The State of California: Recent Episodes
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A daily deep dive into an issue of public policy or politics that's driving the conversation in California. Each day, we interview a guest who's a newsmaker, public official, or expert.
People across the globe are celebrating World Radio Day. In 1909, Doc Herald and others launched the first broadcasting station in the country in San Jose that would later become KCBS. Radio has long been a powerful tool for communication and one non-profit organization in the Bay Area has been working to promote and preserve the history of the audio-only medium for the past 50 years.To talk more about it, KCBS Radio news anchor Bret Burkhart spoke with Rachel Lee, Executive Director of the California Historical Radio Society.
NBA's All Star Weekend is almost here in the Bay Area. The showcase is the first of three major sporting events coming to the region between now and next year with the Super Bowl and the World Cup. The difference is the All-Star Game will be the only event happening in the city of San Francisco.To discuss further, KCBS reporter Mike DeWald spoke with Kirk Lacob, executive vice president of basketball operations for the Golden State Warriors
The field in the race for governor of California is starting to take shape, 16 months before the 2026 primary.There have been some big moves on both sides of the aisle, and while the field is already pretty crowded, there are probably at least three more significant candidates who will throw their hats in the ring. For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern.
President Trump is expanding his tariffs, slapping a 25 percent surcharge on all imports of steel and aluminum. Meanwhile, while polls show many of the president’s moves are supported by a majority of Americans, there is growing outrage about the illegality of some of them. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA).
Doug Sovern is away today. A ambitious redesign is coming to San Quentin State Prison, inspired by rehabilitation centers in Scandinavian countries. The model prioritizes "rehabilitation through education" and architects envision a campus-like environment complete with a library and media center.BRET live: For more on these plans, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Lori Coppenrath, Justice and Civic Planning Leader and Principal at DLR Group, who designed the new plans to transform San Quentin prison into a rehabilitation center.
Thousands of protesters have been demonstrating in Washington DC and cross the country the last two days, up in arms over many of President Trump’s actions.Their focus has been the extra-governmental role of Elon Musk, the president shutting down the US Agency for International Development, and more.Among the members of Congress helping to lead those protests is one newly elected Democrat from California, freshman Representative Dave Min, from the 47th Congressional District in Orange County. He was part of the “Nobody Elected Elon” protest in Washington.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, spoke with Dave Min.
Governor Newsom is on his way to Washington D.C. to seek more federal disaster assistance for California. The governor wants the federal government to do more to help survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires rebuild their homes and their lives. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern.
President Trump agreed today to postpone new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, but is going ahead with his trade surcharges on China. Many American businesses fear their costs will spike, which they may have to pass on to consumers.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Zach Davis, co-owner of the Penny Ice Creamery in Santa Cruz.
Doug Sovern is away today. January has been a particularly dry month in Northern California, but that's about to change. With storms sweeping through the region this weekend, the Bay Area braces for a soaking while further east in the Sierra, a downpour of the powdery kind is expected. For a deeper look, KCBS Radio news anchor Bret Burkhart spoke with Andrew Schwartz, Director of UC Berkeley's Central Sierra Snow Laboratory.
It’s been a whirlwind of executive action, with orders coming fast and furious and some already rescinded or blocked by the courts, since President Trump took office just 10 days ago. Like many presidents before him, he is pushing the boundaries of executive authority, testing limits, ignoring precedent and trying to shift the balance of power from the legislative branch to the executive. For more on what the president has done so far and where things might go from here, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with William Resh, professor of Public Management and Performance at the Price School of Public Policy at USC.
President Trump rescinded his freeze on federal grants and a wide range of government spending after it was blocked by a federal judge. But the president is offering millions of federal workers an early retirement buyout, which he says is in the name of efficiency. A House Oversight panel has been formed to keep an eye on the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency, and there is only one Californian on that subcommittee. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with that California Congressman, Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA) from Long Beach.
President Trump’s battle with California over water policy continues.The president claims he sent troops into the state to turn the water supply back on for Southern California, which the state says simply isn’t true.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern.
President Trump’s visit to the Southern California fire zone and some of his moves since then are sparking anger among California’s Congressional Democrats.The president is wading into California water policy, and he’s also illegally fired more than a dozen federal watchdogs.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) of Marin County, who is the ranking Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee.
Doug Sovern is away today. President Trump is in Los Angeles right now, touring the devastation in Pacific Palisades. Just minutes after he got off Air Force One., Trump was greeted by Governor Gavin Newsom and the press at LAX. He was in North Carolina earlier today to survey the damage from Hurricane Helene, where he said he would sign an executive order to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency. To discuss more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with David McCaun, Chair and Professor of the Political Science Department at Sonoma State University.
President Donald Trump has taken swift action to crack down on immigration, including ending the CBP One app and issuing an executive order to end birthright citizenship. For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke to Melissa Crow, director of litigation at the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies in San Francisco.
A fierce new wildfire has exploded in Southern California, already burning thousands of acres near Castaic. Meanwhile, the Southland could get some much-needed rain and snow this weekend, but that also raises the risk of mudslides in the fire zoneThe worst of the Palisades and Eaton fires may be over, but the recovery will take years, and the state legislature got down to business today to begin that process, with hearings during a special session.For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with State Senate President pro tem Mike McGuire, who represents Senate District 2, which covers the North Coast from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border.
Donald Trump has only been in office for a little more than one day and the state of California and the city of San Francisco are already suing him. This first lawsuit is to challenge his executive order ending birthright citizenship for babies born to undocumented immigrants, even some whose mothers are here legally. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern.
Donald J. Trump is president again, sworn in today for a second term, capping perhaps the greatest political comeback in American history. President Trump gave a subdued 30-minute inaugural address and then immediately signed a flurry of executive orders to make good on many of his campaign pledges, including to crack down on illegal immigration, increase domestic energy production and reverse many of the policies of the Biden administration. He also made proclamations that have no teeth, such as declaring that he is restoring free speech, reversing the betrayals of the last four years and that from now on, the United States will only have two genders, male and female. He also decreed that Mt. Denali give up its Native American name and return to the name Mt. McKinley, and that the Gulf of Mexico will be rechristened the Gulf of America.For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Bret Burkhart and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Bob Shrum, longtime Democratic political consultant and director of the Center for the Political Future at USC.
Doug Sovern is away today. Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao pleaded not guilty today, Jan. 17, to the several federal charges she's facing. Now, it's not just the former mayor facing an indictment, three others are also headed to court. This comes just two months after Thao was recalled by voters. To talk more about it, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier.
A truncated campaign for Mayor of Oakland is underway in earnest, with just three months until voters will choose someone to complete the term of recalled Mayor Sheng Thao. For now, City Council President Kevin Jenkins is serving as interim Mayor. But now retired Congresswoman Barbara Lee is running for the full-time job, and so is former Councilmember Loren Taylor, who narrowly lost to Sheng Thao in the ranked choice instant runoff in 2022. We had Representative Lee on this program on Tuesday. Today, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Loren Taylor.
President Biden delivers his farewell address to the nation this evening, with just five days left in his presidency.The speech comes on a day when Biden announced that he successfully brokered a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas to end the fighting in Gaza after 15 months of war.President Biden got that truce done just in time, in the closing days of his administration, which will become a part of his complex legacy. He had some significant and notable achievements in his four years as president, but his tenure was also clouded by questions about his age, voter concern about the economy, and his unprecedented move to step aside late in the campaign to allow Kamala Harris to take his place as the Democratic nominee for president.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with political scientist Henry Brady, an esteemed professor at UC Berkeley, former dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at Cal, and past president of the American Political Science Association.
The campaign for a new Mayor of Oakland is underway now, after the recall of Mayor Sheng Thao. Former Representative Barbara Lee shook up the race by throwing her hat in the ring, making her the prohibitive favorite. Last week, Lee made her candidacy official, just days after retiring from Congress, and now she is the frontrunner in the April 15 special election for a new Mayor to finish the last two years of Thao’s term.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern. Sovern spoke with Congresswoman Lee, in one of her first major interviews since declaring her candidacy, to talk about her decision to run for Mayor.
Winds are picking up again in the Los Angeles area, which could fan the flames of those devastating fires that have killed at least 24 people and burned thousands of homes. The wildfires in L.A. have combined to burn an area larger than the entire city of San Francisco.There’s a lot of finger pointing and misinformation about the lack of water to fight the fires, and about hydrants running dry in Pacific Palisades. President-elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk and many other Republican and conservative voices blame Governor Newsom and the state’s water policies, while others are pointing at Central Valley farmers, accusing them of hoarding water that could have been diverted to the Los Angeles firefight. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart and KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with scientist Dr. Peter Gleick, a renowned expert on California water issues who is co-founder and President Emeritus and a Senior Fellow at the Pacific Institute in Oakland.
Doug Sovern is away today. After a legal battle that has spanned years, a deal has been struck this week between environmentalists and the National Park Services over the land management of Point Reyes National Seashore. Ranchers that have traditionally run beef and dairy operations at Point Reyes butted heads with environmental groups and visitors over conservation of the park land and how ranching impacts the native fauna and flora of Point Reyes.Now, under the deal, nearly all the local ranchers are retiring their leases on the land in exchange for payments that media outlets are reporting total about $30 million dollars. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Michael Bell, Associate Director of Land Protection with The Nature Conservancy, the group that brokered the landmark deal.
Wildfires continue to ravage the greater Los Angeles area this afternoon, with five major fires that have claimed at least five lives and thousands of structures. This includes many, many homes belonging to everyone from celebrities like Billy Crystal and John Goodman in Pacific Palisades to working class suburbanites, with no end in sight to the whipping winds and spreading flames. This is going to end up as the costliest fire in California history.For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Mark Whaling, a former Los Angeles Fire Captain and battalion chief who spent 42 years fighting fires, including in the Morgan Hill and Monterey fire departments and now owns and runs Whaling Fire Line, which makes equipment for fighting wildland fires.
The Los Angeles area continues to be devastated by horrific January wildfires, which have killed at least five people and destroyed an unknown number of homes.The fires have been fueled by a dry rainy season in the Southland and fierce Santa Ana winds, topping out at 100 miles an hour.There’s been only about a third of an inch of rain in downtown LA since the rain season began in October, and none at all since the start of winter, far below the normal amount of precipitation the southland usually receives. That combined with this historic wind event made conditions ripe for just the kind of devastation we are seeing.For more, KCBS Radio News anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Stanford climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh, professor in the Department of Earth System Science and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University.
Oakland has its third mayor in three weeks, and a big name politician is poised to try to take the job next. Longtime Representative Barbara Lee, who just left Congress, seems ready to announce that she will run to replace recalled Mayor Sheng Thao. For now, the interim mayor of Oakland is Kevin Jenkins, a young city councilmember and former Peralta College Board trustee, who was unanimously elected temporary mayor by the newly seated Council. That makes veteran councilmember Noal Gallo council president while Jenkins serves as Mayor, until the city can hold a special election in April. Sheng Thao stepped down three weeks ago after she was recalled by voters. Then council president Nikki Fortunato Bas acted as mayor for three weeks before moving to her new seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. Now it’s Jenkins’ turn. A complicated and confusing sequence of events, and it isn’t over yet, because Oakland will get its fourth mayor in the span of four months when someone is elected in April to finish Thao’s term. Who will that person be? It’s looking more likely that it will be Barbara Lee. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern.
Governor Newsom gave a sneak peek at his proposed budget for the next fiscal year today, balancing the books despite record spending.His budget blueprint includes a substantial reserve fund, thanks to higher than expected tax revenues from a strong stock market.Governor Newsom projects a balanced budget of about 322 billion dollars, with a cash reserve of about 17 billion dollars. That’s a much brighter picture than last year’s spending plan, which required cuts to erase a deficit of about 56 billion dollars over two years. That two-year spending plan, along with a surge in income tax revenues, means California faces no deficit in the near term. The governor will lay out his full budget plan this Friday, and says it will include a larger investment in education, including full implementation of universal Transitional Kindergarten, expanded afterschool programs and universal free school lunches.For more on this, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern spoke with Bettye Lusk, President of the California School Boards Association. This is the State of California.
Doug Sovern is off this week. Santa Clara Supervisor Joe Simitian is stepping away from politics after a career spanning more than four decades serving the public. He won his first election to Palo Alto's School Board in 1983 and has sat on a governing body throughout the evolution of the socio-economic landscape of the South Bay and how those factors have impacted the politics of the region.For a reflection on his long-standing career and what he sees in store for the Bay Area, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with now-former Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian.
The start of the new year is also marking a new start for many Californians who struggle with medical debt. As of January 1st, a new state law will keep medical debt off your credit report, which lawmakers say will help protect credit scores and encourage people to seek medical treatment when they need it.The law is being seen as a big win by consumer advocates in a state where nearly 40% of people carry some type of medical debt. That number climbs to more than half for low-income residents.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with State Senator Josh Becker, co-author of the bill.
The results of November's election broke a number of norms for many so-called blue states, including California, where the number of Trump voters in the state jumped by more than 40 percent between 2016 and 2024. It was also a similar story with the bills that voters approved, with Californians passing laws that made the state tougher on crime while rejecting laws that would have raised the minimum wage and ended involuntary prison labor. For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising spoke with Melanie Mason, Politico's senior politics reporter who covers California.
Reforms coming to Medi-Cal, the health care provider for low-income Californians, are threatening addiction treatment and mental health services.It's an unintended consequence of the state's health care expansion efforts.For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising spoke with Grant Stringer, enterprise reporter for the Bay Area News Group.
As city leaders and residents deal with the aftermath of the damaged Santa Cruz Wharf, which collapsed after a winter storm earlier this week, there is mounting pressure to address the challenges pertaining to the area. But this isn't anything new -- after a damaging tsunami slammed into the California coast in 2011, city leaders debated on how to better protect the wharf, which ultimately led to a lawsuit from residents. For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchor Bret Burkhart spoke with Gillian Greensite, a member of Don’t Morph the Wharf.
Legalized marijuana was supposed to bring a major boost to California's economy, but regulating the $5 billion dollar industry hasn't been easy.The widespread use of banned pesticides and chemicals continues without proper enforcement.For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Bret Burkhart spoke with Paige St. John, investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times.
In less than five weeks, Donald Trump will once again be President of the United States. He is vowing to crack down on illegal immigration, closing the border and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants. He also intends to impose high tariffs on imported goods, threatening Canada, Mexico, China and European nations with tariffs that he says will stimulate domestic production. For more on what’s coming and California’s reaction to it, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with US Senator Alex Padilla, California’s senior senator.
San Francisco's next mayor has no prior experience in public office -- the first time this has happened since 1911.But the mayor-elect plans to start his term off strong when he gets inaugurated on January 8th, 2025.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart and KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie.
House Republicans call for the prosecution of former Republican Representative Liz Cheney for her role investigating President Trump’s actions in the January 6th insurrection.There is speculation that President Biden might pardon Cheney and other members of Congress to protect them from retaliatory prosecution once Trump takes office.Among those on the incoming president’s enemies list, California’s newest U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, who led the impeachment of then-president Trump when he was representing Los Angeles in the House of Representatives. Now Schiff is in the Senate, having been sworn in last week to finish the last few weeks of the late Dianne Feinstein’s term. He will be sworn in again in January to begin his own six-year term.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart and KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with California Senator Adam Schiff.
It’s the changing of the guard in Oakland today, as Mayor Sheng Thao leaves office after being recalled by the voters. The City Council President will serve as interim Mayor, while the Council gets ready to approve deep cuts in public safety spending. Mayor Sheng Thao, overwhelmingly recalled by the voters in November, steps down today after less than two years on the job. She remains defiant and unrepentant, despite presiding over a tumultuous regime that saw a fight with the police chief, the departure of the Oakland A’s, stubbornly high crime and persistent homelessness, and now a massive budget deficit. Thao will be replaced for three weeks by City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas, and then the council will choose a new temporary Mayor in January. Meanwhile, expect a contentious meeting of the Council this afternoon, as city leaders and constituents fight over how to close this huge deficit without hurting city services.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern.
President-elect Trump defended his cabinet selections today, as some of his more controversial nominees make the rounds on Capitol Hill to shore up support.Both Mr. Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr, his choice for secretary of health and human services, insisted they support the polio vaccine and will not try to revoke its authorization.That is among the many controversial questions surrounding Kennedy, as well as defense secretary-designate Pete Hegseth, intelligence chief nominee Tulsi Gabbard and others, as Trump tries to get his administration organized before he takes office just five weeks from today.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart and KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with political scientist and professor William Resh, an expert in public management and executive politics at the USC Price School of Public Policy.
After six years of service, San Francisco Mayor London Breed is set to depart from City Hall. After a defeat at the polls this November, the Fillmore native will be succeeded by millionaire philanthropist, Daniel Lure.But Breed says she's still coming out a winner, and says it has been a privilege to have served San Francisco as mayor.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with San Francisco Mayor, London Breed.
The recent 7.0 earthquake triggered a series of early warnings on smartphones through California's Earthquake Early Warning Program. Although the warning program only gives a 30-second heads up, there are several things that Californians can do to better prepare for the next big quake. People should ensure that tall and heavy furniture is secured against the wall and prepare an emergency "go kit" with non-perishables, water, medications, and supplies. Families can practice the drop, cover, and hold on technique. For more, KCBS Radio's political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Derek Lambeth, program manager of California's Earthquake Early Warning Program.
It’s still two years away, but California’s political focus is shifting to the race that will decide who will succeed Gavin Newsom as governor.A new poll suggests outgoing Congresswoman Katie Porter is leading the field.There are five major declared candidates for governor in 2026 already, as some statewide officeholders and others try to get a head start on the field. They are lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, superintendent of public instruction Tony Thurmond, former state senate president pro tem and assembly speaker Toni Atkins, former state controller Betty Yee and former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. There are at least half a dozen more who are seriously considering running for governor, including Orange County representative Katie Porter, who gave up her seat to run for senate (a race she lost in the primary to Adam Schiff). Porter’s political action committee just commissioned an internal poll that shows her with 24 percent support, and everyone else in single digits. This internal poll being released to the media indicates that Porter is very seriously considering a run for governor.For more, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Anna Sampaio, professor of ethnic studies at Santa Clara University.
California continues to prepare for the Trump administration, taking steps to protect abortion rights and immigrants. State Attorney General Rob Bonta has been busy, reminding undocumented immigrants of their rights under the Constitution, issuing guidelines for local and state agencies, underscoring that the state will protect women’s reproductive rights no matter what the Trump administration tries to do. He’s held a series of news conferences and is awaiting legislation that will fund a legal war chest to help him file litigation against the incoming administration as necessary.For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchor Bret Burkhart, spoke with Attorney General Bonta.
California takes the lead on trying to require warning labels on social media for kids and teenagers.The legislation announced today comes amid growing concern about the impact of social media on the mental health of minors.There is mounting evidence about how excessive use of social media can lead to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among young people. State Attorney General Rob Bonta and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan of Orinda announced a bill today that would mandate warning labels that pop up when you sign on or log in. Among the groups advocating for and lobbying for this measure is Common Sense Media, a 20-year-old nonprofit organization that helps parents and schools navigate the often treacherous world of media and entertainment. For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern spoke with Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media.
Final election numbers, both in California and nationwide, show that Donald Trump and the Republicans made significant gains, winning the White House and the Senate. There seems to have been a shift to the right among the electorate, even here in deep blue California. Kamala Harris did not do as well as Joe Biden did four years ago, the voters approved Proposition 36 to crack down on retail crime, ten California counties that voted for Joe Biden in 2020 voted for Donald Trump this time.But was there really a shift in voter sentiment? Trump wound up below 50% of the national popular vote. He won almost exactly as many votes in California this time as he did last time. The difference is that Kamala Harris won almost two million fewer than Joe Biden did, even though she’s a native Californian. And as all the votes have been counted, it turns out the Democrats flipped three Republican Congressional seats, and progressives won many local races.To dig into this a bit deeper, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern spoke with Kimi Lee, Executive Director of Bay Rising, an alliance of progressive community organizations in the Bay Area.
California is gearing up to protect immigrants, both undocumented and otherwise, from federal enforcement actions once Donald Trump assumes the presidency again.There is deep concern and palpable fear among many in the Bay Area immigrant community. Governor Newsom, state Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state and local leaders say they will do everything they can to fend off the feds, and they’re reminding local agencies and immigrants of their rights.For more, KCBS's Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern and Jehan Laner, senior staff attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.
This is "The State, Of California." California is bracing for the start of Trump 2.0 with Governor Newsom calling the legislature into special session. He is asking lawmakers to create a special fund to help the Golden State “defend itself” against actions from the incoming Trump administration. For more on this, KCBS political reporter, Doug Sovern, spoke with KCBS Radio's news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart.
This is the State of California. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is comprised of legendary athletes that have helped reshape the sport as we know it, but there's one individual who has not made the list. Bay Area native Jim Plunkett is the only starting quarterback to win two Super Bowl rings with the Raiders and has yet to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.But Senator Dave Cortese is trying to change that. He introduced a Senate resolution pushing the 2025 selection committee to induct the former NFL quarterback into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. To talk more about it, KCBS's radio news anchor Bret Burkhart and KCBS's sports reporter Matt Pitman were joined by Senator Dave Cortese, who represents District 15, which encompasses a majority of Santa Clara County.
A very special Thanksgiving tradition was held early this morning on Alcatraz Island. The Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving annual Sunrise Gathering kicked off at 5 a.m. to give thanks for the resiliency and survival of Indigenous Peoples’ cultures in California and around the world.The gathering commemorated Indigenous Peoples’ living cultures, and ongoing struggles, and highlighted the true history of Thanksgiving, as well as honor and commemorate the historic occupation of Alcatraz that began on November 20th, 1969.For a closer look, KCBS Radio's News Anchor Bret Burkhart spoke with Morning Star Gali, International Indian Treaty Council Tribal and Community Liaison and emcee of this morning's Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz Island.
Doug Sovern is away today. It's been more than three weeks since Vice President Kamala Harris lost her bid to become the next president of the United States. Since then, Harris has been keeping it lowkey and is slowly returning back to the spotlight, causing many to wonder what the Vice President's next steps will be once President Donald Trump gets sworn back in come January.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Eleanor Clift, Columnist with the Daily Beast, which is an online publication.
Doug Sovern is off today. When the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic hit California back in March of 2020, it had a seismic effect across all aspects of the state's systems, including the judicial system. The Judicial Council of California responded by issuing an emergency bail order to reduce viral transmission in courts and jails and the policy had far-reaching effects on the number of people who were immediately released after being arrested.For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Dr. Deepak Premkumar, research fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California.
California's plan to go carbon-neutral by 2045 is raising eyebrows among experts.The state is producing so much solar energy that commercial operators are being forced to stop production. This as electric rates in the state are roughly twice the national average.For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Severin Borenstein, Faculty director at the Energy Institute at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
Doug Sovern is away today. This atmospheric river is dumping intense rain across Northern California and more wet weather is expected in the coming days. The National Weather Service issued multiple flash flood warnings for San Francisco and other parts of the Bay Area. This storm marks the first major rainmaker of the season and it's bringing life threatening conditions with it. To talk more about it, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising spoke with Jackson Yip, meteorologist at San Jose State University, and Mary Ellen Carroll, the Executive Director at San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.
Two weeks on, there have been many discussions about the election and what the candidates handled well--and handled poorly. For more on this, KCBS insider Doug Sovern spoke with Marshall Ganz, the Rita E. Hauser Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Organizing, and Civil Society at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. This is The State of California.
It was close, but Proposition 32, to raise California’s minimum wage, has been defeated by the voters.After two weeks of counting the latest-arriving ballots, the ballot measure has lost by about one and a half percent, statewide.That came as a surprise to some, given California’s liberal reputation, but not to others, given the mood about the economy and anger over high prices. The low turnout by Democrats also hurt, because many voters stayed home who might have been sympathetic to increasing the minimum wage. Proposition 32 would have raised the statewide wage to 18 dollars over the next year.For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, along with KCBS insider Doug Sovern, were joined by Joe Sanberg, the entrepreneur and anti-poverty advocate who was the chief proponent of Proposition 32. This is The State of California.
Republicans are going to control the House in the next Congress, but two races in California remain too close to call. The Democratic challenger has taken the narrowest of leads in one Orange County contest, while the Republican incumbent remains barely ahead in the other race, in the Central Valley. By our count, the GOP has clinched 218 seats in the next Congress, so that’s enough to control the majority and re-elect Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House. Democrats have locked up 212 seats, with five still too close to call. For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke KCBS insider Doug Sovern. This is The State of California.
California Republicans are more optimistic than ever after the election of Donald Trump and some significant victories here in the Golden State.Those include the passage of Proposition 36, the defeat of minimum wage and rent control measures, and some key wins in Congressional and legislative races.Among the Republican winners who can’t wait to take office and shake things up in Sacramento, Carl Demaio, the former San Diego City Councilman and failed candidate for both Congress and Mayor of San Diego, who has just been elected to the State Assembly from California’s 75th District, covering much of San Diego County. He is also the leader of Reform California, and unlike many Republican candidates in the state, he is an unabashed supporter of President-elect Trump.For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, along with KCBS insider Doug Sovern, were joined by Assemblymember-elect Carl Demaio. This is The State of California.
Bret Burkhart and Doug Sovern are off today. He's a figure who has horrified and captivated the world for more than 55 years — the notorious cult leader Charles Manson, whose followers "The Family" brutally murdered nine people in Southern California, including pregnant actress Sharon Tate back in the summer of 1969.Now, newly released recordings being highlighted in an upcoming docuseries are shedding light on more murders Manson may have committed in Mexico before that infamous killing spree. For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising spoke with Billie Mintz, an investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker and director of 'Making Manson'.
A little over a week after Election Day, Democrats are still hoping to narrow the Republican majority in the House, as they start to do autopsies on how they lost the presidential campaign. For more on this, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, spoke with Christine Pelosi of San Francisco. Among the many hats she wears, Pelosi is a longtime party activist and political strategist, leader of the Women’s Caucus, and member of the Democratic National Committee.
This is “The State, Of California”, hosted by KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising.California voters rejected Proposition 6, which would have banned slave labor in the state’s prisons. The ballot measure lost by about seven percent, even though a similar one passed in Nevada by 20 points. Prop 6 would have outlawed slavery in California and gotten rid of the practice of forcing inmates to work, in involuntary servitude. Inmates would still have been able to work behind bars, but they would not have been able to be forced to do jobs against their will, and for little or no money. Prop 6 lost, even though there was no organized opposition or campaign against it.For more on this, Doug and Patti spoke with Carmen-Nicole Cox, an attorney with ACLU California Action. Among other things, she has been a Deputy DA in San Joaquin County, Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary for Governor Jerry Brown, and she is an Adjunct Professor at the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific.
President-elect Donald Trump is wasting no time beginning the transition, with controversial choices, including Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, former Governor Mike Huckabee as his Ambassador to Israel, and former ICE chief Tom Homan as his “border czar,” which is a position that doesn’t officially exist. Meanwhile, Democrats have flipped one swing House seat in California and they’re still hoping to win a couple more, but it seems extremely likely that the Republicans will hold the House with a net gain of perhaps two or three seats, giving them complete control of all the branches of the federal government.Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, though, insists this was not the sweeping rebuke of the Democrats that many across the country think. More on today's State of California, hosted by KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS news anchor Patti Reising.
As we've been reporting today, President-elect Donald Trump has announced former ICE chief Tom Homan to be the "border czar" for his incoming administration.This isn't the first time that Homan has worked with Trump--he served as acting ICE director during part of Trump's first term. Now, according to President-elect Trump, Homan will "be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their country of origin." For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Bill Hing, Professor at USF Law and founder of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. This is The State of California.
Doug Sovern is away today. It's been six years since the most destructive fire in California engulfed the entire town of Paradise in flames. The Camp Fire, which scorched more than 153-thousand acres in Butte County, claimed dozens of lives and destroyed thousands of homes. Now, six years later, survivors are keeping memories alive and continue to rebuild their lives. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Colette Curtis, the Recovery and Economic Development Director of Paradise.
This is the State of California with KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern. He sat down with Adam Schiff, who was recently announced as the California US Senate representative, as he defined his goals for the state.
Vice President Kamala Harris conceded defeat this afternoon, congratulating President-elect Donald Trump but vowing to continue the fight that fueled her campaignIt’s a somber day for many voters in the Bay Area, and for those who have known and worked with Harris for years.Of course, Kamala Harris was a county prosecutor in both Oakland and San Francisco, as well as working in the City Attorney’s office in San Francisco, before she became DA, and then state Attorney General before moving on to Washington. She has many friends and former colleagues here, many of whom worked tirelessly for the last 107 days to try to help elect her president. Today they are licking their wounds, trying to figure out what went wrong, and looking ahead to what comes next.For more on this, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, spoke with Debbie Mesloh. She was Kamala Harris’ press secretary back in the day when Harris was San Francisco District Attorney. They are old, dear friends and Mesloh spent the closing days of this campaign working to get out the vote for Harris in Wisconsin.
It is Election Day in America, with tens of millions of voters going to the polls and probably even more than that anxiously awaiting the results.KCBS will have complete coverage with all the returns, beginning when the first polls close on the East Coast.The polls close in six states at 4:00 our time and we will probably be able to project some winners almost immediately. Those states include Georgia, one of the battlegrounds, and Virginia, which is not a swing state but could offer some insight into what’s going to happen. We don’t expect to be able to estimate the winner in Georgia right away, though. We are also watching the data from exit polls, of voters after they come out of the polling place and also some who voted by mail or early, and that could be illuminating as well.And of course, the polls don’t close here in California until 8:00, so get out and vote if you haven’t already, we may know by then who’s won the presidency….or it could take a couple of days to count enough votes.More on today's State of California, hosted by KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
It's almost all over, as Kamala Harris, Donald Trump and candidates up and down the ballot make one last push to get their supporters to the polls.Meanwhile, anxious Americans are poring over the last-minute polls, trying to figure out what’s going to happen in this too-close-to-call election.But the poller coaster can leave you dizzy. We’ve seen some surveys trending toward Trump nationally, but others trending towards Harris. We’ve seen some swing state polls swinging toward the Democrats, and others swinging to the GOP. How do we know which ones are accurate? What can polling trends really tell us about what to expect tomorrow?For more on this, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, along with KCBS insider Doug Sovern, were joined by Christian Grose, professor of political science and public policy at USC and the Academic Director of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and an expert on polling and elections. This is The State of California.
Doug Sovern is away today. Voters in South Lake Tahoe have a big decision to make before they turn in their ballots, and it's not only on who they decide to be the next president. Many people go to the mountain resort town to escape their day-to-day lives, oftentimes staying in their vacation homes or book through a rental company. But South Lake Tahoe has about 7,000 vacant homes, and the contentious measure is pushing to tax these properties that are empty for half of the year to address the town's housing crisis. For a better understanding of Measure N, we have two guests for you on each side of the issue. First, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Amelia Richmond, Co-Founder of Locals for Affordable Housing, which is the group that collected the signatures to get the issue on the ballot.Patti and Bret then spoke with Steve Teshara, Director of Government Relations for the Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, who is opposing the measure.
KCBS Insider Doug Sovern spoke with Emily Lee, Executive Director of Seed the Vote, on the importance of getting out there and voting.
There is the risk that courting all those more moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats could alienate young progressives in particular, especially those who are unhappy with the administration’s support for Israel in its war in Gaza. In an election that’s this close, losing a few thousand votes here and there could make a difference in those razor-close battleground states.For more on this, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern was joined by KCBS Radio anchor Bret Burkhart, who spoke with Amanda Nichols, Communications Director for Our Revolution, the progressive political action organization that grew out of Bernie Sanders’ campaign for president.
One week to go before the presidential election, and former prosecutor Kamala Harris will deliver what she calls her “closing argument” this afternoon in Washington D.C.It is expected to contrast sharply with former President Trump’s closing message, which he delivered at a controversial rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden.Nothing will illustrate better how different these two are, and how different their campaigns are, than what we see and hear from Kamala Harris next hour, in comparison to what we heard from Donald Trump and his supporters two days ago. Harris is running a more traditional, disciplined campaign, while Trump shoots from the hip, says whatever comes into his 78-year-old mind, forget about the message discipline his handlers try in vain to impose, and he doesn’t seem to care if he alienates any voters in the process. Of course he is determined to keep his base motivated and energized and they lap up his insults, grievances, outrageous statements and constant lying. Harris is trying not just to get her base to the polls but also to win over disaffected never-Trumpers, moderates from both parties, and the few remaining undecideds, who really are out there, even though it’s hard for most people to understand how anyone could truly be torn between these two nominees.For more on this, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern was joined by KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart. This is The State of California.
The fallout intensifies from the racist jokes and remarks at Donald Trump’s “closing argument” rally at Madison Square Garden yesterday.The former president packed the Garden to show his strong support even in the bastion of liberalism that is New York City, but there’s been a fierce backlash online and in the media.Former president Trump essentially recreated his national convention by filling the arena with adoring followers and having many of the same guest speakers. But one of them, a comedian, referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” and also disparaged Blacks and Jews. Other speakers also made demeaning remarks about various ethnic groups, immigrants and Kamala Harris herself. The Trump campaign has disavowed the most offensive remarks and said it wasn’t aware of them in advance, but they were loaded into and read from the event teleprompter. There’s been an uproar online, and prominent Puerto Rican Americans are blasting Trump.For more on this, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, along with KCBS Insider Doug Sovern, were joined by political sociologist Mindy Romero, founder and director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at USC, which is based in Sacramento. This is The State of California.
This is the State of California; time is ticking for you to send off those ballots ahead of the November 5th presidential election, and that also means you need to cast your vote on what measures you want to see go in effect. When it comes to San Francisco, there are a number of propositions on the ballot, including some controversial ones. Among them are two in particular that's causing quite the stir.To find out, KCBS Radio's News Anchors spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier.
With less than two weeks before the presidential election, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are spending a lot of time this week wooing Latino voters. Vice President Harris did a town hall on Telemundo, while former president Trump met with Latino leaders in Florida. Their running mates and surrogates are also speaking with Latino groups and appearing on podcasts and radio shows geared to Hispanic audiences. This comes as the polling data suggests more Latino voters, especially men, have shifted from supporting Biden in 2020 to backing Trump now, and both campaigns know that in such a close race, they could hold the key to election.For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, along with KCBS Insider Doug Sovern, were joined by by a man who predicted months ago that this election would boil down to this very demographic — Mike Madrid. Madrid is a longtime Republican political consultant in Sacramento who was one of the co-founders of the Lincoln Project, and is the author of the book “The Latino Century,” which came out earlier this year.
The Harris and Trump campaigns are going all-out to win over Black voters, especially in the Midwestern swing states and in Georgia and North Carolina.The former president insists his policies will be better for Blacks, while Vice President Harris touts economic proposals she says will improve their lives.There is clear resistance among some young Black men in particular to voting for Kamala Harris, and they’re increasingly receptive to Donald Trump’s appeals for their support. Why is that?For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, along with KCBS Insider Doug Sovern, were joined by Khalil Thompson, a political strategist who is executive director of Win With Black Men, an organization that works to get more Black men involved in the political process and empowers them to do so. This is The State of California.
Just two weeks until Election Day and the presidential candidates are honing their closing messages.Vice President Kamala Harris continues to barnstorm swing states, and will start to pivot back to focus on reproductive rights in the campaign’s closing days.Harris hit three Midwestern battlegrounds in a single day yesterday, she’s campaigning across those states and in Georgia this week, and then she is adding an event in Texas on Friday with a very different focus. This one will be to return to what she calls “Ground Zero of Trump’s abortion bans,” to shine a very bright light on what the end of Roe v Wade has meant for women in places like Texas. The Democratic nominee will also hold a CNN Town Hall tomorrow night from Pennsylvania, looking for a big national audience since former president Trump will not agree to a second debate. Meanwhile, Trump continues to hit the swing states as well, spending a lot of time in North Carolina, which he has to defend and keep Harris from flipping.For more on this, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Insider Doug Sovern. This is The State of California.
Early voting is well underway in California and around the nation, with ballots pouring in, in record numbers—in some places.A couple of national surveys find that about 15% of voters nationwide have already cast their ballots, and the USA Today/Suffolk poll finds Vice President Kamala Harris with a massive lead among those voters, 63 to 37%. But her lead is much smaller, about 13 points, among those who haven’t voted early but still plan to, and among voters who say they will wait until Election Day to vote, former president Donald Trump has a big lead, about 17 or 18 points.For more on what this all means, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, along with KCBS Radio insider Doug Sovern, were joined by Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data Inc. in Sacramento. This is The State of California.
Yesterday, we listened to arguments for Prop 33 and against Prop 34. Today, we hear the case for the opposite viewpoint.For more on this, KCBS Radio Insider Doug Sovern spoke with Nathan Click. This is The State of California.
California voters are being asked again whether the state should repeal restrictions on rent control.That is the thrust of Proposition 33, which would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Act, which slapped limits on rent control almost 30 years ago.We are exploring Propositions 33 and 34 on this program today and tomorrow. Prop 33 is the third attempt by an organization in Los Angeles called the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to reinstate rent control in California, by lifting the restrictions imposed in 1995. Prop 33 would allow cities and counties to once again control rents on newer homes and apartments. Twice before, the foundation has taken this issue to the ballot and lost. It is trying again, and in response, the California Apartment Association has put ANOTHER measure on the ballot, Prop 34, which would severely restrict the ability of the AHF to spend its money on political activities.For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, along with KCBS Insider Doug Sovern, were joined by Michael Weinstein, the co-founder and president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which is the largest global AIDS organization. This is The State of California.
Good afternoon, I’m Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of “The State, Of California,” along with KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret BurkhartElection Day is just three weeks from today, and California’s Kamala Harris is pulling out all the stops this week.Meanwhile, former President Trump is intensifying his attacks on illegal immigrants and raising eyebrows with some of his behavior on the campaign trail.Hear all this and more on today's State of California.
Doug Sovern is away today.In efforts to save up to $22 million, the San Francisco Unified School District will close nearly a dozen schools this year, causing thousands of students to find new classrooms to go to. The highly anticipated list, released this week, comes after a months long process to shutter schools to address the issue of empty seats spread across the city's school district.For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Jill Tucker, Education Reporter with the San Francisco Chronicle. She wrote a fantastic piece in today's edition.
A growing number of officials across the nation have been calling out social media apps for their influence on young kids for quite some time. And now, TikTok is facing a lawsuit from more than a dozen states.On that list is California, where the state Attorney General Rob Bonta announced today a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general filed lawsuits against TikTok for violating state consumer protection laws by designing the app to be addictive to kids. For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Aaron Mackey, Free Speech and Transparency Litigation Director at Electronic Frontier Foundation.
This is the State of California, Doug Sovern is off today. It's been a record-setting week here in the Bay Area and all across the state, as soaring temperatures have smashed previous highs and a heat warning for much of the region has been extended through the weekend. At least three Bay Area communities—San Rafael, Napa and Jose—met or surpassed previous October temperature records.And not even coastal areas have been spared—as San Francisco managed to hit a whopping 95 degrees on Wednesday, marking the hottest October day in nearly three decades, and one of the city's top ten hottest since weather records begin back in 1874.For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Dial Hoang, Meteorologist for the National Weather Service serving the Bay Area.
With the Presidential election looming, it's perhaps easy to forget that there are congressional elections upcoming too. For a lay of the land, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern spoke with Christian Grose, Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at USC.
The last debate is in the books, early voting has begun in a handful of states, and we are less than five weeks from a presidential election that remains too close to call.Three different snap polls of debate-watching likely voters found almost identical results, suggesting last night’s CBS News vice presidential debate really was a tossup. The CBS poll gave JD Vance a 42-41% edge, the CNN poll said it was 51-49 for Vance, and Politico’s survey reported a dead heat, split 50-50. So neither side is likely to get any burst of momentum from that debate, leaving us with a month to go and the status quo, a campaign that Kamala Harris leads by 2 to 4 points nationally, but with seven battleground states that really could go either way, meaning the Electoral College is up for grabs.For more on this, KCBS Radio anchor Patti Reising and KCBS Insider Doug Sovern were joined by David McCuan, political science professor at Sonoma State University. This is The State of California.
Tonight’s the night, the last scheduled debate of this presidential election cycle, this time between the candidates for vice president.Democratic Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota and Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio will face off in the CBS News Vice Presidential Debate, which you can hear live right here at 6pm.This will be their only debate, and with former president Trump turning down the remaining invitations to debate Vice President Kamala Harris again, this is likely to be the last big event of this campaign, where millions of voters can see top candidates from the rival tickets go head to head. So there is a lot at stake, perhaps more than usual for a vice presidential debate, and especially in a race that is so close, basically a dead heat, where any little thing could be magnified enough to make a difference on Election Day. For more, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio anchor Patti Reising. This is The State of California.
Governor Newsom says NO to one of the most closely watched bills of the session in Sacramento, vetoing major legislation regulating artificial intelligence.This is SB 1047, a bill by State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco, which would have imposed safeguards to make sure AI does not lead to what the bill calls “critical harms,” meaning major disasters or catastrophes. But the bill would only have applied to large scale models, without getting too technical here, and Governor Newsom said that made no sense, and while well-intentioned, since it would only cover companies using large systems, he decided it fell short. Big tech tycoons and companies lobbied heavily against this bill, urging Newsom to veto it, despite overwhelming support from voters surveyed about the legislation. The governor did sign more than a dozen other bills regulating AI.For more on this, KCBS Radio anchor Patti Reising and KCBS Insider Doug Sovern were joined by Teri Olle, she is Director of Economic Security California Action, an organization that was one of the co-sponsors of the bill.This is The State of California.
Despite opposition from Governor Newsom and others, a majority of voters support Prop 36.To hear the case for Prop 36, KCBS insider Doug Sovern spoke with Napa County DA Allison Haley.
Californians seem poised to approve sweeping reforms to get tougher on crime, even though overall crime is fallingThe latest polls show overwhelming support for Proposition 36, which would roll back some of the reforms voters approved ten years ago in Prop 47Prop 36 is the most important issue on the November ballot, according to surveys of voters, and roughly 70% of them say they will vote for it. It would reclassify some of those lower level property crimes and drug possession offenses, so that prosecutors could treat them as felonies instead of misdemeanors. It would also mandate drug treatment instead of prison for people caught in possession of fentanyl, heroin, meth and some other drugs. The measure would also allow for longer prison time for a third conviction for shoplifting or burglary, or if three or more people commit the crime together, as in a retail smash-and-grab crime spree.Tomorrow’s program will explore the arguments in favor of Proposition 36 with Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley, who supports it. For the opposing view, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising, spoke with John Vasquez, Policy & Legal Services Manager for CURYJ, which stands for Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice.
Governor Newsom is still plowing through hundreds of bills on his desk, one of which would change how California registers people to vote. Voter turnout will be key to this November’s election, and this bill is designed to bring more Californians into the electorate.The measure is Senate Bill 299, and it would update California’s “motor voter” registration law. Right now, anyone who gets a driver’s license or state ID is automatically registered to vote too, as long as they indicate that they are eligible to vote. This new bill, if Governor Newsom signs it into law, would allow the Secretary of State, working with the DMV, to “pre-approve” applicants, streamlining the voter registration process.For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, along with KCBS Insider Doug Sovern, were joined by Christopher Wilson, vice president of operations at the social justice political advocacy organization PowerPAC, and a member of the California Grassroots Democracy Coalition. This is the State of California.
California is suing ExxonMobil, a first-in-the-nation case accusing the oil giant of tricking consumers into thinking their plastic products are recyclable.
It’s a landmark case, filed by the state of California with a simultaneous action brought by four major Bay Area environmental groups. The lawsuit claims that ExxonMobil, the world’s largest producer of the polymers that are used to make single-use plastic, has for decades misled consumers by promoting the “chasing arrows” recycling symbol and implying that most of the plastics that bear that symbol can be recycled, when in fact only about 5% really are. Attorney General Rob Bonta says ExxonMobil produces the largest amount of plastic waste, which is fouling oceans and beaches and is turning up in human bloodstreams through microplastic particles that we inhale and ingest. KCBS has asked ExxonMobil for comment on the suit but we have not yet heard back.
For more on this, KCBS Radio anchor Holly Quan and KCBS Insider Doug Sovern were joined by Professor Ethan Elkind, Director of the Climate Program at Berkeley Law School’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment. He leads the Climate Change and Business Research Initiative at both Berkeley and UCLA Schools of Law. This is The State of California.
Good afternoon, this is “The State, Of California,” Doug Sovern is away. Yesterday afternoon the SF Symphony took a turn with more than 150 musicians and patrons joining together to unite in a strike by the Sympony chorus against the Symphony.
Music Director and Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen's opening show in his final season was canceled just hours before the show started, indicating a strike with signs reading "No contract - No chrous."
For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Joshua Kosman, Former Classical Music Critic from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Donald Trump and JD Vance have doubled down on their explosive and unfounded claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield are eating pets.
For more on this, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Adriel Orozco, senior policy counsel at the American Immigration Council, a nonprofit that works to improve U.S. immigration policy.
There’s renewed focus on immigration as a presidential campaign issue, as Donald Trump and JD Vance continue to insist Haitian migrants are eating people’s pets in Ohio. What is really behind the GOP ticket’s continued emphasis on a rumor that has already been debunked?
Border security is certainly a core issue for the Republican candidates, and a perceived vulnerability for the the Democrats. The latest polling shows most voters agree with Donald Trump that the country should deport undocumented immigrants, and they think Trump will be stronger on immigration issues than Harris.
For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising, spoke with Anna Sampaio, Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies and Political Science at Santa Clara University.
The fight over a ballot measure to help firefighters heats up in San Francisco.
But there’s a lot more to this one than meets the eye, affecting multiple layers of the City’s always complicated politics.
We are talking about Proposition H, on the November ballot, which would allow San Francisco firefighters to retire with their full pension at age 55 instead of 58. The firefighters’ union says too many of them are developing cancer from decades of on-the-job exposure, and allowing them to retire three years sooner will reduce that risk and save lives.
Sounds straightforward enough, and most voters will probably be sympathetic enough to a campaign featuring heroic firefighters getting cancer. But the city controller and Mayor London Breed say lowering the retirement age will cost the City many millions of dollars a year in additional pension costs, and that will balloon over time, and cash-strapped San Francisco just can’t afford that. So the firefighters union is going all out on this one, dropping its past support of Mayor Breed, and launching a $1.2 million dollar local ad buy today, which we were able to report exclusively on KCBS.
The latest man accused of planning to assassinate former President Trump makes his first appearance in court, as the Secret Service comes under criticism yet again.
That’s two attempts in nine weeks, and we are just 7 weeks from the presidential election.
What impact could this latest attempt have on the campaign? Unlike the first one, in which Trump was wounded in Pennsylvania, neither side is halting campaign events, taking down ads or changing its tone. Both President Biden and Vice President Harris have, of course, deplored the political violence, but former president Trump is blaming their rhetoric for inciting potential assassins, and he’s going forward with his campaign schedule for the week too.
For more, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Sonoma State political science professor David McCuan.
It's been nearly 10 years since Proposition 47 was passed in California, reclassifying some drug possession and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The idea was to thin out overcrowded prisons and save space for more serious crimes, spurred on by a desire for criminal justice reform in the state.
But now, with a decade of data to reflect on, the long-term effects of Prop 47 are becoming clearer, and with a growing focus on improving public safety and fighting theft, taxpayers and lawmakers alike are paying attention to the findings.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Magnus Lofstrom, policy director of criminal justice at the Public Policy Institute of California. He's one of the authors of a new study analyzing how crime in California has been affected by Prop 47 and the pandemic.
Today, Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of “The State, Of California,” spoke with 98-year-old political activist, Dorothy Witt—who's putting her funds behind Kamala Harris. What has her suddenly politically motivated?
Today, Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of “The State, Of California,” joined KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart from the Merchant Exchange building in downtown San Francisco—the site of tonight’s debate in the San Francisco Mayor’s race.
Four major candidates trying to unseat Mayor London Breed will face off in that showdown tonight, which you can see live on KPIX Channel 5 at 6:00.
It is Debate Night at last, the first showdown of the presidential campaign between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
We'll bring you the ABC News Presidential Debate Simulcast live right here on KCBS Radio starting at 6:00 tonight.
For more on this, KCBS Radio Insider Doug Sovern was joined by Martin Kaplan, an expert in political communications who is a professor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, where he directs the Norman Lear Center. He was chief speechwriter to Vice President Walter Mondale and deputy campaign manager of Mondale’s 1984 presidential campaign
Vice President Kamala Harris is hunkered down in Pennsylvania, preparing for tomorrow night’s pivotal debate with former president Donald Trump
You’ll be able to hear that debate live right here on KCBS, beginning at 6pm tomorrow
Harris has stayed in the Keystone State for the last few days, after her campaign appearance in Pittsburgh, to prep for the biggest debate of her career, and depending on how it goes, it may be the only one she and Trump have.
For more on what to expect, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern was joined by Professor Amber Boydstun, chair of the Political Science Department at UC Davis and a founding member of the “Women Also Know Stuff” political science initiative.
The focus is squarely on seven battleground states that will decide this Presidential election, which remains a tossup and probably will be for the next two months.
Polling shows Vice President Kamala Harris with a narrow lead over former President Donald Trump nationally, and in many but not all of those swing states, but they’re all within the margin of error and could swing either way. That means that turnout, ground game, voter registration and mobilization will once again determine who wins, just as was the case in 2016 and 2020, with such a closely divided electorate.
So both campaigns are working hard to identify low propensity voters and get them on their side, which makes a new study from USC’s Center for Inclusive Democracy all the more interesting. It takes a look at just who votes and who doesn’t, in nine states, including the seven major swing states plus Texas and Florida.
For more on this, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Mindy Romero, Founder and Director of the Center, and the lead author of this study.
It's officially that time of year, football season is kicking off today and the 49ers will be back on the turf at Levi's Stadium on Monday.
Before the team became the Bay Area's most successful professional sports franchise, the origin story and the pioneering nature of the 49ers are often overlooked.
But not for long, as a new book detailing the team's history and revealing some rare pictures will be hitting the stands in 10 days.
To hear all about it, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Mark Purdy, Award-winning Bay Area sports journalist and author of "The San Francisco 49ers An Illustrated Timeline."
Vice President Kamala Harris added some new pieces to her economic plan today while visiting a brewery in New Hampshire.
The Democratic presidential nominee is focusing her attention on boosting small business startups, as she tries to seize the lead on economic issues from rival Donald Trump.
Polling consistently shows that voters favor Republicans, in this case former President Trump, over Democrats when it comes to the economy—even though historically, the economy fares much better under Democratic presidents than under Republican ones, with stronger economic growth and job creation when a Democrat occupies the Oval Office. With the economy one of Harris’ perceived vulnerabilities, she is unveiling some more moderate, pro-business proposals to counter Trump’s claim that she would pursue a radical, left-wing, even “Communist” and “Marxist” agenda.
For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, spoke with Dr. Larry Harris, professor of finance and business economics and the Keenan Chair in Finance at the USC Marshall School of Business in Los Angeles. He is the former chief economist for the Securities and Exchange Commission...and no, Dr. Harris is not related to Kamala Harris.
Election Day is 9 weeks from today, so now it’s time for the traditional post-Labor Day sprint.
Early voting starts in just two weeks in some states, which is why the presidential campaign is really ramping up now.
Californians won’t start receiving ballots for another month, but voters in half a dozen states, including Virginia, Minnesota and Vermont, can start voting in mid-September. Labor Day is typically the launching point for the November general election, which is why Democrats Kamala Harris and Tim Walz hit so many battleground states over the last couple of days, and today the Harris campaign launched a reproductive rights bus tour which will crisscross the country from now until Election Day. Both Harris and Walz have events throughout this week, and tomorrow Kamala Harris will flesh out some of her economic platform with a speech in New Hampshire.
Oddly enough, former President Trump is not matching the Democrats’ schedule, he has very few events on tap, just one rally and that is not until Saturday, as well as a town hall tomorrow in Pennsylvania. JD Vance IS out campaigning and doing interviews, more than Trump is, but at the moment it’s the Democratic ticket with the momentum and they are trying to build on that.
For more on this, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart. This is The State of California.
Today, we're giving you a preview of California's first-ever entertainment zone -- coming to downtown San Francisco later this month.
A bill passed this January allows local governments to authorize the consumption of alcoholic beverages during special events.
For more on this, KCBS Radio anchor Pat Thurston was joined by Robbie Silver, President and CEO of the Downtown San Francisco Partnership.
A controversial plan to protect the threatened California Northern Spotted Owl is official, and that means 450,000 Barred Owls in the West Coast will be killed over the next three decades.
While opponents believe this strategy is cruel, scientists insist it's the most effective way to not only protect the Northern Spotted Owl population, but also the forest ecosystems where the threatened bird evolved.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Jack Dumbacher, Curator of Birds and Mammals at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.
It's no secret that long after wildfire flames die out, California communities and waterways near burn scars feel the impacts for years after.
But a new study is looking into how this vicious cycle of post-fire erosion is ramping up across Northern California and causing a significant amount of soil loss, which not only spells trouble for homes and roads, but also our reservoirs.
For more on this, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Helen Dow, Research Geologist with USGS.
The Bay Area is home to many prestigious institutions like Stanford, UC Berkeley, and University of San Francisco, to name a few.
But right in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University not only is bringing innovation to the South Bay, but it's also preserving milestones for the area.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined in-person at History San Jose located in the Pacific Hotel Building with Nadia Nasr, Head of Archives and Special Collections at Santa Clara University.
Today, we're learning about a new effort to build wildlife crossings across California.
Working with Governor Newsom, a group of state agencies and nonprofits are developing a statewide plan for wildlife connectivity, allowing wildlife to pass major freeways and roads danger free. It's called "California Wildlife Reconnected."
For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Beth Pratt, California Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation and founder of the Wildlife Crossing Fund. This is The State of California.
Longtime KCBS listeners will remember our daily chats with former Oakland Raider coach and NFL commentator John Madden. He was a regular guest on the KCBS airwaves from 1997 to 2015, and then again in 2017 to 2018.
Now, a new book by former KCBS Anchor Stan Bunger looks back at these chats.
For more, Margie Shafer and Eric Thomas spoke with Stan. This is The State of California.
On today's State of California, Doug Sovern spoke with an assortment of guests from the Democratic National Convention; Barbara Boxer, David Chiu, Barbara Lee, Nancy Pelosi, Sandra Davis, Liz Plank, and Fatima Goss Graves.
Tonight’s the night—Kamala Harris accepts the Democratic Party’s nomination for President. You can hear her acceptance speech live right here, it is scheduled for approximately 7:30pm.
The arena filled up early this afternoon, with a buzz of anticipation and a long line at security outside as delegates don’t want to miss this one, and there are always extra guests and volunteers and so on who cram into the convention for the final night and the speech of the nominee for president. This will be the biggest moment of Kamala Harris’ life, under the brightest lights and with the most at stake.
Her task is to introduce herself to America, fill in the gaps for the curious but uninformed, persuade the moderate middle that no, she is not the Communist the Trump campaign keeps calling her, and make the case not just against four more years of Donald Trump but for turning the page and entrusting the country to her and to her running mate, Tim Walz. The rafters are pregnant with red white and blue balloons, ready to cascade onto the thousands of delegates below at the moment she concludes her address, triggering what the campaign hopes will be a joyful celebration not just here in the hall, but in living rooms and at watch parties across America.
For more, Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter, tuned in from the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, along with KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart in San Francisco. This is The State of California.
All eyes on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz tonight, as he takes the spotlight as the Democrats’ nominee for Vice President. It’s Night 3 of the DNC, with former president Bill Clinton and Nancy Pelosi also slated to speak.
Tonight delegates will also hear from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and there will be a sharp focus on January 6, with several former Trump Republicans, including another one of his aides, taking the stage to denounce him and appeal to Republicans and independents to abandon Trump and vote for Kamala Harris instead. The chair of the January 6 Committee will speak, reminding voters of what happened more than 3 years ago, when Trump supporters crashed the US Capitol and interrupted the certification of the 2020 election. That’s in keeping with tonight’s theme, which is “A Fight for Our Freedoms.” “Freedom” is this campaign’s calling card, and the speakers here have been pointedly telling voters that it’s at stake if Trump is returned to office.
For more on this, Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter, was on the ground at the United Center in Chicago, and spoke with KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart in San Francisco.
The second night of the convention is just about to get underway, former President Barack Obama is tonight’s headline speaker.
California will get the honors of putting Kamala Harris over the top in a purely symbolic roll call vote of the states tonight.
If things stay on schedule tonight, that roll call should begin shortly before 5:00 Pacific Time, and Gavin Newsom’s opportunity to get some face time with this national convention audience will come about an hour later, when he delivers California’s delegates from the floor, which will trigger a not very spontaneous celebration of the nomination of Kamala Harris for president. Last night of course things went wildly off schedule, organizers say they are going to try very hard to keep that from happening again tonight, so that Barack Obama does not suffer the same fate as Joe Biden and end up speaking into the wee hours, East Coast time.
For more, Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of “The State, Of California,” tuned in from the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, and spoke with KCBS radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart in SF.
The first night of the Democratic National Convention is underway in Chicago, with President Joe Biden the focus of this opening night.
The President is expected to tell the nation why he decided to step aside for Kamala Harris, and give her his enthusiastic endorsement.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter joined KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
Today, Governor Newsom came to the City of San Jose to sign a bipartisan package of 10 bills that aims to crack down on smash-and-grab robberies and property crimes. These bills will make it easier to go after repeat shoplifters and auto thieves while increasing penalties for those running professional reselling schemes.
The move comes as Democratic leadership works to prove that they're tough enough on crime while trying to convince voters reject a ballot measure that would bring even harsher sentences for repeat offenders of shoplifting and drug charges.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart was joined by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who was at today's event.
With a fresh face now at the helm, many Democrats are feeling confident and even excited for the DNC.
For more, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern spoke with Malia Cohen, a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, who has known and worked with Kamala Harris for many years and as a statewide elected official, is one of California’s special delegates to next week’s DNC.
This is The State of California.
A new report sounds the alarm about the risk that some county election officials could refuse to certify the results this November, if Kamala Harris defeats Donald Trump
This new study from CREW, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, finds that dozens of election deniers who tried to keep Joe Biden’s victory in 2020 from becoming official, are in key posts in county election departments across the pivotal swing states. It comes as concerns rise that changes in laws, and the election of more Trump supporters to some local election offices, could mean that even if Harris wins in say, Arizona or Georgia, these officials could refuse to certify legitimate results in an effort to award that state’s electoral votes to Donald Trump instead of Kamala Harris.
For more on this, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio anchor Bret Burkhart were joined by Noah Bookbinder, President of CREW, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is making his first solo campaign appearance today, at a national union convention in Los Angeles.
That comes as Vice President Kamala Harris takes a break from the campaign trail, even as poll after poll shows her leading former president Trump nationally and closing the gap not just in swing states, but in states that the Republican candidate is heavily favored to win, like Texas and Florida.
Harris will appear with President Biden on Thursday in Maryland to talk about their economic plan, she will hold a makeup campaign rally in Raleigh North Carolina Friday, one that was postponed by last week’s hurricane, and then it will be on to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention.
For more on this KCBS Insider Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio anchor Bret Burkhart.
Former president Donald Trump returned to X today, with a flurry of tweets and a planned sit-down interview with its owner, Elon Musk.
Trump posted a series of videos attacking Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who continues to lead him in many polls, both nationally and in key swing state surveys. Vice President Harris wrapped up her whirlwind, weeklong introduction of her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, with a fundraiser in San Francisco yesterday attended by most of California’s top Democratic leaders. Now she’s taking a break from the campaign trail, with just one public event scheduled, a joint appearance in Maryland on Thursday to talk about the economy. At the end of the week she will head to Chicago to get ready for the Democratic National Convention.
For more on the state of the presidential race, the first one in history with a California Democrat at the top of the ticket, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio anchor Bret Burkhart were joined by longtime California Republican political strategist Mike Madrid, who was one of the founders of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project. He is also the author of the recently published book, “The Latino Century: How America’s Largest Minority is Transforming Democracy.”
This is The State of California.
Things aren't as majestic as usual these days in Yosemite National Park. Sure Half Dome and El Capitan are still stunning, but Bloomberg reports issues with hospitality are piling up to the point it's becoming dangerous for visitors and park workers.
The blame seems to be pointed at Aramark, the private contractor that runs the developed portions of the park. The National Park Service’s latest evaluation of Aramark's service said they're "extremely concerned that the years of neglect in maintaining assets has directly impacted visitor safety. They're particularly concerned about the state of the Wawona Hotel and The Ahwahnee Hotel, National Historic Landmarks."
For more on the conditions in the park, KCBS Radio anchor Patti Reising was joined by Laura Bliss, the Bloomberg reporter who has written all about the issues. This is The State of California.
With a good-sized field of Democratic VP hopefuls, running the gamut from moderate to progressive, there was a different case to be made for each of them. As we all know, Kamala ultimately went with Tim Walz, who brings his own skillset and regional experience to the ticket.
For more on this, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern was joined by Paco Fabian, Deputy Director of Our Revolution--the progressive political advocacy group that grew out of Bernie Sanders' campaign. This is The State of California.
Time now for The State of California, hosted by KCBS Insider Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio anchor Patti Reising.
The new Democratic ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz continued its swing state barnstorm today with a stop in Wisconsin
Their 7-state tour has been trimmed to five states now though, as Hurricane Debby has forced the cancellation of their stops in Georgia and North Carolina.
For more on the selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’ running mate and how that rollout is going, Doug chatted with Audacy’s Lauren Barry, host of the daily Audacy Podcast “On Deadline.”
After much speculation and vetting of candidates, Kamala Harris has picked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her VP.
Strategy certainly had a part to play in this decision, but so too did the rapport between Harris and Walz, who are said to have hit it off at their meeting.
For more on this, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio anchor Patti Reising.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is finalizing her decision, on who she wants as her vice presidential running mate
We expect that announcement by tomorrow morning, before Harris and her choice hit the campaign trail together, starting in Philadelphia. It may seem hard to believe, but it’s only been two weeks since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris, upending the presidential campaign. Since then, she has surged in the polls, smashed fundraising records and galvanized her party’s base, sparking renewed enthusiasm and energy for the Democratic ticket.
For more, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio anchor Patti Reising were joined by Congressman Adam Schiff of Los Angeles, the Democratic candidate for US Senate in this year’s election, who was one of the most prominent Democrats to call for President Biden to step aside, just days before he finally did. This is the All Local.
We take a break today from the daily madness of the presidential campaign to talk
about an election that is still two years off, and that is the statewide election of
2026.
We’ve had many early-declaring candidates for Governor on this program
already and today, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with a young man who has decided to run for Lieutenant Governor, and that is former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs.
Tubbs became a national star of the Democratic Party when he was elected Mayor at just 26 years old, Stockton’s first Black mayor and it's youngest. But like so many Stockton mayors, he fell victim to some pretty toxic local politics and was upset by a Republican challenger when he ran for re-election in 2020. Since then he’s been an advisor to Governor Newsom and now he’s throwing his hat in the ring for statewide office himself.
Santa Clara based Intel has announced a major round of layoffs. The chipmaker announced today it plans on cutting 15% of its workforce. This comes as the company tries to make inroads against some of its more successful rivals including like NVIDIA and AMD.
Today on "The State, of California," KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Russell Hancock, President and CEO of Joint Venture Silicon Valley.
Silicon Valley seems split over whether to support Kamala Harris or
Donald Trump for president, but Harris is winning over some in the Valley who
had abandoned Joe Biden Over a hundred venture capitalists, led by some of the biggest names in the business, are now throwing their support to Harris, while another large group of tech leaders is also jumping on her bandwagon.
Are some of the supporters of Trump having buyer’s remorse?
For more, Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of “The State, Of California,” was joined by KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart for a discussion. Their guest was Steve Philips, San Francisco attorney with deep ties to Silicon Valley, best-selling author and columnist, and the founder of Democracy In Color, a political media organization dedicated to race, politics and the multicultural progressive New American Majority.
Vice President Kamala Harris is said to be zeroing in on her choice for running mate. The Democratic presidential nominee is planning to hit the road next week with her VP nominee, touring six key battleground states This is the next big move in this topsy-turvy presidential campaign, one unlike any we’ve ever seen. Kamala Harris has to compress into just a couple of weeks what presidential nominees usually take months to do, and that is pick a running mate.
KCBS political reporter and host of “The State, Of California,” Doug Sovern, was joined by KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart to talk more about this.
Vice President Kamala Harris is enjoying a surge in popularity as she runs for President against Donald Trump, but that also means closer scrutiny of her record as a prosecutor here in the Bay Area.
She’s catching flak from the left for being too tough on crime, and heat from the right for being too lenient, as both San Francisco District Attorney and California Attorney General.
For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Brett Burkhart spoke with Tinisch Hollinsof San Francisco, the Executive Director of Californians For Safety and Justice, the criminal justice reform organization, as well as the State Director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice.
This is the State of California, and as of 12:01 a.m. today, thousands of video game performers are officially on strike—bringing part of the entertainment industry to a screeching halt after negotiations between the SAG-AFTRA union and major game studios broke down.
The major sticking point is Artificial Intelligence, with performers concerned about the lack of protection for their voices and likenesses as the emerging technology threatens their livelihoods.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Christi Carras, Entertainment Industry Reporter at the Los Angeles Times.
With Kamala Harris the presumptive Democratic nominee, politicians and pundits on both sides of the aisle are scrambling to alter their messaging ahead of the election.
For more on this, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern spoke with Anna Sampaio, professor of ethnic studies and political science at Santa Clara University, who specializes in race and gender politics.
Presumptive Democrat nominee Kamala Harris continues to
campaign for president, as Donald Trump returns to the campaign trail too
New polling shows Harris pulling Black voters and young people
away from former president Trump, but Black Lives Matter is not happy with the
way Harris got the nomination
Black Lives Matter, the organization that was born in Oakland, has put
out a statement denouncing the Democratic Party for anointing Harris as Biden’s
replacement, calling it a “blatant” and “unacceptable” disregard for democratic
principles, and calling for a virtual snap primary instead to choose the new
Democratic Party nominee. BLM says while it was no big fan of President Biden,
the way he was bullied out of the race by elite donors and party bigwigs was
troubling and undemocratic.
For more, KCBS Insider Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Shalomyah Bowers, a member of the board of directors of Black Lives Matter and one of its leaders. This is the State of California.
Vice President Kamala Harris had her first campaign rally today as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Today Harris locked up some more key endorsements, and the first poll taken since President Biden dropped out of the race shows Harris beating Donald Trump.
Yes, the Reuters/Ipsos poll, the first one taken entirely since Sunday, gives Harris a 2-point lead over Trump, and it’s a 4-point lead with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the survey too. She seems to be getting a bit of a bounce from all the positive publicity, the party falling in line behind her as the nominee, and of course a record haul of almost a quarter of a billion dollars in campaign donations just since Sunday. Harris now has locked up enough delegates, including the entire California delegation, to secure the nomination on the first ballot next month in Chicago, and she will technically be nominated by virtual roll call at the end of next month.
For more on where the campaign goes from here, and the lines of attack from both sides, KCBS insider Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Steve Caplan, an Adjunct Instructor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and an expert on advertising, digital media and marketing in politics. This is the State of California
Vice President Kamala Harris seems to be cruising to locking up the Democratic nomination as a replacement for President Joe Biden. Major Democratic leaders are coalescing around her and no one has emerged as a potential challenger at the convention next month.
Barely 24 hours after President Biden announced that he would step aside and not seek re-election, endorsing Kamala Harris as his successor, she has raised an astounding amount of money through ActBlue, she’s won the endorsements of almost every one of her potential rivals as well as the backing of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and from coast to coast state delegations and individual delegates to the DNC are pledging their support for her, shifting their allegiance from Joe Biden. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has already launched a multi-pronged attack on her, accusing her of covering up President Biden’s mental condition and tagging her with everything they blamed previously on him, from inflation to illegal immigration.
For more on the whirlwind of the last 24 hours and what happens next, KCBS Radio insider Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising, were joined by attorney and political strategist Christine Pelosi of San Francisco, a delegate to the Democratic National Convention as a member of the executive committee of the Democratic National Committee, and the longtime chair of the Women’s Caucus in the California Democratic Party. This is the State of California.
KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern spoke with Milwaukee County Executive, David Crowley following the end of the RNC in his hometown. Crowley said Biden has his vote.
It’s the final night of the convention, with presidential nominee Donald Trump ready to take center stage.
The former president will speak for about an hour, you can hear that speech live right here on KCBS.
Mr. Trump has said he completely rewrote his speech after he survived Saturday’s assassination attempt, and he may well have tweaked it a bit more now that things are really falling apart for Joe Biden. We expect Trump to extol his own virtues and that of his running mate, JD Vance, and attack, at least to some extent, his opposition, the Biden-Harris ticket.
He will lay out his vision for the next four years, which will probably mean painting a very different picture from the one put out there by the Democrats.
For more on this Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of “The State, Of California,” tuned in from the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, joined by KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart in San Francisco.
It’s night 3 of the RNC, that means the vice presidential nominee is in the spotlight, and Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio will be center stage, introducing himself to the nation as Donald Trump’s running mate.
He will be the last speaker on a night that will focus on foreign policy, with the theme “Make America Strong Once Again.” This convention will also hear tonight from Donald Trump Jr, Newt Gingrich, former San Francisco prosecutor Kimberly Guilfoyle, now the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. Others on the schedule include Matt Gaetz.
To hear more, KCBS Radio's Bret and Patti spoke with KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, who is in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention.
It’s Day Two of that Republican convention, which will focus tonight on public safety.
Former president Trump, now the Republican nominee for a third time, is expected to return to the convention hall again tonight.
No huge surprise there, he has in the past made an appearance on every day of his nominating conventions, so the word we are getting is that he is likely to be back in the building again tonight, presumably with his running mate JD Vance alongside him.
Tonight’s program will be all about “making America safe once again,” that’s the theme, with a focus on how the Trump-Vance administration would bring down crime and close the border to undocumented immigrants.
For more on this, Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of “The State, Of California,” tuned in from the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee to talk with KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
The Republican Party formally nominated Donald Trump for president today, for the third time.
And Mr. Trump chose his running mate, freshman Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio.
All of that happening in the last couple of hours here on the convention floor, where Donald Trump has NOT made an appearance yet, but Vance did, coming on the floor to shake delegates hands and smile and wave with his wife, he did not speak or formally accept his own nomination. The sergeant at arms of this convention, the party officer charged with keeping law and order on the floor, and he has not had to worry about that too much yet, is none other than Shawn Steel, longtime California Republican leader, and RNC committeeman for the state. He joined KCBS insider Doug Sovern, who reported today from the Republican Convention in Milwaukee, who was in turn joined in San Francisco by KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
It's time for the state of California. With much talk swirling about President Biden and former President Trump, the Republican National Convention is set to get underway in Milwaukee next week.
For more on this, KCBS Radio Insider Doug Sovern was joined by SF attorney and RNC member Harmeet Dhillon.
The pressure continues to mount on President Biden to drop out of the presidential race, but he insists, he will not give up the Democratic nomination without a fight.
Actor George Clooney, moderate New York Congressman Pat Ryan, and various other elected Democrats are the latest to say Mr. Biden should step aside.
The president is focused on running this week’s NATO summit in Washington and preparing for his news conference tomorrow afternoon, but privately he is relying on continued support from Black leaders in Congress, and trying to bolster support from voters of color, who were key to his victory in 2020. Meanwhile, some down-ballot Democrats, including in California, are becoming anxious about whether the president would be a drag at the top of the ticket, and whether those reverse coattails could cost them their seats. For more, we are joined live today on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by Ludovic Blain, Executive Director of the California Donor Table, an organization that pools donations to invest in California communities of color and help elect people who will best represent them.
California Democrats are at the forefront as the party tries to decide whether to stick with Joe Biden as its presidential nominee.
The president remains steadfast in his determination to run, and today support seems to be shifting in his favor.
House and Senate Democrats met separately today and it’s clear from their comments afterward that there is no consensus yet. Some still want President Biden not to run again, and they’ve said so publicly, some are saying privately that they’d prefer Vice President Kamala Harris replace the president at the top of the ticket. But no new members of the House or Senate called for that today, while several reiterated their support for the president.
The leaders of the House Democratic caucus, Pete Aguilar and Ted Lieu, both from Southern California, made it very clear that right now, the party views President Biden as its nominee and the focus is on winning this election, defeating Donald Trump and making Hakeem Jeffries the next Speaker of the House. They did leave some wiggle room, repeating that “right now” Biden is their nominee, but that could change, and it appears that much will hinge on the president’s public performance at the NATO summit in Washington this week.
For more on this, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Insider Doug Sovern.
A defiant President Biden insisted today that he will not drop out of
the presidential race. Mr. Biden says any Democrat who wants him to step aside should challenge him at the convention in August
The president struck a combative tone during an interview on MSNBC, and he also joined a call with major donors to the party to reiterate that he’s not going anywhere and fully intends to be the Democratic nominee for president. He also sent a letter to House Democrats today saying it’s time to end the drama after his disastrous performance in his debate with Donald Trump, and for the party to unite behind him to defeat the former president. A growing number of Congressional Democrats are calling for Biden to step aside, but Virginia Senator Mark Warner canceled a meeting he had planned with fellow Senators to discuss their options.
For more, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, along with KCBS Radio insider Doug Sovern, were joined by Dan Schnur, a veteran of four presidential campaigns and the former Chairman of the California Fair Political Practices Commission. He is a professor at three different California universities, UC Berkeley, USC and Pepperdine, teaching politics and communications, and he was the founder of the USC/LA Times statewide poll.
New legislation rolled out in California bars and nightclubs this week aims to protect people from date-rape drugs, also known as "roofies." But the rollout is a work in progress, and reactions from establishments have been mixed.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart was joined by Jillian D'Onfro, business reporter for the San Francisco Standard.
This is “The State Of California.” The White House is maintaining that President Joe Biden will not drop out of the 2024 race despite rumblings across the political world that he should step down following last week's debate.
This is poised to be a pivotal moment in the election as even some Democrats are publicly questioning Biden's suitability for a second term, creating fissures in an otherwise united party front.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by David McCuan, Chair and Professor of the Political Science Department at Sonoma State University.
This is the State of California. As artificial intelligence has taken off in California, legislators have been considering ways to reduce the potential risks powerful AI tools pose. But tech giants aren't on the same page and have been vocal in their opposition to state efforts to pass regulations on the industry.
For a better understanding, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by California State Senator Scott Wiener.
You can hear The State of California every weekday at 3:30pm, It’s also available on the Audacy app and wherever you get your podcasts.
Voters will decide whether to increase punishment for drug possession and theft in November. This new measure gives Californians the chance to roll back parts of the controversial 2014 voter-passed law called Prop 47.
KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart speak with Emily Hoeven, an Opinion columnist at The Chronicle.
Good Afternoon, this is the State of California. Concern is mounting for wine experts as egg masses of an invasive species from Asia were found in a shipment of art traveling from New York to California wine country in March.
It's called the spotted lantern fly and it could pose a serious threat to the state's wine industry.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Brett Burkhart were joined by Randy Heinzen, President of Vineyard Professional Services.
You can hear The State of California every weekday at 3:30pm, It’s also available on the Audacy app and wherever you get your podcasts.
COVID-19 related lockdowns may be in the rear-view mirror for us, but the effects of pandemic live on., especially with the way Californians work.
Back in 2020, remote work was seen as a way to comply with social distancing rules, but four years later we're seeing that working from home not only changed the way Californians do their jobs but also with where they live.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Eric McGhee, Policy Director and Senior Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, which looked into remote work in the state in a three-part series.
July is right around the corner, and while many have the 4th on their minds, there's a series of new laws signed by Governor Gavin Newsom that are set to go into effect come Monday.
Two of the bills included on that roster are expected to help address public safety concerns regarding gun violence and hate crimes.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising were joined by Assemblymember Phil Ting, who represents the 19th District, which spans the Westside of San Francisco, Daly City, and parts of the Peninsula.
After months of waiting, Governor Gavin Newsom finally delivered his State of the State address today.
In a pre-recorded video, Governor Newsom warned "the California way of life is under attack."
To discuss further, KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising were joined by Joe Garofoli, Senior political writer at the San Francisco Chronicle.
Two years ago on this day, the US Supreme Court's conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade, sending shockwaves across the country.
The battle over reproductive rights continues to this day, with some states tightening abortion laws, causing women to go great lengths to avoid unwanted pregnancies.
For a closer look., KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Steven Woolpert, Professor of Politics at St. Mary's College.
Latino voting patterns are set to be crucial in this year's election. In California, despite being a deep blue state, Latino voters are expected to play a key role in determining if Democrats can recover from their underperformance in the 2022 U.S. House races.
In his new book, Mike Madrid noted that the Biden administration's recent move on border security was necessary but overdue, and that Democrats have been losing Latino support due to an over-emphasis on immigration issues rather than economic concerns.
He pointed out that the fastest-growing segment of Latino voters are third-generation Americans who prioritize economic issues over ethnic identity.
For more we are joined live on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by Mike Madrid, Republican Political Consultant and Cofounder The Lincoln Project. He is the author of the new book, " The Latino Century: How America’s Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy."
President Biden continues to fine tune his policies on immigration, one of the most critical issues for voters in this election year.
Meanwhile, new polling shows that a majority of Latino voters support former President Trump’s more draconian immigration proposals.
Joe Biden is clearly trying to address one of voters’ top concerns, security at the border, while not turning off a big chunk of his base and fracturing the coalition he needs to win re-election.
KCBS Radio's political reporter and host of "The State of California" is joined by Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart to discuss the matter.
KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, political reporter and host of the State of California, was joined by Joseph Wright, a political scientist at Penn State University, where he is co-director of the Global and International Studies program.
One day after the Surgeon General warned about the perils of social media and smart phones for kids, Governor Newsom wants to curb their use at schools.
The governor wants California to pass a law restricting phone use by students, in time for the new school year this fall.
This is not a new issue for the governor, but the widespread attention given the U.S. Surgeon General’s Op-Ed in the New York Times yesterday has brought it back to the front burner. Dr. Vivek Murthy called for warning labels on social media, much like the ones on packs of cigarettes, and likened the need for urgent action to address the pitfalls of social media to the push to require seatbelts and airbags in cars.
He cited studies that show an alarming rise in depression, anxiety and other mental health issues for tweens and teenagers who spend more time on social media, and said kids need more phone-free time, including all day at school, at mealtimes and before bed. That’s prompting Governor Newsom to say it’s time to simply take cell phones out of the schooldays completely, and pass legislation to do just that, although right now it’s not clear if he means an outright ban, or just tighter restrictions.
For more on this, KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with KCBS insider Doug Sovern.
A major wildfire has burned more than 15-thousand acres northwest of Los Angeles, forcing evacuations and closing Pyramid Lake.
It’s the first big blaze of the 2024 fire season, with another, smaller wildfire igniting near Lancaster, which has since been contained. It’s only mid- June, with the peak of fire season far off, but we’ve already had a couple of brief heat waves and after a wet winter and early spring, the late spring has brought record-breaking heat across the West. What does that portend for this year’s wildfire season? El Niño is on the wane, it looks like a La Niña is coming, what could that all mean?
For more on all of this, KCBS Radio anchor Patti Reising and KCBS Insider Doug Sovern were joined by Noah Diffenbaugh, the noted climate scientist who is a professor at Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability, and a Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment.
San Francisco's transportation landscape is at a pivotal moment as residents express a strong desire to shift towards more sustainable and active modes of travel. A poll out of the non-partisan organization, GrowSF, reveals that city residents show a growing interest in riding the Muni, walking, and cycling to get around.
However, the lasting financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, like reduced ridership and big revenue shortfalls, present some real challenges. As the city deals with these issues, officials have been working on new ways to meet residents' needs, like the Valencia bike lane project or car free zones.
To explore where San Francisco's transportation projects currently stand, KCBS Radio anchor Patti Reising was joined by Steven Buss Bacio, co-founder of GrowSF.
Local retailers are joining the negotiation to discuss retail theft punishment and the necessary severity.
KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising, and Bret Burkhart were joined by Mike McGuire to discuss Prop 47 and the 14 bills of the Safer California legislative package.
The political battle over reforming California’s Proposition 47 is really heating up.
The backers of a November initiative to address retail crime and the fentanyl crisis say the legislature is trying to sabotage their measure.
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising, and Bret Burkhart were joined by Greg Totten, who was Ventura County District Attorney for almost 20 years, he is now CEO of the California District Attorneys Association, and he is co-chair of Californians for Safer Communities, the sponsors of the ballot initiative that would reform Prop 47.
Hunter Biden was found guilty today of three counts of lying on a federal gun control form about his drug addiction.
Now the president’s son faces a possible prison sentence, what could that mean for his father’s re-election prospects?
For more on this, KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with KCBS insider Doug Sovern on this afternoon's edition of The State of California.
Former President Donald Trump had his first meeting with a probation officer today, to help the court determine what the sentence should be for his 34 felony convictions.
Meanwhile, a spate of new surveys shows a neck-and-neck race between Mr. Trump and President Biden, with some of the polls suggesting those guilty verdicts may be hurting Trump a little bit.
If they are hurting Trump and helping Biden, it’s not by much, but in a race as close as this one, even a small movement at the margins could end up making a difference. But how reliable is polling in 2024, and should we be paying much attention to the surveys five months before the presidential election?
For more, KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising, along with KCBS insider Doug Sover, were joined by political sociologist Mindy Romero, Director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.
As San Francisco continues its aggressive efforts to crack down on speeding, it seems as if a key group to the city is breaking those rules.
According to new data obtained by the San Francisco Standard, turns out city employees are topping out at 80 miles per hour or more while on the job, playing into the issue of unsafe driving conditions in San Francisco.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined by Noah Baustin, Data Reporter with the San Francisco Standard--the Bay Area's fastest-growing news source.
The pandemic has completely shifted how we define a workplace, with increased remote and hybrid job positions. How do we adapt to this new reality?
KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern is joined by Sarah Bohn, Vice President and Director at the PPIC Economic Policy Center and Senior Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California. She's co-authored a report on how remote work is transforming the labor market in California.
Former President Donald Trump returns to the Bay Area tomorrow for a rare fundraising event in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris was in town, drawing anti-Israel protesters outside her events in Oakland and San Francisco.
It’s a big fundraising week for both tickets as Campaign ’24 starts to rev up. The former president will stop in San Francisco tomorrow for a high dollar fundraiser.
For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising were joined by David McCuan, political science professor at Sonoma State University and a frequent KCBS contributor.
President Biden signed an executive order today shutting down the asylum process for migrants, as he tries to quell a crisis at the border.
Border crossings have actually dropped so far this year, but the president says the system is overwhelmed and he has to act, since Congress won’t.
It’s quite an about-face for the Democratic president, who blasted President Trump when he used a similar approach to try to keep immigrants from coming here illegally. President Biden took great pains to point out the differences between what he is doing and what then-president Trump tried to do, but for now the impact would be similar: stopping migrants from crossing the border without authorization and then applying for asylum. Today’s order will be challenged in court, with the ACLU and others already saying they will sue to try to block it, as they did successfully when Trump was president.
For more on the political impact of this extraordinary move, we are joined live today on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by Dr. Anna Sampaio, professor of Ethnic Studies and Political Science at Santa Clara University, where she specializes in race and gender politics.
State lawmakers and the governor have just 12 days left to hammer out a balanced budget.
There is a 27 billion dollar hole to fill in that spending plan, and Governor Newsom wants to close part of it by slashing funding for housing and homelessness.
The governor has been pouring billions of dollars of state money into homelessness for the last few years, but now he proposes cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from those programs. He also wants to slash almost a billion dollars from programs that support affordable housing and help first-time homebuyers. Governor Newsom says these are tough times for the state budget so he has no choice but to trim programs he has previously supported. As you might imagine, there is stiff opposition to his proposals, from a wide range of organizations, and many of them descended on the State Capitol recently to express their displeasure with the governor’s revised budget plan and call for the restoration of this funding.
For more on this, KCBS political reporter and the host of "The State of California" Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising were joined by Eddie Carmona, Campaigns Director for PICO California, which is the largest faith-based community organizing network in the state. It’s a nonprofit grass roots group of more than 500 congregations, that works toward racial and economic justice.
Artificial intelligence, or AI, has been dominating the headlines of late, with
countless efforts by state lawmakers to regulate it or rein it in, and Governor
Newsom convening a first-of-its-kind summit meeting in conjunction with
Stanford and UC Berkeley to chart California’s way forward with this
groundbreaking and rapidly expanding technology.
San Francisco has become the hub for AI innovation and that sector is driving economic growth in the Bay Area right now. But as the use of AI proliferates, how can you tell what’s real and what’s fake? How do you know I wrote this introduction, and not some Chat Bot? How do you even know I’m not a robot? If I were, my grocery bill would be much lower. And in an age already plagued by misinformation, how can voters discern between what’s legit and what isn’t?
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern was joined by Mekela Panditharatne, an attorney who is Counsel at the Elections and Government Program for the Brennan Center for Justice, the nonpartisan law and policy institute based in New York and Washington DC.
A New York jury has found Donald Trump guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former US president convicted of a crime.
The presumptive GOP presidential nominee faces a maximum sentence of up to four years behind bars, but prosecutors have not said whether they intend to seek imprisonment.
Yesterday we talked about what this could all mean for Trump’s campaign if the jury finds him guilty, now that it's official that question and many more continue to loom over our heads. To get some answers, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart, and Patti Reising were joined by Laurie Levenson, Law Professor at Loyola Law School.
The first-ever criminal trial of a former president went to the jury today, and now Donald Trump awaits his fate.
What could it mean for Trump’s campaign if the jury finds him guilty?
The former president has been setting low expectations outside the courtroom, complaining about the process and the judge and preparing his supporters for the likelihood of a conviction, which he will be sure to appeal if it comes. Meanwhile, since his campaigning is limited while he’s on trial, Trump has been holding events in New York and New Jersey, rallying voters in the South Bronx last weekend and focusing heavily on outreach to Latino and Black voters, boasting that he is pulling more of them away from the Democrats and President Biden.
For more on all of this, Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart, and Patti Reising were joined by longtime California Republican political strategist Mike Madrid, who was one of the founders of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project. He is the author of the new book, The Latino Century: How America’s Largest Minority is Transforming Democracy, which comes out from Simon and Schuster on June 18th.
A little more than five months before the presidential election, the Trump campaign is venturing into Biden territory, while privately, top Democrats are starting to freak out about their chances.
Former president Trump continues to gain in the polls, despite his ongoing criminal trial in New York, while President Biden doesn’t seem to be able to make any headway.
For more on this, Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising talk with KCBS insider, Doug Sovern, host of “The State, Of California."
Governor Gavin Newsom this week signed a new law allowing Arizona doctors to come to California to perform abortions for their patients, but only temporarily.
This comes as Arizona leaders work to repeal and challenge the Arizona Supreme Court's near-total abortion ban ruling.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart was joined by Steve Woolpert, Professor of Politics at St. Mary's College.
We all know abortion is a prominent issue in this election cycle, especially since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
In order to spread the word one how that happened and what women can do going forward, one of California's top politicians launched a Super PAC.
For more on this, KCBS insider Doug Sovern spoke with Eleni Kounalakis.
The school year is over at UC Berkeley and many other colleges, but campus tensions around the war in Gaza continue. An alarming rise in anti-Semitism and fierce debate over the word “Zionist” threaten longstanding campus traditions of free expression.
Universities from coast to coast have been torn apart by protest encampments against Israel’s retaliatory war on Hamas and the impact it’s had in Gaza. From Columbia to Cal to UCLA, university leaders have been under fire, students facing off with police, both on and off campus, administrations forced to reckon with how their money is invested and whether they’re supporting a war halfway around the world.
At Cal, the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israeli encampment is gone, after a negotiated agreement there, but it was followed by an off-campus occupation that police came in and broke up. For more on all of this, we are joined live today on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by Ethan Katz, Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies at UC Berkeley, where he is Faculty Director of the Center for Jewish Studies, as well as Chair of the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Jewish Student Life and Campus Climate, and co-founder of the Antisemitism Education Initiative.
The debate over debates continues, with two scheduled between the presidential candidates but no agreement yet on a vice presidential showdown. This will be a debate season unlike any other in recent presidential campaign history.
Having the first presidential debate in summer, before the candidates are even formally nominated at their party conventions, is without precedent. And this will be the first time in many years that the format adopted by the Commission on Presidential Debates has been abandoned.
So as of now, there are just two debates scheduled between President Biden and former president Trump, and none confirmed yet between Vice President Kamala Harris and the Republican running mate, who of course has not been chosen yet.
Harris, from the Bay Area, has agreed to a debate hosted by CBS News in either July or August, but the Trump campaign prefers one hosted by Fox News. Negotiations between the two campaigns and the networks continue, and we do expect a decision on a Veep debate soon.
This is the state of California, hosted by KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising, and Bret Burkhart.
California Republicans wrapped up their statewide convention over the weekend in Burlingame.
And they know that the road to keeping their House majority runs through several key Congressional districts here in California. The GOP has only a narrow 4-seat majority in the House and needed Democrats to help keep Speaker of the House Mike Johnson in power, staving off a conservative rebellion.
A handful of closely contested races in California could help determine which party controls the next Congress. That was one of many key points of focus at this weekend’s gathering of California Republicans, who had to weather a bit of controversy since their keynote speaker was South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a rising star who was at the top of many pundits’ short list to be Donald Trump’s running mate—until she revealed in her new memoir that she had shot and killed her own disobedient dog because she hated him so much.
For more on all of this, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern and Patti Reising were joined by Shawn Steel, longtime Republican National Committeeman for California.
This is the State of California: Doug Sovern and Patti Reising are away today.
The Justice Department has proposed reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule 3 drug, which would ease federal restrictions on cannabis if approved.
This move, deemed "monumental" by President Biden, follows his moves to pardon those convicted of simple marijuana possession, and highlights his administration's focus on marijuana policy reform.
Although Marijuana is legal in California, there are still federal laws that prevent its use in certain instances in the state. And to break it down, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart was joined by David Downs, the Senior Editor at Leafly, an online marijuana resource.
This is the State of California, Doug Sovern is off today. Berkeley is making history by being the first city in California to allow residents to sell their accessory dwelling units, otherwise known as ADU's, as condominiums within the next year.
These days, owning a home is becoming more out of reach for Californians due to sky-high costs, but the bill authored by Assembly Member Phil Ting of San Francisco aims to make home ownership more attainable in one of the Bay Area's most costly markets.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising were joined by Berkeley City Council member Rashi Kesarwani. She is the one who led the city to adopt the bill.
The debate over restaurants items being categorized as goods and services is heating up. Starting July 1st, businesses in California will have to inform customers of any fees before they get the bill, and many restaurants are not happy with it.
As that date approaches, the California Restaurant Association sent a letter to Attorney General Rob Bonta this week, pushing him to remove restaurants in the list of businesses that must be transparent with junk fees.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising were joined by Laurie Thomas, Executive Director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association and the owner of two neighborhood restaurants in San Francisco.
This is “The State, Of California,” Doug Sovern is away, today KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising are joined by Jared Moffat, Campaign Director for the Alliance for the Safer Use of Psychedelics
As a bill to legalize magic mushrooms and other hallucinogens goes before an Assembly appropriations committee this week, the Alliance for Safer Use of Psychedelics launched today.
This group is dedicated to facilitating access to psychedelics and enhancing public education on their use in California.
This initiative comes in response to Governor Newsom's veto last fall of a bill that would have decriminalized magic mushrooms for personal use.
Governor Newsom announced a revised budget plan this morning, acknowledging a $28 billion deficit. However, the true deficit could be closer to $45 billion.
This proposal includes significant cuts to both one-time and ongoing spending, with a reduction in state operations and the elimination of 10,000 unfilled positions. Newsom also aims to preserve major initiatives and safety net programs while implementing necessary cuts.
For a better understanding of the new budget proposal, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising were joined by Chris Hoene, the Executive Director at the California Budget & Policy Center, a non-partisan research and analysis non-profit.
The issue of anti-semitism in the schools took center stage this week as a
Congressional subcommittee, controlled by Republicans, summoned the
superintendents of several K thru 12 school districts to Capitol Hill for a hearing,
including the leader of the Berkeley Unified School District, Enikia Ford Morthel.
Berkeley of course has been a hotbed of protest since Hamas attacked Israel last
October 7 and Israel retaliated by invading the Gaza Strip. The demonstrations
and walkouts against Israel and in support of the Palestinians have not been
confined to the Cal campus, they have been common in the public schools too,
and while the district says it has been doing everything it can to prevent and
respond to anti-semitism and Islamaphobia in this climate of tension and
confrontation, it is now under investigation, with a federal complaint filed that
alleges it is allowing “severe and persistent” anti-Semitism.
For more on this, we are joined on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by Ilana Pearlman, a midwife from Berkeley who is the mother of a Berkeley High
student who is half-Jewish and half-Black. She is one of the leaders of a group
called Berkeley Jews In School and she went to Washington D.C. to attend the
hearing and meet with members of Congress.
Two new reports say the city of San Francisco and the state of California are making significant progress in the homelessness crisis, but are things really getting better, or are unhoused people just being shuffled somewhere else, with a shortage of shelter beds still a very real problem?
San Francisco officials declared this week that the number of tents and tent encampments on the streets has dropped significantly, 41% since last summer.
They say that’s proof that the crisis is easing, partly because a federal court ruled that police can take down tents if the people in them are voluntarily refusing shelter, as opposed to having no choice because there are not enough shelter beds available.
Meanwhile, another report said Governor Newsom’s Project Roomkey program did help move more than 60-thousand people off the streets into hotel rooms, declaring it a success as well, but most of those people ended up moving back into homelessness eventually.
For more KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart, and Patti Reising spoke with Jennifer Friedenbach, Executive Director of the Coalition on Homelessness in San Francisco.
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues his aggressive campaign to shake up the presidential race.
He has qualified for the ballot in at least ten states now, including California.
And in a sign that the Biden and Trump campaigns are no longer dismissing Kennedy as a fringe third party guy who’s no real threat, they are both putting out a lot of opposition research material on him, and attacking him as either a liberal or a conservative in a moderate’s clothing, depending on who’s doing the attacking.
For more on this, KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising were joined by KCBS insider Doug Sovern.
There was dancing in the streets in Gaza today, after Hamas
announced that it had accepted a ceasefire proposal in its war with Israel
But it turns out that Hamas has proposed new terms for a deal, that
Israel is still studying before it decides whether to say yes
Talks had been at an impasse before Hamas’ political leader
announced the terms his group would accept, which is different from the most
recent Israeli proposal. Meanwhile, Israel is moving forward with its plan to attack
Rafah, ordering Palestinians in that city to evacuate before it launches its
offensive there.
For more on where things stand and what it all means, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart, and Patti Reising were joined by Amichai Magen, Visiting Professor and Fellow in Israel Studies at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University.
The Biden Administration announced today it's allowing thousands of DACA immigrants to enroll in the Affordable Care Act's health insurance for next year's coverage.
This move will give roughly 100-thousand immigrants, who were brought to the US as children, the opportunity to access federal health insurance when they sign up for coverage after November 1st--just days before the presidential election.
For a closer look at the implications this has on California, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising are joined by Bill Hing, professor of law and migration studies at the University of San Francisco and the author of "Humanizing Immigration."
With police moving in at Columbia, a violent clash at UCLA and simmering
tensions at Stanford. At UC Berkeley, the tent city on the steps and grass in front
of and around Sproul Hall continues to grow, with maybe 75 tents there now, but
that encampment remains surprisingly calm and peaceful, with little of the
tension we’ve seen elsewhere.
Those students are not blocking access to a Cal education, and the administration is taking a hands off approach for now, with no police presence at all.
To find out more about what’s going on there, I sat down at Sproul Plaza with Yazem Kashlan, a PhD student in developmental economics who is one of the leaders of the Cal encampment. He is of Syrian and Moroccan descent, born and raised in New Jersey.
There’s a new push to pass a statewide minimum wage of $20 dollars for all workers in California, including those behind bars.
The campaign comes just a month after California enacted a $20 dollar wage for workers at fast food restaurants.
The push for higher wages for fast food workers was seen as a milestone success, giving them something closer to a living wage, and now the people behind that would like to expand the $20 dollar an hour pay for workers in other sectors. There may be some unintended consequences of that higher wage though.
For more, KCBS Radio's Political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Saru Jayaraman, founder and president of the organization One Fair Wage.
Is San Francisco stuck in a doom loop, or is it on the road to recovery from the pandemic?
That was the topic today at a special KCBS town hall, a conversation with some of San Francisco’s most important stakeholders.
We had a lively conversation at the Mark Hopkins Hotel, organized by KCBS and our Audacy stations here in San Francisco, and you will be hearing that on KCBS and our sister stations, over the next two weekends.
For more, here are KCBS Radio's Dough Sovern, Patti Reising, and Bret Burkhart.
California is moving forward with a first-in-the-nation program to help native tribes reclaim control of ancestral land.
The state is giving 100 million dollars to tribes to reacquire land, restore it and take over its stewardship.
Governor Newsom calls this a “truth and healing process” to make amends for historical wrongs committed against Native Californian tribes, much like the Truth and Reconciliation process that was pioneered in South Africa. Various tribes will receive grants from the state under this program.
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising, and Bret Burkhart are joined by Christina Snider-Ashtari, California’s Tribal Affairs Secretary.
If at first you don't succeed try try again; a previously unsuccessful effort to lower the voting age to 16 in the city of San Francisco is once again underway.
If passed the measure would grant 16 and 17-year-old San Franciscans the right to vote in local elections.
Previous attempts to lower the voting age narrowly failed in 2016 and 2020.
For more on the effort, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising are joined by, Ewan Barker Plummer, Chair of the San Francisco Youth Commission.
The Supreme Court is divided in the midst of deciding whether the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of 1986 should have primacy over Idaho's near-total abortion ban.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern spoke to Shannon Hovis, Director of Reproductive Freedom For All California.
You’ve seen it at the airport: a CLEAR lane, separate from the general security line and the TSA PreCheck line, where flyers pay an annual fee to a private company to speed through based on their biometric data. They get escorted ahead of even the regular PreCheck customers to get through security that much more quickly.
A Southern California lawmaker is fed up with CLEAR customers cutting to the head of the line and has introduced legislation that could see California become the first state to restrict those lanes.
KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke to Senator Josh Newman for more.
Governor Newsom continues to stay on the offensive when it comes
to abortion, trying to ensure access while also capitalizing on a potent campaign
issue.
The governor has launched another ad campaign, this time in the
state of Alabama, and tomorrow will unveil legislation aimed at Arizona.
The governor has been unrelenting both in his criticism of red state
governors and abortion bans, and his expansion of access to abortion in
California. This latest TV commercial is aimed at Alabama, where Republican
lawmakers are trying to make it a crime to help a minor go to another state for an
abortion.
It’s a pretty hard-hitting spot, with an Alabama highway patrol officer
pulling over a car just before crossing the state line, making the teenager inside
step out to take a pregnancy test and handcuffing the woman behind the wheel.
Meanwhile, tomorrow, Newsom will hold a news conference in Sacramento to
announce a bill that would let abortion providers from Arizona come to California
to perform abortions, granting them expedited licensing, to accommodate the
flood of women California anticipates if and when Arizona’s 1864 ban is allowed
to go into effect, as that state’s Supreme Court has ruled it should.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern spoke with anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
As we’ve been reporting, the US Supreme Court heard a hugely important case today on homelessness, and what cities can legally do about it.
The case involves the city of Grants Pass, Oregon but could have major implications for policies here in the Bay Area.
The issue in Grants Pass v Johnson is whether Grants Pass can enforce its ban on camping on public property to police homelessness, or whether it’s unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment to tell people who have no place else to go that they can’t sleep outside. A federal district court sided with the homeless people who sued to overturn the law, and then the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco agreed.
Today the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case, and the conservative majority seemed inclined to overturn the lower courts and allow the law to be enforced. Governor Newsom, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and many other local officials have urged the court not to handcuff the cities by taking away their power to address homelessness in this way.
For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising are joined by Nisha Kashyap, Program Director for Racial Justice at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Researchers from the Public Policy Institute of California teamed up with Stanford to develop what they say is a health-inclusive California Poverty Measure to understand how Medi-Cal expansion could benefit undocumented immigrants.
Researchers looked at data from the fall of 2021 and reviewed insurance needs and costs. When factoring in health coverage, researchers found the poverty rate to be much higher among non-citizens. But if the state-funded expansion of Medi-Cal coverage is successful, it could help bring that rate down.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Patricia Malagon, Research Associate at Public Policy Institute of California. She's the co-author of the report.
You can hear The State of California every weekday at 3:30pm. It’s also available on the Audacy app and wherever you get your podcasts.
Despite years of preventive measures, San Francisco still has the highest
pedestrian death rate in the nation, and is on track to break its unfortunate record
this year.
So now the City is going to try something new to slow cars down and
make the streets safer for people on foot.
This week the Municipal Transportation Agency approved a plan to install 33 “speed safety cameras,” as part of a pilot program made possible by a bill co-authored by State Assemblymember Phil Ting of San Francisco.
He’s also behind a bill to help expedite conversion of empty downtown office buildings into housing, to help revitalize the Financial District while also providing much-needed housing stock.
For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern, is joined by by Assemblymember Phil Ting, Democrat from San Francisco.
A new report blasts California for continuing to take federal benefits away from foster children, to help balance the state budget.
The nationwide study gives California and 43 other states a grade of F, for diverting funds to foster care agencies, without ever even telling kids that the money is rightfully theirs.
This has been a practice for many years, but in recent years there’s been a movement to ban it, which Arizona has done, and there’s federal legislation in the works. California applies for Social Security disability and survivor benefits in the names of foster children, then collects the money and uses it to fund state agencies that provide foster care. But that money is supposed to go to the kids themselves.
A bill to end this practice passed unanimously in the state legislature last year, but Governor Newsom vetoed it, saying it would blow a hole in the state budget, and that if lawmakers want to pass a bill that affects the budget, it has to be part of the budget-writing process.
For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio's news anchors Brett Berkhart and Patti Reising, spoke with Jessica Heldman, the Fellmeth-Peterson Associate Professor in Child Rights, at the Children’s Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law, the organization that has produced this new study, which is called “Foster Care, or Foster Con?”
An unusual recount is underway in a closely watched Bay Area
Congressional race that produced an unprecedented result.
This is the race to succeed Representative Anna Eshoo in the 16th
Congressional district, which ended with a tie for second place, sending three
different candidates on to November.
Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo finished first, while Santa
Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian and Assemblyman Evan Low finished in a
flat-footed tie for second, with the exact same number of votes. Under the state’s
Top Two primary law, that means all three of them advance to the general
election. Low or Simitian could have asked for a recount, but had no incentive to
do so, since a change of just one vote could leave either one of them out of the
race. They were perfectly content to go on to a 3-way race in November. But then
two private citizens requested a recount, which anyone living in the district can
do, and now Santa Clara and San Mateo counties have begun that recount, paid
for by one of those requesters.
His name is Jonathan Padilla and he used to work for Mayor Liccardo’s campaign as finance director, and he is a Liccardo donor. The other person withdrew his request. But the Liccardo campaign denies any connection to Padilla’s request. In any event, the recount is happening, Padilla is paying for it to the tune of $16,000 a day, and in the end, it may knock either Low or Simitian out of the general election in November.
KCBS Radio Political Reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising discuss.
Israel continues to weigh its options to retaliate after Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack over the weekend.
The Biden Administration says the United States remains “ironclad” in its support for Israel— but will not get involved in a conflict with Iran.
This was the first time Iran has ever directly attacked Israel, instead of fighting through proxies such as Hezbollah and Hamas. It was retaliation for a strike in Syria that killed two Iranian generals, which is widely believed to have been Israel’s doing. The US and other allies helped Israel intercept 99% of Iran’s incoming fire over the weekend, but the Biden administration is making clear it will not send American troops nor allow the US to be drawn into a wider war, and the President’s fellow G7 leaders are urging Israel to show restraint and not continue the back-and-forth retaliatory attacks.
For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising, spoke with Janine Zacharia, a lecturer in the Department of Communications at Stanford University, and the former Jerusalem bureau chief for the Washington Post, who spent many years covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
At a time of extreme polarization in politics and declining civic engagement, even
though studies show how vital it is to our mental health and healthy aging to
become more engaged socially, and not to become isolated, more and more
Californians are banding together in what are called “giving circles.”
It’s a way for people of modest means to pool their resources and have a significant collective impact. Think of it as democratizing philanthropy.
Now, meaningful philanthropy is not just the province of billionaires, but instead can be a way for people with common values to work for positive change and connect with their community.
For more on this trend, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Ilyasah N Shabazz, Senior Operations and Communications Director with Philanthropy Together, the global nonprofit based in San Francisco that is leading this movement.
As we've been reporting throughout the day, OJ Simpson has passed away of Cancer at the age of 76.
Once celebrated as a football player and later revered as a commentator in the NFL, his notable accomplishments on the gridiron were overshadowed by the high-profile murder trial of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
The bloody stabbing deaths of Simpson's ex-wife Nicole and Goldman rocked Los Angeles. Later, when Simpson faced trial--KNX, which is an all-news station--broke format to broadcast the trial live, aided by experts in the law, relying on a USC law professor, Erwin Chemerinsky, who's now the dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law. He is gracious enough to join us on-air once again nearly 30 years later to talk about the impact of the trial on the legal world, the media landscape and society itself.
California lawmakers continue to try to tackle the retail crime epidemic without repealing criminal justice reforms approved by the voters.
The latest package of bills comes from Democrats in the State Assembly, with the Speaker’s seal of approval.
Democrats in the state legislature hope to take enough action to head off a move to pass a new ballot measure that would roll back some of Proposition 47, the initiative that voters passed ten years ago that raised the threshold for some felony theft and drug possession crimes.
Instead, they’ve introduced a package of bills they say will do enough to stem the surge in mass robberies at big retail stores (and we’ve all seen those viral videos).
For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising, spoke with State Assembly member Rick Chavez Zbur, a Democrat who represents the 51st Assembly District in Los Angeles, which includes Santa Monica, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. He chairs the Assembly’s Select Committee on Retail Theft.
Former President Trump attempted to neutralize abortion as a damaging issue for him in this year’s presidential election, but it appears the move is backfiring.
One day after Trump said he would not support a federal ban on abortion, but continued to brag about overturning Roe v Wade, Arizona’s Supreme Court ruled that state’s near-total ban on abortion can take effect.
And just in case you don’t know it, Arizona is one of a handful of states that will determine whether President Biden is re-elected or not, and the polls there show former President Trump consistently ahead. But now, with that abortion ban becoming law because Roe V Wade was overturned by Trump’s appointees to the U-S Supreme Court, the Democrats are pouncing.
Vice President Kamala Harris will go to Tucson on Thursday to talk about reproductive freedom, there will be an all-out mobilization to get women in particular to the polls, and that could get a big boost from a ballot measure to amend the Arizona Constitution, to restore legal abortion until viability, which is generally about 24 weeks. If abortion rights groups can qualify that for the November ballot, it could have a dramatic impact on turnout. In the meantime, if the Arizona ban does go into effect, it will likely mean even more women coming from out of state to California to get abortions they can’t get in their own state.
For more, KCBS's political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
The race for Mayor of San Francisco is even more crowded, now that Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin has joined the field. Peskin is the only major progressive who’s challenging Mayor London Breed.
There are three moderate candidates trying to unseat Breed, including philanthropist Daniel Lurie, former Mayor Mark Farrell and Supervisor Asha Safai, though Safai has been trying to move to the left in this campaign.
We’ve had Lurie and Farrell and Mayor Breed on this program, and today we are joined by the newest person in the race, Supervisor Aaron Peskin.
A somber day for Bay Area sports fans. The Oakland A's announced they will be moving to a minor-league stadium in West Sacramento for the rest of their seasons in California before heading to Las Vegas in 2028.
As you know, Oakland's sports teams have dissipated at a rapid rate in the past five years. The Raiders, Warriors, and now the A's all made the decision to leave what was once considered one of America's greatest sports cities. But, despite all the turbulence, many dedicated Oakland sports fans have showed their relentless support for the city.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Jim Zelinski, Co-founder of Save Oakland Sports, which is a grassroots fan group founded in 2012.
You’ve probably heard about all the Automatic License Plate Reader cameras being installed around the Bay Area, 400 new ones in San Francisco, almost 400 in Oakland and on state highways in the East Bay, dozens more in cities from Alameda to Palo Alto.
These are not video surveillance cameras, they are cameras that capture license plate and vehicle data, to help police agencies track down stolen cars and cars involved in crimes. Neighborhood associations are also embracing them, installing them on their own, but some people and organizations have raised concerns, from worries about privacy to the fear of creating a surveillance state, to concerns about racial profiling and the misuse of the data.
For more on this KCBS Radio's Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Holly Beilin with Flock Safety, a private company based in Atlanta that’s become the leader in this industry since it was founded just seven years ago. It is providing most of the cameras for this new surveillance network across the Bay Area, it has the contracts with San Francisco, the state of California and many neighborhood groups, including the one in my own neighborhood in Oakland.
California is almost finished counting ballots, and there’s one race in the Bay Area that remains too close to call.
The almost-final tally around the state contains some surprises, especially when it comes to the presidential race.
KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart delve into the details of the state's tightest races in today's edition of The State of California.
Hollywood is continuing its conversation with OpenAI to incorporate artificial intelligence into the entertainment industry. The talks include letting the industry experiment with Sora, which creates high-quality videos by simply typing in a few sentences. The entertainment industry may also be looking at ways to reduce costs by using AI.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke to Wendy Lee, staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. She wrote the article on AI companies courting Hollywood.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced his running mate at a rally in Oakland today. She is an unconventional choice, but not a surprising one, since Kennedy tipped his hand yesterday on this very program.
His vice presidential selection is Nicole Shanahan, a 38-year-old lawyer and tech entrepreneur from Oakland. She went to St. Mary’s High School, then the University of Puget Sound, then got her law degree at Santa Clara. She made a lot of money founding a startup that used artificial intelligence to help manage patents, and married Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
They had a daughter but Brin divorced Shanahan after just a few years. She leads a private foundation and has funded a lot of work at Stanford and the Buck Institute. So she has deep ties to Silicon Valley and philanthropy, access to many millions of dollars, and is the mother of a young girl on the autism spectrum.
But she has no experience in politics or government and would be the youngest vice president in history, not to mention the first who is half Chinese. It was pretty clear today though that she’s quite simpatico with Kennedy on many issues, most notably skepticism about vaccines and childhood disease, Patti and Bret.
For more on this, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – the 70-year-old son of the late Senator and U.S. Attorney General Bobby Kennedy, as well as the nephew of assassinated president John F. Kennedy – is running for office for the first time.
He is a longtime Democrat, but abandoned a primary challenge to Pres. Joe Biden to run as a third party candidate instead.
On Tuesday in Oakland, he will name his running mate, widely believed to be Nicole Shanahan, a 38-year-old lawyer and tech entrepreneur from Oakland who was briefly married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
To learn more, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with the presidential candidate himself on Monday's "The State of California."
California is poised to have a female majority in the State Senate for the first time ever. Women continue to make great strides at the local level, but not so much at the federal level. While women will likely be the majority in the State Senate post-election – with most of them women of color – it’s a bittersweet victory for female candidates. In the same election, California will lose its last woman in the U.S. Senate, after almost 30 years of being represented by two women in the Senate.
For more, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Doug Sovern and Bret Burkhart spoke with Susannah Delano, Executive Director of Close The Gap California.
Illegal immigration, the crisis at the border and what to do about it remains one of the most critical issues for voters this election year. A record-breaking number of both documented and undocumented migrants have been seeking entry into the U.S., many through the asylum process, as they flee violence, persecution or economic distress in their home countries.
Congress has been unable to pass any reform to the system, with former president Donald Trump convincing Republicans to scuttle a bipartisan deal that lawmakers negotiated with Pres. Biden.
For more on this and what it could mean for immigration policy, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with David Leopold, legal counsel for the immigration advocacy organization America’s Voice, and leader of the Immigration Group at the national law firm UB Greensfelder.
The campaigns to recall the mayor of Oakland and the district attorney of Alameda County continue to gain momentum, and seem likely to make it on the November ballot. But the DA is crying foul, saying the people trying to recall her are cheating.
KCBS Radio's political reporter Doug Sovern and news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart take a closer look in today's edition of The State of California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom was supposed to deliver his State of the State address on Monday, but he postponed it while he waits to see whether his ballot measure on mental health services passes.
Proposition 1 continues to lead by the narrowest of margins, less than two-tenths of one percent, with about a quarter million votes still to count.
For more on this, KCBS Radio Political Reporter Doug Sovern, along with news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising, spoke with Mark Baldassare, the Survey Director at the Public Policy Institute of California, based in San Francisco, where he was the president and CEO for many years.
Kids of years gone by had fire, earthquake, tornado and hurricane drills at school, but probably not active shooter drills. Well, it’s a sad reality that they’ve become routine for today’s schoolchildren, who are drilled on a regular basis, what to do if a “bad person”
comes on campus. But are they being done the right way? And are they even
effective? Or can they do more harm than good?
At least one member of the state legislature is asking those very questions. State Assembly-member Chris Ward, a Democrat from San Diego who represents the 78th District, has just introduced legislation, the Safe and Prepared Schools Act, to address this critical and somewhat controversial subject.
Assembly-member Ward spoke with KCBS Political Reporter, Doug Sovern.
Governor Gavin Newsom postponed his annual State of the State address today, awaiting the final outcomes of the Prop 1 ballot measure that is pivotal to his strategy to address the growing mental health crisis, homelessness and the housing shortages plaguing California.
Proposition 1 failed to gain strong lead, as it was only narrowly ahead in the last ballot count, and the opposition has already conceded, so we want to know how close will it be.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Christopher Cadelago, the California Bureau Chief for POLITICO
Independent journalism outlets continue to disappear, with more and more layoffs, and consolidation in the media industry. And it’s not just a print problem…major news websites are going under too, and radio and TV audiences and ad revenue have shrunk dramatically. Studies suggest the disappearance of so many media outlets is contributing to political polarization in the country, and to the rise of corruption in government.
For more, KCBS Political reporter Doug Sovern, along with Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, spoke with State Senator Steve Glazer of Orinda, who represents much of Contra Costa County.
One of the leading challengers to San Francisco Mayor London Breed is doubling down on his tough talk on crime. And sparks continue to fly between the rival campaigns as this race heats up, even though it’s eight months before voters go to the polls.
Former Mayor Mark Farrell has clearly found his lane and is going to stay in it, because he launched his campaign by talking about public safety and quality of life. Today he unveiled a new set of proposals that move him even more to the right, in a City that seems increasingly receptive to a more conservative approach to crime and homelessness. Farrell, who spent two terms on the Board of Supervisors before he was appointed mayor by the board after the death of Mayor Ed Lee, already said he would fire police chief Bill Scott. Today he announced a plan to beef up the police department, permanently ban street vendors, and shut down parks at sunset to try to prevent drug sales and use in them at night.
He is going all in on the crime plank of his platform, as he stakes his claim to the more moderate voters who are fed up with the conditions on the street in some parts of San Francisco.
For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern discussed with KCBS Radio Anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
Oftentimes, people go to a national park to clear their minds and get some fresh air, but a new study reveals that nearly all of the 399 key national park sites are experiencing high levels of human-caused ozone pollution.
Four parks right here in California take the top spots with the worst air in the nation. Joshua Tree, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National parks, and Mojave National Preserve experience poor air quality regularly. That exposure poses a great risk to visitors, employees, as well as plants and animals.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Natalie Levine, National Parks Conservation Association’s Interim Campaigns Director of the Clean Air Program, which is the non-profit behind the report.
On the heels of last night’s State of the Union, the presidential race is ramping up quickly toward the fall.
KCBS Radio reporter Mike DeWald sat down with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to look at the campaign ahead.
As we saw on Election Day in San Francisco, there is tremendous public appetite
for measures to tackle public safety challenges in the Bay Area and California,
from drug abuse on the streets to fentanyl in our communities to retail theft and
other brazen property crime that’s been plaguing the region over the last couple
of years.
To that end, State Senator and president pro tem Mike McGuire has unveiled a package of bills to address these crises, at the state level. He’s calling it “Working Together For a Safer California.”
And for more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Mike McGuire, the president pro tem of the State Senate, he represents Senate District Two, which runs from Marin County all the way up to the Oregon border.
Today is the day after Super Tuesday, and while California is still counting millions of votes, it’s clear who the finalists are in the race for the U.S. Senate: Democrat Adam Schiff, a Congressman from Los Angeles, versus Republican Steve Garvey, a famous retired Los Angeles Dodger and San Diego Padre.
The two will face off in November for the Senate seat vacated by the death of longtime California Senator Dianne Feinstein.
For more on his big win and the race ahead, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke to Congressman Adam Shiff in today's edition of the State of California.
It is Super Tuesday around the country and Primary Day here in California, with voters deciding key ballot questions and choosing candidates in key races. There’s not much drama at the top of the ticket, where we know President Joe Biden will win the state’s Democratic primary and former President Donald Trump will take the Republican one, giving them both the biggest trove of delegates of any state.
But there’s plenty of other action to watch this afternoon and tonight, from the tight 4-way race to succeed Dianne Feinstein in the U-S Senate to closely contested Congressional campaigns to fierce battles for seats in the state Senate and Assembly, as well as a host of local ballot measures and one big one at the state level.
KCBS Raido's Megan Goldsby and KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern discussed what to look out for on this Super Tuesday.
It is Election Eve in California, as millions of voters go to the polls tomorrow, or have already cast their ballots, in the state’s primary. There is a hotly contested U.S. Senate campaign, as well as some key races for swing district Congressional seats.
For more on tomorrow’s primary, part of Super Tuesday across the country, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising were joined by KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern and Mike Madrid, longtime California Republican strategist based in Sacramento. Madrid was among those who founded the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, and is a leader of the political communications firm Grassroots Lab.
This month, Walgreens and CVS Pharmacies will begin selling the abortion pill mifepristone in select states, including California.
Both chains plan to gradually expand to states where abortion is legal, stating they want to prioritize quality, safety, and privacy before expanding.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Daniel Grossman, professor of OB/GYN and Director of Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at UCSF.
As the partisan debate rages on over what kids should be learning at school, a new report dives into how parents really feel about controversial topics - and the results are both predictable and surprising.
For more on this, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with one of the co-authors of the study, Dr. Morgan Polikoff, associate professor of education at USC who specializes in research on K-12 education.
One of the most visited areas of San Francisco during the holiday season is Union Square.
People flock to that part of the city to complete their Christmas shopping, gather with friends to ice skate, and during the rest of the year, they go there to dine at the Cheesecake Factory and enjoy the view from the top of Macy's.
But all that could change as the New York-based company announced today 150 stores will close across the nation as early as next year, and the iconic Union Square location is on the chopping block.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchor Bret Burkhart spoke with Chris Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics in today's edition of The State of California.
Hard to believe perhaps, but the people who tried to recall Governor Newsom three years ago are going to try again.
Governor Newsom easily defeated the recall in 2021, and then was re-elected by a wide margin just a year later, but now, with his approval ratings falling, the organization Rescue California is launching a new campaign to put another recall on the ballot.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's political reporter Doug Sovern and news anchor Bret Burkhart spoke with David McCuan, Political Science professor at Sonoma State University.
Buying a home for the first time is not like how it was in days gone by. Whether it's the shortage of homes in the state or corporations who purchase properties to convert into rentals, Californians are having a hard time creating their forever home.
In efforts to minimize this issue, a San Jose lawmaker is pushing for a bill to prevent companies from owning more than one thousand single family homes for the purpose of renting them out in California.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke to Assembymember Alex Lee.
California voters are already casting their ballots, including on a major
statewide measure on mental health, Proposition 1.
That is the bond measure put forth by Governor Newsom and placed
on the ballot by the state legislature. It would authorize more than six billion
dollars in bonds to build more treatment facilities for people with mental health
and substance abuse issue, and it would also shift money from the counties to
the state for the same purpose. It is a centerpiece of the Governor’s plan to
address homelessness more aggressively, to help solve the shortage of beds and
treatment slots for people on the streets with substance abuse disorders and
mental illness.
Today, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern and Patti Reising were joined on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by Clare Cortright. She is the policy director at Cal Voices,
a nonprofit based in Sacramento that is a chapter of the national Mental Health
Association, which addresses mental illness.
The race for Mayor of San Francisco is getting even more crowded, with a new hat in the ring today. That’s because former Mayor Mark Farrell announced that he is running against Mayor London Breed, seeking to win back the job he held for a few months after the death of Mayor Ed Lee.
Mark Farrell served as Mayor for five months back in 2018, after almost two full terms on the Board of Supervisors. He did not run to finish the rest of Lee’s term as Mayor in the special election that year, which was won by Breed, who then won a full term in 2019.
But now Farrell is going to run, which means there are four moderate Democrats in this year’s race for Mayor. For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart, Patti Reising, and Doug Sovern spoke with former Mayor Mark Farrell.
Drivers across the state will need to keep a watchful eye on where they park this year as officials enforce a new law that makes it illegal for people to park within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
This is called daylighting, and data shows it reduces crashes by up to 30 percent. The law went into effect at the start of the year, and over the next 12 months, drivers will receive a warning if they don't follow the rule.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Ricardo Olea, City Traffic Engineer for San Francisco MTA.
In light of recent criticism coming out of state about California’s Downtown areas, Assembly member Matt Haney has taken action, forming a special committee composed of lawmakers, aimed at revitalizing these vital areas.
With concerns ranging from homelessness and vacant storefronts, to the impact of remote work and a lack of housing supply, Haney's initiative seeks to tackle these challenges head-on by exploring strategies such as incentivizing in-person work, converting vacant office spaces into housing, and fostering vibrant cultural scenes.
The committee aims to breathe new life into downtown areas, and for a closer look, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart were joined on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by Assembly member Matt Haney.
Here comes the cavalry, Governor Newsom is sending dozens of Highway Patrol officers to Oakland. It’s a “law enforcement surge,” requested by embattled Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao.
This is not the first time the CHP has come riding to Oakland’s rescue, the governor has sent in extra officers before, but never at this scale. Newsom says 120 CHP will come to assist the Oakland Police department, armed with Automatic License Plate reader cameras, canine units and air support in the form of helicopters. They will try to deter and respond to car break-ins, auto theft, retail crime, violent crime and basically anything they can prevent or spot in progress.
For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter.
A new poll shows one candidate emerging as the clear frontrunner in the California Senate race. That campaign is really heating up, just a few days before voters can start casting early ballots.
A new survey is out today from a collaboration among USC, Cal State Long Beach and Cal Poly Pomona. This poll shows Congressman Adam Schiff leading in the campaign for what was Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat, with 25%.
Then Congresswoman Katie Porter and retired baseball star Steve Garvey are tied for second with 15% each, followed by Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee at 7%, and a collection of other candidates combining for 6%.
Undecided is actually leading this race, because 29% don’t know yet which candidate they’ll vote for, so there’s plenty of time for these numbers to shift quite a bit before the March 5 primary.
Abortion rights were a huge driver for the Democrats’ success in elections in 2022 and ’23, ever since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade and states began enacting more restrictions and even outright bans on abortion.
But the issue has not been prominent in the Republican presidential primary, mainly because all of the major GOP candidates oppose abortion rights and the party doesn’t want to remind women, especially, of where they stand. So Vice President Harris is crisscrossing the country to bring it back into the spotlight, starting in the Midwest and over the last few days, bringing her message to Sacramento and San Jose.
For more on this, KCBS's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising, and Bret Burkhart spoke with Dr. Anna Sampaio, Professor of Ethnic Studies and Political Science at Santa Clara University, where she specializes in race and gender politics.
Cities and counties across the Bay Area and California did an unusually in-depth census early this morning of people experiencing homelessness.
KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern was one of the hundreds and hundreds of volunteers who took part in the point-in-time count in Oakland today.
Today, he spoke with KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising about it.
The fallout continues from last night’s memorable debate in the race to be California’s next U.S. Senator. The three Democrats are all touting their success on stage, while the reviews for the lone Republican in the showdown have been less than charitable.
It seems to have been a big swing and a miss for Steve Garvey, to borrow one of Adam Schiff’s quips from last night, as the baseball legend showed that he is an amiable ex-ballplayer but maybe not quite ready for prime time politics.
Garvey was frequently out of his element, a bit befuddled, unable to stake out policy positions and unwilling to answer direct questions, leaving one to wonder if this will set back his plan to consolidate the Republican voters and seize one of the spots in the top two primary.
Meanwhile, Katie Porter was on the attack, really against all three of her top opponents, Barbara Lee staked her claim to the progressive mantle, and front-running Adam Schiff did nothing to damage his status, in fact he may have helped cement it with a smart, calm, unflappable and dare I say it, rather Senatorial performance, Bret and Patti…
PG&E just raised its rates by a whopping 13 percent, but brace yourself for another big jump in your electric bill. The state is poised to add an extra charge to your bill starting this summer, based not on how much electricity you use, but on how much income you earn.
This is the so-called fixed utility fee, also known as a fixed utility tax, and it’s a radical change in how Californians pay for power, even though we already pay the highest rates in the country. Under this new system, every household will be levied a fixed-rate fee based on your income level, which is designed to pay for more electricity infrastructure as the state moves toward solar power and electric cars and away from fossil fuels. On top of that, you will also pay for how much energy you use, but advocates say this new framework will mean lower monthly bills for those who can’t afford steady rate increases. On the flip side, people who make more money will start paying a lot more for their electricity, no matter which provider you use. Now, a wide-ranging coalition of groups is calling on the legislature and Governor Newsom to scrap this new plan and repeal the fee.
In today's edition of the State of California, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke to Loretta Lynch, former longtime president of the California Public Utilities Commission. She is among those opposing the new fee.
Governor Newsom is poised to release his plan to deal with California’s record budget deficit. The governor will announce his initial budget blueprint tomorrow morning in Sacramento. And the number one question will be just how big is that deficit?
The legislative analyst’s office pegged it at $68 billion dollars just last month, which would indeed be a record. And you are forgiven if you feel some budget whiplash, considering that less than two years ago we were talking about a record budget surplus of almost one hundred billion dollars.
But the pandemic and slumping economy in 2022 and first part of 2023 took their toll, and now California faces a huge shortfall instead. The governor and his team insist it’s not as bad as the LAO makes it out to be, and the actual deficit will be significantly less than 68 billion, but we will find out tomorrow morning at 10:30 what the governor projects it to be.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
As Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao comes up on her first year in office, a group of people today officially announced plans to launch a recall effort against her.
Organizers and volunteers gathered this week in Oakland's Montclair neighborhood, which the Mayor used to represent as a council member, pushing to remove her from office.
But before they can fully submit the notice of intention, they need 250 signatures which organizers say they have more than enough.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio' Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier.
The 2024 campaign season is underway, and the race for mayor of San Francisco is heating up. One of the challengers to Mayor London Breed just announced that he’s raised an impressive amount of money in a very short time, as he tries to unseat the incumbent mayor. That candidate is Daniel Lurie, founder of the nonprofit anti-poverty organization Tipping Point and a member of the Haas family, who entered the race last fall and has already racked up more than half a million dollars in campaign contributions, more than either Mayor Breed or the other candidates in the race have reported raising. Lurie has never held political office but he has an impressive record in philanthropy and various civic duties.
KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern and KCBS news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Daniel Lurie in today's edition of The State of California.
A long-standing trend that California has seen for decades is changing.
The state has always experienced the coming and going of Californian's, but new data shows that for the last several years more college graduates and high-earning professionals are moving out of the Golden state.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart spoke with Joel Kotkin, Presidential Fellow at Chapman University.
Food insecurity is on the rise in California.
A COVID-era policy previously allowed the state to issue Emergency Allotments, or EAs for families to receive maximum benefits through the CalFresh program.
But earlier this year, Emergency Allotments ended, and it's had a big impact on the number of hungry households and food banks that are struggling to keep up with demand.
For more, KCBS Radio's Megan Goldsby spoke with Becky Silva, director of government relations for California Association of Food Banks.
All this week, and much of last, we’ve been focusing on the unexpected race for
Congress in California’s 16th Congressional District, which covers much of the
Peninsula and Silicon Valley.
Anna Eshoo has been representing it for three decades but announced she will retire after her term expires a year from now. That set off a mad dash for candidates to file and get in the race, and about a dozen people have, including several very well-known, established local lawmakers.
KCBS Radio's Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with candidate Julie Lythcott-Haims. She is a member of the Palo Alto City Council, a New York Times bestselling
author, whose books include “How To Raise An Adult,” and the former Dean of
Freshmen at Stanford University. She is a graduate of Stanford University and
Harvard Law School and also has an MFA from California College of the Arts.
Today is the deadline to enter the race for Congress to succeed retiring Representative Anna Eshoo, and it’s a crowded field. There are about a dozen people running to represent parts of the Peninsula and Silicon Valley in the 16th District in Congress in a really compressed campaign; they had to decide to run within the last two weeks, and there are just twelve weeks until the primary in March when the top two will survive and move on to November. We’ve already interviewed three of these new candidates on this program, and today and tomorrow we will talk with two more.
In today's edition of The State of California, KCBS Radio news anchor Megan Goldsby and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Peter Dixon of Portola Valley, a 40-year-old Marine Corps veteran and Silicon Valley entrepreneur who served in the State Department under Hillary Clinton and is one of the candidates for Rep. Eshoo's seat.
Last week, we heard from Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, one of the dozen or so candidates who’s running to represent that portion of Silicon Valley and the Peninsula in the House, and the week before we spoke with another leading candidate, former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.
Now that the filing deadline is past, the field is set, and today, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern and Patti Reising spoke with another major candidate in the field, State
Assemblymember Evan Low of Campbell, a 40-year-old Democrat who has been
in the Assembly for nine years and before that was the Mayor of Campbell.
Now that Kevin McCarthy is not running for Congress again in the Central Valley, there is a mad scramble to succeed him. And the Secretary of State has extended the deadline for candidates to file.
This affects the race for Anna Eshoo’s seat as well, which we’ve been focusing on a lot here because so many people are tossing their hats in the ring in a very compressed amount of time.
Last Friday was the deadline to file to be a candidate for office in California, to be on the ballot for the March primary. But the law allows for an extension in races where there is no incumbent seeking re-election. So Secretary of State Shirley Weber has invoked that provision and granted five extra days to file, moving the deadline to December 13th for anyone who wants to run for Congress or the state legislature in one of those districts.
This actually applies in seven different Congressional districts in California, including those represented right now by Barbara Lee in Oakland, Anna Eshoo in Silicon Valley, former Speaker McCarthy’s district around Bakersfield and Fresno, as well as Adam Schiff’s district in Los Angeles.
They are all not seeking re-election. The extension also covers quite a few State Senate and Assembly districts.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's political reporter Doug Sovern discussed with KCBS Anchor, Patti Reising
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is resigning from Congress and will leave at the end of this year. He announced it in the Wall Street Journal today, a highly anticipated decision that comes just two months after his unprecedented ouster from the speakership.
KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart discuss his decision in today's edition of The State of California.
We are exactly three months from the California primary in March. Golden State voters will be choosing candidates for president, U-S Senator and some hotly contested Congressional seats, along with local races.
Voting will begin February 6th, 2024, one day later than normal because it’s a leap year. This means you can start casting ballots just two months from now. December 8th, 2023 is the deadline to file to run, which is why we are seeing a flurry of new candidacies this week.
Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield has to decide by December 8th if he’s going to seek another term, as a backbencher, or call it a career and retire from Congress. And we now, have no fewer than 10 people declaring to succeed Anna Eshoo in the House, after she announced recently that she will not seek re-election in 2024.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
There have been constant demonstrations outside the offices of local members of Congress, demanding that they join the call for a ceasefire. The Oakland City Council approved a resolution to that effect at a raucous and contentious meeting last week, and now the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is poised to take up something similar.
For more on all this, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern spoke with Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations.
It’s the 6th day of the temporary truce in Gaza, where Hamas is releasing more hostages and Israel is allowing more humanitarian aid to reach
Palestinians
As this ceasefire continues, California’s Republican National Committeeman, Shawn Steel, is in Israel, part of a small group of Republican committee members who are on a weeklong mission to Israel to assess the situation there.
They are touring the country, meeting with government and military leaders and others.
For more, KCBS Radio's Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Shawn Steel while he was in Jerusalem.
In San Francisco for the APEC conference, President Biden is going on the offensive against former President Trump, lashing out at him over immigration. Meanwhile, things have gotten ugly in Congress, where former Speaker Kevin McCarthy stands accused of assaulting one of the men who helped take away his gavel.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a deteriorating sense of civility in American life right now, with a Senate hearing almost turning into a brawling fistfight yesterday, a second congressional hearing turning nasty, and anger and confrontation on college campuses over the war between Israel and Hamas. Tensions are running high in a society that seems more polarized than ever. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with political sociologist Mindy Romero, founder and director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at USC’s Price School of Public Policy. She’s also the president of the board of California Common Cause.
President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Chinese President Xi Jinping have arrived in San Francisco this afternoon for this week’s APEC meetings, a high profile and high stakes turn in the global spotlight.
The international summit isn’t just a chance to strengthen ties and make economic deals, it could also help Biden and Harris reinvigorate their run for re-election.
To continue this discussion, KCBS Political Reporter poke with KCBS Radio Anchor's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
It’s finally here, after months of preparation, San Francisco is hosting APEC, the largest gathering of world leaders here since the creation of the United Nations in 1945.
For more on APEC, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, KCBS's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern spoke with California’s Lt. Governor, Eleni Kounalakis, who is also the former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, was instrumental in getting San Francisco chosen as the host city, and led the fundraising committee to help defray some of the costs of staging this global gathering.
We are on the cusp of what could be the first national and California election
affected by AI, artificial intelligence, with the prospect of fake video, audio,
photographs and more influencing what voters believe and how they vote. In
anticipation of that, a new organization has formed in California called
CITED—which stands for the California Institute for Technology and Democracy.
It’s a nonpartisan, independent group that will try to prevent and fight back
against the dangers AI could pose to democracy.
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern and Patti Reising spoke with Jonathan Mehta Stein, Executive Director of California Common Cause and one of the co-
founders of the new California Institute for Technology and Democracy, or CITED.
The latest polls show a tightening race for the US. Senate seat previously held by Dianne Feinstein, with voters still not really focused on the campaign, and the field continues to grow. Appointed interim Senator Laphonza Butler has decided not to run for a full term, but a television news anchor from Los Angeles is now in the race. The polling shows Southern California Representatives Adam Schiff and Katie Porter still battling it out for first place, with Republican newcomer Steve Garvey, the former Los Angeles Dodger, jumping up into third place, and Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee behind him. The newest contender is winning just one percent right now, but she’s only been in the race for a few weeks.
That new Democratic candidate is Christina Pascucci, a 38-year-old journalist who’s been a reporter and anchor on LA TV for more than a decade. KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Christina Pascucci about her career, her campaign, and why she has decided to run for Senate as a political newcomer.
The uproar continues in the Oakland Unified School District after the teachers union there approves a controversial resolution on the Israel-Hamas War, that has some teachers ready to quit and Jewish families saying they will pull their kids out of school.
This has really gotten ugly over the last couple of weeks. It all started when the executive leadership of the Oakland Education Association issued a statement that said the union stands with Palestine, expressing unequivocal support for the Palestinians and condemning what it called the “genocidal and apartheid state of Israel.” It made no mention at all of the genocidal terrorist group Hamas or its slaughter of Israeli civilians. Teachers howled in protest, saying the union issued this without asking its members.
Twice, the union issued new statements, attempting to improve its language but still blaming Israel entirely for the conflict and glossing over the very complicated history of the region.
Finally the union decided not that its mistake was getting involved in complex foreign policy in the first place, but failing to submit the language to its members. So yesterday it had a closed, Zoom-only meeting to approve a NEW resolution, which the union representatives from each school site did, about a hundred teachers out of more than 3000 who work in the district, despite a petition from more than almost 1500 OUSD parents opposing it, and impassioned opposition from many teachers, many of them Jewish. And the fallout from this move is only just beginning.
For more on this KCBS Radio's Patti Reising spoke to KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern.
The latest New York Times/Siena College survey of six key battleground states finds President Biden hemorrhaging support in states he carried in 2020 and needs to win again to earn a second term, with young voters and voters of color in particular souring on Biden and throwing their support to Trump.
The poll finds Trump opening a double-digit lead in Nevada and ahead by at least five points in Arizona, Michigan and Georgia. Voters across the political spectrum think Joe Biden is too old to continue as president, even though he’s just three and a half years older than Donald Trump.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern and Patti Reising spoke with political scientist Anna Sampaio, professor of Ethnic Studies at Santa Clara University, where she specializes in Latino politics and race and gender politics.
More Americans are getting out of Gaza as the war intensifies between Israel and Hamas. With Israel showing no sign of relenting in its retaliation against Hamas, and growing calls for a ceasefire in the U.S., that war is starting to have a real impact on domestic American politics. President Biden is resolute in his support for Israel, as is his likely Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, and most other major GOP candidates, but that stance could hurt Biden as he runs for a second term. To explore this a bit more, KCBS' political reporter and host Doug Sovern and news anchor Patti Reising spoke with David McCuan, political science professor at Sonoma State University.
At the Republican Jewish Coalition's gathering in Las Vegas this past weekend, Former Vice President Mike Pence officially dropped out of the Republican primary race.
Other candidates in attendance, Nikki Haley and Former President Trump have emerged as the only two truly viable candidates, and only ones polling well.
Trump remains the highest polling candidate by a large margin, and the likely nominee for the party.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern spoke with Bob Gardener, who worked on many high profile Republican campaigns and CEO of the Advocacy Group.
America's college campuses are roiled by debate and controversy over the war between Israel and Hamas, with sometimes violent clashes between student groups. There have been serious incidents at both Stanford and UC Berkeley, as well as at major universities across the country.
But at Berkeley, at least, despite ongoing student walkouts and fierce arguments on Sproul Plaza, two well-known professors on opposing sides of the debate issued a joint statement appealing for peace and civil discourse. We’ve had one of them, Jewish professor of Israel studies Ron Hassner, on air previously to talk specifically about what was going on in the war.
KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern were joined by the other professor, Dr. Hatem Bazian, continuing lecturer in Asian American studies in the department of comparative ethnic studies at Cal and the founder and director of the Islamophobia Research and Documentation Project there, in today's edition of The State of California.
Governor Gavin Newsom is in China for a weeklong trip to build a partnership between two of the world's largest economies, with a special emphasis on taking climate action.
Governor Newsom spent Tuesday visiting a region known as China's Greater Bay Area. Newsom visited the world's first zero-emission city bus fleet and signed a new climate partnership with the Guangdong Province.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Elex Michaelson, anchor for FOX 11 News in Los Angeles and host of The Issue Is, a statewide political show which airs on KTVU. He is actually with the governor, chronicling his China trip via X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ohio Republican Jim Jordan fell far short of the necessary votes to become Speaker of the House today, but he’s not giving up just yet. The outcome of this election to lead the House could reverberate throughout California politics and making a huge difference in next year’s Congressional races here.
KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern discusses this battle to succeed Californian Kevin McCarthy with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart in today's edition of The State of California.
Governor Newsom has signed into law a bill to expedite construction of housing by religious institutions, and nonprofit colleges. It’s Senate Bill 4, also known as the YIGBY law, which stands for “Yes In God’s Backyard,” and it will streamline the permit process for churches, synagogues, mosques, any faith-based organization that is willing to build affordable housing on its property, along with nonprofit schools of higher education. Experts say it could unlock tens of thousands of acres of land for development, much of it right here in the central Bay Area. For more, Doug Sovern, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Muhammad Alameldin, Policy Associate at UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation, and the co-author of a recent report on this very legislation.
Ask almost any Californian and they’ll tell you the most critical issue facing the
state is the terrible homelessness plaguing cities and neighborhoods, with more
and more people suffering from poverty, mental illness and substance abuse, and
not enough resources to help them. To try to break that cycle, the legislature and
Governor Newsom have enacted a series of measures to overhaul California’s
behavioral health system, including launching a pilot program of the governor’s
“Care Court” plan. Some key pieces of legislation were written by State Senator
Susan Talamantes Eggman of Stockton, who is a former Army medic and a
licensed clinical social worker who served previously in the state Assembly, and
is chair of the Senate Health Committee.
More than two thousand people have died in the war between Israel and Hamas, and the White House confirms at least 22 Americans are among the dead
Israel continues to pound the Gaza Strip in retaliation for Saturday’s surprise attack by Hamas, while the Islamic militant group denies its soldiers committed atrocities during that invasion
It’s a complex situation in a complicated region, with a sad history of centuries of conflict, and to help us all understand it a bit better, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, spoke with Ron Hassner, the Chancellor's Professor of Political Science and Helen Diller Family Chair in Israel Studies at UC Berkeley, who specializes in teaching international conflict and religion.
There is yet another candidate jumping into the race for U.S. Senate in California. The field is already crowded with high profile Democrats and a few Republicans, but now a Republican with a very well known name is joining the fray.
That new Republican candidate is Steve Garvey, a Southern California baseball legend who was a star first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1970s and 80s, and also played for the San Diego Padres. He was a 10-time All-Star, an MVP, a World Series champion and really the iron man at the heart of those great Dodger teams. But this is his first foray into politics, at age 74, and you have to wonder how many of today’s voters even remember his great baseball career.
For more on the campaign, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkart and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with the candidate himself in today's edition of The State of California.
Dozens of cities across California from San Diego, to San Francisco, to Sacramento are struggling to respond to antisemitic comments by remote callers derailing meetings. Concord and San Ramon will begin halting remote public comments because of the hateful remarks. According to the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism, these are coordinated attacks. For more on what can be done to stop the infiltration of hate speech on public forums, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Marc Levine, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League.
San Francisco said its official goodbye to Dianne Feinstein today, with an hour-long tribute to the late Senator and Mayor. The Vice President and dozens of members of Congress attended the memorial service on the steps of San Francisco City Hall
For almost an hour, the speakers shared memories of the late Senator Feinstein, telling personal stories and paying tribute to her dogged determination, her steady leadership and her attention to detail as a legislator for more than three decades.
As heard live here on KCBS, the assembled friends, family and dignitaries heard from Mayor London Breed, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Emerit Nancy Pelosi and most poignantly, Feinstein's 31-year-old granddaughter, Eileen Mariano.
There were thirty U-S Senators on hand for the service along with at least a dozen members of the House, Governor Newsom, former governor Jerry Brown and three of Dianne Feinstein's successors as Mayor...Art Agnos, Frank Jordan and Willie Brown.
The service was punctuated throughout by the roar of the Blue Angels, practicing overhead for Fleet Week, buzzing City Hall not for an official flyover, but simply to get their practice runs in before this weekend's air show.
For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
The campaign to recall first-year Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price has begun gathering petition signatures. Price has been the target of irate citizens who say her progressive approach to crime is making matters worse.
But after avoiding the media in the early months of her tenure, Price is starting to push back against her critics and defend her record.
She spoke to KCBS Radio's political reporter Doug Sovern to talk about the way she prosecutes cases, and the campaign to kick her out of office.
Congressman Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield is no longer the Speaker of the House, he was voted out of the job this afternoon by his fellow Republicans. The House of Representatives is at a standstill now, unable to conduct any business, after McCarthy became the first Speaker in history to be removed from the office.
McCarthy’s Speakership lasted all of nine months, an outcome that was foreseeable from the very outset of his tenure. It took 15 ballots for him to win the job after making unprecedented concessions to the Freedom Caucus, the hard right Trump-supporting wing of his party. And today that deal came back to bite him, as Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz invoked one of those concessions, the right to call a vote to vacate the chair, and McCarthy lost that vote 216-210. So he is no longer Speaker, the Republicans will need to choose a new leader, which could take them a couple of days, and until then, the House is in limbo.
For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern discussed with KCBS's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
As we’ve been reporting, California is about to have a new US Senator, even as the state continues to mourn the late Dianne Feinstein, who died Friday at age 90.
Governor Newsom made a surprise pick to finish Feinstein’s term in the Senate, appointing longtime labor leader and campaign strategist Laphonza Butler to the seat.
Laphonza Butler was a powerful union leader for years in California before joining the political consulting firm that has run campaigns for Governor Newsom, Kamala Harris and many of the state’s most elite Democrats. Then she left to work at Airbnb before becoming the head of Emily’s List, the organization based in Washington DC that recruits women for office and focuses on electing women who support abortion rights. She moved to Maryland two years ago to take that job, but still owns her home in Southern California and will re-establish residency in California so she can represent the state in the Senate. She could be sworn in as soon as tomorrow, when the Senate returns to session. She will be the only Black woman in the Senate, just the third in its history, the first openly gay Senator from California and the first openly LGBTQ Black person in the history of the Congress, both Senate and House.
For more, Doug Sovern, Patti Reising and Brett Burkhart spoke with Aimee Allison of Oakland, founder and president of She The People, an organization somewhat like Emily’s List in that it works to elevate women of color to political power.
The governor vetoed AB957, a bill that passed both houses of the
state legislature easily. It would have required California judges ruling on child
custody and visitation cases to take into consideration whether a parent affirms
the child’s gender identity. But he signed several other bills to protect LGBTQ
rights, and he is trumpeting his signature on those new laws. For more, we are joined Doug Sovern, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Tony Hoang, executive director of Equality California, the largest statewide LGBTQ+ rights organization in America.
Crime remains a central focus in the City of Oakland. A recent string of robberies, assaults, and burglaries has left many worried about the safety of neighborhoods around the city. But the solution to rising crime isn't as clear, a stretched and understaffed Oakland Police Department as well as a debate over the role of police is driving the conversation.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Mike DeWald spoke with Former Oakland Police Chief Leronne Armstrong.
It’s been a big week for Governor Newsom in New York, where he’s made a series of big announcements during the Climate Week summit. And those come after the governor announced that California is suing the big oil companies for contributing to the climate crisis
Governor Newsom also said he will sign a bill by State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco that will require California’s largest corporations to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, as he pushes for more corporate accountability on climate change.
The governor has been focusing on climate and global warming all week at a series of international meetings in New York and at the United Nations, enlisting other states to follow California’s lead on the issue, and putting companies that produce fossil fuels on the defensive.
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Brukhart, and Patti Reising spoke with Laura Deehan, State Director of the organization Environment California.
California Republican Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the House, is proceeding with an impeachment investigation of President Biden.
McCarthy is clearly giving in to pressure from the most conservative members of his House caucus, who threatened to try to strip him of power if he doesn’t go along with their demand for an impeachment proceeding against President Biden.
For more, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern spoke with Bob Shrum, longtime Democratic political consultant for several presidential campaigns, now a professor of political science and Director of the Center for the Political Future at USC.
A State Senator from San Francisco is pushing for a bill to create a state agency, to analyze how AI is developed. One of the key goals of the bill is to make sure AI doesn't harm Californians.
This comes just one week after Governor Newsom signed an executive order on AI that would look at the risks and potential benefits of using the fairly new technology.
For a closer look, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco, who introduced the legislation.
Former President Trump not only continues to lead in the polls in California, he
is widening that lead significantly, running away with the Republican
nomination for president, despite being under unprecedented criminal indictment
in four different jurisdictions.
His followers believe his protestations of innocence and dismiss the cases against him as concocted political persecution. They buy his version of events, because it is coming from him, someone in whom they believe. Meanwhile, maybe we should be paying more attention to the undecided in those surveys, because they’re the voters who are more open to evidence and verified information. This could hold the key to who wins the presidency in 2024.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Adam Berinsky, the Mitsui Professor of Political Science and Director of the MIT Political Experiments Research Lab at MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the author of the new book, “Political Rumors: Why We Accept Misinformation and How to Fight it.”
Cannabis cafés could be coming to California. As the state legislature decides the fate of hundreds of bills before it wraps up this session, it has cleared the way for Amsterdam-like marijuana emporiums.
If you’ve ever visited a cannabis dispensary around here, you know that they just sell various forms of marijuana, no food or drink, they’re set up more like pharmacies than restaurants or cafes. That’s partly because the system morphed from medical marijuana dispensaries into legal, recreational marijuana shops, no prescription needed, but the pharmacy model was already established.
The system isn’t working quite as intended, so now the State Assembly and Senate have voted overwhelmingly to legalize something more ambitious: allowing local cities and counties to permit cannabis shops that can also sell food and drink and even have live entertainment.
For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern, along with Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising, spoke with State Assembly member Matt Haney of San Francisco, the author of this bill, AB374, which is on its way to the governor’s desk.
The race to replace Dianne Feinstein in the Senate seems to be narrowing to a two-way battle. Meanwhile, Governor Newsom is catching some flak for how he would handle appointing a temporary replacement, should Feinstein be unable to finish her term.
That looms as a very real possibility, given Senator Feinstein’s obviously declining health and the persistent questions about her mental acuity.
For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with KCBS Political reporter Doug Sovern.
22 years after the September 11 terrorist attack, is California better prepared to handle major emergencies?
The world has changed dramatically since then, especially when it comes to technology and cyberterrorism.
It’s hard for those of us who lived through it to believe that it’s been 22 years since 9/11, but think about it - there’s a whole generation now for whom that is history, not something they actually experienced. US intelligence services have foiled all sorts of planned attacks since then that the public has never even heard about, and everyone from state and local governments to private companies and school districts have formulated emergency plans to cope with a wide range of threats they hadn’t even considered before September 11, 2001.
For more, Doug Sovern, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Mark Ghilarducci, the former Director of the State of California’s Emergency Services and Homeland Security office, a former FEMA official as well, and now the head of Emergent Global Solutions, a new crisis and emergency management firm.
California officials are pushing a new framework for urban water use that could force some suppliers to make cuts of 20% or more in just a few years.
The proposed regulation is called "Making Conservation a California Way of Life." If adopted, some areas will feel the cuts more than other places in the state. State water suppliers would also have to create a new water-use budget every year starting in 2025 under the proposed rule.
For more, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Heather Cooley, Director of Research at the Pacific Institute based in Oakland.
The latest survey of California voters from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies shows former President Donald Trump running away with the Republican nomination next year, his lead increasing despite, or perhaps because of, the four criminal indictments he is under. The same is true from coast to coast, where he is not only the probable favorite, he’s essentially already the presumptive nominee, which would set up a rematch next year with President Joe Biden.
But there’s a potential legal wrinkle that could take the matter out of the hands of Republican voters. Two prominent conservative constitutional scholars took a close look recently at the 14th Amendment, and came to the conclusion that Donald Trump is no longer eligible to run for president, any more than if he were under 35 years old or not a natural-born American citizen. Now the first lawsuit to bar him from the ballot has been filed, in the state of Colorado, and we can expect similar suits to follow in more states, likely including California.
For more on this, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of The State of California Doug Sovern spoke with constitutional law scholar Professor Rory Little of the University of California College of the Law in San Francisco.
On Friday, California lawmakers rejected a Senate Bill, which aimed to hold social media platforms accountable for promoting harmful content related to eating disorders, self-harm, and drugs. The bill faced heavy opposition from tech companies and was eliminated during a lengthy hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. For more on this, Brett Burkhart and Nikki Me3doro spoke with Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media.
During a critical vote today, a proposed law in California to extend prison terms for people convicted of child sex trafficking has been changed. Under an amended version of the bill, sex trafficking of minors are now on the list of "serious" felonies under the state's penal code. For a closer look, Patti Reising and Brett Burkhart spoke with Ashlie Bryant, Co-Founder and CEO OF 3 Strands Global Foundation and one of the bill's sponsor.
The California Institute of Technology announced some big changes to their admissions requirements. Going forward, calculus, physics and chemistry will no longer be required if students don't have access to those courses.
Caltech is a small university with a 3% admission rate and the hope is that this lowers barriers to students who would have otherwise been discouraged from applying.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Patti Rising spoke with Teresa Watanbe, staff writer for the LA Times covering higher education.
If you listened to The State of California on Monday, you heard about Senate Bill 94, which would let some of California’s most serious convicted killers petition for parole after 20 years behind bars.
We spoke to a former deputy DA and crime victim whose sister was murdered about how bad she thinks this idea is. The bill would allow people convicted of murder with special circumstances before 1990, who were sentenced either to death or life without the possibility of parole, and have served at least 20 years of their sentence, to apply for parole. Advocates for crime victims, prosecutors and law enforcement officials are vehemently opposed to this legislation, saying there is no age limit on evil and it’s wrong to think that just because a convicted killer has been behind bars so long and is aging, means they won’t commit another crime if released.
For the opposing point of view, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with the author of this bill, State Senator Dave Cortese of Santa Clara, in today's edition of The State of California.
What began as a well-intentioned playdate for kids of color at a Bay Area elementary school quickly spiraled into something very different.
That playdate on August 27th sparked anger online, as right wing groups seized on it to cry “racism,” and that eventually led to a bomb threat today that forced the evacuation of the school.
We’d love to think this is an isolated incident, but sadly, this kind of viral hate is more and more common, and often leads to terrible violence. We’ve seen it at schools and universities around the country, in mass shootings from coast to coast, in last week’s killing of a shopkeeper who displayed a Pride flag outside her store in Southern California.
Thankfully, no one was hurt today at Chabot Elementary School in Oakland, which was safely evacuated before classes even began. Police spent hours searching and found nothing dangerous. But the incident sent hundreds of kids home for the day, canceling a day of school, and terrified and terrorized a community, which will now have to come to grips with this and all its fallout, and it all started because of one parent’s post on social media.
For more on this, KCBS political reporter discussed with KCBS anchors, Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
The bill would allow the release of murderers, who were never supposed to get out of prison.
The legislation would let certain convicted killers who have served at least 20 years, ask for parole—even if they were sentenced to the death penalty or life without parole.
This bill is Senate Bill 94, by State Senator Dave Cortese of Santa Clara. It would allow most people convicted of murder with special circumstances before 1990, petition for parole, as long as they’ve served at least 20 years of their sentence. The idea is that older inmates are much less likely to reoffend if released, so they could at least ask for their sentence to be reviewed. As you can imagine, there is intense opposition to this idea, and there’s a news conference tomorrow by a coalition of prosecutors, law enforcement personnel and victims’ rights advocates, to call for its defeat.
For more, Doug Sovern, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Nina Salarno Besselman, the President of Crime Victims United and a former Sacramento County deputy district attorney, whose sister was brutally murdered on her first day of college back in 1979.
Over a decade ago, California launched a first of its kind to try and keep firearms out of the hands of people who have lost the right to have a gun.
The Armed and Prohibited Persons System has thousands of names and has improved over the years, but recovering guns from those owners isn't as streamlined as it could be.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Julia Weber, attorney consultant with Giffords Law Center
Driverless taxis have taken over the streets of San Francisco, and have driven all the way to national news headlines. Autonomous vehicles, as any machine, hit many speedbumps in development, and in this instance all mistakes become a blemish on their progress.
But can self-driving cars become the new norm, and can they become better drivers than humans?
For more on this, Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern spoke with Vahid Behzadan, Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Data Science at University of New Haven.
Bay Area transit districts scramble to come up with a Plan B after the state legislature refused, for now, to bail them out by raising bridge tolls.
Meanwhile, one local train system is doing just fine, with riders returning, and is not in such fiscal dire straits.
For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
San Diego got its rainiest day in recorded history. There was flooding in Los Angeles and Palm Springs and rainfall records were shattered across Southern California by what is now post-Tropical Storm Hilary.
Meanwhile, British Columbia is enduring the worst wildfires it’s ever seen and of course, Maui is still reeling from the deadliest wildfire in modern American history.
Here in the Bay Area, we’ve had an unusually hot and muggy August but have otherwise been spared the extreme weather that’s pummeling other parts of the country. There’s a natural inclination these days to blame the wildfires, heat waves and yes, even a rare California hurricane on climate change.
For more, Doug, Brett, and Patti spoke with climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh, professor of Earth System Science at Stanford University, and a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.
The first amendment states that the government will remain neutral when it comes to how Americans exercise their right to practice religion.
The separation of church and state is a delicate balance to maintain - even more so when a state and the US Supreme Court diverge in their rulings.
For more on this, Brett Burkhart spoke with Erwin Chemerinsky, dean and professor of law at UC Berkeley.
The California Republican Party is going to embrace two key election tactics that it shunned in the past. The GOP, both nationally and here in the Golden State, has decided to go all-in on voting by mail and ballot harvesting. Remember, Donald Trump, both as a candidate and as president, scorned voting by mail, early voting and other methods the Democratic Party has used to boost voter turnout, claiming they were fraudulent ways to rig an election and not trustworthy and urging Republican voters to just vote in person on Election Day. That came back to haunt the GOP as Democrats used those tools to their advantage in 2020 and 2022. Now, the Republicans have decided, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, and they’re launching a national campaign they’re calling “Bank Your Vote.” Today, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and the leadership of the California Republican Party had a conference call, explaining this plan to us. For more on this, Megan Goldsby, Doug Sovern, and Brett Burkhart spoke with Shawn Steel, the longtime Republican National Committeeman for California.
Once again this week, voters in a conservative state turned out in unexpectedly
large numbers to reject a ballot measure designed to restrict abortion rights,
echoing what’s already happened in Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Michigan and
so on.
This time, it was Ohio, where in November there will be a constitutional
amendment on the ballot to protect the right to an abortion and overturn the
state’s strict new abortion law. Since that is likely to pass, Republican state
legislators called a special election to try to pass a preemptive measure that
would have raised the bar to 60% to amend the state constitution. But it failed
miserably, with 57% voting against it, in a state where Donald Trump won 53% of
the vote in 2020.
That makes abortion rights supporters 7-for-7 in state ballot
measures around the country, including in California, since the U.S. Supreme
Court overturned Roe v Wade in the Dobbs decision last summer.
To dig into this trend a bit more, we are joined today on the KCBS Ring Central
Newsline by Dr. Anna Sampaio, Professor of Ethnic Studies and Political
Science at Santa Clara University.
Who votes in California? A new study says it tends to be older, whiter, richer people. At the same time, voters are concerned about that and want the state to do something about it.
The survey from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund found a huge disconnect between what California’s population looks like and what its electorate looks like. Regular voters are disproportionately older, white homeowners who went to college and are married. People who vote infrequently or not at all tend to be younger, single, renters, unmarried and non-white. And many of those who don’t vote say it’s because they don’t know enough about the issues and candidates, or because they’re just not interested in politics and elections.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of California Common Cause.
In today's edition of the State of California, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart about a movement to recall Alameda County’s new district attorney that is gathering momentum amid a spike in crime, especially in Oakland.
DA Pamela Price defends her performance, but increasingly anxious residents are fed up with what they see as a lack of law enforcement.
As you no doubt know by now, former President Trump has been indicted, again, in a criminal case without precedent in U.S. history. He stands accused of attempting to subvert American democracy by conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. He faces four counts of conspiracy and obstruction and will be tried in federal court in Washington D.C.
The former president has denounced this prosecution as politically motivated and insists he’s done nothing wrong and this is just part of the ongoing “witch hunt,” as he likes to call it, against him. But it’s the third criminal indictment he’s under, with additional prosecutions pending in Florida and New York, and another one likely in Georgia.
For more, KCBS Radio's Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke to Dr. Dora Kingsley Vertenten, a professor at the Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.
The battle over whether California cities should be forced to build housing where they don’t want to, is heating up
Mayors and City Council leaders from many smaller cities and suburbs are banding together to fight back against housing edicts from Sacramento. For more on this, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Kalimah Priforce, a City Council member from Emeryville who is one of the leaders of this coalition and a supporter of the proposed ballot measure.
As we’ve been reporting, former President Donald Trump has been indicted yet again, this time by a federal grand jury investigating his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election
Mr. Trump is charged with 4 counts of conspiracy, fraud and obstruction. Immediately after the indictment was handed up, the former president fired off a fundraising email, blasting these latest charges as, “an egregious act of Election Interference and a final act of desperation from Crooked Joe as he crashes in the polls.” And then he begged his supporters to send him some more money, which he may need for his legal bills, as he now faces trial on criminal charges in three separate jurisdictions, New York, Florida and Washington D.C.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Political reporter Doug Sovern, along with Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising, spoke with former federal prosecutor and Supreme Court clerk Rory Little, the Joseph W. Cotchett Professor of Law at UC Law San Francisco.
Over the weekend, party leaders changed rules that have been in place for two decades in a move that many say favors former President Trump. The way California’s Republican primary has worked since the 2004 election, is that delegates are awarded by congressional district, with 3 going to whatever presidential candidate wins each district, plus there are additional delegates that go to the statewide winner. That gave an incentive for candidates to target specific areas where they might do well and win some delegates. But over the weekend, the California GOP Executive Committee met behind closed doors and voted overwhelmingly to change that. Now if one candidate wins more than 50% of the vote statewide, he or she will win all of California’s 169 delegates, the most of any state, making it a true winner take all primary.
For more on this, Doug Sovern, Brett Burkhart, and Patti Reising spoke with longtime California Republican political strategist Rob Stutzman, a veteran of many campaigns and the Schwarzenegger administration.
Affirmative action is no longer legal in college admissions, after it was outlawed
this summer by the U.S. Supreme Court. But many universities still give
preference to so-called “legacies”, The children of alumni and prominent
donors.
A recent report found that at at least three colleges in California, some of those applicants get in even when they’re not qualified for admission. An attempt to ban legacy admissions in the Golden State fell short four years ago, but now the author of that bill wants to try again.
For more, KCBS Radio's Political reporter, Doug Sovern spoke with State Assembly Member Phil Ting of San Francisco.
As we reported last week, Californians will get to vote in 2024 on whether to repeal Proposition 8, the state’s dormant ban on same-sex marriage, once and for all. A new poll shows the repeal is likely to pass in a landslide, and LGBTQ leaders hope it will, to send a message to the rest of the country.
15 years ago, Californians narrowly approved Proposition 8, amending the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. It was later found unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, legalizing gay marriage across the country. But that provision remains in the California Constitution, a kind of legal zombie line in the law, which means if this Supreme Court or a future one were to reverse its earlier ruling, same-sex marriage would again be outlawed in California. So the state legislature has put a measure on next year’s ballot, to repeal Prop 8 and remove it from the Constitution.
For more on this, KCBS poliwe are joined live today on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by TONY HOANG, executive director of Equality California, the largest statewide LGBTQ rights organization in America.
Nancy Pelosi is no longer House speaker, but is she planning to run for another term representing San Francisco in Congress? The assumption has been that this term is Pelosi’s swan song, and she will retire when it expires at the end of 2024.
But Pelosi, now known as Speaker Emerita, a title created just for her, hasn’t said for sure whether she will run again next year or not, and there are signs that she may decide to keep her seat for at least two more years. She certainly seems to be enjoying her lighter load in Congress, not sitting on any committees, not having to lead legislative battles, not having to raise money every weekend. She’s more relaxed and enjoying her role as a party elder and advisor on call. The assumption has been that she’s taking a victory lap, and ready to pass the baton to a new generation in San Francisco, and that’s why younger lawmakers have been laying the groundwork to seek her seat in the House. But maybe not so fast: Pelosi could still decide to run again in 2024.
For more discussion on what the future may hold for Nancy Pelosi, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
Leaders of a new political party led by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and former Republican New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman are back in California, trying to drum up support.
The new party is trying to get on the ballot in California, but in a different way from other fledgling third parties.
We are talking about the Forward Party, which is taking a grass roots, ground up approach, rather than starting at the top by fielding a presidential candidate. This party is focused on electing local candidates, and building from the bottom up. For more on this, Brett Burkhart, Patti Reising and Doug Sovern spoke with Lindsey Williams Drath, the CEO of the Forward Party.
Despite reports that US Customs and Border Protection was mistreating migrants
detained at California’s border with Mexico, CBP now says it never happened, and that the border patrol was NOT keeping migrants in essentially an open air holding cell, without food and water. That response has infuriated several of California’s members of Congress, who are demanding better answers and an investigation.
One of them is freshman Representative Robert Garcia, a Democrat, the former Mayor of Long Beach who was elected to Congress last year. He’s on the Homeland Security Committee.
The 2024 general election polls are split, with President Biden leading former President Trump narrowly in most, but Trump ahead in some. The surveys suggest another close race next year, assuming those two are in fact the nominees.
But could a third party spoiler help throw the race to Trump and hand him a second term instead of Biden? Professor Cornel West is running for the Green Party nomination and could siphon off some progressives. The new “No Labels” party says it will field a moderate, centrist unity ticket, perhaps led by Joe Manchin, Larry Hogan or Jon Huntsman. Anti-vaccine gadfly Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is challenging President Biden for the Democratic nomination but could end up running as an independent. How would the presence of as many as three high-profile third party candidates change the dynamics of the 2024 campaign? Could one of them do what Ralph Nader did in 2000, and Jill Stein in 2016, and help a Republican win the Electoral College while losing the popular vote?
For more on this, KCBS' political reporter Doug Sovern, along with anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising, spoke with Garry South, the veteran California political strategist. Among other campaigns over the years, he was a key advisor to Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 2000.
Democrats in Sacramento are still doing damage control after being
forced to backtrack on a bill to toughen California’s law against child trafficking. This one seemed like a no-brainer, coasting to unanimous approval
in the Senate before stalling in the State Assembly.
That’s when the heat turned up, forcing a rare reversal on high
profile legislation. We are talking about SB14, a bill by Republican State Senator
Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, the former Senate Minority Leader. She
discovered that human trafficking of a minor was not on the state’s list of
serious felonies, which count as a strike under California’s "Three Strikes and
You’re Out" law, so she wrote this bipartisan legislation to correct that. Not
controversial in the Senate, where it passed 40 to nothing. But then it was
defeated in the Assembly Public Safety Committee. That sparked outrage, with
everyone from Governor Newsom to Elon Musk demanding reconsideration, and
after some impassioned remarks by Republicans on the Assembly floor,
Democrats convened a quick emergency hearing and resurrected the bill, which
passed the committee and is now on its way to likely passage.
For more on this, Doug Sovern, Patti Reising and Brett Burkhart spoke with
State Senator Shannon Grove, Republican from Bakersfield and author of this
bill.
As more and more candidates announce their plans to run for statewide office in California, the Republican Party’s most successful candidate in recent years has decided to sit 2024 out, at least as a candidate himself.
Last year, Stanford public policy expert and Hoover Institution fellow Lanhee Chen ran for State Controller and won more votes than any other Republican in the country. But it wasn’t enough to win that general election, in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1. Chen has been seen as a rising star for the California GOP, a smart, moderate Republican with four degrees from Harvard who has served in both Republican and Democratic administrations. But he announced this week
that he will not run for public office anytime soon, and is instead launching his
own political action committee, the Golden State Watchdog PAC.
For more on this, Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio's Political Reporter spoke with Lanhee Chen.
California voters will now get the chance to enshrine the right to same-sex marriage into the State constitution, after the state senate overwhelmingly passed a proposed constitutional amendment today.
The amendment would repeal "Proposition 8", which banned same-sex marriage in the state back in 2008, but was made largely irrelevant after the US Supreme Court guaranteed the right six years later..
To discuss further, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Resing spoke with State Senator Scott Wiener, who introduced the legislation.
Homelessness remains California’s biggest challenge, according to poll after poll of voters in the state. As officials struggle with ways to house all those people on the street, a bill designed to keep Californians from becoming homeless is making its way through the state legislature.
Bill SB567, the Homelessness Prevention Act, is supported by a wide coalition of diverse groups and would strengthen protections for tenants to prevent evictions and keep people from ending up on the street. But it’s been fiercely opposed by landlords, namely the California Apartment Association. The legislation has been the subject of protests and heated hearings at the state capitol, and yesterday it was approved by the Assembly Judiciary Committee as it continues to navigate the road to passage.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Brian Augusta, legislative advocate for the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, one of the many sponsors of this bill.
The three-way battle among Congressional Democrats who want to succeed Dianne Feinstein in the US Senate gets a little more crowded, with a new candidate who is not a member of the House. A prominent tech executive from the Silicon Valley business world has thrown her hat into the ring.
That new candidate is Lexi Reese, a working mom from Woodside who is a 48 year-old tech exec. She’s worked at American Express, Google and Facebook and as Chief Operating Officer at Gusto, an HR firm. She joins a crowded field that includes Democratic Representatives Katie Porter, Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee, as well as Republican Eric Early, with a couple other Republicans still considering the race. They are all running to take Senator Feinstein’s seat in the Senate next year, when Feinstein will end her long career in Washington. Those other contenders have all appeared on this program already, and today Doug, Brett and Patti spoke with Lexi Reese.
Governor Newsom signed into law today a package of bills that he says will streamline and accelerate the construction of some major infrastructure projects in California. The measures were the result of a compromise hammered out between the governor, the legislature, business interests and environmentalists. The bills were part of the state’s budget negotiations this year and are designed to speed up things like new reservoirs and solar and wind farms, while relaxing some environmental protections, despite some concerns about what this might mean for some protected species. For more, Doug Sovern, Brett Burkhart, and Patti Reising spoke with Victoria Rome, California Director of Government Affairs at NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council, in San Francisco.
For half a decade, Politico Reporter Jeremy White has covered all things politics for the California Playbook.
From reporting on the challenges the Covid-19 pandemic brought to our society to covering two major recalls and everything in between, the California Playbook has offered readers an essential source of political knowledge.
For more on this, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with California Politics Reporter at Politco and former co-writer for the California Playbook.
As you probably know, Bay Area transit systems, especially BART, are hemorrhaging money, and now State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco has introduced a bill that would raise Bay Area bridge tolls for the next 5 years, to 9 dollars and 50 cents up from 8 dollars now
This will bring in almost a billion dollars to help rescue rapid transit. But the local delegation is split on whether this is a smart idea, and the bill’s passage is anything but assured. For more on this, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with State Senator Steve Glazer, Democrat from Orinda, one of the lawmakers who is opposed to this legislation.
There’s still a lot of fallout from last week’s momentous decisions by
the U.S. Supreme Court on affirmative action, gay rights and student debt relief,
with liberals blasting the high court while conservatives cheer it.
The Court continues to move to the right ideologically, even though it
did deliver some more moderate opinions in the closing weeks of this term.
To take a closer look at the evolution of this court and the potential
impact of these rulings, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart, and Patti Reising spoke with Rory Little, law professor and constitutional law scholar at the
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, or UC Law SF. Before practicing law and going into teaching, Rory clerked at the Supreme Court.
The cost to get around in California is on the rise. The state "Gas Tax" keeps gas prices in California among the highest in the nation. Bridge toll hikes and fare increases by Public transit agencies. Car prices, new and used, have climbed.
For more, Pat Thurston and Brett Burkhart spoke with Larry Gerston, KCBS Political Analyst and San Jose State Political Science Professor Emeritus.
A bill that could have moved Billions away from fossil fuels has been shelved in the California State Assembly. To tell us more, Brett Burkhart and Pat Thurston spoke with Eliyahu Kamisher, reporter at Bloomberg.
Over the past decade, the homeless population in Texas fell by a third, as it skyrocketed in California.
Aside from the fact that everything is bigger in Texas, the cost of living in the Lone Star State is more affordable than it is here in California. Another key factor is that Texas has more room to build homes.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Marisa Kendal, a CalMatters Reporter, who has been following this story extensively.
After nearly three years filled with public hearings, the reparations task force today turned in an 1,100-page report to state lawmakers proposing several methods for compensating Black Californians for the generations of harm they've experienced.
This comes on the same day as the Supreme Court strikes down race-conscious admission policies for most college institutions across the U.S.
In today's edition of the State of California, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Kamilah Moore, chair of the California Reparations Task Force, who was in today's meeting in Sacramento.
New California privacy rules will go into effect on Saturday, but a new report released today by Common Sense Media reveals nearly half of products or apps people use do not follow the policies. The California Privacy Rights Act was passed by voters in 2020 to strengthen privacy protections and technically became law in January, but the enforcement doesn't start until July 1st.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of San Francisco-based Common Sense Media, in today's edition of the State of California.
Current San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and four former mayors sent a letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred last week, asking the organization to be freed from being considered as a territory of the San Francisco Giants.
San Jose leaders have been pushing to bring in a professional baseball team to the City for quite some time now but the territorial rights the Giants have on the city is hindering San Jose from achieving that dream.
For more on this, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.
Tomorrow will officially mark one year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe versus Wade and removed federal abortion protections in the Dobbs decision.
That left it up to states to decide whether to allow abortions. Many states in the South and Midwest choose to outlaw it altogether or put extreme restrictions on it, whereas here in California, abortion is still legal.
For more on this KCBS Radio's Patti Reising spoke to KCBS Radio's Raquel Maria Dillon who has been reporting on this extensively in her four-part series that aired this week.
California voters will get a chance to weigh in on sweeping changes proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the state’s mental health funding system come March. The spending change would prioritize housing for homeless people, but children’s mental health advocates fear this will cut their funding. For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Darrell Steinberg, mayor of Sacramento and author of the Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act, in today's edition of the State of California.
today we’re joined by Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. It's been two years in the making - earlier today Lake Tahoe Community leaders unveiled the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, a 126-page document aiming to steer the Tahoe region away from an over-reliance on the tourism-driven economy and tackle concerns regarding environmental deterioration in the region.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced in April he was deploying the California Highway Patrol and the California National Guard to address the Fentanyl Crisis in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco.
Since the CHP began their crackdown about six weeks ago, they say their officers have seized 4.2 kilos of fentanyl -- enough to kill potentially 2.1 million people.
For more, Brett Burkhart and Nikki Medoro spoke with Mike Sena, Executive Director of the Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force.
After the latest group of migrants arrived in LA this week, this time out of Texas, Governor Gavin Newsom has said he's begun working with a Texas Sheriff to quote "compare notes" when it comes to possibly bringing criminal charges against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for a similar incident.
This latest development is bringing increased attention to the question of whether or not a prosecution for these events is even in the cards.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Megan Goldsby spoke with Gerardo Menchaca, immigration attorney out of San Antonio, Texas.
As the Oakland A's and the Nevada legislature continue to ponder if they'll stay or if they'll go, some East Bay lawmakers are trying moving to protect the community if the franchise ends up in Vegas.
Called "The Moneyball Act". The proposed legislation would require professional baseball teams to compensate their former home if they pick up and leave.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart spoke with Congressman Mark Desaulnier, he represents Concord and is one of the bill's co-authors
A first-of-its-kind task force looking into reparations for Black residents in California has been tasked with researching how leaders can work to try and atone for centuries of slavery and systemic racism since 2021, and come up with a list of over 100 suggestions.
Among those suggestions is payments for all eligible black residents in California, however that's just one of many systemic changes they're proposing.
For more on this, KCBS Raido's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Kamilah Moore, Reparatory justice scholar and attorney, as well as chair of the Reparations Task Force.
Governor Gavin Newsom recently outlined a plan to combat gun violence with a proposed 28th constitutional amendment. The news has made waves on both sides of the aisle, so much that Newsom has added Sean Hannity's show to his press tour, bringing the California Governor back to Fox News for the first time since 2010.
For more on this, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Jack Pittney, Roy P. Crocker Professor of American Politics at Claremont McKenna College in Southern California.
Governor Gavin Newsom rolled out a bold new plan to combat gun violence. A new constitutional amendment that would put limits on who can buy a gun and what kind.
And while many are saying the plan isn't very feasible, some wonder if it may be a catalyst for other local leaders.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Vikram Amar, Constitutional law professor at UC Davis and the University of Illinois.
Just as air travel is picking back up again, problems are afoot: flights are being turned around, delayed, and even being forced to abort landings. All this is painting a picture of wider issues with the air traffic control system across the state and even the nation.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Pat Thurston and Bret Burkhart spoke with Mary Schiavo, CNN aviation analyst and former inspector general of the United States Department of Transportation.
Dockworkers at West Coast ports are disrupting international trade for a fourth day as their unions hammer out better working conditions. Union leaders have been slowing operations at West Coast ports and forcing the ports to close shipping terminals since Friday.
This comes as the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union, who represents dockworkers, have been negotiating a new contract since May 10th.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Pat Thurston spoke with Michael Leroy, Professor and Labor Expert at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign..
Attorney General Rob Bonta is investigating migrants sent to a church in Sacramento, supposedly through Florida, and possibly due to Governor Ron DeSantis. The situation is sparking debate on how these individual's lives have been used in political games.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Megan Goldsby spoke with Professor Bill Hing, Professor of Immigration law and policy at USF and Davis, and author of a new book coming out this summer called "Humanizing Immigration."
In a rare show of bipartisan support, a UC Berkeley IGS poll found that more than three-quarters of all California voters think we should make changes to how we overturn laws.
Supporters say that the current rules can mislead voters, and it's often times unclear who exactly is funding the measures.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Megan Goldsby spoke with Larry Gerston, KCBS Political analyst and San Jose State Political Science professor emeritus.
California may be on the verge of another insurance crisis. In the wake of several years of highly destructive wildfires, the prospect of more ahead as climate change intensifies, and increasing costs of construction and rebuilding, State Farm has announced that it will no longer write new homeowners policies in California. This won’t affect existing policyholders and it will stay in the auto insurance business, but State Farm says it can’t afford to insure any more homes in the state. It’s not the first major insurer to make this decision recently, with Chubb Insurance and AIG announcing similar moves. What does this mean for California homeowners and consumers, and could there be a domino effect with more companies following suit?
For more, KCBS Radio political insider and State of California host Doug Sovern spoke with Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the California group Consumer Watchdog and the author of California’s Proposition 103, which created the elected office of Insurance Commissioner in 1988 and required companies to get state approval to raise their rates.
There’s yet another hat in the ring in the race to succeed East Bay Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Lee is running for Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat, and how the race for her spot in Congress is heating up and getting crowded. This had looked like an easy run for BART Board member Lateefah Simon, a rising star in Democratic circles who announced early and lined up many major endorsements, quickly raising an impressive amount of money in what looked like a successful effort to clear the field and avoid a competitive race.
But not so fast. First, Oakland businessman Tim Sanchez announced he would run against Simon for Lee’s job, trying to become the Bay Area’s first Latino member of Congress, and now there’s a third significant Democrat jumping into the fray.
For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with anchors Bret Burkhart and Nikki Medoro spoke with Dr. Jennifer Tran Oakland, daughter of Vietnamese refugees, an assistant professor of Ethnic Studies at Cal State East Bay, with a degree from UC San Diego and a PhD from USC, and president of the Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce.
President Biden and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy are touting their compromise agreement to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, but is this deal really a win for McCarthy? The Bakersfield Republican faces simmering anger from the most conservative members of the House, and they could try to oust him from the Speakership as a result.
This is the stiffest test yet of the new Speaker’s leadership. He barely got elected Speaker, as you may recall, it took 15 ballots for him to get enough votes, in the longest election for Speaker since the 1860s. And he had to make a lot of concessions just to win the job. Now the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus of his party is spitting mad over the concessions he made to President Biden to avoid a government default.
McCarthy got a lot of what he was looking for, including cuts in spending and making more people who receive what we used to call food stamps, the SNAP program, have to meet minimum work requirements in order to qualify for that food assistance. But the conservative wing of the GOP wanted deeper cuts in the budget, and feel that McCarthy gave in too much to Biden and the Democrats to secure a deal. They vow to vote against it, and there could even be a vote of no confidence in the Speaker.
For more on this, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern discussed with KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Megan Goldsby
The California Democratic Party spent the holiday weekend at their reorganizing convention with MAGA at the top of the agenda in hopes to make an impact on the upcoming presidential election. By prioritizing the fight against this rhetoric, they may be overlooking key red districts in California that they could win over. All this happens while the race for Feinstein's seat is heating up - is this the best way to proiritize their political energy?
For more on this, Brett Burkhart spoke with Lincoln Mitchell, a political analyst, pundit and writer, teacher at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and writer of the popular Substack "Kibitzing with Lincoln.” He splits his time between New York and his hometown of San Francisco.
Sacramento's mayor has announced he will not be seeking another term - capping three terms leading the state's capital city of Sacramento.
Meanwhile, the Governor's office has announced that Mayor Darrell Steinberg has been picked to head a new group tasked with transforming San Quentin Prison into a Rehabilitation center.
For more on this, Megan Goldsby and Brett Burkhart spoke with Sacramento's Mayor Darrell Steinberg.
This episode, Doug Sovern sits down with Representative Barbara Lee to talk about reform of the US Supreme Court amid an ethics controversy and the Dobbs decision. As people call for growing reform, Representative Lee talks how these growing ideas would translate into real change - adding more justices, limiting corporate interests, and term limits.
Hillary Clinton is the latest high profile Democrat to come to Senator Dianne Feinstein’s defense, saying she should not resign despite her health challenges. Meanwhile, some members of the House, in particular, continue to call for Feinstein to step down, especially after her return to Washington demonstrated just how frail she’s become.
The 89 year-old Feinstein is recovering, slowly, from shingles, which brought on a form of encephalitis and another disorder that caused some facial paralysis and hearing loss. She insists she can still do the job Californians elected her to do, and is determined to serve out the rest of her final term, while three prominent Congressional Democrats run to succeed her. Governor Newsom has promised to appoint a Black woman to finish Feinstein’s term if she is unable to, and now there’s speculation that Oprah Winfrey could be on his short list of possible caretaker Senators if it comes to that.
But Feinstein says that won’t be necessary, because she isn’t going anywhere until the end of 2024.
For more on this, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio's Megan Goldsby and Bret Burkhart spoke with Jerry Roberts, longtime City Hall reporter in San Francisco. He covered Feinstein when she was a Supervisor and then Mayor. Jerry went on to be Managing Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, co-founded the political website CalBuzz and these days, he runs Newsmakers with Jerry Roberts, covering politics in Santa Barbara. But most importantly for our discussion, he wrote the definitive biography of Dianne Feinstein, “Never Let Them See You Cry,” which was published in 1994.
The race for president is about to get a lot more crowded, and two California tech moguls are planning to play key roles. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans to toss his hat in the ring for the Republican nomination tomorrow, with a big assist from Elon Musk.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott just announced that he's running for the GOP presidential nomination too, with massive financial backing from Oracle founder Larry Ellison. Ellison has already donated $30 million to a SuperPAC that supports Scott, and is reportedly planning to kick in at least another 60 million to help the conservative Southern senator challenge former president Donald Trump for the nomination.
Scott also has won praise and financial support from Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk, but Musk has made it clear he will back DeSantis if he runs, and now that DeSantis is ready to declare tomorrow, Musk is going to help him do it. DeSantis will announce that he’s running for president tomorrow afternoon in a live conversation with Musk, streamed on Twitter. That doesn’t mean Musk won’t hedge his bets by donating money to Scott too, and we will see if he actually endorses DeSantis, but it’s clear, Bret and Patti, that these conservative Republican California billionaires, who combined are worth about a quarter of a trillion dollars, are going all in on trying to elect a Republican in 2024, and one not named Donald Trump.
The divide between the two ends of the political spectrum in the United States is deeper than ever, and both sides seem poised to exploit that in the 2024 election
Political science researchers at UC Berkeley think that this polarity can end, and experts at Stanford agree, because they recognized a new Berkeley study as the best way to strengthen democracy and reduce polarization. The key may be getting voters on the two sides to understand each other better, and not fall for the divisive rhetoric and authoritarian messaging of candidates like former President Trump. For more on this, Doug Sovern, Patti Reising and Brett Burkhart spoke with Alia Braley, a PhD candidate in political science at UC Berkeley who holds a Masters in Divinity from Harvard and specializes in the study of democratic resilience in cases of political polarization. She is the co-author of this new study, which was published today in the journal Nature Human Behavior.
From Chat GPT to artificial intelligence showing up in everything from newswriting to youth sports apps, AI is suddenly ubiquitous and it seems here to stay.
Will it really replace human thought and effort, or is it just another tool to make our lives more efficient? How will we able to tell when something was written by a computer and not by a thinking human being? Should we fear the spread of artificial intelligence or embrace it? How do you know I wrote these words, and not a ChatBot?
For more, KCBS Radio's Political Report Doug Sovern spoke with Wael AbdAlmadeed, a research associate professor at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, where he is an expert on deepfakes, among other things, in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Information Science Institute.
You may have heard on KCBS about the new ad campaign in San Francisco’s Tenderloin and SOMA neighborhoods, to call attention to the fentanyl crisis on the City’s streets. People who have worked for years in those neighborhoods are fed up with what they see as a lack of action by City Hall.
Among those supporting the “That’s Fentalife” campaign is Del Seymour, a longtime Tenderloin activist who originally led walking tours through the neighborhood to highlight what was good about it. He then founded Code Tenderloin, which runs a range of programs to help people in the area. He is also co-chair of San Francisco’s Local Homeless Coordinating Board. KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Del Seymour, along with KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising
California Senator Dianne Feinstein has been back on the job for a week now, but her return to Washington is not quieting concerns about her health. The senior Senator is still recovering from shingles, and some more prominent Democrats are saying they think it’s time for her to retire
There was relief when the 89-year-old Feinstein flew back to DC to reclaim her place in the Senate after a more than two-month absence, but that turned to dismay when people on the Hill saw how frail she was, needing a wheelchair and surrounded by aides at all times. The sense that she is no longer up to representing 39 million Californians has not only not been dispelled, it’s intensified, and more and more significant members of her party are urging her to step aside.
Feinstein insists she is well enough to do the work, she has no intention of retiring before her final term ends at the end of next year, and I think it’s a matter of honor and principle for her to stay until the end, even if she’s physically weak and mentally fading. For more on this, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
California’s budget deficit continues to grow, and state lawmakers have less than a month to cut a deal with Governor Newsom on how to erase it. The governor’s revised budget reveals the state went from a 97 billion dollar surplus exactly a year ago, to more than 31 billion dollars in the red now. The governor is not projecting a recession just yet, unlike some economists, so he’s not ready to tap into the state’s Rainy Day Fund, which is still there just in case this deficit gets even larger. And he says he will not support raising taxes, which some Democrats in Sacramento want to do, especially on the Assembly side. But he and the legislature don’t necessarily see eye to eye on what to cut and where to spend. For more, Brett, Patti, and Doug spoke with State Assemblyman Phil Ting of San Francisco, the Democrat who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee.
With the Biden Administration officially ending the pandemic-era rule "Title 42" which allowed authorities to expel people entering the country unlawfully, this week thousands of migrants have been waiting at the southern border with reports of surging detentions by the US Border Patrol.
Meanwhile a GOP backed bill to ramp up border security just passed the House and we want to know what all of this means for our state which of course shares a southern border with Mexico.
To discuss further, Brett Burkhart and Pat Thurston spoke with Southern California Congressman Adam Schiff.
In a controversial appearance on CNN, Donald Trump spoke in a town hall shortly after a jury found the former president liable for sexual assault, charging him with 5 million dollars in damages for touching E. Jean Carroll without consent. Despite it all, Trump is leading Biden in the polls and California is set to play a big role in the election with an early primary. For more, Doug Sovern spoke with Dr. Anna Sampaio, Professor of Ethnic Studies and Political Science at Santa Clara University.
In an unprecedented show of political power, hundreds of Black leaders from around California descended on the state Capitol today to publicize their legislative priorities. The coalition wants the state to do more to address systemic racism, in everything from law enforcement to housing policy.
The rally was hosted by four different Black political organizations
from around the state, including the Bay Area, and they’re calling for the
legislature to pass a package of bills, and this goes way beyond the reparations
proposal put forward by the state commission on making restitution to
descendants of slaves and other 19th century Black Americans.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's political reporter Doug Sovern, along with Bret Burkhart and Patti Resing spoke with Tim Kornegay, Coalition Director of LiveFree California. That’s a networking organization for Black-led groups, and one of those who hosted today’s event at the Capitol.
California Senator Dianne Feinstein is finally going back to work in Washington, after more than two months at her San Francisco home. The aging Senator was recovering from shingles, which intensified calls for her to step down amid criticism that she can no longer fulfill her duties.
For more on this, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
Today on State of California with KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Brett Burkhart, we discuss the Oakland Teacher's Strike.
KCBS is joined by Dr. Joseph McCartin, Executive Director of the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University.
As the deadline to raise the debt ceiling approaches, economists are concerned with what that will actually look like.
And it's not just of national concern. With experts warning about what the fallout could be here in California, with the fourth largest economy in the world, and a multi-billion dollar defecit expected.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Riesing spoke withGokce Soydemir, Foster Farms endowed chair of Business Economics at Stanislaus State with an expertise in regional economics and financial forecasting
The first week of May has been unusually wet and cold, with even more snow falling in the Sierra, much like the record winter we just had, with over 700 inches of snow in the mountains around Lake Tahoe.
Nevertheless, fire season is upon us, there has already been one significant wildfire near Los Angeles, the first major one of the year. What kind of fire season should we expect this summer, and what impact will all that rain and snow have?
For more, KCBS Radio's political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Dr. Craig Clements, Professor of Meteorology and Climate Science at San Jose State
University, where he is the Director of the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research
Center.
The United States faces a looming debt crisis, and one Bay Area member of Congress may hold the key to averting it. The country could run out of money to pay its bills by the start of June, unless Congress agrees to raise the debt ceiling.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and his Republican caucus are insisting on steep cuts in spending in exchange for raising the debt limit, and they’re at an impasse with the Democrats and President Biden, who will meet next week with the Big Four Congressional leaders, including Speaker McCarthy, to try to hammer out a deal.
But meanwhile, Democrats have quietly been pursuing an alternative solution, and it hinges on a bill that is their secret weapon, known as a “discharge petition”, written by none other than East Bay Democrat Mark DeSaulnier, the Congressman from Concord.
Congressman DeSaulnier joined KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart, Patti Reising, and KCBS Radio's Political Reporter Doug Sovern.
The three major candidates in the race to replace Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate continue to jockey for position. After a late start, East Bay Congresswoman Barbara Lee seems to be gaining traction in her race against two better-known Congressional colleagues. There’s been so much focus on Feinstein herself, as she continues to recover from shingles and is absent from Washington. Amid growing calls for her to step down, Feinstein insists she will finish out her term, but Democrats are frustrated that without her vote on the Judiciary Committee, they can’t confirm many of President Biden’s judicial appointees in the narrowly divided Senate.
While that debate rages on, three members of the California Democratic Congressional delegation are scrapping for donations and endorsements, setting up their campaign infrastructure and preparing for what will be a very hotly contested Senate primary, 10 months from this week. Representative Katie Porter of Orange County was first to declare, she raised millions of dollars very quickly and brandished the endorsement of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. Congressman Adam Schiff of Los Angeles was next, he raised even more than Porter did and he’s collecting an impressive portfolio of mainstream Democratic
endorsements, including Nancy Pelosi’s backing. But now here comes Oakland’s Barbara Lee, and she’s quickly positioning herself as the favored candidate of progressives.
As we’ve been reporting, San Francisco’s First Republic Bank is no more, it has been seized by the government and quickly sold last night to JPMorgan Chase. That affects thousands of accountholders here in the Bay Area and deepens concerns over the stability of the U.S. banking system. The swift and sudden collapse of First Republic follows the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and it essentially means that if you bank at First Republic, it’s business as usual for now, but soon you will find yourself a Chase customer instead.
For more, Brett Burkhart, Patti Reising, and Doug Sovern spoke with Professor Ross Levine, the Willis H. Booth Chair of Banking and Finance at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. He is an economist with a PhD from UCLA, and he previously worked at both the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the World Bank.
Bipartisan lawmakers are reviving legislation in the US Congress that would give the legal cannabis industry access to banking services and financial protection. The Secure and Fair Enforcement, or "SAFE" banking act, has passed the House seven times previously but never got a vote on the Senate floor.. This time there's more optimism with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressing his support, saying he'll work to include criminal justice provisions in the bill.
It comes at a time that California's legal cannabis market is it a tipping point, with brands shuttering and the industry competing with black market sales. To discuss further, Brett and Patti spoke with Dale Sky Jones - President and Executive Chancellor of Oaksterdam University, Oakland's Cannabis business college.
President Joe Biden, 80, is officially running for reelection, and if successful, he will be 86 at the end of his second term. Polls show an overwhelming number of Americans think he’s too old for the job and shouldn’t run again; calls are also intensifying for 89-year-old Dianne Feinstein to step down from the U.S. Senate, amid ongoing concerns regarding her cognitive health and exacerbated by a prolonged bout with shingles that has found her unable to perform many of her duties, most notably help confirm federal judges in her role on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Some say it’s time for a mandatory retirement age from Congress, others are
calling for presidential candidates to take a mental competency test. But we each
age differently, and one person’s 80 is another’s 60. How old is too old? Is there
such a thing?
In today's edition of The State of California, KCBS political reporter and host Doug Sovern spoke with Dr. Laura Mosqueda, a renowned professor of family medicine and geriatrics at USC's Keck School of Medicine and a widely respected authority on elder abuse and care of the elderly, for her thoughts on the issue.
California lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would make big tech companies like Google and Facebook pay news organizations for linking to their online stories.
The bill, by Oakland Assembly member Buffy Wicks, is called the California Journalism Preservation Act, and it’s designed to help struggling local newspapers and media outlets, by diverting some of that online revenue to them.
For more on this, KCBS political reporter and host of “The State, Of California,” Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
President Joe Biden made it official today, he is running for a second term, in 2024. The president released an early morning campaign video campaign his intentions, with the new slogan, “Let’s Finish The Job.”
And featured prominently in that video was Vice President Kamala Harris, with subsequent fundraising emails referring to the Biden-Harris ticket, making it crystal clear that President Biden does not intend to change running mates. Biden is 80 years old, he will be 82 by Election Day next year, he’ll be 86 by the end of a second term, but he’s going for it, trying to become a two-term president, and in fact, not only is he the oldest president ever, if he wins, he will be just the second person ever elected vice president twice and president twice. The first being Richard Nixon, who of course did not complete his second term. So, if Biden is re-elected and serves all four years, he will be the first person in American history to serve two full terms in both jobs, which would certainly give him a special place in the history books.
But for now, the race for 2024 is on, with Biden in the ring, facing token opposition so far from Democrats Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and on the Republican side so far, we have former President Trump, and two former Southern governors, Nikki Haley and Asa Hutchinson, though Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence and others are waiting in the wings.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising discussed with KCBS political reporter, Doug Sovern.
It’s only 2023, but the race for governor of California in 2026 already
began today, with the first contender tossing her hat in the ring. That would be Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who will attempt to become the first woman to be elected governor of the nation’s largest state
For more on this early start to the 2026 governor’s race, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart, and Patti Reising spoke with someone who knows a lot about running,
and winning, statewide, former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, who
represented California in the Senate for 24 years.
With the fate of the popular abortion pill mifepristone in the hands of the Supreme Court, California's leadership is doing everything they can to maintain abortion access in the state. With Governor Newsom and the state's top democrats continuing efforts to bolster California as an abortion sanctuary state following the controversial overturn of Roe Vs Wade that we saw last year.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Riesing spoke with Lara Korte, author of Politico's California Playbook.. she has a piece out about this now.
It’s only spring 2023, but the 2024 campaign season is already in full swing. Much
of the focus in California has been on the U.S. Senate race to succeed Senator
Dianne Feinstein, who plans to retire next year, and the trickle-down effect of that
campaign, as three high profile Democrats are giving up their seats in the House
to run for Senate.
In today's edition of The State of California, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern speaks with Tim Sanchez of Oakland, who has just declared he will run for Barbara Lee’s seat in the 12th Congressional District.
The high court is deciding how to handle a case from Texas, where a conservative federal judge issued a sweeping ruling against the drug, which is stayed for now.
The court announced today that it will extend that stay through Friday, while it considers what to do. The drug is mifespristone, which many people have learned by now has been used in conjunction with a second medicine, misoprostol, for about 20 years now to terminate pregnancies without requiring a surgical procedure. That federal judge ruled that the FDA exceeded its authority when it permitted this use of the drug, a federal appeals court reversed part of his ruling but left other parts intact, and the Supreme Court is deciding whether to extend that stay or let it expire. There’s a contradictory ruling from another federal judge, in the state of Washington, so this whole legal mess is bound to wind up before the Supreme Court at some point anyway.
Its ultimate resolution could have a profound effect on women’s reproductive health, so for more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Political Analyst Doug Sovern and Dr. Ushma Upadhyay, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at UCSF and co-director of the UC Global Health Institute’s ANSIRH, which stands for Advancing New Standards In Reproductive Health.
There is much happening in Sacramento over the last two weeks as the Legislature has returned to session after a recent break. There are a host of new proposals and legislation this year affecting everything from mental health, healthcare, crime, to farms, from climate, to food insecurity, to taxes and spending priorities.
All last week on the “State of California,” we focused on the Central Valley and its importance to the state’s politics where many of these issues clash and the Valley itself challenges much of the “orthodoxy” of California as a blue state.
Today, we wanted to examine all of this with some perspective on generational changes going on in California and how shifts and silos are changing politics throughout the Golden State. Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan spoke about some of the shifts and changes going on that affect the battles in Sacramento and throughout California.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart, Patti Reising and Dr. David McCuan spoke with State Senator Melissa Hurtado, Senator from the 16th Senate District.
A strike among TV and Film writers is looking more likely after members of the Writers Guild of America just voted overwhelmingly in favor to authorize a potential strike, paving the way for a walkout if they don't reach a deal for a new contract by May 1st to secure better pay and conditions.
A record 98% of the WGA members who voted said yes to the authorization - a strong show of support for the possible work stoppage that would disrupt both Hollywood production and California's economy.
To discuss further, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Anousha Sakoui, entertainment industry writer for the Los Angeles Times. She broke this news for the paper earlier today.
All this week on the “State of California,” we have focused on the Central Valley and its importance to the state’s politics.
The politics of the Valley are distinct and yet challenging to much of the “orthodoxy” of California as a blue state.
Today, we wanted to wrap up the week with some perspectives on the Central Valley and how there are even more subtle differences between the northern and southern portions of the Central Valley itself.
For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan and Nicole Parra, former Member of the CA Assembly
We are continuing to focus on California’s Central Valley and the changes occurring there that affect the state’s political scene. As we have noted, the Central Valley is important to the Golden State far beyond its role as the nation’s bread basket. This area is often considered a “battleground” where political futures are won and lost.
We have already spoken this week with Political Advisors from both sides and today we wanted to speak with an actual officeholder and someone who has had to navigate the moves to and fro in the Central Valley.
For more on this KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart, Patti Reising, and Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan spoke with Josh harder, Democratic
Congressman from California’s Ninth Congressional District
This week on The State of California, we are continuing to focus on California’s Central Valley and the changes occurring there that affect the state’s political scene. As we have noted, California’s Central Valley is often considered a political battleground where shifts in the overall political landscape tend to be the tipping point of more widespread changes in the Golden State. Yesterday, we spoke with Democratic consultant and advisor Bob Mulholland, and today we wanted to speak with someone on the other side of the aisle about the Central Valley.
KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Corrin Rankin, vice chair of the California Republican Party, and Dr. David McCuan, political science professor at Sonoma State University, on how the environment is changing in the Central Valley and why it matters for California politics.
We are focusing on California’s Central Valley and the changes occurring there affecting the state’s political scene. As we noted yesterday, California’s Central Valley is so often considered a “battleground” where the issues and demographic changes along with shifts in the overall political landscape tend to be the tipping point in the Golden State.
Today we wanted to focus strictly on how the politics of The Valley shape elections and the political landscape for a generation. For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart , David McCuan, and Patti Reising spoke with Bob Mulholland, Former Senior Advisor to the California Democratic Party and a member of the Democratic National Committee.
All this week here on the “State of California,” we will examine some of the changes in play for 2024 as we look to the Central Valley and what is happening in this region of California that is so often considered a “battleground” and where the
state’s tendencies to support one party or another seem to change often.
From developments in the southern end of the Valley with GOP Speaker Kevin McCarthy, to points north with counties that often want to leave the state, this region of California is more than just points on a compass.
The Central Valley, from north to south, has become the perennial “political battleground” of California.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with David McCuan, Chair and Professor of Political Science at Sonoma State University.
Anti-semitism is on the rise in the United States, a disturbing trend fueled by hate crimes against Jewish people and high profile figures spouting antisemitic tropes.
But here in the Bay Area, an organization that teams up with elected officials is fighting this wave of anti-semitism by conducting a recent fact finding mission in Israel. It's called, "The Bay Area Network of Jewish Elected Officials".. or BANJO for short. But what the group didn't realize is that they'd wind up in the middle of massive protests against Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu, who's been trying to seize control of the country's justice department.
For more, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising spoke with Kevin Wilk, City Council Member for the City of Walnut Creek who just returned from that fact finding mission.
The unprecedented drama of Tuesday’s arrest and arraignment of former
president Donald Trump is behind us, and now the criminal case against him will
proceed in the typically sluggish fashion of the U.S. justice system, with motions
and hearings that are likely to drag on for the rest of this year and into 2024.
Meanwhile, as his attorneys fight that legal proceeding and gird themselves for
more that could still come from Georgia and from federal prosecutors, Mr. Trump
is already running for president again, seeking to reclaim the office he lost in
2020. Even if he’s convicted in New York, in fact even if he goes to jail on those
felony charges, he can still run for, and be elected, president. And so far, this
criminal prosecution seems to be helping him, in terms of fundraising and
popular support.
For more, Doug Sovern spoke with political
scientist Eric Schickler, co-director of the UC Berkeley Institute for
Governmental Studies.
San Francisco is grappling with a crisis on its streets, which are plagued by drug overdoses, homelessness and crime. Mayor London Breed is taking new steps to address the drug crisis, but some civic groups say that’s not enough.
One of the newer advocacy organizations that has emerged in the city is TogetherSF Action, which is led by a former city hall aide and a billionaire venture capitalist. The group has been hosting town halls to explore solutions, educate voters and put more pressure on city officials. It will hold another one tonight in San Francisco to focus on what more can be done to end the open-air drug markets and stop the rash of fentanyl and other drug overdoses.
In today's edition of The State of California, KCBS Radio political reporter and host Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Kanishka Cheng, executive director and cofounder of TogetherSF Action.
As we've been reporting, former president Donald Trump was arrested and arraigned today at a courthouse in New York City, charged with 34 first degree felonies. The former president entered a plea of not guilty, with his attorneys insisting afterward that he will never be convicted. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg revealed later that he has evidence of three other crimes committed by the former president, two of them violations of New York law and the other federal campaign law. He alleges that Mr. Trump falsified business records to cover up those crimes, elevating this to a felony case and extending the statute of limitations. The former president plans to address the charges before supporters in Florida later this afternoon.
For more, Doug Sovern, Patti Reising and Brett Burkhart spoke with Laurie Levenson, Law Professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
Former President Trump has returned to New York, ahead of his surrender tomorrow after being indicted by a grand jury.
The charges against Mr. Trump will be unsealed tomorrow, amid extraordinary security and a heavy police presence around the courthouse in Lower Manhattan.
The former president has railed against his prosecution unrelentingly since word of his indictment leaked last week, warning of “death and destruction” if Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg proceeds with this case, rallying his supporters to oppose what Trump calls “political persecution,” and raising campaign cash through constant emails. After he’s booked and arraigned tomorrow shortly after 11 in the morning our time, Trump plans to fly back to Mar-a-Lago in Florida and deliver a speech, around 5pm our time.
For more on what’s coming and what could happen next, Doug Sovern, Brett Burkhart, and Patti Reising spoke with Dr. Larry Rosenthal, Chair and Lead Researcher of the Berkeley Center for Right-Wing Studies, at UC Berkeley.
We all know that the shortage of affordable housing is an ongoing problem in
California, contributing to the homelessness crisis and to some extent, an exodus
of Californians to other states, as they search for a place to live that they can
afford.
Governor Newsom has been quite aggressive of late as he pressures
cities to build more housing, and on the local level, governments have been
easing restrictions to expedite housing construction. How many Californians are
really leaving, and how many more are thinking about it?
For more, KCBS Radio's Dough Sovern spoke with Dean Bonner, associate survey director and research fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, which is based in San Francisco, where he is one of the folks behind the PPIC statewide surveys. He is a political scientist with both a masters and a PhD from the University of New Orleans.
While charges have yet to be filed, a Manhattan Grand Jury has voted to Indict Former President Donald Trump for alleged hush money paid to a pornographic film star.
To discuss further, Pat Thurston and Brett Burkhart spoke with Laurie Levenson, Law Professor at Loyola Law School.
As Governor Newsom budgets billions to address homelessness and calls for a bond measure to provide even more funding, a Republican state lawmaker is pushing a different idea. The Senate Minority Leader, Brian Jones, wants to ban homeless encampments near schools, parks and libraries, and pass a law requiring what he calls “compassionate clearing” of homeless camps.
Senator Jones, a Republican from San Diego, introduced this measure last fall but it stalled in committee. Now he’s got some Democratic support, as Senator Bill Dodd of Napa has signed on, and the bill could come up for a vote again next month.
For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones.
The race to replace Dianne Feinstein in the U-S Senate has
crystallized, now that Ro Khanna has decided not to join the fray. The Silicon Valley Congressman is all in for Barbara Lee now, boosting her candidacy with an online rally last night
Khanna announced early Sunday morning that he would take a pass on this Senate race and instead endorse Lee, his progressive Congressional colleague from Oakland. She was always the obvious pick for him if he decided not to run himself, and the longer he waited, the more likely it seemed that he would stay in the House and not run for Feinstein’s seat, which she will vacate after 2024.
He gave Lee an enthusiastic endorsement on Sunday, then immediately backed it up by holding a joint virtual rally on Zoom last night, and is already helping her with fundraising. Lee is playing catchup with the other two Democrats in the race, Representatives Katie Porter of Irvine and Adam Schiff of Los Angeles, both of whom have a big edge in terms of fundraising, name recognition and polling strength.
For more, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern
The state legislature is giving the green light to Governor Newsom’s plan to limit the profits of oil companies in California. After languishing for months, the governor’s compromise plan has zipped through the State Senate, and today, the State Assembly took it up for a vote. After lengthy debate today on the Assembly floor, the legislature gave its final approval in rather speedy fashion, to the Governor’s proposal.
Originally Governor Newsom wanted to limit the profits of oil companies, whom he’s accused repeatedly of gouging consumers, blaming them for California’s record high gasoline prices last fall. He called for a windfall profits tax, then adjusted that to a cap on profits with a penalty that would be refunded to taxpayers, and now in its final version, the California Energy Commission, not the state legislature, will have the authority to investigate the oil market, gather information, set a cap on profits if it deems that necessary, and then perhaps levy penalties. That’s a far cry from his original bill, but it’s still been fought tooth and nail by the oil industry.
For more, Doug Sovern, Brett Burkhart, and Pattie Reising spoke with State Assemblymember Alex Lee of Milpitas, who represents the 24th Assembly District.
The process of direct legislation in California – the ballot measures and referenda that we see on the ballot time and time again – have become a really big deal in the state. We see a change in the level of spending and the consequences of ballot measure politics in the last several election cycles, including back in 2020 and in the most recent election of 2022. Activity around ballot measures and direct legislation is picking up as we head to the 2024 ballot.
To discuss further, Megan Goldsby and Matt Bigler spoke with Professor David McCuan, Sonoma State Political Science Professor, and Representative Isaac Bryan, Democrat, who represents California’s 55th Assembly District.
As we have reported the last two weeks, the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and concerns about the banking industry remain front and center in the news. On March 10th, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the FDIC) took control of Silicon Valley Bank’s operations after The institution’s cash shortfall triggered the largest bank failure since Washington Mutual – during the height of the 2008 financial crisis.
Later the federal government moved to guarantee that bank depositors’ money would be there - including those with deposits that exceeded the $250,000 standard insurance level, the first time that FDIC has done this for large depositors. As a result, there appears to be much angst among voters, depositors, and customers, as well as with politicians about both reassuring the public about the banking industry and at the same time visiting the conditions and regulations that led to the collapse of SVB.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart are joined by Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan to speak with Representative Katie Porter. She is a Democrat who represents California’s 47th Congressional District, and is also a candidate to replace Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Governor Gavin Newsom this week announced a unique new approach as part of his mounting efforts to reign in California's homeless crisis. He wants to tap funding from Medicaid to cover a program called "transitional rent" that would house people with behavioral health issues for 6 months.
Federal Medicaid money is typically barred from use by states to pay rent, but Newsom says he's talking to President Biden to get him on board with this comprehensive plan which includes a 2024 ballot measure asking voters to approve up to 5-billion dollars to provide supportive housing for the homeless or others at risk for losing their housing.
To discuss further, Patti reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Angela Hart, Senior Correspondent for Kaiser Health News.
With news of a possible indictment against former President Trump, the political and legal ramifications affecting the 2024 presidential election are about to be a wild ride. Our political universe is about to be turned upside down if an indictment is forthcoming. Yet, with the legal implications and maneuvering unclear, it is likely that the political effects of such developments will be even more consequential. Today we wanted to turn to possible “effects” of such an indictment in California and on the state’s roughly 22 million registered voters in California. To discuss further, Patti Reising and Brett Burkhart spoke with Mindy Romero, Professor and Director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California and Professor McCuan, Professor of Political Science at Sonoma State University.
Reports are coming out that the EPA will be taking steps to help California phase-out diesel trucks with state regulators saying they cause a large share of the state's pollution, which can affect residents' health.
Meanwhile unions representing truck manufacturers are not on board, saying the rules would make trucks more expensive, making buyers keep old trucks on the road, longer.
For more on this, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Matt Peterson, President and CEO of the nonprofit LA Cleantech Incubator.
As we've been reporting, Governor Gavin Newsom is promising some major changes coming to California's oldest prison, with plans to transform the facility into the "San Quentin Rehabilitation Center." Newsom says the new institution will be "one-of-a-kind," putting an emphasis on rehabilitation and education for incarcerated people.
For more on this, Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Professor Robert Weisburg, Professor and Co-director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center.
Many California Democrats are calling for the reinstatement of banking regulations that were rolled back during Trump's time in office.
For more, KCBS Radio Political Analyst Doug Sovern spoke with Barbara Lee, congresswoman who is also running for a US Senate seat.
It’s time for Governor Newsom’s State of the State address, but he’s
doing things a little bit differently this year. Instead of a traditional speech in Sacramento, the governor will hit the road, with four news conferences in four days, touching on four different topics.
The governor begins this road show tomorrow in Sacramento, where
he will address homelessness. Friday, he will come to the Bay Area to talk about
public safety and crime. Saturday, it’s on to Los Angeles, and health care costs.
And finally on Sunday, Newsom will address mental health care, at an appearance
in San Diego. At each stop he says he will announce major new policy proposals,
to help move California in the right direction on each of these pressing issues.
And then he will send a letter to the state legislature, to fulfill his obligation to
inform them of the state of the state.
For more, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern spoke with Professor David McCuan, Chair of the Political Science Department at Sonoma State
University.
One week after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came to California,
President Biden is wrapping up his own two-day visit to the Golden State
The president went to Monterey Park this afternoon to talk about
preventing more gun violence. For more on this, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern.
The banking sector continues to reel after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, with another Bay Area bank under financial pressure, as investors worry about the crisis spreading.
This is happening even though the Biden administration moved quickly to guarantee all deposits at Silicon Valley Bank, beyond the usual FDIC limits.
It’s astonishing how quickly Silicon Valley Bank unraveled, in just a matter of days, followed over the weekend by the failure of Signature Bank, in New York. Today shares of First Republic Bank, based in San Francisco, fell by about two-thirds, even though that bank remains open for business and well capitalized, according to its leaders, who say they’ve secured more financing from JP Morgan to make sure they could survive a run on the bank if one came. Meanwhile, those who depend on Silicon Valley Bank had a pretty nervous weekend before the administration stepped forward.
For more, Doug Sovern, Pattie Reising, and Brett Burkhart spoke with State Senator Dave Cortese of San Jose, whose district includes much of Silicon Valley and many customers and companies who bank at Silicon Valley Bank.
Has the nation become more polarized?
KCBS Radio Political Analyst Doug Sovern spoke with Fred Cooke, long time Public Relations Executive and USC professor. He is also the Director of the USC Center for Public Relations. and oversees The Polarization Index.
Northern California is bracing for another atmospheric river, with a
powerful storm expected to drench us again, tomorrow and Friday
Meanwhile, the Lake Tahoe region could see several more feet of
snow this weekend at higher elevation, but it could be rain at lower levels.
At this point, it’s fair to say, the joy and relief over our astonishingly
wet winter easing the drought and creating spectacular ski conditions, is giving
way to frustration and fatigue. We are nearing mid-March and still getting hit by a
seemingly endless parade of storms. There’s too much snow at Tahoe, and many days no one can even get there to ski or the resorts have to shut down. Seven weeks ago on this show we spoke with a local water expert about California’s lack of storage and the need to take better advantage of our very wet January.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart as well as KCBS Political Analyst spoke with Dr. Peter Gleick, co-founder and senior fellow at the Pacific Institute, a global water think tank based in Oakland.
The next presidential election is coming up, and Governor Ron DeSantis went to the Ronald Reagan Library to poke some jabs at Governor Gavin Newsom. The stage is set for what high profile politicians will be major players in the next two years.
Today on The State of California, KCBS Political Report Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart for more.
San Francisco lawmaker is trying to reduce the number of paper receipts consumers get at the store. He says they're both bad for the environment and for your body.
Assembly member Phil Ting joins State of California host Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart for more information on this legislation.
California is extending the state and federal tax filing deadline for many counties, due to the Federal State of Emergency declared after many storms ravaged communities.
Californians suffered dramatically from the weather this year, and loss their livelihoods as well as incurred property damage.
The state now has to align their state budgeting efforts with this extension.
KCBS Radio Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with _____ Palmer for more.
Governor Newsom's announced yesterday that California's state of emergency is over, almost three years to the day that it was instated due to COVID-19.
KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Sarah Bohn, vice president of research and senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, on how California's economy really fared the past three years and the real financial impact of the pandemic in today's edition of The State of California.
The domino effect continues from Senator Dianne Feinstein’s
planned retirement and the rush of prominent Democrats who want to succeed
her. Oakland Representative Barbara Lee is among those giving up their
seat in the House to run for Senator and now we have the first major candidate
who wants to take Lee’s place in Congress. We’ve been speculating for weeks about who might run to represent Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, San Leandro and the rest of the East Bay’s 12th Congressional District. Now, most of the names on our short list are coalescing around one candidate and that is Lateefah Simon, member of the BART Board of Directors, of which she is the former president. She is also the former
president of the Akonadi Foundation in Oakland, she’s on the Cal State University
Board of Trustees, she was the executive director of the Lawyers Committee for
Civil Rights, she was the youngest woman ever to win a MacArthur Foundation
“genius” fellowship, and she has degrees from both Mills College and USF.
And today she is our guest on the State of California, joining Brett Burkart, Megan Goldsby, and Doug Sovern.
The 2024 presidential campaign is already heating up, and for the
first time in a long time, California Republicans could have a significant say in the
process
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis comes to Southern California this weekend, in what’s likely to be the first of many visits to the Golden State by Republican presidential contenders. It’s a golden opportunity for the California Republican Party to energize its members, recruit new voters and reinvigorate itself but at the same
time, there’s going to be a very high profile Senate campaign here too, and at the
moment, not a single Republican candidate is in that field, and are there any on
the horizon?
KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising, and Brett Burkhart spoke with the
Chair of the California Republican Party, Jessica Millan Patterson.
Oakland's Mayor is defending her decision to remove former Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong following a report faulting his handling of two instances of misconduct within the city's police department. It comes as Armstrong has officially filed an appeal in an effort to get his old job back. To discuss this further, KCBS Reporter Mike DeWald sat down with Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao.
With all the talk of the environment, weather and droughts, and ways to address climate change, one avenue that receives much attention is changing what we drive and our use of the traditional avenue of the American automobile.
Yet dealing with clean energy and moving Californians into affordable electric vehicles, for example, presents many challenges. In the State Capitol, there is movement in the wake of legislative and policy developments to address building more electric vehicle capacity and infrastructure. There remain challenges – as well as renewed “energy” dealing with changes related to the environment and automobiles.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart along with Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan spoke to Tyson Eckerle, Senior Advisor in the Newsom Adminstration for Clean Infrastructure.
This week we have witnessed many developments in politics from Kyiv to Sacramento that affect next year’s elections.
With Friday marking one year since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and with the President in Europe to rally NATO, the foreign policy stage is being set for the 2024 campaign season,
In addition, as we reported yesterday, East Bay Congresswoman Barbara Lee announced her candidacy to replace Senator Dianne Feinstein next year.
The Senate Map for 2024 includes several high-profile races shaping up across the country – and yet, California’s US Senate race may be one of the premier contests in the nation – expected to be expensive, high-profile, and consequential.
For more, KCSB Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Political Scientist from Sonoma State University, Dr. David McCuan.
Today, Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo talk to Dr. David McCuan, Political Scientist at Sonoma State University. This past day, KCBS has covered everything Barbara Lee as she announces her candidacy officially for Dianne Feinstein's seat next year. She joins Adam Schiff and Katie Porter in the race for the Democratic Primary race to b e held in March. Representative Lee is in her 12th term of office from the 12th Congressional District – a District that includes much of Alameda County and cities such as Oakland, Berkeley, and on down to San Leandro. This Congressional District is also the most Democratic one in the nation.
As we look back over the year 2022 and forward to next year’s elections in 2024, we see many themes shaping up. One recent constant, however, is how deeply blue the State of California is – yet we see voters who are also fiercely independent with pockets of red in other areas of the state.
When we consider how the state is changing, where those changes are taking place, and how impactful these changes can be to the state in the near future, it is important to step back and assess what issues and policies will matter over the next year or so.
While the Golden State has experienced highs and lows through recent times defined by many as challenges, disasters, Midterm elections, as well as the persistence of COVID, we are also seeing important changes going on in politics here.
For more on this, Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan, along with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, spoke to the Chair of the California Democratic Party, Rusty Hicks.
On today's segment we learn more about Proposition 8 and last year's reversal of Roe v. Wade.
For more, KCBS Radio political analyst Doug Sovern spoke with California Senator Scott Wiener.
Yet another abortion court case in Texas could have far-reaching implications for women in California.
Less than a year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a federal court in Texas could take away the most common form of abortion, the "medication abortion” that uses a combination of two prescription pills.
Those pills are mifepristone and misoprostol. When taken in concert, they essentially trigger a miscarriage, ending pregnancies up to 10 weeks or so. That’s how more than half the abortions in America are done now — not by a procedure performed by a doctor. But an anti-abortion group is asking a conservative Texas judge to overturn the FDA approval of mifepristone, arguing that it overstepped its authority when it gave the drug the green light more than 20 years ago. California’s Attorney General is among those arguing that doctors should still be allowed to prescribe it, and in fact the Biden administration has been widening access to the medication.
For more, KCBS Radio political analyst Doug Sovern as well as KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Dr. Ushma Upadhyay, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at UCSF and co-director of the UC Global Health Institute’s ANSIRH, which stands for Advancing New Standards In Reproductive Health.
Well, she finally made it official today, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein will not run for another term
For more KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart & Doug Sovern are joined by Senator Feinstein’s longtime colleague, former Senator Barbara Boxer, who served alongside Feinstein for 24 of the 30 years that Feinstein has been in the Senate.
As California’s homelessness problem continues to get worse and
worse, lawmakers are introducing new ideas to try to get more housing built. But even some existing ideas are running into roadblocks, even as
the state throws billions at the issue. State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco introduced legislation today to bypass zoning restrictions to expedite housing construction in cities that are not meeting their housing goals. State Senator Dave Cortese of San Jose has a bill that would streamline environmental review. There’s a deepening sense that existing solutions just aren’t getting enough done, quickly. Oakland has embraced building more “tiny homes” or “cabins,” tuff sheds to house people in places like the sprawling Wood Street encampment. But even that idea may not fly, as it turns out, in San Francisco.
For more, KCBS Radio political analyst Doug Souvern along with news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke to San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who has been behind a plan for tiny cabins in a parking lot on Mission Street, but now says neighborhood opposition may scuttle the idea.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed delivered her "State of the City" address this week to a packed crowd of politicians and residents where she lauded the city's resilience and reiterated her commitment to economic recovery in light of the many challenges since the onset of the COVID pandemic. Her plans to take on San Francisco's most pressing issues included addressing public safety, the housing crisis, and revitalizing the city's struggling downtown.
To discuss further, we're joined on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
Despite all the campaign announcements for Diane Feinstein's seat, the Senator has remained silent on her intentions for the 2024 election. With three possible candidates, so far, the possible outcomes could shift the makeup of the Senate. Today we talk with former, four-term Senator Barbara Boxer on the possibilities and implications of this senate race.
President Biden hit the road today, visiting Madison, Wisconsin to
reinforce the pitch he laid out in last night’s State of the Union Address. Polls show viewers gave the President high marks, but he’s got a long way to go to boost his stagnant approval ratings. And then there’s Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the former Trump press secretary who’s in her second month as governor of Arkansas. She gave a blistering Republican response that focused squarely on the culture wars,
drawing sharp, but often not factual, distinctions between the two major parties.
For more on last night’s presidential address and the reactions to it, KCBS political reporter and host of The State of California Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Mike Madrid, veteran
Republican political consultant in Sacramento and co-founder of the Lincoln
Project.
t’s that time of year again and President Biden delivers his second
State of the Union address tonight—this time with Republicans in charge of the
House. The speech is expected to serve as sort of a de facto kickoff for the
President’s re-election campaign.
You can hear that speech live right here on KCBS, starting at 6:00,
followed by the Republican response and our analysis and reaction.
The jockeying for position continues in the race to succeed Dianne
Feinstein in the U.S. Senate, even though Feinstein still hasn’t said if she will run
for another term. The bombshell endorsement last week of Adam Schiff by former
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is still reverberating through the campaign.
Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter got off to a hot start by
declaring her candidacy first and quickly flexing her fundraising muscles, but
Schiff jumped in the race soon after and showed he too, can raise plenty of
money, and then threw everyone for a loop by scoring the very early
endorsement of Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Probably the biggest endorsement you
can get in this race, except perhaps for that of Feinstein herself. So where does
this leave Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who also plans to enter this
race?
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke to Aimee Allison, founder and president of She The People, the national organization,
launched in Oakland, to elevate women of color in politics.
Today, we tackle ethical questions of artificial intelligence. Recently, Southern California Congressman Ted Lieu created a proposal using ChatGPT - being the first ever congressman to use AI in legislation. Now, he sits on the House Science Committee to make sure AI is taken seriously. Brett Burkhart and Patti Reising talk with Congressman Lieu on the power of AI, its limits, and the need to regulate this revolutionary technology.
There is a new effort in California to tax the very rich, an idea that has failed
repeatedly in the legislature over the last few years. But a coalition of progressive
lawmakers is trying again, this time in concert with seven other states. Their new
proposal would levy an additional tax on the top one-tenth of one percent of
Californians, generating more than 21 billion dollars a year in additional revenue
for the state.
For more on this, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with State Assemblyman Alex Lee, a Democrat from San Jose and one of the authors of
the new bills.
Governor Newsom is adding his voice to the call for a new gun safety bill for California.
Newsom joined the state Attorney General and a large group of lawmakers and gun safety advocates today to urge the passage of new legislation.
The bill in question is SB2, written by State Senator Anthony Portantino, Democrat from Burbank. It would update California’s law that allows certain people to obtain permits to carry a concealed weapon. This was made necessary by last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that tossed out New York’s similar law and set a new standard for gun control laws to meet, invalidating California’s existing law. That has left many of California’s other gun safety laws in jeopardy, too.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern, news anchor Patti Reising, and news anchor Bret Burkhart spoke with State Senator Anthony Portantino, the author of this bill.
In the wake of California’s recent mass shootings, Governor Gavin Newsom will call for support for state gun laws tomorrow in a press conference alongside California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
In today's edition of The State of California, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart discuss the new momentum in California for the state to do even more to make it harder to get certain guns, to get guns out of the hands of people who aren’t supposed to have them, and to take whatever steps it can to try to stop this carnage.
Republican lawmakers in Sacramento say they’ve got the answer to
California’s recent surge in violent crime, including a wave of mass shootings. Republican members of the State Assembly gathered on the steps of
the State Capitol today to unveil a package of bills they say will help law
enforcement and crime victims.
While Democrats call for more gun control, their GOP counterparts say California needs to better enforce the laws that are already on the books, and give police more tools to prevent violent crime in the first place.
For more, we are joined live today on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by
Assemblyman James Gallagher of Yuba City, he is the Republican leader
in the State Assembly.
Californians are still reeling from three mass shootings in less than 48 hours. There is much debate over gun control, but what should our society do to stop this ever-worsening epidemic of mass murder?
In today's edition of The State of California, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Tinisch Hollins, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice, an Oakland-based non-profit organization focused on criminal justice reform and public safety advocacy. She is also a crime survivor who has lost three brothers to gun violence.
The debate over gun laws heats up, in the wake of three mass shootings in California in less than 48 hours. But while California already has the nation’s strictest gun laws and more are in the works, there doesn’t seem to be much support for new action at the federal level.
California’s Senator Feinstein re-introduced her assault weapons ban this week, the one that was in place for a decade at the federal level, but was allowed to expire and has never been renewed. But Republicans in Congress have made clear they have no interest in any meaningful gun safety reform, and with more guns than people in the United States, it will take more than new laws to change the culture of violence in this country.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart, and Patti Reising spoke with Allison Anderman, Senior Counsel and Director of Local Policy at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. The organization based in San Francisco and was founded after the 101 California massacre in the City in 1993, and is now led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
The mass shooting in Monterey Park rekindles calls for even stricter gun laws in California, and the carnage in the predominantly Asian American city has left the state’s Asian American Pacific Islander community reeling, just as it begins
celebrating the Lunar New Year.
Members of the California AAPI Legislative Caucus just held a vigil on
the west steps of the state Capitol, and for more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern and KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart are joined by the chair of that caucus, State Assembly member, Evan Low of San Jose, who represents the 28th Assembly District, covering parts of San Jose and Silicon Valley.
You may have heard the recent fuss over the idea of banning gas stoves, well,
that is not on the agenda at the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. But it
is planning to ban the sale of water heaters and furnaces that run on natural gas
over the next few years. The air board will meet soon to vote on the new
regulations, and to clear the air on this.
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern spoke with Greg Nudd, Deputy Air Pollution Control Officer for Policy at the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
California has gone from not having enough water to having way
too much of it. Three weeks of powerful storms have deepened the snowpack, filled
reservoirs and sent millions of gallons cascading into the sea, because the state
doesn’t have enough reservoir capacity.
Now the debate is over whether, where and how to build new water
storage, and how to prevent more flooding in the future.
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart, and Patti Reising spoke with Dr. Peter Gleick, co-founder and senior fellow at the Pacific Institute, a global water think tank based in Oakland. Dr. Glick is a renowned expert on water and climate issues, winner of a MacArthur “Genius” fellowship, and received both his Masters and his PhD from UC Berkeley.
The Warriors visited the White House before President Biden visits California to evaluate storm damage. In this episode, we evaluate Governor Newsom's relationship with the President, the tension of the race for Feinstein's seat and Katie Porter's campaign stop in the Bay.
It was just last week when the federal drought monitor declared that California is no longer in a severe drought. But, that's not to say the drought is over in the state. Water experts say it will take a number of storms to catch up with years of dry weather. It's one of the reasons voters in California decided to try and do something about it in the form of water storage.
In 2014, voters passed proposition 1 which set aside billions of dollars for more water storage in California. To see if that money is being used yet, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Felicia Marcus, former chair of the State Water Resources Control Board and a visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Water in the West Program.
With California looking at another budget deficit projected at $22.5B, Governor Newsom's proposed budget this week is raising concern over big cuts to public transit.
State Senator Scott Wiener warns that they won't be pretty, and that his office will conduct an analysis of the proposal and potentially form a coalition of lawmakers, transit agencies and advocates to push back on it.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Scott Wiener, State Senator from San Francisco.
Orange County Representative Katie Porter got the new political year off to a rousing start by announcing that she will run for Senator Dianne Feinstein’s seat in the U.S. Senate next year, even though the 89-year-old senator won’t announce until this spring whether she plans to retire or seek yet another term. Feinstein is widely expected to call it a career, so Porter jumped into the race first, gaining an edge on what is expected to be a crowded field of Democrats hoping to succeed Feinstein.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Rep. Katie Porter, the Democrat from Irvine who is now a candidate for the U.S. Senate.
Environmentalists are blasting Governor Newsom for making climate change programs bear the brunt of the state’s projected budget deficit. To help balance the books, the governor wants to slash six billion dollars from climate and transportation spending in the next fiscal year
Newsom defends the cuts by saying the state will still spend 48 billion dollars over five years on climate initiatives, and that’s a lot, an unprecedented amount, so it makes more sense to trim that than cut other programs. He also hopes the federal government may make up the difference, and the legislature could always issue bonds to raise the necessary money. But the bottom line is the governor projects a 22 billion dollar deficit and he has to cut spending somewhere.
For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart, Patti Reising and Goug Sovern spoke to State Senator Josh Becker, Democrat from San Mateo, who is on the Senate Budget committee and chairs its subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy.
Governor Newsom unveiled his 2023 budget proposal today, but the
presentation was overshadowed by some major political news just before he took
the stage.
Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter announced she is
running for Dianne Feinstein’s seat in the Senate even before Feinstein
announces this spring whether she will retire or not.
It’s the first day for the new Congress under the leadership of newly elected Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield.
It took four days and 15 ballots for McCarthy to win that post in unprecedented fashion, and only after making massive concessions to the hard right flank of the Republican Party.
This afternoon the House has been voting to adopt the rules agreed to by McCarthy, and that hasn’t been all smooth sailing either. For more, Doug Sovern spoke a short time ago with freshman Republican Kevin Kiley of Rocklin, in Placer County, one of the newly elected House members who had to wait four days just to get sworn in.
Nobody expected this crazy standoff over Kevin McCarthy - throwing all rules and expectations out the window. Joined by David McCuan, we look into Biden's potential announcement, what happens with Buttigieg, and the first political quarter of this year.
We're continuing our coverage of the severe weather in the Bay Area with storm systems sending historic rainfall and intense winds over the last week. San Francisco has seen the wettest 10-day period for its downtown since 1871, having clocked over 10 inches of rain since December 26th.
Flooded streets, homes and businesses around the city plus downed trees and power outages have all put San Francisco's emergency services and resources to the test, with more storms to come.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
McCarthy needs 218 votes to become Speaker, and Republicans hold
222 seats, to 212 for the Democrats. Yet McCarthy could only win 202 votes on the last ballot of the day, while all the Democrats held firm and backed their new leader, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn.
That’s because a hardcore group of conservative, pro-Trump MAGA Republicans
steadfastly refuses to support McCarthy, even after winning unprecedented
concessions from him. Nineteen of them voted for anyone but McCarthy, eventually
coalescing around Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, who does not want to be
Speaker and is supporting McCarthy. The nineteen House members were joined on the third ballot by another member who had been backing McCarthy but said it’s clear he can’t win.
So the House remains in limbo with no Speaker, unable to conduct any other
business.
We turn our attention to new developments likely to affect politics and the state in
2023. The state faces a different set of circumstances than those of the past year. While some trends will remain, recovery and addressing the pandemic, issues around affordability and housing, homelessness, and economic recovery in the coming year, we will also see a new set of conditions and challenges in the wake of California’s loss of a Congressional seat for the first time in the state’s history.
The shifting of seats led to a change in the state’s Congressional delegation where we see new officeholders emerging at a pivotal time for California at all levels of the state.
For more, KCBS radios Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Dr. David McCuan, Political Scientist from Sonoma State University and Congressman-Elect Robert Garcia, former Mayor of Long Beach and a newly elected Member of Congress.
All this week here on the “State of California,” we have examined some of the changes in play for 2023 as we look back also over the year in politics that was 2022. There have been many challenges and many changes, especially as the effect of term limits in Sacramento begins to take shape and we see changes in leadership. Committee Chairs and the players and actors all affect state politics.
The shifting elements of influence take greater shape when the Legislature returns next Wednesday, January 4th , 2023. We see new leaders and new officeholders emerging at a pivotal time for California at all levels of the state.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Bret Burhart and Patti Reising spoke with Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan and Professor of Public
Affairs and Executive Director of the Maddy Institute at Fresno
State University Mark Keppler.
As we look back over the year 2022 and the year in California politics, the Golden State has experienced highs and lows throughout a period defined by many challenges, disasters, the Midterm elections, as well as the persistence of COVID-19, and yet we have also seen the rise of new actors and personalities in public life.
And while California sometimes experiences “political earthquakes” of sorts, there is a now a pause in campaigns and elections. We see new leaders and new officeholders emerging at a pivotal time for California.
For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Political
Scientist from Sonoma State University, Dr. David McCuan and Political Strategist and Consultant, Garry South.
One guidepost of governing is that, “all politics is local.” In the challenging California environment, success at the local level is one arena where we can look to dealing with challenges around issues of homelessness, mental health, crime, and also disasters such as wildfires.
KCBS Radio takes a look at how all of this plays out and how local officials are coping with uncertainty around these issues.
KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart are joined by Professor David McCuan, a political scientist from Sonoma State University, and Mayor of Santa Rosa, Chris Rogers, for more.
Next week, Republicans move into the majority in Congress for the first time since the Midterms of 2018.
We expect that Bakersfield Congressman Kevin McCarthy will be elected as the next Speaker of the House.
Yet, a narrower-than-anticipated House Republican majority and a growing number of House Republicans expressing opposition to McCarthy threaten to derail his bid to be Speaker of the House.
McCarthy won his party’s nomination for Speaker in a November straw vote, but needs to secure a majority of all recognized Members casting a January 3rd House floor vote in order to officially be elected Speaker.
As we move to the end of the year, we have seen much movement just in the last few days. Mostly, these changes have been around funding the government through the end of September next year, the release of the Final Report for the January 6th Committee, and preparation for House Republicans to assume management. Not to mention, Speaker Pelosi wraps up her historic leadership of the current congressional session. It has been quite a year as we close 2022 and head to the next.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Bret Burkhart along with Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan spoke to Congressman Jared Huffman, who represents Northern California from Marin County to the Oregon Border.
Earlier this week, Humboldt County experienced a strong earthquake, centered near Ferndale that registered at 6.4 magnitude with a series of strong aftershocks that have
continued all week long.
We wanted to get an update on the situation, and what moves may be afoot in the State Capitol and with California.
For more, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan, and Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire
This time of year is often one of reflection about the events of 2022. And what a year in politics it has been! The news around politics and political issues dominated much of our attention as we heard about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the May 24th mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, followed by the Supreme Court’s June decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn a 50 year precedent on abortion rights nationwide.
More recently, we have seen historic Midterm Elections, the proceedings of the January 6th Committee, onto the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September. Even today we see the leader of Ukraine, Voldymyr Zelensky at the White House and later will address a Joint Session of Congress in the nation’s Capitol.
It has certainly been a year for the ages in terms of politics and political stories.
For more on what to keep an eye on, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan, and Democratic Political Strategist Christine Pelosi.
Yesterday’s event in Washington, D.C. were historic, and for the first time in our nation’s history a congressional committee recommended criminal charges against a former President.
The January 6th Committee, in its 154 page summary released on Monday, laid responsibility for the events that took place that day squarely on the former President.
The report noted that, "[T]he central cause of January 6th was one man, former President Donald Trump, who many others followed” and that, "None of the events of January 6th would have happened without him."
With all of the coverage and commentary over the last 24 hours, we wanted to dig into what may come next here as the recommendations move to a legal process at the Department of Justice.
For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan, and Bay Area Congresswoman and Member of the January 6th Committee, Zoel Lofgren.
As we have been covering throughout the day in Washington, DC with the January 6th Committee are sure to shape politics for some time to come.
The Committee met earlier today to vote on the final report and to provide criminal referrals against former President to the Department of Justice, the Department of
Justice will care about evidence — some of which we have seen over ten public hearings by the Committee and some of which the public has not seen. How does the turnover in office affect these referrals? Will the DOJ act?
In July, we broke the story on this show about the plan for a floating abortion
clinic, a ship on the Gulf of Mexico that would provide reproductive health
services for women from states where abortion is now banned or extremely
restricted, such as Texas and Alabama.
It’s the brainchild of Dr. Meg Autry, an OBGYN at UC San Francisco, in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe
v Wade. She plans to call the ship the Prowess.
Five months later, where does this project stand? For an update, KCBS Radio's Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Dr. Meg Autry.
Los Angeles has sworn in its new mayor, Karen Bass, and here in the Bay Area, Oakland and San Jose are getting ready to inaugurate theirs.
There’s no debate about the biggest challenge facing California’s new big city mayors, it’s homelessness, and what to do about the terrible situation on the streets.
Mayor Bass vowed in her inaugural address to take on homelessness and get people off the streets and into supportive housing. But we’ve heard that from California mayors for decades, going back to Willie Brown in San Francisco and of course Gavin Newsom as both mayor and governor, and Karen Bass’ predecessor in LA, Eric Garcetti. So what can we really expect from these mayors, and how should they adjust their approach?
For more KCBS Radio's Bret Thurston, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern spoke with Antonia Hernandez, President and CEO of the California Community Foundation, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles that addresses the needs of marginalized communities.
California Senator Dianne Feinstein says she is determined to serve out the two years remaining in her team, and she hasn’t ruled out running for another one!
KCBS news anchors Pat Thurston and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern for more.
We are talking about President Biden’s plan to shake up the primary schedule -ditching Iowa and bumping New Hampshire from its usual spot as the first primary. Biden’s proposal, already approved by a committee within the Democratic National Committee, is to begin the 2024 nominating process with the South Carolina primary, then hold the Nevada and New Hampshire primaries three days later, followed by Georgia and Michigan. The Iowa caucuses would no longer bat leadoff and would lose their outsized influence in the process. Meanwhile, the Republicans are sticking with the current calendar, beginning with the Iowa caucus, followed by the New Hampshire primary and then Nevada and South Carolina. The full DNC still has to ratify the shift for Democrats.
City Council member and California political heavyweight Kevin De Leon made his first appearance at a city council meeting since the fallout from the leaked audio tape of him participating in a racist conversation that led to the resignations of Council President Nury Martinez and County Labor President Ron Harrera.
De Leon has two years left on his term and has said he has no plans to resign and the meeting quickly became pandemonium after he appeared between public attendees shouting for him to step down, and supporters chanting his name.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio's Pat Thurston and Bret Burkhart spoke with John Baird, reporter with Audacy Sister station KNX in Los Angeles. He was at the city council meeting earlier today...
San Francisco, beset by crime and homelessness, is embracing a new project called Reimagining Public Safety, an initiative run by the Policing Project at NYU School of Law. Mayor London Breed announced the new program with Barry Friedman, an NYU professor who cofounded the Policing Project.
KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern spoke with Professor Friedman for more on this story.
After two years of unexpectedly large budget surpluses, California faces a budget deficit next year for the first time since 2020. The shortfall is projected at about $24 billion dollars, but luckily the state has socked away billions in its reserves and rainy day fund.
The question now is should California dip into that piggy bank to balance the books next year, or cut spending or delay some programs as recommended by the state’s legislative analyst?
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Pat Thurston and Bret Burkhart were joined by State Assembly member Phil Ting of San Francisco. He chairs the Assembly Budget Committee and today he released his budget blueprint for how to tackle the 2023 deficit.
The US Supreme Court will hear a key case involving redistricting in North Carolina that could have huge implications for the rest of the country, including California.
The outcome of this case could overturn California’s independent redistricting commission and affect how elections are run, from coast to coast.
We are talking about Moore vs. Harper, a case in which the high court will decide whether North Carolina’s state Supreme Court was right to overturn gerrymandered district maps drawn by the Republican-controlled state legislature, and whether a widely debunked legal theory known as the “independent state legislature” doctrine is actually legitimate.
Four of the justices on the US Supreme Court voted to hear this case presumably the four conservatives who have been supportive of this theory in the past, and if a court majority sides with the North Carolina Republicans and rules that state legislatures have complete control of elections, it could open the door to some serious unintended consequences and really wreak havoc on the future of elections.
For more, here's KCBS Radio's Doug Sovergn, Bret Burkart, and Pat Thurston.
The state legislature opened its new special session today, with dozens of newly elected lawmakers sworn into office, and Governor Newsom on hand for the ceremonies
KCBS news anchor Bret Burkhart is joined by Jamie Court, President of Consumer Watchdog, the nonprofit, nonpartisan consumer protection organization that’s based in Los Angeles, and is one of many groups supporting the governor’s plan.
State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco has asked Caltrans to study the potential costs of removing the Central Freeway. The roughly one mile elevated connector between Highway 101 and San Francisco's Hayes Valley. That in addition to an inquiry to look into the removal of two other freeways in the city.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart spoke to California Senator Scott Wiener.
The California energy commission has begun hearings investigating why gas prices have recently spiked so high, but the empty chairs at the first hearing stole the spotlight. Those chairs were reserved for oil company executives who didn't show up as their companies post record profits.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Severin Borenstein, faculty director at the Energy Institute at U-C Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
Last week, we looked at what the new Congress means for Democrats. Today we look at the challenges and opportunities for Republicans as the GOP takes control of the house and the greater implications for California.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Tom Beccaro, former Chair of the California Republican Party.
Plenty of changes are in store for Congress in the coming months; Republicans taking control of the house, a new speaker, and a generational shift in Democratic leadership all lay the groundwork for what could be a very chaotic term.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Bob Shrum, director of the Center for the Political Future, a professor of political science and and the Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics at USC Dornsife.
Diablo Canyon is the last nuclear power plant operating in California and has been scheduled to shut down in two phases, the first in 2024 and the second in 2025.
For more on this, we are joined live today on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by Severin Borenstein, faculty director at the Energy Institute at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and member of the California Independent System Operator Board of Governors.
It's been years in the making and now the final hurdle has been cleared to remove four dams on the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border. This after yesterday's vote from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to allow the license of the dams to expire. The half-billion dollar project is the largest dam removal and river restoration effort in United States history. This aims to bring back the health of the once-mighty river and its decimated population of Salmon.
The dams owned by Pacifi-Corp are now under the management of local Native American tribes who will oversee their demolition.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Jared Huffman who represents the North Bay all the way up to the Oregon Border. He's also chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee and a partner of the Klamath Dam removal efforts.
Well, the Democrats did a lot better than many people thought they would, and
then most polls suggested they would, in the midterm elections, holding on to
the U.S. Senate and only losing a very narrow majority to the Republicans in the
House of Representatives. They even gained governorships, which is almost
unheard of in midterm elections, and liberals carried the day on statewide ballot
measures across the country on abortion, marijuana legalization, and other
issues. We said all along this election would come down to turnout, and one of
the demographic groups that turned out in droves for the Democrats was the
the youth vote, including first-time voters under the age of 30.
For more on this, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of The State
of California, Doug Sovern spoke with Abby Kiesa, Deputy Director of CIRCLE, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, at Tufts University, it is one of the foremost organizations in the country studying the youth vote.
Former President Donald Trump has made it official: He is running for president for the third time. But this time he faces significant opposition from within his own party, as more and more Republicans see him as a drag on their general election chances.
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Kamy Akhavan, executive director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future and an expert on political polarization.
Ballots are still coming in, many unexpected victories occurred in this election, and California has a hold on the outcome of the house majority. Many people project Kevin McCarthy will be the Republican nominee for Speaker, while Pelosi still has the support of her caucus - but what does she want? In this episode of The State of California, we analyze the possibilities of this election cycle and what is to come.
As Donald Trump is expected to announce his return to politics and take on President Biden, his GOP peers have taken control of lower levels of government. In this episode, we take a look at the possible split between Trump and DeSantis to predict how it plays out.
California has named its next Assembly Speaker after months of debate over the succession plan for current speaker Anthony Rendon. After a 6-hour meeting yesterday, state Democrats emerged with the announcement that Robert Rivas was unanimously voted to be next in line for the position when Rendon's term comes to a close.
The Democratic Assemblymember representing California's Central Coast is now headed for a long transition into the seat, to be made official in June of 2023.
To discuss further, Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Robert Rivas, Assembly member and now "speaker designee" of California.
Abortion was definitely on the ballot this week, not just in California, but in Michigan, Vermont and Kentucky. California's Proposition 1 won big; it was the leading vote-getter of any measure or candidate on the state ballot in the midterm elections. That means the right to an abortion and contraception will be protected in the state constitution.
Voters didn't just pass Prop 1; it appears that a large turnout of people concerned about abortion rights helped make a difference in some close congressional races, too.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Dough Sovern spoke with Jodi Hicks, CEO & President of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.
The biggest winner on Election Night was Proposition 1, the abortion rights amendment that got more votes than any of the statewide candidates.
There are literally still millions of ballots left to count across the state, so it could be days before we know who the new mayors will be in Los Angeles, Oakland and San Jose, and which party, if any, flipped House seats in California. That will affect the eventual House majority, which looks to be going to the Republicans, but not by much more than the current, slim Democratic majority. We could know soon whether the Democrats retain control of the Senate, if they hold on to Nevada. But if that close race ends up swinging to Republican Adam Laxalt, then we will have to wait until after a December runoff in Georgia to learn which party wins the Senate.
There’s a lot to break down about what happened in California last night, and for that, KCBS Radio's Dough Sovergn, Bret Burkart, and Patti Reising spoke with Sonoma State political science professor, David McCuan.
It is Election Day 2022, with control of Congress at stake and California electing statewide officers from governor on down. Half a dozen Congressional races in California could help decide whether Democrats or Republicans hold the majority in 2023.
We will have complete and comprehensive election results for you, beginning with returns from across the country as the polls close in other states, and from here in California once the polls close at 8:00 p.m.
For more on today's elections, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart and Doug Sovern spoke with Sonoma State University political science professor Dr. David McCuan.
Its the eve of Election Day and congressional campaigns are in full swing. Several districts are being targeted by Democrats and Republicans alike in an effort to switch shades and take control of the House. In man effort to understand this finger-biting midterms race, we are joined by USC Professor Darry Sragow, a longtime Democratic strategist who is now the publisher of the non-profit California Target Book.
Just days before California's latest Gubernatorial election a new documentary about the Golden State's 34th, and 39th, governor held its world premiere last night in San Francisco.
For more, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart and Doug Sovern spoke with director and two time Emmy award-winning filmmaker, Marina Zenovich.
Just six days until the midterm elections, and today our focus is on the race to be California’s top cop.
California has an incumbent Attorney General, Democrat Rob Bonta, but he was appointed, not elected, and now he’s running for a full four-year term
His opponent is Republican Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor who worked in the US Attorney’s office for Central California, and also as an assistant U.S. Attorney General.
We have heard from Attorney General Bonta on this show before, and we’ve invited him to appear again before next week’s election.
KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart along with KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with the Republican contender in this race, Nathan Hochman.
In a world of constant coverage where the story is evolving, there are several dialogues that use details - old and new - from the news on Paul Pelosi's attack. In this episode of The State of California, Doug Sovern talks the Pelosi attack and its effect on midterm election outcomes.
Newsom's campaign for reelection calls into question - what's next after his predicted reelection? Does he have the potential to run in a national race? His stances are evolving as his gaze looks farther down the road.
Today we can't ignore the disturbing incident when Paul Pelosi was attacked with a hammer by a man who broke into his San Francisco home this morning looking for his wife, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Mr. Pelosi suffered a fractured skull in the attack but is expected to recover.
The violence comes amid intense political division ahead of the approaching midterm elections.
To discuss further, we’re joined by KCBS Radio's Political Analyst Larry Gerston.
We're less than two weeks until Election Day, and today we continue our special edition of the State of California taking a closer look at the issues at hand for the midterms. KCBS Political reporter Doug Sovern assembled a special roundtable of guests at the Top of the Mark, the historic bar high atop Nob Hill, at the Mark Hopkins Hotel, for an extended conversation to break down the key issues
Doug's guests are political sociologist Mindy Romero, Director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the USC Price School of Public Policy, veteran California Republican campaign consultant Mike Madrid, one of the co-founders of the Lincoln Project, and Carla Marinucci, longtime political writer, formerly with Politico and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Less than two weeks before Election Day, we’ve got a special edition of the State of California, with more on the way.
KCBS political reporter Doug Souvern has assembled a special roundtable of guests to break down the midterm elections and the key issues.
This round table includes political sociologist Mindy Romero, Director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the USC Price School of Public Policy, veteran California Republican campaign consultant Mike Madrid, one of the co-founders of the Lincoln Project, and Carla Marinucci, longtime politcal writer, formerly with Politico and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Despite Governor Newsom’s repeated insistence that he has no interest in running for president, the speculation persists that he will do just that.
In the only debate of this gubernatorial race, Newsom promised to serve the full four years of a second term, if he’s re-elected two weeks from today.
For more, here's KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart.
It’s going down to the wire in the race for California Controller, with Democrat Malia Cohen and Republican Lanhee Chen vying for the open seat.
Republicans see Chen as their best bet in 16 years to win a statewide race in California.
Chen certainly has some endorsement momentum, picking up the editorial support of both the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle, among other major papers in the state. KCBS Radio spoke with Chen on this show last week. Today, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart are joined by Malia Cohen, the former San Francisco Supervisor and Board of Supervisors President. They now serve as Chair of the state Board of Equalization, after winning election to that board four years ago.
Once again, energy is at the forefront of a key election in California. As we've been reporting on KCBS, oil refineries in the state haven't seen profits this high in decades. Lately, Governor Gavin Newsom has been railing against these profits. He's now calling for a special session to debate a windfall tax against big oil to refund drivers for higher prices at the pump. It all comes amid challenges with the state's power grid, and just in time for a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff from PG&E this weekend in Northern California to prevent another devastating wildfire.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke to former California Governor Gray Davis, whose career was forever changed by energy issues in the state.
Less than three weeks before the midterm elections, momentum seems to have
shifted, and what looked like a tight national race, with control of Congress
hanging in the balance, now seems to be leaning toward the Republicans. How
did this happen and why?
For more, KCBS Radio Political Reporter and host of “The State
of California” Doug Sovern spoke with Garry South, longtime Democratic strategist and consultant in California who ran two winning campaigns for governor, for Gray Davis.
Three weeks before the November election, does a Republican have a legitimate shot at winning a statewide race in California?
It’s been 16 years since a candidate from the GOP was elected to a statewide office in California, but the party thinks it has its best shot since then, in the race for State Controller.
That candidate is Lanhee Chen, a fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution who was policy advisor to Mitt Romney and Marco Rubio and was appointed by President Obama to the Social Security Advisory Board. He holds four degrees from Harvard, including a JD and a PhD. He is the Republican contender for state Controller, running against Democrat Malia Cohen, and he joins KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising.
Election Day is just three weeks from today, and the issues at play in the November midterms are crystallizing.
The questions now are who is going to turn out, which side will be more motivated, and how will that determine which party controls the next Congress?
To help you sort through all of this, we’ve launched a new national politics podcast on Audacy, called “The Homestretch,” focusing each week on a different issue or aspect of this midterm election cycle. Our first episode was on the economy and inflation, the second was about abortion rights, the third one, last week, on the Latino vote. Episode 4 drops this Thursday and we will focus on crime. There will be two more installments after that, on election integrity and control of the Senate. You can find our new podcast everywhere podcasts are offered, including on the Audacy app, or you can literally just say Hey alexa or siri, play the Homestretch podcast, and it should come up on your Apple or Google or whatever podcast platform you use.
One of the things we’re really trying to do with this podcast is keep it briefer than most, so it always clocks in at 15 minutes or less, giving you everything you need to know on the particular issue, a 15-minute download to keep you up to date and ready to vote.
Just three weeks and a day until the November midterm elections, and Republicans may be gaining ground as they try to take control of the House of Representatives.
That battle will hinge in part on what happens in several key Congressional races here in California.
For months, the Democrats have been narrowing the GOP’s advantage, thanks in large part to voter anger over the reversal of Roe v. Wade. We saw higher than expected turnout among Democrats and women in special elections around the country.
But in the closing weeks of this campaign, it appears the economy may be reclaiming the top spot as the most critical issue for voters. Women could make the difference next month in terms of which party wins the Senate and the House.
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising and Bret Burkkhart are joined by Matthew Jarvis, an associate professor of political science and Chair of the Division of Politics, Administration and Justice at Cal State Fullerton.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just concluded her visit to California this week in an effort to drum up support for Proposition 1 which if passed, would enshrine the right to abortion access in California's constitution.
This comes not long after both Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris made trips to the Golden State to promote the Biden Administration's Inflation Reduction Act and advocate for reproductive rights as the mid-term elections loom on the horizon.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio anchor Margie Shafer spoke with Donna Crane, Adjunct Professor of Political Science and San Jose State University.
Californians have started voting and topping the list of state measures is Proposition 1, which would amend the states constitution to guarantee reproductive rights. We have heard from supporters of prop 1, waging a high profile campaign. But there's a campaign against the the measure too.
For more, KCBS Radios Doug Sovern spoke with Catherine Catherine Hadro, spokesperson for California Together, No on Proposition 1.
The State Attorney General is launching an investigation into that recording of a racist conversation among three members of the Los Angeles City Council.
This, as President Biden arrives in Los Angeles. He is among the many elected officials demanding those council members resign their seats
This controversy continues to dominate the political headlines, and its fallout could extend to changing the way LA draws its districts. There’s already a proposal to expand that City Council beyond its current 15 seats, and there’s growing momentum for having an independent commission draw the district boundaries in Los Angeles.
It's done statewide and in many California counties, including San Francisco. The scandal is exposing just how racially charged LA politics can be, and how those in power use their offices to consolidate that power.
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising, and Bret Burkhart are joined by Mindy Romero, a political sociologist who is Director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the USC Price School of Public Policy. Their research focuses on political behavior among communities of color in California.
Two members of the Los Angeles City Council were hounded out of their meeting today by angry protestors. They were two of the four public figures that were caught on an audio recording making racist comments about another council member.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of “The State of California.”
With just over four weeks to go, the November Midterms are shaping up to be a high-profile affair where recent state-by-state polling shows a tightening of races across the country. Three factors loom large as these races narrow – how voters see the state of the economy, the performance of the Biden administration, and the general sense of whether they would vote for a Democrat or Republican in general.
This three-part “test” is then framed by issues beyond the pocketbook to include the influence of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Dobbs over abortion rights as well as issues related to crime and policing and culture war issues such as teaching about race and gender. All of this wraps up soon and as ballots head to voters this week in California – and as early voting begins in five states this week across the nation – today we wanted to get a sense of the races and Midterm campaigns here in California.
So how do we make sense of these developments and what comes next here a as we turn to the 2022 Midterm elections?
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising were joined by Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan to speak with Darry Sragow, Political Strategist and Publisher of the, “California Target Book.“
First Lady Jill Biden visited San Francisco today. She stopped by UCSF as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month to bring attention to the Biden Administration's Cancer Moonshot plan to reduce the death-rate from the disease, then attended an annual women's luncheon hosted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi..
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with San Mateo Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who has been accompanying the First Lady on her trip today.
California is in line for tens of billions of dollars in federal funds to address infrastructure needs. This will start with a $120 million dollar allotment, primarily
for transportation, including projects across the Bay Area. Governor Newsom named former Los Angeles mayor and Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa as his infrastructure czar to advise the governor and help identify the best projects to receive all that money.
As part of that process, Mayor Villaraigosa is touring California to meet with local
officials. This week he's in the Bay Area for a couple of days of those meetings.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Mayor Villaraigosa.
One of the proposed ballot measures is Proposition 28, which would require the state to spend an additional 1% every year on art education in public schools.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of “The State of California.”
Just five weeks until Election Day, early voting by mail will begin next week, so what do the latest polls say about some of California’s hotly contested ballot measures?
The campaigns for the rival sports gambling measures have spent almost half a billion dollars now trying to pass their initiatives, but is all that money pouring down the drain?
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of “The State of California.”
Organized labor is celebrating in California, after Governor Newsom signed most of the bills that union leaders fought for during the just-completed legislative session
The governor did veto more than 14% of the hundreds of bills that came to his desk, but he handed labor some key victories, in some cases, things the unions have wanted for years.
Those include increasing how much working class Californians get paid when they take family leave, expanding what absences are covered by family leave, sick days and bereavement, making it easier for farmworkers to join a union and improving conditions and wages for fast food workers.
For more, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising are joined by Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, the longtime member of the State Assembly who left the legislature to take the helm of the California Labor Federation, where she is Executive Secretary-Treasurer.
It's a busy week in Sacramento as Governor Gavin Newsom signed a flurry of legislation into law including the closely watched bill to make it easier for California farmworkers to unionize which he had previously hinted at vetoing.
It's now down to the wire for the Governor to sign or veto the final pieces of legislation that lawmakers sent to him to finish before the end of his deadline.
Fore more, KCBS Radio Anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Jeremy B. White, author of Politico's California Playbook.
Spending for and against Propositions 26 and 27 on this November’s California ballot is now approaching the $500 million dollar mark, unprecedented in the history of American politics.
Online gaming companies are going head-to-head with California tribes, over whether gambling on sports should be legalized, and who gets to control it.
On Monday’s show, we heard from the spokesperson for the Yes on 26/No on 27 campaign, whose side wants to bring sports betting to tribal casinos and racetracks only, and keep the gambling app companies out of the picture.
Today, KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart are joined by Nathan Click, speaking for the Yes on 27 campaign, which is bankrolled by the online gaming firms FanDuel, DraftKings and MGM.
Their measure would legalize online and mobile gaming and would generate fees to the state that would go toward fighting homelessness and gambling addiction, as well as give some money to smaller native tribes that don’t have casinos.
A new study, out today, warns that millions of American school children are exposed to potentially toxic chemicals that are in the uniforms they wear to school.
But there’s a bill on Governor Newsom’s desk that would get rid of those very chemicals in kids’ clothes, at least in California
We are talking about PFAs, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals” because they get in your blood-stream and stay there. The textile industry uses them to repel water and stains in clothing, but they can also cause cancer and other serious diseases in humans, who inhale them, get them on their skin or drink them in water.
For more, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern are joined by by State Assembly member, Phil Ting of San Francisco. He's the author of AB1817, the Safer Clothes and Textiles Act, which has already passed the state legislature and awaits Governor Newsom’s signature.
With just seven weeks until the midterm elections, the key issues of this campaign are crystallizing. Democratic candidates are hitting the Republicans hard on abortion rights, while the GOP is focusing on the economy. Polling nationally shows that Democratic voters are highly motivated by the abortion issue, while Republicans don’t really care very much about it. But the number one issue for voters in California, and nationally, remains the economy, inflation and jobs.
So will this play out over the next two months? Why the two parties are addressing the contest so differently? To answer those questions, KCBS Radio Political Reporter Doug Sovern along with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart talk with Thad Kousser, political science professor and Co-director of the Yankelovich Center for Social Science Research at UC San Diego.
Today Governor Gavin Newsom signed a historic climate package into law that will ramp up California's action to reduce fossil fuel emissions. The measures require the state to produce 90% of its electricity from clean sources by 2035 and become carbon neutral by 2045.
A plan is being drafted outlining how the state will become carbon neutral.. and to do so all greenhouse gas emissions need to be captured or eliminated.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchor Bret Burkhart spoke with Daniel Kammen, Professor of Energy at UC-Berkeley and former science envoy for the U-S State Department
Governor Newsom signed the CARE Court law yesterday, which was created to help people in California struggling with substance use disorders and mental health illnesses seek treatment, especially people experiencing homelessness.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Kath Rogers, a staff attorney on the ACLU SoCal Dignity for All project.
The battle is joined over California’s Proposition 30, which had its
formal campaign kickoff today in Oakland.
This comes two days after Governor Newsom launched a TV ad
campaign against the ballot measure, as first reported right here on KCBS Radio.
That commercial made its debut on this program on Monday, when we
spoke with one of the people leading the campaign to defeat Prop 30. Today, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern are joined by one of the people who helped write this initiative, which would raise income taxes on people making over two million dollars a year, to help California expand its fleet of electric vehicles, build more charging stations and other infrastructure, and support wildfire prevention and suppression. Our guest is Bill Magavern, Policy Director at the Coalition for Clean Air.
One day after we broke the news about Governor Newsom’s new ad
campaign against Proposition 30, the battle over that ballot measure is
intensifying even more
Now the fight over whether to tax millionaires to subsidize electric vehicles in California is shaping up as one of the most contentious measures on the November ballot. You wouldn’t think this would turn into such a high-profile battle, voters overwhelmingly love the idea of charging people who make more than two million dollars a year 1.75% extra on their income tax, to fund EVs and charging stations and help fight wildfires. On its surface, that’s a no-brainer for most voters, since very few of us make two million dollars a year.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter.
Governor Newsom is about to flex his campaign muscles and use some of his considerable political capital to help defeat a controversial California ballot measure.
KCBS Radio has learned that Governor Newsom will star in TV commercials urging Californians to vote NO on Proposition 30.
KCBS Radio has learned that this will be the only ballot measure for which the governor will appear in campaign spots, for or against. He has come out strongly against Proposition 30, which voters favor heavily in early polling, but that may change once they see and hear this ad.
Governor Newsom making a direct appeal to reject the initiative. Prop 30 would raise income taxes on anyone making over two million dollars a year, with the money going to subsidize more electric vehicles and infrastructure, such as charging stations, and wildfire prevention and response. But in this ad, the governor calls it a Trojan horse, funded almost entirely by Lyft, for its own benefit.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart and Doug Sovern are joined by Matt Rodriguez, a veteran Democratic campaign strategist who’s helping to lead the campaign against Proposition 30.
We're at the Walnut Creek BART Station observing the 50th anniversary of the transit agency that's changed the way that many of us get around the Bay Area and over the years we've all been witness to the moments aboard those train cars.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Pattil Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Mike Healy, a former BART spokesperson who worked there for 32 years, he's author of the book “BART: The Dramatic History of the Bay Area Rapid Transit System”
California has endured a brutal heat wave to kick off the month of September, taxing
the state's grid with record breaking temperatures that took us to the brink of rolling
blackouts. Some cities actually experienced power cuts. This was the longest and hottest heat wave California has ever seen in September, and it's not likely to be the last.
The strain of state's power supply came even as more and more Californians give up their gas guzzlers for electric cars. This comes just days after the state adopted new rules that that will phase out new gas powered vehicles by 2035. We were asked not to charge our EV's during the afternoon and evening hours of peak demands. So what will happen when everybody is driving an electric car down the road?
To explore more, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Ethan Elkind.
Governor Newsom has been signing dozens of bills passed last week by the state legislature, but one big one remains on his desk, awaiting either his signature or his veto.
Everyone from President Biden to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is pressuring Newsom to sign this bill into law, but he has expressed deep reservations about the measure.
We are talking about AB2183, the Farmworkers voting rights bill, which would make it easier for farmworkers to vote to join a union. Governor Newsom vetoed a similar bill in the past, and he did not get all of the amendments he was seeking in this one, but he has been silent since it passed as to whether he will sign it or not.
Meanwhile, President Biden has come out with strong support, urging the governor to sign it, which is highly unusual.
For more on this, KCBS News anchor Patti Reising and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern are joined by Lorena Gonzales, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the California Labor Federation.
As California broils through its worth September heatwave ever, the pressure is on Gov. Newsom to keep the lights on. As KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern says, it is crucial for the governor to not only support Californians through this heatwave, but to make sure that residents do not experience electricity blackouts. But despite the state's efforts and the governor's assurances, we could still see rolling blackouts this week.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Doug Sovern on the governor's efforts to keep Californians' electricity going during this brutal heatwave.
The California Legislature has passed a potentially groundbreaking bill that would give fast food workers better working conditions and pay. AB 257 is now at Governor Newsom's desk, and if he signs it into law, a state fast food council will be established that would have the power to impose minimum standards on wages, hours, and conditions related to health and safety.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with David Madland, senior adviser to the American Worker Project at the Center for American Progress.
We all know about the Great Resignation, people quitting or retiring or changing
jobs during the pandemic as so many of us take a closer look at our lives and
what’s most meaningful and important to us. But there’s something else going on
now, known as “Quiet Quitting” or “soft quitting.” There’s a buzz about it on
social media, as workers explain that they’re staying in their jobs, but they’re not
taking on extra responsibilities, and they’re no longer letting their jobs control
their lives outside of working hours.
For more on this growing phenomenon, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment Doug Sovern spoke with Jennifer Deal, a senior research scientist at the USC Marshall Center for Effective Organizations, an expert on global leadership and management, generational differences, and employee engagement.
It’s down to the wire for Governor Newsom’s plan to keep California’s last nuclear power plant open beyond its scheduled shutdown, just three years from now.
State lawmakers will vote tonight on whether to extend the life of Diablo Canyon, with fierce lobbying on both sides of the issue.
Some environmentalists say it’s foolish and dangerous to keep Diablo Canyon open any longer than 2025, while others say it makes ecological sense to let it run until 2030 or even 2035. Some experts warn of a catastrophe if a major earthquake strikes the Central Coast, while others say there is little risk at all. Governor Newsom and Senator Feinstein want to keep the plant open to help meet California’s growing energy needs and avoid rolling blackouts, a critical issue this week as the state braces for a searing heat wave. Others say it’s long past time to move beyond nuclear and generate more power from wind and solar. All of this comes to a head tonight at the state Capitol, where lawmakers will vote on competing measures to decide Diablo Canyon’s future.
In San Luis Obispo, a group called Mothers For Peace renewed its call to shut the plant down, expressing fears about the safety of their families. But not every mom living near Diablo Canyon feels that way.
For more on this, KCBS political reporter Doug Souvern and KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Kristin Zaitz. She is a civil engineer who went to Cal Poly-SLO, works at Diablo Canyon, has three kids, and has co-founded a group called Mothers For Nuclear.
They’re playing beat the clock at the state Capitol in Sacramento, where the comes to an end tomorrow and lawmakers are rushing to pass hundreds of bills
Legislators are trying to make deals to finish bills on all sorts of controversial topics, and then it’s up to Governor Newsom whether to sign or veto them
The governor has already signed dozens of less contentious measures and vetoed a few, but there are some big ones on his desk now or on their way there, and then are those that members of the Assembly and Senate are still trying to hammer out.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment.
The latest polls show President Biden’s approval rating improving and Democrats closing the gap with Republicans in the coming midterm elections.
Still, it seems likely that another Californian will become Speaker of the House this fall, Republican Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield
Democrats now seem poised to retain control of the US Senate, but still lose control of the House. Their outlook has improved; instead of a blowout loss with the GOP gaining 30 or 40 seats, it now looks like a narrower victory for the Republicans, with perhaps 15 or 20 seats flipping, but that would be enough to give McCarthy’s party the gavel.
For more on this, we are joined live today on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by Sonoma State political science professor and department chair DAVID MCCUAN.
All this week we have been featuring the work of the East Bay non-profit, the Ahimsa Collective. They are named after the Sanskrit word for “non-violence.” And that is exactly what they are trying to promote with a program that brings survivors of crime inside prisons.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Radio's Kathy Novak, who joined the group inside Soledad State Prison to learn more about the program.
With each new election and primary around the country, it's becoming clear that abortion is going to be a dominate issue in this fall's midterm election.
A new survey by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, finds 81% of Californians say that it's an important issue for them in this election.
The issue itself will be on the ballot here in the form of Proposition 1, which would amend the state constitution to enshrine the right to reproductive choice, specifically abortion and contraception.
That IGS poll finds that prop 1 is favored by voters 71 to 18%. That's simply an astounding number. It's rare almost without precedent that we see that level of universal support for anything in California.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment spoke with Cary Franklin, UCLA Law professor.
A recent report estimated that 20,000 San Franciscans may experience homelessness at some point this year and the homeless population is surging in Sacramento, Los Angeles and many other parts of California.
Meanwhile, Governor Newsom is in Los Angeles right now, to announce the largest allotment yet of state money to build more apartments to help people get off the street, 2,500 new units as part of Project Homekey.
But even as the state pours unprecedented billions into the homeless crisis, nothing seems to be enough, and we see more and more encampments and tent cities spilling across our streets and neighborhoods, with their populations disproportionately Black and Brown, and the economic inequality that has plagued California seemingly getting even worse. And even when the unhoused find a place to put up a tent, they can get evicted from that, as we’ve seen in the ongoing fight between Oakland and the state of California over the sprawling Wood Street encampment.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern are joined by Kevin Zwick, CEO of The United Way Bay Area, which has been prioritizing this issue through its Housing Justice Initiative.
A new survey shows Governor Newsom’s popularity on the rise, and he’s way ahead in his bid for a second term. However, he’s also feeling some more heat for his veto of a bill that would have allowed San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles to set up supervised drug injection sites.
The latest UC Berkeley-IGS poll, which is the heir to the old Field Poll we knew so well, shows Governor Newsom leading his Republican challenger, State Senator Brian Dahle, 52 to 25%. That’s a 27-point lead, which shrinks to 24 points among those most likely to vote. Voters also approve of the governor’s performance a lot more than they did just six months ago.
In February, voters were split on their governor, just 48% approved of him and 47% didn’t. Now? He’s up to 53% approval, with his disapproval dropping to 42, so that’s a ten-point swing in the governor’s favor.
The bottom line? Gavin Newsom is in good shape to coast to an easy re-election victory a little more than two months from now.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of this segment.
A growing number of California voters say they do not want either Joe Biden or Donald Trump to run for president again in 2024.
Gavin Newsom tops their list of the candidates they would like to see run, even though the governor insists he has no intention of doing that
As KCBS reported on Friday, and you may have seen the polling data on Twitter, the latest survey from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies showed that the vast majority of California voters do not want to see a Trump-Biden rematch.
Surprisingly, Democrats were split right down the middle, 46% to 46%, on whether President Biden should seek a second term, and of course, Republicans were overwhelmingly against Biden running again. California Democrats prefer Gavin Newsom or Bernie Sanders, and further down the list, Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg and even Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, to Joe Biden.
KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart and Doug Sovern want to dig a little deeper into what’s going on with the California electorate right now, so they are joined live today by political scientist Dr. Anna Sampio, professor in the Ethnic Studies Department at Santa Clara University.
We’ve already seen in Kansas how the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade can galvanize voters who support abortion rights, and deliver surprising results. Now, less than 11 weeks before the November midterm elections, there’s a new national campaign launching to keep abortion front and center, and help elect candidates who support reproductive rights.
The announcement today comes from 'Planned Parenthood Votes', the advocacy and political arms of Planned Parenthood. It’s a $50 million dollar campaign, an unprecedented investment for this organization, and it comes on top of similar campaigns announced by other abortion rights groups. It will focus on more than a dozen states, including a campaign in California to elect candidates and drive turnout.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Megan Goldsby and Bret Burkhart, as well as Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of this segment, spoke with Sam Lau with Planned Parenthood Votes.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon narrowly avoided
having to face a recall, as the petition drive to drum him out of office fell short.
LA will not go through what San Francisco just did, with DA
Chesa Boudin recalled from office.
The campaign to recall Gascon, who of course was both police chief
and District Attorney in San Francisco before he moved to Los Angeles to run
for DA there, was similar to the one that removed Boudin from office, but Gascon
learned from some of Boudin’s campaign mistakes, and the people behind the
petition drive in LA just couldn’t gather quite enough valid signatures before the
deadline. Gascon gets to finish his term, and will be up for re-election in 2024.
Meanwhile, while Chesa Boudin has decided not to run for his old job in this
fall’s special election to finish out the rest of his term, he is already making
moves that have some people wondering if he plans to try again when the DA job
comes up again in the next regularly scheduled election next year in 2023.
There’s no letup in the political fallout from last week’s search of former president Trump’s home in Florida.
Republicans continue to blast the raid as a political witch hunt, with some even calling for the de-funding of the FBI, while Democrats insist even a former president has to follow the rule of law.
We don’t know yet whether the Justice Department is seriously considering a prosecution of former president Trump for obstructing justice, violating the Espionage Act and illegally taking classified documents, or whether the search was just its way of getting all those materials back after Trump refused to return them. Either way, the former president continues to attack the Biden administration and the raid, saying it’s an unprecedented political persecution and not a legitimate criminal investigation.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Megan Goldsby, Bret Burkhart and Doug Sovern are joined by Mike Madrid, longtime Republican political consultant from Sacramento, former Political Director for the California Republican Party and a co-founder of the anti-Trump GOP organization Project Lincoln.
Kids are heading back to school, and while districts require their students to be vaccinated against a laundry list of illnesses, global vaccination rates for non-COVID illnesses are down over the course of the pandemic.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with California State Senator Dr. Richard Pan.
As California fires increase in frequency and scope of damage, it seems the definition of "fire season" has changed over time.
Fore more, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with William Deverell, Professor of History, Spatial Sciences and Environmental Studies at USC.
With less than three months until the midterm elections, there’s a new focus on how pivotal Latino voters will be in deciding which party controls the next Congress.
Latinos traditionally vote heavily Democratic, but in the last presidential election, more and more voted Republican, and the GOP has been targeting them for this fall.
Only a third of California’s Latino voters turned out for the June primary, and a poll commissioned by the Latino Community Foundation, a statewide organization based in San Francisco, found that only 63% plan to vote this November. Meanwhile, a UCLA study found that Latino swing voters made the difference in several close US Senate elections in 2020 and are likely to do so again this year.
Against this backdrop, the Latino Community Foundation is launching a Latino voter turnout campaign for this fall and for more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern are by Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, the foundation’s CEO.
They say a week or two is a lifetime in politics, and recent events show it’s true, upending the conventional wisdom about this November’s midterm elections
The Democrats were bracing for a bloodbath this fall, but after a string of legislative victories, are things turning around for President Biden and his party?
KACBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern.
After decades of Congressional inaction, the federal government is finally poised to take its biggest action ever to address climate change
The sweeping Inflation Reduction Act that passed the U.S. Senate yesterday, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote, includes aggressive climate change measures, in many ways similar to ones already in place here in California
If the House approves the bill, as expected when it votes on Friday, the new law could transform energy and transportation across the country, and, experts hope, start to turn the tide on climate change.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Doug Sovern, Patti Reising, and Bret Burkhart spoke with Laura Deehanm, State Director of Environment California, she has been working on this issue for two decades, leading the fight to transition California to 100% green and clean energy.
The past Tuesday witnessed another set of primary contests across the country. Voters in five states selected primary candidates to move ahead to the November Midterms. Yet in Kansas, a ballot measure providing their State Legislature the power to regulate abortion practices – including the possibility of an outright ban, was overwhelmingly defeated.
The Sunflower state witnessed almost 60% of the state’s voters rejecting a constitutional amendment to give the state legislature such power. This measure was the first-time voters were asked to weigh in on abortion rights after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Dr. David McCuan, Political Scientist from Sonoma State University.
The fire season in California is growing longer because of a number of factors, not the least of which is climate change. While California has been accused in the past of not managing its forests in a way to lessen the risks of wildfire, almost half of the forests in the state are actually managed by the U.S. Forest Service, a federal agency.
We wanted to go in-depth on the relationship between California and the U.S. Forest Service and how both are combating future disasters with pay inequities and the threat of climate change, so we turn to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Randy Moore. He is a Bay Area native having grown up in Fairfield who knows about the changes we've seen when it comes to wildfire dangers over the years in the state.
State Attorney General Rob Bonta announced this week that in a settlement with the federal government all new oil and gas leases on public lands in Central California will be halted while pending a review of the risks to public health and the environment.
This move comes after years and years of legal challenges from California environmentalists saying that policies put into place by Donald Trump allowed for drilling and fracking without properly considering how that affects the air and ground water.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Pattie Reising and Bret Burkhart are joined live by Terry Tamminen, former Secretary of the California EPA under Schwarzenegger as well as President of Seventh Generation Advisors, which is a non profit aimed at preserving the environment by advocating policy and promoting sustainable economy.
The past week has seen a whirlwind of activity in the nation’s Capitol with Democrats passing bills and now working this week on the process of what is called “reconciliation,” with differences ironed out behind closed doors.
In the background are the looming 2022 midterm elections where recent national polling shows a change in approval ratings for the President, and for Democrats in general.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Dr. David McCuan, Political Scientist from Sonoma State University, and Ben Labolt, Partner of Bully Pulpit Interactive and former Press Secretary for President Obama’s Re-Election campaign.
Good afternoon, this is “The State, Of California,” Doug Sovern is away today and we’re joined by Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan, joining us live from Washington, D.C. and Jessica Milan Patterson, Chair of the California Republican Party.
It's tough enough for kids to go back to school without backpacks and other supplies, and with the pandemic continuing to cause financial problems families, this drive will get school supplies to kids whose parents can't afford them.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier who represents Contra Costa County in California's 11th District.
The practice of $0 bail is coming to an end in Santa Clara County at the end of the month, ceasing a highly-contested system that put the bail for many misdemeanors and non violent crimes at $0.
And while advocates of the program argue cash bail reduces equity in the courts system, critics say it's a dangerous "get out of jail free card" for recidivists.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.
Governor Gavin Newsom has revived the Delta tunnel project today, putting new life into a plan that would divert water from the Sacramento River and route it under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Newsom's looking to make it easier to move water around and ease the strain of California's ever-worsening drought.
But, while it is a revival, the plan doesn't look exactly like the one championed by former Governor Jerry Brown. Some pretty significant differences are being highlighted in the most recent drafts.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising are joined by Jeff Mount, Senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California's Water Center.
"Community schools" are something that we may be seeing a lot more of in California in the coming years after the state made a roughly $4B investment in the teaching model.
These schools re-define what it means to be a public school in California, and are seen by proponents as an answer to helping children left behind during pandemic shutdowns.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Linda Darling-Hammond, President of the Learning Policy Institute and President of the California State Board of Education
There's an emerging technology that California is considering to combat global warming; the idea is to capture carbon dioxide from oil refineries and store it underground.
This comes as the state is working to finalize its climate plan which could possibly rely on this new technology, dubbed "CCS." But many environmentalists aren't on board with this idea, they say it could actually increase oil production.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Daniel Kammen, Professor of Energy at UC Berkeley and Science Envoy, for the US State Department
Gov. Gavin Newsom released full-page ads in Texas newspapers regarding California's new gun legislation which is modeled after the Texas abortion law allowing citizens to sue other residents that help with abortion procedures after six months of pregnancy.
KCBS Radio news anchors Maggie Shafer and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern about how Gov. Gavin Newsom is perceived in red states like Texas and Montana, specifically regarding his gun legislation.
UCLA and USC are poised to ditch the Pac-12 Conference to join the Big Ten in 2024, but comments from Governor Gavin Newsom have been leading people to ask for more transparency from these universities.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with Patrick Rishe, director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University in St. Louis.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more people to use medical care, especially here in California. And as a result, Covered California has announced that they are increasing the cost of medical insurance by an average of 6% for the 1.7 million people who purchase coverage through the state-run health insurance marketplace.
Covered California also announced an expansion of medical providers with up to four choices for most users.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo spoke with Steven Shortell, Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Management Emeritus and Dean Emeritus, at the School of Public Health, at UC Berkeley.
California residents are leaving the state in record numbers, and cities are suffering the most. It started with the COVID pandemic, but studies show it's not slowing down.
A report done by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago say numbers from the moving company United Van Lines show 60% of their business in California is from people leaving the state altogether.
For more on, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo spoke with Matthew Kahn, Urban Economics Professor at USC and author of "Going Remote."
Governor Gavin Newsom's ongoing battles with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has many talking about the possibilities of a presidential run in 2024, and last week Newsom released an attack ad against DeSantis.
Despite this, Newsom continues to deny any interest in a run for the nation's top office. He says he's focusing on his re-election to Governor this year.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo spoke with Darry Sragoe, Democratic Strategist and Assistant Professor of Political Science at USC.
Governor Gavin Newsom's voice is ringing louder on the national stage as he ramps up his criticism of Republican states. The Governor was in DC to receive an education innovation award, and used his acceptance speech as a platform to blast the education policy of red states. This all comes after his 4th of July television ad that ran in Florida.
The Governor says he's tired of California being a punching bag for the right wing, telling the LA Times before his trip that he, "can't take it."
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchor Margie Shafer spoke with KCBS Radio Political Analyst Larry Gerston.
The January 6th congressional committee is nearing the end of its hearings. There will be a big wrap-up next week in prime time, laying out the committee’s findings and its case that then-president Donald Trump led a criminal conspiracy to try to overthrow the government of the United States by overturning the legitimate results of a democratic election for president.
As the weeks go by and the hearings continue, more and more Republicans and supporters of Donald Trump seem to be coming to the realization that this is serious business, that this is not just a partisan witch hunt, as Mr. Trump claims, but that there is real and ample evidence of potentially criminal wrongdoing here, by Trump and others.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Doug Sovern spoke with Jessica Levinson, law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, an expert on constitutional and election law and also a legal contributor to CBS News.
US inflation hit 9.1% in June, the highest in more than 40 years, intensifying pressure on the Federal Reserve Board to raise interest rates even more
The stock market remains volatile and wobbly, but unemployment remains at historic lows, and while the economy is sluggish, are worries about a looming recession legitimate?
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Doug Sovern and Margie Shafer spoke with Chris Thornberg, one of California’s best-known economists, founder of Beacon Economics, formerly the senior economist for UCLA’s Anderson Forecast, and now teaching at UC Riverside.
President Biden’s support continues to plummet, even among members of his own party.
More and more Democrats say they’d like to see someone else as their nominee in 2024, but the president insists he will seek re-election and is said to resent suggestions that he step aside.
New surveys, including one today from the New York Times, show that this president is even less popular than Donald Trump was, with his approval rating down to the low 30s. 64% of Democrats say their party should nominate someone else for president in 2024. The good news for Joe Biden is that he still beats Trump head-to-head, 44-41% in that Times poll, so his best bet may be that the Republicans nominate Trump again in 2024. Even in deep blue California, President Biden’s approval rating has fallen sharply, and there’s open speculation about replacing him on the ticket with everyone from Kamala Harris to Gavin Newsom to Pete Buttigieg to yes, Hillary Clinton or Michelle Obama.
For more KCBS radio's Doug Sovern, Margie Shafer, and Kris Ankario spoke with Jack Citrin graduate professor of political science at UC Berkeley, where he’s also Director Emeritus of the Institute of Governmental Studies.
As more states restrict and even ban abortions, a doctor from San Francisco is about to launch a new approach, for women who can’t access the care they need.
In this case, we mean launch literally, as she plans to bring a floating reproductive health clinic to the Gulf of Mexico.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart, as well as Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment spoke with Dr. Meg Autry, an OB/GYN who is a professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Gynecologic Surgery at UC-San Francisco. She is the Director of Continuing Medical Education and Faculty Development there, and has come up with this idea, to launch PRROWESS, a ship in federal waters to provide legal abortion, contraception and other services for women who can’t get that in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama.
The new California bill includes sweeping requirements that environmentalists hope will drastically reduce unrecycled plastic produced in California.
For more, KCBSS Radio's Doug Sovern spoke with Dr. Anja Malawi Brandon, who helped write the bill. She is the U.S. Plastics Policy Analyst at Ocean Conservancy and an environmental engineer.
In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decisions, there is talk in California of succeeding from the United States and becoming its own country.
For more, news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern and Darrell M. West, the vice president and director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and an expert on succession.
The slate is set for California's November ballot, and there will be seven measures statewide measures coming before voters.
For more, news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern about the upcoming ballots and how they will impact California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is continuing to soak up the national spotlight by participating in a series of TV ads that will air in Florida over the Fourth of July holiday.
For more, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, who took over today for political reporter Doug Sovern, spoke with Sophia Bollag, a politics reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle.
Governor Newsom’s plan to shake up the legal system to help address chronic homelessness continues to move through the California State Legislature.
The governor’s “Care Court” proposal was approved by another Assembly committee and is one step closer to his desk for signature.
The legislation still needs to be cleared by the Appropriations Committee and it still needs a "yes" vote from the full Assembly, but passage there seems highly likely.
Only one Senator or Assembly member has voted "no" in the various committee hearings, but that one negative vote is more significant than it seems. It reflects some grave misgivings about the governor’s idea, from civil libertarians, disabled rights advocates, and providers of mental health and substance abuse services, among others. That no vote came from state Assembly member Ash Karla, a Democrat from San Jose, and he is our guest today on The State of California.
The country is still buzzing over yesterday's bombshell testimony before the Jan.6 committee, and what it could mean for former President Trump's legal and political future.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Jeff Bell and political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Reed Galen, a former Bush Administration official and co-founder of the Lincoln Project.
Californians will have two sports gambling measures to figure out and vote on this November, now that one that would open the door to online betting has qualified for the ballot.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Jeff Bell spoke with KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern.
There is just one topic driving the conversation today, and that is the Supreme Court overruling Roe v. Wade and eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion in the United States. The 5-4 decision will have far-reaching and probably long-lasting impact, on women’s lives, the law, and politics, both in California and across the nation.
We knew it was coming, but now that it’s here, the reality is stark for those who support abortion rights. The overwhelming majority in the Bay Area and California, a very large majority nationwide, and the celebrations joyous for the minority who have been working to overturn Roe for 49 years.
The immediate impact will be felt in the 26 states that will either outlaw or severely restrict abortion, but there will be deep ripple effects across the country, including here in California.
It’s anticipated that thousands of women will flock to California each year to seek access to safe abortions, overwhelming a system that just doesn’t have that kind of capacity. There is also the prospect that either a future Congress or the Supreme Court could make abortion illegal federally, which would override California’s laws.
And of course, there is the very real specter raised today by Justice Clarence Thomas, that this court could use this opinion to take away other constitutionally guaranteed rights, including the right to marry the person of one’s choosing, same sex marriage and access to birth control.
We are just seeing the first effects today of the potential political impact, both short and long term.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern to discuss the potential impact, both short and long term.
The January 6th Committee resumes its nationally televised hearings tomorrow, as it continues to explore how then-President Trump tried to overturn the election of Joe Biden
Tomorrow’s hearing will focus on the pressure Trump put on officials in Georgia and Arizona to change their state’s results, to favor him instead
For more, KCBS Radio News anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, along with host and political reporter Doug Sovern were joined by William Resh, a professor at the USC Price School of Public Policy and an expert in the U.S. presidency and executive branch politics and management.
Legislation has been introduced that would make California the first state in the U.S. to require gun owners to have liability insurance.
These policies would cover negligent and accidental use of the firearms and would not include incidents that are intentional much like car insurance.
For more, KCBS Radio's news anchor Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Nancy Skinner California State Senator serving Berkeley and author of the bill.
Today was the third day of the Jan. 6 committee hearings exploring the attack on the U.S Capitol last year. Three of the nine members of that select committee are from California. Today's focus was on the role of Vice President's Mike Pence and the pressure brought to bear on him to try to help then President Donald Trump's illegally overturn the election of Joe Biden.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment Doug Sovern spoke with Erroll Southers, Professor of the Practice in National and Homeland Security at the USC Price School of Public Policy. He is also a former FBI special agent and he was deputy director of Homeland Security under California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The House panel investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection will hold its third public hearing on Thursday, after Wednesday's session was postponed and the committee released new video.
Los Angeles Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, a member of the committee, joined "The State of California" to discuss what's to come.
This week, California regulators released a sweeping proposal to require a boost in sales for zero-emission cars, the rules are in line with California's climate and air quality goals and would also enact a ban on new gas-powered cars by the year 2035.
The proposal will need to be adopted by the California Air Resources Board this summer to go into effect and stems from Governor Gavin Newsom's 2020 Executive Order which ordered the Board to end the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Dr. James Balmes, a Member of the California Air Resources Board and a Professor at the University of California Berkeley's School of Public Health.
Well after a Primary Election on Tuesday that saw low voter turnout throughout the state and a few twists and turns, we are wading through the aftermath of the state Primary Election.
To discuss further, KCBS radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell along with Chair and Professor of the Political Science Department at Sonoma State University, David McCuan spoke with Alex Clemens, a San Francisco-based Public Affairs Strategist, veteran political operative, and communications expert who co-founded Lighthouse Public Affairs here in San Francisco.
Today is Election Day for many states such as, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota. The California Primary is among elections taking place in six other states.
Primary voters are selecting party candidates for statewide offices, like the Governors of New Mexico and South Dakota; for Mayor of Los Angeles, the nation’s second largest city, as well as for dozens of House seats.
After all the campaigns and story lines that have developed, many are wondering what we are to make of this elections.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising as well as, Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan, spoke with Mike Madrid, who's a GOP Political Consultant & Partner at GrassrootsLab.
California Senate and Assembly leaders unveiled their draft budget this week, and with California seeing a nearly $100 billion-dollar surplus, lawmakers want $10 billion of those dollars to go back to Californians.
The legislature has until the June 15th budget deadline to figure out how that money will be dealt.
To discuss further, KCBS news anchor Jeff Bell spoke with Lara Korte, author of the Politico's "California Playbook," which comes out every Friday.
California Assembly Democrats have showed some interest about their leader, Speaker Anthony Rendon, and whether he will be replaced.
Late last week, Assemblyman Robert Rivas, of the 30th Assembly District around Salinas, reportedly had enough Democratic votes in favor of his leadership of the Assembly.
However, after a weekend of arm-twisting and meetings as well as deals of who will lead the Assembly in the future, a joint statement by both Speaker Rendon and Assemblyman Rivas was issued yesterday afternoon and it looks like Speaker Rendon will hold onto his seat for the rest of the legislative session, which seems to be through at least November.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo, as well as Sonoma State Political Scientist, Dr. David McCuan, spoke with Dan Schnur, Professor of Politics at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communications.
There is only one more week until the Primary Election in California next Tuesday. Both parties are trying to understand what’s roiling the electorate heading into a difficult midterm environment.
Beyond the polls and the focus groups, there are many questions surrounding the differences and distinctions in the electorate over the many issues of the day. This ranges from inflation to crime, exhaustion with the pandemic, and a general cynicism about politics. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan, spoke with Bill Carrick, Political Consultant based in California.
The drawing of battle lines over themes for this year’s midterm elections among both Democrats and Republicans has picked up. The last few weeks have experienced many ups and downs in politics, most recently with another mass shooting and resulting calls for legislation from Sacramento to Washington, D.C.
The back-and-forth over what any gun legislation would look like also reflects a clash over spending priorities and other themes we see shaping the midterms. Some Republicans have talked about social and cultural issues, while Democrats have noted the leak of a Supreme Court draft opinion on abortion as a potential election theme.
To assess these recent developments, KCBS Radio news anchors Margie Shafer and Kris Ankarlo spoke with Sonoma State political scientist David McCuan and guest Bob Mulholland, former senior advisor to the California Democratic Party and a member of the Democratic National Committee.
Today we're joined by our own Kathy Novak, who's reporting for KCBS Radio on New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's visit to San Francisco that was hosted by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
For more on what the Prime Minister had to say, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reisig and Jeff Bell spoke with KCBS Radio reporter Kathy Novak.
As we have been covering all week, the tragic events of Uvalde, Texas have thrust the issue of guns and gun safety back into the public domain from Washington, D.C. to Sacramento.
Yesterday, the Governor pressed the issue, announcing that he wanted to see a package of bills on his desk by the end of next month in order to once again put California at the forefront of the issue of guns and gun violence.
This week also marks the second anniversary of the killing of George Floyd, Jr. and today we wanted to take a look at where we stand on these very difficult issues in terms of political movement in Sacramento and beyond.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Sonoma State University political scientist David McCuan and Rachel Lawler, Survey Analyst for the Public Policy Institute of California.
In the last week, the world of politics has experienced many ups and downs, most recently, with another mass shooting tragedy yesterday in Texas and primary elections across four states.
Given the recent events affecting California, with Democrats pushing for gun legislation in Sacramento sponsored by the Governor, as well a flush state budget noted earlier this month in the “May Revise,” and onto concerns about changes in the state’s population amidst an ongoing drought, there is no shortage of issues affecting the Election Season well underway.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan to assess where things are headed in the next few months.
As the June Primary Election approaches, there are many challenges for candidates and campaigns, as votes are sought out by both major parties.
Being that California is a state that's dominated by Democrats, Republicans and Independents often find themselves struggling for statewide attention especially in the “Top Two” system, where the two top candidates for any office advance and go head-to-head against each other in November.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as Sonoma State Political Scientist, Dr. David McCuan, spoke with Steve Maviglio, Political Consultant and Strategist, and a former Press Secretary, Gov. Gray Davis.
The primary election to pick LA’s next mayor will take place in just over two weeks. The race to succeed Eric Garcetti has picked up steam with the top two candidates slated to face-off later this November.
Former Assembly Speaker and current Congresswoman Karen Bass has held various leads throughout the race, yet the race has tightened and polls are showing a new dynamic in the LA mayor’s race.
With just a short time until the primary, two candidates recently dropped out, but their names will still appear on the June ballot.
Californians are already voting with the June 7 primary less than three weeks away. As previously reported on KCBS Radio, one of the oddity's of this election is that the appointed incumbent U.S. Senator, Alex Padilla, is on the ballot twice, once to fill out the remainder of Kamala Harris' term and the other for a full six year term in his own right. Senator Padilla has been outspoken on the many of the major issues across the nation recently.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment Doug Sovern, spoke with Senator Alex Padilla.
Case rates of COVID-19 is most definitely surging again in the Bay Area and across California, with positive tests and numbers jumping daily.
Many patients report their infection has been much worse than the “mild cold” they had come to expect, and now there’s concern about a relapse, after initial improvement.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment Doug Sovern, spoke with Dr. Bob Wachter, Chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF, whose wife is just recovering from the coronavirus.
The suspect in the Taiwanese church shooting in Orange County was charged with first degree murder for what authorities say was a politically motivated act of hate.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, President Biden met with families that have been torn apart by the mass shooting in a Black neighborhood supermarket in Buffalo.
Another week, another spate of horrific mass murders. These last two seemingly motivated by political hatred and, in the case of the Buffalo shooting, racism. Is there anything America can do to bring an end to the world’s worst rate of mass shootings, far beyond anything that happens in any other developed country, let alone, one of the richest in the world?
As usual, we are hearing somber words from lawmakers, thoughts and prayers for the most part, and calls for renewed legislation to control guns and reduce gun violence. However, it’s not likely any meaningful action will result, given the gridlock in Congress and the NRA’s firm grip on the Republican Party.
Many Californian political leaders have all called for more to be done to fight domestic terrorism, but what that really looks like, remains to be seen.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, spoke with KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern.
Democrats head into this year’s midterm elections behind in the polls, with voters unhappy about the rising cost of food and gas.
One California representative admonished her colleagues last week that they’re disconnected from their constituents and just don’t get how to talk about inflation.
That lawmaker is Congresswoman Katie Porter, a Democrat from Orange County, whose comments about inflation went viral as she brought her own real-life experience as a single mother of three young kids to the conversation, opening the eyes of some of her fellow Democrats, and warning them that they are doomed this November if they don’t wake up.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter and 'The State of California' host Doug Sovern spoke with Congresswoman Katie Porter.
Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his revised budget plan, which includes a record-breaking surplus of nearly 100 billion dollars. This puts Governor Newsom in a position where he'll have tens of billions to spend on initiatives going into his re-election campaign.
However, the plan is still pending legislative approval, and negotiations are expected to go into the summer.
For more, KCBS Radi news anchors Patti Reising and Eric Thomas spoke with Chris Hoene, Executive Director of the California Budget and Policy Center.
The ballots are officially in the mail, or on your kitchen table, as voting is underway for California's June 7th primary. One of the headline races is the battle for U.S. Senate, in fact there are two Senate races on the ballot this year.
For more, KCBS Radio Attorney Mark Meuser of San Francisco, who is the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, endorsed by the state's GOP,
California’s June 7th primary election is underway, even though technically, Election Day is not until four weeks from today.
Voters are already receiving their ballots in the mail and can vote as soon as they get them, and there’s a lot on that ballot to sort through.
There’s no real drama at the top of this ballot, where Governor Newsom faces a host of little-known challengers, one of whom will finish in the top two and win the right to face Newsom in November. The same is true in the U.S. Senate race, with incumbent Alex Padilla a prohibitive favorite to win a full term against one of his challengers in the general election this fall. But there are fiercely contested races for state Attorney General and Controller and even Insurance Commissioner, there are legislative and congressional races with a lot of new faces thanks to retirements and redistricting, and there’s probably some confusion for voters because of those two elements.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of "The State of California."
This week marks an annual event in California politics: the governor’s traditional announcement of what is called “The May Revise.” This is the real kickoff of budget season, where the Governor updates what has come into the state’s coffers and where the maneuvering of future state spending really takes shape.
All of this has set forth the conditions for a political earthquake of sorts where we see much at stake in the May Revise numbers to be announced by May 15th.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo, along with Sonoma State political scientist David McCuan, spoke with guest Robb Korinke, communications strategist at Grassroots Labs and host of the podcast “California Battleground."
If the homeless can't make it to the courtroom, California may bring the courtroom to the homeless.
The state legislature is now considering a new bill that proposes the creation of a homeless courts pilot program. This program would set up courts near food banks and community centers to increase attendance.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Nigel Duara, with CalMatters.
This is “The State, Of California,” Doug Sovern is away. Today we’re joined by Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan.
The last week has been quite eventful in politics as we have seen the release of a draft opinion by US Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. as well as worries grow about the state of the economy and a possible recession.
Closer to home in California, we saw the release earlier this week by the state Department of Finance about shifts in migration to and from the state as well as how the population here in California is shifting.
Next week, Governor Newsom issues his “May Revise” signaling the start of serious budget negotiations in the Sacramento as details are hammered out over what is expected to be another record-setting surplus. The forthcoming budget reflecting that surplus comes with demands, all amidst a backdrop of the state emerging from COVID-19 .
Earlier this week, in a nation already bitterly divided across many issues, political lines further hardened with the release of a leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the right to an abortion. The draft opinion written by Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. has the potential to upend American politics as we turn our attention to the midterm elections later this year.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Sonoma State University political scientist David McCuan and Democratic strategist Christine Pelosi.
California’s budget surplus continues to balloon, thanks to growing tax revenues from the state’s wealthiest citizens
It seems likely that most taxpayers will get some sort of rebate this summer, but officials in Sacramento can’t agree on just how much that should be
The latest budget proposal comes from the Democrats in the State Senate, who announced late last week that the state’s surplus has soared to a projected 68 billion dollars, a staggering number that would shatter the record set just last year, of $47 billion. Much of that surplus has to go into public education, but the Senate Democrats want to set aside billions more for the state’s rainy day reserve fund, and give $8 billion back to taxpayers in the form of $200 per person, up to $1000 for a family of five. They also propose rebates for businesses, as well as larger investments in solving homelessness, addressing climate change, and tackling deep poverty and access to health care.
For more on this, KCBS Radio's Eric Thomas, Patti Reising and Doug Sovern are joined by Scott Graves, Director of Research at the California Budget and Policy Center, the nonpartisan nonprofit based in Sacramento.
California's last nuclear plant, owned by PG&E in Diablo Canyon, is set to be decommissioned by 2025, but Governor Newsom may be going back on that plan.
This comes at a time when public opinion on nuclear energy's role in fighting the climate crisis is shifting, with a recent poll from the L.A. Times and UC Berkeley finding that 44% of Californians actually favor building more nuclear reactors in the state.
For more on the nuclear elephant in the room, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Eric Thomas spoke to Daniel Kammen, professor of energy at UC Berkeley and Science Envoy for the U.S. State Department.
A bill patterned after the Texas anti-abortion law, that would give California citizens the power to sue gun makers, continues to advance and Sacramento.
It passes the state Senate public safety committee this week and it's one step closer to reaching the Senate floor. This idea was championed by Governor Newsom.
So if, and when it wins full legislative approval, you can expect a swift signature from the governor. The bill, SB 1327, would allow private citizens to bring lawsuits against anyone who makes distributes or sells assault weapons in California.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with state Senator Bob Hertzberg, Senate majority leader Ameritas, the former speaker of the assembly, and author of this bill.
California is in the midst of an ever-worsening drought, with no end in sight. But even so, there are things we can do and that are being done to conserve water and minimize the impact of this prolonged dry spell
A new report is just out today called “Watershed Moments,” that shines some light on some promising drought solutions in the Bay Area. It comes from SPUR, the nonprofit public policy organization based in San Francisco, in partnership with the Greenbelt Alliance and Pacific Institute.
KCBS Radio's Doug Sovern, Patti Reising, and Jeff Bell are joined by Laura Feinstein, who is Sustainability and Resilience Policy Director at SPUR.
With just six weeks until the California primary election, state Republicans are more optimistic than ever that they can finally win a statewide race this November, but first they have to crack the top two on the June ballot to even qualify for November.
There are real questions for Republicans in some races. Will they be shut out of some general election contests? If they do make the top two, could they really win one of these offices in a year when national tailwinds are at their back? Can they capitalize on lukewarm support for President Biden and Vice President Harris, even in California, and make some inroads in a state dominated by Democrats? The GOP came out of its weekend convention with some momentum, but also some old divisions, that make clear it’s got a long way to go on its comeback trail.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reisin spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment.
The race is on for California Attorney General, now that California Republicans have endorsed Nathan Hochman as their candidate. Hochman goes up against incumbent Democrat Rob Bonta, as well as a former Republican, Anne Marie Schubert, the District Attorney for Sacramento County who has left the GOP and is running as an independent. Mr. Hochman was on our show last week, and we continue our series of interviews with major statewide candidates for office on the June 7 primary ballot.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising and KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Ms. Schubert, Sacramento District Attorney and candidate for state Attorney General.
California Republicans are meeting in Anaheim this weekend for their annual convention. The state Republicans who are most vulnerable to being unseated in the coming election are Mike Garcia in northern Los Angeles County and David Valadao in the Central Valley, and Orange County Representative Michelle Steel.
For more on how the party plans to defend them and potentially strive to pick up some new seats in the upcoming year, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising spoke with Mike Madrid, GOP political consultant and co-founder of the Lincoln Project.
The California primary campaign is in full swing now. Less than seven weeks till the June 7th election, and one of the most hotly contested races on the state ballot is the battle for Attorney General, often a stepping stone to the governor's office.
The incumbent is democrat Rob Bonta, who was appointed by Governor Newsom, after Attorney General Xavier Becerra became President Biden's Secretary of Health and Human Services. Bonta will be running for a full term.
Then there are two other major candidates, Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert whose running as an independent, and Republican Attorney and formal federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman of Los Angeles.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern spoke with Hochman.
It’s a pivotal midterm election year, but how free and safe are American elections these days, and how much confidence can we have that voters will have equal access to the ballot box, in every state?
A new study finds that access to easy registration, early voting and the ability to vote without interference and legislative roadblocks on Election Day itself, depends mightily on where you live. So, how does California rank, and where are the challenges to voter enfranchisement the greatest?
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising and KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Diana Philip, with the Democracy Initiative Education Fund, she is one of the principal authors of the report, which is called ”Storming State Capitols.”
It is Election Day in San Francisco, where a special election to fill a vacant seat in the State Assembly has drawn millions of dollars to a closely watched contest
This is the runoff between San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney and former Supervisor David Campos to see who will go the State Assembly from the 17th District.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke to Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and The State of California host.
We are just seven weeks away from California’s June 7 primary, with races for governor and U.S. Senator topping the ballot.
Over the next few weeks, before you get your absentee ballot in the mail, we will be having conversations here with many of the leading candidates.
This series begins today with one of the challengers to Governor Gavin Newsom. The candidate is Micheal Shellenberger, a journalist and author who lives in Berkeley and ran for governor as a Democrat in 2018, when he finished 9th with about half of one percent of the vote. He is running again, this time as an independent, not a Democrat. He’s best known as a proponent of clean nuclear energy and a new approach to environmentalism and for arguing that progressive policies are making California’s homelessness crisis worse, not better.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, spoke with Michael S.
There's a roiling debate here in California over crime and what to do about it, with progressive prosecutors in the two of the state's most important cities under fire facing recall elections: San Francisco D.A. Chesa Boudin and Los Angeles D.A. (formerly of San Francisco) George Gascón. The public perception of soaring crime is not entirely supported by the statistics, and even where murders and shootings are up, is it fair to blame the district attorneys? How much does their approach to crime-fighting really affect what happens on the street?
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter and State of California host Doug Sovern spoke to John Pfaff, professor of law at Fordham University.
San Francisco faces a deadline to finish drawing its new district maps by tomorrow, and the normally rather routine process has blown up in controversy. Even in a city known for its volatile politics, this has been unprecedented, with over-the-top vitriol and public name-calling among elected officials
San Francisco has 11 districts for supervisorial elections, and by tomorrow, the city’s appointed redistricting task force has to finish the new maps, prompted by the 2020 census. The commission had a marathon meeting over the weekend, another one yesterday, and will come back tomorrow for one last session.
However, these public meetings have been torn apart by acrimony, with members walking out in protest, swearing at one another, the public tearing into them for the maps they’ve proposed. In fact, two members of the Board of Supervisors going at it on Twitter, using unusually heated and graphic language. Whatever changes the task force ends up making to San Francisco’s political map, are likely to be challenged in court.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment.
Could California shorten the work week, creating a 4-day, 32-hour week for millions of California workers?
That’s the idea in the hopper in Sacramento, where state lawmakers are moving forward with a bill to require large companies to pay overtime, after their employees work 32 hours a week.
It’s been a dream of many workers for a long time, and now the changes in work habits since the pandemic began more than two years ago could make it a reality for many in California.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo, along with KCBS Radio political reporter and The State of California host Doug Sovern, spoke with State Assemblymember Evan Low, a Democrat from Campbell and the co-author of this bill, AB 2932.
The mass shooting in Sacramento is once again stirring the familiar debates about gun control, criminal justice, and policing. The stakes are higher this time around with elections coming on the horizon, these issue will likely be the conversation on the campaign trail.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising and Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan spoke with State Assemblyman Miguel Santiago.
As we’ve seen the past few weeks, the themes and story lines are already starting to develop for the Midterm elections later this year.
With a June primary about two months away, Democrats and Republicans are beginning to look to November for how they will battle over control for Congress as well as for races here in California.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising and Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan spoke with Mike Madrid, a GOP Political Consultant & Partner at Grassroots Lab, to take a look at how the issues and races are stacking up and taking shape at this point for both parties.
As we’ve covered in past programs, California voters are typically besieged by high-dollar battles through the ballot measure process.
Right now, groups are out collecting signatures on a slew of measures to put before the voters in November. It is expensive, time-consuming, long-running, and seeming to never end. From the attempted recall of Governor Newsom to fights over gaming and gambling and vaping, direct democracy is Big Business.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Sonoma State political scientist David McCuan.
With events rapidly unfolding across the world including in the Ukraine and Russia, the Biden Administration and Democrats find themselves at a critical point amidst the buildup to a Midterm election later this year. With more than a thousand days still in the Biden Administration tenure there is a long way to go, across many issues for the administration. Yet this month is shaping up to be a pivotal one as voters and observers assess the priorities and actions of what happens next.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, spoke with political scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan and Congressman John Garamendi.
California has announced a 2.6 billion dollar deal to combat the effects of the drought on the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta by diverting water that would go to cities and farms and putting it back into the delta’s ecosystem.
The announcement comes as earlier this week Governor Newsom called upon water agencies to tighten their use-restrictions as California continues to battle the ongoing drought.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Doug Obeji, Director of the Water Division at the Natural Resource Defense Council.
California remains in the midst of a lengthy drought and it looks like we're going to stay there, with a historically dry rainy season all but done and no more significant precipitation in sight. That could mean another devastating wildfire season, so Governor Newsom has just announced a new strategic plan to use more prescribed burns--what's known as "beneficial fire"--to reduce the fuel load and therefore the risk of catastrophic wildfires like the ones we've seen over the last five years. This plan comes from the governor's special task force on wildfire and forest resilience.
For more, KCBS Radio political analyst and The State of California host Doug Sovern spoke with Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Area Fire Advisor of the UC Cooperative Extension, and part of the task force.
The state task force on reparations for Black Californians makes a decision about just who should be eligible to receive them. But there’s still a lot of work to do, and a long way to go, before any African Americans get an apology and maybe a cash payment from the state
The task force met for a marathon hearing yesterday and finally voted, 5-4, to define who’s eligible for any reparations the state ultimately decides to award. The decision was that only Blacks living in California who can trace their lineage to African American slaves, or to a free Black person who was living in the United States before the end of the 19th century, will be entitled to reparations.
In other words, they rejected, on a very narrow vote, the contention that all Black Californians should get reparations, whether descended from slaves or not. It’s a bitterly contested issue, with strong feelings on both sides. In fact the task force is meeting again with its second day of discussions on how this process will move forward, focusing on the criminal justice system and hate crimes, and in future meetings on what form the reparations may ultimately take, as California is poised to become the first state in the nation to try to make amends in this way to Blacks, more than 150 years after the end of the Civil War.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment.
California’s latest moratorium on evictions during the pandemic expires Thursday, but lawmakers have struck a deal to extend it. The new plan has already passed the Assembly and is expected to win approval from the State Senate by the deadline.
Under this bill, the moratorium will be extended another three months, sparing hundreds of thousands of Californians from being forced out of their rental homes and apartments, at least until June 30.
However, there’s a big wrinkle. Only those who apply for rent relief from the state by this Thursday will be protected, so if you’ve got your paperwork in the pipeline and you’re still waiting for your money from the state, you’re okay. But if you don’t know about that program, or don’t file an application for assistance by then, you’re out of luck, and starting Friday, your landlord can evict you for not paying rent. So it’s a mixed bag for tenants, and it’s likely we will start seeing the eviction process resume after this week for many Californians.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment Doug Sovern.
With California gas prices at a record high, state officials are considering at least four different proposals to ease the pain at the pump
They range from suspending the state’s gas tax to sending rebates to certain California taxpayers. Governor Newsom has his own proposal, legislative Democrats have at least two others, and Republicans have a competing plan.
To sort through all this and try to figure out what might make the most sense for California, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, along with KCBS Radio political analyst and State of California host Doug Sovern, spoke with Yonah Freemark, Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute.
This November’s election season is shaping up to be one for the ages, with battles expected over ballot measures that will likely see hundreds of millions of dollars of campaign spending. Measures that deal with everything from a referendum on the prohibition against flavored tobacco to single-use plastics to medical malpractice lawsuits will be on the ballot.
In addition, there are likely to be several measures on the November ballot around gaming and waging on sporting events.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising spoke with David McCuan, political analyst and professor at Sonoma State University, and California state senator Bill Dodd.
This week saw us enter the beginning of spring, and as California moves into another season of drought, we turn to concerns about the weather and how cities throughout the state can deal with the uncertainty around climate, fire, water, and potential risks here.
In early April, the California State Department of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct its final measure of the Sierra Nevada snowpack survey. Those results will tell us much about water and drought concerns for the rest of the year.
For more on how all of this plays out for the next several months of 2022 and how local officials are coping with this uncertainty, KCBS Radio news anchors Kris Ankarlo and Megan Goldsby, joined by political analyst Dr. David McCuan at Sonoma State University, spoke with the mayor of Santa Rosa, Chris Rogers.
The masks are coming off around the Bay Area in public places, in schoolyards, and even inside many schools.
But at the same time, there is growing concern about what could be the next wave of COVID-19, as the new BA.2 variant of Omicron continues to spread.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Kris Ankarlo and Melissa Culross spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political analyst and host of this segment.
The Senate opened confirmation hearings today for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, who began to share her life story and judicial philosophy
Republicans on the Judiciary Committee made it clear what their lines of attack will be, even as they acknowledged they don’t have the votes to block her nomination.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, along with KCBS Radio political reporter and State of California host Doug Sovern, spoke with Jessica Levinson, law professor and Director of the Public Service Institute at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
Earlier today, Governor Newsom announced a proposal to give Native American tribes $100 million so they can purchase and preserve their ancestral lands.
The proposal is part of Newsom’s commitment to preserve nearly one-third of California’s land and Coastal waters, the money would be a piece of the Governor’s near $300-billion budget proposal. To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Megan Goldsby and Jeff Bell spoke with California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot.
The Working Families Party is endorsing a slate of progressive candidates for the California State Legislature.
For more, KCBS Radio Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Jane Kim, Former San Francisco County Supervisor and California Director of the Working Families Party.
As the price of a gallon of gas continues to soar here in the Bay Area, California lawmakers try different approaches to bring it back down. It is rapidly becoming the number one issue for Californians, which may be why there’s such a fight over what to do about it in Sacramento
First, Republicans tried to suspend the gas tax, which is about 51 cents a gallon. But the legislature defeated that move yesterday, on a party line vote. Now the governor wants to come up with some sort of tax rebate, but not of the gas tax itself, and lawmakers are working on that. However, the Democrats are reluctant to go along with the governor’s proposal to delay the next scheduled increase in the gas tax this July.
Finally, there’s a new bill that would force the oil companies to reveal how much their cost and profit are each month, so California drivers would know exactly how much they’re being gouged, compared to other states.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment.
The mandatory masks came off today for most school children around California.
However, not at all schools. A few large districts, including Oakland, Sacramento and Los Angeles, are still requiring masks at school, and San Francisco will require them at elementary schools only, until April
There’s still no word at all about lifting the mask mandate for Oakland schools, and it’s a real hodgepodge out there, depending on where you live and go to school. Some families are enormously relieved they can go unmasked, while others are terrified of this day and will keep them on.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell as well as Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of this segment, spoke with Dr. Jake Scott, an infectious disease doctor and clinical assistant professor at Stanford, and an Oakland schools parent.
The deadline for candidates to file for the California primary elections is TODAY after a hectic month of redistricting and campaign launches. So, how are things shaping up as we begin the push to November?
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Jeremy White, POLITICO reporter and Co-author of the California Playbook.
As the war rages on in Ukraine, with Russia continuing its slow advance, the people of the Bay Area and California continue to rally around the Ukrainian people, sending money and support, some people even traveling to Ukraine’s border with Poland to help refugees. Meanwhile, the price of gasoline continues to soar, with the price at the pump well over five dollars a gallon now and even topping six bucks at some California gas stations.
Earlier this week, Congressman John Garamendi, who represents parts of the East and North Bays, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, was one of a small number of Congressional representatives who met via Zoom with Ukraine’s widely celebrated president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
For more, KCBS Radio Political Reporter and State of California Host Doug Sovern spoke with Congressman Garamendi.
Now that Governor Newsom has called for a tax rebate to offset the soaring pump price of gasoline, legislative leaders are working to flesh out that proposal
But what will that rebate look like? How much could it be, and when might Californians get it?
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell along with KCBS Radio Political Reporter and State of California Host Doug Sovern spoke with Assemblymember Phil Thing of San Francisco, who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee and the legislature’s joint budget committee.
Tonight Governor Newsom delivers his third State of the State address.
The governor is expected to touch on the war in Ukraine, the economy, homelessness and of course, the Coronavirus pandemic.
For more, KCBS Radio News Anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising spoke with KCBS Radio Political Reporter and State of California Host Doug Sovern for more.
Some California Democrats are still smarting from a contentious state party convention over the weekend that exposed some raw divisions within California’s dominant political party. The state’s Democrats also endorsed candidates for statewide offices, as well as in Congressional and legislative races.
The virtual convention, held online, underscored that this is a big and diverse party, with progressives clashing with more mainstream members, and organized labor squabbling with party leaders.
For more, KCBS Radio News Anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, and Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with a woman who’s a force in the state party, the former longtime chair of its Women’s Caucus, as well as a member of the Democratic National Committee, party strategist Christine Pelosi of San Francisco.
State lawmakers are reviving a bill that would allow San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland to deploy automated cameras to enforce excessive speeding. Assembly Bill 23-36 comes in response to the uptick in traffic violence and deaths during the pandemic, and the cameras would track license plates similarly to a red-light camera, speeders would then get their ticket in the mail.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Melissa Culross and Eric Thomas spoke with San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu. who had previously introduced this bill when he was a member of the California State Assembly.
We are just under a week away from California ending its state-wide mask mandate for students at school. Masks will continue to be strongly recommended by officials, but no longer mandated by the government starting next Friday, March 12th.
For more on the issue, KCBS Radio Political Reporter and State of California Host Doug Sovern spoke with E. Toby Boyd, President of the California Teachers Association.
California continues to look for ways it can help Ukraine fight off the Russian invasion and mount pressure on Vladimir Putin. The latest effort is to hurt Russia financially, by divesting state pension funds from Russian assets.
The introduction of a bipartisan bill in the state legislature, followed a day later by Governor Newsom calling for divestiture and writing to the big state pension funds to demand that they withdraw over a billion dollars in assets from Russian investments.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment spoke with State Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire of Healdsburg, co-author of the new legislation that would force California to do just that.
President Biden delivers his first State of the Union address tonight, a speech you can hear live right here on KCBS Radio, followed by the Republican response.
The speech was originally expected to be mostly about the coronavirus pandemic and the economy, but now it’s overshadowed by Russia’s war on Ukraine.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke to Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political analyst and host of this segment.
California will stop requiring kids to wear masks at school, on March 12th. Governor Newsom says masks will still be strongly recommended, though no longer mandatory, but individual school districts or counties can override that guidance and still require kids to wear masks at school
That long-awaited announcement came this morning from the governor’s office, although he chose not to hold a news conference himself to discuss it, leaving that task instead to the state's health secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. California will align with Oregon and Washington in lifting the school mask rule effective March 12th. Effective tomorrow, it will also end the indoor mask mandate statewide for unvaccinated Californians in public places, aligning with the latest CDC guidelines.
For more on today’s announcement regarding masks in the schools, KCBS Radio news anchors Megan Goldsby and Jeff Bell, along with KCBS Radio political analyst and State of California host Doug Sovern,were joined by Troy Flint, Chief Information Officer for the California School Boards Association.
A massive spending bill is reported to be in the works, including emergency cash Ukraine.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Kris Ankarlo spoke with U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier representing San Francisco and the Peninsula.
President Biden slapped more sanctions on Russia today, even as he admitted that sanctions weren’t designed to keep Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, with fears that Putin has bigger designs on more of eastern Europe
As the war in Ukraine intensifies, these are anxious times for the roughly 10,000 Ukrainians who live in the Bay Area. They’ve been banding together for support and to help each other keep contact with family back in Ukraine.
For more on that part of this global story, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, spoke with Maria Tscherepenko of San Mateo County, president of the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, a national nonprofit for more than 40 years, based right here in the Bay Area.
The situation along the Ukraine-Russia border is getting tenser by the minute, as Ukraine calls up its military reserves, and the US ratchets up economic sanctions against Russia.
Vladimir Putin vows a strong response to those sanctions, as he declares separatist regions of eastern Ukraine “independent” and sends in troops that he calls “peacekeepers”
President Biden says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is already underway. Are we heading for a wider war? Is it too late for diplomacy to end the fighting?
To answer these questions, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising as well as Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment spoke with Leon Panetta, the longtime Monterey congressman who later served as White House Chief of Staff under President Clinton, and both Secretary of Defense and Director of the CIA for President Obama.
Less than three weeks before the filing deadline, US Senator Alex Padilla of California launches his campaign for a full term. But a potential challenger to Governor Newsom bows out, leaving the Republican field still pretty barren for the gubernatorial field.
For more, KCBS Radio News Anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, along with Political Reporter Doug Sovern, Sonoma State political science professor David McCuan.
It's an understatement to say that this last week has been eventful for Ukraine. Russia has built up more than 150,000 troops on three sides of the Ukraine, and tensions have escalated with Vladimir Putin as the United States and NATO work to deter an invasion of Ukraine and surrounding regions.
Today we turn our attention to the events unfolding there as a possible meeting between President Biden and Vladimir Putin could happen soon, after an initial meeting between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov possibly later this week.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Kris Ankarlo and Megan Goldsby spoke to Sonoma State University professor and political scientist Dr. David McCuan (filling in today for State of California host Doug Sovern) and Kathryn Stoner, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and professor of political science at Stanford University.
It was just two months ago that Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, defended the right of the members of Congress to be able to buy and sell stocks declaring that it is a free market, and like other Americans, they should be able to participate.
Well, there was quite a bit of backlash against that. Now she has changed her tune saying she supports legislation to prevent insider trading by members of Congress. The stock act 2.0 is a new bill co-authored by Representative Katie Porter, democrat from Irvine and Orange County.
For more on this, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern spoke with Representative Porter.
It’s the recall heard ‘round the nation as San Francisco voters overwhelmingly decide to kick three members of the Board of Education out of office. It is the first time in 108 years that a recall has succeeded in San Francisco--and there may be another one in just 4 months.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell and KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern discussed the recall election data with Joshua Spivak of Oakland, Senior Fellow at the Hugh L. Carey Institute for Government Reform at Wagner College in New York and writer of the Recall Elections blog.
Governor Newsom has put off for at least two more weeks a decision on whether and when to let kids take off their masks at school, but a new poll out today shows declining support for the governor on a wide range of issues--including how he’s handling the pandemic.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke to Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political analyst and host of this segment.
We reported last Friday on the announcement by State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks of Oakland, about the bill she’s introducing that would mandate COVID-19 vaccines for all California employees, with exceptions for medical and religious reasons.
For more, KCBS Anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, along with KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern, spoke to Assemblymember Wicks, a Democrat who represents the 15th district, covering parts of Berkeley, Richmond, Emeryville and part of Oakland.
After a major oil spill off the coast of Southern California's Huntington Beach in October that contaminated local beaches and killed inhabiting wildlife, A California State Senator has introduced a bill to end offshore oil production in California waters by 2024.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with the author of this bill, Dave Min, Democratic State Senator of Irvine.
Sometime in the next few days, perhaps Monday, says Governor Gavin Newsom, he will announce the next phase in California's response to and management of the coronavirus pandemic. This is what he calls his 'endemic plan', to deal with Covid-19 as it becomes a permamnent part of everyday life.
For more, KCBS Radio Political Analyst and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Dr. Jeanne Noble, professor at UCSF.
On Wednesday in Oakland, Governor Newsom signed a bill reinstating extra paid sick leave for California workers affected by COVID-19, retroactive to the first of the year. However, the new law has a key exemption: it does not apply to businesses with 25 or fewer employees, meaning a lot of workers will not be covered by it.
That makes up roughly 90 percent of California businesses, but they only employ about 25 percent of the workers in the state, so most people will be eligible for this new sick pay policy.
For more on this, KCBS Radio Political Reporter Doug Sovern, and KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, spoke to Jenya Cassidy Director of the California Work and Family Coalition, which is based in Alameda and one of the groups that’s been working hard to try to get this bill passed.
Just four months before California’s June primary, Governor Gavin Newsom finally got a challenger today--but it’s a little-known Republican state senator who is tossing his hat in the ring as a longshot underdog.
State Senator Brian Dahle of the tiny town of Bieber, on the Pit River in Lassen County, population 266, declared his candidacy for governor today. He is the first primary challenger of any significance to enter the field, and he has a higher profile than your typical obscure rural state legislator, because he did serve almost 7 years in the State Assembly and was Assembly Minority Leader for a year, before he was elected to the State Senate in 2019 and then re-elected in 2020.
Dahle announced his campaign at a small rally with family and friends and supporters on hand, denouncing Governor Newsom as a “dictator” and proclaiming himself the "underdog” in the race, which he most certainly is.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political analyst and host of The State of California.
Tomorrow night, the Oakland School Board will vote on whether to shut down another batch of schools, mostly in Black and Latino neighborhoods, to help balance its budget
The proposal is roiling the community, with angry demonstrations and even a hunger strike to try keep these schools open.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, joined by KCBS Radio political analyst and host of this segment Doug Sovern, spoke with Coach Ben Tapscott, a longtime teacher and coach in Oakland.
The recall attempt against Governor Gavin Newsom took more than just a lot of time and money, as a new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California is finding that it may have zapped the spirits of voters as well, with 4 in 10 likely voters saying it made them feel worse about politics and elections, and just 18% saying it made them feel better.
The unsuccessful attempt to oust Newsom from his seat cost nearly $300 million in election costs and just a year before the next chance to vote him out of office. To discuss further, KCBS Radio News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Darry Sragow, Democratic Strategist and Assistant Professor of Political Science at USC.
This week, California's latest attempt at enacting single-payer health care fell flat when the San Jose assemblyman who wrote the bill pulled it just moments before a floor vote because he did not have the votes to pass it. There's been a bit of a political firestorm ever since.
The failure to advance the measure came just days after a new study that showed just how costly California's current health care system is, and how much trouble so many Californians have in getting the care they need.
For more, KCBS Radio reporter and host of this segment Doug Sovern spoke with Larry Levitt, Executive Vice President for Health Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.
There’s been a well-documented surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans here in the Bay Area and across the country, but a new study says race-based crime is spiking among many other ethnic groups as well.
The report finds hate crimes jumping in many cities to a level not seen in 50 years, with Black, LGBTQ, and Jewish people also among the most targeted.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, along with KCBS Radio political analyst and host of this segment Doug Sovern, spoke with Brian Levin, the longtime executive director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, which conducted this study.
The political fallout continues from the demise of California’s latest attempt to become the first state to enact a single payer health insurance system
Lots of finger-pointing and recriminations, as progressives howl in protest and moderates fret about the cost…and those are just the Democrats
We are talking, of course, about San Jose Assemblyman Ash Kalra’s failure yesterday to get a floor vote on his bill, AB1400, that would have created something called “Cal Care,” the nation’s first single payer health care system, in this case run by the state of California, not the federal government. It was always a long shot that California would actually adopt this, but progressive Democrats at least wanted it to pass the Assembly, where Democrats enjoy a super-majority, with 55 of the 75 seats that are filled right now.
For more, KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with KCBS political reporter and host of The State of California, Doug Sovern.
California has started dismantling Death Row at San Quentin Prison, transferring condemned inmates into the general population and sending some to other prisons
The state has not executed anyone in 16 years, and Governor Newsom has declared a moratorium on the death penalty, but shutting down Death Row is a new and unprecedented step
For some reaction to this, KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, along with KCBS political reporter and host of The State of California, Doug Sovern spoke with Michael Rushford, founder, president and CEO of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation in Sacramento.
It's barely been a full month into 2022 and as we look at this year's ballot the list of measures seems to just get shorter and shorter.
That's because more and more initiative campaigns are being forced to drop out due to a lack of resources and problems gathering signatures.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Jeremy White, he’s a Reporter with POLITICO and Co-author of the California Playbook.
A Supreme Court bombshell today, as Justice Stephen Breyer decides to retire at the end of this term
That will give President Biden his first Supreme Court vacancy to fill, and it will come in the middle of a contentious midterm election year
Justice Breyer is from San Francisco, he went to Lowell High School, he was a contemporary of Jerry Brown, he was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton 28 years ago. Retiring, at age 83, opens up one of the three remaining seats in the court’s liberal wing.
For more on Breyer’s retirement and what comes next, KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell along side KCBS political reporter and host of The State of California, Doug Sovern spoke with Jessica Levinson, law professor at Loyola Law in Los Angeles.
We are just three weeks away from California’s next special election, this one taking place in San Francisco
It is a nationally watched campaign, not because voters are choosing a new member of the state Assemble, but because they may also recall three members of the school board.
For more, KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke KCBS political reporter and host of The State, Of California, Doug Sovern.
After Gov. Gavin Newsom’s resounding defeat of the recall in September, have all the possible Republican opponents been scared off? Will the California Republican Party field anyone to make a race of these two high profile seats? It’s looking less and less likely, with the March 11 filing deadline fast approaching, and the primary election itself coming up on June 7th, just four and a half months away.
What impact could the lack of a big name at the top have on some key down-ballot races?
For more on what’s going on, KCBS Radio's Political Reporter and host of The State of California -- joined by KCBS Radio's Patti Reising -- spoke with Mike Madrid, longtime Republican political consultant based in Sacramento and co-founder of The Lincoln Project.
As we all know, the Biden administration has been in office now for a year and the President’s popularity and that of the Democratic “brand” has taken a hit with voters. We also have also had redistricting take place in California with shifts in the lines for congressional districts.
All of this has happened as we make our way to Primary elections in June and Midterm General elections in November.
So what is happening in the start of this Election Season with Democrats and challenges in those primaries there when most attention is paid to Republicans and the influence of Donald Trump?
To discuss further, KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell along with Professor of the Political Science Department at Sonoma State University David McCaun spoke with Aarika Rhodes, a Democratic candidate for Congress in the 32nd Congressional District in Southern California.
The Biden Administration has announced an ambitious plan to try and prevent the devastating wildfires that have ravaged California and the west for the last few years. It calls for a dramatic increase in reducing fire risk by using more controlled burns and thinning of forests. The new plan covers 10 years and could cost $50 billion.
For more on this new approach, Host Doug Sovern spoke with Dr.Brandon Collins, University of California Center for Fire Research and Outreach.
Yet another California Democrat announced today that he will not seek re-election to Congress, opening up another House seat
Representative Jerry McNerney is the latest Democrat to decide to retire, after serving eight terms in Washington
For more, Anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS political reporter and host of The State Of California.
This week marked yet another tradition in Sacramento of the Governor’s release of his state budget proposal. This proposal is filled with new programs, reflecting state coffers that are flush from strong state revenues. There is an estimated almost $50 billion above projected revenues for the next budget year that begins on July 1st.
For more, Host Doug Sovern along with David McCuan, Chair and Professor of the Political Science Department at Sonoma State University, and KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Assemblyman Phil Ting.
The new political year is in full swing, now that California's new district maps are now complete and office holders and candidates are making decisions on where to run. There will be dozens of changes in the state legislature as incumbents retire or move on and new candidates step up. There are a hand full of swing seats, again, in California Congressional races with the new maps are generally more favorable to democrats than republicans.
For more, Host Doug Sovern spoke with Ludovix Blain, executive director, California Donor Table
Many California school districts are getting hammered now by the Omicron surge in the COVID-19 pandemic, with hardly any kids in some classes and schools struggling to keep enough teachers at work
There are more districts going back to remote learning, and more teachers and students are demanding better testing and protections at school sites.
For more on what’s going on, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo spoke with Troy Flint, Chief Information Officer for the California School Boards Association.
Now that Governor Newsom has unveiled his record-setting state budget proposal, negotiations are underway with the state legislature on the final
One of the key items in the governor’s agenda is homelessness, on which Newsom proposes to spend another two billion dollars. That’s on top of the $12 billion allocated in the current budget to tackle homelessness, which was far beyond anything ever spent by the state before. So that would mean a total of 14 billion dollars spent on homelessness over two budget cycles, when the state had never even spent more than a billion dollars a year on it before.
Governor Newsom unveiled his budget blueprint for the next fiscal year today, and it includes record spending and projects a $45 billion surplus
The governor is also proposing universal health care for all Californians, regardless of immigration status, which would be a national first.
The governor’s record $286 billion spending plan exceeds the so-called Gann Limit, which may mean even more money for the schools and rebates to California taxpayers, although the numbers could change significantly by May, when the budget is revised.
For more on the state’s new budget plan, Host Douf Sovern along with KCBS News Anchors Patti Resing and Jeff Bell spoke with Chris Hoene, executive director of the independent California Budget and Policy Center.
Over the past few days, we have reflected on the events in our nation’s Capitol a year ago and where we stand today.
Given these reflections on the events of January 6th and the consequences that have resulted, there are many questions still open as to what it all means and where we are headed in the near- and long-term.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Jeff Bell was joined by Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan.
One year ago today, supporters of then President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol, in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election and keep the winner, Joe Biden, from being certified as president-elect.
More than 700 people have been arrested so far for their roles in that uprising, and the criminal investigation continues, as does the work of the January 6th Committee in the House. Among the Bay Area members of Congress trapped in the House during that siege was Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat who represents parts of the South Bay and East Bay, including much of Silicon Valley.
For more, Host Doug Sovern spoke with Representative Ro Khanna
Tomorrow marks one year since the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, an uprising unprecedented in American history, that’s spawned a lengthy criminal investigation as well as one by a special House committee
More than 700 people have been arrested so far for their roles in the attack, hundreds of them have been convicted. There has been an overhaul of the Capitol Police, new security measures put in place, and the political fallout continues.
For more, Host Doug Sovern along with KCBS News Anchor Jeff Bell spoke with Dr. Jason Whitehead, who is both an attorney and a political scientist. He is an associate professor at Cal State Long Beach who focuses on legal and judicial politics and the rule of law.
Conservative Republican radio host Larry Elder announced today that he will not run for governor against Gavin Newsom again this year. Elder was considered the strongest potential GOP challenger to Newsom in the 2022 election but instead he’s going to start a new political action committee.
For more, KCBS News Anchor Jeff Bell spoke with Host of The State of California Doug Sovern
The New Year brings new Congressional districts to California, along with new boundary lines for State Senate and Assembly seats, too
The state’s independent redistricting commission finalized those new maps last week, and officeholders and candidates are still scrambling to decide where they will run for office in 2022
For more, Host Doug Sovern along with KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Attorney Darry Sragow.
The past two years, under Covid-19, have witnessed a sea change in our politics.
As we reflect back on almost two years of a pandemic, we also experienced the most divisive election in a generation, the rise of social and economic upheaval, as well as an attack in our nation's Capitol.
All of these events were capped off by a recall election that seemed to backfire on Republicans, while the Democrats' national brand continues to take a hit headed into 2022.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising as well as Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan spoke with Larry Gerston, Professor Emeritus, San Jose State University, Department of Political Science, long-time KCBS Political Analyst.
After years of drought, there's finally a little bit of good news report. Officials say the snow pack in the Sierra Nevada is 160% of normal for this time of year. This following a series of storms that have blanketed the area with snow. But, just how much of a dent is that making in the state's drought conditions. To find out, KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Peter Gleick , Co-Founder and President Emeritus at the Pacific Institute in Oakland.
A Bay Area lawmaker plans to introduce a bill that would help children who have lost a parent or primary caregiver to the pandemic. The bill would set up a savings account and make sure the children would be able to collect survivor support.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with the bill's author, State Senator Nancy Skinner.
The attempted recall of Governor Newsom was supposed to unite the state GOP. Instead, the campaign and the results seemed to stoke and expose the divisions within the California Republican party.
Yet the GOP brand nationally is different than that within California as Republicans look past the recall and towards their fortunes next year.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, along with Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan, spoke with Richard Temple, political consultant, media relations strategist, and a partner McNally, Temple, & Associates.
As we reflect on the year in politics that was 2021, there were many elements that surprised us, and others less so.
Challenges related to the pandemic, the expectations of moving past one surge after another, and appearance of divisions within each party, all filled the year in politics with many ups and downs.
Both parties have had their trials before voters who are simply exhausted by it all.
For more on what to make of the past year in politics and a look at what's ahead for the next year, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo spoke with Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan and Steve Maviglio, Political Consultant and Strategist, and a former Press Secretary, Gov. Gray Davis.
The holidays are typically a slower time of year in politics, but there's still plenty going on in California. Many of the issues being discussed right now will likely be pushed the forefront as the state moves closer to the midterm elections next year.
Despite a failed recall effort and little statewide representation, Republicans in California still feel they can find issues that will energize voters to go to the polls.
To discuss further, KCBS Reporter Mike DeWald spoke with Jessica Milan Patterson, Chair of the California Republican Party
It’s the Holiday Season, and even in the politics of California, it is a time when we look back, reflect on what matters and think about what new year will bring.
to discuss further, KCBS News Anchors Margie Shafer and Eric Thomas along with Dave McCaun, Chair and Professor of the Political Science Department at Sonoma State University, spoke with Mark Keppler, Professor of Public Affairs and Executive Director of the Maddy Institute at Fresno State University.
After almost a year of the Biden Administration, with presidential approval hovering near the low to mid-40% level, attention has turned to divides within the Democratic party as we look to the 2022 Midterms.
Some of these divisions between progressives and moderates are also increasingly manifesting closer to home, both in San Francisco and across the state.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo as well as Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan, spoke with Eric Jaye the Founder and President of Storefront Political Media.
The fallout continues following West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin’s announcement that he could not support the Biden Administration’s “Build Back Better” legislation passed earlier this Fall by the House and now in the Senate.
The Senate broke for its Holiday recess and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer of New York declared the legislation wasn’t dead and that the Senate would return early next year to vote on the matter, but what comes next is unclear.
For more on this, KCBS News Anchors Margie Shafer and Kris Ankarlo spoke with Dr. David McCuan, Political Scientist from Sonoma State University
The rash of turnover and retirements isn’t limited to Congress.
With more than half of the state legislature slated to leave under term limits after 2024, many Members are making other plans or moving to run for other offices.
In the Bay Area, we have recently seen one Member announce his retirement from the Legislature joining at least seven other Legislators throughout the state.
For more, KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising, Jeff Bell, and Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan spoke with Bill Quirk, Assemblyman, 20th Assembly District
California is in the black, with a huge budget surplus projected for the second year in a row, and the economy picking up steam. But many people are still being left behind, and struggling during the pandemic, as we see more poverty and disturbing spikes in crime. Some school districts still face crushing budget deficits, and homelessness seems worse than even while California has tens of billions of dollars of extra tax revenue to spend.
For more on that disconnect, and the economic road ahead for California, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, and KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke to State Assembly member Phil Ting of San Francisco, who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee.
Governor Newsom is planning to emulate the Texas anti-abortion legal tactic to go after guns in California
After ridiculing the Texas approach, the governor is fighting back by trying to ban assault weapons and ghost guns by empowering private citizens to sue anyone who makes or sells them in California
For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern and KCBS news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reisong are joined by Jason McDaniel, associate professor of political science at San Francisco State University.
An annual rite of passage is the introduction of the governor’s budget proposal each January.
Recent state budgets, despite the COVID pandemic, have surged with Governor Newsom and the legislature seeking to fund new programs while growing others.
To discuss this further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, joined by Sonoma State political scientist David McCuan, spoke with Scott Graves, Director of Research at the California Budget and Policy Center.
Doug Sovern is off today, filling in is Sonoma State Political Scientist David McCuan.
Congresswoman Jackie Speier made bomb shell political news last month when she announced that she would retire from congress at the end of this term a year from now.
This week she endorsed her chosen successor state assembly member Kevin Mullin of South San Francisco, former Mayor and city councilmen and South city, and then elected to the state assembly. Mullin has already collected the endorsements of a long list of local and statewide elected wide officials including State Attorney General Rob Bonta and that all makes him a prohibit favorite now to win Speier's seat and represent the Peninsula and a slice of San Francisco depending on how the final district maps are drawn in the next congress.
For more, KCBS Radio Political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern spoke with Assembly member Kevin Mullin.
Kevin Mullin, California State Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore and the man retiring Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier has endorsed to replace her in Congress, is calling for stronger federal protections of elections amid multiple Republican states’ push to restrict access to the ballot.
Here's his interview with KCBS Radio's Doug Sovren.
There’s a new campaign underway to raise California’s minimum wage again, beyond the recent rise to $15 an hour, this time to $18 an hour, with annual increases tied to inflation
If the man behind the idea can collect enough petition signatures, the $18 hourly wage will go before California voters on next November’s ballot
At $18 an hour, California would have the highest minimum wage in the nation, and for more, KCBS Political Reporter and host of this show Doug Sovern along with KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Joe Sanberg, the Southern California entrepreneur, millionaire investor and anti-poverty activist who is spearheading this campaign.
Republican US Representative Devin Nunes of the Fresno area made the bombshell announcement yesterday that he will quit Congress at the end of this month to become CEO of Donald Trump’s new media organization--a move that no one saw that one coming. This is also on the heels of Democrat Representative Jackie Speier’s decision to retire at the end of next year, opening up a Democratic safe seat on the Peninsula. Yesterday she endorsed Assemblyman Kevin Mullin to succeed her in Congress, making that race a lot less competitive.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment.
If you’ve tried to find a home to buy or rent lately, you already know that Bay Area housing is in short supply, and that prices continue to rise, But just how bad is the housing crunch, and is it ever going to end?
An analysis of the latest census data can shed some light on that, and to peel back the layers a bit, KCBS Political Reporter and host of this show Doug Sovern along with KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Eric Mcghee, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, who’s taken a close look at this and crunched the numbers.
California’s government can seem unwieldy at times, and during the Covid-19 pandemic there have been concerns.
Yet even prior to the pandemic, how California’s government works, how it could be more efficient and better serve the state, and even what the future might hold for a more responsive and “better” state government is often the focus of a little known state independent commission.
This independent, permanent citizens commission works to improve state government, yet we know little about it and the role it plays today in the state.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as Sonoma State Political Scientist, Dr. David McCuan spoke with Ethan Rarick, Executive Director of the “Little Hoover” Commission.
California could be looking at a lot of pregnant women seeking abortions if the U.S. Supreme Court upholds a Mississippi law that bans abortion after the 15th week of pregnancies. The case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Heath to overturn Roe v. Wade, which for almost 50 years has guaranteed a women's right to legal and safe abortion in America.
Yesterday, the court heard oral arguments in Dobbs and the conservative majority sure seemed inclined, at the very least, to overturn the lower courts and allow this Mississippi law to stand.
For a closer look at this, KCBS Radio Political Reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern spoke with Jodi Hicks, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments today on the constitutionality of Mississippi’s restrictive abortion law, which bans abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy.
The conservative justices who control the court seemed inclined to uphold the law, but the larger question is whether they might use this case to overturn Roe v Wade altogether.
If they do, that would mean states could once again outlaw abortion, and many are poised to do just that if Roe is reversed. That could mean a flood of pregnant women from other states into California, where abortion is certain to remain legal, at least for the foreseeable future.
For more on today’s hearing at the court, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with UC Hastings Law Professor and former Supreme Court clerk Rory Little, an expert on constitutional law.
As we have been reporting here at KCBS, the presence of a new variant in the Covid-19 pandemic has rattled governments and markets around the world.
The World Health Organization recently named this new version of the virus “Omicron” and classified it as a highly transmissible variant of concern, though its actual risks are not yet understood.
There have been a number of significant steps taken already this week as leaders, both nationally and statewide, warn of a potential next wave of covid.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan, spoke with State Assemblyman Jim Wood.
The world is grappling with the latest strain of the Covid-19 virus, the Omicron variant, and what it could mean almost two years into the coronavirus pandemic.
President Biden sought to reassure the nation, and jittery financial markets, today, but the new development could have significant political impact.
Less than a year before the 2022 midterm elections, we will have to see how this new variant plays out, and how it could affect those elections. Could we see new emergency orders and government restrictions? Does the electorate have any appetite for that? Any chance no one plays politics with this one and we just leave it to the scientists and doctors and public health professionals? The answer to that one is already a resounding no.
For more details, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, explain what to expect from the new variant.
As we look back over 2021 and the year in California politics, the Golden State has experienced highs and lows throughout a year defined by COVID, only the second ever gubernatorial Recall election, and a battle of the lines for next year’s political races.
While there is a pause in campaigns and elections for the moment, there is still much happening below the surface throughout the state. Some of this year’s developments are setting the stage for trends and storylines headed into 2022. California is in a place of momentous change.
To discuss further, KCBS News Anchor Megan Goldsby spke with Robb Korinke, he’s part of the firm Grassroots Lab.
The Biden Administration continues to grapple with a strained supply chain and inflationary pressures that have led to some higher prices including at the Thanksgiving table.
To discuss further, KCBS Reporter Mike DeWald and Political Analyst spoke with US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
With a pause in campaigns and elections for the moment, there is still much happening below the surface in politics.
While much of the focus is on the House and whether Democrats can retain their majority, next year is also a time where Governor Newsom faces re-election, and numerous other races are receiving the attention of many.
This backdrop of the 2022 elections actually reflects a broader, bigger “moment” in the politics of California. For more on the changes that are affecting elections next year, KCBS Radio news anchors Eric Thomas and Patti Reising spoke with political scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan. They are later joined in discussion by Lanhee Chen, Public Policy Fellow at Stanford University, and 2022 candidate for Controller.
Looming just over the horizon are next year’s Midterm elections, shaping as a “Battle Royale” over the future direction of Congress as well as Sacramento.
For more, KCBS News anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, along with Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan, spoke with California State Senator Brian Jones.
We have seen a noticeable shift of the last several weeks where the political fortunes of Democrats and the Biden administration may be changing while.
The latest Gallup Poll still has the President’s approval underwater, yet the strength of Gavin Newsom in beating back the Recall here in California, along with the Democrats narrowly passing the Biden Administration’s massive “Build Back Better Act” last week, also present a mixed view of where the political fortunes are for the party.
For more, KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo along with Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan spoke with Leon Panetta, former White House Chief of Staff, Cabinet Secretary, and long-time Congressman
Today we’re joined by Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan. The past 24 hours have seen a whirlwind of activity in the nation’s Capitol with Democrats narrowly passing the Biden administration’s massive “Build Back Better Act” this morning.
The focus now shifts to the Senate where the House version of the bill is expected to face additional pressures.
California is spending record sums of money to combat the crisis on the streets thanks to its huge budget surplus. The state is allocating 12-billion dollars to try and reduce or solve homelessness, which polls show Californians say is the state's worst problem behind the COVID-19 pandemic. For more, KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke to Ned Resnikoff, Policy Manager at the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at UCSF.
California is flush with cash and it’s going to stay in the black for a while
The state legislative analyst projected another budget surplus next year to the tune of $31 billion.
For more on how this is happening and what it will mean, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment Doug Sovern along with KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Chris Hoene, Executive Director of the California Budget and Policy Center, a nonpartisan, independent budget analysis organization in Sacramento.
The Bay Area is going to have an open seat in Congress for the first time in seven years, now that Jackie Speier has announced she will not seek re-election in 2022.
Her decision to retire will touch off a mad scramble for her job, one of the safest Democratic House seats in the country
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Pattie Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Doug Sovern, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment.
The march toward the midterms is already well underway across the country. As Democrats debate what led to losses in Virginia and a near-miss in New Jersey, both parties are positioning themselves for the next election cycle with the balance of power likely up for grabs.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Ron Steslow, host of the Politicology Podcast and a former member of the Lincoln Project, where he was a co-founder.
Governor Newsom and state public health officials continue to warn about a winter surge of COVID cases in California, even though 90% of Californians have received at least one dose of the vaccine and more than 60% are fully vaccinated.
In recent weeks California's case rate per 100,000 people has spiked and the state has moved back into the red zone on the CDC map, despite mask and vaccine mandates.
Why is this happening, and could we be looking at a surge as bad as previous ones?
To discuss, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Dr. Bob Wachter, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF.
California’s independent commission on redistricting is releasing its first official draft maps of the state’s new political districts today, after weeks of hearings and controversy. The bipartisan commission is likely to adjust the new lines it has drawn, after taking two weeks of public comment.
This has been a sometimes contentious process, with the commission chair herself declaring the map of San Diego districts “a hot mess” the other day and in some cases, going back to the drawing board. This commission is charged with deciding who is in what district, and therefore who represents you in the state legislature and Congress, with new maps drawn every ten years after the census is complete.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment Doug Sovern, spoke with Sara Sadhwani, PhD, Chair of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, an assistant professor of politics at Pomona College, and a faculty fellow at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy.
Governor Gavin Newsom cleared up the mystery today, about why he canceled his trip to the UN climate summit, after almost two weeks of online speculation.
Pundits and critics have been playing “Where’s Gavin?,” fueling all kinds of bizarre Twitter rumors, that the governor hopes he laid to rest today
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell.
California stands to gain tens of billions of federal dollars, now that President Biden’s trillion dollar infrastructure bill has finally passed, after months of haggling.
How much of that money will flow to the Bay Area, what will it pay for, and how soon might we see the impact?
For more on what this infrastructure bill will really mean locally, KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell along with KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with John Goodwin with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, which oversees the nine-county Bay Area.
Earlier this week, Virginia voters decided to sweep into office Republican challenger Glenn Youngkin, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, over former Virginia Governor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe. Democrats had a close scare as well in New Jersey where incumbent Governor Phil Murphy appears to have narrowly won re-election.
When we look at what is happening across the country in the wake of the California Recall and this week’s elections across the country, we see a 2022 election cycle that has implications for both Democrats and Republicans next year. The stakes are high over the next several months for both parties.
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan, spoke with Harmeet Dhillon, California National Committeewoman for the Republican National Committee.
Republicans are celebrating and Democrats are reeling after Republican political newcomer Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia governor's race, and New Jersey governor Phil Murphy got an unexpectedly strong fight from a Republican challenger, turning what was supposed to be an easy win into a nail-biter. Both sides are trying to figure out what this portends for next year's midterm elections. For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Lanhee Chen, Director of Domestic Policy Studies and lecturer in the Public Policy program at Stanford University.
It is Election Day 2021, but the Bay Area has just a handful of local races
There are major contests nationwide though, including a closely fought battle for governor of Virginia, and New York, Boston and Seattle will all elect new Mayors
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell.
With the CA Recall election now passed and as we look to next year’s Midterm and down-ballot elections, what is happening across the country for both major political parties is taking shape now.
Next week, for example, Virginia voters will decide whether to retain Democratic incumbent Terry McAuliffe or vote for Republican challenger Glenn Youngkin, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
Dr. McCuan, what are seeing for Democrats nationally and down the ballot as we look to next year’s Midterm elections?
To discuss further, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan, spoke with David Turner, he’s the Chief Spokesperson for the Democratic Governor’s Association.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi remains optimistic that shes closing on a deal to pass President Biden's Build Back Better act.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Frank Clemente, Executive Director at American for Tax Fairness.
The investigation continues into the apparently accidental shooting death of the cinematographer on the set of an Alec Baldwin western. Evidence points to mistakes by the young woman in charge of prop weapons for the movie, but the tragedy is sparking calls for change in the film industry.
Many people are asking why prop guns need to be loaded at all, and why there would ever be live rounds on a movie set. Now, State Senator Dave Cortese of San Jose, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Labor Committee, says he will introduce legislation to try to keep this kind of deadly accident from ever happening again.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Senator Cortese to discuss this topic.
Next week, world leaders will gather in Glasgow, Scotland for the biggest UN climate summit in years, a pivotal moment in the global battle against climate change. California governor Newsom will be there too, announcing that he will attend the summit with a delegation of lawmakers and officials from the Golden State.
Governor Newsom is going to fly to Scotland on Monday, and hold events at the climate conference on Tuesday and Wednesday. He hopes to highlight the leadership California has taken on climate issues, and rally the world toward phasing out fossil fuels. This has been a signature issue not just for this governor, but really for every governor of California since Gray Davis moved it front and center on the Golden State agenda. Governor Schwarzenegger ran with it, Governor Brown amplified it even more and now Governor Newsom has picked up the baton and continued the push for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, using more renewable sources of energy and taking the global lead on trying to reverse climate change.
For more on the UN summit and Governor Newsom's plans to combat climate change, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment Doug Sovern spoke with KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell.
The Bay Area just got walloped by a once-in-a-century storm that drenched the region with record rainfall, but even though it shattered October rain records, the storm is not enough to end California’s worst drought in decades, and the state still faces significant water challenges ahead. California remains under a statewide drought emergency, and it remains to be seen if this soaking was a harbinger of a wet winter, or an isolated event. Meanwhile, the Bay Area is projected to almost double in population over the next 50 years. If we don’t have enough water for almost eight million people now, then what will happen when there are 15 million people living here in the year 2070?
The San Francisco-based nonprofit think tank SPUR, formerly known as the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association, is out with a new report called Water for a Growing Bay Area. To discuss, KCBS Radio News Anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, and KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke to the co-author of that report, Laura Feinstein, Sustainability and Resilience Policy Director at SPUR.
The City of Angels, Los Angeles, has its share of challenges as any major city does. With a Mayoral election on the horizon, increased scrutiny of the city’s District Attorney, and the recent federal indictment of bribery charges against an LA City Council Member, attention to the politics and perils of Los Angeles are at new heights.
The June primary next year is looking to be a bruising battle among political heavyweights and shifting fortunes in the City’s politics. It may also offer a glimpse into some of the political fractures statewide.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchor Jeff Bell, as well as, Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan, spoke with Professor Jessica Levinson of the Loyola School of Law.
Four measures have already qualified for next November's state wide ballot in California. There are many more in the works for what will almost certainly be a lengthy ballot full of hotly contested initiatives.
Among those is a measure that would legalize and regulate online sports betting in California, generating revenue for the state to spend on homelessness and mental health treatment. It's winning support from quite a few mayors of big cities in California, as well as the United Way and agencies working to solve homelessness.
This initiative campaign has not yet begun to gather the roughly one million petition signatures it'll take to qualify for next November's ballot.
For more on the measure and that campaign ahead, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Nathan Click, a spokesman for this initiative campaign.
A year before California’s next statewide general election, signature-gathering has already begun for what is likely to be another crowded ballot of high-profile initiatives. There will be some contentious issues on the November 2022 ballot, if the petition drives just getting underway succeed
One of those initiatives just cleared to begin collecting the roughly one million valid signatures it will take to qualify for next year’s ballot, is an educational savings account measure that the state attorney general has titled the Educational Freedom Act Initiative. It is a landmark measure championed by proponents of school choice, and it would give each student in California $14,000 to go to the school of their choice, ranging from public, private or parochial.
For more on how this would work and the campaign ahead, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Mike Alexander, the Chair of Californians for School Choice to discuss how this new program would work.
It was 30 years ago today that a four-alarm backyard grass fire in the Oakland hills began, blowing up the next day into a deadly inferno, at the time the worst urban fire in American history.
For more, KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern
Now that California has its census results and knows it will lose one seat in Congress, the long and difficult task of redrawing its district boundaries is well underway, with the first draft of the new maps expected in just four weeks
For more, KCBS News Anchors Doug Sovern, Jeff Bell, and Patti Reising spoke with Darry Sragow, the Publisher of the nonprofit California Target Book. He also teaches political science at USC and is an attorney and longtime Democratic strategist.
The number one best selling book on Amazon this week is a chilling memoir and cautionary, nonfiction tale from a Los Angeles Congressman Adam Schiff. His book, Midnight in Washington, How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could, offers inside details of the two impeachments of former President Donald Trump, what has changed in the halls of congress in recent years, and what still threatens the democratic process in the United States. To discuss, Doug Sovern was joined by the author Congressman Adam Schiff, who is also chair of the house permanent select committee on intelligence investigating the January 6th Capitol Insurrection.
Huntington Beach is open again, after one of California’s most popular beaches was shut down by a massive oil spill that spewed tens of thousands of gallons of crude into the ocean.
While the worst of the environmental crisis appears to be over, the debate over the future of drilling along the California coast is just getting started
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo, and KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke to State Senator Dave Min, who represents much of Orange County.
The flurry of bill-signing and vetoing is over, as Governor Newsom took action on hundreds of pieces of legislation over the last few weeks. Now things are quieting down a bit at the state Capitol.
The governor staged bill-signing ceremonies all over the state, as he put his signature on some high profile bills and said no to some others. So, how are things about to change in California?
KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern
Last week, after the crack in an offshore oil pipeline crack leaking more than 126,000 gallons onto coastal areas and beaches in Southern California, attention turned to clean-up and mitigation of the oily goo.
Yet the spill also turned attention to the difficult relationship and balance between coastal protection and oil production off the coast of California.
KCBS News Anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Political Scientist from Sonoma State University Dr. David McCuan.
The clean up continues off of Huntington beach for the giant oil spill that occurred over the weekend, now calls from the state and federal level to ban offshore drilling are ringing loudly. For more, KCBS Politcal Reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Bob Hertzberg, Senate Majority Leader for the San Fernando Valley.
We're finding out more about when we'll be able to take off our masks indoors in the Bay Area, but it will likely happen on different dates in different counties.
And that is because Health Officers from the eight counties that still have indoor mask requirements have agreed on a set of milestones that each county must meet, in order to lift those orders
These include: remaining in the CDC's moderate - or yellow - tier for COVID transmission for three weeks, having low and stable hospitalization rates, and having a vaccination rate of 80% of the entire population
If a county doesn't meet that last condition, but does meet the other two, it can lift its mandate 8 weeks after the FDA grants emergency use authorization for 5 to 11 year olds to get a COVID vaccination.
San Francisco is already saying it will lift its requirement in some settings - next Friday, October 15th.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, as well as KCBS Radio reporter Kathy Novak, were joined by San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip.
Negotiations continue in Washington to try to craft a version of the mammoth spending bill that is acceptable to both progressive Democrats and the two moderate Senators, who say the $3.5 trillion plan costs too much
Meanwhile, those progressives are holding up passage of the ONE trillion dollar infrastructure bill, until a compromise can be reached
Progressive members of the House have been meeting with President Biden, steadfast in their insistence that key spending measures remain in that larger bill, and that the two bills be passed together. Among those progressive Democrats is Representative Barbara Lee of Oakland, who met with the president again at the White House this week. For more, Congresswoman Lee spoke with KCBS Radio Political reporter Doug Sovern, and KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Eric Thomas.
Governor Newsom is in Orange County today, to get the latest on the Huntington Beach oil spill, but earlier today he went to Fresno to sign a package of early childhood education bills, as he continues what amounts to a post-recall victory tour
The governor easily defeated the recall, 62-38%, mirroring his margin of victory in the 2018 election, and since then, thanks to fortuitous timing, he’s been focused on signing or vetoing the hundreds of pieces of legislation passed by state lawmakers. That has given him the chance to move around the state, highlighting various packages of bills on which he wants to throw the spotlight, and of course this lets him be seen getting back to business and doing the work of the state, getting things done, focusing on the pandemic, on vaccine mandates for kids, on education, wildfire prevention and so on. Today it was early childhood education.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco had promised a vote last week on a bipartisan infrastructure bill already approved by the Senate. But, that was before a fight between progressives and moderates over a far more expensive spending bill forced a delay. Now, negotiations continue and the vote on both measures has been postponed.
Two moderate US Senators object to the $3.5 trillion price tag on President Biden’s Build Back Better bill, and progressives balked at approving the $1 trillion infrastructure bill, without passage of the larger package at the same time. This has been a real test of Speaker Pelosi’s leadership, and highlighted the schism between the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and the more moderate wing. Meanwhile, Congress also needs to raise the country’s debt limit, or the US could default on its debt for the first time ever.
For more on the wild back-and-forth on Capitol Hill, and what it all means, Congressman Mark Desaulnier, the Democrat from Contra Costa County who serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee joined KCBS Radio news anchor Patti Reising and KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern..
Governor Newsom signed more than 2 dozen bills this week to stimulate housing production, then another housing bill to tackle homelessness. The Governor believes these measures will lead to the construction of over 80,000 new housing units statewide. For more Ben Matcalf, managing director of the Turner Center for Housing Renovation at UC Berkeley, joined KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo, and KCBS Political Reporter Doug Sovern.
California, and especially the Bay Area, continue to make remarkable progress against COVID-19, with fewer people in the hospital and steadily dropping rates of transmission, But there are pockets of the state where the opposite is true. In the far northern part of the state and in the Central Valley, vaccination rates remain low and hospitals are overwhelmed.
In Fresno, ICUs are packed and there’s a shortage of hospital beds and ambulances. The delta variant continues to surge there and the pandemic remains an urgent crisis.
For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern and KCBS news anchors Patti Reising and Kris Ankarlo spoke with DR. Kenny Banh. He is an associate professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine at UCSF, Fresno, pulling extra shifts in the ER at the trauma center there and he also directs the Mobile Health and Learning COVID-19 Equity Project, so he manages the region’s largest vaccination and testing site.
Californians like voting by mail, and now they’ll be able to do it for the foreseeable future because Governor Newsom signed a bill into law Monday, making voting by mail permanent in all elections.
This means every eligible voter will get a ballot, without requesting one, even after the pandemic comes to an end
Democrats see this as a way to make voting easier; Republicans cry foul, saying it raises the risk of vote fraud. Of course voting by mail has been in place for decades in California, but it used to be just absentee balloting for those who couldn’t vote in person on election day. Then, it expanded to allow anyone to request a permanent mail ballot and finally, because of COVID19, every voter was mailed a ballot, which will be the norm for every election. The governor signed the AB37 by Bay Area Assemblyman Marc Berman, to provide for permanent balloting by mail.
California’s moratorium on evictions, which has been in place for more than a year because of the pandemic, finally runs out and will expire on September 30.
With about seven percent of California tenants behind on their rent, tenants and their advocates fear the worst, bracing for a flood of evictions. But will that happen right away? Will landlords move quickly to kick people out, worsening what is already a terrible homelessness crisis?
To answer these questions, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Bart Charlow, CEO of Samaritan House, the San Mateo County nonprofit that helps feed and shelter thousands of people each year.
After their failed effort to recall Governor Gavin Newsom, California Republicans are eager to move on and shift their focus to what comes next for the GOP.
However, the party might have to take a long, hard look in the mirror before it can move forward and it will be doing that at a three-day convention that kicked off in San Diego today.
For more on what's next for California Republicans, KCBS news anchor Patti Reising spoke with Mike Madrid, GOP Political Consultant and a fellow at the Unruh Institute for Politics at USC.
Campaigns for both local and national offices for next year's elections have already begun ramping up.
State senator Marc Levine announced this week that he would be running for state insurance commissioner, against incumbent democrat Ricardo Lara.
For more, KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Assemblyman Marc Levine.
California is in the midst of a dire drought, but most people here are not paying much attention to it and not doing their part to conserve water. For whatever reason, Californians seem to be shrugging off the demand from officials that they use less water, and in some parts of the state, they’re actually using more water.
For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising, and KCBS Radio Political Reporter Doug Sovern spoke to Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus of the Pacific Institute, a global water think tank based in Oakland. Dr. Gleick is a renowned expert on water and climate issues, winner of a MacArthur “Genius” fellowship, and received both his Masters and his PhD from UC Berkeley.
The count of California’s recall ballots continues, and with about one and a half million left, it’s now clear that Governor Newsom will end up winning by about the same margin as he did when he was first elected, three years ago
The governor is up 63-37%, and his surprisingly large margin of victory is already raising his profile on the national stage ahead of next year’s midterm elections, and yes, the 2024 presidential race
The question at the moment for national political pundits is not whether Newsom will get re-elected to a second term as governor next year, he’s an overwhelming favorite now. But what role he will play for the Democrats nationally, and will he be on the short list of potential presidential nominees in 2024 or 2028? There is no question that in a matter of just a few weeks, he’s gone from endangered governor fighting for survival, to a much more powerful player for the national Democratic Party.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter and host of the segment, Doug Sovern discussed Newsom's political future.
There’s been a lot of focus on potential ways to reform California’s recall election process, in the wake of Governor Newsom’s victory over the recall.
However, there’s a new idea that California hasn’t tried, that is starting to gain some traction, to overhaul not just the recall but the way the state runs most of its elections.
We are talking about something called “approval voting,” which is markedly different from traditional plurality or majority elections or even ranked-choice instant runoff elections. It’s already in place in a couple of cities around the country.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Mahendra Prasad, a doctoral candidate in political science at U.C. Berkeley. Prasad wrote an Op-Ed column in the San Francisco Chronicle proposing approval voting for California.
Doug Sovern is away,KCBS news anchors Petti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Sonoma State Political Scientist Dr. David McCuan
Governor Newsom has handily defeated only the second-ever Recall of a California Governor. The latest results have the “No” votes at just about 63% of the vote, with the “Yes” side at about 37% of the vote – a more than 25-point difference.
Radio talk show host and Republican Larry Elder received 47% of the replacement candidate vote with more than 2.4 million votes cast in his favor.
Professor McCuan what sense can we make of these results, a strong win by the Governor and the outside, insurgent campaign of Larry Elder?
After the failed recall of Governor Gavin Newsom, Bay Area legislators are taking up the question: should this be allowed to happen again?
California's current Constitution and election codes don't lay out acceptable reasons for recalling a state elected official, such as the governor. Instead, recall proponents only need to provide signatures enough signatures to equal 12 percent of the number of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, with at least 1 percent of voters from at least five counties.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern spoke with State Senator Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, chair of the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments.
It is Election Day in California, voting is underway in the attempt to recall Governor Newsom from office.
There was a robust early voting turnout, and turnout has been strong at polling places around the state today, but not as much as some pundits expected.
The polls suggest Governor Newsom will emerge victorious tonight, but we won’t know for sure until the ballots are counted, we will have the first batch of returns shortly after 8:00 p.m.
The prevailing wisdom has been that Republicans would turn out in force on Election Day itself, and that was their best hope for toppling Governor Newsom.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as, KCBS Radio political reporter and host of this segment, Doug Sovern spoke with Rusty Hicks.
It is Recall Election Day Eve, with President Biden in California for the first time to help Governor Newsom close the deal and keep his job. Meanwhile, the governor’s challengers are barnstorming the state in one last push to try to remove Newsom and take his place.
The polling data and the ballot return numbers suggest the governor is probably safe, but one never knows, especially since we don’t know how many Republicans and other recall supporters will turn out at the polls in person tomorrow.
For more on the final day of the recall campaign, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter and host of the segment, Doug Sovern, spoke with Thad Kousser, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at UC San Diego.
We have seen a rash of new polling, with Vice President Kamala Harris joining the Governor this week, and President Biden slated to join the Governor in Long Beach this coming Monday.
GOP challengers are barnstorming the state and the Recall election itself is now the focus of much of the nation. The political fate of Governor Newsom now rests with what happens next Tuesday.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Former California U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and Sonoma State political science professor Dr. David McCuan
Governor Newsom is bringing in the heavy hitters as the recall race hits a fever pitch. Vice President Kamala Harris returned to her native East Bay, just six days away from the election, to rally voters against the recall, and her mentor, former president Obama, is getting involved too.
The Newsom campaign today unveiled a new TV ad cut by former president Obama, in which he speaks directly into the camera and urges Californians to reject the recall. Vice President Harris came in person to a union hall parking lot in San Leandro, alongside Newsom and all the statewide elected Democrats except Senators Padilla and Feinstein, to address a crowd of union members and Newsom supporters, and more importantly Californians watching and listening via the media.
The message was clear and simple: vote NO on the recall, either by mail, early voting or on election day. President Biden may well come to California too, perhaps Monday, likely to Southern California, to give Newsom an 11th hour boost and maximize turnout in Tuesday’s election.
For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell, as well as KCBS Radio political reporter and host of the segment, Doug Sovern, discussed what to expect in the coming weeks.
It’s the stretch drive of the California recall campaign, with just one week left to cast your ballot. The top candidates are in an all-out media blitz now, crisscrossing California with a wide range of events. Today, Governor Newsom campaigned in San Francisco at a phone bank trying to turn out Latino voters. Larry Elder had two news conferences, blasting Newsom for the high cost of living and the increases in the gas tax on Newsom’s watch. John Cox is on a bus tour through the Central Valley. Kevin Faulconer focused on crime, with a Zoom event with victims’ advocate Marc Klaas. All of this, as financial reports, public opinion polls and the ballot return numbers suggest Governor Newsom has the upper hand, and seems increasingly likely to survive the recall. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising were joined by KCBS Politcal Reporter Doug Sovern.