Consumer Watchdog

Justin Kloczko writes about tech, energy and insurance for Consumer Watchdog. He’s covered privacy issues extensively, including data collection, privacy rights and legislation, artificial intelligence, algorithms, and surveillance pricing.
 
He’s a recovering daily newspaper reporter with experience covering local government, education, and the criminal justice system at the Hartford Advocate, Middletown Press, and  Manchester Journal Inquirer. His work has appeared in Vice, Daily Beast, The New Republic, KCRW and Los Angeles Magazine.
 
While covering civil litigation at the Los Angeles Daily Journal he won LA Press Club awards for his stories detailing corruption at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. The stories led to the criminal prosecutions of multiple city officials. Justin also authored The Debaser, an independent newsletter about LA culture and politics that garnered him an appearance on the ABC/Hulu documentary about disgraced plaintiff’s attorney Tom Girardi called “The Housewife and the Hustler.”

The Mercury News – Elias: Bay Area’s Garamendi saying insurance czar ‘should go’ unheard of

In criticizing Lara, a Democratic party stalwart advising another to quit his job is unprecedented By Thomas Elias, MERCURY NEWS https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/07/11/elias-bay-areas-garamendi-saying-insurance-czar-should-go-unheard-of/ Think back: When was the last...

CNN – This family lost their home in the Texas floods. Like most victims of storm, they didn’t have flood insurance

By Chris Isidore, CNN https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/10/business/texas-flooding-victims-lack-flood-insurance (CNN) - Crissy and Avi Eliashar bought their home in Jonestown, Texas, 13 years ago. They never had a problem with...

The Orange County Register – COLUMN: Medical Board says AB 408 is about patient protection. Bull, consumer groups respond.

By Teri Sforza, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER https://www.ocregister.com/2025/07/10/you-might-never-know-your-doctor-is-an-addict-if-new-bill-passes/ COLUMN: Medical Board says AB 408 is about patient protection. Bull, consumer groups respond. If the Medical Board of...

Politico – Democrats retreat on climate: ‘It’s one of the more disappointing turnabouts’

By Jeremy B. White and Camille von Kaenel, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/07/democrats-climate-retreat-california-energy-00439882 SACRAMENTO, California - Donald Trump is coming for California's signature climate policies - and so is...

Politico – Prop 103, Round Two?

By Will McCarthy and CAMILLE VON KAENEL, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2025/07/07/californias-great-climate-retreat-00441867 Wildfires are heating up the property insurance fight — and it’s boiling over on to the ballot...

Politico – Democrats retreat on climate: ‘It’s one of the more disappointing turnabouts’

By  JEREMY B. WHITE and  CAMILLE VON KAENEL, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/07/democrats-climate-retreat-california-energy-00439882 SACRAMENTO, California — Donald Trump is coming for California’s signature climate policies — and so is California. Stung by the...

San Diego Union-Tribune – California Energy Commission calls for shelving plans to fine oil companies

By Rob Nikolewski, THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/27/california-energy-commission-calls-for-shelving-plans-to-fine-oil-companies/ In the wake of plans by two refineries to close down, the California Energy Commission offered a series...

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Consumer Watchdog Files Coast-to-Coast Briefing Challenging Presidential Tariffs in California and Washington 

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State Farm Investigation Must Conclude Before Rate Hike Approved Says Consumer Watchdog 

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