East Bay Insiders

East Bay political discourse will never be the same! Political reporter Steve Tavares, and Alameda County insiders Shawn Wilson and Dan Mendoza, dish the scoop on Alameda County, state, and national political scenes, with a few hijinks along the way.

Aisha Knowles and The Apology 04/08/2024

Aisha Knowles and The Apology Alameda County Board of Education Trustee Aisha Knowles joins the show to chat about "The Apology," the acclaimed documentary about the forced relocation of Russell City; the push for reparative justice for its former residents and descendents; and her future political plans. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/30725563

Back to basics 03/23/2024

Back to basics We debut our new recording equipment, even though we didn't test it beforehand. With the primary election in the books, we're going back to basics. Oakland finally has a new police chief. We weigh-in on the rollout, along with the Russell City documentary "The Apology," the intra-county rivalries stoked by the proposed regional housing bond measure, and questions being raised by members of the Alameda County Election Commission. Plus, did you know Mt. Eden High in Hayward once had a secret bar for students? /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/30512793

Primary Answers 03/11/2024

Primary Answers The March Primary in the East Bay provided a few surprises. We break down the biggest races. East Bay Insiders Podfather Matt Santos sits in as guest and recording engineer, and recalls Steve Tavares' first foray into politics, among other embarrassing tidbits, and we reminisce about our first-ever live recording. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/30316653

Loren Taylor: Live in front of a studio audience 02/28/2024

Loren Taylor: Live in front of a studio audience The first-ever East Bay Insiders LIVE was a smashing success! We sat down in front a live studo audience with Alameda County Democratic Central Committee candidate and former Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor at Awaken Cafe in Oakland. Loren laid out his vision for Oakland, the Alameda County Democratic Party, his views on ranked choice voting, the recalls, and a few jabs at current Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's job performance. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/30158658

He's just Ken 02/24/2024

He's just Ken The March Primary is around the corner. Don't forget to vote! Alameda County District 5 supervisorial candidate Ken Berrick joins the program to talk about his plans for the county--fixing Santa Rita Jail, caring for children, and helping Oakland. Later, we break down the big March Primary races in Alameda County, along with predictions. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/30087763

Newsom's coup 02/12/2024

Newsom's coup Gov. Gavin Newsom is tired of the mayhem on the streets of Oakland and the East Bay, essentially sending in the troops and taking over the district attorney's office. We break down the unprecedented moves with Alameda County District 5 supervisorial candidate Chris Moore. Later, the boys dish on "Super Dan," Vegas' mayor telling the A's to go home, campaign commercials, and the anonymous article slamming Supervisor Nate Miley. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/29894993

Has the entire county gone nuts? 01/28/2024

Has the entire county gone nuts? Alameda County Democrats went berserk earlier this month, now their brethren across the aisle are trying to match their lunacy. Is there something in the water? A Hayward school boardmember made an incendiary comment toward a staffer, Rep. Eric Swalwell's opponent releases attack ad, BDS movement joins Gaza conversation in the East Bay, plus much more! /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/29682583

What's up with that, Dems? 01/15/2024

What's up with that, Dems? It was a wild first two weeks of 2024. Alameda County Democrats held a meeting that evoked a skit on Saturday Night Live, a judicial candidate undermined his own impartiality, and Vicki-Sparkle-Titz joined our political lexicon. We kickoff the new year with analysis on the demise of the Democratic Central Committee, legislation banning tackle football for kids, Libby Schaaf's return, and the Board of Supervisors primary races, and more. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/29475298

Insidey Awards 01/02/2024

Insidey Awards The first annual Insidey Awards, already the least prestigious honor in Alameda County politics, makes it debut. Tune in for the best and worst performance by an elected official, best hair, and mayor of the year, among other categories, including the ultimate honor, Quote/Rant of the Year. We also chat up the Oakland Police situation and Gaza resolutions. Happy New Year! /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/29302823

Shawn is back! 12/15/2023

Shawn is back! The long wait is over. Shawn Wilson makes his triumphant return to the podcast. He has a new title and lays out his first directive as the podcast's president of code compliance, censorship, and content filtering. With the filing deadline for the March Primary past us, we preview the big races for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and State Senate. Merry Christmas and thank you for spending time with us this year. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/29102718

Seneca Scott vs. Oakland Progressives 12/09/2023

Seneca Scott vs. Oakland Progressives Oakland has a population of more than 400,000 and most of them will be listening to find out if Oakland raconteur Seneca Scott said anything about him. Scott joins the podcast for a second time and had plenty of barbs ready for Oakland progressives. He also recounted recently saving a woman from being robbed while shopping in Oakland. Plus, our big announcement. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/28997203

East Bay poster child for how the GOP has lost suburban voters 11/20/2023

East Bay poster child for how the GOP has lost suburban voters In part two of our discussion with former East Bay Assemblymember Catharine Baker: President Trump was not the reason why she lost re-election in 2018. "Candidates are responsible for either winning or losing their campaigns," Baker said, but "Trump was the single most dominant issue in my race." Her 16th Assembly District, she added, is the poster child for why Republicans across the country are losing support in suburban districts. Plus, more. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/28731938

Last of the East Bay Republicans 11/17/2023

Last of the East Bay Republicans Former East Bay Assemblymember Catharine Baker joins the podcast for a lengthy discussion on the lack of civility in local and national politics, and how we can fix the problem. Baker served from 2014 to 2018. She is the last Republican elected from the East Bay to serve in the state Legislature. Baker, now a member of the state Fair Political Practices Commission, also gives a lesson in government transparency. Look for Part 2 of the discussion on Monday! /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/28661813

State of Alameda County's safety net hospitals 11/07/2023

State of Alameda County's safety net hospitals East Bay labor leader Doug Jones of SEIU-UHW dishes on the Alameda County labor movement, including insights in the big 7th State Senate primary race, and helps us understand the dire state of safety net hospitals in Hayward, Alameda, and San Leandro, and what may come next. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/28539194

Sheng Show 10/20/2023

Sheng Show From unceded Ohlone land, Steve Tavares and Dan Mendoza welcomed Justin Berton, former director of communications for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, to breakdown current Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's first state of the city address, and other issues facing the city. Later, the latest developments in the recall of Alameda County DA Pamela Price. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/28380320

March Primary Reset 10/02/2023

March Primary Reset A U.S. Senate appointment could shake up the East Bay's primary election in several ways. Castro Valley school boardmember Mike Kusiak makes a cameo appearance while bearing empanadas, and Lee Thomas returns a co-host. We discuss Sen. Dianne Feinstein's passing, the epic rant by Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas, and how DA Pamela Price should handle the recall threatening her first-year administration. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/28196075

More Oakland woes: 'You're starting to see all kinds of cracks in this administration' 09/17/2023

More Oakland woes: 'You're starting to see all kinds of cracks in this administration' You're not going to sleep tonight after listening to the platinum episode of the East Bay Insiders Podcast. Steve Tavares, Dan Mendoza, and guest co-host Lee Thomas visit Joe's Pho in San Leandro. Lee gives his take on San Leandro Police Chief Abdul Pridgen being placed on administative leave. We tackle the astonishing news in Oakland that city officials dropped the ball on millions in state money to combat retail theft; an update on the DA Pamela Price recall, Barbara Lee seeking endorsements, plus an update on labor negotiations with co-host Shawn Wilson /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/28054557

Labor Strife 09/02/2023

Labor Strife Happy Labor Day Weekend! There's labor strife within the East Bay Insiders. Don't let the happy talk fool you. This week we delve into Oakland's 9-1-1 response-times; the real power behind the Oakland A's stadium lease issue; more on the DA Pamela Price's recall; Fremont's mayoral race; and the benefits state Sen. Aisha Wahab will receive for carrying Gov. Gavin Newsom's constitutional convention resolution. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/27922644

Assemblykid gets timeout 08/18/2023

Assemblykid gets timeout Assemblymember Alex Lee got caught playing with the bad kids in the neighborhood, and the recall effort against Alameda County DA Pamela Price is almost in full-swing. From downtown Pleasanton, the East Bay Insiders chat about 16- and 17-years old voting in school board elections, a glimpse inside the Alameda County Republican Central Committee, and much more! /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/27794040

You don't have to lie to kick it with East Bay Insiders 07/21/2023

You don't have to lie to kick it with East Bay Insiders We clear the air with insights on Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's pay raise controversy, an analysis of possible recall campaign strategies for and against Pamela Price, Jennifer Esteen's chances against Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley; Holy shirts, rent control, and more! /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/27535332

Dan the Man is the Man for Dublin, Man and lsland Boy 07/07/2023

Dan the Man is the Man for Dublin, Man and lsland Boy It's post 4th of July, but the East Bay Insiders still have some fireworks to be lit. Shawn Wilson joins the show while on vacation in Hawaii. Some local cities are beefing with Alameda County. We look Hayward's lawsuit against county social services and how staffing shortages may be fueling rising discontent and dangerously poor service levels, and much more! /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/27403449

Send your impact fee checks to Oakland City Hall 06/12/2023

Send your impact fee checks to Oakland City Hall A's, crime pays, and Oakland's problems were created by you, Alameda County cities - the Oakland mayor's impact fee idea. Our correspondent reports back from the U.S. Conference of Mayor, Madame DA Pamela Price's latest moves, and the debut of the 30-second speed round (We didn't grasp the 30-second part). /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/27116049

This title was created by A.I. 05/26/2023

This title was created by A.I. ChatGPT and A.I. is on the verge of changing how elections are run in the East Bay. We look at the early pitfalls of the new technology and its potential, Barbara Lee's new senate poll, oversight of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, and other tangents and rabbit holes, along with a Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez sighting on the streets of Pleasanton. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/26958378

Dinner rolls, pizza, and steak 05/09/2023

Dinner rolls, pizza, and steak Fill yourself up on some dinner rolls, pizza, steak, and early March Primary outlooks for Alameda County supervisor and San Leandro. Adds a side dish of Oakland sideshows and Madame DA Pamela Price's plan to spend $128,000 to remodel her office. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/26785635

It's all about Pam 04/17/2023

It's all about Pam Alameda County DA Pamela Price is the breakout star of 2023. She's everywhere, except in front of reporters and taking questions. Is a recall looming? Dan Mendoza takes his seat at the News Desk. What makes for a good elected official? Elisa Marquez joins the Board of Supervisor, along with other hijinks. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/26553852

Eve of Destruction 03/27/2023

Eve of Destruction 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. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/26360787

March Madness in Alameda County 03/19/2023

March Madness in Alameda County 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! /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/26274699

Authority Song 03/06/2023

Authority Song 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. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/26135691

Jockeying for position 02/21/2023

Jockeying for position 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 County's District 2? We answer those question and more on this episode of the East Bay Insiders Podcast. /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/25993494

2022 Wrap-up: Post-gender era in East Bay politics and the Modern American man 12/31/2022

2022 Wrap-up: Post-gender era in East Bay politics and the Modern American man 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? /episode/index/show/eastbaycitizenshow/id/25472709

East Bay Insiders

TOPICS