National Review's Radio Free California Podcast

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A show about the perilous state of the Golden State—and what that means for you, wherever you live. California is the hothouse lab of the Left, the nation-state creating the statist policies, art, and lifestyles of the future – and generating the political dollars to make them a reality in a communi…

National Review


    • Jun 24, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 12m AVG DURATION
    • 206 EPISODES

    4.8 from 600 ratings Listeners of National Review's Radio Free California Podcast that love the show mention: swaim, radio free, bahnsen, rest of the country, swain, californians, live in ca, canary, golden state, living in california, rfc, statism, state government, public sector, legislature, left coast, national politics, harbinger, unions, legislative.


    Ivy Insights

    The National Review's Radio Free California Podcast is an essential listen for anyone looking to stay informed about the political and cultural landscape of California. Hosted by Will Swaim and David Bahnsen, this podcast dives into the workings of the state legislature and provides insight into the effects of their central planning. The chemistry between Swaim and Bahnsen is evident, making for a lively and entertaining discussion each week.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the depth of analysis provided by Swaim and Bahnsen. They tackle important issues such as Sutter's Mill and the impact of California politics on the rest of the nation. Their commentary is smart, witty, and backed by a wealth of knowledge. They apply common sense to big questions in California, making it easy for listeners to understand complex topics.

    However, one drawback of this podcast is its weekly release schedule. Many listeners find themselves eagerly awaiting new episodes but wish there were more frequent updates. Given the valuable insights provided by Swaim and Bahnsen, increasing the frequency to at least twice a week would greatly benefit those who rely on their analysis.

    In conclusion, The National Review's Radio Free California Podcast is a great resource for understanding California's political landscape and its impact on the nation. Swaim and Bahnsen provide thought-provoking discussions with a touch of humor that make this podcast enjoyable to listen to. While it may be released weekly, it remains a must-listen for anyone interested in staying informed about California's politics and culture.



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    Latest episodes from National Review's Radio Free California Podcast

    Episode 395: The Dodgers on ICE

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2025 83:57


    The Los Angeles Dodgers will donate $1 million to supporters of illegal immigration. The Ninth Circuit halts Attorney General Rob Bonta's effort to limit gun purchases to one per month. California can't kick its foreign-oil addiction. Bonus! Dr. Kurt Miceli explains Do No Harm's lawsuit alleging that UCLA's medical school rejects highly qualified Asian and white students in favor of less-qualified applicants. Music by Metalachi.Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:On War Powers, Nancy Pelosi Is a Ridiculous HackVice President JD Vance rips Newsom, Bass and mocks Padilla during visit to Los AngelesCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom challenges Vice President JD Vance to debate: 'How about saying it to my face?'The Dodgers were about to break their silence on Trump's immigration crackdown. Then federal agents showed upTrump suggests farmers may get to keep undocumented workers after all9th Circuit affirms San Diego judge's ruling that California's ‘one-gun-a-month' law is unconstitutionalCalifornia is to examine its Amazon oil ties following pleas from Indigenous leaders from EcuadorTurlock story (under headline on Iranian reaction to Israel war) LAUSD agrees to fund $500 million to settle sexual assault lawsuitsLong Beach City Council votes to mandate more staffing at self-checkout lanesKurt Miceli, Do No Harm: UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine: Lawsuit: UCLA used race in rejecting highly qualified Asian, white students over less-qualified applicants

    Episode 394: Newsom Leaps Bravely Halfway Across the Political Divide

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2025 121:24


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Before Juneteenth was widely known, here's how Black Angelenos celebrated emancipationBrian Wilson, Pop Auteur and Leader of the Beach Boys, Dies at 82Inside Trump's Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration RaidsThe Padilla Incident and the Greater PerilGavin's Last GaspPresident Trump Has Legal Authority to Suppress the Siege in L.A.How Trump Is Bypassing Los Angeles's Sanctuary City HurdlesThe Public-Sector Union Behind L.A.'s Immigration AgitationNewsom's Speech: It's About The 2028 Democratic Presidential PrimaryNEW DATA: California's $20 Wage Law Cost Restaurant Workers 7 Weeks Worth of WorkHow Chinese Intel Infiltrated LA Mayor Karen Bass' CampOakland Mayor Barbara Lee's new staff may receive budget increase amid city's financial woesWhy do so many people outside California hate the Golden State?2 ex-Caltrain employees sentenced to jail for building secret apartments inside train stationsLance Christensen:California lawmakers approve $325 billion budget ‘passed on hope'Lance's favorite budget document: Schedule 6Julie Hamill:Julie's X thread on Newsom v Trump on boys in girls sportsTeen athlete targeted by Trump's anti-trans attacks: ‘I know how hard I've worked. That's what matters'

    Episode 393: The Retreat of the California Resistance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 148:55


    Email Usdbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show NoteCalifornia track and field finals: Trans athlete AB Hernandez wins 2 events, shares podiumCalifornia Backtracks on State Policies Allowing Boys to Compete in Girls' Track ChampionshipSan Francisco Backtracks on ‘Equity' Grading Program after BacklashYelling, finger-pointing and cursing galore as California Democrats gather near DisneylandCalifornia's Democrats Bet on Radicalism, Not Results at Anaheim ConventionNewsom Administration Holds Closed-Door ‘Cooperation' Talks with Chinese OfficialsFreed Israeli Hostage Says Hamas Captors Were Rooting for Harris to Beat TrumpDems (not so) secretly repealing Kamala Harris' truancy lawAntonio Villaraigosa: AQMD Rules 1111 and 1121 should be rejectedCalifornia lawmakers pounce on energy board amid departing oil refineries: "We have a crisis on our hands"Senate Confirms Nancy Skinner to California Energy Commission Despite Legislative Record Creating High Energy CostsSB 672 wants early parole for ‘youthful' violent killers, including some sentenced to life without paroleNewsom insults California voters by not funding Proposition 36Julie Hamill on the differences between girls and boysCalifornia Justice Center‘Who Is ‘Her'?': Attorney Wrecks CNN Anchor Over Trans Sports Policy In Viral ExchangeJulie Hamill discusses Title IX on CNN's News CentralJohn J. Miller on Louis L'AmourJohn's websiteThe Last of His Breed

    Episode 392: Remember Picacho Pass!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 76:50


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Note:Dr. Tony Lima: The Myth of Donor StatesSenate Votes to End California's EV MandateAustin's Reign as a Tech Hub Might Be Coming to an EndVillaraigosa blasts Harris and Becerra for not speaking out about Biden's declineKamala Harris takes swipe at Musk and warns world to ‘remember the 1930s' at Gold Coast real estate conferenceThe Next Tax Reform Glitch Is Coming to Main Street BusinessesBarbara Lee Speaks for OaklandPlacer County revives homebuyer program eases path to ownershipFormer LA deputy mayor to plead guilty to reporting fake bomb threat at City HallL.A. hotels threaten to withdraw from Olympics deal over minimum wage hike

    Episode 391: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Banality

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 99:35


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:25-year-old suspect in fertility clinic bombing left behind ‘anti-pro-life' writings, officials sayWoman connected to the Zizians fired the bullet that killed a Vermont border agent, report saysIs the California Dream a Mirage?Dave Eggers: Uncle Patrick's secessionist breakfast GM Is Pushing Hard to Tank California's EV MandateNewsom says bailing L.A. out of budget crisis is ‘nonstarter.' Bass remains hopefulGot medical debt? LA County may have just paid it offShe brought ‘teeth' as juvenile hall watchdog — but claims state defanged herVideo shows L.A. probation officers letting group beat teen in Los Padrinos juvenile hallGov. Newsom Smears USC Professor Mische for Reporting CA is Facing $8.43/gallon Gas as Refineries CloseSalman Rushdie as graduation speaker upsets Muslim students at Claremont CollegesLance Christensen inside the state capitol:Lance ChristensenBudget Bloat And Blame Games: Inside Newsom's May RevisionNewsom spends more to educate fewer kids more poorlyAB 379 passed out of the Assembly with a 74-0 vote

    Episode 390: Newsom's 19th Nervous Breakdown

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 92:40


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Guest host Will O'NeillHigh-speed rail, abortion and the will of the voters: Takeaways from Gov. Newsom's budgetWho's the mayor of California?In unhinged rant, Gavin Newsom essentially admits he's at fault for homeless crisis in CaliforniaGov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor of Turlock spar over homeless shelter fundingLos Angeles County opposes Newsom's executive order, won't arrest and jail people at encampmentsCalifornia released 15,000 prisoners early during COVID. New data reveals what happened to many of themGovernor hopefuls kiss labor's ringWash Post says Harris' coverup of Biden's cognitive decline part of why Democrats lost: ‘Credibility problems'Jon Fleischman Returns:Flash ReportCalifornia Patriot Profile: The Late Andrew Breitbart

    Episode 389: Escape to Alcatraz

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 105:26


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Trump's circle tries to soothe investors' frayed nervesWhat to make of Trump's big plans for AlcatrazThe Tariff Impact on Main Street Trump's First 100 Days Have Shattered California's Left-Wing IllusionsCalifornia overtakes Japan to become world's fourth-largest economy. But tariffs pose threatHouse Votes to Block California's Plan to Ban New Gas-Powered CarsWhy California recently revised its clean air regulations for zero-emission trucks | OpinionIn a Wildfire-Ravaged L.A. Suburb, Red Tape Snarls the Rebuilding: ‘Everybody's Forgotten About Us'Santa Ynez Reservoir in Palisades must be drained again after more leaks foundDems go to Krell and back on sex traffickingKill new housing with regulation, but blame mathIs California doomed to repeat pension history?California cancels vacation payouts for state workers over budget concernsTrans high school track star sparks fury after winning girls' triple jump by staggering 8 feetSheridan Karras, California Policy Center:SEIU 721'S strike affects county services while union pushes for bigger payoutsMark Mix, National Right to Work:Mark MixEmployee of LAX Foodservice Provider Slams Unite Here Local 11 With Federal Charges Detailing Intimidation, Harassment

    Episode 388: Blue on Blue Violence

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 47:27


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Trump's tariffs threaten Southern California's $300-billion trade industry, report saysLongshore union blasts Trump tariffs, warns of massive job lossesHarris to criticize Trump in first major address since leaving officeKamala Harris Has Been Quietly, Carefully Working the Phones and Plotting Her Next MoveIs Gavin Newsom changing his tune with the oil industry?Republicans find the perfect stormKaren Bass unveils her ‘very difficult budget' for LAMayor Bass proposes more than 1,600 layoffs: What departments are on the list?Santa Cruz City Council approves near-term wharf repair, downtown Vibrancy OrdinanceProtections for nesting gulls (among other uniquely Californian headaches) delayed repairs to Santa Cruz wharfSan Diego's Big Bay Boom fireworks display may fizzle out this yearLong Beach is giving away free gun safes to help prevent accidental firearm deaths

    Episode 387: San Francisco's ‘New Pragmatism'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 90:52


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:California is first state to sue Trump on tariffsCalifornia's lawsuit puts West Coast business leaders to the testThe Hollywood Upside of Trump's Trade WarGov. Gavin Newsom under fire for calling deported man's case a ‘distraction'Valero to shutter at least one of its California refineriesCalifornia's refinery capacity stretched to the limitVistra withdraws Morro Bay battery plant application How labor killed a bill to let California wildfire victims sue Big Oil for climate changeNewsom OKs $2.8B to close California's Medicaid funding gap after expanding immigrant coverageCalifornia just blew a deadline for voter-approved health care measure  — losing millions of federal dollarsBarbara Lee wins tight Oakland mayoral race‘There's a reckoning to be had': San Francisco Dems move to push the national party to the center.Californians can now buy opioid reversal drugs from the state onlineEdward Ring: Myths of Earth DayEarth Day Reclaimed: Challenging The Top 10 Myths That Hijacked EnvironmentalismPeter Zeihan, “The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization”Ed's energy newsletter, “What's Current”

    Episode 386: Joy Division

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 60:40


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Merle HaggardWhy did it take Bernie Sanders and AOC to rally California liberals?‘Not acceptable.' Not a single home building permit finalized in Altadena following Eaton FireHomeowners sue California FAIR Plan, claim it's not paying for home cleanups after wildfiresMeasure ULA is reducing apartment development in the city of L.A, report saysCA Dems pass on funding Prop. 36 as Newsom celebrates rights of crime victimsFor California's largest public union, telework poses challenge — and opportunityThe Prop 22 fight rides againCalifornia Is Preparing to Take Trump to Court to Stop His TariffsOakland mayor's race too close to call as Barbara Lee predicts ‘a long week'Trump's volatile trade policy creates new problems for California state budgetJudge allows Menendez brothers' resentencing effort to move forwardMenendez brothers' aunt hospitalized after DA shares graphic photos in court: 'We are devastated'Rosie O'Donnell says convicted killer Lyle Menendez is first 'straight man' she can 'love' and 'trust'

    Episode 385: Second to Naan

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 59:44


    Email Usdbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show NotesDavid on Mike Rowe's “The Way I Heard It”‘Truly A Moron': Elon Musk Puts Key Trump Official On Blast After He Goes After TeslaNavarro left a trail of political wreckage in CaliforniaNewsom is trying to loophole California out of Trump's tariff warUC Berkeley prof says California has lost 20,000 fast-food jobs since Newsom's Fast Foot ActProposed California bill would bar fining, arresting homeless people for campingFeds to look into potential fraud and corruption in Southern California homeless fundsIn unprecedented payout, L.A. County will settle sex abuse claims for $4 billionRealPage sues Berkeley over its ban on algorithmic rent pricing softwareSteph Curry's plan to build a headquarters in S.F.'s Dogpatch area is deadNBA's Steph Curry joins neighbors in opposing affordable-housing plan for ritzy Atherton

    Episode 384: Trump in the Driver's Seat

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 111:40


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:The complicated legacy of César ChávezTrump targets California ban on ‘forced outing' of students' gender identity to parentsTrump ally and rising California GOP star Essayli named top federal prosecutor in L.A.California farmers fear tariff trade war losses in billions, uneven bailoutsGavin Newsom calls Democratic brand ‘toxic' on Bill Maher showWill this bill be the end of California's housing vs environment wars?Resistance roars back at the borderSB 573 would raise corporate taxes based on executive compensationThe Luigi Mangioni [sic] Access to Healthcare ActPolicies, not greed, driving California's sky-high gas prices, study findsJulie HamillCalifornia Justice CenterWhat is FERPA?California Laws Force Public School Districts to Violate FERPA and Title IX; Mandatory Withholding of Federal FundsTrump targets California ban on ‘forced outing' of students' gender identity to parents

    Episode 383: California Governor Donald Trump!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 117:04


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow NotesDavid: An anniversary to forget and rememberHere's how Gavin Newsom's podcast arrangement works. The details raise questionsNewsom betrays a promise by failing to fund high school ethnic studies classes | OpinionUniversity of California drops “diversity statements”With L.A.'s mayor facing a recall threat, her supporters go after billionairesWeaponized turds: San Francisco's strange and terrible victory over the EPAWill: OUSD teachers present an affair to rememberA homegrown Arizona company was about to break ground on a billion-dollar development – then a California union stepped inOakland with Tim Gardner: Oakland ReportOakland's MACRO missed all of its pilot project goals—so the city expanded itIs Oakland fundamentally ‘broken'? The mayor's race hinges on the answerMajor League Baseball Opening Day with Rick Reiff: Rick Reiff's websiteMLB removes references to ‘diversity' from website's careers page

    Episode 382: California Democrats Discover the Supply Side

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 98:03


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow NotesCan Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson Save the Left From Itself?An Abundance of AmbiguityL.A. city budget shortfall grows to nearly $1 billion, with layoffs ‘nearly inevitable'California's soaring pension debt rears its headTeacher of the year among hundreds getting cut from Santa Ana USDSteve Bannon blames Gavin Newsom for creating Elon MuskGov. Newsom sends 'bat phones' to CEOs of major California businessesCalifornia needs $3.4B loan to cover health care costs as state provides insurance to undocumented residentsCalifornia's war on farmers made eggs even scarcerRent set by algorithm? Berkeley bans landlords from using pricing softwareCalifornia's prep sports governors suddenly find themselves isolated in their battle over trans athletesS.F. Pride seeks alternative funding for LGBTQ celebration after major sponsors drop outCity Journal's Christina Buttons The Tragedy of Yarden SilveiraTransgender Brain Studies are Fatally Flawed

    Episode 381: Gavin Newsom's Trans Transition

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 75:32


    Follow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Gavin Newsom shocks LGBTQ allies with criticism of transgender athletesScoop: LGBTQ+ rights power picks fight with Trump‘Universal' locker rooms at UC DavisNewsom stymies implementation of landmark California plastic law, orders more talksKamala Harris roasted for trying to tie love of Doritos to Big Tech innovation during AI conferenceWhy Kamala Harris for governor would bring joy to RepublicansTim Walz has some sharp critiques of the Dem 2024 campaignFormer Rep. Katie Porter announces bid for California governorWhy would anyone think Chad Bianco is a decent candidate for governor?Why is Mayor Karen Bass deleting her text messages?Sacramento butcher shop closes after 10 years of quality meats. ‘It's a sad day'JULIE HAMILLJulie Hamill Newsom's 'unfair' remark on girls' sports belies record as governor: 'Absolute bulls---'California hit with Title IX compliant for ‘gender identity' student sleeping quartersDefense of Freedom Institute, California Justice Center file federal Civil Rights complaint against California Department of Education and multiple school districts for Title IX violations

    Episode 380: Tautologies Masquerading as Sentences

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 91:08


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Copperopolis incorporated, March 3, 1861“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”Lateefah Simon rips Trump — and mod DemsCalifornia's Moneyed Elite Selects 'Abolish the Police' Operative to Serve in CongressWho's afraid of Medicaid reform?Return to office: Newsom orders California state workers back four days a weekCan't make rent because of the fires? L.A. County considers a six-month lifelineReturn to office: Newsom orders California state workers back four days a weekRivas purges five GOPers from Assembly committee posts in ‘Friday Night Massacre'After landslide victory, will Sacramento fund Prop. 36 enforcement? First signs say no.California fast-food workers could see another pay increasePOINT REYES: Niman Ranch challenges Point Reyes Seashore settlement in lawsuit over ranchingYolo County program gave cash payments to families. Here's what worked — and what didn'tMedi-Cal reform with Marc Joffe:Marc JoffeContaining Medicaid costs at the state level

    Episode 379: What's the Matter with California?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 92:40


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:The Victor Davis Hanson ShowFeb 24 1942 The Battle of Los AngelesGavin Newsom is launching his own podcast — and inviting MAGA favoritesWhile ‘Trump-Proofing' California, Gov. Gavin Newsom asks Congress for $40 billion in fire relief fundsColumn: Bass fires the L.A. fire chief, but her own smoldering political crisis is far from overTrump attempting ‘end-run' around California car pollution standards, expert saysWill Gavin Newsom support Republican bill that bars funding for violent undocumented immigrants?San Diego migrant shelter hailed as national model will shut down, with 100-plus layoffsCalifornia bill restricts self-defense, ends crime-stopping protection, mandates ‘retreat'The SEIU's power grab puts patients at riskFormer Treasury Secretary Larry Summers Shouted Down During Stanford's 'Democracy and Disagreement' ClassFremont's homeless encampment ban divides the communityMirabelli v Olson:Mirabelli, et al. v. Olson, et al.Julie HamillPaul M. Jonna

    Episode 378: The Call Is Coming from Inside the Statehouse

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 78:25


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Roosevelt interns Japanese-Americans (Feb 19, 1942)Go for Broke! (1951 film)Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, “Farewell to Manzanar”JD Vance speech Newsom to business owners: Shut up!California court rules against baker in revival of same-sex wedding cake disputesWe forced the San Diego Housing Commission to repeal its race-based housing assistance programCalifornians are in for a ‘rude shock' on fireTrump envoy Richard Grenell floats California governor bid — if Kamala Harris runsThis alien-like field of mirrors in the desert was once the future of solar energy. It's closing after just 11 yearsUS Dept. of Education investigates California sports organization over trans athlete ban enforcementPetition calling for Denmark to buy California secures more than 230K signatures as Trump eyes GreenlandFree Speech in the California workplace: Julie Hammil Jeffrey SchwabThe Liberty Justice Center and California Justice Center Challenge Employer Censorship Law on Behalf of the California Policy Center

    Episode 377: California's Synthetic Outlaws Bring the Chaos

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 87:55


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Gov. Pat Brown on the decline of the Democratic Party, UCLA, 1967‘Built to burn.' L.A. let hillside homes multiply without learning from past mistakesGov. Newsom says meeting with Pres. Trump at White House over LA wildfire aid was 'very productive'California governor signs 2 ‘Trump-proofing' bills a day after returning from DC tripNewsom signs the bill while acknowledging loophole allowing for money to be spent fighting deportation of undocumented convicted on other crimesCalifornia wildfire aid will have conditions, US House Speaker Mike Johnson saysRepublicans rip California's wildfire ‘overregulation' while Gavin Newsom seeks help for victimsHonoring the Pronouns of . . . Trans Vegan Anarchist Cult Members?LSD, veganism, high-IQ suspects: Probe of six murders takes feds into strange territorySuspect and Possible Cult Member Makes Court Appearance In Vallejo Killing as Further Links Revealed to Other MurdersCalifornia plans to continue allowing trans athletes to compete in girls' sports despite Trump executive orderCalifornia Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta won't run for governor in 2026Julie Hamill, California Justice Center:julie@justiceca.comCalifornia Justice Center: “No federal funds to California public schools”California superintendent Tony Thurmond sends note to schools about Title IX protectionsCalifornia students still struggling with math and reading skillsCalifornia teachers demand better pay, fully staffed schools as districts battle financial woesCalifornia AG touts safe haven for LGBTQ+, undocumented students amid Trump executive orders

    Episode 376: Trump-Proof . . . Poof!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 63:22


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Knute Rockne, All AmericanReagan as George GippA disinformation deluge on California policiesThe owner of the LA Times takes the red pillThousands rally in downtown Los Angeles, shut down 101 Freeway to protest Trump's immigration policiesCalifornia Democrats delay vote to ‘Trump-proof' the state and protect immigrantsGavin Newsom heads to D.C. to meet with Trump officials about wildfire disaster aidTrump says California's High-Speed Rail project should be investigatedInspector General: High-Speed Rail off schedule for Merced-to-Bakersfield routeCiting LA fire victims, Trump orders more water for Central Valley agriculture and less for fishNewsom issues order to ‘maximize' water capture during storms. Critics say it sounds just like TrumpCalifornia fires don't justify an energy industry shakedownCalifornia's Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction StrategyLong Beach is considering a major hike in waste collection fees. Expect a higher trash bill

    Episode 375: Exxon Strikes Back

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 72:06


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Julie Hamill: @hamill_lawCalifornia Justice CenterExxonMobil sues Rob Bonta over defamation campaignRob Bonta gives back more fraught campaign fundsSeneca Scott: @SenecaSpeaks21What's next in the Oakland FBI corruption case? Barbara Lee officially launches campaign for Oakland mayor“If we do not change course, we will be roughly $115 million negative. We have already breached into our emergency reserve.”

    Episode 374: This Plane Is Going to Cuba

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 92:06


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow NotesConservatives chalk up win as PepsiCo agrees to ‘viewpoint neutrality' in ad-buyingAlleged Hijacker Brought Back to U.S. After 32 YearsList of Cuba–United States aircraft hijackingsThe Hijacker at Pump #4Donald Trump lays out two demands in exchange for California wildfire aidWildfire of the Vanities: California's political model has failedRevived effort to put California secession on the ballot gets OK to collect signaturesCalifornia attorney general charges L.A.-area real estate agent with price gouging in wake of wildfiresHow a rumor about ICE on Muni spun out of controlYuba City and Sutter County want to skirt high PG&E rates. They found a wayCalifornia Democrats are building a giant political slush fundEdward Ring at Trump's Los Angeles Wildfire Roundtable:Trump Speaks To Los Angeles Officials, Police About Wildfires During CA TripEdward Ring: Fire prevention and resilience in California

    Episode 373: Donald Trump Is Coming to Town

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 58:54


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Cracks emerge in House GOP after speaker's threat to saddle California wildfire aid with conditionsTrump is trying to end birthright citizenship. Now, California is suing himTrump wants to ‘drill, baby, drill.' California wants to push electric carsMoss Landing, the world's biggest grid battery, caught fire againHow California could benefit if Trump actually dissolved the Education Department

    Episode 372: Karen Bass-O-Matic

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 104:11


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Speaker Mike Johnson suggests 'conditions' needed on federal aid for LA wildfire victimsNewsom adds LA wildfire funding to Trump-proofing special sessionGavin Newsom and California Democrats reach $50M deal to Trump-proof the stateNewsom on “Meet the Press”California's wildfire insurance catastropheAs LA fires rage, California's insurance commissioner imposes 1-year ban on policy cancellationsLA Times Owner Calls Paper's Karen Bass Endorsement a Mistake: ‘We'll Accept Some Blame'Did Mayor Karen Bass really cut the fire department budget? The answer gets trickyFirefighter salaries from Transparent CaliforniaIncarcerated Firefighters Do Risky, Low-Pay Work. Many Say It's The Best Job Behind Bars.Julie Hamill on evacuated kids Inverse condemnationJulie Hamill's California Justice CenterEdward Ring on fire mitigation from cisterns to robotsCalifornia's ‘Impenetrable' Environmental Bureaucracy Left L.A. Hills Primed to BurnEdward Ring on the Mike Rowe podcastEdward Ring & Steve Hilton, “Modern forest management”

    Episode 371: L.A. Is Burning

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 39:09


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Mayor out of the country as Los Angeles burns, residents plead for helpTrump, Musk unleash on California Democrats over wildfiresBiden awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hillary Clinton, George SorosGeorge Gascón Admits He's Behind Soros Progressive Prosecutor Project, Secured $50M Seed Donation to ACLUSome Anti-Israel Protesters Are PaidFact-checkers, targeted by MAGA loyalists, blast Zuckerberg's assertion their work was ‘biased'Accountability is key to fixing Facebook: Will SwaimCalifornia GOP lawmaker introduces bill to ban transgender girls from women's sportsSerena Williams on playing against menOakland's city employee counts show a dramatic shift in service priorities over five yearsThe case for (and against) Barbara Lee

    Episode 370: Civil Fights

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025 61:41


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Trump allies warn California leaders, including LA Mayor Karen Bass, that they could go to prison over sanctuary city lawsHow Harmeet Dhillon can tame the beast at DOJCalifornia restaurant cites ‘Ladies Night' discrimination lawsuit as cause for closureLima Chef John MarquezAmid threats to rewrite the Constitution, Senator Wiener calls for rescinding California's calls for Constitutional Convention to protect civil liberties and democracyTrump-supporting urban planners propose destroying Presidio in SFDisney removes transgender storyline from upcoming Pixar streaming seriesGov. Gavin Newsom doubles down on opposition to Prop. 36California manicurists face uncertain future as bill's exemption nears end

    Episode 369: The Year of Living Dangerously Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 76:57


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:L.A. Times' billionaire owner (and is family) ignite a tug-of-war over paper's futureL.A. Times Guild calls for one-day walkoutL.A. Times owner's decision not to endorse in presidential race sparks resignations, questionsLos Angeles Times Owner Wades Deeper Into Opinion SectionPatrick Soon-Shiong's controversial shakeup at the L.A. Times: ‘Bias meter,' opinion upheaval and a call for growthCalifornia says gas prices could spike 50 cents a gallon next year thanks to this climate programWhat Chevron's move to Houston means for the energy capitalGovernor Newsom signs legislation to prevent gas price spikes and save Californians moneyGavin Newsom confronted at press conference about missing $24bn spent on tackling homelessnessNewsom vetoes future auditsSupreme Court gives cities in California and beyond more power to crack down on homeless campsStalled Labor pick Julie Su lets herself off the hook for California's missing billionsUnions Give Thanks For Trump's Labor PickTrump refused to give California wildfire aid until told how many people there voted for him, ex-aide says'A Failed Medical School': How Racial Preferences, Supposedly Outlawed in California, Have Persisted at UCLAExclusive: San Francisco school district directs teachers to resources that condemn ‘Israeli terrorism' as worse than HamasJudge Orders Union To Halt UC Campus StrikesNewsom Signs AB 1955 And Okays Schools Lying To Parents, Opening The Door To Lawsuits And Child Exploitation‘This person should not be president': Kamala Harris takes hits in book on BidenTrump Didn't Deserve to Win, But We Deserved to LoseKamala Harris for California governor? These Democrats say she's best choice to fight TrumpShe lost the presidential election. Now Vice President Kamala Harris is losing popularity‘He was Mr. San Diego': Basketball icon Bill Walton remembered for his generosity, philanthropy, civic pride

    Episode 368: California's Manchurian Candidate

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 58:55


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Bahnsen Group announces new Grand Rapids officeJudge rejects lawsuit over ‘liberated' ethnic studies classes in LAUSDAnti-Israel United Teachers Los Angeles seminar Biden considering blanket preemptive pardons for perceived enemies of TrumpChina's Critical Minerals Embargo Is Even Tougher Than ExpectedGavin goes global: Newsom takes a risk on ChinaL.A. County supervisors seek aid for hundreds of workers affected by Phillips 66 refinery closureWells Fargo to sell San Francisco headquartersCalifornia bill bars Coastal Commission from blocking more launches for Elon Musk's SpaceXDeMaio Calls for Penalties Against Gov. Newsom for Repeated Violation of Citizens' Constitutional RightsThe man who saw Sasquatch is closing his California museum for goodFormer SoCal candidate is accused of registering cartoon cats to vote. It's ‘plausible,' he says

    Special Episode: Deliver Us from Evil [367]

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 42:57


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:John Manly, Manly, Stewart & FinaldiL.A. Catholic church covered up molesting priests for decades. The price: $1.5 billion and so much painWill Swaim: In public schools we trust?Documentary: Deliver Us From Evil

    Episode 366: How to 'Newsom-Proof' California

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 66:04


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Latino Imperial County goes for Trump California coastal enclave near sanctuary city tries to 'Newsom-proof' itselfCalifornia's unemployment numbers are in. How do they rank nationally?Newsom proposes $25M from state legislature to 'Trump-proof' CaliforniaCalifornia will not help Trump's deportation plans, Alex Padilla saysSen.-elect Adam Schiff doesn't want to talk about Trump. He wants to talk about the economyFederal immigration law Title 8, U.S.C. 1324(a) Offenses Thousands of DACA immigrants are now eligible for Covered California. Here's how to applyL.A. politicians ask Trump for $3.2 billion to pay for Olympic transportation projectsPBGC approves 100th SFA application: ILWU Employers' - Warehousemen's PlanColumn: Why California's favorite bagel shop is defending fossil fuelsIndigenous Diplomacy and Spanish Mediation in the Lower Colorado–Gila River Region, 1771–1783

    Episode 365: Make America California Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 94:19


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Trump's labor choice: Unions over workersSan Francisco crypto mogul buys $6.2 million banana taped to a wall, plans to eat itO.C. judge dismisses state challenge to Huntington Beach Voter ID lawsLong Beach police will no longer patrol Metro trains, stationsBay Area home values have risen everywhere — except in this cityNewsom to visit California counties that voted for TrumpGavin Newsom vows to ‘leave no region behind' on California jobsCalifornia has no capacity for new spending, state's top policy and financial analyst saysL.A. ‘sanctuary city' law won't prevent deportations. But ‘we are hardening our defenses'Mayor Bass secures major federal support for community partners to assist newly arrived L.A. migrant familiesGavin Newsom promotes Marshawn Lynch for mayor of OaklandSay Goodbye to Hollywood's Progressive ProsecutorReflections On The Last 900 Years, This Last Week, Elections And The FutureBonus: RFC's Department of Water & Power with Edward RingSolar power glut boosts California electric bills. Other states reap the benefitsBiden administration outlines options for addressing Colorado River water shortages

    Episode 364: Drinking the California Kool-Aid

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 59:16


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:The Jonestown Massacre, November 18, 1978What's taking California so long to count its ballots from Election Day?California Gov. Kamala Harris? New poll finds she'd have a clear advantageTrump nearly beats Harris in Latino Imperial County, and a GOP Assembly candidate beats his Dem opponentAssemblyman James Gallagher sends open letter to President-elect Trump to solve California's problemsUnion goes scorched earth — against a DemAnthony Rendon holds up a nation infamous for ethnic cleansing as a model for CaliforniaCalifornia oversight commission proposes solutions to state's home insurance crisisA $6.8 million L.A. County program promised free food carts for vendors. It hasn't delivered

    Episode 363: A Message to Our Liberal Friends

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 49:53


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Trump Didn't Deserve to Win, But We Deserved to Lose

    Episode 362: The Return of the Resistance State

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 87:12


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:David: What to Pay Attention to in the Election ResultsDavid: The Arrogance of Celebrity: How Kamala Harris's Strategy BackfiredLA Times: Democrats keep expecting white women to save them, and they keep getting burnedNewsom goes on offensive against TrumpTrump made ‘significant gains' with Latino voters in 2024 election. Is it true for California?Early results show Santa Ana voters rejecting measure that would allow non US-citizens to voteThe diminishing path to a Democratic House majority runs through CaliforniaDemocrats have one last shot at keeping power in Washington. Can they win the House?Newsom launches rescue mission for rejected Prop 1 ballots

    Episode 361: Newsom's Gas Pain

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 61:52


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow NotesHobart "Hobie" Alter (October 31, 1933-March 29, 2014)Trump's Ridiculous Media Gambit Roasted as it Crashes and BurnsDaughter of L.A. Times owner says endorsement decision stemmed from Harris stance on Gaza WarDistrict Attorney will ask court to resentence Menendez BrothersProtest of S.F.'s Scott Wiener at kids' event ‘textbook antisemitism,' Jewish leaders sayValero could be next to shutter California oil refineriesIndia, South Korea, the Middle East: Where California will get its gasoline when Phillips refinery shuts downDespite spending billions on climate-change initiatives, 84 percent of California's energy still comes from fossil fuelsCalifornia's violent crime rate rose somewhat in 2023 and remains above pre-pandemic levels.California Governor Newsom touts crime drop, local data less rosyNewsom calls for big boost in funding for California's film and TV tax credit, throwing Hollywood a lifelineRetirement benefits remain a sticking point in Boeing strike

    Episode 360: The Los Angeles Times Refuses to Endorse Kamala Harris

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 55:59


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela, who changed MLB by sparking Fernandomania, dies at 63My cancellation only proves my point about California's illiberalismQuetzalcoatl statue, San JoseLos Angeles Times won't endorse for presidentHarris rejects religious exemptions for abortionPhillips 66 is closing Wilmington-area refineries after more than a century, marking the end of an eraElon Musk's SpaceX sues California agency for political biasNewsom on SpaceX rejection: ‘I'm with Elon'Consultants and lobbyists are helping California cities raise your streaming prices

    Episode 359: Barney Fifedom

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 77:40


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Man arrested outside rally a ‘committed Trump supporter,' Clark County GOP chair saysThe human costs of Kamala Harris' war on truancyCalifornia deploys Urban Search and Rescue Task Force teams ahead of Hurricane MiltonGov. Newsom signs fuel storage bill to prevent gas price spikesAs Newsom urges refinery controls, California regulators consider hike in gas pricesCalifornia officials reject more SpaceX rocket launches, with some citing Musk's X postsSan Jose State volleyball team with transgender player says no more future matches have been forfeitedMark Zuckerberg is done with politicsDon't feel sorry for the Menendez BrothersCalifornia student test scores fall short but education officials ignore root causesCalifornia Teachers Pushed Anti-Israel Views In Classrooms After Oct. 7, Docs ShowAndrew Davenport on CPC's Municipal Fiscal Health DashboardFind the dashboard here

    Episode 358: Reality Fights

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 70:03


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes:Hey, Kamala: David has a name – it's cohost of Radio Free California!Kamala Harris's campaign manager is Julie Chávez Rodríguez, a Central Valley-born and raised granddaughter of Cesar ChavezMagic Johnson campaigns with Harris in MichiganInside Stanford's fight to keep a precious diary about China's troubled pastJudge temporarily blocks new California election deepfake law, citing First AmendmentBill to end legacy and donor-preferred admissions to California colleges signed  into law by Gov. NewsomGov. Newsom says baseball saved him. But the legend of his career doesn't always match the reality

    Episode 357: Kill Bills!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 75:01


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show Notes:Chattel slavery: formal apology.New California law bans Native American mascots at K-12 schoolsCalifornia is first state to banish Froot Loops from school cafeteriasGov. Newsom Signs Legislation Protecting Workers From Forced Political and Religious MessagingIs your closet full of old clothes? A new California law will require the fashion industry to take them back for freeBill To End Legacy & Donor-Preferred Admissions To CA Colleges Signed Into Law By Gov. NewsomBill separating new California warehouses from neighborhoods signed into lawGavin Newsom signs bill to expand IVF coverage in California, an election-year swipe at GOPResurrected bill forces insurers to fund IVF treatments for same-sex couples and singlesBan on local voter IDGavin Newsom's homeless accountability vetoSenator Wiener Responds To Governor Newsom Vetoing Landmark AI BillCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoes bill requiring speeding alerts in new carsGov. Newsom vetoes bill to help farmworkers who are working in extreme heat. Here's whyGov. Newsom vetoes bill to make undocumented immigrants eligible for home loans

    Episode 356: Kamala Harris Loves Small Businesses to Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024 99:06


    Email Usdbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCA Show NotesA's fans chant 'Sell the Team,' take home Coliseum dirt and seats during final gamesBefore the Oakland Coliseum there was Wrigley Field LA, opening Sept 29, 1925Remarks by Vice President Harris in a Moderated Conversation with Oprah Winfrey at a Unite for America 2024 EventCalifornia firefighters will soon have a 66-hour work week. Why Cal Fire will make the changeFaculty accuse UC campuses of labor violations over pro-Palestinian protest crackdownsCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom signs plastic grocery bag ban Newsom vetoes bill to study reparations for families displaced at Chavez RavineNewsom vetoes 2nd bill to help undocumented immigrants, this one about hiring UC, CSU studentsThis California law could break your kid's social media addictionElementary students in Elk Grove Unified need parental permission to participate in extracurricularsBreed has dodged scandals before. This one might actually stickThe Dream Keeper projectSteven Greenhut on the history of Chavez RavineAbuse Of Power: How The Government Misuses Eminent DomainChavez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story

    Episode 355: Prop-O-Rama!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 77:17


    Will and Cal Policy government affairs director Lance Christensen discuss the ten propositions on California's November ballot. Music by Metalachi.

    Episode 354: Giving California Workers the Boot

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 79:21


    Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:California Legislature quietly spends millions on Italian stonework for Capitol Annex ProjectTrump's threat to withhold firefighting aid to California is blasted by firefighters unionBehind the scenes of Trump's Rancho Palos Verdes meeting with the city's mayorMy Kid Has a Firm Reason Not to Vote for Kamala Harris. I'm Not Sure How to Respond.How Kamala Harris Fought to Keep Nonviolent Prisoners Locked UpKamala Harris Was Not a ‘Progressive Prosecutor'The Blue State Family Exodus: Families are migrating to red and purple statesThis California beach city just barred people from smoking in their own apartments, condosSanta Ana benches a teacher for too much transparencyHarry Angell on Substack

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