Carl J. Petersen

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." — The Who

Despite scandal, questions about oversight, and growing public frustration, LAUSD's incumbents emerged from the 2026 election cycle virtually untouched.

Why?

In my latest article, I examine why meaningful challengers failed to emerge, how unions and charter school politics influenced the races, and why voter engagement remains one of the biggest obstacles to accountability in the nation's second-largest school district.

Whether you follow Los Angeles politics, care about public education, or simply wonder why institutions can be so resistant to change, I hope you'll give it a read.

I was only eight years old during America's Bicentennial, but I remember it as a time when the country, despite Watergate and Vietnam, still found a way to celebrate together.

Fifty years later, our Semiquincentennial felt very different.

In this essay, I look at how the Freedom 250 controversy became a symbol of a nation struggling to find common ground. Along the way, I reflect on patriotism, political polarization, family memories, and the role music has always played in marking pivotal moments in American history.

Whether you agree with my conclusions or not, I hope it sparks a conversation about what it means to celebrate a country that feels increasingly divided.

Read the full essay here:

Over the past decade, I've kept returning to one question:

What does it mean to be a patriot?

The answer hasn't stayed the same. These essays trace my journey from optimism, to doubt, to finding hope again as America approaches its 250th birthday.

If you've ever struggled with what it means to love a country that keeps testing your faith, this one is for you.

With 250 years of history behind us, Trump’s 45 predecessors left him a clear path for how to succeed in the presidency. If every president for more than two centuries avoided a particular activity, there was probably a good reason.

With narcissistic tendencies, Trump often seems to believe he is the smartest person in any room — even one that includes historical giants like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Rather than considering why certain presidential norms exist, he tends to dismiss his predecessors as “stupid” or “weak.” Trusting only his own political instincts, he barrels ahead like a bull in a china shop.

Breaking with precedent, Trump became the first president to attend an NBA Finals game. The problems began as soon as the announcement was made. The massive security required for a presidential visit forced the cancellation of a free watch party outside Madison Square Garden. Those with tickets to the game, which cost between $3,800 and $161,000 each, were told they should arrive at least two hours early to clear security.

In one of the few times Trump has built unity in our divided nation, he managed to alienate the working class and the 1%.  When his picture was shown at the remaining watch parties and at the Garden, he was roundly booed by both crowds. While almost anyone could have predicted this would happen in deep blue New York City, Trump probably never considered that this would be the reaction to his appearance at the game. Perhaps San Antonio would have been a better place for his visit.

Even worse, the most memorable image from his appearance is of him nodding off during the game. For a man who made much of calling Biden “Sleepy Joe,” this was further evidence that Trump’s attacks on opponents often amount to projection.

This was just the latest in a series of political misfires. Are these frequent lapses of judgment a result of the possible onset of cognitive decline, or has his political luck simply run out? I explore this further in the following article:

For years, Los Angeles mayoral elections often felt predetermined, with voters choosing between party labels more than competing ideas.

This year is different.

My latest article looks at how changing voting patterns reshaped the race, why the general election between Karen Bass and Nithya Raman is so unusual, and why I think it offers Los Angeles a rare opportunity for a genuine debate about the city's future.

Read the article here:

There's a moment at the end of every trip when the suitcases are packed, the car is loaded, and you realize that in just a few minutes, you'll be saying goodbye.

I've felt that moment for as long as I can remember. As a child, it meant leaving relatives after a visit. As an adult, it has followed me through work trips, cross-country moves, and visits with family after relocating from California to Washington.

My latest essay, The Footprints We Leave Behind and What We Keep, explores why departures can feel so emotional—and why those moments may be less about loss than about recognizing that we've just lived through something worth remembering.

Read the full essay:

I expected to write about water slides.

Instead, I found myself thinking about accessibility.

DreamWorks Water Park at the American Dream Mall has a lot going for it: creative theming, genuinely exciting attractions, and employees who often went out of their way to help my family.

But visiting with my two adult daughters, both of whom are on the severe end of the autism spectrum, also exposed design choices and policies that made what should have been a carefree day much more stressful than necessary.

My latest article looks at the good, the bad, and the ugly of the experience. We had a great time, so this isn't meant to discourage anyone from visiting. Instead, I hope to encourage a conversation about how attractions can become more welcoming to every family.

Read the full story:

One of the most amazing parts about being at the first night of Rush's first tour since Neil Peart's passing was watching new touring drummer Anika Nilles win over the crowd. The amount of pressure she was under was immense, but she pulled off her debut with grace.

With every drum fill Anika executed, the roar of the crowd grew. The smile on her face showed her appreciation for the support. The pride plastered on Geddy Lee's face made the night even more special.

As the end of the evening neared and the opening chords of Tom Sawyer played, a sense of nervousness filled the air. Could she pull off the most famous of Neil Peart's solos?

As she played, the roar of the crowd crescendoed. By the time she reached the end, the smile on her face reached ear to ear, and the applause only got louder.

The answer was: yes, she could.

For more about my reaction to that emotional night, please read my article at:

For 19 years, I experienced Father's Day from both sides—as a son and as a father.

I didn't fully appreciate how special that was until my dad was gone.

In this essay, I reflect on the relationship we built over decades, how he evolved from Dad to "Poppy," and why I chose to carry that name forward when I became a grandfather. It's a story about family, loss, growth, and the connections that span generations.

Rush's return to the stage wasn't simply a reunion tour.

For many fans, it became the goodbye that never happened when Neil Peart passed away during the pandemic. Opening night at the Forum was filled with celebration, grief, laughter, and some unforgettable musical moments as Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson honored their friend while beginning a new chapter with Anika Nilles.

I was there for the opening show and wrote about what made the evening so memorable—from the tributes to Neil to the surprises in the setlist and what it felt like to hear these songs live again.

Read the full article:

New article: A Prayer for My Country

Sometimes a concert becomes something more than a concert.

What I expected to be a bucket-list Bruce Springsteen show in Brooklyn turned into a reflection on patriotism, community, and hope in a deeply divided America. This essay explores why Springsteen's music still resonates—and why I left the arena feeling more optimistic than when I arrived.

Read the full article:

One of the most interesting questions in American politics is whether electoral success is the same thing as political competence.

Donald Trump has repeatedly survived controversies that many believed would end his political career. But surviving isn't necessarily the same as governing well.

In my latest article, I look at the disconnect between Trump's ability to defy expectations and a record of political decisions that may ultimately cost the Republican Party.

Read the full piece here:

I left New York for Los Angeles chasing music dreams. Decades later, I found myself moving again, this time to Washington.

Somewhere along the way, I started wondering where "home" actually is.

Is it where you were born? The place where you spent the most years? The place where your family is? Or is home something you carry with you?

My latest essay starts with a childhood baseball mishap and ends with a question I've been trying to answer for most of my life.

With Rush returning to the stage this weekend, I decided to prepare by listening to all 19 studio albums in chronological order.

What started as concert prep became a journey through nearly five decades of music, from the hard-rock roots of the debut album to the farewell statement of Clockwork Angels. Along the way, I ranked every studio release and reflected on the partnership between Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart that made it all possible.

One thing became clear: every album contributed something lasting to the band's legacy.

I wrote about the experience here:

Trump's Strategic Misfires: Snatching Defeat from Victory in California

California's top-two primary system created a scenario that many observers thought could produce an all-Republican general election for governor—a remarkable possibility in one of the nation's bluest states.

Instead, a high-profile endorsement may have altered the balance of the race and reduced the chances of that outcome.

This article explores California's political evolution, the legacy of Pete Wilson-era immigration politics, and whether Donald Trump's political instincts are becoming a liability for his own party.

Sometimes the hardest strategic move is doing nothing at all.

LAUSD voters are heading to the polls at a moment of uncertainty for the nation's second-largest school district.

With layoffs looming, Superintendent Carvalho on paid leave while under federal investigation, and ongoing debates about charter school oversight, the next school board will face enormous challenges.

In my latest article, I explain why I'm endorsing Ankur Patel in Board District 4 and Dr. Rocío Rivas in Board District 2. I also discuss the importance of special education advocacy, transparency, and accountability as the district navigates the years ahead.

LAUSD serves a large population of students who rely on Special Education services—yet it rarely comes up in meaningful detail during school board elections.

To try to bring more clarity to the June 2, 2026 race, I sent six questions about Special Education to every candidate running for LAUSD School Board. The questions focused on IEP services, funding, charter school enrollment disparities, accountability, and how families navigate the system.

So far, only Board District 4 candidate Ankur Patel has responded.

His answers are here for anyone who wants to understand where at least one candidate stands on these issues before voting.

Special Education is often discussed in terms of budgets and policy frameworks, but for families it’s something much more immediate: whether services are actually delivered, whether support staff are available, and whether schools are equipped to meet students where they are.