It was another jam-packed week, with the June primary election blessedly almost upon us and the deadline for bills to clear their house of origin... here's where we're at: capitolweekly.net/capitol-brie...

Polls indicate that voters are OVER the Top Two primary - @stevenmaviglio.bsky.social says it's time to get rid of it capitolweekly.net/can-steve-ma...

Questions about conflicts of interest continue to dog the $12 billion @cirmnews.bsky.social , the largest such state enterprise in the nation capitolweekly.net/cirms-ongoin...

We're hiring an editor to lead our new California hub! If you're interested, check it out here: job-boards.greenhouse.io/propublica/j...

PODCAST: Recent polls suggest that a majority of voters want to get rid of CA's Top Two primary. @stevenmaviglio.bsky.social has heeded that call, filing a ballot initiative to repeal. He joined us to talk about the legacy of the Top Two and why it needs to change capitolweekly.net/can-steve-ma...

A new Capitol Weekly survey asked likely voters about the Top Two system and the Governor’s race. The headline number is striking: 69% of voters say they are concerned that the November Election could feature no candidate from the party they prefer capitolweekly.net/ca120-califo...

PODCAST: Our guest today is Emmy Award winning journalist, producer, documentary filmmaker & podcaster @soledadobrien.bsky.social. Her work has been recognized with 4 Emmys & 3 George Foster Peabody Awards. O’Brien joined us to talk about the state of journalism capitolweekly.net/talking-jour...

Another busy week around the Capitol, with the release of @cagovernornewsom.bsky.social's final budget revision, the clearing of the Suspense Files in both Appropriations Committees & more controversy in the ongoing battle over sexual abuse claims against LA County capitolweekly.net/capitol-brie...

CA Lawmakers shape mental health policy for millions — deciding how the state responds to crisis, expands treatment and addresses stigma. But what happens when a lawmaker is the one with a mental health emergency? capitolweekly.net/lawmaker-hea...

2021 article: "From 1994 until 2018, Wackenhut/GEO Group was to be paid over $962.6 million by California’s taxpayers. The Correctional Corporation of America/CoreCivic did even better." This preceded ICE & Steyer can get lost! 2/ H/T @capitolweekly.bsky.social capitolweekly.net/private-pris...

Thank you to everyone who joined us & @capitolweekly.bsky.social for the Conference on Affordability. Important conversation on what’s driving costs in CA and where solutions must go next. Check out the recap videos from each panel here: tinyurl.com/3xk7b3p9

PODCAST: Jeff Randle has long been one of the Capitol community’s go-to campaign strategists. He has been a top advisor on 5 gubernatorial campaigns, and deputy chief of staff to Gov. Wilson. We chat about all that, and Randle Communications' 25th anniversary capitolweekly.net/jeff-randle-...

The PG&E funded anti-Tom Steyer PAC, California is Not for Sale, is causing some confusion - the name is nearly identical to the name of a public education campaign organized by a group of progressive housing justice organizations. capitolweekly.net/anti-steyer-...

PODCAST: @darcytotten.bsky.social, Executive Director at @ccswg.bsky.social joined us to talk about the history of the org, the challenges women & girls face today & what the future might look like. CCSWG was established by the legislature all the way back in 1965 capitolweekly.net/the-status-o...

Plenty of action in Sacramento this week including movement on bills addressing broadband, Prop. 36 and housing, but the legislature left in place a ban on the import, sale or possession of kangaroo parts. capitolweekly.net/capitol-brie...

Just what is a severability clause and why would any legislation need one? Capitol lobbyist and law professor Chris Micheli says you don't. capitolweekly.net/california-b...

AB 1833 by @asmtinamckinnor.bsky.social could offer California drivers discounts on their car insurance for safer driving; however, critics contend that if the bill becomes law, it could force drivers to choose between privacy and better insurance prices. capitolweekly.net/telematics-b...

The president of the CA Gaming Assn warns that new regulations restricting the ability of cardrooms to offer the most popular table games would “wipe out a critical source of revenue for dozens of cities,” and some city leaders are echoing the message capitolweekly.net/cities-prepa...

Check out the episode for a great conversation! ⬇️

PODCAST: @newdealleaders.bsky.social CEO Debbie Cox Bultan spent more than 3 decades in Dem politics, helping shape strategy for electeds across the country. We spoke with her about NewDEAL's network of leaders focused on pragmatic economic policy and opportunity capitolweekly.net/a-chat-with-...

From the start of her career, Asm. Laurie Davies has taken a hands-on approach to problem solving. In Sacramento Davies has built a reputation as a pragmatic lawmaker focused less on ideology and more on how policies affect her constituents capitolweekly.net/capitol-spot...

PODCAST: Fiona Hutton is celebrating 25 years of Fiona Hutton and Associates. She joined us to talk about a quarter century of FHA and shares some leadership advice, like “When you get into the office, don't look at your to-do list – go check on your team first” capitolweekly.net/when-fiona-h...

Swalwell resigns

PODCAST: Fiona Hutton runs one of the state’s premiere public affairs firms, Fiona Hutton and Associates. Hutton joined us to talk about 25 years of FHA. Plus, a DOOZY of a Worst Week in CA Politics. capitolweekly.net/when-fiona-h...

Following days of online speculation, the @sfchronicle.com has published allegations of sexual misconduct against @ericswalwell.bsky.social, a leading candidate for Governor. The accusations include predatory behavior ranging from sexting to sexual assault. capitolweekly.net/former-staff...

Chronicle: Former Swalwell staffer alleges sexual assault www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Capitol Briefs: We look at a handful of bills lawmakers have under consideration as we head toward the April 24th deadline for policy committees to hear & report to fiscal committees fiscal bills introduced in their chamber. @scottwiener.bsky.social capitolweekly.net/capitol-brie...

Affordability is one of CA’s biggest challenges. Join us 4/30 for the @capitolweekly.bsky.social Conference on Affordability—a UCSPC signature program featuring a fireside chat w/ Mike Madrid + Lorena Gonzalez. Register here: capitolweekly.net/events/affor...

PODCAST: @sacbee.com reporter @liaoffleash.bsky.social was part of the team that broke the news of former Newsom COS Dana Williamson’s arrest last year. We asked about that story, covering the capitol - and about all those tattoos capitolweekly.net/covering-the...

We sometimes hear statements around the California State Capitol about codified versus uncodified laws. What’s the difference? In today’s Micheli Files Capitol lobbyist and McGeorge law professor @chrismicheli.bsky.social explains it all for you. #michelifiles capitolweekly.net/codified-v-u...

The first Filipina elected to the Legislature, Asm. Jessica Caloza represents Los Angeles, serving a working-class, immigrant-heavy district. She has built her career on a simple idea shaped by her own experience: that government can transform lives when it works. capitolweekly.net/capitol-spot...

Affordability is one of CA’s biggest challenges. Join Capitol Weekly & @ucstudentpolicy.bsky.social on 4/30 for a Conference on Affordability. Keynote features a conversation with @mikemadrid.bsky.social + @lorenagonzalez.bsky.social. Free! Register here: capitolweekly.net/events/affor...

Does Donald Trump’s endorsement of @stevehilton.bsky.social ensure that Democrats' nightmare scenario of an all-Republican gubernatorial runoff is off the table? Our panel of experts expound. capitolweekly.net/experts-expo...

Two Republicans lead polling in the CA gubernatorial race, but major prediction markets like @kalshiofficial.bsky.social, Polymarket, @predictit.bsky.social & ForecastEx say it’s @ericswalwell.bsky.social's race to lose. Why the mismatch between polls & predictions? capitolweekly.net/polls-vs-pre...

Lia is a real one! Check out this interview!

PODCAST: @sacbee.com reporter @liaoffleash.bsky.social. Russell covers the governor, and helped break the story of Dana Williamson’s arrest last year. We asked about that story, covering the capitol, and what it was like to cover politics in Maine and Baltimore capitolweekly.net/covering-the...

Treasurer @fionamacpa.bsky.social has pitched a pair of major govt reforms: eliminating the Board of Equalization & having candidates for governor & lieutenant governor run together on the same ticket. capitolweekly.net/capitol-brie...

If Asm. Diane Dixon's #AB1918 becomes law, tattoo artists would join a long list of professionals required to be trained in spotting signs of human trafficking, including first responders, healthcare workers, educators, social workers & more capitolweekly.net/will-ca-be-n...

After 21 years of “prospecting,” the Center for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has fetched up its first “nugget” – federal approval of a one-and-done gene therapy for a life-threatening disease, an immune disorder called LAD-1. capitolweekly.net/cirm-gets-fi...

PODCAST: In #caleg @lorenagonzalez.bsky.social was one of the most respected – & feared – members. She has brought her take-no-prisoners approach to @CaliforniaLabor , getting arrested at protests & sparring online with foes ranging from Elon Musk to centrist Dems capitolweekly.net/california-l...

Last year, Meta and Google spent tens of millions of dollars to buy influence in Ca. politics by contributing to campaigns, lobbying, and making payments to nonprofits on behalf of sitting officials. Why? Mostly to fight AI regulation. My latest for @calmatters.org calmatters.org/politics/202...

The Big City Mayors coalition came to Sacto on Weds to lobby lawmakers and Gov. Newsom to commit $1 billion annually to the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Program, “a lifeline for cities addressing our most daunting shared challenge” capitolweekly.net/capitol-brie...

Understanding what proposed legislation actually does is part science and part art. This week lobbyist and McGeorge law professor @chrismicheli.bsky.social explains it all for you.... capitolweekly.net/reading-a-bi...

Shortly before the 1975 fall of Saigon, three-year-old Jacqui Nguyen fled Vietnam on a crowded boat with her parents, baby brother and nothing else. Today, she works as comms director for Sen. Tony Strickland. She shares her path from refugee to Capitol staffer capitolweekly.net/capitol-spot...

The discussion around spending on digital vs broadcast can be contentious. According to one gubernatorial candidate who messaged us, “Broadcast TV is Dead.” You can guess that it wasn’t @tomsteyer.bsky.social who has spent nearly $45 Million on broadcast TV alone capitolweekly.net/ca120-the-di...

A new website collects digital ads, broadcast TV and radio ad buys for the CA Gov's race. See how much was spent, by who, what geography was served and what age/gender groups were targeted. @paulmitche11.bsky.social in Capitol Weekly capitolweekly.net/ca120-the-di...

PODCAST: The @nytimes.com' bombshell report on sexual abuses by Cesar Chavez toppled the legacy of a CA icon. @politico.com's @melmason.bsky.social joined us to reflect on the allegations, the impact of We Said Enough, and the cost of coming forward capitolweekly.net/from-cesar-c...

Cesar Chavez, California eggs, California lawsuits and @calchamber.bsky.social "Affordability Agenda" capitolweekly.net/capitol-brie...

One of the controversial occurrences during the annual California Legislative Session is so-called “gut-and-amend bills.” But just how does this process work? In this week’s Micheli Files our intrepid @chrismicheli.bsky.social tells us all about it capitolweekly.net/gut-and-amen...