Sunday Morning Matters: The Podcast

State senator Andreas Borgeas says Prop 63 is in a state of confusion when it comes to proper ID for ammunition background checks. District 2 candidates running for Fresno city council stop by: Mike Karbassi, Jared Gordon, Oscar Sandoval, George Herman and Lawrence Garcia. KMJ host Ray Appleton, KSEE24 political analyst Jim Verros and president of Central Valley new tax market Oliver Baines debate everything from the humanitarian crisis at the border to women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe boycotting the White House.

This week we have a round table with Fresno City Council members Garry Bredefeld and Luis Chavez on the controversial Advance Peace program that would need taxpayer dollars to fund. Then we talk to community organizer Aaron Foster who makes the case on why Advance Peace is something Fresno needs desperately. We sit down with Don Larson, Alex Tavlian and Tara Lynn Gray who weigh in on the Advance Peace program -- offering stipends to gang members to put down their weapons. And finally the panel discusses: Are migrants camps turning into concentration camps?

This week we talk to Fresno City Council members Esmerelda Soria and Miguel Arias about their trip to Washington DC and visit with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as the friction that happened on the council as a result. Our panel discusses Gov. Newsom's new budget plan, State of the City, and ACLU/Black Lives Matter. We sit down with congressional hopeful Phil Arball about his run against Rep. Devin Nunes in CA-22. We also sit down with Fresno State professor Jenna Kieckhaefer to discuss the Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act of 2019. Guests: Fresno City Councilwoman Esmerelda Soria, Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias, Political Analyst Jim Verros, Fresno City Councilman Steve Brandau, Building Healthy Communities CEO Sandra Celedon, congressional hopeful Phil Arball, Fresno State professor Jenna Kieckhaefer.

Our panel weighs in on a Bullard student's blackface controversy. Fresno Stonewall Democrats president talks Mayor Pete's visit and if he won their vote for president. Rep. Jim Costa has a republican challenger, and he doesn't have a political bone in his body. Our panel weighs in on Mayor Pete's visit and talk about how Fresno council members spent a portion of their Washington D.C. trip to apologize to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And the fight over fracking: the state director of Mi Familia Vota Samuel Molina joins the show.

The Fresno Grizzlies lose sponsors amid the Memorial Day video tribute that was played to the audience. The three-person panel debates if the apology was enough. Name recognition or campaign message? Our panel debates how voters may lean when it comes to voting in Fresno's next mayor. Elliott Balch enters the Fresno mayor's race. Hear what he plans to do for Fresno should he become mayor. Congressman Devin Nunes has a new challenger for 2020. He's a mechanic with hopes to take over district 22's seat. Guests: Jim Verros, Oliver Baines, Guillermo Moreno

In today's jam-packed episode, Mayor Lee Brand talks about his decision to not seek re-election in 2020, his friendship with Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, and his 2020 budget. In an exclusive interview, we talk to Dyer about his expected mayoral campaign. Fresno City Councilman Luis Chavez shares why he's the best choice for mayor in 2020. Our panel of Larry Powell, Veva Islas and Diane Pearce talk about Brand's surprising decision, and Dyer's expected run for mayor, Brand's budget, legacy and if dirty politics will enter the mayoral race. Guests: Fresno Mayor Lee Brand, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, Fresno City Councilman Luis Chavez, Analyst Larry Powell, Fresno Unified Trustee Veva Islas, and Fresno State professor Diane Pearce.

A verdict has been reached in the child cruelty case of Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula. After the not guilty decision by the jury, Arambula addresses the media. Our panel weighs in on the verdict and if Arambula's reputation is in the "toilet." The battle between the high-speed rail and the Trump Administration heats up as the Federal Railroad Administration cancels its $1 billion payment. Fresno Bee political reporter Rory Appleton says goodbye as he takes off for his new job in Las Vegas. Our three person panel returns to talk about Newsom's health care plan and the high-speed rail. Well-known author and award winning journalist, Mark Arax, talks about his new book and how he says climate change is real for farmers. Guests: Jim Verros, host of Unfiltered with Jim Verros and KSEE 24 political analyst; Lupe Espinoza, educational program director and former District 31 candidate; Ricardo Franco, democratic party delegate.

Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran and Fresno Council of Governments Deputy Director Robert Phipps talk about their trip to Washington DC as part of a large delegation to hand over their priorities for transportation, workforce and economic development to our national representatives. Criminal defense attorney David Mugridge breaks down the dramatic testimony in the Joaquin Arambula case. Our panel of Bill McEwen, Elizabeth Heng and Humberto Gomez weigh in on the Arambula case, Mayor Lee Brand utilizing his first veto, and Governor Newsom's new tax cuts and the rise in his 213-billion-dollar spending bill. The first presidential hopeful to visit Fresno, Julian Castro, talks about his campaign and why President Trump should be impeached.

This week's episode we are talking more on California Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula's child cruelty case and getting the local's reaction to courtroom developments. New plans for the California High-Speed Rail shows the project is now requiring more money and time to reach its deadline to maintain federal funding. Guests: Andrew Janz, Fresno Mayor Candidate and Fresno County violent crimes prosecutor and champion boxer Jose Ramirez. Panel: KSEE24 Political Analyst Jim Verros; political commentator at KMJ Mike Der Manouel Jr. and former Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea

Criminal defense attorney and KSEE 24 legal analyst David Mugridge breaks down all aspects of Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula's child cruelty trial. Our panel, Jim Verros, Eric Payne and Alex Tavlian discuss how Arambula's case is already being tried in the court of public opinion. We take a journey down memory lane with Congressman Jim Costa in his Washington D.C. office. Alexandra Limon reports from D.C. on how California could play a vital role in presidential impeachment talks. Jimmy Cerracchio with the Downtown Fresno Partnership gives us the rundown of how revitalization is coming along.

Fresno Sheriff Margaret Mims reacts to President Donald Trump's plan to release undocumented immigrants into cities that declare themselves as sanctuary cities. A three-person panel reacts on the sanctuary cities plan, No-Match Letters about worker's social security not matching records, the 448-page Mueller Report and California Gov. Gavin Newsom's first 100 days in office. Guests: Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims; Alex Tavlian, executive editor of the San Joaquin Valley Sun; Mario Santoyo, the executive director for the California Latino Water Coalition; Samuel Molina, California State Director of Mi Familia Vota; Berj Apkarian, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Fresno; Maddie Mueller, Clovis North student.

Valley Congressman Devin Nunes explains his $150 million lawsuit against McClatchy, and Congressman TJ Cox talks about the Granite Park audit. The three-person panel discusses the above controversial topics, and Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias joins us after he voted against the panhandling ordinance proposal that he cosponsored. Guests: Congressman Devin Nunes (R), Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias, KSEE 24 Political Analyst Jim Verros, reporter for Valley Public Radio Laura Tsutsui, Fresno Bee Editor Joe Kieta and Congressman TJ Cox (D.

On this week's edition of Sunday Morning Matters: Fresno City Council members feud over Mayor Lee Brand's gas tax plan. The panel weighs in on the gas tax battle and Sex-Ed controversy in our schools. Two council members joins us in a round table to talk about what the heck is going on. Guests: Fresno Mayor Lee Brand, Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld, Fresno City Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria, KMJ Host Philip Teresi, KSEE24 Political Analyst Larry Powell, and Former Councilman Oliver Baines. Sunday Morning Matters airs every week after Meet the Press.

Your Sunday Morning Matters host, Alexan Balekian, touches on a range of topics, including whether or not former congressional candidate and Fresno County prosecutor Andrew Janz will be running for Mayor of Fresno. Rep. Jim Costa discusses the Mueller Report and the three-person panel weighs in on a range of topics, including if bars should stay open through the early morning hours. Guests: Jim Verros, KSEE24 Political Analyst and host of Unfiltered W/ Jim Verros; Diane Pearce, With Fresno County and City Republican Women Federated; Ricardo Franco, software consultant and delegate for the Democratic Party; Rep. Jim Costa and former congressional candidate and Fresno County prosecutor Andrew Janz.

Central Valley Congressman Devin Nunes sits down to talks about his Twitter lawsuit, the Mueller investigation, Gov. Gavin Newsom's tax proposal on California water and his take on the straw ban. And, a four-person panel focuses in on the panhandling ordinance failing and Gavin's Law. Central Valley Congressman TJ Cox talks about immigration reform and how he spends his days in the valley when he's not in Washington D.C. Guests: Congressman Devin Nunes, Fresno City Councilmember Steve Brandau, Political Commentator Eric Payne, Reporter for Valley Public Radio Laura Tsutsui, Valley Congressman TJ Cox and KSEE24's Alexan Balekian.

We're talking about Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula's child cruelty case. He says the case is politically motivated, Fresno's police chief and district attorney say it isn't. A new voting system is coming to Fresno County. What could it mean for the Fresno City Council if Steve Brandau wins the Supervisor race, leaving 6 members. Gov. Gavin Newsom put a moratorium on the death penalty in California, and why could Clovis lose funding from the gas tax because of lack of affordable housing. Guests: KSEE24 Political Analyst Jim Verros, Humberto Gomez Jr., Alex Tavlian, Fresno County Clerk Brandi Orth, and Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld.

Do colleges support free speech? President Trump doesn't seem to think so. We sit down with Steve Brandau who is expected to win the race for Fresno County Supervisor. Guests: Fresno City Councilman Steve Brandau, GV Wire's Bill McEwen, Fresno State Professor Lisa Bryant, former Fresno Unified Trustee Brooke Ashjian, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, and Assemblyman Evan Low.

What is the future of the California Republican Party? The party has a new leader. Fresno Mayor Lee Brand talks about his plan to transform the more challenging areas of Fresno. What's going on with the Fresno County Supervisor special election? And what's this about Evan leaving Fresno?? Guests: Fresno Mayor Lee Brand, KSEE24 political analyst Jim Verros, conservative talk radio host Ray Appleton, Fresno Unified Trustee Veva Islas, Congressman Jim Costa, and KSEE24's Alexan Balekian.

There's a fight over money with California's bullet train project. Is this really about High Speed Rail? Or is it about President Trump sticking it to California for suing over the emergency disaster? We're also talking about a girl at a Clovis school who was told she couldn't wear her "Make America Great Again" hat. Does that violate her rights? Or is it par for the course with Clovis Unified's dress code? Guests: U.S. Rep. Jim Costa, CA Sen. Andreas Borgeas, former Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea, Fresno City Counilman Garry Bredefeld, and Bill McEwen from GV Wire.

In the inaugural episode of Sunday Morning Matters: The Podcast, host Evan Onsot discusses California Gov. Gavin Newsom's vision for High Speed Rail, and after a newborn baby was abandoned on a street in Madera, we talk about the Safe Surrender program. Guests: KSEE24's Ashley Zavala and Megan Rupe, Political Analyst Jim Verros, former Fresno City Councilman Craig Scharton, reporter Tim Sheehan from The Fresno Bee, CHP Officer Justin Foraker, and Merced Mayor Mike Murphy. Sunday Morning Matters is a weekly political show that airs on KSEE24 after Meet the Press.