Cal Matters
CalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization bringing Californians stories that probe, explain and explore solutions to quality of life issues while holding our leaders accountable. We are the only journalism outlet dedicated to covering America’s biggest state, 39 million Californians and the world’s fifth largest economy.
In 2024, CalMatters acquired The Markup, a nonprofit newsroom that challenges technology to serve the public good. The Markup bolsters CalMatters’ reporting on privacy, algorithms, AI, and tech regulation coming out of California. Launched in 2020, The Markup is rooted in a simple premise: technology is integrated across our daily lives and people deserve to better understand how it impacts them and what they can do about it.
Our Mission
To improve California’s democracy by making its government more transparent and accountable and giving Californians the information they need to understand and engage with that government.
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The report laid out dozens of potential violations by Evan Low involving a non-profit tech foundation for which he raised a half-million dollars. The regulators’ findings are the result of a five-year state probe — launched immediately after CalMatters published an investigation into the relationship between Low, the foundation and its donors. -
Gov. Gavin Newsom today approved $25 million for anticipated legal challenges against the Trump administration, positioning California to once again lead the resistance to the MAGA movement — just as the state is seeking federal assistance for the Los Angeles region’s recovery from devastating fires. -
One of President Trump’s first executive orders threatened to withhold federal funding from so-called sanctuary jurisdictions. California is one of them. -
The Trump administration apparently opted not to coordinate at all with Gov. Newsom while planning the president’s visit to fire-ravaged Los Angeles today. Just how awkward will this be?
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California passed two bills to expedite LA wildfire recovery funds as part of an extended special session called by Gov. Gavin Newsom in response to Palisades and Eaton fires. -
Experts predict funding cuts and policy changes. But Trump and Newsom appear to agree on encampment sweeps. -
Young voters in California and across the country are excited about Vice President Kamala Harris. Democrats are trying to capitalize, counting on a surge at the polls to win key congressional races. -
More than 3-thousand California pharmacies have stopped flavoring medication as of this month (November). That leaves just 50 statewide that will add flavors like bubble gum or strawberry to make it easier for some children to take medicine. The shift comes right as holiday travel and flu season head into full swing. CalMatters' health reporter Shreya Agrawal reports. -
In one of the many low income rural communities struck by flooding earlier this year residents and local officials are still wrangling over how to spend recovery money. At issue is 20-million dollars in state funds for the Central Valley town of Planada. CalMatters' Nicole Foy reports. -
Community college enrollment in California is up for the first time since the pandemic started. That's according to new data from the Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. CalMatters reporter Adam Echelman has more.
