Project Spotlight
Out of state, out of mind
Environmentally stringent California sends nearly half its toxic waste across its borders.
Commentary Spotlight
High-speed rail: From ‘train to nowhere’ to Fresno’s dream
If you listen to the political class, the project is boondoggle. In California’s farm belt, the discourse is different.
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POLITICS AND THE CAPITOL
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Commentary
Despite what political campaigns say, one election won’t determine the fate of US democracy
The stakes for the next election are high, but the narrative that 2024 will determine the future of American democracy is wrong. Democracy is about more than campaigns. It is about shared political community, which we are at risk of losing.
Newsom deserves credit for doing what few Democrats will, confronting GOP in DeSantis debate
Democrats need to push back more aggressively against the GOP, argues veteran strategist Garry South. Gavin Newsom has been doing this in so many ways, and the debate with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was part of that.
EDUCATION
Commentary
School book bans and anti-trans policies teach California children the wrong lessons about acceptance
In parts of California, school boards are attempting to restrict access to certain books and pass controversial parental notification policies. A queer college student and political consultant says these efforts not only endanger students but teach children the wrong lessons about acceptance.
COMMENTARY
Guest Commentary
Whatever the Supreme Court decides, California can’t keep criminalizing homelessness
A lot is at stake with the U.S. Supreme Court agreeing to hear a case that determines how and when cities can clear homeless camps. The Eighth Amendment has been largely settled for decades, but the conservative court seems determined to set the clock back.
Banning fire rebuilds is the nuclear option. Give California’s rural communities a chance
Some California residents are frustrated with rising insurance and utility costs, reviving questions about barring fire rebuilds altogether. A Magalia resident says that would be the nuclear option, especially given all the other forms of risk management available.
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DAN WALTERS
Rollercoaster weather shows why California needs better infrastructure for wetter years
California could see another very wet winter, or it might not. The unpredictability proves that the state should be building infrastructure to handle climate swings.
HOUSING
Commentary
How a San Diego group uses wildfire reduction work to treat homelessness
After discovering an elaborate encampment in a fire-prone canyon, a group in San Diego was inspired to develop a skills training program for unhoused people that helps reduce fire risk and connect them with jobs.
JUSTICE
Commentary
San Quentin Prison is decaying and California would rather ‘transform’ it than fix it
California’s whopping $14.4 billion prison budget and the governor’s $360.6 million price tag to “transform” San Quentin into a rehabilitation center seemingly overlook the existing…
HEALTH
Commentary
Despite Newsom veto, California should still provide free condoms to public school students
A bill that would’ve required public schools to give students access to free condoms was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, but young advocates worried about the rise in sexually transmitted infections are vowing to keep pushing for access.
ENVIRONMENT
Commentary
Why should all Californians pay for the fire insurance risk only a few face?
Insurers are seeking rate increases as California leaders try to prevent companies from fleeing over disaster risk, particularly wildfires and floods. As costs surge for utilities and other goods, a Sacramento homeowner asks if the needs of the many outweigh the needs of a few.
ECONOMY
Commentary
Why visa reforms benefit not just California’s tech sector but the economy overall
The H-1B visa program is well-intended but flawed in its current form, largely favoring tech giants such as Meta. Without reforms, the intense demand for math, science and technology workers is hindering smaller companies and limiting competition.
CALIFORNIA DIVIDE
A statewide media collaboration to raise awareness about poverty and income inequality through in-depth journalism and community outreach.
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Commentary
From ‘train to nowhere’ to Fresno’s dream: What high-speed rail means for the Central Valley
If you listen to California’s political class, the high-speed rail project sounds like a textbook boondoggle. Yet in communities across California’s farm belt, the discourse is different. High-speed rail isn’t “a train to nowhere” – it’s a symbol of transformation.
EXPLAINERS
Explore CalMatters’ explainer “card decks” to discover the data-driven context you need to make sense of big issues confronting California.
COLLEGE BEAT
More Coverage
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Proposed California budget cuts alarm advocates
After Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his initial budget proposal last week, advocacy and interest groups decried many of his proposed cuts or delays in funding — including for climate change…
