Politifest 2023 was dedicated to housing and water, California's foremost crises. The public affairs extravaganza featured lively debates and discussions dedicated to these complex issues — aiming to make break news and inform the public. Now, we'll be dropping some of our favorite panels in the feed for you.

First up is our capstone convo with California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Our regular podcast hosts — Scott Lewis, Andrea Lopez-Villafaña and Jakob McWhinney — roped in LA Times reporter Liam Dillon and Voice environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer, who are experts on this year's themes.

Ahead of Bonta's arrival, they reviewed highlights of the day from our water panels. Then they got into housing laws. This podcast ends with Dillon interviewing Bonta one-on-one, drilling down on housing policy, homelessness and shelter.

See more at politifest.org

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Another Politifest has come and gone. News was broken. Acronyms explained. Sweat shed. Now we're left with a treasure trove of public affairs content. Strap on your bibs. This week, we review some highlights:

• A special election debate for County Supervisor
• An authoritative report on homelessness by Dr. Margot Kushel
• Attorney General Rob Bonta addressees homeless enforcement and shelter

Plus, the big Sunbreak Ranch idea.

Catch Politifest videos, reports and transcripts: politifest.org

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This week, one of the most controversial plans in local politics was quashed. The San Diego Association of Governments board voted to remove the driving fee from all future plans.

The fee was devised as a funding source to supplement gas tax revenue as hybrid and electric cars became more popular. And it was a driving deterrent to help the region meet its emission targets.

But now that idea is dead. Not coincidentally, Hasan Ikhrata is leaving SANDAG as executive director soon.

In this episode we review how it happened, the political implications and what's next for SANDAG.

Plus: College rankings explained. Blowout in Barrio Logan over police. Politifest is nigh!

Get your tickets at politifest.org

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Last month, students at Correia Middle School in Point Loma reported seeing a classmate brandish a gun.

The following week, more allegations surfaced about the classmate in question. School Facebook groups blew up; parents spun. And in the aftermath, families demanded answers about San Diego Unified’s discipline policies.

In this episode, host Jakob McWhinney clarifies the messy story.

Plus: More arguments on the City Attorney job change. San Diego water costs soar. Western water leaders duke it out at Politifest.

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There's an election for San Diego City Attorney in 2024. Current City Attorney Mara Elliott is termed out. Running to replace her are Deputy City Attorney Heather Ferbert and Assemblyman Brian Maienschein.

The 2024 ballot could ask voters to choose not only who should be City Attorney — but what the City Attorney should do.

On the show this week, our crew discusses the unique role of the San Diego City Attorney, its tumultuous history — and how it could change.

Plus: Southwestern College tests out competency-based degrees. And former County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher responds to the accusations of sexual harassment and assault against him.

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This week, San Diego City Councilman Kent Lee joined us for a live show in North Park.

Cozied up to the beer fermenters in Original 40 Brewing, hosts Scott Lewis, Andrea Lopez-Villafaña and Jakob McWhinney spilled the tea on local public affairs. Because that’s what the people came for, right?

Talking points: Civic Center redevelopment project. The housing crisis. The cost-of-living crisis. Nudists. And audience games!

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Senior investigative reporter Will Huntsberry joins us to discuss his new investigation. He revealed a fake nonprofit that operated concession stands in Petco Park for nine years, earning a cut of the profits.

A snapshot of the earning potential just this year shows the nonprofit, "Chula Vista Fast Pitch," worked enough concession stands to pull in $370,000.

On the show this week, we review the story — including the nature of nonprofit vendor work at Petco (and Snapdragon Stadium), how this fake nonprofit came to be, who was behind it, who's ultimately responsible and the fallout after the story broke.

Plus: Chronic absenteeism has exploded for kindergartners. San Diego homeless encampments changed a lot this summer. Tony Gwynn.

See you soon! Get your tickets to our next live show at vosd.org/events

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San Diego’s men’s soccer team — San Diego Loyal of the United Soccer League — announced this will be their final season.

In May, a coalition of investors bought into Major League Soccer and had their own announcement: a new team is coming to town. They have squeezed out San Diego Loyal.

This week, KPBS's Andrew Dyer — a local soccer nut and host of the San Diego Loyal Locals podcast — joins us to review the recent history of local soccer. We take it back to 2018 and the failed Soccer City project, discuss highlights of the Loyal’s legacy and how San Diego State University steered local soccer to where we are now.

Plus: Hurricane Hilary. The latest in the Nathan Fletcher lawsuits. And a new "Song of the Week."

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San Diego City Councilwoman Monica Montgomery Steppe is commanding a big lead in the special election to replace Nathan Fletcher on the Board of Supervisors. Amy Reichert is also going to the November runoff election.

On the podcast, we discuss the results, the race thus far and look ahead at a weird race in a heavily Democratic district.

Also riding high: Parents, students and educators gear up for a new school year. Host Jakob McWhinney shares the big school stories he's watching.

Also riding high: UC San Diego researchers innovate in mushroom studies and more at their first psychedelics research lab.

Also riding high: Palomar Health's anxiety. After a big budget plunge last fiscal year, how will the public healthcare provider recover?

See you soon! Get your tickets for our next Brews & News live podcast at vosd.org/events

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This week, environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer explains some of the drama going down in water politics.

It all started when a couple farming communities tried to divorce the San Diego Water Authority. Now, rural districts seek to change the whole voting structure — with the help of state lawmakers.

Plus: How to be a great composter. A Southeastern San Diego nonprofit loses community support. The last week before the special election.

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