California Policy and Politics Thursday

Newsom blasts ‘spineless’ ABC for pulling Jimmy Kimmel over Charlie Kirk remarks -- On his personal account, the governor added that Republicans were “buying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling shows. These aren’t coincidences. It’s coordinated. And it’s dangerous. The GOP does not believe in free speech. They are censoring you in real time.” Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 09/18/25

GOP threatens clamp down on social media after Charlie Kirk suspect allegedly confessed on Discord -- Murder suspect Tyler Robinson confessed on Discord after shooting Charlie Kirk, joking about his resemblance to FBI photos, authorities say. The case has reignited congressional debates over social media regulation and Section 230 platform protections. Jenny Jarvie, Salvador Hernandez and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

 

DNC jumps in to help Gavin Newsom’s redistricting campaign -- The national party organization is launching a new organizing effort and ad campaign to target Latino voters. Aaron Pellish Politico -- 09/18/25

California Republicans hated independent redistricting commissions — until Prop 50 -- Both parties’ positions on Prop 50 illustrate how party politics always shape redistricting fights, even when the fights are over efforts to hand map-drawing power to independent groups. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 09/18/25

This rural congressional district would be upended by redistricting -- Modoc County, meet Marin County. It might be your new political boss. Andrew Donohue Calmatters -- 09/18/25

 

California isn’t backing down on offshore wind power despite Trump cancellation -- The Trump administration canceled nearly half a billion dollars in funding for California’s largest offshore wind project, but the state is persevering toward its ambitious goals. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

California Wants to Halt Oil Industry Exodus After Years of Climate Focus -- Policymakers are trying to stave off a potential fuel-supply crunch while refineries look to close. Collin Eaton and Ryan Dezember in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 09/18/25

Trump says Pacific Palisades is allowing affordable housing. Is that true? -- Gov. Gavin Newsom has responded to a social media post from President Trump saying the state was nearing approval of low-income housing in Pacific Palisades following January’s firestorm, writing the claim is a “lie.” Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

Workplace

Nvidia to Buy $5 Billion Stake in Intel, Giving Rival a Lifeline -- The deal between the chipmakers, whose fortunes have diverged sharply, includes plans to collaborate on technology to power artificial intelligence. Adam Satariano and Tripp Mickle in the New York Times$ -- 09/18/25

Edison

Edison details how much it plans to pay Eaton fire victims -- Southern California Edison hasn’t accepted responsibility for igniting the deadly Eaton fire, but it is now offering each victim who lost their home hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to a draft of its planned compensation program. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

COVID

California, West Coast states break with CDC on COVID vaccine guidance -- California and three other states in the newly formed West Coast Health Alliance on Wednesday announced vaccine recommendations for the winter virus season, which include recommending the updated COVID shot to a much wider swath of the American public than what the federal government is recommending — that everyone 6 months and older who wants the COVID vaccine can get one. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Ana B. Ibarra and Kristen Hwang Calmatters Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

 

Protester found not guilty of assault despite top Border Patrol official’s testimony -- A protester was acquitted Wednesday of charges that he assaulted a federal agent during widespread protests against immigration crackdowns in Los Angeles, just hours after one of the faces of President Trump’s enforcement policies took the stand to testify against him. Brittny Mejia and James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

Trump administration moves to make U.S. citizenship harder with revised civics test -- The Trump administration moved again Wednesday to make it harder to gain U.S. citizenship, announcing a slate of changes to the civics test that immigrants must pass to be naturalized. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

 

Engardio has been recalled. Will the S.F.’s Great Highway closure go on the ballot? -- As recallers celebrated the ousting of incumbent San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio Tuesday over his role in closing the city’s Upper Great Highway to cars, they also renewed a call for undoing his signature project: Sunset Dunes park. Ko Lyn Cheang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 09/18/25

Moderate Dems took over San Francisco. Now they’re at each other’s throats -- Centrist Democrats have dominated city politics in recent years, but a split within their coalition over urban planning issues is handing progressives an opening. Dustin Gardiner Politico -- 09/18/25

It’s time for California to update its ‘donor state’ status, new data shows -- In its latest analysis of the cashflow between states and the federal government, the Rockefeller Institute of Government found California got $13.4 billion more in federal funds than what residents and businesses paid in tax receipts in 2023, the most recent year data was available. Nicole Nixon and David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 09/18/25

 

Lawyers who hit L.A. City with whopping bill on homeless case to get $4 million more -- The decision comes three months after Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher billed the city $1.8 million for two weeks of work, with 15 attorneys billing nearly $1,300 per hour. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

Port of Los Angeles records strong August imports amid tariff uncertainty -- August imports at the Port of Los Angeles dipped slightly after a record-breaking July, but remained strong despite uncertainty about the Trump administration’s tariff policies, its executive director said Wednesday. Alex Nieves Politico -- 09/18/25

Gas prices to drop in California as seasonal shift begins -- As California shifts into fall, gas demand is dropping, and pump prices are expected to ease soon, according to a recent AAA news release. Angela Rodriguez in the Fresno Bee -- 09/18/25

Education

Pepper-balls, rifle rounds, drones: UC police get green light for more weapons -- University of California police will be replenishing and increasing their stockpile of weapons and equipment — including drones, bullets and thousands of pepper ball rounds — as part of an annual request approved Wednesday by the governing board of regents. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

After Charlie Kirk comments, educators in Fresno area face backlash, repercussions -- In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s shooting death, some local educators are facing backlash and job loss for comments they’ve made on social media or in their classrooms after students recorded them and posted the videos. Nick Fenley in the Fresno Bee -- 09/18/25

Ethnic studies was supposed to start in California schools. What happened? -- The ethnic studies class was meant to focus on the cultures and histories of African-Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans and Latinos. The state’s curriculum also encourages schools to add additional lessons based on their student populations, such as Hmong or Armenian. Carolyn Jones Calmatters -- 09/18/25

Bill targeting antisemitism in classrooms presents a test for Newsom -- Lawmakers unanimously passed a bill last week aimed at eliminating antisemitism in California classrooms, but Gov. Gavin Newsom is likely to anger some of his strongest supporters no matter which way he lands on the measure. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 09/18/25

LAUSD Supt. Alberto Carvalho is hired for another four years -- In a brief announcement, Carvalho, 60, said he would not be seeking a raise for his role in leading the nation’s second-largest school system. His salary is $440,000 per year. The perks of the contract include an annual $50,000 retirement annuity over and above his salary. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

Street

California Supreme Court rules Vallejo can disclose badge-bending police officers’ names -- Over objections from Vallejo police, the state Supreme Court cleared the way Wednesday for public disclosure of the names of officers in the North Bay community who bent their badges after killing or wounding someone. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 09/18/25

Orange County judge convicted of drunkenly killing wife gets 35 years to life in prison -- Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, was convicted in April of fatally shooting his 65-year-old wife, Sheryl, during a fight over money at their Anaheim Hills home on Aug. 3, 2023, prosecutors said in a written statement. Ruben Vives and Christopher Goffard in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

Also

Newton: ‘These are not normal times’: Why Alex Padilla changed his tune on nonpartisan redistricting -- As a United States senator, Alex Padilla does not have much personally at stake in the congressional redistricting skirmish now sweeping through Texas, California and potentially other parts of the union. He represents a whole state, the nation’s most populous, so district boundaries do not affect his electorate. Jim Newton Calmatters -- 09/18/25

Walters: How Gavin Newsom channeled Jerry Brown 1.0 with his flip-flop on oil and gas -- Over the last half-century, California has had seven governors — counting Jerry Brown twice — who varied widely in temperament, ideology and efficacy. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 09/18/25

POTUS 47

News Analysis: Trump, showered by British royalty, airs political grievances overseas -- Trump repeated dramatically exaggerated figures on the number of undocumented migrants who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration, as well as false claims about the 2020 presidential election. Michael Wilner in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/18/25

Inside the Room Where CEOs Say What They Really Think of Trump’s Policies -- Corporate leaders regularly praise the Trump administration and its policies in public. Behind closed doors, their mood is darker. Chip Cutter in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 09/18/25

Trump, allies seek to punish speech they dislike following Kirk killing -- Administration officials promise actions against critics in break with past GOP rhetoric defending free speech, probably drawing legal challenges. Michael Birnbaum, Sarah Ellison and Perry Stein in the Washington Post$ -- 09/18/25

Censorship fears deepen after ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel over Kirk comments -- “So let’s see, [President Donald Trump] didn’t end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza within his first week, but he did end freedom of speech within his first year,” comedian Wanda Sykes said on Instagram. “Hey, for those of you who pray, now’s the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy.” “This isn’t right,” actor and director Ben Stiller wrote on X. Scott Nover, Annabelle Timsit, Jada Yuan and Anne Branigin in the Washington Post$ -- 09/18/25

ABC takes Jimmy Kimmel off the air over remarks on Charlie Kirk’s killing -- Disney-owned ABC will take its late-night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air following conservative backlash to comments Kimmel made on air in the wake of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk’s death. Jeremy Barr and Scott Nover in the Washington Post$ Joe Flint in the Wall Street Journal$ Jeremy Barr and Scott Nover in the Washington Post$ -- 09/18/25

Pentagon Lawyers Raise Concerns Over Trump’s Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats -- The concerns are around the justification for the strikes themselves, as well as the legal implications for the U.S. military personnel involved in the operations, the people said. Lara Seligman in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 09/18/25

Behind Castle Walls, the Rich and Powerful Celebrate Trump -- The seating chart at the state dinner for President Trump was a cross-section of the rich and the powerful hoping to get on his good side. Shawn McCreesh and Maggie Haberman in the New York Times$ -- 09/18/25

Why Voters Will Feel the Impact of GOP Health Cuts Before the Midterms -- The conventional wisdom in Washington is that by pushing off big changes to Medicaid until after the 2026 midterms, Republicans shielded themselves from voter backlash. Don’t be so sure. Joanne Kenen Politico -- 09/18/25