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Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

By: Evan Meyer
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Meyerside Chats seeks to eliminate the “us and them” narrative and toxic polarization by praising those who lead by example, virtuous community leadership, and authentic conversation. The intent is to showcase the humanity in those that take on the often thankless jobs of public service through civil discourse, and honoring differing points of view.

Cities are an essential part of our identity. Depending on where we live, we develop different attitudes, personalities, perspectives, and ways of living. But is the average citizen aware of how their cities actually operate? Likely not. Conflicts between landlords and tenants are common. Many people lack knowledge of the ordinances their leaders enact. For those residents and communities that lack communication, the gap will worsen if left unaddressed.


There are deep-seated issues in many cities that prevent them from progressing. People tend to look at national-level issues rather than concentrating on issues in their own localities, and they are not aware of these severe problems. It is only as they become immersed in the country's biggest issues (which are outside of their control) that they realize what they want. But a knee-jerk response of fury or blame is useless without productive action.

What can be done to correct issues like poor compost, unfair ordinances, or substandard infrastructure? The key is to shift the focus to the local level, get involved, and become part of the solution. Identifying what you can do to contribute begins with listening and trying new ideas. We must establish deeper relationships with each other to achieve more practical solutions.

To find out how, host Evan leads eye-opening conversations about civic and community leadership that highlight how to stand up and make cities better. Addressing the "Us and Them" mentality, he brings people together to see eye to eye and provide their unique viewpoints.

This show aims to humanize politics, break the toxic bureaucracy, and reconnect residents with their city leaders. Evan explores the muddied relationships with politicians. With their grand buildings and great powers, these individuals usually appear distant and untouchable. But they are not infallible. It is possible to start authentic conversations that eventually lead to sustainable and inclusive communities.

Long-time community leader Evan Meyer invites you to focus on this alarming state of living through his podcast, Meyerside Chats. On this show, you'll hear real talks about rebuilding trust between people, leaders, and our government.

Evan brings vast experience to the podcast as a civic guru and community leader. For many years, he has been heavily involved in the development of Santa Monica using highly innovative approaches. He created the city's Civic Love program, a group focused on volunteerism and making change through the process of "doing good." He also served his neighborhood association for a decade, eventually as president.

In addition to outstanding community involvement, Evan founded several start-up businesses. He actively works to transform neglected communities globally through murals, art education, and social responsibility. The efforts of Evan are a perfect example of what citizens can do to make their city a better place to live, work and thrive.

© 2026 Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility Philosophy Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • ICE Eviction, Healthcare Grift, and Government Transparency | Controller Mark Pinsley

    ICE Eviction, Healthcare Grift, and Government Transparency | Controller Mark Pinsley
    Feb 5 2026

    In this episode of Meyerside Chats, I sit down with Mark Pinsley, the elected Controller of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, for a wide-ranging conversation on transparency, public trust, and how government financial systems really work when you look under the hood.

    Mark explains why his office uncovered unpaid rent tied to ICE’s use of county buildings, how a simple breakdown in contracts and oversight led to years of missed payments, and why fiscal accountability must remain separate from political pressure—even when the headlines get loud.

    We also dive deep into:

    • Why 70% of county spending goes to law and order
    • How jail phone commissions and healthcare middlemen distort incentives
    • The hidden role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and how Lehigh County saved millions by auditing them
    • What government efficiency efforts get right—and wrong—when compared to initiatives like DOGE
    • Why transparency changes behavior before laws ever do
    • How political labels collide with the reality of independent oversight
    • The rising personal risks faced by local officials—and how we lower the temperature

    This conversation isn’t about left vs. right. It’s about systems vs. incentives, people vs. power, and what it actually takes to earn public trust in government again.

    Video here: https://youtu.be/1Crt-mysGG8


    00:00 Intro – What a County Controller Actually Does
    01:10 Evicting ICE: How the County Discovered Unpaid Rent
    02:25 Contracts, Oversight Failures, and Government Blind Spots
    04:05 Separating Fiscal Oversight from Political Polarization
    05:40 ICE, Community Trust, and Reporting Crime Without Fear
    08:50 Citizens vs Residents: How County Spending Really Works
    10:40 Where County Money Actually Goes (71% to Law & Order)
    13:30 Balancing Objectivity and Personal Convictions as Controller
    15:30 Public Defenders vs Prosecutors: A Budget Fairness Problem
    16:45 Why Mark Identifies as a Democrat (and What That Really Means)
    18:10 Populism, Corporate Power, and Anti-Trust Failures
    20:40 Why Independents Can’t Win (Yet) + Ranked Choice Voting
    22:10 Modernizing Government Systems: Process Before Software
    23:30 Tools of Oversight: Excel, Python, and Catching Errors
    24:45 Legacy Systems, Data Access, and Why IT Bottlenecks Matter
    26:00 DOGE: Good Idea, Flawed Execution
    28:10 Can Government Really Cut $2 Trillion?
    29:40 Who Should Pay More Taxes—and Why
    32:10 Wealth, Assets, and Buying Influence
    34:00 Money in Politics and the Limits of Reform
    36:30 Why Transparency Is the Real First Step
    39:15 Civics Education and Who People Blame (Wrongly)
    41:50 Where Mark Gets His News—and Why He Trusts None of It
    43:40 Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Hidden Healthcare Grift
    46:30 How Lehigh Co

    Support the show

    About Evan Meyer

    Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org, a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com, a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com, a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats, Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth.
    He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Cincinnati on ICE, AI, Public Safety, Housing & Federal Pressure | Councilmember Mark Jeffreys

    Cincinnati on ICE, AI, Public Safety, Housing & Federal Pressure | Councilmember Mark Jeffreys
    Feb 2 2026

    Cincinnati City Councilmember Mark Jeffreys joins Meyerside Chats for a grounded, wide-ranging conversation on how cities actually govern during moments of national tension.

    Drawing on his background as a Procter & Gamble executive, entrepreneur, and public servant, Jeffreys explains how local governments balance housing shortages, public safety, federal immigration enforcement, media narratives, and community trust — all while operating within real political and legal limits.

    This episode covers housing supply, federal-local power dynamics, data-driven governance, political narratives, AI in government, and how cities can remain pragmatic in an increasingly polarized environment.

    🎧 Available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

    ⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps

    00:00 – Intro: Local leadership in national moments
    01:05 – What’s top of mind for Cincinnati residents right now
    03:30 – Minneapolis, ICE, and local government anxiety
    06:00 – Separating public safety facts from political narratives
    09:00 – Data vs headlines: how cities assess risk
    11:30 – Procter & Gamble, brands, and political narratives
    14:45 – KPIs, bureaucracy, and governing by metrics
    18:20 – Housing supply, zoning, and neighborhood resistance
    22:00 – Why housing has become so polarized
    26:10 – Comparing Cincinnati and California housing policy
    30:00 – Why developers won’t build at 3% returns
    33:30 – AI, automation, and the future of city government
    37:30 – One-party cities, red states, and balance of power
    41:45 – How to restore healthy debate without culture wars
    46:00 – What real federal-local collaboration should look like
    48:00 – Closing thoughts on trust, safety, and governance


    🎧 Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GR_TnZGjZ28

    Support the show

    About Evan Meyer

    Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org, a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com, a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com, a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats, Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth.
    He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Dark Money, Elections & the Supreme Court — Inside Citizens United | Tiffany Muller

    Dark Money, Elections & the Supreme Court — Inside Citizens United | Tiffany Muller
    Feb 1 2026

    What really changed after the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision—and why do most Americans believe it broke democracy?

    In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Tiffany Muller, President and Executive Director of End Citizens United, for a deep, practical conversation about money in politics, dark money, corporate influence, and what can actually be done to fix it.

    Tiffany brings rare, end-to-end experience to this conversation—having served as an elected City Council Member on the Topeka City Council, Deputy Political Director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Chief of Staff to a Member of Congress. Together, we explore how incentives—not just ideology—shape political behavior, why reform remains bipartisan among voters but partisan in Washington, and whether democracy can be “unrigged” without changing human nature itself.

    🎧 You can also find the audio version on your favorite podcast players.

    ⏱️ Chapters

    00:00 – Introduction & Tiffany Muller’s background
    01:50 – What Citizens United actually decided
    03:40 – How money creates gridlock & public distrust
    06:30 – Super PACs, dark money & billionaire influence
    09:10 – Campaign donations vs lobbying explained
    12:40 – The revolving door: Congress → lobbying
    16:00 – Is corruption just human nature?
    20:40 – Why voters support reform but Congress resists
    24:30 – Supreme Court ethics & reform ideas
    29:50 – A realistic roadmap to reform
    35:00 – Why reform has become partisan
    38:20 – Local politics, civic engagement & hope
    42:00 – Final reflections & how to get involved

    Support the show

    About Evan Meyer

    Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org, a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com, a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com, a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats, Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth.
    He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
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