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California Policy and Politics Tuesday
California, other states file suit to prevent shutdown of federal consumer agency -- California joined 20 other states and the District of Columbia on Monday in a lawsuit that seeks to prevent the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from being defunded and closed by the Trump administration. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/25
After catastrophic flooding, Redding fears another deluge -- A day after a torrential downpour flooded roads and homes in Redding — a deluge that turned deadly after a driver got trapped in a truck — city officials and residents were bracing for another round of heavy rain. David Hernandez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/25
S.F. Mayor Lurie says PG&E power outage cost city ‘tens of millions of dollars’ -- San Francisco restaurants and retail businesses were in the midst of one of the busiest weekends of the year when the PG&E power outage struck Saturday, causing some to lose tens of thousands of dollars in revenue and, often, thousands more on food gone bad. Tara Duggan, Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/25
‘We need PG&E to do better’: S.F. leaders blast utility over mass outages -- San Francisco leaders slammed PG&E after disruptive power outages roiled the city over the weekend, prompting open questioning about whether the episode was a harbinger of worse problems during a future disaster. J.D. Morris, Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/25
This isn’t the first S.F. holiday season power outage. A blackout 22 years ago was eerily similar -- Twenty two years before Saturday’s fire at a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. substation cut power for tens of thousands of San Franciscans, flames erupted in the same building at Mission and 8th streets housing critical equipment for the city’s electric grid. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/25
As health care premiums soar, Democrats are eager to blame Republicans -- California’s endangered House Republicans have spent December trying to show how they understand, and are trying to ease, the pain constituents feel as they confront skyrocketing health care costs. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/23/25
Wildfire
The fire took his sister and his lifelong home. He’s been fighting to get back ever since -- Zaire Calvin grew up in Altadena. For nearly a year since the Eaton fire destroyed his town, he has become a voice for his community. His mom bought his childhood home in the 1970s when Altadena was one of the few places Black families could own properties. Years ago, he bought the house next door. Both homes are gone now. Colleen Shalby, Jason Armond in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/23/25
Lopez: For Bass and LAFD, there’s no watering down how bad 2025 has been -- The year was already a debacle for the Los Angeles Fire Department and Mayor Karen Bass, with multiple stumbles before and after the epic January blaze that obliterated Pacific Palisades, so it was hard to imagine that things could get worse in the closing days of 2025. But they have. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/23/25
Marketplace
A tale of two Ralphs — Lauren and the supermarket — shows the reality of a K-shaped economy -- Wealthy shoppers browse Ralph Lauren on Rodeo Drive while struggling consumers hunt for bargains at Ralphs grocery, revealing America’s stark wealth divide this holiday season. Caroline Petrow-Cohen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/23/25
L.A. restaurants thought it couldn’t get any worse. Then 2025 happened -- Last year restaurants reported drastic revenue drops and closures due to slow economic recovery from the pandemic and a stalled entertainment industry. This year their difficulties intensified with countywide fires, immigration raids, tariffs and more. Stephanie Breijo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/23/25
Workplace
CSU offered one-time bonuses instead of raises. These employees plan to strike -- California State University employees are preparing to strike over the university’s proposal to replace raises with one-time bonuses due to the university system’s precarious budget situation. William Melhado in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/23/25
Education
Her dwarfism once scared her away from teaching — now it’s her strength -- When Heather Povinelli was in teacher training while in college, there was a moment she believed her dwarfism would thwart her dream of becoming a teacher — a kindergartner grabbed her on the playground. Emma Gallegos EdScource -- 12/22/25
Also
Ehisen: Lou Cannon: A personal remembrance -- I’ve been writing words for a living for many decades now, and I can’t think of any I have hated to write more than those in this next sentence. Rich Ehisen Capitol Weekly -- 12/22/25
Fight between Waymo and Santa Monica goes to court -- Waymo has filed suit against the city of Santa Monica, arguing that the city’s attempt to have them stop using two charging stations overnight for its fleet of self-driving cars is unfair. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/23/25
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‘Incredibly reckless’: Trump’s wind halt stuns even some allies -- Republican worries about energy affordability didn’t deter the administration from halting five major projects that had already begun construction. Benjamin Storrow and Kelsey Tamborrino Politico Jennifer Hiller in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/23/25
Judge orders Trump admin to offer relief to men deported under Alien Enemies Act -- A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to provide legal relief to 137 Venezuelan men who were abruptly deported to El Salvador in March despite a court order that they remain in U.S. custody. Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein Politico -- 12/23/25
More stumbles by feds mar Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation case -- During a hearing in federal court in Maryland, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis zeroed in on the foul-ups as she extended an order barring immigration authorities from re-arresting Kilmar Abrego Garcia into next month. Josh Gerstein Politico -- 12/23/25
Second big batch of Epstein files includes many mentions of Trump -- Three days after releasing a large tranche of Jeffrey Epstein documents that contained few mentions of President Donald Trump, the Justice Department on Monday disclosed thousands more files that included wide-ranging references to the president. Matt Viser and Aaron Schaffer in the Washington Post$ -- 12/23/25
White House Invitees Are Asked About Donations to Trump’s Ballroom -- Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut wants to know who is funding President Trump’s White House ballroom project, how much it is going to cost and what it is going to look like. Kenneth P. Vogel in the New York Times$ -- 12/23/25
After Power Outage, San Francisco Wonders: Can Robot Taxis Handle a Big Earthquake? -- The meltdown, which led Waymo to temporarily shut down its entire fleet in San Francisco, raised alarms about whether the vehicles might impede evacuations or emergency services during a bigger disaster, such as a major earthquake. Soumya Karlamangla in the New York Times$ -- 12/23/25
F.D.A. Approves New Weight-Loss Pill -- The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss injectable drug Wegovy, offering patients who fear or are uncomfortable with needles a more palatable option. Dani Blum in the New York Times$ -- 12/23/25
S.F. power outage: City Hall closed Monday as restoration efforts continue -- Pacific Gas and Electric Co. was working Sunday to restore power to roughly 16,000 customers in San Francisco after a series of blackouts on Saturday brought life in many parts of the city to a standstill. The utility said it expected a full restoration for the remaining homes and businesses by 2 p.m. Monday, more than 48 hours after most customers lost electricity. Sarah Ravani, Anna Bauman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/25
New California law bans federal agents from wearing masks in showdown over immigration raids -- The Trump administration is suing to block a new California that would ban federal law enforcement officers from wearings masks on duty. It was shaped by concerns over masked immigration agents in Los Angeles. Nigel Duara in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/25
How Trump broke California’s grip on the auto market -- California had a game plan to counter Donald Trump’s assault on electric vehicles — and then the president blew it up. Alex Nieves Politico -- 12/22/25
Wildfire
L.A.’s double disaster left thousands of scars, and the healing will take years -- January’s catastrophic Eaton and Palisades fires killed 31 and destroyed over 16,000 structures, exposing systemic failures in preparedness, evacuation protocols and emergency response. Times investigations revealed critical gaps: delayed evacuation orders in Altadena, dry water systems, inadequate firefighter deployment and utility company maintenance failures. Nearly a year later, thousands of victims struggle to rebuild while facing understaffing at agencies, supply chain delays, insurance gaps and labor shortages. The item is in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/25
After a rocky start, rebuilding in the Palisades and Altadena is gaining momentum -- Rebuilding momentum is accelerating in Palisades and Altadena, with about 12% to 13% of destroyed homes receiving permits as of December, up from a slow start. Doug Smith, Jack Flemming and Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/25
San Diego just fast-tracked new fire-safety rules for homes. Here’s what homeowners should know -- Thousands of homeowners will soon have to comply with controversial 'Zone Zero' regulations that ban flammable material like plants within 5 feet of a home. David Garrick in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 12/22/25
Workplace
Larry Ellison pledges $40 billion personal guarantee for Paramount’s Warner Bros. bid -- The guarantee addresses board concerns about financing reliability and ups Paramount’s breakup fee to $5.8 billion, matching Netflix’s terms. Paramount’s aggressive revised bid directly challenges Netflix’s already-approved $82.7 billion offer for Warner Bros.’ streaming and studio assets. Molly Schuetz in the Los Angeles Times$ Lauren Thomas in the Wall Street Journal$ Lauren Hirsch in the New York Times$ Scott Nover in the Washington Post$ -- 12/22/25
Central Valley surpassed all of California in job losses this year -- The San Joaquin Valley had the largest number of job losses in the first eight months of the year compared to other regions in the state, according to a new report. Between last December to August, the Valley region saw a -0.3% regional job gain, the report found. Melissa Montalvo in the Fresno Bee -- 12/22/25
L.A. restaurants thought it couldn’t get any worse. Then 2025 happened -- Chefs, restaurateurs and others in the industry sound off on a tumultuous 2025 but show some optimism for the years ahead. Stephanie Breijo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/25
The Year the Job Market Hit a Wall -- Unemployment rose and wage growth shrank this year, potentially setting up an even rougher 2026. Harriet Torry in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/22/25
The Economy Avoided a Recession in 2025, but Many Americans Are Reeling -- A feared recession didn’t materialize, but unemployment rose, wage growth slowed and affordability challenges are mounting. Ben Casselman and Colby Smith in the New York Times$ -- 12/22/25
H-1B
Apple and Google asking some employees with H-1B visas to avoid international travel -- Tech giants Google and Apple are asking some employees with H-1B visas to reconsider international travel, as their legal teams warned that visa processing delays could keep employees abroad for months, according to Business Insider. Brooke Park in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/25
Education
This is the most expensive college in California — and how tuition compares to the UCs -- For the 2025-26 school year, a first-year student at Stanford University this fall faces a bill of over $96,000 for tuition, housing and other costs, not accounting for financial aid. For California residents, the total cost for cross-town rival UC Berkeley comes in much lower, at around $46,000 — despite higher estimated costs for housing and food. Jack Lee, Hanna Zakharenko, Nami Sumida in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/25
Street
How private investors stand to profit from billions in L.A. County sex abuse settlements -- Records reviewed by The Times show law firms that have filed thousands of sex abuse claims in California are financially backed by private investors. Proponents say the investments give law firms the resources needed to take on deep-pocketed corporations and governments on behalf of victims who can’t afford to sue on their own. Rebecca Ellis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/25
Homeless deaths plunge in Orange County -- On the longest, darkest night of the year — the winter solstice, Dec. 21 — we count our dead. Amid flickering candles and somber speeches, ceremonies commemorate the lives of homeless people who have died on America’s streets. Here in Orange County, these deaths plunged a stunning 40% from their high a few years ago. Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register$ -- 12/22/25
LA County can’t keep up with drug treatment demand inside jails -- ‘Every overdose behind bars is preventable and every one is policy failure,’ states a joint letter from a coalition of treatment experts. Jason Henry in the LA Daily News -- 12/22/25
Surge in cargo thefts in Southern California driven by swift, organized rings -- Southern California, with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and its robust network of trucking corridors, rail yards and warehouses, has long been fertile ground for cargo theft. Joe Nelson in the LA Daily News -- 12/22/25
Why San Diego decided to settle the Konoa Wilson case for $30 million -- Before the San Diego City Council agreed this month to pay $30 million to settle the lawsuit over the police shooting of 16-year-old Konoa Wilson, an attorney for the boy’s family delivered a blunt message to the city: If the case went to trial, the verdict could surpass $100 million. Kelly Davis in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 12/22/25
Also
Skelton: A lump of coal for Trump, a governor focused on California and other Christmas wishes -- I’ve got a wish list for Santa and it’s topped by this urgent request: a remodeled president with at least an ounce of humanity and humility. Maybe a Ronald Reagan type. I’m not referring here to ideology or policies. Just common decency, someone who acts presidential. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/25
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Hundreds of Big Post-Election Donors Have Benefited From Trump’s Return to Office -- The president’s team has created a highly unusual fund-raising apparatus for causes he favors. The Times analyzed more than half a billion dollars in contributions from 346 donors. Some have received pardons, jobs, access to the president and other valuable gains. Karen Yourish, Kenneth P. Vogel and Charlie Smart in the New York Times$ -- 12/22/25
Trump administration demands that Mexican crews operating trains in U.S. can speak English -- The Federal Railroad Administration has sent letters to two railroad operators demanding they make sure that Mexican crews can speak English and don’t operate a train more than 10 miles inside the United States. Josh Funk Associated Press -- 12/22/25
CBS News Pulls ‘60 Minutes’ Segment; Correspondent Calls Decision Political -- CBS News pulled a planned “60 Minutes” segment on an El Salvador maximum-security prison where the Trump administration sent hundreds of Venezuelan migrants, a last-minute decision that drew a rebuke from one of its high-profile correspondents. Isabella Simonetti in the Wall Street Journal$ Michael M. Grynbaum in the New York Times$ Liam Scott and Scott Nover in the Washington Post$ -- 12/22/25
The year Trump broke the federal government -- How DOGE and the White House carried out a once-unthinkable transformation of the nation’s sprawling bureaucracy. Hannah Natanson and Meryl Kornfield in the Washington Post$ -- 12/22/25
Two lawmakers seek to find Bondi in contempt over Epstein files -- Reps. Ro Khanna (D-California) and Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) said Sunday that they will seek to find Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt of Congress for not releasing more documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Patrick Marley, Emmanuel Felton and Aaron Schaffer in the Washington Post$ -- 12/22/25