Capitol Weekly
LightNews LightNews
banner
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Capitol Weekly
@capitolweekly.bsky.social
1.2K followers 370 following 390 posts
Nonpartisan, nonprofit news outfit targeting California government and politics. Editor Rich Ehisen. What could possibly go wrong?

https://capitolweekly.net
Posts Replies Media Videos
capitolweekly.bsky.social
A note: one our most-read stories this year was actually published in 2024 - @danmorain.bsky.social's profile of Republican legislator Frank Lanterman who led the effort to transform how CA cared for people with severe mental illness
capitolweekly.net/the-republic...
The Republican who emptied the asylums - Capitol Weekly
Frank Lanterman won an assembly seat in 1950 with one goal: securing a steady water supply for his family’s land holdings and subdivisions in the Verdugo hills community of La Cañada outside Los Angel...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 9:27 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
And, our MOST-READ article of 2025: @paulmitche11.bsky.social's look at how voters perceived @cagovernornewsom.bsky.social's foray into podcasting, starting with his first guest, Charlie Kirk.

Happy New Year, and as always, thanks for reading Capitol Weekly!

capitolweekly.net/ca120-gavin-...
CA 120: Gavin Newsom’s podcast, Part I - Capitol Weekly
California Gov. Gavin Newsom released the first episode in his new podcast "This is Gavin Newsom," in which he vows to "to have honest discussions with people that agree AND disagree with us." On that...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 9:06 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Our second most-read story of the year: Our report of the indictment of former Newsom Chief of Staff Dana Williamson and three others.
capitolweekly.net/dana-william...
Dana Williamson, Newsom's former Chief of Staff, three others, indicted for corruption - Capitol Weekly
Dana Williamson, Gov. Newsom's former Chief of Staff, who stepped down in December last year, was indicted by federal officials today, charged with corruption.  Also cited in the indictment were Democ...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 9:00 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Our third most-read story of 2025 - our annual Top 100 list of California political power players
capitolweekly.net/top100-2025/
The Top 100: Sixteen Years, Seventeen Lists - Capitol Weekly
Hello everyone and welcome to the 17th edition of the Capitol Weekly Top 100. Unlike the heroine of Janis Ian’s classic song about the cruelties life can visit upon us at such a tender age, I’m lookin...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 8:57 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Our 4th most popular story of 2025: The podcast and transcript of @agrobbonta.oag.ca.gov's Keynote address at our live event: The Resistance, California vs. Donald Trump
capitolweekly.net/special-epis...
Special Episode: CA vs. Donald Trump - Keynote by California Attorney General Rob Bonta - Capitol Weekly
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Capitol Weekly presented an online conference, The Resistance: California vs. Donald Trump. In this episode we present The Keynote, by one of t...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 8:56 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Our 5th most-read story of the year: @bjoseph1.bsky.social asked: could a Republican follow Gavin Newsom into the governor's office?
capitolweekly.net/could-a-repu...
Could a Republican actually be the next California governor? - Capitol Weekly
Republicans have basically become irrelevant in California state politics as Democrats have achieved and held a supermajority in the legislature and the threshold for passing a budget has dropped to a...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 8:48 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
#6 most-read story of 2025: For our Insider Survey (conducted in partnership with @paulmitche11.bsky.social of Political Data Inc) we polled thousands of Capitol denizens on their favorite and least favorite legislators. Unsurprisingly, this sparked some controversy
capitolweekly.net/capitol-week...
Capitol Weekly Insider Survey: The best and worst legislators of 2025 - Capitol Weekly
In our latest survey conducted in partnership with Paul Mitchell of Political Data Inc., we polled thousands of Capitol denizens on their favorite and least favorite legislators. As with the Top 100, ...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Coming in at #7: A status report on Cecilia Aguiar-Curry's bill, #AB52, intended to give tribal governments more control over development that encroaches on their sacred lands. From @bjoseph1.bsky.social and @wordsmith24.bsky.social
capitolweekly.net/tribal-clash...
Tribal clash stalls CEQA consultation reform bill - Capitol Weekly
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 th...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 8:41 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Our 8th most popular article of 2025, from @paulmitche11: We polled voters about how they were responding to the outcome of the 2024 election. We found an electorate just as divided as ever and Democrats, in particular, in a funk.
capitolweekly.net/ca-120-dems-...
CA 120: Dems in a funk, but Harris and Newsom could still shine - Capitol Weekly
In the latest Capitol Weekly poll we wanted to get a sense from voters about how they are responding to the outcome of the presidential election. We surveyed nearly 1,200 California voters and found a...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 8:34 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Our 9th most-read story: Court hearings are regularly held without a verbatim or near-verbatim record ever being created. Some legal advocates say that’s a violation of basic constitutional protections and blame an unusual state law for the problem.
capitolweekly.net/court-report...
Court reporters and the new front in the war over electronic recording - Capitol Weekly
In California, court hearings are regularly held without a verbatim or near-verbatim record ever being created. Some legal advocates say that’s a violation of basic constitutional protections and blam...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
It's time for a look back at our top 10 most-read stories of 2025! At # 10: A report on DraftKings and FanDuel appearing at an Indian gaming conference, spotlighting their desire to partner with tribes to bring sports betting to the state
capitolweekly.net/odds-getting...
Odds getting better for legalized sports betting in California - Capitol Weekly
In the clearest sign yet that tensions are thawing on sports gambling in California, leaders of DraftKings and FanDuel spoke at an Indian gaming conference Monday about their desire to partner – not c...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Capitol Weekly
oldmanfoster.bsky.social
Here we go: @capitolweekly.bsky.social's look back at the biggest CA political stories of the year, with @politico.com 's Chris Cadelago
capitolweekly.net/2025-in-revi...
2025 in review (and a peek at 2026), with Chris Cadelago of POLITICO - Capitol Weekly
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by Politico’s Chris Cadelago for a look back at the Top 10 California political stories of 2025 – and a look at what's coming next y...
capitolweekly.net
December 29, 2025 at 5:11 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Capitol Weekly Podcast hosts @wordsmith24.bsky.social and @oldmanfoster.bsky.social are joined by @politico.com's Chris Cadelago for a look back at the Top 10 California political stories of 2025 – and a look at what’s coming next year.

capitolweekly.net/2025-in-revi...
2025 in review (and a peek at 2026), with Chris Cadelago of POLITICO - Capitol Weekly
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by Politico’s Chris Cadelago for a look back at the Top 10 California political stories of 2025 – and a look at what's coming next y...
capitolweekly.net
December 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
"He showed me again and again what it means to be a professional. Even though his was an opinion column, everything he submitted included a wealth of original reporting to underpin his points of view. He never rested on his laurels"
capitolweekly.net/lou-cannon-a...
Lou Cannon: A personal remembrance - Capitol Weekly
I’ve been writing words for a living for many decades now, and I can’t think of any I have hated to write more than those in this next sentence. Longtime journalist and noted Ronald Reagan biographer ...
capitolweekly.net
December 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Packed podcast: @ca-parliamentarian.bsky.social @chrismicheli.bsky.social and @alexvassar.bsky.social join us to talk Capitol trivia - then we're joined by @sacstatelibrary.bsky.social President @drlukewood.bsky.social Plus, Who had the Worst Week in CA politics?
capitolweekly.net/capitol-triv...
Capitol trivia masters, plus Sac State's Luke Wood - Capitol Weekly
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Brian Ebbert, Chris Micheli and Alex Vassar joined us to chat about their just published The California Capitol Cocktail Trivia Book, a lively and engaging collection of little...
capitolweekly.net
December 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Capitol Weekly's @wordsmith24.bsky.social shares his memories of journalist and Reagan biographer Lou Cannon, who passed Friday at the age of 92. Ehisen was Cannon's editor for over a decade, and a friend for much longer than that.
capitolweekly.net/lou-cannon-a...
Lou Cannon: A personal remembrance - Capitol Weekly
I’ve been writing words for a living for many decades now, and I can’t think of any I have hated to write more than those in this next sentence. Longtime journalist and noted Ronald Reagan biographer ...
capitolweekly.net
December 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Should interpretive guidance be provided to the courts in by placing additional directives in statute? The California courts already use a number of judicial principles when interpreting ambiguous statutes. New @chrismicheli.bsky.social Files!
capitolweekly.net/should-calif...
Should California codify additional interpretive directives? - Capitol Weekly
The more I delve into statutory interpretation, the more I am confronted from a legislative drafting perspective whether interpretive guidance should be provided to the courts in this state by placing...
capitolweekly.net
December 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Reposted by Capitol Weekly
liaoffleash.bsky.social
On more than one occasion, I've "gotten the story" after people said they first saw my tattoos and liked them so much they decided to start talking to me
December 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Reposted by Capitol Weekly
wordsmith24.bsky.social
Tattoos are gaining acceptance in most workplaces. But even in a place with a well-deserved reputation as a bastion of progressive politics, the California Capitol can still be as conservative as any corporate office. My story in today's Capitol Weekly.
capitolweekly.net/capitol-ink-...
Capitol Ink: body art under the dome - Capitol Weekly
Tattoos are becoming far more common around the Capitol than in years past. It is anybody’s guess as to exactly how many staff or even elected members in the Capitol have tattoos, but it is a safe bet...
capitolweekly.net
December 18, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Capitol Weekly
liamjdillon.com
C'mon man!
awalkerinla.bsky.social Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 12d
Just when you thought this campaign couldn’t get worse.

This is a photo of Bali
December 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Body art: from @asmpilarschiavo.bsky.social's Leg Director, to lobbyists at Golden Bear Strategies, to journalists getting the story - tattoos are becoming more common in the capitol
capitolweekly.net/capitol-ink-...
Capitol Ink: body art under the dome - Capitol Weekly
Tattoos are becoming far more common around the Capitol than in years past. It is anybody’s guess as to exactly how many staff or even elected members in the Capitol have tattoos, but it is a safe bet...
capitolweekly.net
December 17, 2025 at 4:58 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
capitolweekly.net/tani-cantil-...
December 16, 2025 at 9:07 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
Men come to @ppactionca.bsky.social for vital health services such as vasectomy care, STI testing, cancer screening and sexual health counseling. Policy shifts from #HR1, including recent reimbursement freezes, have placed some of these essential services at risk
capitolweekly.net/men-will-als...
Men will also lose out from cuts to Planned Parenthood - Capitol Weekly
Men, like many patients, come to Planned Parenthood for vital health services such as vasectomy care, STI testing, cancer screening and sexual health counseling. However, policy shifts resulting from ...
capitolweekly.net
December 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
capitolweekly.bsky.social
PODCAST: Former CA Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye joins us to announce the launch of The Alliance of Former Chief Justices, a new organization committed to educating the public about the role of the judiciary and protecting the balance of powers
capitolweekly.net/tani-cantil-...
Tani Cantil-Sakauye and the Alliance of Former Chief Justices - Capitol Weekly
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: We're joined today by former California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye who is part of a new organization comprised of over 40 retired state Supreme Court Chief Justi...
capitolweekly.net
December 15, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Capitol Weekly
theajp.bsky.social
📢 We're #hiring! AJP is seeking a Vice President, Growth Investments to steward our relationships with the nonprofit news organizations in our portfolio. You will lead one-to-one venture support and contribute to efforts to build a movement for #localnews in their markets.

Apply ➡️
Vice President, Growth Investments - American Journalism Project
The Vice President, Growth Investments is a critical role at AJP that leads our work in ensuring their portfolio of organizations are on track to meet ambitious growth targets and deliver more impact ...
www.theajp.org
December 11, 2025 at 6:33 PM