News

LA Times reports on April IGS Poll findings: "Trump’s popularity in a slump in California amid abuse-of-power concerns"

May 6, 2025
Republicans in California, who make up roughly a quarter of registered voters, continue to support the president’s policies. Among all registered voters, 61% said they believe that Trump’s second term will be worse than his first.

WASHINGTON — President Trump remains deeply unpopular in California after his first 100 days in office, with conservatives and liberals alike expressing concern that U.S. courts can effectively serve as a check on his power, according to a...

Politico: "Californians doubt Newsom is focusing on his day job, poll finds"

May 7, 2025

SACRAMENTO, California — The majority of California voters think Gov. Gavin Newsom is devoting more of his attention to matters that could help him win the presidency than to governing the state, according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll.

Fifty-four percent of registered voters surveyed during the last week of April held that belief, compared to just 26 percent who did not see Newsom as more focused on the White House. The Democratic governor’s approval rating, however, held steady...

John Gardner Fellowship Blogs

The John Gardner Fellowship selects six outstanding seniors each spring from UC Berkeley and Stanford University. Each Fellow receives a $52,000 stipend to work for ten months in a nonprofit or government organization aligned with their public service interests. As a part of the program, each fellow writes a blog reflecting on their experience at their placement.

Matsui Center Washington Fellowship Blogs

The Matsui Center Washington Fellowship offers financial support for Cal undergraduate students participating in the UC Berkeley Washington Program(link is external) (UCDC). The fellowship provides a $1,000 stipend to help defray the costs of spending a semester in Washington, DC. As a part of the program, each fellow writes a blog reflecting on their experience at...

2024 Gardner Fellows: Making My Mark: A Gardner Fellow's Capitol Hill Story

July 10, 2025

When I began my Gardner Fellowship on a swampy September day, I was hopeful of building meaningful professional relationships, learning the ins and outs of Congress, and maybe even making an impact. But I was also fearful of the unknowns that lay ahead – Would my mentor and I get along? Would I fit into the office culture? Would I have something to contribute?

During the first three months of my fellowship, I struggled to navigate complex legislative text on critical minerals, oil and gas development, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA...

2024 Gardner Fellows: Reimagining Public Investment Through Lived Experience

July 10, 2025

As a 2024–2025 John Gardner Public Service Fellow, I had the opportunity to work at the Possibility Lab at UC Berkeley, where I contributed to the Abundance Project—an ambitious research initiative focused on equity in public investment across California. For someone like me, a formerly incarcerated student turned policy advocate, this year was about more than research. It was about building bridges between personal experience and public systems that too often overlook people like me.

The Possibility Lab is committed to partnering with...