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.
Teri Castillo talks budget pain and those Mayor...
District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo talks with the ENside Politics teams about the many hard choices City Council will have to make in next year's budget and what it's like to serve under Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones. Suggested reading: Mayor Jones proposes killing Ready to Work to close budget deficit Mayor Jones asks business community to fund nonprofits that rely on city dollars Hundreds of jobs, array of city services could be slashed without property tax hike Sign up here for our ENside Politics newsletter: https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/
43 min
2
The coming city budget battle, and more Bonham ...
Political consultant Andrew Solano talks with the ENside Politics team about whether City Council has the appetite to cut funding for the San Antonio Botanical Garden and other nonprofits -- or to increase the city's property tax rate. Also, the Bonham Exchange is asking for more time to install legally required fire sprinklers after Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones drops her pledge to help raise money for the system.
42 min
3
Are voters in danger of 'bait and switch' on th...
The head of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is warning that a conceptual development plan for the East Side could collide with his organization's expansion — and that tax dollars voters OK'd for the rodeo's designs could wind up paying for some of those clashing projects. Reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson discuss.
32 min
4
Why the state is eyeing San Antonio-area school...
Education reporters Noah Alcala Bach and Sophia Veneziano talk with ENside Politics about which area school districts have come under Texas Education Agency scrutiny and why.
34 min
5
The big blow-up over SAWS' proposed rate hike |...
Reporter Liz Teitz and the ENside Politics team discuss the rupture that resulted in City Council postponing a vote on a SAWS rate increase till next fall.
33 min
6
Nelson Wolff weighs in on the mayor, Nirenberg,...
Former San Antonio Mayor and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff talks with reporters Madison Iszler and Molly Smith about the hallmarks of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' first year in office, what Ron Nirenberg's administration could look like if he wins the county judge election and tensions over Project Marvel and plans for the Frost Bank Center grounds.
32 min
7
Manny Pelaez talks free Spurs tickets, Mayor Jo...
Former City Councilman Manny Pelaez talks with host Greg Jefferson about the freebies council members are offered -- and that many of them accept -- such as Spurs, concert and gala tickets, not to mention "parking wherever the hell they want." He also weighs in on Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' rocky first year in office and Project Marvel.
64 min
8
Trump's local candidate wins; Chapa squeaks by ...
The ENside Politics team talks about how President Trump scrambled the race for the GOP nomination in San Antonio-anchored Congressional District 35 and Luz Elena Chapa's razor-thin margin in the Democratic primary for Bexar County district attorney.
27 min
9
The free-for-alls in Bexar County DA and CD 35 ...
Politics reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson talk about the heated race between Luz Elena Chapa and Jane Davis for the Democratic nomination for Bexar County district attorney, and the blow-up in the Democratic contest in Congressional District 35 between Maureen Galindo and Johnny Garcia.
26 min
10
Some council members throw cold water on SAWS r...
Megan Rodriguez chats with fellow Express-News reporters Liz Teitz and Madison Iszler as they dig into a proposed rate hike at SAWS and the controversy surrounding the pitch.
32 min
11
With chief quitting, more chaos in Mayor Jones'...
Political consultant Andrew Solano talks with the ENside Politics team about Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' chief of staff calling it quits a week after her deputy abruptly stepped down, and why Jones' struggle to keep staff matters.
38 min
12
Why Bexar County's biggest school districts are...
Education reporters Noah Alcala Bach and Sophia Veneziano talk with host Greg Jefferson about the drastic steps Bexar County's largest school district are taking to make ends meet — such as closing schools and slashing positions — and what's making it harder to keep the lights on.
48 min
13
Port SA chief talks Mayor Jones, future of mili...
Port San Antonio CEO Jim Perschbach discusses his role as head of the mayor's Economic Security Advisory Group with the ENside Politics team -- and air taxis, his lonely quest for the 16th Air Force, the possibility of government funding for a new South Side grocery store and how San Antonio does "economic development."
46 min
14
The strange — and strained — relationship betwe...
City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith talk with host Greg Jefferson about Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' pledge to help one of San Antonio's biggest and oldest gay nightclubs raise money for legally required fire sprinklers, and how it has gone weirdly wrong.
40 min
15
Marc Whyte says S.A. needs more cops. Here's wh...
Councilman Marc Whyte talks with the ENside Politics team about what's behind a resolution that he and council members Marina Alderete Gavito and Misty Spears are pushing at City Council to commit to hiring 65 police officers next year.
45 min
16
Higher utility bills could be on city agenda as...
Express-News reporters Liz Teitz and Kelsey Brown talk with host Megan Rodriguez about potential utility rate hikes that officials at CPS Energy and SAWS are mulling — and how the utilities want to use the extra funds if they secure them.
30 min
17
Behind the scenes of Ron Nirenberg's win, a fig...
Political consultant Laura Barberena talks with the ENside Politics team about what was behind the former San Antonio mayor's landslide victory for the Democratic nomination for Bexar County judge, and a potential fight at City Council over plans to add 65 officers next year.
39 min
18
Tony Gonzales’ fall and the rise of The AK Guy ...
Recapping the events that led Tony Gonzales to drop his reelection bid with Texas politics reporter Bayliss Wagner, half of the Express-News reporting duo who broke the story of the San Antonio representative’s affair with a former staffer. Wagner and host Megan Rodriguez also talk about the now-unchallenged GOP candidate in District 23, Brandon Herrera a.k.a., The AK Guy.
32 min
19
What's behind Ron Nirenberg's landslide win ove...
Nirenberg's big win, Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez's big loss and the Democratic runoff for district attorney — host Greg Jefferson and reporters Saul Pink and Molly Smith talk about all of it in a special edition of ENside Politics.
27 min
20
Jalen McKee-Rodriguez talks censure of Mayor Gi...
Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez presided over Friday's censure of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones — and he debriefs with the ENside Politics team on this week episode.
57 min
21
Nirenberg's track record, his 'Toyota' and what...
Political consultant Andrew Solano talks with the ENside Politics team about former Mayor Ron Nirenberg's City Hall track record and whether it'll help him in his bid to unseat Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai. Also: Does it matter that Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is getting along with many of her City Council colleagues?
47 min
22
Peter Sakai talks Project Marvel, jail reform, ...
Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai took time out from his Democratic primary fight against former Mayor Ron Nirenberg to talk with ENside Politics about improving the county lock-up, backing a new Spurs arena but not the sports district it would tie together, and why he's campaigning on balanced budgets -- which are required under the Texas constitution.
57 min
23
Many San Antonians can't make ends meet. Here a...
San Antonio Food Bank CEO Eric Cooper talks with host Greg Jefferson about why San Antonio remains one of the poorest cities in the country despite education and income improvements.
54 min
24
Can council stop a rumored ICE facility coming ...
City Councilwoman Sukh Kaur talks with the ENside Politics team about the possibility of Immigration and Customs Enforcement buying an East Side warehouse for a massive detention center, the search for San Antonio’s next police chief and iconic gay nightclub Bonham Exchange's clash with the city.
45 min
25
In the aftermath of Minnesota killings, what is...