The Gist

The Mayor: Murder and Momentum

Jan 28, 2025

Randall Woodfin, the dynamic Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, and author of 'Son of Birmingham', sheds light on the city's dual narrative of growth and rising crime rates. He shares his personal experiences with violence and emphasizes the importance of community support in tackling these challenges. Woodfin discusses innovative strategies to enhance youth employment and local safety, while demonstrating a commitment to inclusive leadership and engaging with diverse citizen needs amidst changing political landscapes.

28:25

Episode guests

Randall Woodfin

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Mayor Randall Woodfin addresses Birmingham's rising homicide rates by focusing on systemic issues like poverty and youth unemployment.

In his memoir 'Son of Birmingham,' Woodfin reflects on personal motivations and challenges in improving the city amid socio-economic struggles.

Deep dives

Inaugural Book Club Event

A special activity for subscribers will be a book club featuring 'Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness' by Jamil Zaki. This event will take place on February 18th, from 8 to 9:30 PM Eastern Time, exclusively for Pesca Plus subscribers. The opportunity to engage with the author and other fans of the book aims to foster a community around exploring themes of human goodness. Interested individuals can subscribe at the specified website to gain access not only to this event but also to other exclusive activities designed for Pesca Plus members.

Intro

2min

Confronting Crime and Community in Birmingham

8min

Convergence of Crisis: Staffing Shortages in Essential Services

2min

Listening and Leading: Birmingham's Community Focus

10min

Reflections on Journalism and Departure

2min

Randall Woodfin, mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, is leading a city experiencing promising growth in wealth and education while also grappling with a troubling surge in homicides that defies national trends. Woodfin discusses his new book, Son of Birmingham, and the challenges of governing a city at a crossroads. Plus, a CNN stalwart has asked his last confrontational question to a combative president, and the current administration makes some highly questionable claims about condoms and Gaza.

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Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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