California's structural budget crisis is front and center, with the LAO confirming that state spending outpaced revenue growth by 10 points since the pandemic — producing chronic $20–30 billion annual deficits that more taxation won't fix. A bill moving through the legislature (AB 2624) could expose journalists covering taxpayer-funded immigration nonprofits to $4,000-per-violation fines, with no press exemption. Meanwhile, the 2026 governor's race is shaping up around these fault lines, with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan emerging as a center lane challenger demanding fraud accountability before new taxes.
The state's own nonpartisan analyst says spending outpaced revenue by 10 points. More taxation won't solve the problem.
AB 2624 just cleared committee. It could allow taxpayer-funded immigration NGOs to sue the journalists investigating them.
The Robinhood CEO says he loves this state. That's why his warning should terrify Sacramento.
A billionaire spending $27 million attacks a mayor for having tech support. The irony writes itself.
$30 billion stolen in unemployment fraud alone. California's gubernatorial candidate says fix it before raising taxes.
For years, the state bled $20M/month in EBT fraud using ancient systems. The fix took chip cards and AI—things we've had for a decade.
San Jose's mayor reduced homelessness by a quarter while Sacramento fumbled. Now he's bringing receipts to the governor's race.
California Forever just brokered the largest construction labor agreement in American history. YIMBY is winning.
Californians voted for public safety. The state legislature decided their votes don't count.