Capitol Weekly

Meet the insurance commissioner candidates: Patrick Wolff - Capitol Weekly In our ongoing Q&A series with California Insurance Commissioner candidates, this week we bring you answers provided to us by financial analyst Patrick Wolff.

We asked the Ins. Comm. candidates how they would approach the job. Patrick Wolff said "We need to stop electing politicians to this role and instead elect someone with deep insurance and financial knowledge who is totally focused on making insurance work"
capitolweekly.net/meet-the-ins...

Awful news.

Jello Biafra suffers hemorrhagic stroke all appearances canceled On Saturday, March 7th Jello Biafra suffered a hemorrhagic stroke caused by high blood pressure. Jello Biafra had this to say:”I hopped out of my bed because I needed to pee, and my left leg just coll...

Punk icon Jello Biafra, co-founder of The Dead Kennedys, suffered a stroke Saturday and remains hospitalized. He ran for mayor of San Francisco in 1979, and for president of the US in 2000
alternativetentacles.com/blogs/news/j...

A conversation with Sanjay Wagle of the California Association of Realtors - Capitol Weekly CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Housing remains the hottest topic in California policy, and our guest today is Sanjay Wagle, who heads up the Governmental Affairs team for the California Association of Realto...

PODCAST: Housing remains the hottest topic in CA and our guest today is Sanjay Wagle, head of Governmental Affairs for @car.org. The Realtors’ Gubernatorial Forum was a hot ticket in Sacto last week - we discuss the topics raised there, and much more
capitolweekly.net/conversation...

Meet the insurance commissioner candidates: Lalo Vargas - Capitol Weekly In our ongoing Q&A series with California Insurance Commissioner candidates, this week we bring you answers provided to us by teacher Lalo Vargas.

We asked Ins. Comm. candidates how they would approach the job. Lalo Vargas said "I will open up market conduct investigations into the largest property and casualty insurers in the state and hold companies accountable for illegally boycotting the state"
capitolweekly.net/meet-the-ins...

Capitol Briefs: Gubernatorial gab, bills and cool political data - Capitol Weekly It's been another busy week around the California Capitol. Let's take a brief look at some of the highlights.

Another busy week in the capitol: @car.org hosted a forum with gubernatorial hopefuls to discuss how they would address the state’s struggling housing market; Lawmakers introduced just under 1,800 bills by the Feb 20 introduction deadline
capitolweekly.net/capitol-brie...

Special Episode: A conversation on housing with Asm. Buffy Wicks - Capitol Weekly CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at A Conference on Housing, which was held in Sacramento on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. This is the Keynote...

"We went to Sweden and looked at the models of construction there.... Sweden builds 85% of their new single family homes in a factory. Yes. And we went and toured some of the the developments, and they’re beautiful" -
@buffywicks.bsky.social
capitolweekly.net/special-epis...

Ticketmaster in the crosshairs again over California legislation - Capitol Weekly 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 ov...

.@ticketmaster.com & its parent company @livenationconcerts.bsky.social 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 CA and the US
capitolweekly.net/ticketmaster...

Housing crisis solutions discussed at Sacramento conference - The Sacramento Observer

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks emphasizes the importance of affordable housing for low-income residents and advancing equity at a California housing conference.

Firefighters oppose single-staircase, multi-level dwellings - Capitol Weekly Numerous fire departments expressed opposition to relaxing building codes in a California Fire Marshal report, published Monday, that examines the safety of multifamily-unit buildings three or more st...

Numerous fire departments came out in opposition to relaxing single stair building codes in a new CA Fire Marshal report. “Stairway requirements can have a profound effect on what does and does not get built in our neighborhoods” -
@votealexlee.bsky.social
capitolweekly.net/firefighters...

We are very proud to announce that TWO Capitol Weekly Interns have been awarded scholarships through the @sacpressclub.bsky.social. Congratulations to Ellie Appleby, a '25 intern, and to Eden Collier, of our '24 cohort!

Special Episode: A conversation on housing with Asm. Buffy Wicks - Capitol Weekly CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at A Conference on Housing, which was held in Sacramento on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. This is the Keynote...

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: @buffywicks.bsky.social: “We also still have to fix the market itself because we can’t subsidize our way out of this crisis. The market needs to work. The private sector market needs to work”
capitolweekly.net/special-epis...

Meet the insurance commissioner candidates: Jane Kim - Capitol Weekly In our ongoing Q&A series with California Insurance Commissioner candidates, this week we bring you answers from California Working Families Party Executive Director Jane Kim.

We asked insurance commissioner candidates how they would approach the job. @janekim.bsky.social: "I will be relentless about lowering costs, ensuring we prioritize people over profits, ensuring transparency on how our premiums are spent &... real accountability"
capitolweekly.net/meet-the-ins...

Optimism and skepticism at Capitol Weekly’s housing conference - Capitol Weekly Panelists 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 ex...

Dan Dunmoyer of @cbianews.bsky.social said "he’s optimistic that budget bills signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year to temporarily freeze local and state residential building standards will save builders up to 'a billion dollars.'"
capitolweekly.net/optimism-and...

Experts Expound: The billionaire tax - Capitol Weekly It's once again time for our experts to weigh in on a question roiling the Capitol community. This week: Will the SEIU-backed billionaire tax make the November ballot? If so, will it pass?

We asked the Experts:

"Will the @seiuca.org backed billionaire tax make the November ballot? If so, will it pass?"

capitolweekly.net/experts-expo...

Optimism and skepticism at Capitol Weekly’s housing conference - Capitol Weekly Panelists 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 ex...

“I’m done with bill-signing ceremonies…. I want ribbon cuttings, because ribbon cuttings mean we’re actually moving people into homes. I’m done with all the performative bullshit” - @buffywicks.bsky.social
capitolweekly.net/optimism-and...

We have a packed room for the hottest ticket in town - our Housing Conference with @capitolweekly.bsky.social!

Stay tuned for a recap!

#HousingPolicy #publicpolicy

Californiosity: The Battle of Los Angeles YouTube video by Capitol Weekly

Did you know that The Japanese made an attack on the West Coast of the US in February 1942? @castatelibrary.bsky.social has a podcast with the whole story: The Battle of Los Angeles youtu.be/4HIVOZ0Vm1I?... via @YouTube

Photo of historic parking lot

A quick visit to the Capitol but I had to pay my respects to the shrine

A chat with Jennifer Barrera of CalChamber - Capitol Weekly CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Our guest Jennifer Barrera has been President and CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce since 2021. The venerable institution - founded in 1890 as the California State Boar...

PODCAST: Jennifer Barrera has been President and CEO of
@calchamber.bsky.social since 2021. She spoke with us about PAGA reform, the Chamber’s approach to the state’s affordability crisis, increasing calls to tax the ultra-rich, and a ballot measure to reform CEQA
capitolweekly.net/a-chat-with-...

Meet the insurance commissioner candidates: Steven Bradford - Capitol Weekly In our ongoing Q&A series with California Insurance Commissioner candidates, this week we bring you answers from former Sen. Steven Bradford.

Capitol Weekly asked the candidates for Insurance Commissioner how they would approach the job. Sen. Steve Bradford says "I have decades of experience working across the aisle to address the most challenging issues facing Californians"
capitolweekly.net/meet-the-ins...

Capitol Briefs: The bill intro deadline and more Epstein fallout - Capitol Weekly 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 a...

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
capitolweekly.net/capitol-brie...

Newsom betting big on AI - Capitol Weekly It’s early to think of what California’s fiscal budget may look like by the time lawmakers finalize it in June. But Gov. Gavin Newsom is already banking on the tech industry to save the state from fin...

It’s early to think of what California’s fiscal budget may look like by the time lawmakers finalize it in June. But @governor.ca.gov is already banking on the tech industry to save the state from financial distress.
capitolweekly.net/newsom-betti...

Capitol Spotlight: Julie Baker, California for the Arts - Capitol Weekly Growing up in New York City not far from Lincoln Center, Julie Baker was immersed in the arts. Today, she devotes her considerable energies to helping artists thrive. She is chief executive officer of...

Growing up in NYC, Julie Baker was immersed in the arts. Today, she devotes her energies to supporting artists as CEO of CA for the Arts, a statewide arts advocacy org & CA Arts Advocates, a lobby group that works to increase state investment in the arts
capitolweekly.net/capitol-spot...

Meet the insurance commissioner candidates: Sen Ben Allen - Capitol Weekly Capitol Weekly recently asked the leading insurance commissioner candidates to answer a set of identical questions regarding how they would approach this incredibly important and challenging job.  The...

Capitol Weekly asked the candidates for Insurance Commissioner how they would approach the job. @benallenca.bsky.social says he "would bring Capitol know-how with the local experience of the fires to fight for a system that works better for working Californians."
capitolweekly.net/meet-the-ins...

A chat with Clint Kellum of the Department of Cannabis Control - Capitol Weekly CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today we welcome Clint Kellum, the new (as of November 2025) Director of the California Department of Cannabis Control.  The CDCC licenses and regulates cannabis businesses, in...

PODCAST: Clint Kellum took the helm of CA Dept. of Cannabis Control just after Gov. Newsom signed AB 564, a bill to reset the state’s cannabis excise tax rate at 15% until 2028, giving CA’s struggling legal cannabis market hope after a rough few years
capitolweekly.net/a-chat-with-...

Capitol Briefs: Here come the bills! - Capitol Weekly It has been another busy week around the Capitol. Her are some of the highlights, lowlights and one big eye roll…in brief!

Sparks fly! @gavinnewsom.bsky.social took questions at the bill signing for SB 106 ($90M in state funding for Planned Parenthood) until First Partner @jensiebelnewsom.bsky.social stepped to the podium & castigated reporters for not sticking to just that subject
capitolweekly.net/capitol-brie...

Q4 2025 spending on lobbying firms exceeded $91 million - Capitol Weekly Special interests paid lobbying firms more than $91 million to lobby state government in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a Capitol Weekly analysis of lobbying firm reports.

The top grossing lobby firm for the fourth quarter was Jared Ficker, Cassie Gilson Jason Kinney, Dustin Moore and Kevin Schmidt’s Axiom Advisors, which reported receiving more than $3.8 million
capitolweekly.net/q4-2025-spen...

AG Bonta deals cardrooms a defeat in their battle with the tribes - Capitol Weekly New regulations approved this month will dramatically change the operations of California’s cardrooms and are expected to take a sizable bite out of not only their revenues but that of several cities....

New regulations will dramatically change the operations of CA cardrooms & take a sizable bite out of their revenues - & those of several cities. The changes, announced by @agrobbonta.oag.ca.gov, are in line with what the state’s gaming tribes have been pushing for
capitolweekly.net/ag-bonta-dea...

CA120: Twins - the 2026 governor simulator - Capitol Weekly The most intense parlor game in Sacramento is that of projecting the composition of June’s Top Two gubernatorial primary. Not who among the dozen leading candidates will win, per se, but what will be ...

The most intense parlor game in Sacramento right now is projecting who makes June’s Top Two gubernatorial primary: Not who will win, but if the Top Two could actually be two Republicans. @paulmitche11.bsky.social games it out:
capitolweekly.net/ca120-top-tw...