LA Podcast

Alissa, Mike, and Godfrey track a third week of ICE raids that are more violent, more brazen, and raising more questions about how LAPD is assisting with these kidnappings. The Olympic Wage coalition strikes back with a new referendum to raise the minimum wage for *all* LA city workers. Plus, Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral primary win is huge news for New York City — and maybe for LA?

ICE says 1,600 detained in Southern California, with data showing the majority are men with no criminal records, randomly taken off the street

In an LA Taco video it cert...

Alissa, Mike, Rachel, and Oscar give an update on LA under siege as at least 500 people are taken from their families in federal raids. Plus, the massive No Kings rally in Downtown LA ends in police violence, how CHIRLA’s rapid response team is monitoring detention centers, and widespread fear fuels an economic crisis across a city of immigrants. 

The June 14 No Kings rallies may have been the largest single-day nationwide protest in US history, according to The Guardian, but when all the individual actions are counted up since Trump has taken office the second time, there is...

Scott, Alissa, Rachel, and Mike recap an astonishing week as Los Angeles is occupied by the federal government. How the city and state are responding to ongoing ICE raids, the federalization of the National Guard, the handcuffing of Senator Alex Padilla at a Homeland Security press conference, and the deployment of the U.S. Marines on the eve of nationwide protests.

The Guardian: “‘Kidnapped’: families and lawyers desperate to contact LA workers arrested in Ice raids”

LA Times: “What really happened outside the Paramount Home Depot?”

"What happened to me is not about me; This is...

Alissa, Mike, Godfrey, and Rachel discuss charter reform at the city and county, including the powerful new LA County CEO position voters will elect in 2028. Then, a referendum to overturn the Olympic Wage attempts to gather signatures, and homeowners accept buyouts to escape an ancient landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Note: This episode was recorded before LA saw ICE raids and detainments, countywide protests, and deployment of the National Guard. We’re watching developments closely and will get into all of that next week

Mayor Karen Bass finally made her charter commission appointments for the ci...

Mike, Hayes, and Carla discuss the growing desire among LA Councilmembers to rein in mayoral oversight of homelessness as they’re potentially being called into Judge David O. Carter’s federal courtroom. Plus, new city and state efforts to lure the entertainment industry back to LA, and a journalist investigated by former sheriff Alex Villanueva sues him (and LA County) for violating her First Amendment rights.

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For the past several years, the City and th...

Alissa, Mike and Godfrey give a full update on how LA City’s budget went from disastrous to just “very bad” — including actions from the council’s budget committee to reduce over 1,600 proposed layoffs to 600. Then, a new minimum wage for tourism workers has hotels threatening to pull their Olympics deals. And LA’s former deputy mayor of public safety pleads guilty to calling in a City Hall bomb threat.

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Los Angeles Times: “LA City Council approves $14-bil...

Alissa and Mike are joined by guest co-host Laura Raymond for a whole episode on homelessness and housing. Gavin Newsom orders cities to ban visible homelessness, again. Is Measure ULA’s “mansion tax” stifling housing production in the city of LA? And post-fire Altadena is championing new models of property ownership to combat speculation and displacement.  Help us to produce a new LA Pod episode every week – start a paid subscription at thinkforward.la today!

"There are no more excuses." Gavin Newsom wants homeless people to go away but isn’t necessarily offering permanent housing 

"Tough Talk...

Mike, Alissa, and Rachel discuss how LA’s budget crisis could lead to an LAPD with fewer officers and more accountability around its helicopter fleet. Metro hires a chief for its new in-house police department. Plus, why LA County approved a $4 billion settlement for thousands of sexual abuse claims, and what this means for survivors.

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It is almost certain that LAPD will be reduced to its lowest numbers since 1995, despite LA Mayor Karen Bass’s goal to hire more officers

A JPL...

Scott, Hayes, and Alissa dive into LA City budget fallout: how positions were eliminated, which departments are getting funded, and why LA’s liability payouts are so much higher now. 100 days out from the fires, LA hits major recovery milestones. And former LA County sheriff Alex Villanueva is evaluated for emotional distress.

The mayor’s budget summary FINALLY DROPPED 12 days later. On page 47, a letter notes that “there has been confusion” over animal services funding, and the budget hearings confirmed that $5 million had been restored to keep shelters open

Alissa’s story about 24 percent of positions...

Alissa and Mike are joined by guest co-host Oscar Zarate, director of external affairs at CHIRLA, to discuss how workers are mobilizing for immigrant rights on May Day. The Real ID deadline is on May 7, creating another barrier to travel in Trump’s America. And the first phase of LAX’s long-awaited rail connection has an opening date, while Inglewood’s pricey people mover gets revamped as a much better transit solution.

Join CHIRLA and other immigrant rights advocates at May Day 2025 on Thursday, May 1, International Workers Day, starting at 9 a.m. at Olympic Blvd and Figueroa Street d...

Alissa, Mike, Godfrey, and Rachel watch LA Mayor Karen Bass’s State of the City address and discuss why a speech that was hyped as a "fundamental overhaul of city government" didn’t deliver on that promise. And a first look at the city’s budget includes major layoffs and department cuts to cover a billion-dollar funding gap.

Check out Bass’s proposed budget :cao.lacity.gov/budget

Watch the State of the City address: mayor.lacity.gov/SOTC2025

The New York Times: "Los Angeles is rebuilding, but new crises are mounting and Mayor Ka...

Alissa, Mike, and Rachel talk about how the Trump administration is attempting to stoke fear and uncertainty at the port, schools, and cultural organizations — and how some local institutions are resisting. Plus: LA28 is getting challenged on Olympics venues, and LA’s budget-busting $2.2 billion convention center expansion lives to see another day.

LA Times: "As a center of global trade, L.A. could be in for a bumpy ride after Trump tariffs"

“Expensive cars, expensive trains, expensive bikes, expensive everything,” writes Streetsblog

Rebuilding after the fires is also going to get more expensive

At le...

Hayes, Alissa, and Mike are joined by guest co-host Carla Hall, former Los Angeles Times editorial board member, to discuss LA County’s dramatic decision to pull funding from the LA Homeless Services Authority. Plus County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath is making big moves in a role known for anything but. And a discussion about the future of the LA Times.

LA County votes to move $300 million out of LAHSA and start new homeless agency

"We are making forward movement. We must keep building on this and confronting our challenges, together.” Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithy...

Alissa, Mike, and Rachel discuss proposed changes to LA city’s slur-strewn public comment process. Karen Bass found her deleted text messages sent during the fires, but what conversations are we still missing? And Metro advances an incomplete street for Vermont Avenue.

LA Times: "LA City Council seeks crackdown on the N-word and C-word at meetings”

In 2014 Michael Hunt was paid a $215,000 settlement after wearing a KKK hood to a city council meeting

Adam Smith’s original songs have elevated public comment to an art form

The LA Times asked Mayor Karen Bass...

Alissa, Godfrey, and Rachel gather on the first day of spring to try and figure out what the hell Gavin Newsom is doing with his new MAGA-platforming podcast. Plus, new LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman won’t resentence the Menendez brothers until they apologize for "all the lies that they have told.” And some real estate influencers want LA to suspend the Measure ULA transfer tax after the fires — can the City do that?

Supporters held a rally for the Menendez brothers after a resentencing hearing was delayed by LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman

ABC: "DA...

Scott, Hayes, and Alissa look back on how the pandemic has changed LA, five years later. Then, a scathing audit of homelessness services at the city and LAHSA, a famous content creator’s burglary raises questions about LAPD response rates, and the brazenness of Huntington Park’s corruption scandal, "Operation Dirty Pond."

Listen to the March 16, 2020 episode of LA Podcast: “SoCal Distancing”

Coverage of the court-ordered audit of LA’s homelessness programs in the Daily News, LAist, and LA Times, plus the audit report ordered by Judge David O. Carter

Leaders at the county and city...

Alissa, Rachel, and Mike recap former LAFD chief Kristin Crowley’s failed attempt to appeal her firing and discuss the political repercussions from the fire union, UFLAC. LA Mayor Karen Bass faces a recall campaign. And revenue shortfalls are forecast for LA, meaning leaders will have to take action to address the city’s park funding crisis.

Crowley lost her appeal to overturn her dismissal by LA Mayor Karen Bass; now she’ll take a new job as assistant chief of the Valley Bureau

LA Times: “Bass aides were warned of growing fire danger before she flew...

Hayes, Rachel, Mike, and LA Pod producer Sophie Bridges discuss the ongoing political soap opera over the firing of LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley and lament that deeper questions are getting lost amid the drama. Plus, a big victory for LA County tenants, and more evidence of racism in the LAPD.

Mayor Karen Bass fired LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley, then Crowley appealed her dismissal

Crowley’s appeal vote, originally scheduled for last Friday, has been changed to Tuesday, March 4

Libby Denkmann's deep dive into sexism, harassment and retaliation in LAFD in 2021 is important context for the e...

Alissa, Hayes, and David discuss the local impacts of Elon Musk’s federal government takeover and reminisce about how he got his start right here in LA. And how other local billionaires are sucking up to Musk, including the one who owns the Los Angeles Times. Plus, new air and water quality testing results.

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Join Big City Heat and LA Forward for LA Power Hour, a live comedy show where we fix all of LA...

Alissa, Mike, and Godfrey discuss yet another new LA rebuilding effort focused on climate — and why this one could be different. Plus, California becomes even more uninsurable, and city leaders are colluding to stop affordable housing in Venice. And remembering Donald Shoup, the UCLA professor who changed the way LA looked at parking.

UCLA’s new Blue Ribbon Commission "to promote a safe, resilient recovery” announced by LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath

The Science Moms Super Bowl ad that benefitted California Community Foundation’s wildfire recovery fund

LAT: “Palisades checkpoints to remain, Bass says, reversin...

Alissa, Rachel, and Godfrey talk about the protests that are drawing attention to Trump’s mass deportation policies when California’s elected officials are not. Then: Rick Caruso launches his nonprofit, Steadfast LA, into a field that grows more crowded each day, and how Mayor Karen Bass should be thinking about rebuilding LA City infrastructure. 

De Los: "Why LA students walked out of school and protested mass deportations"

Boyle Heights Beat on how LAUSD is working to protect immigrant families

Here’s how you can order red cards or print your own

LA Ti...

Alissa, Mike, and Hayes ask the big questions: is the fire department underfunded, who is really in charge of LA’s recovery, which electeds are taking all the blame, and why? Plus, emergency tenant protections are once again shelved by LA City Council.

Hayes’s Big City Heat story: “The question no one is going on TV about”

"24 hours that changed Los Angeles” by the Los Angeles Times’ Laura Nelson

UCLA study: "Altadena’s Black residents disproportionately hit by Eaton fire”

How Steve Soboroff, the city’s rebuilding czar, is going to help th...

On January 8, 2025, Angelenos woke up to a city that had been irrevocably transformed overnight. On a special live show recorded on Zoom, Alissa, Mike, and Rachel discuss the fires, the city and county response, and where LA goes next. Also joining: Eater LA reporter Mona Holmes on Altadena, Hayes on housing, and Public Counsel’s Faizah Malik on emergency housing justice initiatives

The Guardian on LA’s “perfect storm” 

NPR: What LA did right before the fires — and why it wasn't enough

Julia Wick on LA Mayor Karen Bass’s fire response: "Only time will revea...

It’s the final episode of 2024! Scott, Alissa, Rachel, and Mike discuss the biggest (or most under-reported) stories of the year including the implosion of local media, trust in elected officials, 2028 Olympics leadership, and the breakdown of LA City services. Plus, the co-hosts make some predictions for 2025 and beyond.

Take Mike’s local media survey! Mike will be interviewing journalists on his podcast, What’s Next, Los Angeles?

The Guardian: “LA Times owner asks editorial board to ‘take a break’ from writing about Trump - report"

California Democrats shifted right due to the state’s cost...

Alissa, Rachel, Mike, David, and Hayes discuss last week’s election results, including the déjà vu-inducing national swing to the right, a mixed bag of state props, and many local progressive wins, including the passage of Measure A. And then: where we're finding hope and focusing energy in the weeks ahead.

LA County election results

California State election results

The AP VoteCast data on the Latino vote nationally and @Vanessid’s thread on the disaggregated data

LA Times: “This election showed LA voters are fed up with City Hall corruption and scandal”...

Alissa and Rachel are joined by Mike Bonin, Godfrey Plata, and David Levitus to talk about all the tricks and treats on your ballot, including the key local races in next week’s election, a slew of state props, and very consequential county and city measures. Plus, some exciting changes are in store for the podcast!

LA Forward Voter Guide

"What is LACAHSA and how can it prevent homelessness?" Alissa’s Report Forward piece on the new housing authority funded by Measure A

The "more powerful offspring of Measure H”: read Hayes Davenport on Measu...

“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 2020

Supervisor Hilda Solis’s motion with 31 requirements for the gondola developer

Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez’s motion requesting a Dodger Stadium traffic study

NOlympics LA’s 2021 report on community benefit agreements

Join one of LA Forward’s ballot-filling parties: February 29 in DTLA, March 4 on Zoom

“At the...

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 later

Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo file lawsuits that claim they said nothing wrong on the recording but yet somehow it also ruined their reputations

Tavis 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 ...

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...

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 Price

Cat Garcia's in-depth report on which right-wing extremists were at the Dodgers' Pride Night

Mike Bonin talks to Joey Scott and Sean Beckner-Carmitchel about who's behind local anti-Pride rallies

LA...

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 schedule

George R.R. Martin on how "mini rooms" are affecting writers

SAJE and ACT-LA's fare-free transit report

LADOT’s first-of-its-kind gender equity transportation study

Watch Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez's remarks on the budget vote

Our own Scott Frazier on how Mayor Bass's climate agenda doesn't meet the mom...

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.

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.com

Have a question about the upcoming election you'd like us to answer? Leave us a voicemail by calling: 323-250-2106

And, if you really want to see...

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.

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Below you can find links to some subjects discussed on LA Podcast #221.

Headlines:

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 #220

Headlines: