DOPE AS USUAL PODCAST
Episode: "Taking Over the City w/ Jason Lee!"
Hosts: Thomas Araujo (“Dope as Yola”) & Marty O’Neill
Guest: Jason Lee (Vice Mayor of Stockton, Media Personality, Host of "The Jason Lee Show")
Release Date: April 14, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode features an in-depth and candid conversation with Jason Lee, known for his media presence and now as Vice Mayor of Stockton, CA. The discussion traverses Jason’s unique rise from poverty in the Central Valley, his impact on local politics, personal health transformation, the relationship between community and governance, and the importance of civic participation—all delivered in DOPE AS USUAL’s trademark raw and humorous style.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Jason Lee’s Media Evolution and Platform Strategy
- Network Hopping & “Audience Jacking”
- Jason describes his career path as moving between major platforms, capturing audiences, and taking them to the next venture.
- “I go to Revolt. I go to Breakfast Club. I go to Audience Jacker… I’m an audience jacker. But that’s not why I left Zeus...” (Jason, 01:26)
- Intent to Uplift Others
- Cites his new partnership with BET as a chance to help creators build their shows, explicitly saying he’s not a gatekeeper but rather wants others to win.
- “I like to see other people winning too… it’d be a great way to help launch their new program.” (Jason, 01:15-02:20)
2. Civic Engagement: From Merced to Stockton
- Roots and Aspirations
- Both Thomas and Jason relate through their experiences in Merced and Stockton—cities often stigmatized by crime and neglect.
- “Stockton, California… I grew up poor… it was also the city that unlocked my dreams…” (Jason, 05:19)
- Taking Over Local Politics
- Faced rejection from local politicians; decided to run, organize, and help elect others, ultimately shifting the city’s power structure.
- “I went and found other people… got us all funded and we took over the city.” (Jason, 06:45)
- Policy over Spite
- Discussed organizing for community benefit, emphasizing programs for youth and overcoming skepticism from those in power.
3. Reality of Local Government & Crime
- Systemic Roots of Crime
- Points to poverty as a root cause, not just individual decisions—calls for structural solutions like job creation and investment.
- “For me, what real crime resolution looks like is poverty alleviation… You can't have poor people who continue to be strategically oppressed…” (Jason, 07:49)
- $12.4 Million State Grant
- Lee and Stockton recently received a major grant, focusing on reinvestment for crime reduction and social programs. (08:47)
- Relationship With Law Enforcement
- Describes organizing large meetings with law enforcement and policymakers, balancing accountability with the realities officers face due to limitations of state law. (54:07)
4. Personal Transformation: Health, Identity, and Authenticity
- Weight Loss Journey
- Details his dramatic weight loss through surgery after failed attempts, focusing on health reasons: “I went to the gym… I just could not lose a pound… I did the gastric sleeve.” (13:25–14:16)
- Uses humor and candor: “He told me, you might die in this procedure… I was like, fuck it. I’m gonna risk my life for it.” (14:19)
- Maintains his health vigilantly, now using modern therapies and emphasizes honesty: “People just jump to HIV or cocaine. I just wanted to be healthy!” (15:45)
- Shifting Identity but Staying Grounded
- Despite political status, insists he remains authentic: “I'm a real motherfucker from the hood… I still talk to people the way I talk to my friends.” (11:03)
- Resists “politician” label due to its negative connotations.
- Cultural Representation and Inspiration
- Takes pride in origins and seeks to inspire “the next generation of Jasons” from places like Stockton and Merced. (28:58)
5. Barriers & Frustrations in Community Work
- Stigma and Gatekeeping
- Thomas narrates being labeled as gang-affiliated for charity work due to background and appearance—Jason validates these are common obstacles for Valley natives.
- System Slowdown
- Jason provides real-life government examples: “It took four months to fix a fence.” (53:35)
- Fraud, Section 8, and Welfare Programs
- Open debate on fairness and misuse within social programs; Jason advises action: “Know who your county supervisor is… and be the educated voter officials fear.” (50:53–59:16)
6. Politics, Voting, and Collective Responsibility
- Voting Matters
- Emphasizes local elections' real-world impact; shares how one colleague "won by 500 votes." (41:41)
- Cynicism and Engagement
- Strongly rebuts the “my vote doesn’t matter” mentality, arguing apathy is exactly what allows dysfunction to persist.
- “You’re involved in politics. You just don't fucking participate in the moment that matters most.” (40:19–41:41)
- Pushes for Accountability
- Enjoys “making people uncomfortable” when holding fellow officials to their campaign promises—specifically on safety and resource allocation. (45:49)
7. Raw Takes: National and Global Issues
- America’s “Gangster” President
- Unfiltered view of the Trump administration and global policy:
- “The biggest warmonger of them all is President Trump… you put all the gangs in front of me… they won't add up to Trump.” (00:00, 34:57)
- Critiques hypocrisy and corruption: “Elon Musk spent $250 million supporting Trump… now he’s making $8 million a day in contracts. It’s the biggest heist ever.” (37:24)
- Unfiltered view of the Trump administration and global policy:
- Violence, War, and International Atrocities
- Outraged about tolerance for violence abroad and inaction at home: “Is it right… to just go drop a bomb on a school and kill a bunch of kids in Iran? Nah, that shit is not.” (36:22)
- Connects issues from Gaza to Congo, urging listeners to think humanity-first. (69:57)
8. Authenticity, Humor, and Everyday Relatability
- Falling as an Adult—“Senior Moments”
- Memorable bit: Jason’s story of tripping up the stairs, FaceTiming a celebrity, and needing a dignified life alert. (24:01–26:49)
- Humanizing Public Officials
- Advocates for seeing politicians as people: “Politicians are people. We have to start humanizing these people, and you can do that by thinking about them fucking.” (17:08)
- Fat, Fame, and Fashion
- Riffs on comedian branding, body image, and self-doubt post-weight loss—showing vulnerability and confidence side-by-side (23:24–24:14)
Notable Quotes & Moments
“My whole career has been built on audience jacking… I’m an audience jacker.”
— Jason Lee (01:26)
“The biggest killers are the people in politics. These are the biggest gang members ever.”
— Jason Lee (07:23)
"When I see, like right now there's a huge development in Merced… it's only Section 8… I start getting mad at the people that are also in it with me… resentment, I feel."
— Thomas (48:30–49:31)
“You’re involved in politics. You just don’t fucking participate in the moment it matters most… your vote does matter.”
— Jason Lee (41:41)
“If you don't vote, you cannot say you care. You just can't.”
— Jason Lee (70:17)
“I'm still fat in my head, though, because that doesn't go away… Cardi B will call me and say, you look good, why you still wear baggy clothes?”
— Jason Lee (24:01)
“Everything I said I was going to do, I’ve done.”
— Jason Lee (45:34)
“We all need each other… this is how they demonized me… and now look, I went back and not only became the council member and the vice mayor, I got other people elected and we took control of the city.”
— Jason Lee (00:00, 34:57)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Intro & Jason’s Media Career: 00:00 – 02:45
- Politics & Stockton Story: 03:54 – 07:49
- Crime, Poverty, and Community Action: 07:49 – 10:48
- Authenticity in Politics: 10:59 – 12:04
- Balancing City Council & Hollywood: 12:07 – 13:07
- Weight Loss Journey & Health: 13:13 – 16:26
- Public Stereotypes, Stigma, and Personal Stories: 16:26 – 19:46
- Local Problems: Crime, Section 8, Social Support: 48:30 – 53:35
- Systemic Issues in Government Action: 53:35 – 56:38
- Law Enforcement and Reform: 56:38 – 66:56
- Youth Investment & Community Building: 66:53 – 68:43
- Global Politics, War, Voting: 36:22, 69:14 – 71:20
- Wrap-Up, Comic Relief, and Takeaways: 69:22 – end
Conclusion
This episode is more than a city politics lesson; it is a deep, personal, and refreshingly funny examination of how real people from tough backgrounds can—and must—reshape their communities. Jason Lee’s story of comeback, refusal to gatekeep, and radical candor serve as both inspiration and a challenge to listeners: don’t check out, get involved, and do it with pride and authenticity. Whether you want insight into local government, genuine life advice, or just want to laugh, this episode delivers.
Catch Jason Lee’s show on BET and follow DOPE AS USUAL for more unfiltered, real-life conversations.