IndyMatters

IndyMatters

News EN ↓ 300 episodes

IndyMatters is a weekly podcast from The Nevada Independent. Every week hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis will bring you stories from around the Silver State that focus on politics, policy, education, the environment and more..

Author

IndyMatters

Category

News

Podcast website

thenevadaindependent.com

Latest episode

Jun 10, 2026

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Episodes

A giant legislative recap 21.06.2023

The Indy’s legislative team goes over the entire 82nd session of the Legislature, from education to criminal justice, the budget and more.   This week, host Joey Lovato sits down with legislative reporters Tabitha Mueller, Jacob Solis and Sean Golonka to go over the entire session. They’ll discuss the budget, K-12 education, higher education, criminal justice, the A’s, health care, the e...

New staff, new session 13.06.2023

The regular legislative session wrapped up, but now a second special session is underway. Learn about the action in Carson City, The Indy’ s two new team members, and the headway the Nevada delegation is making in Washington.   This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Alex Couraud chat with legislative team members Jacob Solis, Sean Golonka and Tabitha Mueller about what is going on in the Legis...

We came, we sined, we died 07.06.2023

The 82nd session of the Nevada Legislature has wrapped up, but there are still a few things left to do, and Team Indy has all you need to know.   This week, host Joey Lovato chats with legislative team members Jacob Solis and Sean Golonka about the special legislative session Nevada is now in and how we got here. Also, co-host Alex Couraud runs through the building on the last day of the regular l...

Budget showdown and extreme heat 30.05.2023

Legislative reporters discuss the final days of the session, reporter Daniel Rothberg talks about protecting workers in extreme heat and we get an update on the federal debt ceiling.   This week, hosts Joey Lovato and new Indy team member Alex Couraud chat with the legislative team as they prepare for the end of the 82nd session. Then, reporter Daniel Rothberg discusses extreme heat in N...

Facing the Fentanyl Crisis: Nevada’s search for solutions 23.05.2023

Part two of a deep dive into the fentanyl crisis in Nevada: looking at the harm, effects and proposed solutions to the crisis. This week, host Joey Lovato has a story months in the making looking into the deadly fentanyl crisis that Nevada is facing. Policymakers, policy experts, law enforcement, harm reduction advocates and those struggling with addiction discuss what the drug is, how it works an...

Facing the Fentanyl Crisis: Politics and practicality in Nevada 16.05.2023

A deep dive into the fentanyl crisis in Nevada: looking at the harm, effects and proposed solutions to the crisis. This week, host Joey Lovato has a story months in the making looking into the deadly fentanyl crisis that Nevada is facing. Policymakers, policy experts, law enforcement, harm reduction advocates and those struggling with addiction discuss what the drug is, how it works and whether pr...

Chugga chugga cha ching 09.05.2023

The Indy puts out a poll, a possible train connecting Las Vegas and LA, and an overview of the economic forum. This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis are joined by D.C. reporter Gabby Birenbaum to go over a new poll of voters in Nevada from The Indy. After that they all talk about Brightline, a company that hopes to connect Southern Nevada and Southern California by train. At the end of the...

The education omnibus is upon us 02.05.2023

An overview of the 95-page education omnibus bill, a discussion on sundown sirens and a chat about the Oakland (Las Vegas?) A’s. This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis chat with reporter Rocio Hernandez about the big education omnibus bill presented by Gov. Joe Lombardo. After that, Tabitha Muller comes on the show to discuss sundown sirens, their racist past and a bill that looks to end the...

Deadline days and the Oakland A’s 25.04.2023

Rolling back restorative justice measures in schools, the governor looks to veto a bill to expand the North Las Vegas City Council, a legislative update and baseball news. This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis chat with reporter Rocio Hernandez about bills that look to roll back some restorative justice measures in schools. After that, reporter Naoka Foreman discusses a bill that would expa...

Precipitation and legislation 18.04.2023

A discussion on abortion and contraception access in Nevada, heavy snows bring possible flooding, and the next legislative bill deadline is already here. This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis chat with reporters Gabby Birenbaum and Jannelle Calderón about a federal ruling that has removed a popular abortion pill from the market, they also go over the response from the Nevada delegation and...

Monster trains and Mega Millions 11.04.2023

Rosen announced her campaign for reelection, lotteries may enter the Nevada market, legislators look to pass gun control bills and more. This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis chat with reporter Gabby Birenbaum about Sen. Jacky Rosen’s campaign for reelection. After that, reporter Howard Stutz goes over a bill that might bring lotteries to Nevada. At the end of the show, the legislative team...

The building where it happens 04.04.2023

A feature episode exploring the structure of Nevada politics and where it all takes place. This week, host Joey Lovato and photographer David Calvert go on a tour of the Nevada Legislative Building guided by Facilities Manager Jon Vietti and also by lobbyist Lea Case. Later, Nevada Independent CEO Jon Ralston talks about the structure of the Nevada government and talks about how politics has chang...

Deadline 2.0 and legislative leaders talk shop 28.03.2023

IndyTalks highlights and the second attempt at a bill deadline at the Legislature. This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis chat about The Indy ’s recent event with legislative leaders on major policy issues and how the legislative session is going so far. After that, the legislative reporting team comes on the show to chat about deadline day… well, the second attempt at a deadline day, as doz...

The rules are made up, and the deadlines don’t matter 21.03.2023

Digitizing water records, higher ed employees miss out on state bonuses, legislative accessibility and the deadline day delayed. This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis chat with Indy reporters about how some water records are only on paper and are now being digitized. Then, Jacob goes over the complicated mess of the Nevada System of Higher Education employees being cut out of the first roun...

 Nurse shortage, resort fees, and homelessness 14.03.2023

A nursing shortage in Nevada, the president takes aim at resort fees, a bill to protect people experiencing homelessness and more. This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis talk with Indy reporters about the continuing shortage of nurses in Nevada and a push to end resort fees. After that, our team goes over everything #NVLeg, including a big bill that looked to give homeless individuals more p...

Taxes, Teslas, Teachers and Turmoil 07.03.2023

Internal Democratic Party strife, COVID relief dollars for K-12 education, Tesla gets more tax breaks and a roundup of legislative goings-on. This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis talk with Indy reporters about the contentious Democratic Party chair election, federal pandemic aid dollars going to help fund K-12 education, Tesla’s expansion plans and the subsequent tax abatements the Governo...

Send in the clowns 28.02.2023

What happens when a clown retires? Often, they move to Las Vegas. This week, host Joey Lovato and freelance reporter Savanna Strott dive into the world of retired clowns and circus performers in Las Vegas — a place that seems to attract them. Learn about why and how they all ended up there, the community they have built and how they help one another in times of hardship and heartbreak. Hosts Joey...

How is the state accommodating new parents? 21.02.2023

A pilot program that lets state employees bring their babies to work, a collaboration between state libraries and parks, and a discussion on the Reno and Nevada flags. This week, Assistant Editor Michelle Rindels and Visual Content Editor Tim Lenard have a story on babies coming into the office as the state treasurer’s office looks to accommodate new parents better. After that, host Joey Lovato ch...

State of the West 14.02.2023

A glimpse into the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, an effort to better the environment for antelope and an update from our D.C. reporter. This week, host Joey Lovato talks to Avery Hellman (aka Ismay), a performer from the 38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko. After that, reporter Richie Bednarski has a piece on the removal of fencing in far Northwestern Nevada in an effort to rehabilita...

Kicking off the legislative session 07.02.2023

Interviews with former Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton and Attorney General Aaron Ford, plus audio scenes from the Legislature. This week, CEO Jon Ralston and reporter Sean Golonka sit down with longtime Nevada lawmaker Maggie Carlton to talk about how the Legislature has changed over a quarter century, her thoughts on Gov. Joe Lombardo and more. After that, we have an interview with Attorney General...

IndyTalks with Gov. Joe Lombardo 31.01.2023

Gov. Joe Lombardo sits down with NV Indy CEO Jon Ralston for an evening of questions and answers. This week, The Indy ’s CEO, Jon Ralston, sits down with Gov. Joe Lombardo on stage in Las Vegas to talk about everything Nevada – from the governor's first weeks in office to his plans for the future. Jon and the governor discuss the policies Lombardo’s implemented and the budget he’s proposed. The fu...

State of the State and state of the snow-covered roads 24.01.2023

Gov. Joe Lombardo gives his 2023 State of the State address, and snowplow drivers help keep roads clear in Northern Nevada. This week, The Indy ’s legislative team stays up late to report on Gov. Lombardo’s State of the State address in Carson City. They break down the important talking points and get reactions. After that, we have a piece on snowplow drivers on Mt. Rose and what it’s like to work...

Old administration, new administration, red administration, blue administration 17.01.2023

The transition of power from former Gov. Steve Sisolak to Gov. Joe Lombardo, a food pantry in Southern Nevada trying something new and the Jewish community in Nevada facing adversity. This week, The Indy ’s legislative team goes over the transition of power from the Sisolak administration to the Lombardo administration. After that, we have a story on a food pantry in Southern Nevada changing how t...

How Nevada weathers winter weather 10.01.2023

Snow in Northern Nevada, new laws taking effect and plants in the Downtown Reno Library. This week, host Joey Lovato sits down with Chris Smallcomb, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in Reno, to talk about the big snowstorm that hit Northern Nevada on New Year’s Eve, what it means for the drought, and a whole lot more. After that, reporter Sean Golonka lets listeners know...

Rewind episode: Queer art and a scientist 03.01.2023

This week we are rewinding to share some of our favorite podcast stories from the past year. We start with a piece about queer artists in Nevada as they find their voice and their community through their art. After that, host Joey Lovato interviews nuclear scientist Taylor Wilson, who, at 14, achieved nuclear fusion with a reactor built in his parent’s garage in Reno. Joey and Taylor talk about sc...

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