KABATALKS

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, Brian and John dig into two criminal investigations swirling around California's most powerful figures and what they actually mean heading into November. First up: the murky federal probe touching Governor Gavin Newsom and his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom, her nonprofits The Represent...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, Brian and John tackle four stories colliding at once in California and Washington. First up: the Los Angeles mayor's race, where reality TV personality Spencer Pratt (married to Heidi Montag of The Hills), who lost his Palisades home in the January 2025 fires has emerged as a legitim...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, Brian and John welcome back a fellow Glendale native and political data expert, Paul Mitchell of Political Data Incorporated and Redistricting Partners. Paul helped draw the maps approved by California voters under Proposition 50 in 2024 and he's here to explain what those new lines...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, Brian and John react to the stunning collapse of Eric Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign and ask the question nobody in Sacramento wants to answer: how did someone with that reputation get so far, so fast? They dig into the polls, the endorsements, and the money that propped him up, a...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, Brian and John wade into the chaos of California's 2026 governor's race, and it's wilder than anyone expected. With eight Democrats splitting the vote and two Republicans quietly gaining ground, the brothers break down exactly how a jungle primary could hand the governor&ap...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, Brian and John dive headfirst into the political aftermath of Trump's State of the Union — the longest in American history — unpacking what it revealed about the state of both parties heading into 2026. They clash, loudly, over voter ID laws and whether requiring identification at th...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, Brian and John break down California’s ballot initiative process — how it was designed, how it actually functions today, and why it has become increasingly inaccessible to ordinary citizens. Using real-world examples, historical context, and firsthand experience, they explain the true cos...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, Brian and John take on one of the most polarizing issues in California politics and law: so-called “lawsuit abuse.” From ADA claims and damage caps to PAGA reform and court funding, the brothers debate where the system works, where it breaks down, and who actually gets hurt along the way....

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this special episode of Kabatalks, Brian and John are joined by longtime political strategist and USC professor Dan Schnur for a wide-ranging conversation on California as the proving ground for national political ambition. From crime and public safety to wildfires, affordability, and governance, the g...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, Brian and John break down Proposition 36 — what it changes, why voters backed it, and the growing fight over how to fund it. They tackle the core debates around public safety, rehabilitation, and whether the measure deepens existing disparities in California’s justice system. The conversa...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, the guys dive into the fallout from Election Night — starting with Proposition 50 in California and what its passage means for redistricting, representation, and the balance of political power. They get into the messaging wars, the motivations of voters on both sides, and why the redistri...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, the guys sit down with California Assemblymember John Harabedian to talk about his path from prosecutor to public servant and the issues shaping Sacramento today. They dig into his legislative priorities, from tackling homelessness and housing affordability to strengthening consumer prote...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, the guys dig into the controversial “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by House Republicans this spring — a large package that cuts billions from food aid, relaxes regulations, supports fossil fuel projects, and includes tax breaks like the no-tax-on-tips provision, all wrapped inside a farm bil...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode of Kabatalks, John and Brian square off over one of the most explosive headlines in California politics: the deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles amidst ICE raids and growing street protests. Was it a necessary response to chaos—or a dangerous overreach? The conversation dives deep...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. In this episode, we sit down with Assemblymember Laurie Davies to explore the evolving mood in Sacramento—Is it tense? Collaborative? Or somewhere in between? A former small business owner, Davies offers her take on how bipartisan cooperation can still thrive, even in a deeply divided political climate. W...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. What makes California's legislative environment a breeding ground for cooperation, even amidst political supermajorities? Join us as we promise a deeper understanding of the unique dynamics within the California Senate, courtesy of our conversation with State Senator Tom Umberg. With his extensive ba...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. California's wildfires are not just a force of nature; they're a battleground for misinformation and political agendas. Join us, the brothers Kabateck, as we unravel the tangled web of false narratives surrounding Governor Gavin Newsom during these crises and scrutinize the infrastructure failur...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. Former state Senator Scott Wilk joins us on Kabatalks to provide a reflective and candid exit interview, if you will, sharing insights from his 12 years in the California State Legislature. With keen observations on the 2012 term limits change, Scott discusses its impact on legislative stability, while al...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. What if strategic risks could reshape the political future? In this episode of KabaTalks, we welcome Dan Schnur, a veteran political strategist, to unpack the  dynamics of the latest presidential election. With Kamala Harris facing the challenge of a lifetime by running her campaign in just 107 days, and...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. Is California's political stage ready for a major shake-up? Join us, brothers Brian and John Kabateck, as we dissect the Golden State's gubernatorial race. With Brian leaning slightly left and John slightly right, we explore the landscape of potential candidates such as Tony Atkins, Eleni Kounal...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. Can a Trump appointee really shake up the political landscape as Attorney General? Find out as we launch into a spirited discussion about some of his unexpected appointments and their potential ripple effects in the party. Join us, Brian and John Kabateck, as we bring humor and insight into California&apo...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. Is the Republican Party facing a defining moment, or is this just another chapter in a long history of political evolution? Join the brothers Kabateck as they engage with Jot Condie, President and CEO of the California Restaurant Association, to explore the potential directions the party may take in the p...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. Brothers John and Brian Kabateck choose their sides as they explore the shifting dynamics of the Republican and Democrat Parties with esteemed guest, Dan Schnur, a respected professor and veteran political strategist. From the astonishing influence Donald Trump continues to wield within the GOP, even in t...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. I'll bet you're thinking the fireworks are going to fly between your hosts, Brian and John in this episode.  But the opposite is true.  Brian gives some very thoughtful insight into why he believes the Republican Party has challenges in the state and even the country.  John, of course disagrees...

Send us a text to let us know what you think of this episode. We would love to hear from you. You may have heard that some people in the state of California aren't too thrilled with the partisanship and lopsided super majority in our state assembly.  And that's on both sides of the aisle.  In this episode, Tom Campbell, former Congressman and State Senator addresses the purpose and inten...