Politics & Policy
44 stories
LA Mansion Tax Hurt Affordable Housing Construction
LA's mansion tax raised $1.14 billion, but new UCLA research shows it may have backfired by reducing affordable housing construction permits by 21%.
California Bill Would Transfer State Park to Native Tribe
California lawmakers are weighing AB 2356, which would hand 4,301 acres of Tolowa Dunes State Park to the Tolowa Dee-ni Nation amid concerns over unexamined consequences.
California Districts Misusing Prop 28 Arts Funding in 2026
Only 11% of California schools are using Proposition 28 arts funding as voters intended, leaving disadvantaged students without music and arts education.
California Bill Shields Trans and Abortion Records from Trump
California's AB 1930 aims to block federal subpoenas for abortion and transgender care records, but legal scholars question whether it will survive court challenges.
California Bill to Shield Gender-Affirming Care Records
A California bill would require hospitals to notify the AG before complying with federal subpoenas on gender-affirming care, raising legal concerns.
California Cities Scramble Over New Housing Law SB 79
California cities are racing to comply with or fight SB 79, a new state housing law allowing mid-rise apartments near transit stops starting July 1.
CalPERS Settles, Returning Money to Retirees Hit With Huge Bills
CalPERS dropped a seven-year legal fight, agreeing to refund hundreds of thousands of dollars to retirees hit with shocking debt notices after retirement.
California Fights to Protect Gender Care for Minors in 2026
California AG Rob Bonta sued hospitals that halted gender-affirming care for minors after Trump funding threats, leaving families in legal uncertainty.
California Governor Candidates Must Address Key Issues in 2026
Nine candidates are running for California governor, but voters are still waiting for serious engagement on education, jobs, and population loss.
Court Strikes Down California Dialysis Profit Law
A federal appeals court ruled key parts of California's AB 290 unconstitutional, handing a legal defeat to the state in a dialysis industry profit dispute.
California Cities Fight or Comply With SB 79 Housing Law
California cities are racing to respond to Senate Bill 79, which allows nine-story apartments near transit stops before its July 1 effective date.
India-Linked Gangs Terrorizing California Sikh Community
Indian gangs are extorting California's Punjabi Sikh communities using cross-border threats, targeting families in both the US and India to ensure compliance.
Woman Accuses Eric Swalwell of Violent Sexual Assault
Beverly Hills woman Lonna Drewes accuses Rep. Eric Swalwell of rape and assault at a 2018 hotel meeting, days after he announced his congressional resignation.
CalMatters Wins $9M Grant to Expand Digital Democracy
CalMatters' Digital Democracy platform wins a $9 million grant to expand AI-powered legislative transparency tools from California to states nationwide.
California Wasted $1M in Dolly Parton Literacy Program
A California nonprofit spent over $1 million in a Dolly Parton book program partnership without distributing a single book to a single child.
CalMatters Wins Collier Prize for DMV Investigation
CalMatters earned second place in the Collier Prize for its 'License to Kill' investigation into how California's DMV handles drivers who cause fatal crashes.
Why California's Civil Courts Fill the Criminal Justice Gap
When criminal justice fails victims of government misconduct, California's civil courts become the last resort for accountability and compensation.
California Democrats' Tax-the-Rich Plans Could Backfire
California progressives want to tax the wealthy to offset Medi-Cal cuts, but budget analysts warn the math won't add up amid a $22 billion deficit.
California Billionaire Tax Proposals Won't Fix Budget Crisis
California lawmakers push three bills to tax billionaires and corporations, but budget experts warn the measures won't solve the state's $22 billion deficit.
Who Benefits From Swalwell's Exit in California Governor Race
Eric Swalwell suspended his governor campaign and resigned from Congress after sexual harassment allegations, reshaping California's Democratic primary field.
Eric Swalwell Drops California Governor Race After Allegations
Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his California governor campaign after four women made sexual misconduct allegations, including assault claims from a former staffer.
Trump Snubbed as California GOP Rejects His Governor Pick
California Republicans defied Trump at their San Diego convention, failing to endorse Steve Hilton for governor as delegates split between Hilton and Sheriff Chad Bianco.
Eric Swalwell Resigns From Congress After Sexual Assault Claims
Rep. Eric Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress days after sexual assault allegations from four women, including a former staff member, became public.
California Bill Uses Malpractice Law to Fight Conversion Therapy
Sen. Scott Wiener's bill would extend malpractice lawsuit deadlines for LGBTQ youth harmed by conversion therapy, responding to a recent Supreme Court ruling.
California GOP Rejects Trump's Pick Steve Hilton for Governor
California Republicans failed to endorse any gubernatorial candidate, splitting between Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco despite Trump backing Hilton at the San Diego convention.
Swalwell Suspends CA Governor Race After Assault Allegations
Rep. Eric Swalwell ended his California governor campaign after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, including rape allegations he calls false.
California Republicans Torn Between Trump and Swing Districts
At their annual convention in San Diego, California Republicans face a difficult balancing act: embracing Trump's base while appealing to competitive district voters.
California Rural Health Care Crisis and the 340B Program
Glenn Medical Center's closure spotlights California's rural hospital crisis and raises questions about the 340B drug discount program's true beneficiaries.
Palisades Fire Survivor Learns Carpentry to Rebuild His Home
After losing his home in the Palisades Fire, Hudson Idov enrolled in carpentry school to help rebuild his neighborhood amid LA's construction worker shortage.
California Voters Face Dueling Ballot Propositions in 2026
California voters will encounter competing ballot propositions designed to cancel each other out, a political tactic dating back to the landmark Prop. 13 battle of 1978.
Trump's Endorsement Divides California GOP Convention
Trump's endorsement of Steve Hilton over Chad Bianco at California's GOP convention sparked backlash, complicating the party's already fragile 2026 prospects.
Unsealed Warrants Reveal Weak Basis for Bianco Ballot Seizure
Search warrants behind Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of 650,000 ballots reveal no informants, witnesses, or forensic evidence.
California Must Fix Boom-and-Bust Budgeting and Build Reserves
California faces structural deficits of up to $35 billion. Experts say the next governor must rethink spending and boost reserves to end boom-and-bust cycles.
California Governor Candidates Ignoring Gen Z Voters
Two Gen Z policy students attended California gubernatorial forums and found candidates avoiding concrete commitments on issues young voters care about most.
California Cuts Funding for Endangered Salmon Restoration
California ended funding for a Chinook salmon restoration program on the McCloud River, leaving the Winnemem Wintu Tribe scrambling to save a sacred species.
California GOP Governor Race 2026: Why a Tie Is the Best Strategy
Two Republican candidates are betting that splitting the vote evenly could shut Democrats out of California's November gubernatorial race entirely.
Federal Judge: Border Patrol Raids in California Broke Court Order
A federal judge ruled Border Patrol agents in California's Central Valley violated her injunction by detaining people without legal justification.
California Governor's Race 2026: A Crowded Game of Chicken
With 61 candidates and three Democrats stuck at 10%, California's 2026 gubernatorial primary is a standoff as mail ballots begin dropping.
Yuba River Pipe Rupture Kills Salmon, Raises Infrastructure Fears
A ruptured penstock pipe on the Yuba River killed thousands of Chinook salmon and exposed aging water infrastructure risks across California.
Judge Rules Border Patrol Violated Court Order in California
A federal judge found Border Patrol agents in California's Central Valley continued detaining people without legal justification, violating a prior court order.
Fact-Checking the 'Empire of Fraud' Claim Against Newsom
A City Journal article claims $180 billion was stolen under Newsom. We examine whether the evidence supports the 'empire of fraud' allegation.
California Kids on Medi-Cal Are Missing Critical Eye Care
Only 16% of school-age Medi-Cal children received eye care between 2022 and 2024, down from 19% eight years earlier, as vision problems rise nationwide.
LA's Top-Two Primary Creates Strange Political Alliances in 2026
California's top-two primary system is reshaping Los Angeles politics in 2026, creating unusual alliances and pressuring candidates to rethink strategy.
Why California Republicans Need a Tie to Win the Governor's Race
Two GOP candidates must split the primary vote almost evenly to both advance past California's top-two primary and lock Democrats out of November.