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California Policy and Politics Friday
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but Trump says blockade on Iranian ships and ports will stay in force -- Iran said Friday it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but President Donald Trump said the American blockade on Iranian ships and ports “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program. Kareem Chehayeb, Abby Sewell, Melanie Lidman Associated Press -- 4/17/26
Ballot seizure case poses a major legal question: Can the AG police an elected sheriff? -- But as California’s highest court weighs the merits of Bianco’s investigation, it will also be taking a stand on a much bigger political and legal question: Does the state’s elected attorney general ultimately have authority over local sheriffs, who are themselves independently elected? Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/17/26
California Democrats can’t decide on a governor. Don’t count on Newsom or Pelosi for help -- Even after Rep. Eric Swalwell’s swift and sudden exit, the race for governor is still frustratingly murky on the Democratic side, with seven major candidates splitting the vote. As party faithful hope for divine intervention, heavyweights like the speaker emerita and the current governor refuse to weigh in. Maya C. Miller Calmatters -- 4/17/26
Bernie Sanders endorses ‘S.F. Overpaid CEO Act’ in keeping with his tax-the-rich message -- A proposal to raise taxes on San Francisco’s biggest businesses has earned an endorsement from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a democratic socialist and elder statesman of progressive politics. Alyce McFadden in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/17/26
Mayor Bass has a new plan for addressing climate change in Los Angeles -- L.A. Mayor Karen Bass unveiled a new plan for addressing climate change, with goals including doubling solar power and achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035. The plan calls for converting city buses to electric by 2028 and installing 120,000 EV chargers. Ian James and Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26
Live Nation is supporting two California bills to lower prices. Can fans trust it? -- Bruno Mars tickets running for $2,000 and ones for SZA costing $600 caught California lawmakers’ attention. They’re advancing two bills targeting the resale market. Cayla Mihalovich Calmatters -- 4/17/26
California was warned of shocking hospice fraud. Inaction allowed problems to persist -- Officials have failed to halt pervasive fraud in the hospice industry despite promises of reforms five years ago after learning of widespread corruption that targeted vulnerable patients. Hannah Fry and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26
Powerful California institutions backed Swalwell’s rise. Now they’re facing questions -- Before it all came crashing down, Eric Swalwell appeared on the cusp of rising to the top of the Democratic field in the California governor’s race. Dakota Smith and Nicole Nixon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26
Barabak: There’s a wide gap between rumor and fact. That’s where Eric Swalwell lurked -- The implosion of Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign and his once-promising political career has left a great many questions rising from the smoldering wreckage. Questions about his character, judgment and staggering recklessness. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26
Padres
San Diego Padres Nearing Deal to be Sold for an MLB-Record $3.9 Billion -- Private-equity billionaire José E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones, would acquire the team for nearly $1.5 billion more than Steve Cohen paid for the New York Mets in 2020. Jared Diamond and Miriam Gottfried in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/17/26
Workplace
On California farms, workers say threats to deport them are on the rise -- Farmworkers described instances in which bosses threatened to call ICE on them, sometimes because they complained about workplace violations. The intensity of President Trump’s deportation campaign has upped the frequency of such threats and the fear they create. Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26
A California school district is having its first teachers strike in 150 years -- Hundreds of teachers in southeast Los Angeles County went on strike Thursday in the Little Lake City School District, marking the first teacher work stoppage in the district’s 150-year history. Cierra Morgan and Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26
Cannabis
Prop. 64 at 10: Why the illicit cannabis market still dominates in California -- It’s been nearly a decade since California voters legalized recreational cannabis, but production and sales remain outlawed in most of the state — and the black market dominates. Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/17/26
Education
California’s ongoing drop in public school enrollment is steepest in LAUSD and L.A. County -- Los Angeles County schools lost 32,953 students this year — a 2.6% decline representing 44% of California’s statewide enrollment drop. L.A. Unified’s 4.5% enrollment plunge — losing 16,765 students — is steeper than in most districts. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26
Homeless
L.A. clears homeless encampment long plagued by crime, drug use in North Hollywood -- Residents of a North Hollywood neighborhood breathed a sigh of relief Thursday as city sanitation crews showed up to clean a vacant lot they say has long been overrun by a homeless encampment that attracted crime and drug use. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26
More than 200,000 lost their homes in the L.A. County fires. For people already on the streets, the damage ran deeper -- Four recently published UCLA-led studies draw a direct line between climate disasters, housing instability and homelessness, with researchers pointing to the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires as one of the starkest recent examples. Meg Tanaka in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26
Housing
San Diego approves nearly 1,000-unit housing development near the U.S.-Mexico border -- The 985-unit Collection at Cactus will be in the heart of Otay Mesa, mainly home to warehouses and customs brokers involved in international trade, but increasingly becoming a spot for less expensive housing. Phillip Molnar in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/17/26
Street
Jury awards $11.8 million to Dodgers fan blinded by LAPD during World Series celebration -- Isaac Castellanos was celebrating the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series win when he was hit in the face by an LAPD projectile. Castellanos sued, alleging officers used excessive force and violated department policies during the incident. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26
S.F. now has the second-highest overdose death rate among large U.S. cities and counties -- More than 580 people died of a drug overdose in San Francisco from September 2024 to August 2025, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/17/26
S.F. could close some permanent supportive housing for the homeless, alarming advocates -- The mayor’s office did not confirm the potential closures but says it wants to improve services and outcomes within its homeless housing network. Laura Waxmann, Maggie Angst in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/17/26
Also
Walters: Frozen lasagna dispute shows how arbitrary California tax law can be -- The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration oversees the collection of sales taxes by more than a half million retail sellers, ranging from giants such as Amazon and Walmart to one-person internet sellers. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 4/17/26
POTUS 47
Strait of Hormuz reopening for commercial traffic, Trump and Iran say -- The president said the U.S.'s blockade on Iranian shipping in the region will remain in effect, and lambasted allies for their lack of support. Finya Swai, Eli Stokols and Jack Detsch Politico -- 4/17/26
Oil prices drop 13% and the Dow soars over 1,000 points after Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz -- A freer flow of oil would not only help drivers angry about expensive gasoline, it would also take away upward pressure on inflation that’s hurting virtually everyone around the world. Stan Choe Associated Press -- 4/17/26
Hegseth recites ‘Pulp Fiction’ speech at Pentagon prayer service -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, leading a Pentagon prayer meeting, quoted a fictional Bible verse taken from a violent monologue in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film “Pulp Fiction,” originally delivered by actor Samuel L. Jackson just before his character shoots a helpless man to death. Gavin J. Quinton in the Los Angeles Times$ G. Allen Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/17/26
In Las Vegas, Trump Brushes Off Rising Fuel Prices -- At an economic event, the president sought to downplay the financial hardship that has followed his war with Iran, saying that “we’re having some fake inflation because of the fuel, the energy prices.” Chris Cameron in the New York Times$ -- 4/17/26
Jesus Memes, Threats and a War in Iran: A Portrait of Trump Under Pressure -- President Trump has lashed out at enemies, allies and even the pope, and made it harder for Republicans to keep the focus on economic issues in a midterm election year. Katie Rogers in the New York Times$ -- 4/17/26
Trump draws Marie Antoinette comparisons as he leans into the gilded trappings of the presidency -- The contrast was on full display Thursday, when, as Trump flew to Las Vegas to discuss tax cuts for Americans earning tips, his administration was pushing ahead with another of his splashy projects: Plans to build a 250-foot Triumphal Arch near the Lincoln Memorial replete with a Lady Liberty-like statue and a pair of golden eagles. Michelle L. Price, Will Weissert Associated Press -- 4/17/26
‘Woe to Those Who Manipulate Religion,’ Pope Says Amid Standoff With Trump -- For days, Pope Leo XIV has attracted criticism from President Trump and his allies for refusing to back the war in Iran. On Thursday, he reiterated his calls for peace. Motoko Rich in the New York Times$ -- 4/17/26
ICE went on a hiring spree. Sterling credentials were not required, AP investigation finds -- Two bankruptcies and six law enforcement jobs in three years. An allegation of lying in a police report to justify a felony charge against an innocent woman — an incident that led to a $75,000 settlement and criticism of his integrity. A third job candidate once failed to graduate from a police academy, then lasted only three weeks in his only job as a police officer. Ryan J. Foley Associated Press -- 4/17/26
California Policy and Politics Thursday
Altman Attack Suspect Called for ‘Luigi-ing Tech CEOs’ in Online Messages -- Last week, authorities alleged Moreno-Gama, 20, traveled from the Houston area to San Francisco, threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s mansion and then attacked OpenAI’s headquarters’ entrance, planning to burn the building down. Zusha Elinson in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/16/26
Garofoli: The odds of a Democratic lockout in the California governor’s race have shrunk dramatically -- Sacramento data expert Paul Mitchell, who created an online model that simulates thousands of election scenarios, said that “the program really believes that the odds of two Republicans splitting the vote is more remote, almost nonexistent.” Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/16/26
Tom Steyer is running the most expensive campaign in America. It might win him the California governorship -- Nearly half a billion dollars, two campaigns, and one Eric Swalwell implosion later, Tom Steyer suddenly appears closer than ever to winning elected office. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 4/16/26
Swalwell scandal sparks fears of deeper rot on Capitol Hill -- Current and former female staffers described a culture of warning one another about lawmakers with reputations for inappropriate conduct. Michael Wilner, Justine McDaniel and Ana Ceballos in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Swalwell’s Stunning Downfall Creates a Reckoning for Democrats -- The scandal has resurfaced age-old questions about Capitol Hill culture and the power dynamics between elected officials and their subordinates. It is a uniquely modern one, involving graphic photos sent on Snapchat and an online campaign against Swalwell by content creators. Laura J. Nelson, Eliza Collins and Olivia Beavers in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/16/26
Bill protecting elections from ICE advances as state lawmakers campaign against feds -- A California Assembly committee on Wednesday advanced a ban on law enforcement officers from coming near polling places unless they’re responding to a public safety threat — a bill supporters say is designed to insulate the state’s elections from intimidation tactics by federal agencies under President Donald Trump’s administration. Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/16/26
California officially disbars John Eastman for his role in trying to overturn 2020 election -- John Eastman, President Donald Trump’s former legal adviser and a former California law school dean, was disbarred from practicing law in California on Wednesday by the state Supreme Court for his conduct while trying to help Trump overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Andre Mouchard, Teri Sforza in the San Jose Mercury$ Kyle Cheney Politico Pooja Salhotra in the New York Times$ -- 4/16/26
Workplace
Thousands of UC hospital, service workers plan first open-ended strike across California -- The union for thousands of University of California employees announced Wednesday that they will walk off the job indefinitely beginning May 14 to protest stalled contract negotiations for medical center and campus workers ranging from cafeteria cooks to X-ray technicians. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Snap is cutting 1,000 workers in the latest tech layoff -- The Santa Monica social media company is pursuing profitability and efficiency as it faces stiff competition for ad dollars from bigger rivals such as Facebook parent company Meta and Google. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Has the Era of the Mega-Layoff Arrived? -- From Snap to Block to Amazon, a new template for ‘right-sizing’ the workforce is spreading through C-suites—and other companies are taking notes. Chip Cutter in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/16/26
Trump signs bill reauthorizing federal aid to defense startups -- President Trump has signed a bill restoring federal funding to tech startups in California and elsewhere, money that had been held up for more than six months. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Marketplace
This Long Beach startup says it has a patch for California’s power problems -- Long Beach startup Critical Loop raised $26 million to solve California’s power crunch with battery and grid management technology that delivers electricity faster. The company deploys systems in days or weeks, far quicker than utilities’ years-long infrastructure upgrades, and is already serving L.A.’s ports, logistics and factories. Nilesh Christopher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
AI-rendered Val Kilmer debuts in ‘As Deep as the Grave’ trailer -- The filmmakers behind “As Deep as the Grave,” the indie film that is using an artificial intelligence-rendered version of Val Kilmer in a prominent role, debuted a first look at the recreated actor Wednesday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Lindsey Bahr Associated Press -- 4/16/26
Water
San Diego Now Has So Much Water That It’s Selling It -- Once a drought poster child, the California city now generates enough water to rescue parched states like Arizona—and brew beer from recycled sewage. Jim Carlton, John Francis Peters in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/16/26
Climate
The ocean off California keeps breaking heat records -- The marine heat wave of 2026 is simmering the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, and experts are warning that it could lead to a warm, humid and stormy summer. Hayley Smith, Eric Thayer in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Tijuana River
Thousands suffer nausea, delirium and other health issues from toxins in the Tijuana River -- The smell of rotten eggs permeates Steve Egger’s Southern California home, especially at night as the nearby Tijuana River foams up with sewage from Mexico before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. Julie Watson, Dorany Pineda Associated Press -- 4/16/26
Housing
The Iran war shocked L.A.’s housing market. Recovery won’t be simple -- Mortgage rate increases triggered by Iran war tensions deepened L.A.’s housing market freeze, rendering more first-time homebuyers unable to afford starter homes. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Hundreds of affordable housing units funded by new L.A. County agency -- The L.A. County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency approved its first funding to build and preserve affordable housing, signing off on just over $100 million for more than 500 units across 10 projects. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Data Center Ban
Bay Area city becomes first to ban data centers over power and water concerns -- Oakley has become the first Bay Area city to temporarily ban new data centers, signaling a more cautious approach as other parts of Silicon Valley continue to line up projects to meet rising demand for artificial intelligence. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Hema Sivanandam in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/16/26
Education
California students author new ‘digital wellness’ bill, say school cellphone bans fall short -- Assembly Bill 2071 would require California schools to include social media and AI use in health classes. Students co-authored the bill, saying school cellphone bans address mental health concerns ‘halfway.’ Vani Sanganeria EdSource -- 4/16/26
Hate
Anti-Latino hate crimes reached a record high in 2025 -- “It doesn’t matter if they’re undocumented immigrants or if they’re legal citizens, this period of Latino hatred should be concerning for everyone,” says Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Carlos De Loera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Also
FBI searches Lancaster City Hall, homes of vice mayor and council member in corruption probe -- The homes of Lancaster’s vice mayor and a council member — along with City Hall and a home in Bel-Air — were served with FBI search warrants Wednesday morning. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Why a California lawmaker wants to give the state more power to collect child support -- The measure, from Elk Grove Democratic Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, would compel separated families to enroll in a state program empowered to garnish wages for child support. ChrisAnna Mink Calmatters -- 4/16/26
Trump wants data on California’s trans and abortion care. Can the state stop him? -- The latest clash between California and President Donald Trump over abortion and gender-affirming care could soon leave doctors caught between state and federal law. Ryan Sabalow and Kristen Hwang Calmatters -- 4/16/26
Arellano: Pope Leo isn’t afraid of President Trump. We shouldn’t be, either -- “I’m not afraid.” With these three words Sunday morning, Pope Leo XIV offered as powerful a rebuke of President Trump and everything he has wrought on the world as anyone ever has. Three words that mocked Trump for being the bully that he is. Three words that undercut Trump’s self-hyped aura of invincibility. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Walters: California lawmakers must weigh long-term consequences before granting tribe a state park -- Four years ago, with the state budget seemingly providing a cornucopia of new revenues, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature extended state-paid health care to undocumented immigrants of all ages. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 4/16/26
Philp: In Memoriam: The Bee’s Peter Schrag was one of the great minds of California journalism -- Peter Schrag, a former editorial page editor of the Sacramento Bee who died at age 94 on March 19 in Davis, was one of the intellectual giants in the history of California journalism. Yet pigeonholing Schrag to this city and state doesn’t begin to capture the many dimensions of an extraordinary life that began as a child refugee fleeing Nazi Germany. Tom Philp in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/16/26
POTUS 47
Europe has ‘maybe 6 weeks of jet fuel left,’ energy agency head warns -- IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol painted a sobering picture of the global repercussions of what he called “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,” stemming from the pinch-off of oil, gas and other vital supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. John Leicester Associated Press -- 4/16/26
Trump to promote tax breaks in Las Vegas, where residents feel the pinch of high gas prices -- President Donald Trump heads to Las Vegas on Thursday to promote the tax cuts he signed into law last year to try to highlight what Republicans see as an economic strength ahead of this year’s elections. Michelle L. Price, Jessica Hill Associated Press Megan Messerly Politico -- 4/16/26
‘Blessed Are the Peacemakers,’ Pope Says Amid Standoff With Trump -- For days, Pope Leo XIV has attracted criticism from President Trump and his allies for refusing to back the war in Iran. On Thursday, he reiterated his calls for peace. Motoko Rich in the New York Times$ Rachel Chason in the Washington Post$ -- 4/16/26