President Trump's portrait superimposed on the California FlagOn Wednesday Feb 26th, Capitol Weekly held its first conference of 2025, and the only one of four this year held online. Throughout three panels and the keynote address by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, participants discussed the state’s longstanding battles with President Donald Trump in three key issue areas – health care, the environment and immigration.
Image by Hotaik SungCalifornia scientists took what looked like an $800 million hit last week in their efforts to develop revolutionary treatments and cures for diseases ranging from cancer to diabetes.
Image by it:utah778What is a “constitutional amendment”? Although California’s Constitution provides for the amendment of this document, our state Constitution does not define this term. A traditional definition of a constitutional amendment is a modification to an existing constitution.
Sen. Jesse Arreguín. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly Jesse Arreguín became Berkeley’s mayor just as Donald Trump first took the White House. Now, as the Democrat enters the California Senate representing District 7, he’s preparing to face similar challenges on a much bigger stage.
Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. Photo courtesy of the California Assembly Democratic OfficeAs Assembly Majority Leader, Cecilia Aguiar-Curry guides her party’s legislative strategy, coordinates with committee chairs and helps ensure the efficient progression of bills. As chair of the bipartisan Legislative Women’s Caucus, she helps promote policies and budget priorities that improve the well-being of women, children and families.
Image by Darylann Elmi Ballot curing has added an entire new layer to the already complex and stressful campaign and elections process, for both candidates and staffers. It will also now be a fact of life any time a race is close.
Capitol and flag, by Karin Hildebrand LauTrump 2.0 is already in full swing and California leaders are as well. Budget bills related to the L.A. fires are ready to go, and the Capitol says goodbye to an old friend.
Image by MariuszSzczygielJust days after several gaming tribes filed suit to block “California Blackjack” and other Las Vegas-style games in cardrooms, the tribes requested a temporary restraining order on Tuesday to prevent the cardrooms from erasing any security videos of allegedly illegal games being played at their facilities.
Image by anyaberkutWith Governor Gavin Newsom proposing two new state agencies (both a new Consumer Protection Agency and a Housing and Homelessness Agency) to be created as part of the 2025-26 budget, I thought it would be helpful to take a look at how a Governor’s Reorganization Plan (GRP) is enacted.
Image by Simone HoganWhile in other states, they’re packing up the campaign office in mid-November, in California races are still being won and lost through organized field programs doing ballot signature “curing” that was unheard of just a few election cycles ago.