CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: We’re joined today by former California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye who is part of 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.
Congressman Eric Swalwell outside of the Capitol Weekly office. Photo by Tim Foster, Capitol WeeklyCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Congressman Eric Swalwell announced last month that he was joining the crowded race to replace California governor Gavin Newsom. The Dublin lawmaker enters a fluid contest with no overwhelming favorite. Swalwell joined us for a conversation about his candidacy, how he plans to address the state’s affordability crisis, his experiences as a local official, navigating familial political divides, the temperature in congress, the Democratic Party brand, and much more.
Photo by Ben AdlerCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Few know the impacts of federal and state actions better than local governments, who are often tasked with implementing those policies. Our guest today is Graham Knaus, CEO of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), which advocates on behalf of all 58 of California’s counties.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Our guest today is Jim Wunderman, who has been at or near the center of Bay Area Politics for four decades, starting with his time working in the office of then-San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein. Feinstein taught Wunderman to think of the larger San Francisco region as one interconnected entity, an approach that ultimately made him a perfect fit as the head of the Bay Area Council. Last month he announced that he will be leaving the organization to head up public affairs for California Forever, the ambitious project to create en entirely new European-style city on what is now cow pasture just outside of Rio Vista.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: After a lightning speed rollout and campaign, Proposition 50 passed decisively last week, with voters approving a partisan temporary gerrymander of the state’s congressional districts – and handing California Democrats a major win. The new maps will shift district lines and upend the seats of five Republican members of Congress, throwing them into distinctly less friendly territory – if Prop. 50 survives the GOP legal challenge filed the day after the election. Our guests today are two of the state’s foremost redistricting experts, Matt Rexroad and Paul Mitchell. Rexroad is a former Yolo County Supervisor and longtime GOP consultant. Mitchell, a lifelong Democrat, is the state’s best-known political data expert, and led the team that created Prop. 50’s maps.
FPPC Chair Adam SilverCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Adam Silver was appointed Chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission in March 2024. The FPPC was created in 1974 when California voters approved Proposition 9, The Political Reform Act, in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Five decades later, the FFPC is plenty busy. Silver joined us to talk about the Commission’s work, the challenges posed by Cryptocurrencies and his path to the Chairmanship.
Leah Barros of Barros Clay and AssociatesCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today we welcome lobbyist Leah Barros of Barros Clay and Associates. Barros is a familiar face in Sacramento, having worked in the Capitol as a staffer and later as a lobbyist for various firms before launching her own shop. Among her notable wins was leading the lobbying effort to enact The CROWN Act, the first statewide law in the country to prohibit racial discrimination on the basis of natural hairstyles in the workplace and schools. That experience changed her perception of what she could – and should – do as an advocate.
Patricia Sinay speaks at the "California Votes: Proposition 50" debate at the UC Student and Policy Center in Sacramento on Oct. 14, 2025. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMattersCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Proposition 50 would require California to use new congressional district maps through 2030. Use of independent Citizens Redistricting Commission maps would resume after that date. Proponents from each of the campaigns offered their arguments in a debate moderated by Rich Ehisen of Capitol Weekly and Juliet Williams of CalMatters. Rusty Hicks, Chair of the California Democratic Party represented the Yes side. Patricia Sinay of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission represented the No.
California State Treasurer Fiona MaCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: We’re joined today by California State Treasurer Fiona Ma. The Treasurer is the state’s banker and manages $3 trillion per year, among many other things. Ma is a former San Francisco Supervisor, state legislator and member of the Board of Equalization, and a current candidate for Lieutenant Governor. She spoke with us about the Treasurer’s job, her path to that office, and about her mentor, the legendary John Burton.
Dr. S Monica Soni, Keynote speaker at The California Health Care Conference, October 1, 2025 in Sacramento. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol Weekly.CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Capitol Weekly and the University of California Student and Policy Center presented A Conference on Health Care on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 in Sacramento. In today’s episode we present the Keynote: A conversation between Dr. S. Monica Soni of Covered California and Capitol Weekly Editor Rich Ehisen. Stick around til the end; Rich and special guest Robin Epley of the Sacramento Bee tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.