California Policy and Politics Wednesday

Court greenlights Prop 50 for 2026 election, denying GOP bid to block new maps -- The congressional map approved by California voters to boost the number of House Democrats was upheld Wednesday by a divided federal court, which said they were legally drawn for political purposes and not as an act of racial discrimination, as Republicans contended. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/14/26

California launches investigation into child porn on Elon Musk’s AI site -- California opened an investigation into Elon Musk’s xAI company, alleging its Grok chatbot creates sexually explicit deepfakes of real people and child pornography. The AI tool allows users to morph photos into explicit images and post them publicly on X. California law prohibits such AI-generated sexual material. Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ Khari Johnson Calmatters -- 01/14/26

 

L.A. County moves to carve out ‘ICE-free’ zones following immigration raid violence -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to bar immigration enforcement officers from county-owned spaces. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ Steve Scauzillo in the LA Daily News -- 01/14/26

California lawmakers advance bill making it easier to sue ICE agents -- The shooting death of a woman by ICE is looming over California lawmakers as they consider legislation that would make it easier for citizens to sue federal officers for using excessive force. Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ Kate Wolffe in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/14/26

‘I thought this was the end’: Protesters recount bloody attack by Homeland Security agents in Santa Ana -- A 21-year-old anti-ICE protester remains hospitalized after DHS agents fired nonlethal rounds at a Santa Ana demonstration, leaving him permanently blind in one eye. Doctors found shrapnel embedded in his skull and metal fragments lodged dangerously close to his carotid artery, requiring lifelong medical monitoring. Itzel Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ Sean Emery in the Orange County Register$ -- 01/14/26

Trump again vows to yank funds from sanctuary cities. In S.F., he’d be violating a court order -- Federal courts have repeatedly ruled that President Donald Trump can’t legally halt funding to “sanctuary” cities like San Francisco, which prohibit their police from enforcing immigration laws or cooperating with federal immigration agents. But that didn’t stop Trump from declaring another funding cutoff on Tuesday. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/14/26

Building homes is a top priority for California Democrats again this year. Voters could get a say -- California Democrats are eager to advance a pair of bond measures to fund affordable housing construction, but lack enthusiasm for tenant rights protections as a controversial rent control measure bites the dust for a second straight year. Yue Stella Yu Calmatters -- 01/14/26

 

Who has Newsom’s ear as he weighs a White House run? -- The documents, which the governor’s office had previously declined to release to journalists, offer a rare window into who has had direct access to California’s most powerful elected official as he navigates high-stakes policy fights — and as allies and critics alike speculate about a future presidential bid. Ethan Varian in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 01/14/26

Can Newsom thaw his relationship with automakers? $200 million might help -- State funding for electric vehicle rebates could help broker a detente between California and automakers. Alex Nieves Politico -- 01/14/26

Is Gavin Newsom really turning the corner on homelessness? -- Gavin Newsom can now tout something he’s never been able to say before as governor: The number of people sleeping on the streets in California is declining. Melanie Mason Politico -- 01/14/26

Wildfire

Clashing with the state, L.A. City moves to adopt lenient wildfire ‘Zone Zero’ regulations -- Some experts worry the lenient approach won’t protect homes: studies found homes with cleared vegetation were more likely to survive wildfires. In any case, the city’s regulations may be overridden when the state finalizes statewide rules expected midyear. Noah Haggerty in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/14/26

‘It’s a blanket of silence’: Fire victims’ attorneys accuse city of blocking Palisades fire transparency -- Attorneys for the city of Los Angeles moved this week to block the release of long-awaited depositions of firefighters that could provide a deeper understanding of their decisions and actions in the days leading up to the deadly Palisades fire. Jenny Jarvie and Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/14/26

 

Louisiana seeks California doctor’s extradition, testing the limits of shield laws -- Louisiana pushed Tuesday to extradite a California doctor accused of mailing abortion pills, setting up a likely test of laws designed to protect telehealth providers who ship abortion pills nationwide. Sara Cline Associated Press Raheem Hosseini in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/14/26

S.F. to expand child care subsidies as Mayor Lurie rolls out new affordability push -- The “affordability” mantra being touted by Democrats trying to mend their party’s frayed brand with voters has a new San Francisco proponent: Mayor Daniel Lurie. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/14/26

Push for stricter cap on rent increases dies in the California Legislature -- A contentious housing bill that would have capped rent increases to 5% a year died in the Assembly on Tuesday, a decision greeted with boos and cries of disapproval from spectators packed inside the committee chamber. Katie King in the Los Angeles Times$ Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/14/26

Building homes is a top priority for California Democrats again this year. Voters could get a say -- California Democrats are eager to advance a pair of bond measures to fund affordable housing construction, but lack enthusiasm for tenant rights protections as a controversial rent control measure bites the dust for a second straight year. Yue Stella Yu Calmatters -- 01/14/26

New California bill looks to prevent President Trump from seeking a third term -- The bill from Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, would allow the California secretary of state to exclude presidential candidates from the ballot if they are constitutionally ineligible, such as if they are not at least 35 years old or a natural-born citizen. And, specifically, it would bar a presidential candidate from seeking a third term. Kaitlyn Schallhorn in the Orange County Register$ -- 01/14/26

Workplace

Film and TV company attached to 50 Cent invests $124 million in new Louisiana production studios -- Following the global success of Netflix’s “Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” its executive producer, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, plans to invest $124 million in a new production campus in Shreveport, La. Cerys Davies in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/14/26

For now, Newsom’s rosy budget proposal bodes well for state worker payroll costs -- The Newsom administration said Friday that it does not plan to use state employee compensation costs as a means to shore up the state’s budget as it did last year when California faced a larger-than-expected deficit. William Melhado in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 01/14/26

Vanderbilt

Booming S.F. neighborhood will be home to new college campus — a blow for downtown -- Though San Francisco’s mayor urged major academic institutions to open a campus in the city’s faltering downtown, Vanderbilt University chose instead a fast-growing pocket of the city a mile or so to the south. Laura Waxmann, J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/14/26

 

Williams-Sonoma to close last San Francisco store in Union Square -- The prominent Union Square space is slated to become a flagship store for luxury fashion house Chanel, which purchased the building for $63 million in 2022. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 01/14/26

'Super flu' confirmed in Calif. as hospitalizations hit season high -- Officials at the California Department of Public Health confirmed on Tuesday that a mutated influenza strain dubbed the “super flu” is spreading in California. Gillian Mohney SFGate -- 01/14/26

Environment

Very little plastic being recycled in California as state efforts falter -- A new report issued by the state’s waste agency shows plastic yogurt containers, shampoo bottles and restaurant take-out trays are being recycled at rates only in the single-digits. Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/14/26

Also

Walters: How Newsom’s presidential ambitions complicate his last budget as California governor -- As Gavin Newsom moves every-closer to declaring his presidential candidacy, everything he does in his last year as governor is rightfully being viewed through that political prism. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 01/14/26

Matthew McConaughey Trademarks Himself to Fight AI Misuse -- Matthew McConaughey secured eight trademarks from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect his likeness and voice from unauthorized AI use. Ben Fritz in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/14/26

What would it take to make housing, energy, and transportation affordable in California? -- Researchers argue that “abundance” requires smarter housing design, people-first transportation, and a more flexible, affordable energy system. UC Berkeley Possibility Lab -- 01/14/26

Latest Altadena bear squatter is gone — for now. Why it won’t be the last -- A week after a 550-pound bear was evicted from under an Altadena home, another Altadena resident about a mile away reported a bear taking up residency under that home’s floorboards. Andrea Flores in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 01/14/26

POTUS 47

Trump Makes Obscene Gesture at Heckler in Ford Factory Tour -- President Trump raised his middle finger at a heckler who accused him of being a “pedophile protector” while touring a Ford factory in Dearborn, Mich., on Tuesday afternoon. Shawn McCreesh in the New York Times$ Natalie Allison and Dan Merica in the Washington Post$ Gabrielle Canon The Guardian -- 01/14/26

U.S. Evacuates Some Personnel From Qatar Air Base as Trump Weighs Iran Strike -- Trump on Tuesday told Iranians demonstrating against their government that “help is on its way,” a sign he may soon intervene to support the protests. He also told reporters Tuesday that Americans in Iran should consider evacuating the country. Lara Seligman and Benoit Faucon in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/14/26

 

FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home -- The search came as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified government materials. Perry Stein in the Washington Post$ -- 01/14/26

FBI searches home of Washington Post reporter in classified documents probe, newspaper says -- While classified documents investigations aren’t unusual, the search of a reporter’s home marks an escalation in the government’s efforts to crack down on leaks. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the search was done at the request of the Pentagon. Alanna Durkin Richer Associated Press Benjamin Mullin and Devlin Barrett in the New York Times$ -- 01/14/26

Trump threatens to halt federal money next month not only to sanctuary cities but also their states -- President Donald Trump said Tuesday that starting Feb. 1 he will deny federal funding to any states that are home to local governments resisting his administration’s immigration policies, expanding on previous threats to cut off resources to the so-called sanctuary cities themselves. Geoff Mulvihill Associated Press Cheyanne M. Daniels Politico -- 01/14/26

Trump administration drops fight to tie transportation funding to immigration -- The Trump administration on Tuesday dropped its appeal of a November court decision that blocked it from withholding transportation funding to states that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement. Alex Nieves Politico -- 01/14/26

Justice Dept. experts on police shootings are left out of Minneapolis probe -- The Civil Rights Division typically leads shooting investigations but so far has not been activated. Perry Stein in the Washington Post$ -- 01/14/26

Six Federal Prosecutors in Minnesota Step Down Over ICE Shooting Investigation -- Among the concerns of the departing prosecutors was pressure to investigate the wife of the deceased woman, one of the people said. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good during an operation in Minneapolis last week. James Fanelli, John McCormick and Joe Barrett in the Wall Street Journal$ Perry Stein in the Washington Post$ Ernesto Londoño in the New York Times$ -- 01/14/26

Trump says he has many military options on Iran. He doesn’t. -- Many of the troops and ships once at the president’s disposal have shifted to the Caribbean. Jack Detsch, Paul McLeary and Joe Gould Politico -- 01/14/26

Pentagon Defends Use of Aircraft Painted in Civilian Colors for Boat Strike -- Lawmakers have questioned the legality of using the aircraft in attack on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean. Lara Seligman in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 01/14/26

Democratic lawmakers to file articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem -- Robin Kelly, Ilhan Omar and Maxine Dexter to move against homeland security secretary over ICE killing of Renee Good Lauren Gambino The Guardian -- 01/14/26

In Secret Testimony, Republicans Derided Trump’s Stolen Election Claims -- The testimony, part of the derailed Georgia election interference case, makes clear how dismissive some senior Republicans were of claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Richard Fausset and Danny Hakim in the New York Times$ -- 01/14/26

The House Republican Majority Is Down to Almost Nothing -- A surprise resignation and a sudden death have left House Republican leaders starting the new session of Congress with their already slim majority down to the bare minimum of 218 seats. Ashley Wu and Annie Karni in the New York Times$ -- 01/14/26

Initial Review Finds No Widespread Illegal Voting by Migrants, Puncturing a Trump Claim -- Republican election officials welcome the review, which relies on a federal verification tool, but they say they have not discovered a major problem when it comes to noncitizen voters. Alexandra Berzon and Nick Corasaniti in the New York Times$ -- 01/14/26