# A Different Kind of Democrat on Fixing Government ft. Matt Mahan | Shane Smith Has Questions

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/shane-smith-has-questions-7035837/a-different-kind-of-democrat-on-fixing-government-ft-matt-mahan-shane-smith-has-questions
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/shane-smith-has-questions-7035837/a-different-kind-of-democrat-on-fixing-government-ft-matt-mahan-shane-smith-has-questions.md
Podcast: [Shane Smith Has Questions](https://stenobird.com/podcast/shane-smith-has-questions-7035837)
Published: 2026-04-16T16:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/135/verifi.podscribe.com/rss/p/tracking.swap.fm/track/i7NUCPwi3tJP053nG6mP/pdrl.fm/1bfae6/traffic.megaphone.fm/STU5540148128.mp3?updated=1776325430
Audio file: https://pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/135/verifi.podscribe.com/rss/p/tracking.swap.fm/track/i7NUCPwi3tJP053nG6mP/pdrl.fm/1bfae6/traffic.megaphone.fm/STU5540148128.mp3?updated=1776325430
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/shane-smith-has-questions-7035837/episodes/a-different-kind-of-democrat-on-fixing-government-ft-matt-mahan-shane-smith-has-questions
Duration seconds: 2608

## Resource

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan joins Shane Smith for a raw conversation about why California feels broken and what it would actually take to fix it. They discuss the reality behind homelessness, why housing is so expensive, and how bureaucracy and bad incentives have made it nearly impossible to build. Mahan explains how corporate power, regulation, and political complacency have created a system that continually becomes more expensive without delivering better results. Mahan lays out why he believes California is at an inflection point and what a more pragmatic, results-driven approach could look like if anyone is willing to take it on. Get your starter bundle at https://www.drinkag1.com/shanesmith Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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## Transcript

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