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Lynn La

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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

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WhatMatters
Why CalPERS is being pushed to divest from Tesla
Elon Musk, the tech mogul who runs Tesla, said in December that diversity, equity and inclusion efforts “must die.” Now, two civil rights groups are calling for the nation’s largest public pension fund to divest from the electric vehicle maker. On Wednesday, LatinoJustice and the National Institute for Workers’ Rights sent a letter to State […]
By • October 17, 2024
Ride-share driver and SEIU Gig Workers Union member John Mejia, center, speaks during a press conference outside of the Supreme Court of California in San Francisco on May 21, 2024. The state Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Prop. 22, a ballot initiative that allows ride-share companies, such as Uber and Lyft, to classify drivers as independent contractors. Photo by Juliana Yamada for CalMatters
WhatMatters
California ride-hailing drivers could get back pay
From CalMatters economy reporter Levi Sumagaysay: Tens of thousands of California ride-hailing drivers, and possibly more, could eventually get back pay after a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that clears the way for the state and some cities to proceed with their lawsuits against Uber and Lyft. The two companies had argued that because their […]
By • October 16, 2024
Two lawmakers shake hands while one seats at a desk and the other stands. Other lawmakers nearby watch the exchange at the state capitol.
WhatMatters
Newsom declares victory over Big Oil
From CalMatters Capitol reporter Alexei Koseff: Only a few months delayed, Gov. Gavin Newsom finally got to take his victory lap over the oil industry on Monday. Surrounded by Democratic lawmakers and other supporters in the state Capitol rotunda, Newsom signed Assembly Bill X2-1, his proposal to address gasoline price spikes, which he called “a […]
By • October 15, 2024
Four people, a mix of lawmakers and officials, sit behind a dais in a conference hall with attendees.
WhatMatters
How well is California’s political watchdog doing its job?
After the Watergate scandal, California voters approved a ballot measure that created the Fair Political Practices Commission — an independent, nonpartisan agency to police election campaigns and investigate political ethics violations.  Fifty years later, there are serious questions about how well it’s doing its job. CalMatters politics reporter Yue Stella Yu and data reporter Jeremia […]
By • October 14, 2024
Four people sit at a panel table in front of microphones, speaking to an audience during a hearing.
WhatMatters
California gas price bill on track, despite oil industry objections
A bill pushed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to curb gas price spikes is likely to get one step closer to his desk today. After clearing two state Senate committees this week, the measure to require oil refineries to keep a minimum supply of fuel is up for a floor vote. Senate President Pro Tem Mike […]
By • October 11, 2024
A tilted view of a person wearing a navy blue suit and looking to his right side while other lawmakers stand behind him at a Home Depot location.
WhatMatters
Newsom: California’s economy depends on the presidential race
From CalMatters economy reporter Levi Sumagaysay: Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered a mostly upbeat message at an economic summit in Sacramento on Wednesday, especially when he was talking about California’s “resilient” economy. Despite what many headlines say about California’s supposed decline, “the good news is we’re still the fifth-largest economy in the world,” he told several […]
By • October 10, 2024
A wide view three people standing behind individual podiums on a stage during a debate
WhatMatters
Garvey and Schiff go after each other in U.S. Senate face-off
California’s three U.S. Senate debates before the March primary were mostly staid affairs. Not Tuesday’s often spicy face-off between Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of Burbank and Republican Steve Garvey — their first and only one-on-one debate scheduled before the Nov. 5 election. As CalMatters politics reporter Yue Stella Yu explains, they clashed over abortion, guns, […]
By • October 9, 2024
State Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, wearing a tie and blue suit is seated in a red chair at an elevated dias in a hearing chamber. Next to and in front of him, two people stand in conversation.
WhatMatters
California gas price session moves to Senate, but Assembly bill on ethanol nixed
On Aug. 31, when Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special session on gas prices, California motorists were paying $4.61 per gallon on average, $1.27 more than the national average. On Monday, when the state Senate finally convened, prices were $4.68 in California, or $1.51 above the national average.  In between, there has been plenty of […]
By • October 8, 2024
A person, wearing black overalls and a light yellow shirt, types into her laptop while she sits at a table shaded under trees at a college campus.
WhatMatters
California adds college financial aid options
From CalMatters community college reporter Adam Echelman: If colleges worked the way they should, Joe Villa would have thousands of dollars of federal financial aid by now. But he’s never received a penny.  I’ve been talking to Villa for over a year now, trying to figure out why.  He’s one of roughly four million Californians […]
By • October 7, 2024
A lawmaker, with a smile on their face and their right hand resting on their chin, sits behind a dais with a name plate in that reads "Sen. Butler" in front of them.
WhatMatters
Laphonza Butler wants you to know she’s your U.S. senator
Ever since Laphonza Butler took herself out of the running for U.S. Senate a year ago — just two weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsom picked her to replace the late Dianne Feinstein — she has faded into the background quite a bit.  Thursday, to mark one year since the Democrat took the oath of office, […]
By • October 4, 2024

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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)