{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"E82: CA Syndicated Opinion Columnist Dan Walters on California Politics, Economy, and a Way Forward","description":"In this very special episode of Ameritocracy, host Troy Edgar travels to Sacramento to meet with Dan Walters, one of California\u2019s most syndicated columnists and author. He has covered the state\u2019s political scene since 1975, spending over 33 years at the Sacramento Bee, and currently writes for CalMatters.  Dan shares his insights on California\u2019s evolution from a Republican-leaning to a solidly Democratic state, shaped by shifts in industry and demographics. He highlights the state\u2019s heavy reliance on high-income taxpayers, which makes its budget vulnerable to economic swings and delves into pressing issues\u2014like education, transportation, and housing affordability\u2014that jeopardize its future.  With over 50 years in journalism and four books on California\u2019s politics, Dan brings a seasoned perspective on the policies shaping the state's economic and political trajectory.    Ameritocracy\u2122 is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. ","author_name":"Ameritocracy","author_url":"https:\/\/sites.libsyn.com\/473847","html":"