California
California
Becerra v. Hilton: Who won the great debate?
This week, Tim and Matt break down the Becerra-Hilton gubernatorial debate. They crown the debate’s big winners and losers, analyze the key moments, share their thoughts on the moderators, and discuss whether the candidates’ performances will have any impact in changing the trajectory of the campaign.
Pacific Research Institute
October 2, 2026
Blog
Why Karen Bass is in Big Trouble in LA Mayor’s Race
It’s been a difficult re-election campaign for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to say the least. Now comes word that, despite holding narrow yet unimpressive leads in the primary election and public opinion polling throughout the campaign to date, Bass is now trailing Democratic socialist challenger Nithya Raman by 11 ...
Tim Anaya
October 1, 2026
California
A California city is waging a fight against yoga
What did yoga ever do to San Diego? For two years, the city has been waging a protracted legal battle against two yoga instructors. Their alleged transgression? Teaching yoga classes supported by donations in a picturesque public park on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You know, the kind of ...
Matthew Fleming
September 30, 2026
California
Making income tax surcharge permanent with Prop. 3 hurts state
Would you move to Florida for $100,000 a year? Because of California’s steeply progressive income tax rates, that’s the question many are asking. For an increasing number of taxpayers, the answer has become yes — which is why Proposition 3 is so consequential. In 2012, voters approved Proposition 30, which ...
Wayne Winegarden
September 29, 2026
California
Let’s Make a Deal on Paramount
This week, Tim and Matt analyze Attorney General Rob Bonta’s deal on the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. They also discuss Gov. Newsom’s AI executive order and demand for AI “kill switches” and a new poll showing big trouble for LA Mayor Karen Bass’ re-election campaign.
Pacific Research Institute
September 28, 2026
Business & Economics
Who really won the Paramount-Warner Bros. spat?
The federal government cleared the deal in June after a “rigorous eight-month investigation” led by the U.S. Justice Department Antitrust Division’s career staff – concluding the merger was unlikely to restrain competition or harm consumers. Overseas regulators representing 68 jurisdictions also approved the merger. But that wasn’t enough for Bonta, who opposed the “unlawful ...
Kerry Jackson
September 25, 2026
Blog
Didn’t We Just Vote on Proposition 1? Ballot Numbers Add to Confusion
This November, Californians will decide the fate of 14 different statewide ballot measures. While it sounds exhausting, we’ve voted on more in the past – a whopping 29 in the November 1988 election and 28 in the 1990 general election. Adding to the confusion are the ballot proposition numbers themselves. ...
Tim Anaya
September 25, 2026
California
Close Races for Key Statewide Ballot Measures
This week, Tim and Matt discuss the latest statewide poll showing close races for the wealth tax and CEQA reform. They also discuss Gov. Newsom’s statement that he would not challenge Kamala Harris for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, and analyze the re-election prospects of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Pacific Research Institute
September 21, 2026
California
Will the Republican Convention Turn Around The GOP’s Midterm Prospects?
This week, Tim and Matt break down the President’s big speech at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, and the proposal for 5,000 “dividend” payments to all U.S. adults. Plus, they break down the failure of Gov. Newsom to secure a deal on wildfire liability, and candidates Becerra and Hilton ...
Pacific Research Institute
September 12, 2026
California
The Wealth Tax will cost Californians dearly
California has a budget problem. Proposition 40 will make it worse. The November ballot measure promises an irresistible political bargain: Tax roughly 200 billionaires, raise tens of billions of dollars and use the money for health care, education and food assistance. But there’s a catch buried in the state’s own ...
Wayne Winegarden and Kerry Jackson
September 8, 2026
Becerra v. Hilton: Who won the great debate?
This week, Tim and Matt break down the Becerra-Hilton gubernatorial debate. They crown the debate’s big winners and losers, analyze the key moments, share their thoughts on the moderators, and discuss whether the candidates’ performances will have any impact in changing the trajectory of the campaign.
Why Karen Bass is in Big Trouble in LA Mayor’s Race
It’s been a difficult re-election campaign for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to say the least. Now comes word that, despite holding narrow yet unimpressive leads in the primary election and public opinion polling throughout the campaign to date, Bass is now trailing Democratic socialist challenger Nithya Raman by 11 ...
A California city is waging a fight against yoga
What did yoga ever do to San Diego? For two years, the city has been waging a protracted legal battle against two yoga instructors. Their alleged transgression? Teaching yoga classes supported by donations in a picturesque public park on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You know, the kind of ...
Making income tax surcharge permanent with Prop. 3 hurts state
Would you move to Florida for $100,000 a year? Because of California’s steeply progressive income tax rates, that’s the question many are asking. For an increasing number of taxpayers, the answer has become yes — which is why Proposition 3 is so consequential. In 2012, voters approved Proposition 30, which ...
Let’s Make a Deal on Paramount
This week, Tim and Matt analyze Attorney General Rob Bonta’s deal on the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. They also discuss Gov. Newsom’s AI executive order and demand for AI “kill switches” and a new poll showing big trouble for LA Mayor Karen Bass’ re-election campaign.
Who really won the Paramount-Warner Bros. spat?
The federal government cleared the deal in June after a “rigorous eight-month investigation” led by the U.S. Justice Department Antitrust Division’s career staff – concluding the merger was unlikely to restrain competition or harm consumers. Overseas regulators representing 68 jurisdictions also approved the merger. But that wasn’t enough for Bonta, who opposed the “unlawful ...
Didn’t We Just Vote on Proposition 1? Ballot Numbers Add to Confusion
This November, Californians will decide the fate of 14 different statewide ballot measures. While it sounds exhausting, we’ve voted on more in the past – a whopping 29 in the November 1988 election and 28 in the 1990 general election. Adding to the confusion are the ballot proposition numbers themselves. ...
Close Races for Key Statewide Ballot Measures
This week, Tim and Matt discuss the latest statewide poll showing close races for the wealth tax and CEQA reform. They also discuss Gov. Newsom’s statement that he would not challenge Kamala Harris for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, and analyze the re-election prospects of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Will the Republican Convention Turn Around The GOP’s Midterm Prospects?
This week, Tim and Matt break down the President’s big speech at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, and the proposal for 5,000 “dividend” payments to all U.S. adults. Plus, they break down the failure of Gov. Newsom to secure a deal on wildfire liability, and candidates Becerra and Hilton ...
The Wealth Tax will cost Californians dearly
California has a budget problem. Proposition 40 will make it worse. The November ballot measure promises an irresistible political bargain: Tax roughly 200 billionaires, raise tens of billions of dollars and use the money for health care, education and food assistance. But there’s a catch buried in the state’s own ...