News

Prop. 60: Condoms’ hard battle

A camera ready for lights and action. (Billion Photos, via Shutterstock)

Strange bedfellows: The Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian parties in California all oppose Proposition 60, a measure aimed at blocking unprotected sex in adult films. But the condom requirement is only part of the opposition. They also see enforcement problems, leaving the performers vulnerable to lawsuits and privacy violations.

Podcast

Capitol Weekly Podcast: Jodi Remke

Jodi Remke, chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission.

On the day before the 2016 general election, California Fair Political Practices Commission Chair Jodi Remke stops by The Ambrosia Cafe to chat with Capitol Weekly’s John Howard and Tim Foster about campaign violations, money in politics, and what, exactly, the 80 person staff of the FPPC does. Join us!

News

CA120: Issa down; Prop. 61, death penalty repeal up

Doug Applegate, left, and Darrell Issa. (Photo illustration by Tim Foster, Capitol Weekly)

EXIT POLL: What a year it has been for polling-related news in California – please try to contain your excitement. The venerable Field Poll went online (shades of Dylan Goes Electric). Meanwhile, USC and the LA Times combined to produce the most, um, “noteworthy” poll of the cycle (shades of Dewey Defeats Truman), which polling Director Dan Schnur posted on twitter “is wrong, but still gives us important info…”

News

CA120: A coming-out party for Latinos, Millennials?

Latinos at a Los Angeles demonstration on immigration policy. (Photo: Joseph Sohm, via Shutterstock)

This story is really about two populations that we have known could, someday, dominate California elections: Millennials and Latinos. The Latino vote has been repeatedly spoken of as a political “sleeping giant,” evoking the sense that this population could awaken and shake the foundations of our elections.

Podcast

Capitol Weekly Podcast: Xavier Becerra

Capitol Weekly heads down to Ambrosia Cafe at 11th and K to sit down with Congressman Xavier Becerra, the ranking Latino in Congress, who has been stumping for Democratic candidates across the country and is now spending the final days of #election2016 in his home state. The Sacramento native talks about the campaign trail, the prospects for Dem pickups in the California house delegation – and his own prospects after Nov 8.

Analysis

So you want to be a lobbyist? Read on…

Illustration of lobbyist and other job titles. (Stuart Miles)

There are three initial issues that an individual seeking a lobbying job should consider: First, understand the types of lobbying jobs that are out there. Second, understand what you want to do in the lobbying profession. Third, target potential lobbying jobs that suit your interests and your strengths.

Analysis

Poll: Close divide on death penalty

The attitudes of voters. Illustration by Niroworld, via Shutterstock.

Field-IGS Poll: Nearly a quarter of likely voters in the poll (23%) said they were intending to vote Yes on both death penalty measures, even though they have opposite aims. This may partially be due to confusion about the intent of Prop. 66, or simply that some voters want to change the status quo of how the state now handles death penalty cases, regardless of how it’s done.

Analysis

PolitiFact: Gov. Brown and Prop. 53

Gov. Brown speaking against Proposition 53. (Screen shot via Youtube

ANALYSIS: An independent look at the measure by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and an examination by the state’s treasurer, describe some scenarios that agree with Brown’s point. But the governor ignores the LAO’s argument that there could conceivably be some costs savings, particularly if Prop 53 forces the state to make better use of existing infrastructure.

News

Stem cell: $150 million public-private partnership

A high-resolution image of human egg cells. (Jezper, via Shutterstock)

California’s plan to create an ambitious, $150 million public/private partnership to commercialize state-funded stem cell research edged forward this week as the deadline for applications closed on Monday afternoon. Little is known about the nature of the applications — not even the number received.

News

Nov. 8: The Democrats’ quest for a supermajority

The state Capitol in Sacramento. (Photo: Feoktistoff, via Shutterstock)

Asked about the prospect of a Democratic supermajority in the California Legislature after Nov. 8, leaders of both parties are being, well, supercautious. With a Democratic supermajority, which means majorities of two-thirds or greater in each house, Republicans could go from marginalized to irrelevant.

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