In this episode of the So, Does It Matter? podcast, Jon Fleischman sits down for a wide-ranging, one-on-one conversation with California Assemblywoman Alexandra “Ali” Macedo, a first-term Republican representing the Central Valley.
Ali shares her personal background — growing up on a farm, working in agricultural compliance, and attending law school while managing a business — and explains what led her to run for the State Assembly. The conversation then turns to her first year in Sacramento and what it is really like to serve as a Republican in a Legislature dominated by one-party rule.
Topics include committee politics, high-speed rail, redistricting, regulatory overreach, the influence of special interests, and the role of unelected bureaucracies in shaping California policy. Ali also reflects on the consequences of pushing back inside the Capitol and why persistence and transparency still matter.
The episode concludes with a lightning-round segment that gives listeners a more personal look at Ali beyond the Legislature.
🧾 SHOW NOTES (Optional / Recommended)
Guest:
Assemblywoman Alexandra “Ali” Macedo
California State Assembly — Central Valley
Topics Covered:
• Ali Macedo’s background and path to public service
• Agriculture, regulation, and law school
• First year in the California Legislature
• Life in the Republican super-minority
• Committee politics and internal retaliation
• High-speed rail and redistricting battles
• Special interests and Sacramento power dynamics
• Lightning round and personal insights
This interview is on So, Does It Matter? There you will find all the links to the references in the interview.
⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS
01:10 – Ali Macedo’s background and roots
05:00 – Agriculture, regulation, and law school
08:40 – Why she ran for the State Assembly
11:00 – First year in Sacramento
14:45 – High-speed rail and consequences
18:30 – Committee politics and super-minority life
22:00 – Redistricting and special interests
27:00 – How power really works in Sacramento
What is So, Does It Matter? on CA Politics?
California is by far the largest state in the country. What happens here affects the country and the world. What happens here, from big cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose, to the breadbasket of the Central Valley, is consequential. This podcast is a feature of the extensive www.SoDoesItMatter.com Substack Newsletter (sign up for free). This is where longtime California conservative strategist Jon Fleischman features audio commentary, mainly in the form of interviews with people of consequence in California politics or policy.
Jon Fleischman is a former Executive Director of the California Republican Party and a veteran of hundreds of political campaigns. He is a frequent voice on cable shows, in California newspapers, and on podcasts, discussing a wide range of topics, but mostly...California politics!