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A close-up view of people on a small stage during an event at a library surrounded by books and Covered California signage that reads "Let's talk health."

WhatMatters

DACA recipients get more California health care

A major rule change under the Biden administration allows certain undocumented immigrants to purchase subsidized health plans through California’s insurance marketplace. But with a Republican-led effort to halt this expansion, and President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge of mass deportations, California health leaders worry that the gains the state achieved in coverage could be undone, writes CalMatters […]

By

Lynn La

• November 18, 2024

A construction site to a apartment complex.

Inequality Insights

Will Trump evict mixed-status families?

Good morning, Inequality Insights readers. I’m CalMatters housing affordability reporter Felicia Mello. One in five California children comes from a mixed-status family, in which at least one member is undocumented, according to the California Immigrant Data Portal. Concern is growing among housing advocates that those families risk losing access to federal housing assistance once President-elect […]

By

Felicia Mello

• November 15, 2024

A person wearing a hat with an American flag and a grey shirt sits on a green bench in an outside area of downtown Merced.

WhatMatters

California election trends so far

California is still counting votes (1.5 million yet to go), but some noteworthy trends are becoming clearer: Latino voters: Although the extent is still uncertain, polls show that support for President-elect Donald Trump among Latinos has grown nationwide. In California, a CalMatters analysis found that a larger share of votes in at least nine of […]

By

Lynn La

• November 15, 2024

People wave flags in support of President-elect Donal trump while riding in a red car during a rally.

WhatMatters

How California is prepping for Trump administration

The incoming Trump administration will likely mean huge changes across a wide range of policies in California. CalMatters reporters are talking to officials, experts and advocates about many of them: Reproductive rights advocates and Democratic leaders are also concerned that a Trump presidency will severely restrict abortion access. The Markup, which is part of CalMatters, […]

By

Lynn La

• November 14, 2024

A sign outside of Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York City on Nov. 17, 2021. Photo by Andrew Kelly, Reuters

WhatMatters

Google, union spend big to shape California Legislature

Between July and October last year, Google spent $120,000 on lobbying California’s government. In those same three months this year, the tech giant put in a lot more — $10.7 million. The big difference? The Legislature was debating a major bill with direct impact on Google’s bottom line — a media funding proposal — explain […]

By

Lynn La

• November 13, 2024

Person seated in a living room, looking directly at the camera. They wear a maroon and black long-sleeve shirt and are sitting on a gray couch, with a kitchen and dining area visible in the background.

WhatMatters

California workers could lose deportation protections

Immigration advocates are sounding the alarm over the prospect of mass deportations upending California immigrant communities, which Donald Trump has vowed to initiate when he returns to the White House in January. But smaller programs are also at risk, writes CalMatters Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang. To ensure that labor laws are being enforced, a federal […]

By

Lynn La

• November 12, 2024

A large indoor shelter filled with colorful tents, where people have set up temporary living spaces on the concrete floor. Some individuals are sitting outside their tents or on chairs along the wall, while others move around the area. The tents vary in colors and designs, with some families gathered together, indicating a communal space for shelter and respite.

Inequality Insights

What Trump’s border policies mean for California

Good morning, Inequality Insights readers. I’m Wendy Fry. President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on implementing a sweeping border crackdown and undertaking the largest-scale deportation effort in history. If carried out, his proposed initiatives will have profound consequences in California, which shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. On day one, he has pledged to begin a massive […]

By

Wendy Fry

• November 8, 2024

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

WhatMatters

Democrats move to ‘protect’ California from Trump

Scheduling note: WhatMatters is honoring our veterans on Monday and will return to your inboxes on Tuesday. California Democrats and their allies are battening down the hatches for Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January. On Thursday Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a special session to prepare the state for likely legal challenges […]

By

Lynn La

• November 8, 2024

People lean forward while they stand in front of white voting booths as they vote at a polling place.

WhatMatters

What messages did California voters send

Politicians and pundits are reading the tea leaves from the sweeping Democratic defeats nationally, as well as the California election results. To California Republicans, the passage of Proposition 36 — coupled with the recall of Alameda County’s district attorney and the defeat of Los Angeles County’s district attorney — offers clear evidence that voters reject […]

By

Lynn La

• November 7, 2024

A person sits in front of a stack of pink ballot envelopes laid out on a table.

WhatMatters

What we know about CA election results so far

Election Day has come and gone, but the suspense is far from over. Voting went relatively smoothly, as election officials across California reported they were confident about counting votes in the face of minor technical challenges. A new survey by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found that only 14% of Californians planned to […]

By

Lynn La

• November 6, 2024