Capitol Weekly Podcast

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 elect...

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 elect...

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 elect...

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 Californ...

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 PETRO...

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, Purc...

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...

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.  Pl...

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 36 ALLOWS FELONY CHARGES AND INCREASES SENTENCES FOR CERTAIN DRUG AND THEFT CRIM...

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-bo...

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 Gallagher James Gallagher has represented...

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 ra...

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 v...

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 increasi...

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) - w...

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 non...

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 Capito...

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 Fost...

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 illustri...

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...

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 Californ...

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 a...

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 Cali...

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...

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 wil...