Episodes
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Final Episode: Reflections on California politics during a pandemic
After a year of California political coverage, California State of Mind is coming to an end. We have really enjoyed this experiment with a weekly California-focused show, and we hope you have too! In this final episode, we reflect on how Covid upended our lives, and politics in a lot of ways. Now...
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Participation, Baby! How Some Cities Are Experimenting With A Community Budget Process
As tensions over racial and economic inequality continue to play out across the country, many people are wondering about the balance of power within their cities and institutions, and how those places spend their money. Some argue that citizens should play a greater role in deciding how to spend...
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Recall Reset: Newsom Claims Victory And Turns His Attention Back To Bills
As most people know by now, Gavin Newsom gets to keep his job. He’ll stay on as California’s governor, surviving the special recall election with an almost 2-to-1 margin. Will it change how he governs the Golden State in any way? Do Republicans have a future in leadership here? And what did we…
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Ready, Set, Recall: Governor Ramps Up Big Name Support As Republicans Look To Oust Him
The recall election for California Governor Gavin Newsom is on Tuesday, Sept. 14 and things are ramping up on the campaign trail. The White House is showing support for the governor, but some Californians are not fans. They’re critical of his handling of wildfires and haven’t forgotten the huge...
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Can California Continue to Grow the World’s Food Without Reliable Water?
California’s ag industry uses 80 percent of the state’s water. As the drought continues, can the Golden State continue to operate its fields as usual? On this episode of California State of Mind, Nigel talks with the person charged with promoting California ag to the rest of the world. Karen Ross...
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Investigation: How Some Law Enforcement Are Mysteriously Clearing Sexual Assault Cases
There are many sexual assault survivors who never report their experiences to law enforcement for a variety of reasons. And then there are times when they do decide to go to the police. Sometimes, they find the case is cleared, but they weren’t notified or given a reason why. On this episode of...
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First Healthcare Workers, Now Teachers Are Reacting To New Vaccine Requirements
The Delta variant has thrown a wrench into California’s plans to resume life as normal, as Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to increase across the state. Amid this summer surge, school districts, teachers, parents and kids have been getting ready to return to classrooms without a...
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CA Recall Rules and Riling Up Voters
California’s Governor is facing a recall election Sept. 14 and some of the Republican candidates challenging Gavin Newsom recently met for their first debate. Did voters notice? Nicole talks about the state of the recall with two campaign veterans, Garry South and Rob Stutzman. South worked for...
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Will Vaccine Requirements Help or Hurt Newsom In His Recall Election?
To jab or not to jab? That’s a question still facing many Californians as the Covid-19 pandemic continues and the Delta Variant makes a surge across the state. But for healthcare and state workers, Governor Newsom is pressing the issue, requiring all private and public employees in those fields…
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CA Housing Policy and The Great Divide: It’s Not Just a Partisan Issue
It’s no secret that the cost of rent and buying a house is one of California’s most persistent problems. And the pandemic has only made it worse. If there’s any group of people you’d think could force solutions on these issues, it’s Democrats. They hold a supermajority in the state legislature…
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Drought Distress: CA Asks Residents to Voluntarily Reduce Water Usage
As Californians continue to bake in sizzling temperatures and parched conditions across the state, they’re also being asked to voluntarily reduce their water usage by 15 percent. Nigel Duara talks with Rachel Becker, environment reporter at CalMatters, about the severe drought and how different...
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CA's Feared Wildfire Season Is Here Early
California’s early blazes are prompting renewed fire conversations among lawmakers in Sacramento.
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Wildfire Prevention Numbers Don’t Add Up; Does CA’s New Police Shooting Law Work?
California’s governor misled the public about wildfire prevention efforts, according to a recent investigation by CapRadio and the NPR California Newsroom. Nigel talks with this week’s guest host Scott Rodd about his reporting into the topic and what the data had to say about how many acres of...
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CA Wants Your Tourist Dollars; County Health Departments Want Your Tax Dollars
A big part of the pandemic recovery process for California will be getting people back out and about. The state is one of the biggest tourism destinations in the world, but the world isn’t totally back to normal yet. To meet that need, the state kicked off a campaign this week to encourage...
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CA’s Grand Re-Opening Remains Rife with Confusion; Making Sense of a $100 Billion Surplus
California is preparing to re-open June 15th following the Covid-19 pandemic, but there’s still a lot of confusion about what that actually means for residents of the state. CalMatters’ Emily Hoeven joins Nicole and Nigel to talk about it. Also, as the deadline for passing a state budget...
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CA Looks to Lead the Way on Reparations for Black Americans; Michael Tubbs Makes Case for Guaranteed Income
California looks to lead the way on making amends to Black Americans for slavery and its lingering effects. A first-in-the-nation reparations committee met this week to begin a two-year study. We listen back to an interview with Shirley Weber, who authored the bill Gov. Newsom signed into law…
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Pandemic Paints Deeper Portrait of Parks As Part Of Our Californian Identity
Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks the opening of many campgrounds and state park facilities across California. But this year is a bit different. As the pandemic took hold, outdoor spaces were some of the few places people could safely go. What is the state of California’s State Parks...
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When It Comes to Immigration Reform and Clean Energy, ‘It’s Personal’ for Sen. Alex Padilla
Alex Padilla made history by becoming California’s first Latino senator. He was appointed to fill the seat vacated by now Vice President Kamala Harris. He’s been in the Senate for only four months, but has already found himself at the center of debates over immigration, clean energy and...
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Total Recall: How The CA Political Process Works and Its History; Exploring Silicon Valley’s Role in Pandemic Response
Gavin Newsom isn’t the first Governor to face a recall in California and he likely won’t be the last. Nigel Duara talks with CapRadio’s Mike Hagerty about the history of the recall in the state. We’ll also hear from CalMatters’ Laurel Rosenhall about what voters should expect to happen as the...
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CA Looks To Rein In Cash-Bail Business; State Makes Strides In Getting Vaccine Doses To Farmworkers
The California Supreme Court recently handed criminal justice advocates a victory, when it ruled that people cannot be kept behind bars simply because they can’t afford to post bail. State Senator Bob Hertzberg has worked extensively on this issue and he spoke with Nicole and Elizabeth about why…
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CA’s Ambitious Climate Goals Could Spur New Solutions; Black Caucus Pushes For More Police Reform
California has set some pretty ambitious climate goals. By 2045 all energy has to come from renewable sources - solar, water and wind. Nicole talks with environment reporter Ezra David Romero about plans to potentially build 800 to 900 floating wind turbines off the coast of California. She also...
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California Prepares for Wildfire; Disparity in Covid Deaths Highlight Need for Vaccine Equity
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation this week that allows the state to spend $536 million dollars on wildfire prevention this year, but will it be enough? CalMatters’ Emily Hoeven joins Elizabeth and Nicole to talk about what some critics are calling a bandaid over a gaping wound. They’ll also...
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California Tries for a Homerun on Reopening; Whiffs on Legislation to Solve Nursing Home Problems
California is ready to play ball. With Covid-19 cases falling and restrictions loosening, some fans recently found their way back to the baseball field. Nicole talks with Scott Rodd and Anne Wernikoff about what it was like to attend the games in person and how they may be a harbinger for the new...
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Exploring Police Diversity On California’s College Campuses
California’s public universities are some of the most racially diverse in the nation. But that’s often not reflected in campus police departments. That disparity can affect how police and students interact. Nicole talks with Omar Rashad and Katherine Swartz, fellows with the CalMatters College...
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California Considers World’s First Guidelines on Microplastics in Drinking Water
They’re in your food. They’re in your drinks. They’re in the air. Microplastics are pretty much everywhere. And California may become the first place in the world to attempt limits on how much of it can be in your drinking water. On this week’s California State of Mind, Elizabeth talks with...
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Putting a Positive Spin on California’s Pandemic Response; Some Cities Explore Higher Density Solutions to Housing Crisis
It’s been almost a year since Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the nation’s first statewide stay-at-home order in response to Covid-19. In his first State of the State address since the pandemic began, the governor stayed positive, but acknowledged the extreme losses of life while touting his…
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California Offers Incentives to Get Kids Back in Schools
Despite the pandemic recession, some people have been able to save and pay down personal debt. But a lot of Californians are still struggling. On this episode of California State of Mind, we’ll explore what that mixed financial picture means for policymakers. Nicole talks with reporters Jackie...
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California’s Surgeon General Weighs In On State’s Covid Response
It’s been almost a full year of nonstop crisis management for public health officials, with nary an end in sight. As the pandemic continues, Nicole and Elizabeth sit down with California’s Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris to talk about how the state is doing and what the past year has…
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First Female Press Secretary Brings White House Experience to California Government; Does A Change in Leadership Mean a Change in Direction for State’s AG?
She was the first woman to serve as White House press secretary and now she’s spearheading California’s economic recovery efforts. On this episode of California State of Mind, we hear from Dee Dee Myers. She recently spoke with CalMatters’ Lauren Hepler about her new role as the state’s business...
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Massive Drop in California School Enrollment; Exploring the Role of Ethnic Communities for Younger Generations
The Golden State continues to grapple with some big issues made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. On this episode of California State of Mind, Elizabeth and Nicole chat with Emily Hoeven about the state’s Covid vaccination plans, the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, and the continuing lack of…
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Is California Doing Enough to Protect Workers And Renters?
If there’s something wrong with how your workplace is handling COVID protocols, who do you call? The California Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as Cal/OSHA. This state agency is tasked with providing protections for workers on the job, but critics say...
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Has Gavin Newsom Made the Grade as Governor of the Golden State?
This month marks the midpoint in Gavin Newsom’s term as governor of the Golden State. Has he been able to deliver on some of the big promises he made at the start of his term? On this episode of California State of Mind, Nicole talks with fellow CapRadio colleagues Scott Rodd, Chris Nichols and...
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What Can California Teach the Biden Administration About Combating Climate Change?
Joe Biden is now the 46th President of the United States and he faces a number of challenges from social unrest and pandemic response to climate change. On this week’s California State of Mind, we’ll hear what his administration can learn from California’s response to the climate crisis, and what...
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Can California Prevent Its Looming Eviction Crisis?
Patricia Mendoza is a single mother of two living in San Diego county. She was laid off in April from her job as a medical driver, and struggled during the pandemic to make ends meet. Now she faces the possibility of eviction. You’ll hear her story, plus Nicole talks with CalMatters reporter…
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Is The Pandemic Helping California Solve Homelessness?
CapRadio Reporter Chris Nichols met Greg Tarola on the streets of Sacramento. He was one of many who found himself unhoused during this pandemic. In this week’s episode of California State of Mind, Chris joins Elizabeth to talk about Tarola’s plight and CalMatters Reporter Matt Levin weighs in on...
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EDD Plays Ping-Pong with People’s Unemployment Claims
California’s beleaguered Employment Development Department, which handles unemployment claims across the state, has been in the spotlight since the beginning of the pandemic in March, when millions of people found themselves suddenly out of work and in need of financial help. That help was slow…
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CA's COVID Crackdown, Also: The Real 'Latino Vote' Story
Most of California is grappling with new rounds of COVID restrictions as infections are rising. Added bonus: A curfew for nearly all Californians. How are small business owners grappling with these new rules? Nicole sits down with the owners of a brewpub (Al Griffin, co-owner of Placerville…
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Two Big National Questions Hanging Over CA
The election is over, but many questions still hang over the Golden State. Who will replace Kamala Harris in the Senate? What happens if the Affordable Care Act is struck down? This week, Nicole sits down with California Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) to talk about election news and the possibility...
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Election 2020: What Just Happened??
California proposition results say a lot about who we really are as a state. Hosts Elizabeth Aguilera and Nicole Nixon discuss some of the biggest takeaways from this year's election with a variety of CalMatters reporters. You’ll hear from reporter Lauren Hepler, who has been tracking the battle...
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It’s All About The Vote
You’ve heard it before: This election is different. But how? Voter data expert Paul Mitchell joins us to explain how mail-in voting became a partisan issue, and why this might mean long lines at voting centers for some people on Election Day. Also this week: What’s it like to vote in-person…
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TMI: On Social Media Disinformation And 2020’s Ballot Battles
Social media companies are trying to battle false information this election cycle through a variety of tactics. PolitiFact California reporter Chris Nichols pulls back the curtain on just how widespread this problem is and gives advice for how to sort through it all. Then, there’s a record amount...
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This Election, Californians Will Reckon With Legacy GOP Policies
More than three decades of conservative-friendly laws could be undone this November. Our co-host Elizabeth Aguilera chats with CalMatters politics reporter Ben Christopher about how California used to be at the vanguard of conservative thinking and policy, only to now be a punching bag for the...
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Coming Soon: California State Of Mind
Politics shape the lives of every Californian. Hosts Elizabeth Aguilera and Nicole Nixon introduce the California State of Mind podcast from CalMatters and CapRadio.