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🎙️ This Week on the So, Does It Matter? Podcast — Assemblywoman Alexandra “Ali” Macedo
This week, So, Does It Matter? The Podcast returns with a wide-ranging conversation featuring Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo, a Central Valley Republican in her first term in the California Legislature. I am Jon Fleischman, publisher of So, Does It Matter?, and in this episode, I sit down with Assemblywoman Macedo for a candid discussion about her background, her path into public service, and her early experiences navigating Sacramento. Ali shares her personal story — growing up on a farm, working in agricultural compliance, attending law school while managing a business, and ultimately deciding to run for office after seeing firsthand how state policies affect rural communities.
From there, the conversation turns to what it is actually like to serve as a Republican in California’s Legislature. Ali offers a firsthand account of her first legislative session, including committee assignments, internal Capitol politics, and the realities of operating in a super-minority. She describes moments where pushing back — on issues like high-speed rail, redistricting, and regulatory overreach — came with real consequences inside the institution.
We also discuss California’s redistricting process, the influence of special interests, the role of unelected bureaucracies, and how policy decisions are often driven more by politics than outcomes. Along the way, Ali reflects on lessons learned, the importance of persistence, and why she believes that showing up and asking uncomfortable questions still matter.
The episode wraps with a lighter lightning-round segment that gives listeners a better sense of Ali beyond the Capitol — her influences, interests, and priorities — rounding out a conversation that is both substantive and personal.
This episode is designed as a true “get to know you” discussion — offering listeners a clear view of who Assemblywoman Macedo is, how she thinks, and what she has encountered during her first year in Sacramento.
🎥 Watch the full conversation above — and find the video and podcast players below.
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Useful Links…
Assemblywoman Macedo’s official X account.
Here is her non-government (campaign) X account.
And here is Macedo’s campaign website.
Jon Fleischman on X.
Below are two items we reference in the main interview….
One focuses on an Assembly Elections Committee hearing during the lightning “Blitzkreig” attack by Democrats, as they rammed redistricting legislation (that would become Prop. 50) through the legislature. Ali didn’t go down without a fight.
And then that week’s Winners & Losers column, where I featured Ali in a great cartoon!
And here are links to the campaign websites of the two Republican Assembly candidates Ali mentions in the “One More Thing” section…
Mike Ellis For State Assembly
Join the growing community of hundreds of readers who get 100% of Jon’s reporting and analysis. Free subscribers see about 60%—but the whole picture, the deeper dives, and the extras are reserved for paid members. If you value independent journalism that cuts through the noise, this is the place to stand with me. All the reasons to upgrade are right here—come inside. It’s priced at less than half of what Substack recommends… Start with a free trial!
EXCLUSIVE “ONE MORE THING” EXTRA VIDEO BELOW…
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