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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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A computer screen shows a Turnitin similarity report with a 38% match score. The Match Overview panel on the right lists four top sources: student papers and one internet source, with the highest match at 16%. The blurred background reveals sections of a document highlighted in red to indicate matching text.
A person sits at a gravesite, looking solemnly toward the camera. They wear a white sleeveless top and an orange patterned skirt, with hands folded in their lap. Behind them is a memorial headstone featuring a portrait of Joseph R. Ramirez, along with flowers and decorations. A stone wall and greenery surround the cemetery setting.
A person in a green tracksuit holding up a sign saying, “IMMIGRANTS UILT THIS NATION,” while next to a guard railing over a highway in downtown Los Angeles. In the background, cars can be seen driving on the road while crowds of protesters hold up signs and flags on both sides of the highway.
A close-up view of dark purple round banners displayed at the top of a room filled with attendees at a conference. The banners include text that say, "to value fast ..." and "AI, data, and ..."
A lawmakers, wearing a gray suit, stands overlooking other lawmakers sitting in front of wooden desks in a legislative room at the state Capitol. The room is decorated with cream-colored columns, red curtains and gold accents.
A line of uniformed National Guard members wearing helmets and face shields stands in formation behind clear riot shields labeled “California National Guard.”
A wide-view of a crowd of protesters holding signs as they gather in front of a legislative building during a protest. The signs contain various phrases such as "no kings" and "dump Trump."

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