LA Podcast - All's Smell That Ends Smell

Alissa, Oscar, and guest co-host Rudy Espinoza discuss accelerating immigration enforcement activity in LA as ICE murders three people in one week nationwide. Then, how an unbearable stench, rats, flies, and extreme heat are impacting the Lineage fire aftermath. And as the 39-day tournament ends, reflections on what LA got wrong and right with the World Cup.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Think Forward, or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.

Three ICE murders in one week across the country: Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine, and an unidentified man in Miami. The Maine murder, where a man ran into traffic to escape ICE, is similar to the killing of Roberto Carlos Montoya in Monrovia last year

14 ICE detainees have died so far in 2026. In 2025, ICE reported that 33 detainees died

LA Taco reports that the San Fernando Valley has become a hotbed of ICE activity, with raids escalating. The DTLA ICE detainment facility is now being moved to Santa Ana, although perhaps temporarily

As reported by LAist’s Libby Rainey, advocates are receiving upticks in calls for help with ICE raids. Attorney Sarah Houston, who oversees calls, says: "I'm so happy that ICE hasn't ruined the World Cup by doing these mass raids, but they are still doing them piecemeal and one by one...In the background, the administration is still there, and these things are still happening. They're just not happening at SoFi Stadium." 

ICE patrols shifted to fan zones and the areas surrounding SoFi Stadium

Jets used to deport ICE detainees were also used to transport World Cup teams 

Sweeping changes are coming to the ICE detention center in Adelanto due to a federal ruling demanding the humane treatment of prisoners

ICE promised to halt vehicle stops and increase the use of body cameras. Hmmm, where have we heard that before?

CHIRLA, pro-immigrant leaders, and clergy members held a press conference to honor the people killed by ICE, and organize a day of action on July 25

85 million pounds of rotting food from the Lineage fire is now causing an overpowering smell that’s traveling far outside the neighborhood, contains odor-related toxins, and is creating a fly infestation. Extreme heat is also becoming an issue. AQMD has issued an odor violation for the smell from the Lineage fire, but residents continue to demand that the warehouse is shut down

Businesses in the area are empty and some haven’t gotten air purifiers 

Ruben Vives reports for the LA Times that Manuel Orozco, owner of Jim’s Burgers, and his workers wore face masks inside the mostly empty diner. Not far from the Lineage warehouse, Orozco said “No one is coming and it’s because of the smoke…It’s been a difficult time.”

For L.A. Material, Julia Wick tried to find out where the waste is going

LA Mayor Karen Bass had a quick response to the sinkhole and water main break in WeHo

Alissa wrote about how FIFA fan zones are privatizing public spaces. In Venice, the fan zone didn’t include a promised free component. Vendors were also kicked off the Venice boardwalk

Metro ridership numbers in June increased by two million year over year during the World Cup

Alissa will be speaking about what LA has learned from the World Cup at LA Forward's next meeting on July 21 from 7 to 8 p.m. RSVP for the Zoom

Support LA Podcast by becoming a paid subscriber at thinkforward.la

This week’s episode was produced by Sophie Bridges

Our digital producer is Victoria Alejandro

The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward

Alissa Walker writes the newsletter Torched, tracking LA’s megaevent progress. Find her at @awalkerinla on Instagram and @awalkerinla.bsky.social on Bluesky

Oscar Zarate is director of external affairs at Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA). He is @straight_outta_papeles on Instagram

Rudy Espinosa is executive director of Inclusive Action for the City, a nonprofit, Community Development Financial Institution based in Los Angeles. Follow him at @rudyespi