Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.

The possible value of legislative declarations in statutory interpretation

The California state Capitol in Sacramento. (Photo: Karin Hildebrand Lau, via Shutterstock)

by CHRIS MICHELI posted 01.08.2026

While textualists want to only focus on the actual text of the statute, the purpose of statutory interpretation, in my opinion, is to ascertain the intent of the Legislature, which is charged with the lawmaking function.

Capitol Briefs: Offshore drilling, LA sexual abuse and tax revenues

Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol Weekly

by CAPITOL WEEKLY STAFF posted 01.07.2026

The Capitol kicked back into gear this week with the ceremonial swearing in of new Senate pro Tem Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara) and a smattering of bill introductions and information hearings. But of course, all eyes on focused on Thursday and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s State of the State address and Friday’s budget reveal. But that is hardly all that has been happening this week. 

A look at San Francisco with Joe Eskenazi

San Francisco skyline. Image from SF.gov

by CAPITOL WEEKLY STAFF posted 01.05.2026

CAPITOL WEEKLY  PODCAST: We’re joined today by Mission Local Managing Editor and columnist Joe Eskenazi, who looks back over Mayor Daniel Lurie’s first year, and gets us up to speed on other San Francisco political news, including the race to replace Nancy Pelosi, the possibility of an initiative to reopen the Great Highway to auto traffic, and the effort to form a municipal power company that would take over PG&E’s electrical infrastructure via eminent domain – a movement that got a boost following last week’s massive power outage.

Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.

Capitol Briefs: A hint of what’s on tap for 2026

California's historic Capitol dome. Image by :Wallentine

by CAPITOL WEEKLY STAFF posted 12.31.2025

A trio of proposed ballot measures are cleared to begin signature gathering, more AI battles and a few coming and goings around the Capitol community.

2025 in review (and a peek at 2026), with Chris Cadelago of POLITICO

by CAPITOL WEEKLY STAFF posted 12.29.2025

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by Politico’s Chris Cadelago for a look back at the Top 10 California political stories of 2025 – and a look at what’s coming next year.

Lou Cannon: A personal remembrance

by RICH EHISEN posted 12.22.2025

I’ve been writing words for a living for many decades now, and I can’t think of any I have hated to write more than those in this next sentence. Longtime journalist and noted Ronald Reagan biographer Lou Cannon died last Friday evening from complications of a stroke he suffered a few weeks prior.

Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.

Experts Expound: Christmas edition

Image by cmannphoto

by CAPITOL WEEKLY STAFF posted 12.23.2025

Let’s say you are Santa Claus: who from California politics is getting the biggest box under the tree this year? Conversely, who is getting a fat lump of coal in their stocking?