Then There's California

Senator Caroline Mejnivar's policy priorities for her first year in legislative office reflect the life experiences that she has had herself ~ as a young woman, a lesbian and a woman of color. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this episode!

State Senator Josh Newman is the new Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and he talks about how, in 2023, California schools, students and their families are still coping with the fallout of 2+ chaotic years of COVID 19-related closures and deficiencies in education.  Click here for a closed-captioned version of this episode!

State Senator Monique Limon & her 2023 Senate Fellow, Isabella Martinez, celebrate Women's History Month by sharing their own stories about equity, career, mentorship, work/life balance, the on-going fight for reproductive rights, and other issues that are priorities for women in the present and for the future. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this episode!

Freshman State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas says she has witnessed, in her work and life, the impact of what MLK called 'SoulForce,' the power and divinity that we have to make transformative, significant change. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this episode!

Meet freshman State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil ~ a two-time cancer survivor, an education innovator, a rancher, a Garth Brooks fan...and a Democrat proudly representing a sprawling, traditionally conservative, richly-bountiful Sierra Foothills senate district. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this episode!

Black History Month, 2023, frames this discussion with Senator Steven Bradford, the Vice-Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, about the murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis Police, the continued work of the State Task Force on Reparations, and how leaders from conservative state are starting to erase Black history from school curriculum. Click here for a closed-captioned version of thi...

Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman & Senator Tom Umberg are the original authors of the new CARE Court Act, a law that establishes new court systems to address the needs of people with severe mental health disorders, and give them access to the support and care they need. Click here if you would like to access a closed-catopined version of this episode!

Our first TTC episode of 2023 features Senator Lena Gonzalez, of Long Beach, the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and the NEW Vice-Chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus, sharing her legislative priorities for the new session, Latino Caucus priorities, taking on the fossil fuel industry...and supporting California's street vendors! Click here for a closed-captioned version of this epis...

In her first few weeks after being sworn in as Sacramento's new state senator, Freshman lawmaker Angelique Ashby discusses the historic diversity in the new class of 2023 legislators, and how her own experiences as a young, single mother and a long-time, local elected official, have framed her public policy priorities for her first legislative session. Click here for a closed-captioned version of...

State Senate Majority Leader Emeritus (and former Assembly Speaker) Robert Hertzberg is leaving the legislature this week, and in this episode, he looks back on his career in both the public and private sector, his perspective on the future of California...and his pride in always having the 'guts and the gumption' to do the homework and try new ideas. Click here for a closed-captioned version of t...

As the legislature prepares to convene its 2023-2024 session, Senator John Laird talks about climate change laws and policies in the Senate, his planned visit to COP 27 in Egypt, keeping the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in operation...and plans to harness wind power off of California's coast. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this episode!

Senator Bob Wieckowski is leaving the legislature after 12 years in the Assembly & Senate, and he reflects on his early career as a congressional staffer, his policy passion for conservation, the environment & helping consumers, and looking ahead to this 'new chapter' of his life & career... Click here for a closed-captioned version of this episode!

Dr. Richard Pan, Sacramento's first Asian -American state senator, is leaving the legislature after serving 12 years. In this reflective and candid conversation, Dr. Pan looks back at his career as a lawmaker, his fight for affordable and equitable medical care, and refusing to let threats & fear prevent his advocacy for children's & community health. Click here for a closed-captioned version of t...

State Senator Ben Allen, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality, shares behind-the-scenes details of the effort to enact SB 54, transformative legislation that will drastically reduce plastics pollution in California & the nation. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this episode!

Senator Connie M. Leyva is leaving the legislature this fall, after two extraordinary terms in the State Senate. Senator Leyva reflects on her earlier career as a union and statewide labor leader, and details her legislative record that prioritized working Californians, students and schools, and the rights and empowerment of women. She also receives a surprise phone call from some of her favorite...

State Senators Dave Cortese of San Jose & Dave Min of Irvine, discuss the epidemic of gun violence in the US, how CA leads the national conversation preventing gun violence, the impact the federal courts are having on CA gun safety legislation...and how they themselves are affected by gun violence and mass shootings in their own communities. Click here to access a closed-captioned version of this...

In the second of two conversations about the impact of the SCOTUS ruling on Roe v Wade, State Senator Anna Caballero shares her concerns about the ruling and says that California's focus now needs to be on how our state can be a sanctuary for other women coming from other states for reproductive health care, and to make sure they have the resources and can organize together to change laws in other...

State Senator Nancy Skinner, the Vice-Chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus, shares her reaction to the recent SCOTUS decision repealing a woman's constitutional access to abortion, the impact it will have on woman across the country seeking abortion services that are now illegal...and how CA is now prepared to be a safe haven for women from other states seeking safe & legal reproductive health...

State Senator Nancy Skinner, the Vice-Chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus, shares her reaction to the recent SCOTUS decision repealing womens' constitutional access to abortion, the impact it will have on women across the country seeking abortion services that are now illegal...and how CA is ready to be a safe haven for women from other states seeking safe & legal reproductive health care. Cli...

"When the majority of the population is a woman and is not working, it has real economic impacts..." Senator Monique Limon talks about the challenges and opportunities facing women in the workplace, the legislative effort to secure pay equity, and the fight to bring more women - particularly women of color - onto California's corporate boards. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this epis...

"When the majority of the population identifies as a woman and is not working, it has real economic impacts..." / Senator Monique Limon talks about the challenges & opportunities facing women in the workplace, the legislative effort to promote pay equity, and the fight to bring more women - particularly women of color - to California's boardrooms. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this...

Senator Scott Wiener, the former chair of the Legislature's LGBTQ Caucus, talks about the recent, wave of brazen, anti-LGBTQ legislation and executive rulings in the US, their impact on the LGTBQ community - particularly young people - and legislative efforts to make CA a welcoming place for LGBTQ persons from around the country. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this episode!

CA State Senator Susan Rubio, a domestic violence survivor, is joined by Ana Estevez, whose 5-year-old son 'Piqui' was murdered by his abusive father - and by Kathleen Russell, Executive Director of the Center for Judicial Excellence - to discuss her legislative efforts to further protect victims of child abuse and domestic violence, in our family courts. Click here for a closed-captioned version...

As advocates across the US react to the leaked SCOTUS decision regarding Roe v. Wade, listen again to this episode from March...as State Senate Leader Toni Atkins reaffirms CA's strength as a stronghold & sanctuary for reproductive rights & freedom. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this episode!

Senator Susan Eggman's professional and family experiences dealing with mental health care issues, inform and impact her current legislative efforts to address the public health emergency in our state's mental health care system. Click here to access a closed-captioned version of this episode!