Insight With Vicki Gonzalez

By CapRadio

Insight With Vicki Gonzalez episodes

November 05 Congressional District 4 and Measure W | Lessons from the Midterm | Japantown Exhibit | B Street Celebrates 40 Years
Congressional District 4 and Measure W
California’s 4th District may be one of the last races called this midterm election. Incumbent Mike Thompson faces a tough challenge from Eric Jones, ahe battle between Democrats has highlighted a generational divide. We’ll hear where things stand from CapRadio Reporter Chris Felts. He’ll also update us on the latest with Measure W in Davis.
Lessons from the Midterm
The Midterm Election is being characterized nationally as a blue wave, but what does that mean in a traditionally blue state like California? University of the Pacific Political Science Professor Keith Smith talks about lessons from the midterm, particularly in the Central Valley, which is home to some of the most competitive races.
Japantown Exhibit
For decades, Sacramento was home to the fourth-largest Japantown in the country. A thriving neighborhood that was bulldozed in the 1950s to build Capitol Mall. A new museum exhibit is sharing the stories of this lost community, and breathing new life into its history and legacy. Heather Reynolds is the Sacramento History Museums Exhibition Developer and Karen Tsugawa is an Exhibition Designer and Artist for Reclaim Sacramento Japantown. They join us ahead of Sacramento Japantown: Destroyed By Design which opens this month including a free Japantown Matsuri Sat. Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with cultural demonstrations, entertainment, vendors, and more.
B Street Celebrates 40 Years
One of Sacramento’s most cherished arts organizations is celebrating its 40th anniversary. B Street Theatre was originally founded in 1986 as a children’s theater company. 40 years later they have a new home at The Sofia and have become a fixture of the city’s art scene. To celebrate the milestone B Street will be hosting its annual Sofia Soirée fundraising event this Saturday. This year’s theme is Chrysalis and will feature a headlining performance from Tony Award Winning actress Faith Prince. She joined us, along with Jacob Gutiérrez-Montoya, the Director of Development and Community Partnerships at The Sofia.
CapRadio is a media sponsor of the Sofia Soirée.
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November 04 Statewide Election Results | Regional Races Round-Up | CA State Leadership and Propositions
Statewide Election Results
California will soon have a new governor. The race was called within minutes for Democrat Xavier Becerra. The former Health and Human Services Secretary, state Attorney General and congressmember is the first elected Latino governor in California history. Nationwide results mirrored California, where it was a sweeping victory for Democrats. Paul Mitchell is the Vice President of Political Data Inc. and was the architect of Prop. 50 redistricting, which aimed to give Democrats an edge in the midterm.
Regional Races Round-Up
We’ll dive into races in our backyard and get an update on the congressional races between Rep. Doris Matsui and Mai Vang, as well as outgoing incumbent Kevin Kiley, who conceded to Dr. Richard Pan. CapRadio Reporters Tony Rodriguez and Greg Micek have updates on Congressional Districts 6 and 7. Plus, Local Government Reporter Riley Palmer has a status check on the seat for Sac County Supervisor, between Eric Guerra and Flo Cofer.
CA State Leadership and Propositions
CapRadio Statehouse Politics Reporter Gerardo Zavala shares some analysis of Xavier Becerra’s gubernatorial victory, as well as an update on some of the contentious statewide races, including those for Insurance Commissioner and the Prop 40 billionaire's tax.
51 min
November 03 Last-Minute Voter Tips | Early Voting Trends | Sandhill Crane Festival
Last-Minute Voter Tips
It’s been pretty hard to avoid all the political mailers and texts, but there are some voters out there who may be opening their ballots for the first time today. With just hours to go before polls close on Election Day, Kim Alexander, President and Founder of the California Voter Foundation, provides some last-minute tips on filling out your ballot.
Early Voting Trends
Millions of ballots have already been turned in across California, as millions more voters head to the polls today during the midterm. But with the Golden State’s election certification still a month away, how should we make sense of early results that trickle in today, and in the days and weeks to come? Paul Mitchell, Vice President of Political Data Inc. breaks down potential trends, patterns and expectations as early results begin rolling in tonight.
Sandhill Crane Festival
Each fall, thousands of Sandhill Cranes, birds that stand nearly four feet tall and rank among the oldest bird species on Earth, return to the wetlands and farm fields around Lodi. Jane Adams is Communications Chair and Board Member of the Lodi Sandhill Crane Association and joins us ahead of the 28th annual Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival Nov. 6, 7 and 8. Festival admission is free. There are fee-based guided tours to prime crane-viewing locations.
51 min
November 02 Where is Xavier Becerra? | AI and Social Media in Political Campaigns | New Album: ‘i love this city and everyone in it’
Where is Xavier Becerra?
Millions of Californians have already cast their ballots, with the Midterm election right around the corner. At the top of the ticket is the race to become California’s next governor between Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton. But while Hilton has barnstormed the Golden State, Becerra — the race’s frontrunner — has kept a much lower profile, making few media appearances and rarely discussing his positions on some of California’s largest issues. POLITICO Senior Politics Reporter Jeremy B. White joins Insight to talk about Becerra’s approach to campaigning, and what that could mean if he is elected the next Governor of California.
AI and Social Media in Political Campaigns
As technology advances, the place where it intersects with politics is bringing new trends and ways of reaching voters. But this innovation also raises some concerns as norms and regulations often take time to catch up. Social media has played a major role in elections over the past decade - podcasts held big sway in 2024 and now AI is playing a part in campaigning and election ads. Here to talk about the trends we’ve been seeing this cycle and what they could mean for future elections is CapRadio Statehouse Politics Reporter Gerardo Zavala. Gerardo also shares his reporting about an increase in ICE activity and immigration enforcement across the Sacramento region as the Midterm approaches.
New Album: ‘i love this city and everyone in it’
A group of Sacramento musicians are joining forces to create an album for a cause. The compilation album "i love this city and everyone in it" features 12 tracks of local artists, across a wide array of genres, covering each other’s songs. Joining us today is the creator of the album, Zack Willis from Aphids as Lovers along with Ash Rae, owner and lead engineer of Rosa Mortem Studios, who is one of the producers of the album.
Proceeds from the album benefit NorCal Resist, an immigrant advocacy organization that CapRadio has also interviewed as a source in our immigration reporting. CapRadio has no involvement in the album or its fundraising.
53 min
October 29 California Flood Risk Report | Breast Cancer Roundtable | Perchfest
California Flood Risk Report
A record-breaking El Nino winter is forecast to take aim at California, with millions of people at risk of heavy rain, mountain snow and severe flooding. But the systems meant to protect residents face an uncertain future amid major shifts on the federal level. We’ll unpack a new report calling for proactive solutions before disaster strikes. Nicholas Pinter is a Shlemon Professor of Applied Geoscience at UC Davis and is the co-chair behind a new report identifying key actions California can take to build its flood resilience.
Breast Cancer Roundtable
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A well-intentioned time of pink ribbons and campaigns that can bring up mixed emotions for survivors. Insight Host Vicki Gonzalez has been public about her journey with breast cancer after being diagnosed in 2024. She had a wide-ranging conversation with those who have walked a similar but unique path about what life after treatment is really like and why a “new normal” can be difficult to pin down. Vicki sat down with Josephine Oh, Jeri Viera Dahlke and Linda Henry. They met as part of a lifestyle medicine group for breast cancer survivors and spent the past year supporting each other.
Perchfest
Our region is no stranger to some of the best wine. But this weekend takes pairing to another level. The 5th Annual Perchfest is a Fall wine release party at Canon restaurant paired with raptors from West Coast Falconry. Adam Saake is the owner and winemaker at Perch Wine Co and joins us ahead of the event on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
51 min
October 28 Dolores Huerta’s Legacy | Huerta’s 2022 Insight Interview | Central West Ballet
Dolores Huerta’s Legacy
Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta has died at the age of 96, according to a statement from her foundation. Miriam Pawel is a writer and historian of the labor movement and she joins Insight to explain what Huerta meant to the movement and how she came to coin the phrase, “Si se puede.”
Huerta’s 2022 Insight Interview
We revisit this 2022 interview with Dolores Huerta, the lifelong labor activist from the Central Valley. She spoke with Insight’s Vicki Gonzalez on the eve of her 92 birthday and spoke about her life and calling as the co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, alongside Cesar Chavez. Earlier this year, Huerta revealed that she had been sexually abused by Chavez in the 1960s. This conversation took place prior to those revelations.
Central West Ballet
Novelist H.G. Wells is inspiring a new Halloween science fiction ballet in Modesto this weekend. The Time Machine will premiere at the Gallo Center for the Arts from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. This production is first for Central West Ballet, a first for American ballet and a literal first for the world as no company has ever produced a ballet based on the novel by H.G. Wells. Central West Ballet Artistic Director René Daveluy, Executive Director Karin Reenstierna and Principal Dancer Caroline Young join us about this unique ballet.
51 min
October 27 CNN’s Six Flags Investigation | Congressional Candidate Rep. Josh Harder | Shakespeare’s Hamlet
CNN’s Six Flags Investigation
Each year millions of thrill seekers flock to amusement parks around the country. But recent hospitalizations involving Six Flags locations across the country have called into question the level of safety parkgoers can expect. While experts confirm severe injuries are exceedingly rare for most riders, a CNN investigation into the popular X2 ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia revealed a string of serious brain injuries and two deaths in recent years. Kyung Lah is a Senior Investigative Correspondent for CNN and joins us today to share their reporting.
Congressional Candidate Rep. Josh Harder
We are closing in on our candidate interviews ahead of the Nov. 3 Midterm. Today we head to California’s 9th Congressional District. Newly redrawn, it spans parts of San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties - including parts of Stockton and Lodi, stretching south to Manteca and Tracy, and west to Antioch. Democratic Congressman Josh Harder has represented part of the Central Valley since 2019. This year he’s facing a challenge from Republican John McBride, who joined the show last week. Rep. Harder joins us today to talk about his plans if reelected.
You can find all of the candidate interviews Insight will be doing for local, state and federal races at capradio.org/2026midterm.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet
After nearly four decades, a Nevada County theater director and teacher is preparing for his final curtain call. John Deaderick has been a longtime fixture in the foothills theater scene, first as an actor in local productions, then as a director and a teacher, mentoring generations of students at Colfax High School and Sierra College. His latest production, Shakespeare’s Hamlet opens Thursday, Oct. 29th at the Nevada Theatre in Nevada City and runs through Sunday, Nov. 8th. He joins us today to explain why this show is his “swan’s song”.
51 min
October 26 Early Ballot Returns | Congressional Candidate Rep. John Garamendi | Women’s Health Summit
Early Ballot Returns
More than 2.8 million California voters have cast their ballots in this year’s midterm, but more than 20 million ballots are still outstanding just a week out from the election. Paul Mitchell, Vice President of Political Data Inc. joins Insight to break down early returns, as well as talk about the millions of dollars spent on political ads across the Golden State.
Congressional Candidate Rep. John Garamendi
Rep. John Garamendi is a longtime Democratic incumbent running for reelection in California's 8th Congressional District. Newly redrawn, it spans the East Bay through parts of Davis and down the Delta to Lodi. His opponent, Republican Rudy Recile, joined our show last week.
You can find all of the candidate interviews Insight will be doing for local, state and federal races at capradio.org/2026midterm.
Women’s Health Summit
Sonya Sorich is the Managing editor of the Sacramento Business Journal and joins us ahead of the 2026 Women’s Health Summit on Friday, Oct. 30. The summit brings together medical experts, wellness professionals, business leaders, HR practitioners, and legal specialists for candid conversations about the health issues affecting women in and out of the workplace. Insight Host Vicki Gonzalez will be moderating a panel discussion about navigating a serious health diagnosis while balancing career, leadership responsibilities and life's many demands.
51 min
October 22 State Worker Strike | Insurance Commissioner Candidate Ben Allen | Dancing Earth Creations
State Worker Strike
Thousands of state workers staged a historic one-day strike yesterday amid stalled contract negotiations between SEIU Local 1000 and the state. Corey Schmidt is the State Worker Reporter for the Sacramento Bee, and joins Insight with a breakdown of how the strike was called, and what the implications going forward could be.
Insurance Commissioner Candidate Ben Allen
California is home to the largest insurance market in the country. One that’s become increasingly strained amid an affordability crisis, increasing wildfire risks, and insurance companies pulling back from writing policies in the state. The job of regulating this complicated market falls to California’s Insurance Commissioner, who is tasked with holding companies accountable and making sure policies are available. This November, for the first time voters will choose between two Democrats to become the next insurance commissioner. Former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim joined the show last month. Today we share our conversation with State Senator Ben Allen, whose district includes the footprint of the 2025 Palisades Fire.
You can find all of the candidate interviews Insight will be doing for local, state and federal races in the lead up to Election Day at capradio.org/2026midterm.
Dancing Earth Creations
The art of dance and its ability to showcase human emotions will be celebrated at Sac State later this month, when the University Dance Company presents “States of Grace.” Rulan Tangen is the founder and choreographer of Dancing Earth Creations and an artist-in-residence at Sac State this week. She joins us today to talk about the creative process and what it’s like to work one-on-one with students. “States of Grace” is scheduled Dec. 3 through 6 at the University Theater in Shasta Hall.
51 min
October 21 Ballot Proposition Recap | Congressional Candidate Rudy Recile | Rio Americano Playathon
Ballot Proposition Recap
Californians will decide on 14 ballot propositions this Midterm. Last week, we looked at the tax measures on the ballot. Today, we’ll learn more about the props that remain from CapRadio’s Statehouse Politics Reporter Gerardo Zavala.
Congressional Candidate Rudy Recile
Rudy Recile is the Republican candidate running for California’s 8th Congressional District. Newly redrawn, it spans the East Bay through parts of Davis and down the Delta to Lodi. His opponent is incumbent Democratic Congressman John Garamendi, who is scheduled to join the show on Monday.
You can find all of the candidate interviews Insight will be doing for local, state and federal races at capradio.org/2026midterm.
Rio Americano Playathon
A beloved high school tradition is making its return this Friday. The 45th Annual Rio Americano Playathon will see high school students pick up their instruments for community performances throughout the afternoon and evening, collecting money to support the school’s band program. Band director Victor San Pedro and Playathon chairs Henry Dall-Parker and Audrey Hall talk about the talent and passion behind this musical marathon.
51 min

About Insight With Vicki Gonzalez

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Award-winning journalist Vicki Gonzalez hosts daily interviews with community leaders, advocates, experts, artists and more to provide background and understanding on breaking news, big events,…