California Insider

California has always found ways to adapt. As wildfires are expected to continue to increase, the need for practical solutions is growing. Brien Seeley, an aviation expert and inventor, explains how existing electric flight technology could work together in a new way to fight fires faster, cleaner, and at a much lower cost than current methods.

Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

California’s beekeeping industry is struggling to keep its colonies alive. More than half of all honeybee colonies in the United States died last year, one of the worst losses in decades. With cheap blended honey driving down prices and policies making it harder to keep operations sustainable, many keepers are reaching a breaking point. In this episode, third-generation beekeeper Ryan Burris breaks down how the fallout from hive losses is spreading through California agriculture.

Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Foreign influence is reaching deeper into California than most realize. In Arcadia, even a local city council campaign was caught in it. In this episode, investigative reporter Joshua Philipp reveals how the Chinese Communist Party extends its presence here and what that could mean for our state.

Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Proposition 13 has defined California’s property tax system for decades, limiting increases and setting strict rules for local taxes. A court ruling in 2017 weakened that standard by allowing some measures to pass with only a simple majority. More recently, Proposition 19, approved by voters in 2020, brought changes to inherited property taxes, creating new costs for families.

In this episode, Susan Shelley, columnist and editorial board member of the Southern California News Group, explains how these shifts are already playing out through new taxes, higher costs, and growing pressure on housing.

Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Pipelines that once carried most of California’s oil are now running close to empty. As production falls, refineries face the risk of shutdown, which could raise fuel costs and drive up the price of everyday goods.

Assemblymember Stan Ellis, University of Southern California Professor Michael Mische, Skip York of Turner Mason & Company, and University of California–Berkeley Professor James Rector explain how the state reached this point and what may lie ahead.

Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Oakland is facing a surge in illegal dumping that is leaving neighborhoods buried in debris and residents feeling abandoned. The problem is not just about appearances, but is changing how the people of Oakland live and weakening confidence in city services.

Entrepreneur and former probation officer Ansel Troy has been documenting what happens when enforcement is limited, while Vincent Williams, cofounder and executive director of the Urban Compassion Project, shows how organized cleanups are making a measurable difference. In this episode, we see how community efforts, even if small, can lead to a marked improvement—even while larger systems work to catch up.

Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Los Angeles County and its schools are now facing billions in legal settlements as victims come forward about abuse they suffered decades ago. A 2019 law gave them new time to file claims that were once closed.

Former Republican state senator John Moorlach joins California Insider to explain how this law came about and why its financial impact could spread to schools and local budgets across California.

Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

California is closing its fifth state prison. Officials point to lower inmate numbers, but the reasons behind the decline are contested, with effects already visible in local jails and courtrooms.

Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco says crime hasn’t dropped—it has been shifted out of view through legal changes. San Francisco public defender Jared Rudolph argues the system is stepping back from punishment as the default response.

In this episode, two voices inside the system trace how California’s justice policies are changing and what those changes leave out.

Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

California is closing its fifth state prison. Officials point to lower inmate numbers, but the reasons behind the decline are contested, with effects already visible in local jails and courtrooms.

Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco says crime hasn’t dropped, it has been shifted out of view through legal changes. San Francisco Public Defender Jared Rudolph argues the system is stepping back from punishment as the default response.

In this episode, two voices inside the system trace how California’s justice policies are changing and what those changes leave out.

Northern California ranchers are facing nightly wolf attacks and cattle losses that UC Davis researchers estimate can reach $162,000 for each wolf every year. In this episode, Rick Roberti, President of the California Cattlemen’s Association, Paul Roen, Chair of the Sierra County Board of Supervisors, and Michael Fisher, Sierra County Sheriff-Coroner discuss how the crisis is forcing hard choices for ranchers and creating safety concerns for nearby towns