Newsletters

A wide view of various posters related to democracy and prominent figures hung up in a classroom wall. Notable figures include U.S. history including Activist Malcom X, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Activist Cesar Chavez and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. A group of students and teacher can be seen sitting on desks in the foreground.

Newsletters

America’s 250th birthday is causing headaches for CA teachers

I’m CalMatters reporter Marisa Kendall, and I’m filling in for Lynn today. America is turning 250 this year. For California students, this milestone 4th of July will be about more than fireworks and backyard BBQs: It will be a time to learn something about how their government works. For decades, civics education has been sidelined […]

By

Lynn La

• March 11, 2026

Construction workers building an apartment complex site for an affordable housing project in Bakersfield on May 29, 2024. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

WhatMatters

Report: California needs 1 million more affordable homes

I’m CalMatters reporter Marisa Kendall, and I’m filling in for Lynn today. It’s common knowledge that California has a massive shortage of affordable homes, which contributes to high rates of housing instability and homelessness. But just how many more low-income homes do we need? Close to 1 million, according to a new report by the […]

By

Lynn La

• March 10, 2026

A person in a black suit stands in the front row of a courtroom while looking directly into the camera on their right side.

Newsletters

After his crash killed a child, the DMV renewed his license — then it hid his records

I’m CalMatters reporter Mikhail Zinshteyn and I’m subbing in for Lynn today. In late 2022, Kostas Linardos drove a three-ton pickup truck at high speed into the back of a sedan, killing a toddler. Prosecutors in Placer County, who charged him with felony vehicular manslaughter, already knew he had at least 16 traffic violations — […]

By

Lynn La

• March 9, 2026

Flanked by lawmakers and gun safety advocates, Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference where he signed new gun legislation into law at the Capitol Annex Swing Space in Sacramento on Sept. 26, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

WhatMatters

Why hasn’t Newsom got his gun?

I’m CalMatters reporter Ryan Sabalow, and I’m filling in for Lynn today. Last year, I reported how Democrats in the California Legislature were poised to pass a ban on new Glock handguns like the one Kamala Harris owns. I also reported that Gov. Gavin Newsom had recently received a handgun of his own as a […]

By

Lynn La

• March 6, 2026

People wearing white jumpsuits and yellow safety vests gather up debris from a home destroyed during a wildfire.

WhatMatters

Why would anyone want ‘the second-hardest job’ in California?

I’m CalMatters reporter Ryan Sabalow, and I’m subbing in for Lynn today. Between the natural disasters and the rising cost of living, it’s not easy presiding over many of the state’s insurance dilemmas. Just ask Democratic U.S. Rep. John Garamendi. He’s been insurance commissioner twice. He called it “the second-hardest job in the state behind […]

By

Lynn La

• March 5, 2026

A close-up of students holding black tablets at their desks.

WhatMatters

CA schools contend with trans rights, AI and student data privacy

California’s K-12 schools are grappling with the latest U.S. Supreme Court ruling, a nationwide artificial intelligence contest and personal data violations. Let’s get into it. Focus on Inland Empire: Each Wednesday, CalMatters Inland Empire reporter Aidan McGloin surveys the big stories from that part of California. Read his newsletter and sign up here to receive […]

By

Lynn La

• March 4, 2026

A four-photo collage shows different moments from people’s lives: a couple sitting outdoors with a gift box, an older person smiling in a restaurant, a black-and-white portrait of someone seated at a desk, and an older person posing beside a fireplace with framed art and decorative objects.

WhatMatters

Conservator bureau failed to protect elderly clients

Twenty years ago, state lawmakers created the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau after a series by the Los Angeles Times exposed self-dealing and a failure of judges to stop it. In a new project, CalMatters investigative reporter Byrhonda Lyons reveals how the bureau allows conflicts of interest to continue for years with little consequence. To tell the […]

By

Lynn La

• March 3, 2026

A large crowd gathers on a city street holding Iranian and American flags. Several people at the front hold signs featuring photos of political figures and messages referencing Iran, while others raise peace signs and chant. Tall office buildings line the background, and traffic lights are visible above the crowd.

WhatMatters

‘Illegal, dangerous’: Newsom, CA Dems slam Trump on Iran

California Democrats slammed President Donald Trump over the weekend following his decision to launch a military attack on Iran on Saturday. Gov. Gavin Newsom said that Trump’s explanations for the assault amounted to a “manufactured crisis,” and that while Iran’s leadership “must go,” Trump is waging an “illegal, dangerous war.” Some Democrats looking to succeed […]

By

Lynn La

• March 2, 2026

People stand at the steps of a school during a strike. The photo focuses on a person holding up their left hand in a fist while they hold a sign that reads "we can't wait" in Spanish with the other hand.

WhatMatters

The confluence of CA teachers strikes is not a coincidence

If it seems every week that another teachers strike is happening or threatening to happen, you’re not imagining things. Across the state, teachers unions are coordinating work stoppages, and school districts must make tough decisions that could affect thousands of students, writes CalMatters’ Carolyn Jones reports. To maximize political reach, 11 local teachers unions under […]

By

Lynn La

• February 27, 2026

A person wearing a cap, sunglasses, and a plaid shirt crouches beside a roadside trailer device, holding a phone up to photograph or inspect its rear panel, with brush and dirt terrain in the background.

WhatMatters

More government surveillance found along CA’s southern border

If you’re driving down California’s southern border, there’s a chance that a trailer or construction barrel you passed has a hidden camera in it operated by the federal government. As CalMatters’ Wendy Fry and Khari Johnson explain, in the last few months of former President Joe Biden’s term, California granted permits to federal agencies, including […]

By

Lynn La

• February 26, 2026