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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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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.
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More than 13 inches of rain fell in the Santa Ynez Mountains over the weekend. And another, colder storm is on the way.
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Some areas have seen more than 10 inches of rain. More showers are expected all week, with another storm heading into the area late in the week. —
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The upcoming storm has been tough for forecasters to nail down. The latest prediction is that the heaviest rain could arrive anytime between Thursday and Saturday.
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Debris flows may be a risk in recently burned areas when rain arrives on Thursday.
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The Ventura County Fire Department determined that a tractor fire was rekindled by strong winds, sparking a fire that destroyed 243 structures in November 2024.
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For decades, Californians could rely on the federal government for help. “The modern era of emergency management … is forever changing,” a state official says.
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An LAPD after-action report lists arrests and reports of crime, and also documents and makes recommendations on the department’s challenges in responding to the disaster.
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The Lachman Fire reignited several days after firefighters responded to it, becoming the deadly and destructive Palisades Fire.
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Southern California's infamous northeasterly winds are expected to pick up Monday night and last through Thursday.
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People evacuated from their Balboa Peninsula homes will likely be allowed back by the end of the weekend. The worry was that the gas could ignite and explode.
