California Policy and Politics Tuesday

California Democrats launch pricey polling effort to winnow crowded gubernatorial field -- As anxiety mounts among California Democrats about the potential of a Republican being elected governor, the state party will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on polling to assess the viability of the sprawling field of candidates hoping to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to plans released Tuesday. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/26

Wealth tax leads in California poll — but faces major headwinds -- Voters are likelier than not to support the measure. But it’s not overwhelming, according to a new poll by Politico and its partners. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 3/10/26

Poison-pill effort to cancel proposed billionaire tax hits voters’ mailboxes -- California voters are being urged to put a poison-pill effort on the November ballot that would nullify a controversial proposed tax on the state’s billionaires. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/26

U.S. Rep. Swalwell refutes residency accusation in bid for California governor -- Rep. Eric Swalwell is pushing back on claims from billionaire Tom Steyer, his rival in the governor’s race, that he doesn’t actually live in the state he’s campaigning to lead. Ben Paviour and Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/10/26

When a deaf 6-year-old was deported, Rep. Swalwell sent staff to Colombia to deliver hearing aids -- “What was the sin?” asked Rep. Eric Swallwell on Monday, decrying the deportation of a 6-year-old deaf boy and his family when they showed up for a “routine immigration check.” Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/26

ICE explains why a 6-year-old deaf boy from Hayward was deported to Colombia -- Federal immigration officials say a Hayward mother and her two young children, including a 6-year-old boy who is deaf, were deported to Colombia last week because an immigration judge ordered their removal two years ago. Jessica Flores, Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/10/26

Walters: Now that we know who’s running for governor, here’s what happens next -- After months of potential governors playing coy, dropping in and dropping out, we finally have a field of eight Democrats and two Republicans, none of whom registers more than 14% in the latest poll. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 3/10/26

Voter ID could be headed to the California ballot. Opponents plan to make it about Trump -- A voter ID ballot initiative is gaining momentum in California as opponents aim to mount a campaign focused on President Donald Trump’s push for similar nationwide requirements. Nadia Lathan Calmatters -- 3/10/26

Report: California needs 1 million more affordable homes -- It’s common knowledge that California has a massive shortage of affordable homes, which contributes to high rates of housing instability and homelessness. But just how many more low-income homes do we need? Close to 1 million, according to a new report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Marisa Kendall Calmatters -- 3/10/26

Trump announced a hostile takeover of LA’s wildfire rebuild. Collaboration ensued -- Despite an executive order to take control of wildfire rebuilding, the administration implemented only one minor regulation. Improved cooperation with local officials made further moves unnecessary, administration officials said. Liam Dillon Politico -- 3/10/26

Some State Farm customers could see refunds while homeowner rate hikes stay put -- The Los Angeles County fires last year drove up insurance costs for many Californians. Now, a proposed settlement means some State Farm policyholders whose premiums rose won’t see additional increases, and others should even get refunds. Levi Sumagaysay Calmatters -- 3/10/26

California cut health care for undocumented immigrants. One lawmaker wants it back -- California Democrats introduced legislation to restore Medi-Cal for all income-qualifying residents of any age, including undocumented immigrants. Gov. Newsom scaled back that program because of state budget deficits. Kristen Hwang Calmatters -- 3/10/26

Hailing rides to and from LAX could get more expensive under new proposal -- LAX officials propose tripling ride app access fees to encourage use of the upcoming Automated People Mover and reduce airport congestion. The increase would make LAX rides among the world’s most expensive, sparking opposition from Uber, Lyft, travelers, and state lawmakers. Karen Garcia and Cierra Morgan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/26

The Bay Area Considers the Unthinkable: Life Without BART -- The Bay Area Rapid Transit system was once so successful, it could rely mostly on riders to sustain itself. But the pandemic dealt BART an unusually heavy blow. Heather Knight and Soumya Karlamangla in the New York Times$ -- 3/10/26

Gas prices are soaring. How much will a renewed California climate policy add to costs? -- As gas prices soar due to war in the Middle East, oil industry executives are warning that a proposed update to California’s flagship climate program will further boost fuel prices in the state — by more than a dollar per gallon, though some dismiss the claim as alarmism. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/10/26

What soaring gas prices mean for California’s EV market -- It has been a bumpy road for the electric vehicle market as declining federal support and plateauing public interest have eaten away at sales. But EV sellers could soon receive a boost from an unexpected source: The war in Iran is pushing up gas prices. Caroline Petrow-Cohen and Blanca Begert in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/26

Workplace

Teachers strikes are rare in California. Why are so many happening now? -- Dublin educators took to the picket lines Monday, the East Bay district joining a growing list of California districts to see contract talks dissolve into a teachers strike in recent months, a trend that has parents and politicians on edge up and down the state. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/10/26

Natomas teachers to strike Tuesday, second in Sacramento area -- Natomas Unified will have its first ever strike Tuesday, after the school district and teachers union failed to come to an agreement over the weekend. The strike in Natomas follows Twin Rivers Unified, where educators have been absent from schools since Thursday. Negotiations in both districts have hit a wall over salary increases, health care and class sizes. Savannah Kuchar KVIE Abridged -- 03/10/26

HMPV

A little-known virus is spreading in Northern California -- In offices and classrooms across the Bay Area, sick days are piling up again. But many people testing negative for COVID-19 and the flu may be dealing with something else: a respiratory virus many Americans have likely never heard of — human metapneumovirus, or HMPV. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/10/26

Education

San Jose State University sues to keep students from being barred from federal financial aid -- With federal financial aid for two-thirds of its students and nearly $200 million in research grants at stake, San Jose State University sued the U.S. Department of Education on Friday, accusing the agency of unlawfully threatening to cut off funding over the school’s decision to allow a transgender volleyball player to compete. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/10/26

Survey reveals almost 50% of California teachers may quit teaching soon -- California teachers have slightly better morale on average than their peers in other states, but more are planning to leave the profession in the next decade, according to Education Week’s annual The State of Teaching report. Diana Lambert EdSource in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/26

California schools struggle with how or whether to use AI tools in classrooms -- ABC Unified, which has 18,000 students in the greater Los Angeles area, uses Gemini, Google’s artificial intelligence for students 7th through 12th grade. It blocked ChatGPT for students. Other programs, like Brisk and Snorkl, are available. It has created guidelines about AI use in the classrooms but leaves it to teachers to implement as they see fit. Betty Márquez Rosales EdSource -- 3/10/26

Street

Homeless mortality is down in L.A. County for the first time in a decade -- For the first time in a decade, L.A. County homeless deaths declined, with a 10% drop in mortality rate driven by fewer overdoses. Still, 2,208 deaths occurred in 2024 — more than six per day — and the homeless mortality rate remains more than four times higher than the general population. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/26

Also

Casey Wasserman’s Name Is Erased From the Company He Founded -- Casey Wasserman’s name was dropped on Monday from the sports and marketing agency he founded as company officials sought to distance it from Mr. Wasserman after his appearance in the Jeffrey Epstein files. The company is continuing to seek a buyer for the business Shawn Hubler and Nicole Stock in the New York Times$ -- 3/10/26

‘ICE stole someone here’: These signs popping up across the Inland Empire tell a story -- Since November, the signs have popped up around the Inland Empire, bringing awareness to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in the area, which activists say might otherwise go unnoticed because they often happen in the early morning. Katerina Portela in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/26

California school official says child deportations make classrooms 'better' -- The board meeting of a rural San Diego County school district ended on a surprising note last week, when one member remarked to the room that “from a practical perspective,” the deportation of children without legal status from the area would help the school district combat overcrowding in its classrooms. Farley Elliott SFGate -- 3/10/26

POTUS 47

Trump Advisers Urge Him to Find Iran Exit Ramp, Fearing Political Backlash -- President Trump said he was eyeing a quick end to the war in Iran, as some of his advisers privately urged him to look for an exit plan amid spiking oil prices and concerns that a lengthy conflict could spark political backlash. Alexander Ward, Josh Dawsey and Alex Leary in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 3/10/26

U.S. and Israeli war in Iran, which Trump says will be ‘short term,’ has global reach -- The war has sent oil prices soaring around the world as U.S., Israeli and Iranian strikes have disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and destroyed oil and gas facilities. The conflict has impacted and drawn in nations from around the world, which experts said creates more pressure, but could also make the war more difficult to end. Kevin Rector and Gavin J. Quinton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/26

Short of Ending Iran Conflict, Trump Has Limited Tools to Lower Oil Prices -- While officials look for ways to ease oil shocks, experts say higher prices will likely persist until traffic through the Strait of Hormuz returns. Brad Plumer in the New York Times$ -- 3/10/26

Unlike Past U.S. Conflicts, Iran Attack Is Opposed by Most Americans -- In the days after President Trump launched U.S. forces in an attack against Iran, support for the strikes is far lower than what it has been at the beginnings of previous foreign conflicts. Lily Boyce and Ruth Igielnik in the New York Times$ -- 3/10/26

Trump wants a war on cartels. Mexico’s president says he should start by combatting guns and addiction -- President Claudia Sheinbaum says the U.S. should address drug demand and stop illegal arms trafficking, noting 75% of Mexican cartel guns originate in the United States. Kate Linthicum and Patrick J. McDonnell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/26

America Is an Oil Exporter. Why Does a Mideast War Raise U.S. Gas Prices? -- Oil, no matter where it comes from, is priced largely on global supply and demand. Prices can change quickly when supply is cut off by wars or weather, or if demand rises or falls. Emmett Lindner in the New York Times$ -- 3/10/26

Rising Fuel Costs Pressure Airlines and Truckers -- The price of jet fuel and diesel has surged since the war in Iran began, which could force airlines and trucking companies to pass on higher costs to their customers. Niraj Chokshi, Emmett Lindner and Peter Eavis in the New York Times$ -- 3/10/26

That video of Epstein and Trump? It might be pro-Iran disinformation -- The video is indeed fake, disinformation researchers say. And the account is part of a pro-Iran propaganda network that has found viral success by tapping into the conspiracy theory that Trump attacked Iran to distract the public from the Epstein files. Will Oremus in the Washington Post$ -- 3/10/26