Assembly

Politics

California’s tribes once again get lawmakers to attack a gambling competitor

After winning a costly legislative fight last year against rival card rooms, California’s tribes got lawmakers to ban a type of online sweepstakes.

By Ryan Sabalow • September 22, 2025

Elections

Gambling companies spent big to defeat three California lawmakers. ‘We want to be respected’

California’s card room industry spent over $3 million targeting four lawmakers as payback for their votes on a gambling bill. Three of the lawmakers lost.

By Ryan Sabalow • December 10, 2024

Politics

Disappearing bills: More than 2,300 bills died without a vote in the last two years

Few bills fail in the Legislature because lawmakers publicly vote “no.” Instead, most bills die when they are shelved, without lawmakers having to take tough votes.

By Sameea Kamal • December 5, 2024

Politics

Gambling interests gave $1M to California lawmakers. Did it influence their votes?

California’s rival gambling interests gave the 22 members of an obscure legislative committee more than $1 million in campaign donations. Did the cash infusion to this “juice committee” influence members’ votes?

By Ryan Sabalow and Jeremia Kimelman • July 16, 2024

Commentary

At 90, California political icon Willie Brown still dominates every room he enters

As Willie Brown turns 90 years old, the California political giant reflected on his career, the state of politics and his induction into the California Hall of Fame. Many in the political realm still seek his counsel.

By James Richardson • March 14, 2024

Health

Why single-payer advocates are split on how to overhaul health care

Two proposals that would usher in single-payer health care have divided former allies in the fight for reform.

By Ana B. Ibarra • July 5, 2023

Health

Hospital closures, cuts in services loom for some communities. How the state may step in to help.

After Madera Community Hospital closed earlier this year, other hospitals have signaled they are struggling financially. Legislators are considering several solutions to funnel more money to hospitals to prevent them from cutting services or closing.

By Ana B. Ibarra • April 6, 2023

WhatMatters

Should teachers in high-poverty California schools get more pay?

It’s difficult to exaggerate just how much impact a great teacher can have on a student’s life. Experienced and qualified educators can increase their students’ lifetime earnings and reduce their chances of incarceration. But in California, schools serving more students living in poverty generally have fewer experienced teachers. In the first in a series of […]

By Lynn La • March 30, 2023

Commentary

Will California Assembly speakership deal make any real difference?

A months-long power struggle over the state Assembly speakership ended with a political deal. But will changing one politician for another make any difference?

By Dan Walters • November 15, 2022

WhatMatters

Assembly Speaker Rendon keeps his crown

After a weekend of lobbying, jockeying and speculating, then a flurry of parliamentary maneuvers and a six-hour closed-door caucus meeting on Tuesday, California Assembly Democrats finally came to a decision about who ought to serve as speaker. The answer: The current speaker, Anthony Rendon. The announcement came not with a bang but a whimper: At […]

By Ben Christopher • June 1, 2022