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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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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.
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Debate continues about zone zero, the California rules nearing the finish line that would regulate what can be planted and stored within 5 feet of millions of homes.
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A new study addresses the question, concluding that climate change increased the likelihood of the fires and boosted the amount of land that burned.
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You may be able to see the Orionid meteor shower from darker pockets of the Southern California suburbs, but the desert and mountains will offer the best viewing.
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People in and around recent burn scars should be alert to the risk of debris flows. Typical October weather will be back later this week.
