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Updating . . .
California Policy and Politics Wednesday
Becerra sees momentum, money and movement in the polls in governor’s race -- Xavier Becerra, a former Cabinet secretary in President Biden’s administration, appears to be surging in the wildly unsettled California governor’s race. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/22/26
Garofoli: Porter, Becerra seek breakthrough at debate but will voters finally tune in? -- One campaign is struggling, the other is surging in wake of Swalwell departure in hotly contested race for California governor. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/22/26
In Britain, Steve Hilton was inspired by California. Now, he calls it the worst-run state -- Steve Hilton is a former Fox News host who has unexpectedly emerged as a leading candidate in the race for governor with a message that California is a failed state in need of radical reform. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/22/26
‘This is huge’: Proposed overhaul of San Diego County government heads to November ballot -- County supervisors voted 3-2 on partisan lines Tuesday to place a measure on the November ballot that would, if passed, overhaul the structure of county government and consolidate more power with supervisors. Lucas Robinson in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/22/26
In era of nasty judge elections, California race devolves into something else entirely -- Election challenges to judges seeking new terms in California are typically bare-knuckles brawls between an incumbent backed by the legal community and outside forces accusing the judge of being soft on crime or corrupt. Which makes the only challenge to a sitting Bay Area judge in the June 2 primary election pretty much of a head-scratcher. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/22/26
Walters: What’s worse for a governor running for president, raising taxes or leaving a deficit? -- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s eighth and final state budget could be his most difficult, as he attempts to close a whopping deficit, offset reductions in federal funds and appease demands for more spending and new taxes. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 4/22/26
Former Republican Rep. Devin Nunes out as Trump Media CEO -- Trump Media & Technology Group, the Truth Social parent company whose largest shareholder is Trump, said in a statement Tuesday that Nunes would be succeeded by Kevin McGurn, an adviser to the company, who will take over as interim CEO effective immediately. It did not offer a reason for Nunes’ unexpected departure. Declan Harty Politico Matthew Goldstein in the New York Times$ -- 4/22/26
California Is Rife With Hospice Fraud. But Whose Fault Is It? -- The Trump administration and Democratic state leaders are blaming each other for what everyone agrees is a big problem. The president has targeted California and Gov. Gavin Newsom in particular. Soumya Karlamangla in the New York Times$ -- 4/22/26
FBI probes cases of missing or dead scientists, including four from the L.A. area -- Amid growing national security concerns, the FBI said Tuesday that it has launched a broad investigation in the deaths or disappearances of at least 10 scientists and staff connected to highly sensitive research, including four from the Los Angeles area. Ben Wieder in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/22/26
Trump ally Roger Stone hired to lobby for Bay Area tribe seeking control of Presidio -- Self-described “dirty trickster” and longtime Donald Trump ally Roger Stone has been hired to lobby for the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area, a controversial group that last year petitioned the White House to take over management of the Presidio. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/22/26
SpaceX settles lawsuit with state Coastal Commission over Vandenberg flights -- The settlement was reached last week by the two sides, but the details won’t be made public until it is approved by Los Angeles U.S. District Court Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/22/26
Trump administration offers plan to stop dam removal on California river -- The Trump administration injected a surprising twist into the fight over Northern California’s Eel River on Tuesday, offering up a potential plan to stop the removal of two dams in the basin — though how serious the plan is remains to be seen. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/22/26
Netflix plans to buy historic Radford Studio Center -- Netflix plans to purchase the the Los Angeles lot that has been home to generations of landmark television shows including “Gunsmoke” and “Seinfeld,” according to two people with knowledge of the pending deal who were not authorized to speak about it publicly. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/22/26
After Epstein scandal, Hollywood bidders race for Wasserman’s $3-billion agency -- Several private equity firms and Hollywood power players, including United Talent Agency and longtime agent Patrick Whitesell, have expressed interest in buying parts of Casey Wasserman’s music and sports management firm after it abruptly went up for sale. Meg James in the Los Angeles Times$ Jessica Toonkel and Lauren Thomas in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/22/26
Workplace
As production dwindles, L.A. to offer cheaper film permits for ‘low-impact’ shoots -- Los Angeles will soon offer reduced-cost filming permits for shoots that demonstrate a “low impact” to the surrounding community, a move that comes as the city tries to lure more production. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/22/26
Labor and lawmakers at odds over guardrails for agencies’ AI decision-making systems -- California lawmakers hope to establish guardrails around how state agencies can use artificial intelligence and other technologies to speed up the delivery of public services, such as the approval of Medi-Cal applications and certifying nurse and teacher licenses. William Melhado in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/22/26
Embattled L.A. homeless services agency to lay off 284 workers -- The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority will lay off 284 workers as the county withdraws funding to establish its own homeless services department starting July 1. The county says it is committed to hiring LAHSA workers now funded through the county, but it’s unclear how many of the 284 departing workers fit that definition. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/22/26
Zuckerberg-backed Bay Area school to lay off 147 as it shuts down -- A tuition-free school founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan in the East Bay will lay off nearly 150 employees as it prepares to shut down this summer, according to a state filing. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/22/26
They Chose Careers in the Trades and Still Wound Up With Debt -- As community colleges and union apprenticeships fill up, more students are turning to pricier training options for blue-collar careers. Te-Ping Chen, Lauren Weber, Jeremy M. Lange in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/22/26
Housing
A plan to cut a California tax is going to voters. Why LA’s ‘mansion tax’ is at the center of it -- A measure to roll back two kinds of taxes is slated to go before voters in November. The measure would affect cities and taxpayers across the state, but Los Angeles and its controversial “mansion tax” is the prime target. Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 4/22/26
Trump’s big promise for veteran housing is AWOL in VA budget proposal, mystifying vets -- President Trump promised housing for 6,000 veterans at the West L.A. VA campus, but the VA’s budget proposal requests no funding for a single new bed, disappointing advocates. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/22/26
Wildfire
Palisades reservoir that was empty during fire is dry again. Residents aren’t happy about it -- A $19.5-million project to replace the floating cover is needed to ensure the quality of the drinking water, but will keep the reservoir out of service till fall. Sandra McDonald in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/22/26
Street
Is 50 old enough for elderly parole? California lawmakers rush to change rules for sex offenders -- The potential release of two men who were convicted of molesting children in the Sacramento region has California lawmakers racing to revise elderly parole rules. Joe Garcia Calmatters -- 4/22/26
Also
Bonta, San Pasqual tribe sue Poway over handling of Kumeyaay remains found at construction site -- Two new lawsuits by the state and a Kumeyaay tribe accuse Poway of violating environmental law in letting construction proceed on a housing development where Native American remains and artifacts have been found. Lucas Robinson, Teri Figueroa in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/22/26
Video shows black bear charging at a hiker on Mount Wilson -- The video, which was posted on Instagram Monday by Eric Chiu, shows a hiker walking toward a black bear (that appears brown) and making noise with bells to try to get the bear to go away. Summer Lin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/22/26
Barabak: He honked to support a ‘No Kings’ rally. A cop busted him -- A retired potato farmer in St. George Utah, wanted to show his solidarity with anti-Trump demonstrators deep in pro-Trump country. He’s fighting the ticket he got for honking at a ‘No Kings’ rally, seeing politics at play in his citation. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/22/26
POTUS 47
Trust Trump? Iran’s Doubts Shadow Peace Talks -- Iranian leaders fear being burned again by President Trump, who tore up a nuclear agreement reached during the Obama administration after lengthy negotiations. Michael Crowley in the New York Times$ -- 4/22/26
Iran attacks 3 ships in the Strait of Hormuz as Trump indefinitely extends ceasefire -- Iran’s Revolutionary Guard fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, throwing efforts to end the war further into question. Lorian Belanger, Laurie Kellman, Bernard Mcghee, Luena Rodriguez-Feo Vileira Associated Press Adam Rasgon, Luke Broadwater, Jonathan Swan and Francesca Regalado in the New York Times$ -- 4/22/26
To Iran, Trump Blinked First by Extending the Cease-Fire -- Iran’s leaders believe that they can withstand an enduring standoff longer than President Trump. The strategy could be economically devastating for average Iranians. Erika Solomon in the New York Times$ -- 4/22/26
Trump’s approval on economy falls in AP-NORC poll, showing new warning signs for president -- Trump’s approval rating on the economy dropped to 30% in April from 38% in a March AP-NORC poll. A similarly low share of U.S. adults, 32%, approve of the president’s leadership on Iran, which is unchanged since last month. Josh Boak, Jesse Bedayn, Linley Sanders Associated Press -- 4/22/26
Judge Halts Trump Actions Aimed at Throttling Renewable Energy -- A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a series of decisions that wind and solar developers say have throttled hundreds of renewable energy projects across the country. Brad Plumer in the New York Times$ -- 4/22/26
California Policy and Politics Tuesday
Ex-staffers defend California governor hopeful after viral clips raise conduct questions -- Thirty ex-staffers of California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter (D) are vouching for their former boss in a new letter, pushing back on concerns about her temperament raised by two video clips that show her speaking sharply to a staffer and a reporter. Liz Goodwin in the Washington Post$ -- 4/21/26
In California, Israel is emerging as a defining Democratic test -- California congressional races are turning into a proxy war over the Democratic Party’s bitter divide on Israel as the widening conflict in the Middle East spills into domestic politics. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 4/21/26
Gov. Newsom blasts Trump’s climate rollback: ‘reckless decision’ will cost lives -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted the Trump administration on Monday over its decision to repeal the Endangerment Finding — widely considered the legal foundation for much of U.S. climate policy regulating greenhouse gas emissions for nearly 20 years — asserting that the move will worsen climate-driven extremes. Chaewon Chung in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/21/26
California blocks Trump administration from withholding homelessness funds -- California for now has prevented the Trump administration from changing priorities in homelessness funding to favor temporary shelters rather than long-term housing. Marisa Kendall Calmatters -- 4/21/26
California judge rebukes Trump-backed plan that bypasses state authority in oil pipeline restart -- In a rebuff of the Trump administration’s push to restart oil pipelines off California’s Central Coast, a state judge has ruled that a recent executive order does not override state regulations concerning oil operations. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/21/26
Amazon pressured Levi’s, other retailers to hike prices, California A.G. says -- The filing alleges Amazon used three schemes to fix prices: coercing vendors as intermediaries to pressure competitors, directly raising prices and blocking product distribution. Amazon disputes the claims. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/21/26
Websites break California privacy law at ‘industrial scale,’ survey finds -- Tech companies like Google, Facebook and Microsoft are ignoring data controls mandated under California law, researchers say. Colin Lecher Calmatters -- 4/21/26
Governor’s race wildly unpredictable two weeks before Californians receive ballots -- Xavier Becerra, former secretary for Health and Human Services under President Biden, surged in a governor’s race poll after former Rep. Eric Swalwelld bowed out due to sexual assault and misconduct allegations. Seema Mehta and Nicole Nixon in the Los Angeles Times$ Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/21/26
How the California Governor’s Race Is Changing Post-Swalwell -- Xavier Becerra, who once struggled to gain traction, has found growing support after Eric Swalwell left the race amid sexual harassment allegations. Laurel Rosenhall in the New York Times$ -- 4/21/26
Walters: With Eric Swalwell’s scandalous implosion, Xavier Becerra surges in race for California governor -- Ten days ago, Congressmember Eric Swalwell was getting very close to becoming the Democratic candidate for governor of California. But then he imploded amidst sensational accusations of sexual harassment and assault. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 4/21/26
Lagging in polls and fundraising, Betty Yee drops out of California governor’s race -- Progressive former state Controller Betty Yee said voters didn’t appear interested in her “experience and competence,” instead flocking toward candidates who made splashier statements. Jeanne Kuang Calmatters -- 4/21/26
Garofoli: Democrats are rallying behind a caretaker in the special election to replace Eric Swalwell -- Democrats are so worried about losing tight votes in the House over the coming months that the candidates running in the special election for Eric Swalwell’s House seat are rallying behind a caretaker candidate, retired state Sen. Bob Wieckowski. But it’s unclear whether the plan can move forward, because one major candidate is not yet on board. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Melanie Mason and Blake Jones Politico -- 4/21/26
Internal emails show how fringe groups fueled Sheriff Chad Bianco’s ballot seizure -- Records reveal that the unprecedented taking of 650,000 ballots was based on the thinnest of evidence, raising alarms over how the November election could be disrupted. Anat Rubin and Jessica Pishko Calmatters -- 4/21/26
She says ChatGPT is responsible for her son’s death. CA lawmakers are listening -- Maria Raine, the mother of the 16-year-old Orange County teen who killed himself last year after discussing his suicidal thoughts with ChatGPT, is appealing to California lawmakers to place additional regulations on AI “companion” chatbots. Kate Wolffe in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/21/26
L.A. Mayor Bass offers a hold-the-line budget, with no layoffs and few big increases -- Mayor Karen Bass is not planning layoffs in 2026-27, in large part due to increased tax revenues, according to her budget team. David Zahniser and Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/21/26
Mayor Lurie in Asia: S.F. expanding ties with sister city through arts, science -- San Francisco’s Opera and Ballet will partner with Shanghai’s music and dance institutions under agreements announced as part of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s trip to Asia. Jess Lander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/21/26
Workplace
Rideshare drivers sue Uber over being kicked off app in new challenge to California law -- Uber has failed to create an appeals system to give drivers due process when they’re kicked off the app, violating the California law it carved out that declared app-based drivers independent contractors, a lawsuit filed Monday alleges. Levi Sumagaysay Calmatters -- 4/21/26
College Graduates Are Finally Catching a Break in This Job Market -- Several new signals suggest employers are boosting entry-level hiring this spring after gloomier projections just months ago. Ray A. Smith and Te-Ping Chen in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/21/26
Marketplace
S.F., California tourism spending jumps in 2025 despite $1 billion less from international visitors -- Travel and tourism spending rose last year in both San Francisco and California, despite a $1 billion decline statewide from international visitors amid the Trump administration’s controversial immigration policies. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/21/26
Develop
S.F. tower once worth $320 million went to auction. Nobody made an offer -- One of San Francisco’s notable office towers was up for auction last week, a 20-story, 360,000-square-foot Class A building on one of the most coveted corridors in the North Financial District. Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/21/26
Education
LAUSD to vote on restricting student screen time, after years of encouraging classroom use -- Student classroom screen time would be cut way back under a proposal expected to win approval Tuesday from the Los Angeles Board of Education, a remarkable reversal of years-long initiatives to equip students with computers and internet access — and a move that comes amid growing parental pushback on devices. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/21/26
LAUSD seeks to expand affordable child care by using spare classrooms, shuttered centers -- The expansion addresses a critical affordability crisis, with median infant care at a facility costing about $1,800 monthly in L.A. County. Kate Sequeira in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/21/26
Kaiser SF
Kaiser proposes major new hospital in S.F., its first in the city in 70 years -- The new facility would mark a major expansion in real estate and capacity, with 300 private patient beds in roughly 623,000 square feet, a newly expanded emergency department and a new parking garage at 350 St. Joseph’s Ave. The current facility, which opened in 1954, has 239 semi-private beds in about 367,000 square feet. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/21/26
Also
Animal welfare groups commit $14 million to improve L.A. animal shelters -- Two animal welfare groups, Best Friends and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, will give a $14-million grant to L.A. Animal Services over the next three years. Sandra McDonald in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/21/26
Robot named Lightning blows past human runners to set half-marathon record in Beijing -- Slide over, Jacob Kiplimo. The world’s fastest human in the half-marathon is still just that, but the Ugandan’s record time of 57 minutes, 20 seconds, was obliterated Sunday in Beijing by a 5-foot-5 humanoid robot named Lightning. Steve Henson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/21/26
POTUS 47
Trump says US is extending ceasefire while awaiting proposal from Iran -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request while awaiting a “unified proposal” from Tehran, even as the U.S. military maintains its blockade of Iranian ports. The move comes as the White House put on hold Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Pakistan for a second round of truce talks with Iran, which has balked at further discussions. Laurie Kellman, Frank Griffiths, Michael Warren, Luena Rodriguez-Feo Vileira, Drew Callister, Nell Clark Associated Press -- 4/21/26
Uncertainty Surrounds U.S.-Iran Talks as Cease-Fire Nears End -- Uncertainty clouded prospects for a new round of U.S.-Iran peace talks on Tuesday, ahead of the scheduled end of a two-week cease-fire, as Tehran denounced American threats and President Trump suggested that he did not want to extend the truce without a longer-term agreement. Elian Peltier, Tyler Pager, Farnaz Fassihi, Erika Solomon and Aurelien Breeden in the New York Times$ -- 4/21/26
Iran war accelerates America’s breakup with the world President -- The Iran war is damaging America’s influence around the world and exacerbating tensions with countries already whipsawed by President Donald Trump’s second term — an erosion of power that could be tough to reverse as U.S. adversaries such as China take advantage. Nahal Toosi, Zack Colman and Paul McLeary Politico -- 4/21/26
‘Immediate Results’ vs. ‘The Long Game’: The U.S. and Iran Face Off -- As the United States and Iran make a second attempt at a deal, their negotiating styles are on a collision course. David E. Sanger in the New York Times$ -- 4/21/26
‘Donnyland’? Ukraine Proposes Renaming Part of the Donbas in Trump’s Honor -- The proposal reflects a global reality in which governments appeal to President Trump’s vanity in order to get American might on their side. Anton Troianovski and Andrew E. Kramer in the New York Times$ -- 4/21/26