Yousef Baig

She directed $2.7 million from her elderly clients to her husband’s company. The judge approved every penny The arrangement was so brazen that court staffers whispered about it, and other attorneys found it troubling.

The Ventura County judge who essentially enabled the conflicts of interest at the heart of this investigation was reassigned before this published. Incredible work as always from @calireporter.bsky.social, exposing this shady conservatorship scheme calmatters.org/investigatio...

Blackout Iran. When the Trump administration launched a major attack on Iran, news organizations had to navigate a shaky environment for communications—and moral clarity.

"The reporting of wars seems to have been inverted; what the powerful say and do is being reported first, and the killing of innocents is mentioned in passing, if at all.” www.cjr.org/the_media_to...

In California, About the Only Way to Get a House Is to Inherit One Nearly one out of every five property transfers last year was made through inheritance, a record for the state and double the national share.

Nearly one-in-five property transfers in California last year were inherited — a record number. Heirs in California used to have even more benefits by also inheriting their parents' low property tax bills until our 2018 investigation led to changes www.wsj.com/economy/hous...

A heartbreaking reminder that war always makes the homeland less safe.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death at the hand of a nation he worked very hard to kill is a hinge moment in the history of Iran’s revolution, Karim Sadjadpour argues. theatln.tc/rGrjs2Wh

The US and Israel launched strikes across Iran this morning. Iran has responded by firing ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, and US bases in the region. Civilians have already been killed or injured in multiple countries, caught in the crossfire.

It’s no longer just American weapons and resources being used by Israel, like they were in Gaza. Whatever follows in Iran, the blood is now squarely on our hands.

The hidden surveillance network sending Californians' license plates to Border Patrol California residents are noticing new license plate readers that appear to be operated by the Border Patrol. Some have had confusing encounters with agents.

Privacy experts, civil liberties advocates and humanitarian aid workers are surfacing concerns over a federal surveillance system near the California border. An in-depth look at the license plate readers on state highways by @wendyfry.bsky.social @khari.bsky.social calmatters.org/justice/2026...

Teachers, students and supporters picket outside of Mission High School in San Francisco, on Feb. 9, 2026. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

Ten local teachers unions under the umbrella of the California Teachers Association worked for years to align their contracts so they’d expire at the same time: June 30, 2025. bit.ly/4cj0pcF

📸 Jeff Chiu, AP

Whatever Mamdani said and whatever leverage he deployed the first time he went to the White House should be studied by people with high-ranking California political jobs. “Resistance” isn’t offering much. The NYC mayor is breaking through.

The moment the right fired up the outrage machine over the athletes speaking out at the Winter Olympics, pearl-clutching as if absolute patriotism matters more than free speech, we lost yet another brief window for national unity. This era is so toxic. Sweeping gold in hockey should’ve been a moment

Calif.'s first new D1 college football team in 52 years comes at a wild cost Serious questions are being raised about the eye-popping price tag.

Sacramento State President Luke Wood looks like a total simp on this deal. Covering travel costs for visiting teams. No share of conference revenue for at least 5 years. Not to mention the optics of a $23 million entry fee after all the belt-tightening last year. Woof www.sfgate.com/collegesport...

What California's planned power outages are costing schools: darkness, disruption and debt California schools faced repeated planned power outages in 2024-2025 as Edison cut electricity to prevent wildfires, forcing closures and costly backup power solutions.

The cost of climate change adaption for California schools has led to unplanned expenses, missed school days and uneven state funding for many districts. Utility shutoffs, that at times came with little to no warning, add even more stresses @areyesvelarde.bsky.social calmatters.org/environment/...

Pelosi’s surprise endorsement jolts Sacramento race, deepening Democratic rift | Opinion A war of words at the California Democratic Party state convention hints at a bitter campaign and a generational rift between Democrats.

This move by Dorus Matsui reeks of desperation. They must be really scared of Mai Vang's campaign.

Good reporting from @byrobinepley.bsky.social www.sacbee.com/opinion/arti...

Justice Department withheld and removed some Epstein files related to Trump An NPR investigation finds the public database of Epstein files is missing dozens of pages related to sexual abuse accusations against President Trump.

EXCLUSIVE: An @npr.org investigation finds the public database of Epstein files is missing dozens of pages related to sexual abuse accusations against President Trump.

Other documents that mention Trump have been taken down (and some restored).

More:

High power bills impeding heat pumps, CA's electrification goals High electricity prices are complicating California’s push to electrify homes with heat pumps.

Took a little detour from my typical housing policy coverage to work on this story with @gauchoesque.bsky.social about the tension between California's ambitious climate/decarbonization goals and our punishingly high electricity prices.

calmatters.org/environment/...

California Democrats back establishment candidates despite progressive pushback California Democrats endorsed aging incumbents and party insiders over grassroots challengers, disappointing progressives.

The way the Democratic Party clings to its cooked ways is beyond comprehension calmatters.org/politics/202...

Swalwell leads delegate vote but California Democrats divided in crowded primary Nine Democrats seeking to be governor wooed California Democrats at their weekend convention as some worry about a GOP lockout in June.

Swalwell leads delegate vote but California Democrats divided in crowded primary

Nine Democrats seeking to be governor wooed California Democrats at their weekend convention as some worry about a GOP lockout in June.

There's a lot to like in this expenditure plan. Rapid transit lines, late-night routes to job & entertainment hubs, housing incentives, better airport transpo. I hope it qualifies for the ballot!

Here's my story on the Supreme Court ruling on President Trump's tariffs, including about their effects on California.

As Bernie Sanders Comes to California, Wealth Tax Opponents Intensify Efforts

The more money and political muscle that gets pumped into opposing the billionaire tax, the less the policy or precedent of the initiative bothers me, and the more I think voters deserve a say on something that makes all these politicians and ultrarich types upset www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/u...

It’s surreal to be searching for a house and then realize the property management company on a listing is owned by a giant hedge fund. It’s like encountering a wild animal you knew existed but never saw face to face until now…but instead of wonder you feel sad and cynical.

We’re about to find out whether Choudri’s aggressive push to bring in private sector money created enough momentum for the authority to keep advancing the strategy without him.

It’s encouraging to see a message like James Talarico’s start to break through. It took a(nother) lame partisan move by CBS to set it off, but it shows just how much people fear the millennial generation of political leaders. Old elites are clinging desperately trying to keep this era sidelined.

Billionaires’ Low Taxes Are Becoming a Problem for the Economy Tax avoidance by the superwealthy is an economic issue as well as a political one.

Even the Woke Street Journal says billionaire tax avoidance has gone too far www.wsj.com/finance/bill...

Amanda Smith, a behavioral specialist, tends to a child at Moore Learning Preschool & Childcare Center in Elk Grove on Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

In Los Angeles County, a December UC Berkeley report found 167 preschools closed between 2020 and 2024 — a decline in child care spots that researchers attributed partly to the addition of the public school grade. bit.ly/4kGiFyF

📸 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.

Jeff Bezos twists the knife The Washington Post editorial board is now cheerleading for President Trump's climate rollbacks.

First the Washington Post gutted its climate desk. Now its editorial board is cheerleading for Trump’s biggest and most dangerous climate rollback.

My latest for Climate-Colored Goggles: www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/jeff-bezos...

A bit too late to rediscover your spine, buddy.

OpenAI says new coding model helped build itself OpenAI says its own artificial intelligence systems are accelerating the pace of AI development.

With the high-profile departures at OpenAI and Anthropic, and news of the latest coding model using AI to improve itself (no matter how narrowly), it feels like another wave of alarm bells are going off. Yet we are doing nothing at the societal level needed to prepare www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovat...

The more I listen, the more I am convinced @pablo.show solely exists to stress out Adam Silver.