Micheli Minute
The Micheli Minute, July 20, 2025
Lobbyist, professor, and author Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week in Sacramento.
Capitol Spotlight
Capitol Spotlight: Dominique Donette
Dominique Donette, photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol Weekly. If anyone could claim a rags-to-riches story, it’s Dominique Donette. The 38-year-old director of government affairs for a reconstituted EdVoice began her life at a disadvantage. By the time she was 18, her mom had spent 10 years of her life in prison, and she had yo-yoed between her biological family and foster families throughout California and in Alaska, Hawaii and Washington.
Micheli Files
Recesses, interim study, and the California Legislature
Image by Wallentine. What are the recesses conducted by the California Legislature? And what is the purpose of Interim Study? There are actually joint recesses after both years of the 2-year Session.
Podcast
Senator Scott Wiener: California and AI
Senator Scott Wiener delivers the Keynote at the California and AI conference on July 8, 2025. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol WeeklyCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: On July 8, Capitol Weekly and the University of California Student and Policy Center presented California and AI, a daylong look at the Golden State’s approach to regulating Artificial Intelligence. Senator Scott Wiener led the charge both this year and last, and has emerged as one of the key voices in the discussion around AI regulation, and we present his Keynote as part of today’s podcast.
Micheli Minute
The Micheli Minute, July 14, 2025
Lobbyist, professor, and author Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week in Sacramento.
News
George Steffes: 1935-2025
Sacramento lobbyist George Steffes.Longtime Capitol lobbyist and Reagan aide George Steffes has passed. He died at UCD Med Center after weeks of hospitalization after suffering a fall. He was 90.
Capitol Briefs
Capitol Briefs: Weed taxes, algorithm collusion and the fate of Democracy
California's historic Capitol dome. Image by :WallentineWe are marching quickly toward the Capitol’s summer recess, but we’re not there yet. This week’s Capitol Briefs are here.
News
California and AI: Capitol Weekly conference recap
Senator Scott Wiener delivers the Keynote at the California and AI conference on July 8, 2025. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol WeeklyAt the latest Capitol Weekly-University of California Student and Policy Center conference this week, “California and AI,” panelists explored the policy implications of the transformative technology sweeping the globe and embraced by fields as diverse as medicine and hospitality.
Micheli Files
Additional California drafting notes
Image by hapabapaAs I make my way through bills in the second house policy committee, I continue to run across interesting provisions contained in these bills. Here is a short explanation of some recent examples from 2025 bills that the “legislative geek” in me finds interesting.
Podcast
A chat with Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari
Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-AshtariCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: We’re joined today by Christina Snider-Ashtari, Tribal Affairs Secretary to Governor Gavin Newsom and head of the Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs. Snider-Ashtari was first appointed to the position in 2018 by Governor Brown and previously served as Executive Secretary of the California Native American Heritage Commission. We spoke to her about both governors’ approaches to Tribal policy, about the California Truth & Healing Council, and about the deep Native history on Alcatraz, which President Trump has suggested might be returned to use as a federal prison.