East Bay Insiders

Under a new state law, former San Leandro Councilmember Lee Thomas's home BBQ business GrilleeQ is the first permitted micro-business in Alameda County. He talks San Leandro politics, including the infamous controversy over his fence, and offers new insights into the furor back in 2018. Lee also brought a selection of grilled sausages and beer with him for good measure,

Alameda County Assessor Phong La is the elected offices who determines the value of your property. A valuable property is good until your property tax bill arrives. But despite the sleepy bureaucratic office he holds, La is viewed as one of Alameda County's rising political stars. He chats about Chinatown's rise in crime, assessing Howard Terminal, along with some of the local upcoming races, amon...

The second half of our interview with former Oakland Councilmember Ignacio De La Fuente includes his stated interest in running for Oakland mayor in 2022. "Why not give it one last shot? I have nothing to lose, nothing to gain, so I will have the freedom to f--cking blow this sh-t up and rebuild." he says. In addition, he details his advocacy for A's great Ricky Henderson to run for the same seat,...

Oakland City Council legend Ignacio De La Fuente has much to say about the proposed Howard Terminal ballpark term sheet and even more about the current City Council in Part 1 of this special edition episode. "The council and the mayor, they are nice individuals, but they have no f-----g clue," he said. --Coming Wednesday, De La Fuente weighs in on the state of Oakland, while again mulling a run fo...

After a disappointing result in the recent 18th Assembly District special election primary, Alameda Vice Mayor Malia Vella offers her inside view of her own campaign and her opponents, and handicaps the Aug. 31 special election runoff. Will she offer an endorsement in the race?

Season 3 of the East Bay Insiders brings back Steve Tavares, Shawn Wilson, along with special guest host, former Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison. We preview this week's 18th Assembly District special election; the fate of the A's and the Howard Terminal ballpark project; and next year's big Alameda County sheriff and district attorney races.

It's already a tumultuous 2021. Steve is hanging up his notebook and tape recorder and Shawn is under fire for calling a white guy a "Cracker McCracker" in Episode 29. Down to business, we look at the undercurrent of opposition in Alameda County to Rob Bonta's bid for state attorney general, and analyze the early 2022 campaigns for Alameda County DA and sheriff.

Annus Horribilis is behind us. Coronavirus, masks, hand sanitizer, defund the police, recession, George Floyd dominated a memorable, yet forgettable year. We also look ahead to 2021 and the changes that may happen in the new year. Happy New Year!

Rep. Eric Swalwell and Fang Fang, the Chinese spy who shagged him, is riveting the 15th Congressional District. What might be Swalwell's future? An Alameda County elected official won two races last month and one jurisdiction wants him and the other, not so much. Plus, the rise of the councilmember/public works employee.

The covid-19 election in the East Bay is in the books. There were some upsets and voters were clearly apprehensive about too much change during a year of uncertainty. But the election also revealed fissures within the local Alameda County Democratic Party as one of the own, although tacitly supported, took one on the cheek on Election Night.

The covid-19 election in the East Bay is in the books. There were some upsets and voters were clearly apprehensive about too much change during a year of uncertainty. But the election also revealed fissures within the local Alameda County Democratic Party as one of the own, although tacitly supported, took one on the cheek on Election Night.

It's Election Day! How will the night shakedown in Alameda County and the East Bay? We take a look at some of the races and offer insights and some bold predictions. Plus, a look ahead to 2022.

Shortly after this episode was recorded, Eden Health District board director Charlie Gilcrest passed away. At the beginning and end of this episode, Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson remember the man who gave so much to San Leandro. Also, the fall election season is here. We take quick looks at races in Alameda and Fremont, and Oakland races destined to be dominated by the movement to defund police.

Hamilton, baseball and politics, and another round of sneak peaks for the fall election season in the East Bay. In particular, two races that are big in both consequence and size-Oakland's up-for-grabs District 7 council seat and the four seats on the Hayward City Council, plus much more.

A new election. A new season of the East Bay Insiders. Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson travel from the future to fix a wrong that will occur on Sept. 20, 2020.

East Bay Insiders Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson, wearing masks and social distancing, are together for the first in-person episode since the pandemic started. Two candidates in San Leandro might be showing how campaign outreach will be done this year. Should 16- and 17-year-olds be able to vote? Plus, A's rent strike.

After Steve talked smack about his girlfriend during the shelter in place, she surprises him and talks smack back. Steve and Shawn add perspective to the shooting of a 33-year-old black man at Walmart by San Leandro Police. Meanwhile, how will Alameda County balance its $72 million deficit? And by popular demand, the results for the first quarter of the first-ever Fantasy City Council League are i...

Alameda Councilmember Jim Oddie joins Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson discuss his profanity-laced comments against delaying the minimum wage in Alameda, and the island city's potentially grim budget outlook. And what about the time a constituent invited Jim to discuss city matters in her hot tub? Also, coronavirus conspiracy (Putin did it), and VP, local campaign talk.

The shelter in place continues. Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson, however, sort of like the new routine presented by the covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, they discuss the potential for delays in raising the minimum wage spreading across the East Bay. Happy Easter!

After a nearly month-long hiatus as Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson help save Alameda County from the coronavirus, "We're baaaaaaaack!" Shawn moved in with his better half right in the smack of the shelter in place. Meanwhile, our lives, like yours, surrounds solely around stories about going to the grocery store. Then there's the question of how will campaigns be run this fall in the era of covid-...

The votes are in, but Alameda County voters and candidates eagerly awaiting all of the ballots to be counted. We look at the returns in all the March primary races in Alameda County. But things also got steamy and Shawn Wilson explained his battle back from backside surgery.

Eighteenth District Assemblymember Rob Bonta is upset about insults hurled against him recently by East Bay Insiders co-host Shawn Wilson. "I thought he was my friend," a downtrodden Bonta said. In this Election Day special podcast, Bonta discusses his California Green New Deal legislation, pedestrian safety in Alameda, and the recent firing of Oakland's police chief.

Co-host Shawn Wilson busted out of his hospital room to record the March Primary Election Preview. Despite hand and buttocks injuries, Shawn persisted (with help from pain killers). It's the loopiest episode yet. We look at the big Alameda County supervisors race in District 1, critique some mailers, and give our predictions.

An enlightened conversation with water district official Olivia Sanwong is interrupted by retiring Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty. "I've got news for you, nobody likes you guys," Haggerty said, in response to the show's tagline. But he also offers unvarnished takes on a number of issues. He even falls off his chair. (We thought he was having a heart attack.)

Zone 7 Water District Boardmember Olivia Sanwong joins the East Bay Insiders podcast as the first official to appear on the show who has not lost their last election. She chats about her district, espionage, the presidential race, Thai food, Pete Stark and Kobe Bryant's passing, and the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee. Then, like a photobombing, the show was "podcastbombed" by a surpri...