In this episode of SacTown Talks, Jarhett Blonien welcomes Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan to discuss a range of topics from her personal background to her legislative work in California. Bauer-Kahan reflects on her undergraduate experience at the University of Pennsylvania, her thoughts on the current state of academic institutions and student protests, and the influence of her grandparents' Holocaust survival story on her commitment to public service. She outlines her legislative focus areas, including addressing mental health, regulating artificial intelligence, ensuring data privacy, and advancing environmental protections. Specific efforts mentioned include the 988 mental health crisis hotline, AI legislation, privacy laws in the context of social media and data brokers, and initiatives to ban plastic bags in grocery stores. The conversation also touches on broader issues such as the impacts of COVID-19, homelessness, healthcare, transportation, and climate change in California. Bauer-Kahan emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation with safety and privacy protections and the role of legislation in tackling pressing societal challenges.

This Episode was record on 5/2/24

00:00 Welcome to SACTown Talks: A Dive into California Politics

01:00 Getting Personal: Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan's Journey

01:26 Navigating Student Protests and University Challenges

04:13 Reflections on Assembly Tenure and COVID-19 Impact

05:40 Tackling Privacy, Consumer Protection, and AI Regulation

08:55 Addressing the Mental Health Crisis and Social Media's Role

12:20 Privacy in the Digital Age: Rights and Regulations

16:03 Legislative Impact: From Personal History to Policy Making

17:52 Budget Priorities and Legislative Package for the Year

22:47 Looking Ahead: Climate Change Initiatives and AI Regulation

24:14 Closing Remarks and Future Aspirations

30:59 Adapting to Post-COVID Legislative Dynamics

33:30 Oversight and Accountability in Legislation

34:16 Addressing Homelessness and Insurance Challenges

39:38 Personal Insights: Commuting and Podcasts

41:12 Concluding Thoughts and Future Goals