Dan Walters

An aerial view of rows of homes destroyed by Palisades Fire along the coast in Malibu. Cars are driving on the highway between two rows of destroyed houses.

Commentary

Will having ‘too many cooks’ complicate recovery from deadly Los Angeles fires?

The response to homelessness in California, which has suffered from a lack of clear responsibility with officials pointing fingers, offers a warning for Los Angeles fire recovery.

By

Dan Walters

• February 11, 2025

Jeff Dollente, a zanjero with the Imperial Irrigation District, opens a gate on the Redwood Canal north of El Centro on June 1, 2022. Photo by Mark Henle, The Republic via Reuters

Commentary

Colorado River poses another California water conflict that Trump will affect

President Donald Trump took office at a pivotal moment in a dispute over water rights on the Colorado River. California and other states have competing claims.

By

Dan Walters

• February 7, 2025

Construction on the High-Speed Rail over a ramp above Highway 99 in south Fresno on March 3, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Commentary

Trump targets California’s troubled bullet train project. It may deserve a mercy killing

President Donald Trump denounced California's bullet train and said his administration would investigate how federal dollars have been spent. The remarks followed a critical inspector general report casting doubt on the project's timeline.

By

Dan Walters

• February 6, 2025

A white electric vehicle is parked at a charging station, with charging cables connected to the vehicle. The station displays green accents and a digital interface. The words "EV Charging Only" are painted on the asphalt, indicating the designated parking area for electric vehicle charging. The background includes a building and bare tree branches.

Commentary

California’s carbon crusade faces resistance due to its real world impact

In concept, the public supports battery-powered cars, windmills, and solar farms to shrink California's carbon footprint. But some also see a downside to these climate change solutions.

By

Dan Walters

• January 31, 2025

A close-up of a person holding a piece of paper with both their hands. The paper is a revised questionnaire for people who will be filing their taxes.

Commentary

SALT in old wounds: California’s taxes on wealth may hinge on how Trump treats deductions

President Donald Trump and Congress may toss a federal cap on how much people deduct for local and state taxes. If so, California's rich could enjoy a big tax cut.

By

Dan Walters

• January 30, 2025

A person wearing a navy blue suit points in front of them as they stand behind a lectern with the California seal in front of it. A large screen with a graphic that reads "our state revenues are up by $16.5 B" is seen next to him.

Commentary

Southern California wildfires could be a double whammy for the state’s shaky budget

The proposed budget the Newsom administration unveiled earlier this month is already scrap paper because the deadly wildfires that scorched Southern California will clobber tax revenues while imposing massive new financial burdens.

By

Dan Walters

• January 29, 2025

Two individuals stand on an airport tarmac, engaged in an intense discussion. One person, wearing a dark button-up shirt, gestures emphatically while speaking. The other individual, dressed in a blazer and a cap with gold lettering, looks on attentively. A large aircraft and a clear blue sky serve as the backdrop, with microphones visible in the foreground.

Commentary

Why California’s fire response could make or break the careers of several politicians

Several political figures in California could face a make or break moment in their careers depending on how they respond to the Los Angeles County fires and the threats from the federal government to condition aid.

By

Dan Walters

• January 28, 2025

A person in motion carries a large California state flag with a bear emblem and the words "California Republic." The flag billows prominently in the foreground, while a blurred crowd of individuals, many wearing white shirts, marches in the background on a sunny day.

Commentary

If California split from the US and became a nation, it would be comparable to Canada

Six in 10 Californians wouldn't mind if the state peacefully seceded from the United States, a poll by Independent California Institute shows.

By

Dan Walters

• January 24, 2025

A person leans over and reaches into an irrigation canal. Dirt lines the bank of the canal, as the stream flows away from the frame. The person is a farmer and is conducting a test of the water.

Commentary

Trump jumps back into California’s water wars with a pro-farmer decree

This week, when Donald Trump once again became president, he essentially sought to undo a recent agreement between federal and state water managers and reinstate his previous policies.

By

Dan Walters

• January 23, 2025

A person talks with then-President Donald Trump as they both walk through an area with burnt debris and structures destroyed by a wildfire.

Commentary

With the Trump-Newsom political feud back, the LA fires add a tricky new wrinkle

Gavin Newsom must choose between being the governor of California who does whatever is necessary to get the disaster relief his constituents are demanding, and a potential presidential candidate who resists Trump on every point and at any cost.

By

Dan Walters

• January 22, 2025