Kathryn Palmer joins San Francisco Chronicle to helm new Capitol Confidential newsletter on California Legislature

The experienced political journalist comes to the Chronicle from USA TODAY

Posted Tuesday, July 7, 2026 11:37 am

Kathryn Palmer

Sarah Feldberg | San Francisco Chronicle

Political reporter Kathryn Palmer has joined the San Francisco Chronicle to lead and grow Capitol Confidential, a new email newsletter focused on the California Legislature and powered by legislative tracking platform USLege.

Capitol Confidential covers the people shaping power in the state and the bills, conversations and personalities driving discussion in Sacramento.

Palmer comes to the Chronicle from USA TODAY, where she reported on national politics, international news and foreign policy, and helmed the On Politics newsletter. A California native, Palmer previously covered California politics and the 2024 presidential election for USA TODAY, worked for the Petaluma Argus-Courier and interned at CapRadio and KCRA in Sacramento, which is owned by Hearst, the parent company of the Chronicle.

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Kathryn Palmer joins San Francisco Chronicle to helm new Capitol Confidential newsletter on California Legislature

The experienced political journalist comes to the Chronicle from USA TODAY

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