Donald Trump

A person wearing a navy suit points to a monitor with a line chart on it during a press conference. The California state seal, state flag and the American flag can be seen behind them.

Politics

California budget is $12 billion in the red amid Trump tariffs and rising costs

California is experiencing unexpectedly shaky economic conditions, as health care costs rise and Trump's tariffs create ongoing uncertainty.

By Alexei Koseff • May 13, 2025

A group of young children gather around a table under a canopy, learning how to plant seeds. Two children wearing matching pink unicorn shirts and sunglasses watch closely as an adult hands out small pots. Another child in a purple outfit handles planting materials, while a woman leans in to guide them. Soil and seed packets are scattered across the table.

Education

Head Start gets a reprieve from Trump budget cuts, but the fight isn’t over

Head Start staff and advocates launched a nationwide campaign to save the program, which Trump eliminated in his budget draft.

By Carolyn Jones • May 8, 2025

An encampment with scattered belongings, shopping carts, a tent covered in plastic, and a frosted artificial Christmas tree. A person stands near a chain-link fence while another sits by the tent. A worn trailer is in the background, and a dog is partially visible in the foreground.

Housing

‘Millions out on the street virtually overnight’: How Trump’s budget proposal could affect California

President Donald Trump's budget proposal in its present form would have huge effects on housing and homelessness in California.

By Ben Christopher and Marisa Kendall • May 5, 2025

Traffic moves along the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles on Nov. 22, 2022. Photo by Jae C. Hong, AP Photo

Commentary

Newsom jabs at Trump and Musk, but will AI make California more efficient?

Gov. Gavin Newsom contrasted federal efficiency cuts with his use of AI to improve state government. But California's record of using technology has been poor.

By Dan Walters • May 2, 2025

A close-up view of shipping containers in various colors drving out of a port terminal.

Environment

Grants for LA clean trucks frozen in Trump effort to defund green energy

The $250 million, which would fund about 500 electric trucks serving the ports of LA and Long Beach, remains frozen as a legal dispute plays out between the EPA, a bank and a green energy group.

By Alejandro Lazo • May 1, 2025

A side-by-side split image showing two men in suits, each standing in front of a blurred background. On the left, a man with light hair and a red tie looks directly ahead with a serious expression. On the right, a man with darker, slicked-back hair and a navy blue tie looks slightly off to the side with a focused expression.

Justice

100 days in, California is suing Trump at almost double the pace of his first term

California sued the Trump administration 16 times in the first 100 days of the Republican president's second term. It's a "high volume" pace shaped by his many executive orders.

By Nigel Duara • April 30, 2025

A view of a recreation area through a couple of fences with barbed wire on the top. Through the fence are a couple of soccer goals and a group of people wearing orange shirts and white shorts.

Justice

California sent investigators to ICE facilities. They found more detainees, and health care gaps

A California law empowers state investigators to check on conditions at ICE detention centers. A new report raises concerns about health care inside them.

By Wendy Fry • April 29, 2025

A person with a shaved head and a trimmed beard stands outside against a textured wall, wearing a blue collared shirt and a gray quilted jacket. Sunlight and shadow patterns fall across the wall behind them as they look slightly upward with a thoughtful expression. 2/2

Justice

Trump cuts millions in California crime prevention grants: ‘This was a sledgehammer’

Groups that support California crime victims and attempt to reduce gun violence lost millions of dollars in grants when the Trump administration pulled funding.

By Cayla Mihalovich • April 29, 2025

Exterior of a building with large capital letters spelling “U.S. Department of Education.” The building features vertical windows and concrete panels, with sunlight casting deep shadows across the facade.

Higher Education

Fraud in California community colleges triggers call for Trump investigation

Following CalMatters reporting, California’s Republican representatives are calling for the U.S. Department of Education and Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate how California’s community colleges are handling financial aid fraud.

By Adam Echelman • April 25, 2025

Two students play on a balancing board in the playground area of an elementary school. More students can be seen in the background playing in the jungle gym.

K-12 Education

After Trump’s crackdown on DEI in schools, judge rules he can’t cut off funding

California receives $2.4 billion in federal Title I money for low-income schools, about $1.3 billion for special education and $250 million for after-school programs, among other grants.

By Carolyn Jones • April 24, 2025