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California Policy and Politics Monday

Newsom typically relishes battling Trump. On letting undocumented college students work, not so much -- In vetoing a bill that would have made immigrant students eligible to work, Newsom cited worries about retaliation from Trump. Eric He Politico -- 10/12/26

Californians are ‘really losing sleep’ over this financial burden, survey says -- Medical bills have become Californians’ top financial worry, a new survey finds, with many saying health care costs are forcing them to delay care and make painful tradeoffs. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/12/26

Billionaires fund California ballot measure to make voters show ID at polls -- Billionaires across the US are spending vast sums to support California’s Proposition 39, a measure that would require voters to show identification before casting their ballots. Dani Anguiano in The Guardian -- 10/12/26

L.A. mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has strong opinions. But they often change -- ‘One day she’s yes, the other day she’s no,’ Councilmember Heather Hutt said of L.A. mayoral candidate Nithya Raman, who endorsed Mayor Karen Bass’ reelection campaign and then ran against her. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/12/26

Skelton: Take a breath. Educate yourself. Then vote. -- The California Secretary of State has mailed a thick “Official Voter Information Guide” to every registered voter. It’s jam-packed with helpful material. But one bit should be totally ignored. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/12/26

In race for Pelosi’s seat, Wiener and Chan court Chinese American voters -- Winning Chinese American voters is key to prevailing in San Francisco’s congressional race to succeed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. And both candidates in the Nov. 3 election, state Sen. Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan, know it. Ko Lyn Cheang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/12/26

Bay Area officials are sounding the alarm over a lesser-known California ballot measure -- It’s not often that the supporters and opponents of a ballot measure agree on what exactly it would do, let alone describe it the same way. Yet both sides of the fight over Proposition 43 have been clear: It will make it harder to raise local taxes. What they don’t agree on is whether it’s a good idea. Kathryn Palmer in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/12/26

Republican Steve Hilton leans on cheeky ads, voter discontent in long-shot campaign for governor -- Hilton has tried to walk a fine line, appealing to the 6 million Californians who voted for Donald Trump in 2024 while avoiding the president’s brand. Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/12/26

Climate

Heavy surf, red-tagged homes, a battered boardwalk: Long Beach confronts costly climate reality -- A trio of storms since early September has put considerable strain on the historic Long Beach boardwalk, which collapsed further between 64th and 65th Place on Seaside Walk during a weekend of heavy surf. Deborah Vankin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/12/26

ICE

ICE arrests alarm California’s community colleges. How much can campus officials do? -- California community colleges are trying to discourage immigration enforcement on campuses, but they can’t do much to bar ICE agents from public spaces. Adam Echelman Calmatters -- 10/12/26

Workplace

What a Year of Free Money Meant: Softer Diapers, Clean Laundry, a Visit to Six Flags -- For more than a year, The New York Times followed recipients of universal basic income programs, which Elon Musk and other tech leaders have promoted as a solution to A.I.-fueled job losses. Eli Tan and Rachel Bujalski in the New York Times$ -- 10/12/26

S.F. sheriff’s overtime paid for pageants and festivals as understaffed jails hit ‘breaking point’ -- But payroll records and overtime logs show the department has devoted millions of overtime dollars to work that fell outside its core responsibilities: operating the city’s jails and providing security for several government buildings. Megan Cassidy, Emma Stiefel in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/12/26

Wildfire

How California Is Using A.I. and Cameras to Stop Wildfires -- A roving crew of California firefighters is installing cameras in some of the highest, craggiest sites in the state — all to get an early warning of a potentially deadly blaze. John Branch, Max Whittaker in the New York Times$ -- 10/12/26

AI

In the race for AI dominance, the U.S. relies on a surprising ally: China -- The Trump administration paints AI development as a winner-take-all contest, but U.S. data centers are full of made-in-China equipment, and many U.S. companies rely on Chinese AI. David J. Lynch in the Washington Post$ -- 10/12/26

In Silicon Valley, AI founders cheer Trump’s calls for the industry to police itself on safety -- Tech Week is in full bloom in San Francisco, packing the city’s restaurants this week with venture capitalists and AI founders ebullient about the White House’s stance on regulating artificial intelligence — namely, don’t do it. Garance Burke Associated Press -- 10/12/26

AI agents are going rogue — and the law can’t keep up -- There’s legal uncertainty over how to handle AI-powered hacking — and very few cases to use to find out. Hassan Ali Kanu Politico -- 10/12/26

Also

They came to Washington to dismantle government. Now, they’re profiting from it. -- DOGE alumni have leveraged their government experience, raising at least half a billion dollars for firms spanning cyberwarfare, AI and data centers, a Post analysis found. Faiz Siddiqui, Elizabeth Dwoskin and Meryl Kornfield in the Washington Post$ -- 10/12/26

If sports betting is banned in California, why is Kalshi allowed to operate here? -- Sports betting is banned in California, even at tribal casinos. Yet online companies such as Kalshi and Polymarket offer customers in the state the opportunity to wager on the outcome of professional athletic events using a brokerage system that critics say is the equivalent of gambling. Sharon Bernstein in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/12/26

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Judge orders immediate halt to taxpayer-funded pro-Trump ads -- A U.S. district judge ordered DHS to cancel ads set to run Sunday night — and barred the administration from resuming the campaign. Kyle Cheney Politico Gene Johnson Associated Press Brent Kendall in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/12/26

Trump could face a new threat in January: A Democratic Senate -- Republicans predict that Democrats will not confirm Supreme Court and Cabinet nominees if they retake the Senate in the midterm elections. Theodoric Meyer in the Washington Post$ -- 10/12/26

Justice probe into TV networks rests on thin legal grounds, legal experts say -- Justice's antitrust probe of TV networks was set off by their pause of White House pool coverage. Legal experts say calling that an illegal boycott is spurious. Miriam Waldvogel and Scott Nover in the Washington Post$ -- 10/12/26

Russia Pounds Ukrainian Energy Despite Trump’s Ceasefire Announcement -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian strikes had hit energy infrastructure across his country hours after President Trump declared an energy ceasefire between the warring sides. Anastasiia Malenko in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/12/26

 

California Policy and Politics Sunday

‘It’s coming’: Long Beach scrambles to prepare for Rachel’s high tide -- City of Long Beach workers scrambled Sunday morning to build a sand berm stretching westward from 62nd Place on the Long Beach peninsula, with less than two hours before high tide. Fedor Zarkhin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/26

Bass-led turnout surge crashes meeting to replace L.A. homeless outreach agency -- It’s not unusual for a public meeting to be canceled for lack of a quorum. But there isn’t even a word for what happened Friday when a once-obscure board canceled a meeting to decide the future of homeless services in Los Angeles because too many people came to vote. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/26

In Unlikely Turn, Law and Order Heats Up L.A. Mayor’s Race -- Two Democratic candidates choose opposite tacks on public safety and policing, seeking to corral undecided voters. Shawn Hubler in the New York Times$ -- 10/11/26

Ossoff set for LA fundraiser co-hosted by Miramax, United Talent Agency heads -- Hosts of the Oct. 19 event include several Hollywood executives, among them Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman and United Talent Agency CEO David Kramer. Daniel Miller Politico -- 10/11/26

How the GOP weaponized trans issues and left Democrats searching for a strategy -- For the second election cycle in a row, the rights of transgender people have taken center stage politically, despite their accounting for only about 1% of the U.S. population and many voters identifying other issues as far more important — splitting Republicans and Democrats, but also Democrats among themselves and putting the party on the defensive. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/26

Would Prop 39 speed up or slow down California’s vote-counting? -- Experts say the new requirements would drag out California’s notoriously lengthy tabulation process. Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/26

 

Silicon Valley’s Dream City Has Crashed Into Small-Town Politics -- In the summer of 2025, lobbyists for Silicon Valley-backed entrepreneur Jan Sramek were in overdrive. With Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office in his corner, Sramek was chasing a prize: a $3 billion shipyard beside the city he wants to build from scratch here. Zusha Elinson, Jonah Reenders in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/11/26

Lopez: They were homeless, but turned their lives around. Here’s how they did it -- Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Councilmember Nithya Raman each tout their records on homelessness. I decided to hear from some formerly homeless people willing to share stories about how they managed to break the cycle. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/26

Barabak: Is there a doctor in the House? Backlash to Trump, RFK Jr. may boost their political ranks -- Anti-vax policies and erosion of the nation’s public health system have spurred hundreds of doctors and scientists to seek office. In Sacramento, pediatrician and congressional hopeful Richard Pan is part of that wave. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/26

ICE

Off-duty ICE agent found sleeping on Fresno lawn is shot after assaulting man, authorities say -- An off-duty ICE agent was shot in Fresno after he was found sleeping on a lawn, then allegedly assaulted a 72-year-old man, authorities said. Iris Kwok and Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ Michael Barba in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/26

As thousands sit in ICE detention, one woman is fighting to bring her husband home -- ‘I’m not gonna sit in a corner and cry for him when I have so much to do,’ Blanca Ortiz says. ‘I need to figure out how to pay the mortgage, how to pay the bills, how to keep the shop running.’ Itzel Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/26

Farm bureaus silent as ag, labor groups in Fresno area decry ICE surge. ‘Sowing fear’ -- As organizations representing farmworkers and laborers speak out about concerns around ICE activity in the Central Valley, local farm bureaus have been silent so far. Nick Fenley and Erik Galicia in the Fresno Bee -- 10/11/26

Workplace

Target plans to hire 2,000 seasonal workers across the Bay Area -- The jobs include cashier and guest-service positions, stocking, general merchandise, online order fulfillment, style, food and beverage and technology. Target is accepting applications now for seasonal positions at stores and other facilities in the region. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/26

Housing

Bay Area county wants to help older adults age in place — by selling their homes -- A new program in Alameda County has a creative solution: Help older homeowners build accessible backyard ADUs, then move in, split the lot and sell their original home to help pay for the construction. Jessica Roy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/26

Newport Beach’s use of housing overlays to meet planning goals challenged in court -- A resident group is taking Newport Beach to court over allegations the city is “flouting” the law by not revamping its housing plan to exclude overlay zoning that permits but does not require residential development. Gabriel San Román in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/26

Education

S.F. State just saw its first enrollment growth in a decade. Now comes the hard part -- As San Francisco has become wealthier, it has also become harder for the university’s main customers, middle- and low-income students, to live here. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/26

AI

Nicolas Cage says he won’t work with Amazon again over AI dispute -- Nicolas Cage is making it clear — he’s not an “AI-friendly actor.” The 62-year-old actor spoke out against a tech giant during an appearance at New York Comic Con on Saturday. He alleged that he was asked to sign an artificial intelligence waiver for the television series “Spider Noir.” Cerys Davies in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/26

Street

Mexican cartels are building luxury fleets by stealing U.S. rental cars -- Operatives with the Jalisco cartel and other Mexican criminal organizations are increasingly renting U.S. trucks and cars and then driving them across the border. The thefts often happen in border states, with California the top target. Steve Fisher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/26

Also

Trump Told Ukrainians to ‘Get a New President.’ Ukraine Shrugged -- President Trump lashed out at President Volodymyr Zelensky for striking Russian oil refineries. Mr. Zelensky said he’ll stop — if Russia does too. Maria Varenikova, Dzvinka Pinchuk and Ivan Nechepurenko in the New York Times$ -- 10/11/26

How Ukraine uses precision drone strikes to hobble Russian oil refineries -- Kyiv is targeting critical components that are hard to repair. The strikes have crippled Russia’s diesel production and are at the center of a new standoff between President Trump and Ukraine. Evan Hill, Catherine Belton and Jarrett Ley in the Washington Post$ -- 10/11/26

At Davos, Kimberly Guilfoyle Boasted of Private Jet Trips, Luxury Stays -- Recording captures U.S. ambassador saying Greek businessmen were paying for her travels and pleading for an invite to an event with Eric Trump. Rebecca Ballhaus, Joe Parkinson, Drew Hinshaw and Dana Mattioli in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/11/26

One Acre of Yosemite Has Kicked Off a Battle Over the Future of National Parks -- A sliver of meadow and trees on the edge of Yosemite National Park has become an unlikely battleground over whether development is allowed in national parks. Kate King in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/11/26

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Justice Department Probes TV Networks Over Suspension of Trump Press-Pool Coverage -- The Justice Department is investigating whether major TV networks violated federal antitrust laws when they briefly suspended a rotation of broadcast journalists covering the White House last month following CNN’s removal from a planned assignment. Joe Flint and Dave Michaels in the Wall Street Journal$ David McCabe, Michael M. Grynbaum, Benjamin Mullin, Lauren Hirsch and Glenn Thrush in the New York Times$ Perry Stein, Miriam Waldvogel and Scott Nover in the Washington Post$ -- 10/11/26