Voice of San Diego Podcast
375 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 174 ratingsThis is Voice of San Diego’s weekly spitfire roundup of news. We cover local and regional politics, the environment, education, the border and more. This show features our investigative reporting and interviews with lawmakers and other special guests.
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Episodes
The COVID Data We've Been Fighting for
December 23, 2020 21:36 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBThis week, Scott Lewis interviews the two local reporters who got their hands on the COVID-19 outbreak data that the county fought to keep under wraps. KPBS's Katy Stegall and Claire Trageser join the show and share what they found, how to read the data and important points to keep in mind when absorbing it all. Support this show at vosd.org/podcast2020 See the KPBS investigation at kpbs.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thinking About Rethinking San Diego
December 18, 2020 20:53 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBThis week's show is dedicated to the way things could be. We're examining some of the biggest issues and institutions in San Diego — from our Rethinking San Diego series — and discussing what major changes could really mean for the region. Talking points: Defund the police. A school year redo. San Diego power. The U.S.-Mexico border. Read the series at voiceofsandiego.org/rethink Join VOSD and support your favorite podcast hosts by giving here: vosd.org/podcast2020 See omnystudio.com/liste...
Jen Campbell Is Council President
December 11, 2020 19:47 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBLate Thursday night, after hours of public calls and several tech hiccups, the decision was finally made: Dr. Jen Campbell is San Diego's new City Council president. On the podcast this week, which was recorded as the Council meeting was still playing out, we took stock of all the moving political parts that are setting our new San Diego public stage. Plus: an interview with Joel Day, senior adviser for COVID-19 response and recovery for the city of San Diego under former Mayor Kevin Faulcon...
A Look at Faulconer's Legacy
December 04, 2020 21:19 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBThis is our last podcast of the Faulconer era. After this week, Mayor Kevin Faulconer will step down and Todd Gloria will take the job. On the show, we reflect on the last seven years of Faulconer's mayorship. Plus: With the most powerful Republican in the region out of office, what's next for the local GOP? Love the show? Support us now! We're in our year-end fundraising campaign, and you can show your love for the show directly by giving here: vosd.org/podcast2020 Get the newsletter for ...
Why Montgomery Steppe Wants to Be Council President
November 20, 2020 22:46 - 50 minutes - 45.8 MBThis week, we assess Mayor Kevin Faulconer's possible path to governor. And City Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe joins the show to talk about why she should be City Council president. Keep up with all our political takes with the weekly Politics Report: vosd.org/politics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
New Leaders, New Problems
November 13, 2020 21:43 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBThe election tidal wave is about to crash down. There's a bunch of change coming to San Diego city and county governments. This week, we preview what's coming for the city of San Diego and the County Board of Supervisors as newly elected officials get ready to take their seats. Keep up with it all by subscribing to The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning If you're a political junkie, then The Politics Report is for you: vosd.org/politics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Election Finally Happened
November 04, 2020 13:00 - 43 minutes - 39.4 MBThis is our election night results show. We reviewed the biggest races we were tracking throughout 2020. Hear the big takeaways and results as they stood late Tuesday evening. Some contests and candidates were surprisingly decisive while others still need to sweat it out. Keep up with all our election coverage with The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's Election Draft Day
October 30, 2020 22:08 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBThree editors. Three rounds. No mercy. Well, some mercy. Scott Lewis kinda cheated toward the end of the draft. The Voice of San Diego Podcast Election Draft is back! And coming at you this week as our final episode before the election. (The draft starts at minute 31 in the show.) The first half of the show is dedicated to The Voice Poll and what we found from a scientific survey of San Diegans. See more from The Voice Poll: vosd.org/voicepoll Subscribe to The Morning Report: vosd.org/m...
Changes Ahead for Schools and the Board of Supes
October 23, 2020 20:07 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBThis week, we assess the current state of school inequities as San Diego Unified makes plans to open further. Plus, how the Board of Supervisors may change after November. The Voice of San Diego election draft returns next week! Get your picks for local races and measures ready. Subscribe to Scott, Andy and Sara's newsletters at vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Local Ballot Measures, Explained
October 16, 2020 21:24 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBYou asked for it, so here it is. This week, we review the five local ballot measures for the city of San Diego — A through E. Ballot talk starts at minute 12 in the podcast. What precedes is discussion about the Pete Wilson statue and Scott's recent story about plexiglass and how to safely reopen schools and other things. Get the newsletter for this podcast at vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus Podcast: What Would Democrats Do With Control of the County?
October 15, 2020 22:11 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBHere's another highlight from Politifest 2020. After the election, Democrats could control the County Board of Supervisors for the first time in a generation. VOSD host Scott Lewis leads a discussion with Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and candidate Nora Vargas — both Democrats. They're going to talk about what could change if they were in control. Watch more Politifest panels at politifest.org Get Scott's weekly politics newsletter, The Politics Report: voiceofsandiego.org/politics See omnys...
Bonus Podcast: San Diego Mayoral Debate
October 10, 2020 14:00 - 50 minutes - 46 MBMore highlights from Politifest 2020 coming at you. In this episode: San Diego mayoral candidates Barbara Bry and Todd Gloria join VOSD host Scott Lewis for a debate about the future of San Diego. They cover a lot of ground here. Watch more Politifest panels at politifest.org Get Scott's weekly politics newsletter, The Politics Report: voiceofsandiego.org/politics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's Political Mailer Season
October 09, 2020 20:31 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MBThe San Diego mayor's race is responsible for a lot of bulging mailboxes and dead trees right now. This week, we sift through political mailers and how each camp is using it to their benefit. Plus: The latest chapter in the 101 Ash St. epic and Politifest memories. Gorge yourself on politics with your Politifest Youtube playlist. Get it at politifest.org Subscribe to our daily newsletter at vosd.org/morning See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus Podcast: CA Ballot Measure Crash Course
October 08, 2020 15:00 - 42 minutes - 39 MBStarting this week, we're dropping bonus episodes featuring some of the best conversations from Politifest 2020. In this episode: An overview of each measure on the statewide ballot, from rideshare drivers to affirmative action. VOSD editors Sara Libby and Jesse Marx will help you understand what each measure would do and who’s lining up for and against them. Watch more Politifest panels at politifest.org Get Sara's weekly newsletter, The Sacramento Report: voiceofsandiego.org/newsletters ...
Bonus Podcast: Police Reform with Xavier Bacerra
October 07, 2020 15:46 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MBStarting this week, we're dropping bonus episodes featuring some of the best conversations from Politifest 2020. Up first is a conversation about police reform with California Attorney General Xavier Bacerra and Alain Stephens, reporter from The Trace. In this interview: racial discrimination, the future of policing and realistic reforms. Watch more Politifest panels at politifest.org We'll be back on Friday afternoon, as usual, with your weekly debrief from Scott and Sara. See omnystudio....
The Navigation Center Lost Its Way
October 02, 2020 21:08 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBThis week, we hash out San Diego's new homeless planning woes, a suspended City Council campaign and the fluidity of reality around Prop. 15. Check out some of our free Politifest panels, including Sara Libby's ballot measure crash course, at https://www.youtube.com/user/voiceofsandiego Share us with your friends! www.vosd.org/pod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pre-Gaming Politifest
September 25, 2020 20:44 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBThis week on the podcast, we're gearing up for Politifest 2020: Pick Your Future. We'll preview some of the most exciting panels, interviews and discussions to look forward to during the week-long virtual conference, including Sara Libby's ballot measure crash course and Attorney General Xavier Bacerra on policing. Plus: A couple hot stories from the 'Jesse Beat' and the Port of San Diego has to pay up. Get your tickets to Politifest at politifest.org Keep up with all our stories with the ...
Are Students People?
September 18, 2020 18:05 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBSan Diego State University is not an island. That may seem obvious, but Gov. Gavin Newsom had to say so explicitly after county supervisors asked the state to exclude SDSU's COVID cases from the county's overall numbers. At the time of our recording this week, San Diego was poised to head to the most restrictive purple tier, which would tighten rules for businesses. This week on the VOSD podcast, we stewed over these arguments from the county and how one could slice up numbers to navigate th...
Ash Street, Ash Street, a Story Goes Down
September 11, 2020 18:54 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBWe discarded the first podcast recording we did Thursday and recorded a new emergency episode after NBC 7 retracted its bombshell story about Assemblyman Todd Gloria and the 101 Ash St. scandal. Read our latest Politics Report to catch up on the scandal. Come for a breakdown of the unfolding drama. Stay for an exploration of how journalism works and the dilemmas this development opens up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Seven Stories We're Following
September 04, 2020 22:07 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBEven by the standards of this new, weird world in which the pandemic and President Donald Trump combine for seemingly a hundred major news items a week, it was a big news week. VOSD alone had major stories about MTS's draconian fare policies, an explosive account from a Sheriff's employee of what she says really happened leading up to a suicide in the Vista jail, two possible ethics violations by Council candidate Kelvin Barrios and more. In this episode of the VOSD Podcast, Scott Lewis, An...
Living Single (Family)
August 28, 2020 21:43 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBIn San Diego, single-family zoning reigns supreme. So supreme, in fact, that in a whopping 70 percent of the land where it's legal to build housing, only single-family housing is allowed. That jaw-dropper and how we got to it was the subject of a deep dive into the origins of San Diego's single-family zoning laws by Andrew Keatts this week. On the podcast, he gave a rundown of how San Diego's original single-family zoning law came to be and how it's defined life in San Diego ever since. KP...
Pumping the Brakes on Rideshare Companies' Dramatic Exit
August 21, 2020 20:01 - 32 minutes - 30 MBThis week, we are trying to keep up with the ever-changing drama of rideshare companies' fight against state labor law. Plus: SANDAG head Hasan Ikhrata makes big waves with small donations to local campaigns. And this November, one race could change transit in the region. Catch Scott Lewis's interview with the guy who's going to run San Diego's election, Michael Vu: voiceofsandiego.org/athome Keep up with our biggest stories and local news updates with The Morning Report: voiceofsandiego.or...
Mailing it in
August 14, 2020 21:49 - 58 minutes - 53.3 MBOn this week’s VOSD Podcast, hosts Scott Lewis, Andrew Keatts and Sara Libby break down the confusing fight that played out this week over whether candidates should be allowed to tout the Union-Tribune’s endorsement in their ballot statements, and what those endorsements actually mean. The crew also details why it’s such a reversal that Republicans are suddenly warning of the dangers of mail voting. Not only have high-profile Republicans, like San Diego GOP Chairman Tony Krvaric, consistentl...
Back to ... Schoolnastics?
August 07, 2020 22:11 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBThis week, we assess the latests city attorney news, a weird yet commonly used language law and a new wave of for-profit school programs. Plus: An interview with a scientist hoping to open things up with open air solutions. Kim Prather is an atmospheric chemist working with schools around the country to develop plans to reopen schools safely. Keep up with our livestream series, Voice of San Diego at Home: voiceofsandiego.org/athome Subscribe to the Morning Report: voiceofsandiego.org/morn...
101 Ash St. Is a Fiery Mayor's Race Issue
July 31, 2020 21:33 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBThis week, we unpack the story behind a major building purchase flub by the city of San Diego — and how it fits into the mayor's race. Our livestream show is back! Voice of San Diego at Home streams at 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Find it on social media and vosd.org/athome Subscribe to Scott, Andy and Sara's newsletters at vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cops and Cameras, Cameras and Cops
July 24, 2020 20:16 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBThis week, we review the 2015 shooting of Fridoon Nehad — an illuminating story as San Diegans face a November ballot measure that could give a police oversight committee more power. Plus: when body-worn cameras fail and streetlight cameras that police are watching. We have 10 regular VOSD newsletters. Follow your interests at vosd.org/newsletters Give your local business or nonprofit a boost. Learn about how we can help at vosd.org/boost See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Inequality Everywhere
July 17, 2020 21:42 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBThis week, we review what COVID testing problems mean for schools and other normal-life things. Plus: Housing advocate Ricardo Flores argues for dismantling single-family home zoning, and thus, racism. Keep up with all our stories and local news with the Morning Report. Get it at vosd.org/morning If you have a local business or nonprofit that needs a boost, we have a project made to help. Find out more at vosd.org/boost See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Land Use Policy Talk Makes Us 'Complete'
July 10, 2020 20:53 - 31 minutes - 28.4 MBThis week, we discuss Mayor Kevin Faulconer's Complete Communities plan and the debate over whether to ramp up coronavirus testing in schools. Keep up with all our stories and the latest San Diego news with the Morning Report at vosd.org/morning. Sign up for VOSD's Local Boost project to help your business or nonprofit at vosd.org/boost. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Troubles Inside Schools, and Will We Ever Go Back Inside Schools?
July 02, 2020 23:41 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBThis week, we revisit a simpler time. A time in which San Diego politicians were embroiled not in dismantling racism in policing or containing a global pandemic, but regulating short-term vacation rentals. Plus, we've got a trio of school stories: sexual misconduct at Westview high; black suspension rates; and how schools could ever reopen. And on the second half of the show, city attorney candidate Cory Briggs discusses his history suing the city, police and how he would run the office. K...
A Zombie Development Project Dies Again
June 26, 2020 19:42 - 40 minutes - 37 MBThis week, our hosts are triggered by the county’s triggers. Plus: We sift through new local police reforms and examine the remains of a seemingly dead development project, Lilac Hills. Get Scott, Sara and Andy’s newsletters at vosd.org/newsletters. (Scott and Andy write the Politics Report. Sara does What We Learned This Week.) Buy our most popular photo of the year and support Black journalists in San Diego. Go to vosd.org/buyprints See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
An Un-Fare System
June 19, 2020 20:53 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBWe finally got some updates on what schools will do this fall. San Diego Unified School District officials unveiled the plan this week. But in their effort to provide answers, they raised a lot more questions. Plus: How criminal justice issues are playing out in the San Diego mayor's race and MTS fees are hitting poor families hard. Keep up with all our stories with the Morning Report. Subscribe at vosd.org/morning. Our virtual happy hour is next week! Become a VOSD member to get access. Do...
This Is as Wild as City Budgets Get
June 12, 2020 22:14 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBThese are wild times for city budgets. Thus, a wild, livestreamed, simulcasted, super-sized interview seemed an appropriate response for the podcast. That's what we put together on the show this week, featuring San Diego City Council President Georgette Gómez. Before we dive in with Gómez, we laid the groundwork on typical city budgeting, plus some of the trickier nuances around police funding. Keep up with local politics with our Politics Report. Subscribe at vosd.org/politics. Want to le...
Bonus Podcast: Monica Montgomery's Next Policy Push
June 06, 2020 13:00 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBSan Diego City Councilwoman Monica Montgomery spoke with VOSD's Andrew Keatts about the recent police brutality protests, the death that sparked them and how two of her longstanding priorities may now become reality. This bonus episode is dropping along with our weekly newsletter, The Politics Report: an insider's guide to politics and policy for San Diego. Get it at vosd.org/politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
San Diego Police Reform, Past and Future
June 05, 2020 22:40 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBThis week, we unpack what makes a protest "unlawful," a brief history of recent police reform efforts and the future of one effort currently on the table. Our interview this week is with Andrea St. Julian of San Diegans for Justice on the proposed ballot measure to reform San Diego Police. Keep up with local news and all our police stories with The Morning Report at vosd.org/morning See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Special Episode: Weekend of Fury
June 01, 2020 22:29 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MB"We did not have any kind of warning." From our "Voice of San Diego At Home" series, this is an interview with La Mesa City Councilwoman Dr. Akilah Weber. Weber spoke with VOSD's Scott Lewis about the George Floyd killing, and the unrest in La Mesa over the weekend. The livestream series airs at 1:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Find it Facebook, Twitter and Youtube @voiceofsandiego See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Happy SDSU Deal Day
May 29, 2020 22:31 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBThis week we previewed the deal between SDSU and the city for Mission Valley's stadium land. Note: The podcast was recorded on Thursday, the day before the City Council made its decision. Plus: An Encinitas homelessness solution is working despite some residents' fears. Get our podcast newsletter at vosd.org/newsletters Join the podcast Facebook group. Find us as "VOSDPodcast" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Blurry Lines of Stage 2 Reopening
May 22, 2020 20:49 - 55 minutes - 50.7 MBThis week, the California Department of Health gave the OK for San Diego County to open restaurants for dine-in service, among other changes. So, you can go to restaurants now. But the question is: Will you? We discuss that in this episode. Plus, an interview with UC San Diego epidemiologist Rebecca Fielding-Miller on risks and tests. Keep up with all our stories with the Morning Report newsletter. Get it at vosd.org/morning See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus Podcast: The 'COVID Slide' and What it Will Take to Reopen Schools
May 20, 2020 18:42 - 30 minutes - 28 MBAt best, students' education is stagnant right now. At worst, they're experiencing something educators call "the summer slide," when student progress recedes a bit during summer months. Laura Kohn, a local education expert and director at the , says what's happening now is a massive "COVID slide." For this bonus episode, Scott Lewis and Laura Kohn discussed what learning could look like in San Diego going forward and how dire the situation is right now. Their conversation originally happened...
Takin' it to the Streets
May 15, 2020 23:07 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MBThis week, we discuss how November's big ballot is stacking up and SDSU's land deal drama. On the second half of the show, host Andrew Keatts talks with urban planner Howard Blackson about an idea he's floated to turn streets into plazas to save local business. Follow Scott, Andy and Sara's weekly newsletters at vosd.org/newsletters FInd us on your favorite social media app. We're @voiceofsandiego See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Will SDSU Get That Land or What?
May 08, 2020 22:11 - 58 minutes - 53.9 MBHey, check it out, we found something completely unrelated to COVID-19 to talk about in this week’s podcast. The city of San Diego and San Diego State University are in the final stages of a historic transfer of land. We broke down what is still left to settle. Sorry, check that: Unfortunately, it’s not completely unrelated to COVID-19 because everything is related to COVID-19. And in the second half of the show we have San Diego City Councilman Chris Cate to talk about local politics during...
It's All Very Confusing
May 01, 2020 23:22 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBThis week, we discuss the confusing directives from all levels of government , from sunset walks to homelessness. It's a lot to keep track of. Become a VOSD member to get access to our virtual events this year at vosd.org/member Follow all of our coverage on social media. We're on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @voiceofsandiego See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus Podcast: Comparing Coronavirus Notes With New Orleans
April 29, 2020 23:51 - 27 minutes - 25 MBEvery year, New Orleans plans for disaster. Its residents are all too familiar with hurricanes, floods and random infrastructure issues that plague old cities. On this bonus episode, Scott Lewis's friend (a NOLA infrastructure expert) Ramsey Green discusses the questions every U.S. city is trying to answer during the pandemic. Get the newsletter for this podcast at voiceofsandiego.org/newsletters Follow our coronavirus coverage at voiceofsandiego.org/coronavirus See omnystudio.com/listene...
Faulconer Faces Reality
April 24, 2020 22:58 - 46 minutes - 43 MBThis week, San DIego Mayor Kevin Faulconer discusses some of the biggest decisions he's made in recent weeks. Plus: "Open up" protests and San Diego's true testing capacity. "Voice of San Diego at Home" is our livestream series that drops every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Get it on your favorite social media app. We're @voiceofsandiego Get our daily newsletter, the Morning Report at vosd.org/morning See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What to Watch for as the Budget Moves Forward
April 17, 2020 23:08 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBThis week, we talk about the coronavirus impact on San Diego's air quality, homelessness and the mayor's budget proposal — one unlike any that's preceded it. Check out our new video series, "Voice of San Diego at Home" on your favorite social media app. New livestreams happen Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We're on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @voiceofsandiego See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
World War C, Starring the Zombie Convention Center Measure
April 10, 2020 20:00 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBThis week, the San Diego City Council voted to amend the language certifying the election so it did not state that Measure C required to pass. That means the zombie measure could rise once again if the courts eventually determine citizens-led measures need just a simple majority to pass. In this show: zombie measures and so much more. If you need to follow these types of municipal goings-on, you should really subscribe to the Morning Report: vosd.org/morning This is the last podcast of our...
Leaders Be Leadin'
April 03, 2020 22:33 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBThis week, we assess how local leaders are responding to the coronavirus crisis. From park closures to hotel rooms converted to quarantine facilities to ... maritime happenings, San Diego has seen some real "leadering" lately. Join our Spring fundraising campaign to support this podcast. Do that at vosd.org/give Keep up with all our stories with the Morning Report. Subscribe at vosd.org/newsletters Find us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @voiceofsandiego See omnystudio.com/listener for...
A Crucial Week
March 27, 2020 23:13 - 31.3 MBThis is our second week recording the podcast from "coronavirusland." And the news hasn't stopped. It is the opposite of stopped. As the economy — and work at large — slowed to stem the spread of coronavirus, a lot of confusion and mixed messages bounced across the internet and local government. Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts break down a few of the biggest stories that sprung up this week. We want to hear how your business is working through this crisis. Send your story to [email protected] F...
A New Reality
March 21, 2020 00:05 - 25.2 MBThis week, we had to take a moment just to try to process what has happened over the last week and how dramatically it has changed our lives and local public affairs. We talked about that and a couple of the moments that have really jarred us. This was the first podcast we have ever recorded remotely. Scott Lewis was in our studio, Andy Keatts and Sara Libby came in remotely from their homes. Please let us know what you want to hear in coming episodes as we adjust to a new regimen. You can...
Our Not-So-Live Election Roundtable
March 13, 2020 22:56 - 56.8 MBThis week, we hold a post-election roundtable with two guests. San Diego City Councilman Mark Kersey and Democratic consultant Eva Posner join the show to talk about the biggest races from the primary, and how San Diego's political landscape could change even now as ballots are still being counted. This was going to be recorded live at UC San Diego. But then, y'know, everything happened. Our Guide to the Official Guidance on Coronavirus in San Diego is at vosd.org/corona See omnystudio.com...
Our Quick and Dirty Election Night Takes
March 04, 2020 09:21 - 35.3 MBWell, the election happened. We recorded this episode the night of Super Tuesday as the results came in. We’ve got the latest updates and analysis on the biggest races for the region and a good idea of how things are shaping up for the General Election. Let’s get into it. Keep up with everything by getting the Morning Report. Subscribe at vosd.org/morning Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @voiceofsandiego See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.