California Policy and Politics Wednesday

Forest fires follow roads. The Trump administration wants to build more -- The Trump administration announced Tuesday it is rolling back a rule prohibiting logging and road construction in undeveloped parts of national forests, including more than 4 million acres of federally managed forest lands in California. Rachel Becker Calmatters -- 8/19/26

 

White House releases damaging Swalwell documents as governor’s race proceeds without him -- Documents released Monday by the Trump White House show former Rep. Eric Swalwell told the FBI he had “occasionally hooked up” with a suspected Chinese spy. The documents provide a glimpse into how different California’s governor race may have been if several women hadn’t come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Swalwell. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/19/26

Becerra pledges to debate Hilton — more than once — between now and Nov. 3 -- Democratic gubernatorial front-runner Xavier Becerra, facing criticism from GOP rival Steve Hilton for a lack of public visibility since the primary election, pledged to face the Republican in multiple debates before the Nov. 3 general election to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/19/26

California voters favor progressive candidates, split over democratic socialism, poll finds -- California voters feel most favorably toward progressive political candidates, with less enthusiasm for mainstream Democrats. A generational gap separates Democratic voters who favor mainstream versus progressive candidates. Justine McDaniel in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/19/26

California Democrats rally opposition to voter ID measure, call it Trump-led effort -- Democratic elected leaders reiterated past concerns about Prop. 39 including that the measure would disenfranchise voters, cost the state tens of millions of dollars and is part of a national trend of anti-voter laws spearheaded by Republicans. Mathew Miranda in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/19/26

Walters: Five California propositions ask the same question: Who should pay billions in taxes? -- There are 14 statewide measures on California’s Nov. 3 ballot, ranging widely in concept and potential impact. Five of them pose a fundamental question: Who should pay hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes to support local public services? Dan Walters Calmatters -- 8/19/26

 

Wahab has narrow lead in race to replace Eric Swalwell in Congress -- State Sen. Aisha Wahab had a narrow lead over BART Board President Melissa Hernandez in early returns in the special election Tuesday to serve the remainder of Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term, with votes left to be counted. Wahab had 51.4% of the vote to 48.6% for Hernandez in the first batch of results posted shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/19/26

After bruising loss in Michigan, AIPAC turns to California for win -- AIPAC’s super PAC, United Democracy Project, poured nearly $2.5 million into a Tuesday runoff between two Democrats competing for the House seat vacated by former representative Eric Swalwell (D). The groups have run ads against state Sen. Aisha Wahab, a progressive endorsed by the California Democratic Party, and boosted her moderate opponent, Melissa Hernandez, a San Francisco Bay Area transportation official. Praveena Somasundaram in the Washington Post$ -- 8/19/26

 

Trump’s top federal prosecutor in L.A. could face new challenge after appellate ruling -- A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling this week has raised new questions about the legality of tactics used by the Trump administration to keep Bill Essayli atop the federal prosecutor’s office in Los Angeles. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/19/26

Workplace

CAA boss warns of threat to California’s film and TV jobs program -- The head of one of Hollywood’s largest talent agencies warned state leaders that a new budget bill threatens job gains from California’s film and TV credit program. Legislators earlier this year passed a provision in the state budget that extends limitations on corporate tax credits, including a $5-million state tax credit cap each year. Wendy Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/19/26

Being an L.A. animator is tough right now — but this group aims to still celebrate the art form -- It’s getting tougher and tougher to make a living in animation, especially in Los Angeles. For years, animation work has moved overseas, major players have slashed jobs and AI has been a growing threat. Marah Eakin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/19/26

Develop

Inside California Forever’s high-pressure push to fast-track a shipyard -- California Forever pressured Solano County officials to support state legislation to fast-track its shipyard development, newly obtained public records show. Now, during the final weeks of the legislative session, the company is ramping up the pressure again. Yue Stella Yu and Kate Wolffe Calmatters -- 8/19/26

Bay Area city plans 2,300 homes on former Navy base. A dispute over 25 vouchers could stall them -- Over a decade Alameda Point has gone from a mothballed navy base to a bustling waterfront neighborhood. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/19/26

San Jose City Council stops short of endorsing plan to quadruple housing density -- After a proposed plan to quadruple density in San Jose’s residential neighborhoods drew over a hundred residents to speak out on the issue, the City Council held off Tuesday night on choosing a specific path forward on housing density, instead directing staff to explore a range of options. Luis Melecio-Zambrano in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/19/26

Why homes once banished to trailer parks are filling the suburbs -- The new houses going up on Acacia Lane look a lot like one-story versions of the taller houses on the other side of the street. The same California Craftsman look; almost identical plank siding; a similar tasteful yet cheery color palette. Julie Z. Weil in the Washington Post$ -- 8/19/26

Education

Book bans, LGBTQ+ outing policy under scrutiny in state candidate Sonja Shaw’s Chino Valley district -- Chino Valley Unified’s book-removal and LGBTQ+ outing policies are under renewed scrutiny. A complaint filed with state officials says the district’s book policy unlawfully targets LGBTQ+-themed titles and bypasses public hearings. The challenges come as Chino Valley board President Sonja Shaw, a Republican, heads into a November runoff for California state superintendent against Democrat Richard Barrera. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/19/26

Meta

‘The young ones are the best ones’: Meta on trial for alleged effort to hook kids -- The states allege Meta intentionally designed its platforms to hook children and lied about the safety of its products. Attorneys for Meta argue the company has made efforts to protect its youngest users. Sonja Sharp in the Los Angeles Times$ Tyler Katzenberger Politico Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/19/26

Wildfire

Here’s how nearly 2 million California homes must adjust landscaping under final wildfire rule -- After years of delays and pushback, California regulators are set to approve major new rules requiring millions of property owners to limit plants and other flammable materials within 5 feet of homes. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/19/26

Water

As Colorado River reservoirs shrink, Arizona warns of a legal fight -- A legal fight could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court and further complicate efforts by seven Western states to agree on how to share water from the shrinking river and its reservoirs, which have fallen to record low levels. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/19/26

Climate

Bay Area’s Highway 37 could be underwater by 2050. California could spend $100 million on a fix -- State transportation officials on Thursday will weigh whether to invest $100 million in one of the Bay Area’s most ambitious transportation projects: the effort to raise a 21-mile highway before it sinks into the sea. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/19/26

Your car may not be fuel efficient, but your tires have to be now -- California just became the first state in the nation to require that replacement car tires be as energy-efficient as new ones, a move the state says will save drivers a billion dollars annually while reducing gasoline and electricity demand. Blanca Begert in the Los Angeles Times$ Soumya Karlamangla in the New York Times$ -- 8/19/26

Yosemite

‘Dramatic reduction’ in gridlock? Yosemite claims more visitors, less congestion -- Mark Rose with National Parks Conservation Association says this is the park service being selective in the information it shares, “in a manner that doesn’t square with reality.” The NPS touted July 4 as “one of the smoothest holiday periods in recent memory,” leaving out the fact it was a fee-free weekend. Meaning, no one was stopping cars at the entrance gates. Joshua Tehee in the Fresno Bee -- 8/19/26

Street

LAPD fires on man suspected of holding gun, misses him entirely. Turns out it was a water pistol -- LAPD officers in South Park opened fire on a man whose realistic-looking “gun” turned out to be a water pistol, before arresting him without injuries Monday evening. Police say the man ignored commands to stop and pointed the object toward officers, prompting at least one to shoot; the rounds missed and the water pistol was recovered. Fedor Zarkhin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/19/26

Lakers

The Lakers Heiress at the Center of the NBA’s Nastiest Succession Drama -- When Mark Walter sold the Lakers last week, it touched off an unexpected side battle: the handpicked inheritor of Jerry Buss’ franchise vs. five of her siblings. Robert O’Connell in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/19/26

Also

Excited for big El Niño winter, 3 Tahoe ski resorts announce opening dates -- Heavenly, in South Lake Tahoe, and Northstar, in Truckee, are slated to open Nov. 20 — about a week ahead of Thanksgiving. South of the Tahoe basin, Kirkwood plans to open Dec. 4. Gregory Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/19/26

Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema details affair that began in Wine Country -- Former Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema testified that her sexual relationship with a married member of her security detail began during a 2024 trip to California’s Wine Country, according to court filings. Aidin Vaziri, Danielle Echeverria in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/19/26

This clumsy green beetle is buzzing all over L.A. It might just crash into your face -- Parts of Los Angeles are abuzz with hordes of figeater beetles, also known as green fruit beetles or Cotinis mutabilis. About an inch long, they’re hard to miss — and are known for careening into unsuspecting bystanders. Lila Seidman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/19/26

POTUS 47

Trump tries to quiet his mass deportation campaign. Voters aren’t moving -- New results from The Politico Poll show that half of Americans, including nearly a quarter of Trump’s 2024 voters, still say the president’s mass deportation campaign is too aggressive. Myah Ward and Erin Doherty Politico -- 8/19/26

‘Brazen act of self-dealing’: Democrats seek to block a Trump-linked crypto bank -- Federal regulators have given preliminary approval for a cryptocurrency venture tied to President Trump and his family to operate a digital-asset bank, a decision that has drawn immediate condemnation from Senate Democrats who are now pushing legislation to bar such an action. Ana Ceballos in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/19/26

Supreme Court is urged to block Trump’s huge new ballroom so Congress can decide -- Trump’s lawyer said the ballroom project is ‘65% complete ... and moving quickly toward total completion.’ The preservation trust said Trump is moving quickly so as to bypass the law. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/19/26

Trump’s Ballroom Is Rising at Breakneck Speed: 20 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week -- Although the fate of the ballroom is tied up in court, the Trump administration argues that the project is too far along to be stopped now. Luke Broadwater and Ann E. Marimow in the New York Times$ -- 8/19/26

Judge Is Asked to Block Inscription of Trump’s Name on Kennedy Center -- The request from a Democratic lawmaker follows a decision by the Trump-allied board to add “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump” to the building. Julia Jacobs in the New York Times$ -- 8/19/26