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California Policy and Politics Sunday
Can ICE arrest you? What the law says about agents' actions and protester rights -- Not for peaceful protests that do not interfere with immigration enforcement. Protesters can be arrested for violence against government officers, destruction of property or acts of obstruction, such as blocking the path of an officer’s vehicle. While law enforcement officers are entitled to use force when necessary, they are not immune from prosecution for unjustified acts of force. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/11/26
Deadly ICE shooting in Minnesota, affordability stir up California gubernatorial forums -- Just days after the fatal shooting of a Minnesota woman by a federal immigration agent, the Trump administration’s immigration policy was a top focus of California gubernatorial candidates at two forums Saturday in Southern California. Seema Mehta and Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/11/26
Scripts, signs and community partnerships: How San Diego County districts are keeping ICE out of schools -- After months of escalating enforcement actions, some near local schools, new legislation aims to protect children at school and create plans for what to do if their families are targeted. Jemma Stephenson in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 01/11/26
‘Terrified’ by Trump, thousands around Bay Area demand: ‘ICE Out for Good’ -- Thousands of Bay Area residents gathered Saturday to protest shootings by federal immigration agents, including the killing of a mother in Minneapolis, in another escalation of the Trump administration’s tactics toward not just immigrants but U.S. citizens. Susie Neilson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/11/26
At Sacramento ICE protest, marchers rally in wake of fatal Minneapolis shooting -- Hundreds gathered outside the California state Capitol on Saturday, many holding signs and flags honoring the life of Renee Nicole Good and denouncing federal law enforcement and the Trump administration. Camila Pedrosa and Chaewon Chung in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/11/26
South Bay protesters gather against Venezuela actions, ICE killing in Minneapolis -- Hundreds of South Bay protesters took to the streets Saturday to show their disdain toward President Donald Trump’s military actions in Venezuela and the killing of a Minnesota woman by a federal agent earlier this week. Nollyanne Delacruz in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 01/11/26
Thousands turn out for protests against ICE around Southern California on Saturday -- Thousands of protesters against President Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics took to the streets across the nation and in Southern California on Saturday, Jan. 10 after a federal officer shot and killed a 37-year-old mother of three in Minneapolis and another agent shot and wounded two people in Portland, Oregon this week. Anissa Rivera, Israel J. Carreón Jr. and Christina Merino in the Orange County Register$ -- 01/11/26
Protests break out across San Diego County, U.S. after Minneapolis ICE shooting -- Thousands gathered to protest the Trump administration's immigration policies and promised more of the same on Sunday. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 01/11/26
Duran Duran honors ICE shooting victim at Northern California concert -- Midway through its performance at Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento on Friday, Jan. 9, the British band dedicated its 1993 hit “Ordinary World” to Good, 37, who was fatally shot earlier this week during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/11/26
The Signal Chat Where Silicon Valley Is Plotting Against California’s Billionaire Tax -- In an industry town that has grown increasingly divided over politics, the proposal to tax 5% of California billionaires’ wealth has united Silicon Valley titans. Emily Glazer and Juliet Chung in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/11/26
Thiel Gives $3 Million to Group Seeking to Block California Wealth Tax -- More large donations from wealthy Silicon Valley figures are expected as they try to marshal opposition to a proposed ballot measure that would impose a new tax on billionaires. Theodore Schleifer and Ryan Mac in the New York Times$ -- 01/11/26
It’s a Weird Time to Be a Democrat in Silicon Valley -- Just ask Ro Khanna, the congressman whose bright blue district includes much of the spiritual home of the tech industry, including Cupertino, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. He’s under pressure from a host of technorati after voicing support for a proposed billionaire’s tax in California. Tim Higgins in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/11/26
No campaign? No problem. Inside California political elites’ shadowy spending -- The arrest and indictment of Dana Williamson, a former top aide to Gov. Gavin Newsom, cracked open a window to Sacramento’s campaign finance ecosystem, showing the sometimes questionable ways that lawmakers, lobbyists, consultants and interest groups use accounts to trade money, time and access. Nicole Nixon and Kate Wolffe in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/11/26
‘Doomsday Plane’ appearance at LAX sparks online worry -- The federal government’s Boeing E-4B Nightwatch — a military aircraft known, somewhat alarmingly, as the “Doomsday Plane” — touched down at Los Angeles International Airport this week, in what may be the famed aircraft’s first-ever LAX landing. Corinne Purtill in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/11/26
Child Care
‘You do your work with fear’: San Diego child care providers on edge amid harassment, funding threat -- Some San Diego child care providers say they are being harassed and fear for their safety amid a campaign by conservative activists and the Trump administration over broad but unsubstantiated suggestions of fraud. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 01/11/26
Housing
Gavin Newsom’s final budget would end homeless grant program, shelters could close -- The $349 billion budget, which Newsom released Friday, would omit a large homelessness grant that cities and counties have relied on each year to address the severe crisis since Newsom took office in 2019. Theresa Clift in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/11/26
These San Francisco neighborhoods have hit record high home prices -- Shopping around for a San Francisco mansion? Better bring an extra million bucks. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/11/26
Environment
It’s one of the wealthiest parts of the Bay Area — but can Marin fix its $17 billion problem? -- Marin County got an alarming glimpse of its future last week when it experienced some of the worst flooding in decades — and a reminder of the vast climate challenges that await. Tara Duggan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/11/26
PG&E plans to remove century-old California dams. But there's a new obstacle: Trump -- The Trump administration is following up on its pledge to try to stop the removal of two dams on Northern California’s Eel River, a move that gives farmers and rural residents opposed to the controversial demolition a welcome ally. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/11/26
Why California is keeping this unusual solar plant running when both Trump and Biden wanted it closed -- California regulators blocked the shutdown of Ivanpah, one of the world’s largest solar thermal plants, against the wishes of the Biden and Trump administrations. State officials determined the facility’s power is still needed to meet surging electricity demand from data centers, AI expansion and California’s clean energy goals. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/11/26
Wildfire
Berkeley is mandating home fireproofing — and sparking a backlash in the hills -- Last year, as Los Angeles burned, Brent Blackaby looked out the window of his Berkeley hills home and asked: What was to stop the same from happening here? Kate Talerico in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/11/26
Workplace
America’s Job Market Has Entered the Slow Lane -- Hiring sputtered. The unemployment rate rose. 2025 put a decisive end to the hottest job market in a generation. Justin Lahart and Danny Dougherty in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/11/26
Also
Bob Weir remembered by musicians, fans and California leaders after his death -- Bob Weir, the singer, songwriter and guitarist who co-founded the Grateful Dead and helped shape the sound and culture of American rock music, was remembered by musicians, entertainers, political leaders and fans around the world following news of his death at 78 Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/11/26
Arellano: Citizens are finally getting it: No one’s safe from Trump’s deportation ambitions -- Ever since Donald J. Trump descended from a gold escalator at his eponymous Manhattan tower in 2015, he has sworn that a scorched-earth campaign against “illegal immigrants” would make life safer for Americans and that citizens had nothing to worry about. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/11/26
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Day after Minneapolis shooting, Noem ordered new restriction on congressional oversight -- The Trump administration revealed the new policy late Saturday after three lawmakers were blocked from entering an ICE facility in Minnesota. Kyle Cheney, Ben Johansen and Gregory Svirnovskiy Politico -- 01/11/26
ICE tactics and training under scrutiny after Minneapolis shooting -- Policing experts say officer who fired fatal shots may have placed himself at needless risk by standing in front of Renée Good’s vehicle. Mark Berman, Maria Sacchetti, Derek Hawkins and David Ovalle in the Washington Post$ -- 01/11/26
Trump’s plan to strong-arm insurers into lower prices is met with skepticism -- President Donald Trump plans to call health insurers to the table and demand lower prices as he seeks to allay voters’ concerns over affordability. But health policy experts, researchers and even some GOP members say it won’t be so simple. Cheyenne Haslett Politico -- 01/11/26
F.B.I.’s Inquiry Into ICE Shooting Faces Doubts After White House’s Remarks -- Ex-law enforcement officials said the administration’s declarations that the killing was justified elicited questions about the F.B.I.’s willingness to scrutinize the agent who fatally shot an unarmed activist. Glenn Thrush in the New York Times$ -- 01/11/26
Congress Is Reversing Trump’s Steep Budget Cuts to Science -- After the White House called for billions of dollars in funding reductions, senators and representatives are rescinding the proposed cuts and even boosting funds for basic research. William J. Broad in the New York Times$ -- 01/11/26
California Policy and Politics Saturday
‘ICE Out for Good’: Huge crowds in Bay Area, nation protest Trump tactics -- Bay Area residents gathered all over the region Saturday to protest shootings by federal immigration agents, including the killing of a mother in Minneapolis, in another escalation of the Trump administration’s tactics toward not just immigrants but U.S. citizens. Susie Neilson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/10/26
Trump administration proposes Colorado River options that could hit California hard -- The Trump administration has released an outline of four new options for dealing with the Colorado River’s deepening water shortages, and they could dramatically cut the amount of water available for Southern California. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/10/26
Federal judge blocks Trump administration’s freeze of $10 billion in child-care funds -- A federal judge in New York has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s move to freeze $10 billion in child-care funds in five Democrat-led states including California. Daniel Miller and Kate Sequeira in the Los Angeles Times$ Rachel Bluth Politico -- 01/10/26
OpenAI Reaches Truce With Advocacy Group Over Dueling Child-Safety Measures -- ChatGPT maker will commit $10 million to support compromise ballot measure co-written with Jim Steyer’s Common Sense Media. Laura J. Nelson, Keach Hagey and Sam Schechner in the Wall Street Journal$ Chase DiFeliciantonio and Tyler Katzenberger Politico Khari Johnson Calmatters -- 01/10/26
Trump administration pulls $160M in highway funds from California over immigrant trucker feud -- The Trump administration is withholding about $160 million from California in response to the state’s decision to delay the cancellation of more than 17,000 immigrant truckers’ commercial driver’s licenses, it announced Wednesday. Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/10/26
AI windfall helps California narrow projected $3-billion budget deficit -- Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a $348.9-billion budget, which includes a $3-billion deficit. The governor assumes strong revenues from California’s AI-driven economy, while nonpartisan analysts warn of a potential $18-billion shortfall if markets cool. Newsom did not include funding to replace Trump administration cuts to Medicaid, raising concerns millions of low-income Californians could lose healthcare. Melody Gutierrez, Dakota Smith, Katie King and Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ Ethan Varian, Paul Rogers, Ethan Baron and Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 01/10/26
With Newsom’s rosy budget proposal, lawmakers weigh two starkly different projections -- The California Legislature has been presented two starkly different versions of the state’s fiscal outlook, and it remains to be seen if lawmakers will choose to operate under their own analyst’s projections of an $18 billion deficit or the far rosier version offered by the governor as they craft the state’s budget. Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/10/26
Newsom’s budget includes $200 million to make up for Trump’s canceled EV rebates, among other climate items -- Newsom’s state budget proposal allocates $200 million for electric vehicle rebates to make up for canceled federal EV tax credits of up to $7,500. The proposal comes amid California’s escalating clash with the Trump administration over tailpipe emission standards and other state climate goals. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/10/26
As L.A. mayor’s race takes shape, Palisades fire is a defining issue -- The Palisades fire has redefined the L.A. mayor’s race, expanding the field of candidates and creating a political minefield for Karen Bass as she seeks a second four-year term. David Zahniser and Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/10/26
Dr. Oz touts federal crackdown on healthcare fraud by ‘foreign influences’ in L.A. -- Trump administration officials announced a sprawling probe into benefits fraud across California on Friday, citing what they called a massive, coordinated effort by “foreign actors” to fleece government healthcare to the tune of billions of dollars. Sonja Sharp in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/10/26
Calls grow for San Francisco Ballet to pull out of Kennedy Center show -- Calls for the San Francisco Ballet to cancel a planned performance at the Kennedy Center are gaining traction, adding to the growing fallout over President Donald Trump’s takeover of the storied Washington, D.C., arts venue. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/10/26
Workplace
Bay Area semiconductor testing company to lay off more than 200 workers -- Semiconductor testing equipment company FormFactor is laying off more than 200 workers and closing manufacturing facilities as it seeks to cut costs after being hit by higher import taxes. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/10/26
Slowest Labor Market in Years Leaves Job Seekers Stuck -- America’s unemployment rate is low. But so is its job growth. That means Americans without stable, full-time work are locked out of a job market that has settled into a low-hire, low-fire stasis. Te-Ping Chen, Shelby Tauber in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/10/26
Wildfire
Vacant lots in Altadena, Palisades areas are piling up, as investors move in, according to Redfin report -- Investors in Altadena and the Palisades area bought two of every five vacant lots sold in the third quarter of 2025, according to a Redfin News report of county data. Joshua Silla in tehe Los Angeles Daily News -- 01/10/26
Street
Why LAPD and other police agencies discourage shooting at cars — and why ICE still does --Two recent shootings by federal immigration agents have cast a fresh spotlight on incidents in which authorities open fire on moving vehicles, a tactic that has fallen out of favor with the LAPD and many other law enforcement agencies across the country because it often turns deadly and puts bystanders at risk. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/10/26
Who is accountable? ICE killing in Minnesota reignites Bay Area debate over police shootings of drivers -- The entire encounter — a law enforcement officer standing briefly in front of a vehicle, then to its side while firing multiple fatal shots at its driver — lasted less than 30 seconds. Video captured it all, down to the motorist going limp and the vehicle crashing down the street. Jakob Rodgers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 01/10/26
Also
Bear under Altadena home for 6 weeks is finally evicted by paintballs, electrified mat -- Ken Johnson found himself in a situation that was impossible to, well, bear. A 550-pound male black bear wedged itself into the cra wl space underneath Johnson’s Altadena home just after Thanksgiving. Officials tried air horns, cherry and caramel flavored bait and even a trap that caught the wrong bear. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/10/26
The daredevils are back with a vengeance on Mulholland. ‘Race car driving is like sex’ -- For motorcycle and car enthusiasts, riding the hair-raising turns of the 2.4-mile section of Mulholland Highway known as “the Snake” can feel akin to a religious experience. Clara Harter, Robert Gauthier in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/10/26
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‘Highly problematic’: Trump admin faces internal doubts over ICE shooting response -- Even supporters of the president fear that the administration’s approach risks undermining public confidence in the ongoing investigation. Myah Ward Politico Aaron Zitner and Scott Calvert in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/10/26
‘Uninvestable’: Trump pitch to oil execs yields no promises -- The CEOs heaped praise on the president’s actions in Venezuela but made no firm commitments to put money into restoring the country’s oil production. James Bikales Politico Collin Eaton, Annie Linskey and Benoît Morenne in the Wall Street Journal$ Evan Halper in the Washington Post$ -- 01/10/26
Trump Threatens to Take Greenland ‘the Hard Way’ -- The president continued to advance an imperialist vision of American foreign policy, where the U.S. can dominate neighboring countries “whether they like it or not.” Chris Cameron in the New York Times$ -- 01/10/26
Trump Blindsides Wall Street Allies With Crackdown on Housing Investors -- Blackstone Chief Executive Officer Stephen Schwarzman helped launch Wall Street into the business of buying and renting out single-family homes in the aftermath of the 2008 housing crash. Ryan Dezember, Miriam Gottfried and Josh Dawsey in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/10/26
Washington National Opera is moving out of the Kennedy Center -- The Washington National Opera announced Friday that it plans to leave the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, its longtime home, a stunning move that follows reports of declining ticket sales for the 70-year-old organization amid upheaval at the center since President Donald Trump’s takeover. Janay Kingsberry and Kelsey Ables in the Washington Post$ -- 01/10/26