Gov. Gavin Newsom, image by Associated Press Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new podcast has sent shockwaves through California’s political world. But is there more to Newsom’s efforts than meets the eye?
Legislation. Image by tumsasedgarsIn recent weeks our intrepid Chris Micheli has given us a detailed look at California’s complex official rulemaking process. This week he turns his sights on our state’s equally intricate legislative process.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Claire Conlon got her start in the capitol as a legislative aide in 2011, and has held a wide variety of roles since, including Press Secretary for Senate leader Kevin de León and Chief of Staff to Asm. Cottie Petrie-Norris. While building that impressive resume, she did something unusual: she left, traveling the world for a full year. These days she is the Senior Director of State Government Affairs for Biocom California. Claire shared stories from her capitol journey and other travels, offers advice for new legislators, and talks about her new role in California’s second largest industry.
Lobbyist and author Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week in Sacramento.
Image by Natalya KosarevichBy the time you read this you might have already found a new Capitol Weekly feature in either your text messages or email inbox: the Capitol Weekly Insiders Survey.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s conference The Resistance: California vs. Donald Trump, which was held in Sacramento on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. This is PANEL 2 – CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
Panelists: Kip Lipper, Chief Policy Advisor on Energy and Environment to the Senate pro Tem; Catherine Reheis-Boyd, Western States Petroleum Association; Victoria Rome, Natural Resources Defense Council. Moderated by Rich Ehisen, Capitol Weekly
Image by ogichobanovCalifornia’s official rulemaking process is, to say the last, incredibly complex. In this second of a two-part Micheli Files, lobbyist and law professor Chris Micheli examines more aspects of that process. Part I of can be found here.
School cellphone ban policies. Image by wildpixel via iStock. Last year, California joined at least seven other states (Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia) in adopting or expanding rules to reduce the use of cell phones by students in schools when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 3216 by Assemblymember Josh Hoover (D-Folsom) into law. But while these policies enjoy bipartisan support, enacting them may prove challenging.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at Capitol Weekly’s conference The Resistance: California vs. Donald Trump, which was held in Sacramento on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. This is Panel 3 – Immigration.
Panelists: Senator María Elena Durazo; Luis Alvarado, Luis Alvarado Public Affairs; Kevin R. Johnson, UC Davis School of Law; David Trujillo, ACLU California Action. The discussion was moderated by Andrea Castillo of the Los Angeles Times.
Modified screen cap from This is Gavin Newsom PodcastCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom released the first episode in his new podcast “This is Gavin Newsom,” in which he vows to “to have honest discussions with people that agree AND disagree with us.” On that last point his first guest was conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk. While some in and out of the Democratic Party praised Newsom for his effort, a majority were not happy in the least.