KQED's The California Report

Latest Episodes:

A Smooth Election in California Despite Manufactured Suspicions Nov 13, 2020

Show notes

Over One Million Coronavirus Infections Confirmed in California

California has now reached one million confirmed coronavirus infections. This comes nearly 10 months after the first cases were confirmed here.

San Francisco Lawyers Say ICE Misled Federal Judge About Coronavirus Outbreak

San Francisco lawyers representing immigrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement say the agency ignored CDC protocols, and misled a federal judge about the causes of a coronavirus outbreak at an ICE jail in Bakersfield.

Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED

A Smooth Election in California Despite Manufactured Suspicions

Well over 150 million Americans cast ballots this year. And in California, a majority of the more than 15 million votes cast were sent by mail after Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order to ensure all registered voters in the state would get a mail-in ballot.

Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED

Secretary of State Alex Padilla Frontrunner to Fill Kamala Harris Senate Seat

Speculation is rising over who Governor Gavin Newsom will pick to fill the California US Senate seat of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris until the next election. One name that keeps coming up is Alex Padilla, currently California’s Secretary of State.

Reporter: Chery Glaser, KCRW

Commissioner Asks Insurance Companies to Extend Some Benefits to Wildfire Victims

State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is asking insurance companies to extend some benefits for victims of 2017 and 2018 wildfires.

Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED

Big Game Hunters and a Surprise Discovery

Nine thousand years ago, in the highlands of Peru, people made a living in the harsh landscape by hunting and gathering. UC Davis anthropologist Randy Haas studies these early people, and the discovery of a new burial site took him in a new direction.

Reporter: Daniele Venton, KQED

California Report Magazine: Comfort Food to Soothe Stress

As part of the California Report’s 25th anniversary, we’re taking a dive into the archives with some of the most delicious California food stories we’ve brought you over the years, from traditional favorites to creative fusion.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Has Recorded Nearly One Million COVID-19 Cases Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

California Has Recorded Nearly One Million COVID-19 Cases

California is on the brink of recording it’s one millionth COVID-19 infection. That’s more than any other state except Texas. This grim milestone has been accelerated by the virus’ recent uptick, with more than 6,000 new daily cases recorded in the state over the past week.

False Claims of Voter Fraud in Nevada Persist

Republicans and conservative groups continue to make unproven claims about voter fraud in Nevada’s presidential election. Some have even suggested that Californians unlawfully helped President-elect Joe Biden win that state.

Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio’s PolitiFact California

Orange County Swings Purple in 2020 Election

In 2018, Democrats were elated when they flipped four Orange County congressional seats held by Republicans. This year, the GOP managed to claim at least one back and appears to be on track to flip another.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

Election Spotlight on Jones Day Expands to Other Clients

As President Trump refuses to concede defeat in last week’s election, the law firm Jones Day is in the spotlight for representing Republican interests in that fight. The unwelcome press attention is renewing scrutiny into Jones Day’s role in a legal case much closer to home.

Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED

Lawmakers Consider De-Criminalization of Psychedelics

Next year, the state lawmakers will consider legislation that would de-criminalize psychedelic drugs. State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco says he believes all drugs should be de-criminalized, and this is just one more step towards that goal.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Xavier Becerra Looks Forward to Biden Administration Nov 11, 2020

Show notes

Trump's Immigration Policies Could be Difficult to Reverse

The Trump administration has focused much of its energy on the border over the past 4 years. Joe Biden has promised to undo many of these policies, but that might be difficult, according to a report out this week from the non-partisan Migration Policy Institute.

Reporter: Max Rivlin-Nadler, KPBS

COVID-19 Increases Restrictions in 11 Counties, Cases Continue to Rise

Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise across the state. 11 California counties have moved into to more restrictive tiers. If COVID-19 rates continue on their current trajectory more than half of the state’s 58 counties could be back in restrictive tiers by next week.

COVID-19 Spreads Among Fresno County Officials

Fresno’s incoming mayor announced yesterday he’s tested positive for the coronavirus. This comes as Fresno county’s top health official says COVID cases there are increasing, and that he expects the region will soon move into a more restrictive category.

Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED

L.A. Board of Supervisors Look Into Firing the Sheriff

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors will look into weather they have the power to remove the sheriff from office. It’s the latest power struggle between Sheriff Alex Villanueva and the supervisors who say he's failed to crack down on police gangs, fatal shootings and other misbehavior.

Reporter: Benjamin Gottlieb, KCRW

New Whale Protections Restrict Crab Fisheries

California’s endangered humpback whales now have protection against potentially fatal entanglements in commercial fishing lines. This month state wildlife officials issued new regulations for the Dungeness Crab fishery, which can shut down crabbing in areas where whales are spotted.

Reporter: Peter Arcuni, KQED

Xavier Becerra Looks Forward to Biden Administration

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has been one of President Trumps greatest adversaries. Becerra has filed a barrage of lawsuits against the administration, challenging it on a variety of issues, from the environment to immigration to health care.

Guest: California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who Should Get the Coronavirus Vaccine First? Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

Governor Warns Against Complacency as COVID-19 Cases Swell

The U.S. has surpassed more than 10 million coronavirus cases and looks on track to hit record hospitalizations. Here in California, COVID-19 cases are increasing as well. In a press conference yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom warned against complacency.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

Who Should Get the Coronavirus Vaccine First?

A panel of experts with the state’s Department of Public Health is getting to work this week on how to decide who’s first in line to get a coronavirus vaccine. This comes after Pfizer’s announcement yesterday that the company’s vaccine is more than 90% effective.

Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED

Newly Conservative SCOTUS Reconsiders Obamacare

Today, with it's new six-to-three majority, the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments over whether the Affordable Care Act should be struck down. If that happens, California will lose several billion dollars a year in federal health insurance subsidies.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

Liberal California Leans to the Right on Propositions

The Golden State is often painted as solidly blue, but the 2020 election has shown that when issues are on the ballot, California leans a little bit more to the right.

Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Biden-Harris Supporters Celebrate Across California Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

Biden-Harris Supporters Celebrate Across California

People celebrated in downtown L.A. on Saturday morning after it was announced that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had won the 2020 election and Donald Trump had been defeated. The same kind of scenes played out in many cities and town across California as people gathered spontaneously to express their joy.

The Extraordinary Rise of Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris

With Joe Biden now poised to become the nation’s 46th president, Vice President-elect Harris will break a glass ceiling other women, like Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin, before her tried and failed to break.

Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

A Historic Mayoral Win for Todd Gloria in San Diego

Todd Gloria is a Democrat and member of the State Assembly. Gloria ran a mayoral campaign emphasizing how it was time for San Diego to recognize its increasingly urban character and start tackling big problems facing the city, like housing and homelessness, transportation and combating climate change.

Hopes for Vaccine as Cases Surge in Los Angles

Drug giant Pfizer and a German company have co-developed a vaccine that might be 90% effective in protecting people from the virus. Meanwhile, L.A. County continues to be the state’s hottest of coronavirus hotspots with more than 2,200 new cases announced over the weekend.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

Survivors Wrestle with Aftermath Two Years after Camp Fire Destroyed Paradise

Sunday marked two years since the town of Paradise and nearby communities were destroyed by our state’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire. The “Camp Fire” killed 85 people, and displaced tens of thousands.

Reporter: Lily Jamali, KQED

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Complicated Portrait of the California Voter Nov 06, 2020

Show notes

California's College Students Come to Grips with Prop 16's Defeat

Students who lobbied hard this year to overturn the state’s ban on affirmative action are coming to terms with the rejection of Proposition 16.

Reporter: KQED’s Vanessa Rancaño, KQED

Criminal Justice Reform Advocates Celebrate Wins at the Ballot Box

California voters gave people on parole the right to vote, and half dozen Bay Area cities passed police accountability measures. In Los Angeles, the progressive District Attorney candidate George Gascon appears to have prevailed over his rival who was backed by law enforcement.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

Public Advocate at California Public Utilities Commission Recommends Fine Against SoCalGas

The public advocate at the California Public Utilities Commission is recommending $255 million dollars in fines against SoCalGas. They claim the utility wrongly used ratepayer funds to sabotage California’s clean energy goals. SoCalGas calls the claims “demonstrably wrong” and says the proposed fine has no merit.

Lionsgate and ESPN Announce Job Cuts

Santa Monica-based studio Lionsgate and ESPN, which is owned by Disney, are the latest to announce job cuts.

Reporter: Anna Scott, KCRW

LA County Board of Supervisors All Female For First Time in History

For decades, L.A. County's powerful Board of Supervisors was an all male "boys club." But things started changing in the 1990s with the election of the first woman to the board. Fast forward to this week, where the Board is now all female.

Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED

Rideshare Drivers React to Approval of Prop 22

California rideshare drivers will remain independent contractors as a result of Prop 22’s resounding victory this election. Drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft have long been split on the question of employee status.

Reporter: David Wagner, KPCC

A Complicated Portrait of the California Voter

Californians overwhelmingly voted for Democrat Joe Biden this election. But dig deeper, and you get a more complicated portrait of California voters.

Guest: Scott Shafer, KQED Politics Editor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prop 22's Passage Could Set a Precedent For the Future of Low Wage Work Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

Latino Support For President Trump is Growing

Latino voters overwhelmingly supported Joe Biden for the presidency, but a growing share of Latinos voted for President Donald Trump both in California and nationwide. That’s according to a poll of more than 5,000 Latinos across the U.S., taken the day before election day.

Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Prop 21's Defeat is a Big Win for the Real Estate Industry

Rent control lost big on election night in California. Prop 21 was defeated by a huge margin. It was a repeat of results from a similar ballot measure two years ago, and a major victory for the real estate industry.

Reporter Erin Baldassari, KQED

Prop 22's Passage Could Set a Precedent For the Future of Low Wage Work

On Tuesday, California voters passed Prop 22 by a large margin. Backed by 200 million dollars from Silicon Valley companies like Uber and Doordash, the measure makes it legal for gig companies to classify workers as contractors.

Guest: Sam Harnett, KQED

California's COVID-19 Cases Are Rising Slowly and Steadily

California continues to see an uptick in new coronavirus cases. The state added more than 5 thousand new cases on Tuesday.

Since October, California’s test positivity rate has ticked up to 3.3%.

Misinformation on Social Media Expected to Surge in Coming Weeks

Silicon Valley’s social media giants are working to quash misinformation in these tense days after the election. Twitter and Facebook have flagged a number of President Trumps' posts, including one on Tuesday night where Trump falsely said the election was being “stolen” from him.

Guest: Shirin Ghaffary, Recode

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many California Races Too Close To Call With 71% of Precincts Reported Nov 04, 2020

Show notes

Biden's Lead in Nevada Dwindles to 8,000 Votes

Here in California, Joe Biden won a decisive victory against President Donald Trump capturing 64% of the vote. But the presidential race is tight next door in Nevada, where Biden's lead has dwindled to less than 8,000 votes.

Reporter: Paul Boger, KUNR

Prop 22 Passed, Allowing Tech Companies to Deny Employee's Benefits

Silicon valley’s gig companies like Uber and Doordash spent more than $200 million on Proposition 22, and it has passed, making it legal for those companies to classify workers as contractors and deny them basic employee benefits.

Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED

Hotly Contested House Races Too Close to Call

There are several important Congressional races happening in California this year. From record-breaking spending in East San Diego's District 50, to the tight Central Valley race that might flip District 21 from blue to red.

Guest: Katie Orr, KQED Politics

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last-Minute Registration and Voting Tips For This Unprecedented Election Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

Judge Upholds 'Abuse of Power' Lawsuit Against Governor Newsom

A judge in Sutter County has handed a victory to two Republican state lawmakers who filed an “abuse of power” lawsuit against Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. The judge struck down an executive order the governor issued in June which set up new requirements for the 2020 election.

Guest: Assemblymember James Gallagher, Dictrict 3, Yuba City

California Businesses Brace for Potentially Violent Protests

Californians have already voted in record numbers. There is excitement, but there’s also tension in cities and towns around the state. Many businesses are boarding up their windows and bracing for potentially violent protests.

Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW

Oakland Law Enforcement on Standby for Election Night Unrest

Law enforcement agencies across the state are also preparing for potentially violent protests as a result of today’s election. In Oakland, Mayor Libby Schaaf says the city’s emergency operations center will be up and running.

Last-Minute Registration and Voting Tips For This Unprecedented Election

It’s finally Election Day and the California Voter Foundation has some last-minute voting advice. Even if you haven’t registered, you can still vote today, and more than 10 million Californians already have.

Guest: Kim Alexander, President, California Voter Foundation

PG&E Could Begin Paying Wildfire Victims This Month

Victims of wildfires caused by PG&E could soon start getting money from a multi-billion dollar trust fund set up in the utility’s recent exit from bankruptcy protection. The fund’s trustee plans to disburse partial payments of up to $25,000 to those who need it most.

Director of California's Embattled Unemployment Agency Announces Retirement

The state’s Employment Development Department is set to have a new leader come January. Current director Sharon Hilliard announced late last week that she would retire at the end of this year. Lawmakers are thinking about what comes next for the state agency.

Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED

Distance Learning Struggles Mean More L.A. Teens Are Failing Classes

Struggles with distance learning are leading to more D and F grades among L.A. Unified middle and high school students. Superintendent Austin Beutner says it'll be a while before campuses are able to reopen.

Reporter: Carla Javier, KPCC

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eager California Democrats Hope to Help Flip Arizona Blue Nov 02, 2020

Show notes

Record Turnout as Californians Vote Early

More than 22 million people are now registered to vote in California. That's nearly 88% of those eligible, and according to the Secretary of State's office, it's the highest percentage heading into a general election in the past 80 years.

Head of California's Employment Development Department Steps Down

Governor Gavin Newsom's office is set to launch a search for a new head of the state's Employment Development Department after the current director announced late last week that she'll be retiring at the end of this year.

Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED

Eager California Democrats Hope to Help Flip Arizona Blue

Arizona has been a reliably red state in all but one presidential race since 1948 , but this year Democrats are convinced they have a shot at carrying it. That’s prompted eager California Democrats to flood the zone in the final days before this election.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

Newsom Unveils New High-Speed COVID-19 Testing Lab

The new 25 million dollar lab in Valencia will be able to process up to 150,000 COVID-19 test kits daily with results sent to patients in less than two days.

Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KPCC

Why Newsom Campaigned Next Door in Nevada

In the final stretch of this election season, Governor Gavin Newsom is campaigning in Nevada. It's a rare campaign outing this year for the governor. The presidential race has big implications for Newsom's agenda at home.

Guest: Sophia Ballag, Sacramento Bee

Californians Weigh Prop 23 Dialysis Regulations

Californians are voting on Proposition 23, a measure that would put doctors in dialysis centers. Two major dialysis providers have poured nearly $100 million into making sure that doesn’t happen. Reporter Brett Simpson .

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

KQED’s The California Report

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected