KQED's The California Report

An indie musician staging sold-out shows in a historic high school auditorium and why she chose intimate school venues. A federal judge finds Border Patrol violated court orders during roving patrols. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approves a 20-year operating extension for California’s only nuclear plant.

Hundreds of people became U.S. citizens at large ceremonies and spoke about civic duty and belonging. Officials warn of an early fire season and strained water supplies after a nearly melted Sierra snowpack. Offshore oil production near Santa Barbara is restarting amid legal and environmental disputes. A judge appointed a medical monitor for detainees at California’s largest immigrant detention facility.

Tina Caputo, KQED reporter who covered California’s brewing scene, walks through how craft breweries are coping. She describes crowded taproom events and widespread closures. She covers pandemic fallout, rising costs and tariffs. She highlights pivots like kitchens, events, seltzers and nonalcoholic options, plus California-specific labor and regulatory pressures.

Farida Jhabvala Romero, investigative reporter who covered the United Farm Workers story, explores the fallout from sexual abuse allegations about Cesar Chavez. She interviews union leaders and historians. Short segments touch on membership decline, fears growers might exploit the scandal, and debates over separating the movement from Chavez’s personal legacy.

Nadia Lathan, a CalMatters reporter covering California public policy and local government, breaks down why removing Cesar Chavez's name from streets and public sites is more than symbolic. She explains the logistical headaches of replacing signs, costs for residents and businesses, and the tangled approvals for parks, buildings and statues. Different cities are taking very different paths on renaming.

Megan Jamerson, a public radio reporter who covered the 2006 immigrant rights marches in Los Angeles, recounts on-the-ground reporting and interviews from that moment. She explores the massive turnout, the coalitions that mobilized millions, scenes and symbolism from the march, and why such mass demonstrations are harder to replicate today.

Daniel Sumner, an economist and UC Davis professor who once served as USDA assistant secretary, explains how restrictions at the Strait of Hormuz could ripple through fertilizer flows. He breaks down timing for California planting, how fertilizer and fuel costs affect farm decisions, and when consumers might feel price changes. Short, timely analysis of agriculture under geopolitical strain.

Samantha Rangel, KVPR reporter who produced on-the-ground coverage of a Fresno County mobile 911 dispatch training program. She describes students running AI-driven realistic call simulations. The segment covers how simulations are designed, AI scoring, and the program’s role in addressing dispatcher shortages and shaping career paths.

Marisa Lagos, KQED politics correspondent who tracks California politics and national positioning, and Mark Betancourt, immigration reporter for The California Newsroom, discuss Gavin Newsom’s push into foreign policy to raise his national profile. They also cover ICE arrests of relatives at ORR appointments and documents suggesting a formal operation. Short takes on political risks and legal concerns follow.

A deep dive into why California condors keep dying from lead despite legal protections. Scientists reveal how freer-flying birds face unexpected poisoning risks. Reporting also covers a controversial county election probe and debates over ag‑tech investment and farmworker displacement.