thursday, October 22

5:30 pm

Tom Rosenstiel: How the Press Must Change to Save Democracy (opens the host’s page in a new tab)

San Francisco · Commonwealth Club World Affairs

Veteran journalist and media critic Tom Rosenstiel argues the crisis in journalism reflects a crisis in democracy and proposes how news outlets must change.

Host: Nonpartisan
Principles: Information
Type: Talk or panel

Tuesday, October 27

6:30 pm

Will the U.S. Military Shoot Civilians Protesting Against Election Interference? (opens the host’s page in a new tab)

Lafayette Library, Don Tatzin Auditorium · Commonwealth Club World Affairs

Panel examines whether U.S. troops could legally be deployed against civilian protesters if election meddling sparks mass demonstrations after November 2026.

Host: Nonpartisan
Principles: Elections; Government
Type: Talk or panel

Wednesday, November 4

6:30 pm

The Day After Election 2026: A Week to Week Political Roundtable Special (opens the host’s page in a new tab)

Commonwealth Club World Affairs, Taube Family Auditorium · Commonwealth Club World Affairs

Political roundtable the day after the 2026 midterms analyzing control of Congress, the California governor's race and ballot measures.

Host: Nonpartisan
Principles: Elections
Type: Forum or debate

Monday, November 9

6 pm

The Future of Public Media, with Paula Kerger and Michael Isip (opens the host’s page in a new tab)

Commonwealth Club World Affairs, Taube Family Auditorium · Commonwealth Club World Affairs

PBS CEO Paula Kerger and KQED CEO Michael Isip discuss public broadcasting's role in an informed democracy amid funding and media shifts.

Host: Nonpartisan
Principles: Information
Type: Talk or panel

Thursday, November 12

12 pm

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (opens the host’s page in a new tab)

San Francisco · Commonwealth Club World Affairs

Arkansas Republican Governor and former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders discusses her agenda on education, taxes, jobs and public safety and her new book.

Host: Nonpartisan
Principles: Government
Type: Talk or panel

Monday, November 16

5:30 pm

UC Berkeley's Saira Mohamed on "What a Country Owes Its Soldiers" (opens the host’s page in a new tab)

San Francisco · Commonwealth Club World Affairs

Berkeley law professor Saira Mohamed examines the gap between leaders' praise for service members and how the nation actually treats them.

Host: Nonpartisan
Principles: Government
Type: Talk or panel

Monday, December 7

5:30 pm

Nicholas Bagley: How Legal Reformers Accidentally Broke America (opens the host’s page in a new tab)

Commonwealth Club World Affairs, Taube Family Auditorium · Commonwealth Club World Affairs

Law professor Nicholas Bagley explains how well-meant legal reforms made it harder for American government to build and deliver.

Host: Nonpartisan
Principles: Government
Type: Talk or panel

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