California Policy and Politics Saturday

California Democrats plan to investigate Trump but leave a third impeachment off the table for now -- California Democrats are poised to lead key congressional committees as their party takes control of Congress, putting them at the center of investigations into President Trump. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/14/26

Tax the rich — sometimes. California voters sent mixed signals with ballot measures -- California voters shot down a tax on billionaires’ assets but said yes to a high-income tax. They were just two of the five tax questions on the ballot. Kristen Hwang, Yue Stella Yu and Jeanne Kuang Calmatters -- 11/14/26

L.A.’s police union spent big in the city runoff election, only to lose key races -- The Police Protective League poured well over $7 million into efforts to defeat mayoral candidate Nithya Raman over the last seven months, putting out attack ads, text messages and even a multi-page brochure highlighting her support from Democratic Socialists of America. Raman beat Mayor Karen Bass anyway. And that wasn’t the only race where the PPL fell short. David Zahniser, Melissa Gomez and Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/14/26

CA Insurance Department accidentally reveals another judge complained about internal misconduct -- California’s Insurance Department reversed course Friday and chose to talk about a lawsuit brought by a former administrative judge against Commissioner Ricardo Lara and others, which accuses them of illegally approving rate increases. Levi Sumagaysay Calmatters -- 11/14/26

Hollywood’s tax credit push runs into a post-midterm wall -- Congressional Republicans are still regrouping from their losses, raising questions about their appetite for legislating in the final weeks of the year — especially on a federal film and television production tax break that would benefit an industry the party has long viewed as an adversary. Daniel Miller and Bernie Becker Politico -- 11/14/26

 

Downtown L.A.’s long-awaited comeback may finally be taking shape -- After years of soaring vacancies, downtown L.A.’s office market posted a modest net gain in leased space, while major tenants are signing long-term deals. Apartment occupancy has topped pre-pandemic levels, and new classrooms, a concert hall and museum expansion are adding residents and cultural life. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/14/26

 

Longtime Northern California congressman ousted by political newcomer -- Eric Jones, a self-funded political newcomer, defeated longtime Rep. Mike Thompson in Northern California’s 4th District, winning 52.5% of the vote as the race was called by the Associated Press on Friday night. Nicole Nixon and Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ Mathew Miranda in the Sacramento Bee$ Blake Jones Politico Hannah Wiley in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/14/26

This was one of California’s GOP strongholds. Even it joined the ‘blue wave’ -- With its seas of oil rigs, wide-open agricultural land and country music heritage, Kern County resembles California’s very own Texas. Danielle Echeverria in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/14/26

California Republican leader loses Central Valley reelection bid -- Assembly Republican Leader Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, suffered a stunning upset Friday in her reelection bid for her Central Valley seat, capping off what has been a disastrous legislative election for the party. Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/14/26

Voters pass Proposition 42, barring new taxes on personal assets -- The proposition bars any new tax on personal property, such as 401(k) accounts, business interests, digital assets, intellectual property, and personal belongings. Real estate isn’t included. It also prohibits retroactive taxes, except in cases of a state-declared emergency. Dakota Smith and Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ Ben Paviour in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/14/26

 

Thousands of flights affected by FAA ground stop. Here are your rights as a passenger -- Thousands of flights across America were delayed, canceled and stuck on the tarmac Friday after the FAA announced a ground stop. Here’s what to know if you are affected. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/14/26

 

ICE detention deaths: Lawmakers vow action after Chronicle investigation of medical failures -- Democrats preparing to take charge of Congress vowed to investigate and boost oversight of ICE after the Chronicle revealed immigrants have died at high rates in detention across the country after receiving care that the agency itself deemed inadequate. St. John Barned-Smith, Ko Lyn Cheang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/14/26

Arellano: Mexican ambassador says ‘it’s business as usual’ after the midterms and Miller’s promotion -- Ambassador Roberto Lazzeri Montaño was confident but clear-eyed, knowing he needs to keep el Norte happy — but not at the expense of his patria. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/14/26

'Bring him home': San Diego officials, parents, teachers rally for 8-year-old boy detained by ICE -- Hundreds of parents, teachers and elected officials protested in front of the federal building downtown Thursday, demanding the release of the Haitian boy who was taken into federal custody last week. Alexander Nguyen KPBS -- 11/14/26

 

Surfers Scramble to California Hot Spot to Catch Building-Size Waves -- Word had spread quickly among their close-knit surfing community that a swell in the Pacific was traveling thousands of miles across the ocean and was expected to bring mountains of water nearing 50 feet tall to Mavericks, a famed surf spot 20 miles south of San Francisco. Amy Graff in the New York Times$ -- 11/14/26

Also

Silicon Valley plots Jensen Huang’s comeback -- But while national security hawks and tech skeptics in Washington prepare to haul him before Congress to bring further scrutiny of his affair with an alleged Chinese intelligence asset, Silicon Valley leaders are mourning his swift exit and positing ways that he could return. Aaron Mak Politico Rolfe Winkler in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/14/26

Silicon Valley Is Used to Scandal. This One Upped the Ante -- As Jensen Huang abruptly departs, the tech community grapples with an eternal question: Why do the smartest and most successful men so often act so stupidly? David Streitfeld in the New York Times$ -- 11/14/26

POTUS 47

Top Democrat Eyes Filibuster-Proof Bill to Unlock Affordability Agenda -- The lawmaker set to lead the House Budget Committee outlined Democrats’ options for forcing a negotiation with President Trump on an economic package to bring down living costs. Catie Edmondson in the New York Times$ -- 11/14/26

Duffy points finger at FAA contractor for nationwide ground stop -- Duffy, at a press conference plagued by audio problems, said it was unclear whether it was an error from L3 Harris, a longtime contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration, or if it was a faulty system. Oriana Pawlyk Politico -- 11/14/26

Nvidia scandal hits Trump’s political vulnerabilities after Democratic sweep -- Sex. Money. Power. Espionage. As Washington scandals go, this one has everything. But what really makes ex-Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s affair with a suspected Chinese spy an explosive political problem for the White House is that it brings together the very issues that propelled Democrats to their largest congressional majority since 1990. Isaac Arnsdorf and Cat Zakrzewski in the Washington Post$ -- 11/14/26