Inside Golden State Politics

With our guest, Mike Bonin, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute For Public  Affairs and a former Los Angeles City Council member, we take on the election results and discuss what they could  mean for the future of Los Angeles.

We examine the still-unfinished California primary election.  We look at the attacks by the Trump administration on the news magazine "60 Minutes" and the rest of the mainstream news media.

We wonder how Trump's revenge-tour primary victories will impact the November elections. And Los Angeles and the rest of California await the results of heated and confusing elections for California governor and mayor of Los Angeles.

It’s time to celebrate. Inside Golden State Politics has over 50,000 podcast downloads.This week we explain how artificial intelligence is changing political communications, using the Los Angeles mayor's race as an example. President Trump scores big in the recent GOP primaries.  We worry about a U.S. invasion of Cuba.    

When is old too old to run? Should  we ditch the top two primary?  What's stoking the gubernatorial campaign and the Los Angeles mayor's race? Let's discuss.

We dig into the California gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral  debates.  The candidates  skimmed over the issues.   In the end, there were no winners.

We share our observations about the disappointing California governor's  debate. We argue about the impact of prediction markets on the American political  process. 

Longtime California Republican strategist Jon Fleischman  guides us through the messy California governor's race and offers  his views on the future of the California Republican party.

We watch the campaigns for California governor and L.A. mayor dive into mud wrestling, a sport that leaves everybody dirty.

Mark DiCamillo, director of the Berkeley Institute Of Governmental Studies poll, shares his thoughts on the state of polling and the governor's race.  Could California elect its first Republican governor in decades?

We explore the unexpected electoral challenge  to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass by Councilmember Nithya Raman.  Are the Democratic Socialists a new force in Los Angeles politics?

We're so overwhelmed with news that we'll skip Epstein and the Iran War. We discuss the controversial  voter ID legislation.   We talk about the mayors of Los Angeles and New York and their solutions to the housing problem.  

We check in on the status of the California governor's race  and the war in Iran.

President Trump's State Of The Union speech-- little in the way of policy but lots of politics.

Did the  Trump administration's attempts to muzzle late night hosts backfire? Also, we take a look at the final field of the Los Angeles mayoral race.

UCLA Law School Professor Richard Hasen,  a renowned expert on election law, guides us through an analysis of proposed election law reforms.   

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tells ICE to get out of Los Angeles. The arrest of two reporters heightens concern over freedom of the press.

We discuss Trump's proposal to take over reconstruction of SoCal's wildfire- damaged areas. We ponder the arrival  of the tabloid Caliornia Post.

Real estate developer Rick Caruso announces his exit from California electoral politics. The world watches Trump go TACO.

H.D. Palmer, deputy director of California's Department of Finance, walks us through Gov. Gavin Newsom's 2026-27  budget proposal. He's optimistic about the plan but concedes there are uncertainties.

Journalist and author Pilar Marrero takes us on a political tour of her Venezuela homeland's stormy present and uncertain future.

Jessica Altman, executive director  of Covered Califormia, the state-based Obamacare marketplace, walks us through the current health care crisis.

We examine the rocky road toward health care reform. We discuss the concerns being raised about Trump's health.  We take a  quick glance at the continuing saga of political frenemies Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris.

We look at the Caifornia governor's race.   We discuss whether the attacks on suspected drug boats constitute war crimes.  We're appalled  by the incredible  rudeness  President Trump displays toward women reporters.

We announce our annual "Turkeys  Of The Year" Awards.   We debate whether Trump's  power has eroded  after the Epstein files vote defeat.

We make our way through the political thicket paralyzing  Washington and reflect   on California's role in it

We examine the havoc caused by the shutdown and its impact on the elections and on Trump's favorability rating.  

A look at the upcoming elections in New Jersey, Virginia, New York and  California.

We wonder whether the energy from the No Kings protest will last.  We discuss the impact of the budget shutdown on the nation. We debate the destruction of the East Wing of the White House.

Los Angeles Times political columnist Mark Barabak, our guest, guides us through America's increasingly bitter political debate.  He asks if "we've lost our humanity."  We all agree that the country's best hope is to vote.

We watch Trump trying to settle scores  as his enemies list grows.   Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel's  fan list grows.  And we asses the impact of Kamela Harris' book promotion tour.  

We talk about the difference between the murder of Charlie Kirk and the killing of  Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. We discuss whether the President should try to calm America rather than stir hatred.

We take a critical look at the Supreme Court's decision allowing the Trump administration to continue sweeping  immigration raids  in Southern California.  And we examine the status of the national redistricting war and California's Proposition 50.  

 Bruce Cain, Stanford professor and redistricting guru, walks us through the escalating redistricting  battle.  

We range  all over the political map.  We look at Trump's seat- of -the -pants diplomacy and the risky battle the president and Gov. Gavin Newsom are waging for control of Congress.  

We discuss the National Guard's recent invasions of streets, parks and stores.  Is this a distraction for a president facing the Epstein problem and rising food prices?  We also talked about Trump's role in the Olympics, the escalating war over congressional  redistricting and the 60th anniversary of the Watts riots.

We argue over  Republican plans to maintain control of Congress by gerrymandering.  Sherry is incensed.  Bill is bored.  And yet again we dig into the Epstein saga.Comments? Suggestions? Complaints? Email us at:Bill: [email protected]: [email protected]

With friend of the show, political analyst   Bill Schneider, we discuss the impact of Gaza on  American politics.  We examine how the Republicans are using redistricting to keep control of the House of Representatives and California's role in trying to block them.

We analyze whether the Epstein scandal is shaking Trump's grip on MAGA world. We unpack Gov. Gavin Newsom's latest political moves.Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Let us know.Bill's email: [email protected]'s email: [email protected]

Loyola Marymount University Professor Fernando Guerra, discussing the ICE raids, labels them as war on our society.  He explains what he tells students who fear being detained. 

We examine how the Trump administration's cutbacks impacted disaster aid.   We continue analyzing the impact of ICE raids on California.

We discuss the Big Brutal Budget Bill and its possible political impact.   We wonder whether  the ICE detentions will help or hurt President Trump  and other Republicans. 

We talk about life in a occupied city.   And we analyze the surprising showing of Zohran Mamdani in  the New York Democratic mayoral  primary electionwe

We examine the dangerous times confronting us:  Our march toward authoritarianism; The danger of war; Trump's sour policy moves.

We examine the impact of Trump's immigration  sweeps on Los Angeles, on California, and on the nation.

We explore the dynamics of Musk's departure from the Trump camp.  We look at Trump's escalating war on immigrants.  And unimpressed with the current crop of Democratic candidates for California governor or president, we throw out the name of George Clooney for president. Just joking. Sort of.

We search for answers as to why President Trump  continues to attack Harvard and other major universities.   We examine the political, cultural and economic impacts of Trump's attacks.

We look at the political impact of government budget decisions.  And we puzzle over Trump's feckless ambush of South Africa's president.

We look at the ethics of Air Palace One. We talk about the $12 billion California state budget shortfall.  We examine the possible political  futures of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and former Vic President Kamala Harris.