Episode 1: Gov. Jerry Brown

Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown Jr. is the 34th and 39th governor of California."We’re dealing with news. We’re dealing with the Texas abortion statute, a recall, polarization, Obama, Biden, McConnell… This is all the hurlyburly of politics. Government as I experienced it is more mundane. You show up—first of all, you’ve got to hire a staff. The Legislature puts in 4,000 bills. They’ll probably land 1,200 on your desk. You sign 90% of them, but then you’ll have an issue, and reporters will be hounding you about this or that. At the end—and I’ve had the end, twice—of eight years, if you say to yourself, 'Well, what the hell really happened?', it takes a certain amount of humor and insight to formulate a worthwhile answer, in my opinion."Notes and references from this episode: California State of Mind, CalMatters / Capital Public RadioCalifornia Sun Podcast, The California SunThe California Report, KQEDLeading Lady, by Stu VanAirsdale, Sactown magazineCalifornia: The Great Exception, by Carey McWilliams“Demonym” definition, Merriam-Webster.comThe Browns of California: The Family Dynasty that Transformed a State and Shaped a Nation, by Miriam PawelThe Crusades of Cesar Chavez: A Biography, by Miriam PawelGregory Bateson at The California MuseumSteps to an Ecology of Mind, by Gregory Bateson“An Introduction to the Life and Spirituality of Dorothy Day,” by James Allaire and Rosemary Broughton, The Catholic Worker Movement=====Theme music by Sounds SupremeTwitter: @WhatCaliforniaSubstack newsletter: whatiscalifornia.substack.comSupport What is California? on Patreon: patreon.com/whatiscaliforniaEmail: hello@whatiscalifornia.comPlease subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And if you liked the show, please consider rating and reviewing What is California? on Apple Podcasts! It helps new listeners find the show.