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Coffee, Culture, and the Capitol: Daily Summaries Delivered
by California Family Council
California Family Council's weekly show giving you the latest news on Life, Family, and Liberty, live from Sacramento!
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- 1 weeks ago20 min
109: Porn in School Libraries, and a Surrogacy “House of Horrors”
Greg Burt and Sophia Lorey open with the fight over sexually explicit books in California school libraries. Karen England’s Capitol Resource Institute runs a project called Take Back the Classroom, which catalogs the graphic titles sitting in district libraries and offers school boards a model policy for removing them. Chino Valley Unified, led by board president Sonja Shaw, adopted that policy. A parent who finds an obscene book brings it to the principal, the principal rules, and if the parent is ignored the matter goes to a public school board hearing. Activists filed a complaint claiming the policy targets LGBTQ content in violation of AB 1078, the 2023 law that bars districts from pulling materials because of the viewpoints they contain. Greg walks through why the state did not find a violation, and what that means for every other district that has claimed its hands are tied.Then Greg and Sophia turn to Arcadia, where police removed 21 children, most of them between one and three years old, from a wealthy couple who obtained nearly all of them through surrogacy. The couple allegedly started their own surrogacy company and used it exclusively for themselves. Surrogates were told the couple had one child or none. Nannies were caught on the family’s own cameras beating the children while the parents watched. A two month old went two days without care after a head injury. Almost all of it was legal, because California requires no background check, no home study, and no real oversight of anyone who wants to buy a child through surrogacy. Foster and adoptive parents face every one of those screenings. CFC is already taking reform proposals to legislators ahead of the 2027 session.Greg closes with a word on voting, and Sophia invites you to the Election Prayer Vigil at the California State Capitol on Sunday, November 1 at 6 p.m. Join us in person or watch the livestream.Links:Read our articles on these stories: https://www.californiafamily.org/articles/AB 1078 (Jackson, 2023), the law activists invoked against Chino Valley:Bill text: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1078 Governor’s signing statement: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/09/25/california-bans-book-bans-and-textbook-censorship-in-schools/ Author’s press release: https://a60.asmdc.org/press-releases/20230925-ab-1078-ends-book-banning-californiaTake Back the Classroom (search your district): https://www.takebacktheclassroom.com Capitol Resource Institute: https://www.capitolresource.orgCoverage of the Arcadia surrogacy case: https://abc7news.com/post/surrogacy-scandal-21-children-surrogate-mothers-taken-arcadia-califronia-couple-amid-investigation/17149058/ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/rcna219051 <a href="https://www.foxla.com/news/arcadia-couple-arrested-surrogate-children-abuse-invest
- 4 weeks ago33 min
108: Newsom Signs Six Gender Bills, a Hate Speech Training Mandate, and CIF Faces Fathers for Girls’ Sports
The legislative session is over, and Governor Newsom has made his choices. Sophia Lorey and Greg Burt go through the six pro-gender ideology bills he just signed into law. These include a counseling ban for kids who want to feel at home in their own bodies, and a mandate forcing insurers to cover gender drugs and surgeries. They also cover AB 1803, which adds “anti-hate speech” instruction to the harassment training nearly every California employer must provide, with no exemption for churches. That story has now reached Newsweek and the international press.Then we take you to Los Angeles, where 40 to 50 people (many of them fathers) told CIF once again to protect girls’ sports. You’ll hear from retired pro soccer player Elizabeth Eddy and Elani Morales, a 17-year-old athlete who asked CIF a simple question: why won’t you protect us?When the government tells us to disobey God, we obey God. Don’t go along to get along.Newsom’s Parting Gift to Gender ActivistsNewsom Just Made Nearly Every Employer a Hate Speech InstructorA Former Pro, a Teen Athlete, and Two Candidates Tell CIFCFC EventsPRAY WITH US: ELECTION PRAYER VIGILSunday, November 1, 6:00 PM, West Steps of the California State Capitol. Come in person or watch the livestream.RSVP: https://watchdog.californiafamily.org/rsvp/election-prayer-vigilWATCH THE FULL CIF PRESS CONFERENCE AND MEETING https://www.youtube.com/@CaliforniaFamilyCouncil/videosSTAY INFORMEDWeekly newsletter: https://www.californiafamily.org/sign-up/Website: https://www.californiafamily.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaFamily/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/californiafamilycouncil/X: https://x.com/cafamily
- Oct 2, 202626 min
107: Newsom Signs 5 Abortion Bills, UC Loses Pronoun Case, and Planned Parenthood Sells Botox
On episode 107 of Coffee Culture and the Capitol, Greg explains why the court's ruling on compelled speech at the University of California matters for your child's K through 12 school, where many districts still have the same pronoun rules. Sophia explains why Planned Parenthood's move into Botox is more than a cash grab: it gets women comfortable walking through their doors. Then we cover the abortion bills Newsom just signed. One lets nurses and midwives perform late-term abortions. Another puts the abortion pill in community college health centers. We also cover his veto of AB 2164.Newsom signed five more abortion bills into law and vetoed one. A federal judge ruled against UC's forced pronoun training. And Planned Parenthood in Sacramento now sells Botox. Sophia Lorey and Greg Burt walk through what happened and what parents, pastors, and pro-life Californians should do next, Links:On Friday, October 9, the CIF State Federated Council meets at the Renaissance LAX Hotel, and public comment is open. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd6133HzNK0/Election Eve Prayer Vigil: Sunday, November 1, 6 PM, steps of the California State Capitol RSVP: https://watchdog.californiafamily.org/rsvp/election-prayer-vigilCalifornia March for Life 2027: Monday, March 8, 2027, California State Capitol RSVP: https://watchdog.californiafamily.org/rsvp/camarchforlife2027READ MOREUC Loses in Court, but the Same Pronoun Rule Likely Still Governs Your Child's School https://www.californiafamily.org/2026/09/uc-loses-in-court-but-the-same-pronoun-rule-likely-still-governs-your-childs-school/Planned Parenthood Replaces Federal Dollars With Botox Dollars https://www.californiafamily.org/2026/09/planned-parenthood-replaces-federal-dollars-with-botox-dollars/Newsom's Abortion Weekend: Five New Laws, One Veto, and No Change of Heart https://www.californiafamily.org/2026/09/newsoms-abortion-weekend-five-new-laws-one-veto-and-no-change-of-heart/
- Sep 28, 202629 min
106: Fifth Grader Forced to Teach Gender Ideology Wins — Now Sunnyvale Defies the Supreme Court
Fifth Grader Forced to Teach Kindergartner Gender Ideology Wins. Now Sunnyvale Defies the Supreme Court.On this episode of Coffee Culture and the Capitol, a fifth grader in Encinitas was forced to teach his kindergarten buddy gender ideology using the book My Shadow Is Pink. His family fought back, and they won. Greg Burt and Sophia Lorey break down the $175,000 settlement and the new district policy that now requires parents to be notified and allowed to opt out. Then they head north to Sunnyvale, where a school district claims the Supreme Court's ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor does not apply to California. The lessons in question include pride parade picture books for preschoolers, drag queen sing-alongs, and LGBTQ math word problems. This goes far beyond sex ed. It is in every subject, every day. Learn how to opt your child out, and join us on November 1 as we pray over the election at the State Capitol.Case Closed: Encinitas School District Pays $175,000: https://www.californiafamily.org/2026/09/case-closed-encinitas-school-district-pays-175000-after-forcing-fifth-grader-to-teach-kindergartner-gender-ideology/CFC article on the Puppy Pride lawsuit: https://www.californiafamily.org/2026/09/a-ca-school-district-told-teachers-to-resist-parents-now-its-in-federal-court/CFC Parental Rights Resources (webinar, opt-out forms, model letters from ADF, NCLP, and Pacific Justice Institute): https://californiafamily.org/parental-rights-resources.htmlOpt Out California: https://www.optoutca.orgPrayer vigil Nov. 1: https://watchdog.californiafamily.org/rsvp/election-prayer-vigil
- Sep 4, 202624 min
105: Sign or Veto? The Biggest Bills Sitting on Newsom’s Desk
The Biggest Bills Sitting on Newsom’s Desk Newsom has until September 30 to sign or veto every bill on his desk. There are 17 in this episode. Your phone call still matters, and here is the proof. Session is over. Greg Burt and Sophia Lorey run every bill California Family Council is tracking, what each one does in plain English, and whether to ask for a signature or a veto. First, the question in our comments: does calling actually work? Last year California made Diwali a state holiday and let schools hold exercises "acknowledging and celebrating the meaning" of a religious holiday. Greg objected almost alone. This year Muslim groups asked for the same thing and doubled it. Greg testified again. The bill was then amended, and "celebrating the meaning of" became "exploring the history of." GALA, ONE WEEK OUT Saturday, September 12, 5 to 9 p.m., Hilton Orange County in Costa Mesa. Keynote Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee, who beat California in federal court over a law that would have forced political satire to carry government disclaimers. Tickets below. LINKS CALL THE GOVERNOR Governor Newsom's office: (916) 445-2841 Contact page: https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/ Deadline to sign or veto: September 30, 2026 GALA TICKETS https://watchdog.californiafamily.org... READ THE BILLS YOURSELF AB 2017: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... AB 1973: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... AB 1930: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... AB 1854: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... AB 2164: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... AB 2531: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... AB 2563: <a href="http
- Aug 28, 202619 min
104: Nick Shirley Takes on California, Scott Wiener BACKFIRES & Homeschool Rights at SCOTUS
Links: GalaLife, Family, Liberty Gala tickets, Sept. 12, Hilton Orange County: https://watchdog.californiafamily.org/fundraising/e/2026-galaAB 2624, the "Stop Nick Shirley Act"Bill text and status: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2624Greg's rally speech on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CaliforniaFamilyCouncil/videosHomeschool curriculum case, Woolard v. ThurmondCFC article: https://www.californiafamily.org/2026/08/supreme-court-asked-to-end-cas-double-standard-on-homeschool-curriculum/First Liberty Institute case page: https://firstliberty.org/news/first-liberty-asks-full-federal-appeals-court-to-stop-discrimination-against-california-families/Earlier CFC coverage of the Ninth Circuit stage: https://www.californiafamily.org/2025/12/religious-liberty-on-trial-charter-homeschool-families-demand-the-ninth-circuit-end-anti-christian-discrimination/SB 934 and the counseling banCFC article: https://www.californiafamily.org/2026/08/how-fear-of-detransitioner-lawsuits-gutted-senator-wieners-attempt-to-bankrupt-christian-counselors/SB 934 bill text and amendment history: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB934Chiles v. Salazar opinion, decided March 31, 2026: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-539_fd9g.pdfWiener's own release: https://sd11.senate.ca.gov/news/senator-wieners-bill-strengthen-californias-conversion-therapy-ban-heads-governor
- Aug 17, 202632 min
103: Pronouns, Your Job & the WNBA: Gender Ideology Hits a Breaking Point
California now requires every employer with five or more employees to run staff through state-approved sexual harassment training, and that training teaches that using the wrong pronoun or a person's pre-transition name is illegal harassment. Greg Burt took the state's supervisor course himself, and he walks Sophia through what he found, including the videos and screenshots CFC published this week. Then the conversation turns to sports, where WNBA player Sophie Cunningham refused to back down after speaking up for female athletes, and two former NBA players declared for the 2027 WNBA draft to expose the league's own self-identification rules. Plus a preview of the Life, Family, Liberty Gala on September 16 with Seth Dillon of The Babylon Bee.LinksLife, Family, Liberty Gala, September 16Tickets, tables, and sponsorships: https://watchdog.californiafamily.org/fundraising/e/2026-galaAll CFC events: https://watchdog.californiafamily.org/rsvp/eventsStory 1: California says you must affirm gender ideology to keep your jobCFC article with the training screenshots: https://www.californiafamily.org/2026/08/ca-says-you-must-affirm-gender-ideology-to-keep-your-job/The state's free training portal (take it yourself): https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/shptGovernment Code 12950.1, the mandate: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=12950.1Related, teachers and the PRISM training: https://www.californiafamily.org/2026/07/the-faith-test-california-makes-teachers-take-and-how-to-refuse-it/Story 2: Sophie Cunningham and women's sportsESPN, Cunningham says she wants to get back to basketball: https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/49538591/amid-tension-cunningham-says-wants-get-back-basketballTimeline of the controversy: https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba/article/sophie-cunningham-controversy-timeline-of-the-latest-discourse-around-the-wnba-what-caitlin-clark-has-said-221320700.htmlStory 3: Two former NBA players declare for the 2027 WNBA draftEnes Kanter Freedom's declaration: <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/media/sports/enes-kanter-freedom-officially-declares-for-wnba-draft-as-press
- Aug 7, 202622 min
102: Faith Under Fire in California Schools
In Episode 102 of Coffee, Culture & the Capitol, Sophia and Greg discuss California’s new LGBT competency training requirements for teachers and how Christian educators can stand firm in their faith without compromising their beliefs. They also unpack SB 685 and its impact on religious schools providing special education services, highlight the importance of courageous pastors and Christians, and discuss the power of prayer at California’s State Capitol. Links Prayer Vigil Nov 1 https://watchdog.californiafamily.org... 2026 Life, Faith, and Family Gala https://watchdog.californiafamily.org... The Faith Test California Makes Teachers Take and How to Refuse It : https://www.californiafamily.org/2026... Sacramento Says Yes To Religious Schools But Only If They Stop Praying: https://www.californiafamily.org/2026... Action Center : google.com/url?q=https://californiafamily.quorum.us/action_center/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1786130576626633&usg=AOvVaw2SnhbTSoEjIo3OKJd4Joot
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