Micheli Minute
The Micheli Minute for February 23, 2026
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
Capitol Spotlight
Capitol Spotlight: Julie Baker, California for the Arts
Julie Baker, California for the Arts. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly.Growing up in New York City not far from Lincoln Center, Julie Baker was immersed in the arts. Today, she devotes her considerable energies to helping artists thrive. She is chief executive officer of both California for the Arts, a statewide arts advocacy organization, and California Arts Advocates, a lobbyist group that works to increase state investment in the arts.
News
Meet the insurance commissioner candidates: Sen Ben Allen
Sen. Ben Allen. Photo by AP. Capitol Weekly recently asked the leading insurance commissioner candidates to answer a set of identical questions regarding how they would approach this incredibly important and challenging job. The candidates participating are Sen. Ben Allen, former Sen. Steve Bradford, California Working Families Party executive director Jane Kim, Insurance agent Jane Korsgaden, Los Angeles school teacher Lalo Vargas and financial analyst Patrick Wolff. Over the next few weeks we will present their questions and answers individually in alphabetical order by last name, starting with Sen. Ben Allen.
News
Newsom betting big on AI
Image by Arseniy45. It’s early to think of what California’s fiscal budget may look like by the time lawmakers finalize it in June. But Gov. Gavin Newsom is already banking on the tech industry to save the state from financial distress.
Micheli Files
How to participate in the California budget process
Image by Worawith Ounpeng.Participating in the state budget process is similar to participation in the legislative process. While the budget process has its own terminology, and a concurrent process in the Legislature, it is still important to understand the procedural rules, the players in the process, and the policy areas within the budget process.
Podcast
A chat with Clint Kellum of the Department of Cannabis Control
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today we welcome Clint Kellum, the new (as of November 2025) Director of the California Department of Cannabis Control. The CDCC licenses and regulates cannabis businesses, including regulation of cannabis growers, manufacture of cannabis products, and sales, transportation and tracking of cannabis goods. Kellum took the helm just after Governor Newsom signed AB 564, a bill to reset the state’s cannabis excise tax rate at 15% until 2028, giving California’s struggling legal cannabis market hope after a rough few years.
Capitol Briefs
Capitol Briefs: Here come the bills!
Jennifer Siebel Newsom speaks at the bill signing ceremony for SB 106. Photo by Rich Ehisen, Capitol WeeklyIt has been another busy week around the Capitol. Her are some of the highlights, lowlights and one big eye roll…in brief!
Micheli Minute
The Micheli Minute for Monday, February 16, 2026
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
CA120
CA120: Twins – the 2026 governor simulator
Image from Paul Mitchell's TWINS - California 2026 Governor Simulator site.The most intense parlor game in Sacramento is that of projecting the composition of June’s Top Two gubernatorial primary. Not who among the dozen leading candidates will win, per se, but what will be the partisanship of the two that make it to the General Election, and if that could actually be two Republicans.
Analysis
Q4 2025 spending on lobbying firms exceeded $91 million
Image by SergZSV. Special interests paid lobbying firms more than $91 million to lobby state government in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a Capitol Weekly analysis of lobbying firm reports.