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California Policy and Politics Tuesday
California Congressman Doug LaMalfa dies, GOP leadership confirms -- LaMalfa, 65, was a rice farmer from Oroville and staunch Trump supporter who had represented his Northern California district for the past 12 years. His seat was one of several that was in jeopardy under the state’s redrawn districts approved by voters with Prop 50. Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ Meredith Lee Hill Politico Victor Mather in the New York Times$ Kadia Goba, Marianna Sotomayor and Maegan Vazquez in the Washington Post$ Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/06/26
Health Dept. to Freeze $10 Billion in Funding to 5 Democratic States -- The funding pause could jeopardize child care and other programs that serve hundreds of thousands of households in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York. Minho Kim in the New York Times$ -- 01/05/26
Avalanche near Truckee kills one, triggers large rescue response -- At least one person was killed Monday afternoon after an avalanche swept through a backcountry area near Truckee, prompting a large emergency response and warnings of ongoing danger in the region. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Daniel Hunt in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/05/26
California’s largest reservoir rises 36 feet as rains boost water supply statewide -- Since Dec. 16, the state’s largest reservoir — Shasta, a massive 35-mile-long lake near Redding — has risen by 36 feet. On Monday, it was 77% full, at 129% of its historical average for this time of year and still rising. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 01/06/26
‘Caught off guard’: Storm, king tides flood hundreds of Marin County homes, businesses -- Flooding was more widespread than anticipated by forecasters, catching many residents off guard from Sausalito to San Rafael, said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, who on Monday toured parts of southern Marin County that were hit hard. Anna Bauman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/06/26
Weekend storms boost California water, but thin snowpack poses risk -- Northern California saw a wet weekend that solidified the region’s water supply, but experts urged caution, noting that snowpack and reservoir levels still remain below average. Chaewon Chung in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/06/26
San Francisco’s potential PG&E breakup is on ‘a very difficult road.’ -- San Francisco might someday realize its long-sought goal of breaking up with PG&E and assuming control of the city’s electric grid. But it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon — if it happens at all. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/06/26
Newsom’s final year in office begins with an $18 billion deficit. How will he address it? -- As Gov. Gavin Newsom prepares to release his spending plan this Friday, a projected $18 billion deficit awaits. Will he raise taxes or cut spending? Either could spell trouble for Newsom’s legacy. Yue Stella Yu Calmatters -- 01/06/26
These are the biggest challenges facing California’s economy in 2026 -- A weak job market, concerns over federal policies and an artificial intelligence bubble could spell trouble for the California and the Bay Area economies in 2026, experts said. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/06/26
Amid California politicos and family, Monique Limón takes Senate’s top role -- As California’s new Senate President pro tem, Monique Limón, D-Goleta. began to address reporters ahead of her swearing-in ceremony Monday, a sports-style chant came through from the adjoining room: “Monique! Monique! Rah! Rah! Rah!” “And that would be my family,” Limon said. “Leave it to a good family to do a porra, which is a cheer.” Kate Wolffe in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/06/26
Venezuelans from Bay Area cheer Maduro’s capture, while some worry about possible deportation -- Some Bay Area Venezuelans are thrilled by the move but worry about nation’s future. Julia Prodis Sulek in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 01/06/26
This immigrant survived the Eaton fire. Can she also escape Trump’s deportation surge? -- A woman who survived the deadly Eaton fire now faces deportation despite 28 years in the U.S. and a husband and daughter who are citizens. Masuma Khan was detained by ICE during a routine check-in, was held in a facility and denied medications with no access to a lawyer, she said. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/06/26
This startup’s concept promises to snuff out California’s wildfires with sound -- Sonic Fire's suppression technology is catching the attention of California utilities, regulators and insurers looking for innovative ways to extinguish fires. Pat Maio in the Orange County Register$ -- 01/06/26
Workplace
Ang Lee set to shoot Gold Rush epic in Northern California -- The production is expected to shoot extensively in Sacramento County, making it one of the most significant out-of-zone commitments under the current tax credit cycle. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/06/26
Wildfire
Utility blamed for Eaton fire only compensated 82 victims two months into program -- Southern California Edison received 1,500 applications for its Eaton fire compensation program and only paid out 82 after close to two months. Malena Carollo Calmatters -- 01/06/26
The first book about the L.A. fires is really about ‘America’s new age of disaster’ -- If journalism is the first draft of history, TV news is a rough, improbable sketch. As last year’s wildfires multiplied, still 0% contained, field reporters — tasked with articulating the unintelligible on camera — grieved alongside Los Angeles in real time. Mariella Rudi in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/06/26
Pacific Palisades businesses slowly return to work with ‘a lot of people gone’ -- Even after a year, the faint smell of burnt wood still wafts through the air along the Sunset Boulevard business district in the Pacific Palisades. Pat Maio in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 01/06/26
A Year After Fires, L.A.’s Rocky Recovery Is Shaped by Wealth, Insurance and Red Tape -- Wildfire disaster caused billions in losses, and many homeowners are still waiting for insurance payouts and permits to rebuild. Jim Carlton, Shane Shifflett and Rebecca Picciotto in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/06/26
Gas
Trump administration sues Morgan Hill, Petaluma over natural gas bans -- The Trump administration on Monday sued the cities of Morgan Hill and Petaluma, asking a judge to block local laws that ban natural gas infrastructure in new buildings. The item is in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 01/06/26
Also
Walters: California’s urgent issues loom over Newsom campaign and his would-be successors -- Political California cranked up for the New Year Monday. The Legislature reconvened after a 114-day recess, Gov. Gavin Newsom renewed his nascent campaign for president and the dozen or so men and women who covet his job continued to seek ways to reach a so-far-uninterested electorate. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 01/06/26
The Robot Cars Have Come for the Kids -- Because families have complicated schedules. Corina Knoll, Mark Abramson in the New York Times$ -- 01/06/26
POTUS 47
Trump’s Hint to Oil Executives Weeks Before Maduro Ouster: ‘Get Ready’ -- President Trump hinted at major changes in Venezuela to a couple of oil executives a month before Nicolás Maduro’s capture. Collin Eaton and Alex Leary in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/05/26
Stephen Miller Asserts U.S. Has Right to Take Greenland -- Stephen Miller, a top aide to President Trump, asserted on Monday that Greenland rightfully belonged to the United States and that the Trump administration could seize the semiautonomous Danish territory if it wanted. Chris Cameron in the New York Times$ -- 01/05/26
‘Mexico should indeed be concerned’: Trump’s threats rattle Mexican officials, businesses -- Trump’s rhetoric, including his suggestion over the weekend that Washington may have to “do something” about cartels that are “running Mexico,” is reviving fears in Mexico City. Megan Messerly Politico -- 01/06/26
Mexico’s president slams Trump’s attack on Venezuela, says it destabilizes the hemisphere -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday again condemned the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, criticizing the Trump administration’s aggressive foreign policy in Latin America for threatening the stability of the hemisphere. Kate Linthicum in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/06/26
An Emboldened Trump Looks Beyond Venezuela -- In the days since Maduro’s capture, Trump has renewed threats against Colombia, criticized Mexico’s leadership, predicted Cuba’s government would fall and reiterated his desire to take over Greenland. Annie Linskey and Meridith McGraw in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/06/26
For Many Jan. 6 Rioters, a Pardon From Trump Wasn’t Enough -- Some pardoned rioters have been rearrested. Others returned to poverty and mental health challenges. And many became consumed by resentment and demands for payback. Alan Feuer and Dan Barry in the New York Times$ -- 01/05/26
Trump May Have Accidentally Pardoned the Jan. 6 Pipe Bomber -- The Justice Department has touted the arrest, but he might still walk free. Ankush Khardori Politico -- 01/06/26
California Policy and Politics Monday
Ties between California and Venezuela go back more than a century with Chevron -- As a stunned world processes the U.S. government’s sudden intervention in Venezuela — debating its legality, guessing who the ultimate winners and losers will be — a company founded in California with deep ties to the Golden State could be among the prime beneficiaries. Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/05/26
Gavin Newsom’s legacy: Can he deliver on unmet promises in his final year as governor? -- Under Newsom’s tenure, health care has been expanded, but his housing goals and homelessness pledges remain unfinished. Can he deliver before eyeing the White House? Jeanne Kuang Calmatters -- 01/05/26
California Legislature returns to Sacramento for new year with big bills, ambitions -- On Monday, the gears of California’s legislative machine begin turning once again. Kate Wolffe in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/05/26
5 decisions that will reshape California’s relationship with Trump in 2026 -- California’s relationship with President Donald Trump was a roller coaster during his first year back in the White House. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/05/26
New California fee targets batteries in PlayStations, power tools and singing cards -- With the start of the new year, Californians will pay a new fee every time they buy a product with a nonremovable battery — whether it’s a power tool, a PlayStation or even a singing greeting card. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/05/26
Why some Democrats are staying silent on Trump arrest of Venezuelan leader -- As Democrats navigate a high-wire balancing act in their response to the United States’ arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, some have opted to simply keep their mouths shut. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/05/26
‘No war on Venezuela’: Bay Area leaders, protesters call Trump’s attack unconstitutional -- Bay Area residents and political leaders reacted with anger and worry to the U.S. attack on Venezuela, with congressional representatives condemning the action as unconstitutional and hundreds of protesters briefly stopping traffic in downtown San Francisco. Alyce McFadden, Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/05/26
Providers brace for Medi-Cal cuts: ‘We may not be able to serve everybody’ -- Federal changes to Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California, could add up to a nine-figure problem for San Diego medical providers. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 01/05/26
ICE
ICE Is Using Facial-Recognition Technology to Quickly Arrest People -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are using Mobile Fortify, a facial recognition app, to expedite arrests. Michelle Hackman, Arian Campo-Flores and Hannah Critchfield in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/05/26
Emotional vigil held for man killed by off-duty ICE agent on New Year’s Eve -- About 50 gathered Sunday in Northridge for a candlelight vigil honoring Keith Porter Jr., shot by an off-duty ICE agent on New Year’s Eve. The fatal shooting has conflicting accounts: ICE said Porter posed an “active threat,” while a civil rights group said he was celebrating with gunfire. Christopher Buchanan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/05/26
Workplace
Women still face steep challenges securing top movie jobs -- Last year, women made up just 13% of directors working on the top 250 films. That level represents a 3-percentage-point decline from 2024, when women led 16% of the top-grossing movies, according to a San Diego State University study released Thursday. Meg James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/05/26
AI
AI regulation battle looms in California despite Trump threats -- This year, many of the world’s most powerful artificial intelligence companies face a pitched battle over government regulation on their home turf — California. And even President Donald Trump’s threat to punish states that regulate AI may not stop the fight. Eliyahu Kamisher, Bloomberg in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 01/05/26
Homeless
From NIMBY to YIMBY: San Jose forges difficult path to winning over neighbors in sheltering homeless -- When the city of San Jose first proposed building “tiny homes” for homeless people in a park smack in the center of Marsey Kahn’s South San Jose neighborhood in 2017, she and her neighbors fought it bitterly — and won. Julia Prodis Sulek in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 01/05/26
Education
Will this be the year California makes kindergarten mandatory? -- California is one of 32 states that doesn’t require 5-year-olds to attend school. Carolyn Jones Calmatters -- 01/05/26
Teachers have a right to tell parents if their child might be LGBTQ+, federal judge rules -- A federal court ruling has affirmed the free speech and religious rights of California teachers who want to tell parents about how their child is expressing gender identity at school, a victory for conservatives and parent-rights advocates that stands to rewrite state school policies if upheld. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/05/26
Also
Arellano: In Trump’s invasion of Venezuela, Marco Rubio is the biggest sellout of all -- I still remember the fresh-faced, idealistic guy trying to pass a bipartisan amnesty bill in 2013. Though too right-wing for my taste, he seemed like a Latino politician who could thread the needle between liberals and conservatives, gringos and us. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/05/26
POTUS 47
Trump on return trip to Washington predicts demise of Cuba, warns Colombia, threatens Greenland -- President Donald Trump on Sunday predicted Cuba’s government could soon collapse and threatened Colombia’s president, a stark warning that underscored his administration’s increasingly aggressive posture toward leftist governments across Latin America. For good measure, he reiterated his desire to annex Greenland, as well. Sophia Cai Politico -- 01/05/26
To ‘run’ Venezuela, Trump presses existing regime to kneel -- Whether Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, will cooperate with the administration is an open question. Rubio said that a U.S. naval quarantine of Venezuelan oil tankers would continue unless Rodríguez begins cooperating. Michael Wilner in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/05/26
U.S. plan to ‘run’ Venezuela clouded in confusion -- In Washington and Caracas, the vision for administering Venezuela in the weeks and months ahead appears uncertain and stubbornly complex. Adam Taylor, Samantha Schmidt, Natalie Allison and Karen DeYoung in the Washington Post$ -- 01/05/26
U.S. national intelligence director is silent on Venezuela operation -- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had yet to weigh in on the U.S. operation to remove Nicolás Maduro from power in Caracas as of Saturday night, more than 24 hours since President Trump approved the audacious mission that captured the Venezuelan leader. Michael Wilner in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/05/26
In Venezuela after Maduro, a common refrain: The oil is ours -- Like many other nations, Venezuela nationalized its oil industry in the 20th century, a process begun in the 1970s under the U.S.-allied government in Caracas. Many Venezuelans reject President Trump’s assertion that their country “stole” U.S. oil assets. Mery Mogollón and Patrick J. McDonnell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/05/26
Hundreds of judges reject Trump’s mandatory detention policy, with no end in sight -- Federal judges are increasingly exasperated by the Trump administration’s effort to lock up nearly everyone facing deportation proceedings — a draconian expansion of decades-old policies that hundreds of courts have rejected as illegal or unconstitutional. Kyle Cheney Politico -- 01/05/26