Micheli Minute
The Micheli Minute for August 12, 2024
Lobbyist and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
Podcast
Talking Top 100, with John Myers
Photo by Mike Rafter, taken at the California Lowrider Holiday. Design by Ted Angel.CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by former KQED reporter and LA Times Bureau Chief John Myers, who left journalism for communications two years ago, but still keeps a watchful eye on Golden State politics. Few political observers are more respected than Myers – one of the many reasons he was a mainstay of the Top 100 List for more than a dozen years. Myers, Ehisen and Foster discuss the broad themes that underlie the 2024 list, look at the new faces, and talk about the names on the inaugural Top 100 Hall of Fame.
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Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: James Siva
James Siva. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.52. James Siva
Siva is the vice chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the owners and operators of the towering Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa north of Palm Springs, and the chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, the nonprofit that represents the combined political might of California’s gaming tribes. He’s a
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Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Alicia Isaacs-Lee
Alicia Isaacs-Lee. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.69. Alicia Isaacs-Lee
A new entrant to the Top 100, Alicia Isaacs-Lee has more than earned her spot on this list. She is the deputy chief of staff to Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and in the last year rose to prominence in the Capitol community with her consistent ability to make things happen under any
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Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Taryn Luna
Taryn Luna. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.98. Taryn Luna
No conversation about who might be the best reporter covering the Capitol is complete without mentioning Los Angeles Times reporter Taryn Luna. With her scoops, insightful analysis and obvious deep sourcing, Luna is widely respected both inside the building and out. She joined the Sacramento press corps in 2016 when she started
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Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Karla Nemeth
Karla Nemeth. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.94. Karla Nemeth
California has been blessed with two “normal” winters, meaning the dreaded word drought hasn’t been thrown around a lot lately. But even in wet times, water conservation and water issues in general remain a priority for the Golden State. Which is where Karla Nemeth, the director of the Department of Water Resources
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Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Christopher Cadelago
Christopher Cadelago. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.96. Christopher Cadelago
Politico’s expansion of its California operations has been one of the most significant developments in the Capitol’s media environment in years and Christopher Cadelago is one of the reasons why. Insightful and well-sourced, Cadelago has broken a litany of big stories since he was named Politico’s California bureau chief in February 2023,
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Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Jason Liles
Jason Liles. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.95. Jason Liles
When Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire needs, well, virtually anything, his first call these days is almost certainly to his long-time aide Jason Liles. With McGuire’s chief of staff Rebecca Wachsberg (No. 95 on last year’s list) out on maternity leave, Liles has stepped in to keep the trains running on time
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Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Greg Totten
Greg Totten. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.49. Greg Totten
As the CEO of the California District Attorneys Association, Greg Totten may be one of the most consequential names on this year’s list. The DAs, of course, have been on a mission to reform Proposition 47 and Totten in particular has resisted any efforts by Gov. Newsom and the Democrats to keep
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Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Chris Hannan
Chris Hannan. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.73. Chris Hannan
Chris Hannan is about a year into his new job as the president of the State Building and Construction Trades Council, having replaced former president Andrew Meredith, who replaced the legendary Robbie Hunter, who replaced the legendary Bob Balgenorth. (Can you say “big shoes?”) The council is the largest construction trades council