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California Policy and Politics Wednesday
Updating . . .
Billionaire Tom Steyer is vastly outspending his gubernatorial rivals so far -- Tom Steyer, the billionaire running for governor on an affordability platform, is vastly outspending his rivals in the race, but it has yet to denote him as a clear frontrunner. Andrew Graham in the in the Sacramento Bee$ Ethan Varian in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/4/26
Tax billionaires, cut rents and other takeaways from California’s first gubernatorial debate -- Six Democrats and one Republican on the stage in Newsom’s hometown of San Francisco took direct aim at the governor’s record on homelessness, efforts to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars and opposition to an anti-crime ballot measure that Californians overwhelmingly passed two years ago. Seema Mehta and Nicole Nixon in the Los Angeles Times$ Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ Grace Hase in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/4/26
Gavin Newsom sat by his mother during her assisted suicide, and came to terms with anger and grief -- The governor and potential presidential candidate spoke about his mother’s controversial decision to end her life and the impact it had on his political beliefs. Maeve Reston in the Washington Post$ -- 2/4/26
Daniel Lurie is still tapping into his personal wealth as S.F. mayor -- A new disclosure from Lurie shows he contributed about $430,000 of his personal funds into his mayoral campaign committee during the second half of last year. He spent the bulk of that money on a group of outside consultants he’s enlisted to help boost his profile and promote the narrative that San Francisco is on the upswing again. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/4/26
Candles and Driveways: San Francisco’s Mayor Focuses on the Little Things -- For a city known for its anything-goes ethos, for its embrace of letting your freak flag fly, the list of activities one could not legally do in San Francisco was remarkable. Heather Knight, Cayce Clifford in the New York Times$ -- 2/4/26
Garofoli: In his radically redrawn new district, a Marin congressman gets thrown to the wolves -- The Supreme Court has not yet signed off on California’s Proposition 50, which redrew the state’s congressional boundaries in order to boost the number of Democrats in Congress. But Rep. Jared Huffman is not waiting. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/4/26
Federal agents are in S.F. during Super Bowl week. Here’s what they’re doing -- San Francisco officials on Tuesday provided some specifics about the role of federal agents during Super Bowl-related events, stressing that the agents will help local police with event security and public safety — and will not carry out immigration enforcement. David Hernandez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/4/26
Bay Area counties trade immigrants’ personal data for millions of dollars -- A little-known Department of Justice program compensates California for incarcerating undocumented people. Critics say it violates state law. Jesse Alejandro Cottrell San Francisco Standard -- 02/04/26
‘Defensive player of the year: ICE.’ Billboard sparks outrage in S.F. ahead of Super Bowl -- A pro-ICE billboard appeared in a heavily trafficked part of San Francisco this week ahead of the Super Bowl, prompting an outcry from immigrant rights advocates in the city. Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/4/26
California doctor sent abortion pills to Texas woman. Under a new law, her boyfriend is suing -- A California doctor this week became the first physician to be sued under a new Texas law that allows private citizens to pursue civil legal action against anyone who provides abortion medication in Texas. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/4/26
Workplace
SFUSD prepares for teacher strike, which could start next week with school closures possible -- After nearly a year of unsuccessful negotiations, San Francisco teachers are ready to strike, with district officials and labor leaders anticipating educators to be on picket lines instead of in classrooms starting Monday. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/4/26
Amazon to lay off nearly 800 workers across the Bay Area -- Notices filed with the California Employment Development Department showed that 769 employees in San Francisco and Silicon Valley are scheduled to be laid off effective April 28, marking one of the company’s largest local reductions in months. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/4/26
Walters: Union leaders warn Newsom their campaign support hinges on his AI stance -- National labor union leaders, and those from California and early presidential primary states, are gathering in Sacramento this week to bluntly warn Gavin Newsom that union support for his 2028 presidential campaign hinges on protecting jobs from artificial intelligence. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 2/4/26
Water
A long-awaited California water policy promises balance. Opponents call it an ‘extinction plan’ -- California is on the cusp of adopting a sweeping plan to manage the ecologically stressed Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, a move that Gov. Gavin Newsom deems “critical” to protecting state water supplies but critics are calling a major environmental setback. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/4/26
Epstein
Here’s where Jeffrey Epstein dined out — or tried to — in the Bay Area -- In the summer of 2015, the two-Michelin-star Baumé in Palo Alto closed for an exclusive dinner — whose planned attendees included Jeffrey Epstein, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel and other prominent diners. Elena Kadvany in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/4/26
L.A. politicians call on Casey Wasserman to resign from Olympics committee -- LA28 Olympics committee Chair Casey Wasserman faced calls from L.A. officials Tuesday to resign following revelations about racy emails he exchanged with convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/4/26
Super Bowl LX
Super Bowl security ramps up as ICE fears shadow the festivities -- When the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots kick off Super Bowl LX on Sunday, tens of thousands of spectators at Levi’s Stadium, and hundreds of millions more around the world, will be watching intently. Robert Salonga and Caelyn Pender in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/4/26
HSR
Some California high-speed rail records could remain secret under proposed law -- California created an inspector general to monitor its long-delayed high-speed rail project. Now, one lawmaker wants to allow that office to withhold some investigative records from the public. Yue Stella Yu Calmatters -- 2/4/26
Wildfire
Palisades fire victims will see building permit fee relief during recovery -- The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday signed off on a plan to give financial relief to Palisades fire victims who are seeking to rebuild, endorsing it nearly 10 months after Mayor Karen Bass first announced it. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/4/26
Environment
All of Catalina’s deer will be killed to restore the island’s ecosystem -- California wildlife officials have approved a plan to eradicate Catalina’s entire deer population as part of a broader effort to restore the island ecosystem, sparking fierce opposition from an unusual coalition of hunters and animal welfare advocates. Lila Seidman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/4/26
Homeless
L.A. County cuts nearly $200 million in homeless services to close budget gap -- Though county voters in 2024 approved a sales tax increase to combat the homelessness crisis, county officials said they faced a more than $270 million budget gap to maintain current homeless service operations. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/4/26
Housing
New transit housing bill revives California’s Democratic divisions over local control -- A bill to close a loophole in a landmark housing law to make it clear which cities are affected has Democratic lawmakers divided again about the state’s role in telling cities where to build. Nadia Lathan Calmatters -- 2/4/26
Education
Sacramento area schools preparing for ‘worst-case scenario’ of ICE on campus -- Parents and educators say they are braced for conflict. Staff at school districts across California are prohibited from assisting immigration enforcement, except in specified circumstances, based on multiple state laws. Savannah Kuchar KVIE Abridged -- 02/04/26
Street
Statewide human trafficking crackdown led to hundreds of arrests, L.A. authorities say -- Authorities in Los Angeles on Tuesday touted the results of a statewide crackdown on human trafficking, announcing the arrests of more than 600 suspects and saying more than 170 victims were rescued as part of the operation. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/4/26
Defending Sheriff’s Department against lawsuits cost L.A. County more than $100 million -- The county spent $229 million on legal payouts and lawyer bills last fiscal year. Nearly half of that money — $112 million — went to defend the Sheriff’s Department against lawsuits, a 12% uptick from the year before. Rebecca Ellis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/4/26
Also
L.A. stopped a couple from demolishing Marilyn Monroe’s home. Now, they’re suing -- The city designated the 1920s mansion a historic cultural monument in 2024 after Monroe fans and historians urged its preservation as a cultural landmark. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/4/26
Washington Post Begins Laying Off More Than 300 Journalists -- The layoffs will cut into The Post’s local, international and sports coverage, and reduce the number of all its employees by about 30 percent. Benjamin Mullin, Katie Robertson and Erik Wemple in the New York Times$ -- 2/4/26
POTUS 47
Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon -- IHomeland Security had come after him with what’s known as an administrative subpoena, a powerful legal tool that, unlike the ones people are most familiar with, federal agencies can issue without an order from a judge or grand jury. John Woodrow Cox in the Washington Post$ -- 2/4/26
With just 10 days to negotiate, a DHS shutdown appears inevitable -- Congress has 10 days to prevent another shutdown — this one exclusively affecting the Department of Homeland Security. There’s not much optimism about a deal. Jordain Carney, Meredith Lee Hill and Mia McCarthy Politico -- 2/4/26
How Stephen Miller Stokes Trump’s Boundary-Pushing Impulses -- The White House aide has been an architect of aggressive immigration sweeps in U.S. cities and deadly boat strikes in the Caribbean. Josh Dawsey and Tarini Parti in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/4/26
U.S. citizens shot at, dragged by immigration agents, testify before congressional Democrats -- One of the brothers of Renee Good, the 37-year-old mother of three who was shot and killed by an immigration agent in Minneapolis, told congressional Democrats on Tuesday that he needed their help. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/4/26
Trump Doubles Down on Calls for Republicans to Nationalize Elections -- President says federal government agents should be involved in counting votes, a role the Constitution explicitly grants to states. Ken Thomas in the Wall Street Journal$ Erica L. Green, Michael Gold and Robert Jimison in the New York Times$ -- 2/4/26
Trump Says He Seeks $1 Billion ‘in Damages’ From Harvard -- President Trump said he is seeking $1 billion in damages from Harvard University, the latest escalation in his administration’s fight with the institution over alleged antisemitism. Gareth Vipers in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/4/26
California Policy and Politics Tuesday
Schiff, Padilla vow to block all Fed nominees until Trump backs off trying to prod them -- California Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff Monday condemned President Donald Trump’s choice of Kevin Warsh to head the Federal Reserve Board, and pledged to “oppose every one of his nominees” to the board until Trump assures the Fed will stay independent. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/3/26
Newsom blasts Trump administration’s immigration crackdown; touts California’s drug enforcement efforts -- Gov. Gavin Newsom touted California’s drug interdiction efforts, during a San Diego press conference Monday that contrasted the state’s public safety efforts with combative tactics by President Donald Trump’s administration. Since 2021, Newsom said, National Guard troops have seized 34,357 pounds of fentanyl worth an estimated $506 million at California ports of entry. Deborah Brennan Calmatters -- 2/3/26
Republican Steve Hilton leads California governor fundraising as large pool of Democrats lag -- It takes tens of millions of dollars to run a statewide campaign for governor. Strategists say the many Democratic candidates aren’t raising money quickly enough. Jeanne Kuang Calmatters -- 2/3/26
Bass preaches ‘unity’ in L.A. ahead of 2028 Olympics during State of the City address -- Bass announced a new clean streets initiative to ‘accelerate beautification’ of major thoroughfares throughout the city. The mayor said 400 homes are under construction in Pacific Palisades and hundreds more are approved and ready to be built. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ Teresa Liu in the LA Daily News -- 2/3/26 -- 2/3/26
California's $200 million EV incentive program to require matching funds from automakers -- California's proposed $200 million electric vehicle incentive program will be limited to first-time buyers and require participating manufacturers to contribute matching incentives, the administration of California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday. David Shepardson Reuters -- 2/3/26
Why child care could be ‘at a standstill’ as California plans not to expand financial assistance -- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget lacks funding for 44,000 promised subsidized child-care slots, stalling progress on getting thousands of families off waitlists. With median cost of infant care costing up to $1,818 monthly in L.A. and long waitlists for state subsidies, working families face severe affordability and access barriers. Kate Sequeira in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/3/26
Insurance
New bill aims to make California FAIR Plan cover all insurance risks, not just fire -- New legislation announced Monday would require the California FAIR Plan to provide insurance for more than just fires — a potential major shift for the state’s insurer of last resort. Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/3/26
Lawmakers demand insurers explain tough requirements for payouts to wildfire victims -- One of the biggest complaints from victims of the January 2025 wildfires has been demands by insurers that they provide itemized receipts for personal property losses, even if their records were destroyed in their burned homes. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/3/26
California has a dangerous driver problem. A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to fix that -- The bills would: require first-time DUI offenders to install in-car breathalyzers, lengthen many license suspensions and revocations, increase DUI training for law enforcement and close a loophole that allows people who’ve killed with their car to avoid consequences through a diversion program. Robert Lewis and Lauren Hepler Calmatters -- 2/3/26
These California trucking schools broke state laws. Regulators couldn’t do anything about it -- A loophole in state law allows trucking schools to operate with little state oversight, raising concerns about the quality of training for California’s truck drivers. Adam Echelman and Erica Yee Calmatters -- 2/3/26
Mountain View police turn off license plate readers, allege unauthorized federal use -- One San Francisco resident sued the city for its use of the cameras, claiming that the tech amounts to “unconstitutional surveillance,” and Oakland officials have been criticized for renewing its contract with the vendor despite widely publicized concerns. Aldo Toledo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/3/26
Right-wing influencers have descended on Somali day care centers in this California community -- Gov. Gavin Newsom said the Somali community in San Diego feels “under siege” with the arrival of right-wing provocateurs who, seeking to replicate their fraud allegations that kicked off unrest in Minnesota, have arrived at Somali-run day cares, alarming child care workers. Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/3/26
Deaf LA teenager says immigration officers assaulted him for not heeding commands -- A deaf Los Angeles teenager says he was assaulted and taken into custody during a protest in downtown Los Angeles last month by federal immigration officers, who cited him for failing to comply with their directions. Allyson Vergara and Joshua Silla in the Orange County Register$ -- 2/3/26
San Diego anti-child exploitation grant at risk due to Trump conditions, lawsuit says -- San Diego, San Jose allege Trump administration using Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force funding to coerce cooperation on immigration enforcement and anti-DEI programs. Alex Riggins in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 2/3/26
Workplace
California’s Teamsters call for Waymo ban, saying driverless cars threaten safety and jobs -- The union, which has 250,000 members across dozens of industries, called on the California Public Utilities Commission on Monday to indefinitely suspend the driverless car company’s license to operate. Caroline Petrow-Cohen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/3/26
California faces teacher strikes across state for better pay and work conditions -- The strikes, which could begin as soon as next week, have been approved by thousands of educators – affecting schools in some of the state’s largest districts including San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles. Dani Anguiano in the Guardian -- 2/3/26
Amazon cutting 3,339 jobs at Southern California convenience stores -- Amazon says its Fresh and Go stores will close March 13 as the e-commerce giant ends its convenience push into physical retail. Pat Maio in the Orange County Register$ -- 2/3/26
Homeless
California police are far more likely to use force against homeless residents, new data shows -- When police in California stop a driver or pedestrian whom they believe to be homeless, they’re far more likely to search, handcuff, deploy force against and arrest that person than others they pull over, according to a new state report. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/3/26
Super Bowl LX
Super Bowl LX brings a surge of celebrities to the Bay Area. Here’s where to find them -- In the days leading up to the Sunday, Feb. 8 championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, there’s long list of concerts, VIP parties, industry events and fan experiences expected to draw celebrities, athletes and power players into hotels, concert halls, warehouses and waterfront venues from San Francisco to San Jose. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/3/26
Kid Rock to headline Turning Point USA’s alternative Super Bowl halftime show -- Dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” the conservative nonprofit organization announced Monday, Feb. 2, that country musicians Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett will headline. Zara Irshad in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/3/26
‘We’re ready’: Community members, NFL players decry potential ICE enforcement during Super Bowl -- “Our immigrant community is valued here in the city of San Jose. They make our city run, and it’s time that we hold our elected officials accountable for standing up to them,” said San Jose City Councilmember Peter Ortiz Caelyn Pender in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/3/26
49ers
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addresses 49ers’ international future -- There is a strong chance the 49ers play two international games next season, opening in Australia and then hosting a game in Mexico. Cam Inman in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/3/26
ICE Walk Out
Fresno high school students walk out of campuses in second day of protests -- More than 1,000 Fresno high-school students walked out of their campuses on Monday to protest ICE and President Trump’s deportation crackdown. Leqi Zhong and Anthony Galaviz in the Fresno Bee -- 2/3/26
Education
California colleges scramble to fill gaps left by federal grant cuts to Latino students -- California colleges are losing over $350 million in federal grants that funded research, mentoring and student support at designated Hispanic Serving Institutions. College leaders argue the programs support low-income and first-generation students regardless of race. Olivia Sanchez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/3/26
Also
Walters: Gavin Newsom’s autobiography adds struggle to a story of a politically privileged past -- There’s a well-worn playbook for politicians who yearn to occupy the White House. One of its most common tools is to write a book, or have a book written, to introduce the presidential supplicant to voters. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 2/3/26
‘Melania’ director Brett Ratner turns up in Epstein files, again -- Brett Ratner, director of the newly released “Melania” documentary, appears in recently unsealed Epstein files showing him with the disgraced financier and unidentified women. The photos surface as the filmmaker attempts a Hollywood comeback after a 2017 sexual misconduct scandal that largely exiled him from the industry. Stacy Perman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/3/26
POTUS 47
Trump says federal government should ‘take over’ state elections -- Trump called on Republicans to ‘nationalize’ elections in several states to counter what he says is widespread fraud. The proposal would clash with the Constitution, under which the states administer elections. Ana Ceballos in the Los Angeles Times$ Jacob Wendler Politico Reid J. Epstein and Nick Corasaniti in the New York Times$ Mariana Alfaro in the Washington Post$ -- 2/3/26
Trump Had Unusual Call With F.B.I. Agents After Election Center Search -- Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, brokered the call and President Trump directly questioned frontline agents on the inquiry, The Times has learned. William K. Rashbaum, Devlin Barrett and Julian E. Barnes in the New York Times$ -- 2/3/26
‘They Couldn’t Break Me’: A Protester, the White House and a Doctored Photo -- President Trump and the White House regularly circulate imagery that has been manipulated by A.I. But the photo of Nekima Levy Armstrong was different. Erica L. Green in the New York Times$ -- 2/3/26
Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon -- In October, a retiree emailed a DHS attorney to urge mercy for an asylum seeker. Then DHS subpoenaed his Google account and sent investigators to his home. John Woodrow Cox in the Washington Post$ -- 2/3/26
U.S. Manufacturing Is in Retreat and Trump’s Tariffs Aren’t Helping -- The manufacturing boom President Trump promised would usher in a golden age for America is going in reverse. David Uberti in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/3/26
ICE and CBP officers in Minneapolis will wear body cameras, Noem announces -- The announcement is a concession to critics who said immigration officers were acting with impunity in Minneapolis and other cities. Eric Bazail-Eimil Politico Victoria Albert in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/3/26
Judge says Trump administration must let lawmakers make unannounced visits to ICE detention facilities -- A federal judge ruled Monday that the Department of Homeland Security likely broke the law when it barred members of Congress from visiting immigrant detention facilities without a week’s notice. Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein Politico -- 2/3/26
U.S. Failed to Alert Judge to Press Law in Application to Search Reporter’s Home --The Justice Department failed to tell a magistrate judge about a 1980 law protecting journalists in its application materials for a warrant to search a Washington Post reporter’s home last month as part of a leak investigation, an unsealed court filing shows. Charlie Savage in the New York Times$ -- 2/3/26
Classified Whistleblower Complaint About Tulsi Gabbard Stalls Within Her Agency -- A U.S. intelligence official has alleged wrongdoing by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in a whistleblower complaint that is so highly classified it has sparked months of wrangling over how to share it with Congress, according to U.S. officials and others familiar with the matter. Dustin Volz and C. Ryan Barber in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/3/26
Measles Hits ICE Family Detention Center in Texas -- U.S. immigration officials have imposed quarantines and stopped all movement inside a family detention facility in Texas after two measles cases were confirmed among detainees there, a Department of Homeland Security official said on Monday. Pooja Salhotra in the New York Times$ -- 2/3/26
‘Crisis’: The fallout from Trump’s surprise plan to close Kennedy Center -- President Donald Trump’s surprise Sunday announcement that he planned to close the Kennedy Center for two years sent shock waves through the center, Washington and the broader arts world. Travis M. Andrews, Janay Kingsberry, Kelsey Ables, Naveen Kumar and Geoff Edgers in the Washington Post$ Jessica Gelt in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/3/26
Trump threatens to sue Trevor Noah over Epstein joke at Grammys: ‘Going to have some fun with you!’ -- According to President Trump, the 68th Grammy Awards on Sunday were “virtually unwatchable.” Still, he watched enough to take issue with comedian Trevor Noah’s latest turn as the ceremony’s host. Alexandra Del Rosario in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/3/26