On this week’s episode, a mash-up of stories that illustrate Santa Barbara’s unique character, as the Newsmakers TV panel discusses the alarming decline in of butterflies at Elwood Mesa, appointment of the Harbor Commission’s first Chumash member, and a roiling City Hall dispute over a summer camp called Lobster Jo’s, with Callie Fausey, Ryan P. Cruz and Josh Molina also breaking down the city of Goleta’s big win in hosting a World Cup team, allegations of anti-Semitism by UCSB’s former student body president, and the rich local history found in the newly-resurfaced archive of the Santa Barbara News-Press.

One year after Donald Trump’s inauguration, Newsmakers reconvenes our All-Star Panel of National Political Pundits to assess the damage the Administration has done to date and to forecast what comes next. As pro-democracy Americans and the Democratic Party look to the November mid-term elections as the next best opportunity to slow down or stop the march to fascism, veteran political writer Carla Marinucci, national campaign strategist Bill Carrick, and Kamala Harris biographer Dan Morian join the genial host with their takes on Year 1 of the Trump Regime.

With Santa Barbara’s political brawl over rent control certain to shape the 2026 elections for mayor and city council, Josh Molina, Ryan Cruz and Christina McDermott on this week’s episode of Newsmakers TV break down all the latest campaign and policy developments on the housing beat. Christina also goes behind-the-scenes about her new podcast focused on IV, Ryan discusses how his new cover story that puts a human face on deportation cruelty, and Josh reprises Monique Limón’s big hometown celebration, as she ascends to one of the most powerful posts in state government.