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

WhatMatters

Are California Democrats gaming the system on crime measure?

California Democrats control most of the levers of power — if they stick together. But Democratic leaders aren’t taking any chances with their ballot measure to tackle retail theft and fentanyl, which proposes less sweeping changes to Proposition 47 than a measure already on the November ballot backed by Republicans and many prosecutors. Democrats are […]

Lynn La

• July 2, 2024

WhatMatters

California voters likely to decide $20 billion in bonds for climate and schools

There was no rest for the weary over the weekend, as lawmakers advanced two bonds that will likely appear on the November ballot. In five months, voters could decide whether the state can borrow $20 billion to fight climate change and repair schools. Climate change bond: Democratic leaders on Sunday said they reached an agreement […]

Lynn La

• July 1, 2024

WhatMatters

Why California’s November ballot keeps changing

Coming out of the March primary, it appeared that California’s November ballot could be crowded with more than a dozen propositions, if not more. But as of Thursday night, the Nov. 5 ballot was down to nine measures, the Secretary of State’s office announced. Then again, that number could still increase by next week, with […]

Lynn La

• June 28, 2024

WhatMatters

California Legislature gets the budget done

Five days before the new fiscal year begins, California lawmakers voted Wednesday night to approve the budget deal announced by the Legislature’s Democratic leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom. The outcome was never in doubt since the agreement was unveiled Saturday: Democrats control both the Assembly and Senate and don’t need any Republican votes to pass […]

Lynn La

• June 27, 2024

WhatMatters

Why California firefighters are waiting for workers comp

California’s massive workers’ comp insurance system — which is supposed to provide medical care for workplace injuries — is failing the firefighters who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems. As CalMatters environmental reporter Julie Cart explains, Cal Fire firefighters have to fight the system, often hiring attorneys, to get their […]

Lynn La

• June 26, 2024

WhatMatters

Will last-minute bond issues make California ballot?

The most recent measure to let the state borrow billions barely passed in March. In a poll out this month, nearly two-thirds of Californians said it’s a bad time to issue more IOUs. But that isn’t stopping supporters of climate action and school construction from trying to get bond issues on the November ballot — […]

Lynn La

• June 25, 2024

WhatMatters

Winners and losers in California budget deal

With Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Democratic-led Legislature coming to a budget agreement on Saturday, some winners and losers of the spending plan have become clear. As CalMatters Capitol reporter Alexei Koseff explains, many programs saw funding cuts, deferrals and delays to find $46.8 billion in fiscal solutions and balance the budget. The effort, according […]

Lynn La

• June 24, 2024

WhatMatters

Why California tax limit got booted from ballot

A political bombshell exploded in California at 10 a.m Thursday: The state’s highest court removed an anti-tax measure from the Nov. 5 ballot, siding with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders and angering business and taxpayer groups, writes CalMatters Capitol reporter Alexei Koseff. The blocked initiative — known as the Taxpayer Protection and Government […]

Lynn La

• June 21, 2024

WhatMatters

Can a death sentence with no Black jurors be just?

California hasn’t executed anyone since 2006, and while voters have supported keeping the death penalty, Gov. Gavin Newsom overrode them by imposing a moratorium in 2019. Legal battles have continued during this stalemate, including over potential racial bias in how California metes out capital punishment. The issue is arising in Alameda County, explains CalMatters news […]

Lynn La

• June 20, 2024

WhatMatters

High-stakes deal-making on California budget and ballot

It’s possible that the final big deals on both the state budget and November ballot measures could be hammered out on the same day next week, or in the days leading up to it. Thursday, June 27 is the deadline for the Legislature to put measures on the Nov. 5 ballot or pull them off […]

Lynn La

• June 19, 2024