KQED's The California Report
KQED's statewide radio news program, providing daily coverage of issues, trends, and public policy decisions affecting California and its diverse population.
Episodes
June 24, 2026 • 9 mins
The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its highly anticipated ruling on birthright citizenship in the coming days. The decision arrives as the nation prepares to mark its 250th anniversary. And it highlights a legacy of Chinese immigrants, and the role they played in building American democracy.
Reporter: Cecilia Lei, KQED
A federal judge in San Jose has ruled that it’s illegal for immigration officers to arrest peopl...
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June 23, 2026 • 9 mins
Americans are drinking less wine, but growers say there’s another reason demand is down for California grapes. It’s a law that allows U.S. wineries to include cheaper imported wines in products labeled as American. On Tuesday, the State Senate will vote on a bill sponsored by California grape growers that aims to close that international blending loophole.
Reporter: Tina Caputo
California is suing the Trump admini...
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June 22, 2026 • 9 mins
In Monterey Park, which is east of Los Angeles, the city made history when it became the first to ban data centers earlier this month. But it’s likely not the last, as data center fights are erupting across California.
Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR
Firefighters have made significant progress in the warehouse fire that has been burning for several days in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.
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June 19, 2026 • 9 mins
On this Juneteenth holiday, we’re taking a closer look at the reparations movement here in California. The state has been at the forefront of efforts to atone for state-inflicted harms from slavery to the present day. But some of that momentum stalled last year after Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a handful of reparations-related bills.
Guest: Kristin Nimmers, California Black Power Network
California lawmakers included one...
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June 18, 2026 • 9 mins
Over the past decade, dozens of maternity wards have shut down across California, and that raises risks for pregnant patients. At one rural Monterey County hospital, family medicine doctors are stepping in to help fill the gaps in service.
Reporter: Ngozi Cole, KAZU
A controversial proposal to tax California billionaires has qualified for the November ballot.
In Orange County, workers earning six figures can now qualify for...
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June 17, 2026 • 9 mins
It’s been a tough time for the California wine industry because alcohol sales are dropping. But a growing number of Latino winemakers in Sonoma County hope to turn that tide.
Reporter: Shandra Back, KRCB
California lawmakers adopted a state budget on Monday. The legislature’s spending plan pushes back on some of Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed cuts.
Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio
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June 16, 2026 • 9 mins
A new study in the journal Science finds that annual prescribed burning could substantially reduce smoke pollution during California’s worst wildfire years.
Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED
Eight people are dead after a military plane crashed on Monday shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert.
An Imperial Valley data center developer has filed a lawsuit seeking access to water from the Col...
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June 15, 2026 • 9 mins
The state legislature is expected to vote today on a budget plan that rejects some of the health care cuts proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED
California Democrats are urging the Trump administration to release millions in transportation funds it withheld in a dispute over drivers licenses for immigrant truckers.
Reporter: Tyche Hendricks, KQED
Iran’s men’s soccer team is scheduled ...
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June 12, 2026 • 14 mins
This week, the FBI served a search warrant at the GKN Aerospace plant in Orange County. That’s the facility where a near-explosion triggered an evacuation of more than 50-thousand residents last month.
Reporter: Molly Peterson, CalMatters
The California Department of Fish & Wildlife is celebrating the survival of five rehabilitated bear cubs. CDFW says the orphaned black bears were released last November and have succe...
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June 11, 2026 • 9 mins
In California’s congressional primaries, a slate of younger, often progressive, Democrats challenged some of their party’s aging incumbents…testing voters’ appetite for generational change.
Reporter: Izzy Bloom, KQED
Reports of medical neglect in immigration detention are rampant – and deaths are rising. And when sick or injured detainees do get to an outside hospital, many say their care is still c...
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Millions of Californians who buy their own health insurance on Covered California are struggling to keep up with the cost. Now, Governor Gavin Newsom wants the state to chip in, and pay a bigger share of their monthly premiums.
Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KFF Health News
Republican Steve Hilton is advancing to the general election for California governor, edging out Democrat Tom Steyer for the second spot in the November race.
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It's been one week since California's primary Election Day and a handful of closely watched races are still up for grabs.
Imperial Valley voters have rejected a controversial candidate for the Imperial Irrigation District, the region’s powerful water and power agency. Carlos Duran’s campaign was backed by a Southern California data center developer.
Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS
Immigration courts across the co...
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June 8, 2026 • 10 mins
California scientists are nervous about the fate of sea life, which could face a double whammy of warming water later this year. Coastal waters have already warmed during an ongoing marine heat wave and could warm further if a potential super El Niño materializes.
Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED
Hundreds of residents of Orange Cove in rural, eastern Fresno County are speaking out against a clean energy trial that city lead...
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June 5, 2026 • 10 mins
Cannabis businesses say California’s weed regulations are hurting the industry, but public health groups are pushing back, saying regulators are leaving protections for youth on the table. In Santa Cruz, known for its cannabis culture, the city says keeping both groups happy is an ongoing challenge.
Reporter: Alonso Daboub, KQED
New data shows cuts to Medi-Cal — the state’s Medicaid program — are taking...
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June 4, 2026 • 10 mins
San Francisco drone delivery company Zipline hopes to one day fly your burrito — and other consumer goods — right to your front porch. It’s already doing so in Dallas and elsewhere across the country. But before it can expand, Zipline’s drones are flying thousands of test missions above a serene Yolo County cattle ranch near Esparto.
Reporter: Chris Nichols, CapRadio
San Diego is exploring selling its Co...
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June 3, 2026 • 10 mins
The California's governor's race remains too close to call. Republican Steve Hilton currently leads the pack, but is closely followed by Democrat Xavier Becerra. Fellow Democrat Tom Steyer is sitting in third but still has a chance to overtake one of the two other candidates, with millions of ballots left to be counted.
Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED
We already know the two candidates advancing to several congressional races here ...
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June 2, 2026 • 10 mins
It's election day. And California's first truly open governor's race in decades has sparked a lot of speculation, including early fears that the state's top-two primary system could leave Democrats shut out of the general election entirely. But that scenario is looking far less likely.
Guest: Marisa Lagos, KQED
About 150 immigrants detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center are on their 11th day of a hunger strike. Members ...
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June 1, 2026 • 10 mins
California voters passed Prop 50 last year to flip some congressional seats in favor of Democrats. That means one of the most progressive Democrats in congress will now have to make a case to some of the most conservative voters.
Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio
In a controversial move, state regulators have approved major changes to a key state climate program. California’s Air Resources Board voted Fri...
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May 29, 2026 • 10 mins
One of the most competitive primary races for Congress right now is a swing district in the Central Valley. Democrats there are hoping to flip a seat long held by Republican David Valadao. But first they need a nominee. With just days until the primary , the party’s two candidates in the 22nd Congressional District are competing for who can appeal to the most voters - as the national Democratic Party contemplates its own ide...
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This week, we’ve been looking at the rise of "generational change candidates" in Democratic primaries. That's a politician who has positioned themselves as a fresh, modern alternative to long-term incumbents. Think passing the torch to Millennials or Gen Zers who are more focused on climate and health care for all. Well, Prop 50, the ballot measure voters passed in November. has opened up an opportunity for one of those chan...
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