California Policy and Politics Thursday

Newsom rips Trump, offers a presidential preview in California speech -- Gavin Newsom on Thursday trumpeted California’s record as a “beacon” for the nation and an alternative to what he cast as the Trump administration’s “carnival of chaos” — previewing themes of his likely presidential campaign. Jeremy B. White Politico Melody Gutierrez, Katie King and Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Chaewon Chung in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/08/26

‘Public execution.’ ‘Trigger happy.’ California lawmakers decry ICE shooting of Minneapolis woman -- Gov. Gavin Newsom took to social media to say President Trump had a role in the violence. “His deliberate escalation of intimidation and chaos has consequences,” he wrote. “His reckless crackdown must end.” Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

Protesters gather in S.F. after ICE kills 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis -- By 6 p.m., roughly 200 people had gathered outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices at 630 Sansome St., blowing whistles and chanting slogans including “ICE out of the Bay.” Aldo Toledo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/08/26

‘Active shooter’ or ICE agent’s victim? What happened in L.A. New Year’s Eve killing -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said an off-duty ICE agent was responding to an “active shooter” when he gunned down Keith “Pooter” Porter on New Year’s Eve in Northridge. Porter’s family and their attorney contend he was firing a gun into the air and posed no threat. James Queally, Libor Jany and Christopher Buchanan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

 

Silicon Valley Plots Against Ro Khanna After His Support for a Wealth Tax -- Representative Ro Khanna has long managed to pull off a seemingly impossible task in his Silicon Valley district: backing the tech industry and Bernie Sanders progressivism at the same time. But now he is starting to feel the squeeze. Theodore Schleifer in the New York Times$ -- 01/08/26

California’s exodus isn’t just billionaires — it’s regular people renting U-Hauls, too -- U-Haul data shows California leads the nation in net out-migration for six consecutive years, with Arizona, Nevada, and Texas attracting the most residents. Nilesh Christopher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

 

Newsom proposes that governors control the California Dept. of Education -- More than a half-dozen study commissions and reports dating back to 1920 have urged the idea’s adoption to eliminate confusion and conflicts over who in California is ultimately accountable for education policies and programs. John Fensterwald EdSource Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ Carolyn Jones Calmatters -- 01/08/26

Gavin Newsom joins Trump in blaming big investors for housing crisis -- Gov. Gavin Newsom will propose regulating corporate landlords during his State of the State address Thursday, his office said. It’s a pivot toward populism for the governor. Ben Christopher and Jeanne Kuang Calmatters -- 01/08/26

‘He Feels Personally Jilted’: Gavin Newsom’s Grudge -- The California Democratic governor has achieved social media success and 2028 buzz by taking a page out of President Donald Trump’s all-caps social media playbook. But he’s also been following Trump’s lead in making things personal with corporate executives who run afoul of his agenda. Debra Kahn Politico -- 01/08/26

California delayed cancellation of immigrant truckers’ licenses. So feds will withhold $160 million -- After California paused a plan to cancel the licenses of thousands of immigrant truckers, federal officials announced Wednesday they would withhold $160 million in transportation funds from the state. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

Lawmakers explore new taxes to fill California’s ongoing budget deficits -- Barring drastic cuts to spending or bringing in additional revenue, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates the deficit could be as high as $18 billion this year and $35 billion in future years. Nicole Nixon and Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/08/26

 

Homeless on L.A.’s Skid Row fault of Democrats, says GOP gubernatorial candidate Sheriff Chad Bianco -- GOP gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco toured Skid Row and blamed Gov. Newsom for homelessness and pledged to clean up the roughly 50-block neighborhood within four years if elected. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

San Mateo reports child influenza death same week that CDC cuts immunization recommendations -- The child, whose age and name were not released by authorities, is the second flu death in San Mateo County this season, officials say. Katerina Portela in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

Wildfire

Locals wanted to rebuild Pacific Palisades, Altadena. Then the big investors moved in -- Investors purchased 40% of lot sales in areas damaged by the L.A. fires during Q3 of 2025, according to an analysis by Redfin. Terry Castleman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

California bills would tackle wildfire underinsurance and underpayment in wake of Chronicle investigation -- A year after fires razed entire neighborhoods in Los Angeles, California lawmakers unveiled a slate of proposed legislation aimed at protecting wildfire survivors from insurance industry practices that can stall rebuilding and recovery — including at least three bills informed by a Chronicle investigative series that exposed insurers’ hidden cost-cutting practices in L.A. and other fire-ravaged communities across the state. Megan Fan Munce, Susie Neilson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

One Year After the L.A. Fires: Hope, Blame and Debt -- After wildfires destroyed much of Altadena and Pacific Palisades, Southern California is trying to heal, but also struggling with how to move forward. Shawn Hubler, Jill Cowan and Jesus Jiménez in the New York Times$ -- 01/08/26

A year after the Eaton fire, the loss of Altadena is still raw -- In college in Washington, D.C., I always told people I grew up outside of Los Angeles. Pressed further, I’d say near Pasadena. I rarely told people I was from a small town called Altadena. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

On anniversary of Los Angeles wildfires, Bass and Newsom lay low -- Fire survivors in Los Angeles held multiple events to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the blazes. The governor and mayor did not appear in public. Liam Dillon and Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

Spencer Pratt announces run for L.A. mayor on anniversary of Palisades fire -- Spencer Pratt, a reality television star who lost his home in the Palisades fire and then emerged as a sharp critic of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom, announced Wednesday that he will run for mayor. Noah Goldberg, Hailey Branson-Potts and David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ Liam Dillon and Melanie Mason Politico -- 01/08/26

Homeless

Fentanyl deaths are down across the Bay Area. One county’s harm reduction group says it’s proof their strategy is working -- The governor on Thursday will tout this sign of progress on an issue that has long bedeviled California politicians. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 01/08/26

Education

UC sets new record in California student enrollment as it weathers Trump challenges -- The University of California enrolled a record number of Californians in fall 2025, according to data released Thursday, touting the vitality and popularity of a system under attack by the Trump administration and grappling with federal funding cuts and state budget belt-tightening. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

Street

Cartier glasses, stabbings and payouts: ‘Dropout’ gangs sow chaos in California prisons -- A system designed to protect state inmates has led to increased violence involving so-called ‘dropout’ gangs of prisoners who have defected from other groups. Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

California law let a politician avoid jail for child abuse charges. Lawmakers are furious -- Former Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner, charged with felony child abuse, will enter mental health diversion instead of facing trial and potential jail time. Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26Fentanyl deaths are down across the Bay Area. One county’s harm reduction group says it’s proof their strategy is working

She was in withdrawal. He was schizophrenic. Both died of neglect in jail, their families say in new lawsuits -- The families of two people who died in San Diego jails last year have filed separate civil rights lawsuits in federal court — both accusing the Sheriff’s Office and its private medical contractors of systemic failures they say took the lives of Callen Lines and Corey Dean. Kelly Davis in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 01/08/26

Also

From Halle Berry to Rachael Ray and Arnold Schwarzenegger: How celebrity lobbyists won and lost in Sacramento in 2025 -- The famous regularly throw their influence around the California Capitol. Who lobbied — and how they fared — in 2025. Lindsey Holden Politico -- 01/08/26

POTUS 47

Trump quits pivotal 1992 climate treaty, in massive blow to global warming effort -- President Donald Trump is withdrawing the United States from the world’s overarching treaty on climate change in a move that escalates his attempts to reverse years of global negotiations toward addressing rising temperatures. Sara Schonhardt Politico -- 01/08/26

Trump team drafting executive order on affordability -- The White House is drafting an executive order broadly targeted at addressing Americans’ frustration with the cost of living, including a push to allow people to dip into their retirement and college savings accounts to afford down payments on homes. Victoria Guida and Meredith Lee Hill Politico -- 01/08/26

GOP lawmakers denounce Trump’s threats to seize Greenland -- Top Republicans on Capitol Hill are publicly breaking with President Donald Trump over his threats to seize Greenland — an unusual show of dissent that underscores how seriously the president’s allies view the situation. Connor O'Brien, Joe Gould and Leo Shane III Politico -- 01/08/26

Trump calls for record $1.5 trillion defense budget, a 50 percent jump -- The president offered few details in his post on Truth Social, other than to say the money would pay for his “Dream Military.” Paul McLeary, Connor O'Brien and Joe Gould Politico Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/08/26

Trump Moves to Ban Big Investors From Buying Single-Family Homes -- It isn’t clear whether congressional approval would be needed for such a ban. Craig Karmin, Rebecca Picciotto and Alyssa Lukpat in the Wall Street Journal$ Maureen Farrell and Matthew Goldstein in the New York Times$ -- 01/08/26

Trump Team Works Up Sweeping Plan to Control Venezuelan Oil for Years to Come -- President believes the effort could lower oil prices to his target of $50 a barrel. Brian Schwartz, Benoît Morenne and Josh Dawsey in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/08/26