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Dan Walters,
CalMatters Commentary

Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. He has written more than 9,000 columns about the state and its politics and is the founding editor of the “California Political Almanac.” Dan has also been a frequent guest on national television news shows, commenting on California issues and policies.

Stories by Dan Walters

Newsom Wanted To Fast-Track the Delta Tunnel Project. The Legislature Slowed the Flow

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Repeatedly Gavin Newsom has sought legislative approv...

/ 1 day ago

California’s Battle Against Homelessness Needs a ‘Combined Arms’ Approach

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. World War II was the most massive military conflict i...

/ 3 days ago

California’s Stubborn Problems Keep Thwarting Its Ballooning Budget

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The first quarter of the 21st century has been, in a ...

/ 1 week ago

California’s Deficit Dilemma: Cut Spending, Borrow Money or Raise Taxes?

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The California Legislature has just a few days to pas...

/ 2 weeks ago

California’s Economy Is Just Limping Along. Why Is Newsom Always Boasting?

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Gavin Newsom loves to boast about the state he govern...

/ 2 weeks ago

Newsom Tussles With Local Officials Over Homelessness

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Throughout Gavin Newsom’s governorship, he and ...

/ 2 weeks ago

California’s War Over Charter Schools Rages On in Court

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The decades-long wars among the kingdoms of medieval ...

/ 3 weeks ago

Why Did the California Senate Shunt a Cost-Cutting Housing Bill?

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Last month, RAND, a prominent think tank based in San...

/ 3 weeks ago

California Wealth and Poverty

California’s High Living Costs and Rampant Poverty Sharpen Its Economic Divide

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Forty years ago, I wrote a series of 14 articles for ...

/ 3 weeks ago

Gavin Newsom’s Off-the-Mark Budget Numbers Undermine His Credibility Again

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised state budget assume...

/ 4 weeks ago

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A wildfire near Raymond Road and Avenue 16 in Madera County has prompted evacuation warnings and road closures as officials urge residents to prepare to leave if threatened on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Madera County SO)

3 hours ago

Madera County Wildfire Prompts Evacuation Warnings, Road Closures

Sanger police are searching for Kaylani Thompson, 17, who went missing Saturday, June 14, 2025, after leaving her home and was last seen getting into a white sedan. (Sanger PD)

4 hours ago

Sanger Police Seek Public’s Help to Find Missing Teen

A view of the cityscape in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

4 hours ago

Trump Says Everyone Should Immediately Evacuate Tehran

A person was rescued from a Fresno canal Monday, June 16, 2025, near Dakota and Ninth Street, marking the third such incident in recent days, officials said. (Fresno FD)

5 hours ago

Person Rescued from Fresno Canal, Third Incident in Recent Days

7 hours ago

Iranian State TV Halts Live Broadcast After Israeli Strike

Smoke rises following what Iran says was an Israeli attack on Sharan Oil depot in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

7 hours ago

Global Markets Recover on Iran Ceasefire Reports, Central Banks in Focus

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