California Policy and Politics Monday

California’s top wildlife manager leaves post for the Nature Conservancy -- Chuck Bonham, the director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and a longtime driver of hotly debated state policies on wolves, salmon and water, is leaving the state job for a top post at the Nature Conservancy. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/08/25

3.7 magnitude earthquake shakes East Bay, following 3.0 in same area -- A 3.7 magnitude earthquake struck the East Bay Monday morning shortly after 9 a.m., according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey. It was centered near San Ramon. An earlier quake in the same area measured 3.0 in magnitude. It struck at around 5:20 a.m. Dominic Fracassa, Kate Galbraith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/08/25

Magnitude 7.6 quake triggers a tsunami on Japan’s northern coast -- A powerful 7. 6-magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan on Monday, triggering a tsunami of up to 40 centimeters in coastal communities in the region, the Japanese Meteorological Agency said. Associated Press Christine Hauser in the New York Times$ -- 12/08/25

 

Paramount goes hostile in bid for Warner Bros., challenging a $72 billion bid by Netflix -- Paramount has made a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, challenging Netflix, which reached a $72 billion takeover deal with the company just days ago. Michelle Chapman in the Los Angeles Times$ Lauren Thomas in the Wall Street Journal$ Benjamin Mullin and Lauren Hirsch in the New York Times$ Scott Nover in the Washington Post$ -- 12/08/25

Trump Says Netflix-Warner Deal ‘Could be a Problem’ -- President Trump said Netflix’ $72 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. “could be a problem” because it would result in a large market share for the streaming giant, signaling possible government resistance in his first public comments about the sale. Alex Leary and Joe Flint in the Wall Street Journal$ Scott Nover in the Washington Post$ -- 12/07/25

 

Under Trump, Bay Area immigration courts deny asylum claims at soaring rates -- Under the Trump administration, the Bay Area’s two immigration courts are rejecting asylum claims at double the rate as under the previous administration, as federal officials fire immigration judges, push to clear case backlogs and vow deeper vetting of asylum seekers. Ethan Varian in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/07/25

Central Valley school trustee says Trump’s ICE crackdown reminiscent of 1970s raids -- As a young boy in the 1970s, Eliseo Gamiño would watch fieldworkers frantically sprint along the aqueduct near the San Luis Reservoir in desperate attempts to evade immigration authorities. Marina Peña in the Fresno Bee -- 12/08/25

App That Tracks ICE Raids Sues U.S., Saying Officials Pressured Apple to Remove It -- The developer of ICEBlock, which notifies users of ICE agent sightings, said Attorney General Pam Bondi censored his free speech. Tripp Mickle in the New York Times$ -- 12/08/25

 

‘Sort of blackmail’: Billions in rural health funding hinge on states passing Trump-backed policies -- The Trump administration offered states a deal: pledge to enact White House-favored policies for a chance to win a bigger share of the $50 billion aimed at transforming the nation’s struggling rural health care systems. Alice Miranda Ollstein, Ruth Reader and Liz Crampton Politico -- 12/07/25

Rural America relies on foreign doctors. Trump’s visa fee shuts them out -- The Trump administration’s demand for companies to pay a $100,000 fee to hire an immigrant worker using an H1B visa has created turmoil among rural health providers. David Ovalle in the Washington Post$ -- 12/08/25

 

In first year in Senate, Schiff pushes legislation, party message and challenges to Trump -- Analysts said Schiff was an effective messenger for Democrats even if he was unable to pass his bills. A White House spokesperson said Schiff was too focused on Trump, to the detriment of California voters. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/08/25

The California GOP confronts a bleak map — and its own civil war -- A partisan gerrymander left even less for California Republicans to fight for. But they’re fighting — including each other. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 12/08/25

Online child safety advocates urge California lawmakers to increase protections -- While child safety advocates agree progress was made at the state capital this year to protect children online, they argue there’s still a long way to go and plan to fight for more protections when legislators reconvene in January. Katie King in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/07/25

Cal Fire says Orange County owes nearly $32 million for Airport fire costs -- The Airport fire, which erupted Sept. 9, 2024 in Trabuco Canyon, and burned for 26 days, destroyed more than 160 structures and 23,000 acres across Orange and Riverside counties. Twenty-two people — two civilians and 20 firefighters — were injured and thousands were forced to evacuate. Claire Wang in the Orange County Register$ -- 12/08/25

Skelton: Courage lacking to fix state’s deep-rooted budget shortfall -- It’s almost like slapstick comedy — the budget act that California’s Legislature and governor perform every year. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/08/25

Muni

Here’s what the Muni parcel tax would cost S.F.’s homeowners -- After months of deliberation and round tables, policymakers in Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office agreed on a “progressive” tax composition that would link the rate to the square footage and nature of a property. The philosophy, at heart, is to spare middle-class households and small businesses, while asking more of major employers and owners of sprawling real estate. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/08/25

Housing

Home sales rarely fall through in the Bay Area — but that’s starting to change -- Despite a recent slowdown in the Bay Area housing market, deals fall apart at one of the lowest rates in the nation. But sales are falling much more often than just a few years ago. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/08/25

Data Centers

Data centers for AI could nearly triple San Jose’s energy use. Who foots the bill? -- Artificial intelligence and its growing demand for data centers are putting new pressure on California’s electric grid. In San Jose, supporters see jobs and investment, while a key ratepayer advocate worries customers could end up paying for upgrades. Alejandro Lazo Calmatters -- 12/08/25

Environment

Nearly 900 acres of land on Yosemite border returned to tribe forced out 175 years ago -- In the 1850s, miners, settlers and soldiers violently drove them out of the Yosemite area during the Gold Rush. Now, 175 years later, the Southern Sierra Miwuks’ descendants have begun to reclaim some of the land back. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/08/25

In ‘Out of Plain Sight,’ an environmental disaster lurks off Southern California -- Layers of blue hug the coast of California, a postcard shoreline recognizable at a glance. But Rosanna Xia has seen beneath the picturesque surface. June Hsu in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/08/25

California’s cold, gloomy weather masks a developing problem: Almost no rain in 3 weeks -- San Francisco hasn’t had measurable rain since Nov. 20, 18 days ago. That’s notable during California’s “rainy” season, and it’s been easy to miss because November was such a wet month Greg Porter in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/08/25

Swastika

‘Really scary’: Students form human swastika on San José high school football field -- A viral image of San José students forming a human swastika while lying on their high school’s football field has roiled the Silicon Valley community and prompted an outcry from the Jewish community. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/08/25

Education

Cal State University unions seek notice of federal subpoenas in antisemitism investigation -- California State University is caught between a federal government eager to investigate alleged antisemitism and employees concerned about privacy. Amy DiPierro EdSource -- 12/08/25

How one California school came together to pack 20,000 meals for the holidays -- At an Elk Grove high school in Sacramento County, students worked a night in the cafeteria to combat global food insecurity. Vani Sanganeria EdSource -- 12/08/25

Street

A wealthy California farmer, a contentious divorce and a fatal shooting -- Kerri Ann Abatti was found shot in her Arizona home amid a divorce with her husband, a prominent farmer in California’s Imperial Valley. Investigators are examining the divorce proceedings as one of several leads. Alex Wigglesworth and Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/08/25

Also

Nearly a Year After Pacific Palisades Burned, There’s a New House -- The home comes with a catch: no one can buy it. But it suggests what’s possible as California tries to make rebuilding easier. Paul Kiernan in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/07/

CalMatters honored with the Stewart B. McKinney Award by the National Homelessness Law Center -- CalMatters’ homelessness coverage this year has spanned multiple investigations, stories and resources that led to real-world impact. Sonya Quick Calmatters -- 12/08/25

Tech bros head to etiquette camp as Silicon Valley levels up its style -- As Silicon Valley grows in power and prominence, some insiders say it’s time for the tech industry to remake its slobby image. An etiquette camp for founders showed how. Lisa Bonos in the Washington Post$ -- 12/08/25

First-time marathon runner breaks a CIM record in Sacramento --Molly Born, a 26-year-old Oklahoma State alumna, crossed the finish line with a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes and 9 seconds in her marathon debut, giving her the 2025 USATF Marathon Championship title and setting a new course record for the women, according to marathon organizers. Don Sweeney and Hannah Ruhoff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/07/25

San Diego bids farewell to USS Nimitz as ‘coolest’ carrier in the Navy ends 50 years of service -- Like a lot of Navy lore, the details are in dispute. But Jere Cordell, of San Diego, swears the beastly carrier USS Nimitz won an impromptu drag race against slender cruisers a half-century ago off Norfolk, Va. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 12/07/25

Lifeguards save dog swept nearly a mile out to sea by rip current -- It was a sunny Sunday on San Diego’s Ocean Beach when lifeguards noticed surfers in a panic. They were waving their boards from a jetty, desperately trying to get the lifeguards’ attention. Maggie Penman in the Washington Post$ -- 12/07/25

POTUS 47

Trump to Unveil $12 Billion Bailout for Farmers -- The Trump administration is planning to announce $12 billion in aid to U.S. farmers, according to administration officials, as the agriculture sector grapples with the fallout from President Trump’s far-reaching tariffs. Brian Schwartz, Natalie Andrews and Patrick Thomas in the Wall Street Journal$ Mariana Alfaro in the Washington Post$ -- 12/08/25

Must the Military Disobey Unlawful Orders? Pam Bondi Has Said Yes -- As a lawyer for a conservative think tank, Ms. Bondi, now the attorney general, filed a Supreme Court brief last year saying service members who followed such orders were committing crimes. Adam Liptak in the New York Times$ -- 12/08/25

Obamacare Users Face Higher Deductibles and Higher Premiums -- People who have insurance under the Affordable Care Act are being asked to pay more for plans that will cover less of their care. Reed Abelson in the New York Times$ -- 12/08/25

Trump has pardoned, commuted nearly 100 people for drug crimes -- Despite anti-drug rhetoric, a Post analysis shows he granted clemency to many convicted of drug crimes in his two terms, including a Chicago gang leader, a Baltimore kingpin and a former Honduran president accused of leading a vast “narco-state.” Meryl Kornfield and Emily Davies in the Washington Post$ -- 12/08/25