ENside Politics

A weekly podcast that breaks down how politics works, and often doesn't work, in San Antonio. Metro Editor Greg Jefferson and Express-News reporters question politicians and other newsmakers about what they're up to in our name.

News
Politics
1
A San Antonio Councilman's case for voting yes ...
District 4 Councilman Edward Mungia, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson talk about the opposition to public financing for a Spurs arena, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' hard-edged tactics and what comes next for Project Marvel.
43 min
2
Breaking down Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’ very roug...
Political consultant Laura Barberena, reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson discuss the highs and lows of Jones' handling of a looming vote on a Spurs arena and her push to unilaterally change how City Council makes policy.
48 min
3
District 5's Teri Castillo asks what's the rush...
The West Side councilwoman thinks a city-ordered economic analysis of Project Marvel is tainted — the consultant is owned by a company whose main backer is Spurs investor Sixth Street Partners — and has to be redone before the City Council decides whether to make a deal the NBA franchise and Bexar County.
49 min
4
Mayor Jones slows city's Spurs arena roll | ENs...
Political consultant Andrew Solano, reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson talk about Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' push to drive a harder bargain with the  Spurs. Also, will the team's commitment to spend $500M on arena construction make public financing to pay the rest of the bill an easier sell at the polls?
42 min
5
A way-too-early take on Gina Ortiz Jones as may...
51 min
6
Air Force One troubles in SA, Elon Musk's new c...
Tech reporter Brandon Lingle and host Greg Jefferson discuss Port San Antonio's plan to land the Air Force cyber command, the Air Force One debacle in San Antonio and SpaceX's new company town in South Texas.
18 min
7
The fights for Cornyn's Senate seat and tax dol...
Democratic pollster Brannon Miller, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson discuss next year's race for the U.S. Senate, the upcoming campaign for public dollars for a Spurs arena, and more.
41 min
8
The lowdown on Bexar County's likely Spurs aren...
Bexar County Commissioner Just in Rodriguez talks with host Greg Jefferson and reporters Madison Iszler and Brooke Park about the likelihood of a November venue tax election, political jockeying at the Bexar County Courthouse, and more.
56 min
9
Gina Ortiz Jones for the win. Now what? | ENsid...
Host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith discuss how Jones skated past Rolando Pablos on election night and the several big problems she'll have to confront as soon as she takes office — including a $31 million budget deficit.
33 min
10
Has Gina Ortiz Jones lost her advantage in San ...
Host Greg Jefferson, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and Andrew Solano, campaign manager for Beto Altamirano, discuss the Gina Ortiz Jones campaign's missteps, why Altamirano (who placed third in the May 3 mayor's race) hasn't made an endorsement in the race, and more.
40 min
11
City Council's odd couple bicker about Jones v....
Host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporter Megan Rodriguez talk with councilmen Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and Marc Whyte about their favorites for mayor, red vs. blue politics on City Council and what to do about San Antonio's projected $31 million deficit.
58 min
12
Police and fire union chiefs' reads on the runo...
The city’s police and firefighters’ unions both sat out the first round of voting, waiting until the field of 27 candidates for mayor in the May 3 city election was whittled to Gina Ortiz Jones and Rolando Pablos. The San Antonio Police Officers' Association backed Pablos ahead of the June 7 runoff while the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association is not endorsing.
40 min
13
Reintroducing Ana Sandoval | ¡Nosotros!
The former councilwoman stepped down in 2023 to focus on a daughter who’s now 3, and Sandoval is back to her roots grounded in the environment.
47 min
14
How we got to Gina Ortiz Jones vs. Rolando Pabl...
Host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith talk about voters' rejection of City Council members running for the top job, the Year of the Outsider and what's ahead in the June 7 runoff.
32 min
15
The latest on the mayor’s race as Election Day ...
Host Greg Jefferson and opinion editor Josh Brodesky discuss why early voting numbers are so weak and what went into the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board's endorsements in the mayor's race.
29 min
16
Are voters shocked by sheer number of mayoral c...
Host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith talk about who's up and who's down in the race for mayor and City Council.
32 min
17
Pelaez's big move in mayor's race — and what i...
Host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith talk about who's up and who's down in the race for mayor and City Council.
38 min
18
Turbulent times for public schools. This nonpro...
Host Greg Jefferson and Daiana Lambrecht, executive director of Futuro San Antonio, discuss how the potential dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education and a school voucher program could affect public education in the Alamo City.
37 min
19
A peek into the Greater San Antonio Chamber's l...
Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Webster talks about San Antonio’s mayor’s race, the chamber’s annual SA to DC lobbying trip and Project Marvel.
39 min
20
Texas Education Agency takeover seeks an end to...
Podcast host Greg Jefferson and education reporter Melissa Manno delve into the school district's decades of dysfunction and what the Texas Education Agency is doing about it.
27 min
21
Does D.C. have something to learn from San Anto...
ENside Politics host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporter Molly Smith talk with UTSA pollster Bryan Gervais about the upcoming city elections, a recent polling controversy and the virtues of local politics -- at least as opposed to poisonous national and state politics.
48 min
22
A deep dive into the San Antonio's sprawling bi...
ENside Politics host Greg Jefferson and reporter Richard Webner talk with Harley Hubbard, the city's project manager for the bike network plan, about the effort to add 1,890 miles of bicycle routes to San Antonio streets. The cost: between $3 billion and $8 billion.
32 min
23
Nelson Wolff on city elections, lyin' SOBs and ...
On this week's ENside Politics, retired Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff sizes up major candidates for San Antonio mayor, the Gordian knot that is Project Marvel and the fear of losing the Spurs to another city.
53 min
24
What's ahead for S.A.? City Hall shakeup, immig...
ENside Politics host Greg Jefferson, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and political consultant Laura Barberena discuss what 2025 has in store for San Antonio politics.
48 min
25
2024’s biggest scandals in San Antonio politics...
Greg Jefferson and reporters Megan Rodriguez and Brooke Park discuss what they consider to be the biggest controversies this year at City Hall and the Bexar County Courthouse.
48 min