Sacramento Exposed: Assemblyman Joe Patterson on Fentanyl, Moral Failures & Transparency

State of Gold

Guest:

Joe Patterson - Member of the California State Assembly

Guest Bio

Joe Patterson is a California State Assemblyman representing District 5 and a leading advocate for government transparency, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. A former Rocklin City Councilmember and father of four, Patterson brings a fresh, no-nonsense approach to Sacramento, calling out waste, bureaucracy, and special interest influence.

He has been one of the few voices in the Capitol speaking out about the fentanyl epidemic, the misuse of taxpayer funds, and the culture of secrecy enabled by non-disclosure agreements and political maneuvering. Known for challenging both parties when needed, Patterson is part of a new generation of leaders committed to restoring trust in California government.

Show Summary

What happens when a California legislator pulls back the curtain on Sacramento's dysfunction?

In this eye-opening episode, Assemblyman Joe Patterson joins Jon Slavet to expose the real issues behind government waste, legislative gridlock, and the California State Assembly’s failures on criminal justice policy. From billion-dollar vanity projects to the shocking refusal to make it a felony to purchase sex from a 16-year-old, Patterson shares why the state is falling short—and what must be done to fix it.

You’ll learn why he believes NDAs are the “enemy of accountability”, how fentanyl policy is failing families, and what transparency actually looks like in practice. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand how California politics really works behind the headlines—and what it will take to change the game.

Chapters

00:00 – Why Joe Patterson Chose to Serve
01:32 – The State Capitol’s NDA Problem
04:20 – Billion-Dollar Vanity Projects and Fake Transparency
07:48 – The Battle Over Fentanyl Legislation
10:01 – The Vote That Shocked Him: The 16-Year-Old Child Trafficking Loophole
12:34 – How Special Interests Quietly Kill Bills
15:03 – Patterson’s CEQA Reform Stance
17:40 – Why the Middle Class Is Being Decimated
20:19 – Inside the Budget: What They Don’t Want You to See
23:55 – What Real Transparency Requires
26:40 – Advice to Californians Who Want Change
28:30 – Patterson’s Hope for 2026 and Beyond

Connect with Joe:

• X: https://x.com/Patterdude?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patterdude/
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joepatterson82/Website: https://ad05.asmrc.org/

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Connect with State of Gold

• X: https://x.com/realjonslavet
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldpodcast/?hl=en
• Website: www.stateofgold.com