One-On-One Interview with State Senator Tony Strickland

Today’s one-on-one features State Senator Tony Strickland—back in Sacramento after a 12-year gap and swinging. We talk about how the Capitol has changed, why the GOP caucus culture matters, and what it takes to win message-wars when you’re outnumbered. Tony traces a through-line from his last vote before terming out—to his first bill back.. From there, we dig into cap-and-trade’s hidden tax hikes, why SB 237 (Grayson) fast-tracking in-state energy permits became inevitable, and how a push to unionize rideshare drivers will jack up prices and shrink opportunity. Housing comes up, too—the new “bus-stop density” model that steamrolls suburban neighborhoods—and we connect the dots to Prop 50’s power-grab redistricting scheme. Tony contrasts past governors who engaged legislators with Newsom’s presidential-fever aloofness, then explains when and why Republicans “lay off” votes. We close with a quick-hit lightning round and a practical call to action for defeating Prop 50 in what’s likely to be a very low-turnout fight.

Topics covered

• Why Strickland returned; how Sacramento changed

• How are Strickland’s last vote when he left 12 years ago and first vote back when he returned connected?

• Cap-and-trade extension and gas-price impacts

• SB 237 and accelerating in-state energy production

• Unionizing Lyft/Uber drivers and consumer costs

• Transit-adjacent density and suburban pushback

• Newsom’s disengagement vs. prior governors

• When/why does the GOP “lays off” votes

• Prop 50: maps, messaging, and how to help defeat it

• Lightning round: presidents, world leaders, CA’s #1 problem, who does Strickland see as an up and coming legislator?

If you get down this far, I can tell you that a month into these one-on-one podcasts I’m still suffering from operator error. Because I had a box incorrectly checked, even though the Senator and I thought we were recording video, it only took the audio. So this week you get an audio interview!

Morning posts are mostly free — in fact free subscribers really get a full post. But sometimes I add something for paid subscribers. For $7/month or $70/year, you’ll always get the extras while supporting independent writing.

On podcasts, there is always “one more thing” that I talk about with our guest, that is below the paywall. Strickland surprises me, and embarrasses me, actually!