KQED's The California Report

Buffy Wicks, California assemblymember and chair of the Select Committee on Housing and Construction Innovation, discusses ways to make building more affordable. She covers prefab and modular construction, limits of innovation like high interest and material costs, and a three-pronged strategy: streamline rules, cut costs, and fund shovel-ready low-income projects.

Magnus Lofstrom, policy director and senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California who studies criminal justice and crime trends, breaks down California’s overall drop in crimes, especially homicides. He discusses data limits and possible drivers like pandemic-era effects, policing shifts, and technology. He also contrasts statewide declines with local variations that shape perceptions of safety.

Danielle Venton, KQED science reporter who covered the opening of a wildfire-prepared neighborhood in El Dorado County. She walks through fire-hardened home standards like Class A roofs and tempered windows. She highlights how building whole developments to higher standards can lower community risk and influence insurance and construction practices statewide.

Elena Nielsaks, a KAZU reporter who covered the Moss Landing battery plant fire and community response. Laura Fitzgerald, a CapRadio reporter who reported on new California limits for ICE. They dig into lingering health complaints, testing gaps, local distrust of official findings, and proposed state limits on immigration enforcement. Short, urgent reporting from the front lines.

Conversations with Californians who voted for Trump about his second year in office. Coverage of Kaiser Permanente nurses striking for better pay and staffing. Report on the Justice Department dropping its push for medical records related to gender-affirming care at a Los Angeles hospital. Local fights over transit and housing policy in Los Angeles.

Tina Caputo, a radio reporter who produced and on-the-ground narrated the China Club story. She explores a Chinese American winemaker bringing Sonoma and Napa wines into Chinatown restaurants. Short segments cover pop-up wine dinners, community history, and reactions from diners and restaurateurs.

Guy Marzorati, a KQED politics correspondent, dives into the intricacies of the California gubernatorial race. He discusses why powerful labor unions remain undecided on a candidate despite the narrowing field. Marzorati reveals the impact of split support within unions, suggesting they might unite against an unpopular candidate. He also highlights specific endorsements from unions and the role of external funding in shaping the race. It's a deep dive into the dynamics of politics and organized labor in California.

Tyche Hendricks, a senior immigration reporter, shares harrowing insights from her oversight visit to the California City Detention Facility, where senators express shock over the distress faced by detainees and inadequate healthcare. Marisa Lagos discusses the chilling implications following a fatal shooting by an ICE agent, and the claim of absolute immunity for agents that has local prosecutors up in arms. Both reporters highlight the urgent calls for accountability and the fight against increased funding for immigration enforcement.

Carly Severn, a KQED reporter, highlights important changes in TSA Real ID enforcement, warning travelers of a new $45 fee starting February 1 for those without recognized ID. She provides handy tips for what constitutes a Real ID and the consequences for those who arrive unprepared. Ana Ibarra from CalMatters delves into Medi-Cal’s decision to stop covering GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, discussing potential health impacts and available alternatives for patients. Together, they unpack significant shifts affecting California travelers and healthcare.

In this insightful discussion, civil rights attorney Lisa Holder, a former member of the California Reparations Task Force and president of the Equal Justice Society, dives into California's reparations efforts. She highlights the task force's impactful work, including 115 proposals aimed at addressing systemic injustices in finance, education, and housing. Holder shares the importance of resilience, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., while explaining the long-term goals for reparative justice, emphasizing that real change requires a comprehensive approach.