Earlier today, I hosted my very first Substack Live — a new experiment here at So, Does It Matter? where I step away from my keyboard and talk through the biggest developments in California politics in real time.
First, I want to say how genuinely encouraged I was by the turnout. A strong number of subscribers joined live, and it was great to see people actively engaging in the chat and asking questions as we went along. That real-time interaction adds a completely different dimension to a traditional post, making the discussion more dynamic and substantive.
For this inaugural session, I structured the conversation around several timely political topics. We started with the controversy surrounding Sheriff Chad Bianco’s recent comments on immigration and the potential political fallout within the Republican primary landscape. From there, I discussed the developing situation involving Congressman Kevin Kiley and Congressman Tom McClintock, and what a potential clash in District 5 could mean strategically for Republicans.
I also broke down the constant stream of polling in the California governor’s race — what these surveys actually signal, why campaigns selectively highlight them, and why early polling should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism. Another key segment focused on the upcoming California Republican Party convention, the increasingly insular nature of the endorsement process, and whether that inward focus helps or hurts the party's long-term competitiveness.
Toward the end, I began setting the table for a deeper discussion about San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and the narrative he is positioning himself as a more “practical” Democrat in his candidacy for Governor, and what that really means when you look at policy substance versus political branding.
Based on strong live participation, thoughtful questions, and overall engagement, I plan to make Substack Live a new weekly feature. I have not finalized the exact day and time yet, but I will announce a regular schedule soon—so stay tuned.
🎥 Watch the full conversation above — and find the video and podcast players below.
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