California Policy and Politics Wednesday

California Supreme Court case could impact insurance rates for millions of residents -- In a case that could affect millions of Californians, the state Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to consider whether insurance companies can be sued for their rates under a nearly 40-year-old ballot measure. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/11/26

Fired judge’s lawsuit alleges California was illegally approving insurance rate hikes -- An administrative judge in California’s Insurance Department who was fired last year is suing Commissioner Ricardo Lara and his former special counsel, accusing them of illegally approving insurance rate increases and undermining the judicial branch of the department. Levi Sumagaysay Calmatters Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/11/26

 

Newsom travels to Turkey for climate conference, blasts Trump as a ‘no-show’ -- Newsom framed his attendance as an opportunity to tell the world that California’s climate leadership is delivering results as he criticized President Trump as a “no-show” for declining to send a delegation on behalf of the United States. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/11/26

Progressives Lose California Wealth Tax Battle—but Aren’t Conceding the War -- Proponents in California have already floated putting another wealth tax on the ballot in 2028, saying they have learned important lessons from this year’s unsuccessful attempt to marshal voter support for a levy on billionaires. Paul Kiernan and Laura J. Nelson in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/11/26

 

Raman’s colleagues all opposed her run for mayor. Now some promise ‘full support -- A pie sat waiting as the Los Angeles City Council returned to work last week following Councilmember Nithya Raman’s election as mayor, an outcome all 14 of her council colleagues opposed. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/11/26

In a first, L.A.’s three citywide elected offices will all be held by Asian Americans -- Last week’s midterm elections made history across the country, and Los Angeles was no exception: Asian Americans will now hold all three citywide elective offices — mayor, city attorney and controller — for the first time. Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/11/26

Arellano: Raman’s victory was a resounding rebuke to L.A.’s Latino political establishment -- Here in the country’s Latino capital, the metropolis that delivered California its first Latino U.S. senator and pioneered the type of winning political machine that Latinos across the country replicated for decades, almost all the city’s Latino power brokers — politicians, nonprofit leaders, union activists, celebrities — bet big on longtime ally Bass, only to now find themselves on the outside looking in. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/11/26

 

Sacramento Rep. Doris Matsui wins reelection, defeating progressive challenger -- Matsui, 82, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2005, succeeding her late husband, Robert Matsui, who had served in Congress since 1979. She ran on her congressional experience and record of delivering federal funding for projects in the district. She lent her campaign more than $5 million this cycle. Karen Garcia and Nicole Nixon in the Los Angeles Times$ Mathew Miranda in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/11/26

Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra names transition team -- Longtime Becerra aide Liz Saldivar will lead the transition. Salvidar advised Becerra’s campaign and worked for him during his time in Congress and as state attorney general. Nicole Nixon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/11/26

Fighting City Hall will get a lot more expensive under plan backed by L.A. Council -- Without discussion the L.A. City Council voted 13-0 to have the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to drastically raise fees people pay to appeal zoning and land-use decisions. The proposal raises the fee from $229 to $1,145 for people who live near the contested project or property, and to $2,289 for others. Itzel Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/11/26

Street

L.A. County restraining order system to undergo sweeping reforms -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion Tuesday aimed at improving the county’s restraining order system in order to better support and protect victims of domestic violence and stalking. Connor Sheets and Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/11/26

L.A. County supervisors approve sweeping motion to expose scope and influence of sheriff’s deputy gangs -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a sweeping motion on Tuesday aimed at exposing the scope and influence of so-called deputy gangs within the Sheriff’s Department. Connor Sheets in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/11/26

ICE

A Beloved Nurse Was Arrested, Shackled and Hidden in ICE’s System -- Ann Lawani, a highly regarded nurse and professor, was still in her pajamas when federal agents detained her at her home in Lodi, Calif., on Sept. 16. Miriam Jordan in the New York Times$ -- 11/11/26

Also

Race for LA’s new county executive post officially begins. It could be a historic battle -- It will be at least four years, and perhaps eight, until California voters elect another governor. However, in just two years they will fill a brand new office that will rival the governorship in political importance. And it already has its first candidate. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 11/11/26

China’s spies have long been rampant in Silicon Valley -- Nvidia’s Jensen Huang had an affair with a suspected Chinese intelligence agent. But the tech mecca’s espionage problem has deep roots. Zach Dorfman and Cate Cadell in the Washington Post$ -- 11/11/26

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Trump’s Plan to Import Russian Diesel Stalls on the High Seas -- President Trump’s efforts to supply the U.S. with Russian diesel have yet to result in any new imports into the country, as several fuel tankers bound for America shifted course following difficulties finding buyers willing to accept the controversial cargoes. Alexander Osipovich, Rebecca Feng and Collin Eaton in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/11/26

Kennedy Family Joins Effort to Block Construction of Trump’s Arch -- The project would ‘permanently cast shadows’ over the graves of Kennedy family members, court filing says -- Jennifer Calfas in the Wall Street Journal$ Luke Broadwater in the New York Times$ Dan Diamond in the Washington Post$ -- 11/11/26

Trump Trots Out His Chaotic Greatest Hits to a Weary Public -- The last week has seen the president renew false claims about rigged elections, float a mixed martial arts executive as his new press secretary, muse about the beams in the White House ballroom, oust his chief of staff and call unannounced into C-SPAN. Katie Rogers in the New York Times$ -- 11/11/26

 

California Policy and Politics Tuesday

California voters reject Prop. 40 billionaire tax -- Voters rejected Proposition 40, a proposal to tax billionaires based on their net worth and financial holdings, by 52.8% to 47.2%, according to The Associated Press Monday. The measure had trailed behind for days before The Associated Press confirmed results. Kristen Hwang Calmatters Queenie Wong and Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ Kathryn Palmer in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Ben Paviour in the Sacramento Bee$ Jeremy B. White Politico Paul Kiernan and Laura J. Nelson in the Wall Street Journal$ Laurel Rosenhall in the New York Times$ -- 11/10/26

Rep. Calvert declared winner in contested Southern California congressional race -- Longtime Rep. Ken Calvert has survived a fierce reelection battle against fellow Republican Rep. Young Kim to represent a newly drawn Southern California congressional district. Dakota Smith and Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ Blake Jones Politico -- 11/10/26

Voters approve Prop. 38 medical research bond measure -- The measure, which the Associated Press called on Monday evening, requires at least $4.2 billion of the funds to be used for immunology research on cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. It also authorizes the state to enter into a partnership with an unnamed immunology and immunotherapy research institute selected by the California Department of Public Health, and to allocate half of the bond revenue to it. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Gov.-elect Becerra’s rate freeze plan could pit him against powerful interests -- Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra plans to pursue a freeze on utility bills and home insurance premiums, according to a spokesperson for the campaign. The actions could pit the Democrat against powerful interests — including some that indirectly boosted his campaign — early in his tenure. Ben Paviour in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/10/26

California judge says she was fired after objecting to settlements with insurers seeking rate hikes -- Former California administrative law judge Kristin Rosi says Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara denied her authority to review insurers’ rate-hike requests and fired her after she objected. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

They fled California for Republican Texas. Then the blue wave hit the lone star state -- Texas’ Democratic sweep has raised questions about whether California transplants helped turn the state blue, but experts doubt the newcomers drove the shift. Terry Castleman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Shasta County measure that sought to eliminate most mail-in voting violates state law, judge rules -- Measure B, which was passed by 56% of voters in the June primary, sought to require hand-counted ballots, eliminate most mail-in voting and require residents to present government-issued photo identification to cast a ballot on election day. Iris Kwok in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Before Democrats’ blue tsunami, California prepared to block Trump 2028 -- President Donald Trump has made various statements about running for a third, constitutionally forbidden third term. California has a law for that. Raheem Hosseini in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/26

ICE

San Diego school officials push back after Haitian boy, 8, is taken during ICE check-in -- An 8-year-old Haitian boy who lost protected status earlier this year was placed in federal custody after an immigration check-in last week in San Diego, according to federal and school district officials. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Judge orders ICE to release UC Berkeley student detained at SFO -- Paula Albornoz Hernandez, 23, was detained by ICE on Oct. 30 while waiting to board a flight to Oregon with her boyfriend. She has a pending asylum case and a current work permit, according to her attorneys. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/26

Climate

Court limits California rules on companies’ greenhouse-gas disclosures -- A federal appeals court ruled Monday that California cannot enforce a law requiring companies to disclose to investors the risks they face if the public learns how their products affect greenhouse-gas emissions. The court said the law appears to violate the companies’ free-speech rights. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/26

These California lawmakers are positioned to reshape Washington’s climate agenda -- Lawmakers from California are poised to lead two of Congress’ most consequential energy and environment committees, putting the Golden State at the forefront of efforts to scrutinize the Trump administration’s sweeping changes to federal climate policy. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

El Niño flooding is coming. This Bay Area neighborhood may be among the most vulnerable -- Santos had weathered other floods, but none came close to the devastation of 1983. Now 82, he fears Alviso could face another flood just as destructive — or worse. Connor Letourneau in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/26

Biggest waves in years to slam California coast — including San Francisco -- The biggest waves in years are forecast to slam the Northern California coast this weekend as powerful storms in the Gulf of Alaska churn up the Pacific Ocean. Anthony Edwards in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/10/26

Why Nearly 2,000 Dead Seabirds Have Washed Up on the California Coast -- Scientists say El Niño is exacerbating conditions by causing Pacific Ocean temperatures to rise. Soumya Karlamangla, Loren Elliott in the New York Times$ -- 11/10/26

Workplace

Skydance looks to cut more than $6 billion as it integrates Warner Bros. operations -- Since Skydance closed its $111-billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery last month, Ellison’s team has been scouring the vast Skydance portfolio for cuts and efficiencies as executives work to integrate the operations of the two legacy entertainment companies in the coming months. Meg James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Elvis rights holders and Eminem’s publisher sue Suno, testing the ELVIS Act -- Elvis Presley’s rights holders and Eight Mile Style, the publisher of many of Eminem’s early songs, filed separate federal lawsuits against Suno on Nov. 6. The Presley suit is one of the first major tests of Tennessee’s ELVIS Act, which protects artists’ voices and likenesses. Cerys Davies in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

Education

The Parents Suing Schools Because Their Kids Got Bad Grades -- In Silicon Valley and beyond, families are pressuring teachers or calling lawyers over classroom clashes, from a recess squabble to an essay flagged as ‘76% AI’ Zusha Elinson in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/10/26

This L.A. public high school program is training movie and TV crews, with George Clooney’s help -- Founded by George Clooney, filmmaker Grant Heslov and CAA’s co-chairman Bryan Lourd, an L.A. public school program is training students from underrepresented communities for behind-the-scenes film and TV careers. Yvonne Villarreal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/10/26

What a ‘blue tsunami’ means for education in California -- For California, where Democrats already dominate state politics, the election could create new opportunities to challenge the administration’s education agenda in Washington. Incoming Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have said the election gives them a mandate to address soaring costs, end war with Iran and clean up government corruption. Emma Gallegos EdSource -- 11/10/26

Young Talent Fueled American Scientific Dominance. Now It’s Disappearing -- Under Trump, new Ph.D. enrollments are down, funding is on the decline and many budding researchers are reconsidering their careers. -- Katrina Miller, Vimal Patel, Jeff Adelson, Irena Hwang, Gabriela Bhaskar, Jamie Kelter Davis, Audra Melton, Ian Willms, Arfa Momin in the New York Times$ -- 11/10/26

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In search of post-midterm message, Trump waffles on trusting election, immigration policy -- After initially congratulating Democrats on their midterm wins, which he said he was “absolutely willing to accept,” President Trump posted a baseless missive to social media about not trusting early ballot totals or voting machines. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ Luke Broadwater and Zolan Kanno-Youngs in the New York Times$ -- 11/10/26

Hegseth impeachment effort begins in House, focused on Iran war -- Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) introduced articles of impeachment alleging that the defense secretary “abused” his powers and “knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders.” Noah Robertson, Natalie Allison and Tara Copp in the Washington Post$ -- 11/10/26