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Lynn La

Newsletter Writer

Lynn La is the newsletter writer for CalMatters, focusing on California’s top political, policy and Capitol stories every weekday. She produces and curates WhatMatters, CalMatters’ flagship daily newsletter with more than 150,000 subscribers.    

In the newsletter, Lynn analyzes the state’s policy issues for a broader audience, through original reporting and by summarizing and compiling stories from CalMatters and other news sources. Recently, she has reported on bills to address California’s worsening fentanyl epidemic, tackle retail theft and legislate happiness. She also reveals more about lawmakers by interviewing them for an occasional series on first-term legislators in 2023 and new committee chairpersons in 2024. 

Through WhatMatters, Lynn also plays a crucial role in CalMatters election coverage, helping to keep track of daily developments in key campaigns, including legislative and congressional races and ballot measures.  

Prior to joining CalMatters in March 2023, she wrote for the education technology startup Guild and was a senior editor at CNET. She also covered public health at The Sacramento Bee as a Kaiser media fellow and was an intern reporter at Capitol Weekly. 

Lynn is based in the Bay Area. She graduated from UC Davis and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Other languages spoken: Vietnamese (basic)

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Latest Stories

An overhead view of lawmakers sitting in rows of desks inside a legislative room, decorated with white chandeliers and beige and green fixtures.
Close up of a line of high school students using mobile phones
Two law enforcement officers pickup a turquoise-colored gurney placed in a middle of a small room that was used for executing incarcerated people on death row.
The exterior of a government building displays the words “State of California Secretary of State” engraved on a light-colored facade. A tree partially frames the left side, and a balcony with glass doors and railing sits above the entrance.
A close-up of a person with long black hair, standing in front of a blue voting booth as they look down while casting filling out their ballot.
The backs of people standing next to the metal fence of a highway overpass while they try to get the attention of drivers as they cheer, holds signs and U.S. flags during a protest. One person, in the center of the frame, holds a large U.S. flag above the crowd.

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