Guest: Steve Westly - Founder, 21st Century Alliance & Former CA State Controller

Guest Bio

Steve Westly is a business leader, investor, and former California State Controller who has spent decades working to make state government more efficient and accountable. A longtime supporter of education and economic innovation, Steve brings both private-sector and public-sector experience to bear on some of California’s most stubborn challenges. His expertise spans budgets, accountability, public education, and housing policy, making him a leading voice for reform-minded solutions in the Golden State.

Show Summary

California is the world’s 4th largest economy — so why does the state struggle with massive budget deficits? In this thoughtful conversation, Steve Westly joins Jon to break down what’s gone wrong with the state budget, why education keeps failing students, and how outdated policies have fueled California’s housing crisis.

From the rise of unsustainable spending to the need for a more accountable state workforce, Steve lays out hard truths about what really holds California back. He also shares an optimistic vision for how voters, civic leaders, and the next generation of policymakers can turn things around. Whether you’re frustrated by fraud and waste or still hopeful about California’s potential, this episode offers a clear look at how we might rebuild the California Dream.

Chapters

00:00 – California’s Success: The Bigger Picture

02:00 – Public Education’s Broken Promises

04:30 – The Science of Reading and Reform

06:30 – The Real Role of Teachers’ Unions

08:30 – Budget Bloat and California’s Spending Problem

11:00 – Where to Start Cutting Costs

13:00 – Holding State Agencies Accountable

15:00 – Fraud, Waste, and Missed Oversight

17:00 – The Housing Affordability Nightmare

19:30 – Fixing CEQA and Building Faster

22:00 – Why He Still Believes in California

23:30 – 2026 Elections: Can Real Change Happen?

25:30 – Who Can Lead California Forward?

27:00 – Rapid Fire: Best California Leaders

29:00 – What Outsiders Get Wrong About California

30:00 – What Gives Steve Hope for California’s Future

Connect with Steve

X: https://x.com/SteveWestly

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevewestly/

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevewestly/

Website: https://westlygroup.com/steve-westly/

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: Elizabeth Barcohana - Commentator, Activist & LA County RCC Member

Guest Bio

Elizabeth Barcohana is an attorney, mother of four, and a rising voice in California’s Republican Party. After working at a major law firm while raising her young family in Los Angeles, Elizabeth entered politics during the COVID school closures, driven by frustration over policies that put unions and politics ahead of kids’ education. She currently serves on the LA County Republican Central Committee, is a delegate to the California Republican Party, and a regular contributor on Fox News. Elizabeth’s core passion is voter registration, and her approach connects everyday issues in people’s homes to bigger political forces – making her one of the most influential new voices in California conservative circles.

Show Summary

What will it take for Republicans to actually win in California? In this energizing mini-episode, Elizabeth Barcohana joins Jon to break down how voter registration determines everything from strategy to outcomes for the Republican party in California – and why independents might actually be hurting their own cause. If you’ve wondered whether change is really possible in deep-blue California, this episode is for you.

Chapters

00:00 – Why School Closures Sparked Elizabeth’s Activism
01:00 – Understanding Voter Registration’s Hidden Power
02:30 – The Data That Drives Political Strategy
04:00 – How Independents Marginalize Themselves
05:00 – Project 460K: A Viral Idea Is Born
06:30 – How a Conversation on X Went Viral
08:00 – Final Thoughts on California’s Future

Connect with Elizabeth

• X: https://x.com/e_barcohana?lang=en
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethfromcalifornia/# #
• Website: https://www.elizabethbarcohana.com

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: Dan Schnur - Professor, Strategist, and Former California FPPC Chair

Guest Bio

Dan Schnur is a veteran political strategist, educator, and commentator who has worked on four presidential campaigns, three gubernatorial campaigns, and served as Director of Communications for Governor Pete Wilson. A former Republican turned No Party Preference candidate, he teaches politics at UC Berkeley, USC, and Pepperdine.

Dan is widely respected as a “raging moderate” — someone who believes in conservative ideas on some issues, progressive solutions on others, and independent thought across the board. His insights on political reform, California's party system, and civic leadership have made him a leading voice for restoring balance to public life.

Show Summary

Why has California become so politically imbalanced — and is there any hope of restoring healthy political competition? In this thoughtful episode, political reformer and professor Dan Schnur joins host Jon Slavet to break down the state’s broken system, rising polarization, and the slow collapse of civic trust.

From why Republicans have lost ground in the state to the strategic failure of independents, Dan shares lessons from the frontlines of politics and education. The conversation spans how special interests captured the system, and what we can learn from past leaders like Hiram Johnson, Ronald Reagan, and Pat Brown. If you’re tired of the same partisan noise, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at how we got here — and where the hope still lives.

Chapters

00:00 – Why Dan Schnur Calls Himself a “Raging Moderate”

02:15 – The Collapse of Political Role Models

04:48 – Why Gen Z Is Leaving Politics Behind

06:03 – California’s One-Party Problem

07:20 – How Republicans Lost California

09:24 – Advice for a 2026 GOP Governor Candidate

11:45 – Behind the Scenes of the GOP Convention

12:22 – Who’s at Fault for California’s Biggest Problems?

14:05 – Why Extremes on Both Sides Are to Blame

15:47 – Rating California’s Corruption (1–10)

17:22 – How Special Interests Shape the State

19:28 – The Real Reason California’s Economy Is Struggling

21:00 – What “Independent” Really Means in CA Politics

23:15 – Why Our Ballots Confuse Voters

25:03 – What Dan Learned Running for Office

26:45 – Lessons from Pete Wilson’s Leadership

28:59 – Do We Still Have Leaders Willing to Lose Their Job for What’s Right?

30:00 – Why Most Politicians Can’t “Do Trump”

32:42 – Best Advice for Politicians on Communication

34:22 – What Outsiders Don’t Get About California

35:05 – Most Admired California Leaders

36:10 – What Gives Dan Hope About the State’s Future

Connect with Dan

• X: https://x.com/danschnur
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-schnur-1625a4/
• Website: https://www.danschnurpolitics.com/

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