Last night we published the 17th edition of Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 – 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. Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by KQED's Marisa Lagos, co-host of the Political Breakdown podcast and radio show. Lagos has been reporting on California politics for nearly two decades, and is intimately familiar with the Golden State's political power players - elected and not. Lagos, Ehisen and Foster discuss the themes running through the 2025 list, look at the new faces, and talk about the sophomore class of the Top 100 Hall of Fame.
Last night we published the 17th edition of Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 – 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.
Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster are joined by KQED's Marisa Lagos, co-host of the Political Breakdown podcast and radio show. Lagos has been reporting on California politics for nearly two decades, and is intimately familiar with the Golden State's political power players - elected and not. Lagos, Ehisen and Foster discuss the themes running through the 2025 list, look at the new faces, and talk about the sophomore class of the Top 100 Hall of Fame.
1:11 "It is A list, not THE list"
1:56 The Top 100 Hall of Fame
6:20 Nancy McFadden
9:31 Mike Belote
10:37 Rex Frazier
12:19 Kip Lipper
15:16 Catherine Reheis-Boyd
19:07 Themes of the year?
22:41 Housing
23:36 Ron Conway
25:55 "The legislature hasn't flexed its muscle really since COVID"
27:04 Bob Salladay
28:43 Paul Mitchell
29:00 Jodi Hicks
29:13 Ann Patterson/Nathan Barankin/Nani Coloretti
32:47 Jason Elliot, Jim DeBoo
34:05 Dave Sapp
35:38 Dee Dee Myers
35:51 Steve Wertheimer
36:15 Steve O'Mara
37:34 Toks Omishakin
38:37 Defending DMV!
40:01 Where are the GOP officials?
42:00 "Were you actually effective?"
42:27 Jennifer Barrera
43:22 Jim Wunderman
45:50 Rob Lapsley
49:24 Chris Cadelago
51:11 Nick Gerda
53:33 Ashley Zavala
1:00:51 Melody Gutierrez and Alene Tchekmedyian
1:04:14 Political Breakdown
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Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang