Join us at the CalMatters Ideas Festival on May 21. 💡 Get your tickets now.

Avatar photo

Lynn La

Newsletter Writer

Contact Latest Stories

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)

Contact

Email

Latest Stories

A close-up view of a monarch butterfly, in orange and black tones, sitting on a leaf on a clear day.
WhatMatters
California’s monarch butterfly count yields a worrisome finding
For the past three years, more than 200,000 western monarch butterflies spent their winters along the California coast — huddling together in tall tree groves, finding respite from the wind from November to February.  But this winter, volunteers from the Xerces Society, a nonprofit environmental group, tallied just 9,119 western monarchs — a dramatic 95% […]
By • February 4, 2025
The San Luis Reservoir an artificial lake on the eastern slopes of the Diablo Range of Merced County on Feb. 10, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
WhatMatters
Newsom orders more water for California farmers and towns
From CalMatters environment reporter Alastair Bland: As downpours soak Northern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered state officials to capture and store more stormwater in San Joaquin Valley reservoirs for farmers and towns, and to “remove or minimize” any obstacles that stand in the way.  If that sounds familiar, it is: The governor issued similar […]
By • February 3, 2025
A fireplace standing over the rubble and debris from a home that the Eaton Fire in Altadena burned down. Smoke from the fire is lingering in the air and coming out of the top of the fireplace over the debris
WhatMatters
Over $4 billion in LA fire claims distributed, more to come
From CalMatters economy reporter Levi Sumagaysay: Insurance companies have paid out $4.2 billion in claims so far to survivors of the Los Angeles County fires, the state Insurance Department said Thursday. That figure includes home, business, living expenses and other disaster-related claims related to the Eaton and Palisades fires, the department said, citing data from […]
By • January 31, 2025
WhatMatters
Will CA revisit nuclear power for AI?
Artificial intelligence may be at the forefront of a pioneering new chapter in tech, and California AI companies are major contributors to the state’s economy. But the technology requires a lot of energy, which has led some state lawmakers to consider a potential, albeit controversial, solution: nuclear power. As CalMatters’ Alex Shultz explains, AI technology […]
By • January 30, 2025
A tilted view of former U.S. President Donald Trump standing in front of a podium as he speaks from a stage decorated in blue, white and red colors.
WhatMatters
Federal funding freeze prompts chaos, confusion, lawsuits
President Donald Trump has called for a temporary freeze on certain federal aid — sowing confusion and concern among California’s state officials and advocacy groups.  As CalMatters’ reporters explain, a memo from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget directed federal agencies to pause financial grants and loans that could be “implicated” by any of […]
By • January 29, 2025
The burned remains of a pink and white house. Only the front entrance and side wall of the home remains standing. Debris and charred can be seen surrounding the structure.
WhatMatters
Can Southern CA rebuild areas burned by wildfire faster?
The wildfires still burning in Southern California have destroyed thousands of homes. A freshman state lawmaker, whose district includes one of the epicenters of the blazes, aims to rebuild those communities faster. How? Through a task force and coordinator to work with local, state and federal authorities. It’s an idea that looks to Texas as […]
By • January 28, 2025
Two people stand next to a table covered with donated items, including clothing, toys, and board games, outside a building at sunset. One person holds a toy sword, while the other inspects a canister. Piles of clothing and other goods surround them, indicating a community aid or donation event.
WhatMatters
CA’s fire relief aid: What will GOP do?
The wildfires still burning in Southern California continue to thrust the state onto the national stage: Although President Donald Trump promised Friday to give Los Angeles the help it needs, he also has repeatedly threatened to withhold federal aid unless California aligns with his policies on water, or forestry management, or immigration or voter ID. […]
By • January 27, 2025
A person, wearing a black jacket and navy blue shirt, stands behind a lectern holding two pieces of paper on either hand. A group of lawmakers and public officials stand behind.
WhatMatters
CA earmarks $2.5 billion for LA fire aid
With President Donald Trump bound for Los Angeles today and once again threatening to withhold wildfire aid to California unless the state abides by his water policies, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills Thursday to provide $2.5 billion in state funding for wildfire response and preparedness, writes CalMatters’ Sameea Kamal. State and local agencies can […]
By • January 24, 2025
A wide view of a brown iron fence slithering in between a hill that separates the U.S. and Mexico in San Diego.
WhatMatters
Pentagon: 1,500 troops will deploy to U.S.-Mexico border
From CalMatters’ Wendy Fry:  In a significant escalation of immigration enforcement, the Pentagon said today that 1,500 active-duty troops will be deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border.  This follows President Donald Trump’s “Day One” executive orders ostensibly aimed at bolstering border security. The troops’ responsibilities will include operating helicopters, assisting border patrol agents, providing airlift support […]
By • January 23, 2025
A person stands at a podium with a microphone, wearing a navy blue suit and tie, with the seal of the Attorney General's Office visible on the podium. To the right, a blue sign reads, "IMMIGRANTS ARE THE BACKBONE OF CALIFORNIA," with an image of a bear and the California Republic flag in the background. Bookshelves are visible in the softly lit background.
WhatMatters
CA sues Trump administration over ‘birthright’ order
From CalMatters criminal justice reporter Nigel Duara: Resistance state Round 2 officially began Tuesday when California filed its first lawsuit against the new Donald Trump administration. Eighteen states, including California, filed a lawsuit in federal court, challenging an executive order by Trump that would revoke the right of guaranteed citizenship to anyone born in the […]
By • January 22, 2025

Gift this article

Lynn La - CalMatters
Lynn La is the newsletter writer for CalMatters, focusing on California’s top political, policy and Capitol stories every weekday.
CalMatters
California, explained
Lynn La
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. 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)