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California Policy and Politics Monday
Fullerton police stop man pointing gun at female driver, only to learn he is ICE agent -- The brief, but tense encounter Sunday, caught partially on video, raises concerns as it joins a growing list of cases of masked and plainclothes agents being mistaken for criminals and vice versa. Brittny Mejia and Rachel Uranga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/25
Supreme Court dismisses long-shot challenge to right to marry for same-sex couples -- The justices turned away an appeal petition from Kim Davis, a former Kentucky county clerk who defied the court’s landmark decision in 2015 and repeatedly refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ Lydia Wheeler in the Wall Street Journal$ Justin Jouvenal and Mark Berman in the Washington Post$ -- 11/10/25
Newsom: Senate Democrats risk squandering Election Day momentum in shutdown deal -- The Democratic Party “rolled over” in Sunday’s deliberations to reopen the federal government, less than a week after claiming landslide victories on Election Day, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/10/25
California’s Padilla, Schiff oppose Senate plan to end the government shutdown -- California’s senators said Sunday they will oppose a new Senate plan to reopen the government — a plan that does not extend Obamacare-inspired health care premium subsidies right away. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/10/25
Southern California’s Main Street economy rattled by inflation, ICE raids and tariffs -- Evidence of economic pain is rippling across Southern California, hitting businesses big and small. Pat Maio in the Orange County Register$ -- 11/10/25
Here’s how many flights have been canceled out of Southern California airports since Friday -- As of Sunday at 2:30 p.m., 89 departing flights had been canceled out of LAX since Friday. Ninety-three arriving flights had been canceled as well. Another 50 departures and 49 arrivals were canceled out of San Diego International Airport. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/25
California is ready for its climate closeup — with some concealer -- Newsom kicked off his trip on Monday in São Paulo, where he told an investors summit hosted by the Milken Institute that the Trump administration was doing “everything to vandalize California’s leadership in this space, and they’ve been reasonably successful in nine and a half months to put a lot of sand in the gears. That said, we continue to persist, and we continue to thrive.” Camille von Kaenel Politico -- 11/10/25
The latest twist in American tech politics? Gavin Newson is a friend -- A sudden thaw between Big Tech and California politicians is poised to change how the industry deploys its lobbying muscle in state capitals and Washington, particularly as it tries to fend off hostile politicians in red states. Brendan Bordelon and Tyler Katzenberger Politico -- 11/10/25
Garofoli: Other states should heed lessons of Prop 50 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom often says Proposition 50 is so named because he hopes it will protect elections in the entire country. But states other than California will find it hard to enact their own redistricting plans to counter the GOP’s redistricting of red states. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/25
Skelton: New York’s Zohran Mamdani’s win offers a lesson for Newsom -- One takeaway from last week’s elections: The role model for California Gov. Gavin Newsom as he runs for president should be New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/25
Half a million young Californians aren’t in school or work. Most are men -- If you ask Jodeah Wilson how his life got off track, he’ll say it’s all about money. He needs money for November rent. He also needs money to pay back the tuition he owes for the spring semester at Sacramento State University, which would allow him to re-enroll. Until then, he’s stuck in limbo. Adam Echelman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/25
Education
His students suddenly started getting A’s. Did a Google AI tool go too far? -- Some teachers say that AI tools, particularly Google Lens, have made it impossible to enforce academic integrity in the classroom — with potentially harmful long-term effects on students’ learning. Carolyn Jones Calmatters -- 11/10/25
‘Fewer children are able to thrive’: California AmeriCorps programs adapt to funding uncertainty -- In April, California AmeriCorps programs lost millions of dollars in federal funding, which was then restored in late August as a result of a multi-state lawsuit. Programs now face an existential threat with a Trump administration budget proposal to dismantle the agency. Lasherica Thornton EdSource -- 11/10/25
Also
Aquil Basheer, ‘visionary’ L.A. trailblazer in gang intervention and violence reduction, dies -- A former Black Panther known as ‘the Commander,’ Basheer founded a violence prevention and gang intervention nonprofit in South L.A. Tyrone Beason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/25
POTUS 47
Trump pardons Rudy Giuliani and others who backed efforts to overturn 2020 election, official says -- President Trump has pardoned his former personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani, his former chief of staff Mark Meadows and others accused of backing the Republican’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, a Justice Department official says. Alanna Durkin Richer in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/25
Democrats Fume Over Deal to End Government Shutdown -- The decision by eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus to side with Republicans to advance a bill Sunday night to end the government shutdown drew heated condemnations from other members of the party and reopened longstanding divisions on how best to fight back against President Trump. Katy Stech Ferek and Siobhan Hughes in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/10/25
The 8 Senate Democratic Caucus members who voted to end the shutdown -- Most, but not all, come from presidential swing states. Two have announced they are retiring from the Senate after their current terms end, and two are senior members of the Senate Appropriations Committee. None are up for reelection in 2026. Katherine Tully-McManus Politico -- 11/10/25
Trump Suggests $2,000 Payouts to Americans as He Defends Tariffs -- Days after the Supreme Court appeared skeptical of the legal backing for many of his tariffs, the president on social media Sunday lauded the revenue they have brought in and said the government would soon begin paying down the country’s debt. He also said a payment of at least $2,000 would be made to everyone but high-income earners. Alyssa Lukpat in the Wall Street Journal$ Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/25
Supreme Court to Hear Major Challenge to Mail-In Ballot Laws -- The justices agreed to hear a challenge to Mississippi’s law, a case that could upend similar measures in dozens of states before the 2026 election. Abbie VanSickle in the New York Times$ -- 11/10/25
Immigrants with health conditions may be denied visas under new Trump administration guidance -- Foreigners seeking visas to live in the U.S. might be rejected if they have certain medical conditions, including diabetes or obesity, under a Thursday directive from the Trump administration. Amanda Seitz in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/25
Trump’s COP30 snub thrusts Europe into a role it’s not ready for -- For decades, the European Union has relied on the United States to act as shock absorber and chief powerbroker at global climate talks. No longer. Zia Weise Politico -- 11/10/25
Feeling Great About the Economy? You Must Own Stocks -- Investors’ rosy feelings about their stock market gains are powering spending—but it’s a different story for everyone else. Rachel Louise Ensign and Rachel Wolfe in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/10/25
Ten seconds in the Oval Office that overshadowed Trump’s drug-price win -- The Oval Office event has drawn scrutiny for other reasons: Trump was caught on camera appearing to fend off sleep for nearly 20 minutes, a Washington Post analysis found. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) dubbed Trump “The Nodfather” online, mocking the president’s seeming struggle to stay awake during the presentation on GLP-1 price cuts. The White House has denied that Trump was dozing off and suggested questions about the matter were inappropriate. Dan Diamond in the Washington Post$ -- 11/10/25
Federal Judge, Warning of ‘Existential Threat’ to Democracy, Resigns --Judge Mark L. Wolf, writing in The Atlantic, said he was stepping down to speak out against the “assault on the rule of law” by President Trump, whom he accused of “targeting his adversaries.” Mattathias Schwartz in the New York Times$ -- 11/10/25
California Policy and Politics Sunday
Trump administration demands states ‘undo’ full SNAP payouts as states warn of ‘catastrophic impact -- President Donald Trump’s administration is demanding states “undo” full SNAP benefits paid out under judges’ orders last week, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings, marking the latest swing in a seesawing legal battle over the anti-hunger program used by 42 million Americans. Scott Bauer and Nicholas Riccardi Associated Press Mariana Alfaro in the Washington Post$ -- 11/09/25
Thanksgiving air traffic could ‘slow to a trickle’ if shutdown persists, transport secretary says -- “As I look two weeks out, as we get closer to Thanksgiving travel, I think what’s going to happen is you’re going to have air travel slow to a trickle as everyone wants to travel to see their families,” Duffy said. With “very few” controllers working, “you’ll have a few flights taking off and landing” and thousands of cancellations, he said. Associated Press -- 11/09/25
How an Adam Schiff indictment could shake the Senate -- After securing the indictments of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, Trump has his sights set on Sen. Adam Schiff, the California Democrat who as a member of the House managed the president’s first impeachment trial. Hailey Fuchs Politico -- 11/09/25
Newsom appears onstage at Texas rally to celebrate Prop. 50 victory, take swipes at Trump -- Gov. Gavin Newsom strode onstage in Houston on Saturday to a cheering crowd of Texas Democrats, saying Proposition 50’s victory in California on election day was a win for the nation and a firm repudiation of President Trump. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/09/25
Newsom urges Democrats to focus on the midterms. But Texans are thinking about 2028. -- Gavin Newsom, rallying Democrats in deep-red Texas on Saturday, urged the party base to set its sights on returning Democrats to power in 2026 and 2028, as he returned to ground zero of the national gerrymandering wars. Faith Wardwell, Blake Jones and Will McCarthy Politico -- 11/09/25
Newsom, Eyeing 2028, Tries to Mess With Texas: ‘Don’t Poke the Bear’ -- Celebrating his recent redistricting victory, the California governor swooped into a state led by a Republican rival and sent the latest signal about his presidential ambitions. Nick Corasaniti and Mariano Castillo in the New York Times$ -- 11/09/25
Taking inspiration from Mamdani, democratic socialists look to expand their power in L.A. -- n L.A., Democratic Socialists of America has focused its energy on downballot races, particularly the City Council DSA-LA is hoping to pick up two more council seats in the June election. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/09/25
Trump made inroads with Latino voters. The GOP is losing them ahead of the midterms -- Latino voters shifted toward Democrats in key races in Virginia and New Jersey, and gave a boost to California’s Proposition 50. Some Republicans warn that the shift could have negative implications for the GOP in next year’s midterm elections. Ana Ceballos and Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/09/25
Barabak: Newsom prevailed on Proposition 50. But the White House is still a big reach -- A week before California’s special election, Gavin Newsom made news by doing something practically unheard of. He told donors to stop sending money to pass Proposition 50. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/09/25
Coachella Valley Republicans fear alienation after Tuesday election -- Proposition 50 redraws California congressional districts to favor Democrats, potentially ending Republican representation in parts of the conservative Coachella Valley. Dakota Smith, Gina Ferazzi in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/09/25
Workplace
UC reaches contract agreement with 21,000 employees, averting a strike -- The University of California and a union representing 21,000 healthcare, research and technical professionals across the UC system reached a contract agreement and averted a strike, the university and union announced Saturday. Kaitlyn Huamani and Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/09/25
A critical part of the economy isn’t hiring. Bosses explain why -- Small companies, which employ more than 40 percent of the nation’s workforce, tend to experience financial shocks more acutely than their corporate peers. Aaron Gregg and Shannon Najmabadi in the Washington Post$ -- 11/09/25
SNAP
‘Still so many unknowns’: San Diegans and nonprofits find relief and anxiety after SNAP turmoil -- California was releasing food stamps to the state's millions of CalFresh users, even as Trump still fought the full federal funding of SNAP. Kristen Taketa, Maura Fox in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 11/09/25
ICE
Emotional Glimpses of an Immigration Crackdown in a San Diego Courthouse -- Down a windowless hallway in the federal courthouse in San Diego, clergy members and volunteers line up, anxiously waiting. They wait for migrants to emerge from meetings with immigration officials. Sometimes the immigrants leave the meetings and go home. Other times they are ordered to wear ankle monitors. But often, many of those who show up to the so-called check-in sessions have been detained by masked agents. Mark Abramson, Jesus Jiménez in the New York Times$ -- 11/09/25
New ballot measure push aims to overhaul California’s landmark environmental law -- Late last month, the California Chamber of Commerce announced it had filed paperwork to place a measure on next November’s statewide ballot that would overhaul the law, commonly known as CEQA, with the goal of cutting red tape, lowering housing and energy costs, and making construction easier. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/09/25
In California, a tug-of-war over blood-thinning rat poisons -- It’s been more than a decade since Lisa Owens Viani started to wonder what was killing the birds in Berkeley. Lucy Hodgman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/09/25
L.A. air officials approve port pollution pact as skeptics warn of ‘no clear accountability’ -- South Coast air regulators voted Friday to approve a binding agreement requiring L.A. and Long Beach ports to develop zero-emission infrastructure plans or face penalties. Environmental advocates slammed the deal as a stall tactic lacking specific pollution-reduction guarantees and offering no clear accountability. Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/09/25
These endangered predators have finally returned. Should California be killing them? -- This summer, dozens of state and federal wildlife agents arrived in a remote mountain basin, about an hour north of Lake Tahoe, with an unusual mission: to scare off the rising number of wolves. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/09/25
As a century-old oil field winds down, what’s next for Baldwin Hills? A sprawling park or housing? -- The site offers a rare opportunity to address two pressing Los Angeles needs: open space and affordable housing in underserved neighborhoods. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/09/25
Tariff
Presents to arrive in time for the holidays, but may be more expensive -- Until now, retailers, manufacturers and other intermediaries have absorbed much of the cost of tariffs, but that is changing as it becomes more apparent which tariffs are here to stay, Mario Cordero, chief executive of the Port of Long Beach, said Friday during a virtual news conference. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/09/25
Also
Kim Kardashian misses the mark on the California bar exam, vows to keep trying -- Kim Kardashian won’t be arguing cases just yet. The reality-TV star and billionaire entrepreneur revealed Saturday that she missed the mark on California’s bar exam but promised to keep studying until she passes. Alexandra Del Rosario and Josh Rottenberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/09/25
POTUS 47
A closer look at Trump’s apparent struggles to fight off sleep in the Oval Office -- A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that the president spent nearly 20 minutes apparently battling to keep his eyes open at a recent event. Dan Diamond and JM Rieger in the Washington Post$ -- 11/09/25
A Two-Headed Coin That Always Comes Up ‘Trump’ -- Would a proposed coin featuring the president on both sides commemorate America’s founding, or undercut its founding principles? Dan Barry in the New York Times$ -- 11/09/25
Democrats swept elections far beyond the big races in referendum on Trump -- From clerks to coroners, Democrats on Tuesday flipped city councils, school boards and county commissions. Naftali Bendavid in the Washington Post$ -- 11/09/25
Trump Suggests $2,000 Payouts to Americans as He Defends Tariffs -- President Trump suggested tariff revenue could be used to fund payments of at least $2,000 to most Americans. Alyssa Lukpat in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/09/25
Trump says he brought down gas prices. The reality is more complicated -- Americans are paying less at the pump than they were a year ago, but industry analysts are mixed on how much credit President Donald Trump deserves. James Bikales and Ben Johansen Politico -- 11/09/25
Poll: Here’s how much Trump voters would pay in taxes to back his policies -- The Politico Poll measured how much economic pain voters will tolerate — if it aligns with their partisan views. Jessica Piper Politico -- 11/09/25
Trump’s Tax Cuts Are Exposing Companies to Biden’s Tax Hike -- Meta Platforms, Broadcom, Qualcomm and others are warning that they are now getting hit by the corporate alternative minimum tax, the 15% tax-rate floor that was part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Basically, President Trump giveth, but former President Joe Biden taketh part of it away. Richard Rubin in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/09/25
Genetically Engineered Babies Are Banned. Tech Titans Are Trying to Make One Anyway -- For months, a small company in San Francisco has been pursuing a secretive project: the birth of a genetically engineered baby. Emily Glazer, Katherine Long and Amy Dockser Marcus in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/09/25
Why Democrats Could Win the Redistricting War -- Amending state constitutions seemed like a long shot, but Virginia’s move suggests more blue states may be willing to try, opening new possibilities. Nate Cohn in the New York Times$ -- 11/09/25