Investigations

A person with short brown hair looks to their left while their right hand rest behind their ear, as they sit in front of a desk. Other people can be seen in the blurred foreground

Investigations

New commission takes aim at California’s broken public defense system

California is one of just two states that provides no money for the basic defense of poor people accused of crimes.

By Anat Rubin • June 16, 2026

A person in a red blazer speaks at a wooden podium inside a government building, with three people standing behind them and large posters reading “STOP DUIs” and “SAVE LIVES” showing traffic cones and flashing lights on either side of the group.

Investigations

Lawmakers proposed a suite of bills in response to a series of CalMatters investigative stories.

By Andrew Donohue • June 3, 2026

A white binder filled with sheets of paper sits on a book stand at a judge's desk inside a courtroom. The back of a person can be seen in the foreground of the frame.

Investigations

California has a public defender crisis. A new bill seeks to force the state to confront it

Counties would have to report their public defenders' workloads under the proposed legislation.

By Anat Rubin • May 13, 2026

A boarded-up building with a steep triangular roof sits behind a chain-link fence in an empty lot, with tarps covering parts of the roof and surrounding structures.

Housing

Did Newsom’s $3.8 billion hotels-to-housing program pay off? We filed 100 records requests to find out

The records provide a first-of-its-kind look into how a historic investment in homeless housing played out.

By Lauren Hepler and Marisa Kendall • May 7, 2026

A group of people gathers around a silver sedan in an outdoor lot. One person leans against the driver’s side window, peering inside, while another in a reflective work shirt stands nearby. Handwritten markings are visible on the windshield, and a traffic cone sits on top of the car. More people in the background inspect other vehicles, some with open hoods, in a setting surrounded by metal buildings and fences.

Investigations

New bill would stop DMV from making millions off auctioned cars without telling the owners

The bill is inspired by a CalMatters story that revealed state law allows the DMV to collect money from towed cars in secret.

By Byrhonda Lyons • April 22, 2026

A uniformed sheriff speaks at a podium, gesturing with one hand while addressing an audience. Behind them, a large sheriff’s star emblem is mounted on a wood-paneled wall, with the American flag and the California state flag on either side.

Investigations

Internal emails show how fringe groups fueled Sheriff Chad Bianco’s ballot seizure

Records reveal the investigation was based on the thinnest of evidence, raising alarms over how the November election could be disrupted.

By Anat Rubin and Jessica Pishko • April 21, 2026

A collage-style illustration in green, purple and white tones with several cut-out images, including: photos of two elderly people, court transcripts, a list of financial costs and the California seal.

Investigations

‘A false front’: The California agency failing to stop conservatorship abuses

A CalMatters investigation finds the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau hasn't fulfilled its promise to protect Californians, even as the state’s population ages.

By Byrhonda Lyons • April 9, 2026

A person in a suit and tie smiles while standing outdoors in front of a modern building, with a few people walking in the background under a clear blue sky.

Investigations

Judge begins to unwind conflicts in Ventura County conservatorship cases

Following a CalMatters investigation, a new judge has ordered Angelique Friend to stop hiring her husband’s companies with her clients’ money.

By Byrhonda Lyons • March 30, 2026

A graphic titled “Agents of Chaos” shows masked, uniformed men in military-style gear with highlighted faces, alongside logos for CalMatters, Bellingcat and Evident over a map background with lines pointing toward Chicago.

Investigations

Agents of Chaos: Border Patrol’s year of unchecked force

'The first thing that you do when you give an agent a gun and a badge and the authority over American people is to make sure that they follow the Constitution, period.'

By Sergio Olmos • March 17, 2026

A person in a suit speaks into a microphone during a public hearing or meeting. Several officials sit behind them at a raised dais, listening as the speaker gestures while talking.

Investigations

‘We’re talking about people’s lives:’ California lawmakers grill DMV director on deadly failures

The state Senate's hearing on driving laws was spurred by a CalMatters investigation into California's approach to deadly drivers.

By Lauren Hepler and Robert Lewis • March 11, 2026

Investigations

Know what’s happening. Know what you can do about it.