California on Your Mind

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California on Your Mind is a twice-weekly journal about California politics and economic policies, and how they affect California’s economy. At one time, California policies helped create the “California Dream” by fostering affordable housing, creating high-quality schools, and facilitating substantial infrastructure investments.

On The Verge Of Losing $4 Billion In Federal Funds, High Speed Rail Should Have Been Stopped Long Ago

Last week, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Notice of Intent to terminate two federal funding agreements totaling about $4 billion with the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). The FRA’s 300-page report cited systemic failures in management, funding, and schedule compliance in its decision.

June 13, 2025 By Lee Ohanian

via California on Your Mind

Articles

“Moments,” But Not Necessarily Momentum

June 18, 2025 By Bill Whalen

via California on Your Mind

California Sen. Padilla Delivers Speech On Removal From DHS Press Conference

Articles

The California Governor’s Race: Where The Stars Don’t Shine

June 4, 2025 By Bill Whalen

via California on Your Mind

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Periodicals

Eureka

A quarterly publication of the policy, political and economic issues confronting California.

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Podcast

Matters of Policy & Politics

A podcast hosted by Hoover fellow Bill Whalen devoted to matters of governance and balance of power at home and abroad.

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Economic Policy Challenges Facing California’s Next Governor

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Fellows in this Policy Area

Lee Ohanian

Senior Fellow, Author

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Lee Ohanian

Senior Fellow, Author

Lee E. Ohanian is a senior fellow (adjunct) at the Hoover Institution and a professor of economics and director of the Ettinger Family Program in Macroeconomic Research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is associate director of the Center for the Advanced Study in Economic Efficiency at Arizona State University and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, where he codirects the research initiative Macroeconomics across Time and Space. He is also a fellow in the Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory. His research focuses on economic crises, economic growth, and the impact of public policy on the economy. Ohanian is coeditor of Government Policies and Delayed Economic Recovery (Hoover Institution Press, 2012). He is an adviser to the Federal Reserve Banks of Minneapolis and St. Louis, has previously advised other Federal Reserve banks, foreign central banks, and the National Science Foundation, and has testified to national and state legislative committees on economic policy. He is on the editorial boards of Econometrica and Macroeconomic Dynamics. He is a frequent media commentator and writes for the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Investor’s Business Daily. He has won numerous teaching awards at UCLA and the University of Rochester. He previously served on the faculties of the Universities of Minnesota and Pennsylvania and as vice president at Security Pacific Bank. He received his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his PhD in economics from the University of Rochester.

Bill Whalen

Research Fellow, Author, Guest

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Bill Whalen

Research Fellow, Author, Guest

Bill Whalen, the Virginia Hobbs Carpenter Distinguished Policy Fellow in Journalism and a Hoover Institution research fellow since 1999, writes and comments on campaigns, elections and governance with an emphasis on California and America’s political landscapes. Whalen writes on politics and current events for The Washington Post and Real Clear Politics, as well as Hoover’s California On Your Mind web channel. Whalen hosts Hoover’s Matters of Policy & Politics podcast and serves as the moderator of Hoover’s GoodFellows broadcast exploring social, economic and geopolitical dynamics. He also is the host of The Hoover Book Club showcasing new releases by Hoover fellows. Whalen has been a guest political analyst on the Fox News Channel, MSNBC and CNN. He’s also a regular guest on the nationally syndicated radio shows hosted by John Batchelor and Lars Larson. Whalen has served as a media consultant for California political hopefuls and aspiring policy leaders. His past clients have included former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former congressman Tom Campbell and former Los Angeles mayor Richard J. Riordan. Prior to joining the Hoover Institution, Whalen served as chief speechwriter and director of public affairs for former California governor Pete Wilson. In that capacity, he was responsible for the governor's annual State of the State address, as well as other major policy addresses. Before moving to California, Whalen was a political correspondent for Insight Magazine, the national newsweekly and sister publication of the Washington Times, where he was honored for his profiles and analysis of candidates, campaigns, Congress, and the White House. In addition to his time in Washington as a political journalist, Whalen served as a speechwriter for the Bush-Quayle reelection campaign and was a senior associate with the public relations firm Robinson-Lake/Sawyer-Miller, offering media and political advice for domestic and foreign clientele. Whalen currently resides in Palo Alto, California.

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