California Politics Podcast

California Politics Podcast episodes:

• 04.14.2019

  The Bootleg Episode: Live from the LA Times Festival of Books

  The California Politics Podcast remains on hiatus while we determine its long-term fate (we're working on it). In the meantime, a special episode as we discussed Gov. Gavin Newsom and California politics 2019 from the stage of the Los Angeles...

  
• 01.26.2019

  January 25: From California to the White House

  This week, we discuss Sen. Kamala Harris' entry into the 2020 presidential race. We also look at the intense political challenges over wildfire policy and PG&E's expected bankruptcy. And we discuss the decision by a San Diego legislator to leave...

  
• 01.08.2019

  January 7: California's 40th Governor

  This week's episode: Gov. Gavin Newsom takes office and immediately offers major policy proposals on healthcare and education. We discuss those efforts plus the spirit the Newsom family brings to the capital city. And a moment in podcast history: a...

  
• 12.31.2018

  December 30: A Governor Like None Other

  This week: A conversation with Gov. Jerry Brown, California's longest-serving governor, who exits the political stage on Jan. 7. Hear excerpts of a conversation recorded at his Colusa County ranch just before Christmas with John Myers of the Los Angeles...

  
• 12.15.2018

  December 14: Epilogue, Prologue

  This week, we take a look at the final election results from November's contests across the Golden State. And we discuss some of the recent announcements about the team being assembled by Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. With John Myers, Melanie Mason...

  
• 12.07.2018

  December 7: Stepping Down, Moving In

  On this week's episode, we discuss the abrupt resignation of the California Democratic Party's chairman and we take a look at the topics and dynamics expected from the new California Legislature and its work with Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. With John...

  
• 11.17.2018

  November 16: The Political Flood

  This week, we step back and take a broad view of the enormous sea change -- the flood, so to speak -- that arrived on election day in California. Democrats did more than just dominate, and Republicans are in their...

  
• 11.10.2018

  November 9: Winners and Losers

  This week: Our post-election look at California's most interesting and competitive races. We talk the battle for the House, the election of a new California governor and the ballot measures that voters had to sort out on election day. With...

  
• 11.03.2018

  November 2: The Election Projection

  This week, a supersized all-star edition of our politics podcast. We discuss the races for governor and Senate, along with the battleground House seats in Orange County. Plus, the fate of Propositions 6 and 10 lie in the hands of...

  
• 10.19.2018

  October 19: Status Quo

  This week: New polling shows some, but not substantive, shifts in the races for California governor and U.S. Senate. We also discuss the event featuring the Senate candidates (was it really a debate?). And we look at the major 2020...

  
• 10.06.2018

  October 5: The Battlegrounds

  This week: Our exclusive LA Times/UC Berkeley poll results from some of California's most hotly contested congressional battleground districts. Plus, a final look at Gov. Jerry Brown's late bill signings. And we discuss natural disasters and how the next governor...

  
• 09.29.2018

  September 28: On to the Campaign

  This week, we look at new statewide polling and campaign cash reports in the races for governor, U.S. Senate and two key ballot propositions. With John Myers, Melanie Mason and Liam Dillon of the Los Angeles Times.

  
• 09.22.2018

  September 21: The Kavanaugh Conundrum

  This week: An accusation against the Supreme Court nominee rattles California's U.S. Senate race. Plus, we discuss Gov. Jerry Brown's signature on the "straw law" and wildfire prevention as well as a veto on later school start times. And a...

  
• 09.06.2018

  September 5: The Final Gavel

  This week: The California Legislature adjourned for 2018, and we've got a breakdown of some of the biggest last-minute debates on police accountability and wildfire prevention. We also look at the biggest bills that were killed and some key proposals...

  
• 08.25.2018

  August 24: The Clash and the Cash

  This week: A short podcast episode to discuss the still fluid negotiations over a comprehensive wildfire plan at the state Capitol and the allegations against Rep. Duncan Hunter. Plus, a misconduct allegation against a GOP state senator hangs over the...

  
• 08.18.2018

  August 17: Divided Loyalties

  This week: Like-minded advocates and lawmakers could split on the contentious issues of bail reform and police accountability as the California Legislature winds down its 2018 session. Plus, an exclusive investigation into the state's property tax inheritance rules that are...

  
• 08.10.2018

  August 10: The March to the End

  This week, the podcast returns from our summer hiatus! We take a look at the big battle in the Legislature's final month over wildfires and utility company liability. Plus, we discuss the brouhaha in the state Capitol over long DMV...

  
• 06.29.2018

  June 29: Three Big Deals

  This week: Blockbuster deals at the state Capitol to keep three proposals off the November statewide ballot. We also take a quick glance at the 12 propositions that did end up on the ballot, and a few thoughts on the...

  
• 06.23.2018

  June 22: Mano a Mano in the Governor's Race

  This week: A fresh USC/LA Times poll of the November matchups in the race for governor and the U.S. Senate contest. We also discuss the intense political week that was in illegal immigration. And a special state Capitol edition of...

  
• 06.16.2018

  June 15: A Bundle for the State Budget

  This week: California's new state budget goes to the governor, with plenty of cash and some new spending proposals. We also discuss the Legislature's newly announced policy on sexual misconduct complaints. And a quick tour through election results, with a...

  
• 06.08.2018

  June 8: The Votes Are In

  This week, we sort through all of the detailed results of the races for governor and U.S. Senate in California's June 5 statewide primary. And we examine the takeaways of this wild, top-two primary election. With John Myers, Melanie Mason...

  
• 06.01.2018

  June 1: The Pre-Primary Podcast

  This week: The statewide primary is only hours away. We take one final look at the races for governor and U.S. Senate along with new statewide public polling. With John Myers, Melanie Mason and Seema Mehta of the Los Angeles...

  
• 05.19.2018

  May 18: The Campaign Ads

  This week: We give a listen to some of the most interesting television ads in California political races on airwaves everywhere -- plus, the big news of Trump's endorsement in the race for governor. Then, we discuss the end of...

  
• 05.12.2018

  May 11: The Candidates Debate

  This week: We look back at Tuesday's prime-time debate of the major candidates for governor. With John Myers and Melanie Mason of the Los Angeles Times

  
• 05.05.2018

  May 4: Republicans Rally, The Debate Looms

  This week: California Republicans gather for their statewide convention and a possible endorsement in the race for governor. Plus, a preview of next week's gubernatorial debate with Chuck Todd of NBC's Meet the Press. And we discuss the birth of...

  
• 04.28.2018

  April 27: The Dash for Cash

  On this week's episode, we take a look at brand new campaign finance reports in the race for California governor. Plus, a post-mortem on a major housing proposal that crashed and burned in Sacramento. And the weekly politics lightning round!...

  
• 04.20.2018

  April 20: It's Go Time

  This week, we take a look at signs that fast dash in California's race for governor has begun -- big money and big endorsements. We also discuss this week's saga (again) of California's National Guard and its new mission. And...

  
• 04.13.2018

  April 13: High Costs, High Stakes

  This week: A sweeping proposal unveiled in Sacramento would put state government in the driver's seat over the cost of healthcare. Plus, Gov. Jerry Brown (sort of) gives President Trump what he wants with the National Guard. And more poll...

  
• 04.07.2018

  April 6: Resisting the Resistance

  This week: A brush fire of opposition to California's sanctuary law burns through Orange County. Plus, we look at the renewed push for a policing accountability law in the wake of a tragic Sacramento shooting. And finally... the California politics...

  
• 03.24.2018

  March 23: Madam Pro Tem

  This week: The ascension of California Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego). We discuss her leadership style and the possible impacts on policy and politics in Sacramento. Then, we dive deep into the latest poll in the governor's...

  
• 03.17.2018

  March 16: Trump’s 24 Hours in California

  This week: President Trump comes to California, and the political world sizzles. Plus, filing season is now over for statewide and regional races in the Golden State. And some developments on the debate over healthcare reform in Sacramento. Plus, the...

  
• 03.10.2018

  March 9: United States vs. Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

  This week's episode looks at the political firestorm from the Trump administration lawsuit against California's new immigration laws, and the showdown in Sacramento with the U.S. attorney general. We also look at the impact now that the sexual misconduct investigation...

  
• 03.02.2018

  March 2: Democrats vs. Democrats

  This week's episode looks back at the biggest battles from the California Democratic Party convention -- which ended in no endorsements in the biggest races. Plus, we discuss the decision of a Republican close to President Trump to drop out...

  
• 02.23.2018

  February 23: And Then There Were Three

  This week, we discuss the abrupt resignation of state Sen. Tony Mendoza, just moments before he faced a debate over his expulsion in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations. We also preview some of what we're watching at the weekend...

  
• 02.16.2018

  February 16: I Am A Candidate

  This week's episode is all campaign news. We discuss two surprise decisions to run for statewide office -- one, a former GOP officeholder and one a dark horse Democrat for governor. Then, we discuss endorsements by California largest labor union....

  
• 02.10.2018

  February 9: New Law, New Charges

  This week: A female legislator faces sexual misconduct allegations as lawmakers pass a new staff whistleblower act. And we dig into that new public poll in the race for governor -- with two Democratic candidates neck and neck. Analysts: John...

  
• 02.03.2018

  February 2: The Documents

  This week: Legislative officials reveal more than a decade's worth of sexual harassment investigations. Plus, we check in on the new campaign cash totals in the races for California governor and U.S. Senate. With John Myers and Melanie Mason of...

  
• 01.27.2018

  January 26: Finales and Fireworks

  This week: Gov. Jerry Brown's final State of the State address seems to talk a lot about a subject (legacy!) he doesn't like to discuss. Plus, we recap a tense state Senate debate over a lawmaker's leave of absence. And...

  
• 01.20.2018

  January 19: The Immigration Throwdown

  This week: A clash over immigration enforcement offers major political flashpoints in California. We then review the most likely items that will appear as November ballot measures. And finally, a little talk about the "down-ticket" statewide races. With John Myers...

  
• 01.13.2018

  January 12: Political Surprises

  This week: Gov. Jerry Brown's final state budget plan is another demand to not spend all the cash. Plus, we discuss two major retirements from Congress -- California Republicans Royce and Issa, plus news on the political plans of Steyer...

  
• 01.06.2018

  January 5: Reality Check

  This week: The first podcast of 2018, as the Legislature returns to face the reckoning over sexual harassment and the Trump administration makes a series of proposals -- from pot to offshore drilling -- that could have major implications for...

  
• 12.16.2017

  December 15: The Investigators

  This week, the final podcast of 2017: The California Senate hires sexual misconduct investigators, and San Francisco grapples with the death of its mayor and a new political leader. With John Myers and Melanie Mason of the Los Angeles Times

  
• 12.09.2017

  December 8: The Capitol's Big Change

  This week: The California Senate will have a new leader after Democrats gather behind a lawmaker who will make history. And another Democrat in the Assembly resigns in the wake of sexual harassment allegations, days after lawmakers convene a special...

  
• 11.18.2017

  November 17: Running Interference

  This week: New criticism of the University of California's president after investigations of interference with a state audit. We also discuss sexual harassment policy changes in the California Senate, as a lawmaker in the upper house faces new allegations. With...

  
• 11.11.2017

  November 10: The 2018 Snapshot

  This week: We dig into the new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll on the race for governor, the U.S. Senate and two hot policy debates. We also open our reporter notebooks about records requested from the Legislature on sexual harassment...

  
• 11.03.2017

  November 3: The Questions Mount

  This week: A new public allegation against a sitting legislator takes center stage in the sexual harassment debate. Plus, we talk taxes in Washington and at the gas pump, and play political lightning round on the week's headlines. With John...

  
• 10.28.2017

  October 28: A Message to California Politics Podcast listeners

  A quick message about why we don't have a podcast episode this week.

  
• 10.21.2017

  October 20: The Culture of California Politics

  This week, shocking allegations of widespread sexual harassment at the statehouse and on the campaign trail across California. Plus, we discuss the political future of Tom Steyer and we take a quick glance at bills signed and vetoed by Gov....

  
• 10.16.2017

  October 16: De León Challenges Feinstein

  A special podcast episode, as we analyze the news that state Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León will challenge Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2018. With John Myers and Melanie Mason of the Los Angeles Times and Marisa Lagos of...

  
• 10.07.2017

  October 6: The California Sanctuary

  This week: Gov. Jerry Brown signs the bill extending "sanctuary" immigration policies across California. We also discuss gas tax grumbles that Republicans hope to use to their advantage and that awkward moment in one California Democrat's call for new leaders...