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California Policy and Politics Friday

USC rejects Trump education compact aimed at shifting the university to the right -- The University of Southern California on Thursday rejected the controversial education compact the Trump administration offered it and eight other schools, saying it would undermine “values of free inquiry and academic excellence.” Daniel Miller and Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

‘They smashed into me’: Activist says video shows ICE rammed his truck. Agents claim the opposite -- Video that appears to show federal immigration agents using their vehicle to ram the truck of an immigrant rights activist has sparked controversy and public outrage in the city of Oxnard, an agricultural town that has been the frequent target of immigration raids. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

California AG vows to sue if Trump sends troops to San Francisco -- California’s attorney general said Thursday that he plans to take the Trump administration to court if the president follows through on threats to send the National Guard to San Francisco. Noah Baustin Politico -- 10/17/25

California sues Trump administration over ‘Solar for All’ program cancellation -- California and nearly two dozen states sued the Trump administration over its cancellation of a $7-billion solar program for low-income households. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ Kate Wolffe in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/17/25

Low-wage California families could lose CalFresh stores under USDA proposal -- Federal regulators have proposed a rule that could make it harder for low-income families to find grocery stores that accept CalFresh benefits. Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/17/25

Tom Steyer is infuriating Democrats — again -- Tom Steyer swooped in with millions of dollars to tout Gavin Newsom’s congressional redistricting measure. Top Democrats involved with the campaign wish he would stay away. Melanie Mason and Jeremy B. White Politico -- 10/17/25

Newton: rop. 50 doesn’t guarantee Democrats five seats. They still have to win races across California -- As voters weigh in on Proposition 50, which will appear on the ballot next month, the debate over the measure is complicated by one common concern and one common misconception: The concern is that the proposed redistricting moves California away from hard-won fairness in drawing congressional boundaries. The misconception is that this is a simple gift to Democrats. Jim Newton Calmatters -- 10/17/25

After CalMatters report, Newsom signs law forcing lawmakers to disclose their new jobs -- California’s elected and appointed officials will now have to tell the public when they’ve accepted a job offer from a new employer that might seek favors from them while they’re still in a position of power. Ryan Sabalow Calmatters -- 10/17/25

Top San Francisco Lawmaker Expected to Challenge Nancy Pelosi in Primary -- Ms. Pelosi, 85, has not yet said whether she will run again. The challenge would be the latest example of the Democratic Party facing a push for generational change. Shane Goldmacher, Heather Knight and Laurel Rosenhall in the New York Times$ -- 10/17/25

Newsom signed a data-collection law that reversed one he backed a year ago. What changed? -- The governor has signed a law that will walk back data sharing meant to increase CalFresh recipients. The new limitations are in response to the federal government’s attempts to collect private data. Phoebe Huss Calmatters -- 10/17/25

California-branded insulin will soon hit the shelves. Newsom says GLP-1s could be next -- Six years after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced California would get into the prescription drug business and create its own insulin, lower-cost state-branded insulin will finally be available starting in January, Newsom announced Thursday. Catherine Ho, Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/17/25

California to launch ‘historic’ reparations office as advocates regroup from 5 Newsom vetoes -- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed five laws advancing reparations for the descendants of enslaved people in California, but he vetoed five others. It’s a mixed record two years after the California Reparations Task Force issued its seminal report. Cayla Mihalovich and Wendy Fry Calmatters -- 10/17/25

Bay Area organizers of Saturday’s “No Kings” protests expect biggest crowds yet -- More than 140,000 protesters took part in protests in the Bay Area in June. Katie Lauer, Martha Ross in the San Jose Mercury$ Ryanne Mena in the Orange County Register$ -- 10/17/25

Garofoli: Do protests like No Kings still matter? Here’s what experts say -- Twice recently during Bay Area speaking gigs, I’ve been asked a version of the same question: What good does it do to go to marches and protests like Saturday’s No Kings day of action? Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/17/25

CalMatters shined a light on struggling birthing centers. Newsom just signed a law to help them -- Women in California today have fewer places to give birth than they did a decade ago. Legislation signed this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom aims to create more options for them by making it easier for birth centers to operate outside of hospitals. Kristen Hwang Calmatters -- 10/17/25

Benioff’s bombshell leaves San Francisco Democrats scrambling -- Marc Benioff didn’t just enrage San Francisco Democrats with his call for the National Guard. He sent them running for cover. Dustin Gardiner and Chase DiFeliciantonio Politico -- 10/17/25

Comedians cancel Dreamforce shows as Benioff faces backlash for Trump support -- Comedians Kumail Nanjiani and Ilana Glazer abruptly withdrew from their scheduled performances at Dreamforce, Salesforce’s annual tech conference, following a week of mounting backlash against the company’s CEO, Marc Benioff. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/17/25

‘Shocked and disappointed’: Ron Conway blasts Marc Benioff over Trump support -- Ron Conway, one of Silicon Valley’s most influential venture capitalists and philanthropists, has stepped down from the board of the Salesforce Foundation following comments by CEO Marc Benioff expressing support for President Trump and suggesting that the National Guard be sent to San Francisco. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Jeremy B. White, Christine Mui and Lindsey Holden Politico -- 10/17/25

Salesforce Tries to Help ICE Boost Its Immigration Force -- The San Francisco-based firm has told ICE that it could use A.I. to help the agency nearly triple its staff. The company’s C.E.O., once a progressive tech titan, has embraced President Trump. Heather Knight in the New York Times$ Aldo Toledo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/17/25

Workplace

These companies will stop sponsoring H-1B visas for some tech jobs in wake of Trump’s $100K fee -- Major employers that historically have hired large numbers of H-1B employees have begun disqualifying job applicants who require H-1B visa sponsorship since President Donald Trump used his executive power to impose a new $100,000 fee on applications for the work visa. Ko Lyn Cheang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/17/25

Cal State workers are getting a one-time bonus, paid for by a $144 million loan due next year -- Cal State’s chief financial officer says the loan will be used to offer one-year bonuses to faculty and staff. While salaries vary widely across the system, the extra $144 million is roughly a 3% increase in the total pay for Cal State’s workers, including executives. State law says the loan needs to be repaid by next July. Mikhail Zinshteyn Calmatters -- 10/17/25

Amazon looks to hire 30,000 seasonal workers in California ahead of holiday shopping frenzy -- The effort is part of a broader hiring push by the e-commerce giant to add 250,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal roles across the United States. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

Beyond Meat’s stock collapses after debt deal -- Shares of the El Segundo maker of plant-based meats, an investors’ darling a few year ago, collapsed this week to less than $1 after the company wrapped up a deal to reduce its debt burden. The deal involves issuing up to 326 million new shares to the note holders. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

San Francisco career startup Handshake lays off nearly 100 workers as it pivots to AI -- In a notice filed with state regulators Wednesday, the company — legally known as Stryder Corp. — said 96 positions would be permanently eliminated at its headquarters at 225 Bush Street. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/17/25

Verve Coffee to pay nearly $200,000 to S.F. workers over health fund violations -- Verve Coffee Roasters must pay more than $180,000 to employees at the company’s Market Street cafe after failing to provide health benefits required by the city’s Health Care Security Ordinance, according to a news release from the union that represents the restaurant’s workers. St. John Barned-Smith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/17/25

Chevron to cut more than 175 California jobs in latest layoffs -- The move follows earlier rounds of cuts at Chevron’s San Ramon campus, where the company announced 600 layoffs in March as part of a broader restructuring meant to “simplify our organizational structure, execute faster and more effectively, and position the company for stronger long-term competitiveness,” Perea wrote at the time. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/17/25

Bay Area TSA workers warn of worsening shutdown impacts as first missed paycheck hits -- Oakland International Airport’s 340 federal security workers only got half their paycheck over the weekend because of the government shutdown. Now, they don’t know when the next one is coming, even as they show up for 12-hour shifts manning security checkpoints that start as early as 2:30 a.m. Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/17/25

Insurance

‘They delayed, they denied’: How insurance errors endanger California patients -- Lawmakers have taken steps to require insurers to keep more accurate directories of doctors and specialists, but state rules still aren’t complete, and penalties are rare. Kristen Hwang Calmatters -- 10/17/25

Cheaper insulin will soon be available through California’s state prescription program -- In a challenge to the pharmaceutical industry, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced a plan to offer $11 insulin pens through the state’s prescription program, far below market cost. Dakota Smith and Sandra McDonald in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

Wildfire

Defense lawyer for man charged with igniting deadly Palisades fire calls case thin and labels it scapegoating -- Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, a one-time L.A. Uber driver and now Florida resident, was arrested by the FBI on Oct. 7 and charged with destruction of property for allegedly starting a Jan. 1 blaze known as the Lachman fire that smoldered for six days until it became the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history. Nathan Solis and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

Nine months after fires, residents continue to struggle with housing stability, finances -- Roughly 75% of surveyed Pacific Palisades residents and 67% of surveyed Altadena residents are in temporary housing, a new report found. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

Homeless

DOJ accuses real estate executives of fraud in homeless funding -- Federal prosecutors charged two real estate executives with defrauding California’s Homekey program, allegedly misappropriating millions meant for homeless housing. Andrew Khouri, Alene Tchekmedyian and Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

The L.A. homeless count misses people who aren’t in tents or cars, a new Rand study finds -- The annual homeless count missed nearly a third of people in Hollywood, Venice and Skid Row, primarily those ‘sleeping rough’ without tents or vehicles. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

Housing

Housing Tracker: Southern California home values drop in August -- Economists and real estate agents say a variety of factors has slowed the market, including high mortgage rates, rising inventory and economic uncertainty stemming from tariffs. Jack Flemming and Hailey Wang in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

Batteries

California made it through another summer without a Flex Alert. Thank batteries, experts say -- California hasn’t issued an emergency plea for the public to conserve energy, known as a Flex Alert, since 2022. Experts credit much of the progress to a surge in battery energy storage systems in recent years. Battery storage in California has grown more than 3,000% since 2020. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

Education

Tears, tensions and last-minute deals: Inside the fight over California’s antisemitism bill -- The controversial bill forced a no-win choice on lawmakers: Fight antisemitism or protect classroom freedoms. Eric He Politico -- 10/17/25

How the tiniest domestic violence survivors heal with the help of a San Diego preschool -- A San Diego preschool focuses on the “little guys” who experience domestic violence and other trauma. Mi Escuelita now has a long record of helping families move forward. Adriana Heldiz Calmatters -- 10/17/25

Mpox

Mpox strain that may be more severe and easily spread is found in L.A. County for first time -- Two cases of a potentially more severe strain of mpox have been confirmed in Los Angeles County this week. It’s the first time this particular type of mpox, known as “Clade I,” has been found in the United States among people who had no history of traveling overseas to high-risk areas. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25

Also

Laurene Powell Jobs: Beware of Philanthropists Who Want Control in Exchange for Their Giving -- True generosity flows quietly to communities that already know what they need, building capacity not dependency. Laurene Powell Jobs in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/17/25

Walters: California’s chronic deficit looms again as Newsom prepares his last state budget -- It seems like just yesterday that Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators enacted a state budget that papered over a $20 billion gap between income and outgo while blaming President Donald Trump for their fiscal dilemma. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 10/17/25

POTUS 47

Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul to Enable Pursuit of Left-Leaning Groups -- Effort would install Trump ally at agency’s criminal unit who has drawn up list of investigative targets. Brian Schwartz, Richard Rubin and Joel Schectman in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/17/25

John Bolton pleads not guilty to charges accusing him of sharing classified information -- It’s the third criminal case brought in recent weeks by the Justice Department against a Trump adversary, and is unfolding against the backdrop of growing concerns that the Republican president is using the law enforcement agency to seek retribution against his perceived enemies. Bridget Brown, Pamela Sampson and Curtis Yee Associated Press -- 10/17/25

How the Bolton Indictment Compares to Trump’s Classified Documents Case -- Some charges against the onetime national security adviser resemble the dropped case against President Trump, but there are also differences. Charlie Savage in the New York Times$ -- 10/17/25

Judges admonish Trump administration, hand it legal setbacks in Chicago cases -- A federal appeals court declined for now to let the Trump administration deploy troops in the Chicago area. A different judge said she was ‘profoundly concerned’ federal officials were violating her orders. Mark Berman, Marianne LeVine and Kim Bellware in the Washington Post$ -- 10/17/25

Chamber of Commerce sues Trump to block $100,000 fee for H-1B visas -- The powerful business group said the $100,000 fee will hurt American businesses, in its first lawsuit against the administration this term. Lauren Kaori Gurley in the Washington Post$ -- 10/17/25

Universities Are Standing Up to Trump -- A White House proposal for special funding treatment crossed a line for several schools. Some say it feels like a turning point in the federal government’s battle with higher education. Alan Blinder in the New York Times$ -- 10/17/25

Trump files amended $15bn defamation complaint against New York Times -- After a federal judge tossed Donald Trump’s $15bn defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, book publisher Penguin Random House and two Times reporters last month, the US president filed a 40-page amended complaint on Thursday. Jenna Amatulli and George Chidi The Guardian -- 10/17/25

Arellano: Trump has turned the White House into a government of ‘snowflakes’ -- You know the word, the one that for the past decade the right has wielded against liberals as the ultimate epithet — you know, because libs are supposedly feelings-obsessed, physically weak, morally delicate and whiny as all get out. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/17/25