Joe Mathews, Journalist

Please Join Me Nov. 1 in Fresno for Free, Public Event

2011-10-31T11:43:00.001-07:00

"Is California Too Big?" It's a serious question. At the core of the state's governance problems is the fact that our system doesn't fit a state of multiple major regions and 38 million.

On Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fresno Art Museum, I'll be moderating a free, public panel discussion that looks at how the state might be redesigned (or even split) to fit our regions. The event goes for a little more than an hour -- and is followed by a cocktail reception where the drinks are free. It should be fun. Hope you'll join us.

And if you're not in Fresno, please tell your friends who do live in the area. The link for reserving a seat is: http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/upcoming.php?event_id=493

Video: The People's Machine on CSPAN After Words

2011-02-07T17:19:00.000-08:00

Here's the link to my appearance on C-Span "After Words" for my previous work, The People's Machine.

WSJ Reviews California Crackup

2010-12-03T14:36:00.000-08:00

The Wall Street Journal raves about my new book (with Mark Paul), California Crackup. Find out more about the book here.

Guest Hosting Talk Show, and Audio

2010-12-03T14:23:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to the "Off the Presses" show on LA Talk Radio that I guest hosted on Wednesday. (You have to scroll down to find the audio--it's the Dec. 1 show).

Matt Kemp Could Learn From Mickey Mantle

2010-12-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

At Zocalo Public Square, I review Jane Leavy's new book on Mickey Mantle -- a book that another Oklahoma-raised center fielder (the Dodgers' Matt Kemp) should read.

Look for more book reviews and essays from me at Zocalo, which is emerging as a leading on-line journal of ideas (in addition to its well-known public forums in California), beginning next year.

Follow Me on Twitter

2010-12-03T14:19:00.001-08:00

@joemmathews (yes, there's an extra "m" there for my middle name).

Look for Me on NBC Stations and on Prop Zero

2010-12-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

If you haven't yet checked out NBC's new California site, Prop Zero, please do. I'm lead blogger there. As part of my duties, you'll also catch me on NBC stations in LA, San Diego, and the Bay Area.

Please Join Me at the 2010 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, July 30-Aug. 4 in San Francisco

2010-07-25T23:57:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy is a free, public event I'm organizing in San Francisco, July 30-Aug. 4. You can check out all the details and reserve a seat (again, free of charge) at www.2010globalforum.com

California Crackup Now Available at Amazon

2010-06-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

Amazon is now fulfilling orders for my new book, California Crackup. You can order it now at amazon, at UC Press, or at Barnes & Noble.

Events Round-up

2010-06-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

Here's video of the Zocalo Public Square panel I moderated last month, "Zurich vs. LA: Which is the Most Democratic City?" And here's video of another Zocalo panel I led, "Would California Be Better Off As Its Own Country?"

Here's an account of my one-on-one Zocalo Public Square event with Assembly Speaker John Perez. And here's video of same.

My New Book, California Crackup, Is On Sale Now

2010-06-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

Terrific news. The new book I co-authored with my New America colleague Mark Paul -- California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It -- is on sale now. The University of California Press and Barnes & Noble web sites are already filling orders and sending out the book.

You also may enjoy the book web site, with video and an active blog on how to fix California, right here.

2010 Global Forum News: Hotel Discount Expires June 14

2010-06-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

If you're coming to the 2010 Global Forum and want to stay in a hotel, the good news is that we have negotiated discounts at two Union Square boutique hotels: Hotel Bijou ($99 a night) and the King George Hotel ($109 a night).

The bad news is that those discounts expire June 14 (that's Monday), so please book now or risk paying higher rates. For instructions on how to book on-line and get the discount, click here.

2010 Global Forum Program Released!

2010-06-10T22:33:00.000-07:00

A draft program for the 2010 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy -- a free, public event July 30-Aug. 4 in San Francisco this summer -- has been released. The forum brings together scholars, journalists, activists, elected officials and citizens from all over the world -- 6 continents, 40 countries, and more than half the U.S. states will be represented -- to share data and compare practices for the use of initiative, referendum and participatory democracy tools.

Hope you'll join us. You can check out the draft program here. And you can register for the forum here.

Check Out Prop Zero

2010-06-10T22:32:00.001-07:00

I'm lead blogger at a terrific new NBC web site on California government and politics -- with a particular emphasis on schools, budget and jobs -- called Prop Zero. Check it out here.

Reading Jerry Brown's Mail

2010-06-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

I'm one of a handful of journalists who have been granted access to the papers of Jerry Brown's first governorship, which are kept at the University of Southern California. The story of the papers is well told in this piece in the LA Times (in which I'm quoted).

I'm just beginning to make my way through them, and am offering some early notes in various places.

Here's my column in the Daily Beast based on reading his personal correspondence from 1977-1979.

From the NBC blog Prop Zero, where I'm lead blogger, here is a post on letters he received after Prop 13 and another on a similar subject.

At Fox & Hounds Daily, here's a bit on a long ago reaction by John Burton (now California Democratic Party chairman) to Brown; and an old telegram from Brown's now campaign manager.

Palin and Fiorina

2010-06-10T17:43:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin gave Carly Fiorina's campaign a crucial boost in California. I explain how at The Daily Beast.

California: Ruined by Supermajorities?

2010-06-10T17:40:00.001-07:00

Writing in the LA Times, I describe all the various supermajorities Californians have adopted -- and why they don't work.

Election Analysis on "Which Way, LA?"

2010-06-10T17:38:00.001-07:00

Here's audio and Internet report on KCRW's post-election analysis, with yours truly and others.

NPR Piece on Top Two Primary

2010-06-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

The victory of Prop 14, the measure to establish a "top two" primary system in California, is national news. I discuss it in this story via NPR.

I'm also quoted on initiative results here in the Ventura County Star (on Prop 16) and in the Wall Street Journal (on Prop 14).

Initiative Process and Global Forum on KQED

2010-06-10T16:59:00.000-07:00

I appeared on KQED radio (the Northern California NPR) affiliate on May 27 with Bruno Kaufmann or the Initiative & Referendum Institute Europe to talk about the comparative merits of European and California direct democracy -- and to discuss the 2010 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, which takes place in San Francisco July 30-Aug. 4 (Please join us).

You can hear audio of the appearance here.

Please Join Me Tuesday Night in Los Angeles

2010-05-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

Lakers-Suns game 4? Who cares? OK, I care, but it won't be nearly as exciting as the Zocalo Public Square event I'll be moderating tonight (Tuesday, May 25) at 7:30 p.m. at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in downtown LA (111 N. Central). The event is free, as are the drinks at the post-event reception.

The question of the evening: "Which Is More Democratic -- Zurich or LA?" is a jumping off point to a discussion of a comparison between the Swiss system of direct democracy and the California version. We have a lot to learn from the Swiss; two Angeleno leaders -- former chamber of commerce chief George Kieffer and California Common Cause president Kathy Feng -- will join a conversation that includes two visitors from Europe: Swiss Parliament member Andreas Gross (who represents Zurich) and Initiative & Referendum Institute Europe president Bruno Kaufmann.

You can learn more and reserve a seat here.

Monday May 24 Event in DC

2010-05-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

In DC? Please join me at New America (1899 L St. NW, Suite 400) on Monday, May 24 for an event I'm organizing on the new European initiative process and what this experiment with transnational direct legislation may mean for the rest of us. Full event description follows:

The New America Foundation, The Swiss Confederation, and the American Consortium on EU Studies (ACES)
EU Center of Excellence Washington DC
Invite you to a
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION on
The Rise of Transnational Direct Democracy
The European Citizen’s Initiative and
What It Means for the World

WHEN: Monday May 24, 2010
TIME: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
LOCATION: New America Foundation, 1899 L St. NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036

Direct democracy is a feature of state and local political life in more than 100 countries around the world. But the adoption of the new European constitution, called the Lisbon Treaty, may mark the beginning of a new era of modern direct democracy.

Lisbon establishes the European Citizen’s Initiative, the world’s first transnational direct democratic tool. The process is now being designed and implemented, with those involved looking at models in the U.S., in Switzerland and around the world.

The New America Foundation, the Swiss Confederation, and the American Consortium on EU Studies invite you to an event examining how this new citizen’s initiative process came to be, how it may work – and what the example of such an initiative may mean for Europe and for direct democracy in the U.S. and around the globe.

Among those expected to participate:
Nida Gelazis, Woodrow Wilson International Center (panel leader)
Andreas Gross, member of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly and the Swiss National Parliament
Bruno Kaufmann, president of the Initiative and Referendum Institute Europe, Europe’s global direct democracy think tank at the University of Marburg, Germany
Daniel Hamilton, executive director of the American Consortium on EU Studies, designated by the European Commission as the EU Center of Excellence Washington, DC
Desmond Dinan, author of the textbook, Ever Closer Union: An Introduction to European Integration and professor of public policy, George Mason University
Paul Jacob, founder of Citizens in Charge Foundation and leader of U.S. term limits movement, expert in American initiative and referendum

BACKGROUND: This panel event is a preview of the 2010 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, a free, public event being held in San Francisco July 31 through Aug. 4. More details at www.2010globalforum.com

Governors Gone Wild

2010-04-28T12:47:00.001-07:00

This week, Politico runs my piece explaining why so many of the nation's governors are facing scandal.

An Evening With Speaker John A. Perez

2010-04-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

This Friday evening at 7:30 at MOCA Grand Avenue in Los Angeles, I'll be moderating a conversation with new California Assembly Speaker John A. Perez. It's a free public event put on by Zocalo Public Square. Please join us. You can make sure there's a seat for you by reserving one here.

Would California Be Better Off As Its Own Country?

2010-04-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

Please join me for a free, public event on Thursday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Autry National Center in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, for what promises to be a fascinating discussion of just that question. I'll be moderating a panel with Democratic strategist (and former government official in both California and DC) Darry Sragow; author and Carey McWilliams biographer Peter Richardson; USC international relations expert Abe Lowenthal; and blogger extraordinaire Dave Dayen. The event is free (with a free reception with free drinks to follow). You can make sure you have a seat by reserving one here.