News
Two Republicans lead polling in the California gubernatorial race, but major prediction markets like Kalshi, Polymarket, PredictIt and ForecastEx all say it’s Congressman Eric Swalwell’s race to lose. Why are their predictions so different? Which is more likely to be correct? Might prediction markets and the wisdom of the crowds threaten pollsters who have taken a beating in recent elections?
Podcast
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today’s guest is Sacramento Bee reporter Lia Russell. Russell covers the governor for The Bee’s Capitol Bureau, and was part of the team that broke the story of Dana Williamson’s arrest last year. We asked about that story, covering the capitol, and what it was like to cover politics in their earlier gigs in Bangor, Maine and Baltimore, Maryland.
Capitol Briefs
This week was the legislative spring break so there’s not a lot to report on, but we do have a few nuggets for you…in brief.
Micheli Minute
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
Support for The Micheli Minute is provided by The McGeorge School of Law Capital Center for
News
If a bill by Assemblymember Diane Dixon becomes law, tattoo artists would join a long list of professionals required to be trained in spotting signs of human trafficking, including first responders, healthcare workers, educators, hospitality staff, transportation workers, social workers and more.
News
Faced with growing concerns that California’s higher education system is outdated and unresponsive to the needs of an increasingly diverse student population, lawmakers are considering more structural changes to the state Master Plan’s vision of university and college education.
News
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.
Micheli Files
On occasion, if you listen to the proceedings on the Floor of the California State Assembly, you may hear either a legislator seeking “permission to read on the Floor,” or you might hear a legislator raise a point of order that a colleague is reading on the Floor. What is the basis for either of these two statements?
Podcast
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.
Capitol Briefs
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.
Congressman Eric Swalwell outside of the Capitol Weekly office. Photo by Tim Foster, Capitol Weekly
