# LA Podcast A news and politics podcast for people who live in Los Angeles. Page: Feed: --- ## [LA(Needs More)USD](https://www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/) _2026-08-17 · Alissa Walker, Loraine Lundquist, Godfrey Plata_ Alissa, Godfrey, and Loraine go deep on LAUSD’s many changes and challenges as this new school year begins. LA’s City Council is set to make big shifts on how to address homelessness, but the hardest part might be getting everyone to agree. And what will actually get Angelenos out of their cars? Andres Chait has been officially appointed LAUSD superintendent and has some plans to address the slew… [Listen](https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/58b237ff-fccd-4069-998d-e5386b80f4cc/9af699b7-59f6-44dc-96cc-2465065f9e2b/episodes/audio/group/eb9649d0-bd8e-403e-bfa4-ba03369f9dcc/group-item/52b8eec8-6418-4ac5-a5de-e55e6c1a537b/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=41rdWPqh) ## [Don’t Spray It’s Over](https://www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/) _2026-08-10 · Alissa Walker, Mike Bonin, Marco Santana_ Alissa, Mike, and Marco say a requiem for the Graffiti Towers. Nithya Raman receives endorsements from some big players, including Kenneth Mejia’s corgis. In the wake of the Lineage environmental disaster, which still reeks, LA’s City Council votes for more environmental disasters. And who will be LA County’s first elected CEO? The Graffiti Towers have been sold and cleaning efforts have begun… [Listen](https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/58b237ff-fccd-4069-998d-e5386b80f4cc/9af699b7-59f6-44dc-96cc-2465065f9e2b/episodes/audio/group/4012b5c3-1ea7-4dc0-98ba-54b97b91cc36/group-item/e160c654-cde3-4caf-a4df-96d941d75a98/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=41rdWPqh) ## [Another One Rides the Bus](https://www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/) _2026-08-03 · Scott Frazier, Mike Bonin, Olga Lexell_ Scott, Mike, and Olga convene a transportation sickos roundtable to discuss Metro’s State of the Agency, how the system fared during the World Cup, and big changes to the board’s structure. Will the LAX people mover ever open — and will anyone actually call it SkyLink? Then: Karen Bass’s sudden pivot on the Lineage disaster in a mayorship that has been defined by disasters. Watch Metro’s State of… [Listen](https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/58b237ff-fccd-4069-998d-e5386b80f4cc/9af699b7-59f6-44dc-96cc-2465065f9e2b/episodes/audio/group/0bff42ad-e9ac-4883-b276-28c47f4bf92f/group-item/4372af8d-5ff1-4ac0-bcd2-079e953cdded/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=41rdWPqh) ## [Wet Hot LA Summer](https://www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/) _2026-07-27 · Mike Bonin, Godfrey Plata, Carla Hall_ Mike, Godfrey, and guest co-host Carla Hall discuss the Sunset Boulevard sinkhole in West Hollywood. Then, the results of the 2026 homeless count are in. And Mayor Karen Bass’s informal advisor steps back. On July 16th, an LADWP pipe burst on the corner of Sunset and Holloway in West Hollywood. It was about 110 years old, and created a giant sinkhole in the middle of the night This pipe was on… [Listen](https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/58b237ff-fccd-4069-998d-e5386b80f4cc/9af699b7-59f6-44dc-96cc-2465065f9e2b/episodes/audio/group/9c631817-32df-43f8-a25f-a88366811ada/group-item/78b77342-90bb-47b6-bccf-9bacfae0c368/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=41rdWPqh) ## [All's Smell That Ends Smell](https://www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/) _2026-07-20 · Alissa Walker, Oscar Zarate, Rudy Espinosa_ Alissa, Oscar, and guest co-host Rudy Espinoza discuss accelerating immigration enforcement activity in LA as ICE murders three people in one week nationwide. Then, how an unbearable stench, rats, flies, and extreme heat are impacting the Lineage fire aftermath. And as the 39-day tournament ends, reflections on what LA got wrong and right with the World Cup. Three ICE murders in one week across… [Listen](https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/58b237ff-fccd-4069-998d-e5386b80f4cc/9af699b7-59f6-44dc-96cc-2465065f9e2b/episodes/audio/group/49e1aaf4-5466-4541-85a7-5d49e1e086f6/group-item/7dd626cb-2616-41e9-b13c-761a46746cd4/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=41rdWPqh) ## [Town Hall Your Fault](https://www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/) _2026-07-13 · Alissa Walker, Mike Bonin, Adam Conover_ Alissa, Mike, and guest co-host Adam Conover take a look at the ongoing repercussions from the Lineage Logistics fire, an explosive town hall in Boyle Heights, and how the thawing cold storage warehouse has snowballed into a political nightmare. Then, what’s changed in Karen Bass’s mayoral campaign. And some bad (and also some good?) LAPD updates. At a town hall in Boyle Heights for the community… [Listen](https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/58b237ff-fccd-4069-998d-e5386b80f4cc/9af699b7-59f6-44dc-96cc-2465065f9e2b/episodes/audio/group/b04c80a0-aa59-4ed9-8550-5e1b87103a09/group-item/409a0682-8296-4aa9-a7ca-1c2352c41e29/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=41rdWPqh) ## [Mistrial By Fire](https://www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/) _2026-07-06 · Alissa Walker, Kate Cagle, Godfrey Plata_ Alissa, Godfrey, and Kate examine why the Palisades arson case ended in a mistrial, and how the feds biffed the prosecution. What you won’t see on the November ballot after LA City Council charter reforms go down in flames. Then, LA finally has a city service agreement with LA28, but human rights advocates are sounding alarms. A mistrial has been declared against Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man… [Listen](https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/58b237ff-fccd-4069-998d-e5386b80f4cc/9af699b7-59f6-44dc-96cc-2465065f9e2b/episodes/audio/group/a9270388-5695-47be-8f95-5e4dfe8cfea5/group-item/0d90c11a-f121-485d-8a4e-3bb02d30bb7d/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=41rdWPqh) ## [On Top of Cold Smoky](https://www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/) _2026-06-29 · Alissa Walker, Godfrey Plata, Loraine Lundquist_ Alissa, Godfrey, and Loraine examine the public health impacts of the Lineage warehouse fire that burned in Boyle Heights for a week. LA’s council votes to end oil extraction (for the second time). LAUSD superintendent Alberto Carvalho resigns amid a federal investigation into an AI chatbot deal as the board dramatically reduces screen time for students. And yet another ULA backroom deal turns… [Listen](https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/58b237ff-fccd-4069-998d-e5386b80f4cc/9af699b7-59f6-44dc-96cc-2465065f9e2b/episodes/audio/group/9c93a937-1704-488b-aad2-c5ab18d46f0f/group-item/373fb028-88f5-43ed-bef2-b358769e8cbb/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=41rdWPqh) ## [What's Cup With You?](https://www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/) _2026-06-22 · Scott Frazier, Alissa Walker, Mike Bonin_ Scott, Alissa, and Mike look back at the first week of the World Cup as LA hosts its first of many major events. SoFi’s stadium workers won an unprecedented labor contract and a huge fire in Boyle Heights continues to burn. Then: what charter reforms are going to the ballot, and what decisions — like council expansion — are being punted back for more “study.” Alissa wrote about the opening weekend… [Listen](https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/58b237ff-fccd-4069-998d-e5386b80f4cc/9af699b7-59f6-44dc-96cc-2465065f9e2b/episodes/audio/group/a3b9c1af-8643-41df-9dab-6209969a73c5/group-item/cd56eb43-25fa-4f1f-917f-2815b3efb9ca/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=41rdWPqh) ## [Realtime AI Arbitrage Terminal (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/G0uJi7WyGtXR) _2026-06-22 · **Sponsored**_ Realtime auto-trading across exchanges with scored setups, backtesting, and risk controls. ## [Bass Tacks](https://www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/) _2026-06-15 · Mike Bonin, Godfrey Plata, Jasmyne Cannick_ Mike, Godfrey, and guest co-host Jasmyne Cannick discuss the promise and perils of the LA mayoral runoff between Karen Bass and Nithya Raman. Plus, the fake controversy over California’s ballot counting process, and LA’s City Council is poised to ditch years of effort to reform the city’s charter. How bad will the mayoral runoff be? The LA Times reports on a likely “knife fight ” between now and… [Listen](https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/58b237ff-fccd-4069-998d-e5386b80f4cc/9af699b7-59f6-44dc-96cc-2465065f9e2b/episodes/audio/group/bad96744-6726-4c9a-84e9-96102d5cb5f3/group-item/5c58cf28-91da-4ca6-a51e-9ad7b22c948c/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=41rdWPqh)