Today we welcome Clint Kellum, the new (as of November 2025) Director of the California Department of Cannabis Control.  The CDCC licenses and regulates cannabis businesses, including regulation of cannabis growers, manufacture of cannabis products, and sales, transportation and tracking of cannabis goods. Kellum took the helm just after Governor Newsom signed AB 564, a bill to reset the state’s cannabis excise tax rate at 15% until 2028, giving California's struggling legal cannabis market hope after a rough few years. Kellum explains what AB 564 means for the industry and the state, and looks at challenges and opportunities ahead. And, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:03 Bill introductions and lobbying reports

3:42 The Top Two Simulator

6:04 Clint Kellum

6:45 AB564

8:09 The taxation environment

12:42 Complexities of descheduling

13:30 Startups?

15:02 Illegal cannabis seizures

19:46 Direct to consumer sales

21:54 Biggest challenges and opportunities

25:49 How did you get into this?

29:03 #WWCA

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This week we're joined by lobbyist Jennifer Fearing of Fearless Advocacy.  Fearing was a key player in the negotiations to pass SB 54, a landmark bill that regulates plastic waste in California. Governor Newsom signed the bill in 2022, but as we all know, passing legislation is one thing, implementation is another. Fearing walks us through the bill's complicated journey, and gives us an updates on it, and other environmental actions in the state.  Plus - Who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

:42 Sports tix for electeds

7:06 Jennifer Fearing

8:55 Regulating SB 54

12:13 How often do regs change?

13:50 SB 54 has legs outside of California

16:57 The steps

19:39 Some environmental good news

24:54 "Deals are a bunch of trades"

26:21 Recycling: not a new idea

29:01 #WWCA

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The race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom has taken up most of California's political oxygen so far this year, but there are other statewide races coming up, including Lt. Governor, State Insurance Commissioner, and - potentially - a slew of Ballot Measures. Capitol Weekly Editor Rich Ehisen, reporter Leah O'Tarrow and podcast co-host Tim Foster take a look at the 2026 ballot. Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:42 Gubertorial debate

3:23 Not talking about the Governor's race

5:46 Top Two: Republicans for Governor?

10:01 Lt. Gov's race

12:32 Tim Myers

17:25 The Insurance Commissioner's race

24:20 Ballot Measures

28:21 Polling - the Herding Effect

30:16 Auto accident liability payouts

32:27 Child safety - AI and smartphones

34:43 Liability for rideshare companies

40:30 Gratuitous Alex Vassar mention

44:43 #WWCA

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We're joined today by longtime capitol consultant - now retired - Brian Green, who worked in communications for the Senate Dem Caucus from 2011 until last year. As principal consultant, Green prepared talking points and issue updates, recorded videos, set up press conferences and hosted the “Then There’s California” podcast featuring in-depth interviews with Democratic senators. He began his career at 16, working as a DJ at a Redding radio station, parlaying that experience into talk radio gigs at high-power southern California stations KABC and KTMS. One year into retirement, he has launched his own podcast, "California Voices, with Brian Green."

1:32 What if Matt Mahan gets in the race for governor?

4:00 Housing Conference

5:44 Sacramento Bee article on tiny homes

6:18 Brian Green

8:28 Reading Lou Cannon

10:28 Memorable figures in #Caleg

12:08 "The voice of God"

12:37 Willie Brown's weekly radio broadcast

16:32 "Then There's California"

23:03 Sen. Leland Yee

24:53 "You are lucky if you can influence legislation on the fringes of public policy"

26:20 "California Voices with Brian Green"

31:07 A sit down with Sutter

34:16 Celebrities at the capitol

38:51 #WWCA

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Jack Ohman has been a political cartoonist for 48 years; he got his start at the Minnesota Daily when he was still a college student, and at 19 he became the youngest-ever syndicated cartoonist in the United States. He has worked at major papers across the US, including The Detroit Free Press, The Oregonian and The Sacramento Bee, where in 2016 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning. Since 2023 he has been the editorial cartoonist and a political columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle, and also publishes at his Substack, Jack Ohman's You Betcha.

He joined us to talk about his history in the news biz, the state of editorial cartooning, the death of Scott Adams, and much, much more.   Plus - Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:00 Sports betting update

3:27 The Prop. 50 court decision

5:41 Clarissa Laguardia podcast

6:47 Jack Ohman

7:46 Origin story

9:23 Collapse of the afternoon papers

11:53 Substack

14:04 Political cartooning vs. comic strips

15:30 "I never really wanted to be a cartoonist, I wanted to be governor of Minnesota"

16:00 Kate Brown

18:27 Youngest syndicated cartoonist

23:46 Are we in a new Yellow Journalism era?

26:58 "In some ways we're fighting the same battles of the Civil War"

33:27 The Death of Scott Adams

36: 39 Bacchi Decision

40:21 Where is cartooning right now?

48:46 Thomas Nast

49:43 #WWCA

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We're joined today by Clarissa Laguardia, Executive Director of the California Center for Civic Participation (CalCenter). CalCenter is a non-profit organization that works to engage young people in the democratic process. Their approach to civic participation centers youth voices, demystifies the process, and equips and connects young people with opportunities to create impactful change in their communities.

Laguardia is passionate about CalCenter's projects - she knows firsthand the importance of engaging in the poltical experience. She grew up in El Salvador during the Salvadoran Civil War and migrated to the United States after high school, speaking no English. She navigated the immigrant experience largely on her own, mastering the language and gaining a profound understanding of the importance of communication. Her background has helped her connect with young people statewide.

While CalCenter's programs have always been the heart of the organization, it is probably best known for producing The California Roast. For decades, the Roast was one of the highest-profile fundraisers on the Capitol calendar, with Governors, Attorneys General, Speakers, Pro Tems and other well known California pols flaming each other in a bawdy evening of - mostly - good-spirited fun. The Roast ended nearly a decade ago - and backfilling that fundraising is a challenge in itself.

1:33 A Conference on Housing

4:39 PSA: Op-Eds

5:55 Clarissa Laguardia

7:06 What is the CalCenter?

9:21 Capitol Focus, She Shares and The California Roast

12:11 "Speaking their language"

16:32 Shout out to Jim Muldavin

18:08 Laguardia's backstory and how it helps her connect with young people

20:14 "Being the other has helped me... I know what it's like in my own skin"

26:39 Cynicism about Democracy

29:26 Reaction of students

34:04 Shake the Future Up

37:55 #WWCAWant to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

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San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie took office one year ago this week after beating incumbent mayor London Breed and several sitting and former SF supervisors in what ended up as a wide open four-way race. Lurie's first year has largely been seen as a success, with the notable exception of his appointment of former Sunset pet shop owner Beya Alcaraz to a vacant supervisor's seat - a position she held for less than one Scaramucci.

We're joined today by Mission Local Managing Editor and columnist Joe Eskenazi, who looks back over Lurie's first year, and gets us up to speed on other San Francisco political news, including the race to replace Nancy Pelosi, who has announced that she will not seek another term. On January 7, Eskenazi and Cynthia Laird of the Bay Area Reporter will moderate a forum with the top three candidates: Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco); San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan; and Saikat Chakrabarti, former chief of staff to Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

We also take a look at the possibility of an initiative to reopen the Great Highway to auto traffic, and the effort to form a municipal power company that would take over PG&E's electrical infrastructure via eminent domain - a movement that got a boost following last week's massive power outage. Plus, Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:12 Joe Eskenazi

1:31 House District 11 Forum

2:27 A report card on Mayor Lurie's first year

6:19 Lurie's longest week: Beya Alcaraz and all that

14:21 The initiative to reopen the Great Highway and impact on the race to replace Nancy Pelosi

17:08 Labor

19:37  Saikat Chakrabarti

20:32 Supervisor Connie Chan

21:02 Sen. Scott Wiener

22:55 PG&E blackout

23:39 A San Francisco municipal power utility?

31:00 #WWCA

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Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by Politico’s Chris Cadelago for a look back at the Top 10 California political stories of 2025 – and a look at what's coming next year.

:41 Chris Cadelago

2:10 Leah O'Tarrow

2:41 Los Angeles fires

10:00 Donald trump vs. California

21:16 The firing of Cynthia Moreno and subsequent lawsuit

28:10 Artificial Intelligence

36:55 CEQA reform

42:29 Pharmacy Benefit Managers

47:15 The Governor's race

56:54 Governor Newsom's media blitz

1:02:46 Prop. 50

1:10:16 Other stories: Pelosi retirement, cannabis tax, etc...

1:11:11 Dana Williamson scandal

1:19:33 Closing thoughts

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Brian Ebbert, Chris Micheli and Alex Vassar may not be household names to the average Californian, but in the Capitol Community, they are approaching celebrity status for their deep knowledge of legislative history and state government procedure. Putting that knowledge to good use, the trio has just published The California Capitol Cocktail Trivia Book, a lively and engaging collection of little-known facts, anecdotes, and curiosities drawn from the rich history of California’s state government. They joined us to talk about the project and shared stories from the book.

We're also joined by Luke Wood, President of California State University, Sacramento. Wood has seen notable successes during his tenure - notably increased enrollment and the school's highest-ever graduation rate. His leadership is not without controversy - he has received significant criticism for his plan to implement a rule that Starting in 2026, Sac State freshmen must live two years on campus.

Plus, who had the Worst Week in California politics?

:50 Capitol ink

3:47 Planned Parenthood cuts

4:45 Santa's take on California politics

7:48 Capitol trivia

10:41 POLITICO trivia night

12:28 Detour to a topless bar

13:55 The capitol's speakeasy

16:18 Scandals

18:11 How to buy the book

19:51 Luke Wood

20:58 What is the feeling of the student body right now?

24:38 Live on campus rule

28:42 Impact of Nancy Skinner's NIL bill

35:29 Downtown Capitol Center

39:09 #WWCA

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December 15 is Bill of Rights Day - it is also the launch date for a new organization comprised of over 40 retired state Supreme Court Chief Justices committed to educating the public about the role of the judiciary and protecting the constitutional balance put in place by the Founders. The Alliance of Former Chief Justices is a project of Keep Our Republic, a non-partisan civic education organization committed to "strengthening the vitality of America’s democracy by promoting trust in elections, the rule of law, and the constitutional system of checks and balances."

We're joined today by former California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who was appointed to the high court by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010 and served until January 2023.  Following her term on the Supreme Court she has served as the President and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California. The launch of the new organization comes at a fraught time, as judges across the nation face heightened political pressure and public attacks. Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye spoke with us about the need to bolster the public's understanding of the judiciary and the crucial role the judiciary plays in the separation of powers that is a hallmark of the American system of government.

2:20 In the future, everyone will be on the Capitol Weekly Podcast for 15 minutes

3:16 A proposed amendment to limit traffic accident payouts

4:57 Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye

7:43 How is this going to work?

9:00 A visit to SCOTUS

11:42 When CA's Supreme Court went live

14:02 How to introduce civics education to young people?

15:19 The judiciary: least understood, most criticized branch of government

15:35 Are the courts more politicized than before?

20:50 The structure of the Alliance

24:30 Court funding

28:08 #WWCA

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