Inside the Issues: The Podcast

Is Los Angeles ready for a 300-pound crime-fighting canine?

"Inside the Issues: The Podcast" host Alex Cohen and special co-host Kate Cagle bite into the robodog controversy.

Then, LA doubles down on becoming a sanctuary city by taking a step forward from the current symbolic measure to wanting to codify policies. They discuss what it would mean for undocumented immigrants.

And LA District Attorney George Gascón had a very bad, no-good week after losing a retaliation case. With 16 similar suits waiting in the wings, could this be a grim omen for him?

President Joe Biden on Tuesday nominated Julie Su to lead the U.S. Department of Labor. If confirmed, the former head of the California labor department would become the first Asian American cabinet secretary in the Biden administration.

"Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani discuss Su's politically charged, probably difficult, path to become Biden's labor secretary.

They also analyze former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's journey to becoming the U.S. ambassador to India after the president renominated him.

And they talk about the Los Angeles County supervisors considering an expansion of their five-member board that represents nearly 10 million residents.

This week, Rep. Barbara Lee officially announced her campaign for the U.S. Senate in California, joining a competitive Democratic primary to fill retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein's seat.

"Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani break down the candidacy of Lee, who has the reputation — but it takes more than street cred to win an election. It takes big bucks — and Rep. Adam Schiff has the bankroll.

And they look at the battle heating up between State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo and the Los Angeles City Council over how to draw district lines fairly and equitably.

It wasn't a shock when Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office announced she would step down, but the news still made headlines. A staffer had to correct the 89-year-old about the statement announcing her decision to retire from her Senate seat.

"Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani ruminate on the "maybe she did, maybe she didn't" announcement of Feinstein's retirement.

"Inside the Issues: The Podcast" host Alex Cohen sits down with former Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, who gets personal about the City Hall tape scandal, the effect on his family and his own future.

This week, Californians saw the ripple effects of recent mass shootings in the state with lawmakers trying to revive legislation to strengthen the state's restrictions on who can carry loaded firearms in public.

"Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani examine Gov. Gavin Newsom's no holds barred political war on concealed weapons.

"Inside the Issues: The Podcast" host Alex Cohen sits down with two members of Congress this week.

Rep. Judy Chu, who used to be the mayor of Monterey Park, tries to make sense of the mass shooting that left eleven dead and a community in mourning over the Lunar New Year weekend.

Also, Rep. Adam Schiff, who has announced he is running for Senate, explains why he was kicked off the House Select Intelligence Committee.

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The more things change, the more they stay the same — at least at Los Angeles City Hall, where the City Council voted to create and transfer $50 million into an emergency fund for Mayor Karen Bass to use at her discretion.

It was a show of support for her efforts to address the homelessness crisis, but why now and why this way? At the county level, the Board of Supervisors is having a hard time agreeing on the best way to launch CARE court — a new statewide approach to treatment for people struggling with serious mental illness.

"Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani discuss the new normal that is making it tough to get anything done.

Rep. Katie Porter tossed her hat in the ring for Sen. Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat. Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de León continues to show up at LA City Council meetings amid protests. And Kevin McCarthy became the speaker of the House after 15 votes.

From Capitol Hill to LA City Hall, "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" hosts Alex Cohen and Sara Sadhwani discuss the bold moves of these California politicians.

From immigrant to mayor of Long Beach to the U.S. Congress, "Inside the Issues: The Podcast" co-host Sara Sadhwani welcomes Robert Garcia. The newly elected, openly gay congressman talks about his remarkable journey.