LA Podcast

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 o...

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 hi...

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...

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 ?" Al...

“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 reque...

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...

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 a...

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...

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-...

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. Listen to Eunisses Hernandez on LA Podcast 141: Sans Sheriff Apple Podcast Link. Spotify Link. 

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 t...

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. Support us on Patreon! Subscribe to the LA Newsletter !  Read Edition 34 in your browser here. Purchase an LA Podcast fanny pack! Subscribe to Thirty Mile Zone, LA Podcast's sister podcast about LA Movies...

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 . Be...

Alissa, Rachel, and Matt talk about civility in LA politics, how it's been one year since the Echo Park Lake closure, and the latest Garcetti news. Support us on Patreon! Subscribe to the LA Newsletter !  Read Edition 32 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 #219 Headlines:...

Alissa and Matt talk over no-longer-confidential report investigating allegations of sexual harassment inside the office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. The report's confidentiality was waived on March 18th. We obtained a copy, and have been reading it carefully.  Support us on Patreon! Subscribe to the LA Newsletter !  Read Alissa's New York Magazine Story on accusations of sexual harassment...

Support us on Patreon! Subscribe to the LA Newsletter !  Read Edition 31 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 #218 Headlines: Herb Wesson is (probably?) back. Read more from about "quo warranto" claims from the state attorney general's office. Read Alissa's story about pe...

Support us on Patreon! Subscribe to the LA Newsletter !  Read Edition 30 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 #217 Headlines: Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has objected to Garcetti's nomination to be Ambassador to India . Click here to learn about accusations that May...

Scott, Alissa, and Rachel get together to talk about the week’s events.

Scott, Alissa, and Rachel get together to talk about the week’s events, including a surprising end to City Council’s bid to reappoint former president Herb Wesson, a state demand for a rapid change to LA’s housing plan, and this week’s initial debate between mayoral candidates at LMU. Support us on Patreon! Subscribe to the LA Newsletter !  Subscribe to Thirty Mile Zone, LA Podcast's sister podcas...

Alissa, Rachel, and Scott get together to talk about the bungled RAMS HOUSE sign in Hollywood, Rick Caruso’s early campaign rollout, a plan to return Herb Wesson to City Council (#StillWithHerb) and how the state’s duplex bill is being handled in Los Angeles and other cities in the county. Support us on Patreon! Subscribe to the LA Newsletter !  Subscribe to Thirty Mile Zone, LA Podcast's sister p...