Hector And Mike Experience - Common Sense In An Uncommon World

Hector and Mike discuss the Washington Post story that President Joe Biden is frustrated by his horrible poll numbers (38 percent approving of his job performance, 58 percent disapproving) and demanding answers and a plan.   https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/12/18/joe-biden-polls-campaign/    Mike discusses how, for months, the president and first lady Jill Biden have told aides and fri...

Hector and Mike talk about the latest report from the California Center for Jobs, where they looked at Shohei Ohtani's decision to defer most of his annual salary of $70 million over 10 years and the tax implications.  "Shohei Ohtani's new contract with the Dodgers is worth $70 million a year for 10 years, but he will get only $2 million a year while deferring the remaining $68 millio...

In this episode, Hector and Mike discuss the Department of Housing and Urban Development report that California’s homeless population grew by 5.8 percent to $181,399 in 2023, with nearly 70 percent of them sleeping outside. All this is happening while California spent $20 billion over the past few years on homelessness programs.  California Homeless Population Up 6% in 2023 https://freebeacon.com/...

If things couldn’t get more backward in California, here is another thing for that list.  Hector and Mike discuss that 18 California kids (under 18 years of age) are suing the Environmental Protection Agency, claiming that their “constitutional rights” were not protected because of the impact of climate change on their lives.  https://www.npr.org/2023/12/11/1218499186/18-california-children-are-su...

Hector and Mike examine why 7 of California’s top 12 insurers have  paused or restricted new business  since 2022, and consumer options seem to shrink daily.  Farmers Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Co.  recently announced plans to end coverage in California  and shift most policyholders to its parent company, Farmers, which  already has limited coverage  in California. In May, State Farm a...

With no trial, jury, or presentation of offense or defensive stance on whether President Donald Trump's speech and words led to a level of insurrection under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the Colorado Supreme Court removed Trump from the ballot.  Discussing the implications of this decision, Hector and Mike point out an unexpected twist. What would typically spell the end for mo...

Every election cycle we hear “This is the most important election of our generation,” “this election will change the trajectory for the next 100 years,” “If you elect X, this could spell the end of our democracy,” If you elect Y, we are all saved. And somehow for over 200 plus years our Republic has survived – resignations; assassinations; scandals; debilitating illness; and most of all, abject in...

Talk is cheap, especially when people are stealing from you. But that’s the best Sacramento can do when it comes to retail theft in California. Another committee meeting and more discussion in the halls of the Capitol, while the businesses outside the secure halls of the Capitol are getting destroyed by retail theft. You don’t need talk, you need action. And the action is simple. When someone stea...

In this podcast, Hector discusses with Mike a recent interview he had with a reporter about immigration and the idea that there are 16 million people who are living in the United States without documents (undocumented immigrants).  The reporter said we must secure the border before moving forward with any plans. Hector informed the reporter that in the past three years, more than 8.3 million migra...

COP28 (The Conference of the Parties, 28th meeting) was just held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where more than 200 nations gathered to discuss climate change rules and impose goals for meeting them.  The amount of hot air from the private jet-setting, limousine riding millionaires and politicians could melt the Polar Ice cap, while costing all of us regular people more money out of pockets.  me...

As of this recording, more hostages in the Middle East are being released on both sides. Hamas is releasing 50 civilian hostages, many of them children and the elderly, in exchange for 150 known jailed terrorists. What we saw from a Sky News reporter this past week was absurdity at its worst.  "I was talking to a hostage negotiator this morning," asks host Kay Burley. "He made the c...

Politics is a brutal game. Von Drehle, the Deputy opinion editor and columnist for the Washington Post, recently wrote an opinion piece entitled, “Who can beat The Donald? The Rock.” Drehle writes, “For four years, I have been saying to anyone who will listen — not many people, I must admit — that America has a sure and happy pathway out of the doom loop of Biden vs. Trump, Trump vs. Biden, seemin...

Could this debate between California Governor Gavin Newsom and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis be DeSantis’ last stand?    Newsom takes his “not running for president” campaign back on Fox News, with a “nothing to lose” approach to a national audience focusing on every word and gesture he makes.     For DeSantis, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In this “do or die,” Ron needs a win.    Newsom is skill...

In the wake of the 2nd Republican Presidential Debate held at the Ronald Reagan Library, the California Republican Party met for it’s annual convention in Anaheim, in the shadow of Disney. Although Donald Trump didn’t participate in the debate, he did speak at the state GOP Convention, and shook the walls of the hotel and the Magic Kingdom itself. In an hour-long speech at lunch Trump lay waste to...

Hector interviews Jim Kinis, a prominent person in the life insurance industry and financial advisor, who gives insight into the importance of financial security in today's world.

Hector and Mike provide their 2023 Republican Presidential post-debate analysis. They were both at the debate at the Reagan Library and have plenty to say. Who fell for the question trap from the hosts? Winner and Losers? Surprises? Who Stood Out? 

Hector and Mike take a look at Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris' actions recently as things heat up for the Democratic Party as the presidential election nears.

Hector and Mike discuss the most recent Presidential Debate and how things are looking for the republican party as the election nears while taking a look at the upcoming debate to be held in California, analyzing what political significance the state has in the U.S. today and how crime in California has been skyrocketing and going unchecked as a result of recent ballot measures and low morale with...

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Hector and Mike Experience. In today's segment, we're privileged to host Mike Marando, a seasoned media spokesperson and a linchpin in the communications sphere for over three decades. Having served as a marketing and public affairs specialist for not one but five California state departments and agencies, Mike brings a treasure trove of knowled...

In this interview, we sit down with Joe Jaquez, a highly regarded softball pitching coach in the Sacramento region.  Joe has spent many years as a pitcher, traveling around the country to play in men's softball leagues. For the past two decades, Joe has been coaching travel ball and is currently a high school coach at Sheldon High School, where his team has an impressive win-loss record of 82-...

In this interview, Jami Warner Goldstene takes us on a journey that began in Los Angeles, where she grew up in a family steeped in culture and politics. Her professional path winds its way to high places, as she worked with elected officials and ascended to the top of her field as General Manager & Executive Vice President for the Sacramento office of Edelman, the world’s largest independent P...

In this episode, Oscar Mora shares his story, which is one of perseverance and hard work and a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome challenges and succeed. Growing up as an immigrant child in a farming community, Oscar learned the value of hard work at an early age.    His parents instilled in him a strong work ethic that would serve him well throughout his life.   Despite the la...

What a major screwup. In response to a public records request, Los Angeles Police Department released every officer's name, rank, serial number, and photograph, including officers, working undercover operations involving gangs, cartels, and narcotics. LAPD Chief Moore apologized to the officers and admitted that the department mistakenly provided the photos of the officers.  And Assemblymember...

Mike and I discuss several critical issues, including the renter's assistance program, the Walgreens ban, the economic impact of Silicon Valley Bank, and how Mexico is caught in a narco battle.  Newsom Builds Momentum For 2024: From banning gas-powered vehicles to "punish" oil companies plus the withdrawal of Walgreens from renewed state contracts, California Governor Gavin Newsom is...

Hector and Mike examine whether California Governor Gavin Newsom will challenge Kamala Harris if Biden decides not to run and the continued verbal fighting with Florida Governor DeSantis. Governor Newsom shouldn’t defer to anyone. He is the Governor of one of the largest states, progressive, and able to raise a ton of money - he shouldn’t blink to anyone within the Democrat Party, especially the V...