Politics Podcast | KQED News

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Political power is an interesting thing, in that it’s usually most valuable for its perception — especially among those who fear being on the losing side.

This week, we examine some glimpses at both perceived and real political power: A proposed 2016 initiative to limit public sector pensions; a new poll showing how voters see some of next year’s biggest issues; and an intriguing new profile of a major Sacramento power player, First Lady Anne Gust Brown.

With KQED’s Marisa Lagos away, I’m joined by Anthony York of the Grizzly Bear Project.

Gov. Jerry Brown has an impressive streak going when it comes to calling most of the shots in crafting a state budget. Can he keep it going?

This week’s California Politics Podcast looks at the budget demands of Brown’s fellow Democrats, demands that hinge on more optimistic predictions of state tax revenues in the fiscal year to come.

We also discuss the potential impact for the Golden State of a case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court that challenges the notion of “one person, one vote” when it comes to drawing political maps.

I’m joined by KQED News’ Marisa Lagos, while our friend Anthony York will return next week.

No political party can be completely homogenous, and so differences inside California’s dominant partisan ranks shouldn’t come as a surprise. But in some races, those differences seem more like a bitter street brawl.

On this week’s podcast, we sift through the election returns and political lessons in Tuesday’s tense state Senate special election in the East Bay. We also take an early look at the Kamala Harris-Loretta Sanchez duel in the 2016 race for the U.S. Senate.

As always, I’m joined by Marisa Lagos of KQED News and Anthony York of the Grizzly Bear Project.

Two big political stories that both happened on the same day this week — one a revised plan of action, one a reigniting of talk about a competitive statewide race in 2016.

This week’s California Politics Podcast takes an early glance at both Gov. Jerry Brown’s revised state budget, and the news that a second well-known Democrat has officially joined the race for the U.S. Senate seat that Barbara Boxer is leaving in 2016.

As always, I’m joined by KQED News’ Marisa Lagos and Anthony York of the Grizzly Bear Project.

Political campaigns, especially those involving ballot initiatives in California, are often like a big chess board. You need to think about not just the move you’re making now, but about what moves you might have to make toward the end.

This week’s California Politics Podcast starts off with a look at three potentially explosive topics that could all appear on the November 2016 statewide ballot: A $2 per pack tobacco tax, an increase in the homeowner’s property tax exemption, and a long debated and closely watched effort that could ask voters to tinker with the legendary Proposition 13.

We also look at the bitter fight to define what it means to be a Democrat in the East Bay’s special state Senate election. And, with Gov. Jerry Brown’s revised budget coming out next week, a quick look at what we’ll be watching.

As always, I’m joined by Anthony York of the Grizzly Bear Project and Marisa Lagos of KQED News.