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Jacob Margolis
What I cover
I cover science, with a focus on environmental stories and disasters, as well as investigations and accountability.
My background
I created, wrote and hosted the LAist Studios podcasts, The Big One: Your Survival Guide and The Big Burn: How To Survive In The Age of Wildfires. I was part of the team that won the 2021 Investigative Reporters and Editors Audio Journalism Award for the series "Hot Days: Heat’s Mounting Death Toll On Workers In The U.S. "Most recently, I’ve published investigations into large scale illegal dumping in L.A. County and previously unreported heavy metal concentrations in fire retardants.
My goals
To uncover how science, policy, and power intersect — so people have the information they need to hold decision-makers accountable and protect their communities.
Best way to reach me
You can reach me by email: jmargolis@laist.com. Or for encrypted communications, I'm on Signal: @jacobmargolis.1.
Stories by Jacob Margolis
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They're now listed as threatened, which offers special protections for the charismatic big cats and their habitats.
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Expect light rain this week. But nearly 2 feet of snow could fall in the Sierra Nevada.
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Even if you don't know a chicken from a chickadee, you can help with the international Great Backyard Bird Count.
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Time's up for the island's invasive deer. The plan also focuses on restoring native vegetation and monitoring vulnerable species like the Island fox.
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Snow levels in the Sierra Nevada are well below average for this time of year. In the Colorado River Basin, it's looking even worse.
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Why California is years late on mandated disaster reports — and why it matters for the next big fireThese detailed reports after a disaster declaration are supposed to help the state learn from mistakes. Why are some delayed by years?
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An L.A. County Superior Court judge says proper processes and regulations regarding hazardous waste, which isn't allowed at the Calabasas landfill, were followed.
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Here are three takeaways from an LAist interview with LAFD Chief Jaime Moore about the Palisades Fire. Hear the whole interview here.
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Only time will tell how completely nature recovers from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires in January 2025. But the early signs are at least partially encouraging.
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It's early in the season for snow, and levels are approaching historical averages or over them.
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After all the rain we've had lately, large fires likely won't be a concern until deep into 2026.
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Jonathan Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to arson, among other crimes related to the destructive and deadly January fire.
