In September 1933, in the depths of the Depression, Dr. Francis Townsend wrote a letter to his local newspaper, the Long Beach Press-Telegram. He had an idea that would end the Depression and alleviate the endemic poverty for the nation's elderly. His plan was simple: the Federal Government should give each American 60 years and older a pension of $200 a month (equivalent to about $4700 today) - with the requirement that they HAD to spend the money within a month. The pensions would be paid for by a nationwide 2% transaction tax.

The idea caught on, spawning 8000 Townsend Clubs with a peak of two million members - 1% of the US population at the time - and roughly 10% of the nation's senior citizens.  California congressman John McGroarty introduced the first Townsend Plan bill in 1935, much to the dismay of the Roosevelt administration, which was then working to pass the Social Security Act. By the late thirties there were over 100 members of Townsend Caucus in congress, and individual states - including California - proposed Townsend-inspired initiatives of their own.

Our guest today, Dr, Edwin Amenta is the author of When Movements Matter: The Townsend Plan and the Rise of Social Security. He tells the story of the Townsend Plan, how it became a movement and how it changed the conversation about old age pensions in America and ultimately shaped the Social Security we know today. Plus, Who Had the Worst Week in CA Politics?

Show Notes

1:16 Who was Townsend?

2:18 $200 a month

2:47 One of the largest organizations in US history

3:26 One person with an idea to a nationwide movement

5:08 What did retirement look like at the time?

7:23 Legislation

10:01 John McGroarty

11:42 No political home

16:11 The Townsend Caucus

18:21 "Ham and Eggs"

19:50 Culbert Olson

21:12 The evolution of Social Security

24:37 Political football

29:08 What became of Townsend and his movement?

33:12 "I just love a spectacle"

34:10 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang 

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With election day less than three months away, jobs and the economy are under close scrutiny. California's unemployment rate is 5.2%; up from 4.7% one year ago, and one of the highest in the nation. And, what jobs are out there often pay poorly and have limited opportunities for advancement.

Our guest today, Lisa Countryman-Quiroz is the CEO of Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) - a San Francisco nonprofit that helps jobseekers gain the skills and confidence to secure high quality jobs at a living wage.  Since 1973, JVS has helped more than 100,000 Californians find quality jobs and gain economic mobility. While the organization is rooted in Jewish tradition, JVS serves individuals from all backgrounds, cultures, and faiths.

Countryman-Quiroz spoke with hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster about the JVS mission, what makes a "High Quality Job" and why California workers and employers need more access to job training. Plus, Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?

SHOW NOTES

1:04 What is JVS?

5:51 What makes a High Quality Job?

8:04 How is the current job market?

10:39 How is AI impacting the job market?

14:13 The USA provides less training than other industrialized countries. What are we missing?

21:25 JVS successes

23:54 #WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang 

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Last week we talked about this year's Top 100 list... In this episode, we're starting off with a confession: Mistakes were made.

One of the hallmarks of The Top 100 is that the contents of the list are very tightly held until the moment of publication. That secrecy creates various logistical problems, not the least of which is proofreading. Only a handful of people, most of whom work in the Capitol Weekly office, are involved in the editing or proofing process at any level. Having so few eyes on the List is a recipe for error, and this year we had a doozy: we left someone off.

Dan Dunmoyer, of the California Building Industry Association has been a regular on the Top 100 for five years, since he succeeded former CBIA President and CEO (and former state Senator) Dave Cogdill. CBIA is a major player in a state where the Housing Crisis is a top concern for most voters - and their representatives in the legislature.  Dunmoyer has been on the List every year since 2019 - and he was supposed to be on this year's edition.

Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster talk about what went wrong, and chat with Dunmoyer about California Housing Policy, why some cities are building more housing than others and how California can start to course correct after decades of anti-housing policy.  

Show Notes:

45: Mistakes were made

3:19 Welcome, Dan Dunmoyer

5:52 Setting the record straight

7:19 A big year for Housing issues

9:36 Comparing building costs between California and neighboring states

12:04 Environmental Policy vs. Greenhouse gas policies

15:01 The local angle

21:57 This is not a Republican - Democrat issue - it's a California issue

23:55 Is desire for home equity value driving anti-housing policy?

25:32 The cities of Dallas and Houston build more housing than the entire state of California

27:23 Where is the legislature?

31:15 Gubernatorial candidates?

35:16 Volunteer proofreaders

39:36 WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang 

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Last night we published the 16th edition of Capitol Weekly's Top 100 - our annual analysis of the unelected political power structure in California. We look at the mostly behind the scenes players who influence policy, elections and governance, including Capitol staff, lobbyists, Agency staff, donors, business leaders, activists, Labor leaders - and even journalists.

Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by former KQED reporter and LA Times Bureau Chief John Myers, who left journalism for communications two years ago, but still keeps a watchful eye on Golden State politics. Few political observers are more respected than Myers - one of the many reasons he was a mainstay of the Top 100 List for more than a dozen years. (His kids nicknamed his Top 100 portrait 'Old Squinty.') Myers, Ehisen and Foster discuss the broad themes that underlie the 2024 list, look at the new faces, and talk about the names on the inaugural Top 100 Hall of Fame.

1:52 Live tweeting the California Budget

4:18 The Top 100 Hall of Fame

5:37 George Skelton

9:23 Donna Lucas

11:07 Gale Kaufman

15:58 Steve Maviglio

19:49 Aaron Read

23:32 Themes of the 2024 Top 100

25:43 The executive branch and organized Labor

30:59 Jennifer Barrera

31:00 Rob Lapsley

32:06 Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher

32:41 Tia Orr

32:48 Yvonne Wheeler

33:50 Oscar Lopez

35:04 Danny Curtin

36:38 Janus Norman

37:05 Tony Bui, Laiza Negrete and Ramona Prieto

40:14 Taryn Luna

41:22 Chris Cadelago

41:30 Ashley Zavala

47:47 Who is NOT on the list - and why?

49:56 John Latimer

50:00 Liz Snow

50:06 Myesha Jackson

50:22 Building the list

59:03 Susannah Delano

1:01:39 Venn Diagram

1:04:34 Last Thoughts

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang 

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We'll be releasing a special episode on Wednesday morning to talk about the 2024 Capitol Weekly Top 100, which will publish Tuesday night.... in the meantime we've got a very short episode with Who Had the Worst Week in Callifornia Politics, and talking about a Big Change coming to the Top 100 this year: The Top 100 Hall of Fame!  

The Top 100 Hall of Fame will honor those who have had an illustrious career in the Capitol community - and who have been a dominant presence on the Top 100 list over the last 15 years. In the 2024 inaugural Hall of Fame class we will acknowledge five California political professionals who rank at the top of their class.  We'll announce them, along with the year's Top 100 list, at our Top 100 Party at the Sutter Club on Tuesday, August 6.

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang 

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Last year Chris Hannan was named President of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, which represents nearly half a million members in the construction trades. Hannan had earlier served as the Executive Secretary of the Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. SBCTC is one of the biggest players in California labor politics, particularly in housing policy. President Hannan joined us to talk about the trades, about his own journey from apprentice sprinkler fitter to the president's office and about the role of union construction workers in California's future.

All that, plus Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:03 What has the first year been like?

4:41 The transition to leadership

6:26 SoCal vs. NorCal

9:36 Impact of state's Budget deficit on SBCTC

11:36 California's big infrastructure projects

14:55 The differing views on Housing policy

17:05 How to get into the trades

22:46 WWCA

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang 

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We recorded this episode coming out of the most intense 8 days in American politics in a generation. A week and a day after an assassination attempt nearly felled former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden announced that he was abandoning his bid for reelection, and endorsing his Vice President, Kamala Harris.

Political data expert Paul Mitchell has been polling Biden's support in California since the president's disastrous debate performance on June 27. The numbers were not pretty for Dems, with Biden underperforming his 2020 results, and appearing to create a drag on support for Dem candidates across the board. Would another candidate be stronger?  On Friday, that was a hypothetical question, but no more.

With Kamala Harris the leading candidate for the nomination, we asked Paul what the earlier polling indicates about Dem enthusiasm, voter enthusiasm and how a change at the top of the ticket may effect other races. Also, will the VP pick bear more weight than usual given the historic nature of the circumstances? Will this be a candidate-driven or issue-driven election? And, what is the technical process for a change at the top of the ticket this late in the game?

All that, plus Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang 

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PHOTO: Kamala Harris speaking with attendees at the 2019 National Forum on Wages and Working People hosted by the Center for the American Progress Action Fund and the SEIU at the Enclave in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Gage Skidmore.

Today we introduce a new series of interviews with the 2026 California gubernatorial candidates. First up,  California gubernatorial candidate Betty Yee!

Yee boasts two decades of public service, beginning with a stint on the Board of Equalization and followed by two terms as California State Controller (2015-2023). She is he tenth woman to be elected to statewide office in California. She has also served as the Female Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party since May 2021. Yee announced her candidacy for California governor in March 2019. We spoke with her in May about her campaign, about the 2024 elections, and what unique perspectives she brings to the race.

Plus, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics.

:53 Introducing Betty Yee

2:46 How will you stand out in a crowded field?

4:55 A caretaker for an aging parent

9:59 Is California ready for a BIPOC female governor?

14:20 How are the AAPI communities relating to Democrats this year?

17:28 The impact of Palestine/campus protests on the Nov. election

21:50 Crime and Prop. 47

26:58 Romualdo Pacheco, California's only Hispanic governor

27:51 "Why should a voter support Betty Yee?"

30:39 WWCA: A belly flop on crime policy

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang 

"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io

Today we welcome Christy Smith, the former Democratic Assemblymember for California’s 38th Assembly District. Smith also ran three times for Congress, holding the record as the best performing Democratic candidate for the 25th/27th Congressional district, but ultimately losing those races to Republican Mike Garcia - once by less than 350 votes.  

Today she is the Executive Director for Emerge California, the state’s arm of the national organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office. She spoke with us about the likelihood that the California Legislature will achieve gender parity in the near future, and about the unique challenges that face women candidates.

Plus, we tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.

1:03 Talk about Emerge California

2:13 Gender parity?

5:39 Is it hard to get women to run for office?

9:06 Male candidates vs. female candidates

10:26 What did you learn in running for office?

15:28 How do biases against women play out for lawmakers?

19:03 "You look like you belong in congress"

19:49 The 2026 gov's race

29:54 Who is going to win CA27 in November?

31:20 WWCA: Plenty to choose from

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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang 

"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io

We're joined today by two guests: first up, Anthony Wright, the longtime Executive Director at Health Access California, who will be leaving soon to take a new position as Executive Director at Families USA in DC. He spoke with us about the new job and his most memorable moments in Sacramento.

We also welcome redistricting expert, campaign strategist, and former mayor of Winters, Matt Rexroad, who joins us to talk about the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Worst Week in California Politics. 

1:01 Anthony Wright: What is Families USA and why are you leaving?

2:41 What the job in DC will look like

5:07 "The health system is complex and confusing and Kafkaesue..."

5:24 DC is dysfunctional - how do you plan to approach that?

8:16 How realistic are current efforts to bring Universal Health Care to California?

10:17 "if you take Single Payer seriously... then you need to take the obstacles seriously"

11:35 What is exportable from California's experience, and what can California learn from other states?

16:25 Who is taking over at Health Access?

17:35 A memorable first day in Sacramento

19:30 Top memories of 23 years at Health Access

22:07 With Trump pledging to repeal the ACA; Are you worried?

27:33 #WWCA; Matt Rexroad joins us to look at candidates for an EPIC Worst Week in CA 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