LA Podcast

“Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it?” LA Times sports writer Bill Shaikin went in search of answers last year“The secret to reducing car trips in LA is often much simpler than what well-connected consultants might want you to believe.” Alissa’s gondola story from 2020Supervisor Hilda Solis’s motion with 31 requirements for the gondola developerCouncilmember Eunisses Hernandez’s motion requesting a Dodger Stadium traffic studyNOlympics LA’s 2021 report on community benefit agreementsJoin one of LA Forward’s ballot-filling parties: February 29 in DTLA, March 4 on Zoom“At the Beverly Hills fundraiser, the political consultant Jimmy Blackman told the crowd that unseating Raman would set the stage to go after other progressives in 2026.” Mike Bonin and Peter Dreier’s story in The NationAdam Conover's thread on Republican money in the CD 4 raceRebecca Traister on California’s senate raceVoter guides from LA Forward, Initiate Justice, Knock LA

Revisit our emergency episode from one year ago"I can still hear Nury’s poisonous slurs and cruel laugh, and Kevin’s conspiratorial whisper and malicious tone." Former Councilmember Mike Bonin reflects on what he hears one year laterKevin de León and Gil Cedillo file lawsuits that claim they said nothing wrong on the recording but yet somehow it also ruined their reputationsTavis Smiley hosted an excellent 2-hour special which aired after we recorded (Part 1, Part 2)The third episode of LAist's "Nury & the Secret Tapes" podcast airs this week Alissa's Report Forward piece on the state of governance reform, including independent redistricting and council expansionFrom 2021, Scott on the case against John Lee, "a co-conspirator on City Council"

Scott and Alissa are joined by former LA Podcast host turned Council District 4 staffer Hayes Davenport to discuss the council’s 12-3 vote to approve huge raises for LAPD and what that means for the city’s non-police services. Plus, a look back on how the city’s approach to addressing homelessness has changed — and what still needs to change.

On the eve of the storm, Scott, Alissa, and Rachel discuss the region's preparations for Hurricane Hilary, the first tropical storm to make landfall in LA since 1939. Plus, more union workers join LA's summer of solidarity, and the oh-so-swift response to a rash of smash grabs-slash-flash robs at local malls. But first, Rachel gets personal, and content warning, a conversation about child sexual abuse, rape, and grooming in an LAUSD school takes place from 12 minutes to 33 minutes if you want to skip that part."Fault Lines," Seyward Darby's story for The Atavist on systemic abuse at Cleveland High SchoolSeyward Darby discussing her story on 818s and HeartbreakResources from RAINN, the U.S.'s largest anti-sexual violence organizationThe law firm representing all Jane Does from Cleveland High School"Why 1 in 5 jobs in LA City government are vacant," from CD 13's newsletterGustavo Arellano on the solidarity between unions during LA's hot labor summerTuesday, August 22 is a national day of labor solidarity, find a picket near you

Scott, Alissa, and Rachel break down the charges for the latest LA councilmember indictment, including why the case against Curren Price is different. Plus, white supremacist fascists crash LA's Pride month, and final thoughts on the CD 6 election.Scott Frazier on why "the alleged crimes of Curren Price are extremely confusing"Jon Peltz with the full criminal complaint against PriceCat Garcia's in-depth report on which right-wing extremists were at the Dodgers' Pride NightMike Bonin talks to Joey Scott and Sean Beckner-Carmitchel about who's behind local anti-Pride ralliesLA on the Record on how Price's charges might have affected the CD 6 race

Scott, Alissa, and Rachel discuss the WGA strike, Jordan Neely's murder and who gets to feel safe riding transit, the city's new budget and Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez's lone dissenting vote, and, of course, "La Sombrita."WGA's 2023 demands and Week 4 picket scheduleGeorge R.R. Martin on how "mini rooms" are affecting writersSAJE and ACT-LA's fare-free transit reportLADOT’s first-of-its-kind gender equity transportation studyWatch Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez's remarks on the budget voteOur own Scott Frazier on how Mayor Bass's climate agenda doesn't meet the moment

Scott, Alissa, and Rachel talk about the CD 6 primary results, Mark Ridley-Thomas's conviction and where that leaves the people of CD 10, allegations of a toxic workplace in the City Controller's office, and the "New LA" of Karen Bass's first State of the City.

Scott, Alissa, and Rachel are back! In this episode: the CD 6 special election and which candidate is the most "not Nury," the fence finally coming down at Echo Park Lake, awaiting the verdict for the Mark Ridley-Thomas trial, and a final sendoff to now-Ambassador Eric Garcetti.

It’s the end of the year! It’s the end of the Garcetti era! It’s unfortunately still not the end of Kevin de León’s tenure as councilmember! Scott, Alissa, and Rachel recap the end of 2022 — including election results and the promises of a new and slightly more progressive council — and make predictions for 2023.

Scott, Alissa, and Rachel discuss the already-infamous leaked recordings of Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmember Kevin de León, Councilmember Gil Cedillo, and LA Labor Federation president Ron Herrera. Let’s get into the language, the fallout, and the implications of City Hall’s world-shocking scandal.

Now that all the votes have been counted, and the results certified, Alissa, Scott, and Rachel sit down to talk about what happened in Los Angeles City's June 7th Primary Nominating Election.Listen to Eunisses Hernandez on LA Podcast 141: Sans SheriffApple Podcast Link.Spotify Link. 

Alissa, Scott, and Matt give a brief update on what's next for LA Podcast as we head into the thick of Election Season.We don't know much about you, listener! We would be grateful if you spend a few minutes on our short listener survey. Click Here.If you want to help us with election coverage, please send us an email: hello@thelapod.comHave a question about the upcoming election you'd like us to answer? Leave us a voicemail by calling: 323-250-2106And, if you really want to see it, here is Mayor Garcetti's 2022 State of the City address. 

Alissa and Matt talk about climate change and LA's City Attorney. Then, Cerise Castle joins for a debrief on a recent candidate forum in the race to replace Alex Villanueva as LA County Sheriff.Support us on Patreon!Subscribe to the LA Newsletter! Read Edition 34 in your browser here.Purchase an LA Podcast fanny pack!Subscribe to Thirty Mile Zone, LA Podcast's sister podcast about LA Movies.Below you can find links to some subjects discussed on LA Podcast #221.Headlines:Read Peter Kalmus' Op-Ed in The Guardian on his protestRead his book called "Being the Change."Mike Feuer is in big trouble.See Justin Kloczko's write-up.Listen to Justin's appearance on LA Podcast.Watch Cerise Castle and Knock-LA's Sheriff's candidate forum.Read more about the court order to make Sheriff V testify under oath.And, read more about the latest LASD cover-up.

Alissa, Rachel, and Scott sit down to talk about how close we are to a grocery strike, celebrities thoughtlessly crossing picket lines, another legal settlement on homelessness, and the continuing implosion of Eric Garcetti. Support us on Patreon!Subscribe to the LA Newsletter! Read Edition 33 in your browser here.Subscribe to Thirty Mile Zone, LA Podcast's sister podcast about LA Movies.Below you can find links to some subjects discussed on LA Podcast #220Headlines:UFCW 770 has authorized a strike for grocery store workers.Celebrities crossed picket line at the Chateau Marmont to attend Jay-Z's Oscar afterparty.The LA Alliance Case has partially settled. Just the City of LA, and not the county.Read the settlement document for yourself.Read the LA Community Action Network's response.Eric Garcetti is even more toast now than ever before.An op-ed we liked about how much of a joy it is to watch Garcetti implode.Also mentioned:RSVP for Cerise Castle and Knock LA's sheriff's candidate forum on Tuesday.Watch the Black Lives Matter LA candidate forum from late March.Read Elijah Chiland's story on the slowness of state rent relief to tenants in rent debt. 

Alissa, Rachel, and Matt talk about civility in LA politics, how it's been one year since the Echo Park Lake closure, and the latest Garcetti news.Support us on Patreon!Subscribe to the LA Newsletter! Read Edition 32 in your browser here.Subscribe to Thirty Mile Zone, LA Podcast's sister podcast about LA Movies.Below you can find links to some subjects discussed on LA Podcast #219Headlines:Read the UCLA report on where people displaced by the Echo Park Lake closure are one year laterSee Sam Levin's reporting in The Guardian on the same.Read Lisa Kwon's reporting in L.A. TACO about a sweep last week in Little Tokyo.Listen to LA Podcast's special episode on the no-longer-confidential report about sexual harassment in the LA Mayor's office.Plus: Yasmine Pomeroy's February announcement that she's suspending her campaign.

Alissa and Matt talk over no-longer-confidential report investigating allegations of sexual harassment inside the office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. The report's confidentiality was waived on March 18th. We obtained a copy, and have been reading it carefully. Support us on Patreon!Subscribe to the LA Newsletter! Read Alissa's New York Magazine Story on accusations of sexual harassment in the Mayor's office. 

Support us on Patreon!Subscribe to the LA Newsletter! Read Edition 31 in your browser here.Subscribe to Thirty Mile Zone, LA Podcast's sister podcast about LA Movies.Below you can find links to some subjects discussed on LA Podcast #218Headlines:Herb Wesson is (probably?) back.Read more from about "quo warranto" claims from the state attorney general's office.Read Alissa's story about pedestrian access to the LA River. Read the LA Times Story about another former Mayor's office staffer who says she was harassed by Rick Jacobs.

Support us on Patreon!Subscribe to the LA Newsletter! Read Edition 30 in your browser here.Subscribe to Thirty Mile Zone, LA Podcast's sister podcast about LA Movies.Below you can find links to some subjects discussed on LA Podcast #217Headlines:Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has objected to Garcetti's nomination to be Ambassador to India.Click here to learn about accusations that Mayor Garcetti perjured himself in front of the US Senate.Learn more about bargaining between grocery workers and their bosses across SoCal.Read more about the Provider Alliance mayoral candidate forum on homelessness.Watch it on Facebook video. 

Scott, Alissa, and Rachel get together to talk about the week’s events.

Scott, Alissa, and Rachel get together to talk about the week’s events, including a surprising end to City Council’s bid to reappoint former president Herb Wesson, a state demand for a rapid change to LA’s housing plan, and this week’s initial debate between mayoral candidates at LMU.Support us on Patreon!Subscribe to the LA Newsletter! Subscribe to Thirty Mile Zone, LA Podcast's sister podcast about LA Movies.Read Edition 28 in your browser here.Have a question about LA that you’ve never had a good answer to? You hear a lot from us, but we want to hear from you, too. Leave us a voicemail with a question, and we’ll answer it on the show: 323-250-2106