How Waiting Tables, Working in Hollywood Prepared Laura Friedman for Politics

The state legislature passed its plan on Thursday to close a $45 billion budget shortfall, but negotiations continue with Governor Gavin Newsom on a final state spending plan.  Plus, a controversial proposal to crack down on retail and drug crime by rolling back parts of California’s landmark criminal justice reform law is heading to the ballot … for now. Guy is joined by Lara Korte, state politics reporter and co-author of the California Playbook for POLITICO, and Lindsey Holden, legislative reporter for The Sacramento Bee.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco voters will choose their next mayor this November, and we are going to bring you interviews with all of the top candidates. Marisa and Scott sat down recently with Daniel Lurie, founder of the nonprofit Tipping Point Community to talk about his roots in philanthropy, Tipping Point's initiatives to reduce homelessness and whether that work has prepared him for the mayor's office. We want to hear your questions! If you have a burning question that you want us to ask the mayoral candidates, you can send us an email: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The single largest cut in Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal is payments to health care providers who treat low-income Californians on the state’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. Guy talks about that with CalMatters reporter Kristen Hwang, as well as how the back-room budget negotiations at the state capitol are closely linked to the ballot measure campaigns going before voters in November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We continue our look at California’s budget shortfall and examine its impact on schools. K-12 education makes up the largest chunk of the budget. Guy is joined by Patrick O'Donnell, the government relations chief for the California School Board Association, to talk about how the shortfall might impact students and teachers, as well as the political turmoil roiling school boards up and down the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s crunch time in Sacramento as the state faces a $45 billion shortfall — the result of declining tax revenue and some big misses in recent budget projections. After spending billions to reduce the state’s unhoused population during his time in office, Governor Gavin Newsom is not setting aside a new round of funding for Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program. Guy is joined by Chione Lucina Munoz Flegal, the executive director of the advocacy group Housing California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a week where both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris stumped for cash in California, there are signs of a growing split among Democrats over President Biden’s new crackdown at the southern border. The president is playing defense as images of migrants seeking asylum are creating pressure on the Administration to act. Scott is joined by KQED politics correspondent Guy Marzorati and Politico senior political reporter Melanie Mason to talk about how immigration and border issues might play out in the November election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra joined the Biden administration as the COVID-19 vaccine was rolling out. Scott talks with him at the Ideas Festival produced by CalMatters about issues ranging from cannabis policy to abortion, health disparities and climate change as a health issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An attempt to recall a conservative school board president in the Riverside County city of Temecula seems to be succeeding. It’s been a battle over issues also playing out nationally, like the rights of parents versus transgender kids, critical race theory and banning books with references to LGBTQ history. Scott and Guy talk about the implications of the recall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six years ago, Eleni Kounalakis became the first woman elected lieutenant governor in California. Now she's running for the top job, hoping to become the first woman elected governor of California after Gavin Newsom is termed out in 2026. Scott is joined by Lt. Gov. Kounalakis to talk about the Super PAC she recently launched aimed at promoting abortion rights and what she'd like to do as governor.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Direct democracy means that Californians are used to seeing a crowded ballot. This fall, voters could be weighing in on more than a dozen ballot measures. Marisa is joined by Politico's Emily Schultheis to talk about what initiatives may and may not appear before voters in the November election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices