Watch: Laura, Randy & Meagan Headline Our Annual Rockin' New Year's Show - WTF Happened in 2025? And WTF's Next?
It's Newsmakers's 5th Annual special New Year's celebration, as three of SB's most prominent political leaders join our all-star panel for reflections on 2025, and fearless forecasts for 2026.
The Trump Regime has foisted a dark cloud of anger, hate and dread over the nation, but Santa Barbara County remains a beacon of light, principled opposition and pro-democracy values.
That is the takeaway from a freewheeling, end-of-year conversation among and between an All-Star Panel featuring a half-dozen of the county’s leading newsmakers - three who generate news in the public arena, and three who create news, by reporting, and analyzing that trio’s words and actions.
On our Fifth Annual Rockin’ New Year’s show, the genial host this week welcomes Board of Supervisors Chair Laura Capps, Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse and Meagan Harmon, leader of the liberal majority faction of SB City Council, who join News-Press Editor Josh Molina and Newsmakers Producer Hap Freund to explore 2025’s most important local news events, while offering some well-informed forecasts of what to look for in 2026.
As Trump’s radical right-wing government afflicts local jurisdictions everywhere, the gang examines the painful impact of his cruel deportation attacks; the latest federal effort to roll over the community and ram oil through the disputed Sable Offshore pipeline; and the mass protests led by Indivisible that arose to oppose the authoritarian agenda over the past year.
The panel also digs into the year’s big changes in the political and policy landscape prompted by the state’s seizure of local control over housing development; the collapse of the cannabis market; and the massive expansion of commercial launches at Vandenberg - and looks at looming fierce debates over rent control and the future of downtown Santa Barbara, along with next year’s contested race for mayor.
Plus: an astonishing prediction about cars coming back to State Street.
All this and more, right here, right now, on Newsmakers TV.
Sending all best wishes for 2026 to our viewers, we invite you to check out our Fifth Annual Rockin’ New Year’s special, via YouTube below or by clicking through this link. Our podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, or on Soundcloud here. TVSB, Channel 17, airs the show every weeknight at 5 p.m. and at 9 a.m. on weekends. KCSB, 91.9 FM, broadcasts the program at 5:30 p.m. on weekends.