Capitol Weekly Podcast: Recent Episodes

CAPITOLWEEKLY

The Capitol Weekly Podcast covers California politics and public policy, and features interviews with elected officials, staffers, advocates, analysts, newsmakers, and even, -gasp- journalists. Listen on SoundCloud, iTunes or at capitolweekly.net

On the podcast we often joke about our "very special guests" but legendary California lobbyist Paula Treat truly fits the bill. Treat was one of our very first, and one of our most frequent, guests on the Capitol Weekly Podcast. Next week she will be inducted into the Top 100 Hall of Fame, so we invited her to talk about her Hall of Fame-worthy career, and about the other members of the Class of 2026: Allan Zaremberg, Bob White, Scott Lay, Robbie Hunter and Carmela Coyle.

:20 The Top 100 is coming

3:02 Capitol Briefs

3:20 Return to Office Podcast comments

9:00 Next week's episode publishes Tuesday night

9:50 Crime fiction

15:56 Chris Shary shout out

17:39 Paula Treat

18:56 The Barracuda Award

20:48 Straight shooter

22:57 A different era

23:43 George Skelton Oral History

25:37 Big changes

29:03 Big issues this year?

33:33 The Top 100 Hall of Fame

33:53 Allan Zaremberg

35:57 Bob White

40:43 Scott Lay

48:04 Robbie Hunter

52:40 Carmela Coyle

1:00:07 #WWCA

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State employees returning to Downtown Sacramento following Gov. Newsom's Return-To-Office order are finding a vastly different universe from the vibrant metro area of 2019, the last time Sacramento food writer Becky Grunewald was on the Podcast. Many longtime lunch and coffee favorites have closed, moved, or offer only limited hours. She joined us to talk about some current lunch options for the Downtown crowd, and other highlights of the local food scene. Plus, as always, we tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:18 Rising Star: Annika Bjork

1:48 Experts Expound: Gavin Newsom's legacy

2:10 Proposition 40

4:45 Becky Grunewald

6:05 Five picks for Abridged

7:05 Drunken Tortilla

8:28 Buddah Bowls and Rolls

9:03 CalPERS Cafeteria

9:36 Capitol Weekly article on Capitol favorites

12:20 Mother (RIP)

13:42 Pizza Supreme Being

15:05 Buffalo Pizza's breakfast pizza

16:47 Sapha Kafae

18:40 My Sister's Cafe

21:59 Jimboys

24:58 Sal's Tacos

26:00 Whitey's Jolly Kone

26:47 The Sunflower Drive-In

28:45 DoorDash

32:32 Stockton detour: Manny's California Fresh

34:20 Sacramento burgers

41:12 WWCA

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Today we welcome author, environmental attorney and pro-democracy activist, Gary Lucks, whose new book “We Are the Power,” is a how-to guide for community activists. As the founder of two East Bay progressive groups he has built one of California' most active grassroots networks, and helped raise millions of dollars, delivering critical support to Democrats in swing districts across the country. Lucks spoke with us about why he wrote the book, what the Democrats need to do to find their way out of the wilderness, and what to make of the Left-Moderate split that threatens to tear the party apart.

1:20 AI Bills in #caleg

1:53 A look at the Billionaire Tax

2:45 Op Ed Policy

7:43 The Top 100

9:19 Jonesin' For a Cure

12:44 Gary Lucks

15:57 Focus of "We Are the Power"

19:16 "The circular firing squad"

22:06 50 Shades of Blue

26:35 Tea Party populism vs. Democratic populist movement

33:14 The age issue

40:12 How to reconnect with MAGA

44:11 Where to find the book

45:15 #WWCA

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Today we welcome Ahmad Thomas, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, an association that represents hundreds of technology and innovation companies in the birthplace of the computer revolution. Thomas joined SVLG in 2020 and has overseen his organization's efforts to encourage Sacramento to implement thoughtful AI policies that won't "stifle innovation." He is no stranger to legislative oversight -Thomas got his start as an aide to Senator Dianne Feinstein, an experience he cites as the foundation of his career.

4:46 Labor shortages in law enforcement

5:38 Ahmad Thomas

6:40 How was the year for tech?

9:04 The legislature

14:32 "You can't eat GDP"

19:00 How are perceptions of AI changing?

21:02 Municipal governments and AI

22:00 Data centers

24:44 Origin story

29:13 Maintaining Silicon Valley's competitive edge

37:13 Anti-tech backlash

47:25 #WWCA

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Chelsea Haines is the Director of State Regulatory Relations at the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), the largest statewide coalition of public water agencies in the country. ACWA's 470 public agency members are responsible for 90% of the water delivered to cities, farms and businesses in California. Haines joined us to talk about ACWA's vision for California's future as climate change pushes our water resources to the limit.

3:05 Op Ed Weekly

5:33 Chelsea Haines

7:18 Vision for our water future

13:28 Housing

14:53 Urban-rural divide

18:01 Water rights'

20:03 Conversations with gubernatorial candidates

23:18 Infrastructure

30:14 Sites Reservoir

31:11 #WWCA

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Sometimes it seems like bipartisanship has gone the way of the dinosaur, the Dodo Bird and $3 gasoline, but Assemblymembers Heather Hadwick (R) and Patrick Ahrens (D) are doing their best to keep the dream alive. While the two come from dramatically different districts with distinct priorities (AD01 and AD26, the two bonded over their shared childhood experiences with the Head Start program, and have teamed on legislation to support California children. They sat down with us to talk about their shared priorities, and where they have to differ (Grizzly Bears, cough cough). Plus - Who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:22 Tattoos

6:45 The Close the Gap Caucus

8:31 Billionaire tax and other Ballot Measures

12:27 Assemblymembers Heather Hadwick and Patrick Ahrens - Head Start

17:58 issues with bipartisanship

21:34 Relationships

25:05 Wildfires don't care about Assembly districts

26:13 Impact of the budget

28:33 Electric school busses

31:10 Origin stories

36:32 End of year priorities

40:26 Reintroduction of Grizzly Bears into California

41:37 3WWCA

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The Capitol Weekly crew - Rich Ehisen, Leah O'Tarrow and Tim Foster - look at the California Primary. How did Proposition 50 impact the races, what did billionaires get for their money, and will the generation gap be a defining factor in November? Plus, Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

1:01 What we know about the Primary

1:57 Tom Steyer's ad blast

3:13 Counting the votes

7:38 The Bradley Effect

8:26 Dem consolidation behind Becerra

11:47 "Having seen Steve Hilton on the stump, he is very good at what he does"

12:51 The Matsui - Vang race

15:07 Age

21:16 "They want the trains to run on time"

22:45 Impact of Prop. 50

24:48 Spencer Pratt

29:00 The anarchist vote

30:35 "Dan Sullivan"

34:55 Dave Regan and the billionaire tax

40:55 Ballot measures

43:41 Insurance Commissioner's race

45:03 Lt. Governor's race

49:06 #WWCA

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We're joined today by Commissioner Nancy Skinner. Skinner is serving her first term on the California Energy Commission after serving as

a state senator at the California State Senate from 2016 to 2024 and as a member of the California State Assembly from 2008 to 2014. if Skinner is a newbie to the CEC, she is no stranger to energy policy issues, having authored AB 2514 which created requirements for electrical corporations to implement energy storage systems. If you have noticed that the state now has less "rolling" blackouts, AB 2514 is a big part of the reason why. She spoke with us about the Trump Administration's opposition to California's climate goals, the challenges (and opportunities) presented by Data Centers, and her landmark Name Image and Likeness legislation, SB 206, which changed college sports across the country.

And, with the Primary behind us, a long list of candidates for Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

3:59 E bike bills

5:36 Nancy Skinner

7:38 Art Rosenfeld

10:01 California's climate goals

11:09 "Texas is ahead of us"

13:52 Data Centers

16:27 The multi-state grid

18:43 The Federal position

24:13 Energy costs in the campaign for governor

28:36 Name Image and License legislation

36:51 Title IX

37:41 Energy storage bill

39:29 #WWCA

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Our guest today is Steve Frisch, President and CEO of the Sierra Business Council (SBC) and a founding member of the Wildfire Solutions Coalition. With the devastating impacts of wildfire becoming more evident with each fire season, the Coalition advocates for funding and implementation of wildfire resilience strategies. While acknowledging California's budget woes, he argues that preventing fires will save the state money, and that "this is not the year we should be reducing wildfire funding."

3:17 Steve Frisch

5:42 About the Wildfire Solutions Coalition

8:50 Getting past partisanship in wildfire policy

12:33 Funding challenges

16:16 "This is not the year we should be reducing wildfire funding"

16:52 Insurance

18:32 From San Francisco kitchens to Truckee NGO

25:06 Hidden gems in Truckee

27:17 Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

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California's Top Two Primary, also known as a Jungle Primary, was approved by voters as Proposition 14 in 2010. Prop. 14 was promoted by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado and endorsed by most major newspapers as a way to lessen partisanship and reduce gridlock by encouraging compromise. (We'll leave it to readers to decide if it has had the desired effect.) official opposition to Top Two was wide, if not deep: All of the state's registered political parties, from GOP to Greens, were opposed, as were organizations as diverse as the California State Firefighters, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the United Nurses Associations. The Amendment passed by 8 points.

Sixteen years later, California voters are beginning to sour on Top Two. Fears of a GOP - or Democratic - lockout in this year's race for governor have led many to call for a change. Recent polling by Capitol Weekly found the 79% of respondents wanted to revise or repeal the jungle primary. Longtime Democratic consultant Steve Maviglio has heeded that call, filing a ballot initiative proposing to repeal Prop. 14. Maviglio is no newcomer to this fight - he led the opposition to the 2010 amendment. He joins us today to talk about the race for governor, the legacy of the Top Two and why it needs to change.

:34 Op-eds

5:21 Polling on Top Two

7:32 Steve Maviglio

10:10 A problem for smaller parties

10:58 Could Republicans be shut out in November?

12:27 Top Two has not worked as advertised

13:43 Other options? Ranked Choice Voting?

14:28 The opposition: Steve Peace and the Independent Voter Project

17:29 Paid influencers

21:18 Will this campaign be relevant in 2028?

25:37 What about nonpartisan elections?

30:04 Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

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Our guest today is Emmy Award winning journalist, producer, documentary filmmaker and podcaster Soledad O'Brien. O'Brien got her start in broadcast TV in 1991, and has held a wide variety of positions, ranging from on-air reporter, to anchor, to producer. Her work has been recognized with four Emmy awards, three George Foster Peabody Awards; she has also received the Gracie Award, which honors women in media. O'Brien joined us to talk about the state of journalism today.

:58 The final debate

3:17 Paul Mitchell shout out

5:05 Ballot initiative to eliminate Top Two

13:28 What's new at Capitol Weekly

14:59 Soledad O'Brien

16:00 The state of media

19:26 Approval rating of mainstream media

24:36 "Vast right wing conspiracy"

26:47 Bias

29:58 The 24 hour news cycle

31:20 "I think audiences are smarter than we give them credit for"

36:04 Roots

44:27 Financial literacy advocacy

47:04 Starfish Media

53:11 #WWCA

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Jeff Randle has been one of the Capitol community’s go-to political campaign strategists for decades. He has been a top advisor on five gubernatorial campaigns as well as serving as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Pete Wilson from 1991-1998. This year his firm Randle Communications celebrates its 25th anniversary so we figured it was a great time to have him joins us to share his perspectives on this year’s gubernatorial races and perhaps to share a war story or two.

3:55 Jeff Randle

4:55 “Chaotic” gubernatorial campaign year

5:49 Dramatic campaign spending

7:00 Advertising in evolving media landscape

10:50 “Boring used to not be such a detriment"

12:02 Paying micro influencers?

13:33 “There’s going to be 50 governor's races between now and the primary.”

17:07 Evolution of Republican candidates

21:45 Importance of endorsements in modern campaigns

27:39 “A wild ride” - 25 years of Randle Communications

31:42 Arnold’s campaign

36:24 Advice for the modern media landscape

39:50 Worst Year in California Politics

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Affordability has become the buzziest of buzzwords around the California Capitol and beyond. It

has become a major talking point for lawmakers, candidates for every office and even a certain

governor with lofty ambitions beyond the Golden State. On this week’s podcast we share a lively

and very candid discussion on affordability between two of the Capitol community’s most

notable members – longtime political strategist, author and commentator Mike Madrid and

former Assemblymember and current president of the California Federation of Labor Unions

Lorena Gonzalez.

1:15 Introductions

2:00 Thoughts on the gubernatorial primary in terms of affordability

6:45 Insinuated promises

10:30 “There is no monopoly on good or bad ideas.”

15:37 “How many of these things are actually within their control?”

21:20 A lot of things could help

22:30 “In the digital age the most valuable commodity we have is our data”

26:21 “The old model doesn’t work”

29:15 Billionaire tax

36:20 Thoughts on the Insurance Commissioners race

41:30 Audience question - Responsibility of Labor in effecting affordability?

46:40 Audience question - Is this issue going to go away anytime soon?

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Our guest is Darcy Totten, Executive Director at the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. The Commission on the Status of Women was established by the legislature in 1965 for the purpose of developing recommendations “which will enable women to make the maximum contribution to society.” In 1971 Governor Reagan made the Commission a permanent, independent agency. Totten joined us to talk about the history of the organization, the challenges women and girls face today and what the future might look like.

1:04 Telematics story

2:04 Cardroom regulations and impact on local governments

3:13 Affordability

8:40 Darcy Totten

11:41 Temperature check

15:09 The federal picture

18:17 Radical solidarity

21:01 The Girls' Agenda

26:15 'How do you bake gender equity into every system?"

30:33 What about the CA legislature?

36:05 Regulating AI or social media

38:07 "Sometimes you need the bigger change"

44:59 Statewide blueprint

45:44 #WWCA

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Most folks rightly recognize the New Deal as the collection of Great Depression-era government programs implemented under the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1930s. But there is another much more current NewDEAL out there as well, an organization that just turned 15 years old focused on bringing together center-left politicos from around the country with the specific goal of addressing and finding solutions for some of the country's most pressing problems. NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan has spent more than three decades in Democratic politics and public policy, including 15 years at the Democratic Leadership Council, including serving as National Political Director and Chief of Staff, helping shape strategy for state and local elected officials across the country.

We spoke with her on today's show about NewDEAL and her work with leaders like San José Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan and Senator Alex Padilla, as well as a national network of leaders focused on pragmatic economic policy and opportunity.

2:30 Capitol Weekly Interns Jasleen Kaur & Chris Ramirez

7:25 Profiles on Assemblymembers Lurie Davies & Jessica Caloza

11:30 Debbie Cox Bultan

12:58 “The best kept secret in Washington”

15:15 What makes a NewDEAL leader?

17:25 What does joining NewDEAL offer?

21:52 “Democrats are going to to have to stand for something”

25:54 Focusing on kitchen table issues

28:17 “Democrats need to provide an on-ramp”

29:27 How did you get into this work?

30:57 A labor of love

33:02 "Politics is so disconnected from the reality of life”

37:25 An honorable profession

41:45 “They want something that’s going to deliver a result”

44:00 #WWCA

52:25 Affordability Conference

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There was an old ad slogan for a well-known brokerage firm: When EF Hutton talks, people listen. The sentiment survives today, with a slight modification: When Fiona Hutton talks, people listen. Fiona Hutton runs one of the state's preeminent public affairs firms, with a score of employees handling strategic planning, research & insights, media relations and more for a host of high-powered clients. Fiona Hutton and Associates celebrates their 25th anniversary this year, and Hutton joined us to talk about her early years as a one-woman (and a baby) shop, what it's like to do this work in LA, and the challenges of being a woman in this business. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics. (You might have a guess....)

1:15 Affordability

4:05 Capitol Briefs

4:51 Asm. Jessica Caloza

5:07 Experts Expound

5:43 Fiona Hutton

7:45 90% of businesses in California are small businesses

8:50 In the beginning

10:16 "My water broke on a conference call with a client"

12:55 What does a public affairs firm do?

16:46 What is it like being a woman in this space?

20:13 Generational approach

26:06 "Do not look at your to-do list - go check on your team first"

26:52 What has changed in 25 years?

28:54 Working in LA

35:26 "There is no down-shifting"

38:35 What next?

40:52 #WWCA

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Today's guest is Sacramento Bee reporter Lia Russell. Russell covers the governor for The Bee’s Capitol Bureau, and was part of the team that broke the story of Dana Williamson's arrest last year. We asked about that story, covering the capitol, and what it was like to cover politics in their earlier gigs in Bangor, Maine and Baltimore, Maryland.

:47 Affordability

2:00 What's on Capitol Weekly

4:16 Lia Russell

6:09 The race to replace Gov. Newsom

8:20 "Whether they like it or not..."

10:15 View from Maine

16:37 Working for the Baltimore Sun

18:37 The Dana Williamson story

23:45 Reading indictments

26:16 Origin story

32:04 The tattoos

33:43 Asm. Matt Harper mention

38:06 #WWCA

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Membership in California labor unions grew by over 100,000 members between 2024 and 2025, and California union membership currently stands at 2.4 million - the most of any state. These gains come in the face of strong anti-labor policies put in place by the Trump Administration.

Our guest today is one of the reasons for those gains. Former Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez is the President of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO, which is made up of more than 1,300 unions, representing 2.3 million members. in the Legislature, Gonzalez was one of the most respected - and feared - members. She has brought her patented take-no-prisoners approach to the Labor Fed, getting arrested at protests and sparring online with foes ranging from Elon Musk to centrist Democrats.

We spoke with Gonzalez about the status of the labor movement, the threat - and opportunities - of AI, and the impact of Cesar Chavez' sudden downfall.

1:26 Capitol Briefs

2:18 Jacqui Nguyen

3:21 Remembering Sam Kieth

6:27 Lorena Gonzalez

8:53 Where is the governor on AI bills?

10:52 And the gubernatorial candidates?

14:13 "Everything is AI enabled"

16:04 What are the big issues for Labor in 2026?

17:25 "Labor grew in California last year by 100,000 members"

19:29 Quad endorsement

22:08 More union members voted MAGA in 2024 - where are they now?

25:47 Are the Dems hearing the Labor message?

29:00 The impact of the Chavez revelations

38:10 #WWCA

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Last week's spectacular downfall of Labor icon Cesar Chavez was unprecedented. The New York Times' bombshell report on allegations of sexual abuse of young girls by Chavez, coupled with UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta's disturbing story of rape at his hands toppled the legacy of one of the most significant figures in California history.

If Chavez' exposure was a surprise, the general content of the stories was tragically familiar. The revelations come as America is roiled in controversy over Jeffrey Epstein's crimes against women and girls, and nine years after the We Said Enough moment exposed rife sexual harassment - and worse - in the Capitol Community. Our guest, POLITICO Melanie Mason reported extensively on We Said Enough as that story broke, and joined us to reflect on the Chavez allegations, abuse of power and the difficulties survivors face in coming forward.

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Local journalism in the United States is in crisis. Almost 40% of all local newspapers in the US have vanished since 2005, leaving "news deserts," areas that lack consistent local reporting. Many of these areas now have no local reporting; in others, legitimate news outlets have been replaced by "Pink Slime" - partisan "fake news" websites masquerading as independent local news. What can be done to stop the collapse of local news?

Two years ago, Arizona State University launched NEWSWELL, a nonprofit organization that offers comprehensive wraparound services - including fundraising - to their newsroom partners, helping them build sustainable business models. NEWSWELL now has a string of 15 news outlets, including 11 in California. We're joined by Nicole Carroll, Executive Director of NEWSWELL and a professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She shares the vision behind NEWSWELL, explains the ASU connection and looks at what indie news needs to survive.

2:06 Billionaires tax

3:01 Litigation around card rooms

3:29 Insurance Commissioner candidates

5:56 Nicole Carroll

7:29 The California Connection

9:09 Plight of local news

11:09 The Cronkite School

11:57 ASU internship program

13:27 Capitol Weekly internships

14:11 New study: Media Impact Founders

21:33 The Pulitzer Committee

24:00 Leisure time?

25:43 3WWCA

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Housing remains the hottest topic in California policy, and our guest today is Sanjay Wagle, who heads up the Governmental Affairs team for the California Association of Realtors. The Realtors' Gubernatorial Forum was a hot ticket in Sacramento last week, and we discuss the topics raised there, and many others. And, of course we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:32 CAR Gubernatorial Forum

6:55 Single Stair reform

7:58 Insurance Commissioner's Race

9:53 Ticketmaster

11:43 TV picks?

17:06 Sanjay Wagle

18:05 The state of the housing market

20:30 Home prices: California vs. rest of US

23:03 You need an average income of $213K to afford a home in CA

24:35 How many houses does California need?

30:28 Cost of permits and fees is a de facto block on housing

34:58 Insurance

38:52 Impact of Fire Hardening on curb appeal

42:40 Housing bond

43:48 #WWCA

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at A Conference on Housing, which was held in Sacramento on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

This is the Keynote: Asm. Buffy Wicks in conversation with Capitol Weekly Editor Rich Ehisen.

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Our guest Jennifer Barrera has been President and CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce since 2021. The venerable institution - founded in 1890 as the California State Board of Trade - advocates for pro-business policies and investments. Barrera is well known and well respected in the capitol community, and has been an effective messenger for the CalChamber's many causes, including reform of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). She spoke with us about the Chamber's approach to the state's affordability crisis, the increasing calls to tax the ultra-rich and a ballot measure to reform CEQA.

1:27 What's on Capitol Weekly?

4:00 February 25, 1942: The Battle of Los Angeles

5:30 Jennifer Barrera

6:08 Thoughts and expectations for 2026

8:10 Affordability

10:28 CEQA ballot measure

19:29 Ballot measure process

24:39 PAGA reform

31:49 AI - Boon or bubble?

35:42 Taxing the ultra-rich

41:13 #WWCA

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Today we welcome Clint Kellum, the new (as of November 2025) Director of the California Department of Cannabis Control. The CDCC licenses and regulates cannabis businesses, including regulation of cannabis growers, manufacture of cannabis products, and sales, transportation and tracking of cannabis goods. Kellum took the helm just after Governor Newsom signed AB 564, a bill to reset the state’s cannabis excise tax rate at 15% until 2028, giving California's struggling legal cannabis market hope after a rough few years. Kellum explains what AB 564 means for the industry and the state, and looks at challenges and opportunities ahead. And, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:03 Bill introductions and lobbying reports

3:42 The Top Two Simulator

6:04 Clint Kellum

6:45 AB564

8:09 The taxation environment

12:42 Complexities of descheduling

13:30 Startups?

15:02 Illegal cannabis seizures

19:46 Direct to consumer sales

21:54 Biggest challenges and opportunities

25:49 How did you get into this?

29:03 #WWCA

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This week we're joined by lobbyist Jennifer Fearing of Fearless Advocacy. Fearing was a key player in the negotiations to pass SB 54, a landmark bill that regulates plastic waste in California. Governor Newsom signed the bill in 2022, but as we all know, passing legislation is one thing, implementation is another. Fearing walks us through the bill's complicated journey, and gives us an updates on it, and other environmental actions in the state. Plus - Who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

:42 Sports tix for electeds

7:06 Jennifer Fearing

8:55 Regulating SB 54

12:13 How often do regs change?

13:50 SB 54 has legs outside of California

16:57 The steps

19:39 Some environmental good news

24:54 "Deals are a bunch of trades"

26:21 Recycling: not a new idea

29:01 #WWCA

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The race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom has taken up most of California's political oxygen so far this year, but there are other statewide races coming up, including Lt. Governor, State Insurance Commissioner, and - potentially - a slew of Ballot Measures. Capitol Weekly Editor Rich Ehisen, reporter Leah O'Tarrow and podcast co-host Tim Foster take a look at the 2026 ballot. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:42 Gubertorial debate

3:23 Not talking about the Governor's race

5:46 Top Two: Republicans for Governor?

10:01 Lt. Gov's race

12:32 Tim Myers

17:25 The Insurance Commissioner's race

24:20 Ballot Measures

28:21 Polling - the Herding Effect

30:16 Auto accident liability payouts

32:27 Child safety - AI and smartphones

34:43 Liability for rideshare companies

40:30 Gratuitous Alex Vassar mention

44:43 #WWCA

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We're joined today by longtime capitol consultant - now retired - Brian Green, who worked in communications for the Senate Dem Caucus from 2011 until last year. As principal consultant, Green prepared talking points and issue updates, recorded videos, set up press conferences and hosted the “Then There’s California” podcast featuring in-depth interviews with Democratic senators. He began his career at 16, working as a DJ at a Redding radio station, parlaying that experience into talk radio gigs at high-power southern California stations KABC and KTMS. One year into retirement, he has launched his own podcast, "California Voices, with Brian Green."

1:32 What if Matt Mahan gets in the race for governor?

4:00 Housing Conference

5:44 Sacramento Bee article on tiny homes

6:18 Brian Green

8:28 Reading Lou Cannon

10:28 Memorable figures in #Caleg

12:08 "The voice of God"

12:37 Willie Brown's weekly radio broadcast

16:32 "Then There's California"

23:03 Sen. Leland Yee

24:53 "You are lucky if you can influence legislation on the fringes of public policy"

26:20 "California Voices with Brian Green"

31:07 A sit down with Sutter

34:16 Celebrities at the capitol

38:51 #WWCA

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Jack Ohman has been a political cartoonist for 48 years; he got his start at the Minnesota Daily when he was still a college student, and at 19 he became the youngest-ever syndicated cartoonist in the United States. He has worked at major papers across the US, including The Detroit Free Press, The Oregonian and The Sacramento Bee, where in 2016 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning. Since 2023 he has been the editorial cartoonist and a political columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle, and also publishes at his Substack, Jack Ohman's You Betcha.

He joined us to talk about his history in the news biz, the state of editorial cartooning, the death of Scott Adams, and much, much more. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:00 Sports betting update

3:27 The Prop. 50 court decision

5:41 Clarissa Laguardia podcast

6:47 Jack Ohman

7:46 Origin story

9:23 Collapse of the afternoon papers

11:53 Substack

14:04 Political cartooning vs. comic strips

15:30 "I never really wanted to be a cartoonist, I wanted to be governor of Minnesota"

16:00 Kate Brown

18:27 Youngest syndicated cartoonist

23:46 Are we in a new Yellow Journalism era?

26:58 "In some ways we're fighting the same battles of the Civil War"

33:27 The Death of Scott Adams

36: 39 Bacchi Decision

40:21 Where is cartooning right now?

48:46 Thomas Nast

49:43 #WWCA

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We're joined today by Clarissa Laguardia, Executive Director of the California Center for Civic Participation (CalCenter). CalCenter is a non-profit organization that works to engage young people in the democratic process. Their approach to civic participation centers youth voices, demystifies the process, and equips and connects young people with opportunities to create impactful change in their communities.

Laguardia is passionate about CalCenter's projects - she knows firsthand the importance of engaging in the poltical experience. She grew up in El Salvador during the Salvadoran Civil War and migrated to the United States after high school, speaking no English. She navigated the immigrant experience largely on her own, mastering the language and gaining a profound understanding of the importance of communication. Her background has helped her connect with young people statewide.

While CalCenter's programs have always been the heart of the organization, it is probably best known for producing The California Roast. For decades, the Roast was one of the highest-profile fundraisers on the Capitol calendar, with Governors, Attorneys General, Speakers, Pro Tems and other well known California pols flaming each other in a bawdy evening of - mostly - good-spirited fun. The Roast ended nearly a decade ago - and backfilling that fundraising is a challenge in itself.

1:33 A Conference on Housing

4:39 PSA: Op-Eds

5:55 Clarissa Laguardia

7:06 What is the CalCenter?

9:21 Capitol Focus, She Shares and The California Roast

12:11 "Speaking their language"

16:32 Shout out to Jim Muldavin

18:08 Laguardia's backstory and how it helps her connect with young people

20:14 "Being the other has helped me... I know what it's like in my own skin"

26:39 Cynicism about Democracy

29:26 Reaction of students

34:04 Shake the Future Up

37:55 #WWCAWant to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

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San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie took office one year ago this week after beating incumbent mayor London Breed and several sitting and former SF supervisors in what ended up as a wide open four-way race. Lurie's first year has largely been seen as a success, with the notable exception of his appointment of former Sunset pet shop owner Beya Alcaraz to a vacant supervisor's seat - a position she held for less than one Scaramucci.

We're joined today by Mission Local Managing Editor and columnist Joe Eskenazi, who looks back over Lurie's first year, and gets us up to speed on other San Francisco political news, including the race to replace Nancy Pelosi, who has announced that she will not seek another term. On January 7, Eskenazi and Cynthia Laird of the Bay Area Reporter will moderate a forum with the top three candidates: Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco); San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan; and Saikat Chakrabarti, former chief of staff to Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

We also take a look at the possibility of an initiative to reopen the Great Highway to auto traffic, and the effort to form a municipal power company that would take over PG&E's electrical infrastructure via eminent domain - a movement that got a boost following last week's massive power outage. Plus, Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:12 Joe Eskenazi

1:31 House District 11 Forum

2:27 A report card on Mayor Lurie's first year

6:19 Lurie's longest week: Beya Alcaraz and all that

14:21 The initiative to reopen the Great Highway and impact on the race to replace Nancy Pelosi

17:08 Labor

19:37 Saikat Chakrabarti

20:32 Supervisor Connie Chan

21:02 Sen. Scott Wiener

22:55 PG&E blackout

23:39 A San Francisco municipal power utility?

31:00 #WWCA

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Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by Politico’s Chris Cadelago for a look back at the Top 10 California political stories of 2025 – and a look at what's coming next year.

:41 Chris Cadelago

2:10 Leah O'Tarrow

2:41 Los Angeles fires

10:00 Donald trump vs. California

21:16 The firing of Cynthia Moreno and subsequent lawsuit

28:10 Artificial Intelligence

36:55 CEQA reform

42:29 Pharmacy Benefit Managers

47:15 The Governor's race

56:54 Governor Newsom's media blitz

1:02:46 Prop. 50

1:10:16 Other stories: Pelosi retirement, cannabis tax, etc...

1:11:11 Dana Williamson scandal

1:19:33 Closing thoughts

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Brian Ebbert, Chris Micheli and Alex Vassar may not be household names to the average Californian, but in the Capitol Community, they are approaching celebrity status for their deep knowledge of legislative history and state government procedure. Putting that knowledge to good use, the trio has just published The California Capitol Cocktail Trivia Book, a lively and engaging collection of little-known facts, anecdotes, and curiosities drawn from the rich history of California’s state government. They joined us to talk about the project and shared stories from the book.

We're also joined by Luke Wood, President of California State University, Sacramento. Wood has seen notable successes during his tenure - notably increased enrollment and the school's highest-ever graduation rate. His leadership is not without controversy - he has received significant criticism for his plan to implement a rule that Starting in 2026, Sac State freshmen must live two years on campus.

Plus, who had the Worst Week in California politics?

:50 Capitol ink

3:47 Planned Parenthood cuts

4:45 Santa's take on California politics

7:48 Capitol trivia

10:41 POLITICO trivia night

12:28 Detour to a topless bar

13:55 The capitol's speakeasy

16:18 Scandals

18:11 How to buy the book

19:51 Luke Wood

20:58 What is the feeling of the student body right now?

24:38 Live on campus rule

28:42 Impact of Nancy Skinner's NIL bill

35:29 Downtown Capitol Center

39:09 #WWCA

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December 15 is Bill of Rights Day - it is also the launch date for a new organization comprised of over 40 retired state Supreme Court Chief Justices committed to educating the public about the role of the judiciary and protecting the constitutional balance put in place by the Founders. The Alliance of Former Chief Justices is a project of Keep Our Republic, a non-partisan civic education organization committed to "strengthening the vitality of America’s democracy by promoting trust in elections, the rule of law, and the constitutional system of checks and balances."

We're joined today by former California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who was appointed to the high court by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010 and served until January 2023. Following her term on the Supreme Court she has served as the President and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California. The launch of the new organization comes at a fraught time, as judges across the nation face heightened political pressure and public attacks. Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye spoke with us about the need to bolster the public's understanding of the judiciary and the crucial role the judiciary plays in the separation of powers that is a hallmark of the American system of government.

2:20 In the future, everyone will be on the Capitol Weekly Podcast for 15 minutes

3:16 A proposed amendment to limit traffic accident payouts

4:57 Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye

7:43 How is this going to work?

9:00 A visit to SCOTUS

11:42 When CA's Supreme Court went live

14:02 How to introduce civics education to young people?

15:19 The judiciary: least understood, most criticized branch of government

15:35 Are the courts more politicized than before?

20:50 The structure of the Alliance

24:30 Court funding

28:08 #WWCA

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Congressman Eric Swalwell announced last month that he was joining the crowded race to replace California governor Gavin Newsom. The Dublin lawmaker enters a fluid contest with no overwhelming favorite. Recent polling shows Swalwell - along with former house member Katie Porter and Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton - in the 10-15% range, with a small fleet of other candidates struggling to break out of the single digits.

Swalwell has been one of President Trump's most vocal critics in the House and served as impeachment manager during Trump's second impeachment. While that visibility likely increases his favorability with Democratic voters, it comes at a cost: he has been hit with allegations of mortgage and tax fraud by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte. Pulte, an ally of President Trump has made similar claims against two other Trump antagonists, New York AG Letitia James and Federal Reserve Board of Governors Member Lisa Cook. Swalwell strongly disputes the allegations and filed a suit against Pulte on November 25. Looking at the polls, the allegations don't seem to have dented his star with potential Primary voters.

Swalwell joined us on Thursday for a conversation about his candidacy, how he plans to address the state's affordability crisis, his experiences as a local official, navigating familial political divides, the temperature in congress, the Democratic Party brand, and much, much more. Plus - Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

:29 View from the continent

2:58 Capitol Weekly update

3:55 A Conference on Housing

6:26 Eric Swalwell

8:57 Affordability/Cost Crisis

10:30 A Republican family

11:41 "No hat rule in place"

12:23 January 6

13:53 "A day after Trump"

17:28 How to rebuild the Democratic brand

19:24 What is it like being in congress right now?

21:19 The generational shift

25:05 How did you break both thumbs?

27:06 #WWCA

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CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Few know the impacts of federal and state actions better than local governments, who are often tasked with implementing those policies. Our guest today is Graham Knaus, CEO of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), which advocates on behalf of all 58 of California’s counties. He joins us today to discuss CSAC’s upcoming gubernatorial forum and the looming challenges counties face from both H.R. 1, a.k.a. President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” and the state’s ongoing budget shortfall.

1:09 Capitol Weekly Podcast schedule

1:23 Graham Knaus

2:00 Impacts of H.R. 1 on health care

5:45 Impacts of H.R. 1 on CalFresh

7:01 Positive impacts of H.R. 1?

9:12 “The challenge is a political one.”

11:02 How much could be undone?

13:48 Challenges of Prop. 36

14:43 Homelessness crisis

18:45 CARE Court

20:30 Acting as one cohesive voice

23:30 Upcoming gubernatorial candidate forum

26:50 Looking ahead to 2026

28:30 “Counties are stewards of services…”

29:42 WWCA

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Our guest today is Jim Wunderman, who has been at or near the center of Bay Area Politics for four decades, starting with his time working in the office of then-San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein. Feinstein taught Wunderman to think of the larger San Francisco region as one interconnected entity, an approach that ultimately made him a perfect fit as the head of the Bay Area Council. Wunderman served as the CEO of BAC for just over 21 years.

Last month he announced that he will be leaving the organization to head up public affairs for California Forever, the ambitious project to create en entirely new European-style city on what is now cow pasture just outside of Rio Vista. California Forever is the dream of Jan Sramek, a Czechoslovakian emigre who sees the project as a major step in solving California's housing crisis. He's convinced a bevy of billionaires to back him - now it will be up to Wunderman to get California's political decision makers on board.

1:17 Dana Williamson

6:40 Last week's WWCA winner: Kevin Kiley

7:45 Capitol Weekly news

9:20 Jim Wunderman

12:13 BAC's bipartisan success

15:36 CEQA reform

19:53 New leadership at BAC?

20:56 From Feinstein's office to BAC

27:12 "I met Nancy Pelosi in 1984..."

28:47 California Forever

34:34 Impact of Climate Change on project?

38:13 Timeline

41:43 WWCA

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After a lightning speed rollout and campaign, Proposition 50 passed decisively last week, with voters approving a partisan temporary gerrymander of the state's congressional districts - and handing California Democrats a major win. The new maps will shift district lines and upend the seats of five Republican members of Congress, throwing them into distinctly less friendly territory - if Prop. 50 survives the GOP legal challenge filed the day after the election. Our guests today are two of the state's foremost redistricting experts, Matt Rexroad and Paul Mitchell. Rexroad is a former Yolo County Supervisor and longtime GOP consultant. Mitchell, a lifelong Democrat, is the state's best-known political data expert, and led the team that created Prop. 50's maps. They name the winners and losers in this epic political battle, walk us through the various legal challenges, and look ahead at what this means for redistricting reform in the long term.

Plus: our longest-ever list of Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics. They say that success has many fathers but in the case of Proposition 50 there appear to be even more losers than winners. We'll go over the list, but ultimately leave the final decision to you!

2:35 Lourdes Ayon

5:58 Paul Mitchell and Matt Rexroad

6:55 Biggest winners and losers

8:52 "Shaking up the ant farm"

9:53 Remember the Recall

13:35 Influencers

15:13 Politico story

15:45 Turnout

18:18 The opposition: What happened?

20:16 Lawsuits

30:29 How do California districts compare to other states?

33:05 Possible reforms?

36:23 Which districts are most likely to flip?

42:25 The bottom line

47:13 Redistricting overreach?

54:35 #WWCA (click here to vote!)

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Adam Silver was appointed Chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission in March 2024. The FPPC was created in 1974 when California voters approved Proposition 9, The Political Reform Act, in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Five decades later, the FFPC is plenty busy. Silver joined us to talk about the Commission's work, the challenges posed by Cryptocurrencies and his path to the Chairmanship. Plus, a full slate of options for Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:17 Leah O'Tarrow

2:09 SB41

3:48 Adam Silver

6:00 AI and emerging technologies

8:44 "If the FPPC is prosecuting everybody then that honestly is going to undermine the public trust"

10:37 2025 Legislation, AB953

16:53 A brief history of the FPPC

18:20 is it really legal for lawmakers to receive campaign donations in their offices?

21:56 Origin story

24:00 Capital Fellows Program

25:49 Biggest regulatory challenge?

32:34 #WWCA

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Today we welcome lobbyist Leah Barros of Barros Clay and Associates. Barros is a familiar face in Sacramento, having worked in the Capitol as a staffer and later as a lobbyist for various firms before launching her own shop. Among her notable wins was leading the lobbying effort to enact The CROWN Act, the first statewide law in the country to prohibit racial discrimination on the basis of natural hairstyles in the workplace and schools. That experience changed her perception of what she could - and should - do as an advocate. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

1:00 Cap Weekly update

1:49 Capitol Weekly interns

6:35 Abuse survivors in LA County

7:20 Leah Barros

7:39 A look back at the session

10:01 Origin story

14:28 "My best friend Delilah Clay"

17:54 When session ends the work doesn's stop

20:10 Dealing with turmoil in #caleg

22:17 The CROWN Act

26:31 How to have a good relationship with clients

31:00 #WWCA

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On October 14, 2025, Capitol Weekly, CalMatters, and the University of California Student and Policy Center presented California Votes: Proposition 50 - Should Californians support mid-decade redistricting?

Proposition 50 would require California to use new congressional district maps through 2030. Use of independent Citizens Redistricting Commission maps would resume after that date.

Governor Newsom and Democrats in the legislature argue that the “Election Rigging Response Act” is a temporary, emergency proposal to counter mid-decade partisan gerrymanders underway in Texas and other red states that are designed to benefit President Trump and the Republican Party. Republicans counter that California should not return to partisan redistricting in which the party in power controls the maps.

Proponents from each of the campaigns offered their arguments in a debate moderated by Rich Ehisen of Capitol Weekly and Juliet Williams of CalMatters. Rusty Hicks, Chair of the California Democratic Party represented the Yes side. Patricia Sinay of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission represented the No side.

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We're joined today by California State Treasurer Fiona Ma. The Treasurer is the state's banker and manages $3 trillion per year, among many other things. Ma is a former San Francisco Supervisor, state legislator and member of the Board of Equalization, and a current candidate for Lieutenant Governor. She spoke with us about the Treasurer's job, her path to that office, and about her mentor, the legendary John Burton.

:21 Proposition 50 debate

2:12 Lindsey Horvath and Measure G

6:20 Fiona Ma

7:09 What does the State Treasurer do?

9:10 Dancing with the Capitol Stars

13:32 Origin story

20:22 The Board of Equalization

22:03 Can CA backfill federal budget cuts?

26:53 "Government by Unicorn"

27:28 Public-private partnerships

31:18 What's next for Fiona Ma?

36:03 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly and the University of California Student and Policy Center presented A Conference on Health Care on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 in Sacramento.

In today's episode we present the Keynote: A conversation between Dr. S. Monica Soni of Covered California and Capitol Weekly Editor Rich Ehisen.

California is reeling from devastating federal budget cuts to health care and social services while state leaders grapple with shortfalls in our own Budget. Whatever happens in DC and Sacramento, California’s health care system is poised to see major changes.

Stick around til the end; Rich and special guest Robin Epley of the Sacramento Bee tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Thanks to our Health Care sponsors:

THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION, THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, CALKIN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, STUTZMAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, BICKER, CASTILLO, FAIRBANKS & SPITZ PUBLIC AFFAIRS and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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Host Rich Ehisen is back from the wilderness, just in time to welcome lobbyist Jennifer Fearing. Fearing is perhaps California's best known "White Hat" lobbyist - she largely represents animal rights orgs, environmental groups and other nonprofits - and is recognized for punching above her weight. High on her priority list this session were three bills that would curtail "puppy mill" sales in the state; SB 312, AB 519 and AB 506 have passed the legislature and are currently waiting on the Governor's signature. She spoke with us about those bills, about the unstable environment nonprofit orgs have found themselves in, what she, and her clients are doing about it. And of course we asked her about First Dog Sutter Brown.

1:37 Highway 395

2:40 The Dave Cogdill Memorial Highway

6:15 "Dewey Defeats Truman"

8:36 From Culbert Olson to a biography of Lone Pine

14:19 Jennifer Fearing

15:10 The environment for nonprofits today

19:28 How do you plan for this moment?

20:42 AB 1318

22:38 "Giant mess"

25:30 Practical actions

26:44 "We have GoBiz but we don't have GoNonProfits"

27:31 Necessary reforms?

29:29 Puppy Mill bills

35:59 Gov. Newsom's attitude about animals

37:11 The pet otter

37:51 The Sutter Brown era

43:07 #WWCA

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Host Rich Ehisen is on vacation, so original CW Podcast Host John Howard joins Tim Foster in the studio to chat about the news and his life post-Capitol Weekly. We also look at a laundry list of Worst Week candidates including a politician who was unceremoniously booted from office, a California company facing a political backlash, a news organization reminded once again of their past malfeasance, and many more.

:43 John Howard

1:16 A book on California highways

3:57 A visit with the press corp

6:27 #WWCA

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Author, podcaster, gadfly and former Assemblymember Mike Gatto joins us to talk about the state of politics, Roman history, and the experience of being a crime victim... plus so much more.

1:45 AB 325

2:43 Governor's approval rating

4:25 Who's in/Who's out for 26 Gov's race

5:34 Mike Gatto

7:30 "Courage begets courage"

10:16 The diminished power of the legislature

13:16 Roman history allegory

14:55 Redistricting

18:49 Democrats are just reacting to Trump

20:01 Dems need to stand for something

23:54 National Dems with a vision

28:58 Prop. 36

33:03 Murder of Joseph Gatto

38:16 The appeal of Roman History

39:45 WTF History Podcast

40:24 Knighthood?

42:15 What does the future hold for Mike Gatto?

44:17 Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics? #WWCA

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The National Conference of State Legislatures was created by state legislators and legislative staff in 1975. NCSL serves America’s 50 states, commonwealths, territories and the District of Columbia with access to bipartisan policy research, training resources and technical assistance and hosts the annual NCSL Legislative Summit, the largest policy meeting in the US. We're joined today by Tim Storey, who has headed the organization since 2019. We asked him what the 'hot' topics were at this year's Summit, how his members feel about the Redistricting wave sweeping the nation, and how the organization has maintained its bipartisan status in a deeply partisan era.

1:22 New polling on Newsom approval rating

2:46 West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative

3:14 Breakout Top 100 star: Jim Wunderman

6:11 Tim Storey

8:23 Jess Unruh

9:45 Bringing people together

10:38 "The largest policy meeting in the United States"

14:40 The difficulty of staying nonpartisan in a deeply partisan era

19:00 Redistricting

24:12 California connection

27:25 A national redistricting law?

28:10 Big issues?

30:53 "More states are projecting slow revenue growth"

33:12 The pig story

37:37: #WWCA

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We're joined by Assembly Minority Leader-Elect Heath Flora, who will take over as head of the lower house's Republican caucus later this month, succeeding Asm. James Gallagher. The collegial, no-drama GOP leadership transition stood in stark contrast to the last two Dem leadership fights - owing at least in part to Flora's reputation as one of the most well-liked members of the legislature. A straight-talking member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, Flora had compliments for colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and voiced his frustrations overly partisan policymaking.

1:40 Talking Top 100

2:34 Health Care Conference, October 1

3:28 Special Edition

4:20 Asm. Heath Flora

5:18 The transition

7:10 Agenda/priorities

8:56 Bringing firefighting experiences to wildfire policy

13:39 "You can manage fire"

14:41 looking at the best-available approach

17:07 CEQA and #AB103

20:46 The lawmaker that people want to hang out with

27:59 Redistricting

32:33 What would you like to see from your time in the legislature

34:30 Fly fishing and Henry Winkler

39:08 #WWCA

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Last night we published the 17th edition of Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 – our annual analysis of the unelected political power structure in California. We look at the mostlybehind the scenes players who influence policy, elections and governance, including Capitol staff, lobbyists, Agency staff, donors, business leaders, activists, Labor leaders – and even journalists.

Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by KQED's Marisa Lagos, co-host of the Political Breakdown podcast and radio show. Lagos has been reporting on California politics for nearly two decades, and is intimately familiar with the Golden State's political power players - elected and not. Lagos, Ehisen and Foster discuss the themes running through the 2025 list, look at the new faces, and talk about the sophomore class of the Top 100 Hall of Fame.

1:11 "It is A list, not THE list"

1:56 The Top 100 Hall of Fame

6:20 Nancy McFadden

9:31 Mike Belote

10:37 Rex Frazier

12:19 Kip Lipper

15:16 Catherine Reheis-Boyd

19:07 Themes of the year?

22:41 Housing

23:36 Ron Conway

25:55 "The legislature hasn't flexed its muscle really since COVID"

27:04 Bob Salladay

28:43 Paul Mitchell

29:00 Jodi Hicks

29:13 Ann Patterson/Nathan Barankin/Nani Coloretti

32:47 Jason Elliot, Jim DeBoo

34:05 Dave Sapp

35:38 Dee Dee Myers

35:51 Steve Wertheimer

36:15 Steve O'Mara

37:34 Toks Omishakin

38:37 Defending DMV!

40:01 Where are the GOP officials?

42:00 "Were you actually effective?"

42:27 Jennifer Barrera

43:22 Jim Wunderman

45:50 Rob Lapsley

49:24 Chris Cadelago

51:11 Nick Gerda

53:33 Ashley Zavala

1:00:51 Melody Gutierrez and Alene Tchekmedyian

1:04:14 Political Breakdown

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Governor Newsom and Democratic allies announced Thursday that they will propose a constitutional amendment — The Election Rigging Response Act — to counter Texas and other Red states' mid-decade redistricting plans. Framing the proposal as a response to GOP efforts to Gerrymander and "rig" Texas’ elections next year in order to protect Republican control of congress, the proposal would replace California's current congressional district maps with new maps to be used in the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections. The California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission would resume mapmaking duties after the 2030 census.

Our guest today is California political data and redistricting whiz Paul Mitchell, who was tasked with coming up with the new maps just two weeks ago. Mitchell described the process of drawing the new maps, why the redistricting effort was necessary, and tells us which seats will see the most changes.

Plus- Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics

:47 Redistricting

1:58 Podcast Schedule

3:31 Paul Mitchell and an intense two weeks

7:14 The opposition

8:16 "Can we do a 52 - zero map?"

9:42 "The Commission's work is the Gold Standard"

12:34 Comparison to other states' process

14:55 Kevin Kiley's proposal

16:44 Role of AI in redistricting

20:57 There is no perfect map

22:47 Which seats are in for a significant change?

23:35 "Young Kim gets a great district?"

26:15 "There are winners and losers"

28:35 It's not about the maps - it's about the fight against Trump

29:40 "It is a gross-looking district"

32:08 The polling

36:23 #WWCA

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We're joined today by Kevin Liao of Frontrunner Strategies. Liao spent over four years as Press Secretary and Communications Director for former Speaker Anthony Rendon, before moving on to national campaign work. He was on first Elizabeth Warren and then Joe Biden's 2020 campaign teams, and handled comms for Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz as she barnstormed the Midwest for the Harris-Walz ticket in 2024. He shares stories from the road - and tells what advice he'd give any other California politicians who might be seeking the White House. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

30: Kounalakis: Out!

2:17 Experts Expound

3:23 Lobbying numbers

8:00 Kevin Liao

12:43 Rendon's campaign for SUPI

13:22 On the trail with Harris/Walz

18:03 "The Capitol Community isn't the same..."

19:31 Scrapple, butter sculptures and Tomato Pies

25:30 Advice for Gov. Newsom?

27:01 "Inconceivably nasty"

31:55 A conundrum: Democratic ideas are popular, but not when associated with Democrats

33:26 #WWCA

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Another jam-packed episode. We start with reaction to Kamala Harris' bombshell announcement that she will not seek the governorship in 2026, effectively resetting the race, at least on the Dem side. Next up, we welcome Brad Heavner who has stepped into big shoes as Executive Director of The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA), replacing longtime ED Bernadette Del Chiaro. Heavner has his job cut out for him; the transition comes at a crucial time for California's solar industry, with rooftop solar facing headwinds from DC and Sacramento. And finally, we tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:52 The Top 100 is coming

4:08 The Intern Program

8:22 Kamala: OUT!

14:43 Brad Heavner

17:11 A fraught time for alternative energies

18:35 Net Metering

19:42 Rate changes

22:14 Who has solar?

25:01 Legislation

29:59 Labor vs. Enviros

32:16 Are you optimistic?

35:38 #WWCA

40:05 Lyndon LaRouche

45:38 Things Fell Apart

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We've got a jam-packed episode this week: Podcast cohost Tim Foster marks TWENTY years at Capitol Weekly. Then we speak with Frank Torres, the new Director of Political and Legislative Advocacy for the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. Finally, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics, and for the first time ever, the #WWCA 'winner' is not human!

:54 What's on Capitol Weekly

2:50 Twenty years at Capitol Weekly!

4:28 A California version of Roll Call

5:44 "I was happily working as a construction worker"

8:20 "Shane [Goldmacher] was the first person to identify Paul Mitchell as someone we should keep an eye on"

10:18 Tom Hoeber

14:00 Frank Torres

14:44 Following the budget

16:35 The difference between UNAC/UHCP and California Nurses Association

18:56 Nurse staffing

21:32 AB1400

22:25 Impact of Immigration policy

22:33 Addressing healthcare worker shortfall

26:10 Origin story

28:19 The Karen Bass campaign

30:31 Al Checchi reference

31:06 #WWCA

37:00 Adam Gottlieb shout out

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We won't use that old Mark Twain quote (that he probably never wrote anyway) but fighting over water has been California's favorite pastime for at least 175 years. If you think norcal/socal baseball rivalries are bitter - try the socal vs. Delta water wars. One of the people tasked with managing that aqua drama is Jennifer Pierre, General Manager for the State Water Contractors – a statewide, non-profit association of the public water agencies that contract with the Department of Water Resources to receive water from the State Water Project. The SWP provides water for 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. A UC Davis alumna with a bachelor’s in environmental biology and conservation, Pierre has 20 years of experience in Delta management and uses that experience to help improve water supply and operations for the SWC. She joined us to talk about challenges of climate change, issues from overpumping groundwater, and if DC and and California can make nice on Water Policy.

1:01 Capitol Weekly Insiders Survey

1:58 Dominique Donette

2:58 AI podcasts

3:33 Top 100 Party

6:04 Jennifer Pierre

7:30 Water in the California Budget

8:53 "Housing doesn't happen without water"

9:41 Background

12:53 Managing Climate Change: Hydrology

13:41 Subsidence: "We've got a major problem on our hands"

16:59 Status of DC vs. California water fights

20:04 Playing peacemaker among different stakeholders

22:43 Prop. 4 implementation

26:30 #WWCA

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On July 8, Capitol Weekly and the University of California Student and Policy Center presented California and AI, a daylong look at the Golden State's approach to regulating Artificial Intelligence. California is a global leader in AI technology and lawmakers in Sacramento are tasked with creating legislation and regulations that will help the state maintain leadership in this emerging industry, while creating guardrails that protect Californians. Legislators have introduced over 30 AI-related bills this session, and nearly 20 AI bills were signed into law by Governor Newsom in 2024. Senator Scott Wiener led the charge both this year and last, and has emerged as one of the key voices in the discussion around AI regulation, and we present his Keynote as part of today's podcast. His remarks begin at about the 16 minute mark.

1:48 Mecha-Hitler

3:15 Op-Eds

12:25 Remembering George Steffes

15:58 Senator Scott Wiener

42:23 #WWCA

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We're joined today by Christina Snider-Ashtari, Tribal Affairs Secretary to Governor Gavin Newsom and head of the Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs. Snider-Ashtari was first appointed to the position in 2018 by Governor Brown and previously served as Executive Secretary of the California Native American Heritage Commission. We spoke to her about both governors' approaches to Tribal policy, about the California Truth & Healing Council, and about the deep Native history on Alcatraz, which President Trump has suggested might be returned to use as a federal prison.

Plus, Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

1:03 Capitol Weekly story update

2:05 Ai Conference

3:17 Capitol Insiders Survey

4:45 Christina Snider-Ashtari

7:16 Appointed February 2018

10:32 Governor Brown

11:40 Differences between Brown and Newsom

13:43 Governor Newsom's apology for genocide of California Indians

16:52 Alcatraz

18:10 Red Power movement

22:19 California Truth & Healing Council

26:02 "Nothing was here, then gold was found, then people came"

29:25 What has been the response of the Tribes?

33:56 #WWCA

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Chris Lehane has a solid gold resume in professional politics: consultant and oppo research in the Clinton White House, Press Secretary to VP Al Gore, and the source of the report on the "vast right wing conspiracy" so infamously cited by Hillary Clinton. Lehane also handles a wide array of corporate, Labor, entertainment and sports clients. Until recently he was Head of Global Policy and Public Affairs for Airbnb, and since 2024 has been VP of Global Affairs and a member of the executive team at OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence organization based in San Francisco. Lehane joined us to talk about the opportunities and dangers of this fascinating new technology and to make the case for the importance of California maintaining its role as a global leader in AI.

Plus - who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

1:26 Capitol Weekly this week

4:53 The Top 100 is coming!

10:23 Chris Lehane

11:32 What is Open Ai?

14:25 Fastest growing internet platform

15:29 Ai to benefit humanity

16:17 Impact on jobs

17:01 Ai is going to change everything - on the level with electricity, fire and the wheel

22:24 "Building democracy in at the front end"

25:36 Educating lawmakers about Ai

28:17 Twenty percent of Californians now use Open Ai

30:01 How do legislators set up guardrails?

33:47 The "Big Beautiful Bill" precludes state Ai legislation - will it pass? Should it?

39:28 Competition between US and China

41:21 End on a high note: California is the leader in Ai

43:01 The Red Flag Law

45:45 #WWCA

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Republican Suzette Martinez Valladares was elected to the California State Assembly in 2020 and served for two years, narrowly losing a reelection bid for the newly drawn 40th Assembly district, then winning a seat in the Senate in 2024. In the Assembly, Valladares was a founding member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. She also serves as the Minority Whip - the first Senate Republican Whip in some time, a reflection of the GOP's increased presence in the body. She spoke with us about pursuing policy goals during a year that has been, to put it mildly, a wild ride, (with no end in sight) and offered her perspective on the Immigration raids in Los Angeles and elsewhere.

:47 Vacaville State Prison story

1:42 Online sports betting

3:00 California Lowrider Holiday photos

3:28 The Micheli Minute

6:18 SenatorSuzette Martinez Valladares

6:58 A wild year

9:32 Minority Whip

11:17 "An affordability crisis"

14:47 Prop. 36

18:21 The Problem Solvers and Hispanic Caucuses

22:16 Perspective on Immigration raids

26:49 a Xennial

27:37 #WWCA

Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly

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Founded in 1918, the California Manufacturers and Technology Association promotes policies designed to stimulate economic growth and create jobs. Today, CMTA represents 400 manufacturing businesses in California, which is the largest manufacturing state in the country. Heading up that operation is Lance Hastings, who began his career as a capitol staffer and has a long history with California trade associations. Hastings probably thought that the COVID pandemic would be the biggest disruptor of the state's manufacturing industry in his time, but President Trump's 'on again, off again' tariff policy may give COVID a run for its money. He joins us to talk about the state of California's manufacturing industry, tariffs, and just how long it might take to reshore production.

Plus, Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

1:50 A change in senate leadership

3:12 Trump vs. Musk poll

4:08 Budget funds private foster agencies

4:42 The Top 100 is coming

9:53 Matt Rexroad

10:45 Lance Hastings

12:01 California: largest manufacturing state in the country

13:21 Workforce

17:39 Tariffs

24:52 it took 40 years to lose manufacturing - it will take at least that long to bring it back

25:31 Impact of retaliatory tariffs

27:47 Finding common ground with environmental advocates

33:45 Cap and invest

36:42 California Lowrider Holiday

38:46 #WWCA

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Today we welcome Amy O’Gorman Jenkins, the state’s preeminent cannabis lobbyist - so much so that she earned the nickname "Pot Girl" back when Gavin Newsom was still just the Lieutenant Gov. Jenkins, was one of the first lobbyists for the state's once-maligned, now coveted, cannabis industry, first when she worked out of Darius Anderson's shop, then later at her own firm, Precision Advocacy. She was lead lobbyist for the California Cannabis Industry Association for a decade, but left this year to head up new a new cannabis trade group representing the state’s largest retailers, The California Cannabis Operators Association. Jenkins describes an industry in peril, with legal outlets closing, legal sales dropping, and the state's cannabis excise tax poised to go up July 1 unless the legislature acts.

Plus, as always, we tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:42 Prop. 103 repeal?

4:25 Changing the excise tax on cannabis?

5:24 "A week of Lea/hs"

6:19 Should Kamala Harris still be considered a frontrunner for California Governor?

7:08 Polling on Democrats' attitudes

8:11 Jason Sisney's Budget odds

8:46 California and AI

9:44 Amy O'Gorman Jenkins

10:59 Origin story

12:04 "Pot Girl"

13:01 The change in attitude toward the cannabis industry

15:02 #AB564

18:03 The cannabis industry in crisis

20:13 Illicit sales are still far larger than legal sales

26:47 CA's cannabis excise tax is 124% higher than Michigan's

27:27 Cannabis is taxed at 2.5 times the rate of tobacco and 6 times the rate of alcohol

29:44 How dire is the crisis?

30:51 about 68% of CA jurisdictions ban legal cannabis

31:54 National cannabis legislation?

33:32 "This is a heritage industry"

37:53 #WWCA

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at the California Insurance Crisis, which was held in Sacramento on Wednesday, May 14, 2025

This is Panel 2: The Los Angeles Fires, featuring Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore; Steve Hawks, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety; Kelsey Szamet, Eaton Fire Survivors Network; Nancy Wallace, UC Berkeley

Moderated by journalist Dan Morain

Thanks to our California Conferences sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, CALKIN PUBLIC AFFAIRS and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at the California Insurance Crisis, which was held in Sacramento on Wednesday, May 14, 2025

This is Panel 3: What Next?, featuring Sen. Roger Niello; Alex Hall, UCLA; John Norwood, Norwood Associates; and Denni Ritter, American Property Casualty Insurance Association

Moderated by Rich Ehisen of Capitol Weekly

Thanks to our California Conferences sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, CALKIN PUBLIC AFFAIRS and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at the California Insurance Crisis, which was held in Sacramento on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

This is Panel 1: The State of the Insurance Industry, featuring Amy Bach of United Policyholders; Rex Frazier, Personal Insurance Federation of California; Meredith Fowlie, UC Berkeley.

Moderated by Levi Sumagaysay of Calmatters

Thanks to our California Conferences sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, CALKIN PUBLIC AFFAIRS and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at the California Insurance Crisis, which was held in Sacramento on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

This is the KEYNOTE – CALIFORNIA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER RICARDO LARA

Introduced by Rich Ehisen, Capitol Weekly

Thanks to our California Conferences sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, CALKIN PUBLIC AFFAIRS and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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In March, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a 22-bill package aimed at reforming the building permitting process in California, an effort to fast-track housing development statewide. Wicks described the package as an effort to “slash red tape, remove uncertainty and to drastically reduce the time it takes to get new housing approved and built” in California. Asm. Wicks joined us to talk about the bills, why they are needed, and what it will take to get the package to the governor's desk this year.

Next up, we're joined by Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero to talk about the impact of the new Trump tariffs on the nation's busiest port. Long Beach has already seen a significant reduction in shipping traffic this month; now, with zero container ships leaving China destined for California ports, empty shelves - and job losses - are likely not for behind.

Plus, as always, we tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics

1:33 Insurance

2:43 Gubernatorial candidates

4:29 "I wrote my Master's thesis on the Recall"

5:14 Obligatory Alex Vassar reference

5:55 New Capitol Weekly Insiders survey

6:38 California Journal

7:43 Asm. Buffy Wicks

9:18 "People Want Change"

10:25 The need for CEQA reform

11:43 "A coalition of the willing"

14:36 A streamlined housing package on the governor's desk in September

14:47 BCTC and the Carpenters

16:49 "In California we make it too damn hard to build"

18:08 Permitting reform

20:24 "Government has to deliver for people"

21:58 Housing and Transportation Policy is Climate Policy

24:17 "As someone who grew up in a trailer, and dreamt of a wooden house someday..."

24:36 Where does the package go next?

25:28 $10 Billion affordable housing bill

26:01 Shout out to Asm. Joe Patterson

27:33 Two things to solve the Housing Crisis

28:04 Crisis Fatigue

32:49 Mario Cordero

33:22 Impact of the tariffs

34:40 The timing

36:43 May 2025 numbers vs. past

39:38 Are ships sitting offshore, waiting to come in?

42:29 "China plus one"

43:24 State of the wareshouses at the Port

46:02 How many workers are impacted?

48:01 The Green Port Policy

54:01 "When I was about 10 years old I wanted to be the Mexican-American Leonard Bernstein"

56:24 #WWCA

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Our 400th episode! On today's show we welcome April Manatt, Executive Director of the California Problem Solvers Foundation. The California Problem Solvers' mission is to help elected officials find solutions through collaboration and mutual respect, and work in service to the people they represent. In short, to "put people over party," a nearly radical idea in today's hyper-partisan political environment.

Prior to joining the Problem Solvers, Manatt ran the California Legislative Staff Education Institute. CLSE, a program of Capitol Impact, is dedicated to professional development for legislative staff, offering opportunities for staff to gain a deeper understanding of complex policy issues through discussions with experts, field trips and engagement with other staffers.

Manatt spoke with us about her work in both of these organizations, and the importance of bipartisanship in policy making bridging the divide.

Plus, as always, we tell you Who Had the Worst Week Week in California Politics.

:20 400th Episode

3:38 What's new at Capitol Weekly

5:07 Speaking of interns: Ellie Appleby and Leah Lentz

9:14 April Manatt

9:47 California Problem Solvers Foundation and Caucus

12:53 "A labor of love"

13:20 A challenging time to be doing this work

15:18 Your role in the org

16:43 Who funds the Foundation?

19:20 California Legislative Staff Education Institute

24:00 Relationship building

24:39 How do staff participate?

26:55 Attitude of the Problem Solvers Caucus

31:56 Getting legislators out of the building to see what they are voting on

32:57 Obligatory Alex Vassar mention

33:57 What efforts have the Problem Solvers been involved in?

37:06 What's on the agenda for the Foundation?

40:03 #WWCA

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We have a packed show today: first up, we chat with California Secretary of State Shirley Weber about The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, proposed federal legislation that would require all Americans to reregister to vote, in person, with either a birth certificate or passport. Weber outlines concerns that the law would effectively disenfranchise millions of voters who may not have access to their birth certificate, and those - like many married women - whose documents no longer match their birth name. And, perhaps an even bigger problem: who pays? Counties project millions in costs to administrate, but the legislation includes no funding mandate.

We also spoke with Trans activist Ebony Harper, founding executive director of California TRANScends, and the author of The Trans Manifesto. Harper shared how she is responding to the current wave of anti-Trans sentiment, her reaction to Governor Newsom's recent podcast comments, and how Coast to Coast and NPR shaped her life.

Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

1:38 Capitol Weekly Update

2:13 Correction: Dan Weintraub was the first California politics blogger

3:33 Big Day of Giving: May 1

5:49 SOS Shirley Weber on the SAVE Act

6:21 "What are they trying to save?"

7:25 What does it do?

8:41 Disproportionately affects women

11:12 The fraud problem

13:11 The cost to counties

15:05 Impact on Trans people

16:51 Litigation?

18:01 Most states see this as an obstacle

19:56 Ebony Harper

24:01 How do you respond to the current moment?

27:55 The Trans Manifesto

30:09 The governor's comments carry a lot of weight, but..

34:12 Anti-Trans messaging

36:13 "The same playbook"

37:13 Origin Story

39:18 Coast to Coast and NPR

42:37 "We're still coming out every day, even though it's a hostile environment"

43:24 Where is Ebony Harper in five years?

45:44 #WWCA

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Jeff Pearlman has been a sportswriter for three decades, and is the best-selling author of ten books on sports, including Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s, which was adapted as the HBO series Winning Time. In February 2025 he turned his attentions to the ultimate contact sport: politics.

His new Substack newsletter, The Truth OC, digs deep into Orange County politics, skewering what he refers to as "the crazy people" in many Orange County local governments. If he is unabashedly partisan, he brings the receipts, sharing photos, videos and other documents of officials behaving badly - or at least strangely.

He spoke with us about his decision to cover local politics, how a lifetime of sportswriting prepared him for this beat, and why Democratic messaging "sucks."

:36 Oral History of Speaker Robert Hertzberg

1:45 Problems at the State Bar

3:01 Experts Expound: The best and worst political jobs in California

3:51 Welcome Jeff Pearlman

8:39 The Truth OC

10:57 Style

12:52 Seal of God

13:49 "You bring the receipts"

16:08 Impact in the community

18:04 Enjoying the cruelty

22:13 How did sportswriting prepare you for this?

25:06 "I find him so exasperating"

25:52 Getting in your face

29:02 The N word at a school board meeting

30:55 Don't let things disappear

34:16 Will this affect your sportswriting career?

36:32 What journalists/writers do you follow?

37:37 The new Jon Fleischman

38:33 How long will you do this?

40:33 #WWCA

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Democratic Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo joined us to talk about her legislative priorities, the Los Angeles Fires, the Chiquita Canyon Landfill environmental crisis, and why cuts to the VA are personal for her. And as always, we tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:25 Best and worst jobs in California politics?

3:08 Welcome, Asm. Schiavo

3:35 The 3 Hs: housing, homelessness and healthcare

4:15 #AB301

6:17 The impact of the Los Angeles Fires

9:29 How has the state's resPonse been?

11:18 And the insurance companies?

13:09 Chiquita Canyon Landfill fire

17:42 "There is one man who has cancer. He looks out his front door and four of his neighbors have cancer. It's not normal."

21:37 VA cuts - a personal story

26:18 Can California offset cuts?

28:16 Realistically, what can the #caleg get done this year?

31:49 #WWCA

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California political data expert Paul Mitchell joins us to talk about his recent polls that explored public reaction to Governor Gavin Newsom's This is Gavin Newsom podcast, and the results of the first Capitol Weekly Insider Survey, which asked how and where the Capitol Community gets its news.

1:11 Capitol Weekly Internship application deadline: April 18

3:40 What about the Gov's podcast?

14:20 Methodology

17:44 Capitol Weekly Insiders Survey

20:13 LinkedIn

21:33 X/Twitter

23:01 Bluesky

25:23 Starter Packs

26:53 Facebook

29:02 Democratization of the dialogue

30:45 Alex Vassar mention

32:13 How to get the survey

33:28 Becerra Effect?

36:41 Will 2026 be another Blue Wave?

39:28 #WWCA

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Today we welcome Asm. David Tangipa, the freshman Republican legislator from the 8th Assembly District, and at 29, the youngest member of the California Legislature. Tangipa grew up off Watt Avenue in Sacramento, not for from McClellan Air Force Base. The impact that McClellan's closure had on Tangipa's friends and neighborhood left a lasting impression - and an awareness that policy decisions affected lives in very real ways. Sports offered a way out of the neighborhood; encouraged by his high school football coach, Frank Negri, Tangipa attended college at Cal State Fresno where he played tight end for the Fresno Bulldogs. Tangipa began working in real estate and got involved involved in Fresno politics, serving as a field representative for Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig. In 2024 he launched a bid for the open 8th District Assembly seat, challenging the favorite, former Congressman George Radanovich. Radanovich led in the Primary, but lost by 7 points in the general.

Tangipa joined us to talk about his path to Sacramento, his extraordinarily short tenure on the Assembly Insurance Committee, and why he - the first Tongan ever to serve in the #caleg - is not part of the AAPI Legislative Caucus.

Plus: Who had the worst week in CA politics?

1:01 SB581 story

2:35 Welcome Paula Treat and Matt Rodriguez

3:31 Conferences coming: AI on July 8; Health Care on October 1

6:05 Welcome Asm. Tangipa

7:09 Origin story

10:26 "By the time I was 14 years old I was 6'4 and 200 pounds"

12:10 vs. George Radanovich

14:01 Sacto vs. Fresno

16:33 Removal from committees

19:42 Relationships with other legislators

25:40 Any news on Federal fire funding?

29:14 Thoughts on the new building reform package?

32:34 #WWCA

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Longtime political columnist Dan Walters joins us to talk about his fifty years covering state capitol politics. Walters began covering politics in 1975 - just months after Jerry Brown was sworn in for his first term as Governor - and hasn't stopped since. He began writing his column for the Sacramento Union in 1981 and continued when he moved to the Union's crosstown rival The Sacramento Bee in 1984. He has been with CalMatters since 2017. Walters spoke with us about how the capitol has changed in the half century he has been covering it, shared his favorite Jerry Brown story, and finally came clean about how he scooped the rest of the press corp on the state Budget story, over and over again. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

:58 A viral story

2:16 Capitol Insiders Survey

3:44 California Insurance Crisis

4:45 Welcome Dan Walters

5:32 most notable changes in 50 years?

8:22 Vic Pollard

12:40 The two groups who came out of nowhere

13:21 The Third House

15:33 How DID you get the Budget in advance?

17:36 "All hell broke loose"

20:15 Down at David's Brass Rail

21:40 Apocalypse Right Now

27:28 Thoughts on "This is Gavin Newsom"

31:36 The Great Mentioners

34:39 #WWCA

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Claire Conlon has a long history in the capitol community. She got her start as a legislative aide in 2011, and has held a wide variety of roles since, including Press Secretary for Senate leader Kevin de León and Chief of Staff to Asm. Cottie Petrie-Norris. While building that impressive resume, she did something unusual: she left. In 2017 Conlon left the capitol, the state, and eventually the country, traveling the world for a full year - job title "Vagabond" on her Linkedin. Returning to the state in 2018, she picked up where she had left off. In 2023, she left the capitol again - She is currently the Senior Director of State Government Affairs for Biocom California, where she manages and implements their state legislative policy agenda.

Claire shared stories from her capitol journey and other travels, offers advice for new legislators, and talks about her new role in California's second largest industry. Plus - Who had the Worst Week in CA Politics?

1:11 First time on a podcast!

3:55 What was it like to be a Press Sec. for a Legislative leader?

4:15 Dee Dee Myers shout-out

5:21 Origin story

9:12 From school to the capitol

11:40 Around the world

15:33 What did the trip change for you?

18:06 Advice for new legislators

20:37 Thoughts on gender parity in the Senate

21:43 New role at Biocom

23:02 Second-largest industry in California

24:14 St. Patrick's Day dancers at the capitol

25:27 Favorite state capitol?

26:38 Hot topics: Drug affordability and access

29:38 #WWCA

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s conference The Resistance: California vs. Donald Trump, which was held in Sacramento on Wednesday, February 26, 2025

This is PANEL 2 – CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Panelists: Kip Lipper, Chief Policy Advisor on Energy and Environment to the Senate pro Tem; Catherine Reheis-Boyd, Western States Petroleum Association; Victoria Rome, Natural Resources Defense Council

Moderated by Rich Ehisen, Capitol Weekly

Thanks to our California Conferences sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Capitol Weekly presented an online conference, The Resistance: California vs. Donald Trump.

This is PANEL 3 – IMMIGRATION

Panelists: Senator María Elena Durazo; Luis Alvarado, Luis Alvarado Public Affairs; Kevin R. Johnson, UC Davis School of Law; David Trujillo, ACLU California Action

Moderated by Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times

Thanks to our California Conferences sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Capitol Weekly presented an online conference, The Resistance: California vs. Donald Trump.

This is PANEL 1 – HEALTH CARE

Panelists: Beth Malinowksi, SEIU California; Devon Mathis, California Assembly (Ret.); Amanda McAllister-Wallner, Health Access California; Dr. Richard Pan, California Senate (Ret.);

Moderated by Samantha Young, KFF Health News

Please note: During this discussion, a speaker questions whether there may be a connection between Autism Spectrum Disorder and vaccines. Numerous studies over the past two decades have debunked a connection between autism and the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Thanks to our California Conferences sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Capitol Weekly presented an online conference, The Resistance: California vs. Donald Trump.

President Donald J. Trump launched his second term with a flurry of executive orders on immigration, energy and climate, health care, civil rights and more. California led the resistance to administration policies during the first Trump Administration, suing the federal government over 100 times; Now the state’s Democratic leadership is gearing up for Round 2.

In this episode we present The Keynote, by one of the officials in the forefront of that battle, California Attorney General Rob Bonta. He is introduced by Capitol Weekly editor Rich Ehisen.

Thanks to our California Conferences sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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Brian Joseph has worked as a newspaper reporter and investigative journalist for two decades, writing for Capitol Weekly, the Orange County Register, the Sacramento Bee and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, among other publications. He recently released his first book: Vegas Concierge: Sex Trafficking, Hip Hop and Corruption in America. Using public and private records as well as exclusive, first-person accounts from primary sources, the book shows how prostitutes and pimps ply their trade, how law enforcement agencies trip up and their investigations become compromised, and how self-interest corrupts news organizations and the corridors of power. He spoke with us about what drive him to write the book, the connection to Hip Hop and corruption, and what news organizations have gotten wrong in coverage of the issue. Plus: Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

1:50 The California connection

3:36 Shannon Grove

4:14 How did the book come about?

6:31 The victims

8:06 How prevalent is sex trafficking in the US?

9:47 The effect of the internet

12:04 The connection to Hip Hop and corruption

15:10 How have the profiled subjects reacted?

16:45 Repeat victimization

18:34 How have news organizations made it worse

20:32 Intense book tour moments

23:26 #WWCA

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Our guest today is the Parliamentarian to the Assembly Speaker, Brian Ebbert. Ebbert has spent over three decades in the Assembly starting as an Assistant Clerk in 1991. He served as Assembly Floor Director from 2017 to 2014; he announced his retirement last year (and even got the cake) but agreed at the end of 2024 to stay on one more year as Assembly Parliamentarian

What does the Assembly Parliamentarian do? In this role, Ebbert is the senior procedural and parliamentary advisor to the Assembly Speaker and his leadership team. He is responsible for daily coordination of the Floor business, strategic motions, and procedures of the House, and provides expert procedural analysis and advice to Majority Party leadership team. He also develops logistics, rules, and procedures for Floor sessions, and - one of his favorite duties - identifies, drafts, and implements House rule changes for each two-year legislative session.

Ebbert joins Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster to talk about the Parliamentarian's role, how the legislature has changed in the time he has been there, and about his brief but fascinating time in the Canadian Parliament. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

1:53 The role of Parliamentarian

4:56 "You can read a book about football... but that doesn't make you a football player"

7:15 From Speaker's Floor Director to Parliamentarian

10:33 Questions from members

12:30 The flow of information

15:17 Touchy topics

19:44 Impact of Social Media

23:49 How has the institution changed?

26:16 Length of Floor sessions

28:36 Procedural rule changes

30:29 Two weeks in the Canadian Parliament

42:24 #WWCA

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It may not feel like it, but Donald J. Trump began his second presidential term less than three weeks ago. The reality TV star turned GOP president wasted no time implementing his agenda, issuing dozens of Executive Orders, clearcutting opposition officials and entrusting billionaire donor Elon Musk with a broad mandate to revise the functions of the US government, often in seeming conflict with federal law and the constitution. These unilateral actions are testing the bounds of executive power beyond anything seen in American politics before.

Congress – led by Trump’s Republican Party - has been largely silent, with minority Democrats raising objections but to little effect. The courts have begun to weigh in, with mixed results. What to make of these unprecedented times in American history?

To talk about all this, we’re joined by Thad Kousser, professor of Political Science at UC San Diego. Kousser has written extensively on US and California politics and is an astute observer of American political life. He spoke with us about President Trump’s “everything everywhere all at once” strategy, what Democrats can and can’t do, and how this all plays in California.

1:34 Perspective

3:50 Democrats caught flat footed

5:30 Billionaire buddy: Elon Musk

9:09 Donald Trump's political superpower

12:42 What does this mean for the Democrats?

17:02 What aren't congressional Dems doing more?

20:14 The California legislature and Donald Trump

23:18 "Flooding the zone"

26:43 >>Picture of dog drinking coffee, surrounded by fire<< "This is fine"

32:26 "Government is the problem"

36:04 3WWCA

Plus, Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

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Cecilia Aguiar-Curry represents California's 4th Assembly District, which includes Napa, Lake, Yolo, Colusa Counties and part of Sonoma County. She is the chair of the bipartisan California Legislative Women’s Caucus and is also the Assembly Majority Leader. As Majority Leader, Aguiar-Curry guides her party’s legislative strategy, coordinates with committee chairs and helps ensure the efficient progression of bills. As chair of the Women’s Caucus, she helps promote policies and budget priorities that improve the well-being of women, children and families. She sat down with Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster to talk about finding common ground with her Republican colleagues, her role in helping new legislators get their feet under them, and Democratic priorities for 2025.

Plus - Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

:54 The Women's Caucus

4:22 Working with a bipartisan caucus and new members

6:27 California and Trump: common ground?

8:40 Affordability

13:10 What have we learned from the fires?

18:55 Getting new legislators up to speed

22:43 Priorities

25:16 The legislature and the governor

27:20 #WWCA

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We're joined today by Dr. Shirley Weber, California's Secretary of State. Governor Newsom appointed the four-term assembly member as Secretary of State in 2020 to fill the remainder of Alex Padilla's term when Padilla went to the US Senate. Voters elected her to a full term on November 8, 2022.

Serving as the state's chief elections officer is a natural fit for Weber, whose family left Arkansas during the Jim Crow era after her father was threatened for agitating in favor of voting rights. The family settled in southern California, where her mother became a longtime poll worker, with the family home often serving as a polling place.

Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster spoke with Weber about administrating elections, why it takes so long to get results in some districts, and how to inspire young Californians to care as much about voting as Weber's family does. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

:55 "A Boring Election"

2:29 29 bomb threats

4:23 Why does it take so long to get a final count in some districts?

6:07 Ballot curing

9:13 Election integrity

12:11 Poll workers

15:49 "We were the polling place"

16:21 A place called Hope

17:37 "They had planned to kill my father"

21:03 How to get young people to vote?

25:12 Engaging high school students

26:24 "The life of voting"

31:01 #WWCA: Take a chill pill

37:54 The Resistance: California vs. Donald Trump

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We hear a lot of discussion about what it takes to campaign for Governor of California, but, as in the 1972 film The Candidate, not so much about what it takes to govern the state. Former Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg has served as an advisor to governors and want-to-be-governors for decades. With the race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom in 2026 heating up, Hertzberg joined us to share his Six Principles for Governing California. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics?

:45 How to govern

2:27 Mervyn Dymally

3:58 Six Guiding Principles for Governing California

4:55 1. Queen Calafia

7:42 2. Robert Redford, Wax on Wax off, and Picasso

9:56 3. The Princess Bride

10:56 4. Jimmy Carter

14:35 5. Exit Memo

15:45 6. Love Actually

19:29 Two-way ears

22:30 Governor Pete Wilson

26:56 Thick skin

30:50 #WWCA

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Today we welcome a first-time guest to the podcast: Stephanie Roberson, of Stephanie Roberson Strategies. Roberson formed SRS, a boutique, black-owned single member firm, in late 2022 after 15 years representing the California Nurses Association. During Roberson’s tenure, the Nurses waged fierce battles in the capitol over guaranteed universal healthcare, and confronted the COVID epidemic. She sat down with us to talk about her decision to go out on her own, her experiences with CNA and her mentors and role models.

2:01 A shift in the lobbying community

3:06 Broadcast news?

4:59 Pivot

5:57 A broader group of clients

8:48 The Nurses and COVID

12:47 The reality of lobbying vs. the image

14:03 The best and worst of times

17:07 Going solo

18:26 "Presumptive Eligibility"

21:28 More women in prominent roles

22:40 Bob Hertzberg!

25:02 Role models and mentors

30:51 Priorities for 2025

36:56 DC

40:36 #WWCA

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Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by Politico's Chris Cadelago for a deep dive (our longest-ever episode?) into California politics in 2024 - and a look at what the Horseshoe might look like next year as Nathan Barankin takes over for departing chief of staff Dana Williamson. Plus: Who Had the Worst YEAR in California Politics? We give you our Top 10.

2:44 From Dana Williamson to Nathan Barankin

5:42 Ann Patterson

7:20 Power couple

9:23 The Horseshoe

12:20 Newsom's year

16:40 Newsom, the legislature and those pesky propositions

21:12 Crime

28:53 The shift in the Latino vote

33:00 The Senate race

37:21 Turmoil in Los Angeles and San Francisco

42:35 AI

49:36 Transitions: KDL, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy

56:23 Impact of Gaza

1:02:18 Who had the Worst Year in California Politics

1:02:46 Katie Porter

1:08:28 Pamela Price

1:11:43 Riddhi Patel

1:17:06 Sheng Thao

1:21:25 Andrew Do

1:24:33 Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil

1:28:30 Michael Weinstein

1:33:11 George Gascon

1:37:08 Kamala Harris

1:43:29 Omar Torres

1:49:05 Wrap up - and where did Lara Korte go?

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It's a short week, so we've got a short episode for you. Rich and Tim look south for Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics. We'll be back next week with a special end-of-year wrap up - don't miss!

Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

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Ranked Choice Voting had a bit of a "moment" in 2022, helping send Democrat Mary Peltola to congress in Alaska, and clearing a first-ballot hurdle for statewide acceptance in Nevada. This year, proponents of the RCV process got proposals on the ballot in four states (Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, and the confirmation vote in NV), but ultimately found themselves on defense, losing all four, and also losing a Missouri ballot measure to ban the method from use in the state. A measure to repeal RCV in Alaska failed by just 743 votes. Conversely, use of RCV continues to expand in cities and other localities. In Washington DC, a measure to introduce RCV passed with over 70% of the vote this year.

Our guest today, Josh Rosa, is on the Steering Committee of Better Ballot Sacramento, an organization promoting adoption of Ranked Choice Voting in Sacramento. Rosa is a lecturer at Sacramento State and has a long history in the capitol community, including a stint in the Schwarzenegger administration. We chat about the various types of RCV and look at the pros and cons of the system.

Plus - Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

Show Notes:

3:06 What is Ranked Choice Voting?

6:26 Benefits

10:29 Downsides

13:23 What is driving newfound opposition to RCV?

17:05 How does the Sacramento plan stack up?

20:02 Insights?

26:47 #WWCA

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CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s conference HEALTH CARE IN CALIFORNIA, which was held in Sacramento on Thursday, October 3, 2024

This is PANEL 3 – IMPACT OF BUDGET CUTS

Panelists: Jess Bartholow, SEIU California; Michelle Cabrera, County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California; Beth Capell, Health Access California; Scott Graves, California Budget and Policy Center

Moderated by Kristen Hwang, Calmatters

Thanks to the sponsors of the event:

CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION, THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA; KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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One of the many stories out of the 2024 election was President Trump's improved performance with voters of color. While voter data is still being analyzed, it is clear that the former and future president made significant inroads in 2024 with constituencies with whom he has historically lagged, notably Latinos. For a politician who based his first presidential campaign on a promise to build a wall between the US and Mexico and referring to Mexican immigrants as drug dealers, criminals and rapists, ANY improvement is a big shift.

But, that shift was not uniform: While a majority of Latino men favored Trump in November, three in five Latina voters supported Vice President Kamala Harris, rejecting Trump for the third time. Why the disparity between Latinas/Latinos, and could the Democrats have done more outreach to this crucial constituency?

Our guest today is Sonja Diaz, a civil rights attorney and former policy advisor to California Attorney General Kamala Harris, and Co-Founder of the Latina Futures 2050 Lab. Prior to starting the Latina Futures, 2050 Lab, Diaz co-founded and directed the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, the first comprehensive think tank within the University of California system dedicated to addressing the policy needs of the nation’s second-largest racial/ethnic group.

Plus, Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

Show Notes:

1:13 The Latina Futures 2050 Lab

4:29 Policy advisor to AG Kamala Harris

6:17 Latinas make up 12% of all female voters

13:19 A deeper systematic problem?

15:25 "Persuadability exists in very narrow forms"

19:11 The Special Session

24:59 #WWCA

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As her final term in the senate comes to an end, Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman joined us to reflect on her twelve years in the state legislature. A self-described "pragmatic progressive," Eggman represents the 5th Senate District - San Joaquin County, parts of Stanislaus County and the Sacramento County community of Galt - areas which saw a significant Republican shift this year; San Joaquin County went to Trump in 2024. We asked what she thought her party could do to speak to disaffected voters, what she saw as her successes from her time in office, and where she goes from here.

Plus, Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

:40 How can Democrats do a better job of connecting with voters?

5:13 Messaging

9:25 "You can't let the base drive the conversation"

10:48 Disconnect on crime

12:22 "People will rise to the expectations we put on them"

15:44 The status of CA's mental health system

18:50 A look back and a look forward

20:41 The End of Life Act

21:49 Involuntary care

22:44 Right to Repair

26:01 #WWCA

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While most political junkies have their eyes on DC in the wake of Donald Trump's successful bid to return to the White House, we're looking south, where Los Angeles voters delivered a seismic shift to the region's politics, passing Measure G, which expands the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from five members to nine, and Charter Amendment DD, which creates an independent redistricting commission for the city. Support for reform measures exploded after the 2022 release of "The Tape," a secret recording of council members Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon and LA County Labor Fed President Ron Herrera making racist and derisive comments about their colleagues and constituents, and planning a gerrymander of Nithya Raman's district in order to oust her. Two years after the release of the tape, de Leon was the only one of the four still in place, and on November 5, District 14 voters handed the former state senator his walking papers in favor of DSA candidate Ysabel Jurado, giving the Democratic Socialists a four seat bloc on the city council. We asked political consultant and California Target Book co-editor Robb Korinke to walk us through what just happened and what it all means.

Plus: Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

2:01 Measure G

4:37 County Executive

5:52 What will the new districts look like?

9:30 Charter Amendment DD

11:48 KDL

15:38 Nithya Raman

16:15 Adrin Nazarian

17:02 George Gascon

19:20 Turnout

23:00 Incumbency

25:24 #WWCA

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On Thursday, November 7, 2024, Capitol Weekly and the UC Student and Policy Center presented A Post-Mortem of the 2024 Election.

We gathered a score of experts for a timely and informative review of the November 5 election, providing analysis, opinions and insight. What happened inside the campaigns? Why? What happens next? Nearly two dozen California insiders will discuss the results of the election and provide a look-ahead at what it means for 2025.

In this episode we present The Keynote: THE NATIONAL PICTURE

The National Picture was recorded live at the UC Student and Policy Center, and featured a panel of expert voices from both sides of the aisle. The discussion shared insights into how the 2024 election will influence California’s policy and politics in 2025 and beyond.

Panelists: Mark Baldassare, Public Policy Institute of California; Marva Diaz, Marva Diaz Strategies; Thad Kousser, UC San Diego; Paul Mitchell, Political Data Intelligence; and Kristin Olsen-Cate, California Strategies.

Moderated by Laurel Rosenhall of the Los Angeles Times

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On Thursday, November 7, 2024, Capitol Weekly and the UC Student and Policy Center presented A Post-Mortem of the 2024 Election.

We gathered a score of experts for a timely and informative review of the November 5 election, providing analysis, opinions and insight. What happened inside the campaigns? Why? What happens next? Nearly two dozen California insiders will discuss the results of the election and provide a look-ahead at what it means for 2025.

In this episode we present Panel 3: A LOOK AHEAD

What happens now? A Red Wave election threatened Dem super majorities in Sacramento and soundly rejected progressive crime policies across the state. And, the results of the presidential contest are more consequential than ever: President Trump will head back to the White House in January 2025 with promises to deport millions and punish his political enemies. Given this titanic political shift, what will be the big issues under Sacramento's capitol dome next year? And, what does it mean for the race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom in 2026?

Panelists: Susannah Delano, Close the Gap California; Jon Fleischman, Fleischman Consulting Group; Jodi Hicks, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California; Evan McLaughlin, California Professional Firefighters; Roger Salazar, ALZA Strategies

Moderated by Rich Ehisen of Capitol Weekly

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On Thursday, November 7, 2024, Capitol Weekly and the UC Student and Policy Center presented A Post-Mortem of the 2024 Election.

We gathered a score of experts for a timely and informative review of the November 5 election, providing analysis, opinions and insight. What happened inside the campaigns? Why? What happens next? Nearly two dozen California insiders will discuss the results of the election and provide a look-ahead at what it means for 2025.

In this episode we present Panel 2: THE BALLOT INITIATIVES

California voters confronted a wide variety of themes on this year’s ballot - how did they vote on these important issues, and why?

Panelists: Brandon Castillo, Bicker, Castillo, Fairbanks & Spitz Public Affairs; Jeff Gozzo, Gozzo Strategy & Campaigns; Susie Shannon, AIDS Healthcare Foundation; Becky Warren, Elevate Public Affairs

Moderated by Robin Epley of the Sacramento Bee

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On Thursday, November 7, 2024, Capitol Weekly and the UC Student and Policy Center presented A Post-Mortem of the 2024 Election.

We gathered a score of experts for a timely and informative review of the November 5 election, providing analysis, opinions and insight. What happened inside the campaigns? Why? What happens next? Nearly two dozen California insiders will discuss the results of the election and provide a look-ahead at what it means for 2025.

In this episode we present Panel 1: FACE OF THE ELECTORATE

President Trump improved his numbers with independents, men, Muslims and Latinos; Will Republicans in tight House races see similar results? Also – a rundown on key California races – the battles for Congress and the Legislature. Who were the voters in 2024?

Panelists: Mike Madrid, author, The Latino Century; Courtni Pugh, Hilltop Public Solutions; Tim Rosales, The Rosales Agency; Michael Wagaman, Wagaman Strategies; Bill Wong, The Ronin Project.

Moderated by Christopher Cadelago of POLITICO

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We have reached the end of the road - Election Day. After a years-long presidential campaign filled with twists, turns and surprises, we are at the deciding point: will the next president be former president Donald Trump, or Vice President Kamala Harris? And, which party will control congress? Does the path to control of the House run through Orange County? What does all of this mean for California's 2026 gubernatorial race? Political data guru Paul Mitchell joins us to read the tea leaves and tell us what to expect on Election Night.

Show Notes:

1:26 What do we know?

2:36 The polling

6:15 A new name

6:49 Any surprises in the data from the past few days?

8:04 That Selzer Poll

11:23 Herding

13:42 Turnout

15:54 The Latino Vote

18:53 Congress

21:47 The 2026 governor's race

25:34 Post-Mortem

28:38 Will we know who won the presidential contest on Tuesday night?

Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s conference HEALTH CARE IN CALIFORNIA, which was held in Sacramento on Thursday, October 3, 2024

This is the KEYNOTE – Asm. Jim Wood in conversation with Rich Ehisen of Capitol Weekly

Thanks to our sponsors:

CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION, THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA; KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s conference HEALTH CARE IN CALIFORNIA, which was held in Sacramento on Thursday, October 3, 2024

This is PANEL 2 – OFFICE OF HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY: TARGETS

Panelists: Ben Johnson, California Hospital Association; Lynne Kinst, Hemophilia Council of California; Elizabeth Mitchell, Purchaser Business Group on Health; Dr. Richard Pan, California Health Care Affordability Board

Moderated by Sigrid Bathen, Capitol Weekly

Thanks to our sponsors:

CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION, THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA; KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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Capitol Weekly presented HEALTH CARE IN CALIFORNIA in Sacramento on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Over a dozen experts and elected officials joined us for our annual look at Health Care in the Golden State. Today we present Panel 1: AI in Health Care.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has huge potential to innovate and reshape health care. AI has the potential to benefit both providers and patients, with improved diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, robot-enhanced precision medicine and much more. Proponents of AI believe it will significantly improve the quality of care for patients – but how can we use these new tools responsibly?

Panelists: Kara Carter, California Health Care Foundation; Sam Chung, California Life Sciences; Matthew D. Solomon, MD, Kaiser Permanente; Chris Waugh, Sutter Health. Moderated by Samantha Young, KFF Health News

Thanks to our sponsors:

CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION, THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA; KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

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Political data expert and regular Capitol Weekly contributor Paul Mitchell joins us for a look at the most competitive congressional districts in California. The race for control of Congress is tight, and these districts could decide which party holds the House in 2025. And he tells us which polls to watch (and which to ignore) and makes his prediction in the Kamala Harris- Donald Trump race. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics

4:00 CA 22 - Salas v. Valadao

11:47 CA 3 - Kiley v. Morse

14:44 Brutal abortion ad

17:46 CA 27 - Whiteside v. Garcia

21:44 CA 47 - Min v. Baugh

26:59 CA 41 - Calvert v. Rollins

29:07 CA 9 - Gray v. Duarte

33:49 What are good polls to follow?

35:38 The prediction markets

38:29 Polls to avoid

41:31 Could hurricanes affect the presidential race?

42:50 On the spot: Presidential prediction

45:18 First gubernatorial debate of the 2026 campaign

50:01 #WWCA

Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

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On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Capitol Weekly hosted the California Ballot Forum: 2024 Election Preview. Through spirited discussion and reasoned debate, proponents for each side explored the strengths and weaknesses of the proposals in a conversation moderated by a journalist. Today's episode presents: Proposition 36ALLOWS FELONY CHARGES AND INCREASES SENTENCES FOR CERTAIN DRUG AND THEFT CRIMES. INITIATIVE STATUTE.If passed, would allow felony charges for possessing certain drugs and for thefts under $950, if defendant has two prior drug or theft convictions. Fiscal Impact: State criminal justice costs likely ranging from several tens of millions of dollars to the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Local criminal justice costs likely in the tens of millions of dollars annually. The "Yes" side was presented by Tino RossiTino Rossi is the vice president at Swing Strategies, where he has helped Fortune 100 companies, trade associations, and statewide ballot measure campaigns craft diverse coalitions and effective messages that move voters and impact public opinion on the state’s most complex issues. He has been an integral part of multiple successful statewide ballot measure fights, historic legislative negotiations, and prominent regional and statewide public affairs campaigns. Preceding his role at Swing Strategies, Tino mastered building diverse statewide coalitions, generating earned media, and executing effective grassroots campaigns at Meridian Pacific, Inc. The "No" side was presented by Cristine DeBerryCristine Soto DeBerry is an attorney with twenty-five years of experience generating and implementing criminal justice policy. Drawing on her life experience as an immigrant, a crime survivor, a social justice advocate, and her work as both a public defender and a prosecutor, Cristine led the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for a decade as Chief of Staff to DAs George Gascón and Chesa Boudin. As Chief of Staff, DeBerry spearheaded numerous large-scale policy reforms include developing the nation’s first automatic clearance of marijuana convictions, creating the nation’s first “race blind charging” tool, and implemented a fully restorative justice program for juveniles. After a decade in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, Cristine launched the Prosecutors Alliance. The Alliance is the nation’s first reform focused law enforcement association dedicated to activating prosecutors to transform their state prosecutorial systems. The moderator was Lindsey Holden of POLITICOLindsey Holden is a politics reporter based in Sacramento. She helms California Playbook PM, POLITICO's must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State. Lindsey previously reported for the Sacramento Bee, where she spent two-plus years covering the state Legislature. At the Bee, Lindsey and a coworker won two 2024 Sacramento Press Club awards for “Stuck in Migration,” a series on California migrant farmworker housing. Before the Bee, Lindsey was a staff writer at the San Luis Obispo Tribune reporting on local politics, housing and the Covid-19 pandemic. A Southern California native raised in the Midwest, Lindsey attended DePaul University where she was a track and field student-athlete before pursuing a journalism master’s degree at Medill. Capitol Weekly is a 501c3 nonprofit created to inform, enlighten and educate Californians about public policy and state governance, and to provide a nonpartisan platform for engagement with public officials, advocates and political interests.Thanks to our underwriters for this event:BICKER, CASTILLO, FAIRBANKS & SPITZ PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA; LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, THE NO ON 33 CAMPAIGN, and THE YES ON 34 CAMPAIGN Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.

On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Capitol Weekly hosted the California Ballot Forum: 2024 Election Preview. Through spirited discussion and reasoned debate, proponents for each side explored the strengths and weaknesses of the proposals in a conversation moderated by a journalist. Today's episode features a discussion of Propositions 33 and 34.In a state known for confusing, contentious ballot-box battles, Props 33 and 34 may be some of the most confounding ever, especially for the average California voter, who isn’t likely to be familiar with the background that plays a central role in both Propositions 33 and 34 but isn’t actually mentioned in the text of either.AIDS Healthcare Foundation buys prescription drugs for HIV and AIDS patients at a federally endorsed discount. The foundation then turns around and bills insurers for the full price of those drugs, generating millions of dollars for the foundation. AHF president Michael Weinstein has used that windfall to fund ballot measures on housing development, drug prices, requiring the use of condoms in porn and, most notably, rent control, twice: in 2018 and 2021. Both times, Weinstein failed to persuade Californians to pass measures promoting affordable housing, which he calls “a human right, a social justice issue.”The California Apartment Association opposes Prop. 33, and also are behind Proposition 34, which seeks to blow up Weinstein’s business model for funding ballot measures.On paper, Prop. 34 would require that healthcare providers who spent more than $100 million on anything other than direct patient care over a decade and operated housing with more than 500 high-severity health and safety violations spend at least 98 percent of their revenue from the federal discount prescription program on patients. Those parameters actually could apply to more than one organization but make no mistake: the measure is squarely aimed at hindering Weinstein’s serial funding of ballot measures. Because these measures are inextricably intertwined, we have chosen to present them together.Proposition 33EXPANDS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS' AUTHORITY TO ENACT RENT CONTROL ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. INITIATIVE STATUTE.Proposition 34RESTRICTS SPENDING OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG REVENUES BY CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.The "Yes on 33/No on 34" side was presented by Susie ShannonSusie Shannon is the Policy Director for Housing Is A Human Right. Susie has worked with unhoused and low-income communities since 2005. Having previously been unhoused herself, she advocates for unhoused and low-income communities through rent control policy, preserving public housing, fighting for new housing to be prioritized for the unhoused, and promoting adaptive reuse and prefabricated modular buildings for the unhoused. The "No on 33/Yes on 34" side was presented by Nathan ClickNathan Click is a national public affairs and communications expert. His California based firm, Click Strategies, builds communications and public affairs campaigns for civic leaders, non-profit organizations and private sector clients. Click Strategies serves as a political advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom and led all communications efforts in the Governor's campaign to Stop the Republican Recall, with Click serving as a senior advisor. Click Strategies serves as a political advisor to Attorney General Rob Bonta and a number of political and civic leaders across the nation. Click recently served on U.S. Senator Alex Padilla's transition team, a role he reprised from his tenure working for then U.S. Senator Kamala Harris.The moderator was Rich Ehisen of Capitol WeeklyRich Ehisen has been a reporter and editor for almost 30 years and is currently the editor in chief at Capitol Weekly, which covers the California State Capitol in Sacramento. For two decades previous he was the managing editor of the State Net Capitol Journal, a LexisNexis publication that covers state public policy issues and trends nationwide. In that role he was also the producer and host of the SNCJ Deep Dive podcast and the SNCJ Hot Issues webinar series. He is also the producer and moderator of The Open Mic: Writers in Their Own Words, a podcast and YouTube show that features his discussions on writing with authors, reporters and writers from across the artistic spectrum. Capitol Weekly is a 501c3 nonprofit created to inform, enlighten and educate Californians about public policy and state governance, and to provide a nonpartisan platform for engagement with public officials, advocates and political interests.Thanks to our underwriters for this event:BICKER, CASTILLO, FAIRBANKS & SPITZ PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA; LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, THE NO ON 33 CAMPAIGN, and THE YES ON 34 CAMPAIGN

On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Capitol Weekly hosted the California Ballot Forum: 2024 Election Preview. Today's episode presents The Keynote for this event: A look at California’s congressional and legislative races, with California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks and Assemblymember James Gallagher, moderated by Rich Ehisen of Capitol Weekly.James GallagherJames Gallagher has represented California’s Third Assembly District since 2014. Before joining the Assembly, he served on the Sutter County Board of Supervisors for six years. James earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at UC Berkeley before completing an Assembly Fellowship in Sacramento and a law degree at UC Davis, where he graduated at the top of his class. He advocates for small businesses and farmers in his law practice and is a partner in his family’s farming operation. Gallagher is married to his high school sweetheart, Janna; the two live in Sutter County where they are raising their five young children.Rusty HicksIn 2019 Rusty Hicks was elected as Chair of the California Democratic Party – the nation’s largest state party comprised of more than 10 million California Democrats. Prior to his election as Chair, Hicks served as both President and Political Director of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor - representing 300 local unions and 800,000 hardworking women and men. Hicks has played a leading role in a number of important political and policy efforts: in 2008, he served as the California Political Director for Obama for America. Hicks is a Veteran of the United States Navy and deployed to Afghanistan in 2012-2013. He lives on California’s North Coast with his wife, Sandra Sanchez, and their constant sidekick, a chocolate lab, Charlie.The moderator was Rich Ehisen of Capitol WeeklyRich Ehisen has been a reporter and editor for almost 30 years and is currently the editor in chief at Capitol Weekly, which covers the California State Capitol in Sacramento. For two decades previous he was the managing editor of the State Net Capitol Journal, a LexisNexis publication that covers state public policy issues and trends nationwide. In that role he was also the producer and host of the SNCJ Deep Dive podcast and the SNCJ Hot Issues webinar series. He is also the producer and moderator of The Open Mic: Writers in Their Own Words, a podcast and YouTube show that features his discussions on writing with authors, reporters and writers from across the artistic spectrum. Capitol Weekly is a 501c3 nonprofit created to inform, enlighten and educate Californians about public policy and state governance, and to provide a nonpartisan platform for engagement with public officials, advocates and political interests.Thanks to our underwriters for this event:BICKER, CASTILLO, FAIRBANKS & SPITZ PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA; LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, THE NO ON 33 CAMPAIGN, and THE YES ON 34 CAMPAIGN

On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Capitol Weekly hosted the California Ballot Forum: 2024 Election Preview. Through spirited discussion and reasoned debate, proponents for each side explored the strengths and weaknesses of the proposals in a conversation moderated by a journalist. Today's episode presents: Proposition 32 - RAISES MINIMUM WAGE. INITIATIVE STATUTE.If passed, Proposition 32 would raise minimum wage as follows: For employers with 26 or more employees, to $17 immediately, $18 on January 1, 2025. For employers with 25 or fewer employees, to $17 on January 1, 2025, $18 on January 1, 2026. Fiscal Impact: State and local government costs could increase or decrease by up to hundreds of millions of dollars annually. State and local revenues likely would decrease by no more than a few hundred million dollars annually. The "Yes" side was presented by Saru JayaramanSaru Jayaraman is the President of One Fair Wage and Director of the Food Labor Research Center at University of California, Berkeley. After 9/11, together with displaced World Trade Center workers, she co-founded the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC), which grew into a national movement of restaurant workers, employers and consumers. She then launched One Fair Wage as a national campaign to end all subminimum wages in the United States. The story of Saru and her co-founder’s work founding ROC has been chronicled in the book The Accidental American, and the story of the One Fair Wage campaign has been profiled in the new film Waging Change. Saru is a graduate of Yale Law School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. The "No" side was presented by Jot CondieJot Condie is the President and CEO of the California Restaurant Association. Before joining CRA, Jot was the legislative director for the California Manufacturer’s Association, where he lobbied on behalf of California’s Fortune 500 companies. He also served as the chief lobbyist for the Southern California Air Quality Alliance, a consortium of aerospace, manufacturing and high-tech companies with an interest in air quality regulation issues. Before joining the Manufacturer’s Association, Jot worked in the State Capitol as staff director for Assistant Assembly Majority Leader, directing a staff of policy consultants and legislative aides. Prior to serving as staff director he was a legislative director for the Assembly Minority Whip and managed political campaigns in state legislative races.The moderator was Phil Willon of the Los Angeles TimesPhil Willon is an assistant editor based in the Sacramento bureau of the Los Angeles Times and guides coverage of California politics and assists with state capital coverage. He previously covered Gov. Gavin Newsom, the 2018 governor’s race and the 2016 U.S. Senate race. Before heading north, Willon covered Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and roamed Southern California’s mountains and deserts as the newsroom’s state correspondent in the Inland Empire. Prior to joining The Times, Willon served as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for the Tampa Tribune. At the Tribune, Willon also covered Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles, Hurricane Andrew and the investigation leading to the arrest of serial killer Danny Rolling. He began his newspaper career as the Kent Island correspondent for the Capital in Annapolis, Md. Willon grew up in Southern California and graduated from UC San Diego.Capitol Weekly is a 501c3 nonprofit created to inform, enlighten and educate Californians about public policy and state governance, and to provide a nonpartisan platform for engagement with public officials, advocates and political interests.Thanks to our underwriters for this event:BICKER, CASTILLO, FAIRBANKS & SPITZ PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA; LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, THE NO ON 33 CAMPAIGN, and THE YES ON 34 CAMPAIGN

Former California State Assemblymember and current Fair Political Practices Commissioner Catharine Baker has been appointed director of the newly opened University of California Student and Policy Center, UC's hub in Sacramento, located just steps from the state capitol. Baker will lead public programming and outreach, aimed at introducing UC students and faculty into the capitol community - and vice versa. The Center will present speakers, debates, and briefings on state policy issues; in recent months, the center has hosted conversations with California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis and Senate pro Tem Toni Atkins as part of its 2024 California Leaders Speaker Series. Baker joined us to talk about her goals and priorities for her new position. Plus - a DOOZY of a "Worst Week in California Politics!"

Show Notes:

3:35 Welcome Catharine Baker

4:09 A Roger Salazar sighting?

8:24 What does the UC Student and Policy Center do?

11:09 Priorities

13:39 How to approach partisanship?

19:21 Diversity of the UC campuses?

21:20 The UC Center Internship Program

24:40 The future

26:13 Events, etc. https://uccs.ucdavis.edu

28:20 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Last year, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors passed a law that criminalized spectating at the sideshows — the wildly dangerous illegal stunt driving exhibitions that have plagued Oakland and other cities for decades. The move comes as local jurisdictions attempt to curtail the outlaw events that have real costs: damage to infrastructure, injuries to participants and spectators, and increasingly, violence. A sideshow following a Juneteenth celebration near Oakland's Lake Merritt erupted into a mass shooting that wounded 14. But will arresting those just there to watch the spectacle help?

Our guest today, Oaklandside reporter Jose Fermoso, says no, and joined a lawsuit led by the First Amendment Coalition to challenge Alameda County’s sideshow law. Fermoso covers traffic issues, and has dug deep into sideshows, the culture they evolved from, and their cost to the community. The new law prevents him from reporting directly on sideshows himself, and criminalizes anyone who might have footage that could help his reporting - or the police. What is the best way to combat these destructive displays?

1:18 What is a sideshow?

5:02 A jail sentence and fine for watching the show

7:33 How to reduce sideshows?

8:22 The lawsuit

11:55 How to report on the issue without violating the statute?

13:55 Cost to the community

20:59 Infrastructure as policy

30:26 #WWCA

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In September 1933, in the depths of the Depression, Dr. Francis Townsend wrote a letter to his local newspaper, the Long Beach Press-Telegram. He had an idea that would end the Depression and alleviate the endemic poverty for the nation's elderly. His plan was simple: the Federal Government should give each American 60 years and older a pension of $200 a month (equivalent to about $4700 today) - with the requirement that they HAD to spend the money within a month. The pensions would be paid for by a nationwide 2% transaction tax.

The idea caught on, spawning 8000 Townsend Clubs with a peak of two million members - 1% of the US population at the time - and roughly 10% of the nation's senior citizens. California congressman John McGroarty introduced the first Townsend Plan bill in 1935, much to the dismay of the Roosevelt administration, which was then working to pass the Social Security Act. By the late thirties there were over 100 members of Townsend Caucus in congress, and individual states - including California - proposed Townsend-inspired initiatives of their own.

Our guest today, Dr, Edwin Amenta is the author of When Movements Matter: The Townsend Plan and the Rise of Social Security. He tells the story of the Townsend Plan, how it became a movement and how it changed the conversation about old age pensions in America and ultimately shaped the Social Security we know today. Plus, Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics?

Show Notes

1:16 Who was Townsend?

2:18 $200 a month

2:47 One of the largest organizations in US history

3:26 One person with an idea to a nationwide movement

5:08 What did retirement look like at the time?

7:23 Legislation

10:01 John McGroarty

11:42 No political home

16:11 The Townsend Caucus

18:21 "Ham and Eggs"

19:50 Culbert Olson

21:12 The evolution of Social Security

24:37 Political football

29:08 What became of Townsend and his movement?

33:12 "I just love a spectacle"

34:10 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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With election day less than three months away, jobs and the economy are under close scrutiny. California's unemployment rate is 5.2%; up from 4.7% one year ago, and one of the highest in the nation. And, what jobs are out there often pay poorly and have limited opportunities for advancement.

Our guest today, Lisa Countryman-Quiroz is the CEO of Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) - a San Francisco nonprofit that helps jobseekers gain the skills and confidence to secure high quality jobs at a living wage. Since 1973, JVS has helped more than 100,000 Californians find quality jobs and gain economic mobility. While the organization is rooted in Jewish tradition, JVS serves individuals from all backgrounds, cultures, and faiths.

Countryman-Quiroz spoke with hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster about the JVS mission, what makes a "High Quality Job" and why California workers and employers need more access to job training. Plus, Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

SHOW NOTES

1:04 What is JVS?

5:51 What makes a High Quality Job?

8:04 How is the current job market?

10:39 How is AI impacting the job market?

14:13 The USA provides less training than other industrialized countries. What are we missing?

21:25 JVS successes

23:54 #WWCA

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Last week we talked about this year's Top 100 list... In this episode, we're starting off with a confession: Mistakes were made.

One of the hallmarks of The Top 100 is that the contents of the list are very tightly held until the moment of publication. That secrecy creates various logistical problems, not the least of which is proofreading. Only a handful of people, most of whom work in the Capitol Weekly office, are involved in the editing or proofing process at any level. Having so few eyes on the List is a recipe for error, and this year we had a doozy: we left someone off.

Dan Dunmoyer, of the California Building Industry Association has been a regular on the Top 100 for five years, since he succeeded former CBIA President and CEO (and former state Senator) Dave Cogdill. CBIA is a major player in a state where the Housing Crisis is a top concern for most voters - and their representatives in the legislature. Dunmoyer has been on the List every year since 2019 - and he was supposed to be on this year's edition.

Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster talk about what went wrong, and chat with Dunmoyer about California Housing Policy, why some cities are building more housing than others and how California can start to course correct after decades of anti-housing policy.

Show Notes:

45: Mistakes were made

3:19 Welcome, Dan Dunmoyer

5:52 Setting the record straight

7:19 A big year for Housing issues

9:36 Comparing building costs between California and neighboring states

12:04 Environmental Policy vs. Greenhouse gas policies

15:01 The local angle

21:57 This is not a Republican - Democrat issue - it's a California issue

23:55 Is desire for home equity value driving anti-housing policy?

25:32 The cities of Dallas and Houston build more housing than the entire state of California

27:23 Where is the legislature?

31:15 Gubernatorial candidates?

35:16 Volunteer proofreaders

39:36 WWCA

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Last night we published the 16th edition of Capitol Weekly's Top 100 - our annual analysis of the unelected political power structure in California. We look at the mostly behind the scenes players who influence policy, elections and governance, including Capitol staff, lobbyists, Agency staff, donors, business leaders, activists, Labor leaders - and even journalists.

Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by former KQED reporter and LA Times Bureau Chief John Myers, who left journalism for communications two years ago, but still keeps a watchful eye on Golden State politics. Few political observers are more respected than Myers - one of the many reasons he was a mainstay of the Top 100 List for more than a dozen years. (His kids nicknamed his Top 100 portrait 'Old Squinty.') Myers, Ehisen and Foster discuss the broad themes that underlie the 2024 list, look at the new faces, and talk about the names on the inaugural Top 100 Hall of Fame.

1:52 Live tweeting the California Budget

4:18 The Top 100 Hall of Fame

5:37 George Skelton

9:23 Donna Lucas

11:07 Gale Kaufman

15:58 Steve Maviglio

19:49 Aaron Read

23:32 Themes of the 2024 Top 100

25:43 The executive branch and organized Labor

30:59 Jennifer Barrera

31:00 Rob Lapsley

32:06 Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher

32:41 Tia Orr

32:48 Yvonne Wheeler

33:50 Oscar Lopez

35:04 Danny Curtin

36:38 Janus Norman

37:05 Tony Bui, Laiza Negrete and Ramona Prieto

40:14 Taryn Luna

41:22 Chris Cadelago

41:30 Ashley Zavala

47:47 Who is NOT on the list - and why?

49:56 John Latimer

50:00 Liz Snow

50:06 Myesha Jackson

50:22 Building the list

59:03 Susannah Delano

1:01:39 Venn Diagram

1:04:34 Last Thoughts

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We'll be releasing a special episode on Wednesday morning to talk about the 2024 Capitol Weekly Top 100, which will publish Tuesday night.... in the meantime we've got a very short episode with Who Had the Worst Week in Callifornia Politics, and talking about a Big Change coming to the Top 100 this year: The Top 100 Hall of Fame!

The Top 100 Hall of Fame will honor those who have had an illustrious career in the Capitol community - and who have been a dominant presence on the Top 100 list over the last 15 years. In the 2024 inaugural Hall of Fame class we will acknowledge five California political professionals who rank at the top of their class. We'll announce them, along with the year's Top 100 list, at our Top 100 Party at the Sutter Club on Tuesday, August 6.

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Last year Chris Hannan was named President of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, which represents nearly half a million members in the construction trades. Hannan had earlier served as the Executive Secretary of the Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. SBCTC is one of the biggest players in California labor politics, particularly in housing policy. President Hannan joined us to talk about the trades, about his own journey from apprentice pipe fitter to the president's office and about the role of union construction workers in California's future.

All that, plus Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:03 What has the first year been like?

4:41 The transition to leadership

6:26 SoCal vs. NorCal

9:36 Impact of state's Budget deficit on SBCTC

11:36 California's big infrastructure projects

14:55 The differing views on Housing policy

17:05 How to get into the trades

22:46 WWCA

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We recorded this episode coming out of the most intense 8 days in American politics in a generation. A week and a day after an assassination attempt nearly felled former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden announced that he was abandoning his bid for reelection, and endorsing his Vice President, Kamala Harris.

Political data expert Paul Mitchell has been polling Biden's support in California since the president's disastrous debate performance on June 27. The numbers were not pretty for Dems, with Biden underperforming his 2020 results, and appearing to create a drag on support for Dem candidates across the board. Would another candidate be stronger? On Friday, that was a hypothetical question, but no more.

With Kamala Harris the leading candidate for the nomination, we asked Paul what the earlier polling indicates about Dem enthusiasm, voter enthusiasm and how a change at the top of the ticket may effect other races. Also, will the VP pick bear more weight than usual given the historic nature of the circumstances? Will this be a candidate-driven or issue-driven election? And, what is the technical process for a change at the top of the ticket this late in the game?

All that, plus Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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PHOTO: Kamala Harris speaking with attendees at the 2019 National Forum on Wages and Working People hosted by the Center for the American Progress Action Fund and the SEIU at the Enclave in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Gage Skidmore.

Today we introduce a new series of interviews with the 2026 California gubernatorial candidates. First up, California gubernatorial candidate Betty Yee!

Yee boasts two decades of public service, beginning with a stint on the Board of Equalization and followed by two terms as California State Controller (2015-2023). She is he tenth woman to be elected to statewide office in California. She has also served as the Female Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party since May 2021. Yee announced her candidacy for California governor in March 2019. We spoke with her in May about her campaign, about the 2024 elections, and what unique perspectives she brings to the race.

Plus, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

:53 Introducing Betty Yee

2:46 How will you stand out in a crowded field?

4:55 A caretaker for an aging parent

9:59 Is California ready for a BIPOC female governor?

14:20 How are the AAPI communities relating to Democrats this year?

17:28 The impact of Palestine/campus protests on the Nov. election

21:50 Crime and Prop. 47

26:58 Romualdo Pacheco, California's only Hispanic governor

27:51 "Why should a voter support Betty Yee?"

30:39 WWCA: A belly flop on crime policy

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Today we welcome Christy Smith, the former Democratic Assemblymember for California’s 38th Assembly District. Smith also ran three times for Congress, holding the record as the best performing Democratic candidate for the 25th/27th Congressional district, but ultimately losing those races to Republican Mike Garcia - once by less than 350 votes.

Today she is the Executive Director for Emerge California, the state’s arm of the national organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office. She spoke with us about the likelihood that the California Legislature will achieve gender parity in the near future, and about the unique challenges that face women candidates.

Plus, we tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:03 Talk about Emerge California

2:13 Gender parity?

5:39 Is it hard to get women to run for office?

9:06 Male candidates vs. female candidates

10:26 What did you learn in running for office?

15:28 How do biases against women play out for lawmakers?

19:03 "You look like you belong in congress"

19:49 The 2026 gov's race

29:54 Who is going to win CA27 in November?

31:20 WWCA: Plenty to choose from

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We're joined today by two guests: first up, Anthony Wright, the longtime Executive Director at Health Access California, who will be leaving soon to take a new position as Executive Director at Families USA in DC. He spoke with us about the new job and his most memorable moments in Sacramento.

We also welcome redistricting expert, campaign strategist, and former mayor of Winters, Matt Rexroad, who joins us to talk about the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Worst Week in California Politics.

1:01 Anthony Wright: What is Families USA and why are you leaving?

2:41 What the job in DC will look like

5:07 "The health system is complex and confusing and Kafkaesue..."

5:24 DC is dysfunctional - how do you plan to approach that?

8:16 How realistic are current efforts to bring Universal Health Care to California?

10:17 "if you take Single Payer seriously... then you need to take the obstacles seriously"

11:35 What is exportable from California's experience, and what can California learn from other states?

16:25 Who is taking over at Health Access?

17:35 A memorable first day in Sacramento

19:30 Top memories of 23 years at Health Access

22:07 With Trump pledging to repeal the ACA; Are you worried?

27:33 #WWCA; Matt Rexroad joins us to look at candidates for an EPIC Worst Week in CA Politics

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Longtime GOP strategist and expert on Latino voting trends Mike Madrid joins us to talk about his new book, The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy. Madrid served as the political director for the California Republican Party, and has been senior adviser to both Democrats and Republicans. He is perhaps best known as a cofounder of The Lincoln Project.

Madrid will be no stranger to our regular listeners - he has for years been making his case for questioning the 'conventional wisdom' regarding Latino voters, and argues that both parties are stuck in an out of date orthodoxy - and has the data to back it up.

The Latino Century will be released on June 18. Sacramento listeners are invited to Join Madrid Tuesday, June 18 at Mayahuel, 1200 K Street, for a discussion with Chris Cadelago of POLITICO from Noon to 2PM, or at reception from 5 to 7PM at the same address.

.50 The Latino Century

2:46 Challenging the notion of race in both parties

4:42 How is the GOP getting it wrong

8:12 The Monoculture

10:35 Are Dems really in lockstep?

13:01 How do we get past the ultra polarization?

17:36 Brian Dahle's gubernatorial performance

19:15 Crime, housing, education and healthcare

23:06 Who are some politicians getting it right?

24:54 Looking nationally

27:03 "The Republican Party in California is 80% white"

31:25 What is the takeaway from the book?

35:03 Mike Madrid: artist

39:45 WWCA: Water is for fighting

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s conference COVERING CALIFORNIA: The Future of Journalism in the Golden State, which was held in Sacramento on Thursday, May 30, 2024. This is the Keynote address from Senator Steve Glazer.

Introduction by Rich Ehisen, Capitol Weekly

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s conference COVERING CALIFORNIA: The Future of Journalism in the Golden State, which was held in Sacramento on Thursday, May 30, 2024. This is Panel 1: A Crisis in Local News.

Panelists: Danielle Bergstrom, Fresnoland; Larry Lee, The Sacramento Observer; Colleen McCain Nelson, Sacramento Bee; Christa Scharfenberg, California Local News Fellowship Program UC Berkeley

Moderated by Pamela Wu, University of California

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s conference COVERING CALIFORNIA: The Future of Journalism in the Golden State, which was held in Sacramento on Thursday, May 30, 2024. This is PANEL 2 – THE BUSINESS OF JOURNALISM, REDEFINING THE MODEL

Panelists: Senator Nancy Skinner; Chris Argentieri, Los Angeles Times; Neil Chase, Calmatters; Steve Stuck, Urban Edge Consulting. Moderated by Edie Lambert, KCRA 3

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s conference COVERING CALIFORNIA: The Future of Journalism in the Golden State, which was held in Sacramento on Thursday, May 30, 2024. This is PANEL 3 – COVERING THE CAPITOL

Panelists: Lara Korte, Politico; Greg Lucas, California State Librarian; Cynthia Moreno, Press Secretary for Speaker Robert Rivas; John Myers, CalPERS; Ashley Zavala, KCRA 3. Moderated by Laurel Rosenhall, Los Angeles Times.

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While California is often seen as being on the forefront of Progressive legislation and individual rights, the state's main anti-trust law, The Cartwright Act, dates back to the Roosevelt era - the TEDDY Roosevelt era, that is - 1907, to be exact. The Cartwright Act is often invoked in tandem with the federal anti-trust statute, The Sherman Act of 1890, but in fact, the federal law has stricter proscriptions against monopolies than the California legislation. That may be about to change.

In 2022, the legislature passed a resolution tasking the California Law Revision Commission (CLRC) with providing recommendations on how to update The Cartwright Act. The CLRC set up a series of working groups to prepare in depth reports on a set of seven specific issues - the working groups have published their reports, which are now being discussed at a series of public meetings. After these meetings, the CLRC will prepare a final report with recommendations for the legislature, teeing up new legislation to update The Cartwright Act in 2025.

We're joined today by Teri Olle, Director of Economic Security California Action. She walks us through the specifics of what The Cartwright Act does, how it differs from the Sherman Act, and why updating it for the 21st Century matters.

EPISODE NOTES

2:16 The Cartwright Act vs. The Sherman Act

4:25 The Commission process and potential impacts

5:33 "Neoliberalism"

6:49 The impact of monopolization on healthcare in California

7:58 Concentration of food and gas markets

9:17 What specifically be changed here?

12:46 The first time in a generation to look at what our economy looks like RIGHT NOW

16:46 How to get people to engage? (#taylorswift)

22:02 How is monopolization handled in other jurisdictions?

23:59 How to have a say

26:09 "The economy is not the weather: we shape it"

26:43 WWCA - Third time is not the charm

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Crime has been a big issue in California in recent years, and we have seen a significant number of high profile bills dealing with issues like fentanyl, human trafficking and organized retail theft in recent years. While legislation out of Sacramento may help with some Public Safetly issues, recruitment and retention problems plague many Law enforcement agencies in the state. And, no wonder - despite competitive salaries and benefits, many officers still can't afford to live in the communities they serve.

We’re joined today by Brian Marvel, President of the Police Officers Research Association of California, which represents about 80,000 public safety personnel in this state – PORAC is the largest law enforcement organization in the state and the largest statewide association in the country. Marvel has been wearing a badge for a quarter century and spoke with us about what's changed during his time in uniform, PORAC's goals for diversifying departments and what legislation he and his organization are watching this year.

Plus, as always, Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics

SHOW NOTES:

1:36 What is PORAC?

3:57 Advocacy role?

5:19 District Attorneys' push to revamp Prop. 47

6:55 Statewide standards for use of canines in law enforcement

12:49 Retention and recruitment

16:03 A middle class job

18:11 Officers priced out of the communities they serve

20:17 Thinking outside the box: "30 in 30"

21:46 Mental health support

26:45 What has changed over the years?

29:16 West Coast policing vs. East Coast

34:36 #WWCA

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Robb Korinke is a Long Beach, California-based political consultant, specializing in candidate and ballot measure campaigns. He is also the co-founder (with Mike Madrid) of GrassrootsLab, and co-publisher of several local politics-focused publications, including CaliforniaCityNews.org, CaliforniaCountyNews.org. He has also recently joined the California Target Book as a co-editor. With those bonafides he's one of our first calls whenever we want to talk local politics.

And, with the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act on the November 2024 ballot - or not - it was time to call Robb. The measure, backed by the California Business Roundtable, would dramatically change California governments' ability to levy taxes and assign fees, and - of paramount importance for locals - would raise the margin for local tax measures from a simple majority to two thirds. But, will it stay on the ballot?

The Newsom administration, the Legislature and others have challenged the legality of the measure, arguing that the sweeping changes it outlines would amount to a revision of the constitution, not a simple amendment. The California Supreme Court heard arguments in the case last week, and now local officials are left to wait and see if the measure that they are calling "an existential threat" will be removed from the ballot or face voters in November. We discuss that and much more.

:53 Legal battle of Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act

4:41 A difficult time for local governments

6:02 Is there a middle ground solution?

7:50 Spending/Costs

10:17 You can't go home again: The failure of the Capitol to local pipeline

12:02 Ascendance of Progressives in local politics

14:59 KDL vs. Ysabel Jurado

15:46 California City News and California County News

20:46 Everybody loves to talk about Huntington Beach

23:04 Expanding the LA City Council?

24:53 the Target Book

26:49 Lung Association

29:19 Worst Week in CA Politics - Trouble in Hesperia

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Nationwide, over half of all high school students are required to take a course on personal finance to graduate. In California, it's just 1%.

A ballot initiative proposed for the November ballot would change that. The California Personal Finance Education Initiative is a statewide ballot measure that would require "essential personal finance education" for every California high school student. Backers submitted 900,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot in March, and the measure appears poised to be certified by the Secretary of State.

The initiative has strong bipartisan support from the public - a 2022 poll from the Public Polling Institute of California found that 85% of Californians believed that a course in basic finance should be required - and has the endorsement of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. We are joined by Tim Ranzetta, teacher, entrepreneur and one of the leading proponents of the initiative. We asked him why this measure is necessary, and, how it stacks up against Asm. Kevin McCarty's similar bills, AB 984 and AB 2927.

Plus: Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics?

1:11 why is this initiative needed?

3:07 What are the requirements?

5:06 How will the state pay for this?

7:18 Potential impact on the student loan crisis?

10:14 Other states are way ahead of CA - why haven't we done this?

11:50 AB 984 and AB 2927

13:18 What motivated you to take this on?

14:31 How receptive are students?

19:01 How to teach kids from vastly different economic backgrounds

21:32 #WWCA

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Last month, as California prepared to roll out a new $20 minimum wage for fast food workers, attention on an exemption for restaurants that bake their own bread surprised many, including both the bill's author, Asm. Chris Holden, and Gov. Newsom. "Paneragate" (named for the restaurant chain that some claimed would benefit from the exemption - note that both the governor and the franchisee dispute that the exemption applies) spotlighted a little-known tool in the legislative toolbox: the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in crafting public policy.

While NDAs are commonplace in the business world, their use in policy work was a surprise to many, even some elected officials. In March, Republican Assemblyman Vince Fong introduced AB 2654, which would ban lawmakers from entering into confidentiality agreements related to proposed legislation. The bill failed to advance out of the Assembly Elections Committee last week.

But is the use of NDAs as sinister as critics make out? Our guest today, former Speaker Robert Hertzberg argues that confidentiality agreements are a key part of building trust in sensitive legislative negotiations between diametrically opposed parties - and are sometimes the only way to get warring sides to the table.

:36 The use of NDAs in lawmaking

2:17 How common is the use of NDAs in policymaking?

3:07 "What an NDA does is builds trust - so that people can talk to each other"

5:49 Who is covered by this type of NDA?

7:29 Does the use of NDAs - effective or not - just look bad?

9:53 The art of blowing up the deal

12:27 "It's getting harder and harder and harder to solve big problems"

12:43 Chilling effect

14:34 When are NDAs not appropriate?

15:14 Impact of parties NOT in the NDA

16:43 Is anything gonna change?

17:49 "It's used in Washngton a lot more than it is here"

21:20 #WWCA

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Longtime poverty fighter Jess Bartholow surprised many when she left her longtime gig with the Western Center on Law and Poverty in 2020 to become East Bay Senator Nancy Skinner's Chief of Staff. The move made sense: Skinner has long been an outspoken advocate for California's poor, and was a personal inspiration for Bartholow. But with the senator terming out at the end of this year, Bartholow recently opted for a new post: Director of Govt. Relations for SEIU California, one of the most powerful labor unions in the state and across the country. Bartholow joined us to talk about her journey from a childhood in poverty to the capitol, and gave us a preview of how she plans to tackle her new role.

Plus: Who had the Worst Week in CA Politics.

:23 Introducing Jess Bartholow

1:35 The new gig

3:19 Origin story

4:36 Welfare reform started in California

7:36 "The best way to end poverty is with a good job..."

8:13 Going into the building

9:56 Getting people to understand poverty

13:16 Barbara Lee on food stamps

14:47 Meet them where they are: Don Wagner edition

16:38 What would gender parity mean in the legislature?

19:58 The Women's Caucus is the largest caucus in #caleg

20:58 What are some of SEIU California's priorities?

25:29 Minimum wage laws

28:56 San Francisco is drug testing welfare recipients

32:23 What's it like to work with Tia Orr?

35:26 #WWCA

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We're joined today by longtime journalist, and co-founder of CalMatters, David Lesher. Last year David stepped down as editor-in-chief to direct a new project at CalMatters: Digital Democracy. Using the latest technology, including AI, Digital Democracy will gather a tremendous amount of data from California's state government: "every word uttered in public hearings, every dollar given to a politician, every bill introduced, every vote taken and more."

After more than a year of development, Digital Democracy launched this month. David tells us how the system works, how it can be used by journalists, and ultimately by anyone interested in public policy, and how he hopes it will change the legislative process.

Plus, Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:14 What is Digital Democracy?

3:56 "Phenoms"

5:46 The three pieces

7:17 Where can people find it?

7:26 The AI component

10:25 The fingerprint analogy

11:40 The scale of the project and the infrastructure

13:38 How will it work for reporters?

17:33 The challenge of tracking donations

19:25 Reaction from lawmakers

20:51 The three goals for Digital Democracy

22:52 "The Nastyness Scale"

27:26 The State of the State speech

30:06 #WWCA

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Crime which was held in Sacramento on Thursday, March 21, 2024

This is PANEL 3 – THE LEGACY AND FUTURE OF PROP. 47

Panelists: Asm. Kevin McCarty; Lenore Anderson, Alliance for Safety and Justice; Marc Beaart, Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office; Sheriff Jim Cooper

Moderated by Emily Hoeven, San Francisco Chronicle

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Crime which was held in Sacramento on Thursday, March 21, 2024

This is PANEL 2 – THE FENTANYL CRISIS

Panelists: Sen. Dave Cortese; Sen. Kelly Seyarto; Gretchen Burns Bergman,Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing; Lt. Diane Goldstein (Ret.), Law Enforcement Action Partnership

Moderated by Ashley Zavala, KCRA 3

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Crime which was held in Sacramento on Thursday, March 21, 2024

This is PANEL 1 – RETAIL THEFT

Panelists: Asm. Rick Zbur; Eric Brown, Office of Governor Newsom; Cristine Soto DeBerry, Prosecutors Alliance; Rachel Michelin, California Retailers Association

Moderated by Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee

Full transcript here: https://capitolweekly.net/special-episode-a-conference-on-crime-panel-1-retail-theft/

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Crime which was held in Sacramento on Thursday, March 21, 2024

This is the KEYNOTE – SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT ATTORNEY BROOKE JENKINS

Introduction by Rich Ehisen, Capitol Weekly

Find a full transcript here: https://capitolweekly.net/special-episode-a-conference-on-crime-keynote-brooke-jenkins/

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Our guest today, Larissa May, has become one of the leading voices in California and across the country in the quest for young people to have a healthier relationship with social media and the digital world in general. May came to this work through her own traumatic experiences as a young person overwhelmed by social media. Mays is the founder of #halfthestory, which works with schools, state and federal governments, and Fortune 500 companies to create new standards for digital use and to educate young people on the dangers inherent to obsessing over social media.

She joined us today to share her story and to talk about a new bill – SB 1504, authored by Sen. Henry Stern – that would require social media platforms to change the way they deal with online bullying. Plus, as always,we tell you who had the worst week in California Politics.

Episode Notes

1:31 #halfthestory

4:09 Cyberbullying and SB 1504

7:45 The bully in our back pocket

9:09 A world of misinformation

10:49 Background on the bill

12:10 How does #halfthestory teach Digital Wellness?

16:46 "How do you build speed bumps into the digital world?"

19:16 Doomscrolling

22:15 KOSA and other legisation

24:59 #WWCA: Golden Shower of Hits

California has set ambitious climate goals, including phasing out the use of fossil fuels and becoming carbon neutral by 2045. Our guest today is here to talk about the role nature can play in meeting those goals.

Laurie Wayburn is the co-founder and president of the Pacific Forest Trust and the chair of the California Natural and Working Lands Expert Advisory Committee. She was also the lead author of a recent report suggesting the state should invest “as much in nature-based climate solutions as it has in clean energy and transportation.” With proper forest management, California could capture 400 million tons of carbon each year, lower wildfire risk and vastly improve flood protection in the state. But, the $10 Billion price tag may be a hard sell in a down budget, even in climate-conscious California.

Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics?

Episode Notes

1:13 AB 1757

2:39 Offsets

4:22 How to keep 400 million tons of carbon out of the atmosphere each year

6:05 "The older a tree is, the more carbon it stores"

6:31 "Working Forest"

8:03 Reducing wildfire risk

11:37 Federal lands vs. State lands

14:15 Easements, private ownership and beavers

19:06 Funding/costs

23:08 Origin story: how did you come to this work?

26:49 "That tree-hugging tree-cutting organization"

30:38 #WWCA Sore loser

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Our guest today is Assembly Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon. Rendon joined us for a fascinating conversation that looked back over his seven year tenure as Speaker, through some of the most turbulent times in the state's history, and forward, as he outlined his goals for the remainder of his time in office. In an in-depth and roaming conversation that ranged from the Water Bond to Waiting for Godot, Rendon spoke plainly about the joys and challenges of creating meaningful policy, in contrast to what he called "Fashion Show Politics" - i.e. SB 562, the unfunded Single Payer bill he derailed in 2017.\

Plus, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes

:55 Expanding a homeless services pilot program, AB 1948

5:40 The deficit

7:20 "Our rainy day fund is larger than the budget of 33 states"

7:35 Spending time on The Arts

15:55 Looking back on seven years as Speaker

19:21 "Nobody can say we don't do anything in California"

22:31 The death of SB 562

24:49 "Fashion Show Politics"

25:23 More cynical, or more optimistic about politics?

28:21 The Recall

30:30 #WWCA - How is a governor like a quarterback?

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Everyone's favorite California politics data guru Paul Mitchell joins us to talk about California's March 5 Primary. With the Presidential primaries all but wrapped, what was expected to be a high-stakes, high profile March election appears to generating yawns from CA voters. Based on the pace of returned ballots, experts are predicting a historically low turnout: What does that mean for the four main candidates vying to make it into the Top Two for California's open US Senate seat?

Next, we welcome Ron Hughes, Deputy Director of EDD’s newest organizational branch, the EDDNext Modernization and Innovation Branch. Ron brings a wealth of experience to bear as he heads up one of the largest IT projects in the state's history. The agency faced deep criticism over fraud and other failures during the COVID emergency; Ron spoke with us about how EDDNext will improve the user experience for the public and add needed security to the system.

Plus, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes:

1:01 What's up with this Primary?

2:30 "What's interesting about low turnout..."

3:34 Impact on the Senate race

6:54 Prop. 1

8:19 What else stands out?

9:24 The race to replace Kevin McCarthy

11:38 Ron Hughes: welcome

12:18 EDDNext

15:45 What is "Frictionless?"

16:33 California has not always had the best record with technology upgrades

18:53 How did this project land in your lap?

21:35 What is the public response?

24:38 You don't think about EDD until you need it

28:43 WWCA - Another social media fail

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Michael Weinstein is the president of the LA-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a sprawling international nonprofit with the stated mission of providing its 1.5 million global clients with “cutting-edge medicine and advocacy regardless of ability to pay.” Weinstein is also the driving force behind several statewide ballot measures, including two previously failed attempts to implement statewide rent control. Undeterred, he is back again this year with a new rent control measure on the November ballot. This time he could also face a challenge of his own – a competing measure aimed at limiting his ability to use AHF funds for these other political campaigns. He’s here today to talk about all of this with us.

1:40 What exactly would the Justice for Renters Act do if voters endorse it this time around?

4:10 The rent is too damn high

8:15 Prop 13 comparisons

10:30 L.A. rental unit conditions

16:20 Heavy handed evictions?

19:55 The 98 percent mandate

22:15 Paying for signatures

27:20 Legislative support?

30:40 What if this fails?

33:50 This feels personal

37:30 Worst Week – The Impeachment Blues

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Our guest today is one of the most accomplished figures in recent California political history. The first person in 150 years to lead both chambers of the Legislature, as well as being the first woman - and the first openly LGBTQ woman - to do so at all. If she succeeds in her latest political quest, she would become California's first woman Governor. Of course we are talking about Sen. pro Tem Emeritus Toni Atkins.

Sen. Atkins is termed out later this year and stepped down from the pro Tem position last week (just about the time we recorded this interview, actually) to allow for a smooth transition to the new Senate Leader, Sen. Mike McGuire. She joined us to talk about her time in the Legislature, her future, and what unique qualities she would bring to the Governor's office.

Show Notes:

1:40 Your legacy

3:41 Priorities this year

7:15 A woman Governor

9:55 "Everybody has a story"

11:21 "The first and foremost thing I will always remember is growing up poor"

12:43 Fundraising: How to overcome the huge fundraising advantage some candidates (even unannounced - AG Rob Bonta, for example) may have?

17:08 "You have to introduce yourself to 27 million voters in California"

18:05 What happens if you don't win?

19:47 WWCA: Nothing trumps jail time

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Our guest today is Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, a longtime advocate for increased availability of mental healthcare. While a member of the state Assembly Steinberg authored Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act, which has generated millions for mental healthcare in California. Steinberg was elected to the Senate in 2006 and became Pro Tem in 2008. In 2015 he launched The Steinberg Institute, which has helped enact sweeping improvements in California mental health policy, including securing $2 billion to provide housing and care for homeless people living with mental illness (No Place Like Home). He joined us today to discuss efforts to address California's twin crises: homelessness and mental health.

1:56 SB 43 Implementation

6:12 Access to mental healthcare

8:24 Prop. 1

10:34 The sense of frustration

12:23 "in Sacramento, it's starting to get better"

14:45 The disconnect

18:54 Any proposals to sort the mess?

20:34 workforce shortage

22:54 From Atkins to McGuire

27:05 The transition process

30:09 What's next for Darrell Steinberg?

31:50 SPORTS!

36:40 Recognizing the need for mental health care

38:30 #WWCA

38:47 Family Man

42:43 Not eligible for rehire

44:47 "I'm OUT"

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January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Over the course of several Capitol Weekly stories this month, reporter Brian Joseph explores the nuances of this horrific crime, its cultural influences and possible reform options. He joined us today to talk about "The Life", the intersection of Pimp culture and Pop culture, Sen. Shannon Grove's SB 14, one of last year’s most controversial bills, and more. Plus, hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster take a look at a busy "Worst Week."

:31 Human Trafficking Awareness Month

1:37 Background

2:16 SB 14

5:03 Third Party control

6:00 What happens where sex work is legal?

7:37 "The invisible chains"

12:14 The connection to Hip Hop and Pop Culture

16:28 The dangers of talking about "The Life"

17:27 Andrew Tate, Don Perata and The Sopranos

20:50 Challenges of legislation

24:27 Casual acceptance

26:28 Switching gears: Lobbying expenditures

30:05 #WWCA

30:35 Senate debate

33:45 Tribal gaming initiatives

35:27 Psychedelic mushroom initiative

36:19 Temecula School Board president Joseph Komrosky

37:07 PG&E

38:17 Chicory fans

40:26 Jose Huizar

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We are joined today by communications expert Nathan Click of Click Strategies. Click serves as a political advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom and led communications efforts in the Governor's successful campaign against the Recall; he is also active in ballot campaigns. He has previously served as the governor's Communications Director, worked on Sen. Hirono's staff in DC and on then-Attorney General Kamala Harris' campaign for US Senate.

With last week's announcement that journalist Bob Salladay would be replacing Anthony York as Gov. Newsom's Communications Director, we thought it was a great time to ask Click about what the job is like- and about the difference between the Comms Director and Press Secretary. Click is working for US Rep. Katie Porter in her run for US Senate, and shared his thoughts on that race, the effect of the early primary, and weighed in on Initiatives that are likely to be on November's ballot, including a repeal of Prop. 8.

Plus, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

:23 York out, Salladay in

1:11 Welcome Nathan Click

3:54 How involved is the governor on messaging?

5:11 origin story

6:31 The Senate Primary race

7:54 Prediction: Katie Porter is in Top 2

9:51 Ballot Initiatives

10:46 The Repeal of Prop 8

13:20 Rent control / Online betting

17:58 "The Rent is Too Damn High"

22:45 The impact of the March Primary

24:00 Dysfunction in the House

26:07 New Hampshire?

30:20 Press Secretary vs. Comms Director

31:38 #WWCA: Local politics aren't so local any more

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Veteran California political data expert Paul Mitchell joins us to talk about his recent CA120 column examining shifting behavior by California's Latino and Asian voters. Turns out that Asian voters are becoming more Democratic while Latinos move slightly toward the GOP. We also look at California's confusing Presidential Primary ballot, and the recent Berkeley IGS Poll that found Rep. Barbara Lee in fourth place - behind Republican Steve Garvey - in the race to fill Sen. Feinstein's seat. Plus, Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics?

:58 Shift in voting behavior for Asians and Latinos

3:15 Vietnamese voting patterns

4:12 Mike Madrid mention

5:49 So, why the changes?

6:52 Capitol Weekly polling on Primary?

8:18 How do changes in voting demographics affect Independents

9:51 The confusing CA Presidential Primary

11:39 250K former GOP voters won't see Pres. Donald Trump on their Primary ballot

12:23 Implications for Senate race

14:54 Impact of mail in voting

17:21 A failure of Civics education?

20:08 The Berkeley IGS Poll: Senate Primary

23:13 Will Steve Garvey be the top voter getter in the March primary?

29:29 The races to replace Lee, Porter and Schiff

31:45 WWCA: A Bay Area two-fer

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As California stares down the largest budget deficit in a decade, lawmakers - most of whom have never governed during a down time - will be facing hard choices. Labor lobbyist Kristina Bas Hamilton remembers the rough days of the Great Recession, and sat down with us to talk about what this go round might be like, and how it will differ from the past. She also talks with us about her podcast, and her new book, Changemaker: An Insider's Guide to Getting Sh*t Done at the California Capitol, a How-To guide for working with lawmakers.

Plus, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:35 A new book

2:19 Expectations for the session

5:08 The Big Five become the Big Three

6:39 Legislating in a deficit

7:20 Obligatory Alex Vassar mention

11:46 Changemaker: a How-To guide for people in the capitol

15:34 "This is the people's house, and you're the people"

17:31 "Conspiracy theories flourish when you don't know what the hell is happening"

20:43 The podcast: "The Blueprint for California Advocates"

24:08 Deficit: what's different this time around?

26:30 "Talk to me after January 10"

28:28 Mentors

30:20 Book signing: Capital Books, January 23 4:30-6:30 & Manny's in SF, February 22

32:29 #WWCA: Pamela Price

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For our final episode of 2023 we've got a big show with three special segments:

First up, hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster talk withSammy Perez of Prison Fellowship to learn about the Angel Tree Program, which gives incarcerated parents a way to provide a Christmas gift and a personal message for their children. Perez, who spent nearly a decade in prison, shares the importance of family connections for prisoners and their families on the outside - and how others can help support the program.

Next up, we are joined by longtime Capitol Weekly editor John Howard. Rich Ehisen took over the editor's chair from John in January, and we talk about his first year helming the publication, and what it was like to take on production of The Top 100. John, meanwhile, has taken over our Oral History program, and talks about the contrast between churning out daily news and taking the long view.

Finally, we buckle in for a countdown of the Top 10 candidates for Who Had the Worst Year in California Politics. This is our final show of the year - we'll be back with plenty to talk about in 2024!

SAMMY PEREZ

1:26 The Angel Tree program

3:44 Sammy's story

7:04 The impact of the program

8:27 How to support Angel Tree

14:13 JOHN HOWARD

15:17 The Oral History Project

17:40 49 years of daily reporting

20:16 The Rich Ehisen era

23:06 Learning the Top 100

25:52 "Lobbyists are the engine of what makes Sacramento work"

27:58 Staffers

34:01 Rising Stars

37:31 Folks outside of Sacramento?

41:32 Biggest surprise?

48:15 #WWCA - Sean Loloee

49:05 Worst YEAR in CA Politics

49:44 No. 10 - Barbara Lee

51:34 No. 9 - John Eastman

53:07 No. 8 - Omar Navarro

55:56 No. 7 - Curren Price

56:54 No. 6 - Pamela Price

58:40 No. 5 - Reggie Jones-Sawyer

1:02:11 No. 4 - Kevin McCarthy

1:06:47 No. 3 - Harry Sidhu

1:08:16 No. 2 - Nathan Fletcher

1:11:39 No. 1 - Mark Ridley-Thomas

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KQED's Marisa Lagos joins us for a look back at the biggest stories of the past year. Lagos is a correspondent for KQED’s California Politics and Government Desk and co-hosts a weekly show and podcast, Political Breakdown. We discuss Governor Newsom's year, hot labor Summer, the success of the YIMBY movement, the death of Dianne Feinstein and arrival of Laphonza Butlerr, and much, much more. Plus, we offer up our pick for who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:06 Biggest stories: The Governor

1:51 Labor

2:36 Staff unionization

4:22 Tia Orr and SEIU

5:35 Reggie Jones-Sawyer

6:46 New Speaker: Robert Rivas

8:25 Generational shift

9:17 Surprises?

10:03 Pendulum swing on Housing

13:55 All politics Aren't local

15:07 "None of us saw Laphonza Butler coming"

18:14 Where is Barbara Lee

19:40 Anna Eshoo

21:34 Tough state to campaign in

22:07 Kevin McCarthy

23:23 Mental Health Reform

25:05 Shoutout to Dana Williamson

30:26 Big issues for 2024?

31:56 Ballot initiatives

37:18 #WWCA

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A new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California finds that many Californians no longer believe the American Dream holds true, or believe that the dream is harder to achieve in California than in other states. We're joined by Dean Bonner, associate survey director and research fellow at PPIC, to talk about the results of the survey, how they compare to earlier iterations, and about the survey process itself. And, as always, we tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes:

1:59 How DO Californians feel about the American Dream?

3:42 A rare alignment across political affiliation

6:56 How does California's attitude compare to the rest of the country?

8:11 Support for government programs

10:18 Polarization?

12:17 Lower income bracket actually has more optimism

14:03 Moving out of state

17:36 What's the biggest takeaway?

18:40 Housing has been a Top Five issue for years now

21:28 How the poll was conducted

26:59 #WWCA

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Just a few years ago, people following California public policy news were the beneficiaries of what was in retrospect an online media renaissance: Joining traditional legacy media, new sites like CalMatters and Politico California offered greatly expanded capitol coverage, and a whole series of newsletters and other aggregators devoted to California government and politics made tracking news easier.

All off the above were amplified by Twitter, which emerged as an essential tool of newsgathering. The platform offered a unique and very robust minute-by-minute conversation, often driven by elected officials and other newsmakers. No one benefitted from this lively Twittersphere more than political reporters who used the platform for sourcing, following breaking news and for sharing their stories as soon as they were published.

However, in the year or so since billionaire Elon Musk took over Twitter (now X), the platform has changed, algorithmically and functionally, but also because many once-active users have either abandoned the platform or greatly reduced their engagement. As a tool for reporters, X is a shadow of what Twitter once was.

The fade of X has encouraged a rise of competitors, including Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon, but so far none has proved the perfect fit for journalism that Twitter seemed to be. Where do California political junkies get their news now? Is the diminishment of X driving traffic back to curated news aggregators like Rough and Tumble and the multitude of California politics newsletters? We asked Lara Korte of Politico to talk about the decline of the platform, how it came to be such an essential part of newsgathering and how and where to stay up-to-date on political news in the wake of X's dysfunction. Plus: Who had the Worst Week In CA Politics?

SHOW NOTES

1:36 How useful is Twitter (X) now?

4:07 Game changer: John Myers and the CA Budget all-nighter

5:09 Other options?

5:48 January 6

7:10 Hashtag

8:35 Blue checks

9:19 Cheering the demise of Twitter

9:42 Rough and Tumble

11:29 Removing the headlines

13:01 Aggregation and curation

14:40 Rule of Three

15:45 The Roundup and Politico California Playbook

17:46 Following trends

20:00 The value of non news sources

21:31 Tweet of the Day

22:13 A plethora of newsletters

24:33 Calpeek?

25:13 Capitol Morning Report

26:27 What happens to Twitter?

28:58 MySpace

34:09 Please tweet something funny

36:10 RSS feed

37:14 #WWCA

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Education Policy which was held in Sacramento on Tuesday, November 7, 2023

This is the KEYNOTE – CALIFORNIA SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TONY THURMOND

Introduction by Rich Ehisen, Capitol Weekly

Find a full transcript here: https://capitolweekly.net/education-policy-tony-thurmond-superintendent-of-public-instruction/

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Thanks to our Conference on Education Policy sponsors: THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Education Policy which was held in Sacramento on Tuesday, November 7, 2023

This is Panel 3 – LOOK AHEAD: BALLOT MEASURES AND LEGISLATION

PANELISTS: Michael Borges, California Teachers Association; Christina Laster, Bold Enterprises LLC; Scott Richards, Teach For America

Moderated by Rich Ehisen, Capitol Weekly

Find a full transcript here: https://capitolweekly.net/education-policy-look-ahead-ballot-measures-and-legislation/

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Education Policy which was held in Sacramento on Tuesday, November 7, 2023

This is Panel 2 – THE ROLE OF SCHOOL BOARDS

PANELISTS:Amy Christianson, California School Boards Association; Marshall Tuck, EdVoice; Richard Zeiger, Zeiger Strategies

Moderated by Dan Morain for Capitol Weekly

Find a full transcript at: https://capitolweekly.net/education-policy-the-role-of-school-boards/

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Education Policy which was held in Sacramento on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. This is Panel 1 – TEACHER SHORTAGE AND OTHER CHALLENGES.

PANELISTS: Heather J. Hough, Policy Analysis for California Education, Stanford University; Katie Hardeman, California Teachers Association; David Schapira, California School Employees Association; Melissa White, WestEd

Moderated by Brian Joseph for Capitol Weekly

Find a full transcript at: https://capitolweekly.net/special-episode-education-policy-teacher-shortage-and-other-challenges/

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Loretta Lynch is fired up.

The former President of the California Public Utilities Commission is sounding the alarm on a proposed change to California's commercial electricity providers' rate structure that, she says, will dramatically increase rates for electricity customers. AB 205 easily passed the legislature and was signed by the Governor as a Budget Trailer Bill back in the summer of 2022. It received little attention at the time, although some observers did flag it as a stretch of the Trailer Bill application.

AB 205 directs the utilities to set a tiered rate structure based on the customer's income, rather than a straight rate for electricity used. Proponents of the change say that the tiered structure will protect lower-income customers as electricity rates increase - they have already doubled in the past decade - and that the higher-income users will offset the lower rates paid by lower tier customers. Lynch argues that California's private electric companies are already charging higher rates than companies in other states and that there are no protections for lower income consumers actually in the bill. Now, Lynch and other critics of AB 205 including members of the legislature, are urging the CPUC to intervene before it's too late.

:50 A big spike in electricity rates?

2:39 AB205

4:46 The rate tiers

6:11 Urban vs. rural?

8:27 privacy concerns

12:14 Where is this push coming from?

13:51 Do the raised rates have to fund a specific project?

16:04 "The PUC is no longer a watch dog - it's a lap dog"

16:47 A cash grab?

19:08 Lawmaker pushback

21:37 What can the PUC do?

25:02 Convert PG&E to a publicly-owned utility?

28:54 What role does the Governor have?

32:10 Shameless plug for the Education Conference

33:43 #WWCA

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Former legislator Phil Isenberg died last week after a brief illness. Isenberg wore many hats in his life: Mayor of Sacramento, Assemblymember, Vice Chair of the Delta Stewardship Council, and husband to Marilyn Araki Isenberg. But for all that, perhaps his biggest legacy will be as a supporter of - and enthusiast for - the arts. Dan Morain covered Isenberg for decades and penned an obit for Capitol Weekly - he joined us to look at Isenberg's career and his impact on California.

Plus, we discuss the governor's trip to China, the Democrats' divide over Israel/Palestine, and why an Alaskan Airlines pilot on a bum magic carpet ride might torpedo a Scott Wiener bill. And, our first-ever Bleep!

1:19 Thoughts on Phil Isenberg

3:29 Mayor Isenberg

4:43 His staff

5:22 Public art legacy

6:49 "Isenberg made a point of knowing more about a bill than the authors"

8:07 Term limited

9:33 Civility and compromise

12:00 Sand Hill Crane Preserve

15:49 Phil and Marilyn's support of the arts

18:02 C*** Drive

19:27 Newsom in China

23:24 The Democrats' Divide: Israel/Palestine

29:08 WWCA

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We are joined today by Jenn Bowles of the Water Education Foundation, or WEF. WEF was founded in 1977, in the midst of a deep drought, to facilitate a better understanding of water resource issues in California and the West, and to give context to the challenges facing California's most precious natural resource. Now, nearly five decades later, we are just emerging from the latest drought period thanks to 2023's historic rain season.

The Water Education Foundation's Annual Water Summit will be held this week in Sacramento. Jenn gives us a preview of the topics they'll be looking at and an update on the status of California's water supply. Plus: groundwater management, the Delta Tunnel project, and of course, Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

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We're joined today by Democratic Senator Steve Glazer, who represents SD7 in the Bay Area. While Glazer was first elected to the senate in a 2015 Special Election, he has been engaged in politics for four decades, including stints working for Gray Davis, Chief Justice Rose Bird, and two stints - thirty years apart - for Governor Jerry Brown.

Glazer is the only California senator to host own podcast, Table Talk with Senator Steve Glazer. He recently broke news on the podcast, announcing that he will not seek reelection when his term ends. We asked him why, and what he plans to do after leaving office.

We also asked him about the unfolding situation in Israel. Glazer has made many trips to the region, most recently in 2021, where he and a group of lawmakers visited Kibbutz Kfar Aza, the site of a horrendous massacre during the October 7 Hamas attack that left more than 1400 people dead.

SHOW NOTES:

1:11 Why are you not running for reelection?

3:24 Table Talk with Senator Steve Glazer

7:20 Where to now?

9:33 The toxic culture of politics

13:45 Israel

15:15 Kibbutz Kfar Aza

16:52 A California connection?

19:36 Context

21:15 What can be done now?

25:16 The impact on America

28:14 Reflections on media

32:38 Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics?

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Women’s Health which was held on Thursday, September 28, 2023

This is Panel 3 – Women in the Health Care Workforce

California faces a significant shortfall of healthcare staffing: nursing vacancy rates among local hospitals are over 30%. And the need for home healthcare workers is predicted to explode as the state’s population ages. Women dominate both those professions, but make up just 38% of doctors in California. How can we better prepare women for professions in healthcare?

PANELISTS: Melissa D. Bauman, Ph.D., UC Davis Health Women in Medicine and Health Sciences; Beth Malinowski, SEIU California; Sunita Mutha, M.D., Healthforce Center at UCSF; Tanya W. Spirtos, M.D., California Medical Association

Moderated by Angela Hart, KFF Health News

A full transcript of this discussion may be found at: https://capitolweekly.net/womens-health-women-in-the-health-care-workforce/

This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Women’s Health which was held on Thursday, September 28, 2023

This is The Keynote– SEN. BARBARA BOXER in conversation with JODI HICKS of Planned Parenthood

Introduced by Rich Ehisen of Capitol Weekly

38:06 Worst Week in California Politics

A full transcript of this discussion may be found at: https://capitolweekly.net/womens-health-sen-barbara-boxer-in-conversation-with-jodi-hicks-of-planned-parenthood/

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Women’s Health which was held on Thursday, September 28, 2023

This is Panel 2 – HEALTH EQUITY

Women of color, rural women and women in poverty have less access to healthcare – and worse outcomes. What – if anything – is being done to lessen these disparities and make the state’s healthcare system more accessible?

PANELISTS: Sonya Young Aadam, California Black Women’s Health Project; Stephanie Brown, M.D., MPH, Sutter Health; Andrea Rivera, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN); Martha Santana-Chin, Health Net

Moderated by Ana Ibarra of CalMatters

A full transcript of this discussion may be found at: https://capitolweekly.net/womens-health-health-equity/

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This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s Conference on Women’s Health which was held on Thursday, September 28, 2023

This is Panel 1 – REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

The reversal of Roe vs. Wade has created turmoil and uncertainty in reproductive care. In 2022, voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1, adding the right to choose into the California Constitution – but those protections only exist within the parameters of federal law.

PANELISTS: Sen. Nancy Skinner; Liz Lawler, California Republican Party delegate; Amy Moy, Essential Access; Julia Spiegel, Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary, Governor’s Office

Moderated by Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times

A full transcript of this discussion may be found at: https://capitolweekly.net/womens-health-reproductive-health/

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It wasn't long ago that the idea of chefs moonlighting as political advocates - and finding a willing audience of elected officials - might have seemed ludicrous. Now, celebrity chefs and a fascination with food culture has changed all that. Many chefs are dedicated activists for causes like hunger relief efforts, supporting local farmers, fighting food waste, confronting racism and sexism in the industry, and more. And, politicians listen.

Katherine Miller has a background in organizing activists throughout the world: she trained thousands of community activists how to work toward change in business practices, social systems, and public policy. Training programs she developed and led are in use around the world including China, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Mali, and Nigeria. When she was first approached about helping chefs find their political voice she scoffed, but seeing them in action made her a believer. Inspired by activist chefs like Sacramento's own Patrick Mulvaney, she developed a series of impact-focused programs for the James Beard Foundation, served as the founding executive director for the Chef Action Network, and developed the Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change.

Miller spoke with us about her new book, At the Table, the chef's guide to advocacy, and about the intersection of policy, politics and food culture. She will be in Sacramento on Tuesday, October 3rd for a very special dinner and discussion centered around the book and her work. The evening will include a family style dinner provided by Mulvaney's B&L and an in depth discussion about the creation of the book, what advocacy looks like in Sacramento, and of course the recipes that highlight what it means to be a chef and advocate. Featuring chefs Brad Cecchi, Nina Curtis, Santana Diaz, Marie Mertz, Patrick Mulvaney, Nena Rasul and Patricio Wise. Reservations HERE.

Show Notes

3:10 Sacramento: Food city

5:27 'The idea was ludicrous...'

7:51 Chefs have a constituency every politician craves to meet

10:25 Chefs can get the meetings that lobbyists don't

11:43 Learning to navigate public policy

15:54 Patrick Mulvaney's mental health advocacy work

20:02 What are the goals?

24:56 Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

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The California Republican Party Convention kicks off Friday in Anaheim with a luncheon featuring former president and current GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump. While Trump is likely to get the lion's share of the attention, other prominent GOP candidates including Sen. Tim Scott, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy will also be on hand throughout the weekend.

California boasts over 5 million registered Republicans - more than any state other than Florida - but that is half the number of registered Democrats. No Republican has held statewide office in over a decade, and Democrats hold supermajorities in both houses. The state hasn't supported a Republican for president since 1988. The convention comes at a time of deep stress within the state party, and the Dobbs decision and the events of January 6, 2021 have only exacerbated that stress.

So, what to expect this weekend? We asked Mike Madrid, a longtime Republican strategist, former political director for the California Republican Party and acknowledged expert on Latino politics. After a lifetime as a GOP stalwart, he denounced the party’s embrace of Trumpism in 2016, and later cofounded The Lincoln Project. His efforts got him disavowed by the California party that he had helped build.

Madrid joined us to talk about the state of the state Republican Party and about where the Republican Party is nationally, and helped us figure out who had the Worst Week in CA Politics.

Show Notes:

1:16 The state of the CA GOP

3:09 The party platform

5:39 "The pro-choice wing [of the GOP] has lost"

6:25 What to make of "secret" anti-Trump Republicans

9:43 Putting Mike Madrid in context

12:00 The Republican Voter's mindset

14:20 The CAGOP: 80% white in a state that is 35% white

15:42 But, Larry Elder

19:12 Does the CAGOP change?

23:48 "The Republican Party is a societal problem"

25:00 Where is the Latino vote?

31:18 What happens if Republicans get a prolonged drubbing at the polls?

36:25 What will we see at the CAGOP Convention?

40:45: WWCA

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Viviana Becerra was one of the new names this year on Capitol Weekly's annual Top 100 List. As Chief of Staff to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, she oversees the Office of Communications, Office of Native American Affairs, Office of External Affairs, Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement Team, and the Office of Legislative Affairs. While Becerra may be new to the list, she is already a capitol veteran, despite the fact that she has yet to hit 40.

She sat down with hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster to talk about her journey to the AG's office and what it's like to to work for a high energy pol like Attorney General Bonta.

And, as always, we tell you who had The Worst Week in CA Politics.

SHOW NOTES:

1:42 Who is Viviana Becerra?

5:42 Capitol Fellows

7:23 "...and I see a lobbyist..."

9:28 Life of a 23 year old lobbyist

12:42 Back into the building

15:45 The move to Chief of Staff

18:50 Now: COS to the Attorney General

24:00 What is the biggest challenge?

27:10 Behind the scenes with AG Rob Bonta

29:47 WWCA

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This episode we welcome friend of the podcast Chris Micheli to talk about his two new books about the legislative process: Handbook on California's Legislative Process and Handbook on Legislative Drafting in California.

Micheli will be a familiar name to Capitol Weekly readers; his Micheli Files column, in which he explains - in plain language - nuances of the California legislative process, is a popular feature. The State of California does not make it easy to find much of this information, so Micheli has become a go-to informal adviser to legislative staff, lobbyists and journalists. He explains the purpose of the new books, gives real-world examples of the types of info contained, and talks about who 'gets' the process (and who doesn't).

Plus, Who had the worst week in California Politics?

Show Notes:

1:40 Two new books

4:07 New versions

6:23 This information is hard to come by

8:14 Assembly vs. Senate

9:53 Real world example: how Suspense works - and why

11:26 Plain language

15:30 Do lawmakers 'get' the process?

18:39 Masters of parliamentary procedure

19:50 Sue Parker, Erika Contreras and Bernadette McNulty

23:42 What to look for at end of session this year

28:29 Other lobbyists

31:07 "Do you remember Lenny Goldberg?"

35:08 An Oakland A's story

38:01 #WWCA

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Since it's Labor Day we're just doing a quick Worst Week - back to our regular episodes next week!

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Last week, 'Keep It A Secret,' a documentary that tells the story of the pioneers of surfing in Ireland, premiered on Irish television following a spate of film festival appearances. If the reviews are any indication, the film is headed for success: Ed Powers of The Irish Times raved, writing, "[The] broadcaster should urgently commission a drama based on the wonderful Keep It a Secret..." This is all heady news for first-time director Sean Duggan, who made the film in his spare time while working as the vice president of political advertising for Sirius XM.

At its heart, 'Keep it a Secret' is an inspiring story of a small group of enthusiasts who built something out of nothing, literally creating a surfing culture that had never existed in the island. While Californians have been surfing for almost a century, and Hawaiians for decades before that, Irish surfers really didn't start paddling out until about the time Van Morrison and friends were recording "Gloria." And, just as the sport began to catch on in the island, politics - both internal to the surfing community, and external, in the form of The Troubles - intruded.

Sean shared the story of how he came to make 'Keep it a Secret,' the challenges of independent filmmaking, and how skills from his career helped him complete the project.

Plus, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes:

1:25 "I had no idea there was an Irish surfing culture"

5:18 How to go from ad executive to filmmaker

6:36 Kevin Cavey

6:53 Political advertising on podcasts

8:01 MySpace

8:58 Things learned along the way

10:50 Shout out to Guided By voices

12:36 'Nothing goes the way you think it will"

14:29 Financing the film

17:18 See the film: https://www.pbs.org/video/keep-it-a-secret-bpeuui/

17:56 Origin story

20:09 The times

20:49 The Troubles

23:24 Brexit

24:54 The conflict: Localism

29:11 What next?

32:29 WWCA

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Each year, Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 names the most powerful movers and shakers in California politics. We don’t include elected officials. Instead, we look at those who devote their professional lives to fighting for – or against – issues of state politics and policy, including lobbyists, bureaucrats, activists, trade group leaders, Capitol staffers and even journalists.

Last week we published the 15th Edition of the Top 100, which was notable for two firsts: this is editor Rich Ehisen's first time at the helm of the Top 100; And, this is the first time women have made up a majority of the names on the list.

For this episode, Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster reversed their usual Podcast roles, with Tim interviewing Rich about this year's list, about the strategy for putting it together, the new names this year, and who is not on this time around. Plus, as always, they tell you who had the Worst Week in CA Politics.

Episode Notes:

:40 What IS the Top 100?

1:29 A different approach

3:23 The history

4:57 "The coffee cart in the basement"

5:48 The process

7:19 Nick Hardeman

9:23 The lobbying

11:54 "A foolish errand"

13:18 An objective approach to a subjective project

14:41 Some of the new names

15:22 Lindsey Copia

16:53 Rick Rivas

18:32 Viviana Becerra

20:22 Lia Lopez

21:41 Debra Gravert

22:26 Mark McKenzie/Mary Kennedy

23:31 The Top 100 Party

24:30 Sue Parker

25:45 A majority of women

26:49 The Barbie moment

28:36 Susannah Delano

30:12 Doug Herman

31:04 Bearstar Strategies

31:49 "The Aaron Read and Associates Dilemma"

32:47 Liz Snow

34:47 Yana Garcia

35:51 The Building Trades

39:09 The response to the list

41:41 The journalists

43:47 Ashley Zavala

45:32 George Skelton

45:39 Laurel Rosenhall

47:56 The illustrations: Chris Shary

51:15 #WWCA

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We are joined today by Robin Swanson, a political strategist and communications expert with more than 25 years of political experience in both DC and Sacramento. She is also the co-founder and president of #WinLikeaGirl, a bipartisan group that spotlights the often unrecognized achievements of women who work in politics.

Swanson shares the #WinLikeaGirl origin story, talks about the reluctance of some women to showcase their own achievements and how the group is helping to bring women to the center stage.

Plus: Who had the Worst Week in CA Politics?

2:15 About #WinLikeaGirl

3:43 Capitol Weekly's inadvertent role.

5:46 A bipartisan org

7:17 Women not taking credit

9:17 Origin story

12:34 The list

15:48 #WinLikeaGirl events

17:16 Operation Dresscode

18:08 Intersection with #MeToo

21:20 CA vs. DC

26:02 Gale Kaufman

27:14: The database

29:39 #WWCA

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis agreed this week to a debate - an odd turn of events given that DeSantis is a presidential candidate, and Newsom is not. If the two are not running for the same office, they are both attempting to win the hearts and minds of American voters. But, is this the way to do it?

We asked longtime Democratic strategist Garry South to weigh in on the pros and cons of the debate, and what's at stake. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

:52 "It seems a little silly"

4:26 The 500 Pound Gorilla

7:13 Punching down

9:03 Who runs DeSantis' campaign?

11:34 "This seems very personal"

17:00 Where is Jaime Harrison?

23:09 "He sounds like someone who oughta be working on your tractor"

28:18 Impacts beyond the campaign

37:37 #WWCA

41:07 A self-inflicted wound

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Today we welcome CalMatters' new editor in chief, Kristen Go, who joined the newsroom at the very end of May.

Go has big shoes to fill: founding editor Dave Lesher took the organization from fledgling start up to public media behemoth in eight short years; now CalMatters is seen by many as the 800 pound gorilla of California political news. (Does that make Capitol Weekly the chimp? Nevermind.)

Go certainly has the chops for the job - she has a long CV, ranging from USA Today to the San Francisco Chronicle to the UC Berkeley graduate school of journalism. Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster spoke with her about her vision for CalMatters, how the nonprofit news model stacks up against traditional media, and about AB 886, Asm. Buffy Wicks' proposal to force tech giants to fund reporting.

Plus, Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics?

:56 In the beginning

3:50 Accountability journalism

5:47 A growth trajectory

7:05 Geographic perspective

8:38 "California is a complex place... we're not a monolith"

11:02 Content sharing and media partners

15:40 NonProfit vs. for profit news

18:13 Buffy Wicks' bill - AB 886

20:25 Social media and the news: Twitter vs. Threads

22:11 Any changes afoot?

24:42 Where's Dave Lesher?

27:31 News read by Beyonce or Taylor Swift

29:31 #WWCA

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Sacramento political communications expert Roger Salazar has deep roots in Democratic politics: he was the press secretary for Governor Gray Davis and, deputy press secretary for Vice President Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign, and assistant press secretary in the Office of President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1999.

But Salazar has even deeper roots in the off-roading/Jeeper community: The earliest known photo of his father shows Salazar senior in front of the family's 1946 Willys Jeep. There has been a Jeep in the Salazar family continuously for nearly 75 years.

Those who follow Roger on Twitter, Instagram or Threads will be well aware of his off-road exploits: Adrenalin-inducing photos of he and his Wrangler Rubicon “Jeep No 7" in the wilderness are a regular feature of his social media - mixed in with posts about DiFi's health woes, the governor's gun policies, and the Association of American Political Consultants.

We asked him about his experiences, and how he navigates the trickiest terrain on the trail: the largely right-leaning politics of many of his pals in the Jeeper community.

Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics!

2:15 How did you get into Jeeping?

4:57 What does the off-roading community look like?

6:24 "Not a lot of Joe Biden bumper stickers out on the trail"

7:25 Jeep vs. Toyota

9:31 The "Tread Lightly" Philosophy

14:15 The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission

15:54 Oceano Dunes Recreation Area

19:11 Any electeds on the trail?

20:42 Sharing the trail

23:00 Breakdowns

26:04 Social Media

27:37 #WWCA

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Prior to his appointment as California State Librarian in 2014, Greg Lucas was a longtime journalist, covering California politics for The Los Angeles Daily Journal, the San Francisco Chronicle and even Capitol Weekly. Much of his 20 year run at The Chron was spent in or around the Capitol, covering the legislature or the Governor, or kibitzing with other reporters. Oh, how things have changed.

If the Dome is the most iconic part of the Capitol building in Sacramento, its heart was The Annex, an unfussy and businesslike addition that was begun in 1949 and completed in 1952. The Annex housed nearly all legislators' offices, the Governor's Office, and Room 1190 - where every governor from Earl Warren to Gavin Newsom has held regular Press Conferences. This month marks the end of an era as wrecking crews began the demolition of the Annex in preparation for a new, expanded Capitol Annex to be built in its place.

In this episode Lucas joins us for a wide-ranging discussion that includes his memories of The Annex, the fraternal culture that prevailed in the building decades ago, the changing nature of political media coverage, the role the Schwarzeneggers played in reimagining the Capitol, and a look at the nature of Democracy itself.

And, as always we tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Episode Notes:

1:27 Memories of the Annex

5:27 Seating arrangements

7:37 Jerry Gilliam on Pat Brown

9:40 New Annex origin story: Arnold Schwarzenegger

12:18 Maria Shriver's influence

16:27 The Doghouse

19:22 The fraternity

22:30 Uncle Frank

23:40 Sen. Shannon Grove and the Dolly Parton imagination Library

24:27 A letter to President Gerald Ford

28:46 The first draft of the Bill of Rights

29:46 Why is the CA Supreme Court in San Francisco?

31:13 Opposition to the Annex project

32:26 The State Library's basement

33:21 Last thoughts on the Annex

38:10 Did people hate the Annex in 1950?

40:25 What are you reading?

47:11 #WWCA

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Staffers, journalists and even lobbyists can get confused trying to understand the very specific processes and deadlines guiding the signing - or veto - of a bill, by the Governor. How long does the Governor have to sign or veto a bill? Does the 12 day timeline include weekends and holidays? When does the 30-day timeline start? And what happens when the Legislature adjourns?

Our guest today answers all of these questions and explains the process. Lobbyist Chris Micheli, is the author of several books on lobbying, teaches at University of the Pacific, and is a frequent contributor to Capitol Weekly. He explains the bill signing calendar, and looks at what can happen when things go wrong.

And, if you're caught bringing a knife to a gunfight, he might be just the guy you want on your side. Plus: Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

:43 Bill deadlines and the End of Sesson

2:03 12 Davs vs. 30 Days

3:35 The bill jacket

4:33 The timing of the 12 day window

5:39 The "Pocket Signature"

10:19 The 30 Day Rule

15:15 How did the system get set up this way?

16:45 In CA, about 40% of bills become law

17:57 How does CA compare to other states on amount of legislation?

22:01 our most quotable governor

23:02 An expert on CA Knife Law

33:51 #WWCA

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Facing the first deficit in a decade, legislators finished hammering out a Budget deal with the governor this week. While the final document (as it stands now, trailer bills and tweaks notwithstanding) does not feature the catastrophic cuts some had feared, funding for some of Gov. Newsom's high priority projects did see reductions, including funds aimed at reducing homelessness and supporting the transition to clean energy.

In a win for the administration, legislators agreed to include some of the governor's CEQA reform proposals - reversing the Sen. Budget Committee's earlier rejection of the proposals. The Delta Tunnel project was not included in the deal, a setback for Central and Southern Water Districts and agriculture interests, who have seen a series of defeats on the issue since the end of the Brown Administration.

But, what does it all mean?

Our guest today is Chris Hoene, Executive Director of the California Budget & Policy Center, a nonpartisan research and analysis nonprofit committed to "advancing public policies that improve the lives of Californians who are denied opportunities to share in the state’s wealth and deserve the dignity and support to lead thriving lives in our communities." Hoene has been a Budget-watcher for decades, and helps us dig into the new Budget Deal.

And, he joins hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster to look at Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:02 Let's talk about the Budget

2:48 CEQA and the Delta Tunnel

4:17 Winners

6:36 Losers

8:52 "A budget for the future"

10:35 Rainy Day Fund

11:47 The Speakership Transition

14:38 What issues remain unresolved?

17:56 Reviving the Industrial Relations Board

20:17 CA's Budget compared to other states

23:39 #WWCA

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The California Legislature currently has the highest proportion of women in the state's history: 50 of 120 legislators are women. While that percentage is impressive compared to the paltry 27 women in the California legislature after the 2016 election, it pales in comparison to some other states, including neighboring Nevada, in which women make up the majority of legislators in both houses.

Susannah Delano, Executive Director at Close the Gap California, a group that recruits progressive women to run for office, joined us to talk about the work of identifying and preparing women for candidacy, and about the very real challenges women face when they choose to enter public life.

And, as always, we look at Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics.

1:35 What does Close the Gap do?

4:33 How does CtG work with other orgs?

5:21 Success stories

6:25 Getting women to run

8:24 Toxic culture and visibility

10:46 Will electing more women change the toxic culture of politics?

11:52 2016

13:36 National and local picture

15:33 How to fit the district

20:33 Attrition rate of potential candidates

21:58 Targeted seats

24:42 Women gubernatorial candidates

26:30 the path to Close The Gap

31:21 WWCA

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On May 19, Governor Newsom offered a series of proposals to revise the California Environmental Quality Act ( CEQA). The 1970 law was intended to limit unintended consequences of development, but has increasingly been used to slow or derail environmentally-positive projects ranging from infill development to solar installations. Reforming CEQA has long been a priority in Sacramento, and Newsom's proposals were hailed by many in both the business and environmental communities.

Legislative leaders were less impressed - especially with the lighting fast timeline - and a Senate budget committee sidelined the proposals a week later. However, we all know that nothing ever dies in Sacramento, so the Governor's plan is more likely than not to be revisited - the question is when.

Many of the ideas in these reform proposals were contained in a California Forward report that detailed a set of actions that would accelerate infrastructure projects, and "promote equity, environmental sustainability and economic growth in the state." The report was the culmination of a partnership between Governor Newsom’s office, former Los Angeles Mayor and and State Infrastructure Advisor Antonio Villaraigosa, CA FWD and the Boston Consulting Group, a strategic advisor on delivering new infrastructure ecosystems.

On this episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast we are joined by Mayor Villaraigosa and CA FWD CEO Micah Weinberg, who detail the results of the report and discuss why CEQA reform is - in their view - sorely needed.

And, as always we tell you who had the worst week in California Politics.

Notes:

2:21 The report, and the governor's take on it

7:11 Met with over 1000 shareholders

7:55 What about CEQA's defenders

11:01 The Green Bank financing system

12:51 Workforce?

16:50 Where are the disparate labor groups on this?

17:44 "A once in a generation opportunity"

20:35 What next?

24:26 "No state would be so stupid as to have environmental exceptions for sports stadiums but not for climate adaptive infrastructure"

31:05 WWCA

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On Thursday, May 25, Capitol Weekly presented a conference examining California’s climate goals – specifically the plan to move beyond gas-powered vehicles. This episode was recorded live at ROADMAP 2035: Cars, Carbon and Climate Change – How Do We Meet California’s Zero Emissions Goals? on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Sacramento. This episode presents Panel 3 - The Future vs. The Past: The Impact on California’s Legacy Industries.

By 2035 all new passenger cars, trucks and SUVs sold in California must be zero emissions. California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulations will rapidly scale down light-duty passenger car, pickup truck and SUV emissions starting with the 2026 model year.

While Californians generally agree with the need to move beyond fossil fuels, the path forward for California's existing energy providers is less clear.

The panel was moderated by Brian Joseph of Capitol Weekly

Panelists: Christopher Benjamin, Pacific Gas & Electric; Jon Costantino, Tradesman Advisors; Mark Nechodom, Western States Petroleum Association; Laura Renger, California Electric Transportation Coalition

Thanks to our ROADMAP 2035 sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

On Thursday, May 25, Capitol Weekly presented a conference examining California’s climate goals – specifically the plan to move beyond gas-powered vehicles. This episode was recorded live at ROADMAP 2035: Cars, Carbon and Climate Change – How Do We Meet California’s Zero Emissions Goals? on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Sacramento. This episode presents the Keynote, with California Public Utilities Commissioner John Reynolds in conversation with Capitol Weekly Editor Rich Ehisen.

By 2035 all new passenger cars, trucks and SUVs sold in California must be zero emissions. California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulations will rapidly scale down light-duty passenger car, pickup truck and SUV emissions starting with the 2026 model year.

And, it’s not just happening in California. In March, the European Union announced a law to end sales of new CO2-emitting cars in 2035. Multiple states, including Oregon have similar mandates in place, and the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new rules that could require up to two-thirds of all new cars sold in the US by 2032 to be zero emission vehicles.

Despite these ambitious goals, major challenges remain. How does California meet the timelines for decarbonisation?

Thanks to our ROADMAP 2035 sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

On Thursday, May 25, Capitol Weekly presented a conference examining California’s climate goals – specifically the plan to move beyond gas-powered vehicles. This episode was recorded live at ROADMAP 2035: Cars, Carbon and Climate Change – How Do We Meet California’s Zero Emissions Goals? on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Sacramento. This episode presents Panel 2 - What Now: Timelines and Implementation.

By 2035 all new passenger cars, trucks and SUVs sold in California must be zero emissions. California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulations will rapidly scale down light-duty passenger car, pickup truck and SUV emissions starting with the 2026 model year.

And, it’s not just happening in California. In March, the European Union announced a law to end sales of new CO2-emitting cars in 2035. Multiple states, including Oregon have similar mandates in place, and the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new rules that could require up to two-thirds of all new cars sold in the US by 2032 to be zero emission vehicles.

Despite these ambitious goals, major challenges remain. How does California meet the timelines for decarbonisation?

The panel was moderated by Ari Plachta of the Sacramento Bee

Panelists: Dr. Jen Gress, California Air Resources Board; Kip Lipper, Policy Advisor to the Sen. Pro Tem; Michael Pimentel, California Transit Association; Scott Wetch, Carter, Wetch and Associates

Thanks to our ROADMAP 2035 sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

On Thursday, May 25, Capitol Weekly presented a conference examining California’s climate goals – specifically the plan to move beyond gas-powered vehicles. This episode was recorded live at ROADMAP 2035: Cars, Carbon and Climate Change – How Do We Meet California’s Zero Emissions Goals? on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Sacramento. This episode presents Panel 1 - The Technology: How We Get There.

By 2035 all new passenger cars, trucks and SUVs sold in California must be zero emissions. California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulations will rapidly scale down light-duty passenger car, pickup truck and SUV emissions starting with the 2026 model year. How do we get from here to there?

The panel was moderated by Alejandro Lazo of CalMatters

Panelists: Jacquelyn Birdsall, Toyota; Steve Douglas, Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Quentin Gee, California Energy Commission; Orville Thomas, CALSTART

Thanks to our ROADMAP 2035 sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

Got a two-fer this week: First we speak with Rhonda Smith, the Executive Director of the California Black Health Network. We spoke with Smith about the state of Black health in California, including a look at how the Fentanyl crisis is impacting the Black community.

Next up, we bring you an expanded "Suspense File" edition of our Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics feature. We were joined by Mackenzie Mays, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, who covered last week's Suspense drama in real time and offered a closeup view of some of the bills that failed to make it out of Appropriations.

1:32 Rhonda Smith- What is the mission of CBHN?

3:01 The Black Health Agenda

5:49 What is the state of Black health?

6:58 "Black Californians live about five and a half years less than the state average"

7:57 The Fentanyl crisis

11:00 Social Determinants of health

12:32 Looking at the governor's Master Plan

15:37 The plan for National Guard and CHP involvement

17:29 Is this a problem that can be solved with money?

21:28 "You have to acknowledge the big elephant in the room"

22:50 Disparities in prescribing opioids?

27:33 WWCA Suspense File edtion, with Mackenzie Mays

31:57 #AB710

34:38 Cost cutoff

37:28 CEQA reform

39:32 Sen. Dianne Feinstein

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We are joined today by Ken Oliver, Executive Director of Checkr.org, the philanthropic arm of Checkr, a tech firm that is working to reinvent the background check, "making the process fairer through education, and eliminating human bias." Oliver knows firsthand the struggles that formerly incarcerated people face upon re-entry to society: sentenced to life in prison in 1997 under California's Three Strikes law, he spent nearly 24 years behind bars, 8 in solitary confinement.

Oliver educated himself in prison, reading history, law and philosophy, and with the help of the Mayer Brown law firm and Michael Romano from Stanford Law School’s Three Strikes Project, ultimately won his bid for early release. Putting his behind-bars legal training to use, Oliver went to work as a paralegal for an Oakland nonprofit that provided legal services to inmates; he was soon promoted to Policy Director.

Oliver joined us to talk about his journey, the flaws in California's re-entry program and about SB 809, the Fair Chance Expansion and Protection Act of 2023, which would ensure that conviction history does not prevent qualified candidates from finding employment.

Plus, as always, we discuss Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:18 SB809 is on Suspense - what now?

3:53 How many people are impacted?

5:54 Why 'Ban the Box' laws have been ineffective

8:28 Ken's story

13:10 The governor's San Quentin proposal

15:07 Recidivism

16:39 Who was George Jackson?

20:54 Prison hunger strikes

21:33 Reception from lawmakers?

26:42 California's reintegration system

30:46 WWCA

34:21 The John Howard Scholarship

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It's no secret that communicable diseases can have dramatically different impacts on different groups; elderly people, for example, saw the worst effects of COVID, with a death rate far beyond California's average. Black Californians also had higher mortality rates from the disease. What of California's LGBTQ community?

The truth is, we don't know.

SB 932, a 2020 bill inspired by concerns about potential disparate impacts of COVID on LGBTQ people, directed the California Department of Public Health to collect sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data. A new report released by the State Auditor last month says that CDPH has fallen short and recommends that state law be amended to require more comprehensive practices around SOGI data collection.

Sen. Scott Wiener, the author of SB 932, joined us to talk about why this data is so important, what's missing, and how California is bucking national trends on LGBTQ healthcare.

And, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics. (Hint, it wasn't Jon Fleischman).

Episode Notes

2:04 The audit

5:24 What's missing in the report

7:11 Why hasn't this data been collected before?

9:47 Intersection with Federal Law

10:40 Why the resistance from CDPH?

11:52 Compare this to other states

13:56 Legislation?

15:53 An aside about Housing

17:55 WWCA
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In this week’s Capitol Weekly podcast CW’s Rich Ehisen is joined by frequent contributor Dan Morain and Washington Bureau Chief of RealClearPolitics and Executive Editor of RealClear Media Grou, Carl Cannon. The trio discusses the impact of President Joe Biden’s announcement to run for a second term on a host of ambitious California politicos, from Kamala Harris and Kevin McCarthy in Washington D.C. to Gavin Newsom and others here in California. And, as always we’ll get into another favorite topic – who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Photo: Joe Biden on the campaign trail, Gage Skidmore, by Gage Skidmore.

0:30 Intro for Dan Morain and Carl Cannon

2:00 The Biden announcement

3:00 Kamala getting a second look?

8:55 The Gavin non-presidential campaign

11:00 Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? What?

12:00 Gavin and homelessness

13:00 Can Gavin be blamed for homelessness?

14:55 Kevin McCarthy

18:45 Nancy Pelosi

20:00 Schiff v. McCarthy

21:25 Dianne Feinstein

24:50 Condi Rice?

25:15 The CA Governor’s race

28:55 WWCA – The A’s win again

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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The only thing denizens of the California Capitol love more than talking politics is eating good grub. With that in mind, our guest today is Carney King, the man behind the very popular new Twitter feed Culinary Caucus. Carney's mission is to find the best food and, more important, the best food deals around the Capitol area. Then we welcome back an old friend to offer his insights into who had the Worst Week in California Politics!

0:35 Welcome Carney King

1:25 What is the Culinary Caucus?

2:25 the late great Bud's Buffet

4:00 Ambrosia and Alejandro's

5:40 Carney's favorites

8:10 Stealth Carney?

11:00 Kru and El Novillero

13:30 Sac's best hot dog

14:45 Where are the food trucks?

19:00 how to find the Culinary Caucus on Twitter

20:15 Worst Week, Sheng Thao

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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The landmark Lanterman-Petris-Short Act of 1967 was intended to to “end the inappropriate, indefinite, and involuntary commitment of persons with mental health disorders” by setting strict guidelines for handling the involuntary civil commitment of individuals to mental health institutions. While lauded by civil rights advocates, critic contend the law is actually an impediment to care for those suffering from severe mental illnesses, often leading to them being homeless or incarcerated.

On this episode of Capitol Weekly, we welcome Sens. Susan Talamantes-Eggman and Roger Niello, two of the three primary sponsors on SB 43, a bill that would add new criteria to the definition of what constitutes someone being considered "gravely disabled," the standard by which a person can be involuntarily held for treatment.

2:28 What is SB 43?

3:45 Why Niello is co-sponsoring

7:10 A return to institutions?

8:50 Jails and mental health

10:30 Are we spedning state mental dollars wisely?

12:30 SB 43's potential impact

17:00 Local governments

25:00 personal connections

27:00 What's different from last year's failed bill?

29:40 Worst Week, Dianne Feinstein

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io

Friend of the Pod Bill Wong joins us to chat about his new book, Better to Win. Wong, a renowned strategist to a bevy of major California Democrats, provides candid and occasionally Machiavellian advice to those who aspire not only to fight for justice, but to win those fights.

Wong's story is filled with names familiar to followers of California politics, and gives the fascinating backstory to public fights, like the clandestine - and ultimately successful - effort to derail the appointment of Dan Lungren as State Treasurer.

Better to Win examines the mindset and machinery involved in the use of power and the sacrifices necessary to affect meaningful change for those who don’t (yet) have a voice in the halls of power. This book shares skills and strategies for change agents and powerful stories of Asian Americans who played and continue to play an important role at the table where decisions are made.

1:43 What was the inspiration for the book?

3:17 The art of communication

6:03 The era of Term Limits

8:27 Relationships and trust

10:06 How to upend a gubernatorial appointment: Dan Lungren edition

14:17 The AAPI Caucus

17:29 The Covid backlash against AAPI

19:40 "The worst thing right now is the deafening silence from the Republican Party"

21:19 Racist ads in CD45

21:57 Democrats' "sub-optimal messaging"

29:42 Advice for Tennessee Democrats?

36:55 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Heading into recess, hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster look back on a historic week chock full of political news: the Trump indictment, the governor's oil price-gouging bill SBx1-2, the Campaign for Democracy, emissions standards and OH SO MANY candidates for the Worst Week in California Politics.

:23 WILD

1:04 Trump indicted

3:42 How social media played into the news cycle

5:53 Trump fatigue

7:06 #gwynethpaltrowskiaccidenttrial

8:12 Oil price-gouging bill SBx1-2

12:16 Campaign for Democracy

14:23 CA Emission Standards waiver

14:56 ROADMAP: A Conference on California Emission Plans

17:26 #WWCA. First, Joanne Segovia, San Jose Police Officers Association... and fentanyl dealer

19:06 Next: Mark Ridley Thomas

23:08 Last: Nathan Fletcher

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom released a proposal for a $3 billion bond measure aimed at the 2024 ballot, to fund housing for people with severe mental illness. At the same time, Newsom asked the legislature to revise 2004's Proposition 63 - which enacted a 1% on individuals with earnings of $1 million or more, used to help people with mental illness - to help provide more money for housing the mentally ill. These latest moves follow Newsom's other recent efforts to engage on the issue of homelessness, something his predecessors in the Horseshoe have largely tried to avoid.

Author and journalist Dan Morain joined us to talk about the governor's proposals, and digs into the half century of policy and politics that got us to where we are today. The common answer is: The Lanterman Petris Short Act, but, as Dan explains, LPS is only part of the story. Also, Dan shared his own experience about finding care for a family member unable to live on his own after a devastating accident.

1:16 The Governor's proposals. Part 1

3:01 Part 2

4:48 Shouldn't this have been done following passage of LPS?

8:04 The counties were supposed to find the money to solve this problem - they didn't

9:45 Newsom was talking about homeless issues 20 years ago

10:04 What does the legislature think of Newsom's proposals?

12:09 Sens. Eggman and Niello have bills on this issue - do they compete or complement?

14:25 A personal connection: Frank's story

18:20 The limitations of treatment under LPS

20:45 Many have a personal connection to this issue - is that driving these solutions?

26:29 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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We're back with a regular episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast. California political data guru Paul Mitchell joined us to talk about surprising voting patterns and registration numbers following California's aggressive voter registration push under the past two Secretaries of State. Who's voting, who isn't, and why. And, how is the 2024 Senate race shaping up?

Plus - Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

1:33 Voting patterns

5:33 Increase in registration numbers: a conundrum

6:33 In LA, in the 2013 Mayors race, Latinos were 23% of the electorate; In the 2022 LA Mayors race, Latinos were 23% of the electorate

8:03 Effect of mail in voting and other reforms

10:31 Understanding the Voter File

13:04 What are the takeaways from the numbers

14:51 Factors at play in the 2024 Midterms

21:25 "A sprig of parsley with a 'D' on it would beat a Republican in a California Senate race"

22:52 "If the Republicans have a Hope, his name is Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson"

24:44 Polling on the Senate race

28:12 Do endorsements matter

32:41 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io

This Special Episode was recorded Thursday, March 9, 2023 at Capitol Weekly's Conference on Housing, which was held live in Sacramento at the California Endowment Conference Center.

Panel 3: The State of the Rental Market.

Panelists: Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh; Asm. Alex Lee; Debra Carlton, California Apartment Association; Alex Lantsberg, State Building and Construction Trades Council; Shanti Singh, Tenants Together

Moderated by Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee

Support for Capitol Weekly's Conference on Housing was provided by The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The Weideman Group, Lucas Public Affairs and California Professional Firefighters

This Special Episode was recorded Thursday, March 9, 2023 at Capitol Weekly's Conference on Housing, which was held live in Sacramento at the California Endowment Conference Center.

Panel 2: Affordable Housing. The second panel of the day explores the issue of Affordable Housing.

Panelists: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Mayor of Alameda; Peter Cohen, Sacramento Housing Alliance; Chione Lucina Muñoz Flegal, Housing California; Mark Stivers, California Housing Partnership

Moderated by Chris Nichols, Capital Public Radio

Support for Capitol Weekly's Conference on Housing was provided by The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The Weideman Group, Lucas Public Affairs and California Professional Firefighters

This Special Episode was recorded Thursday, March 9, 2023 at Capitol Weekly's Conference on Housing, which was held live in Sacramento at the California Endowment Conference Center.

Keynote: Asm. Buffy Wicks in conversation with Hannah Wiley of the Los Angeles Times

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks is a key voice in any discussion of California housing policy,

Wicks represents the East Bay in the California State Assembly. First elected in 2018 and now re-elected in 2022, her district spans the communities of Oakland to Richmond, and includes the City of Berkeley. As Chair of the Assembly Housing Committee, Asm. Wicks champions the solutions needed to solve California's housing and homelessness crisis. Her work aims to tackle the inadequate housing supply at all income levels across California, encourage the creation of an ongoing funding source for affordable housing, and address the disproportionate burden of the housing affordability crisis on women and people of color. In her first year as Housing Chair, she championed AB 2011 as a critical solution to one of the biggest housing challenges facing California, accelerating housing production for all while ensuring a strong, well-paid workforce is ready and available to build that housing.

Support for Capitol Weekly's Conference on Housing was provided by The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The Weideman Group, Lucas Public Affairs and California Professional Firefighters

This Special Episode was recorded Thursday, March 9, 2023 at Capitol Weekly's Conference on Housing, which was held live in Sacramento at the California Endowment Conference Center.

Panel 1: Office to Housing Conversion. The first panel of the day examines the proposal to convert offices to housing.

Panelists: Danny Curtin, California Conference of Carpenters; Dan Dunmoyer, California Building Industry Association; Laura Foote, YIMBY Action; Jeffrey Roth, Leg. Director for Sen. Caballero

Moderated by Ashley Zavala of KCRA News

A full transcript of this discussion may be found at https://capitolweekly.net/special-episode-cahousing-office-to-housing-conversion/

Support for Capitol Weekly's Conference on Housing was provided by The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The Weideman Group, Lucas Public Affairs and California Professional Firefighters

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (which everyone calls BART) is a the lifeline of the Bay Area: a heavy-rail public transit system that operates in five counties with 50 stations. Connecting the suburbs to urban cities through 131 miles of track, BART serves a wildly diverse customer base.

One of the groups most dependent on BART is the region's homeless population - and that dependence that became even more pronounced during the COVID pandemic. As part of a larger Action Plan, BART introduced its first Homeless Czar (technically, "senior manager of social services"), Daniel Cooperman in 2021. Cooperman joined us to talk about the challenges and rewards of his very unique job, and explains why elevators figure so prominently in his duties. Plus, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Episode Notes:

1:07 What is a Homeless Czar?

3:07 Progressive policing bureau

5:49 How did you get into this line of work?

8:49 What's the deal with elevators?

9:42 The impact of the pandemic

10:34 What does the public think?

13:09 The challenges of interagency and intra-agency cooperation

16:39 Federal involvement

17:41 Goals?

19:41 Impact on ridership?

21:40 WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Earlier this month, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California (CBHDA) released a study on the number of healthcare workers available to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment in California. The news is not good.

"More than 90% of counties reported difficulty in recruiting Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Counselors, and psychiatrists. Most counties also had difficulty recruiting substance use disorder counselors." Another concern is that the workforce of behavioral health professionals does not match the cultural or linguistic diversity of their client communities.

And, with the 'Silver Tsunami' coming, the future looks even worse. Many current behavioral health professionals are nearing retirement age: Thirty-one percent of psychiatrists and 27 percent of clinical and counseling psychologists are 65 or older, and California is not graduating nearly enough behavioral health professionals to replace them. What next?

We're joined today by one of the report's authors, Dr. Janet Coffman of Healthforce Center at UCSF, and Michelle Doty Cabrera, Executive Director of CBHDA. They describe the challenges facing the state, and what is needed to grow and retain a behavioral health workforce that reflects California’s diverse populations.

Plus we have a whopper of a Worst Week in California Politics - stay tuned!

Episode Notes:

1:30 A look at the numbers

3:42 Re: Substance abuse counselors- the numbers are going the wrong way

4:23 The Silver Tsunami in Behavioral Health workers

5:49 The changing labor market

8:15 the Impact of CARE Court?

10:16 What does the state need to do NOW?

12:50 John Fetterman

13:12 The diversity staffing challenge

15:04 Treatment in carceral settings

17:01 The budget deficit

18:18 Worst workforce shortages are in the Central Valley

19:14 Why are programs turning away qualified applicants?

23:55 Housing promo

24:33 What IS working?

28:27 Links to studies

29:34 WWCA: Five former mayors endorsed her recall and she STILL didn't have the Worst Week

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io

Educator Marshall Tuck came within a hair of becoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction twice, narrowly losing both the 2014 and 2018 elections (first to incumbent Tom Torlakson, and then to Tony Thurmond). Tuck first came to statewide prominence as an education advisor to LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who tapped him to head the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools. Following his two runs for office, Tuck looked for other opportunities to "make a difference," as he put it, and landed a gig late last year as the head of EdVoice, a philanthropist-founded Education nonprofit with a mission of eliminating educational inequality and bringing underperforming schools up to par.

He joined us today to talk about his priorities at EdVoice, the potential for program cuts as the state budget tightens, and why he wanted the job as State Superintendent. Tuck is a passionate advocate for improving educational opportunities for all of California's children, and denounced the wide disparity between the highest and lowest performing schools- what he calls 'Two Californias.'

Plus we tell you who - or in this case "what" - had the worst week in California politics.

Episode Notes

1:16 The new gig

3:48 Priorities for 2023?

4:48 #SB691 - Dyslexia screening

6:12 What reading level are California's kids at?

8:09 Is there opposition to screening?

12:23 What does the budget deficit mean for education?

15:45 "This state was so far behind..."

17:34 The impact of COVID

20:30 Data points

23:14 Gov. Newsom has dyslexia - where is he on SB691?

25:08 What is the role of Superintendent of Public Instruction?

28:02 What are other states doing differently?

32:00 Tuck: The wealthiest state in the wealthiest nation that has ever existed has a system that doesn't work for a lot of people

33:09 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io

Los Angeles is never short of political news, and between the mayor's race and the fallout from the leaked recording of city council members, the past few months have been particularly newsworthy. We checked in with Robb Korinke, a principal, along with Mike Madrid, at GrassrootsLab, and the publisher of several newsletters on California local governments. He gave us an update on how the Bass administration is settling in, a look at the city council, and the 'personalization' of local politics.

Plus, we look at the "George Santos of Downey" for our Worst Week segment.

Show Notes:

1:15 Karen Bass' approach on homelessness

3:49 Could this be a model

4:15 "One in five unhoused people in the United States live in LA"

4:42 New rental rules in LA

5:59 The mood around the homeless issue

8:15 Whither Rick Caruso?

8:57 Post tape, what's up with the city council?

14:16 "It's becoming very personal"

19:00 The issues have shifted from DC to local: policing and housing at top of list

21:47 The capitol to local pipeline

23:58 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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With nearly five decades of advocacy under his belt, there are only a handful of people who have lobbied in Sacramento longer than John Norwood. He entered the business in 1974, shortly after graduating from Sac State. To put that in context: Nixon was president, Reagan was governor and Gavin Newsom was in elementary school. Future senator Alex Padilla was still in diapers.

A lawyer as well as a lobbyist, Norwood has earned a reputation as a hard worker and a straight shooter. In 1980, the California Journal called him, “one of the rising stars in the lobbying business;” Three decades later he was named the “Most Trustworthy” lobbyist in a Capitol Weekly poll of legislators and staff.

We asked John about the changes he's seen, and the challenges facing California. (Top of his list: Wildfires.) Plus, who had The Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes:

:21 Sacramento, 1974

1:35 Sac State - STINGERS UP!

2:46 What are the biggest changes?

4:42 Term limits

11:12 "Every industry is one newspaper headline... from a bill that's gonna cost them a lot of money"

12:23 Wildfires - "The number one problem in the state"

21:20 The impact of partisanship

22:47 Swimming pools and drought

26:26 A random pool story

27:22 Should we be worried about the budget?

29:51 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io

In the wake of the horrific January 21 shooting that killed 11 people in Monterey Park, Gov. Newsom visited hospitalized survivors. His conversation with one patient revealed an added stress for survivors of gun violence and other violent crime: the inability to cover expenses incurred or wages lost due to the incident.

"The first thing [the patient] said to me is, 'How many days I'm going to be in here?' And I immediately asked the doctor to come in." Newsom recalled. "And it wasn't for medical reasons. He was asking financial. He said, 'I can't afford to be here. I got to get out of here. I don't have the money.' And then the next question he asks is, 'What can I do tomorrow? I'm supposed to be at work.'" (KJ Hiramoto, Fox 11)

The good news is that California has a program in place to help in exactly these types of situations. The California Victim Compensation Board was established in 1965 to provide victims of violent crimes with financial resources to cope with the impact of the crime. Crime victims (and others impacted by a violent crime, including relatives, caregivers and witnesses) who have been injured or were threatened with injury can apply for compensation, including funeral expenses, medical expenses and lost income.

We're joined today by Executive Officer Lynda Gledhill, who tells us how the compensation process works, how it's funded and about other work the CalVCB does to help crime victims. Plus, we tell you who had The Worst Week in California Politics.

Need more information? Visit https://victims.ca.gov or call 1-800-777-9229

Show Notes:

:53 How the state of California helps victims of violent crime

1:34 The mission of the CalVCB

2:59 The fund can support more than the direct crime victim

4:03 Where does the money come from?

5:19 How many people use the fund?

7:02 Applying for help

9:03 How long does the process take?

10:10 Re: violent crime

15:01 Compensation for victims of forced sterilization

19:98 Victims.ca.gov

21:48 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Richard Polanco served 16 years in the legislature, eight years in each house. Elected to the Assembly in 1986, he soon began efforts to build the Latino coalition in the legislature, ultimately helping expand the number of Latino legislators from seven members to 24 by the time he left office in 2002.

Polanco was a shrewd and energetic organizer who grew Latino political power just as anti-immigrant sentiment swept the state, culminating in the passage of Proposition 187 in 1994. As Republicans celebrated the win (ultimately overturned by the courts), Polanco and his allies worked to identify and support strong Latino candidates; their success in building the Latino Caucus helped pave the way for the Assembly's first Latino Speaker of the modern era, Cruz Bustamante, in 1996.

Polanco is the subject of a new video Oral History produced by Open California and available at CapitolWeekly.Net. Journalist and author Dan Morain covered Polanco's career for the Los Angeles Times and conducted the interview for the oral history. He joined Capitol Weekly's Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster to talk about Polanco's career and legacy, and offered up his thoughts on who had The Worst Week in CA Politics.

Show Notes

1:33 Not always a collegial relationship

2:27 "Emerged as a power player in 1994..."

3:09 Origins

5:00 "This was his calling"

6:26 Prop. 187

8:15 The influence of Ronald Reagan on the growth of Latino power

11:24 Saturday Night Special ban

12:32 Diversifying the Third House

13:45 The potential of Indian Gaming

15:14 Cruz Bustamante

16:58 The rise of CA prisons

22:12 #WWCA: Water hoses, Santos supporters, corrupt city councilmembers, Kevin Cooper, and more

25:50 Who's next up for the Oral History program?

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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This week marks a huge change at Capitol Weekly, and the end of an era in Sacramento: editor John Howard is retiring.

John arrived in the AP's Sacramento Bureau in 1980 and became their California state politics reporter in 1982 - Jerry Brown was governor, and Willie Brown was about to become Speaker. He has covered the capitol every day since, first for AP, then for a variety of publications including the Orange County Register and California Journal. In 2005 he became Managing Editor for the newly-revamped Capitol Weekly. Under then-Editor Anthony York, Capitol Weekly had been reimagined as the Golden State's answer to Roll Call - covering politics in the state capitol with a staff that included Shane Goldmacher and Malcolm MacLachlan. Soon, York went to the Los Angeles Times, and John took over the Editor's chair, where he's been ever since.

Rich Ehisen, who took over as Editor at the beginning of the year, also worked for the late, great California Journal, and has been Editor of the State Net Capitols Report for over a decade. Where we have had to follow the ups and downs of one state capitol, Rich has had to follow legislation and politics at 50 capitols simultaneously.

This week John handed the baton the Rich, and the two editors sat down with Tim Foster to talk about their careers, their plans for the future - and, as always, discuss Who Had the Worst Week in CA politics.

Show Notes:

:46 John's last day as editor

2:33 Welcome Rich Ehisen

4:48 There are so few journalists covering California

8:10 Stormy weather

9:42 Obligatory John Myers reference

12:32 Sacramento is a flood town

14:31: John, what will you miss?

16:35 Sacramento's best networker

18:34 A little praise

22:54 Most memorable stories?

32:09 "So, are you going to come in and make a bunch of changes?"

33:02 #WWCA: Emergencies, budget cuts, legal settlements, or the Guinness Book's 'Biggest Loser'

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang
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High drama prevails in Washington DC this week, where GOP Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has narrowly lost thirteen votes for the Speakership, beating a record that went back to before the Civil War. Speaking of civil war, members of the Freedom Caucus, most vocally Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert, are in open rebellion against McCarthy's leadership. With the house narrowly divided, McCarthy can only afford five defections from his party, and as we go to press, he is still a half dozen votes short. For him, that's good news - earlier votes saw as many as 20 Republicans refusing to support him. What happens now?

We're joined today by Carl Cannon, the Washington Editor of RealClearPolitics and former executive editor of PoliticsDaily.com, DC Bureau chief for Reader's Digest and White House correspondent for both the Baltimore Sun and National Journal. And, handy for us Californians, a former California newsie and longtime contributor to California Journal.

Carl knows DC and California politics inside and out and gives us his view of what to expect and what to watch as this historic Speakership battle unfolds.

:51 why can't McCarthy put a majority together?

3:18 if McCarthy offers too much to the renegades, will he lose the moderates?

6:07 The danger for Democrats

8:32 McCarthy's strengths

10:59 "Rookie of the year"

14:42 The path forward

16:59 A Unity Speaker?

20:55 Can we take a lesson from the British model?

23:59 WWCA

24:35 McCarthy's prior run for Speaker

26:35 Where is Gaylord Parkinson when you need him?

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang
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Podcast hosts John Howard and Tim Foster talk about the biggest California political news stories of the past year - the secret tapes of several Los Angeles City Council members, housing and homelessness, the November elections and more. Plus, they tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes:

:27 The tape

2:47 Housing and homelessness

4:29 The Southwest Airlines meltdown

5:31 The election

9:47 The Latino Caucus ban on GOP members

11:22 The Bash

12:16 Speakership battle

13:08 Lorena Gonzalez leaving the legislature

14:38 Climate change

15:27 Gas prices

16:49 proportion of women and LGBTQ in legislature

17:58 The Recall of Chesa Boudin

19:44 Care Courts

22:44 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang
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Proposition 30, the ambitious plan to combat wildfires and fund EV infrastructure throughout the state by taxing California's wealthiest citizens failed at the ballot box in November. Early polls found broad support for the measure, but a strong opposition campaign led by Gov. Newsom and the CTA turned the tide and ultimately derailed the measure.

We spoke with Bill Magavern, Policy Director of the Coalition for Clean Air, and an author of Prop. 30, about efforts to combat pollution and climate change in the wake of Proposition 30's defeat.

Show Notes:

:26 Prop. 30 - what happened?

4:18 "What really cost us the initiative was the opposition of Governor Newsom"

7:12 How do you get voters to support policies that might hit their pocketbooks?

9:20 A new era: sales of gas-powered vehicles will end in 2035 in California

16:00 Standardizing the charging stations

19:09 Who coordinates all these regulations?

21:09 With the budget tightening, what's on tap for 2023?

22:35 "The largest source of air pollution in California comes from the movement of goods in the freight system"

25:58 And what about Cold Fusion?

28:28 How is the relationship with Go .Newsom after the Prop. 30 fight?

30:33 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang
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With the results of the November election now finalized, 30% of California legislators are newcomers to their offices. Assemblyman Josh Hoover, (R) turned AD7 red, flipping a Sacramento area seat that had voted for Democrat Ken Cooley for four terms. If Hoover is new to the Assembly, he is no stranger to the capitol: he was chief of staff to former Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, who left to take a seat in congress.

We sat down with Hoover to talk about his legislative priorities (one of which is to scale back the renovation of the Capitol Annex, a project spearheaded by his AD 7 predecessor) including his interest in education, and ideas for addressing the homeless crisis. he declined to join us for this week's Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics, but you can probably guess who we chose.

Show Notes

:36 The capitol annex

5:37 "It's hard for me to give up tradition"

7:04 Making a difference in an overwhelmingly Democratic legislative body

8:17 Is Kevin McCarthy the next Speaker?

11:46 Education

14:53 The Homeless Crisis

19:11 Housing and local control

22:05 Gas prices, and the end of the internal combustion engine?

25:07 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang
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Shaquille O'Neal. The Golden State Killer. Governors Pete Wilson, Gray Davis, Jerry Brown and Gavin Newson. Longtime Associated Press Photographer Rich Pedroncelli has photographed them all - and just about every other prominent person to make an appearance in California's capitol city. Now, after over three decades behind the lens, he is hanging up his press pass.

Capitol Weekly's John Howard often shared assignments with Pedroncelli when the two worked together at AP; they, along with co-host Tim Foster, reminisced about those days and talked about the changes to the industry. Plus: Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?

:54 Retirement

1:37 Tools of the Trade

3:25 The good old days

7:20 What if the Kings had left town?

8:08 Who takes your place?

11:30 How to not get a Pulitzer

13:57 How did you get started in the photo business?

18:27 The equipment

23:49 The Stolpas

29:18 #WWCA

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Billionaire developer Rick Caruso emerged from the Los Angeles mayor's race primary as the only serious contender to the frontrunner, Congresswoman Karen Bass. Bass, a former Assembly Speaker who was rumored to be on Joe Biden's shortlist of VP candidates, had the name ID, but Caruso had the money. A lot of it. By the end of the bruising campaign, Caruso had burned though over $100 million - mostly his own money - outspending Bass eleven-to-one. The spending disparity made the race closer than many expected, though Bass ultimately prevailed.

We're joined today by Doug Herman of The Strategy Group. Doug was inside the Bass campaign and helped build an effective strategy to compete successfully against a nearly-overwhelming spending disparity. Doug has served as a political advisor to Mayor Garcetti, former Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez and Congressman Henry Waxman, and was a lead mail strategist for Obama for America in the 2008 and 2012 campaigns.

Plus, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

:32 The race

1:56 Direct mail

5:04 The Caruso ground game: what happened?

7:46 The polls

10:59 USC

13:39 Why didn't Newsom endorse?

15:06 What is California's role in 2024?

19:14 #WWCA

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This episode was recorded Thursday, November 10 at Capitol Weekly's Post-Mortem of the 2022 Election, which was held via Zoom.

This Panel, the third of the day, analyzed the results of the midterm and offerers a look ahead. What happens now? Does Gov. Newsom push ahead with a presidential campaign? What does the Speakership battle portend? What’s next in the battle over abortion rights? And what’s with the “Special Session” targeting oil companies – substantive plan or political theater?

Panelists: Nathan Click, Click Strategies; Jodi Hicks, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California; Victoria Rome, Natural Resources Defense Council; Rob Stutzman, Stutzman Public Affairs. The panels was moderated by Dan Morain, Author and journalist.

This episode was recorded Thursday, November 10 at Capitol Weekly's Post-Mortem of the 2022 Election, which was held via Zoom.

The Keynote of the Post-Mortem was a conversation between Mike Madrid, a co-founder of The Lincoln Project and noted expert on Latino voting trends, and John Howard, the editor of Capitol Weekly.

Support for Capitol Weekly's Election Post-Mortem was provided by The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The Weideman Group, Lucas Public Affairs and California Professional Firefighters

This episode was recorded Thursday, November 10 at Capitol Weekly's Post-Mortem of the 2022 Election, which was held via Zoom.

This Panel, the second of the day, was a rundown on the Ballot Measures up for approval. California voters confronted unprecedented campaign spending, even by California standards, and an array of familiar themes – tax the rich, gambling, abortion rights and the environment, to name just a few. This election saw over $750 million spent on these measures... but at the end of the day, what has really changed?

Panelists: Brandon Castillo, Bicker Castillo and Fairbanks; Teri Holoman, California Teachers Association; Steve Maviglio, Forza Communications; Sheri Sadler, Sadler Strategic Media; Dana Williamson, Grace Public Affairs. Moderated by Nicole Nixon, Capital Public Radio.

Support for Capitol Weekly's Election Post-Mortem was provided by The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The Weideman Group, Lucas Public Affairs and California Professional Firefighters

This episode was recorded Thursday, November 10 at Capitol Weekly's Post-Mortem of the 2022 Election, which was held via Zoom.

This Panel, the first of the day, was a rundown on key California races – the battles for the constitutional offices, Congress and the Legislature, and major local elections, including the LA mayoral race. Our panelists talk about this very atypical Midterm election and predict the outcome for uncalled state and national races, including the US Senate.

Panelists: Sean Clegg, Bearstar Strategies; Marva Diaz, Marva Diaz Strategies; Robb Korinke, GrassrootsLab; Paul Mitchell, Political Data Inc. Moderated by Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times

Support for Capitol Weekly's Election Post-Mortem was provided by The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The Weideman Group, Lucas Public Affairs and California Professional Firefighters

With the 2022 election just days away, we asked longtime political party animals Jim Brulte and Garry South to weigh in on what they expect to see on Tuesday and make predictions on . Brulte, the former head of the California Republican Party, predicts a good night for Republicans nationally and expects tight CA congressional districts to swing the GOP's way. Garry South, a high profile Democratic strategist, suggests that it will be very difficult for Dems to retain control of the House, but sees good news in California races.

And, we tell you who had the worst week in California politics.

:34 Congress

3:38 Does a "Red Wave" stop at the Sierras?

5:51 What can we take away from voter registration numbers?

8:17 "There are more registered voters in California than there are residents in 46 other states"

9:41 "I think it would take a miracle for the Democrats ti keep the House"

10:07 Are Republicans gaming the polling averages?

13:12 Is higher turnout automatically good news for Dems?

14:55 The Base, the extremes and election denial

26:57 Predictions

29:49 The Los Angeles Mayor's race

31:56 #WWCA

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It's our Halloween episode, so it's an appropriate time to look at an attempt to bring a dead bill back to life!

Democratic Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor, who was elected in June to finish Autumn Burke's term in the 62nd District, has promised to reintroduce AB 1577, Asm. Mark Stone's bill to unionize the legislature. The bill died in committee earlier this year after receiving substantial support from both houses. Stone is not seeking re-election, so McKinnor has vowed to bring the bill back to life. The fight is personal for McKinnor, who has worked as a legislative staffer earlier in her career.

Episode Notes:

:49 #AB1577

1:31 "What I witnessed in that committee was shameful and embarrassing"

4:05 Asm. Cooper said he wanted to help colleagues avoid a hard vote - does that make sense?

6:05 If the bill passes, which staff positions would be exempt from organizing?

8:21 The Capitol has had many #MeToo problems: will unionization help fix that?

12:11 Are there plans to revise the language in AB 1577?

14:21 Does this effort fit into a larger movement?

17:01 Some background.

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Gambling is big business in California, and it could be even bigger business, depending on what happens with propositions 26 and 27, each of which would expand sports betting opportunities in the state - albeit in very different ways. However, current polling indicates serious trouble ahead for each of these measures: despite nearly $600 million spent by various factions, the most likely outcome appears to be a continuation of the status quo.

Though we have covered gaming expansion attempts many times over the years, we're no gambling experts - but our guest, Richard Schuetz, is. Schuetz' resume is fascinating: he got his start as dealer in Las Vegas casinos, and he worked his way up to heading one of the largest gaming operations in the country. He has extensive experience in both commercial and tribal gaming enterprises, and Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him to the Gambling Control Commission in 2011, where he served until 2015. He joined us this episode from Pennsylvania, where he weighed in on the current proposals, the history of online gaming, the profound differences between commercial gaming operations and those operated by tribal organizations, and what tattoos Prop. 27 backers should get.

1:35 What drew you to gambling?

3:12 How popular is gambling?

4:49 Will online gaming kill the casinos?

6:50 Propositions 26 and 27

10:00 What is the size of the market for online gaming in California?

14:39 How has the perception of gaming changed over the years?

18:33 Does pitching gaming revenue as a support for popular programs, like education and homeless services, work?

21:22 Rod Wright mention!

22:35 Commercial casinos compared to Tribal casinos

25:49 What happens next with gaming proposals?

26:54 "Never underestimate the power of the tribes in California"

31:10 Any regrets?

35:02 #WWCA

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Los Angeles saw the most intense political implosion in decades last week after an anonymous source released a secretly-taped recording of LA City Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon, and Ron Herrerra of the Los Angeles County Labor Federation, disparaging colleagues, making racist remarks and discussing strategies to reduce the political clout of Los Angeles' Black community. One week later, Herrerra and Martinez have resigned, and Cedillo and de Leon are facing widespread calls to step down, a chorus that includes President Joe Biden. If the language on the bombshell recording was a surprise - the underlying issues are not. Los Angeles' multi-ethnic tapestry has been fraying for years as demographics change and different communities jockey for power.

We are joined today by Erika Smith, columnist for the Los Angeles Times. The topic of the week falls squarely into her beat: the diversity of California people and places. She gave us an update on the situation and tells us what it might mean for the future of LA.

30: Where is the situation now?

3:35 The investigations

5:50 "The subtext of this whole thing is redistricting"

7:58 The racial tensions in LA

11:48 What next for KDL and Cedillo?

15:15 The recording itself

18:26 Who is Ron Herrerra?

20:56 Who replaces him?

22:19 How does this effect the next election?

25:14 #WWCA

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Political data-cruncher, and frequent Capitol Weekly Podcast guest, Paul Mitchell joins us to read the political tea leaves, 30 days out from the 2022 election. Hang on!

27: What to look for, 30 days out

4:55 Candidate quality

7:43 Could control of the House come down to California's congressional delegation?

9:48 "There is a 60% chance that one party will win both (House and Senate)"

10:25 How does VBM affect October Surprises?

16:56 The State Controller's race

20:23 What should we expect for turnout?

21:31 The 2022 California Primary had the most voters in a gubernatorial primary in history

26:36 Any surprises?

31:20 #WWCA

37:08 Endorsement watch

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Today we look at Proposition 28, an Initiative on the November 8 Ballot that would guarantee substantial annual funding (+/- $1 billion per year) for Arts and Music programs in California schools, without raising taxes. If that sounds like it should be a popular idea, it is: Proponents say that the measure is polling above 70%. Perhaps most telling is the official opposition: There is none.

Proponents include the California Teachers Association, Fender Musical Instruments, actor Sylvester Stallone, and performers Dr. Dre and Katy Perry.

The Measure was authored by former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner who cites his own childhood experience in a school music program as a life-changing opportunity. Beutner learned cello in 5th grade, moved to string bass, then electric bass, ultimately playing in jazz and rock groups before going on to work in journalism, politics and finance, where he made more money than most rock stars ever will. Beutner is active in philanthropic circles, and has spent about $4 million in support of 28.

Beutner joined us for a wide-ranging conversation about the mechanics of Prop. 28, why he believes California needs this measure, playing cello in the upper MidWest, the Los Angeles mayor's race, and Lizzo and the crystal flute. And, as usual, we tell you who had the Worst Week in CA Politics.

36: Why is Prop 28 needed?

2:54 Why is CA so lax on supporting the arts?

7:59 "Are you Ballot Box budgeting?"

10:54 Where do all the Art and Music teachers come from?

15:56 The support for the measure

18:22 Even Fender guitars supports Prop 28

19:11 Who is Austin Beutner's favorite rock band?

21:50 Lizzo and the crystal flute

23:39 "Music is math"

27:33 Thoughts on the LA Mayor's race?

30:50 Closing argument

37:27 #WWCA

41:06 LA Mayor's race: endorsement watch

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Tom Morello, the fiery, activist leader of the rock band Rage Against the Machine, brought his guitar to Sacramento last week to lend support to the United Farm Workers and their effort to pass AB 2183, what UFW spokesman Marc Grossman calls "The Farm Worker Voting Rights Act." The bill passed both houses with comfortable majorities and is now on the governor's desk. Gov. Newsom vetoed a similar measure last year.

The September 21 rally is the latest in a series of actions to bring attention to the bill. Beginning on August 3, supporters made a 355 mile march from Delano, California, retracing the route of UFW founder Cesar Chavez' 1966 march. An estimated 5000 supporters marched the final leg into Sacramento on August 26.

At last week's rally, held on the west steps of the capitol, Morello told his own story of being raised in a union household and sang protest songs, closing his short set with Woody Guthrie's 'This Land is Your Land,' and inviting the crowd of about 500 to sing along.

We attended the rally, recorder in hand. In this episode, we discuss the bill - and its likelihood of being signed - with Grossman, and present parts of Morello's remarks and performance. And, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in CA Politics.

1:13 Paul Ryan's favorite band

2:57 Talking with Marc Grossman

3:49 Why is the UFW here today?

4:48 The opposition to AB 2183

5:41 What does AB 2183 do?

7:28 The framework

8:20 Newsom quickly vetoed a similar bill last year - is his inaction so far a signal?

12:19 The difference between 1969 and today

16:32 Let's check out Tom Morello

17:46 "Fifty years ago, the United Farm Workers (and my mom), taught me a lesson about sacrifice and solidarity"

20:01 #WWCA

24:12 The Los Angeles mayoral debate

26:19 The Mike Curb Congregation

28:19 a union song!

2:38 Have we turned the corner on COVID?

4:34 What about other diseases like Monkeypox and polio?

7:02 Boosters and the numbers

10:17 How close is CA to universal health care?

11:43 CARE Court

16:34 Social media and misinformation

19:01 Cal AIM and the Children's Behavioral Health Initiative

23:54 If congress pulls Medi Care funding, will CA backfill?

25:47 Back to COVID

28:04 Doctors peddling misinformation

29:26 Audience question: CA's text alert re: power use was effective; are there healthcare applications?

30:27 Audience question: Please talk about support mechanisms in CARE Court

32:09 Audience question: The re-procurement contracts

34:46 Audience question: state production of generic insulin

37:50 What about the fentanyl epidemic?

39:58 #WWCA

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:45 How did you get connected to the Hillside Stranglers case?

4:15 The lingering questions

5:25 Meeting Darcy O'Brien, who wrote THE book on the case

7:51 How do you run against an Attorney General in a tough-on-crime environment?

9:00 The Feinstein campaign

9:38 The ad

13:08 What broke the Hillside Strangler case?

15:33 Paul Mitchell's Dad, Jim Mitchell, encounters a Strangler

18:14 A victim-centered approach

19:37 Prosecutor Elizabeth Baron

20:54 Michelle Hawkins, forensic investigator

21:49 "I wanted to do this because I needed to help her"

23:13 interviewing Juror #1

25:11 Daryl Gates' personal files

29:48 Did the Strangler case sink Van De Kamp's candidacy?

33:53 The Los Angeles Times story that wasn't

36:26 Now also an NBC documentary: Hillside Strangler: Devil in Disguise

37:52 Live event in Sacramento, October 1, 2022 at The Sofia

39:41 #WWCA

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1:13 NY politics v. CA politics

2:46 Obligatory Alex Vassar reference

3:07 CA Primary rundown

8:44 Trends in CA's upcoming congressional election

11:07 What, if anything, do last week's Primaries tell us?

15:15: LAWN SIGNS

20:22 IS Gavin Newsom running for President?

25:43: What are Lanhee Chen's chances of winning the Controller's race?

29:31 Remembering Scott Lay

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:41 About GrassrootsLab

1:39 Madrid and Korinke: The Odd Couple

4:33 The political shift in local government

6:44 Districts vs. At-Large

9:06 The LA Mayoral race is poised to make history

11:29 The Count

12:07 Control of the House may come down to California

15:02 The number one issue in LA?

17:19 #WWCA

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:36 The Swing Space

2:37 The Top 100

3:00 The interviews

4:02: A Horseshoe state of mind

5:34 Lauren Sanchez

5:55 Ben Chida

8:10 Lorena Gonzalez

9:04 The funders

9:24 Arnie Sowell Jr.

14:19 Joe Stephenshaw

17:06 Correction: Robbie Hunter DOES NOT consult for WSPA

18:08 Liane Randolph

19:50 Andrew Meredith

21:00 Christy Bouma

21:36 Anthony York

22:58 Matt Rexroad

23:40 Kimberly Rodriguez

24:31 Lorena Gonzalez

24:45 Dana Williamson

26:51 Alice Busching Reynolds

27:01 Kurt Oneto

27:44 Lynn Valbuena

29:27 Nick Rowley

31:04 Karen Getman

31:54 Michael Romano

33:01 Randall Hagar

37:38 John Norwood

39:24 David Pruitt

41:04 Tal Kopan and Joe Garofoli

45:29 The Top 100 Party

48:55 #WWCA

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:23 SB54: What happned?

2:32 The ballot measure

4:52 What kind of support did the ballot prop have?

9:24 With this bill, California will affect the entire USA

10:14 "Extended Producer Responsibility"

14:20 The differences between the ballot proposition and SB54

17:06 A 'defacto' ban on polystyrene

20:03 Reuse is not a new idea

21:28 Let's look at Barbie

23:11 What are CA's recycling numbers now?

28:34 Plastic-eating bacteria?

33:30 WWCA

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:33 A breakdown of Propositon 30

2:53 Strange bedfellows

4:50 The "No" side

8:38 The unions

9:43 The polling

10:43 Who is running the campaigns?

14:08 WSPA's shot across Newsom's bow

14:45 The WSPA ad

18:33 The idea of electric cars

19:13 "I think I have five cars... I don't even know how many cars I have"

26:03 "You see a different world"

26:30 Hydrogen fuel cells

27:13 Nuclear?

28:42 WWCA

Photo: California Governor Gavin Newsom - Photo by Gage Skidmore

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1:09 Tell us about realassemblyman

3:24 Obligatory Alex Vassar reference

3:35 The Berman - McCarthy - Brown Speakership fight

4:36 "It's 41 votes, Bruce, not 41 Democrats..."

6:04 How did Brown get Republican votes?

7:45 Pat Nolan vs. Willie Brown

9:00 "Why the hell is Willie Brown raising money for Republicans?"

10:12 "Willie is so misunderstood..."

12:16 "You don't leave someone with that much talent with nothing to do..."

12:52 What about the current Speakership fight?

19:31 "Revolution is revolution"

22:35 Then and now

26:02 "Don't get too wound up - you're voting for this"

27:52 What piques realassemblyman's interest?

32:49 #WWCA

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:25 Dentistry and Medi-Cal

2:12 49th out of 50 states

4:37 The impact of COVID

5:44 Can telehealth work for dental care?

6:31 "I never liked going to the dentist.."

7:15 What regions of the state are hardest to serve?

10:20 Why is dentistry separate from other health care?

13:09 Reimbursement rates

16:07 Are there programs to get dentists into underserved communities?

18:21 What now for California dentists?

19:59 #WWCA

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:49 WHAT A WEEK

1:04 The Dobbs Decision

3:38 "Settled Law"

7:28 Is it time to expand the Supreme Court, add term limits, etc?...

10:55 The Uniform Parentage Act: what is it?

16:25 Other decisions: West Virginia v EPA

22:30 So.... SCOTUS Justices do not have to recuse themselves?

23:39 What can we infer about the future of Gay Marriage, etc,... from Dobbs?

26:25 #WWCA

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:28 When IS The Bash this year?

1:41 "Too Short's live version of 'Blow the Whistle' was better than the record!"

4:18 Full Disclosure: Media Sponsor

4:38 "I called Anthony York and I said 'you look like you like to party....'"

6:14 Capitol Weekly: After Dark

8:59 The music: "This year will be a little different"

9:56 Does The Bash just happen in Summer now?

11:40 Musical guest hint: he's current; he's 6'6.

16:19 The DJ life

18:14 Shout-out to Pressed Cafe (at 18th and L, not 17th)

19:20 "How the F---- was that a hit?"

21:24 The Darien Gap

23:17 Lobbying in the Swing Space

26:52 #WWCA

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:30 What got you started in political coverage?

2:42 "Menopausal Women Nostalgic for Choice"

3:08 From Contra Costa to Sacramento

6:04 The gender equation

9:26 "I would have sworn Pete Wilson hated me"

10:29 Inside the Governor's press office

12:25 "Jerry Brown was interesting, I have to say"

17:11 Reporting vs. Editing

22:19 Are we seeing the return of Yellow Journalism?

26:44 What now?

32:04 #WWCA

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:30 The Primary

4:31 Zoomers vs. Boomers

10:47 "There were more poll workers that day than people who actually showed up to vote."

12:19 Focus Groups: Steve Westly vs. Phil Angelides

14:38 Would turnout improve if we allowed Ballot Props on the June ballot again?

16:28 The Los Angeles Mayoral race

23:54 "The least-informed people in the state"

26:55 Caruso and Bass are in the runoff: what happens now?

32:00 #WWCA

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:35 Senate Primary: Why is Alex Padilla on the Ballot so many times?

1:35 The CVF Voter Guide

2:23 Redistricting

5:53 Vote-by-Mail

10:22 How does VBM affect the timing of the vote count?

12:20 Let's talk voter fraud

17:12 What kind of turnout will we see in June?

20:10 #WWCA

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:36 Why was CLBSA formed?

1:51 Is this related to the push for unionization?

2:59 Membership of CLBSA

5:07 The merger of the California Capitol Black Staff Association and the Black Legislative and Capitol Association

7:38 What has the response in the Capitol been like?

10:16 Are there any legislative goals?

13:16 How did you each come to work in the Capitol?

17:23 Is the reality of the Capitol different from your expectations?

21:33 The distinct challenges of being a Black professional in the Capitol

28:25 #WWCA

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:27 How will the decision affect California - or will it?

3:35 An ACLU Board Member AND Women for Trump co-chair. Really.

6:46 "Why do you still live in California?"

7:10 The beginnings of hyper-partisanship

11:47 "The quality of state legislators has declined over time"

13:23 Term limits?

14:58 "Where is Asthma Day?"

16:21 Does the Roe decision open the door to overturn Obergefell v Hodges?

20:56 A wide majority of Americans believe in SOME abortion rights - but how far does that support go?

23:32 Who benefits from the leak of this document?

27:48 #WWCA

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30: What does this mean for California?

3:41 Would the proposed state Constitutional Amendment affect legislative/congressional races in California?

8:23 What impact will this have on national races?

9:36 Orange County vs. Central Valley

11:06 Abortion reversal is just one of many issues

11:40 Impact on the Senate?

14:58 What other decisions are at risk?

17:41 The leak

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:25 The background

3:30 This has been tried many times before. What was different this time?

7:30 The MICRA compromise

11:48 Will this raise insurance costs?

15:38 What is the likelihood that this becomes law?

16:12 Let's talk Redistricting: A letter to the Attorney General

21:57 Who makes the final call?

25:57 #WWCA

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1:18 What happens now?

4:58 The lawsuits

7:14 CEQA?

8:19 What is the timeline?

10:27 The trees of Capitol Park

15:59 A look at the plan in place

19:58 Can the legislature override a court decision?

23:50 Is the Apse coming back?

29:16 WWCA

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:56 Is this a good time to buy an Electric Car?

5:15 What about charging times?

9:37 Comparison: buying gas vs. charging the car

12:07 The Charging Station network

17:07 Why does it take so long to buy an EV at a dealership?

21:08 EVs and Climate Change: the Big Picture

26:20 How much does an EV cost?

37:06 The #WorstWeekCA

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:20 What does AB 1771 do?

2:09 What are the penalties?

4:05 How many houses are "flipped" in California?

5:30 Tax implications?

6:32 Speaking of taxes, what about a Vacancy Tax?

7:47 What's the status of housing inventory?

9:56 How does this bill fit into NIMBY/YIMBY discussion?

13:35 How does this play in different parts of the state?

18:00 The response in the Capitol?

18:47 The #WorstWeekCA

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:34 Out to pasture?

4:35 Gov. Schwarzenegger's message to the Russian people

7:35 The California 100 Initiative

10:51 California is so Progressive in many ways - why is the poverty rate so high?

14:57 Is Single-Payer healthcare coming to California?

20:52 About Sacramento Advocates

22:18 The #WorstWeekCA

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:34 What are Case Books and why do we need them?

3:11 The Inquisitive Mind

5:55 How the Legislature might look in the next session

8:30 Impact of term limits

10:56 What's it like in the capitol right now?

14:01 There are now 3 space for legislators: the old capitol, the LOB and the new Swing Space

18:55 Let's talk about the Capitol Annex Project

22:23 Are the anti-annex project lawsuits CEQA-based?

27:52 What happens if the court comes down on the anti-Annex side?

29:26 The #WorstWeekCA

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:36 What next for gas prices?

4:24 DYK: California gets about 50,000 barrels of oil per day from Russia

6:34 How much do retailers control gas pricing?

9:43 California's oil production has declined 60% - why?

12:36 What drives the cost of gas?

18:06 Can the US influence the global price of oil?

20:11 Is there common ground between energy producers and environmentalists?

22:54 Let's talk Carbon Capture

28:19 Will Biden tap the Strategic Oil Reserve?

31:14 The #WorstWeekCA

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California Crime, Panel 2: SOLUTIONS – A New Approach? Decades of tough-on-crime legislation saw California’s state prison population grow from 20,000 prior to 1980 to a peak of 175,000 in 2006. Reforms, including a 2011 court-mandated reduction of the prison population, have lowered the number of people in California prisons, and the state will close two prisons in 2021-2022. But, how many prisoners now languish in underfunded city and county jails? Prison closures coincide with a new crop of Progressive officials and treatment advocates who are approaching punishment, incarceration and rehabilitation differently; Cities including Oakland and Sacramento have created programs to add social workers to the police response to some 911 calls. Are efforts like these improving the rehabilitation of those being arrested and making California safer for everyone?

Featuring: Captain Brian Bixler, Los Angeles Police Department; Hillary Blout, For the People; Tinisch Hollins, Californians for Safety and Justice; Michael Romano, California Committee on the Revision of the Penal Code Moderated by Byrhonda Lyons, Calmatters

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, Lucas Public Affairs, Pandora and California Professional Firefighters

California Crime, Panel 1: TRUE CRIME – The Statistics California’s murder rate climbed 30% in 2020 and appears to have continued to rise in 2021. High profile Smash-and-Grab robberies made headlines; Some politicians blame Prop. 47 for creating a perception that these crimes have no consequences. Yet, property crime rates were at historic lows in 2020 – down 30% since 2000. Robberies decreased by 14% and rapes decreased by 8%. What are we to make of these statistics, and how do they compare to national trends? Did Prop. 47 cause a crime wave? What are the real numbers for California Crime?

Featuring: Magnus Lofstrom, Public Policy Institute of California; Alyson Lunetta, California Department of Justice Statistical Center; Jennifer Noble, CSU Sacramento; Gregory D. Totten, California District Attorneys Association Moderated by Sigrid Bathen, Capitol Weekly

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, Lucas Public Affairs, Pandora and California Professional Firefighters

28:00 #WWCA

California Crime, Panel 3: THE POLITICS – From ‘Three Strikes’ to ‘Defund the Police’ California’s reliably blue voter base sends majorities of Democrats to the Legislature and zero Republicans to statewide office, while often rejecting criminal justice reforms at the same time. An effort to end the Death Penalty, proposition 62, was rejected by voters in 2016. Senate Bill 10, which eliminated cash bail, was passed by the legislature and signed into law in 2018; Two years later voters repealed the bill in a referendum. In 2014, Proposition 14, which loosened sentencing guidelines, passed with nearly 60% of the vote; Now, with crime a rising concern, many, including some Democrats, want it scrapped. Two Progressive prosecutors, LA County District Attorney George Gascón and San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, have been targeted with Recall efforts. What does this ‘tough on crime’ attitude say about California’s otherwise liberal voters? Does the issue of crime offer a path forward for California’s embattled Republican Party?

Featuring: Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham; Anne Irwin, Smart Justice California; Rob Stutzman, Stutzman Public Affairs; Bill Wong, California Assembly Democrats Moderated by Erika Smith, Los Angeles Times

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, Lucas Public Affairs, Pandora and California Professional Firefighters

:58 Why is everybody leaving?

2:46 Redistricting is not playing as much of a role as one might think

4:01 The legislative life cycle

7:11 Will this affect the partisan balance?

8:25 Congress? Does this impact the midterms?

9:46 Switching gears: is the National redistricting picture as bad for the Dems as was predicted?

14:31 The rundown: Seven who left to take other jobs

16:10 Ten members running for other offices

20:31 Six members who have announced that not running for unknown reasons

23:27 Four seats, with eight members running - meaning four WILL lose

25:55 Are voters mad when their representatives quit?

27:42 The Rumor Mill: any more retirements on the way?

29:49 The impact of COVID on the Third house

33:12 The candidate filing deadline: March 11

34:57 The #WorstWeekCA

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:32 Recalls, recalls everywhere: a harbinger of things to come?

3:12 What about the outside money in the Shasta Recall?

5:07 This is no longer a battle of political ideas: it is about delegitimizing the government.

6:23 "The Republican Party is gone."

10:06 The bigger picture: this is a global movement

12:36 How will this play out in different areas of California?

14:54 "The average Republican voter in California is no different than the Republican voters in West Virginia, Arkansas or Mississippi."

18:07 What about the remaining GOP stalwarts?

18:42 In the sixties and seventies, the Democratic Party saw a fracturing; is that what's happening in today's GOP?

24:05 What - if anything - can be done to turn this extremism back?

27:04 "We need to get out of the mindset that the GOP is in any way a party of ideas - it is not."

30:43 What happens in the midterms?

35:23 The #WorstWeekCA

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:30 Is there a connection between WeSaidEnough and DearCAStaffers?

3:24 Are the comments from DCS similar to the stories from WSE?

4:50 The format of DearCAStaffers

6:26 Who is behind the account?

7:42 There are a slew of these accounts across the US - are they coordinated?

9:19 "Festivus for the Capitol Community"

11:40 What legal exposure does DCS have?

15:11 The format is new, but these types of complaints are nearly as old as the legislature itself

17:11 How does the official grievance process work?

20:30 What is the solution for protecting legislative employees? Unionization?

22:38 Do we need a ballot measure to fix this?

27:00 What's the future of DCA?

28:36 The #WorstWeekCA

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:38 How are the Leadership Award winners chosen?

2:39 Brandon Smith & Royal Ramey, The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program

4:40 The political pitfalls of inmate firefighters

6:29 Naindeep Singh, the Jakara Movement

8:38 Do these groups also get government funding?

9:34 Camila Chávez, the Dolores Huerta Foundation

11:12 How is the Irvine Foundation different from the Irvine Company?

13:13 What are the logistics behind the Awards program?

15:13 DeVone Boggan, Advance Peace

20:06 How do you measure success?

21:12 Serita Cox, iFoster

24:21 Dr. Noha Aboelata, Roots Community Health Center

27:43 The #WorstWeekCA

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:34 What would AB 1400 do?

1:45 The difference between AB 1400 and ACA 11, and the costs

4:33 What happens on January 31?

4:54 The opposition

7:33 Can Single-Payer happen here? How is this bill different from SB 562?

10:56 Does the dynamic shift because this is an election year?

12:46 Where is Gov. Newsom on this?

14:13 Can California run a bureaucracy this big?

16:33 How does the payment system work? Reimbursements?

19:05 How does Cal-Care work with employer-based health care?

20:58 If AB 1400 is signed, when would ACA 11 go on the ballot?

121:34 Do you make dinner for your Dad every day?

22:42 Iron Maiden? For real?

23:24 Gratuitous David Quintana reference

25:51 The #WorstWeekCA

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:32 From 53 to 52 - who loses out?

1:21 The new maps: good, bad or indifferent?

2:11 Why do these districts stand out?

4:23 Are we going to see the end of Democratic supermajorities in the California legislature?

4:54 CD49

7:57 AD70

10:11 CD9

12:13 CD22

13:32 SD4 and SD6

15:36 SD16

17:49 AD22

19:00 AD44

20:44 AD76

21:43 How important will the vote on AB1400 be in the November elections?

24:03 The Polsby-Popper Score

25:367 The #WorstWeekCA

The Butte County District Attorney's Report on the Camp Fire: https://www.buttecounty.net/Portals/30/CFReport/PGE-THE-CAMP-FIRE-PUBLIC-REPORT.pdf?ver=2020-06-15-190515-977

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:53 Reality check: Can we get this done?

2:38 Why now?

4:41 Is CalCare a good idea?

8:33 How do these proposals fit into the Federal system?

11:02 How does the public feel about their current healthcare coverage?

13:22 How does the Governor's proposal affect providers?

16:15 The opposition to AB1400

18:12 Assuming AB1400 passes, how long would it take to implement?

20:13 "A Healthy California For All"

21:02 Opposition to the ACA was INTENSE. Has the conversation around healthcare changed that much since 2010?

24:48 The difference between Single Payer and Universal Health Care

27:39 The #WorstWeekCA

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:27 The Gann Limit

2:32 The surplus

4:17 Will we see new ongoing programs?

6:33 What would Chris like to see?

8:11 Relief for healthcare entities

9:39 The Budget process

14:15 Will this Budget impact upcoming elections?

15:35 Build Back Better

16:29 What percentage of the CA Budget is based on Federal dollars?

19:21 Scuttlebutt: what is rumored to be in this year's Budget?

21:31 The #WorstWeekCA

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:42 Where are we on the drought?

3:22 Floods and fire: is this Climate Change

4:39 What are the options in the face of drought, and do we need more reservoirs?

6:30 What will it take to recharge California's aquifers?

8:00 SGMA

8:32 What about infrastructure upgrades?

10:02 Desalination?

10:47 The Sierra snowpack

14:52 Other options to confront the drought?

17:13 Toilet-to-tap

19:27 "How Beer Saved the World"

20:09 What should the state be doing right now?

22:37 The #WorstYEARCA

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:33 What is happening with Roe v. Wade

2:31 The Texas case

4:55 The Mississippi case

7:15 If Roe were overturned tomorrow

11:51 How will this impact California?

13:54 The FDA will allow abortion pills to be sent by mail - what impact will that have?

16:47 Abortions are down 16% in California - why?

18:20 California as abortion refuge

20:58 The repercussions of overturning Roe

24:13 Prediction: what happens if SCOTUS upends Roe v. Wade in 2022?

26:48 The #WorstWeekCA

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:32 What are the 'hot' political collectibles these days?

3:02 "The history of America can be told using buttons"

3:40 How much IS a six-pack of Billy Beer?

5:45 Sacramento's "protest sign guy" (note: we THINK this guy was named Robert H. Simpson)

6:50 "I Like Ike"

8:04 The Medfly Invasion

10:47 What are the most valuable collectibles?

16:01 Adam's collection

19:17 Buttons: the Twitter of their day

23:29 The big score

25:44 The #WorstWeekCA

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This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on November 17, 2021 at a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly as part of our Energy Forum.

California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot delivered the Keynote. He was introduced by John Howard, Editor of Capitol Weekly.

This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on November 17, 2021 at a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly as part of our Energy Forum.

Panel 3: The End of Oil? With the impacts of Climate Change looming, Gov. Newsom and the Legislature have set a goal to be carbon neutral by mid-century. Can we meet that goal, and if so, how? And, what becomes of the state’s fossil fuel industry in a carbon neutral California? How will this affect those communities that may struggle to meet the costs of making the transition?

Panelists: Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute at Haas; Danny Cullenward, CarbonPlan; Catherine Reheis-Boyd, Western States Petroleum Association; Alvaro Sanchez, Greenlining Institute

Moderated by Julie Cart of Calmatters

This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on November 17, 2021 at a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly as part of our Energy Forum.

Panel 2: The Future of the Grid. PG&E has emerged from bankruptcy, but California’s electrical infrastructure is aging, and the state’s demand for electricity continues to climb. How will the state’s energy providers meet the growing demand, and what will the grid look like decades from now?

Asm. Chris Holden; Stacey Crowley, ISO; Carla Peterman, PG&E Amisha Rai, Advanced Energy Economy

Moderated by Sophia Bollag of the Sacramento Bee

An Energy Forum was presented as part of Capitol Weekly's California Conference series. This event received support from The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The California Building Industry Association, Lucas Public Affairs, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Pandora and California Professional Firefighters

This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on November 17, 2021 at a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly as part of our Energy Forum.

Panel 1, Renewable Energy: Can solar, wind and hydroelectrics meet the demand for electricity as the state transitions away from fossil fuels? And, what does the current battle between rooftop solar proponents and large-scale solar farm operators portend?

Panelists: Dan Jacobson, Environment California; Rajinder Sahota, California Air Resources Board; V. John White, CEERT; Julia Zuckerman, Clearway Energy

Moderated by Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times

An Energy Forum was presented as part of Capitol Weekly's California Conference series. This event received support from The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The California Building Industry Association, Lucas Public Affairs, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Pandora and California Professional Firefighters

:38 When do we get the final maps?

3:53 The Voting Rights Act seats

5:10 don't announce based on DRAFT maps

6:05 Did they really eliminate the most Latino district in the US?

9:57 BOE

15:14 The Partisan breakdown

20:42 The nature of redistricting

24:17 The #WorstWeekCA

We've got a two-fer episode today: first up, we speak with political data expert Paul Mitchell, who gives us an update on the status of California's new district maps.* Next we turn to Bruce and Lane Campbell, who run Capitol Enquiry, the publisher of GovBuddy and other indispensable tools for keeping track of legislative contact info. Bruce and Lane shared the company's origin story and gave us insight into the development of their unique product line.

And of course we wrap it all up with the #WorstWeekCA.

*A caveat: we recorded this section on Friday and it may be moot by Monday.

Show Notes:

:15 Welcome, Paul Mitchell

:39 Is Davis really moving into Doug LaMalfa's district?

12:27 Welcome Bruce and Lane Campbell

12:59 The origin of Capitol Enquiry

25:03 The #WorstWeekCA

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We are joined today by Bob Stern, one of the authors of the The Political Reform Act of 1974, and a former counsel for California's Fair Political Practices Commission. We asked him about Behested Payments - donations made to a charity or public program at the request of an elected official. The practice comes around for scrutiny by California's political media every so often... most recently when Governor Newsom drummed up over $200 million in donations from supporters during the pandemic.

The practice isn't illegal, but strict reporting rules do apply. Elected officials are required to report behested donations of $5,000 or more. Behested payments were largely unknown when the The Political Reform Act was passed in 1974 - but have emerged as a big factor since campaign finance reforms were enacted.

Plus, we look at a #WorstWeekCA for an LA City Councilmember - probably not the one you think.

Show Notes:

:38 Let's talk about Behested Payments

4:25 Money in politics: the conundrum

8:01 How do campaign contribution limits work?

13:00 How does our campaign finance system compare?

18:47 Is there interest in deeper campaign reform?

20:29 What's next step for dealing with pledged money in politics?

22:59 The #WorstWeekCA

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With the Recall in the rearview mirror, California political junkies can now fixate on the next big election in the state: the race to replace Eric Garcetti as the mayor of Los Angeles. The contest has already drawn big names like Congresswoman Karen Bass and LA City Councilmember Kevin de Leon; Mark Ridley-Thomas had been rumored to be considering a run, but legal issues have put an end to that speculation. Our guest this episode is Professor Fernando Guerra, who teaches political science at Loyola Marymount University and founded the Center for the Study of Los Angeles in 1996. He joined us to talk about the mayoral contest, the Mark Ridley-Thomas situation and the significant changes Redistricting may bring to some Council Districts. All that, plus who had the #WorstWeek in CA politics.

Show Notes:

:50 Let's talk about the mayoral race

8:26 What are the main issues in the campaign?

8:18 Newsom is usually aligned with Labor; What happened here?

10:10 The Mark Ridley-Thomas Effect

14:13 How did you get interested in politics?

21:21 What happens on June 7?

26:04 The #WorstWeekCA

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Agriculture is BIG business in California; More than half the fruits, nuts and vegetables sold in the US come from the Golden State.

This summer, the legislature passed AB616, the Agricultural Labor Relations Voting Choice Act, a bill to expand options for organizing agricultural workers. Modeled on the 2016 Voter's Choice Act, the bill sailed through the legislature, despite being labeled a "job killer" by agribusiness interests.

To the surprise of many - including bill sponsors the United Farm Workers - Gov. Newsom vetoed the bill on September 22. Undaunted, the UFW immediately rerouted an in-progress march on Sacramento to Napa's French Laundry, a dig at the Governor they had supported against Recall just the week before.

The defeat is the second major blow to the UFW this year: In June, the Supreme Court reversed decades of precedent in a ruling in Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, finding that union organizers have no right of access to the premises of an agricultural employer for the purpose of meeting and talking with employees and soliciting their support.

We are joined this episode by Giev Kashkooli, the political and legislative director for the UFW. Kashkooli spoke with John Howard and Tim Foster about these setbacks, and about the UFW's plans for the future.

And, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Pollitics.

Show Notes:

:40 What was AB616?

5:26 How do the elections work?

8:18 Newsom is usually aligned with Labor; What happened here?

10:04 After the veto

12:38 Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid

14:17 What's in the future for UFW?

19:41 Is AB616 coming back?

20:45 The #WorstWeekCA

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Special Episode recorded October 6, 2021 at Capitol Weekly's conference on California's Mental Health Crisis. This is Panel 3: Mental Health in the COVID Era

The CDC reports that many Americans, especially younger adults, minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers, are experiencing negative mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and other impacts as a result of the stresses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel will look at how we are addressing these concerns, and what remains to be done.

Moderated by author Dan Morain

Panelists: Jessica Cruz, National Association on Mental Illness; Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency; Paul Marcille, California Psychological Association; Tom Sopp, Long Beach Unified School District

We'll be posting the other programming from the day as individual episodes of the Capitol Weekly Podcast. We'll be back to our regular programming on the week of October 17.

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

Special Episode recorded October 6, 2021 at Capitol Weekly's conference on California's Mental Health Crisis. This is the Keynote address by state Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman, introduced by Capitol Weekly's John Howard.

Sen. Eggman offers the deeply personal story of her own experiences with family and friends who suffered from severe mental illness, her decision to become a caregiver and later, to enter politics. She shares her journey and outlines her efforts to address mental and behavioral health issues through legislation, budgeting and perhaps, a ballot initiative.

We'll be posting the other programming from the day as individual episodes of the Capitol Weekly Podcast. We'll be back to our regular programming on the week of October 17.

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Special Episode recorded October 6, 2021 at Capitol Weekly's conference on California's Mental Health Crisis. This is Panel 2: Compelling Treatment – Balancing Individual Rights and ‘Grave Disability’

Respecting personal autonomy while providing treatment is one of the most vexing issues in treatment of severe mental illness and addiction. Our panelists look at this legal and ethical balancing act.

Moderated by Sigrid Bathen of Capitol Weekly

Panelists: Bridgette Dean, Sacramento Department of Community Response; Santa Clara County Mental Health Court Judge Stephen Manley; Al Rowlett, Turning Point Community Programs; Brian Stettin, Treatment Advocacy Center

We'll be posting the other programming from the day as individual episodes of the Capitol Weekly Podcast. We'll be back to our regular programming on the week of October 17.

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

Special Episode recorded October 6, 2021 at Capitol Weekly's conference on California's Mental Health Crisis. This is Panel 1: Origins of California’s Mental Health crisis and Long Term Solutions

Our panelists examine the origins of California’s mental health crisis and discuss long term solutions to the problem.

Moderated Angela Hart of Kaiser Health News

Panelists: Elaine Batchlor, MLK Community Healthcare; former Sen. Jim Beall; Michelle Doty Cabrera, County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California; Janet Coffman, Healthforce Center at UC San Francisco

We'll be posting the other programming from the day as individual episodes of the Capitol Weekly Podcast. We'll be back to our regular programming on the week of October 17.

Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

Anthony York and Paul Mitchell join us to remember Nooner publisher Scott Lay, who died unexpectedly in September.

Scott was a fascinating person with a unique backstory: He never finished high school, but later graduated from college and law school at UC Davis. His experience outside the regular high-school-to-university pipeline gave him a particular appreciation for the role of junior colleges, and he went to work for the Community College League of California, ultimately serving as their President and Chief Executive Officer from 2006 - 2014.

While at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Scott - along with his soon-to-be best friend Paul Mitchell - became involved in politics. He volunteered with other young Democrats and created an innovative politics newsletter, The Donkey's Mouth, where he got his first taste of acclaim for his political insights.

Scott was a technology whiz who created websites and other online tools dedicated to California elections and State Capitol information, among them, AroundTheCapitol.com and ElectionTrack.com. In 2004, he, along with Anthony York, co-founded The Roundup, one of the earliest political news aggregation online newsletters. A few years later, he launched The Nooner, an essential daily politics newsletter with 9000 subscribers.

Scott served on the Board of Open California (the publisher of Capitol Weekly) and was our Board Vice President at the time of his death. His guidance and advice on all things politics have been absolutely essential. His understanding of the inner workings of Sacramento was unparalleled, and when we wanted to confirm or dispel any Capitol rumor - Scott was the first call.

It is no exaggeration to say that without Scott, there probably would not be an Open California today. As we transitioned ownership of the Capitol Weekly publications from the former publisher to Open California, The Roundup's ad revenue was our most consistent income stream. Scott gifted his ownership portion of The Roundup to Open California - without that gift, Open California would likely never have come to be.

We discuss Scott’s very public battle with alcoholism and mental health issues. It was a struggle that Scott continued until his death.

A memorial for Scott will be held on October 11, from 4-6PM at the Sterling Hotel, 1300 H St, Sacramento, CA 95814.

A scholarship in memory of Scott Lay has been established by the Orange Coast College Foundation where he was a student in the early 1990s. Online gifts can be made at: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/scottlaymemorial

Donations by check to the Scott Lay Memorial Scholarship should be directed to:

Orange Coast College Foundation

Attn: Doug Bennett

2701 Fairview Road

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io

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Today's guest is Robb Korinke, who turned heads in August with a data-driven pushback on the pundit-driven panic driving Democrats to despair regarding the governor's odds in the Recall. Korinke's projection that Gov. Newsom would win, and win handily, was not only correct, but actually underestimated the size of the groundswell to keep him in office. Korinke leads GrassrootsLab's client activities in Southern California, and specializes in state and local government, open data and transparency issues, digital communications and community engagement. He is also the Editor of CaliforniaCityNews.org and CaliforniaCountyNews.org, a position which came in very handy when it came time to choose who had the Worst Week in California Politics.... or, as Korinke puts it: "the most bananas political story in the state, bar none."

Show Notes:

:45 Let's talk about the Recall

2:08 The math

6:09 Is it time to change the Recall process?

11:24 The problem with the press

15:39 Urban vs. rural

16:42 What happened to "the Fishhook?"

20:46 "Is this people turning on Democrats?"

26:35 The #WorstWeekCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Last week, the governor signed SB9 and SB10 into law. These bills will effectively end single family zoning in the state, with the goal of making it easier to build new homes in preexisting neighborhoods, near transit. A little-discussed impact of SB9 is that it helps homeowners finance new construction on their property without tying up the equity in their existing home. We're joined today by Steven Dietz of United Dwelling, an LA-based housing builder leading the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) industry with the most rental units built in California. United Dwelling partners with homeowners to transform their garage or backyard space into a high-quality rental unit.

Plus, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes:

1:05 What is an ADU?

2:39 The biggest challenge of building an ADU

3:53 Restrictions

6:04 What are minimum and maximum sizes?

8:26 How much did they cost?

12:00 Gentrification concerns

18:36 "I love a garage - I'd spend more time there than in my living room.."

23:32 Interest rates on an ADU?

26:55 How long does it take to build an ADU??

29:29 The #WorstWeekCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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We sat down on Friday for a chat about the looming Recall election with Jonathan Brown, president of Sextant Strategies & Research, a Democratic polling firm based in Southern California. Brown published an intriguing analysis of the race back in August, noting that Democrats were outperforming their registration numbers in early voting, and challenging the chorus of pundits who had predicted grave danger for the governor. Brown offers his thoughts on the state of the race, what the Recall says about the parties and even offers his estimate on the final numbers.

Plus, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes:

:55 Where are we on turnout?

3:07 The enthusiasm gap

4:53 What about NPP voters?

5:59 How is the pandemic affecting the race?

11:18 The surprising truth about Huntington Beach

11:58 The future of Kevin Faulconer

14:24 The future of the CA GOP

18:52 If Newsom survives the Recall, how does he emerge?

20:59 The media, the campaigns and the pollsters

29:10 The prediction: how does this turn out?

31:16 The #WorstWeekCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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We are joined today by Anne Dunsmore, Campaign Manager for Rescue California, the organization that is heading the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. Dunsmore is a longtime fundraiser and activist and has plenty of experience with the Recall process: she worked on the campaign to oust Gov. Gray Davis and the earlier effort to remove Supreme Court Justice Rose Bird. Will she make it three-for-three?

Plus, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes:

:44 Why did this Recall effort make it to the ballot?

3:34 The 100,000-strong volunteer army

5:24 Comparing the 2003 Recall vs. 2021

7:09 How did the pandemic affect the effort?

8:29 The role of Orrin Heatlie

12:28 And.... Larry Elder

15:29 What is it with talk show hosts?

16:17 What's next for Anne Dunsmore?

17:56 The #WorstWeekCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Last week Capitol Weekly published The 2021 Top 100 - naming the most powerful movers and shakers in California politics. We don’t include elected officials. Instead, we look at those who devote their professional lives to fighting for – or against – issues of state politics and policy, including lobbyists, bureaucrats, activists, trade group leaders, Capitol staffers and even journalists.

On this episode we discuss the 2021 list with Scott Lay, publisher of The Nooner and consummate capitol insider, and look at the forces - COVID, wildfires and the recall - that strongly shaped this edition of the list. And speaking of the recall, Scott poses an interesting question: what will next year's Top 100 look like if Larry Elder become Governor?

Plus, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Looking for a copy of the 2021 Top 100 Book? Books are $10 per copy, plus $5 shipping (or pick up in Sacramento). For details end email to top100@capitolweekly.net

Show Notes:

:45 Looking at the list

3:10 It's been an interesting legislative year.

4:23 Who's missing?

5:03 What about the young guns?

7:13 Is it time to rejigger the list?

8:25 The list over time

10:03 The challenge: How do you rank a Robbie Hunter vs. a staffer?

12:56 what if Larry Elder wins?

20:00 Dee Dee Myers

21:27 Speaking of new people

32:12 Many things are in stasis because of the Recall

35:49 The #WorstWeekCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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The decennial census data released last week by the US Census Bureau offered insights into how the country has changed since 2010 and will be instrumental in redrawing California's political maps. We're joined today by Paul Mitchell of Political Data Inc., who offers his thoughts on what the data portend for California's redistricting. And he shares his very favorite redistricting story with us!

Plus, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes:

:58 What do the new census numbers tell us?

3:35 An expansion of majority minority districts?

4:49 Why are some populations growing?

6:42 Lawsuits?

10:19 What are the deadlines for redistricting?

13:31 Who is going to lose their congressional seat?

16:38 BOE: the BEST redistricting story ever

17:55 The #WorstWeekCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Longtime lobbyist Chris Micheli stops by the Capitol Weekly Podcast to talk with Tim Foster and John Howard about his TWO new case books: Introduction to California State Government and Cases and Materials on Direct Democracy in California.

Micheli, a lawyer and an adjunct professor at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law has published numerous books on the subject of lobbying, and explains the value of his these latest resources.

Plus, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes:

:40 What is a Case Book?

3:09 "It's not the blood and gore of the legislative process"

3:54 The three forms of direct democracy in California

4:35 The unspoken rules of the process

8:39: Has the partisan makeup changed lobbying?

12:38 Who are these books for?

14:52 Trailer bills

17:28 What are the most common questions from students?

22:59 The details

26:43 The #WorstWeekCA

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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The latest Berkeley IGS Poll finds that among likely voters, 47% favor recalling Governor Gavin Newsom and only 50% favor his retention. Those numbers are a stark warning for a Governor serving amid the most turbulent era in memory, where extreme circumstances within - and beyond - his control could impact the attitude of the electorate at any moment. We are joined today by veteran pollster Mark DiCamillo of the Berkeley IGS Poll - he walks us through his findings, and even breaks a little news, sharing the preferred political news sources of the respondents.

Plus, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

Show Notes:

:39 What has changed since earlier polling?

3:07 Whither independents?

3:42 So, Larry Elder?

6:16 Cox vs. Faulconer

10:34 How fluid is the race at this point?

14:05 Where do respondents get their political news?

19:05 What about the people who won't respond to surveys?

22:59 What is a "likely voter?"

27:26 The #WorstWeekCA

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Today we welcome Randall Hagar, the Policy Consultant and Legislative Advocate for the Psychiatric Physicians Alliance of California. Hagar has been advocating for sound mental health policies for over 20 years and helped draft the language for the original Laura's Law, a landmark state law that allows for court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment. Hagar Joined us to talk about the growing numbers of mentally ill Californians that are either homeless or behind bars, and efforts to reform the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, the 1967 legislation that put strict limits on involuntary commitment. He also outlines the big difference between a Probate Conservatorship (i.e. what pop star Britney Spears has) and the mental illness conservatorships that exist under Lanterman-Petris-Short.

Plus: Who had the #WorstWeekCA?

Show Notes:

1:14 Mental health treatment is high priority for most Californians

2:08 Telehealth and mental health treatments

5:07 Stresses for psychiatrists under COVID

6:08 Laura's Law

8:26 Mental illness and homelessness

10:35 The Lanterman-Petris-Short Act

13:09 New bills to address shortcomings

16:59 Jails and Prisons: defacto treatment centers

24:55 Conservatorship vs. Conservatorship

27:44 The Worst Week in California Politics

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We are joined this episode by Asm. Kevin McCarty of Sacramento, who walks us through some of the groundbreaking investments in education that are enshrined in the 2021-22 state budget, signed last Monday by Gov. Newsom. McCarty, a Democratic member of the Assembly Budget Committee, takes a victory lap, touting the unabashedly progressive education agenda outlined in the Budget - an unprecedented expansion of programs that will provide free meals for all K-12 students, increase access to Cal Grants, provide Transitional Kindergarten for all four year-olds, and make significant investments in building affordable student housing.

Plus: Who got sentenced to a year in prison for the #WorstWeekCA?

Show Notes:

:44 Universal meal program for school children

3:36 Rainy Day fund

4:45 Universal Transitional Kindergarten

11:32 Affordable student housing and scholarships

13:20 Increasing admission slots in UC and CSU

14:52 Biggest disappointment in the Budget?

16:51 #WorstWeekCA

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The Bash (AKA The Back to Session Bash) has been a Capitol tradition for close to two decades now. The 2020 edition - the biggest ever - was held as usual in January, before COVID was a concern. Twelve months later, a January 2021 Bash was out of the question. The question then was: cancel or postpone? Bash headmaster David Quintana (AKA Q) consulted with the party's sponsors and decided to schedule The Bash for July 14 - just before the legislature's Summer recess - and here we are.

Quintana joined John Howard and Tim Foster this episode to talk about expectations and limits for Wednesday's event, doing shots with Lil Jon, Taiko drummers, Kings dancers, the best - and worst - moments in Bash history. Plus: Who had the #WorstWeekCA?

Show Notes:

.59 What's with The Bash this year?

8:29 Birthday buddy: Lil Jon

11:30 The vibe is different

14:39 The Worst

24:48 The Mexican national anthem

27:07 Shameless Top 100 Party plug

29:22 #WorstWeekCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Note that we're posting early on the holiday weekend - we are joined this episode by California Governor's Office of Emergency Services chief Mark Ghilarducci. Ghilarducci leads the state response to disasters of all kinds. Ghilarducci has extensive experience: he has served California governors since the Deukmejian administration and was the incident commander on the Oklahoma City bombing recovery effort. We asked him for his thoughts on the recent building collapse in Surfside, Florida as well as on California's 2021 fire season.

Plus: Who had the #WorstWeekCA? Reporter Natalie Hanson joins us to explain what is happening on the Chico city council, which lost two councillors in the course of six days.

Show Notes:

1:07 What happens when a building collapses?

3:44 "When we see the "big" earthquake out here in California..."

10:10 Search and rescue teams

11:31 What to expect for California this year

20:07 Will we continue to rebuild in fire-prone areas?

23:51 RE: CapRadio's report: What is really going on with fire mitigation?

29:19 #WorstWeekCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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As John says in the episode: "When we think of solar energy, we think of Bernadette Del Chiaro." Bernadette is the executive director of the California Solar & Storage Association, whose mission is to promote the widespread deployment of local clean energy technologies. Rooftop solar has been one of the state's biggest clean-energy success stories: California has built the equivalent of five nuclear power plants-worth of rooftop solar in the past 15 years. Now, proposed changes to net metering could put the brakes on the state's rooftop solar expansion. Plus - Who had the #WorstWeekCA?

Show Notes:

2:09 What is Net Metering?

6:58 What about AB1139?

13:43 "We don't have blackouts in the middle of the night"

15:25 Cost to install rooftop solar

21:04 What is the PUC's roll?

22:35 The #WorstWeekCA

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Longtime environmental advocate Annie Notthoff retired from the Natural Resources Defense Council last year but still has plenty to say about California environmental issues. We asked her about CEQA exemptions for housing, what to make of the budget and the drought. Plus: Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

Show Notes:

3:30 Benefits of an ally in the White House

6:07 Housing and CEQA

11:35 Taxes: "If Silicon Valley catches a cold, CA's in trouble"

12:35 The Drought

18:41 What's the difference between NRDC and other environmental orgs?

24:52: Post-pandemic thoughts?

28:56 The #WorstWeekCA

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Ken Jacobs, chair of the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education, joined us to chat about a number of labor issues, including the ongoing uproar over at SEIU 1000 following the election of outsider candidate Richard Louis Brown; the latest fallout from Proposition 22; and The PRO Act: what is it, and how will it impact California workers if passed?

Also: What the heck is going on at the Santa Barbara Citizen's Independent Redistricting Commission? We invited two of the state's top redistricting experts, Paul Mitchell and Matt Rexroad, to weigh in on our #WorstWeekCA.

Show Notes:

1:34 How many workers voted in the SEIU 1000 election?

6:16 President Brown promises to eliminate political spending - can he?

8:52 Richard Louis Brown vs. Gavin Newsom

10:40 A 21% wage increase?

12:53: Shifting sands of Prop. 22

16:23 What is the PRO Act?

19:38 Is union membership making a comeback?

22:13 The #WorstWeekCA

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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We are joined today by the Governor Newsom's Executive Secretary, (aka chief of staff) Jim Deboo. Deboo joined the governor's office in January, just as the pandemic surged in the wake of the holidays. Unemployment was at record highs, predictions for the state's economy were dire, and the Recall effort was gathering steam. Six months later, Deboo surveys a very different landscape: California leads the nation in COVID vaccinations, the economy is rebounding and an improbable budget surplus has made predicted service cuts largely unnecessary. The Recall, however, still looms. We spoke to Deboo about governing under such unpredictable circumstances, how the horseshoe works under lockdown rules, and asked him who HE'D put on the Top 100.

Show Notes:

2:55 The team in the Horseshoe

4:24 How would you rank the horseshoe on the Top 100?

6:21 The Recall

13:00 "COVID. There was no playbook for that."

17:06 The Budget

26:24 What is your ultimate goal?

29:54 The #WorstWeekCA

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

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Since we posted FOUR new episodes this past week, we're offering up an abbreviated version of our regular podcast... this time we'll just look at who had the #WorstWeekCA. If you have been following the news, the answer should be pretty clear: SEIU 1000, home to 96,000 union state employees, saw a dramatic low-turnout election that unseated the longtime leader and replaced her with an outsider candidate who promised to cut all political spending, and told Gavin Newsom not to expect his union's help in the Recall. Tune in to hear the details!

This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on May 26 at a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly as part of A Conference on Housing Policy.

Assemblyman David Chiu, Chair of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee delivers the Keynote address: "We Still Have a Housing Crisis."

Asm. Chiu was first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2016, 2018, and 2020. During his first six years in the Assembly, Chiu has authored 64 bills that were signed into law by the Governor. His bills have addressed a wide spectrum of issues, including housing, homelessness and public safety. He is the author of AB 215, a proposed bill that would hold cities accountable for meeting housing production goals. This legislation seeks to address California’s housing shortage by targeting cities that are under-performing their housing production goals.

He was introduced by John Howard, editor of Capitol Weekly.

This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on May 26 at a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly as part of A Conference on Housing Policy.

After years of debate and fierce opposition from neighborhood associations, the support for single-family zoning is waning. Housing advocates like Sen. Scott Wiener have introduced legislation to encourage multi-family building statewide, and in February, the Sacramento City Council took the first steps toward allowing duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes to be built anywhere in the city. The Berkeley City Council soon followed suit. If these zoning changes become widespread throughout the state, how will they impact the cost and availability of housing, and will they bring gentrification with them?

Panelists: Lori Droste, Berkeley City Council; Dan Dunmoyer, California Building Industry Association; Shajuti Hossain, Public Advocates; Isaiah Madison, Livable California

Moderated by Erin Baldassari, KQED

This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on May 26 at a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly as part of A Conference on Housing Policy.

Even a worldwide pandemic couldn’t slow California’s climbing cost of housing. The Golden State boasts the most expensive real estate market in the country – the median home price in California is nearly double the average for a home in the rest of the US. And, rents are equally excessive. Even inland areas that were once relatively affordable have seen double-digit growth: rents in Fresno have risen nearly 40% since 2017. What – if anything – can be done to slow the runaway cost of California housing?

Panelists: Asm. Buffy Wicks; Jason Elliot, Senior Counselor to Governor Newsom; Adam Fowler, Beacon Economics; Jennifer Svec, California Association of Realtors

Moderated by Manuela Tobias, CalMatters

This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on May 26 at a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly as part of A Conference on Housing Policy.

As people hunkered down, working from their homes, inventory tightened; home prices made an unexpected jump, driving prices even further out of range for many Californians. At the same time, many working people lost wages, creating a backlog of unpaid rents and mortgages; COVID-era eviction moratoriums protect them for now, but what happens when those protections are lifted? And, what of the low income Californians and communities of color who bore the brunt of the pandemic’s impact?

Panelists: Helen Leung, LA-Más; Natalie Holmes, California Policy Lab; Shanti Singh, Tenants Together; Constance Griggs-Lazzeroni, California Association of Mortgage Professionals.

Moderated by Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times

With Memorial Day - one of the biggest camping holidays of the year - coming up next Monday, we thought we'd check in on the status of California's State Parks. We're joined this week by Gloria Sandoval, Deputy Director of Public Affairs for State Parks who tells us how to get into your favorite park - and offers tips on what to do if your first option is booked.

As pandemic restrictions lift, Californians are returning to Parks in record numbers. California State Parks saw 75 million visitors a year, pre-COVID - based on early numbers, 2021 may shatter that number.

Sandoval, and hosts John Howard and Tim Foster, share suggestions for unique State Park experiences, like camping on a beach, and the only town in California that is also a State Park! Plus: Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

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Assemblyman Mike Gipson (D) represents the 64th Assembly District, which includes communities that are among some of those hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic: Carson, Compton, Gardena, South Los Angeles, Torrance and Watts. Gipson is the chair of the committee on Infectious Diseases, and introduced AB1038, a bill to create a $180 million California Health Equity Fund that would address health and social inequities that have been exacerbated by COVID-19. He joined us to talk about AB1038, and his other priorities, including AB490, the Angelo Quinto Act, which would ban the use of chokeholds by police.

We are joined this episode by Lande Ajose, chair of the Governor’s Council for Postsecondary Education - a big job as California colleges prepare to reopen campuses to students post-pandemic. Ajose helped prepare the recently-released "Recovery With Equity" roadmap for California’s postsecondary systems to come back from the pandemic more financially resilient and positioned to more equitably serve California students. Also: the plight of the adjunct professor, the difficulties of getting accepted to college, and the importance of "College Knowledge" in a community. Plus: The #WorstWeekCA!

When we invited freshman Assemblymember Alex Lee (D - San Jose) to come on the podcast we planned to discuss his ambitious policy proposals, like Universal Health Care, a Wealth Tax, and a ban on corporate donations to political candidates. What we didn't expect was that those discussions would all be in the past tense.

Lee had a rough week: his proposal for a Wealth Tax didn't make the deadline to get out of committee, and AB20, a bill that would have banned corporate donations to candidates, not only failed to get out of Thursday's meeting of the Elections Committee, but also earned Lee a public, on-camera dressing down from committee chair Marc Berman (D - Menlo Park), who called the bill "misleading," and chided Lee for failing to address what he characterized as gaping loopholes in the bill's language. And AB1400, the Universal Health Care bill, didn't even make it to this week, having been put on the shelf the week prior (presumably to the relief of Gov. Newsom, who won't have to take a position before the Recall.)

Asm. Lee seems to have taken his lumps in stride. He spoke with us about lessons learned during his first five months in office, and about his other legislative priorities, including AB1509, which would address the inequities in sentencing enhancements, and AB339, which would make permanent the COVID-era allowance for remote participation (i.e. call-in and Zoom) in public hearings.

Veteran journalist and university professor Sigrid Bathen, who has written extensively about California's mental health policies, joins Tim Foster and John Howard on the Podcast to chat about what is rapidly becoming a hot political issue -- having mental health clinicians accompany police officers on some emergency calls, such as family disturbances. The "cops and clinicians" movement is capturing attention. She also touches on the "5150" involuntary hold, the dispute over "Laura's Law" and our mental hospitals.

And Tim and John ponder Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

We're joined today by Matt Rexroad, redistricting expert and the former mayor of Woodland and member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. Since leaving public office Matt has shut down his longtime firm, Meridian Pacific, and moved on to Redistricting Insights, whose motto is "fair lines produce good government." Rexroad knows something about fair lines, having been involved in California's first redistricting effort following the creation of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2008. Rexroad offers his thoughts on the upcoming congressional reapportionment, the abrupt resignation of Daniel Claypool, the Executive Director of the Redistricting Commission and the likelihood of success for the attempt to recall Governor Newsom.

And, we begin a new feature this week: Who had the Worst Week in California Politics? Tune in to find out!

Former state senator Holly J. Mitchell was elected last year to a seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, representing District 2 - the same district in which she was born and raised. Term limits have turned the traditional local-government-to-legislature pipeline on its head, as has the stratospheric growth of LA: as a Supervisor, Mitchell represents twice as many constituents as she once did in the senate.

The LA Board of Supes - known for years as the "five little kings" - are "kings" no more. With Mitchell's election, the Board is, for the first time, made up entirely of women. Two of the other Supervisors, Hilda Solis and Sheila Kuehl, are, like Mitchell, former state legislators.

The Supervisor joined us on this week's podcast to talk about her transition from the capitol to the county, her priorities as a local official, and the governor's drop-in at a 2nd District site to get his COVID vaccine at the beginning of the month. We also asked how her district - one of the hardest hit by COVID - has been dealing with the pandemic. And, finally, we asked the question on everyone's mind: Where in the heck is North Shoestring?

Closing tune is "Dreamer" by Black Violin

We welcomed the longtime but soon-to-be-retired Metropolitan Water District of Southern California head honcho Jeff Kightlinger for a wide-ranging discussion that covered the status of the Delta Tunnel Project, climate change and the snow survey, the drought, working from home, jukeboxes, his punk rock roots and Dan Walters' connection to the Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra. WHEW.

Closing tune is "Reservoir" by Pup. https://puptheband.bandcamp.com

Veteran political strategist Bill Wong has been a longtime leader in California's Asian Pacific Islander political community, and is a recognized expert on AAPI voters. While Wong should have been celebrating last week's appointment of Rob Bonta as California Attorney General - the first Filipino American to hold the office - he was instead dealing with the fallout of a nationwide spree of racially-motivated attacks, culminating in a mass shooting in Georgia that claimed the lives of six Asian women. He joined us this week to talk about the attacks, Bonta's appointment and the importance of the AAPI community in California politics.

Democratic political strategist Garry South joins us to talk about the potential recall of Governor Gavin Newsom. South is uniquely positioned to weigh in on the subject: he headed Governor Gray Davis' 1998 and 2002 gubernatorial campaigns, and ran Gavin Newsom's first campaign for Governor back in 2009.

South notes that the current recall effort will qualify for the ballot only because of the unique circumstances of 2020: the usual four-month signature-gathering period was extended - doubled, in fact - due to the pandemic, allowing organizers to meet the requisite 1,495,709 signatures.

Also, since South correctly predicted that Alex Padilla would be Gov. Newsom's pick to replace Kamala Harris in the US Senate, we asked him who he thinks will be named Attorney General to replace Xavier Becerra. (Hint: it's not a certain big-city mayor.)

While many are noting the success of SB87, which led to the inclusion of more women on corporate boards, there is a lot of room for improvement in diversifying California's boards. A scorecard released last month by Latino Voices for Boardroom Equity reveals that many California boards still lack ethnic diversity. For Latinos, the statistics are particularly shocking: while they make up close to 40% of California's population, Latinos hold less than 3% of these board seats. And, 84.6% of California public company boards lack a Latino director. Esther Aguilera of the Latino Corporate Directors Association joins us to talk about why this matters and what her group is doing to help diversify the state's business leadership.

This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on March 11th at a presentation hosted by Capitol Weekly: The Future of Work, Keynote: Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez is at the forefront of much of the Progressive legislation that emerges from Sacramento. A longtime labor leader and organizer prior to holding office, Gonzalez is the author of AB5, the sweeping 2019 labor law that codified the Dynamex court ruling, and expanded worker protections. The tech companies’ backlash against AB5 ultimately sparked the effort to pass Proposition 22.

This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on March 4th at a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly: The Future of Work, The Big Picture.

For the third year in a row, California has seen a decline in population. Will this alter the state’s employment outlook? And, some high-profile companies have announced that they are leaving the state this year: is this a minor trickle, or the beginning of a deluge? With the rise of telecommuting, could out-of-state workers take California jobs? And, what happens with the single-biggest employment problem in the state: lack of affordable housing?

Panelists: Rob Lapsley, California Business Roundtable; Lenny Mendonca, McKinsey & Co.; Caitlin Vega, Union Made Strategies; Evan White, California Policy Lab

Moderated by Erika Smith, Los Angeles Times

Political Data Inc., has for 30 years been the state’s largest provider of voter information to political campaigns, consultants, and pollsters, serving a long list of both Democrat and Republican clients. The firm announced last week that they would no longer work with Republican clients, saying, "The company will divest any business that does not align with the organization’s Democratic values and will not work with Republican candidates or campaigns."

PDI data guru Paul Mitchell joins us to talk about the decision to go all-in with Democratic and non-partisan clients, and what that will mean for the company - and their former GOP clients - going forward.

He also reacts to the announcement that census data will be coming in later than expected, and explains how that will impact redistricting. Also: why April 30 will be a big day for California political junkies.

Today's episode features Delaine Eastin, former Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, two term Superintendent of Public Instruction and now, candidate for California Democratic Party Chair.

Eastin joins us to make the case for her campaign, acknowledging that unseating current party chair Rusty Hicks will be a heavy lift, but expressing the optimism that is a hallmark of all of her efforts.

Eastin also weighs in on the debate over reopening schools, arguing that it not only needs to happen, it needs to happen as fast as possible for the benefit of the state's schoolchildren. She discounts "distance learning," noting that it is not possible for many of the state's children, especially those in lower income households or rural areas with lack of access to broadband. Getting back into class, she argues, is essential: for many kids, "going to school every day is what makes their life work."

This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on February 25 at a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly: The Future of Work, Impact of Proposition 22.

After a hard-fought battle at the ballot box, Proposition 22 is law. But, questions remain, the first of which is: does it stand up to the current court challenge? How will 22 impact unions? What other industries may turn to gig work? And, what does a new, pro-labor administration in the White House mean for California?

Panelists Leo Feler, UCLA Anderson Forecast; Tom Hiltachk, Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk; and Nicole Moore, Rideshare Drivers United

Moderated by Rich Ehisen, State Net Capitol Journal

The past few weeks have seen a spectacular implosion of The Lincoln Project, the high profile collective of never-Trumper ex-Republican political operatives that spent the 2020 election cycle battering the president and his allies with scorching ads, videos and commentary.

Whether the Lincoln Project's efforts were effective in the race, or simply played to their base - the Trump-hating Democrats who supplied the majority of their funding - is an open question. What is not in question is the success of their fundraising; the group brought in nearly $90 million in donations, the bulk of which appears to have gone to the principals or to affiliated companies.

Now, just weeks after Trump exited the White House, The Lincoln Project has disintegrated, destroyed by an expanding scandal that follows revelations of inappropriate and predatory behavior by co-founder John Weaver, and amid questions of a possible cover up by other members of the group.

Longtime GOP political strategist Rob Stutzman joins us to talk about the scandal, the fundraising, the effectiveness of The Lincoln Project's campaigns, and his frustrations with the group.

We also asked him about the potential recall of Governor Newsom and if he has a favorite pick to replace Xavier Becerra as AG.

This special episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live on February 18 at a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly: The Future of Work, After the Pandemic.

What will the workplace look like when the pandemic is over? What will happen to the industries that have been particularly hard-hit, like restaurants and live events/entertainment? Women suffered the worst of the job losses – why, and what happens now? And what will be different about work post-pandemic: is working from home the ‘new normal’?

Panelists included Senator Nancy Skinner; Micah Weinberg, CA Forward; Julie Baker, Californians for the Arts; and Jot Condie, California Restaurant Association. The panel was moderated by Sonya Sorich, Sacramento Business Journal.

Daniel Zingale retired from the Governor's office one year ago this week, stepping back from a four decade career in politics that began during Jerry Brown's first run as governor. Now happily ensconced in a cabin in the Gold Country, he joined us to talk about the past year and to look back on a remarkable career that included stints in four gubernatorial administrations. Zingale offers insights into the differences in those administrations, and also explains how he, an ardent, lifelong Democrat, came to take a job in the Schwarzenegger administration - and what he learned from the bodybuilder-turned-movie star-turned governor.

Almost one year to the day from his last visit to the Capitol Weekly Podcast, lobbyist, author and adjunct professor at McGeorge School of Law, Chris Micheli joins us to talk about the business of lobbying. Micheli, a self-described "nerd" about government and public policy, has published two books about the function of government: "Understanding the California Legislative Process," and, with Ray LeBov, "A Practitioner's Guide to Lobbying and Advocacy in California." After one of the strangest and most intense years in California legislative history, Micheli talks about the legislative outlook is for 2021 and what to look for come February 19, the last day for bills to be introduced.

This episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast features a discussion between John Howard and Tim Foster and longtime campaign consultant Gale Kaufman. The episode was recorded live (via Zoom) at the California Community College League's 2021 Legislative Conference on January 26.

Campaign consultant Gale Kaufman has run a ballot campaign (or two, or more) in every election cycle since 1998 - and, she's won most of those. Many of the campaigns Kaufman has directed were tied to education, and she has been closely affiliated with the California Teachers Association for much of her career.

Kaufman offered her thoughts on the lessons of 2020 and what may be in the pipeline for the 2022 election and beyond.

Why are California property values skyrocketing even as unemployment is at record numbers? How will the new Democratic administration in DC effect California? Could changes in tax policy better prepare the state for emergencies like COVID? And what is a "K shaped" recovery?

Lenny Mendonca, the former head of GO-Biz (The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development)for Governor Gavin Newsom, joined us to talk about the economic outlook for California as the pandemic continues, and what to expect when the era of COVID is over.

Journalist extraordinaire Dan Morain joined John Howard and Tim Foster to talk about his new book, Kamala's Way: An American Life - the first biography of Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. Morain covered Harris' rise in real time for the Los Angeles Times, The Sacramento Bee and CalMatters; that background allowed him to write and research the entire book in a few months during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Dan offers insights into the woman who will be the first woman Vice President, and also shares stories of the background players; fascinating characters of San Francisco politics, including Harris' former paramour Mayor Willie Brown and Kimberly Guilfoyle, one-time wife of Gavin Newsom and the current partner of Donald Trump Jr.

And, he shares details about the Sacramento Press Club's new awards program celebrating California's best journalism.

On Tuesday we published journalist A.G. Block’s in-depth analysis of the woes plaguing California’s Republican Party: they run barely ahead of ‘Decline to State’ in voter registration, and the state GOP has no elected statewide officials, holds only a third of the state’s legislative seats and about a quarter of the state’s Congressional seats. Republican candidates didn’t even make the ‘Top Two’ in the state’s 2016 and 2018 U.S. Senate races.

Hours after we published the story, Democrats won both U.S. Senate seats in a Georgia runoff election, handing control of the Senate to the Democrats. Yesterday, Trump loyalists stormed the U.S. Capitol, disrupting the congressional certification of Biden’s electoral college vote, resulting in four deaths. Media reported that members of the President’s Cabinet were discussing the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from power.

A.G. joined John Howard and Tim Foster today to talk about the plight of California Republicans over the long haul, and what the events of the past few days might mean.

Lobbyist David Quintana joins us for the first Capitol Weekly Podcast of 2021. We cut to the chase with the question on everyone's mind: what happens to The Bash (AKA The Back to Session Bash) for 2021? The good news: it's on. The bad news: not til later. Quintana fills in all the details for this year's Bash, talks about the event's humble origins, and shares Lil John's drink of choice.

We also discuss Quintana's new podcast, Politicalish, which mixes politics with his other interests, including true crime, MMA and Hip Hop. Quintana's passion for Hip Hop will come as no surprise to anyone who has attended The Bash, but we were surprised to hear that Assemblyman Kevin Mullin appeared on an episode of Politicalish specifically to discuss his Top 12 tracks. But, the podcast isn't all fun and games: the latest episode features reporter Jill Stewart discussing the 2003 Recall of Governor Gray Davis.

All that and much, much more on this episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast.

For the second year in a row, California has seen its population decline - After generations of growth, the state is losing more people than it gains every year.

What does that mean for a state that has nearly 40 million people already? Can we afford to lose some people? And, who is leaving?

For this episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast we spoke with Adam Fowler, Director of Research for Beacon Economics, an independent research and consulting firm based in Los Angeles.

While many are bearish on the Golden State's prospects, Fowler sees a net positive: “I’m still the California optimist.”

Fowler notes that California led the country out of the Great Recession less than a decade ago, recovering more quickly than most states labeled 'business friendly.' Our default setting is "grow, grow, grow." he says.

One reason for that is that the state has served as an incubator for new businesses. A massive investment into research and development has paid dividends in the form of high-end jobs. The problem, he says, is housing. "Jobs need to go home to a bed at night.”

"Where we have been creating jobs... we have not been creating housing to go along with that job growth.”

Fowler discusses the research into who is leaving the state, and what policy changes would help stem the tide.

Frank Mecca retires this month after serving as the Executive Director of the County Welfare Directors Association of California for nearly 30 years.

A prominent advocate for poor and disadvantaged Californians, Mecca is a champion of direct intervention: "The number one way to help kids in poverty is to give their parents the resources to get them out of poverty."

Frank joined Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster by phone to talk about his career at CDWA, the difficulties and the successes, and what's changed in the three decades since he took the helm.

As most of the state winches down amid a new surge of COVID-19 cases, doctors and scientists are racing to prepare for the largest vaccination campaign in generations. Multiple coronavirus vaccines have been found to be be effective; now the challenge shifts to distribution.

We were joined by Dr. Dean Blumberg, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, UC Davis School of Medicine and Acting Chief, Pediatric Infectious Disease Section, UC Davis Medical Center.

We posed many questions about the vaccines: what is the two-step process required by many of the vaccines, and why is it necessary? How will the extreme low-temperature storage requirements impact distribution and administration of the vaccine? Should Californians be concerned that the vaccines were produced so quickly? How much will it cost to get the vaccine?

Dr. Blumberg answered all of these questions, and many more.

Photo credit: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Doug Moore is the Executive Director of UDW/AFSCME Local 3930, a union of over 140,000 in-home care providers and family child care providers throughout California.

Moore joined us by phone to talk about the challenges his members face providing in-home care during the COVID pandemic, and about the larger challenges facing service employees - particularly people of color - every day.

Moore credits then-Assemblywoman Maxine Waters for inspiring him to expand his labor platform into a broader movement for social change and racial equity; he calls UDW a "social justice union." He participated in the 2014 protests against police violence in Ferguson, and renewed his call for Americans to contend with anti-Black racism following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

Last week, Governors Gavin Newsom of California and Kate Brown of Oregon, leaders of the Yurok and Karuk Tribes and billionaire investor Warren Buffett issued a joint announcement that four dams on the Klamath River will be removed.

The agreement follows decades of often-tense negotiations between the tribes, state and local governments and the dams' owner, PacifiCorp, a massive power utility that serves roughly 600,000 customers in California and Oregon.

While the Yurok and Karuk tribes have protested the dams for a century, back to back catastrophes in the early 2000s set the stage for restoration of the river. In 2001, officials shut off water supplies to farmers in the Klamath Basin to keep the river flowing following a devastating drought; the next year, over 60,000 adult salmon died in the lower Klamath, the largest salmon kill in western U.S. history.

Karuk natural resources spokesperson Craig Tucker joined John Howard to talk about the historic agreement, its impact on the region's Salmon fisheries, and the potential for replication in other places where dams are contested.

On November 5, 2020, Capitol Weekly and the McGeorge Capital Center for Law & Policy presented a Post-Mortem of the 2020 Election.

This episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast broadcasts audio of the Keynote address from Ace Smith.

Campaign consultant Ace Smith has handled many of the biggest campaigns in California history including gubernatorial runs for Jerry Brown, Senate campaigns for Barbara Boxer and Kamala Harris, and major Ballot Propositions such as Yes on 30. This cycle he guided Sen. Harris' presidential run.

While Harris did not make the top of the ticket, she is headed for the White House as the first VP from California since Richard Nixon.

Capitol Weekly's John Howard guides a wide-ranging discussion with Smith that digs deep into political history, solves the Electoral College's representation problem, and looks ahead to 2024.

Over the past week we've posted the other presentations from the Post-Mortem, including: The Ballot Props; Polling; and The Face of the Electorate. Next week we'll be back with a regular episode of the podcast.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, Kaiser Permanente, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The California Building Industry Association, Lucas Public Affairs, California Professional Firefighters, Associated Builders and Contractors of Northern California, Pandora and Paula Treat.

On November 5, 2020, Capitol Weekly and the McGeorge Capital Center for Law & Policy presented a Post-Mortem of the 2020 Election.

This episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast broadcasts audio of Panel 2: The Face of the Electorate, featuring Shakari Byerly, EVITARUS; Mindy Romero, Center for Inclusive Democracy; Roger Salazar, ALZA Strategies; Rob Stutzman, Stutzman Public Affairs. Moderated by Dan Morain, Sacramento Press Club

Panel 2: The Face of The Electorate

As California and the rest of the country trend younger and more diverse, so does the electorate. In California, more voters are registering than ever, and interest in elections is at an all-time high. Who are the voters in 2020?

As the week goes on we'll be posting the other presentations from the Post-Mortem including the Keynote address from legendary campaign consultant Ace Smith.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, Kaiser Permanente, The Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy, The California Building Industry Association, Lucas Public Affairs, California Professional Firefighters, Associated Builders and Contractors of Northern California, Pandora and Paula Treat.

On November 5, 2020, Capitol Weekly and the McGeorge Capital Center for Law & Policy presented a Post-Mortem of the 2020 Election.

This episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast broadcasts audio of Panel 3: The Ballot Propositions, featuring Brandon Castillo of Bicker Castillo & Fairbanks; Jim DeBoo of DeBoo Communications; Mary-Beth Moylan of McGeorge School of Law and Robin Swanson of Swanson Communications. Moderated by Nicole Nixon, Capital Public Radio

Panel 3: The Ballot Propositions

Our panel discusses the high profile, high-dollar battles over Prop 22 (App-based contractors initiative), Prop 25 (Bail Reform) and Prop 15 (Split Roll) as well as the lesser-followed but important initiatives decided by voters on November 3.

As the week goes on we'll be posting the other presentations from the Post-Mortem: The Face of The Electorate; Polling: What Happened?, and the Keynote address from legendary campaign consultant Ace Smith.

On November 5, 2020, Capitol Weekly and the McGeorge Capital Center for Law & Policy presented a Post-Mortem of the 2020 Election.

This episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast broadcasts audio of Panel 1: Polling, featuring Ruth Bernstein of EMC Research; Mark DiCamillo, of the Berkeley IGS Poll; Paul Mitchell of Political Data Inc.; and Ben Tulchin of Tulchin Research. Moderated by Marisa Lagos, KQED

Panel 1: Polls – Right or Wrong?

Since 2016, pollsters have come under increased scrutiny for real or perceived ‘misses’ in high profile contests. The polls appear to have missed again this time, and the national race was not at all what the pollsters predicted. What does polling look like in future races?

As the week goes on we'll be posting the other presentations from the Post-Mortem: The Face of The Electorate; The Ballot Props, and the Keynote address from legendary campaign consultant Ace Smith.

David Cruz is the head of the Economic and Business Development Council for the League of United Latin American Citizens; LULAC, as it is known, is the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the country. While LULAC itself has declined to take a position on California's hotly-contested Proposition 22, the Economic and Business Development Council has endorsed the measure.

The proponents of Prop. 22 have spent $220 million on the measure - far outstripping the opposition, and - by a large margin - the most ever spent on an initiative campaign in the state's history. Despite the lavish spending, polls indicate that the race is very, very close.

Cruz is clear that he is not an official with the Yes on 22 campaign, but he has been actively engaged in making the case to pass the measure, including an appearance in an October debate against Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who is in opposition. David joined us by phone to discuss his support for Prop. 22, including a novel take on how to view the nearly quarter-billion dollars spent on the campaign.

Veteran political data expert Paul Mitchell sat down with us on Friday to chat about early vote turnout, the partisan breakdown of those votes and how California compares to the national picture.

Record turnout among early voters is a story being played out across the country and California is no exception. In 2016 and 2018, less than 20,000 voters returned their ballots within the first week of receipt; this year, 250,000 voters cast their votes in that same period. At the time we recorded this podcast, a whopping six million Californians had already voted, far outstripping the early vote returns in previous elections.

The partisan breakdown of the early votes is notable as well. California Republicans have a strong tradition of early voting ("people who know where their stamps are," Paul quipped), but the early returns this year have shown a 20 point shift toward Democrats. Is the president's anti-VBM messaging depressing the GOP mail-in vote? If so, will they make up that ground on Election Day?

Our guest today is Caitlin Vega, a longtime labor activist who got her start as a Teamsters organizer when she was still in her teens. Vega is currently the legislative and political adviser to the UFCW Western States Council. She spent 16 years with the California Labor Federation, ultimately working her way up to Legislative Director, before striking out on her own.

As the November election approaches, Vega is focused on what she sees as an existential battle: the effort to defeat Proposition 22 – the initiative that would classify App-based drivers as independent contractors and remove labor protections for thousands of workers.

She spoke with Capitol Weekly’s John Howard and Tim Foster about Prop. 22 and about the state of the labor movement today.

Shawnda Westly is a familiar figure in California politics. From 2009-2018 she served as executive director of the state Democratic Party and "right-hand" of then-Party leader John Burton, overseeing both campaign strategy and day-to-day operations of the party. Westly's tenure saw a massive expansion in Democratic representation in the legislature, with the party surging to supermajorities in both houses, and a concurrent boost in the stability of the organization itself, boasting stocked coffers and a new headquarters on S Street in Sacramento.

In the midst of this professional triumph, however, Westly suffered a devastating personal tragedy.

Five years ago this week, Westly found herself in a hospital emergency room with "the worst headache of [her] life." The doctor who examined her concluded that she was experiencing a migraine, prescribed some painkillers and sent her home.

Within 48 hours, Westly suffered a stroke that threatened to derail her life.

Westly faced a harrowing and uncertain recovery, with the very real prospect that she that might never be able to live on her own again. She was just 45 years old.

Five years later, Westly's life is back on track - but it will never be the same.

Shawnda spoke with John Howard and Tim Foster about that experience, and about the grim realization that she had - like many Americans - been the victim of a medical error.

Longtime Sacramento journalist Joe Barr is Capital Public Radio’s strategic leader for content creation for CapRadio News, CapRadio Music and Capradio.org. While most news organizations have seen a stark decline in staffing over the past decade, Barr has led a major expansion in the station's news department. He also developed CapRadio's statewide news service, the Capital Public Radio Network, which reaches about three-million listeners a week on more about 50 public radio stations. Joe joined us by phone to chat about CapRadio's approach to their news and music stations, the struggles of producing a torrent of election year news programming during a pandemic, and what comes next for CapRadio.

Citing a global emergency caused by climate change, Governor Gavin Newsom issued stunning news today, announcing an Executive Order that would outlaw sales of new gasoline-powered cars and trucks in the state by 2035. California, the most populous state, home to one in eight Americans, is already the largest market for zero-emission vehicles in the country; half of all electric vehicles sold in the US are sold in the state. The new order will accelerate existing government efforts to make the state Carbon-neutral by 2045. NextGen, the progressive policy nonprofit founded by Tom Steyer, has long been a leader on this issue, and urged taking immediate action on the climate crisis, and ending our dependence on fossil fuels. We reached out to Dave Weiskopf, NextGen's Senior Policy Advisor for climate and environmental issues to talk about the Governor's order and what it means for California, the rest of the country, and the world.

This is a special edition of the Capitol Weekly Podcast, broadcasting a panel from our annual look at health care in the Golden State. We focused this year on the unprecedented public health emergency: COVID-19. Exactly six months and one day after the first Shelter-in-Place order, we examined the response to the crisis and looked at what comes next.

A digital version of the program for the event, with speakers’ bios and other details, is posted at capitolweekly.net/events/californi…crisis-covid-19/

Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, is the point person on California's response to the coronavirus. He sat down with Capitol Weekly's John Howard to discuss the status of the pandemic, mitigation efforts, what individuals can do to avoid getting sick and more.

This is a special edition of the Capitol Weekly Podcast, broadcasting a panel from our annual look at health care in the Golden State. We focused this year on the unprecedented public health emergency: COVID-19. Exactly six months and one day after the first Shelter-in-Place order, we examined the response to the crisis and looked at what comes next.

A digital version of the program for the event, with speakers’ bios and other details, is posted at capitolweekly.net/events/californi…crisis-covid-19/

Panel 3: Telehealth

Telehealth was rarely used in California before the pandemic: Now patients have virtual visits with health care providers through a phone or video chat, remote patient monitoring and online support for managing chronic conditions such as diabetes. What are the advantages and drawbacks of this new treatment technology?

Moderated by: Sammy Caiola, Capital Public Radio; Panelists: Dr. Richard Florio, Kaiser Permanente; David Ford, California Medical Association; Todd May, Health Net; Dr. Javeed Siddiqui, TeleMed2U; David Stockwell, Veterans Affairs NorCal Health Care System

This is a special edition of the Capitol Weekly Podcast, broadcasting a panel from our annual look at health care in the Golden State. We focused this year on the unprecedented public health emergency: COVID-19. Exactly six months and one day after the first Shelter-in-Place order, we examined the response to the crisis and looked at what comes next.

A digital version of the program for the event, with speakers’ bios and other details, is posted at capitolweekly.net/events/californi…crisis-covid-19/

Panel 2: Health Equity

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored stark disparities in the Health system; the chance of getting – and surviving – the virus is heavily dependent on race, class and income. What can be done to achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups?

Moderated by Sigrid Bathen, Capitol Weekly. Panelists: Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry; Sonya Young Aadam, California Black Women’s Health Project; Jeffrey Reynoso, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California; Kiran Savage-Sangwan, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network

A special edition of the Capitol Weekly Podcast broadcasting panels from our annual look at health care in the Golden State. We focused this year on the unprecedented public health emergency: COVID-19. Exactly six months and one day after the first Shelter-in-Place order, we examined the response to the crisis and looked at what comes next.

A digital version of the program for the event, with speakers’ bios and other details, is posted at https://capitolweekly.net/events/california-in-crisis-covid-19/

Panel 1: Infrastructure

As Californians lost their health insurance, Medi-Cal was expected to see a surge in enrollments – in fact Medi-Cal enrollment has hardly budged. Why? Hospitals and clinics are struggling to serve COVID patients, but are experiencing revenue shortfalls – how close are they to the breaking point? How are doctors and other healthcare workers coping with the pandemic? What is the patient experience?

Moderated by Jocelyn Wiener, CalMatters. Panelists: Carmela Coyle, California Hospital Association; Surani Hayre-Kwan, California Association for Nurse Practitioners; Anthony Wright, Health Access California

Lobbyist Jennifer Fearing operates Fearless Advocacy, a small "white hat" lobbying outfit that represents nonprofits, animal rights groups, environmentalists and other clients with feel-good causes. With clients like these, Fearing isn't the highest-billing advocate on the block, but her record at the capitol is the envy of many of her peers. She shared her most immediate concern: the pandemic has made this a difficult year for many of the nonprofits she represents; funding is suddenly unstable, and for many, demand for services is way up. We asked her about her recent Twitter post highlighting a list of good news among the seemingly never-ending downpour of terrible that is 2020. She also discussed the ugly end-of-session wrangling that ultimately doomed the ambitious recycling bill SB 54 (and, same bill, AB 1080) that she was working - similar legislation will be on the ballot in 2022. That 2022 election may be a ways off, but this year's Presidential election looms large. Fearing is going all-in: we caught her just as she prepared to relocate to a rural Pennsylvania swing county (voted twice for Obama, then for Trump) for the duration of the election season.

Republican political strategist Jon Fleischman has been a significant voice in California conservative circles for well over a decade; he formerly served as the Executive Director of the state GOP and his Flash Report blog, founded in 2005, was one of the first (and for a time, perhaps the most influential) insider political blogs in the state. While Fleischman is a rock-ribbed conservative with predictable views on unions (bad), universal health care (bad), and free trade (good), his strong Libertarian streak sometimes puts him at odds with others on the right - notably on law enforcement reforms like removing qualified immunity for police officers... a particularly shocking stance given that he once served as spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department. He joined us for a wide-ranging conversation covering President Trump, the state of the GOP, pending legislation, Steve Bannon's arrest - and who he voted for in the 2016 presidential election.

Last week saw dramatic developments in the ongoing Dynamex/AB5/gig economy saga: following the August 13 ruling that confirmed an August 20 deadline for Uber and Lyft to reclassify their workers as employees, the two companies announced that they planned to cease operations in California rather than comply. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo issued statements calling on the Court of Appeals to stay the ruling, claiming that their constituents would suffer if the services were stopped during the pandemic. On the other side of the issue, drivers and labor organizers claimed that the companies were acting in bad faith, noting that Lyft and Uber have had more than adequate time to comply, given that the recent court decisions echo the findings of the Dynamex ruling, which was issued more than two years ago. Add into this mix a pending ballot proposition, Prop. 22, which would upend AB5 if passed in November. Last Thursday, August 20, the 1st District Court of Appeal issued a stay on the order, temporarily allowing the companies to continue operating under their current business model, which classifies drivers as independent contractors. We reached out to Steve Smith of the California Labor Federation, one of the leading opponents of Proposition 22, to chat about this wild week and the issues behind AB5 and Proposition 22.

Lobbyist Aaron Read is the definiton of "venerable" in Sacramento's Capitol Community: he began his lobbying career advocating for California state employees while Reagan was governor and Willie Brown was still just the Assemblyman from the 13th District. Read formed Aaron Read and Associates in 1978 and has been a major force in Sacramento ever since. He has a bevy of clients, many of whom have been with him for decades. He joined us this week to talk about his long career, and about the issues he's working as the legislative session heats up this month. And, find out what he has in common with Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger!

It's that time of year again, and Capitol Weekly's Top 100 is upon us! Once again, we take our annual stab at outlining the semi-visible UN-elected power structure that surrounds the elected officials who make legislation, regulations, etc -- the lobbyists, staffers, donors, lawyers, activists, campaign strategists, labor and business leaders and even journalists who play a HUGE role in the development of public policy and election results. We released the 12th edition of the Top 100 on August 11 at our first-ever ONLINE-ONLY Top 100 Party - a nod to the pandemic that has shaped virtually everything this year. The 2020 list certainly reflects that reality; the medical and emergency response folks dominate this year's Top 100 in a way that we have never seen before, and many issues that are usually at the forefront are not this time. In this episode, John and Tim discuss the "logic" behind the list, who made it on this year, and why. Find the full list at https://capitolweekly.net/13863-2/

Today's guest is Dr. Barbara O'Connor, a Professor Emeritus at CSU Sacramento, and a household name for folks with deep roots in California public policy. She worked the McGovern campaign, has been an AARP board member, and was named one of Newsweek’s “50 for the Future,” a feature on the 50 people who will set policy and direction for global communications. And, she started Sacramento's first NPR affiliate, KXPR. These days she is chair of the California Emerging Technology Fund, and the pandemic is highlighting the need for one of the group's priorities: getting good, reliable internet to all Californians. Their proposal - the California Network - is being discussed at the Capitol this week.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created havoc for California’s economy and closed thousands of schools across the state. Families, students and business owners are relying more heavily than ever on high-speed internet connectivity - but for many Californians, access to this essential technology is limited. Many do not have access to high speed broadband or lack the essential computers/cell phones to utilize these services. It is estimated that 765,000 computers and 416,000 wifi hotspots would be needed to bridge this digital divide. Mark Guillen, the West Region public affairs manager for Crown Castle, a large telecommunications infrastructure provider, joins us to talk about the challenge of providing more robust and widespread internet access - and how long it might take.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented heretofore-unseen challenges to students and teachers who have suddenly found themselves the "guinea pigs" in a massive distance learning experiment. With coronavirus infections and deaths climbing in California, a growing number of districts have said they will not be returning to in-person classes in the fall, leaving teachers scrambling to create compelling online learning environments on the fly. California Teachers Association President E. Toby Boyd joins us to give an update on expectations for the upcoming school year and discusses another big CTA priority: passing Prop. 15, the "Split Roll" initiative that would decouple large commercial properties from Prop. 13. All that, plus the fallout from the Janus vs. AFSCME decision, in this episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast.

California's Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission is generally regarded as a model of its kind, achieving balance and representation through a carefully constructed mix of quotas, political gamesmanship and random selection. How then, did the first round of new commissioners selected on July 2 (eight of a total of 14)fail to include a single Latino, the state's largest ethnic group? When the slate of new commissioners were announced, many, including former Senate pro tem Kevin de León, voiced their outrage at Latinos being denied 'a seat at the table.' California redistricting expert and all-around political data guru Paul Mitchell joins us to talk about the Redistricting Commission, the selection process and just how we might get out of this mess (and how we won't).

Senator Kamala Harris looms large on Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden's list of potential VP picks - he has said that he will pick a woman as running mate, and Harris is leading the 'pundit polls' as the most likely choice. If Harris is selected, and the Biden/Harris ticket goes on to win the November election, she will vacate her Senate seat in January 2021, with Governor Gavin Newsom tasked with appointing her successor.

Therein lies the theme of today's podcast: WHO would Gavin Newsom pick for California's open Senate seat if Kamala Harris does become Vice President?

Last week we reached out to a half dozen political players from across the state, including Garry South, former state senator Fran Pavley, Roger Salazar, Adama Iwu, Karen Skelton and Joel Fox, to get their thoughts on who the Governor is likely to appoint, and who they think he SHOULD appoint. Wild speculation was strongly encouraged, and our interviewees did not disappoint, proposing a fascinating and diverse array of potential candidates and laying out the political machinations behind their reasoning.

Longtime Clean Air activist Bill Magavern joins us to chat, and brings some welcome good news: with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping people out of their cars, many areas of California have seen a decrease in air pollution. Those gains may dissipate as Californians return to the roads, but two coming environmental rule changes could have a big impact going forward: the Advanced Clean Truck Rule will require fleets to begin including non-polluting vehicles in their lineup, starting in 2024, and anti-sprawl provisions of SB743 (a Darrell Steinberg bill, which also cleared the way for the Kings' latest Sacramento Arena, passed in 2013) will go into effect on July 1, 2020. Bill also offers a look ahead at other proposed legislation and how the recent underwhelming Cap-and-Trade auction results may impact funding.

Politics often get ugly, and there is nothing uglier than Opposition Research: digging up dirt on your opponent - or sometimes your own candidate. No one knows Oppo better than Joe Rodota, who honed his dark art in the Reagan White House, the Schwarzenegger campaign and other high-profile races in California and across the country. Joe just launched a new podcast, Oppo File, where he examines the history of Opposition Research and looks at famous examples through history, including the 2016 presidential campaign, which was, let's say, a "target-rich" environment. Joe sat down with us to chat about the new podcast and shares tales from his long and fascinating career.

https://www.oppofile.com

The Capitol Weekly Podcast welcomes Maeley Tom, a longtime legislative staffer and Democratic Party stalwart who played a pioneering role as one of the first Asian women in California's capitol. Tom's new memoir, "I'm Not Who You Think I Am" has just been published, and she joins (from a safe social distance) editor John Howard to chat about her career in Sacramento and the amazing backstory that led her there. The daughter of Cantonese Opera stars, Tom's childhood was anything but average, and she gained a resilience that served her well when she entered the nearly all-white, nearly all-male world of the state legislature in 1974. Tom knew and worked with many leading political figures, including Lou Papan, Art Torres, Maxine Waters, Willie Brown, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan. Through triumphs and scandal, Tom has maintained her commitment to giving the Asian American community a stronger voice in public affairs.

I'm Not Who You Think I Am is available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Who-You-Think-Political-ebook/dp/B089JM466H

Paula Treat, the grande dame of Sacramento contract lobbyists, has had a wide range of clients including TESLA, UBER, CCPOA, the California Medical Association and several Indian tribes, over her four decade career. She called in from her cabin in Truckee to do her very first podcast ever, and spoke about the challenges of lobbying during a pandemic, what to expect as California begins to reopen, and what it's like to have a client as unpredictable as Elon Musk.

Jim Wunderman, CEO of the Bay Area Council, joins us to talk about how his members are coping with the Coronavirus, and what to expect as California reopens. What you can't expect is for things to be the same as they were before COVID-19. Businesses are revising work-from-home and other policies, and most of his members expect to see dramatic changes in the workplace in the wake of the pandemic. Wunderman also weighs in on Elon Musk/TESLA's standoff with Alameda County last week and what it means for TESLA's future in the Golden State.

Today we are joined by Rose Kapolczynski, a veteran campaign and communications strategist with more than three decades of experience. Rose is best known for running Senator Barbara Boxer’s campaigns, from her initial upset victory in 1992 to her final race against Carly Fiorina in 2010. These days she is working with Boxer on efforts to get Democrats elected, and is also handling the congressional campaign of Georgette Gómez. Rose relocated to Washington state last year, so she has plenty of experience working remotely and shares her Three Rules for working from home.

Today we're joined by Rob Stutzman, longtime GOP strategist, the President of Stutzman Public Affairs, and former communications director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The race for CA25 was being called just as we taped this podcast - Rob weighs in on what Mike Garcia's victory in a Clinton +6 district means for November, and for the Republican Party in general. No stranger to presidential campaigns, Rob also shares his thoughts on Biden's most likely VP picks and what he thinks Biden's calculus will look like when choosing a running mate.

Mike Madrid, longtime GOP consultant, and former Political Director for the state Republican Party, joins us to talk about two of his recent skirmishes: a public battle with a squirrel family that occupied an eave of his house, and his even more public battle with the family that occupies the White House. Madrid has made no secret of his distaste for the Trump wing of the Republican Party, calling out the nationalist and sometimes racist rhetoric that comes from the Trump administration and many of its supporters. Joining other disaffected Republicans, Madrid helped launch the Lincoln Project, which made news this week with a hard-hitting anti-Trump ad called "Mourning in America." The ad was seen by thousands when it originally aired on Fox TV, but a latenight Trump tweet tirade about the Lincoln Project drove views well over a million - and they're still climbing.

As California looks at loosening some restrictions on non-essential businesses, one business has been going about their work as best they can all along: the construction industry. Michele Daugherty, President of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Northern California, joined us to talk about the challenges facing the industry in the midst of a pandemic, and about the efforts being made to keep job sites - and workers - safe as this unprecedented crisis unfolds.

Political data expert Paul Mitchell joins us by phone (remote from his daughter's packed closet) to talk about the mechanics of a vote-by-mail election in November, how COVID-19 is impacting the prospects for redistricting, and what he learned by turning 50 while on quarantine.

Following the harrowing scenes of voters braving long lines and exposure to the Coronavirus on Primary Election Day in Wisconsin, there is a renewed discussion of the importance of Vote By Mail options. California has long been a leader in this area, but could we see an ALL VBM election by November? Kim Alexander of the California Voter Foundation joins us to talk about the positives and negatives of VBM, offering some surprises, including the high number of rejected VBM ballots and the lowdown on voter fraud.

The state capitol is on Covid-19 lockdown for at least another few weeks, with most legislators and staff working from home. Longtime Senate Staffer Kip Lipper joins us from his Clarksburg digs to talk about how the quarantine is affecting pending legislation, lobbying, the state budget and what it's like doing the people's business remotely in the era of the coronavirus.

Longtime journalist Steve Weigand joins John Howard and Tim Foster to talk about his new book, "The Dancer, the Dreamers, and the Queen of Romania: How an Unlikely Quartet Created America's Most Improbable Art Museum." The book tells the story of the Maryhill Museum in Klickitat, Washington and the wildly different individuals, including SF socialite Alma Spreckels, and Queen Marie of Romania, whose lives and dreams came together to create it against difficult and, at times, unusual challenges.

Buy "The Dancer, the Dreamers, and the Queen of Romania" here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dancer-the-dreamers-and-the-queen-of-romania-steve-wiegand/1130339452 or at a bookstore near you.

The Kabatecks, John and Brian, join us for another special KabaTalks episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast. As usual, the brothers find themselves on opposite sides of a contentious issue – namely employer rights vs. workers’ rights in the age of coronavirus. John, a voice for small business, maintains that AB5 should be suspended in the face of a worldwide calamity that is swamping small businesses; Brian makes the case that the pandemic reveals the dangers to misclassified independent contract workers who suddenly find themselves with no income, no healthcare and no access to unemployment. Also on deck: how an insurance loophole is screwing businesses forced to close during the pandemic. All that and much more on today’s episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast.

As the state reacts to last night's lockdown order from Gov. Newsom, California's hospitals are on the frontline of the battle against the deadly coronavirus. The hurdles are high: supplies of essentials like masks and ventilators are low; a much-needed shipment of testing kits arrived missing parts; doctors, nurses and other hospital staff risk infection as they provide treatment. Carmela Coyle, president of the California Hospital Association joins us to talk about the challenges as hospitals react to this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic... "an order of potential magnitude that we just haven't seen before."

-- Quick note: We recorded this podcast with former California Gambling Control Commission member Richard Schuetz last week, as the coronavirus situation was evolving - some of the discussions about casino closures may be out of date. --

Many people in politics have led colorful lives, but Richard Schuetz has most of them beat. He began working in casinos as a dealer while still in college, and has since held senior positions in gaming establishments across the country, notably in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. He served on the California Gambling Control Commission until 2015, when he left to head the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission. Today, Schuetz splits his time between Pennsylvania and Florida and works around the globe as a consultant on gaming. He called in to chat with us about the impact of the pandemic on the gaming industry, the competing sports-betting proposals currently in play in California and more.

With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, we sat down with the owner of the most prominent Irish brogue in California politics: Robbie Hunter, head of the State Building and Construction Trades Council. Hunter started his career as a steelworker, but his labor bonafides go deeper than that: his great-grandfather was an Irish labor organizer and steeplejack who helped build the Titanic, and Hunter was raised on a steady diet of labor history and organizing. He shared some of those stories and gave an update on the status of labor unions in the state.

The aptly-named Super Tuesday turbocharged the Democratic primary this week, propelling former Vice President Joe Biden into the lead in both delegates and the popular vote, supplanting Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders who had been the clear frontrunner until last week's blowout South Carolina primary revived Biden's moribund campaign. With former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg and, as of today, Senator Elizabeth Warren, exiting the race, the Democratic primary is now a contest between two septuagenarian career politicians from the northeast - who'da thunk? We asked career political data analyst Paul Mitchell to weigh in on the state of the race, what the Super Tuesday results portend, where Warren's supporters go now that she's out, and when we might have final results from California's primary.

Photo courtesy Gage Skidmore, Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/

In the capitol, David Panush is known as a longtime staffer and top-level expert on health care policy - usually one of our first calls when getting background on a convoluted healthcare story - but after dark he sheds the coat and tie and heads up a rock group called Remedy 7 (even the band name is healthcare-related!) The other members of the group are an eclectic mix, including a lobbyist, a water policy wonk and an Assembly chief of staff. David sat down with Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster (who has played in more than a few rock and roll bands) to talk about mixing work and pleasure, and how his policy work inspired one of the group's best tunes.

Remedy 7 have just released a CD of original songs and will be holding a record release party at Old Ironsides on March 21. More details here: https://www.r7sacramento.com

Randle Communications recently released their third annual Digital Influencer Report, tracking digital advocacy trends in 2019. Sad to say that the Capitol Weekly Podcast didn't make the list, but we won't hold that against them. Randle worked with Zignal Labs, hotshots in the field of social media analysis, to produce data for the report. Short take: this year’s report found that digital advocacy is more essential to public affairs and the California Legislature than ever before. Nearly all 120 legislators, and all statewide elected officials are on Twitter; some, like Senator Lorena Gonzalez and Governor Newsom, are thriving in the new social media environment. John Howard and Tim Foster sat down with CEO Jeff Randle in his office at 500 Capitol Mall (with maybe the most spectacular view in Sacramento) to talk about the report and how Twitter has changed politics.

Author and reporter Timothy L. O'Brien first came to national prominence with the 2005 publication ofTrump Nation, a book examining the then-TV star's fortunes... and which claimed that Trump had vastly inflated the value of his holdings, and was not, in fact, a billionaire - or even close. Trump sued, claiming he was libeled; a judge dismissed the case. That was then; these days O'Brien is a campaign surrogate for another rich 70-something New Yorker, former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg. O'Brien argues the case that Bloomberg is uniquely positioned to take on Trump via the unimaginable financial resources at his command. Those resources (+/- $55 Billion, but who's counting) have made it possible for Bloomberg to outspend all other 2020 Dem presidential primary campaigns COMBINED. At 400 people, he has the largest campaign staff in California and has outspent his rivals on CA TV by orders of magnitude. His expenditures have paid dividends - he is currently polling within a couple points of former vice president Joe Biden in the state. But, California has a history of rejecting the campaigns of self-funded ultra-rich candidates (see: Whitman, Meg; Checchi, Al; Huffington, Michael); will Bloomberg buck the trend?

Democratic political operative Roger Salazar has worn many hats over the years, working high profile gigs for political heavyweights like VP Al Gore and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. In 2008 Salazar headed to Nevada to help with the launch the then-new Nevada Caucus. Most won't remember, but up until '08, Nevada was a primary state; Roger was on hand for that very first Caucus and learned firsthand exactly how much can go wrong. He sat down with Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster to chat about how caucuses work, what they look like from the organizational side and what to expect when The Silver State caucuses in just over one week.

In the wake of the Iowa Caucus debacle, the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire Primary takes on added significance in a presidential primary race that appears to have blown wide open. Veteran California political consultant Steve Maviglio is from the Granite State - and served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Winning a spot in the sprawling 400-seat body requires retail politicking on a scale rarely seen in California, but that's business as usual for New Hampshirans, who expect to see the presidential candidates stumping at their local VFW Hall every four years. Steve joins us to talk about the realities of campaigning in New Hampshire and what to expect next Tuesday.

Longtime lobbyist Chris Micheli stops by the Podcast to talk about his new book: A Practitioner's Guide to Lobbying and Advocacy in California. Lobbying and legislative advocacy is a unique profession: no official training required, no specific level of academic achievement, and no certification of qualification... yet lobbyists play a crucial role in the creation and implementation of the public policy that governs our lives. Micheli and co-editor Ray LeBov compiled and edited the book with contributions from many of their esteemed colleagues, including Aaron Read, Jennifer Fearing, Shari and Gavin McHugh and many others.

Another KABATALKS episode of the Capitol Weekly pod, wherein two brothers working opposite sides of the political spectrum discuss issues of the day. John Kabateck is a lifelong Republican and longtime spokesperson for the NFIB; Brian Kabateck is a lifelong Democrat and the former head of the Consumer Attorneys Association. John Howard and Tim Foster of Capitol Weekly guide the discussion, which focuses this week on AB5, the landmark labor law that seeks to clarify the distinctions between employees and independent contractors in the wake of the Dynamex decision. Unsurprisingly, the Kabatecks are on opposite sides of the fence on AB5, but - spoiler - do manage to find some common ground.

Reporter Scott Soriano joins John Howard and Tim foster to talk about his recently published three-part series on California's rape crisis centers. These nongovernmental organizations provide crucial resources and support to survivors of sexual assault, who often have nowhere else to turn. The value of the work performed by the centers is not in dispute - but who should pay for it is. While California has experienced a steady rise in the number of reported rapes (over 5% per year since 2015), the state’s annual General Fund contribution to rape crisis centers over the past decade has been just $45,000 — and all of that money has gone to just one of the state's 84 crisis centers. In the state budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year, however, California upped its contribution to $5 million - only to drop funding back to $45,000 for the current fiscal year. No one seems to know why.

January means one thing on the Sacramento legislative calendar (well, aside from the governor's budget): the annual Back to Session Bash! Lobbyist David Quintana launched the soiree 15 years ago and has been its guiding light as the event grew from a modest gathering for capitol staffers into the star-studded blowout it is today. John Howard and Tim Foster sat down with Quintana to talk about the early years, the "Too Short Incident," what he's learned in 15 years of hosting the Bash - and to dig for clues about the surprise entertainer ("our biggest ever") booked for this year's Bash. Listen up for ALL the details and what to expect on January 16, 2020.

In a surprise move, Senator Kamala Harris suspended her run for the presidency today, ending what had once been a promising campaign, launched with great fanfare in front of 22,000 Oakland supporters. The announcement came after a slate of bad news; unimpressive fundraising numbers, an ugly public departure of key staffers and several devastating media reports describing a campaign in disarray. California Political data expert Paul Mitchell joined John Howard and Tim Foster to discuss what happened, and what Harris' exit means for a race that is very much in flux.

Thanks to Gage Skidmore for use of the accompanying photo of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris speaking with attendees at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/

Brian and John Kabateck visit the podcast to answer the question on everyone's lips: what is Thanksgiving like for two brothers who are on opposing sides of nearly every political fight in the state? John Kabateck is a lifelong Republican and longtime spokesperson for the NFIB; Brian Kabateck is a lifelong Democrat and the former head of the Consumer Attorneys Association. The two sat down with John Howard and Tim Foster to talk about how they separate work, ideology and family, and on finding common ground.

California's Redwood forests are celebrated worldwide for their beauty and wonder - but few realize that the Redwoods came close to being logged out of existence. The first reports of California's giant trees made it back to the US in the mid 1800s, before statehood. It wasn't long afterward that loggers began harvesting the redwoods, often seeking the largest - and oldest - trees as their prime targets. By the early 20th Century, only a fraction of the Old Growth Redwoods remained, and activists from the then-new conservation movement rallied to save what was left. Authors Laura and James Wasserman tell the story of the women who led this movement in their new book, "Who Saved the Redwoods? The Unsung Heroines of the 1920s Who Fought for Our Redwood Forests." Laura and James join John Howard and Tim Foster to tell the story on this episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast.

California Voter Foundation President Kim Alexander is celebrating 25 years since the organization was 'relaunched' in 1994 - she sat down with the CW podcast to talk about the history of CVF and what their top concerns are a quarter century after the kickoff. (In short: a paper trail for votes cast.) The Foundation is backing three pieces of legislation that are currently parked on the governor's desk: AB 681/Gonzalez, a bill to require county registrars to notify voters of their registered party preference and Presidential election voting choices in advance of the March 2020 Presidential Primary; SB 72/Umberg, a bill to require counties to provide voters with the ability to register or change their party preference on Election Day at all polling places statewide; and SB 523/McGuire - a bill to require counties to notify voters whose signatures are missing from vote-by-mail envelopes and provide them with the ability to submit a valid signature so their ballot is counted and not rejected. Will Governor Newsom sign or veto these bills before we post this podcast? This and many other questions answered on this week's edition of the Capitol Weekly Podcast.

Political data maven Paul Mitchell joins the Capitol Weekly Podcast's John Howard and Tim Foster to talk about the latest buzzword in the 2020 election lexicon -- electability. Electability is that indefinable something that every candidate wants but few have. It's hard to nail down, but you know it when you see it. Mitchell, the founder of the CA120 political column and one of our regular podcast guests, is a political strategist and statistician, and he takes a deep dive -- his first of many -- into the results of his first tracking poll. His findings may surprise you.

We're celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Top 100 list next week, so on the Capitol Weekly Podcast today thought we'd chat with the person who was there and started it all -- Anthony York, a veteran reporter and the founding editor of the revamped Capitol Weekly. What began as a reward-your-friends-and-punish-your-enemies exercise in clickbait and cheek gradually morphed into a document of some value, however limited and flawed. Today, it's a lot different than in 2009: For one thing, we print The Top 100 Book, a profusely illustrated paperback featuring thumbnail career bios of each of the 100 subjects. For another, some people actually pay attention to the list. But at the end of the day, it's still just a list of names, subjectively compiled.What could possibly go wrong? York joins John Howard and Tim Foster to find out.

Want to celebrate the Top 100 with us? Come to the Top 100 Party on August 20: https://capitolweekly.net/events/top-100-party-august-20-2019/

The new SCOTUS decision on Gerrymandering was the perfect set-up for today's episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast: California State Auditor Elaine Howle sat down with us to talk about the process for choosing California's 2020 crop of Redistricting Commissioners - a fascinating and MUCH more complex process than most realize.

Capitol Weekly's Journalism Internship program has been going for over ten years - in that time we've hosted dozens of interns from a variety of schools across the state (and even a few from outside the state!) Capitol Weekly interns have gone on to work at the Sacramento Bee, the Los Angeles Times, NBC news and even the White House! This semester we have had two interns: Julia Lindbloom of Sierra College, and Monet Muscat - at 15, our youngest-ever intern - from The Met Sacramento. We asked them to talk about their experiences as interns, what they think of politics and where they get THEIR news. All that and more on this week's podcast!

Roger Salazar and Hilary McLean were working together in Governor Gray Davis' Press Office before the current crop of Capitol Weekly interns were born - some may 'recall' that Davis' gig didn't end well. McLean and Salazar have recently have reunited at Alza Strategies, the public affairs/communications firm Salazar founded a few years back. They sat down with us to share stories of interviews gone wrong and what's changed in Sacramento politics in the two decades since Davis took office.

California political data guru Paul Mitchell sits down with the CW Podcast to talk about the 2020 election - who's leading the polls, do the polls matter, who's raising money - and who's spending it. Looking at California, how will the state's new early primary play out, and what impact will the automatic DMV registration process have? All that and plenty more on this episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast.

This week's podcast guest is Carl Guardino, head of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and a member of the California Transportation Commission. Carl Sat down with Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster at K Street's bustling Ambrosia Cafe (trust us, it gets quieter after a minute or two) to offer insight into the battles over new housing in the Bay Area (including SB50) and the fierce fights over improving California's rail system, from High Speed Rail, electric trains and San Jose's future subway.

Following the long and devastating drought that depleted the state's water reserves, California this year has seen heavy storms - and now boasts a historic snowpack. This week's snow measurement at Phillips Station, a site at 8000 feet in the Sierras near Lake Tahoe, indicates that the snowpack is over 160% of the norm. Chris Orrock of the California Department of Water Resources joins the podcast to talk about what this wealth of snow means for California's water reserves, flood dangers and implications for wildfires later in the year.

These days, Sami Gallegos is the Communications Director for Lorena Gonzalez, the high-visibility Democratic Assemblywoman representing AD80; but before she went to work inside the building Sami covered the capitol as a journalist. Full disclosure - Sami was a Capitol Weekly intern and later worked as a full time reporter for Capitol Weekly before leaving nonprofit journalism for the glamour and glitz of TV's ABC 10. Sami sat down with the CW Podcast to talk about making the transition from journalist to political pro, and what it's like to run the communications shop for an elected official who gets plenty of attention all on her own.

Lenny Mendonca, newly-appointed as Governor Newsom's Chief Economic and Business Advisor, wears a lot of hats: he is also Chair of California's High Speed Rail Commission, Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company, and one of the founders and owners of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. We caught up with Lenny in his 18th floor office on J Street to chat about High Speed Rail, taxes - and beer.

California state senator Tom Umberg is one of the most prominent Democrats to break with Governor Gavin Newsom on his decision this week to put the death penalty on hold in the Golden State. A former federal prosecutor, Umberg argues that some crimes are so heinous that they deserve the ultimate penalty. We spoke with Senator Umberg about his stance on the issue and what to expect next from proponents and opponents of the Death Penalty.

Sacramento lobby firm Capitol Advocacy celebrates 20 years this month - founder John Latimer sat down with the Capitol Weekly Podcast to talk about the nuts and bolts of the of lobbying business, the impact - or not - of term limits, and what's changed since he launched the firm two decades ago.

With the new administration, the capitol has seen an influx of fresh staffers, many of whom are new to the Sacramento area. Where, they ask, does one go to eat, drink and be merry in this burg? If this describes you - no worries, Becky Grunewald has you covered. The longtime Sacto food critic offered a short list of favorites in a recent Capitol Weekly article (http://capitolweekly.net/newbies-eat-drink-sacramento/), which, like most lists, immediately came under fire from readers on social media. She sat down with the Capitol Weekly Podcast to talk about her choices and offer some other options for those willing to venture off the grid.

Bob Wieckowski is more than just the Senator from California's 10th Senate District - he's also a bankruptcy lawyer, giving him unique insight into utility giant PG&E's recent bankruptcy declaration. John Howard and Tim Foster visited the Senator in his office to chat about the difference between federal and state bankruptcy laws, what happens to the companies with existing or pending contracts with PG&E and the status of fire victims' insurance claims. All that, plus the story behind all those framed photos of blues musicians on the walls of his office.

Pacific Gas and Electric filed for bankruptcy protection on January 29, citing billions of dollars in potential liabilities from the utility giant's likely role in sparking a series of devastating California wildfires. San Francisco Chronicle reporter JD Morris has been covering the case and joins John Howard and Tim Foster to discuss the ramifications of bankruptcy including the possibility that the venerable California company may be broken up.

Longtime California environmentalist Paul Mason sits down with Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster for a wide-ranging discussion covering wildfires, the status of California's forests, Julia Butterfly Hill, John's 1980 Volkswagen Scirocco and the shifting focus of the state's environmental movement in the face of global climate change crisis. Also: a shameless plug for Capitol Weekly's internship program!

Columnist and reporter Dan Walters has been covering the career of Governor Jerry Brown since 1975, first in the pages of the Sacramento Union, then the Sacramento Bee, and currently for CALmatters. A frequent critic of the quixotic governor, Oakland Mayor and near-perennial presidential candidate, Walters has had a unique vantage point on Brown's many ups and downs - tracking his peripatetic career up close and in real time for over four decades. As Brown prepares to leave what is likely his final public office, Walters sat down with the Capitol Weekly Podcast to talk about Jerry Brown's legacy.

Here it is, December 11 and the final count of ballots cast in California's November 6 election was certified less than a week ago. And, as Jim Brulte and Kevin McCarthy have sadly noted, many GOP Election Night "wins" fell to Democrats as the final votes were tallied. Why? How? Nooner publisher and all-around politics expert Scott Lay joins us to talk about California's vote-counting process and just why it takes SOOOOO long.

In the wake of declining registration numbers and a devastating election in November, California Republicans are searching for a path back to relevance in the Golden State. Many Latino Republicans have voiced strong opposition to the GOP's current direction, decrying the Nationalist-leaning "Trump Wing" of the Party that has embraced loaded racial rhetoric and calls for a wall between California and Mexico. Latino GOP consultants Luis Alvarado and Mike Madrid sat down with the Capitol Weekly Podcast to discuss the state of the California Republican Party from their different vantage points: Madrid sees a Party in deep decline, having abandoned Conservative ideals in favor of white identity politics; Alvarado offers a glass-half-full view, defending the campaign of failed Gubernatorial candidate John Cox and looking for the bread and butter issues that will drive voters back to the GOP. Sparks fly as Alvarado and Madrid hash out their ideas about saving the Party that each has devoted his professional life to.

Former Assemblyman Dennis Mangers was elected to represent Orange County's AD73 in 1976 - swept to power in the Democratic wave that followed Watergate. The district reverted to form four years later when Mangers lost his seat to Republican Nolan Frizzelle. The district voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 - the first Dem presidential candidate to capture Orange County since FDR - and this month elected Democrat Harley Rouda to replace Dana Rohrabacher in congress. We sat down with Mangers to chat about the changes that have turned Orange County blue (or maybe purple) and about life after elected office. These days Mangers is an adviser to Sacramento mayor Darrell Steinberg and is busy supporting the Dennis Mangers Fund for Young Performing Artists.

Assemblymember Ian Calderon's "Straw Law," AB1884, seeks to lessen the number of single-use plastic straws that end up in the ocean and other waterways. The bill, which has passed both Senate and Assembly and is now awaiting concurrence before heading to the governor's desk, would require sit-down restaurants in California to forgo automatically placing a straw in every drink, and instead only provide straws when requested by a customer. Environment California's State Director Dan Jacobson joins the podcast this week to talk about AB1884 and other pending environmental legislation, including SB100, which would mandate that all energy used in California come from renewable resources by 2045.

Mindy Romero of the California Civic Engagement Project joins John Howard and Tim Foster of Capitol Weekly to talk about California's primary election turnout and what we -might- expect to see in November. We also ask about CCEP's recent move from UC Davis to USC.

On the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy we are joined by Steve Swatt, a veteran political analyst and former news reporter who at the age of 23 covered RFK's murder and the trial of the assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, for United Press International. Swatt shares memories of the intense days following the assassination and the three month trial that ended in a guilty verdict. During a 25-year journalism career -- mostly as a political reporter -- Steve worked for the San Francisco Examiner, UPI in Los Angeles and KCRA-TV in Sacramento. He is the lead author of Game Changers:Twelve Elections That Transformed California, which won the California Historical Society book award. He also is the lead author of the forthcoming book, Paving the Way: Women's Struggle for Political Equality in California.

California political data guru Paul Mitchell joins John Howard of Capitol Weekly to talk about the early voting returns as we head into next week's primary, as well as new numbers from the Secretary of State that show the California Republican Party slipping into third place in California voter preference, behind the Democrats and No Party Preference.

Those on all sides of the healthcare debate agree on one thing: healthcare costs continue to rise in California and across the country. We sat down with Carmela Coyle, President and CEO of the California Hospital Association, to talk about strategies for increasing the affordability of healthcare, including a new experiment in Maryland that seeks to replace per-patient payments with a single annual payment designed to focus on keeping patients healthier. We also chat about a new bill, AB 3087, which would set up a commission to create uniform standard pricing throughout California. This bill has drawn withering criticism from the healthcare community and, according to Coyle, “will simply collapse our healthcare system." All that, and her take on the prospects for Universal Healthcare in the state, on this week's Capitol Weekly Podcast.

A package of over 20 healthcare bills and budget asks - called "Care For All California" - is now making its way through the legislature. Backed by a consortium of over 50 healthcare organizations, unions and nonprofits, the package would significantly reshape California's healthcare landscape and could bring the state's uninsured rate below 3%. Anthony Wright of Health Access California sits down with Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster to chat about the Care For All proposal and the prospects for Universal Healthcare in California.

Assemblyman Jim Cooper was on hand at yesterday's press conference that announced that a suspect in the notorious East Area Rapist / Original Night Stalker / Golden State Killer case had been arrested. Cooper, a former Captain in the Elk Grove Sheriff's Department, spoke about the importance of DNA collection in the solution of cold case crimes and noted that an unforeseen outcome of Proposition 47, which reclassified a number of crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, was a significant drop in DNA the state collects from suspects. John Howard and Tim Foster stopped by his office today to talk about the role DNA played in the arrest of Joseph DeAngelo and about what one victim's family member described as a "buzzsaw" of opposition to increasing DNA collection for the state's crime database.

Senate Bill 827, an ambitious and sweeping bill aimed at addressing California's housing crisis, died in its first committee hearing this week. The legislation, by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, would have overridden local controls, forcing California cities to allow apartment buildings of up to five stories to be built near existing transit stops. SB 827 was sponsored by a new organization, California YIMBY, which was founded only months before the legislation was introduced, and was supported by a diverse coalition that included developers, urban planners, some environmentalists, California Habitat for Humanity and the Chamber of Commerce. We sat down with Louis Mirante of CAYIMBY to talk about the bill's defeat and what happens next.

Twenty two years ago this week, federal authorities arrested Ted Kaczynski - known as the Unabomber - in his remote Montana cabin, ending a 17 year reign of terror. While the Unabomber had no strong ties to the Sacramento region, both his first and final murders occurred here. It was 23 years ago this month that Kaczynski claimed his final victim, Sacramento timber lobbyist Gil Murray, who was killed by a powerful bomb that tore through the California Forestry Association offices on I Street. Longtime political communications professional Kevin Eckery worked with Murray - and also with the bomb's intended target, William Dennison - at the Association. Capitol Weekly editor John Howard covered Kaczynski's bombing spree and pretrial legal wrangling firsthand for the Associated Press. On this somber anniversary they share memories of Gil Murray, and the Unabomber era.

Mark DiCamillo, director of the Berkeley IGS Poll at the Institute of Governmental Studies, U.C. Berkeley, recently penned a CA120 column about big changes in polling as online queries supplant traditional telephone calls - he joins us this week to talk about the latest trends in opinion surveying.

Political consultant turned author Joe Rodota sits down with Capitol Weekly to talk about his new book: The Watergate - Inside America's Most Infamous Address. The story of the Watergate break-in has been well-told, but in this "biography of a building," Rodota weaves a fascinating history that includes more than just the events of June 17, 1972. The Watergate was home to myriad players on the national stage, including Senator Bob Dole - and his next-door neighbor, Monica Lewinsky. Rodota also introduces odd figures on the fringes of history like Aline Griffith, the "Dowager Countess" of Romanones who fancied herself a spy, and real CIA operative Walter Pforzheimer, who kept the agency's library in his apartment.

Political Data Inc. head honcho Paul Mitchell joins us to talk about the political environment as we move toward the midterms. This week's upset special election in PA 18 - where Democrat Conor Lamb won in a GOP-leaning district that went for Trump by about 20 points - is being cited by many as further evidence that a Democratic wave is building. But what happens in California, where the national Tea Party wave of 2010 failed to cross the Sierra? Will California's red house districts STAY red in 2018, and how will Top Two affect the outcome? All this, and more in today's Capitol Weekly Podcast.

For today's episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast we are joined by Sacramento political consultant Wayne Johnson, a veteran of well over 200 campaigns - on multiple continents. These days he's working on Republican John Cox' campaign for California Governor, which got a boost moments before we recorded the show when former congressman Doug Ose abruptly exited the race. Wayne has served as President and Chairman of the American Association of Political Consultants, and is a pioneer in the use of social media in political campaigns - we got his take on the Russia/Trump/Facebook brouhaha, and much, much more.

Longtime political journalist Dan Morain joins us this week to chat about former Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner's surprise late entry into the current race for Insurance Commissioner as an independent candidate. Will the multimillionaire former Commissioner be able to shake the curse that has befuddled GOP statewide office-seekers in California by shedding the party label? Or, will his rightward turn in the 2010 gubernatorial primary come back to haunt him? We talk about all that, Dan's brand new job at the indie journalism project, CALmatters, and more.

Sacramento Bee reporter Alexei Koseff covers California politics and higher education for the Bee’s capitol bureau — and handles the state Assembly, too. Alexei joined Capitol Weekly’s John Howard and Tim Foster to chat about the challenges facing UC — Alexei is a Stanford alumnus, by the way — and the unique, constitutionally protected position the institution occupies in California’s educational structure.

Longtime journalist and Jerry Brown biographer Chuck McFadden joins the Capitol Weekly Podcast to talk about Brown's 16th - and last - State of the State address, his legacy, and what may lie ahead for the 79-year old governor. Presidential run? Mayor of Colusa? Or, just the "Only adult in the room." All that and much more on today's Capitol Weekly Podcast.

Southern California voter registration outweighs the north by big numbers, and some pundits are predicting that a surge of Southern California votes will boost Angelinos running for office in 2018, leaving NorCal candidates - like Gavin Newsom - at a disadvantage. 'Not so fast,' says political data whiz Paul Mitchell. He sat down with the CW Podcast for a deep dig about why the Bay Area outperforms SoCal in voter turnout, and what the likely voting patterns will look like in the gubernatorial and Senate primaries. And, what happens if Dems make a sweep, collecting both Top Two slots in the Guv and US Senate races? Tune in and find out!

Bill Magavern of the Coalition for Clean Air declares 2018 "The Year of the Truck" as he joins us for the first Capitol Weekly Podcast of 2018. New, proposed legislation (SB 210) from Senator Connie Leyva would introduce clean air rules for big trucks, which - a surprise to us - do not have to undergo the same types of smog checks that have been required for passenger vehicles for many years. This, and other proposals put California at odds with the Trump administration, which is rolling back Obama-era clean air regulations. A longtime environmental advocate, Bill weighs in on what's at stake and what to look for in air quality regulation during the coming year.

Will California catch the wave? Last week’s elections in Virginia and elsewhere can only be categorized as a Democratic wave - a wave that swamped Republican candidates in once-safe GOP seats. Energized Democrats are hoping to retake congress in 2018, and have their sights set on seven California house districts which voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 but are represented by Republicans. California political data whiz Paul Mitchell joins us to talk about Tuesday's results and what they do - or don't - portend for California in 2018.

Journalist, educator and now, documentary filmmaker Rob Gunnison joins us to talk about the new Open California Oral History project, which recently finished its first two projects: filmed interviews with Judge Thelton Henderson and George Steffes. Henderson, a civil rights lawyer who later joined the federal judiciary (and later took control of the state's prison health care system), is the definition of an "activist" judge. Steffes was the Sacramento lobbyist closest to then-Governor Ronald Reagan. Rob talks about the process of creating an oral history and shares interesting tidbits from the first two projects.

The Henderson and Steffes oral histories may be seen at www.capitolweekly.net.

Political Data's Paul Mitchell sits down with John Howard and Tim Foster to discuss his latest CA120 column, which examines changing - and not-so-changing - attitudes among California's Trump voters. How are the president's early supporters feeling about his time in office, the Republican majority in congress, and journalists? Listen here to find out!

Longtime journalist Tom Chorneau joins us to talk about his debut novel, Enterprise Reporting, which follows one of the state's top political reporters and his lobbyist uncle as they game the system during Arnold Schwarzenegger's reign as California governor. Informed by Chorneau's real-life experiences covering Sacramento, and featuring thinly-veiled portraits of familiar capitol figures, the novel is a fun read for those who live and breathe California politics - or just like a good crime tale.

California Business Roundtable president Rob Lapsley joins us to talk about efforts to extend the state's cap-and-trade program, and the effect cap-and-trade has on California's business community. Earlier this month, the Assembly rejected AB378, a bill that would extend, and make changes to California's landmark cap-and-trade program. The legislation had earlier cleared the Senate, but strong opposition from the oil industry and some businesses led to defections in the Assembly. Passing this legislation is high on the governor's list, but time is running out.

The 2020 Census could have a big impact on California's political districts. Could changes in population - or an undercount - cost California a congressional seat? Or, will improved counting methods give California a 53rd seat in the House? Political Data's Paul Mitchell joins John Howard and Tim Foster to discuss the possibilities for the state's second round of redistricting since the creation of the nonpartisan redistricting commission.

California political data guru Paul Mitchell sits down with Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster to talk about his latest CA120 column, which looks at changes in political polling. What does the decline of land lines, surge of cell phones and increased reliance on email mean for the future of California political polling?

Recorded live, Saturday, May 20, 2017, at the California Democratic Party convention - Capitol Weekly editor John Howard talks with The Nooner's Scott Lay about the bitter battle over the party chairmanship between establishment Dems and "Berniecrats." Inspired by the candidacy of Bernie Sanders, the left wing of the party surged in activity during the 2016 election and has continued to agitate for progressive causes. More moderate Democrats - often longtime party officials - have caught flak from the base for their more measured approach. Kimberly Ellis, in an upstart effort to replace John Burton as party chair, narrowly lost to 25 year party vet Eric Bauman, who was seen as a shoe in only months ago. John and Scott discuss the atmosphere at the convention and what all this means for the party in California, and DC.

Political Data expert Paul Mitchell and pollster Ruth Bernstein stop by the Capitol Weekly office to talk about Paul's latest CA120 column, which looks at results from a new EMC Research/Capitol Weekly poll of 2016 new voters. Historically, new voters who register in a presidential election year are likely to skip mid-term elections - will 2016 new voters follow that pattern, or will they break the pattern like nearly everything else about the 2016 election?

Fifty years ago this week, Black Panther Party leader Bobby Seale led an armed delegation of Oakland Panthers into the California state capitol in a bid to derail a proposed gun control bill. The event made international news, and photos of black-clad Panthers brandishing shotguns and other long guns were published around the world. George Skelton, then a young news reporter, was in the capitol when the Panthers entered on May 2, 1967. In this episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast, Skelton shares his memories of that historic day.

California political data expert Paul Mitchell sits down with Capitol Weekly editor John Howard to talk about his latest #CA120 column. Digital spending boomed in campaigns in 2016 - consultants and candidates are sending real dollars into the digital realm. Paul digs into the realities of online campaigning in 2017, including Geo Fencing and Digital Terrorism.

The California Channel may not be the flashiest option on your TV dial, but among California politicos and policy wonks it is "must-see-TV." Capitol Weekly sits down with CalChannel president John Hancock - a capitol insider who knows everyone in the biz - to talk about his 25+ years heading the station.

California Political data whiz Paul Mitchell stopped by the Capitol Weekly office to chat about the upcoming #CA34 special election (to replace now-AG Xavier Becerra in congress), Darrell Issa's recent shimmy to the left, and the early read on the 2018 governor's race.

Longtime California political journalist Dave Lesher stopped by the Capitol Weekly office to talk about his latest gig: Editor and CEO of CALmatters, an ambitious nonprofit news startup that has quickly put together one of the largest political news bureaus in the state. We talk about that venture, and the status of political media in 2017.

The Capitol Weekly Podcast crew crosses the Yolo Causeway to sit down with UC Davis prof. Jay Lund. One of the most respected voices in California water, Lund discusses the evolution of the Central Valley's water storage and delivery systems, and the state of our water infrastructure, including what to watch as storms and snowmelt continue to threaten the Oroville Dam.

As floods ravage San Jose and the spillway of the Oroville Dam continues to erode, we're joined by California's essential water policy blogger, Chris Austin, of Maven's Notebook, to talk about water storage, conveyance, subsidence, aquifers, the Yolo Causeway and of course, the Twin Tunnels project. And we find out why one of the state's most closely read water policy blogs has such an odd name.

John Howard and Tim Foster take a short tour of the California state capitol with "unofficial" legislative historian Alex Vassar. Alex shares some tales from his new book, "California Lawmaker," about a few of the 4,424 people who have served in legislature since the state's inception. Alex serves up stabbings, shootings and fistfights on the floor - and that's all from just one incident! You'll also hear about the tile setting Nazi who restored the floor just outside the Pro Tem's office and

find out why there are no longer couches on the upper rotunda.

Capitol Weekly headed over to the California Endowment's offices on K Street to chat with Endowment VP Daniel Zingale about what a repeal of the Affordable Care Act would mean for California. Zingale also weighs in on other health-related topics including Universal Health Care, how your neighborhood affects your health and EXACTLY how bad soda ("it's mostly chemicals") is for you. We conducted this interview on Friday, January 27, 2017.

Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster sit down with Anthony Wright of Health Access California to talk about the impact of the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, AKA Obamacare. Is it happening? If so, when? How much will it cost Californians? And, what's the significance of February 20? All this and more on the latest Capitol Weekly Podcast.

UC Davis College Republicans pulled the plug on a January 13 speaking event featuring far-right firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos and pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli after protests against the duo's appearance overwhelmed campus security. The event was destined to court controversy - Breitbart editor Yiannopoulos is a vocal opponent of feminism and was banned from Twitter for conducting a harassment campaign against actress Leslie Jones; Shkreli came to prominence in 2015 for raising the price of a lifesaving drug that combats parasitic infections from $13.50 to $750 per pill in one day. He is currently out on bail for securities fraud. The College Republicans and UC Davis brass tell different versions of the day's events - Capitol Weekly sat down with Davis College Republican President Nicholas Francois and Executive Director Andrew Mendoza to talk about what happened -- and why they wanted to bring such controversial figures to speak on campus. A note: We conducted this interview on Friday, January 20; hours later a man was shot at a protest against Yiannopoulos' appearance that night at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Midway into the inauguration week of president-elect Donald Trump, Capitol Weekly sits down with Democratic communications guru Jason Kinney of California Strategies. Kinney weighs in what he sees as California’s role as the anti-Trump, “Beacon of Opportunity,” takes note of the Calexit crowd, and even drops a reference to "Cool Hand Luke.”

We kick off 2017 with a visit to lobbyist David Quintana, the brains behind the Back to Session Bash - the hottest political party of the season - which is on track for Thursday, January 12. We get the lowdown on the origin of the bash, the best and worst moments of past Bashes, what, exactly, Coolio was buying at Rite Aid while he was supposed to be performing - and dig for details about this year's SPECIAL GUEST.(Spoiler: NOT Beyonce.) Also featuring Viviana Becerra as official BtSB fact checker!

Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster head over to the coffee shop for a chat with data whiz and CA120 columnist Paul Mitchell. Paul expands on the ideas in his latest column, breaks down how Californians voted in 2016 (now that the final numbers are in)and what it might portend for 2018 and beyond.

Capitol Weekly chats with veteran GOP strategist Mike Madrid, who offers his thoughts on the impact of the Latino vote in the 2016 election - and how and why the 'sleeping giant' failed to deliver for Clinton. While the numbers this cycle were good nationally for Trump, and for Dems in California, Madrid has cautionary words for both parties moving forward.

Capitol Weekly sits down with Donald Trump's man in California, Tim Clark. Clark ran Trump's west coast operation out of his Auburn, California offices, directing thousands of volunteers and staff. One and a half million phone calls later, Donald Trump was the winner of the 2016 election. Clark talks about his work on the Trump campaign and his next steps as he heads to Washington DC to work on the transition.

On the day before the 2016 election, California Fair Political Practices Commission Chair Jodi Remke stops by The Ambrosia Cafe to chat with Capitol Weekly about campaign violations, money in politics, and what, exactly, the 80 person staff of the CA FPPC does. Join us!

Capitol Weekly heads down to Ambrosia Cafe at 11th and K to sit down with Congressman Xavier Becerra, the ranking Latino in Congress, who has been stumping for Democratic candidates across the country and is now spending the final days of #election2016 in his home state. The Sacramento native talks about the campaign trail, the prospects for Dem pickups in the California house delegation - and his own prospects after November 8.

With the election just four weeks away, Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster sit down with Buffy Wicks, Democratic strategist and California State Director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 primary campaign. Wicks got her start as a congressional campaign volunteer in 1996 and parlayed that experience into significant roles in Howard Dean and Barack Obama's campaigns, later serving as a Deputy Director at the White House Office of Public Engagement. Wicks offers background on what it's like to run a campaign - and gives her take on the state of the 2016 election.

Former congressman Doug Ose was one of the first prominent California Republicans to endorse the candidacy Donald J. Trump. Capitol Weekly visited Doug at his office at Gibson Ranch Monday to chat about the state of the race, following a wild week for the Republican candidate. Ose weighs in on Trump's taxes, the role of the media, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend - and casually namechecks more world leaders in 10 seconds than Gary Johnson has in the past year.

Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster pay a visit to Sacramento political consultants Steven Maviglio and Ray McNally who just got back from Moscow. Their mission: explain American politics to the Russians. Their problem: who could explain THIS crazy election?

It's Election Day in California (and five other states) - but the AP already called the Democratic primary for Hillary Clinton yesterday. How did that happen? Tim Foster chats with Capitol Weekly editor John Howard - for many years a top political reporter for the AP - who explains how the process works... and how it might affect today's results.

The annual California Roast is nearly upon us and Roast head honcho Jim Muldavin stops by to talk about the history of the event (34 years!) and the Capitol Focus youth programs the Roast supports. Jim arrived loaded with plenty of anecdotes, including a story about the time he was placed under arrest by then Attorney General Bill Lockyer. Unlike the Roast, this podcast is SFW...

Join Capitol Weekly's John Howard as we take the podcast on the road to the 2016 California Republican Convention in Burlingame. No, we didn't get to interview Donald Trump, Ted Cruz or even John Kasich, but we did chat with a variety of fascinating folks on the floor, including GOP candidate for US Senate Ron Unz, GOP political strategists Mike Madrid and Kevin Spillane, CalChamber VP Marty Wilson, Comcast Spotlight's Carol Dahmen, Steve Chessin of Californians for Electoral Reform, and even two UC Berkeley students (and Capitol Weekly interns), Sam-Omar Hall and Serla Rusli, who were covering a political convention for the first time. Recorded live at the California Republican Convention on April 30, 2016.

Political Data Inc's Paul Mitchell joins John Howard and Tim Foster to chat about new numbers from the Secretary of State and the effects of purging the voter rolls. He also digs into a hot topic - how the party delegate system works, with a look at the historical evolution of the primary process. All that, AND his connection to the Zodiac Killer - only at Capitol Weekly!

Is polling less reliable this year, and will new data technologies replace polls in the future? Joe Camicia, Kyle Cassano and Todd Wilkinson from Advocacy.marketing join Capitol Weekly's John Howard to continue a discussion inspired by the TECHNOLOGY: 2016 forum.

TECHNOLOGY: 2016

Sponsored by RTBIQ

Join us for a special extended edition of the Capitol Weekly Podcast, featuring a panel discussion on how the newest tech and data are revolutionizing campaign strategies, featuring:

Richard Lowden, RTBIQ; Brent Blackaby, Trilogy Interactive; Paul Mitchell, Political Data Inc.; Minnie Santillan, Political Consultant; Matt Rexroad, Meridian Pacific, and moderated by Scott Lay, The Nooner.

Get special behind-the-scenes perspectives on the latest digital strategies and ground-breaking technologies that will impact the 2016 cycle.

Recorded March 24, 2016 in Sacramento

Animal advocate and communications specialist Jennifer Fearing stops by the Capitol Weekly office to talk about last week's announcement that Sea World will phase out Orca shows at their parks; plus, find out which recent Sacramento Bee political story quoted 14 men and zero women - and the phenomenon that is Sutter Brown.

The Nooner's Scott Lay stops by to talk politics with Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster. Scott looks at potential Dem-on-Dem races, and John asks his favorite question: will this be the year that California's primary matters?

Voters Right to Know announced today that they have dropped their bid to qualify a constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to access campaign finance information, opting to back a new bill, SB 1349, that would greatly improve Californians' access to campaign finance information. Jim Heerwagen and Shane McLoud stopped by the Capitol Weekly office to talk with John Howard about the new strategy.

Rough and Tumble's Jack Kavanagh stops by the lavish offices of Capitol Weekly for a chat with John Howard and Tim Foster about journalism, the internet, and why you won't find The Economist on R&T.

John Howard and Tim Foster talk about the week in California politics, including the State Democratic Convention, forgotten assets, the end of Daylight Savings Time and more.

Capitol Weekly's John Howard and Tim Foster sit down for a chat about California politics including a look at data whiz Paul Mitchell's #CA120 article covering the surprise outcome of the 2014 race for the 39th Assembly District in which political unknown Patty Lopez defeated incumbent Raul Bocanegra - was it ballot order? Also, a look at AB2249, Assemblyman Ken Cooley's bill to stop private firms term trademarking the names of public park amenities

Capitol Weekly's John Howard sits down with Scott Lay of the Nooner to chat about politics this week, with a look at the upcoming primaries in Nevada and South Carolina and what impact the death of Justice Antonin Scalia may have on the presidential race.

John Howard and Tom Foster chat about moves to unseat California Coastal Commission Executive Director Charles Lester, the 43rd Annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Council Hearing at the capitol this week and then look 3000 miles eastward at this week's New Hampshire primary

Our third podcast! Capitol Weekly’s John Howard and Tim Foster sit down with GOP political strategist Hector Barajas to talk about the Latino vote, Donald Trump, and whether California’s presidential primary vote might actually make a difference this year.

Capitol Weekly's John Howard sits down with Tim Foster and Scott Lay to talk Bond revenue, Prop 13, drama at the California Coastal Commission and the quality of the bathrooms at the capitol.

Capitol Weekly Editor John Howard and Open California's Tim Foster chat about what's coming up at the capitol this week (following the Martin Luther King Holiday) on the debut edition of the Capitol Weekly podcast.