California Policy and Politics Sunday

322,000 Californians sign up to have data brokers delete their personal information -- More than 300,000 Californians have demanded that hundreds of data brokers erase information about their locations, finances, health and personal lives as the state’s first-in-the-nation Delete Act requires brokers to start the mandatory process of removing data on Aug. 1. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/12/26

 

US Sen. Lindsey Graham has died after a brief and unexpected illness, his office says -- U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham died Saturday evening after a “brief and sudden illness,” his office said in statement posted on social media. The office did not provide any additional details about the South Carolina Republican, who was 71 years old. Associated Press Robert Jimison and Yan Zhuang in the New York Times$ Dan Diamond in the Washington Post$ David Smith in The Guardian Vera Bergengruen , Alex Leary and Siobhan Hughes in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 7/12/26

 

Rep. Ro Khanna says armed Israeli settlers detained him in West Bank -- Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) said armed Israeli settlers detained him and other U.S. citizens during a recent tour of the occupied West Bank in an incident that is thrusting the California congressman into the international debate over human rights in the Palestinian territories and U.S. foreign aid to Israel as he openly weighs a 2028 presidential bid. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ Nicholas Riccardi Associated Press -- 7/12/26

AI

S.F. protesters march on OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind to demand: ‘Stop the AI race’ -- A crowd of protesters fiercely condemning artificial intelligence and the San Francisco companies that power the technology marched through the city — the epicenter of AI development — on Saturday to demand that the companies “stop the AI race.” Elena Kadvany in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/12/26

The Hard-Line Activists Ramping Up for the War With AI -- The resistance to artificial intelligence is growing over fears about human extinction—but one activist’s disappearance has the movement on edge. Zusha Elinson in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 7/12/26

 

Extremist violence like the Islamic Center shooting can be prevented, experts say. Here’s how -- Anti-violence nonprofits provide case management, a help line, support groups and other resources for those who know someone being radicalized. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 7/12/26

Informal Bass advisor now working for Lineage, whose cold storage warehouse caught fire -- Yusef Robb, an unpaid advisor to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in the run-up to the June 2 primary, is now doing work as a crisis communications consultant for Lineage Logistics, the company under scrutiny for a fire at its cold storage warehouse in Boyle Heights. Noah Goldberg and Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/26

LAPD suspends use of Flock surveillance cameras over privacy issues -- The LAPD has halted use of Flock Safety’s license plate surveillance cameras amid mounting concerns over who controls the data and how it may be shared with other agencies, including immigration authorities. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/26

Trump slashes wildlife protections, putting endangered California animals at risk -- California, the nation’s most biodiverse state with hundreds of protected species including condors, sea otters and desert tortoises, stands to be hit hard. Environmental advocates warn the rollback puts wildlife on a path to extinction and vow court challenges as Washington presses for more Pacific Coast drilling over West Coast states’ objections. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/26

Cowboys, margaritas and toxic trash: Some sour on lawyers in lucrative L.A. landfill cases -- Residents of Val Verde, a tiny town north of Los Angeles, claim Downtown LA Law Group used a cowboy recruiter to find plaintiffs for a lawsuit about a local landfill. Some townspeople say they had lawsuits filed under their name by the firm without their consent. The firm, also known as DTLA, denied allegations of unethical solicitation. Rebecca Ellis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/26

Also

Barabak: What’s in a name? A confounding U.S. Senate race -- In Alaska, in one of the country’s most competitive congressional contests, Dan Sullivan is facing Dan Sullivan. Is it a plot to boost the Democratic challenger, Mary Peltola, or merely coincidence? It sure smells fishy. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/26

‘Lucky cat’ rescued from Highway 101 after riding on underside of truck for 30 miles -- Artie, a spunky 14-year-old cat with a seal-colored coat, was rescued from Highway 101 after he apparently hitched a ride on the underside of a truck for 30 miles. Lucy Hodgman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/12/26

 

California Policy and Politics Saturday

PG&E faces $22 million penalty after regulators say it disposed of wildfire evidence -- State regulators are recommending a $22 million penalty against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. for its role in the 2022 Mosquito Fire in Placer County, a blaze that exploded in the Sierra foothills near utility transmission lines. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/26

Nobel Prize winner leaving UC Berkeley for new role in China -- Nobel Prize recipient Omar Yaghi is leaving his role at UC Berkeley to lead the development of a new artificial intelligence institute at Tsinghua University in Beijing, the Chinese university announced. Corinne Purtill in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/26

There’s a push to cut the capital gains tax. These Bay Area ZIP codes would see the biggest impacts -- A growing, bipartisan push in Congress would reduce — or eliminate — capital gains tax on the sale of a primary home. If enacted, the proposals would have an outsize impact in the Bay Area, where an unusually large share of homes have risen significantly in value in past years. Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/26

Hoeven: Is Gavin Newsom about to ram through one of the ‘biggest power grabs in California history’? -- Starting in January, almost all of the duties of the independently elected state superintendent of public instruction will be moved to the newly created position of education commissioner. This person will be appointed by the governor, effectively centralizing control over public education in California’s executive branch. Emily Hoeven in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/26

Map: The most common demographic in every California county -- The Chronicle analyzed U.S. Census data to determine which ethnic and age groups are most numerous in different places across the state. Our map reveals regional patterns. Danielle Echeverria, Sriharsha Devulapalli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/26

 

Judge blocks Trump anti-DEI conditions on California, Oregon grants -- A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from imposing “anti-DEI” conditions on grants sought by 11 cities and counties in California and Oregon from the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Interior, and FEMA. Hassan Ali Kanu Politico Hassan Ali Kanu Politico -- 7/11/26

Trump administration clears path for controversial Mojave Desert water pipeline -- The company Cadiz Inc. has been trying for years to pipe water out of the Mojave Desert and sell it. The Trump administration just approved the use of a former oil and gas pipeline to move water. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/26

Trump administration rolls back a key protection for imperiled wildlife -- The Trump administration finalized a rule Friday that changes how agencies enforce the Endangered Species Act and eliminates a key protection for imperiled wildlife against logging, oil drilling and other activities. Wufei Yu, Matthew Brown Associated Press -- 7/11/26

White House appoints climate science critic to lead key climate program -- Matthew M. Wielicki, a former University of Alabama geochemist, is skeptical of mainstream climate science and will oversee the nation’s flagship report on the subject. Jake Spring and Miriam Waldvogel in the Washington Post$ -- 7/11/26

 

Trump administration proposal would ‘all but end’ scientific merit in grant funding, critics say -- Proposed in late May, the rule would give political appointees unprecedented control over federal grants for research, education and infrastructure. Corinne Purtill in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/26

Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing trade secrets in blockbuster Silicon Valley lawsuit -- Apple Inc. has sued OpenAI on claims of trade secret theft, accusing the artificial intelligence startup and its hardware chief of engaging in a coordinated campaign to steal information about upcoming products. Mark Gurman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/26

Meta appeals landmark jury verdict that found it to blame for social media addiction for young users -- Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has appealed the verdict of a landmark social media addiction lawsuit in Los Angeles, challenging the jury’s determination that the company designed its platforms to hook young users without concern for their well-being. Kaitlyn Huamani Associated Press -- 7/11/26

Workplace

Bay Area electronics company to close plant, lay off 212 employees, including president -- LeeMah Electronics is closing its Brisbane facility and laying off 212 workers, including top executives, according to a state filing. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/26

Also

Over 100,000 people came to San Francisco’s fireworks. There were 127 toilets -- First came the fog. Then the gridlock. Now, bad bathroom math is adding to the fallout from San Francisco’s Fourth of July fireworks show. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/26

F.C.C. Approves Test of Space Mirror to Light Night Sky Despite Outcry -- A start-up company has permission to try its plan to bounce solar rays onto the dark side of Earth, turning night to day for a three-mile-wide patch. Hiroko Tabuchi in the New York Times$ -- 7/11/26

POTUS 47

Times Journalists Subpoenaed as Trump Escalates Pressure on Media -- The Justice Department is seeking to compel testimony from reporters who wrote about the new Air Force One. The Times called the move a “brazen act.” Michael M. Grynbaum in the New York Times$ Perry Stein in the Washington Post$ Will Weissert, Ashraf Khalil Associated Press -- 7/11/26

Trump Justifies Money Made as President With Inaccurate Claims -- But, Mr. Trump has argued, his personal financial gains reflected a stock market benefiting everyone; his investments and business dealings were in a blind trust, not unlike other presidents; and unlike his predecessors, he donated his presidential salary. Except none of those assertions are true. Here’s a fact-check. Linda Qiu in the New York Times$ -- 7/11/26

Trump suggests a standing order to attack Iran if it assassinates him. But Vance would make the call -- President Donald Trump is suggesting he has left standing orders for the U.S. military to destroy Iran “ at levels they’ve never seen before ” if Tehran follows through on its long-standing threats to kill him. Will Weissert Associated Press -- 7/11/26

Six-hour polygraphs, forced reassignments: inside homeland security’s campaign of fear -- The ruthless gutting and reforming of the Department of Homeland Security has traumatized both workers and the most vulnerable immigrants. Lok Darjee in The Guardian -- 7/11/26