Image by Raja J. In contrast to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget, the Legislature’s budget proposal includes $31.5 million in bridge funding to help California’s private foster care agencies navigate a fast-moving insurance crisis that developed around the time lawmakers were leaving Sacramento last year.
Donald Trump and Elon MuskIn just 90 minutes last week, the storied bromance between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk imploded in a barrage of X posts, Truth Social rants, and public jabs, shattering their so-called Co-Presidency into a bitter feud.
Lea Park-Kim, photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol WeeklyMost mornings, before the sun can make its appearance, you’ll find Lea Park-Kim out on the water in West Sacramento rowing or coaching with the River City Rowing Club. It’s a practice that reflects her discipline and motivation to continually evolve. That same energy has propelled her to success as the communications director for Sen. Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks).
Kamala Harris. Photo by AP. Polls have for months shown that Kamala Harris would be the strong favorite should she opt-in to the 2026 governor’s race, prompting some already-declared candidates to say they would drop out. But Republicans actually seem to relish the chance to run
Image by cbiesThis weekend Democrats are meeting at their annual convention in Orange County. With just over a year before the 2026 Primary, and short of 18 months before the General Election, we wanted to take the temperature of California Democrats.
Image by Png-StudioIn this edition of Capitol Briefs we take a quick look at final numbers from the suspense file hearings and note a few bills that will be moving on and one that won’t be.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly. On Wednesday, May 14, Capitol Weekly hosted “California’s Insurance Crisis,” its first in-person gathering of the year and second conference of 2025. Held at the University of California Student and Policy Center, the event featured three panels and a keynote address from the California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Discussions ranged from the overall state of the insurance industry to the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires and the path forward.
Image by Aree SarakOPINION – The California Privacy Protection Agency’s proposed regulations surrounding the use of Automated Decision-Making Technology (ADMT) and other AI-assisted systems risk undermining the very ecosystem that has made our state a global economic leader.
Erica Costa. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly. The Capitol’s Fellows programs are considered some of the toughest to break into, and Erica Costa is no stranger to that challenge. A graduate of the Assembly Fellows Program, followed by over 15 years of public service experience, she was recently named director of the Senate Fellows Program at the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State University.
Sky Rock Petroglyphs in Bishop California. Image by Bakstad. An intense dispute between federally- and non-federally recognized California Native American tribes over a bill intended to give tribal governments more control over development that encroaches on their sacred lands has convinced the author to pause the measure.