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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

A person in business attire handles a box of American Eagle pistol ammunition on a glass display case. One bullet is being lifted from the open container, revealing rows of neatly arranged brass cartridges. The red packaging features an illustration of a bald eagle in flight.
A group of heavily armed law enforcement officers in tactical gear ride on the side of an armored vehicle during a protest. They carry riot shields and crowd-control weapons with green markings. On the right, protesters confront them, shouting, recording on phones, and raising their hands in defiance. The scene takes place on a city street in broad daylight.
A view through chain-link and barbed wire fences shows an outdoor space within a correctional facility. Several individuals are visible, some standing or walking near the fences and others seated at picnic tables in the background. The scene is set against a backdrop of tan hills, industrial buildings, and a clear blue sky, highlighting the enclosed and institutional environment.
Assemblymember Anthony Rendon, chair of the Select Committee On Happiness And Public Policy Outcomes listens to a speaker during an informational hearing at the California Capitol in Sacramento on March 12, 2024. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters
Kaiser Permanente in Oakland on Aug. 2, 2022. Photo Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters
A raging wildfire consumes a structure, with massive flames engulfing the scene. Bright orange and yellow fire contrasts against the dark sky, creating an intense and dramatic visual.
A person wearing a headscarf sits on a couch in a softly lit living room, gazing out a window. The room is decorated with patterned curtains, textured pillows, and a glass coffee table with snacks and empty plates. The mood is quiet and introspective.
A group of young children sit in a canoe and paddle down a stream on a river in the middle of a sunny day. Down the river in the background is a group of more children paddling in their canoes.
A person wearing a black t-shirt is shown sitting at a picnic table smoking in the shade of a gazebo along a lakeside on a very bright and sunny day.
A line of armored law enforcement officers in tactical gear and gas masks face a crowd at night, illuminated by vehicle headlights and flashlights. One officer stands in the foreground gripping a weapon with orange markings. A protester’s silhouette and a partially visible flag appear in the foreground, with tension palpable in the scene.

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