California Sun Podcast

David McCuan on how California’s county fairs became corruption hotbeds

29 January 2026

David McCuan, a professor of political science at Sonoma State University, discusses the findings of a recent Los Angeles Times exposé that showed how California’s beloved county fairs, which generate $400 million annually, have become hotbeds of corruption where bookkeepers steal, officials rig bids, and governor-appointed boards feast on lobster and cabernet. With governance structures…

Don’t miss an episode