The Langenhop family. Photo courtesy of the Langenhop family and the CIRM. After 21 years of “prospecting,” the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has fetched up its first “nugget” – federal approval of a one-and-done gene therapy for a life-threatening disease.
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CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Membership in California labor unions grew by over 100,000 members between 2024 and 2025. Our guest today is one of the reasons for those gains. Former Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez is the President of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO, which is made up of more than 1,300 unions, representing 2.3 million members. We spoke with Gonzalez about the status of the labor movement, the threat – and opportunities – of AI, and the impact of Cesar Chavez’ sudden downfall.
Big City Mayors coalition. Photo by Robin Swanson. Next week is Spring Break so this week was busier than usual. Here is our Capitol Briefs roundup of a few of the things we found notable around the Capitol.
Image by Vadym Plysiuk. OPINION – The digital world is not going away, and our children are not immune from its effects. If we care about their futures, we must pair accountability with proactive safeguards.
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
Jacqui Nguyen. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol Weekly. In the dark of night shortly before the 1975 fall of Saigon, three-year-old Jacqui Nguyen fled Vietnam on a crowded boat with her parents, her six-month-old brother and nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Today, Nguyen works as communications director for Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach). Her path — from refugee to reporter to Capitol staffer — shapes how she does the job and how she understands what’s at stake.
Photo by Heidi Patricola. OPINION – The next nuclear revolution is already underway. Now is the moment for California to act decisively: commit to leading, mobilize its resources, and shape the future of clean energy, or risk being left behind as others seize the opportunity.
American Endurance, Jones Act tanker. Photo by Philly Shipyard.OPINION – Under the Jones Act, cargo moving between U.S. ports must be carried on American-built, American-flagged, and American-crewed vessels, including crude oil and refined petroleum products. The Trump administration has moved to wave the Jones Act, but California’s regulations, taxes, and other unique factors make any minor savings from this waiver a drop in the bucket.
Image by hapabapa. Understanding what proposed legislation actually does is part science and part art. This week lobbyist and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli explains it all for you.