California in Focus

The Center Square
  • 4.6 (9)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

The podcast bringing you the most important stories out of California from TheCenterSquare.com. Join us as we dive into the top headlines and provide insightful commentary and analysis.

  1. JAN 31

    Lawmakers call for expanding California FAIR insurance plan

    (The Center Square) – California lawmakers called Wednesday for the state’s “insurer of last resort,” the California FAIR Plan, to evolve to insure more properties throughout the state. The remarks come after years of the number of FAIR Plan policyholders climbing because of many private insurance companies declining to renew existing policies or pulling out of doing business in the Golden State altogether. This has pushed more and more homeowners in the state to turn to the California FAIR Plan. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx  Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_3b5e92bb-469c-478e-b6c8-12dbbd8ce2d5.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    8 min

  2. JAN 23

    Legislators start working on California budget amid deficit

    (The Center Square) – Amid concerns that there might be as large as an $18 billion budget deficit in the coming year, California lawmakers started writing the state’s budget with the help of finance officials. The California Assembly Budget Committee Tuesday heard the concerns of officials from the state’s Finance Department and Legislative Analyst’s Office, which issued its budget report in November 2025. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx  ]Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_3803a0b3-b327-4cf5-9d08-152dfd87a129.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    10 min

  3. JAN 17

    Legislative Analyst’s Office calls Newsom’s budget 'alarming'

    (The Center Square) – Days after Gov. Gavin Newsom released his budget proposal, the nonpartisan California Legislative Analyst’s Office released its own report that addressed Newsom's rosier-than-anticipated budget outlook for the coming year. The Legislative Analyst’s Office assessment of the governor’s budget deems it's “alarming” because of the administration’s multiyear budget deficits. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx  Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_9cad7019-83e2-4dcc-80b0-8ccee9cd9381.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    10 min

  4. JAN 11

    CA hires DEI chief to 'integrate DEI' into retirement investments – has no finance experience

    (The Center Square) - California’s main state retirement fund, CalPERS, announced the hiring of a new chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer whose listed duties include integrating DEI principles into investment practices, and recruiting staff for DEI-informed proxy voting and ESG investing, The Center Square has learned. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_c7f7a912-6776-4014-82db-accfc7a330b1.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    8 min

  5. 12/31/2025

    Medi-Cal to stop accepting illegal immigrants as of Jan. 1

    (The Center Square) - Many illegal immigrants in California will become ineligible for Medi-Cal coverage in the new year, according to new guidance from state officials.The Department of Health Care Services, which administers the state’s Medicaid program, called Medi-Cal, announced the move in August. The department stated on its website that immigrants with “unsatisfactory immigration status” will not be able to sign up for Medi-Cal on Jan. 1. That's a reference to illegal immigrants. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx  Read more: http://thecentersquare.com/california/article_6f20100e-cf59-4fd2-b491-80ee9d98df8b.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    6 min

  6. 12/23/2025

    California State Auditor's Office finds more than $5M in waste

    (The Center Square) - A new report released by the California State Auditor's Office found more than $5.1 million of waste, misuse or improper spending of taxpayer funds. The report comes just weeks after the Legislative Analyst's Office released its own report that the state faces an $18 billion shortfall for the 2026-27 budget. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_b4756899-a829-49ca-ac74-1386386116ab.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    12 min

  7. 12/21/2025

    Closing arguments made in congressional redistricting suit

    (The Center Square) - Lawyers supporting and opposing California’s congressional redistricting maps made their closing arguments in the lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in Los Angeles. The case is now in the hands of a three-judge panel, led by U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton. Judges will decide whether to grant plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction that would keep the Proposition 50 maps from taking effect. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx  Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_a63301ab-e736-4a26-b3e2-f91a40be67b6.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    8 min

  8. 12/20/2025

    San Diego city overtime increased 65% from 2019-2024 despite $89M deficit

    (The Center Square) - Overtime paid by the City of San Diego increased 65% between 2019 and 2024, city records show, while the number of city employees earning $100,000 or more in just overtime nearly doubled, an investigation by The Center Square found. The city faces a $18.1 million shortfall for the current fiscal year. City of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria is ordering a halt to non-essential overtime, but the city still projects a deficit of at least $89 million for the next year. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx  Read more: http://thecentersquare.com/california/article_d31fee47-41f7-42a2-b1a7-4971a9b7f549.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    11 min
See All (216)

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The podcast bringing you the most important stories out of California from TheCenterSquare.com. Join us as we dive into the top headlines and provide insightful commentary and analysis.

Information

  • Creator
    The Center Square
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    216
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Center Square
  • Show Website
    California in Focus