On New Year’s Day, three CBS-owned television stations in California—KCAL-TV Los Angeles, KPIX-TV San Francisco, and KOVR Sacramento—will air a half-hour investigative documentary, a rarity for major Golden State stations in recent years. The special, titled “California’s Fentanyl Fight: Politicians V. Parents,” will examine the dysfunction within California’s statehouse in Sacramento, airing on both linear and streaming platforms.
The program originates from CBS News California Investigates, a unit established in March to scrutinize systemic issues within the state capitol. This initiative reflects a broader effort to enhance coverage of public policy and utilize CBS News resources to hold Sacramento lawmakers accountable.
CBS News California correspondent Julie Watts spearheaded the investigation into the legislature’s failure to effectively address the state’s fentanyl crisis. Her research involved meeting with parents who have tragically lost children to fentanyl overdoses, highlighting the crucial need for these parents’ voices to be heard in the legislative process.
Watts explains, “Roughly 50% of our legislature is brand new or has been there less than two years, so you’ve got a huge freshman class of lawmakers who themselves are learning how the California capitol really works. So for me, I’m not only opening up Californians’ eyes, I think it’s also going to really impact those lawmakers, especially with the notoriety about the release of this special.” She spent a year on the project, detailing the challenges stemming from California’s one-party Democratic supermajority and its contribution to legislative inaction.
The personal stories of loss were central to Watts’ approach. She found that the complexities of California’s capital were best conveyed through these narratives, making the policy debates and political maneuvering accessible to a wider audience. “What is so unique about this special is that these are real people who have zero policy experience,” Watts notes. “The parents opened up their homes, opened up their hearts and they really helped tell the story.”
Watts’ research utilized data from a new AI tool created by CalMatters, a nonpartisan newsroom, analyzing thousands of votes and hours of hearing videos. As a mother herself, Watts is deeply affected by the resilience of parents who become unintentional activists after such devastating losses. “I can relate to what it would be like to lose a child and have a purpose in their passing,” she reflects. “That’s what they’ve done here.”
The special will stream live on CBS Los Angeles (KCAL-TV) at 12 p.m., CBS Sacramento (KOVR-TV) at 4 p.m., and CBS Bay Area (KPIX-TV) at 5:30 p.m. on January 1st.