Politics & Policy
12 stories
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.