California Insider

California’s health care system faces rising costs and limited access to doctors. Siyamak sits down with Assemblymember Mia Bonta to discuss her innovative prevention-first approach, including “food as medicine,” and her vision for making health care more accessible and affordable. *Views expressed in this video/article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Califor...

Siyamak sits down with California’s Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin, chair of the state Assembly Elections Committee, to discuss why the Golden State’s election results take time. From verifying ballots to ensuring voter access, Pellerin explains the process and shares her personal story about the importance of mental health services. *Views expressed in this video/article are opinions of the author a...

California’s tow truck industry is at a crossroads. New regulations push for zero-emission vehicles, but the technology needed for heavy-duty services is falling short. Essential roadside assistance could face major setbacks, impacting drivers statewide. In this episode, Siyamak sits down with industry expert Mark Baatz to uncover how these rules are reshaping operations, why diesel restrictions a...

Siyamak sits down with Senator Shannon Grove to discuss how Trump’s policies could reshape California. We explore immigration, domestic energy, school choice, and economic challenges, examining how these federal shifts may influence the Golden State’s future. *Views expressed in this video/article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of California Insider.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced new regulations aimed at reducing the environmental impact of gas. This push for cleaner fuel is expected to significantly increase the cost per gallon in California. Siyamak sits down with Assemblymember Tom Lackey, who says that while the regulations are intended to improve quality of life, they may instead diminish it by making it harder f...

More than a thousand homeless individuals died in Los Angeles County last year, with limited health care access and untreated conditions fueling this crisis. We sit down with Brett Feldman, the director and co-founder of USC Street Medicine, who takes an unconventional approach by providing care directly on the streets to address this urgent issue. *Views expressed in this video/article are opinio...

Many beaches in California are losing their sand, and the economic impact often goes unnoticed. Siyamak sits down with Victor Cabral, mayor of San Clemente; Jayme Timberlake, a geologist and coastal zone administrator for the city of Oceanside; and Assemblymember Laurie Davies. Join us as we explore the causes behind the erosion of California’s beaches and what it takes to bring them back to life....

California’s rising cost of living is affecting daily life for millions. State Sen. Aisha Wahab discusses the factors driving this crisis, from housing, utilities, and layoffs to the systemic issues behind them, as well as the steps needed to address these urgent concerns. *Views expressed in this video/article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of California Insid...

“We need to have that honest conversation that the majority of our power in California is generated from fossil fuels. And we’re actually importing a lot of our power. We’re vulnerable,” says Marco Tule, director and board president at Inland Empire Utilities Agency. Tule will explain his concerns about California’s future energy needs. *Views expressed in this video/article are opinions of the au...

Zach Southall once ignored homelessness, believing it stemmed from bad choices. But losing everything—his business, home, and health—brought him to his lowest point, where faith gave him a second chance. Now, as Charity on Wheels’ Managing Director, he’s dedicated to helping those he once overlooked. *Views expressed in this video/article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect t...

California voters sent a strong signal in 2024 to prioritize combating crime, economic policies, and critical issues affecting daily life. Siyamak sits down with Mike Gatto, a former California Assemblymember who, according to the Sacramento Bee, was one of the most independent lawmakers in the Democratic Party. Gatto will discuss the implications of the 2024 election results for California and wh...

“I was in debt. I was renting a room out of my house. At a certain point, I was like, I have to get out of South Gate. I can’t catch a stray bullet because there have been drive-bys. There have been people crashing into buildings and pulling bodies out of cars,” says Victor Henry, UFC fighter from Los Angeles. He'll share his background growing up in one of the roughest areas in Los Angeles, and h...

“Recycling as a system has become increasingly problematic. The truth of the matter is only a very small percentage of the plastic that’s out in the consumer waste stream actually gets recycled at the end of the day. … At the best case scenario, it goes into the landfill. Worst case scenario, it ends up in our water streams, in our ocean, in our environment. … And in fact, so much of it is out the...

In this episode, Nolan Gray, a policy expert with California YIMBY, and Jim Righeimer, former Costa Mesa mayor and developer, delve into the factors driving California’s high cost of living compared to more affordable states such as Texas and Florida. Join us as we explore the impact of housing policies and differing approaches to new development. *Views expressed in this video/article are opinion...

“California has become really unaffordable. Where are my kids gonna live? We pride ourselves on it being such a great economy in California, which is fueled by the opportunities that are academic institutions. But if your talent can’t find a place to call home, they’re gonna take their talent and their skills somewhere else, and that is the largest threat to the future success of California,” says...

California has some of the highest average housing costs in the country. While some believe this is due to a lack of available housing, others attribute the high prices to government policies. Siyamak sits down with Jim Burling, vice president of legal affairs at the Pacific Legal Foundation; Nils Nehrenheim, Redondo Beach councilmember; and Nolan Gray, senior director of legislation and research...

Siyamak sits down with Matt Gonzalez, Public Defender and Former County Supervisor in San Francisco. He will highlight the key factors in San Francisco’s Mayoral race and give us an in depth analysis of the current top candidates. “Mayor Breed is very talented, but there’s just a sense that we’re not making progress on things like crime, homelessness, and issues like that,” says Gonzalez. “All the...

Hollywood is experiencing an unprecedented downturn, leaving many workers without jobs. Siyamak sits down with David Graves, a film industry expert and IATSE union member, and Patrick Caligiuri, a Hollywood TV executive with over 20 years of experience, to discuss the reasons behind this decline and explore possible solutions for affected workers. “About a month after the WGA strike started, we we...

Siyamak sits down with Senator Josh Becker, who’s actively shaping AI regulation in the state. As a global leader in AI, California faces significant challenges and opportunities with major implications for jobs, safety, and privacy. Join us as we discuss the state’s efforts to address these concerns through new laws and regulations, some of which may influence national policy. “AI, to some extent...

California consistently has some of the highest gas prices in the nation, and now the state government has passed a new law aimed at stabilizing them. In today’s episode, we'll uncover the mystery behind the numbers you see at the pump, the key players driving these prices, and how this new law could impact your wallet. Siyamak sits down with Alessandra Magnasco, governmental affairs and regulator...

California is facing a budget crisis that may last for the next couple of years. Siyamak sits down with Senator John Laird, who has served as the education chair of the budget committee. Join us as we explore how Californians will be impacted and where this budget crisis may lead. We also dive into Senator Lear’s experience as a public servant. *Views expressed in this video/article are opinions o...

Fentanyl is becoming one of the leading causes of death among children due to counterfeit medications, and the amount of incidents tied to social media use is increasing. California is passing a law to limit social media addiction for kids. “Social media is solving the last-mile problem for drug dealers. They networked inside my son’s school, found him, and a lethal dose of a counterfeit drug was...

“California was pro-growth. It was the land of aspiration. Our brand is tarnished. Collectively, we as Californians must ask, how do we improve ourselves? California is no longer affordable, no longer livable, and frankly, it’s not workable. That’s why, in my opinion, we’re seeing a migration out,” says Stephen J. Cloobeck, businessman and founder of Diamond Resorts International. Cloobeck explain...

California is home to some of the world’s most renowned wine regions, including Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Lodi, making it a top global wine producer. However, the state’s wine industry is facing a significant slowdown in sales. Wineries are filled with unsold inventory and grape growers are struggling to find buyers for their grapes, even at steep discounts. “Some of our older growers that have bee...

New regulations for real estate commissions took effect last month. Siyamak sits down with Mike Hickman, president and CEO of Seven Gables Real Estate, to explain the details of the change and why it will have a significant impact on how we buy and sell homes in California. *Views expressed in this video/article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Epoch Times...