The Issue Is
Season 5 Episode 17 - Bill Melugin, Lanhee Chen, LA Times Festival of Books
Bill Melugin breaks down the crisis at the Border, Lanhee Chen talks his campaign for CA Controller, and Elex heads to the LA Times Festival of Books.
Subtitles: English
Season 5
S05:E50 - Rep. Adam Schiff, Best of "The Issue Is" in 2022
Rep. Adam Schiff talks Jan. 6, Ukraine, TikTok, and a possible 2024 Senate run; Elex takes a look back at the biggest moments and stories of 2022.
S05:E49 - Karen Bass, Gloria Allred, Larry Elder
Karen Bass sits down for her 1st interview as LA Mayor. Gloria Allred and Larry Elder debate marriage equality, abortion, reparations, 2024, and more.
S05:E48 - Robert Garcia, the Reagan National Defense Forum
Robert Garcia discusses his journey from Long Beach Mayor to Congressman. Bret Baier, Leon Panetta, and others join Elex to talk national security.
S05:E47 - Kevin Kiley, Jonathan Martin, John McEntee
Rep-elect Kevin Kiley previews a GOP-led House; Jonathan Martin talks Gavin Newsom's future; John McEntee shows off his dating app for Conservatives.
S05:E46 - Midterm Madness and Beyond
Karen Bass, James Carville, Reince Priebus, Jon Favreau, Barbara Boxer, and others talk 2022, 2024, and more. With a special appearance by VP Harris.
S05:E45 - Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to "The Issue Is" to talk education, the midterms, Trump, his trip to Auschwitz, his rivalry with Stallone, and more.
S05:E44 - Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brian Goldsmith, Lynn Vavreck
Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrates Veterans Day; Brian Goldsmith and Lynn Vavreck break down the results of the 2022 midterm elections.
S05:E43 - 2022 Midterms Preview
Ahead of the midterms, Elex speaks with Dan Schnur, Ben Oreskes, and House candidates, Katie Porter, Scott Baugh, Mike Levin, and Brian Maryott.
S05:E42 - California A.G. Rob Bonta, Prop. 30
Ahead of the midterms, California Attorney General Rob Bonta makes his final pitch to voters. Supporters and opponents of Prop. 30 debate.
S05:E41 - The Race for L.A. Mayor Gets Personal
Elex Michaelson sits down with L.A. Mayoral candidates Rick Caruso, Karen Bass, and their families, for an insightful, and often emotional, half hour.
S05:E40 - Scandal Rocks L.A. City Hall
Gustavo Arellano and LZ Granderson discuss the fallout of the LA City Council scandal. Nathan Hochman makes his case to voters in the race for CA AG.
S05:E39 - Brian Dahle, Lanhee Chen, Props. 26 and 27
With the midterms fast approaching, "The Issue Is" is joined by candidates for CA Governor and Controller, as well as supporters of Props. 26 and 27.
S05:E38 - Ronna McDaniel, Will Rollins
The march to the midterms continues with RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel and Democratic Congressional Candidate Will Rollins.
S05:E37 - Christy Smith, Erika D. Smith
Congressional candidate Christy Smith makes her case to voters; Erika D. Smith breaks down this week's debates for LA Mayor and Sheriff.
S05:E36 - Rep. Karen Bass, Dennis Prager
Rep. Karen Bass discusses the recent break-in at her home; Dennis Prager pulls the curtain back on PragerU and Republicans' place in deep blue CA.
S05:E35 - Gavin Newsom; Pete Buttigieg; Melissa Giller
Gov. Newsom discusses energy, Sec. Buttigieg talks infrastructure, and we explore the special relationship between The Queen and President Reagan.
S05:E34 - Jennifer Granholm; Alexei Koseff; Jeremy B. White
This week, the issue is: energy. US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm discusses electric vehicles, the grid, nuclear power, gas prices, and more.
S05:E33 - Ron Brownstein
Journalist and author Ron Brownstein looks ahead into the political future and back into the cultural past, namely the transformative year of 1974.
S05:E32 - Mark Takano, Peter Hamby
Rep. Mark Takano talks his trip with Speaker Pelosi to Taiwan; Peter Hamby talks 2022, 2024, and political messaging in an increasingly digital age.
S05:E31 - Brian Tyler Cohen vs. Michael Knowles
Michael Knowles and Brian Tyler Cohen debate the FBI raid at Mar-A-Lago, the Biden presidency, abortion rights, and more, in this fiery rematch.
S05:E30 - Dr. Erica Pan, Lis Smith
As cases rise, Dr. Erica Pan provides answers on Monkeypox. Then, Democratic strategist Lis Smith talks about her new book and her legendary career.
S05:E29 - Rep. Adam Schiff, State Senator Bob Hertzberg
Rep. Adam Schiff returns to discuss the latest hearings of the House Jan. 6 Committee. State Senator Bob Hertzberg celebrates CA's new gun safety law.
S05:E28 - Gov. Gavin Newsom
"The Issue Is" hits the road for a series of exclusive interviews with CA Governor Gavin Newsom as he makes a high-profile visit to Washington, DC.
S05:E27 - Gloria Allred, Larry Elder
A debate like you've never seen before: Attorney Gloria Allred and Radio Host Larry Elder take on abortion, Gov. Newsom, January 6th, and more.
S05:E26 - Gloria Allred, Eric Early, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Rep. Adam Schiff
As the debate over abortion rights heats up, "The Issue Is" welcomes Gloria Allred, Eric Early, and California's First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
S05:E25 - AG Rob Bonta, Jodi Hicks, Jonathan Keller, Areva Martin, Brian Goldsmith
As SCOTUS overturns Roe v Wade, "The Issue Is" welcomes CA AG Rob Bonta, PPActionCA's Jodi Hicks, CA Family Council's Jonathan Keller, and more.
S05:E24 - Gov. Gavin Newsom, James Gallagher, Rep. Pete Aguilar, John Myers
Inflation and the Insurrection take center stage as "The Issue Is" welcomes Gov. Newsom, State Assemblyman Gallagher, Rep. Aguilar, and John Myers.
S05:E23 - Gov. Gavin Newsom, Vice President Kamala Harris, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff
"The Issue Is" welcomes what may be its highest-profile lineup: Governor Gavin Newsom, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
S05:E22 - Rick Caruso, Chesa Boudin, Robert Rivas
The CA Primary just days away, Elex welcomes LA Mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, embattled SF DA Chesa Boudin, and State Assemblyman Robert Rivas.
S05:E21 - Karen Bass, Malia Cohen, Marc Levine
As primary day nears, Elex is joined by candidates Karen Bass (LA Mayor), Malia Cohen (CA Controller), and Marc Levine (CA Insurance Commissioner).
S05:E20 - Jonathan Martin, Alexander Burns, Eric Early
Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns pull back the curtain on election 2020 and year one of the Biden Presidency. Eric Early makes his case for CA AG.
S05:E19 - Bob Costas
Legendary sportscaster Bob Costas drops by "The Issue Is" to talk The Lakers, Dodgers, Olympics, Tom Brady, and everything sport.
S05:E18 - Gloria Allred, Rep. Adam Schiff, Rochelle Walensky
On our 4th Anniversary, and with abortion, COVID, and Ukraine in the news, Elex is joined by Gloria Allred, Rep. Adam Schiff, and Rochelle Walensky.
S05:E17 - Bill Melugin, Lanhee Chen, LA Times Festival of Books
Bill Melugin breaks down the crisis at the Border, Lanhee Chen talks his campaign for CA Controller, and Elex heads to the LA Times Festival of Books.
S05:E16 - Gov. Jerry Brown, Sec. Jennifer Granholm
It's Earth Week and "The Issue Is" is going green. Elex is joined by former CA Governor Jerry Brown, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, and more.
S05:E15 - Michael Shellenberger, Tal Kopan, Joe Davis
Big questions this week: Is Sen. Dianne Feinstein mentally fit to serve? Is Gov. Gavin Newsom unbeatable? Or, could homelessness derail his plans?
S05:E14 - Matthew Friend, Bob Hertzberg, James Gallagher
From Howard Stern to Ted Cruz, comedian Matt Friend shows off his hilarious impressions. Then, after another mass shooting, the gun debate heats up.
S05:E13 - Matt Belloni, Nathan Hochman, Justice Patricia Guerrero
More fallout after Will Smith's Oscar slap from a reporter in the room. Also, a GOP candidate for California AG and CA's newest Supreme Court Justice.
S05:E12 - Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, Alexei Koseff, Elizabeth Wagmeister
Gas prices surging. Interest in The Oscars plummeting. Elex is joined by Kevin Kiley, Alexei Koseff, and Elizabeth Wagmeister to discuss fixing both.
S05:E11 - Mayor Eric Garcetti
Outgoing L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti gets behind the wheel to take "The Issue Is" on a journey through the city he's led for nearly nine years.
S05:E10 - Rep. Karen Bass
This week on “The Issue Is:” an extensive one-on-one with Rep. Karen Bass, the six-term Congresswoman now making a run to become the next Mayor of LA.
S05:E09 - Nate Mook, Rick Caruso, Charlie Beck
World Central Kitchen CEO Nate Mook on his work in Ukraine, Rick Caruso is endorsed by Fmr LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, and what's the State of the Union?
S05:E08 - Adam Schiff; Alex Padilla; Andrew Whitworth; Pete Buttigieg
A historic week, Elex Michaelson is joined by Rep. Adam Schiff, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rams star Andrew Whitworth, and Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg.
S05:E07 - Rick Caruso, Mayor Eric Garcetti
Elex Michaelson sits down with outgoing L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, as well as the man looking to replace him, billionaire developer Rick Caruso.
S05:E06 - The Super Bowl Comes to L.A.
Are you ready for some football? This week, “The Issue Is” leaves the politics behind, focusing instead on everything Super Bowl 56.
S05:E05 - Rep. Barbara Lee, Steve Mason
This week on "The Issue Is": Tensions mount in Ukraine, the debate rages over SCOTUS picks, LA prepares for the Super Bowl, and how to fix The Oscars.
S05:E04 - Ethan Bearman, Michael Knowles, Arash Markazi
This week on "The Issue Is": The debate over student vax mandates, grading Pres. Biden's 1st year in office, and the NFC Championship game divides CA.
S05:E03 - Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, D.A. Anne Marie Schubert
Two first-time, history-making guests join "The Issue Is": Second Gentleman of the United States Doug Emhoff and Sacramento D.A. Anne Marie Schubert.
S05:E02 - Dr. Mark Ghaly, Sec. Pete Buttigieg, Christopher Kennedy
Surging Omicron. Rising inflation. Supply Chain Issues. Universal Healthcare. No parole for RFK's killer. It’s been a busy week in CA politics.
S05:E01 - Larry Elder, Alex Thompson
Radio host Larry Elder joins Elex Michaelson to discuss his decision not to run for CA Governor again in 2022, his new PAC, and his political future.
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