ENside Politics
A weekly podcast that breaks down how politics works, and often doesn't work, in San Antonio. Metro Editor Greg Jefferson and Express-News reporters question politicians and other newsmakers about what they're up to in our name.
Episodes
July 28, 2025 • 43 mins
Political consultant Andrew Solano, reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson talk about Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' push to drive a harder bargain with the Spurs. Also, will the team's commitment to spend $500M on arena construction make public financing to pay the rest of the bill an easier sell at the polls?
Suggested reading:
Watch: Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez arrested on DWI charge
San Antonio Spurs commit $1B-pl...
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July 14, 2025 • 52 mins
Political consultant Laura Barberena, City Hall reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson discuss Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' first month in office and her apparent love of rules.
Suggested reading:
Mayor: Losses from feared Army command merger could be ‘negligible’
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones names new chief of staff
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro may run for Senate. Will it be a crowded race?
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June 30, 2025 • 20 mins
Tech reporter Brandon Lingle and host Greg Jefferson discuss Port San Antonio's plan to land the Air Force cyber command, the Air Force One debacle in San Antonio and SpaceX's new company town in South Texas.
Suggested reading:
Boeing can't hire, keep enough mechanics for Air Force One work in San Antonio
Starbase lockdown: SpaceX city blocks public roads, raising legal questions
Port San Antonio snubbed: Abbott vetoes $50M f...
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June 24, 2025 • 42 mins
Democratic pollster Brannon Miller, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson discuss next year's race for the U.S. Senate, the upcoming campaign for public dollars for a Spurs arena, and more.
Suggested reading:
County moves forward with arena plan, despite lack of Spurs details
Once Texas GOP’s ‘weak link,’ Attorney General Ken Paxton is growing more popular and powerful
Despite late scare, Jones easily won may...
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June 16, 2025 • 58 mins
Bexar County Commissioner Just in Rodriguez talks with host Greg Jefferson and reporters Madison Iszler and Brooke Park about the likelihood of a November venue tax election, political jockeying at the Bexar County Courthouse, and more.
Suggested reading:
County moves forward with arena plan, despite lack of Spurs details
County tax election for Spurs arena won't happen without more information
District Attorney Joe Gonzales ...
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June 9, 2025 • 34 mins
Host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith discuss how Jones skated past Rolando Pablos on election night and the several big problems she'll have to confront as soon as she takes office — including a $31 million budget deficit.
Suggested reading:
Mayor-elect Gina Ortiz Jones spends post-election morning with Mayor Nirenberg
Galvan, Meza Gonzalez and Spears win Districts 6, 8 and 9
How did you...
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June 3, 2025 • 42 mins
Host Greg Jefferson, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and Andrew Solano, campaign manager for Beto Altamirano, discuss the Gina Ortiz Jones campaign's missteps, why Altamirano (who placed third in the May 3 mayor's race) hasn't made an endorsement in the race, and more.
Suggested reading:
Gina Ortiz Jones, Rolando Pablos head to June 7 mayoral runoff
Pablos attacks Jones on use of her middle name; she says that’s ‘racist’
Rolan...
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May 27, 2025 • 60 mins
Host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporter Megan Rodriguez talk with councilmen Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and Marc Whyte about their favorites for mayor, red vs. blue politics on City Council and what to do about San Antonio's projected $31 million deficit.
Suggested reading:
Next mayor, council will have to make budget cuts as city revenues fall
Here’s how Gina Ortiz Jones, Rolando Pablos can become San Antonio’s next mayor
Will...
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The city’s police and firefighters’ unions both sat out the first round of voting, waiting until the field of 27 candidates for mayor in the May 3 city election was whittled to Gina Ortiz Jones and Rolando Pablos. The San Antonio Police Officers' Association backed Pablos ahead of the June 7 runoff while the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association is not endorsing.
Suggested reading:
San Antonio police union endorses ...
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May 19, 2025 • 48 mins
The former councilwoman stepped down in 2023 to focus on a daughter who’s now 3, and Sandoval is back to her roots grounded in the environment.
Suggested reading:
Ana Sandoval's NALCAB bio page
‘It has been an honor’: San Antonio Councilwoman Ana Sandoval steps down, leaving seat open until March
‘Extremely disappointing’ — Mario Bravo suspended from SA city council committees after verbal outburst against Ana Sandoval
Kee...
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May 5, 2025 • 34 mins
Host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith talk about voters' rejection of City Council members running for the top job, the Year of the Outsider and what's ahead in the June 7 runoff.
*Suggested reading:*
What happens next in San Antonio mayoral and City Council races: _https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/san-antonio-mayor-city-council-races-next-steps-20309351.php_
Gina Ortiz Jones made ...
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April 28, 2025 • 30 mins
Host Greg Jefferson and opinion editor Josh Brodesky discuss why early voting numbers are so weak and what went into the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board's endorsements in the mayor's race.
Suggested reading:
The Editorial Board recommends these candidates. Here's why.
Can a Republican win the mayor’s race in blue San Antonio?
The San Antonio Express-News Voter Guide
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April 24, 2025 • 33 mins
Host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith talk about who's up and who's down in the race for mayor and City Council.
Suggested reading:
The San Antonio Express-News Voter Guide
Express-News editorial board recommendations
Where to vote
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https://www.expressnews.com/newsletters/ensidepolitics/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...
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April 7, 2025 • 40 mins
Host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith talk about who's up and who's down in the race for mayor and City Council.
Suggested reading:
Councilman Manny Pelaez pumps nearly $300K into his campaign for mayor
District 1 challenger accuses Councilwoman Sukh Kaur of violating ethics rules
We used AI to analyze San Antonio mayoral candidates priorities
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...
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March 25, 2025 • 38 mins
Host Greg Jefferson and Daiana Lambrecht, executive director of Futuro San Antonio, discuss how the potential dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education and a school voucher program could affect public education in the Alamo City.
Suggested reading:
What does the Civil Rights Movement have to do with school vouchers?
Here's how special education could change under a private school voucher program
Will $1 billion for school vo...
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March 17, 2025 • 40 mins
Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Webster talks about San Antonio’s mayor’s race, the chamber’s annual SA to DC lobbying trip and Project Marvel.
Suggested reading:
Long sought flight between San Antonio and D.C. takes off
What will Trump freeze mean for VIA's $268M bus route grant?
Nelson Wolff backs Beto Altamirano in crowded San Antonio mayor's race
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https://...
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March 12, 2025 • 28 mins
Podcast host Greg Jefferson and education reporter Melissa Manno delve into the school district's decades of dysfunction and what the Texas Education Agency is doing about it.
Suggested reading:
New leader has a plan to transform South San ISD: less money for central office, more for teachers
South San ISD given chance for turnaround as Texas replaces school board
'A new era': TEA replaces South San ISD superintendent, trustees af...
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February 10, 2025 • 49 mins
ENside Politics host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporter Molly Smith talk with UTSA pollster Bryan Gervais about the upcoming city elections, a recent polling controversy and the virtues of local politics -- at least as opposed to poisonous national and state politics.
Suggested reading:
UTSA poll: Voters say crime is most pressing problem facing Bexar County
Will voters know Prop C undoes pay, tenure caps on city manager?
Suppo...
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February 3, 2025 • 33 mins
ENside Politics host Greg Jefferson and reporter Richard Webner talk with Harley Hubbard, the city's project manager for the bike network plan, about the effort to add 1,890 miles of bicycle routes to San Antonio streets. The cost: between $3 billion and $8 billion.
Suggested reading:
City Council says yes to bike plan that could cost billions
City's vision for sprawling bike network could cost billions
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January 27, 2025 • 54 mins
On this week's ENside Politics, retired Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff sizes up major candidates for San Antonio mayor, the Gordian knot that is Project Marvel and the fear of losing the Spurs to another city.
Suggested reading:
Why donors from outside San Antonio are funding mayor’s race
County tax election for Spurs arena won't happen without more information
'Lying bunch of sons of bitches’: Judge Wolff says city should stop p...
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