Deborah Sullivan Brennan
deborahsbrennan.bsky.social
Deborah Sullivan Brennan
@deborahsbrennan.bsky.social
Californian, Mama Bear, Staff writer for Cal Matters and Voice of San Diego
Rep. Darrell Issa made his mark leading the Benghazi hearings and promoting Donald Trump. A cast of Democrats see a chance to oust him under California's new voting map: calmatters.org/politics/202...
Will San Diego lose its lone Republican in Congress? New maps open challenges to Darrell Issa
Eleven Democrats are vying to unseat Rep. Darrell Issa, a San Diego Republican, after California’s redistricting measure turned his reliably red district into a slightly blue one.
calmatters.org
November 21, 2025 at 7:23 PM
California redistricting: A crowd of Democrats are lining up to try to oust Republican Rep. Darrell Issa:
calmatters.org/politics/202...
Will San Diego lose its lone Republican in Congress? New maps open challenges to Darrell Issa
Eleven Democrats are vying to unseat Rep. Darrell Issa, a San Diego Republican, after California’s redistricting measure turned his reliably red district into a slightly blue one.
calmatters.org
November 21, 2025 at 3:58 PM
When it opens next year Chula Vista University will serve a "college desert" in San Diego, with a hybrid program offering degrees from UCSD, San Diego State and Cal State San Marcos.
calmatters.org/education/20...
California’s next university has a plan and programs. All it needs is a campus
The long-awaited university has degree plans in place and a commitment from local and state leaders. All that is needed now is a campus.
calmatters.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Why did artillery misfire rain shrapnel over a California freeway at Marine Base Camp Pendleton? State leaders want answers: calmatters.org/politics/202...
What went wrong when Marines fired over Interstate 5? California leaders demand answers
California lawmakers are demanding answers after a live fire event over Camp Pendleton Saturday led to a misfire that rained shrapnel on I-5.
calmatters.org
October 23, 2025 at 6:52 PM
The Marines threw a birthday party at Camp Pendleton. California leaders are asking why an artillery misfire spoiled the party:
calmatters.org/politics/202...
What went wrong when Marines fired over Interstate 5? California leaders demand answers
California lawmakers are demanding answers after a live fire event over Camp Pendleton Saturday led to a misfire that rained shrapnel on I-5.
calmatters.org
October 23, 2025 at 2:18 PM
This San Diego preschool is dedicated to children who have experienced abuse and trauma. You can see their images and stories in this piece by CalMatters' Adriana Heldiz: calmatters.org/education/20...
How the tiniest domestic violence survivors are healing with the help of this preschool
A preschool in San Diego focuses on children who've experienced trauma, the "little guys". Mi Escuelita now has a long record of helping kids and families move forward.
calmatters.org
October 16, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Pleased to announce the release of "Incurable: Stories from the World of Cure," an anthology of shape-shifter stories, featuring my short story about two shape-shifting best friends, their second skins and a harrowing fight for their lives. Now on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/196001864...
Incurable: Stories from the World of Cure
Incurable: Stories from the World of Cure [White, Benjamin, Purdon, Jerry, Sarkar, Neepa, Scott, Patrick, Ness, Katie, Raymond, Keith, Brennan, Deborah, Morris, Cris, Abbud, Trevor, Kastner, Lisa Diane] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Incurable: Stories from the World of Cure
www.amazon.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:28 AM
San Diego County is bracing for a hard blow from the federal shutdown. Here's why:
calmatters.org/politics/202...
This California city will feel the government shutdown more than any other. Here's why
San Diego County is bracing for missed paychecks and the possibility of a run on food banks as the federal shutdown extends into its second week.
calmatters.org
October 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Sen. Alex Padilla at San Diego Immigration Court: "This should not be a trap."
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Sen. Alex Padilla visits San Diego immigration court: 'This should not be a trap'
The California senator visited immigration court in San Diego and said he wanted to observe the issues that people face in proceedings.
calmatters.org
September 29, 2025 at 3:29 PM
The old San Diego Airport Terminal 1 was nicknamed "The Thunderdome." The new one will undoubtedly be called "The Jellyfish."
September 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
After years of construction, San Diego Airport's Terminal 1 opened this week. Here's a peak:
September 24, 2025 at 6:07 PM
The Hell's Kitchen lithium projects promises a motherlode of critical minerals. Critics want promises of community benefits and environmental safety.
calmatters.org/environment/...
When lithium mining starts, who benefits, and who’s at risk? Inside this Salton Sea case.
Critics of a proposed lithium mine near the Salton Sea entered round two of a fight to force stricter environmental review of the project.
calmatters.org
September 18, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Countdown to California's redistricting election begins. The battle over voting districts: voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/12/s...
Sacramento Report: Countdown to California’s Redistricting Election
Democrats and Republicans gear up for battle over voting maps.
voiceofsandiego.org
September 15, 2025 at 4:42 PM
California's CEQA reform law aims to spur home-building. Business leaders say there's a hidden fee that could make homes more expensive: voiceofsandiego.org/2025/09/05/s...
Sacramento Report: This Law Aimed to Cut Housing Prices. A Hidden Fee Could Raise Them
Home-builders object to a section buried in the lengthy, last-minute bill to reform CEQA.
voiceofsandiego.org
September 5, 2025 at 10:42 PM
This rural hospital almost closed. Emergency state funding is keeping it open, but for how long?
calmatters.org/health/2025/...
This rural hospital almost closed. Emergency state funding is keeping it open, but for how long?
The closure of rural hospitals is a looming problem across California. Two lawmakers are urging the state try and save a hospital in Blythe.
calmatters.org
September 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
California scaled back its landmark environmental law, CEQA, to spur housing production. Business leaders say that could help... a little: voiceofsandiego.org/2025/08/29/s...
Sacramento Report: CEQA Reform Is a First Step, Not a Gamechanger
San Diego leaders say carve-outs to the environmental law will help small housing projects.
voiceofsandiego.org
August 29, 2025 at 9:56 PM
This prison is slated to close next year. City officials want to make it a luxury hotel: calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Back to the future: Will this California prison become a luxury hotel again?
When it closes next year, Norco city leaders hope to restore the correctional facility to an upscale resort again.
calmatters.org
August 27, 2025 at 11:27 PM
California gas prices are set to spike. Here's how it happened, and what politicians want to do: voiceofsandiego.org/2025/08/22/s...
Sacramento Report: State Leaders Are Scrambling to Lower Gas Prices
California may face sticker shock at the gas pump, as electric vehicle programs stall.
voiceofsandiego.org
August 25, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Newsom just took the nuclear option. Republican Rep. Darrell Issa's San Diego district is in the blast zone: voiceofsandiego.org/2025/08/15/s...
Sacramento Report: Newsom Puts Issa’s District in the Blast Zone
California lawmakers want to flip red seats blue after Texas pushes a redistricting plan to elect more Republicans.
voiceofsandiego.org
August 15, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Common Cause is backing down on fighting California's redistricting in response to Texas' plan to flip blue seats red:

Common Cause: "We won’t call for unilateral political disarmament in the face of authoritarianism."
Home
With the support of over 1.5 million members, Common Cause wins concrete, pro-democracy reforms that break down barriers to participation, promote accountability, and ensure that each of us has a voic...
commoncause.org
August 13, 2025 at 9:43 PM
At 30+ years in Congress, Ken Calvert is the longest-serving Republican congressman. Gavin Newsom's plan could end that: calmatters.org/politics/202...
This Republican lawmaker has served CA for decades. Newsom’s plan could end his dominance.
Calvert narrowly held his seat in his last election. This year he faces eight challengers, and the possibility that his area could be redrawn to give Democratic candidates the advantage.
calmatters.org
August 13, 2025 at 3:19 PM
California scaled back a landmark environmental law to speed up construction. Will it spur home-building?
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/07/25/s...
Sacramento Report: How CEQA Reforms Will Impact Homebuilding in San Diego
Will changes to the California Environmental Quality Act spur home-building?
voiceofsandiego.org
July 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Inland Empire students graduate from high school at record rates. But most don't go to college. Educators are trying to fix that: calmatters.org/education/hi...
This group has one of California’s highest graduation rates. So why are they skipping college?
A report by the Public Policy Institute of California looked at why IE students fall behind and what educators can do for students.
calmatters.org
July 30, 2025 at 3:54 PM
California Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, a Republican and daughter of immigrants, wants Trump to reform rules for immigrant workers. Will he listen?
calmatters.org/politics/202...
A Republican lawmaker seeks new rules for immigrant workers. Will Trump listen?
The Redlands Republican wrote to leaders in Washington asking them to issue “expedited work permits to the millions of undocumented immigrants who are considered essential workers”
calmatters.org
July 25, 2025 at 9:38 PM