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California Policy and Politics Friday

Trump says California is full of fraud. Bonta says the claims are ‘reckless’ -- State Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta dismissed the Trump administration’s fraud allegations as “reckless” and “false,” noting California has recovered $2.7 billion fighting fraud since 2016. A controversial video by Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, targeting Armenian hospices in L.A. sparked backlash for racial stereotyping and making unsubstantiated organized crime claims. Suhauna Hussain and Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

Donors give over $3 million to boost tech-friendly California governor candidate -- The cash infusion could help the moderate San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan make up ground after a late entry into the governor’s race. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 2/6/26

L.A. mayor’s race is in major flux, days before deadline -- The race for Los Angeles mayor has been in an extraordinary state of flux, with the candidate lineup shuffling and reshuffling in the final days before the filing deadline. David Zahniser and Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

Are S.F. streets really cleaner for the Super Bowl? -- The sidewalks near Moscone Center are sparkling — actually sparkling — this week, after you get past the jersey barriers and other security for the convention center’s Super Bowl Experience. St. John Barned-Smith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/26

ICE

Santa Clara enacts policy blocking ICE from accessing city-owned properties ahead of Super Bowl LX -- Following pressure from advocates and residents over concerns that the Bay Area would be targeted for immigration raids during Super Bowl week, Santa Clara has enacted a last-minute policy ahead of the game to prevent federal agents from using city-owned property for immigration enforcement activities. Grace Hase in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/6/26

Homeland Security runs out of money next Friday. What could it mean for California? -- But immigration enforcement would continue without reforms Democrats are aggressively seeking in the aftermath of the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti last month in Minneapolis by federal agents. Immigration enforcement is funded by separate legislation that was approved last year. David Lightman and Mathew Miranda in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/6/26

Long Beach mayoral candidate facing death threats after viral video calls on gang leaders to oppose ICE -- Long Beach mayoral candidate Rogelio Martinez posted a video on social media calling for “55 gang leaders” to gather “peacefully” to take back the city from ICE. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

After court ruling, Democratic lawmakers carry out congressional oversight at ICE facility in Los Angeles -- U.S. Reps. Norma Torres (D-Pomona) and Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) conducted a congressional oversight inspection of the ICE detention facility in downtown Los Angeles amid reports of a previously undisclosed holding area for immigrant families. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

ICE keeps freezing lawmakers out of detention centers, despite court orders -- More than a dozen members of Congress, including five from California, are suing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements and the Department of Homeland Security for preventing them from conducting unannounced inspections of detention facilities since last summer’s enforcement surge in Los Angeles. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/26

L.A. public defenders are on a remarkable win streak as Trump DOJ charges activists -- The Justice Department has filed assault and other charges against more than 100 people since June in connection with immigration operations. Defense lawyers contend these cases should never have been brought, with weak evidence that juries consistently reject, prompting legal experts to question the prosecution strategy. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

Sacramento immigration raid violated court order, ACLU and UFW tell federal judge -- Border Patrol agents did not properly document their arrests of 12 people at a south Sacramento Home Depot store last summer and wrongly claimed the detentions were warranted because the targets tried to flee, lawyers for the ACLU and the United Farmworkers Union argued in court on Thursday. Sharon Bernstein in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/6/26

Conservative group sues S.F. over reparations plan -- San Francisco’s proposal for reparations to descendants of slaves and other victims of racial discrimination was challenged in court Thursday by a conservative group, which said the plan itself would discriminate on the basis of race. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/26

Newsom walks thin line on immigrant health as he eyes presidential bid -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has acknowledged he is eyeing a presidential bid, has incensed both Democrats and Republicans over immigrant healthcare, underscoring the delicate political path ahead. Christine Mai-Duc KFF Health News in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

California bill would make fossil fuel companies help pay for rising insurance costs -- SB 982, the Affordable Insurance Recovery Act, would authorize California’s attorney general to file civil litigation against fossil fuel companies to recover losses from climate-induced disasters experienced by policyholders and the state’s insurer of last resort. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/6/26

Tens of thousands of Californians pay more for health insurance this year after subsidy cuts -- For Mikayla Tencer, being self-employed already meant juggling higher taxes, irregular income and the constant pressure of finding her own health insurance. This year, it also meant rethinking how often she could afford to see a doctor. Meg Tanaka and Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

Hollywood Burbank

Why some fear Burbank airport is an accident waiting to happen. ‘Everybody has had concerns’ -- Burbank’s main runway is particularly short, and there is significant, nearby air traffic from the busy Van Nuys Airport — located just six miles away — leaving little room for error as pilots prepare to land at Burbank, according to a review of safety records and interviews with local and national aviators. Grace Toohey and Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

SF Centre

S.F.’s shuttered mall could be sold for a deep discount. Here’s who might buy it -- A closely watched bidding contest is expected to wrap up this month, with at least four local developers vying to acquire the 1.5 million-square-foot complex next to a major transit hub. Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/26

Workplace

Parents anxious but supportive as SFUSD strike looms: ‘Even one day could affect their learning’ -- With a potential teacher strike set to begin as soon as Monday in San Francisco, parents had mixed reactions to the news that their kids’ classrooms could shutter indefinitely as teachers demand raises, better healthcare coverage and special education support. Anna Bauman, Lucy Hodgman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/26

This is how S.F. City Hall is preparing for the looming teachers strike -- City Hall plans to give free lunches to students who typically rely on their schools for food and will allow some city-sponsored after-school programs to provide services all day, according to a memo obtained by the Chronicle. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/26

Kaiser workers launch war against AI, protesting potential job losses and patient harm -- Kaiser says AI could save employees from tedious, time-consuming tasks such as taking notes and paperwork. Workers say that could be the first step down a slippery slope that leads to layoffs and damage to patient health. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

Tech layoffs: Meta cuts more than 100 Bay Area jobs -- Meta plans to eliminate 102 jobs in Menlo Park and Sunnyvale as job cuts continue to ripple through the region. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/26

Water

How failing negotiations could spiral into a bitter fight over the Colorado River -- With the leaders of seven states deadlocked over the Colorado River’s deepening crisis, negotiations increasingly seem likely to fail — which could lead the federal government to impose unilateral cuts and spark lawsuits that would bring a complex court battle. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

Education

Here’s how Gov. Newsom proposes to revamp the state education department -- Two months ago, the idea of stripping the State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s job of managing the California Department of Education and handing it to the governor was a recommendation in a university-based research center’s report. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 2/6/26

Sac City Unified superintendent Lisa Allen resigns amid budget crisis -- Lisa Allen, Sacramento City Unified School District superintendent of under three years, announced Thursday in a staff meeting that it is her last day on the job, a district spokesperson confirmed. The move comes as the district works to claw itself out of a budget crisis that puts it at high risk of fiscal insolvency by the end of the year. Jennah Pendleton in the Sacramento Bee$ Savannah Kuchar KVIE Abridged -- 02/05/26

Up to 9 San Jose Unified elementary schools could close. Here are the options -- San Jose Unified School District released a list of up to nine elementary schools that could be closed or consolidated next year in an effort to tackle years of declining student enrollment and budget constraints. Molly Gibbs in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/6/26

Tijuana River

EPA chief vows federal support for Tijuana River crisis, voices confidence in Mexico -- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says Trump personally invested in ending decades-long sewage pollution affecting South Bay communities. Walker Armstrong in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 2/6/26

Street

L.A. County ‘imposter’ demanded the Guthries pay bitcoin ransom for mother’s return, authorities allege -- After that emotional video was posted and publicized, authorities say Derrick Callella, of Hawthorne, sent messages to Guthrie family members. Richard Winton and Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/26

Human remains found in multiple locations across Monterey County, authorities say -- Human remains discovered along remote roads in Monterey County over the past month have triggered multiple investigations, unsettling residents and leaving authorities with more questions than answers. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/26

Also

Jeffrey Epstein’s Money Mingled With Silicon Valley Start-Ups -- The disgraced financier regularly courted tech industry figures not just for their prestige but also for access to promising companies. Ryan Mac, Erin Griffith and Matthew Goldstein in the New York Times$ -- 2/6/26

Walters: California can’t shed a history of persistent government corruption -- Susan Shelley, a columnist at the Orange County Register, recently reminded her readers — and the whole state — that California has a corruption problem. She focused mainly on a string of corruption cases involving Southern California politicians, particularly members of the Los Angeles City Council. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 2/6/26

Road warriors? 49ers to play in first NFL game in Australia vs. Rams in 2026 -- The 49ers anticipated potentially giving up a home game for an international one. But because the Rams hold international marketing rights in Australia, the Niners on paper will be the visiting team. Noah Furtado in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/26

California Congress member’s barefoot Bob Weir tribute draws decorum reminder -- Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, took to the House floor on Wednesday, Feb. 4, to pay tribute to Weir, the legendary guitarist who died Jan. 10 at 78, and highlight the musician’s deep ties to Marin County and the North Bay. At the close of his remarks, Huffman explained his unconventional footwear choice. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/26

Man who videotaped himself BASE jumping in Yosemite arrested, federal officials say. He says it was AI -- The investigation began in October, when someone reported to the National Park Service tip line an Instagram video of a man making the jump on Oct. 8, according to a criminal complaint. The video, posted to an account bearing Propeck’s name, pans to the man’s face as he deploys a parachute, it states. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

Sacramento author and internment camp survivor says ‘we are repeating history’ -- When soldiers came for her family in Sacramento during World War II, Sato was forced to leave her two dogs behind in the shed on her family’s property. “I left the shed door cracked open,” Sato said. When the war ended and she returned home years later, the dogs were still there. They did not survive. “The dogs had waited. They died of broken hearts,” Sato said. Rob Stewart KVIE Abridged -- 02/05/26

People in This San Francisco Suburb Would Like the Earth to Just Stop Shaking, Please -- San Ramon, Calif., has been rattled by dozens of small earthquakes in recent months. Even in a region used to regular shaking, it’s been a lot. Amy Graff in the New York Times$ -- 2/6/26

POTUS 47

Trump Posts Video Online Depicting Obamas as Apes -- Sen. Tim Scott calls it ‘the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House’ Natalie Andrews in the Wall Street Journal$ Erica L. Green and Isabella Kwai in the New York Times$ Ana Ceballos in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

Administration Social Media Posts Echo White Supremacist Messaging -- A flurry of posts from the White House, Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security have included images, slogans and even a song used by the white nationalist right. Evan Gorelick in the New York Times$ -- 2/6/26

Senate is not ‘anywhere close’ to a funding deal as ICE fight intensifies -- Democrats are demanding a slate of reforms including body cameras and warrant requirements to fund Homeland Security. Republicans say that another short-term extension is probably needed before the Feb. 13 deadline. Gavin J. Quinton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/26

Job openings plummet in warning sign for Trump's economy -- President Donald Trump’s economy is booming. But if you’re looking for a job, good luck. Sam Sutton Politico -- 2/6/26

Trump wanted Dulles Airport and Penn Station named after him as condition of releasing rail tunnel funds -- Trump administration officials made it known to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that the president would release federal funds for a massive rail tunnel project connecting New York and New Jersey on the condition that two major travel hubs be renamed in his honor, according to three people with knowledge of the request. Chris Marquette, Mia McCarthy, Meredith Lee Hill, Ry Rivard and Jordain Carney Politico -- 2/6/26

Failure to Alert Judge to Press Law for Reporter Search Draws Ethical Scrutiny -- The Justice Department may have violated a candor rule by not disclosing a 1980 law when seeking a warrant for a Washington Post reporter’s home. Charlie Savage in the New York Times$ -- 2/6/26

Trump administration launches TrumpRx website for discounted drugs -- The government-hosted website is not a platform for buying medications. Instead, it’s set up as a facilitator, pointing Americans to drugmakers’ direct-to-consumer websites, where they can make purchases. It also provides coupons to use at pharmacies. The site launches with over 40 medications, including weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Ali Swenson Associated Press -- 2/6/26