Alex Villanueva on sheriff's race, Michael Gates on attorney general's race, LA28 transit and more

Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses Alex Villanueva on L.A. County sheriff's race, Michael Gates on attorney general, LA28 transit preparations, whether gap years are worth it, and new book on how leaders matter.

Alex Villanueva on why he should be elected L.A. County Sheriff again

The topic:

The office: The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is the largest sheriff’s agency in the nation — and is the third-largest local law enforcement agency just behind the New York Police Department and the Chicago Police Department. The sheriff is the only elected official in the county who wears a badge and carries a gun. There are 8,703 sworn personnel in the department and 5,431 civilian positions.

The candidate: Alex Villanueva, served as L.A. County sheriff from 2018 to 2022, losing to Robert Luna. After he left office, Villanueva was placed on a "do not rehire" list following findings by the County Equity Oversight Panel that he violated policies regarding discrimination and harassment during his term. Villanueva denied the allegation. Villanueva says that, as sheriff, he led the department to work “hand in hand” with the community to fight crime and that he is running to restore the luster to the department.

Read more about this race, and others on LAist’s Voter Game Plan.

Guest:

• Alex Villanueva, former L.A. County Sheriff and candidate for L.A. County Sheriff

Michael Gates on why he should be the next California attorney general

Michael Gates speaks during Steve Hilton's Califordable Town Hall and Q&A at the Santa Monica Hilton Hotel on Sunday, May 31, 2026.

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The topic:

The office: California’s top cop carries out the governor’s law enforcement directives. The attorney general’s job touches almost every facet of life in California, from the environment to its tech sector and consumer protections. During both Trump administrations, the attorney general’s office led high-profile lawsuits defending policies favored by California Democrats. 

The candidate: Gates, a former trial attorney, served as Huntington Beach city attorney for a decade. In that role, he challenged what he viewed as lenient criminal justice policy emanating from the state capital. He also fought elements of the new housing laws that would have compelled Huntington Beach to build more affordable housing. In 2025, Gates was appointed a deputy assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, a job he left in November when he returned to the Huntington Beach city attorney’s office. 

Read more about this race, and others on LAist’s Voter Game Plan.

Guest:

• Michael Gates, Republican candidate for California attorney general; he is a former trial attorney and served as Huntington Beach city attorney for a decade

Checking in on L.A.’s transit preparations for the 2028 Olympics

Team USA athletes greet Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the LA28 team as the Olympic flag arrives in L.A. on Monday from Paris.

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The topic:

Federal funding ask: L.A. Metro has asked the federal government for a total of $2 billion. Half that money would be used to temporarily acquire, operate and store nearly 1,750 additional buses — the centerpiece of the region’s Olympics transportation plan. Some of that money has been added to a spending bill, which still needs to go through the appropriations process.

What happens without the money: Rep. Laura Friedman said Wednesday the lack of financial assistance could increase traffic, result in fewer buses and worsen public transit reliability during the Games.

Read the full LAist story... and listen to the AirTalk segment for more details about where the region's transportation plan for the 2028 Games stands.

Guests:

• Libby Rainey, LAist reporter who is covering LA28
• Kavish Harjai, transportation correspondent for LAist who has been following the measure

Are gap years worth it?

Did you take a gap year?

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The topic:

Premium gap years: Many parents find that paying for the tuition of a college degree for their kids may not be worth it at first, particularly if their child is not entirely sure if they are interested in one field. Some are instead opting for a premium gap year, which provides their children an alternative to traditional higher education, with some of these experimental learning programs costing upwards of $95,000 a year. 

Join the conversation: We want to hear from you! Have you taken a gap year before deciding what you chose to study in college? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com

Guest:

• Holly Bull, President of the Center for Interim Programs and Accredited Gap Year Counselor based in Princeton, NJ.

New book looks at whether leaders actually matter at all

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. addresses the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 28, 1963.

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The topic:

At play: While many of us would like to feel in control of our lives, we are often subject to forces outside of our control. So how much of what a leader does is truly determined by them, and how much is determined by circumstance and luck? And what qualities of a person make them more likely to have an outsized influence on the world?

Book event today: Meet Jared Diamond in person at 8 pm tonight at The Moss Theater (313 Olympic Boulevard) in Santa Monica to talk about his book. For tickets, visit www.livetalksla.org.

Guest:

• Jared Diamond, professor of geography at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the author of Profits, Prophets, Coaches, And Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter? (Mariner, Sept 1, 2026) and also the best-selling Guns, Germs, and Steel (W.W. Norton, 1997)