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California Policy and Politics Friday
Senators demand return of deported California DACA recipient -- Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) called for the Department of Homeland Security to return a California woman with DACA who was recently deported a day after her green card interview. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/26
California, 23 other states sue Trump over new tariffs -- They say President Donald Trump’s use of Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 — which he invoked after the U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 20 ruled that his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act was unconstitutional — is also illegal. Levi Sumagaysay Calmatters -- 3/6/26
It’s official: 8 Democrats will appear on the ballot for California governor -- As of Thursday eight major Democratic candidates had filed the paperwork required to run: Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Controller Betty Yee, state schools chief Tony Thurmond, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, billionaire Tom Steyer and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/6/26
Yes, Republicans have a chance in California governor’s race. Here’s our expert analysis -- “The race is unsettled.” So veteran California pollster Mark Baldassare told The Times’ Seema Mehta about his latest poll in the race for governor. Anita Chabria and Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/26
Arellano: Too many Democrats in California governor’s race? That’s a great thing -- After months of fretting, California Democratic leaders are now truly freaking out about too many of their own running for governor, potentially allowing two MAGA Republicans to advance to the general election. Someone find me the world’s smallest violin. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/26
A podcaster gave Newsom a gun. Are California laws keeping him from taking it home? -- Last year, conservative podcaster Shawn Ryan gave Gavin Newsom a SIG Sauer handgun, which the governor has yet to take home. To do so, Newsom would have to navigate a complicated web of California gun laws. Ryan Sabalow Calmatters -- 3/6/26
Newsom’s warning to Mamdani: ‘I know how this love story ends, Zohran’ -- The California governor, who once said he would approach Trump with “an open hand, not a closed fist,” has since taken a markedly more combative posture. Blake Jones Politico -- 3/6/26
Would Sacramento voters send a Republican to Congress? Kevin Kiley is betting on it -- As the sole viable Republican running against a sea of Democrats, Kiley stands a good chance of becoming one of the top two candidates and advancing to the general election on Nov. 3. Maya C. Miller Calmatters -- 3/6/26
CEO of California High-Speed Rail cleared to return to work after arrest -- The head of the California High-Speed Rail Authority has been cleared to return to work, members of the board of directors said following a closed session meeting on Wednesday. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/6/26
Walters: Californians despair about high cost of living. This housing can help -- When the Public Policy Institute of California released a new poll late last month, media coverage mainly focused on how the 11 candidates for governor were faring with voters. Dan Walter Calmatters -- 3/6/26
Workplace
Hundreds of applications, no jobs and AI competition: California’s brutal tech work landscape -- Laid-off tech worker Joseph Tinner has spent almost a year hunting for a job. It has been a depressing crash course on the sea change in Silicon Valley. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/26
SFPD orders steep overtime cuts amid city budget deficit -- After an order from Mayor Daniel Lurie this week to rein in overtime spending as the city eyes cuts to 500 positions citywide, the San Francisco Police Department imposed immediate overtime restrictions in an effort to cut costs. David Hernandez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/6/26
Twin Rivers teacher strike begins as both sides dig in their heels -- Teachers across Twin Rivers Unified were out of the classroom and on the picket line Thursday, for day one of the school district’s first-ever teacher strike. Educators are demanding salary increases they say are long overdue, along with fully paid health care coverage and smaller class sizes. Savannah Kuchar KVIE Abridged Jennah Pendleton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/6/26
Marketplace
Newsom planning $19-million push to polish California’s national image -- Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to spend $19 million promoting California and dispelling “myths driven by misinformation and political rhetoric” in a marketing campaign that would run through the final months of his administration as he weighs a potential run for president. Melody Gutierrez and Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/26
AI
In 2022, Ben Affleck became so fixated on AI in film production that he quietly launched his own film tech company, InterPositive -- In 2022, Ben Affleck became so fixated on AI in film production that he quietly launched his own film tech company, InterPositive. Netflix brought the startup into the spotlight Thursday morning as it announced the full acquisition of the company. Cerys Davies in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/26
Wildfire
Owners of fire-destroyed Palisades mobile home park seek to displace residents for development deal -- For months, former residents of the Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates have feared the uncommunicative owners of the property would seek to displace them in favor of a more lucrative development deal after the Palisades fire destroyed the rent-controlled, roughly 170-unit mobile home park. A confidential memorandum listing the Bowl for sale indicates the owners intend to do exactly that. Noah Haggerty in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/26
Education
California lawsuit asks judge to halt billions for school repairs until state commits to grant it equitably -- Attorneys for parents and students in school districts with unsafe, unhealthy and inadequate facilities that the districts say they can’t afford to fix asked the Alameda County Superior Court on Friday to freeze $3 billion in state funding for building repairs until the court has ruled on their lawsuit challenging the state’s funding system. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 3/6/26
Street
Jaylen Brown video sparks furor over how Beverly Hills police treat Black people -- Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown rejected Beverly Hills’ apology after police shut down his private All-Star Weekend event, citing financial and reputational harm. The incident reignited scrutiny of Beverly Hills Police’s treatment of Black people amid an ongoing $500-million class-action lawsuit alleging systemic racial profiling. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/26
Feds say 18th Street boss ‘Moms’ led gang for imprisoned Mexican Mafia husband -- When a Los Angeles drug trafficker wouldn’t pay taxes to the 18th Street gang, the order to kill her allegedly came from a high-ranking female member known as “Moms.” Brittny Mejia and Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/26
Also
Billionaire Ron Burkle accuses his political power-broker protégé of multimillion-dollar fraud -- Billionaire Ron Burkle sued lobbyist Darius Anderson, alleging he pocketed more than $20 million in profits from enterprises Burkle invested in — while failing to pay Burkle anything. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/26
We Considered Leaving the City in Retirement. We’re So Glad We Didn’t -- Yes, San Francisco can be expensive. But we find ourselves doing things we never had time for when working. Karen Kreider Yoder and Stephen Kreider Yoder in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 3/6/26
POTUS 47
Trump calls for Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ as Israel strikes Lebanon -- U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to rule out negotiations with Iran in a social media post calling for its “unconditional surrender.” Trump told media outlets on Thursday that he wants to be involved in picking Iran’s next leader. Lorian Belanger, Frank Griffiths, Sylvia Hui, Curtis Yee, Michael Warren Associated Press -- 3/6/26
Russia is providing Iran intelligence to target U.S. forces, officials say -- The targeting information has included the locations of American warships and aircraft in the Middle East, the officials said. Noah Robertson, Ellen Nakashima and Warren P. Strobel in the Washington Post$ -- 3/6/26
The Trillions of Dollars of U.S. Investment at Stake in the Gulf -- Last year, the richest countries in the Persian Gulf pledged to pump trillions of dollars of investment into the U.S. in a bid to charm President Trump and strengthen ties. Today that warm financial embrace is suddenly under stress. Eliot Brown, Georgi Kantchev and Lauren Thomas in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 3/6/26
'Ugly': Trump's job market shrinks as oil fears mount -- Oil prices are spiking and the job market is contracting. That’s a dangerous combination for President Donald Trump as Republicans gear up for midterm elections that will be defined by concern about the economy. Sam Sutton Politico Justin Lahart in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 3/6/26
Employers cut a surprising 92,000 jobs last month as the unemployment rate rose to 4.4% -- The Labor Department reported Friday that hiring deteriorated from January, when companies, nonprofits and government agencies added a healthy 126,000 jobs. Economists had expected 60,000 new jobs in February. Paul Wiseman Associated Press -- 3/6/26
Bulletproof Vests and Rolex Watches: The Rise and Fall of Kristi Noem -- The homeland security secretary, who was fired by President Trump Thursday, helped fulfill his border pledges, but also drew negative attention to his administration. Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Hamed Aleaziz in the New York Times$ -- 3/6/26
How the Decision to Start a War Became the President’s -- Presidents have sidestepped Congress to launch limited military strikes for decades. Trump’s decision to attack Iran is an aggressive escalation. Charlie Savage in the New York Times$ -- 3/6/26
Trump administration wants to streamline federal worker layoffs -- The union for federal workers has argued the proposed changes would remove protections that are in place to prevent “politically motivated layoffs.” Meryl Kornfield in the Washington Post$ -- 3/6/26
Pardon Industry Offers Rich Offenders a Path to Trump -- One inmate paid lobbyists and lawyers with ties to the president’s team and walked free. Others are following his blueprint, but it is not always clear who can deliver. Kenneth P. Vogel in the New York Times$ -- 3/6/26
California Policy and Politics Thursday
‘Illegal, reckless’ policy — California sues Trump over new global tariffs -- Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday announced that the state is joining other states in suing the Trump administration over new global tariffs, calling them one of the president’s “illegal, reckless policies” that harm working citizens. Chaewon Chung in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/5/26
Longtime Sacramento lobbyist sued by his billionaire business partner and mentor -- Darius Anderson, a longtime lobbyist in the state Capitol who played a role in the 2013 effort to keep the Sacramento Kings from leaving the city, stands accused of fraud by his longtime business partner Ron Burkle, a grocery store magnate whose wealth is estimated to be in the billions. Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/5/26
This hip L.A. neighborhood is installing emergency sirens to warn of ICE raids -- Communities have used loud sirens to warn people about approaching storms, tsunamis and tornadoes, but now some activists in Los Angeles are using sirens to warn about immigration agents. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/5/26
Key Friday deadline could help determine whether California elects a Republican governor -- Friday’s deadline for candidates to place their names on the ballot for California’s June primary has particular weight this year amid concerns that so many Democrats are running they could shut their party out of the general election. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/5/26
Walters: Democratic angst and gerrymandering threaten California’s political reforms -- Turmoil within the California Democratic Party over this year’s election for governor and fallout from the party’s naked grab of congressional seats could have long-term effects, undoing two important political reforms — the top-two primary system and redistricting by an independent commission. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 3/5/26
Newsom says Trump pardons have cost taxpayers $2B as war over ‘fraud’ escalates -- President Donald Trump’s pardons of Capitol rioters and other offenders have brought predictable condemnations from critics and shrugs from the president, but Gov. Gavin Newsom has a new line of attack: Grants of clemency for wealthy fraudsters during Trump’s five years in office, Newsom says, are costing the United States and its residents nearly $2 billion in court-ordered repayments. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/5/26
‘It can only come back to haunt you’: Adam Schiff on why Congress ceded to Trump on Iran -- As President Donald Trump’s war with Iran spirals into violence across the Middle East, California Sen. Adam Schiff has emerged as a leading Democratic voice to halt the conflict and rein in Trump’s military authority. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/5/26
Army Reserve soldier from Sacramento is believed to have died in Kuwait drone strike -- Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, was at the scene of the drone strike in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, and is believed to be one of the individuals who perished at the scene, according to a Pentagon news release. Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/5/26
Workplace
Why California cops and firefighters are pushing for a new perk on top of their pensions -- They’re backing legislation that would create a supplementary savings program to allow state law enforcement officers and firefighters to leave public service with a payout. It’s called a deferred retirement option plan, which several local law enforcement agencies already offer to their officers. Adam Ashton Calmatters -- 3/5/26
Irvine startup lays off close to 300 employees -- Supernal, an air taxi company backed by Hyundai Motor Group, laid off most of its staff last week as it struggles to prove its technology. Caroline Petrow-Cohen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/5/26
‘How is that fair?’ San Diego Unified OKs more than 200 cuts to non-teaching jobs, expects dozens of layoffs -- Around 70 classified employees — among them paraeducators, assistants, clerks, custodians and more — are expected to get notices of layoffs, barring major changes before May. Jemma Stephenson in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 3/5/26
AI
How our AI bots are ignoring their programming and giving hackers superpowers -- Despite safeguards built into systems such as Claude and ChatGPT, hackers use creative prompting techniques to “jailbreak” AI into assisting illegal activities. As AI capabilities expand, experts warn that novices can now cause damage previously requiring advanced skills, raising urgent security concerns. Nilesh Christopher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/5/26
Who pays for AI’s power? California watchdog urges new data center rules -- The Little Hoover Commission warns AI data centers could spike electricity bills, urging lawmakers to make tech companies — not households — pay for grid upgrades. Alejandro Lazo Calmatters -- 3/5/26
Tax
Contra Costa voters will weigh tax increase to counter Trump cuts -- Contra Costa voters will decide in June whether they’re willing to pay a new sales tax to help offset the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid, which will siphon millions of dollars from the public health care system. Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/5/26
Fate of hefty tax on empty second homes now up to San Diego voters -- If approved by voters, owners of empty second homes could be taxed as much as $15,000 a year. Lori Weisberg and Phillip Molnar in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 3/5/26
Water
California, Arizona and Nevada press Trump administration to rethink Colorado River water cuts -- The three downstream states said in letters to the Interior Department this week that the agency’s preliminary outline of five options for cuts ignores the foundational “Law of the River” that has underpinned how seven western states operate for more than a century. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/5/26
Wildfire
California’s next insurance commissioner will have ‘brutal’ balancing act -- Ricardo Lara’s successor will have a full plate. Insurance premiums are rising; fire survivors are struggling; the FAIR Plan is still growing. Levi Sumagaysay Calmatters -- 3/5/26
Legislators eye new prevention efforts in fire-scarred California: ‘A tipping point’ -- Two months after the anniversary of the devastating Southern California firestorms, several legislators at the state Capitol unveiled a package of legislation aimed at preventing wildfires and lessening their harms. Katie King in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/5/26
Develop
Buyers selected for downtown S.F.’s shuttered shopping mall -- San Francisco’s vacant downtown mall has new stewards: A pair of experienced, San Francisco-based developers, who are teaming up to reimagine the languishing 1.5 million-square-foot complex. Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/5/26
A developer wants to build 110 homes just outside Yosemite. Locals are shocked -- A plan to build 110 modular homes at the edge of Yosemite National Park is shaping up as one of the most unusual battles in California’s long-running effort to force construction of new and affordable housing up and down the state. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/5/26
Homeless
Trump’s Medicaid work mandate could kick thousands of homeless Californians off coverage -- A majority of California’s roughly 180,000 people experiencing homelessness have health insurance through Medi-Cal. Providers predict that many will lose insurance under President Donald Trump’s upcoming work mandates even if they qualify for exemptions. Kristen Hwang Calmatters -- 3/5/26
Also
California school says sex offender candidate’s event near campus was ‘not welcomed’ -- An elementary school in California’s Central Valley filed a police report after a registered sex offender running for city council held a news conference across the street from campus while students were present, according to school officials. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/5/26
POTUS 47
Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Noem after mounting criticism -- President Donald Trump on Thursday fired his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, after mounting criticism over her leadership of the department, including the handling of the administration’s immigration crackdown and disaster response. Curtis Yee, Pamela Sampson, Katie Vogel Associated Press -- 3/5/26
Judge rules companies are entitled to refunds for Trump tariffs overturned by the Supreme Court -- In a defeat for the Trump administration, a federal judge in New York ruled Wednesday that companies that paid tariffs struck down last month by Supreme Court are due refunds. Paul Wiseman, Mae Anderson Associated Press Lydia Wheeler, James Fanelli and Louise Radnofsky in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 3/5/26
Senate rejects bid to scale back Iran war -- The Senate rejected an attempt to rein in the war in Iran, handing President Donald Trump what amounts to an endorsement of his five-day military campaign. Connor O'Brien Politico Lindsay Wise and Anvee Bhutani in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 3/5/26
Trump Wants a Quick Victory in Iran. But the War May Be Costly -- As President Trump uses U.S. military force overseas, his calculation has been that he can launch military operations with the loss of few American lives and minimal disruption to the economy. The opening days of the war in Iran are challenging that assumption. Luke Broadwater in the New York Times$ -- 3/5/26
Trump calls on Kurds to aid U.S. effort in Iran, offers support -- In outreach to Kurdish minority leaders in Iran and neighboring Iraq, the president offered U.S. support to insurgent efforts against Tehran. Karen DeYoung, Mustafa Salim, Ellen Nakashima and Warren P. Strobel in the Washington Post$ -- 3/5/26
Trump Follows His Gut. His National Security Advisers Try to Keep Up -- Decisions come fast, even if contradictions and inconsistencies abound. But without much of a process, there is little preparation for how things can go wrong. David E. Sanger in the New York Times$ -- 3/5/26
Inside the Trump administration’s scramble to support its own war -- The State Department is adding resources to evacuate stranded Americans in the Middle East, and the Pentagon is scrambling to increase the number of U.S. troops gathering intelligence for operations — the latest indications that the Trump administration was not fully prepared for the broader war it is now facing. Nahal Toosi, Jack Detsch and Paul McLeary Politico -- 3/5/26
Trump Keeps Gambling With the Economy — And Getting Away With It -- President Donald Trump has taken one risk after another that could have destabilized the American economy. Iran is the latest crisis to test U.S. economic resilience. Victoria Guida Politico -- 3/5/26