Chris talks with with Steven Camarota, director or research at the Center for Immigration Studies, about his new study showing more than 1 million illegal immigrants have "self-deported" over the past year.

FlashReport founder and editor Jon Fleischman talks over state politics with Chris, including his disappointments with Arnold Schwarzenegger, his bafflement with how the Sacramento media establishment works and his view that it's awfully telling that so many journalists who cover state politics go to work for the state's most liberal politicians when their newspaper jobs are eliminated

Chris talks with a spokeswoman for Californians for SAFE Food, which opposes Proposition 2, an animal rights November ballot initiative that could be a huge headache for egg producers.

He also talks with Morgan Crinklaw, communications director for the Assembly Republican Caucus, about the budget and about the baffling way the Sacramento media decide what is or isn't news.

Chris talks with the Carlsbad Republican about the baffling ways of the Sacramento media (yes, it's a favorite topic), about the state's spending problem, about Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and much more.

Veteran state politics analyst Tony Quinn, of "California Target Book" fame, discusses Arnold's ups and downs, how the media work, but most interestingly of all how the conventional wisdom about redistricting reform greatly oversells what it might accomplish.

Carpice Young, president and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association, takes a hard look at San Diego Unified's claims to have followed state law in providing charters with adequate resources.

Chris talks with the hospital executive-Republican insider-political blogger about San Diego politics -- whether the curse of Mike Aguirre will hang over the city four more years; how Steve Francis could have been a (2012) contender; and whether John McCain really has any chance at all to win California.

Orange County Register journo Brian Joseph details his findings about an elaborate financial scandal involving the League of California Cities. It sounds a lot like the Iran-Contra scam, believe it or not.

Chris talks with the president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association about two dueling eminent domain ballot measures -- one of which is real, the other of which is an utter sham -- and about Arnold's descent from reformer to preserver of the status quo.

We also talk about the baffling Sacramento press corps.

Chris talks with the U-T's popular metro columnist about the Enormous Specter Hanging Over San Diego. Gerry offers a defense of the Enormous Specter, a.k.a. Mike Aguirre. Chris tells Gerry that he makes a better case for Mike than Mike himself. Then they get into the whole Sunroad thing and end with a reading of the lyrics to "East Bound and Down" by Jerry Reed. OK, that last part isn't true.

Chris talks with the local anti-tax activist about the folly of raising almost all public employees' pay and benefits given the lack of market demand for public employees. They get into a libertarian grouse-a-thon about all that's wrong with the modern world and speculate whether Milton Friedman would still be willing to live in the United States were he still alive.

OK, that last part is made up.

Chris talks with Balko, a senior editor at Reason magazine and a civil liberties expert, about the institutional resistance to holding police responsible for misconduct. San Diego examples are addressed.

One of the state's leading education experts joins Chris in pounding away at the myth that school quality is a function of school spending. Lance also discusses his findings that show some San Diego County school districts in affluent areas are underperforming.

Chris talks with U-T sports media columnist Jay Posner in what remains his favorite show ever, because Chris gets to rip on John Madden, Bill Walton and Dan Dierdorf. Posner is very funny and good on radio, better than lots of the people he writes about.

The conversation also includes a "Mayor of Poway" reference sure to be picked up on and appreciated by next to no one. The debate over Bill Werndl is so impassioned that it nearly leads to blows. OK, that last part is not true.

Insight Editor Robert J. Caldwell discusses Arnold Schwarzenegger in the first segment and the presidential campaign in the second segment.

Guest host Beth Barber, a U-T editorial writer, discusses county issues with Greg Cox.

Veteran California political analyst Tony Quinn takes a close look at the governor's problems and at the likelihood of a severe Democratic gerrymander of state political districts after the 2010 census.

Syndicated columnist Paul Campos, a University of Colorado law professor, talks about the multilevel folly of the Bush administration's use of torture in interrogations.

Campos, author of the book "The Obesity Myth," discusses how the public health establishment has created a "moral panic" by exaggerating the health risks of being overweight.

Irvine Assemblyman Chuck DeVore talks about the growing realization that nuclear power is a relatively easy way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and counteract global warming.

Reason Foundation scholar George Passantino discusses the scary ways the federal government is going to "help" address the subprime loan mess.

Former state legislator Keith Richman makes the case that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, once a force for reform, has been co-opted by the irresonsible, free-spending special interests who dominate California politics.

Orange County Register columnist Steven Greenhut talks about the competiting eminent domain initiatives on the 2008 ballot and describes how one is a sham measure that would actually preserve abuses of the land-seizure process.

First Amendment expert Peter Scheer details how he persuaded City Attorney Mike Aguirre to stop bullying KPBS.

Pulitzer Prize-winning U-T cartoonist Steve Breen discusses how he comes up with ideas for cartoons and talks about the debate among cartoonists over how much they should be jokesters vs. how much they should try to make strong points.

State Sen. Tom McClintock details the depressing parallels between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's fiscal stewardship and predecessor Gray Davis'.

Team consultant Mark Fabiani talks about the team's stadium hunt, his low opinion of Mike Aguirre and his disappointment in Jerry Sanders.