The Issue Is

The Issue Is

Discussions and debates with top newsmakers about the most controversial and interesting issues impacting California, hosted by FOX 11’s Elex Michaelson and airing on several TV stations across the state.

Episodes

406: Karen Bass, and an announcement

August 9, 2025 • 29 mins
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass talks about immigration raids, homelessness, the Olympics and more, while Elex make an announcement about The Issue Is.
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405: Stephen Cloobeck, Ken Martin

August 2, 2025 • 20 mins
Democratic candidate for California Governor, Stephen Cloobeck joins us in our studio. Elex is also joined by the chair of the Democratic National Committee, Ken Martin, sits down for an exclusive interview about redistricting & the party's challenges at the polls.
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404: Stephen Cloobeck, Ken Martin

August 2, 2025 • 20 mins
Democratic candidate for California Governor, Stephen Cloobeck joins us in our studio. Elex is also joined by the chair of the Democratic National Committee, Ken Martin, sits down for an exclusive interview about redistricting & the party's challenges at the polls.
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402: The Issue Is: Frank Luntz, Corrin Rankin, Clayton Kershaw

July 26, 2025 • 36 mins
Pollster Frank Luntz discusses the state of politics, and California Republican Party Chair talks about the state's potential re-districting, while Clayton Kershaw celebrates his 3,000th strikeout by giving back.
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401: The Issue Is: Gregory Bovino and Gustavo Arellano

July 19, 2025 • 35 mins
US Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino and the LA Times' Gustavo Arellano offer two very different perspectives on immigration raids in California.
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400: MLB on FOX celebrates 30 years

July 12, 2025 • 22 mins
MLB on FOX celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, capturing three decades of unforgettable baseball moments. We get a look behind the scenes with Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and Derek Jeter.
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399: Ben, Brett & Jordy Meiselas

June 28, 2025 • 25 mins
The Meiselas Brothers started the "Meidas Touch" in response to President Donald Trump. Now, with Trump back in the White House, the brothers join The Issue Is to discuss politics.
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398: Douglas Murray

June 28, 2025 • 72 mins
We travel to the Nixon Presidential Library to host a discussion with journalist, commentator and author Douglas Murray about his best-selling book "On Democracies and Death Cults," and a historic week in Iran.
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397: Arnold Schwarzenegger in Austria

June 21, 2025 • 26 mins
We travel with former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to Austria for the Austria World Summit.
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396: Karen Bass on LA protests, ICE raids

June 21, 2025 • 14 mins
In a bonus episode this week, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass discusses the anti-ICE protests in downtown LA and curfew, the confusion of federal agents at Dodger Stadium and more.
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395: Gavin Newsom, Bill Essayli, Gustavo Arellano

June 14, 2025 • 42 mins
During a week of anti-immigration protests in Los Angeles, we talk to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the LA Times' Gustavo Arellano.
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394: Alex Thompson and "Original Sin"

May 31, 2025 • 24 mins
"Original Sin," the new book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, is one of the best-selling books in the country. It talks about President Joe Biden cognitive decline. Thompson joins The Issue Is to discuss their work.
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393: Antonio Villaraigosa; Dan Schnur & Matt Klink 

May 24, 2025 • 37 mins
Elex sits down with Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democratic candidate for California governor, as well as professor Dan Schnur and conservative commentator Matt Klink.
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392: Inside the Milken Global Conference

May 17, 2025 • 20 mins
Inside the Milken Global Conference with a panel on LA wildfire response and one-on-one with Dr. Mehmet Oz, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
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391: Jamie Dimon 

May 10, 2025 • 31 mins
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon sat down for an exclusive interview with FOX 11's Elex Michaelson in Pacific Palisades. He spoke about rebuilding California, Trump's tariffs, the entertainment industry, and more.
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390: Sen. Alex Padilla; Areva Martin and Jennifer Horn

May 3, 2025 • 55 mins
Sen. Alex Padilla (D – Calif.) discusses President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. In a panel discussion, Areva Martin and Jennifer Horn also weighs in on Trump's second term, in addition to discussing Kamala Harris' return to the national spotlight.
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389: Steve Hilton, Brian Goldsmith, Amie Parnes

April 26, 2025 • 42 mins
 This week, Elex is joined by Steve Hilton, who announced is running for the Governor of California, and Brian Goldsmith, who is running for State Senate. Journalist Amie Parnes also joins the show. 
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388: Rob Bonta; Bob Shrum & Jessica Milan Patterson

April 19, 2025 • 22 mins
This week, California became the first state in the country to sue the Trump administration over tariffs.
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387: Arnold Schwarzenegger; Tomi Lahren vs Brian Tyler Cohen; JJ Redick & Rick Caruso

April 12, 2025 • 36 mins
We sit down with Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the USC campus to discuss his environmental efforts, California's wildfires, his son Patrick's appearances on "The White Lotus," and Schwarzenegger's recent role as Santa Claus.
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386: Xavier Becerra, Gloria Allred, John Phillips

April 5, 2025 • 46 mins
Xavier Becerra is running for California Governor. He gave the first TV interview of his campaign to FOX 11's statewide political show "The Issue Is: with Elex Michaelson."
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