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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
POTUS 47
‘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
California Policy and Politics Friday
California faces $3 billion deficit in Gavin Newsom’s final state budget -- The estimate from the Newsom administration is much lower than the $18 billion shortfall for the 2026-27 budget year projected by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, which develops budget estimates for the California Legislature. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/09/26
Walters: Newsom’s budget shows big revenue gain, but we’ve been down that path before -- When Gov. Gavin Newsom declared today that the state will likely receive an extra $42.3 billion in tax revenue over the next three years, thus alleviating a stubborn budget deficit, the inimitable Yogi Berra’s famous observation came to mind. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 01/09/26
Trump claims crime is rampant in California. Newsom counters with stats showing historic lows -- Gov. Gavin Newsom used his final State of the State address to underscore California’s jaw-dropping crime figures — stats that he said refute the president’s claims about widespread murder and mayhem. Sonja Sharp and Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/09/26
In Address, Newsom Lays Out a Vision for California and the Nation -- Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized President Trump and portrayed his state as “a beacon” of democracy in a State of the State address that suggested national ambitions. Laurel Rosenhall in the New York Times$ -- 01/09/26
For Gavin Newsom, selling California may be harder than selling himself -- Gavin Newsom’s presidential hopes may hinge not only on how he sells his own image, but, as he implicitly made clear on Thursday, whether he can remake his home state’s as well. The latter may be the harder challenge. Melanie Mason Politico -- 01/09/26
Newsom proposes education power grab for next governor. What it could mean for schools -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday previewed a major education system overhaul that would give the next governor more authority over state school policies and redefine — and almost certainly diminish — the role of the elected state superintendent of public instruction. Howard Blume and Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/09/26
Schools chief was caught off guard by Newsom’s plan to pare down the future scope of his job -- Newsom proposed shifting oversight of the Department of Education from the superintendent to the State Board of Education. The move would concentrate more power over K-12 schools with the governor, who appoints the school board. Carolyn Jones Calmatters -- 01/09/26
Trump is disengaging from a major international issue. Newsom is stepping up -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom is again positioning himself as a counterpoint to President Donald Trump on the world stage, particularly on climate leadership. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/09/26
Spencer Pratt’s GOP registration poses early test in LA mayor’s race -- Spencer Pratt says party labels don’t matter in his bid for Los Angeles mayor. But the former reality TV personality, who has long dodged questions about his political affiliation, is a registered Republican — a liability in this heavily Democratic city. Liam Dillon Politico Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/09/26
California, New York and other blue states to sue Trump over $10B cut to welfare funding -- Trump officials have alleged without evidence widespread fraud and waste by the five Democratic strongholds. Rachel Bluth Politico -- 01/09/26
Trump’s DOJ is suing two Bay Area cities over a policy they no longer enforce -- The Trump administration is suing Morgan Hill and Petaluma for banning natural gas in most new buildings — something both cities say they’re no longer doing. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/09/26
Lawmaker targets repeat drunk drivers as part of larger push to fix problems exposed by CalMatters -- The DUI bill is intended to be the “tip of the spear” in a movement to address how California allows dangerous drivers to stay on the roads. Lauren Hepler and Robert Lewis Calmatters -- 01/09/26
My Legislator: CalMatters’ new accountability newsletter lets Californians track their state legislators -- Californians can now easily follow what their state representatives say and do each week, as the Legislature considers about 5,000 bills before adjourning in August. Sonya Quick Calmatters -- 01/09/26
Wildfire
'If we open, we have to start over from scratch.' Businesses still stuck a year after the L.A. fires -- More than 1,800 small businesses across burn zones face an uncertain future, with owners struggling to navigate insurance claims and cleanup costs largely unsupported. Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Roger Vincent, Kayla Bartkowski in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/09/26
Rage overflows in West Altadena: Where is the accountability for 19 deaths, epic losses? -- West Altadena received no evacuation alerts while other areas were warned, with nearly all Eaton fire deaths occurring in this historically Black community. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/09/26
Workplace
California led the nation in job cuts last year, but the pace slowed in December -- Buffeted by upheavals in the tech and entertainment industries, California led the nation in job cuts last year — but the pace of layoffs slowed sharply in December both in the state and nationwide as company hiring plans picked up. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/09/26
Water
California is officially free of drought conditions for the first time in 25 years -- California’s rainy start to 2026 has led to wet conditions pushing the state to break a 25-year record, according to the latest federal and state data. Olivia Hebert SFGate -- 01/09/26
Newsom’s signature water tunnel is set back by California court ruling -- In a decision that could complicate Gov. Gavin Newsom’s push to build a giant water tunnel and remake California’s water system, a state appeals court has rejected the state’s plan for financing the project. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/09/26
Housing
Lawsuit challenges S.F. mayor’s housing plan, sending ‘Family Zoning’ to court -- San Francisco’s simmering fight over the city’s need to add more housing could spill into the courts as the first lawsuit to challenge Mayor Daniel Lurie’s closely watched “Family Zoning” plan is expected to be filed Friday. Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/09/26
Education
After years of volatility, Newsom previews a stable budget year for California schools -- California schools. That means more stable funding for his signature education programs, including after-school and summer programs, universal transitional kindergarten, and community schools. Emma Gallegos EdSource -- 01/09/26
Sacramento-area teachers unions warn of potential strikes over pay and conditions -- Five teachers unions from Woodland, Sacramento and Rocklin have reached an impasse with their respective school districts after the parties failed to reach a labor agreement. Jennah Pendleton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/09/26
More Latino students are attending Cal State. But where are the Latino professors? -- Faculty representation at Cal State is lagging far behind the growing number of Latino students. That burdens the small circles of Latino faculty who take on more mentorship tasks, many times in non-tenure positions and for lower pay. Angel Corzo and Brittany Oceguera Calmatters -- 01/09/26
Planned one-day teachers’ strike next month would shutter San Diego schools -- The union voted to authorize a strike over special-education teachers' caseloads, one of the issues it's bargaining over in contract talks. Jemma Stephenson in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 01/09/26
University of California Reports Record Enrollment Despite Trump Pressure -- Enrollment increased to more than 301,000 as the system prepared for a budget debate in Sacramento. Alan Blinder in the New York Times$ -- 01/09/26
Street
Who is accountable? ICE killing in Minnesota reignites Bay Area debate over police shootings of drivers --Policing experts and civil rights attorneys raise questions about killing of Renee Good. Jakob Rodgers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 01/09/26
Protesters vandalize Sacramento federal building after ICE killing in Minneapolis -- Investigators with the federal Department of Homeland Security are investigating reports of vandalism at a demonstration in downtown Sacramento that protested Wednesday’s killing of an unarmed woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis, the Sacramento Police Department said. Sharon Bernstein in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/09/26
Hundreds march in Fresno to protest killing of Renee Good. ‘Stop ICE terror’ -- Hundreds of people protested outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in downtown Fresno on Thursday evening a day after an ICE agent shot and killed a mother and U.S. citizen in Minneapolis. Marina Peña in the Fresno Bee -- 01/09/26
POTUS 47
Videos Contradict Trump Administration Account of ICE Shooting in Minneapolis -- An analysis of footage from three camera angles show that the vehicle appears to be turning away from a federal officer as he opened fire. Devon Lum, Robin Stein and Ainara Tiefenthäler in the New York Times$ Aaron C. Davis and Jonathan Baran in the Washington Post$ -- 01/09/26
Job growth slowed markedly in Trump's first year back in office -- The slowdown comes even as the economy is rapidly growing and inflation is more muted than many analysts had feared. Victoria Guida Politico -- 01/09/26
Donald Trump can’t count on Congress to have his back any more -- Republicans dealt the president a series of rebukes Thursday that cast fresh doubt about his sway on Capitol Hill. Meredith Lee Hill, Jordain Carney and Nicholas Wu Politico -- 01/09/26
GOP senators break with Trump to rein in use of military without Congress’ approval -- Five Senate Republicans broke with party leaders on Thursday to advance legislation that would rein in President Trump’s use of the U.S. military in Venezuela, a move that comes as a growing number of GOP lawmakers have expressed unease about the White House’s threats to use force to acquire Greenland. Ana Ceballos in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/09/26
White House Ballroom Architect Says a West Wing Addition Is Under Consideration -- The architect of a new White House ballroom told members of a planning commission that the Trump administration was also considering a one-story addition to the West Wing colonnade to restore “symmetry” around the White House campus as part of the project. Ken Thomas in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/09/26
Trump Lays Out a Vision of Power Restrained Only by ‘My Own Morality’ -- On topic after topic, President Trump made clear that he would be the arbiter of any limits to his authorities, not international law or treaties. David E. Sanger, Tyler Pager, Katie Rogers and Zolan Kanno-Youngs in the New York Times$ -- 01/09/26
The Many Faces of Trump: What We Saw When We Interviewed the President -- He let reporters in on a call with Colombia’s president. He complained about Zohran Mamdani. He called JD Vance and Marco Rubio “kids.” Inside an unpredictable evening with President Trump. Katie Rogers, Doug Mills in the New York Times$ -- 01/09/26