Sunday Morning Matters: The Podcast

Mi Familia Vota: Dreamers fate doesn’t lie in hands of high court, the burden is on Congress Quid Pro Quo or Modern day coup? Impeachment 101 with Fresno State professor Dr. Holyoke Fresno councilman Luis Chavez reveals disturbing housing data, as city squats on millions of taxpayer dollars Panel wonders if California is "feeling the Bern,” and we touch on if Fresno should become home to commercial pot shops? Fresno's City Council passed a vote to bring at least 2 to each district.

We have an exclusive one-on-one interview with former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. Sacramento reporter Ashley Zavala talks the PG&E buyout amid wildfires in California. Alexan interviews Clovis Mayor Drew Bessinger. Our panel talks PG&E buyouts and the economic summit in Fresno. They also talk about the "Devin Cow" lawsuit. We talk "Pick Justice," a farm workers movement.

Andrew Janz joins Alexan in studio on the phony campaign website spoofing his mayoral candidacy. Janz is calling for the Attorney General to investigate. Alexan also asked Janz if a federal investigation should be conducted in the Isiah-Murrieta Golding officer involved shooting. KSEE24 Political Analyst Jim Verros, San Joaquin Valley Sun executive editor Alex Tavlian and Region 8 director for the democratic party Humberto Gomez Jr. weigh in on the Fresno Police protests and if a federal investigation should be opened. The House votes to recognize Armenian Genocide. We talk with Berj Apkarian, the Honorary Consul of the Republic Armenia, Fresno. Fresno city council member Garry Bredefeld reveals the new look of the Fresno Veterans Memorial honoring all Fresno veterans. Panel debates if the Armenian Genocide resolution was voted on in spite of President Trump pulling troops out of Syria allowing Turkish fighters to move in and attack the Kurds. They also talk about how the city did not do enough to keep

Chuck Todd-National moderator and host of Meet The Press Mike Hamzy-Druse leader in Lebanon, former presidential adviser on the Middle East. Panel: KSEE24 Political analyst Jim Verros, Former Congressional candidate and Executive Director of New Face GOP Elizabeth Heng and local attorney and member of the Fresno County Democratic party David Rowell.

Exclusive with Jerry Dyer on signing off as top cop and taking aim at Fresno’s top job as mayor. Why he believes he will win the mayoral race in March and the plan is to hire the next police chief after Andy Hall retires. Guests also include Mayor Lee Brand, and one of the youngest candidates to run for office in 2020 in the entire country, 25-year-old Drew Phelps.

In this episode of Sunday Morning Matters, we focus on the power shutoff by PG&E, leaving hundreds of thousands of customers in the dark amid a northern California wildfire, the Briceburg Fire, burning near Yosemite National Park. D-22 candidate Bobby Bliatout talks about his campaign against the incumbent Rep. Devin Nunes. Assemblyman Devon Mathis says gas tax funds will fund housing, not a state rail system. Panelists: Jim Verros, Nathan Miller and Ricardo Franco.

Washington Post reporter Robert Costa makes another stop in Fresno talking the current state of national politics. We talk health care and the newly-signed California law, allowing college athletes to be paid. Panel: Lupe Espinoza, Laura Tsutsui and Tate Hill.

In this episode of Sunday Morning Matters with Alexan Balekian, Oliver Wanger-Former federal district judge makes sense of the legalities of the potential Trump impeachment, the transcript and the whistleblower. Kevin Cookingham joins us. He's first candidate to challenge Rep. Jim Costa for District 16, since Soria and Williams have jumped into the race but it is a tough race with Cookingham being the only Republican. Panel guests: Jim Verros, Garry Bredefeld and Humberto Gomez Jr.

One-on-one with the House Speaker's daughter, Christine Pelosi. Pelosi fires back at Elizabeth Heng and ABC for her fiery political ad. Pelosi also drops a bombshell prediction. Governor Newsom signs AB-5 into law. Central Valley state senator Andreas Borgeas says it's the most "half-hazard" law he's ever seen. Our panel, Bill McEwen, Guillermo Moreno and Nasreen Johnson weigh in on Pelosi's prediction, Heng's new PAC and Fresno city Council signing on to a DACA resolution.

In this episode of Sunday Morning Matters, the panel talks former congressional candidate, Elizabeth Heng's, newly-released ad, targeting Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and what Heng describes as the "horror" of socialism. Darius Assemi, owner/founder of Granville Homes talks GVWire's decision to bring Alison Weir, author and historian, to the valley for a speech at Clovis Community College. We touch on newly-signed California laws, including the controversial vaccine bill. Sandra Celedon, CEO and President of Fresno Building Healthy Community talks the state of Measure P. Panel guests: Joe Kieta, executive editor of the Fresno Bee; Philip Teresi, KMJ talk show host and former congressional candidate, Ricardo Franco.

Panel weighs in on Fresno City Council Member Garry Bredefeld's "stench" remarks over a city audit against local developer Terance Frazier and the council that keeps doling out money to Frazier. Fresno Mayoral Candidate Andrew Janz is still looking into suing the Fresno County Board of Supervisors if they move forward with a new leave of absence policy for county employees seeking office. Exclusive: Fresno Interim Police Chief Hall says, "I was shocked they asked me to be the chief." Panel weighs in on a new Measure "P" ruling and Governor Newsom strikes down a law that's been around since 1872.

David Valadao launches CA-21 campaign and rematch against Rep. TJ Cox. New Clovis Police Chief Curt Fleming opens up for the first time. Why he disagrees with Governor Newsom on how AB-392 will not change the culture of policing. Quincy Pondexter, NBA veteran and valley native, ready to take his game to the political arena. Our panel weighs in on the CA-21 sequel and slugfest, plus Fresno Mayoral candidate Andrew Janz in a war of words with Fresno County Board of Supervisors over county employees taking a leave of absence while running for office.

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand and Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer name an interim police chief, Andy Hall. A panel takes a look at what it means for the city and what his track record is with the department. Rep. Jim Costa talks competition ahead of the coming election. Fresno City Council Member Esmeralda Soria is vying for the seat. Dolores Huerta explains why home-care providers need a raise, and a panel touches on the home-care workers’ protest.

Mike Karbassi blows away D-2 field in special election to fill Steve Brandau's seat on Fresno's City Council. Karbassi is in studio and talks about the very first thing he will do once he's sworn in on Aug. 22. Exclusive: Mayor Lee Brand played the waiting game but finally joined about 250 U.S. mayors demanding the Senate to pass stronger gun background checks. California USDA Farm Service Agency Executive Director, Connie Conway is appointed by the Trump Administration to operate the day-to-day activities and to push the administration's policies in the Valley and statewide. Panel: Jim Verros, KSEE24 Political Analyst; Local attorney and business owner Nathan Miller and Fresno State Political Science Professor Lisa Bryant.

Our panel weighs in on heated censure vote and Trustee Slatic's plan to fight it, but the panel is split over viral controversial tweets from two respected local leaders following mass shootings. Fresno County Clerk Brandi Orth says the race for D-2 Fresno council seat will likely head to a run-off. Exclusive: FUSD Superintendent breaks his silence following unprecedented censure vote against Trustee Terry Slatic.

In this 25th episode of Sunday Morning Matters, we discuss the new California law governor Newsom signed that prohibits presidential candidates from being on the ballot without disclosing their tax returns. Our panel discusses after a meeting was held regarding the future of the Raisin City superintendent's job. Guests: Don Larson, KSEE24 political analyst; Mike Der Manouel Jr., KMJ political commentator and Humberto Gomez Jr., Region 8 chair for the Democratic Party.

A Sunday Morning Matters exclusive, Fresno Unified Board trustee Terry Slatic responds to board members calling for his resignation. He also addresses new allegations from FUSD investigations. In another exclusive, U.S. Congressman Devin Nunes talks with Alexan and Stefani just hours after the Mueller testimony on Capitol Hill. Assemblyman Jim Patterson questions the governor's DMV task force for not making sweeping, overhaul changes to the DMV and is critical of the governor's new hire to lead the DMV. Guests: Jim Verros, Diane Pearce and Veva Islas

Raisin city teacher, Kim Cooper, talks about the terrifying day her superintendent ordered a surprise active shooter drill. Our three-person panel, Bill McEwen, Brooke Ashjian and Nasreen Johnson, weigh in on Superintendent Juan Sandoval's actions and if he should lose his job over it. D-16 Congressional candidate Esmeralda Soria discusses her potential path to victory over Rep. Jim Costa, who she once endorsed. College athletes in California are a signature away from being paid to play, former Bulldog great Jervis Cole says it's about time. FUSD board members hold special vote over trustee Terry Slatic's controversial meeting with the Bullard High cheer team. Our panel weighs in to see if a recall is a possibility.

Our panel talks Vice President Mike Pence's visit to the Valley, Swalwell dropping out, Steyer jumping in. They also discuss Trump's Census executive order to mark if someone is an undocumented citizen is no more, and Fresno City Council Member, Esmeralda Soria running for Congress.

District 1 Fresno City Council Member Esmeralda Soria talks budget and rumors of a congressional run. Our KSEE24 political analyst Larry Powell, president of Emerge America, Amanda Renteria, and former district 31 candidate Lupe Espinoza discuss Gateway Ice Center being up for sale and Soria's possible congressional run. Fresno County board of supervisors Buddy Mendes says Measure C is set to be back on the ballot in 2027. Tower rapist victim Mirna Garcia and Fresno City Council Member Miguel Arias issue a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom to keep Rudolph Acosta in prison. Panel talks: Should Nike have pulled their "Betsy Ross" sneaker and the battle over health care for all including undocumented immigrants in California.