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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

Eaton Fire

California Housing Crisis Will Get Worse as LA Fires Destroy Homes

The wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County communities have destroyed at least 10,000 homes so far and more are in the path of still-...

/ 4 days ago

Newsom, Bass, Padilla at LA Wildfires 2025

Gov. Newsom, Mayor Bass Targeted in Wildfire Witch Hunt

When catastrophe strikes, its victims understandably want to know how and why — but their curiosity often morphs into snap judgments and wit...

/ 7 days ago

California’s Battle Over Taxing Multinational Corporations Heats Up Again

Nearly a half-century ago, during Jerry Brown’s first stint as governor, he and state legislators became embroiled in an extremely com...

/ 2 weeks ago

Promises to Cut CA’s High Living Costs Clash With Progressive Policies

While post-election autopsies vary on why Democrats fared so poorly in November, there is general consensus that a major factor was voter re...

/ 2 weeks ago

New Decisions Boost California’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate, but Major Hurdles Remain

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decree that by 2035 all new cars sold in California must be powered by batteries or other zero-emission systems ha...

/ 4 weeks ago

Tax Loopholes Cost California and Its Cities $107 Billion but Get Little Scrutiny

Among the hundreds of bills introduced in every session of the California Legislature, a few deal with what state officials term “tax ...

/ 1 month ago

Can New State Regs Resolve California’s Property Insurance Crisis?

There’s no law requiring California property owners to carry insurance, but the vast majority buy it to protect themselves from fire a...

/ 1 month ago

UC Merced, Born Because of Politics, Is CA’s Expensive Stepchild 20 Years Later

The Legislature’s budget analyst, Gabe Petek, is marking the 20th anniversary of University of California’s Merced campus with a...

/ 1 month ago

California Can Fix Its School Crisis by Ditching Gimmicks

When the state Department of Education released academic test scores of California’s public school students in October, it cast them i...

/ 1 month ago

Newsom

Will Resistant Marin County Change After a Pro-Housing Gov. Newsom Just Moved In?

Gavin Newsom has just two years remaining of his governorship. As it winds down, he is stepping up efforts to build a national profile towar...

/ 1 month ago

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President Donald Trump holds up an executive order commuting sentences for people convicted of Jan. 6 offenses in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Evan Vucci)

9 hours ago

Trump Issues Sweeping Pardon of Supporters Charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol Attack

MLK Jr. March in Downtown Fresno. January 20, 2025. (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)

9 hours ago

Thousands in Downtown Fresno to Celebrate MLK Jr. in Annual March

10 hours ago

What Does the Future Hold for Cooper Kupp and Matt Stafford?

A fatal crash on State Route 41 near Road 209 claimed one life and injured another on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (CHP)

10 hours ago

Madera County Crash Claims One Life, Hospitalizes Other Driver

Ben Johnson

11 hours ago

Bears Hire Lions’ Offensive Guru Ben Johnson as Their Head Coach

Photo of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., left, accompanied by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, right

11 hours ago

Senate Confirms Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, Giving Trump the First Member of His Cabinet

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