x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

MHD Off the Record

MHD Off the Record takes you inside Los Angeles City Hall with Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. Each episode explores the culture, politics, and policies shaping life in Los Angeles from housing and homelessness to city planning, public safety, and immigrant rights. Focused on uniting neighborhoods across the city, the MHD Off the Record podcast blends political insight with community-driven solutions. Listeners hear conversations with civic leaders, activists, and community stakeholders

government politics

All Episodes

52:49

Keys to the City: Mayor's Office of Community Safety

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/11/24

On this episode, we’re exploring how Los Angeles is redefining public safety beyond enforcement. The Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, led by Deputy Mayor Karen Lane, is building a citywide network of programs rooted in prevention, healing, and opportunity. We’ll be discussing everything from youth mentorship and violence interruption to reentry support and community-led crisis response.Karen Lane launched the city’s first Office of Community Safety under Mayor Karen Bass. With deep roots in

en

47:27

Ep. 39: How Do We Turn Cultural Influence Into...

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/11/10

On this episode, LA City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson sits down with singer, songwriter, producer, and artistic creator James Fauntleroy. James is a four-time Grammy Award winner and one of the most influential songwriters of his generation. He recently co-wrote "Die With A Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, which won an award at the 2025 Grammys, hit No. 1 (5 wks) on Billboard and became the fastest song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify on its way to topping the platforms global

en

26:37

South LA Highlight: Cooking with Gabby

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/10/27

Cooking With Gabby was founded by Steven “Chef Steve” Vasquez Sr. and his wife Lisa. Their vision was to address the serious health challenges facing children and families—specifically poor nutrition, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. It began with Chef Steve and his daughter Gabby cooking healthy meals together and sharing the benefits of nutritious eating, fitness, dance, and active lifestyles throughout their community, starting when Gabby was a young child.By 2006, Cooking With Gabby had

en

46:20

[Re-Air] MHD OTR South LA Highlight: 24th STreet Theatre

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/10/13

On this episode, Los Angeles City Council District 8 staffer, Chavonne Taylor, speaks with Jay McAdams, Executive Director of the 24th STreet Theatre, a unique organization blending professional productions and world-class artists with quality arts education since 1997. Their mission is to engage, educate, and provoke young people and their families with excellent theatre and arts education. Jay is a producer, having produced dozens of theatrical productions over the last 20 years and won LA

en

33:47

Ep. 38: What is California's Prop. 50?

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/09/29

On this episode, the roles are shift a little... Producer, Chavonne Taylor, steps into the host seat to interview Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson about Proposition 50, the single item on California’s November 2025 special ballot.At its core, Prop 50 would put new, temporary voting maps in place for the upcoming election — a direct response to efforts in Texas and other states to tilt congressional districts in President Trump’s favor. The measure has sparked confusion and

en

50:55

Ep. 37 How Can Communities Protect Each Other? (Feat....

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/09/15

On this episode, we’re talking with Maya Suzuki-Daniels and Lupe Carrasco Cardona about immigrant rights, community safety, and the grassroots organizing behind the Harbor Area Peace Patrols. These patrols, launched in San Pedro, are part of a broader effort by the Community Self-Defense Coalition — an alliance of more than 65 organizations across Los Angeles and Southern California working to defend immigrant rights and respond collectively to ICE activity. Maya is a teacher, union leader, and a

en

50:02

Ep. 36 Why Do We Need Public Investment in Youth...

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/09/01

Renata Simril is the President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation, a nationally recognized leader in youth sports equity and legacy planning. Under her leadership, the foundation has expanded access to sports for young people across Southern California, particularly in underserved communities, with a focus on closing the play equity gap.Born and raised in Los Angeles, Renata brings a deep understanding of the city’s challenges and opportunities. Her career spans the military, private sector, and public

en

01:06:31

Ep. 35 What Does it Take to Protect Immigrant Rights?...

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/08/18

On this episode, we delve into the critical issues of immigrant rights, the profound impact of storytelling, and how both shape justice and community in Los Angeles.Angelica Salas is a nationally recognized immigrant rights leader and Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (or Chirla), a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization that advocates for the human and civil rights of immigrants and refugees, working to advance justice and full inclusion for all immigrants . An

en

37:01

South LA Highlight: Low Rider Solidarity and Unity Ride

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/08/04

In this episode, we sit down with Andre Christian of Watts Life United, Roman Maldonado from Thee Illusions Car Club, and Dwight Lewis of the National Lowrider Association. These men are some of the organizers behind the Stop the Hate & Stop the Raids Solidarity Ride taking place August 10th and kicking off 9am at Mcarthur park. This event was created in direct response to the recent wave of ICE raids across Los Angeles, especially in South Central. It aims to demonstrate solidarity and support

en

50:07

South LA Highlight: 27th Street Bakery

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/07/21

Jeanette Bolden-Pickens is the third-generation owner of 27th Street Bakery, a historic South LA business known nationwide for its legendary sweet potato pies. A proud Angeleno, she took over the family legacy started by her grandfather in 1956—keeping its deep community roots while expanding its reach across the country. Under her leadership, the bakery has weathered everything from economic shifts to a global pandemic, all while staying true to its mission of serving tradition by the slice.Before

en

35:25

South LA Highlight: Breaunna Alston of Destination...

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/07/07

Breaunna Alston is the Communications and Marketing Specialist for Destination Crenshaw, a community-led public art and cultural infrastructure project along Crenshaw Boulevard. Originally from Sacramento, she brings a strong background in media arts and a passion for storytelling to her work. After transferring from UC Merced to Clark Atlanta University, she earned her degree in Mass Media Arts, gaining hands-on experience at CAU TV and WCLK Jazz Radio. She joined Destination Crenshaw as an intern

en

36:32

LA Resource: Know Your (Immigration) Rights

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/06/23

On this episode of MHD Off the Record’s LA Resources, we speak with Ritu Mahajan Estes of Public Counsel about your rights regardless of immigration status, what to do during an ICE encounter, and how communities can safely support one another during times of increased enforcement.Rithu Mahajan Estes is the Directing Attorney of the Community Development Project at Public Counsel. She leads the team providing pro bono legal and policy support to nonprofits, small businesses, street vendors, and

en

31:18

Keys to the City: South LA's Development Services Center

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/06/09

On this episode, we speak with Kinikia Gardner, a Senior Planner with the Los Angeles City Planning Department. With more than two decades of experience in urban planning, Kinikia has focused her career on making the planning process more accessible and equitable, especially for historically underserved communities.She currently leads the South LA Development Services Center, one of only a few centers across the city where residents, business owners, and developers can get in-person help with

en

38:59

[Re-Air] How Can We Understand Black History Through...

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/05/26

MHD and Co-Host Chavonne Taylor speak with Naima Keith, Vice President of Education and Public Programs at LACMA, about the important role of Black Art in LA History.Naima J. Keith is the Vice President of Education and Public Programs at LACMA. Within her role, she oversees all aspects of and sets the vision for LACMA’s innovative and exhibition-driven educational programming that serves more than 650,000 community members annually.Prior to her position at LACMA, Keith was the Deputy Director and

en

22:00

*Bonus Episode*: Tackling LA's Budget feat....

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/05/19

Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky represents LA’s 5th District and currently serves as Chair of the City Council’s Budget, Finance, and Innovation Committee. A native Angeleno and environmental attorney, she brings a policy-driven approach to tackling some of the city’s most urgent challenges, including fiscal responsibility, climate resilience, and equity. As Budget Chair, Yaroslavsky is at the forefront of navigating a billion-dollar deficit facing the city. She is focused on ensuring transparency

en

29:56

South LA Highlight: Vallarta on Crenshaw

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/05/12

Cesar Gonzalez is the Chief Operating Officer of Vallarta Supermarkets, a family-owned grocery chain founded in 1985 and rooted in California’s Latino communities. Under his leadership, Vallarta has expanded to 59 stores, including 27 in Los Angeles County. In 2025, Vallarta opened a nearly 50,000-square-foot store at Crenshaw and Slauson, a predominantly Black neighborhood that had gone without a full-service grocery store for four years. The store brings culturally relevant offerings, local

en

50:40

Ep. 34 What Does Real Public Safety Look Like? (Feat....

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/04/28

The 1992 Los Angeles uprising, sparked by the acquittal of officers in the brutal beating of Rodney King, exposed deep cracks in the systems meant to protect and serve. More than thirty years later, what actions can we take to create real public safety practices that center justice, equity, and community care?Joining us to explore these questions is John Kim, President and CEO of Catalyst California (formerly Advancement Project California). John shares his personal reflections on the uprising and

en

52:52

Keys to the City: Organics LA and the Zero Waste...

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/04/14

LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) is the city department responsible for protecting public health and the environment through waste management, water reclamation, pollution prevention, and sustainability programs that touch every Angeleno’s life. On this episode, we’re joined by Jennifer Pinkerton, Assistant Director of LASAN, and James Roska, Environmental Supervisor, who both play key roles in advancing the City’s OrganicsLA and Zero Food Waste initiatives. Together, they offer insight into

en

01:01:05

[Re-Air] South LA Highlight: LA Focus

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/04/01

On this episode, we speak with Lisa Collins, founder and publisher of LA Focus, a monthly newspaper dedicated to highlighting news relevant to LA’s African American community. A passionate Los Angeles native, Lisa aims to equip Black Angelenos with essential information and resources, emphasizing the church's role in community empowerment. Before founding LA Focus, she served as the gospel editor at Billboard Magazine for over a decade and established the renowned “The Gospel Music Industry

en

33:58

Ep. 33 Are Community Resources Truly Accessible?...

MHD Off the Record ·

2025/03/17

Figuring out how to get access to the right resources—whether it’s housing, jobs, or financial support—can be overwhelming. So who should be responsible for making sure people get the help they need? Should the government be doing more, or are community organizations better equipped to step in? Are we empowering ourselves, or are we asking too much from the system?Sitting down with us to answer these questions are Lauren Brazile, President of We Grow LA, an organization dedicated to empowering

en

47 results

Similar Podcasts

The Fly

Georgetown"s Institute of Politics and...

THE CONSTITUTION STUDY

Paul Engel

The DSR Daily

The DSR Network

The Lawfare Podcast

The Lawfare Institute

Fora do Baralho

Rádio Observador