East Bay Insiders

The future of Alameda County politics is on the line as the Board of Supervisors begin the interview and deliberation process for choosing an appointment to its ranks. A shift to center could take hold or a move back to the left is at stake. We take you through the process and the storylines in this special edition. Also, Shawn Wilson talks about his trip to Mexico.

The road to who will be selected as the next Alameda County supervisor in District 2 starts here, bro. We look at the applicants and the obstacles they face in getting the appointment to one of the plum jobs in local politics, bro. Along the way we make a few pitstops, bro, with the A's and Howard Terminal, bro, and the county's recount, bro, and much more, bro!

Law and order is the topic of the week. Alameda County DA Pamela Price is definitely shaking up jurisprudence in the East Bay. Friendly-looking police uniforms in San Leandro? We also breakdown the end of the county's eviction moratorium, defeated rent ordinances, and more on the upcoming Board of Supervisors appointment.

Rep. Barbara Lee is aiming for the open U.S. Senate seat in 2024. That's means her seat in the East Bay 12th Congressional District could be up-for-grabs. Some of the same potential candidates may also have their eyes on Nancy Skinner's termed out seat in the 7th State Senate District. If that's not enough, who might be angling to replace the late Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle in South C...

The end of the year is near. We take a look back at some of year's highlights in East Bay politics and lowlights. Bryan Azevedo's comedy, election upsets, troubles at the Registrar of Voters office and Fremont, and much more. We hand out our first annual Insidey awards and look forward to 2023. A recession perhaps on the horizon? 

Happy Thanksgiving! Steve Tavares, Shawn Wilson, and Dan Mendoza wrap up the 2022 election in the East Bay. While smoking cigars and sipping Bourbon at the Ohlone Cigar Lounge in Fremont, Steve and Shawn nearly fought about the county registrar, but not before breaking down this fall's election results and what they mean.

It's time to put up or shut up in big races all over Alameda County. Steve Tavares and Shawn break down how these races for district attorney, county supervisor, Oakland mayor, and two legislative races, and more, will shake down. Predictions included! Also, included, special guest, former Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison.

With a week until Election Day, Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor joins the podcast in East Oakland to discuss his campaign, ideas for combating homelessness, the A's and Howard Terminal, his relationship with labor, ranked-choice voting, all the while earning from passerby at least four votes.

Spending by Independent Expenditures Committees has skyrocketed not only in East Bay legislatives races, but down to the local level as we head into the stretch run to the November Election. Dublin's First Man Dan Mendoza (he came bearing gifts) sits in with Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson to discuss the deluge of IE money, along with looks at other big races in the East Bay this fall.

We're back in Jack London Square, this time with Oakland mayoral candidate Seneca Scott, who minces no words about the state of his city and why labor is backing an opponent, among other insights. 

Season 5 Premiere Episode! We're back and well-rested after a grueling June primary season and ready for the November election. Shawn Wilson vacationed in Mexico, Steve Tavares became a fan of ASMR. Recorded in Oakland's Jack London Square, we talk about the city's chronic problems, the Foot Massage Special Tax, in addition, to an in-depth look at gaffe-prone San Leandro mayoral candidate Bryan Az...

Upsets were aplenty, money was spent unwisely, progressives and labor candidates prospered, and a number of races will head to November rematches. We break down how Yesenia Sanchez defeated Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern, and other races in a thrilling June primary election season.

We took the East Bay Insiders to Twitter Space so our listeners could ask us questions about the June primary ballot, then we couldn't figure out how to allow people to talk. No problem, we laid out the latest narratives in all the Alameda County races this June, and more. Don't forget to vote!

We move to the local races in the state Legislature that feature potentially expensive November rematches in the 20th Assembly District and 10th State Senate District. Shawn and I also look at Fremont's 24th Assembly District races, and Alameda County Board of Education and superintendent of schools contests, along with a report on the Alameda County Dems in disarray.

With vote-by-mail ballots in your possession, this is why you listen to the East Bay Insiders podcast. In Part 1 of our East Bay June Primary Preview, Shawn and I break down the big Alameda County District Attorney race, Alameda County Sheriff contest, and the campaign to replace Wilma Chan on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in District 3. We also take a look at some of best and worst mail...

Just minding our own business in downtown Livermore when Alameda County Board of Education candidate Eric Dillie and possible Livermore mayoral candidate Mony Nop dropped by to talk about Livermore's parcel tax measure, Eric's campaign, the Alameda County DA "sh*tshow," as Shawn Wilson calls it, and much more!

The mask mandate in Alameda County is gone and more changes toward a return to normalcy are being seen in local government, including pandemic-era housing moratoriums. San Leandro's councilmember-in-chief called the White House and held a rally for Ukraine, and we further breakdown the latest developments in the big Alameda County DA's race, and much more.

Former San Leandro Councilmember Ed Hernandez on the state of the city's politics and being called a "sore loser," plus a cameo appearance from 20th Assembly District candidate Shawn Kumagai, and we break down the newest candidates in the Alameda County Board of Supervisors race. 

The Season 4 premiere features a breakdown of the money situation in several big East Bay political races, including ALCO Sheriff Greg Ahern's big haul from car dealers; Shawn Wilson's shiner; Ro Khanna's new book; ALCO Supervisor Dave Brown's film aspirations; Valentine's Day plans, and more from the Bryan Azevedo Comedy Show. 

The Season 3 finale is chocked full of news, analysis, and comedy. The latter compliments of a San Leandro councilmember who told his constituents that he would defend them from a tsunami. This episode includes discussion on the Alameda County DA and sheriff's race, assembly and state senate contests, and much more.

Holiday cheer abounds as Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson talk about Christmas shopping, the repeated tragedies involving pedestrian violence, the newly-redrawn county lines and the East Bay 20th Assembly District and 10th State Senate District maps, Assemblymember Bill Quirk's retirement, along with some Christmas carolling.

The state and federal redistricting maps are nearly finalized. Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson break down the proposed boundaries for the East Bay Assembly and state Senate seats and what they mean for elections over the next decade, and more.

We dedicate this episode to Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan, who was tragically killed on Nov. 3. We look back at her long legacy of fighting for the most vulnerable among us. And what comes next? We also look at the possible candidates for appointment and the ramifications for the Board of Supervisors and her district's residents.

Fremont Councilmember Raj Salwan is a veterinarian by day and likable elected official by night. We jam him up about what goes on behind the doors at your pet's vet appointment, in addition, to a discussion about the growing, but stalling, Indian American political power in the Tri-Cities, and what might be really going down with Fremont's city manager scandal.