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