# What’s Actually Going Wrong in Las Vegas? | Manny Kess | #2112

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/digital-social-hour-6161133/what-s-actually-going-wrong-in-las-vegas-manny-kess-2112
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/digital-social-hour-6161133/what-s-actually-going-wrong-in-las-vegas-manny-kess-2112.md
Podcast: [Digital Social Hour](https://stenobird.com/podcast/digital-social-hour-6161133)
Published: 2026-08-20T16:55:15+00:00
Episode link: https://digital-social-hour.simplecast.com/
Audio file: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/https://pdcn.co/e/podgo.simplecastaudio.com/3cc8a577-57bc-473b-8cc8-358a1c940782/episodes/d35d52b9-73e7-4d86-b907-9c98e9c0fa0a/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=3cc8a577-57bc-473b-8cc8-358a1c940782&awEpisodeId=d35d52b9-73e7-4d86-b907-9c98e9c0fa0a&feed=gVWKQwJq
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/digital-social-hour-6161133/episodes/what-s-actually-going-wrong-in-las-vegas-manny-kess-2112
Duration seconds: 3391

## Resource

Las Vegas is growing, getting richer, and attracting massive investments. So why are so many locals feeling like the city is getting worse? In this Digital Social Hour episode, Sean Kelly sits down with Manny Kess, Las Vegas entrepreneur and political candidate, to discuss why he decided to enter politics, what he believes is going wrong in Clark County, and why local elections matter more than most people realize. Manny explains how the COVID shutdowns pushed him toward politics after watching businesses lose their ability to operate overnight. From there, he breaks down Vegas' rising cost of living, expensive hotels and nightlife, F1 traffic, major stadium projects, gas taxes, crime, homelessness, public schools, and why he believes the city needs to diversify beyond gaming and hospitality. They also debate the growth of AI data centers and their impact on Nevada's water and electricity, whether massive corporate tax incentives actually create enough jobs, and why residents should demand a clear return whenever public resources are used to attract private businesses. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 – Why Manny Kess Entered Politics 00:01:08 – COVID Changed Everything 00:02:32 – Is Las Vegas Dying? 00:04:30 – F1, Stadiums, and Vegas Traffic 00:08:16 – Vegas Needs More Than Casinos 00:11:41 – AI Data Centers and Nevada Water 00:17:32 – Why Living in Vegas Got Expensive 00:20:19 – Crime, Homelessness, and Local Government 00:32:56 – The Best Hotels in Las Vegas 00:38:20 – Losing Everything and Rebuilding 00:42:28 – Why Manny Is Running for Office 00:45:27 – Why Local Elections Matter 00:50:25 – California Politics Moving to Nevada 00:51:51 – Stop Voting Based on Party 00:54:38 – Who Should Be Allowed to Run? WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 🎰 Why Manny believes Vegas isn't dying, but its business m…

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