Herb Morgan interviews and the record behind the race
Watch Morgan explain what he would change, then check the reporting on the problems he wants to address. Each interview links to a specific question, a fuller explanation and supporting sources. The final conversation includes timed links to homelessness, donor access and unclaimed property.
Morgan on audits, spending records and the Controller’s job
KUSI opens the collection, followed by Adam Carolla and Dr. Drew. The short campaign videos introduce individual issues; the longer interviews give Morgan time to explain his reasoning. Read the linked reporting when checking claims about the incumbent.
What would Morgan change about financial oversight?
Morgan’s short KUSI appearance introduces his case for closer scrutiny of state spending. It is a good starting point for understanding what he wants to change before reading his detailed 100-day plan. His comments describe a candidate’s priorities; the homelessness audit and news reports below supply the record against which those priorities can be judged.
How would Morgan turn his financial experience into a plan?
This interview gives Morgan more room to make his case than a short campaign introduction. The full episode also covers unrelated subjects. For the Controller race, read his published plan alongside the conversation: what would be reviewed before payment, who would investigate an alert, and what would the public see by Day 100?
Radical Transparency in Action — Tiffany Meier / NTD News
What does radical transparency mean in practice?
Morgan discusses the transparency theme that runs through his campaign. The practical question is whether Californians could trace a payment to its recipient and purpose while there is still time to investigate a problem. Our explainer compares that proposal with the spending information California already publishes.
Skid Row: California Spends Billions on Homelessness — Where Is the Money Going?
What did California get for its homelessness spending?
The campaign’s Skid Row video puts its spending argument beside the homelessness people see on their streets. To evaluate it, start with the State Auditor’s findings: nearly $24 billion was allocated to housing and homelessness over five years, but three of five reviewed programs lacked enough information to assess cost-effectiveness. The video presents Morgan’s argument for oversight; the audit establishes those findings.
Who is Herb Morgan, and what experience does he bring?
This short introduction covers Morgan’s investment background and why he is running. He founded an investment advisory business and later served as a chief investment officer after its acquisition by a major Wall Street firm. His biography explains that work and his service on San Diego’s public pension board.
The publisher provides a full transcript and chapter links. Morgan explains his view of the Controller’s duties, his proposal for public transaction records and the role he would give technology. Start with the chapter that answers your question, then compare his statements with the written plan and original financial disclosures.
$300 Billion. Zero Oversight. Herb Morgan Wants to Change That. — California Underground
Where are the gaps in the current audit record?
California Underground interviews Morgan about state financial oversight. The dollar figure and “zero oversight” wording are the publisher’s headline, not a finding that the Controller performs no audits. California does publish audit reports. The stronger comparison is between the work those reports cover, Cohen’s unfulfilled homelessness audit priority and the risk-based scrutiny Morgan proposes.
How would Morgan investigate questionable spending?
Real Talk Ramin’s headline uses a large spending figure to frame the conversation with Morgan. A headline alone cannot establish a loss or fraud. The relevant election question is how Morgan would check questionable payments and publish evidence. His plan calls for investigators to review alerts before findings or referrals.
Political Potatoes: radical transparency and the Controller’s record
What would Morgan change about unclaimed property?
Morgan connects his transparency proposal with homelessness spending, donor access and the unclaimed-property system. The chapter links below take you to those discussions. For the property dispute, read the New York Post’s account of the lawsuit alongside the interview: the reported address changes and stock sales are allegations that have not been established by a judgment.
The Capitol correspondent said Cohen’s campaign canceled a scheduled interview, would not reschedule before the election and offered written answers instead. His original post explains why he wanted the opportunity for follow-up questions. Cohen separately answered KCRA’s questions in an interview published October 18, linked below.
The campaign’s LinkedIn post points readers to the Sacramento Bee’s primary endorsement. The later general-election editorial is linked in the news list and on the endorsements page.
Reporting on California’s finances and the Controller race
Endorsement · October 1, 2026
For California state controller, a Republican is the superior candidate. | Opinion
The shared editorial endorses Morgan on qualifications and discusses his proposal to modernize financial reporting. It also says Cohen did not respond to the editorial board’s interview requests.
California controller candidate Herb Morgan wants to modernize the state's finances | CA Politics 360
Ashley Zavala asks Morgan how he would govern differently and which programs he would audit first. He identifies Medi-Cal and state-funded nongovernmental organizations, and explains his proposed use of technology. The interview supplies named priorities; his later 100-day plan describes the opening work.
Your guide to the California controller race: Incumbent Cohen vs. challenger Morgan
The Times compares the incumbent’s first term with Morgan’s financial background. Its report that Malia Cohen’s office completed no homelessness audits puts a measurable result beside her 2022 priority. Cohen’s funding explanation is included. This is the starting point for assessing the promise against the record.
Malia Cohen explains why she should be reelected State Controller | CA Politics 360
Ashley Zavala asks Cohen about the unfulfilled homelessness audit promise. Cohen explains her other priorities and funding constraints. The exchange gives voters a direct response to assess alongside the missing audit.
California fails to track its homelessness spending or results, a new audit says
CalMatters examines the independent State Auditor’s 2024 review of homelessness spending and outcomes. The finding is inadequate evidence to assess three of five programs, not proof that all $24 billion was stolen. It explains why Morgan’s call to connect payments with results addresses a documented oversight problem.
California is holding $15 billion in unclaimed property. Other states automatically return the money.
CBS identifies organizations that did not know California held money for them and compares the state with automatic-return programs elsewhere. The report shows why an unclaimed-property balance is a service obligation: success means getting the property back to its owner.
California’s fiscal watchdog accused of using fake addresses to seize fortunes in bombshell lawsuit
The Post reports plaintiffs’ allegations that foreign shareholder addresses were changed before assets entered California’s unclaimed-property system and shares were sold. Cohen, Kroll and Kelmar are named in the reported suit. The disputed records concern how an owner is identified and notified; the claims have not been established by a judgment.
California state workers were teleworking from Idaho, Tennessee and Alabama, report finds
The Times follows the State Auditor’s findings on Controller employees working from Idaho, Tennessee and Alabama without authorization. Read it with the agency’s responses and reported separations. The case tests whether the office responsible for financial oversight enforced its own personnel controls.
John Kobylt Interviews CA State Controller Candidate Herb Morgan (10/08)
Morgan discusses financial oversight and his proposals on KFI’s John Kobylt Show. The episode page includes audio and a transcript. Use it to hear the candidate’s reasoning, then compare the proposed changes with the records on homelessness audits and unclaimed property.
Herb Morgan Unveils First 100 Days Plan to Minimize Fraud, Restore Financial Accountability, and Bring Radical Transparency to California Government
Morgan proposes an opening review of legal duties and controls, followed by transaction monitoring, public financial data and a scorecard by Day 100. The written phases give voters a way to ask what he would start, who would be responsible and what evidence of progress he would publish.
Radical Transparency: Herb Morgan Takes On California Democrat Controller Malia Cohen
The article accompanies the final video in this collection. It connects Morgan’s transparency proposal with his criticism of the incumbent’s record. The timed links on the player locate the homelessness and unclaimed-property discussions; the issue pages provide supporting records and the status of the reported allegations.
This collection includes broadcast interviews, longer podcasts and videos from Morgan’s campaign channel. KUSI appears first, followed by Adam Carolla and Dr. Drew. Each player has a direct YouTube link so you can watch the original video in context.
Which links are reporting and which are campaign material?
The news list labels reporting, editorials, interviews and the campaign’s 100-day plan. An editorial is the publication’s recommendation. A campaign plan describes proposed actions. Neither should be mistaken for an independent audit finding.
Campaign statements and reporters’ questions
Eytan Wallace on candidate interviews
The Capitol correspondent said Cohen’s campaign canceled a scheduled interview, would not reschedule before the election and offered written answers instead. His original post explains why he wanted the opportunity for follow-up questions. Cohen separately answered KCRA’s questions in an interview published October 18, linked below.
Read Wallace’s original post on X ↗Show the original X post
The campaign shares the Bee endorsement
The campaign’s LinkedIn post points readers to the Sacramento Bee’s primary endorsement. The later general-election editorial is linked in the news list and on the endorsements page.
Read the campaign’s LinkedIn post ↗Campaign YouTube channel ↗
Campaign Instagram ↗
Campaign X account ↗