California Insider

Apr 03 2025 238 ep. 38 mins 30
California Insider Podcast artwork

California, as the wealthiest and most populated state in the nation, carries many leading roles in policy making, economic growth, cultural influences and technology development. California Insider, hosted by Siyamak Khorrami with The Epoch Times Southern California, showcases leaders and professionals across the state with inside information about trending topics and critical issues. Our mission is to inform California residents through the experiences and knowledge of our guests.

  News  Government
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Mexico's Toxic Waters Impact California | Jim Desmond

Apr 03 2025 30 mins  
Sewage from Tijuana has shut down one of San Diego’s most popular beaches for over 1,000 days. The contamination is now threatening Navy SEAL training areas, local businesses, and California’s coastal environment. But despite years of warnings, there’s still no long-term fix in sight.In this episode of California Insider, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond explains the r

California Losing 10% of Gas Production. What Are The Options Ahead | Skip York

Apr 02 2025 40 mins  
California’s refinery network is shrinking. Phillips 66 is shutting down its LA refinery, and more closures may follow. But what happens when we lose domestic refining capacity with no clear plan to replace it?Skip York, Chief Energy Strategist at Turner Mason & Company and Nonresident Fellow for Energy and Global Oil at Rice University’s Baker Institute, joins California I

Why California Schools Are Being Investigated and What's the Impact | Erin Friday

Mar 29 2025 39 mins  
A new federal investigation is raising questions about a California law that limits when schools can notify parents about a child’s gender identity. Erin Friday, a Bay Area attorney and parent, joins California Insider to explain what AB 1955 means in practice, how it intersects with federal law, and why some school policies may be putting state funding at risk. As new executive

A California Father in Office Fights to Protect Children From Online Dangers | Josh Lowenthal

Mar 27 2025 34 mins  
California, long a hub for Big Tech, is now at the center of a growing push to protect kids online. In this episode, Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal joins California Insider to explain why he's calling for stronger safeguards. Drawing on his background in tech and his role as a parent, he discusses how social media is changing childhood—and what role lawmakers should play.Views exp

California’s Empty Buildings Could Be a Warning for the Rest of the Country | David Marino

Mar 26 2025 43 mins  
California’s commercial real estate market is cracking—quietly but deeply. Office towers are half-empty, warehouses are overbuilt, and lab space demand has vanished. In this episode, real estate expert David Marino reveals what’s really happening behind the data and why California could be the signal for the rest of the country.

Family Owned Business in San Francisco Are Struggling To Stay Open | Hrag Kalebjian

Mar 22 2025 40 mins  
In San Francisco, small business owners are increasingly left to face crime on their own. Hrag Kalebjian runs Henry’s House of Coffee, a third-generation shop in the Sunset District. Despite filing a restraining order and calling police multiple times, he’s been left to deal with the thefts on his own.His experience isn’t unique. Many San Francisco business owners are seeing

California Farmer Finds a Smarter Way to Grow Rice | Christopher Lopes | Bruce Lopes

Mar 21 2025 66 mins  
Farming in California isn’t easy with rising costs, drought, and market pressures. But one farming family is rethinking rice farming with a centuries-old Japanese technique that uses ducks instead of chemicals. This approach cuts water use, improves soil health, and brings high-quality rice directly to schools and farmers' markets.In this episode, they share how they transitioned

Los Angeles Spent Billions on Homelessness. Where Did It Go? | Paul Webster

Mar 19 2025 39 mins  
Los Angeles has poured billions into homelessness programs, but a new audit reveals deep financial mismanagement and a lack of oversight. Are these funds truly reaching those in need, or is bureaucracy getting in the way? Paul Webster of the LA Alliance for Human Rights discusses what this report uncovers and what it means for the city’s response to the crisis.

Los Angeles about to Lose a Large Number of Restaurants | GianCarlo Pagani | Roozbeh Farahanipour

Mar 16 2025 30 mins  
Los Angeles restaurants were already facing rising costs and declining reservations—then the fires hit. Industry leaders say the impact feels like a second pandemic, with small businesses, event venues, and entire supply chains struggling to recover. Restaurateur Giancarlo Pagani, partner in Mother Wolf Group and Avila’s MXO, shares firsthand insight into the challenges and the

How Trump’s Air Quality Policies Will Impact California | Susan Shelley

Mar 12 2025 41 mins  
California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) has set the state’s emissions standards, often going beyond federal requirements. But with Trump back in office, could California lose its ability to set independent climate policies? Susan Shelley, member of the editorial board of the Southern California News Group, joins us to examine how a potential rollback of California’s regulator