Inside the Issues: The Podcast

Is Los Angeles ready for a 300-pound crime-fighting canine? "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" host Alex Cohen and special co-host Kate Cagle bite into the robodog controversy. Then, LA doubles down on becoming a sanctuary city by taking a step forward from the current symbolic measure to wanting to codify policies. They discuss what it would mean for undocumented immigrants. And LA District Attorne...

President Joe Biden on Tuesday nominated Julie Su to lead the U.S. Department of Labor. If confirmed, the former head of the California labor department would become the first Asian American cabinet secretary in the Biden administration.  "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani discuss Su's politically charged, probably difficult, path to become Biden's labor secretary....

This week, Rep. Barbara Lee officially announced her campaign for the U.S. Senate in California, joining a competitive Democratic primary to fill retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein's seat. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani break down the candidacy of Lee, who has the reputation — but it takes more than street cred to win an election. It takes big bucks — and Rep. Adam...

It wasn't a shock when Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office announced she would step down, but the news still made headlines. A staffer had to correct the 89-year-old about the statement announcing her decision to retire from her Senate seat.  "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani ruminate on the "maybe she did, maybe she didn't" announcement of Feinstein's retirement.

"Inside the Issues: The Podcast" host Alex Cohen sits down with former Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, who gets personal about the City Hall tape scandal, the effect on his family and his own future.

This week, Californians saw the ripple effects of recent mass shootings in the state with lawmakers trying to revive legislation to strengthen the state's restrictions on who can carry loaded firearms in public. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani examine Gov. Gavin Newsom's no holds barred political war on concealed weapons.

"Inside the Issues: The Podcast" host Alex Cohen sits down with two members of Congress this week. Rep. Judy Chu, who used to be the mayor of Monterey Park, tries to make sense of the mass shooting that left eleven dead and a community in mourning over the Lunar New Year weekend. Also, Rep. Adam Schiff, who has announced he is running for Senate, explains why he was kicked off the House Select Int...

The more things change, the more they stay the same — at least at Los Angeles City Hall, where the City Council voted to create and transfer $50 million into an emergency fund for Mayor Karen Bass to use at her discretion. It was a show of support for her efforts to address the homelessness crisis, but why now and why this way? At the county level, the Board of Supervisors is having a hard time ag...

Rep. Katie Porter tossed her hat in the ring for Sen. Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat. Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de León continues to show up at LA City Council meetings amid protests. And Kevin McCarthy became the speaker of the House after 15 votes. From Capitol Hill to LA City Hall, "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani discuss the bold moves of these Califo...

From immigrant to mayor of Long Beach to the U.S. Congress, "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" co-host Sara Sadhwani welcomes Robert Garcia. The newly elected, openly gay congressman talks about his remarkable journey.

From child star to a revered politician, former Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl joins "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" host Alex Cohen to discuss her career arc in a free-swinging interview.

Karen Bass, who was sworn in as Los Angeles' first female mayor less than two weeks ago, has hit the ground running by declaring a state of emergency on homelessness on Day 1 of her administration. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" host Alex Cohen speaks with Mayor Bass on her plans for getting a handle on homelessness, her dream project of beautifying LA and building her administration.

It was the Oscars of Los Angeles politics. Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was there and so was Vice President Kamala Harris, who swore in the city's first woman and the second Black person to be elected mayor in the City of Angels. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani break down LA Mayor Karen Bass' inauguration and its political repercussions.

From a new initiative on redistricting being advanced by the state to Sheriff Robert Luna officially assuming duties and appointing his undersheriff, it was a busy week in local politics. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani break down the changes.

Angelenos did away with many incumbents during the elections and voted for many political newcomers, including Kenneth Mejia. Now comes a period of transition, where he and others must decide who they want on their team. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani discuss one of Mejia's appointments, and point out that getting the job and doing the job are two different thi...

Kenneth Mejia, a 32-year-old accountant, defeated three-term Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz in the race for LA city controller. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" host Alex Cohen talks to the newly elected Mejia to discuss campaign tactics, the thrill of winning and his plans for the LA Police Department.

U.S. Rep. Karen Bass defeated developer Rick Caruso in the Los Angeles mayoral race, becoming the first woman elected to lead the city. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" host Sara Sadhwani and guest, UCLA professor of political science and psychology Efrén Pérez, break down the nail-biting SoCal political races, including the hotly contested mayoral race between Bass and Caruso and the congressiona...

On Election Day, Rick Caruso went to Boyle Heights to cast his vote. While he doesn't live in the area, it was a strategic move for the LA mayoral candidate. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani point out Caruso's not-so-secret campaign strategy: woo the votes of the oft-ignored Latino and Asian American electorates.

Election season brought forth several scandals, including the Los Angeles City Hall audio leak and the attack of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband. But in California, another battle is brewing, thanks to the top-two primary system. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani dive into the vicious Democrat versus Democrat political races in SoCal.

Rep. Karen Bass and billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who are vying to become the next mayor of Los Angeles, faced off in the latest, and final, mayoral candidate forum. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani dissect the forum held at the Jewish Federation of Greater LA.  

LA City Councilman Kevin de León has announced he will not resign amid an uproar over a leaked tape that revealed him participating in a meeting in which Latino officials made racist remarks. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani have plenty to say about de León's defiant resistance to the calls for his resignation. About the Podcast In the official companion podcast...

A leaked conversation between three Los Angeles City Council members and a top labor leader that included racist remarks has roiled City Hall. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani dive headfirst into the scandal and fallout. About the Podcast In the official companion podcast to her nightly show, "Inside The Issues," Spectrum News 1 political anchor Alex Cohen brings...

This week, it came out that billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who is trying to become the next mayor of Los Angeles, has already spent more than $60 million in the race against Rep. Karen Bass. "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani break down how the candidates are spending the money.

On the debut episode of the new "Inside the Issues: The Podcast," hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani break down a contentious county supervisor race and discuss the ramifications of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade back in June, which has become a hot topic this election season.

In the official companion podcast to her nightly show, "Inside The Issues", Spectrum News 1 political anchor Alex Cohen brings listeners inside the world of SoCal politics. From the personalities, to the races and what goes on behind closed doors, Alex and political science professor Sara Sadhwani cover it all. Join every Thursday for a spirited discussion that's as informative as it is fun.