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California Policy and Politics Monday

El Niño could bring highest sea levels ever recorded to the California coast -- It’s the latest effect forecast for what’s expected to be an historically strong event, one forecasters warn could also lash Southern California with powerful rain and broil both land and sea with punishing heat waves. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/10/26

Part of California suddenly sank — and it’s irreversible -- The Sacramento Valley, which helps drive California’s nation-leading agricultural economy, has seen so much groundwater pumping that the valley floor has recently sunk by as much as a foot and a half in a year, new research shows. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/10/26

An oil field became California’s first carbon vault. Who’s responsible if something goes wrong? -- California’s first commercial carbon-storage project is operating even though the state has yet to adopt rules required by law, 19 months after a key deadline. The oil company could collect billions in public incentives, while environmentalists and oil companies argue about how far the rules should go. Alejandro Lazo Calmatters -- 8/10/26

 

Judge blocks MAGA voter restrictions in conservative California county -- Shasta County’s Measure B, a voter-supported local initiative to enact extreme restrictions on who can vote and how votes are counted, was paused Friday by a local judge’s issuance of a preliminary injunction. Raheem Hosseini in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/10/26

Pelosi unleashes her political machine in fight to replace her -- The former speaker is mobilizing her political network to stop Scott Wiener, a prominent California state senator, from succeeding her. Dustin Gardiner Politico -- 8/10/26

Your guide to the California governor’s race: Xavier Becerra vs. Steve Hilton -- The two have similar origin stories as the sons of working-class immigrants — both even worked construction jobs to earn money as teenagers — but they have vastly different visions for California’s future. Nicole Nixon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/10/26

As Barrera and Shaw compete to lead California schools, their school board histories offer hints of their plans -- The two school board presidents — one a longtime San Diego Unified leader, the other elected in Riverside County during the pandemic — offer diverging visions for public education. Jemma Stephenson in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 8/10/26

 

How California’s hospice industry spiraled out of control — and cost millions in fraud -- A quiet change in California law in 2018 unleashed a deluge of new hospices and spurred millions of dollars in Medicare fraud that state and federal authorities are still trying to unwind. Jason Henry in the Orange County Register$ -- 8/10/26

Bay Area city declares state of emergency over malicious cyberattack -- Suisun City declared a state of emergency Saturday after a cyberattack struck critical public safety operations, including its 911 dispatch system, according to city officials. Anna Bauman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Stephen Battaglio in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/10/26

Marketplace

Is social media addiction real? Law and science collide in blockbuster federal suit -- Meta is facing its biggest court challenge yet over allegations its products harm kids. Attorneys for the company have argued that legal claims against it should fail because social media addiction has not been formally recognized by the medical community. California and three other states are leading a lawsuit that seeks more than $1 trillion in damages. Sonja Sharp in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/10/26

Workplace

Netflix says its doubling down on L.A. — even as it expands in New Jersey -- Netflix says Los Angeles remains its home base, with 47 productions shooting here in 2026 — even as it builds a $1-billion, 12-soundstage complex in New Jersey. Cerys Davies and Wendy Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/10/26

Would you trust your boss with data about your brain? California moves to regulate neurotech -- Brain sensors are advancing, and California companies, lawmakers and unions are jockeying to shape how the resulting data can be used. Khari Johnson Calmatters -- 8/10/26

Housing

The Bruising Race to Rent in San Francisco Goes Into Overdrive -- San Francisco’s housing market was already a demolition derby for renters. The artificial-intelligence boom has pushed the bruising race for housing into overdrive—a lack of supply is colliding with sky-high AI salaries. Katherine Bindley and Will Parker in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/10/26

Street

If you don’t hear the siren, police are sure you’ll feel the Rumbler -- The Los Angeles Police department announced its intention to install the low frequency Rumbler siren into 20 black-and-white vehicles before a larger expansion gets underway. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/10/26

AI

A.I. Agents Are Taking Entire Online Courses for Cheating Students -- With simple commands — “log in and complete my quiz” — a student can unleash what is, essentially, an imitation of themselves. Agents can watch lecture videos, take tests, write papers and chat with classmates about reading assignments. Dana Goldstein and Alan Blinder in the New York Times$ -- 8/10/26

They said they would build AI safely. Then it went rogue -- Staff members at ChatGPT maker OpenAI didn’t notice for weeks after their AI systems made a chilling leap this spring. Instead of answering questions designed to test their cybersecurity capabilities, a group of AI models began colluding on how to cheat, the company said, setting up a secret internal message board where they swapped notes and ideas. Gerrit De Vynck in the Washington Post$ -- 8/10/26

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Iran, Holding Firm to Strait, Steers Trump Back to June Deal -- The Strait of Hormuz is Iran’s best leverage to get Washington to release Iran’s frozen assets, lift economic sanctions and end its naval blockade. Steven Erlanger in the New York Times$ -- 8/10/26

Iran Insists Strait Will Stay Closed Until U.S. Agrees to Demands --Iran said on Monday that any deal with Oman on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz would not lead to the waterway being fully reopened and that the route would remain closed until the United States agreed to demands including lifting a naval blockade. Aurelien Breeden in the New York Times$ -- 8/10/26

 

California Policy and Politics Sunday

Forest Service kidnapping dredges up legacy of violence toward federal land employees -- To those familiar with the often isolated work of federal land management employees, the scene was nightmarish – two U.S. Forest Service biologists went out to survey frogs only to find themselves bound and held captive in a small backwoods trailer by a bearded man who, according to charging documents, emerged from the trees with an assault rifle. Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/9/26

As AI ‘therapists’ dish out advice, California lawmakers try to set some limits -- In a matter of a few clicks and keystrokes, anyone can find themselves deep in conversation with “Psychologist,” a chatbot character that describes itself as an expert in “empathy” and “active listening.” Ana B. Ibarra Calmatters in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/9/26

Bass’ Inside Safe teams went to these places again and again. But so did the homeless -- Over a three-year period, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ homelessness team went to nearly two dozen locations five or more times. Bass defended her program, saying the vast majority of Inside Safe locations have been clear of tents in recent weeks. Some neighbors voiced frustration that their streets keep repopulating with homeless encampments. David Zahniser, Genaro Molina in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/9/26

Insurance commissioner candidates split key endorsements -- State Sen. Ben Allen and former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim have split major party and labor endorsements, setting up a razor-thin contest for California’s next insurance commissioner. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/9/26

Spencer Pratt spent big on luxury hotels and security, campaign reports show -- During the Los Angeles mayoral primary, Spencer Pratt put out a video saying he was living in a trailer on the burned-out lot where his Pacific Palisades home once stood — a claim that was soon debunked by TMZ, which reported that he was actually staying at the Hotel Bel-Air. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/9/26

Stanford ditches Flock cameras, hires new license plate reader firm -- Stanford University has ditched its Flock camera system and hired a new license plate reader firm following controversy over who can access the images captured. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/9/26

After deadly Fire, Rick Caruso said hope needed an address: Palisades Village -- One-third of the Village’s original tenants are returning. Rick Caruso’s team also focused on recruiting a new generation of retailers, restaurateurs and local entrepreneurs who could help define the next chapter. Michelle Edgar in the Orange County Register$ -- 8/9/26

Sen. Adam Schiff proposes bill to help communities rebuild faster after wildfires and other disasters -- The Reducing Red Tape for Rebuilding Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa. Linh Tat in the Orange County Register$ -- 8/9/26

Education

Broken trust: San Jose Unified parents say district fell short after closing campuses -- When San Jose Unified School District decided to shutter five elementary schools earlier this year, officials made several promises to ensure a smooth transition for families with students set to attend new campuses. Molly Gibbs in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/9/26

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Trump Thought Opening the Strait of Hormuz Was Imminent. Iran Had Other Plans -- For weeks, President Trump had been laying the groundwork to declare victory in the Iran war should Tehran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even floating the idea privately to senior aides that he’s willing to walk away without a nuclear deal, U.S. officials said. Alexander Ward in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/9/26

Israel Rejects Trump Plan for Hamas Disarmament -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected President Trump’s plan for disarming Hamas, a key plank of the Gaza peace process that also requires Israel to withdraw from the enclave. Anat Peled in the Wall Street Journal$ Aaron Boxerman in the New York Times$ Lior Soroka and Sammy Westfall in the Washington Post$ -- 8/9/26

In Confirming Blanche, Senators Endorse a Justice Dept. Under Trump’s Sway -- Time and again, Todd Blanche has made it clear that he believes President Trump possesses a nearly limitless right to directly control the actions of the Justice Department. Glenn Thrush in the New York Times$ -- 8/9/26

After Supreme Court loss, Trump again targets birthright citizenship with new orders -- President Trump signed new executive orders to crack down on so-called birth tourism and restrict which children of immigrants qualify for U.S. citizenship. Constitutional scholars, civil rights groups and California officials argue the orders defy the 14th Amendment and the court’s ruling. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/9/26

Senate Bows to Reality, Leaving Trump’s Voting Bill Undone -- The summer exit confirmed what had been apparent for weeks: that Republicans lacked the votes to pass the voting restrictions the president has made a top priority. Michael Gold in the New York Times$ -- 8/9/26