Capitol Weekly Podcast

CAPITOLWEEKLY

The Capitol Weekly Podcast covers California politics and public policy, and features interviews with elected officials, staffers, advocates, analysts, newsmakers, and even, -gasp- journalists. Listen at Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, or at capitolweekly.net

  1. 3d ago

    Come Together: Asm. Heather Hadwick and Asm. Patrick Ahrens

    Sometimes it seems like bipartisanship has gone the way of the dinosaur, the Dodo Bird and $3 gasoline, but Assemblymembers Heather Hadwick (R) and Patrick Ahrens (D) are doing their best to keep the dream alive. While the two come from dramatically different districts with  distinct priorities (AD01 and AD26, the two bonded over their shared childhood experiences with the Head Start program, and have teamed on legislation to support California children. They sat down with us to talk about their shared priorities, and where they have to differ (Grizzly Bears, cough cough). Plus - Who had the Worst Week in California Politics. 1:22 Tattoos 6:45 The Close the Gap Caucus 8:31 Billionaire tax and other Ballot Measures 12:27 Assemblymembers Heather Hadwick and Patrick Ahrens - Head Start 17:58 issues with bipartisanship 21:34 Relationships 25:05 Wildfires don't care about Assembly districts 26:13 Impact of the budget 28:33 Electric school busses 31:10 Origin stories 36:32 End of year priorities 40:26 Reintroduction of Grizzly Bears into California 41:37 3WWCA Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/ Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang  "#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    48 min
  2. Game changer: California Energy Commissioner Nancy Skinner

    Jun 8

    Game changer: California Energy Commissioner Nancy Skinner

    We're joined today by Commissioner Nancy Skinner. Skinner is serving her first term on the California Energy Commission after serving as a state senator at the California State Senate from 2016 to 2024 and as a member of the California State Assembly from 2008 to 2014.  if Skinner is a newbie to the CEC, she is no stranger to energy policy issues, having authored AB 2514 which created requirements for electrical corporations to implement energy storage systems. If you have noticed that the state now has less "rolling" blackouts, AB 2514 is a big part of the reason why. She spoke with us about the Trump Administration's opposition to California's climate goals, the challenges (and opportunities) presented by Data Centers, and her landmark Name Image and Likeness legislation, SB 206, which changed college sports across the country. And, with the Primary behind us, a long list of candidates for Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics. 3:59 E bike bills 5:36 Nancy Skinner 7:38 Art Rosenfeld 10:01 California's climate goals 11:09 "Texas is ahead of us" 13:52 Data Centers 16:27 The multi-state grid 18:43 The Federal position 24:13 Energy costs in the campaign for governor 28:36 Name Image and License legislation 36:51 Title IX 37:41 Energy storage bill 39:29 #WWCA Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/ Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang  "#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    59 min
  3. Can Steve Maviglio kill the Top Two Primary?

    May 25

    Can Steve Maviglio kill the Top Two Primary?

    California's Top Two Primary, also known as a Jungle Primary, was approved by voters as Proposition 14 in 2010. Prop. 14 was promoted by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado and endorsed by most major newspapers as a way to lessen partisanship and reduce gridlock by encouraging compromise. (We'll leave it to readers to decide if it has had the desired effect.) official opposition to Top Two was wide, if not deep: All of the state's registered political parties, from GOP to Greens, were opposed, as were organizations as diverse as the California State Firefighters, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the United Nurses Associations. The Amendment passed by 8 points. Sixteen years later, California voters are beginning to sour on Top Two. Fears of a GOP - or Democratic - lockout in this year's race for governor have led many to call for a change. Recent polling by Capitol Weekly found the 79% of respondents wanted to revise or repeal the jungle primary.  Longtime Democratic consultant Steve Maviglio has heeded that call, filing a ballot initiative proposing to repeal Prop. 14. Maviglio is no newcomer to this fight - he led the opposition to the 2010 amendment. He joins us today to talk about the race for governor, the legacy of the Top Two and why it needs to change. :34 Op-eds 5:21 Polling on Top Two 7:32 Steve Maviglio 10:10 A problem for smaller parties 10:58 Could Republicans be shut out in November? 12:27 Top Two has not worked as advertised 13:43 Other options? Ranked Choice Voting? 14:28 The opposition: Steve Peace and the Independent Voter Project 17:29 Paid influencers 21:18 Will this campaign be relevant in 2028? 25:37 What about nonpartisan elections? 30:04 Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics?   Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/ Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang  "#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    46 min
  4. Jeff Randle: Modern campaigns & 25 years of Randle Communications

    May 11

    Jeff Randle: Modern campaigns & 25 years of Randle Communications

    Jeff Randle has been one of the Capitol community’s go-to political campaign strategists for decades. He has been a top advisor on five gubernatorial campaigns as well as serving as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Pete Wilson from 1991-1998. This year his firm Randle Communications celebrates its 25th anniversary so we figured it was a great time to have him joins us to share his perspectives on this year’s gubernatorial races and perhaps to share a war story or two.   3:55 Jeff Randle 4:55 “Chaotic” gubernatorial campaign year 5:49 Dramatic campaign spending 7:00 Advertising in evolving media landscape 10:50 “Boring used to not be such a detriment" 12:02 Paying micro influencers? 13:33 “There’s going to be 50 governor's races between now and the primary.” 17:07 Evolution of Republican candidates 21:45 Importance of endorsements in modern campaigns 27:39 “A wild ride” - 25 years of Randle Communications  31:42 Arnold’s campaign 36:24 Advice for the modern media landscape 39:50 Worst Year in California Politics    Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/   Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang  "#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 1m
  5. Special Episode: A discussion on Affordability with Lorena Gonzalez and Mike Madrid

    May 4

    Special Episode: A discussion on Affordability with Lorena Gonzalez and Mike Madrid

    Affordability has become the buzziest of buzzwords around the California Capitol and beyond. It has become a major talking point for lawmakers, candidates for every office and even a certain governor with lofty ambitions beyond the Golden State. On this week’s podcast we share a lively and very candid discussion on affordability between two of the Capitol community’s most notable members – longtime political strategist, author and commentator Mike Madrid and former Assemblymember and current president of the California Federation of Labor Unions Lorena Gonzalez.   1:15 Introductions 2:00 Thoughts on the gubernatorial primary in terms of affordability 6:45 Insinuated promises 10:30 “There is no monopoly on good or bad ideas.” 15:37 “How many of these things are actually within their control?” 21:20 A lot of things could help 22:30 “In the digital age the most valuable commodity we have is our data” 26:21 “The old model doesn’t work” 29:15 Billionaire tax  36:20 Thoughts on the Insurance Commissioners race 41:30 Audience question - Responsibility of Labor in effecting affordability? 46:40 Audience question - Is this issue going to go away anytime soon?   Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/ Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang  "#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    53 min
3.7
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

The Capitol Weekly Podcast covers California politics and public policy, and features interviews with elected officials, staffers, advocates, analysts, newsmakers, and even, -gasp- journalists. Listen at Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, or at capitolweekly.net

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