About So, Does It Matter? - on CA Politics - Podcasts!
California is by far the largest state in the country. What happens here affects the country and the world. What happens here, from big cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose, to the breadbasket of the Central Valley, is consequential. This podcast is a feature of the extensive www.SoDoesItMatter.com Substack Newsletter (sign up for free). This is where longtime California conservative strategist Jon Fleischman features audio commentary, primarily interviews with people of consequence in California politics and policy.
We actually have two Podcast feeds. The other is So, Does It Matter? SPOKEN — listen to audio versions of the posts on the Substack page. You can check that out here" https://sodoesitmatterspoken.transistor.fm/
Jon Fleischman is a former Executive Director of the California Republican Party and a veteran of hundreds of political campaigns. He is a frequent voice on cable shows, in California newspapers, and on podcasts, discussing a wide range of topics, but mostly...California politics!
Official 2016 California Ballot Proposition Voting Guide - Explanations and Recommendations
California voters will decide 14 statewide ballot measures on November 3, 2026.
In this Ballot Proposition Special, Jon Fleischman and California Policy Center CEO Will Swaim go measure by measure, explaining what each proposition would do and sharing where they stand on it.
The conversation covers bonds, taxes, housing, voter identification, public campaign financing, recall elections, health care spending and reform of the California Environmental Quality Act.
Jon and Will’s recommendations:
VOTE NO: Propositions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 37, 38, 40 and 44
VOTE YES: Propositions 39, 41, 42, 43 and 45
CHAPTERS
00:00 — Welcome to the Ballot Proposition Special
01:23 — Meet Will Swaim
03:15 — What Is the California Policy Center?
03:53 — Proposition 1: Housing Affordability Bonds — NO
06:48 — Proposition 2: California’s Rainy-Day Fund — NO
09:15 — Proposition 3: Permanent High-Income Tax — NO
12:36 — Proposition 4: Public Campaign Financing — NO
15:37 — Proposition 5: Statewide Recall Elections — NO
21:27 — Proposition 37: Middle-Income Homebuyer Loans — NO
26:08 — Proposition 38: Immunology Research Bonds — NO
30:02 — Proposition 39: Voter Identification — YES
33:57 — Proposition 40: Billionaire Wealth Tax — NO
40:13 — Proposition 41: Spending Limits and Audits — YES
44:06 — Proposition 42: Personal Property and Retroactive Taxes — YES
46:28 — Proposition 43: Local Tax Vote Requirements — YES
51:44 — Proposition 44: Community Health Clinic Spending — NO
55:37 — Proposition 45: CEQA and Environmental Review Reform — YES
58:14 — Final Thoughts and the Downloadable Voter Guide
USEFUL LINKS
Jon Fleischman’s complete 2026 California Ballot Measure Voter Guide:
https://www.sodoesitmatter.com/p/our-official-ca-2026-general-election (https://www.sodoesitmatter.com/p/our-official-ca-2026-general-election)
California’s 14 qualified statewide ballot measures:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures (https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures)
California Official Voter Information Guide:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voter-information-guides (https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voter-information-guides)
November 3, 2026 election information and deadlines:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026 (https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026)
Check your California voter registration status:
https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/ (https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/)
So, Does It Matter?:
https://www.sodoesitmatter.com (https://www.sodoesitmatter.com)
California Policy Center:
https://californiapolicycenter.org (https://californiapolicycenter.org)
National Review’s Radio Free California podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/national-reviews-radio-free-california-podcast/id1272856118 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/national-reviews-radio-free-california-podcast/id1272856118)
Jon Fleischman on X:
https://x.com/flashreport (https://x.com/flashreport)
Will Swaim on X:
https://x.com/WillSwaim (https://x.com/WillSwaim)
The opinions and voting recommendations expressed in this episode belong to the speakers. Listeners should consult California’s Official Voter Information Guide before voting.
5 Aug 2026
Straight Talk: OCGOP's Will O’Neill On California’s Energy Crisis, A New Assembly Republican Leader, The Governor’s Race, And Political Bias At The Orange County Fair
California gas prices, foreign oil dependence and Gavin Newsom’s energy policies take center stage in this conversation with Will O’Neill, chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County and former two-time mayor of Newport Beach.
O’Neill joins Jon Fleischman to argue that California’s taxes, regulations and declining refinery capacity are raising prices while making the state increasingly reliant on imported oil. He explains why he views that dependence—particularly on energy routed through Asia and the Middle East—as an economic and national-security concern.
Jon and Will also discuss new Assembly Republican Leader Ali Macedo, the challenge of breaking California’s Democratic supermajority, Steve Hilton’s call for Xavier Becerra to debate, and a political controversy involving the Orange County Fair.
TOPICS DISCUSSED
California gas prices and refinery closures
Newsom’s oil and energy policies
California’s reliance on foreign oil
China, the Middle East and national security
Ali Macedo’s Assembly Republican leadership
Steve Hilton’s debate challenge to Xavier Becerra
Political-party booths and controversial artwork at the Orange County Fair
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome and introduction
01:01 Meet Will O’Neill
03:04 California gas prices and Newsom’s oil policies
04:22 Foreign oil and national security
08:01 Newsom, China and overseas dependence
12:50 Ali Macedo becomes Assembly Republican leader
18:37 Will Xavier Becerra debate Steve Hilton?
23:38 The Orange County Fair controversy
29:53 Follow Will O’Neill
30:49 Closing thoughts
ABOUT THE GUEST
Will O’Neill is chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County, a former two-time mayor of Newport Beach and a practicing attorney.
Follow Will on Instagram and Facebook: @RealWillONeill
What do you think? Are California’s energy policies protecting the environment—or exporting production, increasing foreign dependence and raising prices at home?
Subscribe to So Does It Matter? for more straight talk about California politics, public policy and the issues affecting everyday Californians.
26 Jun 2026
Winning: HJTA Brings Dems To The Table To And Gets Fix To Prop. 13 Loophole, To Preserve The Two-Thirds Vote Requirement On Local Taxes
Yesterday, with only hours left before the deadline, one of the most consequential taxpayer deals in recent California political history came together in Sacramento.
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association withdrew its qualified Save Prop. 13 initiative after legislative leaders and Governor Newsom agreed to place ACA 22 on the November ballot and remove ACA 13.
In this episode, Jon Fleischman explains what the original initiative would have done, why the Upland loophole matters, what taxpayers won, what was given up, and why the deal matters for the future of local taxes in California.
This is a real win for taxpayers — but it came with concessions.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
3.4 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Contact So, Does It Matter? - on CA Politics - Podcasts!
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of So, Does It Matter? - on CA Politics - Podcasts!?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
