Southern California faced the devastation of multiple massive, destructive wildfire outbreaks last week – some of the worst in the state’s history. We have to ask – were these fires preventable? How could they have spread so quickly and destroyed entire communities? What policy decisions allowed this – or worse, enabled it? I’m your host, Tess Abraham, and we will be looking at the policy failures made by our elected leaders and their catastrophic results on this week’s episode of The California Conversation!

Resources to Help with LA Wildfires:

Volunteer: LA Dream Center – www.dreamcenter.org/volunteer/

My Safe LA – www.mysafela.org/volunteer

American Red Cross Los Angeles Region – redcross.org/local/California/los-angeles/volunteer

Hearts in Action LA - https://heartsinaction.org/volunteer/

LA Animal Services - https://www.laanimalservices.com/about-volunteering

Donate

LA Dream Center Donations – www.donate.dreamcenter.org

Every Life – https://everylife.com/products/buy-for-a-cause?selling_plan=5498536216

Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles – www.habitatla.org/support-us

Partnerships:

CURIE: Get 10% off nontoxic deodorant and other crunchy approved products at Curie with my code, CURIETESSABRAHAM, or shop my link: curiebod.com/CURIETESSABRAHAM

AMALLOW: Get 15% off clean skincare at Amallow Tallow with my code, LXZ-ZT0ABC7, or shop my link: https://loox.io/z/RLSzVN4Wd

Website & Sources: For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/california-wildfires-2025. Link to sign the petition for the resignation of Mayor Karen Bass: https://www.change.org/p/demand-the-immediate-resignation-of-mayor-karen-bass

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The Biden Administration just took action to approve California’s groundbreaking mandate that all new cars sold in the state in 2035 must be electric vehicles. President Trump is touting that he will rescind that approval upon his return to office. Just what is going on in California with electric vehicles? Is Newsom’s new mandate realistic and attainable with the next ten years? I’m your host Tess Abraham, and we will be covering how the shift to electric cars affects YOUR life on today’s episode of The California Conversation!

Partnerships:

CURIE: Get 10% off nontoxic deodorant and other crunchy approved products at Curie with my code, CURIETESSABRAHAM, or shop my link: curiebod.com/CURIETESSABRAHAM

AMALLOW: Get 15% off clean skincare at Amallow Tallow with my code, LXZ-ZT0ABC7, or shop my link: https://loox.io/z/RLSzVN4Wd

Website & Sources: For more information about the podcast, please visit thecaliforniaconversation.com. For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/california-ev-mandates. Here's the link to let me know what you want to see from the show in 2025: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/contact

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 - 00:04:05 Controversy over EV Mandate

00:04:06 - 00:08:23 How did we get here?

00:08:24 - 00:10:17 Current Status of Progress Made

00:10:18 - 00:11:26 New Partnership! Amallow Skincare

00:11:27 - 00:18:05 Consumer Concerns about EVs

00:18:06 - 00:23:20 Real Implications of EV Mandates

00:23:21 - 00:26:11 Final Thoughts

As 2024 ends, where is your hope rooted for 2025? How will you weather the political storms that may come our way, as both a country and as a state? I’m your host, Tess Abraham, and I want to give you some encouragement on where true hope can be found on this week’s episode of The California Conversation!

Partnerships:

CURIE: Get 10% off nontoxic deodorant and other crunchy approved products at Curie with my code, CURIETESSABRAHAM, or shop my link: curiebod.com/CURIETESSABRAHAM

AMALLOW: Get 15% off clean skincare at Amallow Tallow with my code, LXZ-ZT0ABC7, or shop my link: https://loox.io/z/RLSzVN4Wd

Website & Sources: For more information about the podcast, please visit thecaliforniaconversation.com. For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/new-year-2024. Here's the link to let me know what you want to see from the show in 2025: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/contact

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 - 00:02:07 Show Introduction & Call to Hear from You!

00:02:07 - 00:03:41 New Brand Partnership - Curie

00:03:42 - 00:06:59 Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025

00:07:00 - 00:13:30 The Price of Politics & Examples of Political Failures

00:13:31 - 00:15:07 The Beauty of Purpose

00:15:08 - 00:18:21 Where True Hope is Found

00:18:22 - 00:19:47 Takeaways for Californians

Governor Gavin Newsom called for an emergency session to safeguard California’s laws and values before President Trump takes office in January. One of the issues at the forefront of the conversation is our state's status as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. But not everyone across California is on board with the Governor’s actions, including one outspoken Sheriff in Southern California. I’m your host, Tess Abraham, and we’ll be covering everything you need to know about California’s immigration laws on this week’s episode of The California Conversation!

Website & Sources: For more information about the podcast, please visit thecaliforniaconversation.com. For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/fighting-trump. To find your Senate or Assembly representative and information on how to contact them about our sanctuary state laws, check out my Resources Article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/resources.

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 - 00:01:25 Show Introduction

00:01:26 - 00:03:45 San Diego Battle Between Policy & Sheriff’s Office

00:03:46 - 00:05:02 Coalition Against President Trump

00:05:03 - 00:11:44 Current State Law – Sanctuary Status

00:11:45 - 00:17:26 Real-Life Impacts of Sanctuary Status

00:17:27 - 00:21:40 Government's Responsibility to Protect its Citizens

00:21:41 - 00:26:03 State Defiance of Federal Law

00:26:04 - 00:29:02 Protection of Illegal Immigrants

00:29:03 - 00:30:17 Takeaways

Assembly Bill 28 adds an 11% excise tax to the purchase of guns and ammunition in the State of California. The revenue is supposed to fund programs and initiatives to prevent gun violence, addressing the rise in gun crime we’ve seen over the past 5 years. But how exactly are these initiatives planning to increase safety, and has their effectiveness been proven? How do our second amendment rights factor into this? I’m your host Tess Abraham, and we are diving deep into the world of gun ownership, public safety, and constitutional rights on this week’s episode of The California Conversation!

Website & Sources: For more information about the podcast, please visit thecaliforniaconversation.com. For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/ab-28. To find your Senate or Assembly representative and information on how to contact them about AB 28, check out my Resources Article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/article/resources.

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 - 00:01:30 Show Introduction

00:01:31 - 00:02:46 Summary of AB 28

00:02:47 - 00:06:08 Background - California's Gun Laws

00:06:09 - 00:08:32 Financial Implications

00:08:33 - 00:10:56 Purpose of AB 28

00:10:57 - 00:18:39 Funding What?

00:18:40 - 00:23:42 Response - Points of Agreement

00:23:43 - 00:27:19 Response - Questions About AB 28

00:27:20 - 00:31:11 Response - Areas of Disagreement

00:31:12 - 00:32:37 Takeaways

Assembly Bill 1955, known as the SAFETY Act, prohibits school districts from requiring teachers to notify parents of changes in their child’s pronouns or gender identity. Proponents say this helps to create a safe environment for students to be themselves, but the bill has drawn stark opposition from those advocating for parent’s rights. Join me as we cover all of this and more on today's episode of The California Conversation!

Website & Sources:

For more information about the podcast, please visit thecaliforniaconversation.com. For sources used in researching today's episode, and resources referenced, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/ab-1955.

Where to find your representatives and how to contact them: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/who-are-my-representatives

Template for Opposing AB 1955: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/s/Template-for-AB-1955.pdf

Alliance Defending Freedom: https://adflegal.org/

Pacific Justice Institute: https://pacificjustice.org/

ADF Parent Guide for Navigating Gender Ideology in Schools: https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/public/2023-08/ADFD_AD_Parental%20Rights%20Guide_DESKTOP_FINAL2_20230810_SECURE.pdf

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Timestamps:

With Thanksgiving just two days away, I want to take the time this week to reflect on what we can be thankful for this year, especially as it relates to legislation passed in 2024, shifts in political patterns after the election, and some characteristics of California overall! Think of today's episode like your Thanksgiving dinner - a mashup of all different topics meant to help you as you celebrate the holiday!

Website & Sources: For more information about the podcast, please visit thecaliforniaconversation.com. For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/thanksgiving-2024.

For the California election shift map referred to in today's episode, check out this article: https://www.sfchronicle.com/election/article/trump-vote-california-county-19897935.php

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Senate Bill 450 limits the autonomy of local governments across California to pass housing restrictions protecting single family zoning. Should the state restrict the power of local governments in matters of residential housing? And, is single family zoning important to preserve, or does it promote discrimination and racial segregation? I'm your host, Tess Abraham, and join me as we talk about all of this and so much more on today's episode!

Website & Sources: For more information about the podcast, please visit thecaliforniaconversation.com. For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/sb-450. To find your Senate or Assembly representative and information on how to contact them about SB 450, check out the Secretary of State's website at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/who-are-my-representatives.

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 - 00:01:30 Show Introduction

00:01:31 - 00:07:45 Background (SB 9)

00:07:46 - 00:12:29 Summary of SB 450

00:12:30 - 00:16:07 Why Legislation Matters

00:16:08 - 00:20:48 Big vs. Small Government

00:20:49 - 00:25:20 Protection of Single-Family Zoning

00:25:21 - 00:30:15 Is Single-Family Zoning Racist?

00:30:16 - 00:31:18 Action Items & Show Conclusion