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California Policy and Politics Wednesday
‘The crisis is here and now’: Hollywood’s anxiety reshapes California politics -- Long a force in presidential politics, the industry is entering the midterms with a more urgent and self-interested agenda. Daniel Miller and Jeremy B. White Politico -- 5/20/26
Hilton and Becerra lead in a tightening race in final weeks of California governor’s campaign, poll shows -- Former Biden Cabinet member Xavier Becerra remains the top Democrat in the California governor’s race despite being targeted by a barrage of negative political ads and enduring sharp attacks from his rival candidates during recent debates, according to a new poll released Tuesday by the state Democratic Party. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ Linh Tat in the Orange County Register$ -- 5/20/26
Can you trust that post about Tom Steyer? How paid influencers are flooding into the governor’s race -- Billionaire Tom Steyer is paying influencers to boost his California governor campaign. Some didn’t disclose it. A state law offers little accountability. Jeanne Kuang, Yue Stella Yu and Maya C. Miller Calmatters -- 5/20/26
In growing fight, Steyer’s campaign says pro-Becerra influencers didn’t disclose pay -- In the latest escalation of a fight over the use of paid social media creators, Tom Steyer’s campaign for governor filed a complaint Tuesday accusing influencers who posted content supportive of Xavier Becerra’s campaign of failing to disclose that they had been paid, which is required by California law. One of the two influencers accused, however, said she had not been paid by the Becerra campaign to create posts supporting his candidacy. Ben Wieder in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
This California district is a must-win for Democrats. They’re fighting over who can flip it -- Like Captain Ahab with his white whale, Democrats have spent years chasing Rep. David Valadao. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/26
‘There will be blood’: Why the race for California’s 40th Congressional District is so volatile — and expensive -- The negativity in the race has abounded, since redistricting pitted two incumbents against one another: Rep. Ken Calvert, a Corona Republican who has served in Congress since 1993, and Rep. Young Kim, an Anaheim Hills Republican who defeated a sitting Democrat in 2020 to first join the House. Kaitlyn Schallhorn in the Orange County Register$ -- 5/20/26
What are they trying to hide? California lawmakers kill lobbying transparency bills -- Good government groups backed legislation that sought to make every lobbyist letter public and online. Those proposals appear dead for the year. Ryan Sabalow Calmatters -- 5/20/26
Even while courting moderates on voter ID, GOP leaders still push debunked fraud narrative -- While GOP lawmakers try to convince moderates that a voter ID requirement is a “common sense” idea, they continue to push President Donald Trump’s debunked fraud narrative. Nadia Lathan Calmatters -- 5/20/26
‘The whole system has to be reimagined’ — Newsom calls for rethinking economy amid AI boom -- Gavin Newsom argued for a fundamental overhaul of economic and tax policy on Tuesday as he tested a populist message with a crowd of Democratic political professionals ahead of a likely presidential run. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 5/20/26
In D.C., Gavin Newsom previews his pitch: ‘People want fighters’ -- Every Democrat has a theory for the party’s way out of the wilderness of the Trump era and back to the White House. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s is “fighting fire with fire.” Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/26
Why Nancy Pelosi bypassed Scott Wiener and endorsed his rival -- Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and state Sen. Scott Wiener are two of the best known elected officials in San Francisco. Wiener is now the front-runner in the race to succeed Pelosi in Congress. Yet the two high-profile Democrats have virtually no relationship, a fact driven home Monday by Pelosi’s endorsement of one of Wiener’s Democratic rivals. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/26
L.A.’s democratic socialists look to boost their clout in City Hall -- Democratic socialists in L.A. have been gaining power over the last six years. This year, the local DSA chapter has endorsed in five City Hall races. Opponents say DSA policies aren’t practical for the city, despite recent successes. Sandra McDonald in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
Immigrant rights advocates rally for more state healthcare funding, criticize Newsom -- Human rights advocates on Tuesday rallied outside the state Capitol to push back on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget plan to reduce state-sponsored healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants. Katie King in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
ICE
Adelanto ICE detainees launch hunger strike to demand improved conditions -- More than 40 people began a hunger strike inside the Adelanto ICE Processing Center on Friday to demand quicker medical attention and to protest meager food portions and mold in the showers, several detained people told the Southern California News Group. Ryanne Mena in the Orange County Register$ -- 5/20/26
Workplace
In deal with business leaders, $30 minimum wage for L.A. hotel and airport workers will be delayed -- A $30 minimum wage for hotel and airport workers will be delayed after Los Angeles elected officials persuaded a group of business leaders to drop a ballot measure that would have devastated the city budget. Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
Tech layoffs top 5,000 in Bay Area this year after LinkedIn announces cuts -- LinkedIn disclosed a decision to slash hundreds of Bay Area jobs, a downsizing that sends this year’s announced tech layoffs in the region past a milestone of 5,000 staffing cutbacks. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/20/26
Meta Begins Laying Off Thousands of Employees as It Transforms Around AI -- The cuts of roughly 8,000 jobs, or 10% of staff, are meant to offset the cost of the company’s AI investments. Meghan Bobrowsky and Raffaele Huang in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 5/20/26
Marketplace
Dogfight over California: The ugly battle between electric air taxi leaders Joby and Archer -- Two California companies at the front of the global race to bring battery-powered air taxis to the public are trying to trip each other up in court. Caroline Petrow-Cohen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
Wildfire
Crews continue aggressive fight against Sandy fire, other SoCal blazes -- Another “dynamic day” is expected Wednesday in the Sandy fire, officials said, when crews will be working to keep the fire from spreading into areas including the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and Box, Bell and Woolsey canyons. Terry Castleman, Karen Garcia and Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
California wildfires: Three blazes burning now are a wake-up call for challenging summer ahead, Cal Fire chief says -- California is entering summer with fire danger already running higher than usual, fueled by dry grass, early snowmelt, persistent wind and a hot March that left parts of Northern California especially vulnerable, state fire officials said Tuesday. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/20/26
Housing
S.F. plans huge expansion of affordable housing fund amid push to ease building rules -- The city would more than double its annual contribution to an affordable housing trust fund under a charter amendment proposed by District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar with the support of Mayor Daniel Lurie. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/26
Education
California, other states sue over new Trump limits on loans for nurses, PAs, therapists -- California and a coalition of other Democratic-led states are suing the Trump administration over new limits on federal borrowing by aspiring nurses, physician’s assistants, therapists, social workers, mental health practitioners and other healthcare workers, arguing the changes will further reduce a struggling but vital workforce. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
California community colleges crack down on fake students stealing financial aid -- After a spike in fraudulent applications to California’s community colleges, school officials say they are getting better at detecting and preventing fraud, though it still happens. Adam Echelman Calmatters -- 5/20/26
Screens would be banned until 2nd grade under draft LAUSD plan -- The L.A. Board of Education got its first look at proposed screen-time limits for students, including a total ban until secnd grade. Over the next school year, the proposal would phase in daily screen-time limits that gradually increase by age. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
Street
Oakland could lose shelter beds, close fire stations if voters don’t pass parcel tax, mayor says -- Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s first budget proposal delivers a blunt message to voters weighing yet another city tax: Without new money, Oakland can avoid layoffs of city staff, but not deeper deterioration in basic services. Kate Talerico in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/26
San Diego Mosque
‘He was my protector’: Daughter of security guard at San Diego mosque remembers her dad as her hero -- Families of the other two victims, Nader Awad and Mansour Kaziha, did not speak, but others at the press conference called them brave heroes whose losses are unfathomable. Roxana Popescu, Alex Riggins in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 5/20/26
San Diego shooting victims remembered for selfless dedication to their Muslim community -- A burly security guard, a paternal shopkeeper and a husband of a teacher were described as pillars of the Islamic Center of San Diego. Randy Dotinga and Daniel Wu in the Washington Post$ -- 5/20/26
Teens suspected in mosque shooting met online, where they were radicalized, FBI says -- Investigators believe that two teens who killed three people at San Diego’s largest mosque before fatally shooting themselves had been radicalized online, where the two became virtual friends before meeting up in person, authorities said Tuesday. A manifesto had been recovered, and the incident is being investigated as a hate crime. Teri Figueroa, Karen Kucher in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 5/20/26
San Diego attackers’ hate manifesto targeted many groups, sought ‘destruction of political system,’ sources say -- The gunman who killed three people at the San Diego Islamic Center left behind a 75-page document that preached hate, anti-Islam and antisemitism and promoted violence and chaos, law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation told The Times. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
The San Diego Mosque Shootings Were a Crime Made for and by the Internet -- The teenagers met online and bonded over shared hatreds. When they realized they both lived in the San Diego area, they met in person. And when they decided to kill, they apparently livestreamed themselves. Tim Arango, Chelsia Rose Marcius, Madison Malone Kircher and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs in the New York Times$ -- 5/20/26
San Diego Attack Follows Alarm About Rising Islamophobia -- Muslims pointed to a rise in overt hatred online, political attacks and harassment in the months before the killing of three people outside an Islamic center. Shaila Dewan and Jill Cowan in the New York Times$ -- 5/20/26
Breathe
Volvo to pay $197 million after hidden pollution device found in California truck engines -- Volvo Group North America has agreed to pay nearly $197 million to resolve allegations from California regulators that company’s heavy-duty truck engines violated California emissions standards and certification requirements. Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
Wildfire
Report finds no failures in Altadena fire evacuations. Critics decry lack of accountability -- More than a year after the deadly Eaton fire swept through Altadena, killing 19 people, a new, outside review of firefighters’ decision-making concluded “there was no failure” by L.A. County fire officials in ordering evacuations. Grace Toohey and Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
Fire tearing through Santa Rosa Island reaches critically endangered trees -- The critically endangered Torrey pine tree only grows naturally two places in the world — a state park near San Diego and on Santa Rosa Island — and one of those places is on fire. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
Ebola
‘This is bad’: Bay Area experts warn Ebola outbreak could worsen quickly -- Infectious disease experts are concerned the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda is worsening — and while the risk to the U.S. public is low, they hope it doesn’t reach the devastating scale of the 2014 outbreak that originated in West Africa and killed more than 11,000 people, the largest Ebola outbreak since the virus was discovered half a century ago. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/26
Also
Tennis great Billie Jean King graduates from Cal State L.A. 65 years after enrolling -- Long before Billie Jean King won dozens of Grand Slam tennis titles, founded the Women’s Tennis Assn., became part owner of the Dodgers and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, she enrolled in what was then called Los Angeles State College. Steve Henson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
Burglary suspect trapped in a wall is rescued after Salinas cops on coffee break hear his cries for help -- A group of Salinas police officers were enjoying a break from fighting crime at a local coffee roaster when they heard faint cries coming from the walls. Summer Lin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/26
Huge, Hungry Whales Are San Francisco’s Latest Traffic Headache -- To stop the growing number of ships colliding with whales, scientists are deploying a network of AI-powered cameras in the San Francisco Bay. Jim Carlton, Poppy Lynch in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 5/20/26
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Police officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 sue to block Trump’s $1.8 billion fund -- Two police officers who defended the Capitol against a pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, 2021, sued the Trump administration on Wednesday to try to block the creation of a nearly $1.8 billion fund that they say will be used to reward the rioters and right-wing militia groups who tried to stop Congress from certifying the election results that day. Luke Broadwater in the New York Times$ -- 5/20/26
Senate advances anti-Iran war measure in surprise blow to Trump -- Democrats won an unexpected victory Tuesday when legislation to halt the Iran war cleared an initial hurdle in the Senate — a vote that strengthens their hand in the increasingly fractious debate over the conflict. Connor O'Brien Politico Theodoric Meyer in the Washington Post$ -- 5/20/26
Trump’s Deal With His Administration Also Ends His Tax Audits --Addendum to agreement creating ‘anti-weaponization’ fund stipulates that government will cease tax inquiries into Trump and his businesses. Richard Rubin in the Wall Street Journal$ Alan Feuer, Andrew Duehren and Glenn Thrush in the New York Times$ -- 5/20/26
With Trump’s Settlement, a Possible $100 Million I.R.S. Penalty Melts Away -- A tax audit that President Trump has been fighting since his peak earning days as a television celebrity was most likely wiped away in this week’s settlement with the Justice and Treasury Departments. Russ Buettner in the New York Times$ -- 5/20/26
California Policy and Politics Tuesday
Federal agents raid homes of Ventura County immigration activists -- Federal agents searched the homes of immigrant rights activists in an early morning raid that activists allege was retaliatory and part of an ongoing harassment campaign for their work patrolling and monitoring immigration operations in Ventura County. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
What we know about the teens accused of attacking San Diego Islamic Center, killing 3 -- One of the guns had hate speech written on it, the sources told The Times, and anti-Islamic writings were found in a vehicle. “At least one of the suspects took a firearm from their parents’ home” and left a suicide note, “writing about racial pride,” sources said. Richard Winton, Hannah Fry, Salvador Hernandez and Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
Security guard’s ‘heroic’ actions saved others in San Diego mosque attack, officials say -- San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the security guard who was inside the mosque was “able to minimize the situation to the front area of the mosque” and saved lives. “His actions were heroic,” he said. Hannah Fry and Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
A Fearful Phone Call and a Frantic Search Preceded Mosque Shooting -- San Diego police arrived to find three people dead. Nearby, they found two teenagers, the attackers, dead in a car. The violence shattered an idyllic Southern California city. Tim Arango, Christina Morales, Candice Reed and Chelsia Rose Marcius in the New York Times$ -- 5/19/26
Five dead, including two teenage suspects, at San Diego mosque shooting -- Three people were fatally shot at an Islamic center in Clairemont on Monday morning, and two teenage suspects were found dead of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds in a vehicle nearby, San Diego police said. Karen Kucher, Teri Figueroa, Caleb Lunetta in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Salvador Hernandez, Suhauna Hussain, Richard Winton and Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ Karen Kucher, Teri Figueroa, Caleb Lunetta in the San Diego Union Tribune Tim Arango, Christina Morales, Candice Reed and Chelsia Rose Marcius in the New York Times$ -- 5/19/26
Billionaire Tom Steyer’s $192.4-million self-funded California gubernatorial bid shatters records -- His massive self-funding revives California’s fraught history of wealthy self-funding candidates, as voters and rivals question his hedge fund’s investment in fossil fuels and other industries that are anathema to many liberal voters. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
Tom Steyer walks back support for data center moratorium -- The billionaire climate activist and Democratic gubernatorial candidate told Greenpeace he supports a moratorium, but now Steyer’s campaign says he doesn’t. Tyler Katzenberger and Blake Jones Politico -- 5/19/26
In deep blue California, Dems find a villain toxic enough to rival Trump: The power company -- First came Tom Steyer, trashing “the monopolistic power of utilities” and repeatedly calling out energy companies by name for what he says are their exorbitant rates and poor service. Then it was Xavier Becerra, the Democratic frontrunner, taking shots at the energy industry in a debate. Noah Baustin Politico -- 5/19/26
NYT Opinion: Who Should Govern California? -- Times Opinion assembled a panel of experts with a range of viewpoints for a new installment of The Choice, aimed at guiding voters — and in California, especially Democratic voters — through the complex issues in this election. The item is in the New York Times$ -- 5/19/26
Nancy Pelosi endorses Connie Chan to succeed her in S.F. House race -- Chan and two other Democrats, state Sen. Scott Wiener and former congressional staffer Saikat Chakrabarti, are the top candidates in the race to replace Pelosi. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Dustin Gardiner Politico Maya C. Miller Calmatters -- 5/19/26
Why California Republicans sent a cease-and-desist letter to one of their rising stars -- The California Republican Party has taken the unusual step of threatening legal action against one of its rising stars — Assembly Member Carl DeMaio — for his “brazen and unlawful campaign to deceive California voters.” Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/19/26
Homeless people on Skid Row were paid to register to vote, feds charge -- A longtime signature gatherer will plead guilty to paying homeless people on Skid Row to help get initiatives on the ballot, federal prosecutors said Monday, part of an effort to crack down on what they claim is widespread voter fraud across the state. Rebecca Ellis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
Legislature’s fiscal analyst says California ‘ill‑prepared’ under Newsom budget -- The state Legislature’s nonpartisan and independent fiscal analysts threw some cold water on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s celebratory announcement last week that he’d closed California’s structural deficits in his final budget proposal as governor. Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/19/26
Walters: Gavin Newsom’s last budget still would leave California’s finances wobbly -- Last week Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a revised version of his eighth and final state budget, which he said would not only be balanced for the 2026-27 fiscal year but also for his successor’s first year. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 5/19/26
City Council progressives snub Raman, endorse Bass in L.A. mayor’s race -- Three members of the L.A. City Council’s progressive bloc endorsed Mayor Bass for reelection, snubbing fellow progressive Nithya Raman in the June 2 primary. The endorsements from Eunisses Hernandez, Ysabel Jurado and Hugo Soto-Martínez underscore fractures on L.A.’s left. All three are members of the Democratic Socialists of America, as is Raman. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
Arellano: Spencer Pratt’s Make L.A. Great Again acolytes and their dark vision of the city -- Instead of holding events around Los Angeles to convince skeptics that his mayoral campaign is for everyone, the former reality television bad boy has bunkered himself inside an echo chamber of sycophants, friendly podcasters and milquetoast media outlets. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
Sacramento DA Ho claims credit over ICE refusals. Does he play any role? -- But in reality, Ho has no authority over whether law enforcement agencies cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Mathew Miranda in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/19/26
Wildfire
Sandy fire growth stalls overnight, evacuation warnings lifting in Ventura County -- Lighter winds and cooler temperatures allowed firefighters to slow the growth of a fire in Simi Valley that forced tens of thousands of residents out of their homes, firefighting officials said. Terry Castleman and Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
Largest fire ever recorded on Santa Rosa Island endangers ‘gem of California coast’ -- A wildfire sparked by the flare of a shipwrecked mariner has burned nearly a fifth of Santa Rosa Island and marks what officials called the largest blaze recorded on the island in modern history. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
Eaton fire: No misconduct, delay in evacuation notices to west Altadena, report says -- An investigation into delayed evacuation orders for residents west of Lake Avenue in Altadena during the first hours of the Eaton fire revealed that incident commanders did not intentionally delay those warnings or engage in misconduct, according to a report released Monday, May 18. Nathaniel Percy in the Orange County Register$ -- 5/19/26
Workplace
‘Brutal’: Growing tribe of jobless techies is stuck in Silicon Valley’s new reality -- Battered by years of mass layoffs, California tech workers were hoping the job market would rebound this year. But things are getting worse. Now, many are redrawing their career paths. Queenie Wong, Carolyn Fong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
LinkedIn to lay off more than 600 California workers this summer -- Most of the cuts are in the Bay Area. LinkedIn plans to lay off 108 employees at its San Francisco office, 59 in Sunnyvale, 352 in Mountain View and 66 remote employees tied to Mountain View, according to the filings. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/19/26
The Morale of Tech Workers Is Plunging as Layoffs Mount -- On the website Blind, professionals share advice — and gallows humor — anonymously. It is chronicling the curdling of tech optimism. Noam Scheiber in the New York Times$ -- 5/19/26
Marketplace
The California-born fast-food chain crushed by costs, crime and competition -- Born as a South L.A. hot dog cart, Carl’s Jr. now faces a reckoning in its home turf, squeezed by rising California costs, intensifying burger competition and employee unrest. The franchisee controlling 59 Southern California outlets has sought bankruptcy protection, citing the state’s new $20 fast-food minimum wage. Itzel Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
Homeless
Oakland’s homeless count is down 20%. Here’s what might be behind the drop -- Oakland’s homeless population dropped 20% over the past two years to 4,410, with nearly 1,000 fewer people living unsheltered in encampments or vehicles, according to new county data. But advocates warn a wave of shelter closures could jeopardize the city’s progress. Kate Talerico, Maggie Angst in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/19/26
Homelessness falls in Alameda County as Bay Area sees fragile signs of progress -- Homelessness is falling in parts of the Bay Area after years of major public investment, with Alameda County the latest to report a significant decline, even as officials warn that progress could be fragile. Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/19/26
Housing
Rents are surging in S.F. Here’s where increases are the highest -- Renting in San Francisco this year is all horror stories. Prospective renters are met with dozens of people crowding open houses, many with already completed leasing applications in hand, apartments that are leased within a couple of days, and, worst of all, people offering to pay the landlord even more than the listed rent. Danielle Echeverria in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/19/26
Education
Top LAUSD academic chiefs leaving as test scores rise and FBI raid sidelines Carvalho -- The top two Los Angeles school district administrators in charge of instruction during the recent rise in test scores are leaving as the school board moves on with major budget and student technology issues without its nationally acclaimed and now entirely silenced leader, Supt. Alberto Carvalho. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
Breathe
3 countries. 16 stadiums. 104 matches. 2026 World Cup set to become ‘most polluting’ games ever -- As nearly 300,000 fans prepare to arrive in Los Angeles for the men’s World Cup soccer championship in mid-June, the international soccer federation is coming under fire for what climate scientists and advocates are calling the most polluting World Cup in history. Blanca Begert in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
Guns
Moving to California with a gun? You might have to take a four-hour course -- Californians would have to take a four-hour course with live-fire training to buy a gun if a bill advancing through the Legislature gets signed into law. Ryan Sabalow Calmatters -- 5/19/26
Also
San Francisco moves ahead with plan for public bank -- The proposal would go to voters, but would not provide a revenue stream to fund the bank. How to fund the bank could be the topic of heated future debate. Alyce McFadden in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/19/26
Silicon Valley’s Answer to Declining Male Fertility? Sperm Racing -- A San Francisco biotech start-up races sex cells on tiny tracks. Can an internet joke become a serious business? Daniel Waite Penny in the New York Times$ -- 5/19/26
A gray wolf has entered Sequoia National Park for the first time in a century -- It’s just a day in the life of the peripatetic wolf, who was born in far Northeastern California in 2023. She’s racked up hundreds of miles since leaving home, all of which appear to be in service of one thing: finding a mate to settle down with. Her continued sojourn suggests she’s still looking. Lila Seidman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/26
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Todd Blanche tells appropriators payouts for Jan. 6 rioters are possible -- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is not ruling out making payments to those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as part of the Justice Department’s new, $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” Hailey Fuchs and Josh Gerstein Politico -- 5/19/26
The anti-war crack in MAGA's youth base -- Young conservatives involved in Turning Point USA chapters in battleground states increasingly souring on the Iran war -- and some feel betrayed by President Donald Trump's "no wars" campaign promises. Ben Johansen Politico -- 5/19/26
Democratic district attorneys vow to prosecute federal agents who target voting sites -- A coalition of 10 district attorneys — including prosecutors in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Dallas — are vowing in an announcement expected Tuesday to investigate incidents of suspected voter intimidation by federal agents deployed at the behest of President Donald Trump. Aaron Pellish Politico -- 5/19/26
Judge Bars ICE From Making Immigration Arrests at Courts in New York -- A judge on Monday largely barred federal agents from making arrests in immigration courts in New York City, putting an abrupt halt to a policy that emerged last year as the centerpiece of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Manhattan. Jonah E. Bromwich and Benjamin Weiser in the New York Times$ -- 5/19/26
Treasury Lawyer Quits as Government Settles Trump IRS Suit -- The Treasury Department’s top lawyer resigned Monday as the government announced a controversial settlement with President Trump, according to people familiar with his departure. Richard Rubin and C. Ryan Barber in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 5/19/26
See How Trump’s Accounts Were Busy Trading Big Tech Stocks -- Money managers for the president made more than 3,700 trades in the first quarter, including million-dollar purchases of Nvidia, Dell and other Big Tech stocks. Trump’s managers pared his holdings in Microsoft and Amazon with sizable sales in the quarter. Jared Mitovich and Kara Dapena in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 5/19/26