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California Policy and Politics Sunday
First U.S. case of mpox variant reported in San Mateo County -- The first case in the U.S. of a more severe mpox variant has been confirmed in a person who had recently traveled to East Africa and was treated in San Mateo County, the California Department of Public Health announced Saturday. Jenny Gold in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/24
Nevada just banned ‘slavery and involuntary servitude’ in prisons. Why didn’t California? -- California’s Proposition 6 and Nevada’s Question 4 sounded like similar prison reforms. But key differences may explain the diverging outcomes. Anabel Sosa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/24
Abcarian: George Gascón, ousted as L.A. County’s top prosecutor, was his own worst enemy -- Voters, always on edge about crime and safety, grew impatient with the district attorney, who didn’t work hard enough to show them he was right. Robin Abcarian in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/24
The Rural Areas Pushing for Divorce From Democratic Cities -- Across Illinois and California, more red counties that feel steamrolled by blue-led governments are trying to split off. Joe Barrett in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/17/24
Plan to shutter Aliso Canyon gas facility isn’t moving fast enough for community activists -- The California Public Utilities Commission unveiled a proposal that could potentially shutter the Aliso Canyon gas storage field in the coming years. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/24
O.C. firefighter who feared he was paralyzed in freeway crash walks out of rehab -- O.C. firefighter Andrew Brown, who was injured when his firetruck rolled over on the way home from the Airport fire, spent nearly two months at a Colorado hospital. Harriet Ryan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/24
Westside lawyer who represented hundreds of inmates hit with new state bar charges -- Aaron Spolin, a Princeton-educated attorney and former McKinsey consultant who signed up thousands of inmate clients seeking release under new criminal justice reform laws, was hit with a second round of charges by the State Bar of California last week. Harriet Ryan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/24
Insurance
Why older homes are losing coverage amid California’s insurance crisis -- The three-unit, 1904 building — which survived two major earthquakes and was in great shape, according to Rich — was cut last year after Farmers Insurance changed its policies to exclude multi-unit homes built before 1925. Clare Fonstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/24
Rent
S.F. rents are up again. In Oakland, the picture is different -- Rent prices in San Francisco are climbing again, but across the bay in Oakland, rents are still getting cheaper — though that could shift in the coming year. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/24
SF Great Highway
Prop K supporters bask in victory on stretch of S.F.’s Great Highway envisioned for park -- Supporters of Proposition K held a victory rally Saturday on San Francisco’s Great Highway, after the ballot measure to close a 2-mile stretch of that road permanently to cars passed with 54% of the vote. Maliya Ellis in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/24
POTUS 47
Trump Signals a ‘Seismic Shift,’ Shocking the Washington Establishment -- The president-elect’s early transition moves amount to a generational test of a system as he seeks to rewrite the balance of power and install lieutenants to blow up key parts of government. Peter Baker in the New York Times$ -- 11/17/24
Trump’s early moves show he wants to disrupt government and exact retribution -- Eight years ago, Trump’s transition got off to a slow and stumbling start. This time, he is moving swiftly to fill key roles with loyal but controversial picks. Dan Balz in the Washington Post$ -- 11/17/24
Trump won. The celebrations started. Then the trouble began. -- The president-elect has been operating off his own script, making Cabinet picks that have posed immediate political challenges. Jacqueline Alemany, Michael Scherer, Josh Dawsey and Ashley Parker in the Washington Post$ -- 11/17/24
The Hidden Truth Linking the Broken Border to Your Online Shopping Cart -- The incoming Trump administration promises an immigration crackdown. But for years, the on-demand economy has been fueled by unscrupulous staffing agencies exploiting migrant workers. Steve Eder, Danielle Ivory and Marcela Valdes in the New York Times$ -- 11/17/24
Trump Boosters Expect Big Returns on Their Investment: ‘The Shackles Are Off’ -- Wealthy donors to the president-elect’s campaign anticipate a more business-friendly atmosphere, including the firing of Biden-era regulators. Eric Lipton in the New York Times$ -- 11/17/24
Garofoli: Democrats had a far superior ground game. Why didn’t it matter? -- A lot of Democrats are feeling hopeless after Donald Trump’s decisive victory. Many of them have been engaged in worthless and self-serving finger-pointing, and are doing things like urging candidates to talk to Joe Rogan. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/24
Gavin Newsom Once Again Becomes a Meme -- Old photos of the California governor (and navy-suit enthusiast) are being widely shared as bruised Democrats seek a savior. Jacob Gallagher in the New York Times$ -- 11/17/24
Trump, triumphant, returns to Madison Square Garden for UFC event -- Donald Trump returned to Madison Square Garden here on Saturday night for an Ultimate Fighting Championship event, raising his fist to an ecstatic crowd that chanted “USA” as jumbotrons showed the president-elect entering the site of his inflammatory Oct. 27 rally. Cat Zakrzewski in the Washington Post$ -- 11/17/24
Defense pick Hegseth paid accuser but denies sexual assault, attorney says -- Documents obtained by The Post provide extensive detail about allegation and the response by Trump’s defense secretary pick. Michael Kranish, Josh Dawsey and Jonathan O'Connell in the Washington Post$ Maggie Haberman in the New York Times$ -- 11/17/24
Trump’s Cabinet Picks, Panned in Washington, Thrill Many of His Voters -- Where Donald J. Trump’s critics see underqualified nominees with questionable judgment, his voters described them as mavericks recruited to shake up Washington. Michael Corkery, Isabelle Taft and Shawn Hubler in the New York Times$ -- 11/17/24
Kennedy’s Vow to Take On Big Food Could Alienate His New G.O.P. Allies -- Processed foods are in the cross hairs of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but battling major companies could collide with President-elect Donald J. Trump’s corporate-friendly goals. Christina Jewett and Julie Creswell in the New York Times$ -- 11/17/24
Musk appears to pressure Trump on Cabinet and tariffs, raising eyebrows -- Elon Musk, the billionaire who has become Donald Trump’s “first buddy,” appeared to publicly pressure the president-elect on economic policy and a key Cabinet pick. Jacqueline Alemany, Jeff Stein and Maegan Vazquez in the Washington Post$ -- 11/17/24
Biden’s White House stares down a Trump takeover -- The White House rushes to get Ukraine and CHIPs funding out the door but faces limits on “Trump-proofing.” Adam Cancryn Politico -- 11/17/24
Trump taps oil executive Chris Wright as Energy secretary -- The oil executive and GOP fundraiser disputes the need to fight against climate change. Ben Lefebvre, Josh Siegel, Zack Colman and Kelsey Tamborrino Politico -- 11/17/24
Trump taps personal lawyer Will Scharf for White House staff secretary -- Scharf was a member of Donald Trump’s legal team in his federal election interference case and his Supreme Court immunity case. Irie Sentner Politico -- 11/17/24
California Policy and Politics Saturday
Crypto ‘godfather’ of Bel-Air: Probe widens into L.A. deputies’ alleged links to mogul -- At least six L.A. County sheriff’s deputies have been relieved of duty amid an investigation into their work for a 24-year-old cryptocurrency entrepreneur accused of extortion and hiding millions of dollars from tax collectors. Brittny Mejia and Keri Blakinger in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/16/24
Oakland faces risk of insolvency amid gaping budget deficit, officials warn -- Oakland will have to declare a fiscal emergency if it doesn’t make immediate spending cuts to de al with its budget deficit, according to a city report released Friday. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/16/24
Liberal Berkeley’s Toughened Stance on Homeless Camps Is a Bellwether -- The progressive stronghold in California plans to target large encampments, relying on a Supreme Court decision handed down by a conservative majority. Shawn Hubler in the New York Times$ -- 11/16/24
After high-profile clashes with Trump, Adam Schiff will soon have a new title: Freshman -- Rep. Adam B. Schiff is a darling of the Democrats, a fighter and political veteran accustomed to the limelight on Sunday talk shows and on the House floor. In the Senate, the Burbank Democrat will carry a new title: freshman. Laura J. Nelson and Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/16/24
A California Republican who’s not afraid to say the T-word -- Many California Republicans had tried to keep Donald Trump at arm’s length. This one wants him on speed dial. Tyler Katzenberger Politico -- 11/16/24
Trump, the 2028 Olympics and what it all means for L.A. -- Trump’s election could be a boon for the 2028 Olympics. It could also spell disaster. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/16/24
Why RFK Jr. nomination sets off alarms among many public health specialists -- The anti-vaccine activist could oversee the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health. Karen Kaplan, Corinne Purtill and Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/16/24
Could RFK Jr. affect childhood vaccination in California? Here’s what experts say -- Pediatric vaccination requirements for school children are set by the states. California law, for instance, mandates that children get immunized against MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), polio, DTAP (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis), hepatitis B and other diseases before attending school. California is among the minority of states that do not allow religious or personal belief exemptions or, as of 2021, most medical exemptions. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/16/24
Gavin Newsom to live in $9.1 million Marin County home, split time between Bay Area and Sacramento -- Newsom’s four children are enrolled in Marin County schools this semester, previous reports said. No state funds will be used in Newsom’s move. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/16/24
Democrat Josh Harder wins reelection to U.S. House -- The AP also called California Senate district races for Jerry McNerney and Jesse Arreguin. Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/16/24
California lawmaker accused of sexual harassment by former staffer countersues -- In the latest development in a salacious Sacramento legal saga, a California state senator this week filed a countercomplaint against her former chief of staff — who alleged she sexually harassed him while he worked for her — claiming that he was involved in the 2001 murder and disappearance of Washington intern Chandra Levy. Anabel Sosa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/16/24
Bird flu
H5N1 bird flu infects five more humans in California, and one in Oregon -- As H5N1 bird flu spreads among California dairy herds and southward-migrating birds, health officials announced Friday that six more human cases of infection: five in California and one in Oregon — the state’s first. Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/16/24
Great Highway fallout
Joel Engardio targeted for potential recall over Prop K support -- An early advocate of the recall of progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin is now targeting Supervisor Joel Engardio, who faces a backlash over his support of a controversial proposition to close the Great Highway to car traffic. Aldo Toledo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/16/24
Wildfire
Is fire season over? Depends where you live, experts say -- Rains have begun to lower fire risk, but they haven’t been spread out equally. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/16/24
Wildfire retardant is laden with toxic metals, USC study finds -- The discovery of high levels of heavy metals in a popular fire retardant has added to long-running concerns from environmentalists. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/16/24
Eyes in the sky: How AI-powered satellites could help fight California wildfires -- After the Camp Fire killed 85 people in the town of Paradise, the U.S. Department of Defense quietly reached out to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, commonly known as Cal Fire, offering a powerful new tool: high-resolution satellite imagery to accurately track and attack fires as if they were advancing enemy troops. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/16/24
Firefighters faced low water pressure when battling Mountain fire. Here’s what happened -- Firefighters battling the devastating Mountain fire faced issues with water availability and pressure. Officials confirmed two water pumps went out. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/16/24
A massive California wildfire destroyed their town. Here’s what it’s been like to return -- After the 2018 Camp Fire, a photojournalist visited a Paradise couple while they were displaced in Chico, shortly after they returned home, and again early this year. This is their story. Florence Middleton in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/16/24
Aliso Canyon
California regulators propose plan that could close Aliso Canyon. Or is it just ‘kicking the can’? -- The California Public Utilities Commission unveiled a proposal that could potentially close the Aliso Canyon gas storage field in the coming years, but local activists and politicians say it doesn’t provide a fast or clear enough timeline. Clara Harter and Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/16/24
Education
UC tuition to jump for nonresident students as regents confront budget gap -- The University of California system will increase annual tuition by $3,402 for out-of-state undergraduate students who enter school next fall, under a plan approved Thursday by the system’s Board of Regents. That will bring the total cost of tuition for nonresident students to $52,536. Michael Burke EdSource -- 11/16/24
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Under the Chandelier at Mar-a-Lago, Trump Makes Picks at Breakneck Speed -- President-elect Donald J. Trump chose his attorney general almost on a whim, in the sky between Washington and Palm Beach, Fla. He scoffed at a candidate for the Department of Homeland Security, then abruptly changed his mind. His defense secretary pick was a snap judgment during a slide presentation at Mar-a-Lago. Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman in the New York Times$ -- 11/16/24
The Resistance Is Not Coming to Save You. It’s Tuning Out. -- The first Trump administration sparked waves of public activism and aggressive media coverage. This time, not so much. Michael Schaffer Politico -- 11/16/24
Democrats Draw Up an Entirely New Anti-Trump Battle Plan -- The party’s early preparations to oppose the next Trump administration are heavily focused on legal fights and consolidating state power, rather than marching in the streets. Reid J. Epstein and Lisa Lerer in the New York Times$ -- 11/16/24
Democrats, reeling from election losses, cast blame on each other -- The internal ideological divisions burst into public view after Donald Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race. Meryl Kornfield in the Washington Post$ -- 11/16/24
Trump’s Top Team Sets Stage for White House Power Grab -- In naming a set of unconventional nominees to run federal departments, Donald Trump this week also took steps to push for a broader goal: realigning the balance of power among Washington’s major institutions so that more authority flows from the White House. Aaron Zitner and Siobhan Hughes in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/16/24
Matt Gaetz, Once a Justice Department Target, Now Targets Justice Department -- As attorney general, former lawmaker would be in charge of agency that probed sex-trafficking allegations; criticizes ‘lawfare’. Sadie Gurman, Aruna Viswanatha and Kristina Peterson in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/16/24
10 programs that could be on the ‘government efficiency’ chopping block -- Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk’s partner at Donald Trump’s planned spending panel, suggested defunding programs that Congress no longer authorizes. Here are some of those. Jacob Bogage in the Washington Post$ -- 11/16/24
Washington’s lobbyists are stunned Trump chose RFK Jr. -- Lobbyists expecting a more conventional pick to lead the government’s $3 trillion health agency than Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the brash contrarian President-elect Donald Trump named on Thursday to take charge, are plotting how to stop the Senate from confirming him. They’re also currying favor in case they can’t. Daniel Payne Politico -- 11/16/24
Kennedy’s Views Mix Mistrust of Business With Unfounded Health Claims -- President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for health secretary opposes fluoride in water, promotes unproven Covid therapies and has threatened to prosecute medical journals. Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Susanne Craig in the New York Times$ -- 11/16/24
Global health experts sound alarm over RFK Jr., citing Samoa outbreak -- Experts and officials said a 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa, which came after a visit by Kennedy, exemplified the dangers of his rhetoric. Sammy Westfall and Lena H. Sun in the Washington Post$ -- 11/16/24
Trump team weighs Pentagon pick after sexual assault allegation surfaces -- Trump’s pick for defense secretary was investigated in a 2017 incident in California, Monterey police said. Hegseth’s lawyer said police found no evidence of wrongdoing. Michael Kranish, Josh Dawsey, Jonathan O'Connell, Dan Lamothe and John Hudson in the Washington Post$ -- 11/16/24
Trump Wants to Kill the E.V. Tax Credit. Here’s What to Know -- President-elect Donald J. Trump wants Congress to repeal a $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit. Doing so would hurt American automakers. Lisa Friedman in the New York Times$ -- 11/16/24
Slash First, Fix Later: How Elon Musk Cuts Costs -- Mr. Musk dug into his companies’ budgets, preferring to cut too much rather than too little and to deal with the fallout later. Under Donald Trump, he is set to apply those tactics to the U.S. government. Ryan Mac, Kate Conger, Jack Ewing and Eric Lipton in the New York Times$ -- 11/16/24
Centrist Dems seize opening at the DNC: ‘I don’t want to be the freak show party’ -- Recriminations over Kamala Harris’ defeat are shaping the early stages of the race for DNC chair. Adam Wren, Holly Otterbein and Lisa Kashinsky Politico -- 11/16/24
Biden and his team struggle to escape questions about Trump’s return -- On his final trip to a major global summit, Biden’s aides face a barrage of media questions about Trump’s looming presidency. Matt Viser in the Washington Post$ -- 11/16/24