Micheli Minute
The Micheli Minute for May 18, 2026
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
News
Anti-Steyer PAC mimics name of a housing advocacy campaign
Photo from Steyer for Governor website. Sharp-eyed members of the Capitol community may recognize that an anti-Tom Steyer PAC has a virtually identical to the name of a public education campaign organized by a group of progressive housing justice organizations.
Capitol Briefs
Capitol Briefs: Suspense, budgets, and more LA sex abuse controversy
Gov. Gavin Newsom. Image by AP.It was another busy week around the Capitol, with the release of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s final May budget revision, the clearing of the Suspense Files in both Appropriations Committees and yet more controversy in the ongoing battle over sexual abuse claims against L.A. County.
Micheli Files
The suspense file process in the California Legislature
The California state Capitol at dusk. (Photo: Karin Hildebrand Lau, via Shutterstock)Today is a big day in the Legislature – suspense file hearings in the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees. But what exactly is the suspense file procedure? We’re glad you asked. Allow Capitol Weekly contributor, lobbyist and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli explain all for you.
News
Antitrust fight heats up ahead of appropriations hearing
Image by Zhanna Hapanovich. AB 1776, otherwise known as the Competition and Opportunity in Markets for a Prosperous, Equitable and Transparent Economy (COMPETE) Act, seeks to expand the scope of California’s antitrust law to include the conduct of a single business to restrain trade.
Podcast
Jeff Randle: Modern campaigns & 25 years of Randle Communications
Capitol Weekly Editor Rich Ehisen (L) with Randle Communications CEO Jeff Randle. Photo by Tim Foster, Capitol WeeklyCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Jeff Randle has been one of the Capitol community’s go-to political campaign strategists for decades. He has been a top advisor on five gubernatorial campaigns as well as serving as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Pete Wilson from 1991-1998. This year his firm Randle Communications celebrates its 25th anniversary so we figured it was a great time to have him joins us to share his perspectives on this year’s gubernatorial races and perhaps to share a war story or two.
News
Spending on lobbying firms topped $83.5 million in Q1 2026
Image by Wallentine. Special interests, or as the California Secretary of State calls them “lobbyist employers,” paid lobbying firms more than $83.5 million to lobby state government in the first quarter of 2025, according to a Capitol Weekly analysis of lobbying firm reports.
Micheli Minute
The Micheli Minute for May 11, 2026
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
Experts Expound
Experts Expound: Affordability
Image by Drazen Zigic. Lawmakers have been talking about making California more affordable for two years now. We asked our panel of experts how they would you grade their efforts so far.
Micheli Files
Should state contracts or grants be exempt from oversight laws?
California State Senate floor session. Photo by Capitol Weekly.Should state contracts or grants be exempt from oversight laws? Our intrepid Chris Micheli weighs in.