Matters of Policy & Politics

The Little Dutch Boy

California’s bill-signing session concludes with hundreds of new state laws – many long on woke symbolism. Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, discuss what this year’s legislative batch says about the Golden State, its war on fossil fuels, a new ethnic-studies mandate, Elon Musk’s decision to relocate Tesla’s headquarters to Texas, plus the Giants’-Dodgers baseball rivalry as a window into California’s north-south divide.

Matters Of Policy & Politics: Will The Conservative Majority Hold?

As public and private-sector employees struggle with COVID vaccine mandates, the Supreme Court returns to in-person arguments, and Donald Trump seeks an end to his Twitter suspension. John Yoo, a Hoover Institution visiting fellow and UC-Berkeley law professor, discusses the legality of vaccine mandates, the High Court’s likely moves on abortion, gun restriction, and religious education in what might be a landmark session, plus the chances of Trump tweeting anytime soon.

Home Depot?

California Governor Gavin Newsom signs legislation meant to ease California’s housing crisis, but is it sensible – will it make homes in the Golden State more affordable? Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, talk with Hoover senior writer Jonathan Movroydis about the Golden State’s housing conundrum, a new report on California’s economic health, and what to expect in the way of congressional redistricting later this year.

School Re-Openings – Following The Political Science

A new school year is underway, but what has the past year taught us about the political and policy clout of America’s teachers’ unions? Michael Hartney, a Hoover Institution national fellow, Boston College political scientist and author of a forthcoming book on the ascent of teachers’ unions, discusses the role that unions played during the past year’s school-reopening drama and what their agenda may resemble moving forward.

Matters Of Policy & Politics: A Recall Recap

The election results are in and California’s governor has survived an attempt to recall him from office. Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian (the co-author of "Why Company Headquarters Are Leaving California in Unprecedented Numbers") and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s California on Your Mind web channel, sit down with Hoover senior writer Jonathan Movroydis to discuss how Gavin Newsom managed to keep his job – and the policy implications for the Golden State and the nation moving forward.

Business (Hostility) As Usual?

A new study shows companies are leaving California at double the rate of the past three years due to taxes, over-regulation, and a high cost of living. Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian (the co-author of that report) and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, sit down with Hoover senior writer Jonathan Movroydis to discuss the plight of California’s business climate and the Golden State’s gubernatorial recall election. 

Who Calls Whom The President Calls Upon?

An admission at a recent press conference that his staff pre-determines the order of reporters’ questions points to an odd facet of the Biden presidency: behind-the-scenes choreography on public display. Debra Saunders, a Washington-based columnist, past Trump White House correspondent, and Hoover media fellow, discusses the current presidency’s media relationship – and, harkening back to her days covering California policy and politics, Gavin Newsom’s recall prospects and why San Francisco-style justice may enable Sirhan Sirhan’s release.

America After The Trump Presidency

Donald Trump’s gone (from office) but not forgotten as many of the elements that contributed to his political ascent – immigration, overseas entanglements, cultural divide – are as potent as ever. Victor Davis Hanson, the Hoover Institution’s Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow, discusses Trump’s presence in the political landscape and the prospects of “Trumpism” beliefs moving forward.

“The Slow Drift Back”

Taliban forces take control of Kabul and the visuals coming out of Afghanistan – Americans hastily evacuated, US-friendly Afghans desperate to join the exodus – evoke memories of Saigon in 1975. Joe Felter, a Hoover research fellow and counterinsurgency advisor in Afghanistan during his Army service, explains what went wrong in that nation and the impact on US foreign policy.  

Curb Your Enthusiasm

As California’s gubernatorial recall election approaches, will Democrats rally behind their embattled governor or will Republicans continue to enjoy an advantage in voter enthusiasm, as polling suggests? Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, sit down with Hoover senior writer Jonathan Movroydis to discuss how California Gov. Gavin Newsom might try to rouse the Democratic faithful.