It’s back! After a hiatus, here’s the latest California Politics Podcast, featuring KQED California Politics and Government Reporter Marisa Lagos, Los Angeles Times Sacramento Bureau Chief John Myers and Grizzly Bear Project Founder Anthony York. This week, we discuss the case before the U.S. Supreme Court that could severely undercut public employee union power in California, which two-year bills already died in the state Legislature, and what’s ahead for newly elected Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. You can find past episodes of the podcast on Soundcloud and iTunes. [soundcloud url=”https ..read more

Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos sit down with U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to talk about her role selling President Biden’s infrastructure and jobs bills — including how she’s working to convince skeptical Americans that clean energy jobs will benefit them. The former UC Berkeley professor and Michigan governor also reflects on how she approached governing in a purple state, and the challenges — and opportunities — she and her husband faced after Granholm ran for office and he put aside his own political aspirations ..read more

Impeachment Moves to U.S. Senate On Thursday, seven House Democrats walked to the U.S. Senate to hand deliver two articles of impeachment against President Trump. The articles were read aloud by California congressman Adam Schiff, one of the lawmakers selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to manage and prosecute the case against the president. The trial is expected to start in earnest next week. But it’s unclear if the Republican-led chamber will vote to approve hearing from additional witnesses or consider new evidence. Also this week, six Democratic presidential candidates debated in Des Mo ..read more

On this week’s California Politics Podcast, we mull a proposal to break up the behemoth California Public Utilities Commission, and hash out the latest campaign finance filings from Senate candidates Kamala Harris and Loretta Sanchez as well as 2018 gubernatorial hopeful Gavin Newsom. KQED’s Marisa Lagos weighs in, along with the Los Angeles Times’ John Myers and Anthony York of the Grizzly Bear Project. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/245535767″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false& ..read more

Here’s the California Politics Podcast for the week ending Jan. 22. We talk Gov. Jerry Brown’s State of the State speech, and new rules that will require lobbyists and special interest groups to disclose way more information about how they’re spending their money. With KQED’s Marisa Lagos and the Los Angeles Times’ John Myers. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/243323783″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=’450′ iframe=”true ..read more

There was a steady drumbeat of political news this week, led on the California front by Gov. Jerry Brown passing final judgment on some closely watched pieces of legislation. This week’s podcast examines some of those decisions, from Brown’s signing of the hotly debated medically assisted suicide bill to his veto on a series of crime-related proposals. We also examine the emergence of a new player in the brewing 2016 electoral fight over California’s tobacco tax: billionaire activist Tom Steyer ..read more

For the last few years, the statehouse has been the center of the debate over raising the minimum wage. But as this week’s events make clear, that’s changed. On this episode of our California Politics Podcast, we discuss efforts to raise the minimum wage in various parts of the Golden State and how they may change the debate still raging in Sacramento. We also discuss Gov. Jerry Brown’s big week at the Vatican, and a proposed 2016 ballot initiative that could reshape the familiar fight over property taxes and programs to help the poor. I’m joined by Anthony York of the Grizzly Bear Project, wi ..read more

It’s not even 2016, and yet it’s starting to feel like someone will soon shout, “Let’s get ready to rumble!” Welcome to some pre-election skirmishing. This week’s California Politics Podcast tackles the jockeying for which initiative will  try to lay claim as the rightful heir to 2012’s Proposition 30 and its tax hike on those who earn the most. We also discuss a brewing Democratic showdown between a sitting state senator and the Assembly speaker. And the one group who, surprisingly, doesn’t seem to be fighting? California Republicans, for a change ..read more

It’s an event that combines two of Gov. Jerry Brown’s favorite topics: Religion and climate change. The governor heads to the Vatican next week for Pope Francis’ symposium on climate change and modern slavery.  Brown will join political leaders from across the globe for the two-day event. On this week’s California Politics Podcast, we discuss the trip — and why it’s so important to Brown. Also on deck: A proposed ballot measure that could undercut Brown’s plan to build twin tunnels under the Delta, and the continuing political fallout over a tragic murder in San Francisco that has re ..read more

Capitol watchers all wanted to know the same thing after legislators wrapped up their work for 2015 and headed home: Who won what, and why? This week, our California Politics Podcast hit the road for a live session at the annual meeting of the Bay Area Council. The region’s business leaders also had a few questions of their own about high-profile legislative battles, and we’ve recorded the entire event for this week’s episode ..read more