Every week, Zócalo columnist and fourth-generation Southern Californian Joe Mathews talks to Morning Edition host Chery Glaser about 21st-century California's people, politics, trends and idiosyncrasies.
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Op-ed: California’s greatest paradox? It’s dangerous beauty
CaliforniaCalifornia is home to the world’s most breathtaking places. But Zocalo Columnist Joe Mathews says its nature also makes it a challenging place to live.
California can be a real alternative republic that shows real freedom
CaliforniaCalifornia’s pretensions have acquired real weight.
Op-ed: Mutual contempt lives between public officials and citizens
CaliforniaPolitical violence is up. But commentator Joe Mathews says elected officials are not just victims of angry constituents, but often perpetrators of poisonous politics themselves.
Op-ed: Why we need 800 people in the California Assembly
CaliforniaBy a quirk of redistricting, no one who lives in Monterey represents the county in Sacramento. Commentator Joe Mathews says that’s evidence our districts are way too big.
Op-ed: Academic tutoring might be best gift for your kids this year
CaliforniaCalifornia students are falling far behind after two years of pandemic-related learning losses. Zocalo commentator Joe Mathews says the solution is more tutors.
Changing family through education: Joe Mathews thanks his late great-aunt
CaliforniaJoe Mathews will eat a slice of chocolate pie this Thanksgiving in honor of his great-aunt Fern, who changed his family through her career as a teacher.
Joe Mathews: LA Metro’s confounding lines lead to missed connections
CaliforniaJoe Mathews recently tried to catch the Expo Line train. But he still missed it in what he calls a maddening consequence of poor transportation planning.
Op-ed: Gaming interests are betting big on CA gambling during midterms
CaliforniaGaming interests are prepared to spend whatever it takes to expand their reach in California, as they’ve shown with Propositions 26 and 27.
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