Podcasts about city hall

Jan retells the true personal story of a group of school kids challenging the moral integrity and leadership of a large American city, and the only remarkable historical figure who showed up to see it. A story to lift us all!

Politics, pressure campaigns, and federal bombshells. Steve Tavares, Trishala Vinnakota, and special co-host Justin Berton break down explosive new court filings in the federal corruption case against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the Duong family. Prosecutors allege Thao threatened to abandon a lucrative modular housing deal if East Bay Insiders published a story about former San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo's conduct during a trip to Vietnam. They also allege the Duongs paid former East Bay Insiders co-host Shawn Wilson $10,000 to suppress the story. We also examine the latest in the CA14 special election including how Melissa Hernandez's divorce records raise new questions about a central theme of her campaign biography. Plus, Oakland Department of Transportation Director Josh Rowan's remarkable broadside against City Hall, and Steve's latest conspiracy about a monster escaping from a Port of Oakland shipping container. Of course, Justin denies the claim.

Listener discretion is advised: this episode contains sworn testimony from the Fabian Basabe trial that describes details of rape. If you or someone you know is affected by this topics, you can access confidential support 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Because Miami makes its return with Bal Harbour councilperson Buzzy Sklar explaining to Billy Corben why he pulled his endorsement of Fabian Basabe. Plus, Billy and Thomas Kennedy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition discuss Miguel Gabela's time as Miami's District 1 commissioner thus far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Atlanta's Neighborhood Planning Units—or NPUs—have been shaping how residents engage with City Hall for nearly 50 years, but what exactly are they, and why do they exist? This week, inspired by my own quest to explore every NPU in the city, we're diving into the fascinating history behind Atlanta's unique system of neighborhood representation. From the end of the ward system and the rise at-large voting, to the years of debates over how to structure the NPU system, we'll explore how NPUs came to be, what power they actually have, and why they're still one of the city's most debated institutions today.   Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: thevictorialemos@gmail.com Facebook | Instagram 

We're talking about why efforts to fund cops with climate dollars aren't going as smoothly as some had hoped, and we have updates on our state hospital's troubling patient care record. Plus, why City Hall is shutting down a beloved, nearly half-century-long summer tradition at a Brooklyn neighborhood park. Joining host Claudia Meza are Willamette Week City Hall reporter Sophie Peel and Oregonian homelessness and mental health reporter Lillian Mongeau Hughes. Discussed in today's episode: City Orders Citizen-Run Youth Program to Discontinue Popular Waterslide [Willamette Week] Initiative to Hire Cops With Climate Dollars Fails First Signature Verification Step [Willamette Week] Secretary of State Read to City Auditor: Tighten Up Your Elections Division [Willamette Week] Family says patient who died was ‘tortured' at Oregon State Hospital. Now they're suing [Oregonian] Oregon State Hospital admitted dead man, held another in filthy room, leaked investigation finds [Oregonian] If you have information about the Oregon State Hospital and would like to reach out to Lillian, her email is  lmhughes@oregonian.com.  Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here. Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter and be sure to follow us on Instagram. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 31st episode: Portland Bureau of Transportation Rose City Comic Con Pickathon

The debate over Vancouver's Villages Plan has become something bigger than a simple zoning discussion. It has become a charged battle over the future of our city. As the city holds public consultation on the plan to upzone 17 neighbourhoods across Vancouver, housing advocate Phil Webb sits down with Adam & Matt to report from these contentious meetings at City Hall. They unpack the fears of the opposition, assess the plan on its merits, and dig into Phil's warning that protecting the status quo only shuts younger Vancouverites out of the market for good. Is the plan smart policy or just more condos that no one asked for? Whose voices are actually being heard here, and who is really footing the bill? And are the battle lines over the city's future actually in fact drawn by generation and wealth? The future of the city is being shaped today & the conversation starts here.  

"The problems we have as a country don't go away because the federal government leaves the stage," says Mary Ellen Wiederwohl, CEO of Accelerator for America, on the latest episode of How To Really Run A City. "All this stuff lands on the front steps of City Hall." And then what? That's what hosts Kasim Reed (former mayor of Atlanta) and Michael Nutter (former mayor of Philadelphia), along with Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt, explore with Brown University Professor Marc Dunkelman, author of the new book, Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress — and How to Bring It Back. "We need to rethink the balance between our impulse to empower central authority and the attempts to ensure that power doesn't do damage," says Dunkelman. Dunkelman highlights the push and pull of centralized power in U.S. politics, tracing a line from the Progressive Era of the late 19th century to the destructive anger of modern MAGAism. Reed weighed in with his experience. "Fair is harder," he says. "I believe in action-oriented leadership. Move faster. Be decisive. Be more inclusive, yes, but by god, do something." Join us for an unvarnished discussion about why trust in both politics and infrastructure continues to be broken in this country, along with steps we can take to actually make things work. As Dunkelman says, "There's a fantasy that if you just get everyone around a table, they will eventually come to an agreement. The truth is, we need deciders. That's why we have elections." Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. And watch for new episodes on YouTube and Piksel+ as they become available. As cities go, so goes the nation!

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is asking voters to help him clean up City Hall. For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Rebecca Goodeyon spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier.

Hello and welcome to That's So Auburn! I'm Nancy Backus, Mayor of the City of Auburn. One of the things I love most about local government is just how many different ways there are to serve a community. You can help support local businesses, connect residents with important services, design parks, maintain streets, plan for Auburn's future and that barely scratches the surface. This summer, like the ones before it, more than a dozen interns have been discovering that firsthand through Next Step Auburn. Our interns are working in departments across the City, learning from our employees and contributing to real projects that matter to our community. They've brought energy and some great new perspectives to City Hall and beyond, and we are very happy to have them here. I recently had the chance to spend some time with the group and answer their questions about my own path into public service, what it's like to serve as mayor and some of the experiences this work has given me over the years. But today, I get to turn the questions around and hear more about their experiences, with two interns – and their manager – in particular. Joining me are Jillian Orm, who is working with our Economic Development team, and Narina Pogosian, who is working with Human Services. We are also joined by Human Resources Manager Melissa Medisch, who has helped guide Next Step Auburn and support our interns and departments throughout the summer. The program will continue through late August, so this is a perfect time to talk about what Jillian and Narina have worked on, what they've learned and what they hope to accomplish before the summer wraps up!

Plus Dak is feeling his age and ready to win now!

"The problems we have as a country don't go away because the federal government leaves the stage," says Mary Ellen Wiederwohl, CEO of Accelerator for America, on the latest episode of How To Really Run A City. "All this stuff lands on the front steps of City Hall." And then what? That's what hosts Kasim Reed (former mayor of Atlanta) and Michael Nutter (former mayor of Philadelphia), along with Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt, explore with Brown University Professor Marc Dunkelman, author of the new book, Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress — and How to Bring It Back. "We need to rethink the balance between our impulse to empower central authority and the attempts to ensure that power doesn't do damage," says Dunkelman. Dunkelman highlights the push and pull of centralized power in U.S. politics, tracing a line from the Progressive Era of the late 19th century to the destructive anger of modern MAGAism. Reed weighed in with his experience. "Fair is harder," he says. "I believe in action-oriented leadership. Move faster. Be decisive. Be more inclusive, yes, but by god, do something." Join us for an unvarnished discussion about why trust in both politics and infrastructure continues to be broken in this country, along with steps we can take to actually make things work. As Dunkelman says, "There's a fantasy that if you just get everyone around a table, they will eventually come to an agreement. The truth is, we need deciders. That's why we have elections." As cities go, so goes the nation!

Deb Hutton kicks off the hour with a panel on the Ontario Liberal leadership race, joined by political strategists Blue Knox and Theresa Lubowitz to discuss the candidates, campaign momentum, and what the party needs to rebuild. Then it's time for the MuniciPALS Panel, featuring former Toronto councillors Karen Stintz and Joe Mihevc, who break down the biggest stories at City Hall, including the Toronto mayoral race, Billy Bishop Airport, FIFA spending, renovictions, and the departure of veteran councillor Gord Perks. The show wraps up with listener calls on two timely topics: Have money differences ever hurt a friendship? and If you could spend a week learning a new skill, what would it be? Guests: Blue Knox, Theresa Lubowitz, Karen Stintz, Joe Mihevc

Seattle's Socialist Mayor fired the city's police chief – but now black leaders are pressuring her to change course. Storm co-owner faces five game suspension. Businesses plaster sex offender's face all over storefronts, ban him from entry. Free chest binders for college kids! 

Yes! We can fight City Hall! | Chazky Rosenberg - Yoel Rosenfeld | Shmueli Cast #75 | Yiddish

A King County Superior Court judge ordered Seattle to further rein in nuisance nudity at Denny Blaine Beach Park — and the beach stays open. The ruling sounds like progress until you ask the obvious question: will Seattle actually enforce it?Washington state has no nudity law, which means the only tools on the table are public-lewdness statutes and now a court injunction. Sean walks through the beach layout, documented incidents, and the permanent injunction handed down — and makes the case that none of this needed a lawsuit if the city had just enforced existing law from day one.Under Katie Wilson's Seattle, the pattern is familiar. The same city that lets homeless encampments return after every sweep extends LGBTQ political cover to avoid enforcement — and is now expected to comply with a judge's order while continuing to ignore laws already on the books. Neighbors with million-dollar homes next door are the collateral damage nobody in City Hall is talking about.Subscribe to @reasonablenews for daily Pacific Northwest news commentary that holds local officials accountable.#NFRP #DennyBlaine #SeattleGO PREMIUM WITH REASONABLE+ FOR UNCENSORED ACCESS

At least four San Francisco Grocery Outlet stores have deployed SAFR facial recognition technology to identify repeat shoplifters — and privacy advocates are predictably outraged. This in a city that banned government use of facial recognition back in 2019, while simultaneously watching retailers hemorrhage thousands of dollars a day to brazen, consequence-free theft.The numbers tell the story clearly: a nearby Safeway was losing an estimated $7,000 per day to shoplifting before corporate pulled the plug. One documented offender had 77 known incidents on record. When the stores close, the neighborhood loses its grocery access — but the critics are busy worrying about camera databases. San Francisco's soft-on-crime political culture created this crisis; facial recognition is what fills the vacuum when the will to prosecute simply isn't there.The legal picture is complicated but revealing. Private businesses can still deploy this technology even after SF's 2019 public-sector ban. The EFF has raised misidentification concerns. The SAFR president has pushed back on fears about ICE data-sharing. It's a genuine debate — but it only exists because Sacramento and City Hall spent years refusing to enforce the law. Corporate fights back with cameras because city government checked out a long time ago.CHAPTERS0:00 San Francisco Grocery Outlets Deploy…1:44 SF Grocers Deploy Facial Recognition…2:15 Grocery Outlet Deploys Facial…3:08 We Already Have No Privacy Anywhere3:47 SF Grocery Outlets Build Shoplifter…4:30 Repeat Shoplifter Had 77 Known Incidents5:58 Can Stores Legally Ban Known Shoplifters6:44 SAFR on Data Sharing With Law…7:15 Facial Recognition Misidentifies Black…8:09 Security Cameras Already Dominate…10:10 Soft-on-Crime Laws Leave Stores…12:06 What Happens After Facial Recognition…13:01 Defund the Police Made Shoplifting Worse14:32 Is Crime Finally Trending Down in SFSubscribe to @reasonablenews for daily commentary on Pacific Northwest politics and national stories the mainstream media won't tell you straight.#NFRP #SanFrancisco #FacialRecognitionGO PREMIUM WITH REASONABLE+ FOR UNCENSORED ACCESS

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is burning through staff at a pace that would end most careers — her latest casualty is the mayor's own spokesman, the newest name on a growing list of top aides to exit an administration that can't seem to hold itself together.The analogy is blunt: if you hand the CEO role to someone who has never run anything — no real job, no executive track record, no understanding of what a city of this size actually demands — you get churn. Wilson doesn't know what she needs, so she can't hire for it, and the people who do know eventually leave. That's not a scandal. It's just management reality playing out in slow motion on Seattle's dime.Every departure takes institutional knowledge with it, and every replacement hire — a campaign ally here, an NGO friend there — resets the clock. Seattle isn't being governed; it's being staffed and restaffed while the city's actual problems compound. The blind really are leading the blind at City Hall.CHAPTERS0:00 Seattle mayor's spokesman latest to…2:19 Seattle Mayor's Staff Exodus Grows3:19 Press Secretary Leaves Wilson's City…4:30 World Cup Over, Seattle Still Sliding5:33 Sage Wilson Out at Mayor's Office7:10 Blind Leading the Blind at City Hall8:16 Comms Director Day Forced to Resign9:54 Chris Daniels' Wilson Six-Month Review10:50 Crystal Fincher Hired to Manage Fallout12:18 City Hall: Staff Turnover Is Normal13:00 Starbucks Boycott Comes Back to Haunt…14:37 Witness to a Downtown Seattle Stabbing16:14 Wilson Walks Back Starbucks Boycott17:12 Howard Schultz Slams Seattle's…19:30 Six Months of Staff Churn Under WilsonSubscribe to @reasonablenews for daily coverage of Pacific Northwest politics, Seattle's ongoing decline, and the stories the local press won't touch.#NFRP #Seattle #KatieWilsonGO PREMIUM WITH REASONABLE+ FOR UNCENSORED ACCESS

July is National Parks and Recreation Month, and we're celebrating by going Beyond City Hall to showcase everything that makes Sanford's parks, green spaces, and community programs so special!

Greg Brady, Lily Cheng, Councillor for Ward 18 Willowdale & Rachel Chernos Lin, Councillor for Ward 15 Don Valley West discuss; 1 - Ford government chastises Carney government for giving into ‘fringe group' over island airport expansion 2 - Salsa on St. Clair loses key sponsor following deadly shooting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 30, 2026 - Former mayor Paul Osborne joined Byers & Co to talk about Decatur Day at the Illinois State Fair, the upcoming "How to Run for Public Office" event, and disqualified candidate applications over the years. Listen to the podcast now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the business community's perspective, La Crosse needs a city administrator. La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Sam Scinta and government relations director Allyson Fergot in studio explaining why 99% of their members support the move — and why they believe operating without one is costing the city more in the long run. HIGHLIGHTS: Overwhelming business support: Why 99% of the Chamber's 540-plus members—from small shops to non-profits and healthcare—back the position. Streamlining development: Why local non-profits told the Chamber they would rather have a city administrator than a new zoning code to cut through red tape. Managing a $74 million operation: Why treating city government like a complex enterprise requires consistent, professional management alongside elected policy makers. Predictability for local business: How a central administrator creates clear processes and stable leadership that outlasts political turnover. Next week the city council begins again its debate on creating the charter ordinance position, beginning with the Judiciary and Administrative Committee (agenda) at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The council did get the same ordinance through by a 7-6 vote back in February, but it needed a supermajority. NOTE: This interview was recorded prior to Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey releasing a video opposing the proposed charter ordinance. The mayor argued the specific legislation takes statutory power away from elected leadership and removes the voice of the people from City Hall. Watch and read more about the mayor's response here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Florida Carry Executive Director Sean Caranna joins Cam with news of TWO new lawsuits filed by the 2A group; one over St. Augustine's "no guns allowed" signage at many government buildings, and the second over Jacksonville's illegal registry of gun owners who visited City Hall.

5pm - GUEST - STEVE HICKEY AKA PHOTOGSTEVE81 // Steve breaks down the intricate, complicated and massively underreported gang world in Western Washington // How trying to “play ball” with City Hall is costing Steve, and all media, content and credibility // LETTERS

Send us Fan MailIn this special edition episode, Ernest, head of the Office of the Chief Articulator of the Problem (CAOP), breaks down the latest resignations from Philly Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration and major bombshell lawsuit that could shake-up City Hall.Ernestly Speaking! is executively produced and hosted by Ernest Owens. Check him out at ernestowens.com and follow him @MrErnestOwens on Twitter & Instagram. 

Gavin Newsom said his administration's diaper deal with Baby2Baby — a nonprofit tied to his wife's own foundation — was competitively bid. California's own contract database says it wasn't.This week: the receipts on the $6.2 million diaper contract, Newsom's affair resurfaces, Sheng Thao crime story continues to expand, and why the Attorney General's rewritten ballot title for the voter ID initiative has people on both sides raising eyebrows. Plus a quick note on the new essay resurfacing one of Newsom's oldest City Hall scandals.Phil is joined this week by guest co-host Randy Wang (KABC Radio).Read more from Phil in his upcoming book, The Gilded State: thegildedstate.com

HOUR 1 (07/28) – Gary and Shannon dive into the explosive new Vanity Fair essay detailing a former close confidante's affair with Gavin Newsom, reacting in real time as each chapter becomes more shocking than the last. They discuss the author's account of working inside City Hall, the affair's beginnings, and the personal fallout that followed.Along the way, they cover the latest earthquake in Japan, meetings between President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and wrap the hour reflecting on the tragic consequences that unfolded long after the affair ended.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Residents are often told to get involved at City Hall, but first they have to figure out where to go, who has authority, and which committee will actually hear them. Jacob Hyman learned that firsthand when his attempt to advocate for multimodal transportation turned into a frustrating tour of local government. As a civil engineer and leader of Strong Towns Steubenville, he helped build a power map showing the officials, boards, departments, and relationships behind city decisions, giving residents a clearer route into a system that had been difficult even to describe. Hyman will also be a speaker at the Civic Leader Summit in Pensacola, Florida, from October 6–8, where he'll lead a session on building power maps for local communities, and early-bird tickets are available now. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Jacob Hyman (LinkedIn) Strong Towns Steubenville (Site) Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you! Join fellow members discussing this episode in The Commons.

Summer 2026 has been a historic summer for the city. Reports show 1.4 million people poured into Philly this summer to attend FIFA World Cup matches, the free Lemon Hill Fan Fest, America's 250th anniversary on July 4 weekend, and the MLB All-Star Weekend. Visitors also traveled on SEPTA, drank at bars, and ran up the art museum steps. So how did Philadelphia do with these major events? And were the city's investments worth it? Host Trenae Nuri sat down with Mayor Cherelle Parker in City Hall to debrief the busy summer season, some criticisms, and the other policy issues she's focused on this year.  Our newsletter has Philly news & events in your inbox every weekday morning. Call or text us: 215-259-8170 Instagram: @citycastphilly Support our show and get great perks as a City Cast Philly Neighbor. Sign up here. Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

Zoning changes in communities across the city of San Diego are leading to a growing trend: replacing old big-box retailers with mid- and high-rise apartments. A former Fry's Electronics in Sierra Mesa and parts of the Mission Valley mall are among the several projects.Developers say the sinking demand for commercial space, due in large part to online shopping, is one reason prompting the shift. But not everyone is happy about more housing. Some neighborhood leaders argue replacing commercial with housing isn't for every community.City Hall reporter David Garrick has been following this developing trend. He joined Midday Edition on Monday to share what he's learned.Guest: David Garrick, San Diego City Hall reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune

The Rays unveiled fresh stadium renderings, but the conversation quickly shifted from architecture to City Hall. Nick Wize discusses the latest images, Mayor Jane Castor's frustration with city leaders, and Bill Carlson's headline-grabbing photo-op with Ken Babby. Is anyone actually closer to keeping Major League Baseball in Tampa, or has this become another political battle?

Kenny Minaya, commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services, talks about City Hall's plan to smooth the way for NYC's small businesses. Photo: Zohran Kwame Mamdani announces “OPEN for Small Business”, a package of more than 50 regulatory reforms to reduce the paperwork and bureaucratic burden facing the city's roughly 180,000 small businesses. Alongside an Executive Order that immediately implements several reforms, the package saves time, effort, and money for the small businesses that anchor New York's economy and the one million New Yorkers they employ, at La Bodega in the Bronx on Monday July 20, 2026. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Last year on the campaign trail, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that as mayor, he would have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if he came to New York City. This week, he told The New York Times he was in "active conversation" with the city's Law Department about whether he could direct the NYPD to arrest Netanyahu. He later walked back those comments, saying the city does not have "independent legal authority" to make such an arrest. Investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Kelly Mena, and political director Bob Hardt break down the complicated week for the mayor. Then, a political battle has erupted at City Hall following the death of five New Yorkers from Legionnaires' disease since early July. City Council Speaker Julie Menin accused the Mamdani administration of responding too slowly and failing to be transparent with New Yorkers about the outbreak. The "Off Topic" team discusses the public health response and the latest clash between the mayor and the speaker.

"If you use low-cost capital, you don't need tax credits to make the economics work. That's what excites me the most about how to scale this thing up. [...] How do I help every other community bank get in the game of building their green lending muscle and thinking about resilience? And if we can do that, then we don't need all of the tax credits and all the incentives that everybody has thought we needed in this industry." — Chris Castro, founding director and chief sustainability officer, Climate First BankFederal support for climate and clean energy programs is being dismantled, and the question of who will finance resilience has turned urgent for communities throughout the Ten Across geography. The money that flowed from Washington is thinning; the need is not.Few people have approached that question from as many sides as Chris Castro. He built Orlando's sustainability and resilience office under Mayor Buddy Dyer, then moved to Washington as a presidential appointee, helping stand up the Department of Energy arm created to move historic infrastructure and climate funding to states, cities, and school districts — until the change in administration halted the work.Now Castro is pursuing the same goal from inside the private sector. As founding director and chief sustainability officer of Climate First Bank, he is testing whether a community bank can finance resilience at a scale federal programs no longer will.In this episode, Ten Across founder Duke Reiter and Chris Castro trace that arc from city hall to federal government to mission-driven banking, and land on a question 10X is now taking up with its own networks: what resilience officers need to know about finance.

Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan has hit a snag. The plan is the set of zoning changes that plans the city’s future growth – the current one in the works outlines a lot more housing density in the city. State law requires such a plan be in place, but Seattle’s has been delayed by administrative appeals from two groups. On Wednesday, we spoke with Seattle councilmember Eddie Lin about his proposal to eliminate one of the paths people have to appeal the plan under the State Environmental Policy Act. Jennifer Godfrey filed one of the appeals currently delaying implementation, and formed the group Orca Nexus, which is advocating for more environmental review of Seattle’s zoning changes. They claim the Comprehensive Plan’s Environmental Impact Statement did not fully evaluate the environmental impact of greater housing density on trees and runoff. They say removing trees will increase pollutants that could harm humans, salmon and especially endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Guest: Jennifer Godfrey Related Links: Conservation Groups Join Push Against Seattle Growth Plan This change will let Seattle address climate change, housing shortage Seattle Poised to Remove SEPA Review Hurdle for Most Housing Projects Residents and activists clash over plan to curb SEPA appeals at Seattle hearing Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Seattle Nice, (the only podcast that tells you what's really happening in Seattle politics), we get into three topics:Should buying sex on Aurora Avenue be a felony? King County's top prosecutor is pushing state legislation to upgrade paying for sex from a misdemeanor to a felony. But some county public defenders are pushing back. We dig into the numbers and debate whether tougher penalties are the right approach.Mayor Katie Wilson loses press secretary. Sage Wilson is out in early August, weeks after communications director Seferiana Day resigned. Is this a sign of friction inside City Hall over issues like sweeps and renters' protections? That's what co-host Erica Barnett thinks. Seattle's housing pipeline has nearly dried up. We talk about why housing starts are down, the fallout from the failed MHA fee reform, and whether Council member Eddie Lynn has found a modest path forward to get more construction projects moving again.Thanks to everyone who is helping Seattle Nice make the jump to video. If you know someone who loves this podcast and hasn't become a member yet, please suggest they contribute too, at: Patreon.com/SeattleNiceSend us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails realseattlenice@gmail.comThanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at realseattlenice@gmail.comSupport the showYour support on Patreon helps pay for editing, production, live events and the unique, hard-hitting local journalism and commentary you hear weekly on Seattle Nice. 

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and David Kroman of the Seattle Times discuss the impact of higher police hiring costs on Seattle's supplemental budget, a debate within City Hall over a change to the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise levy, a final vote on the transit measure Seattle voters will face this November, a court decision over a Seattle nude beach that has both sides claiming victory, and City Hall's new interest in Jimothy the raccoon. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Ryan and Dana discuss an AI-generated campaign ad from Charlie Crist's St. Petersburg mayoral campaign that criticizes incumbent Ken Welch over his reported attendance at City Hall.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good morning, folks. We have another weekend of violence to report. Two dead. Ten wounded. No, no... not Iran. Chicago. And before anybody panics, relax. For Chicago, that's practically a Chamber of Commerce commercial. Somewhere in City Hall they're popping champagne because nobody hit double digits. Yet somehow the people counting bodies in Tehran can't seem to find a calculator for Cook County. Funny how that works. The Left has suddenly become fascinated with casualty reports. They have spreadsheets for Iran. Pie charts. PowerPoint presentations. But ask them about Chicago and suddenly they become performance artists. "Violence is complicated." Really? Bullets seem remarkably uncomplicated. I got asked recently why dealing with Iran isn't as easy as dealing with Venezuela. Because they're not the same country. That's like asking why climbing Mount Everest isn't as easy as walking up the steps at Walmart. Venezuela is in our hemisphere. We've had strategic interests there since James Monroe was telling Europe, "Stay on your side of the pond." Iran has spent decades preparing for exactly this moment. Their nuclear infrastructure wasn't built in office parks with valet parking. They buried it inside mountains. Granite. Reinforced bunkers. Underground complexes that look like somebody hired a Bond villain as the architect. These people weren't planning for inspections. They were planning for survival. Which makes President Trump's strategy fascinating. Everybody expected fireworks. Instead, he's conducting surgery. One target. Another target. Economic pressure. Military pressure. Psychological pressure. It's less "shock and awe" and more "you'll wake up tomorrow and discover another piece of your government has mysteriously disappeared." Melissa made an interesting point the other day about international law and whether Trump worries about being labeled a war criminal. That's adorable. Kevin Jackson has been called, the "white-collar" Joe Rogan. Given their similar backgrounds in TV, comedy, and martial arts, it's easy to see why people enjoy Kevin's show so much. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Political consultant Andrew Solano talks with the ENside Politics team about whether City Council has the appetite to cut funding for the San Antonio Botanical Garden and other nonprofits -- or to increase the city's property tax rate. Also, the Bonham Exchange is asking for more time to install legally required fire sprinklers after Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones drops her pledge to help raise money for the system. Suggested reading: Why Mayor Jones said the city should stop funding the Botanical Garden Bonham Exchange seeks more time to install fire sprinklers, avoid closure Mayor's voting commission wants new City Hall office to boost voter turnout Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for July 20, 2026. We open with a 100-page State Department report titled Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism — and the findings go far beyond what most Americans have ever been told about Cuba's reach inside this country. For nearly 70 years, Cuba has been building a revolutionary infrastructure in the United States — funding and directing organizations from the Black Panthers and the Weather Underground to modern Antifa networks, Code Pink, the Democratic Socialists of America, and the National Lawyers Guild, which provided legal assistance to 20,000 people arrested during the 2020 George Floyd unrest. We connect the dots from Bill Ayers launching Barack Obama's political career from his living room to Chessa Boudin running San Francisco's DA office to LaToya Cantrell traveling to Cuba to study economics before being indicted on 16 counts of malfeasance. The pattern, once you see it, cannot be unseen. In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, three U.S. service members were killed in the Middle East over the weekend — 19-year-old Private Isabella Gonzalez of Carrollton, Texas and 25-year-old First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan of Ewa Beach, Hawaii died in an Iranian missile attack on their base in Jordan, and a third service member was killed during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone in Iraq. A fourth remains missing. We honor them with Abraham Lincoln's words — the last full measure of devotion. Then a man was arrested for setting off an incendiary device outside the ICE offices in lower Manhattan — fireworks and gasoline, two minor injuries, a federal building housing ICE, immigration courts, and the FBI. And Maine Democrats selected Troy Jackson as their replacement Senate candidate for Graham Plattner — a man accused of mortgage fraud for lying about his primary residence to get a lower interest rate. Mortgage fraud, apparently, is the ceiling Maine Democrats are working with this cycle. We also take on Mayor Mamdani's declaration that he intends to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he sets foot in New York City — based on an International Criminal Court warrant that the United States does not recognize. We explain why this is constitutionally illiterate, diplomatically catastrophic, and practically impossible. The Constitution gives Washington, not City Hall, the authority to conduct foreign affairs. The UN sits in New York City precisely because heads of state must be able to travel there safely. If one mayor can arrest one head of state, no head of state will ever return — and the UN becomes a ghost town. Mamdani's job is to serve the people of New York City. Destroying the diplomatic credibility of the most important city in the world is not that. Our American Mama Teri Netterville makes the case that small talk is a lost art — and a more important one than most people realize. It's not filler. It's the appetizer to the main course. Terry talks about watching her shy daughter Summer learn to work a room by watching her mother walk across it toward the person standing alone. She credits her father, who could run any room because he made whoever was speaking to him feel like they were the only person there. She points to Princess Catherine and Bill Clinton as two of the best practitioners alive — and makes the case that if parents don't put the phones down and model this for their children, an entire generation will grow up incapable of the human connection that holds communities together. We also cover the media's outrage over President Trump presenting the World Cup trophy to Spain — headlines declaring he refused to leave the stage, sparked outrage, and embarrassed the country. We note that presenting the trophy was part of the plan agreed upon months in advance with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. We also note that if Joe Biden had done the same thing, the coverage would have called it proof of his vitality and connection to the world stage. In our Digging Deep segment, a new Echelon Insights poll reveals something stunning about young Democrats — they have a net negative view of capitalism of minus 31%, a net positive view of socialism of plus 35%, and a net positive view of free markets of plus 22%. All three of those positions cannot be simultaneously true. Free markets are capitalism. Socialism is the opposite of free markets. The same poll shows young Democrats under 50 support the Democratic Socialists of America with a net favorability of 54% while Democrats over 50 give the DSA only 28%. The Make America Healthy Again movement is the only political movement in the country with a net approval rating above 50% — and it's below 50% among Democrats. Apparently, Democrats don't want anything associated with Trump — including healthy food. We also push back on Republican strategists panicking about Iran hurting the party in the midterms. The American people are not bloodthirsty and they don't want endless wars. But there is a world of difference between opposing endless wars and surrendering to a regime that has chanted death to America every day for fifty years and was on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon. President Trump has made a reasonable case for a defined military objective. He could make it better. But rolling over is not an electoral strategy either. For our Bright Spot, the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University announced the discovery of massive wooden beams from Lebanon — burned and preserved since 586 BCE — that appear to be structural elements from the First Temple of Jerusalem, exactly as described in the Bible. The beams show an unusually high number of growth rings, confirming they came from the large, old trees of Lebanon that scripture specifically identifies as the building material. The Bible said it. The archaeologists found it. Another bright spot hidden in the dirt. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crime and Science Fiction on a TuesdayFirst,  a look at this day in History.Then, Dragnet starring Jack Webb,  originally broadcast  July 21, 1949, 77 years ago, City Hall Bombing.  Vernon Carney is threatening to blow up City Hall with a bomb if his brother isn't freed from jail by nine o'clock.  The story would be reused a year later and on the Television show. Followed by The Big Story, originally broadcast July 21, 1948, 78 years ago, The Lottery Racket. The "big story" of Keeler McCartney of the Atlanta Constitution, who attempts to clean up a lottery racket and nearly gets killed for his efforts. Then, Calling All Cars,  originally broadcast  July 21, 1937, 89 years ago, Alibi.  A dangerous hold-up man is wanted. He has held up a streetcar motorman. Followed by The CBS Radio Workshop, originally broadcast July 21, 1957, 69 years ago, Green Hills of Earth starring Everett Sloan.   The beautiful Robert Heinlein science fiction story about Reisling, the blind poet of the spaceways.  Perhaps the best adaptation of the story. Finally, Claudia, originally broadcast July 21, 1948, 78 years ago, You've Seen One Baby, You've Seen Them All.  Kathryn Bard and Paul Crabtree star. Thanks to Bill B for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamFind the Family Fallout Shelter Booklet Here: https://www.survivorlibrary.com/library/the_family_fallout_shelter_1959.pdfhttps://wardomatic.blogspot.com/2006/11/fallout-shelter-handbook-1962.html

Today, I sit down with Highland Park mayoral candidate and Avalon Village founder Shamayim "Mama Shu" Harris.  We dig into how she's turned one of the city's most notorious blocks into a grassroots hub with streetlights, a homework house, basketball courts, and shipping-container retail. We also talk about what that experience taught her about transforming blight into beauty, rebuilding housing and neighborhood businesses, and why she believes Highland Park can stand strong as its own city. More information: https://www.mamashuformayor.com/ As always, if you've got feedback - 313-789-3211 or email us, dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com.  For a full transcript, visit the Daily Detroit website.  As always, thanks to our members on Patreon for supporting work like this.

Grant, a historic Carnegie library and city hall of South San Francisco - tourist California

The I Love CVille Show headlines: CVille City Hall Is Tearing Down Tent Town By 9/1 Michael Payne, “[Tent Town] Failure Of City Council” AlbCo Schools In Shambles: School Board Meeting Recap AlbCo Assistant Superintendent Sex Harassment Allegations Cherry Avenue Grocery Store Is Now Officially Dead Stolen Rifle From Chief Brackney Dept Used In 3X Homicide SOLD: 132-Key Holiday Inn Monticello On 5th Street Do Need To Rent Office Space? Contact Jerry Miller Read Viewer & Listener Comments Live On-Air The I Love CVille Show airs live Monday – Friday from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm on The I Love CVille Network. Watch and listen to The I Love CVille Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, iTunes, Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Fountain, Amazon Music, Audible, Rumble and iLoveCVille.com.

Welcome back to Finest Unfiltered — raw, direct, and unscripted commentary on the biggest stories happening right now. In today's live episode, we dive into two massive stories shaking New York City right now: MAMDANI VS NETANYAHU: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's legal order directing the city to explore executing ICC arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he arrives for the UN General Assembly in September. Can the NYPD actually pull this off, or is it pure political theater? NYC PUBLIC SAFETY BREAKDOWN: A 24-year-old relative of an NYPD officer was shot directly in the eye in broad daylight, marking another tragic escalation in local violent crime. We break down the details of this investigation alongside the latest NYPD public safety reports and crime trends across the five boroughs. Join the live chat below and drop your thoughts! What do you think of Mamdani's stance on Netanyahu? How should City Hall handle local public safety? Sound off in the comments below! Support Our Sponsor — Kalshi Get $20 when you trade $20! Sign up for Kalshi, America's regulated prediction market, using our exclusive link: http://kalshi.com/r/FINEST Use promo code: FINEST Trade on real-world events, politics, sports, entertainment, and more. New users can receive $20 after trading $20 (subject to Kalshi's current promotional terms). Must be 18+. Event contracts involve risk. Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss a live stream! ️ New York's Finest: Retired & Unfiltered brings you honest, unfiltered conversations about policing, politics, and the issues affecting New York's Finest from those who lived it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of Without A Country, Corinne dives into the growing movement to ban New York City's horse-drawn carriages following the tragic death of 18-year-old tourist Romanch, shares her firsthand experience at City Hall, and breaks down why this fight may finally be reaching a turning point. Plus: the debate over restorative reproductive medicine and IVF, New York becoming the first state to pause new AI data centers, ICE's latest slaughters and deportation narratives, press freedom and the subpoenaing of New York Times reporters, the latest on white nationalists Patriot Front, posthumous seggsual allegations surrounding the late Senator Lindsey Graham, an update on Nolan Wells, the parasite going around the US, and AI companions for children. NYC CONSTITUENTS - SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF ROMANCH'S LAW (DEADLINE: Friday 7/17 10am ET) https://council.nyc.gov/testify/(Hearing = July 15 10am Health Committee, Subject = Romanch's Law Intro 943)TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Livestream waiting room03:08 Show intro & what's coming up this week05:44 NYC horse carriage ban hearing & why Corinne spent the day at City Hall12:47 The tragic death of Romanch and the push for Romanch's Law18:19 Inside the heated City Hall hearing and the politics of the carriage industry30:58 Corinne's prepared testimony in support of the ban34:19 Enemy of the State: Your wellness friend with a “miracle cure”37:16 Restorative reproductive medicine vs. IVF—science, politics & fertility treatments56:27 Final thoughts on wellness trends and medical misinformation57:46 Waco Mailbag: New York becomes the first state to pause new AI data centers01:00:20 Data centers, nuclear power & environmental fears01:02:21 Are data centers harming bee populations?01:06:35 Second Waco Mailbag: Female candidates, sexism & political double standards01:21:32 Main stories begin01:23:22 ICE agents allegedly kill a legal resident after mistaken identity01:45:27 Viral misinformation, fact-checking & why you can't trust everything online01:52:00 Trump administration subpoenas New York Times reporters02:00:06 Deep dive: The white nationalist group Patriot Front and its public image02:11:25 Nolan Wells case update, AI-generated misinformation & the search for answers02:15:43 The viral allegations involving Senator Lindsey Graham and Jesse James Rose02:27:39 The dangerous parasite 02:39:07 Children, technology & creating healthier developmental environments02:46:26 The male loneliness epidemic and the unintended consequences of modern life02:57:00 Final thoughts, wrap-up & outroSUBSCRIBE TO THE PATREON:https://patreon.com/WithoutACountry?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkFOLLOW WITHOUT A COUNTRY ON IG: https://www.instagram.com/withoutacountrypodcast/FOLLOW CORINNE ON IG: https://www.instagram.com/philanthropygalFOLLOW MIKE ON IG: https://www.instagram.com/themharrington/FOLLOW ALONG:ENEMY OF THE STATE: Your "wellness" friend who has special fruit wash https://www.thefp.com/p/restorative-reproductive-medicine-fertility-motherhood?utm_campaign=260347&utm_source=cross-post&r=3l2hy&utm_medium=emailWACO MailbagFrom WACO Georgehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/07/14/new-york-becomes-first-state-impose-data-center-moratorium/From WACO DiFiGraham Platner Double Standardhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/us/politics/platner-democrats-women-double-standard.htmlMAIN STORIESICE MURDERShttps://prospect.org/2026/07/15/ice-murders-continue/(counterpoint from June 29 - https://www.foxnews.com/us/ice-arrests-15-illegal-immigrants-convictions-including-homicide-rape-child-sex-crimes-weekend)WHITE NATIONALISTShttps://www.npr.org/2026/07/11/nx-s1-5888571/patriot-front-washington-dcGUUUURLNYT Journalists Subpoenaedhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/business/media/new-york-times-trump-subpoenas.htmlLindsey Graham Is Dead And Gayhttps://www.advocate.com/politics/jesse-james-rose-lindsey-grahamNolan Wells Update https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2026/07/15/nolan-wells-family-meets-da-but-gets-no-new-answers-in-horn-island-ms-death/90927649007/Cyclospora, a parasitehttps://www.usnews.com/news/u-s-news-decision-points/articles/2026-07-13/the-cyclosporiasis-outbreak-is-spreading-faster-than-the-cdc-can-trackAI companions for kidshttps://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/07/14/g-s1-133066/the-trojan-teddy-bear-the-promise-and-peril-of-childhood-in-the-age-of-aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this Thursday edition of Sid & Friends in the Morning, Sid covers Vice President J.D. Vance saying some members of the Israeli government had tried to influence U.S. public opinion to oppose a U.S. deal to end the war with Iran, in a podcast episode with host Joe Rogan posted yesterday. In other news of the day, Todd Blanche - President Trump's pick for attorney general - faced tough questioning from Democrats and some Republicans during his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, Jay Clayton assured senators that if he's confirmed as director of national intelligence then he'll be "mission-focused and team-oriented" in his approach and will work to strengthen coordination between the intelligence community and the American public, the battle over whether to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City made its return to City Hall as legislators are considering whether to advance the latest proposal -- renamed in the wake of a tourist's freak Central Park death last month -- to the full City Council, and Argentina's Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late goals to snatch a 2-1 win over England in the World Cup semi-final to send Lionel Messi's reigning champions into the weekend showpiece match against Spain. Bill O'Reilly, John McLaughlin, Lara Trump, Mike Lawler & Rich Lowry join Sid on this Friday-eve installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning.

This year, New York City under Mayor Zohran Mamdani has looked like a different city after Eric Adams' turbulent term. The contrast is stark: Adams-era crises have given way to a wildly popular first six months for Mamdani, which includes excitement around the World Cup and a long-awaited New York Knicks championship. Katie Honan, who covers City Hall for newsoutlet The City Reporter and co-hosts the "FAQ NYC" podcast, joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss Mamdani's first year in office and recent budget negotiations, including a new housing voucher program. They also dug into City Hall's growing use of influencers for messaging and the misinformation risks that come with it. Honan also outlined some of Mamdani's stalled campaign promises amid fiscal constraints and shared her reporting on sports books losing $48 million after the Knicks' victory. 

The State Department blocked a Mamdani administration official's planned meeting with Iran's U.N. ambassador, the second federal intervention in weeks. Meanwhile, City Hall faces backlash over an official NYC map that omits Little Italy and other historic Jewish and Irish neighborhoods.