California Insider

Mark Baatz moved to Los Angeles from Canada in the 1980s and took a sales job at a small tow truck dealership run by his father and a partner. Over the next 37 years, he helped grow the business through recessions, legal setbacks, and a changing city. He built a team that stayed together, bought property, and worked to keep the business steady through uncertainty. This is a story about staying in business rather than scaling it, and what that kind of work requires in Los Angeles.

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

Voters thought Los Angeles’ mansion tax would target luxury home sales to help fund solutions for homelessness. In practice, it’s affecting a much wider range of properties, including apartment buildings and commercial spaces. Developer and urban policy educator Mott Smith explains how this is changing the real estate landscape in LA and what adjustments could help restore balance while still supporting public goals.

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

For decades, California’s environmental law, CEQA, has made it harder to build housing, even in places where it makes the most sense. A new reform changes that. In this episode, land use attorney Dave Rand explains how the rules just shifted and why this could open the door to more housing in the communities that need it most.

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 Phillips 66 refinery will close this October, and Valero’s Northern California facility is expected to follow in 2026, reducing in-state refining capacity by 20 percent. USC professor Michael Mische examines how shifts in where California gets its fuel could affect local prices.

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

American universities are known for their openness to global collaboration. But some partnerships may carry more than academic goals. In this episode, investigative journalist Joshua Philipp looks at how foreign-backed programs on U.S. campuses have intersected with national security concerns, from research funding to curriculum decisions.

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 has long been a testing ground for clean energy solutions like rooftop solar. State and local leaders promoted adoption to cut emissions and lower long-term costs. But recent policy shifts and rising expenses are changing the equation for homeowners. In this episode, Johnny Graham, CEO of Pacific United Power, explains what’s behind the change and what it means for those considering solar.

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

As California pushes health care innovation, working through a system not built for individual care can be limiting. That challenge led pharmacist Nayan Patel to develop tailored treatments now helping patients across the state and in more than 10 countries. The path wasn’t simple. Each step along the way guided how he approaches care and what it takes to build something sustainable. This is his story.

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

As California continues investing in clean energy, the gradual decline of in-state refineries is drawing attention. In this episode, a panel explores how this shift could influence long-term energy reliability and what solutions, both policy driven and independent, are emerging to help meet demand.

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

A significant lithium resource, among the largest identified in the U.S., is gaining national attention as California works to secure more of its own battery material supply. In this episode, we explore with geologist Michael McKibben the promise of geothermal lithium extraction and its economic potential. Community leader Luis Olmedo shares concerns about the initiative’s impact on local communities and the risk of repeating historical oversights.

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

In California, the cost of building affordable housing keeps climbing, with some units nearing $1 million to construct. At the same time, older developments are at risk of falling out of affordability as costs rise and protections expire, putting pressure on the system meant to support low-income residents. Tia Patterson, CEO of the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, lays out what’s driving these pressures and what it would take to build and preserve housing that meets people's needs.

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