Nation State of Play: Recent Episodes
Nation State of Play
On each episode of Nation State of Play, we explore the political forces driving public policy across California. We dig deep on federal and state topics to find out what politicians are doing, and most interestingly—why they’re doing it. We explore these topics with political insiders, advocates, and policy-makers themselves to get below the headlines, and show you the true forces shaping our nation state.
Janus Norman with CalBroadBand joins Bryan to discuss closing the access gap to broadband in California.
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Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig joins us to discuss his new study on the devastating impacts of zero bail. Read the full study and summary here.
(Originally aired March 14/23)
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Erica Tavares with International Medical Corps joins us to discuss critical gaps in California’s healthcare system, and how her organization is helping victims in both the Syria/Turkey earthquake as well as Ukraine.
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Nicole Gill with Accountable Tech joins us to discuss how to stop hate speech on Twitter.
(Originally aired Date 10Jan22)
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Tiffany Muller with End Citizens United returns to the show to discuss how democracy performed on the ballot in 2022, and what’s ahead for 2023. (Read the End Citizens United State Democracy Report Card )
(Originally aired 10Jan23)
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Verogen CEO, Brett Williams and former District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert on how genetic technology is changing law enforcement.
(Originally aired: 03January22)
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Larissa May with Half the Story Project joins us to discuss critical legislation to address social media addiction.
(Originally aired 27Dec22)
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Danielle Perry and JD Hilzendager join us to discuss low-income access to wireless service and data, and how the California Public Utilities Commission is widening the digital divide.
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Jessie Ryan with The Campaign For College joins us to discuss access to higher education and how policy-makers can improve community college transfer rates across the country.
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Tiffany Muller with End Citizens United joins us to discuss the impact of big money in politics, what states can do now to address this issue and the impact of big money on the 2022 election cycle.
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Bryan has a conversation with Stephen B. Walker about his new podcast, Reason 55, recently launched this Fall. Steph B has worked with California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) and brings his experience to raise awareness of the impacts of the operations of the corrections system.
(Originally aired 27October22)
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Congressional Candidate Will Rollins joins us to discuss his campaign in one of the most closely watched House races in the country. We cover the legal implications for gay marriage from the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the latest on the 1/6 investigations, and whether and where Trump may be indicted.
(Originally aired 11October22)
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Director of NARAL Pro-Choice California, Shannon Olivieri Hovis returns to the show to talk about the choice-focused political fights across the country.
(Originally aired 27Sept22)
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Bryan reviews the high profile strike of Kaiser Permanente with Sarah Soroken, Kaiser triage therapist, and Sal Rosselli, president of the National Union of Healthcare Workers. They explain the resources of nuhw.org, their goals, and ongoing efforts to demand change in the clinical environments throughout California.
(Originally aired September 6 22)
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Kami Peer, California Policy Associate with Common Sense Media, shares with Bryan how proposed legislation this past session was drafted to combat tactics used to addict minors to social media. Kami goes behind the scenes discussing the platforms and political leaders they are taking on in this fight.
(Originally aired 30Aug22)
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Bryan has a moving conversation with Katelyn Brewer of Darkness to Light - the nations leading advocate for child sexual abuse prevention. As President & CEO, she lends invaluable insight to the larger conversation of child protection as a collective adult responsibility. She outlines the National Blueprint for reform and its impact on legislation.
(Originally aired 24Aug22)
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In light of the recent SCOTUS ruling, Shannon Olivieri Hovis, Director, California at NARAL Pro-Choice America, joins Bryan to discuss its impact to the Pro-Choice movement in California.
(Originally aired 19August22)
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Edward Ring returns to the program to discuss his new book, The Abundance Choice. Ed is one of the leading voices in California to address our rapidly accelerating water shortage. (Originally aired 25July22)
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Bryan is joined by Antonio Villaraigosa who brings his unique experience and perspective as the former Mayor of Los Angeles to examine this year's race for mayoral. He shares where the race is headed into November and the issues facing the city.
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Greg Totten, of the Golden State Communities Project, reviews primary results with Bryan. They focus on several great primary races in California that have a national impact.
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Chuck Rocha returns to talk with Bryan and the June 7 results in California and the potential ramifications for the November elections.
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Bryan talks with Carol McGruder, Co-founder of the African-American Tobacco Control Leadership Council. They discuss the fight against tobacco in California including upcoming referendums to ban menthol cigarettes.
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Bryan is joined by one of the most knowledgeable people on Latino turnout and national trends of the electorate, Mike Madrid. Longtime Republican political consultant and a co-founder of The Lincoln Project he shares about The Latino Vote podcast and how 'history is made on the margins'.
(Originally aired 3May22)
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Bryan examines voter outreach with Reid McCollum, Director of the Postcard Program for the Progressive Turnout Project. The program’s volunteers wrote 21 million postcards to voters in 2020.
(Originally aired 26April22)
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Chuck Rocha, of the Nuestro podcast, joins Bryan to talk about Latino turnout in the mid-terms.
(Originally aired 5April22)
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The Director of Organizing for the California Native Vote Project, Joey Williams, shares with Bryan the legislative issues related to the indigenous vote and the impact of representation.
(Originally aired 15March22)
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Ned Wigglesworth shares his thoughts with Bryan about the state of healthcare legislation in California.
(Originally aired 11March22)
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Bryan talks with Lourin Hubbard. Hubbard is running for California's 22nd Congressional District, comprising portions of Fresno and Tulare counties. Topics include January 6th, the unique series of upcoming elections, and Devin Nunes.
(Originally aired 25Feb22)
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Braden Murphy joins Bryan to talk about his campaign and the issues central to it.
(Originally aired 15Feb22)
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Bryan gets to know more about Thien Ho, candidate for Sacramento County DA. He shares his childhood story from Vietnam, recounts notable cases from his career and how its shaped his approach to protecting the community.
(Originally aired 11Feb22)
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Mark Barden, co-Founder and CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise talks with Bryan about the student education and awareness programs that are serving as preventive tools against gun violence. These initiatives hope to have a positive, lasting impact on legislative policy surrounding firearms.
(Originally aired 8Feb22)
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Cris Steller, Executive Director of The California Artisanal Distillers Guild, shares with Bryan the current legislation that he is advocating for on behalf of the distilling industry. They also discuss the adjustments made during COVID that saved many distillers in the state.
(Originally aired 1Feb22)
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Bobbi Lopez of TODCO introduces emerging policies around California housing. TODCO Development Co. is the housing development division of the TODCO (Tenants and Owners Development Corporation) Group, the community-based housing/community development nonprofit corporation for San Francisco's South of Market Neighborhood.
(Originally aired 21Jan21)
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Ed Ring, Co-founder of California Policy Center and proponent of The Water Infrastructure Act of 2022, sits down with Bryan to go below the surface of California's most valuable, and threatened resources.
(Originally aired 14Dec21)
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Leading health advocate, Lindsey Vuolo of the Partnership to End Addiction, talks with Bryan to discuss how Washington and members of the California delegation are considering bills like The MATE Act and what impact it can have on addiction. Visit the Partnership's advocacy page to find resources and opportunities to advocate for other important bills currently before Congress.
(Originally aired 3Dec21)
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Cynthia Murray, President and CEO of the North Bay Leadership Council joins Bryan to discuss the unique needs of the Bay Area, a global destination for wine and tourism.
(Originally aired 30Nov21)
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Bryan has a conversation with Chuck Rocha, political consultant, Democratic Party strategist, former union organizer who is the president of Solidarity Strategies and host of the newly launched Nuestro Podcast.
(Originally aired 24Nov21)
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Bryan is joined by Jon Switalski, Executive Director of Rebuild SoCal to talk infrastructure improvement and the problems that affect the supply chain delays in California.
(Originally aired 22Oct21)
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Janell Smiley, author of As Long As They Don't Turn into Weirdos, joins Bryan to explore the educational opportunities in California. Her book recounts her family's journey through the process of starting public school plus the how and why she decided to take her kids out and find a different way to do education.
(Originally aired 27Sept21)
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Bryan speaks with Jim Knox, Vice President, Legislative Advocacy at American Cancer Society, on the misinformation used by Big Tobacco to target vulnerable consumers.
(Originally aired 24Sept21)
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Danielle Coffey, EVP and General Counsel for the News Media Alliance, shares with Bryan the future of the free press and pending legislation. The News Media Alliance represents 2,000 news media outlets worldwide. Danielle leads the organization’s advocacy and strategy while focusing on a digital future for news, which includes building a more favorable legislative and regulatory environment.
(Originally aired 21Sept21)
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Bryan discusses the latest on political technology with Will Gaffney of Simpli.fi, a leader in localized programmatic solutions. Trade desks, networks, local media groups, agencies, and multi-location brands leverage Simpli.fi’s performance, customizable audiences, and efficient delivery models to drive higher ROI in their digital businesses.
(Originally aired 17Sept21)
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Meghan Butler, VP/Chief of Staff at Recology, sits down with Bryan to talk about their efforts to make California a leader in plastic recycling. The Recology mission represents a fundamental shift from traditional waste management to resource recovery. They seek to eliminate waste by developing and discovering sustainable resource recovery practices that can be implemented globally.
(Originally aired 10Sept21)
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Bryan chats with Olivia Troye, Director of the Republican Accountability Project, to discuss Kevin McCarthy, the facts of January 6th, and the fragility of the Democracy. Olivia Troye served in the Trump administration as Vice President Pence’s Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor, as well as his lead staffer on the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
(Originally aired on 7Sept21)
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David Mitchell of Patients for Affordable Drugs NOW chats with Bryan about Scott Peters, drug prices and Big Pharma checks. Listen to hear the impact on San Diegans' healthcare.
(Originally aired 3Sept21)
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Bryan talks with leading trial lawyer Nicholas Rowley discuss California’s regressive cap on medical malpractice damages, and a new ballot initiative to change the law.
(Originally aired 24August21)
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Bryan hosts Chad Peace, legal strategist for the Independent Voter Project, and John Opdycke, Executive Director of Open Primaries to discuss the growing demand for structural election reform, and how New York is just one indication of how elections can change the entire political industry.
(Originally aired 19August21)
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Bryan sits down with Clint Reilly to discuss the business climate in California, and his leadership of The New California Coalition.
(Originally aired 5August21)
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Bryan is joined by Stephen Walker of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association to discuss the unaddressed trauma of California law enforcement officers.
(Originally aired - 15June21)
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California District Attorneys Association President and El Dorado County DA Vern Pierson, joins us to discuss Los Angeles's spiraling gun violence, and how LA District Attorney George Gascón's policies are contributing to the surge in violent crime.
(Originally aired 27Feb21)
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Fred Buzo and Rafi Nazarians with AARP join us to discuss AARP's new report on affordable housing for seniors.
(Originally aired 28Jan21)
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Blanca Castro, AARP's lead advocate in Sacramento joins us to discuss nursing home safety during COVID and what the legislature can do to protect seniors throughout the state.
(Originally aired 23Dec20)
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Dr. Su Jin Gatlin Jez, the Executive Director of California Competes, joins us to discuss the changing needs of workforce education in the age of COVID.
(Originally aired 6Oct20)
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Rachel Michelin, President of the California Retailers Association joins us to discuss the current state of re-opening, devastating tax measures on the November ballot, and what exactly it is (or is not) that the Governor's mystery Economic Taskforce has been doing.
(Originally aired 26Sept20)
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President of the California District Attorneys Association and El Dorado County DA Vern Pierson joins us to discuss a pending bill that would dramatically impact public safety throughout California. DA Pierson explains how a last minute legislative process was used to slip through a dramatic re-write the California's criminal code, and why it's so critical for Governor Newsom to veto the bill.
(Originally aired 23Sept20)
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Chazz Clevinger, CEO of the award winning company One Click Politics joins us to discuss the latest developments in digital advocacy, and how COVID is disrupting the government affairs industry.
(Originally aired 23Sept20)
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Privacy and data expert Mary Stone Ross and Tracy Rosenberg, the Executive Director of The Media Alliance join us to discuss Proposition 24, a so-called "privacy" proposal that would in reality undo key parts of the California Consumer Privacy Act.
(Originally aired 22Sept20)
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Author and internationally renowned expert on Stoicism, Donald Robertson, joins us to discuss his best-selling book, How To Think Like A Roman Emperor, The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius.
(Originally aired 14Sept20)
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Jeff Rice with The Association of Personalized Learning Schools & Services joins us to discuss a critical school funding issue that is jeopardizing education throughout the state. Hear about what the legislature can do now to protect schools during COVID.
(Originally 20August20)
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Jim Ewert from the California News Publishers Association and Ron Hasse from the Southern California News Group join us to discuss a critical legislative effort to amend AB5 and save local journalism.
(Originally aired 18Aug20)
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Jennifer Hernandez from The Two Hundred joins us to discuss the origins of California's housing crisis, how COVID has made the crisis even worse, and what the legislature can do to change course.
(Originally aired 3August20)
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Dr. Marketa Houskova from the American Nurses Association/California joins us to discuss several pieces of legislation that California can pass now to assist nurses on the frontlines of the COVID response.
(Originally aired 24July20)
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Former Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico joins us to discuss Sacramento advocacy in the age of COVID, the state of the union between Governor Newsom and the legislature, and who will be Biden's VP pick
(Originally aired 24July20)
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Speaker Pro Tem Kevin Mullin joins us to discuss his proposed Constitutional Amendment that would allow 17 year olds to vote in primaries if they will be 18 by the time of the general election.
(Originally aired 21July21)
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Carmela Castellano-Garcia, President and CEO of the California Primary Care Association discusses the role of community health centers in the age of COVID.
(Originally aired 10July20)
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Audrey Dow with The Campaign for College Opportunity joins us to discuss the impact of proposed state budget cuts to higher education in California.
(Originally aired 8July20)
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From telehealth to online schooling, COVID has made high-speed internet access more critical than ever. Yet 1 out of every 8 households in California still lacks broadband. Former State Senator Martha Escutia discusses how to close the digital divide.
(Originally aired 6July20)
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Dave Jacobson, one of the leading Democratic political consultants in the country, discusses the state of play in the battles for the House, Senate, and Presidency.
(Originally aired 29June20)
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On this episode, Tim Gibbs with The Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids discusses California legislation to ban flavored tobacco. You'll learn about one of the greatest threats to public health in the nation, and how California can lead the way in changing course.
(Originally aired 25June20)
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Today’s guest is Tony Chicotel, staff attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform or CANHR. CANHR is at the forefront of advocacy for long term care consumers in the state, who have seen the greatest outbreaks of COVID since the pandemic began. I’ll hope you’ll listen in for this important conversation about where California is falling short on caring for our most vulnerable citizens, and how we can change course.
(Originally aired on 15June20)
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Our guest on this episode is Rachel Lawler from the Public Policy Institute of California. Rachel recently led a new statewide poll for PPIC covering everything from the approval ratings of key politicians, to support for the COVID stay at home orders. We discuss whether people tell the truth to pollsters, and the key numbers that will drive the decisions of policy-makers over the next several months.
(Originally aired 12Jun20)
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On this episode you'll hear from Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council on a game-changing economic recovery idea that could help pull California out of the COVID-induced recession, while avoiding the worst state and local budget cuts currently being considered.
(Originally aired 11June20)
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Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Jim Newton joins us to discuss his new book, Man of Tomorrow: The Relentless Life of Jerry Brown. The book covers the modern political and cultural history of California and is essential reading for anyone interested in our state. You'll learn how California was transformed from a swing state to one of the most progressive states in the country. You'll hear about Brown's and Newsom's relationships with Trump. And you'll find out how a "cheap" governor made California governable again.
(Originally aired 2June20)
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Dr. Michael Wasserman is one of the preeminent voices in our country on the many COVID issues impacting our nation’s long term care facilities. He’s been a guest on The Rachel Maddow Show, Anderson Cooper 360, and has been quoted in numerous media outlets throughout California since the COVID crisis began. On this episode you'll learn what California can do to tackle the biggest epicenters of COVID in the state.
(Originally aired 1June20)
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On today’s episode you'll learn how advocacy itself is being transformed in the age of COVID. We discuss how advocates are adapting to the normals, with legislators and staff scattered throughout the state, members online most of the day, and constituents more engaged than ever. Our guest is Bryan Merica, CEO of Unearth Campaigns.
(Originally aired 8May20)
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