CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: It has been a very busy last few years for Fair Political Practices Commission Chairman Adam Silver. In addition to the usual challenges of an election year, Silver has been working on numerous efforts to utilize artificial intelligence in how the FPPC addresses campaign finance issues. He joined us recently on the Capitol Weekly podcast to talk about these issues and more.
Capitol Weekly's 2026 Top 100 BookCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by Jenny Huh of ABC10 for a look at the 18th edition of Capitol Weekly’s Top 100, which published yesterday. Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 is 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. Huh, Ehisen and Foster run through the Top 10, look at some of the new faces and discuss the themes running through this year’s list.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: On the podcast we often joke about our “very special guests” but legendary California lobbyist Paula Treat truly fits the bill. Treat was one of our very first, and one of our most frequent, guests on the Capitol Weekly Podcast. Next week she will be inducted into the Top 100 Hall of Fame, so we invited her to talk about her Hall of Fame-worthy career, and about the other members of the Class of 2026: Allan Zaremberg, Bob White, Scott Lay, Robbie Hunter and Carmela Coyle.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: State employees returning to Downtown Sacramento following Gov. Newsom’s Return-To-Office order are finding a vastly different universe from the vibrant metro area of 2019, the last time Sacramento food writer Becky Grunewald was on the Podcast. Many longtime lunch and coffee favorites have closed, moved, or offer only limited hours. Sacramento food writer Becky Grunewald joined us to talk about some current lunch options for the Downtown crowd, and other highlights of the local food scene.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today we welcome author, environmental attorney and pro-democracy activist, Gary Lucks, whose new book “We Are the Power,” is a how-to guide for community activists. As the founder of two East Bay progressive groups he has built one of California’ most active grassroots networks, and helped raise millions of dollars, delivering critical support to Democrats in swing districts across the country. Lucks spoke with us about why he wrote the book, what the Democrats need to do to find their way out of the wilderness, and what to make of the Left-Moderate split that threatens to tear the party apart.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today we welcome Ahmad Thomas, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, an association that represents hundreds of technology and innovation companies in the birthplace of the computer revolution. Thomas joined SVLG in 2020 and has overseen his organization’s efforts to encourage Sacramento to implement thoughtful AI policies that won’t “stifle innovation.” He is no stranger to legislative oversight -Thomas got his start as an aide to Senator Dianne Feinstein, an experience he cites as the foundation of his career.
Chelsea HainesCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Chelsea Haines is the Director of State Regulatory Relations at the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), the largest statewide coalition of public water agencies in the country. ACWA’s 470 public agency members are responsible for 90% of the water delivered to cities, farms and businesses in California. Haines joined us to talk about ACWA’s vision for California’s future as climate change pushes our water resources to the limit.
Asm. Patrick Ahrens and Asm. Heather Hadwick in Hadwick's office. Photo by Tim Foster, Capitol WeeklyCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Sometimes it seems like bipartisanship has gone the way of the dinosaur, the Dodo Bird and $3 gasoline, but Assemblymembers Heather Hadwick (R) and Patrick Ahrens (D) are doing their best to keep the dream alive. While the two come from dramatically different districts with distinct priorities (AD01 and AD26) the two bonded over their shared childhood experiences with the Head Start program, and have teamed on legislation to support California children. They sat down with us to talk about their shared priorities, and where they have to differ.
Image by Viktor Hanacek. CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: The Capitol Weekly crew look at the California Primary. How did Proposition 50 impact the races, what did billionaires get for their money, and will the generation gap be a defining factor in November? Plus, Who had the Worst Week in California Politics?
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: If you have noticed that the state now has less “rolling” blackouts, former state senator Nancy Skinner’s AB 2514 is a big part of the reason. Skinner is serving her first term on the California Energy Commission after serving as a state senator and member of the Assembly. Her legislation created requirements for electrical energy storage systems – she spoke with us about AB 2514, about the Trump Administration’s opposition to California’s climate goals, the challenges (and opportunities) presented by Data Centers, and her landmark Name Image and Likeness legislation, SB 206, which changed college sports across the country. And, with the Primary behind us, we have a long list of candidates for Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.