Trump and Newsom, Strange Political Bedfellows
We critique the meeting between Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump on the wildfires. And we examine the factor of fear in the election campaign–fear of fires, floods and climate change, fear of the pandemic and fear of violence provoked by protesters and police. Inside Golden State Politics podcast is here.
Counting the Vote in CA and More Trump Books
What’s the impact of all the Trump books? We examine whether anyone other than politics addicts care when so many Americans are busy worrying about the pandemic. We also look at how Joe Biden is handling his media face off against Donald Trump, Most important, there’s growing concern over counting the vote. In California, extensive […]
The presidential campaign ignites and the California legislature flounders
What a week! On the presidential campaign, Joe Biden emerges from his basement and attacks President Donald Trump as gutless. And the California legislature is shamed by a nursing mother, Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, bringing her baby onto the Assembly floor to urge her colleagues to vote on an important housing bill. Get the Inside Golden […]
Republicans Pick on California and Other Tales
We look at Donald Trump’s efforts to put a smiley face on the Republican National Convention, but he and his team found it hard to do. The convention previewed Trump’s attacks on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the coming campaign. And we explain why the Republicans picked California as their symbol of what’s wrong […]
Michelle, Kamala, Nancy and Donald
We assess the importance of women to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, as exemplified by Michelle Obama’s speech to the Democratic national convention and Kamala Harris’ nomination for vice president. Will the campaigning by strong women drive President Donald Trump nuts? And we tackle voting by mail. Will President Trump’s loud and persistent attacks on it […]
Kamala! Kamala! Kamala!
We take a close look at Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Joe Biden’s choice for the Democratic vice presidential nomination. What does she bring to the ticket? Will the Democratic left, which opposed her presidential run, turn out en masse for her. And we examine where President Donald Trump and his supporters will attack her. […]
Asian Americans join Latinos as targets of Trump
We take a hard look at how President Trump is stacking the deck against Asian Americans and Latinos. Asian Americans are damaged by his racist description of the coronavirus pandemic, giving bigots permission to assault them verbally and, in some cases, physically. With Latinos, it’s Trump’s mishandling of the pandemic, which is roaring through the […]
Pandemic Politics: Is Trump Chanelling Newsom? Is Newsom Channeling Trump?
The coronavirus pandemic has confronted Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump with different kinds of troubles. We examine how Newsom faces the hands-on matters that Trump has long avoided–opening schools, finding masks and other supplies, rising infection rates. Trump’s problem is simpler but harder to solve, getting re-elected. That is why, we observe, he […]
Bigger Than Politics: The Future of Public Education
As the school semester grows near, we discuss whether to open the schools or rely on home schooling, often in the hands of overworked parents. This is bigger than political campaigns. Each day, the pressure increases on Gov. Gavin Newsom, his good start in handling the pandemic forgotten as the number of coronavirus cases […]
Electoral college, the pandemic, Trump’s psyche: What a mess!
Sherry digs into the labyrinth of the electoral college, explaining its history and the role of slavery in its creation. We debate the future of the institution, with Bill more optimistic than Sherry about chances of eliminating it. We also examine how the pandemic is sweeping through California, concluding this is a disease too new […]