California Policy and Politics Friday

Multiple homes burn, 1 dead in Pacoima fireworks explosion -- Amid exploding fireworks, more than 130 firefighters battled a fire that engulfed four homes in Pacoima on Thursday night, authorities said. On Friday morning, officials said one person was found dead. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 07/04/25

Los Angeles to halt ‘disaster tourism’ buses through Palisades fire zone -- Pacific Palisades neighborhoods were closed to the public for months after a January firestorm devastated the community, but since its recent reopening, there have been sightings of a new, disturbing visitor in the neighborhood: disaster tourists. Busloads of them. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 07/04/25

 

How the record cuts coming to Medicaid could devastate California health care -- Millions of Californians who get health insurance through Medicaid, the joint federal-state health insurance program for low-income residents, will probably lose or see major cuts to their health benefits under the Republican tax and spending megabill passed by Congress on Thursday. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 07/04/25

Valadao votes for a Trump megabill expected to disrupt healthcare for many in the Central Valley -- Already a ripe target for Democrats in the next election, Central Valley Rep. David Valadao put his political future in deeper peril this week by voting in favor of legislation that slashes the Medicaid coverage essential to roughly two-thirds of his constituents. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 07/04/25

Billboard near Fresno criticizes U.S. Rep. David Valadao’s vote for Medi-Cal cuts -- A billboard criticizing Rep. David Valadao’s vote supporting President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” that includes cuts to Medicaid coverage impacting many of his constituents went up Wednesday in Kings County. María G. Ortiz-Briones in the Fresno Bee -- 07/04/25

How Orange County’s representatives voted on President Trump’s spending bill that the House passed -- Rep. Young Kim, the lone Republican who represents Orange County in Congress, voted in favor of the massive bill that makes major changes to tax policy and programs, including Medicaid. The other five Orange County representatives all voted against it, along with the rest of the House Democrats. Kaitlyn Schallhorn in the Orange County Register$ -- 07/04/25

Uncertainty of future FEMA disaster funding alarms Bay Area emergency planners -- Across the Bay Area, county officials responsible for emergency planning are bracing for the economic aftershocks should President Donald Trump make good on promises to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency and scrap federal funding that has long helped residents recover from floods, earthquakes and other calamities. Katie Lauer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 07/04/25

Like a ‘30% price hike’: What Trump budget bill could do to California rooftop solar customers -- President Donald Trump’s tax and spending package will gut financial incentives for clean energy programs that for decades have helped American taxpayers recoup some of the costs of installing solar panels and lowering monthly energy bills. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 07/04/25

Gov. Newsom will visit South Carolina, a pivotal presidential primary state -- During the visit Tuesday and Wednesday, Newsom will make stops in eight rural counties that are among the state’s “most economically challenged and environmentally vulnerable,” the South Carolina Democratic Party said Thursday. Laura J. Nelson and Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Jacob Wendler Politico -- 07/04/25

ICE seeks to deport Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr., alleges links to Sinaloa cartel -- United States immigration agents have detained prominent Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. and are working to deport him, with officials saying he has “an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives.” Brittny Mejia and Eduard Cauich in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 07/04/25

‘Making America militarized again’: Use of military in U.S. erodes democracy, veteran advocates say -- Spouses experiencing health emergencies alone, because their loved ones are serving on the streets of Los Angeles. Troops fatigued by a mission they weren’t prepared for. Children of active-duty troops left without their parents, who were deployed on U.S. soil. Zurie Pope in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 07/04/25

International travelers cutting their visits to Southern California -- Canadians especially, stung by Washington rhetoric, are taking their tourism dollars elsewhere to vacation. Pat Maio in the Orange County Register$ -- 07/04/25

Trump Orders New Fees for Foreigners Visiting National Parks -- President Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the secretary of the Interior Department to develop a plan to increase entrance fees for foreign travelers to national parks while keeping them affordable for Americans. Allison Pohle in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 07/04/25

ATF investigates Northern California fireworks explosion; 7 warehouse workers still missing -- An investigation into the cause of a fireworks explosion at a Northern California warehouse where seven are missing continued to grow Thursday with additional personnel on scene and officials requesting the help of the state fire marshal. Nathan Solis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 07/04/25

Before LA immigration raids, California prisons tried to help ICE deport its top targets -- The Trump administration faults California’s sanctuary state law for allowing what it describes as violent criminals to remain in the country. However, that law does not protect people convicted of serious crimes. Wendy Fry and Byrhonda Lyons Calmatters -- 07/04/25

Workplace

American Companies Had Lowest Job Growth in Eight Months -- U.S. job growth looked solid in June, but the headline number hides a stark reality: Many private employers aren’t hiring anymore. Konrad Putzier and Lauren Weber in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 07/04/25

Why Kroger is closing 60 stores: ‘One hit after another’ -- After a series of setbacks, Kroger’s recent decision to close 60 locations nationwide is the latest sign of distress for the grocer that operates more than 300 stores in California. Caroline Petrow-Cohen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 07/04/25

Education

‘Terminated on a whim’: Bay Area schools reel from loss of federal money -- For months, the leaders of Bay Area schools already dealing with budget deficits and declining enrollment have been pinching pennies, trimming staff and wringing their hands, hoping the federal funding allocated to them months ago would land in their bank accounts as promised in early July. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 07/04/25

Street

San Francisco’s new speed cameras caught nearly 100K violators in May -- While motorists will receive only warnings, with no fines attached, until Aug. 5, the data presents a stark illustration of what safety advocates call ingrained, reckless behavior. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 07/04/25

Also

For most Bay Area fireworks displays, the shows will go on despite Yolo County explosion -- Events in Contra Costa, Alameda counties are still scheduled; San Jose pivots to drone show. Rick Hurd in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 07/04/25

Go to the beach, just don’t get wet. Bacteria warnings issued ahead of July Fourth at 8 beaches -- With the Fourth of July weekend, beach lovers are ready to hit the shores. Authorities, however, are warning visitors to avoid any beach activities that involve getting wet at eight beaches. The warnings have been issued ahead of the holiday weekend due to excessive bacteria levels, county officials said. Christopher Buchanan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 07/04/25

Lopez: A candid take on mortality and the power of friendship -- They gather several times a week in the parking lot of a Vons supermarket in Mar Vista, and no subject is off-limits. Not even the grim medical prognosis for 70-year-old David Mays, one of the founding members of the coffee klatch. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 07/04/25

Barabak: Congratulations, America, you’re 249 years old! But this last one has been rough -- It’s been a challenging 12 months, especially since Trump returned to the White House. But America has endured worse hard times, which offers hope on this Fourth of July. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 07/04/25

John Harris, titan of California agriculture, horse racing, dies. ‘Lost a legend’ -- John Harris, a longtime farmer, cattle rancher, and philanthropist, died on Wednesday, leaving behind an indelible mark on San Joaquin Valley agriculture. He was 81. From his famed Harris Ranch Resort near Interstate 5 to his sprawling 800-acre feed lot with more than 100,000 head of cattle, Harris was one of the original titans of California agriculture. Robert Rodriguez in the Fresno Bee -- 07/04/25

POTUS 47

How Will Trump’s Big Bill Affect Your Wallet? -- What could the bill mean for your pocketbook? Answer these questions to learn more about the individual impacts of the wide-ranging legislation. (Your answers are not tracked by The Times.) Ashley Wu, Christine Zhang, Ron Lieber and Tara Siegel Bernard in the New York Times$ -- 07/04/25

How Trump’s big bill will affect you, from Medicaid cuts to tax credits -- The legislation has big implications for seniors, families, Medicaid recipients, immigrants and others. Julie Zauzmer Weil, Yasmeen Abutaleb and Jacob Bogage in the Washington Post$ -- 07/04/25

Wall Street Worries as Crisis-Level Deficits Become the Government’s Default Mode -- U.S. budget deficits were already approaching $2 trillion when Republican lawmakers set out to extend and expand tax cuts this year. Interest rates were high and the bond market was jumpy, producing worrying spikes in borrowing costs. Republicans forged ahead anyway, defying warnings from Wall Street to Washington that they were pushing the country further down a dangerous fiscal path. Sam Goldfarb and Justin Lahart in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 07/04/25

Trump Claims Sweeping Power to Nullify Laws, Letters on TikTok Ban Show -- Attorney General Pam Bondi told tech companies that they could lawfully violate a statute barring American companies from supporting TikTok based on a sweeping claim that President Trump has the constitutional power to set aside laws, newly disclosed documents show. Charlie Savage in the New York Times$ -- 07/04/25

In Iowa, Trump Begins Task of Selling His Bill to the American Public -- President Trump has spent days cajoling Republicans to support his spending bill. He will also have to sell it to a skeptical public as Democrats focus on all the ways it helps the wealthy. Tyler Pager in the New York Times$ -- 07/04/25

Trump ignored GOP warnings to gamble on a politically risky bill -- In the president’s eagerness to score a win and extend tax cuts, he walked away from a key campaign promise on Medicaid. Liz Goodwin, Marianna Sotomayor, Theodoric Meyer and Emily Davies in the Washington Post$ -- 07/04/25

The GOP’s Big Fold -- Congressional Republicans are making a habit of taking bold, theatrical stands before meekly capitulating in the face of political pressure — particularly from President Donald Trump. Ben Jacobs Politico -- 07/04/25

From spaceports to venture capitalists, tailored tax breaks add billions to megabill -- Special tax breaks for venture capitalists, Alaskan fisheries, spaceports, private schools, rum makers and others — together costing tens of billions of dollars — quietly caught a ride on Republicans’ sprawling domestic policy megabill. Brian Faler Politico -- 07/04/25

ICE increasingly targets undocumented migrants with no criminal record -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are ramping up arrests. But the share of detained migrants with a criminal record has been declining. Emmanuel Martinez, Marianne LeVine and Álvaro Valiño in the Washington Post$ -- 07/04/25

‘A dark day for our country’: Democrats furious over Trump bill’s passage -- Democrats have erupted in a storm of outrage over the passage of Donald Trump’s budget bill, delivering scathing critiques that offered signs of the attack lines the party could wield against Republicans in next year’s midterm elections. George Chidi The Guardian -- 07/04/25