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.
All Episodes
Op-ed: Take a harrowing walk in Oakland with ‘Nightcrawling’
CaliforniaLeila Mottley was 19 and fresh out of high school when she wrote “Nightcrawling,” which captures the heartbreak and yearning of California’s inner cities.
Op-ed: No need to like the GOP to love the Reagan Library
CaliforniaCommentator Joe Mathews says the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley is the best of its kind in the country, even if that has little to do with the 40th president…
Off-shore wind farm leads to a tempest in Morro Bay
CaliforniaCommentator Joe Mathews says the federal government’s sale of off-shore wind leases is raising questions about the future of climate and community.
Op-ed: California has a talent for spectacular bank failures
CaliforniaWhen California’s economy falters, the reverberations are felt across the globe. Commentator Joe Mathews says state banks are often the root of the problem.
Op-ed: Why San Diego is the country’s best college town
CaliforniaSan Diego’s public universities are thriving. Joe Mathews says forward thinking and smart development are making the southwest corner of the state a higher education mecca.
Op-ed: Why California must put a stop to school closures
CaliforniaAs California schools are routinely shutting down, commentator Joe Mathews says it’s crucial to harden schools for this new reality and keep them running.
Op-ed: Why you can’t terminate Schwarzenegger’s legacy
CaliforniaPolitical power is fleeting, but ballot initiatives in California can last forever if their champions continue to fight for them.
Op-ed: Silicon Valley exposes California’s hypocrisy
CaliforniaCalifornia’s tech giants have helped build one of the world's largest economies, but commentator Joe Mathews says Americans have paid a heavy price for that success.
More from KCRW
‘F1,’ ‘Jurassic World Rebirth,’ and ‘Superman’ battle at the box office
EntertainmentDinos, race cars, superheroes! Kim Masters and Matt Belloni unpack summer 2025 box office trends + projections—from “F1,” to “Superman,” to “Fantastic Four.”
CA has embraced EVs. What will happen when federal tax credits end?
CaliforniaPresident Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” eliminates federal tax credits for new and used EVs and plug-in hybrids purchased after September 30, 2025.
Chinese students are left uncertain after Trump threatens visa revocations
ImmigrationIn May, the Trump administration said it would revoke student visas from some Chinese nationals. Now some LA Chinese students feel vulnerable and unsure about their future.