Valley Views

Brittany Martinez, Executive Director of Principles First, Gabe Ferris, City Hall and Courts Reporter at ABC 30, and David Taub, Senior Reporter at GV Wire, sit down with Executive Director Blake Zante to provide an outlook on the June 2026 Primary Election, including the California governor’s race and key Central Valley congressional districts following Proposition 50. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠...

Senator Shannon Grove and Josh Fryday, California Governor's Office of Service and Community Engagement sit down with Executive Director Blake Zante. To learn more, visit our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ or follow us on ⁠⁠social media⁠⁠ . The Maddy Institute is dedicated to providing a civil, fact-based approach to public policy, but we can’t do it alone. We rely on the generosity of individuals like you to he...

Chris Micheli, attorney, lobbyist, and government relations specialist, and Dan Schnur, political analyst, speaker and commentator, sit down with Executive Director Blake Zante for an analysis on California's 2025 legislative session and the passage of Proposition 50. To learn more, visit our ⁠website⁠ or follow us on ⁠social media⁠ . The Maddy Institute is dedicated to providing a civil, fact...

Don Wright, Editor of WaterWrights sits down with Executive Director Blake Zante to break down some of the most pressing issues in California’s water landscape. They discuss how water moves through the state, the complexities of water rights, and the growing challenges facing Valley agriculture and local communities. To learn more, visit our website or follow us on social media . The Maddy Institu...

Don’t miss this episode of Valley Views as Executive Director Blake Zante sits down with Danielle Bergstrom, Founder and Executive Director of Fresnoland , and Jordan Mattox, Co-Host of the Fresnolandia Podcast . Together, they explore The Future of Political Journalism—diving into how local and regional outlets are reshaping political coverage, the challenges of maintaining trust and independence...

Don’t miss this episode of Valley Views as Executive Director Blake Zante sits down with Dr. Lisa Bryant, Professor of Political Science at CSU Fresno, Blake Jones of Politico, and Alexei Koseff of CalMatters. Together, they explore Breaking Down Prop 50—examining the measure’s background, its impact on California politics, and what it reveals about accountability, transparency, and governance in...

Don’t miss this episode of Valley Views as Executive Director Blake Zante sits down with Ken Cooley, State Assemblymember (Ret.). Together, they explore the History of California’s Legislature and Capitol Building—highlighting the evolution of state governance, the stories behind the Capitol’s development, and how history continues to shape policymaking and civic life in California today. For more...

Don’t miss this episode of Valley Views as Executive Director Blake Zante sits down with Caitlin O’Neil, Legislative Analyst's Office, and Rachel Michelin, President & CEO of the California Retailers Association. Together, they explore Retail Theft in California: What’s Changed?—diving into recent policy shifts, the impacts on businesses and communities, and the broader conversation around...

Don’t miss this episode of Valley Views as Executive Director Blake Zante sits down with Danielle Bergstrom — Founder, Executive Director & Managing Editor, Fresnoland and Dr. Naomi Bick, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Fresno State. Together, they explore the future of transportation in the San Joaquin Valley—discussing whether a light rail system is possible, the challenges of fund...

Don’t miss this episode of Valley Views as Executive Director Blake Zante sits down with Paul Mitchell, Owner of Redistricting Partners and Vice President of Political Data, Inc. and Matt Rexroad, CEO of Strategy Insights and President of Redistricting Insights. Together, they explore the complex world of redistricting in California—from its impact on political representation and voter engagement...

Don’t miss this episode of Valley Views as Executive Director Blake Zante sits down with Pedro Nava, Chair of the Little Hoover Commission, and Adam Silver, Chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission. Together, they explore How Technology is Influencing State Government —from improving services and accountability to raising critical questions about privacy, ethics, and the future of public i...

Don’t miss this episode of Valley Views as Executive Director Blake Zante sits down with Robert Phipps, Executive Director of the Fresno Council of Governments, and Kendall Flint, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Planning at DKS Associates. Together, they break down what Measure C means for Fresno County—from transportation funding and infrastructure improvements to long-ter...

On this episode of Valley Views , Executive Director Blake Zante sits down with Dr. Bob Nelson, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Fresno State and former Superintendent of Fresno Unified School District, for a thought-provoking conversation on “School Board Politics in Education: Good or Bad?” Together, they explore the evolving role of school boards in shaping public education, exa...

On this episode of Valley Views , Executive Director Blake Zante sits down with Clint Olivier, CEO of the Central Valley Business Federation, for an in-depth conversation on “Sacramento Legislation and Valley Businesses.” Together, they explore how current and proposed policies in the state legislature are influencing the economic landscape of the Central Valley. From regulatory changes to busines...

On this episode of Valley Views , Executive Director Blake Zante engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Levi Sumagaysay of CalMatters , Ryan Jacobsen of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, and Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Together, they examine the impact of tariffs in California—especially on agriculture and the broader economy. The discussion d...

On this episode of Valley Views , Executive Director Blake Zante engages in a thought-provoking conversation withDarren Rose, President/ CEO at Building Industry Association of Fresno and Madera Counties and Kyle Chaney, Fresno Association of Realtors. Together, they explore the state of housing in the Central Valley, highlighting how public policy, industry trends, and local governance shape hous...

On this episode of Valley Views , our Executive Director, Blake Zante, is joined by Lois Henry, CEO and Editor of SJV Water , to share California's water challenges. As one of the most critical issues facing our state, water policy is at the center of agriculture, communities, and ecosystems across the Central Valley. Lois brings her extensive experience in reporting on water issues to discuss the...

On this episode of Valley Views , Executive Director Blake Zante engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Pete Peterson, the Dean of the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University. Together, they delve into the importance of public policy in shaping society and how the intersection of government, law, and social issues drives meaningful change. With a focus on effective governance, P...

On this episode of the Maddy Report: Valley Views Edition, Executive Director, Blake Zante, is joined by Ashley Swearengin, President/CEO, Central Valley Community Foundation.

On this episode of Valley Views, Executive Director, Blake Zante, is joined by Gabe Petek a Legislative Analyst from the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO).

On this episode of the Maddy Report: Valley Views Edition, Executive Director, Blake Zante, is joined by Clovis Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua and Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce.

On this episode of the Maddy Report: Valley Views Edition, Executive Director, Blake Zante, is joined by Michael Lyman, President, Pediatric Day Health Care Coalition (PDHCC); Katelyn Ashton, President & CEO, Loretta's Little Miracles and Katie Bewarder, Valley resident and Parent.

On this episode of the Maddy Report: Valley Views Edition, Executive Director, Blake Zante, is joined by Bill McEwen, News Director, GV Wire; Jim Boren, Executive Director, Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State; and Joe Kieta, Executive Editor, Central Valley Journalism Collaborative.

On this episode of the Maddy Report: Valley Views Edition, Executive Director, Blake Zante, is joined by Austin Gilbert, Right Choice Strategies and Navkaran S. Gurm, Principal, Five River Strategies.

On this episode of the Maddy Report: Valley Views Edition, Executive Director, Blake Zante, is joined by Robert Costa, Chief Election and Campaign Correspondent for CBS News.