State of Gold

Guest:
Joel Pollak - Opinion Editor @ The California Post
Guest Bio: 
Joel Pollak is a journalist, political commentator, and Opinion Editor at The California Post – a new publication he helped launch focused on covering California from a center-right perspective. A longtime California resident and former Illinois native, Pollak writes extensively on state policy, media bias, and government accountability.
Show Summary
Californians are tired of things not working.
In this episode of State of Gold, Jon Slavet sits down with Joel Pollak to discuss the launch of The California Post and why he believes there is a growing appetite for accountability in the Golden State.
Pollak shares his personal experience surviving the Palisades fire, the insurance nightmare that followed, and why he believes government mismanagement made the disaster worse. The conversation explores President Trump’s executive order aimed at accelerating rebuilding, the controversy surrounding affordable housing proposals in the Palisades, and what local residents actually want.
They then zoom out to tackle systemic issues: Behested payments to politicians, legalized corruption, COVID-era fraud, runaway state spending, and the proposed billionaire tax. Pollak explains how California risks driving away its most productive innovators and why history from Illinois should serve as a warning sign.

Chapters
00:00 – Why Californians Are Sick of Government Failure
00:18 – Launching the California Post
01:44 – Is There a Silent Majority in California?
02:41 – Personal Impact of the Palisades Fire
04:09 – Insurance Battles & Rebuilding Delays
05:03 – Trump’s Executive Order on Rebuilding
06:55 – Affordable Housing Controversy in the Palisades
09:59 – Zoning, ADUs & Rebuilding Concerns
12:37 – Exposing Corruption in Los Angeles
14:09 – COVID Fraud & Behested Payments Explained
16:45 – The Billionaire Tax and Economic Flight
19:56 – The Mansion Tax Cautionary Tale
22:03 – Revenue Problem or Spending Problem?
23:31 – Rapid Fire: Fixing California Starts with Water
Connect with Joel Pollak
Twitter: https://x.com/joelpollak?s=20
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joel-pollak
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pollakjoel
His latest pieces can be found on californiapost.com and nypost.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:
Chad Peace, Co-Founder – Independent Voter Network
Guest Bio: 
Chad Peace is an election reform advocate and representative of the Independent Voter Project, an organization focused on expanding voter participation and reducing partisan control over the primary process. He has been deeply involved in California’s transition from closed primaries to the current top-two open primary system, and continues to advocate for structural reforms that empower independent voters and increase electoral competition.
Show Summary
Nearly half of voters nationwide now identify as independent. In California, No Party Preference voters are the fastest-growing bloc. So why does the political system still revolve around partisan extremes?
In this episode of State of Gold, Jon Slavet sits down with Chad Peace to unpack the rise of independent voters, the origins of California’s top-two open primary system, and the unintended consequences that followed.
They explore whether the “jungle primary” has improved democracy, why both parties often resist reform, and what a top-five ranked-choice primary system could look like in California. The conversation also dives into voter ID, ballot harvesting, election confidence, and the broader debate over how to restore trust in the electoral process.
From redistricting battles to Supreme Court strategy, this is a candid discussion about who gets to participate in elections and whether California is living up to its democratic ideals.

Chapters
00:03 – The Rise of Independent Voters
01:17 – Why Both Parties Are Moving to the Extremes
01:33 – The Origins of California’s Open Primary
02:47 – Has the Top-Two System Improved Democracy?
05:06 – The Unintended Consequences of the Current System
07:50 – Top-Five Primaries & Ranked Choice Voting Explained
09:08 – Redistricting, Prop 50 & Partisan Power Plays
12:04 – The Supreme Court & The Right to Vote in Primaries
12:38 – Voter ID: A 70/30 Issue
15:43 – Mail-In Voting, Ballot Harvesting & Election Confidence
17:50 – Politics, Culture & Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
19:21 – Rapid Fire: One Reform to Fix California
19:39 – What Gives Him Hope
20:18 – California Is…
Connect with Chad Peace
Twitter: https://x.com/ChadPeace
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadpeace/
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:
Lanhee Chen, Stanford Hoover Fellow and Policy Expert 
Guest Bio: 
Lanhee Chen is a policy expert, former candidate for California State Controller, and national commentator on fiscal policy and healthcare reform. He has advised at the highest levels of government and regularly contributes analysis on California’s budget, tax structure, and long-term economic outlook. Known for his data-driven approach, Chen focuses on accountability, structural reform, and restoring fiscal discipline to state government.
Show Summary
California can swing from a $150 billion surplus to a $150 billion deficit in just a few years. Why?
In this episode of State of Gold, Jon Slavet talks with Lanhee Chen to break down California’s structural budget problems in simple terms. From an antiquated tax system heavily reliant on capital gains to ballooning fixed costs and voter-approved spending mandates, Chen explains why the state is trapped in boom-and-bust cycles.
They dive into the proposed billionaire tax and why, despite sounding appealing, it will drive high earners and founders out of California while reducing long-term revenue. Chen also outlines the risks of taxing unrealized gains and how that precedent could impact entrepreneurs and future innovators.
The conversation then turns to waste, fraud, and abuse in programs like unemployment insurance, Medi-Cal, and IHSS. Finally, Chen shares his vision for healthcare reform, including radical price transparency, expanding provider supply, and creating a more competitive healthcare marketplace.
If you want a clear, non-theatrical breakdown of California’s fiscal challenges and what real reform could look like, this is it.

Chapters
00:00 – California’s Boom and Bust Budget Cycles
02:37 – The Structural Deficit Problem Explained
03:20 – How Should California Reform Its Tax System?
05:06 – Revenue Problem or Spending Problem?
05:39 – Why the Billionaire Tax Is a Bad Idea
07:12 – The Dangerous Precedent of Taxing Unrealized Gains
08:51 – Waste, Fraud & Abuse in State Programs
09:21 – The Unemployment Insurance Scandal
10:30 – Medi-Cal, IHSS & Systemic Accountability Failures
12:06 – Fixing Healthcare Without Government Takeover
13:10 – Radical Price Transparency in Healthcare
14:00 – Expanding Supply & Reducing Consolidation
15:27 – Incentivizing Preventive Care
17:13 – Rapid Fire: One Big Reform for California
18:09 – What Gives Him Hope
18:40 – Is California Punching Under Its Weight?
Connect with Lanhee Chen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanheechen/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lanheechen
X: https://x.com/lanheechen
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 Bio: 
Michael Pierce is a venture capitalist, technology executive, and founder of American Gun Owners, a California-based company focused on making legal, responsible gun ownership accessible to everyday Americans. Michael brings a unique perspective to public safety, entrepreneurship, and the growing demand for self-defense in major cities. Raised on a cattle ranch and surrounded by firearms from a young age, he approaches gun ownership as a practical tool rather than a political statement.
Show Summary
Why are more Californians who never wanted guns now feeling like they need one?
Michael Pierce joins Jon Slavet to explain why rising crime, slow police response times, and social unrest have pushed ordinary Californians toward personal self-defense. Michael shares the real-world conversations that inspired him to launch American Gun Owners and why California, despite being one of the most restrictive states, is exactly where this business needed to be built.
They dive into the challenges of buying a firearm legally in California, the confusion first-time buyers face, and how American Gun Owners uses technology and education to simplify the process. The conversation also explores policing shortages, deterrence, elites disconnect from everyday safety concerns, and what California must do to restore confidence and economic momentum.
This episode offers a grounded, non-political look at guns as a utility, public safety as a core government responsibility, and why fear has become a daily reality for many Californians.

Chapters
00:00 – Why Michael Is Building American Gun Owners in California
01:45 – Crime, Social Unrest & Slower Police Response Times
02:19 – Why LA Is Dangerously Under-Policed
03:50 – First-Time Gun Buyers and the Education Gap
04:19 – How People End Up with the Wrong Firearm
05:40 – Guns as a Utility, Not a Political Statement
06:55 – Why Buying a Gun Legally Is So Complicated
07:36 – How American Gun Owners Solves the Problem
08:23 – Using AI to Match People With the Right Firearm
10:05 – California Compliance, Training & Safe Storage
12:30 – Liability, Self-Defense Law & Castle Doctrine
14:13 – Crime in Wealthy Neighborhoods Isn’t Rare Anymore
16:02 – Deterrence and Why Signs Actually Matter
17:19 – What Elites Don’t Understand About Feeling Unsafe
19:50 – Fixing California’s Business Climate
23:02 – Rapid Fire: One Fix for California
23:09 – What Still Gives Him Hope
Connect with Michael Pierce
Twitter: https://x.com/mpierce_ago
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpiercela
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americangunowners.online/
Website: https://www.americangunowners.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:
Dr. Houman David Hemmati, Entrepreneur & Political Activist

Guest Bio: 
Dr. Houman David Hemmati is a physician, scientist, entrepreneur, and public advocate for medical freedom and ethical healthcare reform. With a background in biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and ophthalmology, he’s advised pharmaceutical companies, led biotech ventures, and become an outspoken voice on issues ranging from pandemic policy to the misuse of scientific authority. Dr. Hemmati is also a frequent media contributor and a passionate advocate for patient rights, transparency, and innovation in medicine

Show Summary
Los Angeles is collapsing in real time and Dr. Houman Hemmati says it’s not accidental.

In this episode, Dr. Hemmati joins Jon Slavet to expose what he calls the “homeless industrial complex,” a system incentivized to grow rather than solve the crisis. From Westwood turning into “Skid Row West” to taxpayer-funded housing scams costing up to $2 million per unit, Dr. Hemmati details how California’s homelessness policies have failed both the vulnerable and the public.

The conversation then turns to the proposed billionaire tax, why it threatens startup founders and innovation, and how taxing unrealized wealth could permanently drive entrepreneurs out of California. Dr. Hemmati explains why the state doesn’t have a revenue problem, but a spending problem, and why tough love may be the only path forward.

This is a candid, no-holds-barred look at the policies, incentives, and political realities shaping California’s future and what gives him hope that voters may finally be reaching a breaking point.

Chapters
00:00 – Dr. Houman Hemmati’s Path from Doctor to Activist
00:36 – Westwood’s Decline and “Skid Row West”
02:30 – The Failure of Local Government in Los Angeles
03:18 – How COVID Supercharged the Homeless Crisis
04:45 – Prison Releases, Incentives, and Manufactured Chaos
06:05 – The Homeless Housing Scam and Taxpayer Theft
07:15 – Moral Hazard and Why Current Policies Make Things Worse
08:40 – The Billionaire Tax Explained Simply
10:51 – Why Entrepreneurs and Capital Are Leaving California
12:45 – Taxing Unrealized Wealth and Constitutional Concerns
14:30 – California’s Spending Problem vs Revenue Problem
16:24 – Why California Needs an Intervention
18:10 – Rapid Fire: One Fix to Save California
18:21 – What Finally Gives Him Hope
21:45 – Why Ordinary Citizens Are Starting to Push Back

Connect with Dr. Houman David Hemmati
X: https://x.com/houmanhemmati/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houman-david-hemmati-md-phd-aa0486/
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