The Issue Is

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Discussions and debates with top newsmakers about the most controversial and interesting issues impacting California, hosted by FOX 11’s Elex Michaelson and airing on several TV stations across the state.

The Issue Is


    • May 24, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 27m AVG DURATION
    • 408 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Issue Is

    393: Antonio Villaraigosa; Dan Schnur & Matt Klink 

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2025 37:20


    Elex sits down with Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democratic candidate for California governor, as well as professor Dan Schnur and conservative commentator Matt Klink.

    392: Inside the Milken Global Conference

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2025 20:18


    Inside the Milken Global Conference with a panel on LA wildfire response and one-on-one with Dr. Mehmet Oz, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

    391: Jamie Dimon 

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2025 31:49


    JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon sat down for an exclusive interview with FOX 11's Elex Michaelson in Pacific Palisades. He spoke about rebuilding California, Trump's tariffs, the entertainment industry, and more.

    390: Sen. Alex Padilla; Areva Martin and Jennifer Horn

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2025 55:48


    Sen. Alex Padilla (D – Calif.) discusses President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. In a panel discussion, Areva Martin and Jennifer Horn also weighs in on Trump's second term, in addition to discussing Kamala Harris' return to the national spotlight.

    389: Steve Hilton, Brian Goldsmith, Amie Parnes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 42:16


     This week, Elex is joined by Steve Hilton, who announced is running for the Governor of California, and Brian Goldsmith, who is running for State Senate. Journalist Amie Parnes also joins the show. 

    388: Rob Bonta; Bob Shrum & Jessica Milan Patterson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2025 22:16


    This week, California became the first state in the country to sue the Trump administration over tariffs.

    387: Arnold Schwarzenegger; Tomi Lahren vs Brian Tyler Cohen; JJ Redick & Rick Caruso

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2025 36:55


    We sit down with Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the USC campus to discuss his environmental efforts, California's wildfires, his son Patrick's appearances on "The White Lotus," and Schwarzenegger's recent role as Santa Claus.

    386: Xavier Becerra, Gloria Allred, John Phillips

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2025 46:45


    Xavier Becerra is running for California Governor. He gave the first TV interview of his campaign to FOX 11's statewide political show "The Issue Is: with Elex Michaelson."

    385: Melanie Mason, Mike Murphy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2025 27:13


    This week, POLITICO's Melanie Mason and political strategist Mike Murphy join "The Issue Is:" panel to discuss a big week in politics.

    384: Jane Fonda

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 23:24


    Actresses Jane Fonda and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are fighting to stop more oil production in California.. and have some strong words for Gov. Newsom in the process. 

    383: Katie Porter, Mike Madrid and Matt Mahan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2025 43:00


    This week, Elex is joined by Katie Porter, who announced is running for California Governor. He is also joined by political strategist Mike Madrid and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

    382: Charlie Kirk, Scott Turner

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2025 26:26


    This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his first podcast in the "This is Gavin Newsom" series. It features an interview with Charlie Kirk. In it, the Governor agrees with Kirk that it is unfair for those born male to compete in female sports. Then, we travel to South Los Angeles to sit down with President Trump's new Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Scott Turner.

    381: Harvey Levin, Chad Bianco, Robert Garcia

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2025 44:58


    This week, Elex is joined by Riverside County Sheriff and gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco, Congressman Robert Garcia and TMZ's Harvey Levin.

    380: Karen Bass, Jon Regardie, Sean Duffy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2025 20:50


    This week, Elex speaks one-on-one with LA Mayor Karen Bass. Following the exclusive interview with the LA Mayor, Elex is also joined by political journalist Jon Regardie and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

    379: Rob Bonta

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2025 28:53


    On this episode of 'The Issue Is', California's Attorney General, Rob Bonta, addresses Trump's immigration crackdown and discusses the joint effort by all Democratic Attorneys General in the country to push back on the administration. 

    378: Kamala Harris, Rick Caruso, Billy Bush

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2025 22:16


    We join former Vice President Kamala Harris on her first trip to the Pacific Palisades since the Palisades Fire, as speculation intensifies whether she'll run for California Governor. Businessman Rick Caruso is also considering a run for Governor. And "Extra" host Billy Bush joins us to talk about his new show "Hot Mics with Billy Bush."

    377: The Issue Is: James Carville, Joel Pollak, Peter Hamby

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2025 48:37


    As President Trump expands presidential power at an extraordinary pace, we discuss how he pulled that off, where Democrats go from here, and how it all impacts California's wildfire recovery.

    376: Adam Schiff, Alex Padilla, Dave Rubin, Bret Baier

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2025 23:18


    On the first week of Donald Trump's second presidency, we report from Washington D.C. and the frontlines of fire damage in California. 

    375: 2024: An unforgettable political year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2024 24:30


    This week, we look back on an unprecedented and unforgettable political year: 2024. From a presidential nominee being shot, to another dropping out of the race and all the twists and turns in between.

    374: Matt Mahan, Michael Knowles, LA Rams

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2024 35:04


    This week, Elex is joined by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who shares his frustration with California's Democratic leadership. Michael Knowles of The Daily Wire talks about how Trump won.

    373: Athletes who serve their communities

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2024 21:22


    How the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lakers and Rams use their platforms to lift up others. Plus, one-on-one with Arnold Schwarzenegger to dive deep on his nearly seven decades of giving back. ————— The Issue Is: with Elex Michaelson is California's only statewide political show. For showtimes and more information, go to TheIssueIsShow.com.

    372: Jerry Brown, Drew Pinsky

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2024 41:59


    This week, former California Governor Jerry Brown joins The Issue Is to discuss Donald Trump's election win and how Democrats may be to blame. Dr. Drew Pinsky weighs in on Trump's push to "Make America Healthy Again" and Dr. Oz being appointed a member of the cabinet.

    371: Adam Schiff, Antonio Villaraigosa, Harvey Levin

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2024 42:36


    How did Donald Trump win the presidency? What happened to Latino voters? Where do Democrats go from here?

    370: Katie Porter, Peter Hamby, John Kobylt

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2024 37:34


    This week, Donald Trump won every swing state and is on track to be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Joining us to discuss is Rep. Katie Porter, Peter Hamby of PUCK News, and KFI AM 640's John Kobylt. 

    369: Peter Hamby, Melanie Mason

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2024 19:16


    Next on "The Issue Is," the final episode before Election Day with Puck News' Peter Hamby and Politico's Melanie Mason.

    368: Jon Favreau

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 22:33


    This week, we revisit our interview from June with "Pod Save America" co-host & former Obama chief speechwriter Jon Favreau.  

    367: Nathan Hochman, Adam Schiff, Hakeem Jeffries

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2024 21:25


    This week, "The Issue Is" talks to leading candidates in the final days of the 2024 race. 

    366: Ken Calvert, Will Rollins, Areva Martin, Joel Pollak, Torry Holt

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2024 29:30


    This week's "The Issue Is:" covers the tied 41st congressional race between Rep. Ken Calvert and Democrat Will Rollins, includes a panel discussion on key political topics, and reports on the L.A. Rams' cancer awareness event at SoFi Stadium.

    365: Tomi Lahren, Ethan Bearman, Sheryl Sandberg, Laphonza Butler

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2024 37:13


    This week, Elex hosts a debate on Trump vs. Harris, an exclusive interview with Sheryl Sandberg on a documentary about Hamas' sexual violence, and a meeting with Sen. Laphonza Butler to discuss volunteerism while preparing meals for those in need.

    364: Dave Min, Scott Baugh, PPIC political panel

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2024 35:43


    This week, we are joined by Orange County Congressional candidates Dave Min (D) and Scott Baugh (R). Then we go to Sacrament to participate in a special political panel for the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC).

    363: George Gascón, Doug Emhoff, Quentin Lake

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2024 39:19


    LA County GA George Gascón talks about his efforts to reform the criminal justice system. Doug Emhoff discusses his support for women in sports and Rams' Quentin Lake speaks with Elex between working out with the kids.

    362: Donald Trump, Darrell Steinberg, Brian Goldsmith

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2024 23:26


    This week, Donald Trump visits California and slams the state's leadership. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg makes a case against Prop. 36.

    361: Mike Whatley, Matt Mahan

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2024 26:36


    This week, Elex is joined by RNC Chairman Mike Whatley and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

    360: Father Greg Boyle: Full interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 25:54


    This week, we travel to Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles for a special documentary focused on Father Greg Boyle.

    359: Father Greg Boyle

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 23:54


    This week, we travel to Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles for a special documentary focused on Father Greg Boyle.

    358: Democratic National Convention 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2024 21:50


    An historic week in American politics, as Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for President. "The Issue Is" was in Chicago for it all.

    357: Nancy Pelosi, Aug. 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2024 55:36


    Nancy Pelosi, one of the most powerful legislators in U.S. political history, joins Elex Michaelson on "The Issue Is" for an exclusive interview.

    356: Marie Alvarado-Gil, Gavin Newsom, Brian Tyler Cohen

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2024 54:36


    California Gov. Gavin Newsom takes the homeless encampment matter into his own hands – literally. A Democrat defects and progressive podcast host discusses "shameless" Republicans.

    355: Frank Luntz

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2024 37:09


    This week, longtime pollster and political consultant Frank Luntz takes us on a LA-area replica of the Oval Office.

    354: Melanie Mason, Lynn Vavreck, Areva Martin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2024 31:55


    As the 2024 election is now just over 100 days away, it was another unprecedented week in American politics. Now, Kamala Harris is looking to take the torch passed on by Joe Biden.

    353: 2024 Republican National Convention

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2024 22:37


    An unprecedented week in American politics, as "The Issue Is" hits the road for the Republican National Convention.

    352: Tom Perez, Alex Thompson, Dave Rubin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2024 44:30


    This week, following his shaky debate performance, the chorus of Democratic lawmakers calling for President Biden to step aside continued to grow. Biden, defiant, saying he's staying.

    351: Kara Swisher

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2024 22:38


    This week, Elex is joined by Kara Swisher as the legendary tech journalist discusses motherhood and her bestseller "Burn Book."

    350: Jon Favreau

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2024 31:57


    Jon Favreau, of "Pod Save America," speaks on building Crooked Media and his years as Barack Obama's speechwriter.

    350: CNN debate: Biden vs. Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2024 21:57


    This week marked one of the most consequential presidential debate in years as President Biden and former President Trump faced off in Atlanta.

    349: Nicole Shanahan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2024 43:07


    Elex Michaelson goes one-on-one with Nicole Shanahan for her first TV sit-down since being named Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s running mate.

    348: Chad Bianco, Rick Chavez Zbur, Areva Martin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2024 30:40


    This week, Elex is joined by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur and attorney Areva Martin.

    347: Alex Padilla, June 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2024 9:57


    This week, as President Biden announced new executive action at the border, Elex Michaelson is joined by California Senator Alex Padilla. While most Republicans think the Biden order is too little, too late, Padilla actually believes the order is too tough. He pushes back against the President of his own party. 

    347: Dave Rubin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2024 16:46


    Conservative commentator Dave Rubin talks immigration, leaving California for Florida, Governor Newsom, President Trump's impending VP pick, and more. 

    347: Jordan Klepper

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2024 13:21


    Jordan Klepper, a longtime member of "The Daily Show" news team, discusses he work traveling the country, what he's learned from speaking with Trump supporters, what's he's learned from working with Jon Stewart, listening to others in divisive times, and more. 

    346: Robert Rivas and John McEntee

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2024 18:38


    This week, Elex is joined by California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and former Trump advisor John McEntee.

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