The long wait is over. Shawn Wilson makes his triumphant return to the podcast. He has a new title and lays out his first directive as the podcast's president of code compliance, censorship, and content filtering. With the filing deadline for the March Primary past us, we preview the big races for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and State Senate. Merry Christmas and thank you for spending time with us this year.

Oakland has a population of more than 400,000 and most of them will be listening to find out if Oakland raconteur Seneca Scott said anything about him. Scott joins the podcast for a second time and had plenty of barbs ready for Oakland progressives. He also recounted recently saving a woman from being robbed while shopping in Oakland. Plus, our big announcement.

In part two of our discussion with former East Bay Assemblymember Catharine Baker: President Trump was not the reason why she lost re-election in 2018. "Candidates are responsible for either winning or losing their campaigns," Baker said, but "Trump was the single most dominant issue in my race." Her 16th Assembly District, she added, is the poster child for why Republicans across the country are losing support in suburban districts. Plus, more.

Former East Bay Assemblymember Catharine Baker joins the podcast for a lengthy discussion on the lack of civility in local and national politics, and how we can fix the problem. Baker served from 2014 to 2018. She is the last Republican elected from the East Bay to serve in the state Legislature. Baker, now a member of the state Fair Political Practices Commission, also gives a lesson in government transparency. Look for Part 2 of the discussion on Monday!

East Bay labor leader Doug Jones of SEIU-UHW dishes on the Alameda County labor movement, including insights in the big 7th State Senate primary race, and helps us understand the dire state of safety net hospitals in Hayward, Alameda, and San Leandro, and what may come next.

From unceded Ohlone land, Steve Tavares and Dan Mendoza welcomed Justin Berton, former director of communications for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, to breakdown current Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's first state of the city address, and other issues facing the city. Later, the latest developments in the recall of Alameda County DA Pamela Price.

A U.S. Senate appointment could shake up the East Bay's primary election in several ways. Castro Valley school boardmember Mike Kusiak makes a cameo appearance while bearing empanadas, and Lee Thomas returns a co-host. We discuss Sen. Dianne Feinstein's passing, the epic rant by Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas, and how DA Pamela Price should handle the recall threatening her first-year administration.

You're not going to sleep tonight after listening to the platinum episode of the East Bay Insiders Podcast. Steve Tavares, Dan Mendoza, and guest co-host Lee Thomas visit Joe's Pho in San Leandro. Lee gives his take on San Leandro Police Chief Abdul Pridgen being placed on administative leave. We tackle the astonishing news in Oakland that city officials dropped the ball on millions in state money to combat retail theft; an update on the DA Pamela Price recall, Barbara Lee seeking endorsements, plus an update on labor negotiations with co-host Shawn Wilson

Happy Labor Day Weekend! There's labor strife within the East Bay Insiders. Don't let the happy talk fool you. This week we delve into Oakland's 9-1-1 response-times; the real power behind the Oakland A's stadium lease issue; more on the DA Pamela Price's recall; Fremont's mayoral race; and the benefits state Sen. Aisha Wahab will receive for carrying Gov. Gavin Newsom's constitutional convention resolution.

Assemblymember Alex Lee got caught playing with the bad kids in the neighborhood, and the recall effort against Alameda County DA Pamela Price is almost in full-swing. From downtown Pleasanton, the East Bay Insiders chat about 16- and 17-years old voting in school board elections, a glimpse inside the Alameda County Republican Central Committee, and much more!

We clear the air with insights on Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's pay raise controversy, an analysis of possible recall campaign strategies for and against Pamela Price, Jennifer Esteen's chances against Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley; Holy shirts, rent control, and more!

It's post 4th of July, but the East Bay Insiders still have some fireworks to be lit. Shawn Wilson joins the show while on vacation in Hawaii. Some local cities are beefing with Alameda County. We look Hayward's lawsuit against county social services and how staffing shortages may be fueling rising discontent and dangerously poor service levels, and much more!

A's, crime pays, and Oakland's problems were created by you, Alameda County cities - the Oakland mayor's impact fee idea. Our correspondent reports back from the U.S. Conference of Mayor, Madame DA Pamela Price's latest moves, and the debut of the 30-second speed round (We didn't grasp the 30-second part). 

ChatGPT and A.I. is on the verge of changing how elections are run in the East Bay. We look at the early pitfalls of the new technology and its potential, Barbara Lee's new senate poll, oversight of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, and other tangents and rabbit holes, along with a Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez sighting on the streets of Pleasanton.

Fill yourself up on some dinner rolls, pizza, steak, and early March Primary outlooks for Alameda County supervisor and San Leandro. Adds a side dish of Oakland sideshows and Madame DA Pamela Price's plan to spend $128,000 to remodel her office.

Alameda County DA Pamela Price is the breakout star of 2023. She's everywhere, except in front of reporters and taking questions. Is a recall looming? Dan Mendoza takes his seat at the News Desk. What makes for a good elected official? Elisa Marquez joins the Board of Supervisor, along with other hijinks.

The future of Alameda County politics is on the line as the Board of Supervisors begin the interview and deliberation process for choosing an appointment to its ranks. A shift to center could take hold or a move back to the left is at stake. We take you through the process and the storylines in this special edition. Also, Shawn Wilson talks about his trip to Mexico.

The road to who will be selected as the next Alameda County supervisor in District 2 starts here, bro. We look at the applicants and the obstacles they face in getting the appointment to one of the plum jobs in local politics, bro. Along the way we make a few pitstops, bro, with the A's and Howard Terminal, bro, and the county's recount, bro, and much more, bro!

Law and order is the topic of the week. Alameda County DA Pamela Price is definitely shaking up jurisprudence in the East Bay. Friendly-looking police uniforms in San Leandro? We also breakdown the end of the county's eviction moratorium, defeated rent ordinances, and more on the upcoming Board of Supervisors appointment.

Rep. Barbara Lee is aiming for the open U.S. Senate seat in 2024. That's means her seat in the East Bay 12th Congressional District could be up-for-grabs. Some of the same potential candidates may also have their eyes on Nancy Skinner's termed out seat in the 7th State Senate District. If that's not enough, who might be angling to replace the late Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle in South County's District 2? We answer those question and more on this episode of the East Bay Insiders Podcast.