Capitol Weekly Podcast

Special Episode: The Top 100 2026

Episode Summary

Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by Jenny Huh of ABC10 for a look at the 18th edition of Capitol Weekly's Top 100, which published yesterday. Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 is our annual analysis of the unelected political power structure in California. We look at the mostlybehind the scenes players who influence policy, elections and governance, including Capitol staff, lobbyists, Agency staff, donors, business leaders, activists, Labor leaders – and even journalists. Huh, Ehisen and Foster run through the Top 10, look at some of the new faces and discuss the themes running through this year's list.

Episode Notes

Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by Jenny Huh of ABC10 for a look at the 18th edition of Capitol Weekly's Top 100, which published yesterday. Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 is our annual analysis of the unelected political power structure in California. We look at the mostlybehind the scenes players who influence policy, elections and governance, including Capitol staff, lobbyists, Agency staff, donors, business leaders, activists, Labor leaders – and even journalists. Huh, Ehisen and Foster run through the Top 10, look at some of the new faces and discuss the themes running through this year's list.

:32 Jenny Huh

1:04 The Top 100

2:04 The Top 10

2:15 Nathan Barankin

5:55 Ann Patterson

9:16 Joe Stephenshaw

12:05 Christine Aurre

12:58 Bob Hertzberg

19:03 Nani Coloretti

19:18 Jim DeBoo

19:55 Jennifer Barrera

20:43 Tia Orr

21:03 Teri Holoman

25:20 Dave Regan

33:10 Ned Wigglesworth

35:00 Dolores Huerta

40:45 Alexei Koseff and Sophia Bollag

49:00 Generational change

49:45 Tony Bui, Laiza Negrete and Ramona Prieto

50:26 Tiffany Whiten and Angela Pontes

51:13 Paul Mitchell

56:10 Who is not there?

56:33 Alma Hernandez and Izzy Gardon