LA Podcast

LA Podcast
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A news and politics podcast for people who live in Los Angeles.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    50 Ways to Leave Your Legislator

    Alissa, Mike, and Rachel break down last week’s election results and some major progressive victories. Zohran Mamdani is the new democratic socialist mayor of New York City! Prop 50 passes, temporarily redrawing California’s districts! And a blue wave produces downballot wins nationwide! What does it all mean for LA politics as our 2026 election cycle kicks into gear? Plus, surveying the state’s gerontocracy as 85-year-old Nancy Pelosi announces her retirement. Zohran Mamdani wins New York City’s mayoral election: watch his victory speech New York City saw turnout that was the highest since the 1969 mayoral race. Over 1 million votes were cast for Mamdani, even with fewer eligible voters — the electorate has shrunk to 5.3 million from 5.6 million four years ago Alissa thought this clip of Jamaal Bowman at Mamdani’s victory party was the exact right sentiment Contrary to pundit belief, socialism has been a part of New York City’s political fabric over the years, but as Mamdani takes power, the stakes are high. Luckily he has an outstanding all-women transition team Here in California, Prop 50 passed easily, temporarily redrawing the state’s Congressional districts. Here’s what happens next Prop 50 turnout is 38.6 percent so far, matching the Gavin Newsom recall election from 2021(another odd-numbered year election) Yes on Prop 50 leads by 28 points, 64 percent to 36 percent. Kamala Harris won the state in 2024 by only 20 points, writes the New York Times’ Nate Cohn in “Why Democrats Could Win the Redistricting War” What about LA? Watch and share Mike’s video on our Zohran Mamdani moment Mayoral candidate Austin Beutner is trying to hit Karen Bass on affordability but he isn’t presenting his own solutions for making the city more affordable. Meanwhile, as we discussed last week, housing justice leader Rae Huang is going to declare her candidacy soon. Still not sure about Rick Caruso, who is going to make a decision about mayor or governor in the next few weeks 85-year old Nancy Pelosi announced she will not seek re-election “The challenge for Democrats is to wrest control from the gnarled grip of gerontocracy while containing the chaos that will naturally ensue from younger politicians who are mad as hell at their own party,” writes New York Magazine’s Rebecca Traister in “It’s My Party and I’ll Leave When I Want To“ Many young progressives who won aren’t being talked about as much this week, like Michelle Wu, who ran unopposed for her second term as mayor of Boston (maybe she should have been quoted as one of the mayors giving advice to Mamdani) Progressive prosecutors still notched big wins coast-to-coast Catch upcoming interviews with Council District 9 candidates on Mike's show What's Next, Los Angeles? This episode was produced by Sophie Bridges The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward We’re moving our first subscriber-only event to 2026! Become a paid subscriber to LA Podcast at thinkforward.la and you’ll be the first to know the details

    49 min

  2. 3 NOV

    Re: LAX, Don’t Do It

    Alissa, Godfrey, and Mike review a new city controller assessment of LAPD’s “armed-first, police-first, patrol-first” response to mental health crisis calls. Plus, what in the world is going on at LAX? The people mover is delayed to June 2026 at least, while billions in public transit investments are about to be undermined by new elevated roadways that are certain to make airport traffic worse. If you’re hearing this on Monday — get your ballot in today or Tuesday! The LA City Controller’s office published a comprehensive assessment of LAPD’s Mental Evaluation Unit and Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Team (SMART) program There’s some troubling data: “Only 6% of the incident report narratives describe an attempt to de-escalate by the responding officers and/or SMART; 61% include no description of an attempt to de-escalate, and 33% describe no need for de-escalation” Interestingly, LAPD would not comment on the report to the Los Angeles Times “When it comes to LAPD mental health crisis response, LAPD requires an armed-first, police-first, patrol-first response to mental health crisis incidents,” Dinah Manning, who also is the controller’s chief of strategic initiatives, told LAist Efforts to remove LAPD from some types of traffic stops have also stalled, although there is a set of draft recommendations from 2023 Compare these efforts to the very successful outcomes of LA’s Unarmed Model of Crisis Response, which we discussed in September: “6,700 calls were diverted from 911 dispatch and fewer than 4.1% of calls required police backup” Karen Bass appointed a new LAFD chief: 30-year department veteran Jaime Moore LAFD Chief Moore has his first big challenge: reports that firefighters were ordered to leave the still-smoldering Lachman Fire a week before the Palisades Fire may have started in the same place Unrig LA spotted a big update in the mayoral race: pastor and housing justice advocate Reverend Rae Chen Huang enters the race to Bass’s left Alissa is losing her mind about spending $1.5 billion on new roadways into the LAX horseshoe Nick Andert made a great video about why this is such a bad idea Meanwhile, what is happening with the LAX people mover? It was supposed to open in 2023 and is still at 95% completion LAWA CEO John Ackerman told the LA Times that the people mover will not be open until June 2026 and may not be open in time for the World Cup This week’s show is produced by Olive Greenspan The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward We’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la and you’ll get the invite. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions

    56 min

  3. 27 OCT

    To Live and DEI in LA

    Alissa, Mike, and guest co-host Liz Chou discuss a secretive $2 million payout to LA County’s CEO, who claims she suffered “reputational harm” from Measure G. An LA City charter reform proposal would bring dramatic changes to the Board of Public Works. Yet another fire investigation, this time from Republican senators who are trying to blame the flames on DEI. And remembering river advocate Melanie Winter. LA County CEO Fesia Davenport was “quietly paid a $2 million settlement,” as LAist reported first, “over claims she was harmed” by the passage of Measure G one year ago, the ballot measure that expanded the Board of Supervisors from five members to nine members, and changed her position from an appointed role to an elected role As Julia Wick reported in her final story for the Los Angeles Times, many think that Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who pushed for Measure G, would run for the County CEO role. “There are people who are never going to be convinced that I created this measure without seeing a seat for myself in it,” she says. “I’m not interested in convincing people of that. I’m interested in doing the work” “With six months remaining before the commission’s recommendations are due, several commissioners, city officials and good government advocates told LAist they have concerns about transparency and independence,” LAist reports. “Some say they doubt the commission is in a position to accomplish a fraction of what it first set out to do” More on LA City’s Charter Reform Commission, including upcoming meetings. Sign up for the charter reform newsletter Read more proposals on planning and infrastructure charter reform platforms from Investing in Place and Streets for All, including dissolving the Board of Public Works. Here are some of the reforms being proposed by the commission, and a set of recommendations from Mayor Karen Bass LA Forward has both Governance Reform and Capital Infrastructure Program working groups Liz reports on Councilmember Monica Rodriguez’s appearance at last week’s charter reform meeting and why she accused the commission of having an “agenda” Subscribe to Liz’s newsletter, The LA Reporter U.S. Senate investigations subcommittee requested Palisades Fire records from LA Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson including "records referring or relating to the creation or oversight of diversity, equity, and inclusion ('DEI') hiring policies for the LAFD and the LADWP" As the LA Times notes, the letter mentions the Eaton Fire but no similar request was sent to LA County representatives LA County passes an emergency declaration against ICE Remembering river advocate Melanie Winter, who died last week, through this beautiful obituary as well as a 2024 profile, both by Ian James at the LA Times This week’s show is produced by Olive Greenspan The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward We’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la and you’ll get the invite. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions

    55 min

  4. 20 OCT

    Austin’s Powers

    Mike, Godfrey and Carla welcome former LAUSD superintendent Austin Beutner to the LA mayoral race as the first serious challenger to incumbent Karen Bass. The state’s housing department sends a blistering letter to the City of Los Angeles about its obstruction of affordable housing in Venice. Plus, Governor Gavin Newsom signs (and vetoes) major pieces of legislation, including the highly anticipated passage of transit-density bill SB 79. Warning that Los Angeles is “adrift,” Austin Beutner throws his hat in the ring for mayor with a four-minute launch video and coverage from major media outlets like the New York Times and Politico Beutner was superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District during a turbulent time. The historic six-day 2019 teachers strike happened on his watch, and he oversaw the district's pandemic shift to online learning and food-relief efforts that served over 100 million free meals Beutner also served as publisher of the Los Angeles Times for a year, pushing the paper to do a series of editorials giving letter grades to elected officials Mike talked about Beutner’s entry — and a lot more — with Bass during a fireside chat for the Pat Brown Institute. You can listen to the interview in its entirety on this week’s episode of What’s Next, Los Angeles The state’s Department of Housing & Community Development sent a stern letter to city officials for road-blocking already-approved homeless and affordable housing on a public parking lot in Venice. The letter says LA is now in danger of losing its “pro-housing” designation The letter came just days after the City Council voted to support a “mobility hub” study on the same parking lot put forth by Councilmember Traci Park, who is trying to kill the housing project Governor Newsom issued a flurry of bill signings and veto statements last week, weighing in on the hundreds of bills sent to him by the legislature this session. To the delight of housing production advocates, Newsom signed SB 79, which will limit the ability of cities to say no to some additional housing in certain areas near transit hubs Will SB 79 have any impact in your neighborhood? While people are still debating precisely where it will apply, LAist did its best to understand the impacts Newsom also signed a bill to raise wages for prisoners who fight wildfires, and a bill making it easier for Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize.The governor vetoed a bill that would make it easier for transgender patients to get a long-term supply to hormone-therapy drugs. CalMatters has extensive coverage of what Newsom signed and what he vetoed LA Forward has a full schedule of Prop 50 events leading up to November 4 Next week, Hollywood FWD will host “ULA: 3 Years In” at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre. The October 29 panel will feature: Joe Donlin from United to House LA; Greg Good formerly with the LA Housing Department; Nella McOsker with Central City Association of Los Angeles; Shane Phillips from UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies; and Zerita Jones with ULA Citizens Oversight Committee. Register here This week’s show is produced by Olive Greenspan The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward We’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la and you’ll get the invite. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions

    59 min

  5. 13 OCT

    ChatGPT Didn't Start the Fire

    Alissa, Mike, and Kate recount a dramatic week as an arson suspect is taken into custody for allegedly starting a fire which smoldered underground for a week, then rekindled in high winds to become the deadly Palisades Fire. Analysis of LAFD’s after-action report reveals more communications breakdowns. Plus, ballots for Prop 50 hit mailboxes. Former Palisades resident Jonathan Rinderknecht, also known as Jon Rinder, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint for starting what federal prosecutors allege eventually became the Palisades Fire Los Angeles Times: “Florida man ‘maliciously’ started Palisades fire, then tried to cover his tracks, authorities allege” Here’s the video he watched in the days before the fire: “Un Zder, Un The" by French artist Josman What’s a “holdover” fire? LAist’s Jacob Margolis has a great explainer on how a fire can rekindle a week later When the fires started, LA was in the “bottom two percent of historical records” for soil moisture readings LAFD did not use thermal imaging to confirm the fire was out and least one fire expert (anonymously) claimed that cleanup from the Lachman Fire was not done properly. This raises more questions about liability: “This affidavit puts the responsibility on the fire department. There needs to be a commission examining why this rekindled fire was allowed to reignite,” said Ed Nordskog, former leader of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s arson unit. “The arsonist set the first fire, but the fire department proactively has a duty to do certain things” Here’s LAFD’s after-action report on the Palisades Fire and good analysis by LAist Alissa is, once again, worried about who is supposed to give warnings in LA County Meanwhile, Rinderknecht might face the death penalty, and Kate reported at Spectrum that he’ll be back in court later this week Listen to Kate’s Rebuilding LA podcast LA Times: “Who is spending money on Prop 50?” CalMatters has a good look at how Prop 50’s mid-decade redistricting would change representation in other ways You should probably not mail in your ballot on the last day due to new USPS rules, so be sure to take it to the special ballot boxes. There is also a small mistake on the guide LA Forward has a full schedule of Prop 50 events leading up to November 4, including a ballot party on Sunday, October 19 at 2 p.m. at the Hermosillo in Highland Park Check out Mike Bonin's interview with California Environmental Voters ED Mike Young on "What's Next, Los Angeles?" about the good, the bad, and the ugly of this year's environmental legislation in Sacramento (Apple Podcasts, Spotify) On the next What’s Next, Los Angeles?, Mike will be talking to Loyola Marymount University faculty members whose union was abruptly not recognized by leaders at the school claiming there was a “religious exemption” This week’s show is produced by Olive Greenspan The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward We’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.laand you’ll get the invite. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions.

    51 min

  6. 6 OCT

    Wait Wait... Don't Tell On Me!

    Alissa, Mike and Rachel recap Trump’s declared war on cities run by the “radical left” (we wish!) and fresh threats to Cal State campuses. LA County’s long-awaited after-action report on the failure to issue alerts and evacuations during the Eaton Fire raises more questions than answers. And will a $32.35 minimum wage for construction workers help LA build more homes? “California State University faculty members say they are worried about employee privacy protections and academic free speech after learning that the Trump administration is investigating alleged antisemitism across the 22-campus system,” reports EdSource AP: “Progressive nonprofits condemn Trump’s targeting of George Soros and his foundations” ICE is hiring for a social media surveillance team, reports Wired, with a 16-person office in Southern California: “At all times, at least one senior analyst and three researchers would be on duty at the Santa Ana site” LA County’s after-action review of notification systems and evacuation policies for the Eaton and Palisades Fires Los Angeles Times: “No 'smoking gun': Why Eaton fire report didn't name names or assign blame”  Meanwhile, 24-year-old climate scientist Edgar McGregor issued warnings via Facebook that saved hundreds of lives LAist: “Hours before the Eaton Fire, distribution lines failed and fire started in Altadena” KNX reporter AB Silverman asked the question on everyone’s mind: why wasn’t there any information about the false evacuation alert that went out to everyone in LA County Malibu’s rebuilding director resigns and says the mayor should, too “Confronting Disaster: Curbing Corporate Speculation in Post-Fire Altadena”: A new report from SAJE, Inclusive Action for the City, Morena Strategies, Public Interest Law Project, the UCLA Veterans Legal Clinic, and theworksLA “22,500 homes lost. Over five years later, only 38% rebuilt”: LA Times journalists reported out a major series on how slowly the state is recovering from previous fires, with a video featuring Liam Dillon that summarizes it all A broad coalition of LA City Councilmembers is looking into establishing a $32.35 minimum wage for residential projects with 10 or more units that are under 85 feet in height Will it translate to more homes being built? The LA Times’ Roger Vincent reports: “Los Angeles apartment construction has dropped by close to a third in three years as developers struggle with unprofitable economics and regulatory uncertainty” This week’s episode is produced by Sophie Bridges The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward We’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la and you’ll get the invite. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions.

    59 min

  7. 29 SEPT

    The Tracks of My Palantirs

    Mike, Rachel, and guest co-host TV writer Olga Lexell discuss censorship in Hollywood and how unions rallied to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live. How ICE is using Palantir’s data to track you, and how rapid response groups are fighting back. Plus a recap of LA’s divisive convention center vote and how Mayor Karen Bass saved city worker jobs, but not city services. We’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la and you’ll get the invite as soon as it comes out. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions LA’s convention center expansion was, indeed, passed 11-2. As the Los Angeles Times notes, we just finished paying off the 1990s expansion, now we have three more decades of debt Alissa published Katy Yaroslavsky’s remarks in full; you can also watch them here "There are boondoggles, there are big boondoggles, and then there are public development disasters. Los Angeles has just embarked on a disaster," writes convention center expert Heywood Sanders. Read Alissa’s interview with him for a true LA horror story Mayor Karen Bass is celebrating averting layoffs — even though the budget committee did most of the actual work — but sadly LA’s service levels will still suck, as Yaroslavsky noted in council California lawmakers from the local to federal level joined unions on Hollywood Boulevard on Monday to rally for free speech. Jimmy Kimmel Live was reinstated by Disney moments after the press conference ended and returned to the air the following night — except in a handful of cities. Over the weekend, Sinclair brought the show back to the remaining markets LA Times: “Hollywood writers were already struggling. Now they fear censorship" This New York Times column by Thomas Edsall is the most comprehensive — and chilling — explanation of the media mergers Rapid response groups are shifting to new ways to track ICE including setting up their own cameras and operating their own “liberty vans” as part of the Save America Movement License plate readers continue to collect information all over LA, although LA County is trying to keep the data away from ICE “For years, little was known about the multibillion-dollar company that handles data for the U.S. immigration enforcement agency. Now, a cache of emails, training documents and reports sheds light on how Palantir helps ICE with investigations and on-the-ground enforcement,” The Guardian reports There have been many protests at Palantir’s West Hollywood office Doug Smith of Inclusive Action writes about the Trump administration's illegal use of IRS data to supercharge ICE raids Olga joined Ed Begley Jr., Adam Conover, and Bill Wolkoff on the Transit and Hollywood panel moderated by Alissa for SoCal Transit Month In addition to wrapping up SoCal Transit Month, this is the national Week Without Driving. Ride free transit on Wednesday, October 1 for Clean Air Day! This week’s episode is produced by Olive Greenspan The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward

    53 min

  8. 22 SEPT

    May We Have Your Convention Please

    Alissa, Mike, and David discuss a contentious vote about expanding LA’s neglected convention center. The ULA transfer tax is making $387 million available for affordable housing right as a backroom deal to undermine ULA implodes in the state legislature. Plus, how LA’s tourism unions rallied with an epic signature revocation campaign to save the Olympic Wage. Weekly actions from #BoycottDisneyABC after the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live, because comedy isn’t the only thing under attack The Department of Housing and Urban Development has changed guidelines for federal funds for permanent supportive housing: not only can providers not engage in harm reduction, but money can only go for projects in cities or states that prohibit public camping and cooperate with immigration enforcement  LA is now looking into how to create its own homelessness agency, and LA’s City Council will need to approve the court-ordered oversight of former LA city controller Ron Galperin and lawyer Daniel Garrie to monitor data and reporting Measure ULA is about to release a super NOFA (notice of funding availability) for affordable housing projects with $387 million in available funding The United to House LA coalition also recently released a report by Occidental academics disputing the claims in a recent UCLA Lewis Center report critical of ULA’s structure Be sure to listen to this week’s What’s Next, Los Angeles? out Wednesday where Mike speaks to United to House LA’s Joe Donlin and Amped Kitchen’s Mott Smith about dueling reports LAist: “State lawmakers unveil bill that would put new limits on LA’s hotly debated ‘mansion tax’” …which almost immediately got withdrawn In other housing news, the transit-oriented development bill SB 79 cleared the state legislature and is heading to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, where he is expected to sign it despite LA Mayor Karen Bass’s request for a veto After we recorded the show, LA’s City Council approved the convention center expansion 11-2, despite the budget committee’s vote recommending against it “This expansion is unrealistic, unaffordable, and fiscally irresponsible. It puts our city at severe risk.” It’s extremely worth watching Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky’s remarks; Alissa published them in their entirety at Torched A Central City Association report has ideas to turn downtown commercial vacancies into housing - more public subsidies for private redevelopment, anyone? Alissa wrote about the campaign to save the Olympic Wage This week’s episode is produced by Olive Greenspan. The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward We’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la and you’ll get the invite as soon as it comes out. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions.

    1h 6m
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About

A news and politics podcast for people who live in Los Angeles.

Information

  • Creator
    LA Podcast
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    291
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © LA Podcast LLC
  • Show Website
    LA Podcast

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