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Updating . . .
California Policy and Politics Monday
LAUSD strike still on for Tuesday despite tentative agreements with two of three unions -- Two of three LAUSD unions reached tentative deals Sunday, but one union continues to negotiate. The strike will go on Tuesday unless all three unions settle. Howard Blume and Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/13/26
Feds file charges against Texas man suspected of firebombing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s S.F. home -- The charges came the same day the FBI raided Daniel Moreno-Gama’s home in Spring, Texas, about 40 miles north of Houston, the Houston Chronicle and Fox News reported. The FBI confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle that agents were conducting a court-authorized search in Spring, but provided no further details. David Hernandez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/13/26
Swalwell faces bipartisan push to expel him from Congress -- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said her motion to expel Swalwell could come as early as Tuesday. Democrats also want to expel Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzalez, who admitted to a sexual relationship with a staffer who later died by suicide. Ana Ceballos and Ben Wieder in the Los Angeles Times$ Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/13/26
Swalwell ‘suspends’ campaign for governor amid allegations of sexual assault, nude photos -- His campaign to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom has all but collapsed as key Democratic supporters, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Adam Schiff, abandon him. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell wrote on social media Sunday. Dakota Smith, Melody Gutierrez and Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ Jeremy B. White Politico Ben Finley Associated Press Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/13/26
Homeland Security to review allegation that Swalwell employed undocumented nanny -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is investigating whether Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell hired an undocumented immigrant as a nanny, the department announced on X. Noah Haggerty in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/13/26
How California Democrats Got Behind Swalwell — and Quickly Abandoned Him -- Representative Eric Swalwell, a Washington figure, was largely unknown in the California State Capitol. But influential groups began backing him for governor in the weeks before he was publicly accused of sexual assault. Laurel Rosenhall in the New York Times$ -- 4/13/26
Ro Khanna faces tech-backed challenger as Silicon Valley support fractures -- The battle over a proposed wealth tax has triggered what could be the first competitive race in a decade for a Silicon Valley congressional district, as a coalition of tech leaders has anointed a challenger to unseat Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna. Grace Hase in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/13/26
California Republicans rejoice over Swalwell scandal, but split on best GOP candidate for governor -- The party did not endorse a candidate for governor on Sunday because neither of the top Republicans — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton — received the support of 60% of delegates. Bianco won 49% while Hilton had 44%; 7% of delegates voted not to endorse in the race. Nicole Nixon and Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ Blake Jones Politico Teri Figueroa in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/13/26
Republicans acknowledge dimming midterm prospects at California GOP Convention -- Even as loyalty to President Donald Trump remains strong among California Republicans, there is a growing acknowledgement in the party that he has complicated their midterm prospects. Mathew Miranda in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/13/26
Wildfire
California leaders promised fire recovery in record time. Los Angeles isn’t seeing it -- Despite early predictions of a rapid recovery, the rate of rebuilding in Los Angeles 15 months after the blazes has fallen behind other recent California wildfires, a new Politico analysis finds. Liam Dillon and Sean McMinn Politico -- 4/13/26
Wildfires killed nearly 20% of the world’s giant sequoias. How crews are racing to save the rest -- Growing campaign of controlled burns, thinning and replanting seedlings aims to limit fire risk this summer and beyond. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/13/26
San Diego County supervisors used obscure events fund to solicit over $100K from influential donors since 2024 -- The practice raises concerns about transparency and the potential for untoward political influence, according to political scientists, government accountability advocates and former state regulators who spoke to KPBS. Scott Rodd, Carolyne Corelis KPBS -- 4/13/26
‘San Francisco treasure’: City, state leaders blast Trump for firing Presidio board -- Local and state leaders blasted President Donald Trump’s decision to fire all six board members of the Presidio Trust, the federal agency that runs the historic Presidio national park in San Francisco. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/13/26
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U.S. Blockade of Strait of Hormuz Appears to Take Effect -- The U.S. military blockade appeared to have started at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, according to a U.K. notice to mariners, after President Trump vowed to block ships entering or existing Iranian ports following failed peace talks. The item is in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/13/26
U.S. Threat to Blockade Hormuz Sets Up Risky New Showdown -- Move sets off a high-stakes war of attrition that will test who has the higher threshold for pain—Tehran or global markets. Vera Bergengruen, Shelby Holliday and Georgi Kantchev in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/12/26
US military says it will blockade Iranian ports after ceasefire talks ended without agreement -- U.S. Central Command announced the blockade would involve all Iranian ports, beginning on Monday at 10 a.m. EDT, or 5:30 p.m. in Iran, to be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations.” Munir Ahmed, Josh Boak, Sam Metz Associated Press -- 4/13/26
Trump Weighs Limited Strikes Against Iran After Peace Talks Collapse -- The White House is considering a menu of options in addition to blockading the Strait of Hormuz. Robbie Gramer and Alex Leary in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/13/26
News Analysis: Trump’s Strait of Hormuz blockade risks clash with China -- In recent days, Beijing has warned that access to its shipping lanes ‘must be guaranteed.’ A full blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could force China to become more directly involved in a conflict that is already heightening tensions with Washington. Michael Wilner in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/13/26
The War With Iran Offers a Snapshot of Trump World. It’s Not a Pretty Picture -- The conflict has proved messier and more complex than Trump expected. The resulting energy shocks have damaged the domestic economy and alienated allies. The already-limited political support for the war at home has rapidly eroded, even among some of Trump’s erstwhile supporters. Ian Ward Politico -- 4/13/26
Trump Says Gas Prices Might Not Drop By Midterms, Underscoring G.O.P. Peril -- The president has sent mixed messages on how long he expects costs to be high. Some in his party voiced fresh concern after his comments on Sunday. Tim Balk in the New York Times$ -- 4/13/26
China, Iran weaponized the global economy to beat the U.S. at its own game -- Twice in one year, the United States has been humbled by an adversary’s ability to weaponize its control over one of the global economy’s main arteries. David J. Lynch in the Washington Post$ -- 4/13/26
California Policy and Politics Sunday
LAUSD and teachers union reach tentative agreement days before threatened strike -- A tentative agreement between the LAUSD and the teachers union makes possible that a planned Tuesday strike could be averted. To avert a strike, agreements also must be reached with Local 99 of Service Employees International Union and Associated Administrators of Los Angeles. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ Mallika Seshadri, Betty Márquez Rosales Edsource -- 4/12/26
Trump fires entire San Francisco Presidio Trust board, all Biden appointees -- A year after threatening to “dramatically” downsize the operations of San Francisco’s Presidio, President Donald Trump has terminated the park’s board of trustees. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/12/26
Defiant Eric Swalwell digs in as DA opens investigation and staffers ‘stand’ with accusers -- A defiant Rep. Eric Swalwell is fighting on in his quest to become the next California governor despite growing calls to drop out, resign or even be expelled from Congress after the Chronicle reported Friday that a former staffer for the Castro Valley Democrat said he sexually assaulted her twice. Alexei Koseff, Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Dustin Gardiner Politico Melody Gutierrez, Dakota Smith, Nicole Nixon and Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ Orlando Mayorquín and Chris Hippensteel in the New York Times$ -- 4/12/26
Barabak: Eric Swalwell’s bid for California governor is over. Let the political scrambling begin -- Eric Swalwell’s campaign for governor is over, whether he admits it or not. For weeks, salacious talk swirled in campaign circles, ricocheted through email chains and was served up, like a buzzy side dish, over gossipy lunches from Sacramento to San Diego. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/12/26
Skelton: Bye, bye Eric. Swalwell needs to go -- There has never been a California governor’s race like this one. And that was even before the leading Democrat was shoved aside by shocking accusations of sexual assault. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/12/26
Push to Expel Swalwell Could Touch Off Chain Reaction of House Removal Votes -- The House could move within days to consider expelling Representative Eric Swalwell, Democrat of California, in light of sexual assault allegations against him. There could be more to come for both parties. Annie Karni in the New York Times$ -- 4/12/26
California Republicans are torn on following Trump’s lead in governor’s race -- President Donald Trump will face a test of his power Sunday in an unusual place: California, where the state’s Republican Party delegates will decide whether to follow his lead and endorse Fox News commentator Steve Hilton or buck him and back Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, an immigration hardliner who appeals to the party’s base. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Maura Fox in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/12/26
What each California governor candidate is campaigning on, according to 1.3 million ads -- Tom Steyer and Matt Mahan are running on housing and education. Eric Swalwell and Antonio Villaraigosa are running against Donald Trump. The candidates for California governor are spending millions of dollars on ads to define themselves against these issues — and more. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/12/26
Workplace
Meta, Oracle and Qualcomm share details on layoffs across California -- Oracle, Meta Platforms and Qualcomm have laid off hundreds of California workers, citing investments in artificial intelligence and cost-cutting measures. Workers worry that tech companies will automate tasks and shrink their workforce despite billions spent on AI development. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/12/26
Edison
Fire survivors call for audits of Edison’s wildfire prevention spending -- Fire survivors push for independent audits of Southern California Edison’s wildfire prevention spending after a Times investigation revealed it failed spend hundreds of millions of work it said was needed. The utility’s transmission line is now suspected of igniting the January 2025 Eaton fire, which killed 19 and destroyed thousands of homes. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/12/26
Data Centers
LA County cities weigh the data center question in the face of AI surge -- In a built-out region, the mere mention of data centers in local cities is sparking questions and concerns about power grid capacity and land use. San Gabriel Valley cities have become flashpoints. David Wilson, Joshua Silla in the LA Daily News -- 4/12/26
Homeless
Mayor Lurie says he’s trading S.F. shelter beds for sites with more services. Critics aren’t convinced -- As San Francisco overhauls its network of homeless shelters, a large facility near the Tenderloin that faced opposition from neighbors and the recent departure of its operator will close its doors. Lucy Hodgman, Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/12/26
Street
Sheriff’s lieutenant with million-pound fireworks stash led to deadly blast, prosecutors say -- Two pyrotechnic companies stored millions of pounds of explosives on the lieutenant’s property over the course of a decade, while he used his position to shield the illicit operation from scrutiny, prosecutors allege. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ Aldo Toledo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/12/26
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Trump threatens Strait of Hormuz blockade after U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks end without agreement -- President Trump on Sunday said the U.S. Navy would “immediately” begin a blockade to stop ships from entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after historic U.S.-Iran peace talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement or next steps in sight. Munir Ahmed, Josh Boak, Sam Metz Associated Press Megan Messerly Politico Katie Rogers, Tyler Pager, Aaron Boxerman and Isabel Kershner in the New York Times$ Susannah George, Natalie Allison and Shaiq Hussain in the Washington Post$ -- 4/12/26
Tehran says US ‘failed to gain the trust’ of Iran negotiators in Pakistan -- In a statement on X, Ghalibaf said that his country had gone into the talks “with the necessary good faith and will” and had proposed “forward-looking initiatives.” But he added that “due to the experiences of the two previous wars, we have no trust in the opposing side.” Hanne Cokelaere Politico -- 4/12/26
Trump Says Iran’s Water and Electric Plants Are ‘Easy to Hit’ -- “The only thing left, really, is their water, which would be very devastating to hit,” Trump said Sunday on Fox News. “I would hate to do it, but it’s their water, their desalinization plans, their electric generating plants, which are very easy to hit. Alex Leary in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/12/26
An Iran War Winner: China’s Green Industrial Complex -- Beijing’s push to sell its solar and wind power to the world gains momentum from Mideast troubles. Ed Ballard, Yusuf Khan and Hannah Miao in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/12/26