Guest: Assemblyman David Tangipa

Guest Bio

David Tangipa is the youngest member of the California State Assembly, representing the Fresno area. A proud son of Tongan immigrants and a disabled U.S. veteran, David brings a powerful voice shaped by lived experience in underserved communities. His early career in local politics and public safety set the stage for his bold entry into state leadership.

David is known for speaking hard truths on California’s fiscal irresponsibility, skyrocketing cost of living, and the dangerous policies impacting youth and public safety. Whether it’s exposing the flaws in California’s energy mandates or leading the charge to make child sex trafficking a serious felony, Tangipa is part of a new generation of leaders demanding accountability, common sense, and reform in California.

Show Summary

In this electrifying conversation, Assemblyman David Tangipa joins State of Gold to deliver a scathing critique of California’s budget crisis and misguided crime policies. As the youngest member of the State Assembly, Tangipa calls out the political cowardice and ideological extremism that’s bankrupting the state — and lays out a bold vision for change.

From personal stories about growing up in one of the state’s toughest neighborhoods and losing a family member to sex trafficking, to hard-hitting facts about California’s massive budget deficit and energy mismanagement – this episode pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening in Sacramento. Tangipa reveals how just dozens of wealthy individuals are propping up the state budget — and why we’re one economic hiccup away from collapse.

A must-listen for anyone concerned about California’s future, this episode proves why Tangipa is one of the most important up-and-coming voices in state politics today.

Chapters

00:00 – Why California’s Budget is a Moral Crisis

01:30 – Meet David Tangipa: Youngest Assemblyman, Son of Immigrants

03:20 – From Food Lines to the State House: A Personal Mission

05:15 – Budget Breakdown: Why the Math No Longer Works

07:00 – The $9.6B Surprise Cost Nobody Saw Coming

08:45 – Who Really Pays California’s Bills? (Hint: A Few Dozen People)

10:50 – Why the Legislature Won’t Make Hard Cuts

13:15 – A Personal Story: Losing a Family Member to Sex Trafficking

15:00 – The Fight for Felony Protections for Minors

17:00 – How Ideology is Blinding Public Safety Policy

19:00 – The “Compassionate Racism” No One Talks About

21:00 – Fixing Energy Costs with Common Sense Reform

23:00 – Why Government Expansion is Driving California’s Collapse

24:30 – What Young Voters Really Want

26:00 – Gen Z Is More Conservative Than You Think

27:00 – Why $900K Homes are Pushing People Out

28:30 – Tangipa’s Vision: A California that Works for Californians

30:00 – Lightning Round: Favorite Leader, Biggest Misconception, What Gives Him Hope

Connect with David

• X: https://x.com/DavidTangipa
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidjtangipa/?hl=en
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tong_ee_pa?_t=ZP-8xI2L7bsQFK&_r=1
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-tangipa-819877b2/
• Website: https://ad08.asmrc.org/

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to our podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the conversation on Instagram and LinkedIn with the hashtag #stateofgoldpodcast

Connect with State of Gold

• X: https://x.com/realjonslavet
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldpodcast/?hl=en
• Website: www.stateofgold.com

Guest:

Gloria Romero - Former California Senate Majority Leader

Guest Bio

Gloria Romero is the former Majority Leader of the California State Senate and a long-time advocate for education reform. With a PhD in psychology and her fearless approach, she has challenged powerful special interests from inside and outside the Capitol. In 2023, she made headlines by switching from Democrat to Republican, publicly endorsing Trump, and speaking out about the dysfunction in both Sacramento and the national Democratic Party.

Romero is also the architect of the Parent Trigger Law and the Romero Open Enrollment Act, empowering parents in failing districts to fight for better education options. Today, she continues to lead conversations around public accountability, school choice, and breaking the monopoly of the teachers’ unions on California’s education system.

Show Summary

Gloria Romero is no stranger to controversy — and in this episode, she brings the fire. From walking away from the Democratic Party to calling out the teachers’ union grip on California schools, Romero unpacks why she left, what she’s fighting for, and how parents can reclaim control of a broken system.

She reflects on her political awakening, the moment she saw the party’s values slip away, and the blowback that followed her switch. Romero also breaks down why only 8% of Black fourth graders in California read at grade level — and why it's not about race but about a system built to serve adults over students. This is a must-watch for anyone who cares about education, political courage, and the future of California.

Chapters

00:00 – Leaving the Democratic Party: The Awakening

02:15 – Gloria Romero's Background in Politics & Education

04:30 – How Party Elites Rigged the Primary (Clooney, Pelosi, Schumer)

06:40 – Why Other Legislators Don’t Speak Up

08:20 – The Teachers’ Union’s Grip on California

10:05 – Education in Crisis: Just 8% of Black Students Proficient in Reading

12:14 – Why the System Is Built for Adults, Not Students

14:02 – CEQA for Schools: Bureaucracy Over Kids

15:55 – Rebuilding Accountability and Real Governance

18:30 – The Parent Trigger Law: Why It’s Been Neutered

20:15 – Homeschooling, Charter Schools & Parental Rights

22:40 – Advice for Parents and Citizens: Take Action Now

25:02 – Gloria’s Vision for a Better California

27:30 – Rapid Fire: Dictator for a Day, Leaders She Respects, & What Gives Her Hope

Connect with Sen. Gloria Romero

• X: https://x.com/GloriaJRomero
• Website: https://publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/academics/faculty/gloria-romero/

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to our podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the conversation on Instagram and LinkedIn with the hashtag #stateofgoldpodcast

Connect with State of Gold

• X: https://x.com/realjonslavet
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldpodcast/?hl=en
• Website: www.stateofgold.com

Guest:

Joe Patterson - Member of the California State Assembly

Guest Bio

Joe Patterson is a California State Assemblyman representing District 5 and a leading advocate for government transparency, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. A former Rocklin City Councilmember and father of four, Patterson brings a fresh, no-nonsense approach to Sacramento, calling out waste, bureaucracy, and special interest influence.

He has been one of the few voices in the Capitol speaking out about the fentanyl epidemic, the misuse of taxpayer funds, and the culture of secrecy enabled by non-disclosure agreements and political maneuvering. Known for challenging both parties when needed, Patterson is part of a new generation of leaders committed to restoring trust in California government.

Show Summary

What happens when a California legislator pulls back the curtain on Sacramento's dysfunction?

In this eye-opening episode, Assemblyman Joe Patterson joins Jon Slavet to expose the real issues behind government waste, legislative gridlock, and the California State Assembly’s failures on criminal justice policy. From billion-dollar vanity projects to the shocking refusal to make it a felony to purchase sex from a 16-year-old, Patterson shares why the state is falling short—and what must be done to fix it.

You’ll learn why he believes NDAs are the “enemy of accountability”, how fentanyl policy is failing families, and what transparency actually looks like in practice. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand how California politics really works behind the headlines—and what it will take to change the game.

Chapters

00:00 – Why Joe Patterson Chose to Serve
01:32 – The State Capitol’s NDA Problem
04:20 – Billion-Dollar Vanity Projects and Fake Transparency
07:48 – The Battle Over Fentanyl Legislation
10:01 – The Vote That Shocked Him: The 16-Year-Old Child Trafficking Loophole
12:34 – How Special Interests Quietly Kill Bills
15:03 – Patterson’s CEQA Reform Stance
17:40 – Why the Middle Class Is Being Decimated
20:19 – Inside the Budget: What They Don’t Want You to See
23:55 – What Real Transparency Requires
26:40 – Advice to Californians Who Want Change
28:30 – Patterson’s Hope for 2026 and Beyond

Connect with Joe:

• X: https://x.com/Patterdude?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patterdude/
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joepatterson82/Website: https://ad05.asmrc.org/

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to our podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the conversation on Instagram and LinkedIn with the hashtag #stateofgoldpodcast

Connect with State of Gold

• X: https://x.com/realjonslavet
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldpodcast/?hl=en
• Website: www.stateofgold.com

Guest:

Jennifer Hernandez – Partner, Holland & Knight

Guest Bio

Jennifer Hernandez is a legendary land use and environmental attorney at Holland & Knight, with over 30 years of experience leading legal battles for housing, equity, and environmental justice across California. Known for her fearless critique of the state’s broken regulatory system, she has become a powerful voice in the fight to reform CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act), and dismantle the bureaucratic gridlock strangling housing development in California.

She’s represented some of the state’s largest infrastructure and redevelopment projects, while also advocating for affordable housing in working-class communities. Jennifer’s insights have been featured in The New York Times, CalMatters, and academic journals, and she’s considered one of California’s most influential experts on land use law and environmental policy.

Show Summary

Why does it cost four times more to build affordable housing in California than in places like Colorado or Texas? In this episode, attorney and housing advocate Jennifer Hernandez joins Jon Slavet to break down how the environmental movement, trial lawyers, and Sacramento’s bureaucratic bloat have created a man-made crisis that’s crushing the working-class and working poor of California.

From exposing how CEQA has become a tool for extortion, to unpacking the rise of “procedural fetishism,” Jennifer shares how well-intended policies have been weaponized to block housing, bankrupt cities, and trap families in poverty — all while benefiting wealthy NIMBYs and entrenched special interests. This episode pulls no punches and offers real, actionable ideas for restoring affordability and restoring the California Dream.

Chapters

00:00 – California’s Housing Crisis Is Manmade

01:27 – Meet Jennifer Hernandez: Land Use Attorney & Reformer

03:15 – Rage, Betrayal, and the War on Working-Class Californians

05:31 – How CEQA Became a Hydra Blocking Housing

08:48 – Who’s Really Benefiting from Blocking Housing?

10:43 – Bureaucratic Bloat and 58,000 New State Employees

13:24 – CEQA as Extortion: The Lawsuits That Never End

15:39 – Why There Are No Cranes in San Francisco

17:44 – NIMBYism with an Environmental Halo

20:31 – Why These Policies Are Anti-Union and Anti-Minority

22:11 – The Masks of Climate Doom and “Equality of Outcome”

24:24 – The Real Fix: Comply with the Law, Then Build

26:31 – The Case for Ending Lawsuit Abuse in Housing

28:49 – RAND Study: 4 Units in CO = 1 in CA

31:03 – Why Fire-Prone Logic is Often Political Theater

33:25 – NIMBY Environmentalism as Class Warfare

34:31 – The One Executive Order That Could Change Everything

36:15 – Jennifer’s Most Admired CA Leader (Hint: It’s Not Newsom)

37:19 – California’s Climate Strategy: A Fraudulent Metric?

38:28 – Final Thoughts on What’s Broken — and What’s Next

Connect with Jennifer

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jhernandezca?_t=ZP-8xI5UD0ECzv&_r=1
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-hernandez-699b504/
• Website: https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/h/hernandez-jennifer-l

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to our podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the conversation on Instagram and LinkedIn with the hashtag #stateofgoldpodcast

Connect with State of Gold

• X: https://x.com/realjonslavet
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldpodcast/?hl=en
• Website: www.stateofgold.com

Guest:

David Crane - Founder, Govern for California

Guest Bio

David Crane is a businessman, educator, and former special advisor to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is the founder of Govern For California, an organization focused on strengthening democracy and advocating for fiscal responsibility and education reform. Known for his direct, data-driven approach, Crane has been one of the state's most vocal critics of public pension mismanagement and government overspending.

Show Summary

Is California headed for fiscal collapse? In this raw and unfiltered interview, David Crane—former budget advisor to Arnold Schwarzenegger—pulls back the curtain on the state’s financial dysfunction. From ballooning pension obligations to special interest power plays, Crane lays out the hard truths about where California’s money goes, why public services keep declining, and what it will actually take to fix it.

Recorded at David’s home in San Francisco, this conversation dives into the real reasons behind the state’s education crisis, the corruption behind public sector union politics, and why the next Governor will inherit a financial disaster. If you’ve ever wondered how the state with so much wealth can feel so broken, this episode explains it all.

Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Is California Failing Its Citizens?

01:10 – Meet David Crane & His Role with Governor Schwarzenegger

03:30 – Why Public Services Are Collapsing Despite Record Budget

07:00 – Political Cowardice & the Power of Special Interests

10:45 – The True Cost of Pension Mismanagement

13:25 – Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom & the Political Machine

18:10 – What Kind of Leader California Actually Needs

23:30 – Budget Corruption & Why Firefighters Can’t Get Funded

28:45 – What Makes San Francisco a Surprising Beacon of Hope

32:50 – David’s Vision for a Better-Run State

36:00 – Final Thoughts: Why It’s Up to the People to Demand Change

Connect with David

• X: https://x.com/davidgcrane
• Website: https://www.governforcalifornia.org/david-crane

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to our podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the conversation on Instagram and LinkedIn with the hashtag #stateofgoldpodcast

Connect with State of Gold

• X: https://x.com/realjonslavet
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldpodcast/?hl=en
• Website: www.stateofgold.com

California was once a beacon of prosperity, hope and innovation – symbolized by the Gold Rush, Hollywood and Silicon Valley. Today it’s the least affordable state in the nation and plagued by poverty, homelessness, and sky-high taxes. How did we get here, and how do we turn California around?

State of Gold is a media platform and citizens’ movement dedicated to restoring the California dream. Host and longtime real estate and tech executive Jon Slavet combines practical wisdom and insurgent energy, as he sits down with voices from across the spectrum.

The show will examine and promote the best ideas from any corner to solve the state’s most pressing issues. State of Gold cuts through the noise to explore what’s gone wrong in the Golden State – and what it’ll take to make things right.
🎧 New episodes every Tuesday.

#CaliforniaPolitics #StateOfGold #HousingCrisis #EducationReform

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to our podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the conversation on Instagram and LinkedIn with the hashtag #stateofgoldpodcast

Connect with State of Gold

• X: https://x.com/realjonslavet
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldpodcast/?hl=en
• Website: www.stateofgold.com