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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.
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Now displaying: 2020
Dec 23, 2020

Rep. Eric Swalwell and Fang Fang, the Chinese spy who shagged him, is riveting the 15th Congressional District. What might be Swalwell's future? An Alameda County elected official won two races last month and one jurisdiction wants him and the other, not so much. Plus, the rise of the councilmember/public works employee.

Nov 14, 2020

The covid-19 election in the East Bay is in the books. There were some upsets and voters were clearly apprehensive about too much change during a year of uncertainty. But the election also revealed fissures within the local Alameda County Democratic Party as one of the own, although tacitly supported, took one on the cheek on Election Night.

Nov 14, 2020

The covid-19 election in the East Bay is in the books. There were some upsets and voters were clearly apprehensive about too much change during a year of uncertainty. But the election also revealed fissures within the local Alameda County Democratic Party as one of the own, although tacitly supported, took one on the cheek on Election Night.

Nov 3, 2020

It's Election Day! How will the night shakedown in Alameda County and the East Bay? We take a look at some of the races and offer insights and some bold predictions. Plus, a look ahead to 2022.

Aug 5, 2020

Shortly after this episode was recorded, Eden Health District board director Charlie Gilcrest passed away. At the beginning and end of this episode, Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson remember the man who gave so much to San Leandro. Also, the fall election season is here. We take quick looks at races in Alameda and Fremont, and Oakland races destined to be dominated by the movement to defund police.

Jul 16, 2020

Hamilton, baseball and politics, and another round of sneak peaks for the fall election season in the East Bay. In particular, two races that are big in both consequence and size-Oakland's up-for-grabs District 7 council seat and the four seats on the Hayward City Council, plus much more.

Jul 4, 2020

A new election. A new season of the East Bay Insiders. Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson travel from the future to fix a wrong that will occur on Sept. 20, 2020.

May 26, 2020

East Bay Insiders Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson, wearing masks and social distancing, are together for the first in-person episode since the pandemic started. Two candidates in San Leandro might be showing how campaign outreach will be done this year. Should 16- and 17-year-olds be able to vote? Plus, A's rent strike.

May 5, 2020

After Steve talked smack about his girlfriend during the shelter in place, she surprises him and talks smack back. Steve and Shawn add perspective to the shooting of a 33-year-old black man at Walmart by San Leandro Police. Meanwhile, how will Alameda County balance its $72 million deficit? And by popular demand, the results for the first quarter of the first-ever Fantasy City Council League are in!

Apr 19, 2020

Alameda Councilmember Jim Oddie joins Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson discuss his profanity-laced comments against delaying the minimum wage in Alameda, and the island city's potentially grim budget outlook. And what about the time a constituent invited Jim to discuss city matters in her hot tub? Also, coronavirus conspiracy (Putin did it), and VP, local campaign talk.

Apr 12, 2020

The shelter in place continues. Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson, however, sort of like the new routine presented by the covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, they discuss the potential for delays in raising the minimum wage spreading across the East Bay. Happy Easter!

Apr 4, 2020

After a nearly month-long hiatus as Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson help save Alameda County from the coronavirus, "We're baaaaaaaack!" Shawn moved in with his better half right in the smack of the shelter in place. Meanwhile, our lives, like yours, surrounds solely around stories about going to the grocery store. Then there's the question of how will campaigns be run this fall in the era of covid-19?

Mar 7, 2020

The votes are in, but Alameda County voters and candidates eagerly awaiting all of the ballots to be counted. We look at the returns in all the March primary races in Alameda County. But things also got steamy and Shawn Wilson explained his battle back from backside surgery.

Mar 4, 2020

Eighteenth District Assemblymember Rob Bonta is upset about insults hurled against him recently by East Bay Insiders co-host Shawn Wilson. "I thought he was my friend," a downtrodden Bonta said. In this Election Day special podcast, Bonta discusses his California Green New Deal legislation, pedestrian safety in Alameda, and the recent firing of Oakland's police chief.

Mar 1, 2020

Co-host Shawn Wilson busted out of his hospital room to record the March Primary Election Preview. Despite hand and buttocks injuries, Shawn persisted (with help from pain killers). It's the loopiest episode yet. We look at the big Alameda County supervisors race in District 1, critique some mailers, and give our predictions.

Feb 20, 2020

An enlightened conversation with water district official Olivia Sanwong is interrupted by retiring Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty. "I've got news for you, nobody likes you guys," Haggerty said, in response to the show's tagline. But he also offers unvarnished takes on a number of issues. He even falls off his chair. (We thought he was having a heart attack.)

Feb 14, 2020

Zone 7 Water District Boardmember Olivia Sanwong joins the East Bay Insiders podcast as the first official to appear on the show who has not lost their last election. She chats about her district, espionage, the presidential race, Thai food, Pete Stark and Kobe Bryant's passing, and the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee. Then, like a photobombing, the show was "podcastbombed" by a surprise guest. Find out who in Part 2, coming next week.

Jan 28, 2020

Former Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison loves gangster rap, but dislikes Bacon. The Big Man joins the podcast to dish about Fremont, why he gave to John McCain, and brandishes some tough words for his former colleague who is running for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. Plus, lots of singing.

Jan 21, 2020

Kevin Dowling, a former Hayward councilmember and Pete Buttigieg supporter, has seen a whopping 19 Democratic presidential candidates in the flesh. He gives his thought on the race, along with analysis of the big Alameda County Board of Supervisors primary contest.

Jan 11, 2020

An ability to see the big picture may be hindering the judgment of progressives in the East Bay during the first two weeks of 2020. For instance in Alameda County's District 1 supervisorial race in moderate Fremont and Tri-Valley. Same for the growing Moms 4 Housing controversy. 

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