Explainers

Recall Newsom volunteer Pat Miller holds up a sign during petition-signing event at SaveMart in Sacramento on Jan. 5, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Politics

Recalling a California governor, explained

Gov. Gavin Newsom is fighting for his political life. He’s working to fend off a recall that began as a far-fetched effort by Republican activists — but has turned into a credible campaign that could throw the Democrat out of office. It’s hard to fathom in this deep blue state where Newsom clobbered his 2018 […]

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• January 27, 2021

A brown pelican — a species that recovered from near-extinction after being protected by the Endangered Species Act — flies above Malibu Lagoon on Jan. 12, 21. Photo by Shae Hammond for CalMatters

Explainers

What Biden’s presidency means for California’s environment

Erasing dozens of Trump’s climate rollbacks is Biden’s priority, and he issued directives on his first day in office. California’s air quality, wildlife, water, forests, farms — and even its light bulbs and washing machines — could be affected by new executive orders, policies and rules. But how likely are they, and when?

By

Julie Cart

and

Rachel Becker

• January 25, 2021

Health

California fought for Obamacare and won. What’s at stake?

Lea este artículo en español. California has wholeheartedly embraced the Affordable Care Act — it advertises it, it invests in it, it protects it. It even went to court for it. And won. Today, in a 7-2 decision in California et al. v. Texas, the Supreme Court voted to reject the latest challenge to the Affordable Care […]

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• November 10, 2020

California has fewer children, but they face greater challenges — from poverty to COVID. Image via iStock

Coronavirus

The hurdles facing California kids, explained

Lea este artículo en español. California is home to more than 9 million children, many of them hungry, poor and struggling to access health care and quality education. Child advocates were hoping for change with Gov. Gavin Newsom and his attention to early childhood development and education, plans for universal preschool and desire to give extra […]

By

Elizabeth Aguilera

• September 21, 2020

The State Capitol in Sacramento, California, September 10, 2015. California Bills.

Explainers

The final say: Gov. Newsom has decided which of these 2020 bills will be California law

In a year when the coronavirus pandemic upended every aspect of normal life, the impact in the California Capitol was also dramatic. Lawmakers took an unprecedented two-month pause in the spring, when Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide order for people to stay home to prevent the spread of the virus. They returned to the […]

By

CalMatters Staff

• August 31, 2020

Window with a closed sign due to the closure of almost all businesses amid the Coronavirus outbreak, Downtown Los Angeles, April 11 2020. Photo by Ana M Amortegui via iStock

Explainers

Filing for unemployment? Here’s how California is scrambling to respond

More than 7.6 million Californians have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic triggered a recession. Navigating the assistance program has been filled with frustration.

By

Lauren Hepler

and

Stephen Council

• July 30, 2020

California Divide

Where to get financial help during coronavirus in California — and is it enough?

California's pandemic safety net programs are straining under overwhelming demand. So did Gov. Gavin Newsom overpromise or underdeliver?

By

Jackie Botts

• June 29, 2020

California is moving to an (almost) all-mail election for 2020. Image via iStock

Politics

California’s (mostly) all-mail 2020 election, explained

Now that the coronavirus has turned Election Day into a latent superspreader event, the state’s Democratic lawmakers are making the 2020 general election an (almost) all-mail affair. Here's what that might look like.

By

Ben Christopher

• June 25, 2020

Beach goers enjoy the sunshine in San Francisco on April 7, 2020. Last week, the CDC recommended that everyone wear protective masks while in public to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Explainers

California’s response to coronavirus, explained

The Golden State appears to be flattening the curve, but it has come at a cost. We unravel the state's response to coronavirus and look at what will be different when Californians re-emerge.

By

Elizabeth Castillo

• April 13, 2020

Explainers

Counting California in the 2020 Census

California is investing $187.2 million in marketing and outreach for the 2020 census. The state is at risk of losing billions of federal dollars and a House seat if there's an undercount.

By

Judy Lin

• March 5, 2020