Image by NicoElNino. There’s a wave of wealth tax proposals likely to appear on California ballots this year. Despite mounting opposition from lawmakers and some of the state’s wealthiest residents, progressives feel confident voters will to approve them.
Image by JUN LI. Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation are once again neck deep in state legislation they contend would protect consumers but which critics say is really aimed at furthering their monopoly over live event ticketing in California and the United States.
Capitol Weekly Editor Rich Ehisen interviews Asm. Buffy Wicks at a Conference on Housing, Feb. 24, 2026 in Sacramento. Photo by Joha HarrisonPanelists grappled with California’s housing crisis Tuesday at Capitol Weekly’s first conference of 2026, painting a discouraging picture of the current state of affairs in the Golden State. Panels explored permitting reform, the impact of environmental concerns and new ideas for addressing affordability, punctuated by a keynote address from Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), who acknowledged the loads of work that still needs to be done but also sounded an optimistic note that things could improve in California.
Casey Wasserman. Photo by AP.Today is the deadline to introduce new bills and lawmakers have been rushing to finish off their 2026 legislative packages. And the heat keeps building on L.A. Olympics chief Casey Wasserman to step aside over is connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Image by Lawrey. OPINION – Governor Newsom, with his Presidential aspirations hidden from no one, ought to seize this opportunity on immigration. Specifically, he should make a point to call out the Trump administration with facts, clarifying the reality of this complicated issue to potentially earn the support of an energized population.
Image by piyaset. OPINION – The Trump Administration’s raid in Venezuela reveals a dangerous truth about the fossil fuel economy: so long as we remain dependent on dirty expensive fuels – chaos, violence, and corruption will flourish.
The Great Seal of the State of California on the floor of the State Capitol Building. Image by Sundry Photography.This week’s Capitol Briefs features leadership changes, new PPIC survey results, California’s slow growth, the Planned Parenthood annual legislative scorecard and the sad passing of a California musical icon.
Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol WeeklyThe 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.
Image by cmannphotoLet’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?
Image by kuarmungadd. OPINION – California produces nearly half the nation’s fruits and vegetables. Yet this holiday season, more than one in five California households face food insecurity. Among households with children, it’s one in four.