This conversation aired in the August 04, 2026 episode of Crosscurrents. This October, the trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, her boyfriend, Andre Jones, and prominent local businessmen David and Andy Duong is set to begin. Last week, the federal prosecutors filed a trove of documents alleging Thao and others made bribes for political gain. Natalie Orenstein is a reporter for the Oaklandside, who has been covering recent events in the Thao case. She spoke with KALW's news editor Sunni Khalid.