Political Breakdown

The governor's chief of staff and Sacramento Mayor discuss California's landmark mental health reforms, including the establishment of community-based facilities and a $6.3 billion bond for treatment beds. They explore the connection between mental health and substance abuse and the need for alternative treatment options. The effectiveness of collaborative courts in providing help and treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues is also discussed.

California Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer discusses the Fentanyl crisis, retail theft, and his personal journey. He talks about his family's involvement in the civil rights movement, childhood trauma and mental health, criminal justice reform, addressing lawlessness and racial biases, and the fentanyl crisis, education, and reparations.

Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, joins the podcast to discuss transgender reporting policies in California schools. They also explore the battle over school curriculums, Thurmond's personal background and the importance of education, his early political days and accomplishments in education, and solutions for the decline in math proficiency in local schools.

Tax fights between business groups and the Democratic legislature intensify in Sacramento. Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the implications for 2024 and head to Turlock to talk with Republican Rep. John Duarte about his plant nursery business, why he split with the GOP caucus in recent votes on immigration and abortion and his thoughts on the Republican presidential primary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott discuss the latest on Gov. Gavin Newsom's push for a U.S. constitutional amendment on gun safety and Sen. Dianne Feinstein's family legal battle. Then, former State Controller Betty Yee joins to discuss working at her parents' laundry business, the desegregation busing debate that sparked her political involvement, working as a budget advisor for Gov. Gray Davis, her vision for California's fiscal future, and why she's launching a run for governor in 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

City employees hit the picket lines in Los Angeles while government workers in San Jose plan to strike next week. Scott and Guy Marzorati discuss the politics of labor unrest at city halls and a new survey on voter participation in California. Then, state Assemblyman Evan Low joins to discuss barriers to civic participation, his groundbreaking rise in elected office, whether California should sunset its state-sponsored travel ban to states with anti-LGBTQ laws and his effort to remove Proposition 8 from the state constitution.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Donald Trump faces his third criminal indictment, Scott and Guy Marzorati discuss changes to the state's Republican primary that could benefit the former president, with Los Angeles Times political writer Seema Mehta. Then, as mayors around the state push to clear homeless encampments, Scott and Guy share what voters in a recent San Jose focus group had to say about the issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa discuss Governor Gavin Newsom's plan to reform San Quentin State Prison — and Scott shares what inmates are saying about it. Then, Los Angeles Times reporter Mackenzie Mays joins to discuss school board fights in Southern California that have caught the attention of Newsom and other state officials. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott discuss the ongoing feud between the Temecula Valley Unified school board and Governor Gavin Newsom, after the board rejected instructional material referencing Harvey Milk. Then, tech executive and U.S. Senate candidate Lexi Reese joins to discuss her family's economic turmoil, her siblings' battles with addiction, what separates her from other Democrats in the race, how the Senate should regulate artificial intelligence and whether Congress should adopt Gusto's no-shoes policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa talk to Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle crime reporter, and Gabrielle Lurie, San Francisco Chronicle staff photographer, about their investigation into Honduran migrants selling drugs in San Francisco. They talk about the genesis and findings of the investigation, respond to criticisms of their story and analyze the political fallout in San Francisco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices