Amita Sharma
Investigative ReporterAs the public matters investigative reporter, Amita leads KPBS’ coverage on efforts to undermine democracy, including threats to public officials, bolstering the Big Lie, chipping away at voter’s rights, attempts to overturn election results, eroding institutions and weakening the government's capacity to do its job, as well as civic efforts to engage people with opposing views without rancor.
The goal of the position is to report on the stakes, from a San Diego County perspective, on the United States’ current political moment.
She has spent the last two years reporting on local threats to democracy, including regional extremism, the shrinking of local news coverage while the number of hyper partisan “news” websites grow, censorship at libraries and incivility at public meetings.
Her previous coverage includes: exposing abuses in local nursing homes at the height of the pandemic, including a serial rapist who had worked in several El Cajon facilities and was arrested following her reporting; unearthing a contract between the city of Chula Vista and Motorola that allowed the company to sell data collected by the Chula Vista Police Department; and reporting on discrimination and retaliation in the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office that led to court settlements and the retirement of the Public Defender.
-
A rally in support of the anti-government demonstrators in Egypt will be staged at the federal building downtown. -
Egyptians in San Diego are cautiously optimistic that growing protests in their homeland might be the first step toward democracy. -
Colleagues and lawyers describe Larry Burns, the man picked to oversee the case of Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner, as a quick-moving, deadline-setting judge with experience handling federal death penalty cases.
-
The defense in the case against Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner has yet to file for a change of venue. One option is San Diego, where U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns, selected to preside over the case, is based. -
Jared Loughner is accused of committing some of the worst political crimes in recent memory -- the killing of a federal judge and the attempted assassination of a member of Congress. Now Loughner has one of the best defense lawyers in the country. Judy Clarke is a federal death penalty expert with a reputation for taking on daunting cases. -
The parents say every day spent in court would only delay their family's healing.
-
County requiring employees of grocery stores and many other retail outlets to wear masks as of midnight Friday. That’s a tall order, says the California Grocers Association.
- Defense Secretary Hegseth requires new 'pledge' for reporters at the Pentagon
- Cal State San Marcos sorority charter revoked for hazing
- Flushable wipes and Iran: Water treatment facility adds cyberattacks to worry list
- Social media is shattering America's understanding of Charlie Kirk's death
- Young surfers mentored by pros at Super Girl Surf Festival in Oceanside