Fast Times

Matt Mahan, the Mayor of San Jose since 2022, shares his inspiring vision for the city, focusing on addiction care and innovative homelessness solutions. He discusses transitioning from tech to public service and the need for political reform to enhance governance. Mahan highlights creative strategies, such as converting motels into housing, and emphasizes collaboration across California to tackle homelessness. He also advocates for transparency and civic engagement to foster accountability and rebuild trust in local governance.

Tom Wolf interviews Adam Nathan about why San Francisco is worth fighting for, why SF is still the best place in the world to start and grow a company, why he got involved in making SF work better for everyone, and how he hopes the Democratic Party will refocus on a positive, forward-looking vision.

Tom shares his gripping journey from addiction to advocacy, shedding light on the devastating impact of prescription painkillers. He discusses the urgent need for compassionate policies to combat rising overdose deaths and homelessness. Ethical dilemmas faced by nonprofits in addressing these issues are explored, alongside radical solutions like prioritizing rehabilitation over incarceration. The conversation delves into the complexities of harm reduction approaches and the call for political accountability in fostering effective change in urban communities.

Brooke Jenkins, the recently reelected District Attorney of San Francisco, is tackling the city's drug crisis and public safety. She shares her journey from loss to leadership, emphasizing community trust. Jenkins discusses balancing progressive policies with public safety, advocates for harm reduction in the face of the fentanyl epidemic, and highlights the importance of community input in shaping policy. She also navigates the political landscape, collaborating with city leaders to address pressing issues like homelessness and crime.

Even as President Trump's approval ratings plummet, Democrats still have work to do to rebuild trust with voters that we can be trusted with the issues that matter most to voters like cost of living and immigration. We sat down with Armand Domalewski, a cofounder of YIMBY Democrats, to game out the playbook Democrats should use to reconnect with voters, ground communications and policy in what matters, and rebuild a coalition that can win elections and counter the Trump Presidency's destruction with a positive alternative plan.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is off to an ambitious start: he's taking big steps to tackle the city's street homelessness, addiction, and public safety crises. If he succeeds in turning our city around, San Francisco Democrats have an opportunity to set an example for how national Dems can get serious about affordability, safety, and government that works. In this episode, we're doing a deep dive on Lurie's moves so far, his communication strategy, and how Democrats can win back voters' trust and repair the Democratic Party's toxic brand.