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.
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Improvements in emergency messaging and quicker reactions from helicopters may help. -
The guy caught on video carrying a parrot was interviewed by law enforcement — and it wasn't him. -
It helps that most of it is underground. -
There's a red flag warning through tonight. -
All in an effort to stop an infestation. -
Finer fuels are still susceptible to drying winds. -
Blame it on a ‘time configuration glitch.' -
It doesn’t have to be complicated. -
The Great ShakeOut returns on Oct. 16, 2025. If you have the MyShake app, you'll get an alert at that time. If you don't have the app, what are you waiting for? -
The area is a longstanding concern for fire experts because it has just a handful of narrow roads to evacuate thousands of residents.
