Rough & Tumble ®
A Snapshot of California Public Policy and Politics
     
 
 
 
 

California Policy and Politics Friday

Traffic at the Port of Los Angeles set to plunge amid tariffs -- Imports at the Port of Los Angeles are expected to plunge in the next two weeks, even as negotiations over the final tariffs that China and other countries must pay are still being negotiated by President Trump. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

L.A.’s office market takes a hit amid trade wars, fires and economic uncertainty -- Tenants hunting for office space in the Los Angeles area are in the driver’s seat as vacancies plague many landlords trying to fill their buildings with people. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Surprise atmospheric rivers, toxic seafood: How NOAA cuts could impact California -- California scientists fear these scenarios, and more, are possible under the Trump administration’s recommendation to reduce the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s budget by $1.7 billion. Anthony Edwards, Jack Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/25/25

Trump administration toughens restrictions on families trying to reunite with migrant children -- The rules have put some undocumented families in a desperate situation, leaving children who crossed the border unaccompanied languishing for months in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the advocates say. Rachel Uranga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

‘The United States is the villain of our story.’ Nationalism surges in Mexico amid Trump threats -- Americans barely remember the Mexican-American War, but in Mexico memories of the war and other military quarrels with the United States remain deeply felt. Mexico lost half its territory, including California, in the war that broke out this week in 1846. Kate Linthicum and Cecilia Sánchez Vidal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Big Tech has another California problem -- While Google and Meta fight for their futures in Washington, another Big Tech battle is raging in a much smaller arena in California — the outcome of which could have sweeping impacts on everything from online shopping to sports arenas far beyond the state. Tyler Katzenberger Politico -- 4/25/25

How Adam Schiff is bringing House vibes to the Senate -- First-year senators typically ease into the spotlight, wary of upstaging more senior colleagues. But Schiff — a former chair of the House Intelligence Committee who catapulted to national fame as the leader of President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial — has positioned himself at the center of confirmation fights. Hailey Fuchs Politico -- 4/25/25

California Supreme Court demands State Bar answer questions on AI exam controversy -- The California Supreme Court urged the State Bar of California on Thursday to explain how and why it utilized artificial intelligence to develop multiple-choice questions for its botched February bar exams. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Cuts to LADOT could hurt Olympics and safety goals, department warns -- The mayor’s budget proposed the reduction of more than $7 million in expenses and the elimination of nearly 24% of the Department of Transportation’s workforce — making it one of the heaviest-hit departments. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

 

How Gavin Newsom is balancing the fight against Trump with Los Angeles fire relief -- Gov. Gavin Newsom reset his relationship with President Donald Trump after the Los Angeles fires, but he has yet to secure the disaster aid he wants. Now new political pressures are pushing California’s governor back into confrontation with Trump. Alexei Koseff CalMatters -- 4/25/25

Gavin Newsom urges more federal investment as wildfire aid hangs in balance -- Gov. Gavin Newsom urged the federal government to pour more resources into helping fight ever-increasing numbers of wildfires while the Golden State awaits White House approval for $39 billion to cover the costs of January’s devastating infernos in Los Angeles. Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/24/25

Walters: As Harris ponders run for California governor, is she prepared for the daunting job? -- A couple of weeks ago, Kamala Harris got the full New York Times treatment — a lengthy article speculating whether she would run for governor of California next year or prepare for another shot at the White House in 2028. Dan Waters CalMatters -- 4/25/25

‘Here we are again’: S.F. judge blocks Trump order targeting sanctuary cities -- A federal judge issued an order Thursday prohibiting the Trump administration from withholding billions of dollars in funding to San Francisco and other local governments with sanctuary policies that bar their law enforcement officers from cooperating with federal immigration agents. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/25/25

Biden let California get creative with Medicaid spending. Trump is signaling that may end -- California uses Medicaid to pay for a range of nontraditional health care services, including housing. The Trump administration wants to scale back those programs. Kristen Hwang CalMatters -- 4/25/25

Fight or flight? Some California nonprofits won’t remain silent in face of Trump budget slashing -- Some nonprofits are fighting back, including an L.A. provider that’s leading a campaign to try to stop potential GOP cuts to healthcare for low-income Americans. James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

 

A fifth Democrat enters the race in California’s 40th Congressional District -- The 40th District has been labeled a "district in play" by Democrats' congressional campaign arm. Hanna Kang in the Orange County Register$ -- 4/25/25

California Democrats take aim at renter late fees, energy bills with affordability package -- So far this legislative session, California Democrats in the state Senate have teased a package of bills that will supposedly cut down the expensive cost of living in the Golden State — the tip of the spear in their post-election focus on affordability. Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/25/25

California produce supplier is sued, accused of causing E. coli outbreak unreported by FDA -- Salinas-based produce supplier Taylor Fresh Foods is facing lawsuits from nine victims of a November E. coli outbreak that was not disclosed to the public. Malia Mendez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Workplace

Google pressures remote workers to return to office or risk termination -- Google has informed some employees who live within 50 miles of a company office that they must begin reporting in person at least three days per week or face losing their jobs. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/25

A lifeline for Hollywood jobs or a corporate giveaway? The film tax credit debate returns -- The state’s entertainment industry has spent months begging for help from Sacramento to stem the decline of film and TV production and save thousands of jobs. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

L.A. County first responders fought the worst fire of their careers. Now they want raises -- Unions representing sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and lifeguards made a public pitch Thursday for more support in increasingly testy contract negotiations, releasing a half-hour documentary that highlighted their members’ harrowing tales from the first days of the fires. Rebecca Ellis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

California railroads: Unions push to shorten trains, but companies warn of higher costs -- Unions are pushing for shorter freight trains to make railways safer, but that could raise the cost of goods and delay passenger rail service. It also may not be legal. Ryan Sabalow CalMatters -- 4/25/25

Southwest Airlines to cut jobs at Bay Area and other U.S. airports -- The layoffs, which will begin in June and are expected to wrap up by the end of the month, will impact operations at San Jose Mineta International, Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood Burbank Airport and Baltimore/Washington International. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/25/25

San Diego-based fast food chain Jack in the Box to close more than 150 locations -- The company also said it is also considering divestiture from Del Taco, a Mexican American fast food brand that Jack in the Box acquired in 2022. Caroline Petrow-Cohen in the Los Angeles Times$ Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/25/25

Transit

Metro station for LAX will open in June, officials announce -- A direct connection between Los Angeles International Airport and Metro will be one step closer to reality when a long-awaited transit station opens in June. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Education

Fraud in California community colleges triggers call for Trump investigation -- Following CalMatters reporting, California’s Republican representatives are calling for the U.S. Department of Education and Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate how California’s community colleges are handling financial aid fraud. Adam Echelman CalMatters -- 4/25/25

After Trump’s crackdown on DEI in schools, judge rules he can’t cut off funding -- California receives $2.4 billion in federal Title I money for low-income schools, about $1.3 billion for special education and $250 million for after-school programs, among other grants. Carolyn Jones CalMatters -- 4/25/25

The Zuckerbergs Founded Two Bay Area Schools. Now They’re Closing -- Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, opened the schools to help communities of color. Some families wonder if the shutting of the schools is related to his D.E.I. retrenchment. Heather Knight, Theodore Schleifer and Orlando Mayorquín in the New York Times$ -- 4/25/25

Measles

The U.S. is approaching a dangerous measles precipice, scientists say -- Measles, which was ‘eliminated’ in the U.S. in 2000, could be endemic again within 25 years if current vaccination rates hold, study finds. Corinne Purtill in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Also

Mystery surrounds man accused of chainsawing trees across downtown L.A. -- The chainsaw attack on trees in downtown Los Angeles came with multiple mysteries. One: Who did it? Two: What was the motive for such a bizarre crime? Grace Toohey and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

‘He made Catholicism cool again.’ SoCal’s Catholic leaders reflect on Pope Francis’ impact -- We asked prominent SoCal Catholic leaders to describe his legacy. A single consensus emerged: Pope Francis always prioritized the most vulnerable and he inspired others to do the same. Deborah Netburn in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

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Trump’s immigration ratings turn negative, Post-ABC-Ipsos poll finds -- As the president nears 100 days in office, the survey suggests his administration’s aggressive enforcement tactics are losing public support. David Nakamura, Emily Guskin, Scott Clement and Arelis R. Hernández in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

Giant tent rises in Florida to house hundreds of detained immigrants -- The makeshift housing is the latest effort to ease crowding as the Trump administration ramps up arrests. Douglas MacMillan in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

Trump Administration Must Seek to Return Another Wrongly Deported Man, Judge Rules -- A second ruling finds that the government wrongly sent a man to an El Salvador prison under wartime law despite legal protections. Mariah Timms in the Wall Street Journal Silvia Foster-Frau and Teo Armus in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

ICE arrested Columbia protester without a warrant, court documents show -- Federal agents did not have a warrant when they arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student who had been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, according to court documents. Susan Svrluga in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

 

What Trump’s order on ‘disparate impact’ means for civil rights -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday moved to dislodge a cornerstone of modern civil rights law through a sweeping executive order that strips the federal government of the key tool it used to enforce antidiscrimination laws — a concept known as disparate-impact liability. Kim Bellware in the Washington Post$ -- 4/24/25

Judge blocks part of Trump’s sweeping executive order on elections -- U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled Thursday that Trump’s sweeping executive order requiring federal agencies to impose the new voter registration standards was an attempt to usurp the powers of Congress and the states. Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney Politico -- 4/25/25

Trump and GOP ramp up investigations on Democrats’ top fundraising platform -- President Donald Trump has directed his attorney general to investigate fundraising platforms such as ActBlue, the central fundraising apparatus of the Democratic Party — escalating his effort to use his powers to target his political opponents and, in this case, the core machinery of the opposition party. Maeve Reston and Jeremy Roebuck in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

 

Hegseth’s Personal Phone Use Created Vulnerabilities -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s personal phone number, the one used in a recent Signal chat, was easily accessible on the internet and public apps as recently as March, potentially exposing national security secrets to foreign adversaries. Helene Cooper, Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt and Christiaan Triebert in the New York Times$ -- 4/25/25

Hegseth had an unsecured internet line set up in his office to connect to Signal, AP sources say -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had an internet connection that bypassed the Pentagon’s security protocols set up in his office to use the Signal messaging app on a personal computer, two people familiar with the line told The Associated Press. Tara Copp Associated Press -- 4/25/25

Pentagon leadership vacuum overwhelms Hegseth’s office: ‘It’s a free-for-all’ -- The circle of top advisers in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s orbit has shrunk in recent days to little more than his wife, lawyer, and two lower-level officials — leaving the Pentagon’s lead office without longtime expertise or clear direction. Paul McLeary and Jack Detsch Politico Dan Lamothe in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

Polygraph Threats, Leaks and Infighting: The Chaos Inside Hegseth’s Pentagon -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was rattled. Word had leaked that he was planning a classified briefing for Elon Musk on China, a revelation that infuriated President Trump and raised alarms inside the Pentagon given Musk’s business ties to Beijing. Nancy A. Youssef, Alexander Ward and Vera Bergengruen in the Wall Street Journal -- 4/25/25

 

How Trump team turned a dinner invite into a crypto boon worth millions -- The idea of offering direct presidential access to those who pay into a project benefiting the Trump company has sparked criticism, with one senator calling it “the most brazenly corrupt thing a President has ever done.” Drew Harwell and Jeremy B. Merrill in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

 

As Recession Fears Rise, ‘No Buy’ Takes On New Urgency -- The uncertainty surrounding President Trump’s tariffs has invigorated an underconsumption movement that took off early this year on TikTok and other platforms. Jordyn Holman in the New York Times$ -- 4/25/25

Are things falling apart for Trump? -- About 100 days in, the signs are almost uniformly negative for the second-term Trump project. Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

 

California Policy and Politics Thursday

California is now 4th largest economy in world, surpassing Japan -- The International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook data for 2024 found that California had a nominal gross domestic product of $4.1 trillion, behind only the United States, China and Germany when compared with nations worldwide. Molly Burke in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/25

Echoing Big Tech, Newsom warns privacy watchdog on AI -- Newsom, in a rare letter to the California Privacy Protection Agency’s five-member board on Wednesday, obtained by Politico, urged regulators not to crush the state’s flourishing artificial intelligence sector under onerous regulations — echoing complaints from tech and business groups. Tyler Katzenberger Politico -- 4/24/25

San Francisco businesses hit by tariffs join Pelosi in calling for Trump to halt trade war -- In a warehouse at San Francisco’s wholesale produce market Wednesday morning, a local coffee shop owner, a K-pop merchandiser, fresh produce sellers and representatives from the San Francisco Flower Market implored President Donald Trump to reverse his tariff policies, citing the harm they have had on the city’s businesses. Ko Lyn Cheang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/25

Fight or flight? Some California nonprofits won’t remain silent in face of Trump budget slashing -- A coalition led by the L.A. nonprofit St. John’s Community Health is launching a media campaign opposing Medicaid cuts that will focus on half a dozen U.S. House districts. The group plans to spend $2 million in the coming weeks. James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/25

Bay Area cuisine thrives on global flavors. Trump’s trade war puts that at risk -- Trump’s sweeping tariffs are creating uncertainty for restauranteurs who import their ingredients from abroad. Kate Talerico, Jovi Dai, Caelyn Pender in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/24/25

‘Who’s our leader?’ In El Cajon, Sara Jacobs faces hundreds of residents eager to oppose Trump -- The Democratic congresswoman shared some of what she has heard from Republican colleagues behind the scenes at an in-person townhall Tuesday. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/24/25

In Sacramento, Mayor Bass seeks state money to close nearly $1-billion budget gap -- Her request for financial relief from the state could be a tough ask in a challenging budget year for California. The state is facing higher than expected costs to provide healthcare coverage to low-income residents as well as the potential loss of billions of dollars as a result of federal funding cuts and state revenue declines from President Trump’s tariff policies. Sandra McDonald, Taryn Luna and Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/25

Sen. Padilla says Trump is doing ‘opposite of what our seniors need’ in S.F. stop with Mayor Lurie -- U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla slammed the Trump administration’s slashing of federal programs during a Wednesday visit to a San Francisco senior center while Mayor Daniel Lurie struck a more cautious tone when talking about the city’s efforts to provide crucial services despite immense financial challenges. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/25

At packed town hall, Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff warns of a ‘constitutional crisis’ -- As the audience roared approval and drummed their feet on the gymnasium’s bleachers, Schiff told voters to “continue to take to the streets to make our views known, to make our voices heard, to tell those in power that we are watching what they’re doing.” Co-hosted with Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), Schiff’s town hall was his first since being sworn into the Senate. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/25

Blue Shield of California shared 4.7M members’ private health data with Google -- If you were a Blue Shield of California member in the past few years, you may have been targeted by online ads based on your private health information. Jessica Roy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/25

California may lower bar exam score after botched rollout and AI controversy -- In an unprecedented move, the bar this week proposed reducing the raw passing score from 560 to 534, citing severe disruptions experienced by many of the 4,300 test takers during the debut of a new hybrid format that allowed in-person and remote participation. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/25

Saks

Another luxury retailer exits S.F.’s Union Square -- Saks Fifth Avenue is closing its store in San Francisco’s Union Square, less than a year after switching to appointment-only. The store at 384 Post St. is closing on May 10, the company confirmed. Saks also closed its Saks Off Fifth branch at 901 Market St. in 2023. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/25

Rooftop Solar

Fight intensifies over bill by former Edison executive to gut rooftop solar credits -- A bill to sharply reduce the energy credits given to homeowners with rooftop solar panels is pitting union electrical workers and the state’s big utilities against people who benefit from the solar credits — and one of the first skirmishes took place in the City of Industry on Wednesday. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/25

Workplace

As farmworker deportations loom, Donald Trump hints at relief for agriculture -- After months of anxiety over the possibility that mass deportations could cripple the San Joaquin Valley’s multi-billion dollar agriculture industry, President Trump has signaled that he may be open to relaxing the rules for some undocumented workers. Robert Rodriguez in the Fresno Bee$ -- 4/24/25

Illumina announces another round of layoffs in San Diego -- The gene sequencing giant will lose 172 employees, on top of recently announced layoffs totaling 96 workers. Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/24/25

Intel to slash 20% of workforce in bold bid to reclaim tech dominance -- Intel is preparing to lay off more than 20% of its global workforce this week in a sweeping restructuring plan aimed at streamlining its management and reviving an engineering-focused culture, according to a Bloomberg report. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/25

Guns

Why Trump’s DOJ targeted L.A. County over gun permits — and who might be next -- The Department of Justice is investigating L.A. County over alleged waits of up to 18 months for gun permits, a case that legal experts say could have far-reaching implications. Kevin Rector, Keri Blakinger and Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/25

Education

UC faculty rejects imposing its own unfunded ethnic studies course on high schools -- The University of California will not proceed with making a semester-long course in ethnic studies a new admissions requirement. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 4/24/25

Why Texas is ahead of California on bilingual education -- Texas enrolls its English learners in bilingual education at more than double the rate of California. Zaidee Stavely EdSource -- 4/24/25

Shock after closure of Zuckerberg-funded school in Silicon Valley: ‘We had it all here’ -- Parents at the Primary School, the tuition-free private institution funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative serving low-income families in Silicon Valley and the East Bay, said they were shocked to learn that it is shutting down next year — and are worried about where to send their kids to school. Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/25

Walters: New California school data project fulfills campaign promise Newsom made -- Gavin Newsom can — and should — be faulted for making campaign promises six years ago that he must have known were impossible to achieve, such as his vows to create single-payer health care and build 3.5 million new housing units. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 4/24/25

Environment

Los Angeles brims with wildlife. But fires make it harder to survive -- Besides burning thousands of homes and displacing residents, the January fires, like earlier ones, upended the natural environment. Reis Thebault in the Washington Post$ -- 4/24/25

Street

Ninth Circuit reinstates S.F. sheriff program that allows warrantless searches -- San Francisco Sheriff’s officers can conduct warrantless searches of criminal defendants who have been released while awaiting trial, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday, reversing a judge’s decision that the search orders exceed the sheriff’s authority and violate the right to privacy. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/25

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On Major Economic Decisions, Trump Blinks, and Then Blinks Again -- President Trump has said his punishing tariffs would force companies to build factories in the United States. But it is far from clear that they will have the effects he predicted. David E. Sanger in the New York Times$ -- 4/24/25

White House Considers Slashing China Tariffs to De-Escalate Trade War -- The Trump administration is considering slashing its steep tariffs on Chinese imports—in some cases by more than half—in a bid to de-escalate tensions with Beijing that have roiled global trade and investment, according to people familiar with the matter. Gavin Bade, Lingling Wei, Josh Dawsey and Alex Leary in the Wall Street Journal David J. Lynch in the Washington Post$ -- 4/24/25

 

As Trump softens his tone on the trade war, China refuses to budge -- Beijing continues to be willing to endure economic hardship to put pressure on the U.S., even as the Trump administration hints at a more conciliatory approach. Christian Shepherd and Vic Chiang in the Washington Post$ -- 4/24/25

Xi Is Ratcheting Up China’s Pain Threshold for a Long Fight With Trump -- China has been strengthening authoritarian tools to prepare for a confrontation with the U.S. Xi Jinping has consolidated power to levels unseen since Mao, focusing on stability amid trade tensions. China is using AI and surveillance to pre-empt dissent, showing resilience despite economic pressures. Josh Chin in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/24/25

For China’s Trolls, ‘Chairman Trump’ and ‘Eyeliner Man’ Are Easy Targets -- United by their disdain for the Trump administration, Chinese internet users of different political views have created an impressive collection of work. The images, videos and music, mostly generated by artificial intelligence, mock the American leaders for what the Chinese believe are ridiculous and outrageous policies and remarks. Li Yuan in the New York Times$ -- 4/24/25

 

Trump Meets His Match: The Markets -- Since returning to Washington three months ago, Trump has toppled federal agencies, consolidated executive power, challenged global alliances and reconfigured America’s economic relationships around the globe. His moves have been met with protests, court challenges, dipping poll numbers and political opposition. Yet so far, the only force that has reliably prompted him to back down is Wall Street. Meridith McGraw and Brian Schwartz in the Wall Street Journal Eli Stokols, Sam Sutton, Dasha Burns, Megan Messerly and Holly Otterbein Politico -- 4/24/25

Trump’s Approval Rating Has Been Falling Steadily, Polling Average Shows -- President Trump’s approval rating has sunk to about 45 percent, down from 52 percent one week after he took office. Tyler Pager and Ruth Igielnik in the New York Times$ -- 4/24/25

Trump to target ActBlue in presidential memorandum -- In a shot at ActBlue, the left’s major online donation platform, President Donald Trump plans to sign a presidential memorandum on Thursday cracking down on foreign contributions in American elections, according to a person familiar with the policy and granted anonymity to discuss not-yet-public details. Megan Messerly and Calder McHugh Politico -- 4/24/25

Trump officials consider shrinking 6 national monuments in the West -- The list, they added, includes Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon, Ironwood Forest, Chuckwalla, Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante — national monuments spread across Arizona, California, New Mexico and Utah. Jake Spring and Dino Grandoni in the Washington Post$ -- 4/24/25