California Insider

California’s community colleges are contending with widespread enrollment fraud that has prevented real students from getting the classes they need and disrupted campus operations. More than 1.2 million fraudulent applications were filed in a single year, affecting about 80 percent of campuses across the state. The problem, first seen during the shift to online learning, has persisted despite effo...

California is the world’s fourth-largest economy, but daily life here is becoming less and less affordable. Housing costs take up more than half of some families’ incomes, while utility bills, gas prices, and insurance keep rising. In this episode, state Assemblymember Corey Jackson talks with Siyamak Khorrami about the pressures behind the cost of living and the steps lawmakers are weighing to ea...

To address California’s housing shortage, lawmakers in Sacramento are considering SB 79, a bill that would allow taller apartment buildings in neighborhoods currently reserved for single-family homes. The measure is intended to add housing options, shorten commutes, and make better use of existing infrastructure. But this has also led to discussion of local control and how cities can manage growth...

California just doubled its film tax credits to $750 million annually, but some say there's a problem. While the state courts big-budget productions, thousands of independent filmmakers making movies under $1 million are being left out entirely, impacting the entry point for new directors, writers, and crews. Independent filmmaker and professor Jeff Deverett breaks down why this matters for the ne...

California’s governor has called for a special election in November 2025 to redraw the state's congressional districts. If approved, it would temporarily set aside the voter-created redistricting commission, and the new maps would be used when Californians vote for Congress members in 2026. Former state Assemblyman Don Wagner joins us to explain the proposal and its potential impact on California...

California’s shrinking refinery network is only part of the story. New limits on Kern County oil are adding to the pressure, and decisions in Sacramento could influence what comes next. Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president and CEO of the Western States Petroleum Association, explains why this link matters for keeping fuel available and affordable in the state. Views expressed in this video are the opi...

Los Angeles has become a target of crime due to a key component in its infrastructure: copper. Thieves are unconcerned with causing widespread disruption to critical services or eroding local history, with damage extending far beyond financial costs. In this episode, LAPD Deputy Chief Allen Hamilton discusses the growing sophistication of these thefts, and how law enforcement is working to address...

California’s transportation debate often focuses on cars and public transit. With more Californians turning to e-bikes, Assemblymember Steve Bennett believes the state doesn’t need to rebuild the whole system, just fill in what’s missing. In this episode, he lays out a proposal for “bike highways” that connect cities through long-distance, protected lanes without disrupting how most people commute...

Dr. Stefan Bean was abandoned in Vietnam, evacuated during the war, and adopted into a foster home in San Diego that took in over 150 children. He spent much of his early schooling out of class due to surgeries and language barriers. One teacher made a different call. Years later, Bean leads education for 450,000 students in Orange County. In this conversation, he reflects on the small moments tha...

An independent study challenges long-held assumptions about greenhouse gas emissions. In parts of California, natural seeps and aging wells appear to be releasing more methane than modern oil operations, with elevated levels in populated areas. In this episode, University of California–Berkeley Professor James Rector, who conducted the study independently of industry or government funding, explain...

ADUs are popping up across California. Homeowners are turning garages into rentals, adding units in backyards, and stacking two at a time. But behind the growth, there is a mix of red tape, scams, and neighborhood tension. This episode brings you inside the experience. A builder talks through the challenge of managing dozens of projects. A homeowner shares the costs, the payoff, and how he helped...

In California, the housing market appears stable, but the income needed to afford a typical home is well over $200,000 a year. Most households make less than half that. Only 18 percent of Californians can afford to purchase a median-priced home. In this episode, economist Oscar Wei explains how interest rates, limited supply, and long-standing policy choices are keeping buyers on the sidelines. Vi...

As tariff policies evolve, California ports are under pressure to adapt. The Port of Long Beach, one of the busiest in the country, is moving record volumes without the backlogs of recent years. Chief Operating Officer Noel Hacegaba joins us to discuss how they're managing changes in cargo flow and labor needs while global trade remains in flux. Views expressed in this video are the opinions of th...

Stanley Zhong, a teen prodigy from Palo Alto, earned a 1590 on the SAT and built a secure code tool during the pandemic that later led to a job offer from Google. However, he was rejected by every University of California campus he applied to. In this episode, his father, Nan Zhong, explains why their family is challenging the college admissions process and what this means for other high-achieving...

Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131 aim to speed up housing approvals by limiting the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in targeted areas. Former Costa Mesa Mayor Jim Righeimer explains how faster permitting could help ease delays, while also pointing to deeper pressures on infrastructure and housing costs that remain unresolved. He shares how these changes are showing up in local comm...

California’s prison system has been experimenting with rehabilitation for years. Programs like Zac Skow’s dog rescue work inside facilities to build trust and teach responsibility. But as Hector Bravo, a former correctional lieutenant, explains, drugs and gang control still run deep. This episode looks at where reform efforts meet resistance, and what that means for safety, staff, and the people i...

Cleanup in LA’s fire zones has slowed to a crawl. The Army Corps finished its work, but half the burned lots are still sitting untouched. Homeowners are now on their own, facing blocked haul routes, limited permits, and rising costs. Some of the debris is being dumped in local landfills, triggering lawsuits and raising new concerns for nearby communities. In this episode, developer Elaine Culotti...

Mark Baatz moved to Los Angeles from Canada in the 1980s and took a sales job at a small tow truck dealership run by his father and a partner. Over the next 37 years, he helped grow the business through recessions, legal setbacks, and a changing city. He built a team that stayed together, bought property, and worked to keep the business steady through uncertainty. This is a story about staying in...

Voters thought Los Angeles’ mansion tax would target luxury home sales to help fund solutions for homelessness. In practice, it’s affecting a much wider range of properties, including apartment buildings and commercial spaces. Developer and urban policy educator Mott Smith explains how this is changing the real estate landscape in LA and what adjustments could help restore balance while still supp...

For decades, California’s environmental law, CEQA, has made it harder to build housing, even in places where it makes the most sense. A new reform changes that. In this episode, land use attorney Dave Rand explains how the rules just shifted and why this could open the door to more housing in the communities that need it most. Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests a...

California’s Phillips 66 refinery will close this October, and Valero’s Northern California facility is expected to follow in 2026, reducing in-state refining capacity by 20 percent. USC professor Michael Mische examines how shifts in where California gets its fuel could affect local prices. Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the vi...

American universities are known for their openness to global collaboration. But some partnerships may carry more than academic goals. In this episode, investigative journalist Joshua Philipp looks at how foreign-backed programs on U.S. campuses have intersected with national security concerns, from research funding to curriculum decisions. Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host...

California has long been a testing ground for clean energy solutions like rooftop solar. State and local leaders promoted adoption to cut emissions and lower long-term costs. But recent policy shifts and rising expenses are changing the equation for homeowners. In this episode, Johnny Graham, CEO of Pacific United Power, explains what’s behind the change and what it means for those considering sol...

As California pushes health care innovation, working through a system not built for individual care can be limiting. That challenge led pharmacist Nayan Patel to develop tailored treatments now helping patients across the state and in more than 10 countries. The path wasn’t simple. Each step along the way guided how he approaches care and what it takes to build something sustainable. This is his s...

As California continues investing in clean energy, the gradual decline of in-state refineries is drawing attention. In this episode, a panel explores how this shift could influence long-term energy reliability and what solutions, both policy driven and independent, are emerging to help meet demand. Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect...