Coffee, Culture, and the Capitol

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

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/

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

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: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... AB 1980: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... AB 1792: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... AB 1578: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... AB 1803: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... SB 934: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... SB 685: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... SB 1114: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... SB 608: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... SB 1128: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa... SB 1276: a...

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