Is Oakland Too Real for the Oscars?
The best California movie scene of recent vintage is the opening of the 2018 film Sorry to Bother You. A young man and his girlfriend
Joe Mathews
February 11, 2019
Author: Joe Mathews
Connecting California Columnist and Editor, Zócalo Public Square, Fellow at the Center for Social Cohesion at Arizona State University and co-author of California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It (UC Press, 2010)
Why Is Gavin Hiding the State of the State Speech?
Gavin Newsom is giving a state of the state speech he apparently doesn’t want you to hear. You can tell from the timing: 11 a.m.
Joe Mathews
February 7, 2019
Newsom’s Biggest Opponents Are the Progressive Fantasies of Presidential Candidates
Gavin Newsom is off to a strong start as governor, with little opposition to his agenda. But he’s about to come up against an opponent
Joe Mathews
February 6, 2019
Immigrants Make Californians Healthier
What makes California the very picture of healthy living? It’s neither sunshine nor silicone implants. Our health secret is actually immigration. While the President and
Joe Mathews
February 4, 2019
Kamala Shouldn’t Apologize for Being a Prosecutor
Let the defense attorneys handle the defense, Senator Harris. You were a prosecutor, so stop being defensive about it. Kamala Harris has made a strong
Joe Mathews
February 1, 2019
Fire Your Sheriff!
The county sheriff is the problem child among California elected officials. No office is less accountable, or more reliable in producing scandal. Once elected, sheriffs
Joe Mathews
January 28, 2019
Newsom Should Turn the Hunger for New Taxes Into a Tax Reform
The new governor’s political needs are shifting towards tax reform. Tax reform, of course, remains a huge political challenge, one that Jerry Brown and legislative
Joe Mathews
January 25, 2019
Newsom’s Strong Start
Gavin Newsom is behaving like a man who has spent eight years preparing to do this job. His first couple weeks of governor have resembled
Joe Mathews
January 23, 2019
For California’s New Governor, Big Mistakes Will Lead to Greatness
“I’ll be watching from the ranch… but I’m only an hour from Sacramento, so Gavin, do not screw up.” — Gov. Jerry Brown, November 5,
Joe Mathews
January 22, 2019