CalMatters is hiring! We’re looking for an ambitious reporter to cover one of the most important — and underreported — communities in California: the state’s more than 100 federally recognized Native American tribes. Apply now:

It's what you've all been waiting for ... CalMatters' Voter Guide has arrived! See the candidates, take the quiz, look up races here: calmatters.org/california-v...

No one told California's superintendent of public instruction about Gavin Newsom's plan to slash his job: calmatters.org/education/k-...

Gavin Newsom will go after Big Landlord in Thursday's State of the State address, report @frombenc.bsky.social and @jeannereporter.bsky.social:

[email protected] reporter Ryan Sabalow knew Doug LaMalfa, as did his constituents in the North State. A remembrance: calmatters.org/politics/202...

Newsom’s final year in office begins with an $18 billion deficit. How will he address it? calmatters.org/politics/202...

When you become a Democracy Watchdog Member, your monthly donation helps us shine a light on those who would silence dissent and keep the public in the dark. Become a monthly donor today — stand with us in the fight for an open and just society! firstamendmentcoalition.org?form=FACDece...

California’s independent legislative analyst is warning that the state faces a nearly $18 billion deficit. It is “critical” for lawmakers to rein in spending and increase revenues long term, he said. 📸 Fred Greaves

CalMatters exclusive: @mayacmiller.bsky.social has confirmed the identity of another co-conspirator, Alexis Podesta. Her attorney says she isn't charged and is cooperating with investigators. calmatters.org/politics/202...

🗓️ Planning your week ahead? Don't forget to get your ticket for our "Election Preview 2026" with top @CA_Dem, @CAGOP pollsters & strategists. Wednesday, 12-1 pm @UCCenterSac. Tickets 🎟️: sacpressclub.org/events/upcom...

Hi Bluesky 👋 Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵

Don't miss this! Next Wednesday's @sacpressclub lunch @UCCenterSac 12-1 pm w/ CA's top political pundits & pollsters talking #Prop50 and what's ahead in the 2026 elections. Tickets🎟️🎟️🎟️: sacpressclub.org/events/upcom...

Breaking: It’s a yes for Prop. 50. California voters approved the measure to temporarily suspend the state’s nonpartisan citizens redistricting commission until 2030. bit.ly/3WAJfhI 📝 @mayacmiller.bsky.social& @jeannereporter.bsky.social 📸 Ted Soqui

The story behind the long, messy legislative fight this year over a bill meant to address teaching about antisemitism in California schools. @bystellayu.bsky.social and @mzinshteyn.bsky.social:

Proposition 50 would require CA to use new congressional district maps. On October 14, proponents from each side will offer arguments in a debate moderated by @wordsmith24.bsky.social of Capitol Weekly & @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social of @calmatters.org capitolweekly.net/events/calif...

Gavin Newsom's Democratic redistricting plan would merge conservative rural Modoc County with liberal Marin County, angering ranchers. https://cal.news/46cOw4J 📷 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.

California lawmakers pushed through hundreds of bills in the final days of the Legislative session. Here are some we're watching for Gov. Newsom's action:

Well, that's a wrap on this year's legislative session. Kudos to my @calmatters.org colleagues, who were all over every move.

The passage of this bill, nearly a decade in the making, slaps a symbolic bow on what has already been a banger of a year for controversial and ambitious housing production legislation in California. calmatters.org/housing/2025...

Politics palate cleanser

Congratulations @akoseff.bsky.social! We will miss you.

Negotiations that could have a major effect on California's air quality, gas supply, transportation networks and the future of Medi-Cal are all taking place behind closed doors, with virtually no input from the public. @bystellayu.bsky.social

California lawmakers are scrambling to finalize a last-minute deal that would extend the state’s landmark greenhouse gas reduction program – known as cap and trade – through 2045. https://cal.news/4ptq6LU

Gavin Newsom is their biggest foil, but California Republicans are shying away from making him the center of attention in their campaign against Proposition 50.

@jeannereporter.bsky.social's story on soaring temperatures in California prisons and the new, tiny, step toward addressing them will make you exasperated and sad for the people affected.

Beating Trump to the punch in California?

Find out if your vote could be affected by Newsom's redistricting plans with these cool maps comparing before & after. Great work by @jeremiak.com & @akoseff.bsky.social!

If she were elected governor, former Senate leader Toni Atkins would oversee contracts with her spouse's many consulting firms. cal.news/4mBgKeI 📸 AP

Half a dozen Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas to stop a Republican-led redistricting scheme met Friday with top California Democrats as they draw their own new congressional lines calmatters.org/politics/202...

“At this moment, I believe I can make the greatest impact by focusing on California’s financial future,” @eleniforca.bsky.social said in a statement calmatters.org/politics/202...

Next Democratic president should expropriate Trump's wealth to pay for scraping all this Temu shit off the walls of the White House.

Huge props to @gauchoesque.bsky.social and @jeannereporter.bsky.social for giving me the layperson's understanding of a proposed shared power network in the West: calmatters.org/politics/202...

The time for a decision has finally come. Let the governor's race begin!

Powerful story today by @akoseff.bsky.social on the Afghans in California who are caught in legal limbo as the Trump administration changes policies:

Spokane politician arrested by feds at his home for protesting ICE kidnapping of two immigrants at check-in appointment. "Former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart … was indicted by a federal grand jury and [will] be charged with conspiracy to impede or injure law enforcement."

The Carpenters Union is "a pariah" among California construction trades unions, @jeannereporter.bsky.social and @frombenc.bsky.social report. Yet the Carpenters struck the deal for the biggest overhaul of California's environmental law in a generation. Here's the backstory:

Earlier this year, the governor demanded that state workers return to the office four days a week — then he negotiated away the requirement in return for other savings in union contracts, @mayacmiller.bsky.social reports: calmatters.org/politics/202...

For months, a plan to create an infrastructure financing agency largely shielded from the public eye sailed smoothly through the state Senate. Lawmakers only backtracked when transparency advocates sounded the alarm. cal.news/44cKpEP 📝 Martin do Nascimento

Lawmakers continue to try to keep documents that belong to the public secret and unsearchable. @bystellayu.bsky.social is keeping them accountable for @calmatters.org

An excellent explanation by @frombenc.bsky.social of the Legislature's vote to claw black a longstanding environmental regulation often used to block housing. #CalMatters

Beautiful storytelling. The people’s business.

The House wants to raise the SALT deduction cap, while the Senate wants to keep it at $10,000, the limit first established in 2017 to help pay for tax cuts for big corporations. Here's my look at how the outcome could affect millions of high-income California taxpayers.

FAC has sued the CIty of San Diego to force the city to disclose records about SDPD officers' use of force against Marcus Evans. Evans had his hands in the air when he was shot with beanbag rounds and mauled by a police dog. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...

California voted to bar immigrants from schools and social services in 1994. Now most Californians see immigrants as a benefit to the state. Read this story of the last 30 years that @frombenc.bsky.social and I reported. Smart editing by @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social calmatters.org/politics/202...

The First Amendment gives the press and reporters the right to observe, document, and record protests in public from a reasonable and safe distance. If you are a reporter with questions about your right to cover protests, reach out to our free legal hotline: bit.ly/FACLegalHotl...

The California Legislature passed a state budget today that relies more on borrowing than spending cuts to close a projected $12 billion deficit, aiming to push off difficult decisions about priorities even as that gap is only expected to grow in future years. calmatters.org/politics/202...

Law enforcement agencies across Southern California violated state law more than 100 times last month by sharing information from automated license plate readers with federal agents... From my colleagues at @calmatters.org

“The president is of course limited to his authority,” Breyer said. “That’s the difference between a constitutional government and King George.” calmatters.org/justice/2025...