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California Policy and Politics Saturday
Next storm forming off California’s coast could become bomb cyclone as it hits Bay Area -- As the Bay Area braces for an atmospheric river-fueled rainstorm this weekend, a potentially stronger system is on the horizon next week — one that could meet the criteria for a bomb cyclone and bring widespread damaging winds. Anthony Edwards, Brooke Park in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/25
DOJ releases new Epstein docs on Saturday as lawmakers steam about first release -- But lawmakers are still smarting over the first drop, which was chock full of redactions and revealed little in the way of new information regarding the rise of the financier and his connections to powerful people. Gregory Svirnovskiy and Ben Johansen Politico -- 12/20/25
Democrats float impeachment after Justice Department’s redaction-heavy Epstein release -- After the Trump administration bypassed a deadline Friday to produce all of the records from the investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, frustrated Democrats said they would consider recommending high-ranking Justice Department officials for prosecution or even pursue impeachment proceedings against them to compel the release of the remaining documents. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/25
Trump move to break up atmospheric research center threatens wildfire, storm predictions -- ‘This is only going to hurt Americans.’ Scientists, California state officials say the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle a key climate science hub will put public safety at risk. Rachel Becker Calmatters -- 12/20/25
How ‘Turn and Burn’ Immigration Operations Unleash Chaos — and Sweep up U.S. Citizens -- A video analysis of one early morning raid in Los Angeles revealed the vast web of consequences brought by new aggressive Border Patrol tactics. Robin Stein, Shawn Killebrew, Devon Lum, Alexander Cardia, Jeff Bernier, Dmitriy Khavin and Mimi Dwyer in the New York Times$ -- 12/20/25
California’s largest ICE facility just opened. A new report already found dangerous conditions -- California’s attorney general is demanding the federal government immediately address dangerous conditions at the state’s largest immigration detention center, following an inspection that found inexperienced and incomplete staffing and a lack of access to crucial medical care that the California Department of Justice said is endangering the lives of the hundreds of people held there. Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/25
Jury acquits L.A. man who towed immigration agent’s car during TikTok influencer’s arrest -- Bobby Nunez had faced up to 10 years in federal prison. His attorneys argued he moved the car one block away and that it was returned within 13 minutes. Brittny Mejia and Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/25
Feds block California from issuing new commercial licenses to immigrant drivers -- The Trump administration has blocked California’s plan to resume issuing commercial driver’s licenses to asylum seekers, the latest snag in an ongoing battle between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Sara DiNatale, Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/25
Immigration agents arrest 87 with commercial driver’s licenses in California -- Border Patrol agents arrested 42 people with commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants, including 31 from California, who were taken into custody at immigration checkpoints and highways. Another federal immigration operation targeting California trucking companies over two days last week led to the arrests of 45 more people with commercial licenses. Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/20/25
A California law was supposed to fast-track renewable energy. The state just shot down a key test case -- A high-profile wind energy project proposed in California’s far north, with 48 turbines — some rising 600 feet — and the capacity to power 80,000 homes, was supposed to be a sure thing. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/25
Tech boom fuels S.F.’s best year for office leasing since 2019 -- Companies signed leases for 10.2 million square feet, including renewals, the highest level in six years, according to preliminary data from real estate brokerage CBRE. A quarter of space was leased by artificial intelligence companies, and they accounted for over 80% of newly leased space. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/25
California woman led transnational ‘Terrorgram’ group from her home in the suburbs -- A Sacramento County woman who led a transnational terrorist group from the “comfort of her suburban California home” was sentenced this week to 30 years in prison, according to the Department of Justice. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/25
California sees population growth for third consecutive year after pandemic-era exodus -- For the third consecutive year, California’s population has increased, though the Golden State has still not reached its pre-pandemic population high. Terry Castleman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/25
California’s population growth slows as Sacramento increases and San Francisco flattens -- The populations of California and San Francisco saw minimal gains in the 12 months ending in July, while the Sacramento region saw one of the state’s biggest jumps, according to state estimates released Friday. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/25
Mayor Lurie vowed to clean up S.F.’s troubled neighborhoods. How much has actually changed? -- Almost a year into Lurie’s term, some residents of neighborhoods strained by drug use and homelessness say he’s on track to deliver the safer, cleaner streets he promised — as Slovikoski believes. Others say the citywide recovery he’s touted has yet to reach their corners of San Francisco. Lucy Hodgman, J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/25
Hoeven: Republicans are an endangered minority in California. So how does this right-wing lawmaker get so much done? -- Here in California, no GOP lawmaker has exploited Democrats’ blind spots more successfully than state Sen. Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, who has somehow convinced her colleagues to add a new crime to California’s three-strikes law for the first time in decades and embrace expanded in-state oil drilling. Emily Hoeven in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/25
Workplace
TikTok creators welcome deal to keep app in the U.S. -- Only a few years ago, Keith Lee was a professional MMA fighter, doing food delivery and making social media videos to ease his social anxiety. Katerina Portela in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/25
U.S. Space Force awards $1.6 billion in contracts to South Bay satellite builders -- The Space Force awarded $1.6 billion to Rocket Lab and Northrop Grumman for building satellites designed to detect hypersonic missile threats. Rocket Lab’s $805 million contract is the company’s largest ever, marking its evolution from a launch provider to a vertically integrated space contractor. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/25
Pricey Christmas gift about to arrive for 115,000 sailors and Marines in San Diego County -- Many of the sailors and Marines who will receive the $1,776 checks from the Trump administration have struggled to pay for food and housing. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 12/20/25
Street
The high-tech tools used to track down Nick Reiner after his parents’ slayings -- Police used geotracking, cellphone data and surveillance cameras to locate Nick Reiner hours after his parents were found fatally stabbed Sunday morning in Brentwood. The suspect, who struggled with substance abuse and had argued with his parents at a holiday party, was arrested in South Los Angeles that night. Richard Winton, Hannah Fry and Gavin J. Quinton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/25
Four times as many: Shootings by LAPD officers far outpace L.A. County deputies -- LAPD officers fired their weapons in 46 incidents so far this year — killing 14 people and wounding 23 others. The statistics mark a roughly 70% increase in police shootings compared to 2024 and the highest annual total by the LAPD since 2015. L.A. County sheriff’s deputies have shot 11 people so far in 2025, killing nine. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/25
AI
This Is What the World’s Smartest Minds Really Think About AI -- This year’s conference was attended by more than 24,000 people, who invaded San Diego earlier this month and made it the epicenter of the tech world. After spending much of the year racing to remake civilization, they packed a giant convention center and marveled at displays flaunting the latest AI research between bites of Auntie Anne’s pretzels. Berber Jin, Meghan Bobrowsky and Ben Cohen in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/20/25
Also
S.F. voters closer to weighing in — again — on fate of Great Highway -- Sunset Supervisor Alan Wong said Friday that he supports creating a ballot measure to reopen the Upper Great Highway to cars on weekdays, bringing the idea first floated by Supervisor Connie Chan one step closer to reality. Ko Lyn Cheang, J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/25
American Airlines stops awarding miles on basic economy tickets -- Starting this week, customers who buy basic economy fares will no longer earn frequent-flyer miles or credit toward elite status in the airline’s AAdvantage program, the carrier confirmed. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/25
Lou Cannon, Post reporter and preeminent Reagan biographer, dies at 92 -- Lou Cannon, a Washington Post reporter who became the preeminent biographer of Ronald Reagan, chronicling the former actor’s election as California governor, his long pursuit of the presidency and his two terms in the White House, died Dec. 19 at a hospice facility in Santa Barbara, California. He was 92. Adam Bernstein in the Washington Post$ -- 12/20/25
POTUS 47
'The most important documents are missing', Ro Khanna says -- “What we found out is the most important documents are missing,” Khanna said. “They’ve had excessive redactions, and the central question that Americans want to know – who are the other rich and powerful men on the island, raping these young girls or covering up – has not been answered.” Robert Mackey, Lucy Campbell The Guardian -- 12/20/25
What’s missing from the Epstein files release -- The Justice Department’s long-awaited release Friday of documents related to the federal government’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein was perhaps most notable for what it lacked. Erica Orden Politico Devlin Barrett, Alan Feuer and Michael Gold in the New York Times$ Mark Berman, Jeremy Roebuck and Perry Stein in the Washington Post$ -- 12/20/25
Epstein files put Bill Clinton under scrutiny – and the White House wants him there -- The Trump administration, initially wary over the Justice Department’s release of Jeffrey Epstein documents, pounced on go-to villain Bill Clinton’s appearance in Friday’s trove of pictures, emails and interviews. Liz Crampton and Andrew Howard Politico -- 12/20/25
Federal judge temporarily blocks HUD permanent housing cuts for homeless -- The U.S. district judge questioned whether "chaos" is the point in homelessness funding overhaul. Cassandra Dumay Politico -- 12/20/25
A Memorial to Kennedy? It’s Trump’s Now, To. -- President Trump’s name was affixed to the front of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday morning, transforming what was constructed as a living memorial to the slain 35th president into another Trump-branded property in the capital. Shawn McCreesh in the New York Times$ Janay Kingsberry, Kelsey Ables and Kadia Goba in the Washington Post$ -- 12/20/25
California Policy and Politics Friday
The fight over the Colorado River has become a political nightmare -- The Trump administration is stuck between two key political swing states and two of the nation’s reddest as they duke it out over access to the West’s most important river. Annie Snider Politico -- 12/19/25
California utilities will keep almost all profits as regulators ease up. They’re still upset -- Regulators on Thursday approved a slight reduction to the profits shareholders are allowed to receive from California’s three major investor-owned utilities. Malena Carollo Calmatters Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/19/25
Revealed: FBI opened domestic terrorism investigations into anti-ICE activity across US -- Internal report shared with Guardian shows FBI has launched cases in 23 regions, some linked to Trump memo on thwarting ‘terroristic activities’ Sam Levin The Guardian -- 12/19/25
How one anonymous tipster cracked the Brown University shooting case -- Information from a tipster who had a strange encounter with another man on a sidewalk outside Brown University was key to police identifying the suspect they believe killed two students at the school and then two days later gunned down a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor. Kimberlee Kruesi Associated Press -- 12/19/25
GOP won’t allow vote on Obamacare premium relief as credits near end. Now what? -- With no hope of preventing Obamacare health insurance premium costs from soaring in two weeks, Democrats and a few Republicans turned to ways to stop the increases when Congress returns in January. But getting any such action next month, or as long as Republicans control Congress, appears difficult. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/19/25
What’s next for Medi-Cal? A former state health leader weighs in -- ‘What does the future look like?’: As California braces for Medicaid cuts, former health secretary to lead new commission in creating plan to protect care. Ana B. Ibarra Calmatters -- 12/19/25
Panel: California law lets prosecutors use sexist stereotypes to undermine women’s self-defense claims -- When women are charged with violent crimes, California law allows prosecutors to counter their self-defense claims with stereotypes about their looks, clothing, sexual activity and other factors that could wrongly sway a jury, a state panel said Thursday. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/25
Palo Alto Confronts Billionaires Over Their Housing Compounds -- The Silicon Valley college town has changed drastically as Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page and other tech founders have scooped up multiple properties. Heather Knight in the New York Times$ -- 12/19/25
California braces for showdown as Trump administration targets gender-affirming care -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday revealed a multipronged plan that would effectively end gender-affirming care for transgender minors in the United States, largely by withholding federal funds from any hospitals that provide such care to young people. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/25
Wildfire
Failed emergency alerts during L.A. firestorms eroded public trust. How to fix a broken system? -- For many, the chaos and uncertainty around evacuations and alerts compounded the terror of the L.A. fires. But the snafus had a more troubling impact: eroding trust. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/25
L.A.’s hydrants ran dry during the fires. Residents are still demanding solutions -- Nearly a year later, residents and experts are weighing solutions that would make more water available for firefighting, including installing cisterns, tapping water from swimming pools, or even turning to mobile pumps and pipes that could quickly route water where it’s needed. Ian James Kayla Bartkowski, Lorena Iñiguez Elebee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/25
U.S. Will Pay $450,000 to Wildfire Fighters With Cancer -- They will be eligible for a one-time payment as well as college tuition for their children. The effort is part of a legislative push to address the dangers of working in toxic smoke. Hannah Dreier in the New York Times$ -- 12/19/25
Workplace
They graduated from Stanford. Due to AI, they can’t find a job -- A Stanford software engineering degree used to be a golden ticket. Artificial intelligence has devalued it to bronze, recent graduates say. The elite students are shocked by the lack of job offers as they finish studies at what is often ranked as the top university in America. Nilesh Christopher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/25
Once a pariah, Saudi Arabia is now Hollywood’s hot cash source -- Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund now backs some of Hollywood’s biggest deals, including a $24-billion financing package for Paramount’s $78-billion Warner bid. Stacy Perman, August Brown and Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/25
California’s minimum wage is increasing in 2026 as Los Angeles debates $30 an hour -- California’s minimum wage is adjusted every year for inflation. Some cities have a higher wage floor and unions are advocating increases for specific industries. Cayla Mihalovich Calmatters -- 12/19/25
Cannabis
Trump signs executive order that could reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug -- President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that could reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug and open new avenues for medical research, a major shift in federal drug policy that inches closer to what many states have done. Lindsay Whitehurst and Bill Barrow Associated Press -- 12/19/25
Garofoli: Biden moved to reclassify marijuana. Now Trump’s taking it over the finish line -- Finally, Donald Trump is potentially making America great when it comes to something close to California’s heart: weed. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/25
Develop
Global music HQ in downtown S.F. wins approval -- One of the centerpieces of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s plan to revive San Francisco’s Financial District by injecting it with a blast of arts and culture won a victory Thursday when the biggest independent U.S. record label received approval to turn a long vacant historic bank building into its global headquarters. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/25
Housing
Why homeownership in California isn’t nearly the financial slam dunk it once was -- For generations it’s been a near article of faith that homeownership beats out being a renter. In California in 2025, having a landlord has its perks. Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 12/19/25
San Jose housing towers with 700-plus units land final city approval -- Two eye-catching housing towers that would sprout atop the site of a San Jose parking lot have received final city approval in a fresh sign that developers continue to scout for ways to step away from office projects. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/19/25
Education
Huge budgets cuts, enrollment drops: Pasadena schools struggle to rebuild after Eaton fire -- Five public or charter schools burned or sustained severe damage in the Eaton fire, and about 1,100 Pasadena Unified students lost homes. Teachers deploy art and music programs to help students cope with the trauma of the January blaze. Daniel Miller, Iris Kwok and Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/25
California confronted its sexual abuse claims of the past. Will today’s students pay the price? -- A Times investigation finds that California school districts have paid nearly a half-billion dollars to settle past sexual abuse claims, and could pay billions more. Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/25
Street
Watchdogs warn L.A. County is undermining efforts at oversight of Sheriff’s Department -- After steadily gaining power and influence for more than a decade, the watchdogs that provide civilian oversight of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department face an uncertain future. Connor Sheets in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/25
S.F. paramedics are an ‘easy target’ for assault. The city is trying to change that -- In the back of a cramped ambulance parked in San Francisco’s Tenderloin in September, a patient who had agreed to go to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation suddenly changed his mind. Anna Bauman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/25
Earthquake
This Bay Area city is having its highest number of earthquakes in nearly 50 years -- San Ramon residents have been rattled by dozens of small earthquakes in the last two months. The pattern continued Thursday morning, with two small quakes — a 2.0 and a 2.4 — centered just southeast of City Center Bishop Ranch. Jack Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/25
Also
Walters: California’s very odd election year starts with Republicans possibly leading the governor’s race -- The 2026 campaigns for governor, a raft of other statewide offices, 52 congressional seats and 100 slots in the state Legislature officially begin today with the onset of candidate filing. It could be one of the oddest election cycles in California’s 175 years as a state, albeit one that puts the state’s convoluted politics in the national spotlight. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 12/19/25
I Drove 700 Miles Through California’s Absurd New Congressional District -- We sent a reporter to drive the 15-hour and nearly 700-mile journey across the state, traversing mountain ranges and rock slides, dirt roads and agricultural checkpoints, from Marin to Modoc County. Will McCarthy Politico -- 12/19/25
How L.A.’s Richest Man Went From Billions to Bust -- Onetime billionaire Gary Winnick spent his vast fortune on lavish homes in Bel-Air, Malibu and New York City. But the aftermath of his death reveals a dire financial situation. Katherine Clarke in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/19/25
CHP officer said his pain warranted retirement. Then investigators saw how he spent his free time -- A California Highway Patrol officer told his physician he couldn’t stand or sit without “significant pain,” authorities say. But he was seen cutting down trees, stacking firewood and operating heavy machinery. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/25
POTUS 47
Trump signs defense bill that forces boat strike video sharing, limits Europe troop reductions -- President Donald Trump on Thursday signed annual defense policy legislation into law that aims to force the Pentagon to release footage of military strikes against boats in Latin America and ties his hands as he reconsiders longstanding U.S. military commitments abroad. Connor O'Brien Politico -- 12/19/25
DOJ won’t meet Friday deadline to release all the Epstein files -- The Department of Justice will not be releasing all of its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by Friday’s deadline, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Friday morning. Gregory Svirnovskiy Politico -- 12/19/25
‘Don’s Best Friend’: How Epstein and Trump Bonded Over the Pursuit of Women -- The president has tried to minimize their friendship, but documents and interviews reveal an intense and complicated relationship. Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency. Nicholas Confessore and Julie Tate in the New York Times$ -- 12/19/25
The Junior Congressman Who’s Pushing Republicans on Epstein -- Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, is no stranger to media appearances. But he still seemed nervous earlier this month as he got ready to be grilled in a Manhattan television studio. Michael Gold in the New York Times$ -- 12/19/25
Kennedy Center to be renamed after Donald Trump -- President Donald Trump is tightening his grip on the Kennedy Center with a huge change to the historic institution. Zara Irshad in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Shawn McCreesh in the New York Times$ Kelsey Ables, Janay Kingsberry, Dan Diamond and Travis M. Andrews in the Washington Post$ -- 12/19/25
Republicans are trying to change the subject on health care affordability — to transgender care -- Republicans in Congress and President Donald Trump are trying to flip the health care script to an issue that’s worked for them in the past: restricting transgender care for children. Simon J. Levien and Jessica Piper Politico -- 12/19/25
Trump’s ‘Warrior Dividend’ for Troops Will Be Paid for by Pentagon Housing Funds -- President Trump promised active duty troops a $1,776 check, citing increased revenue raised by tariffs, but the funding is coming from money for the military included in this year’s domestic spending law. John Ismay and Ali Watkins in the New York Times$ -- 12/19/25
Trump’s Venezuela Campaign Is Fueled by Often Misleading Claims -- The sheer density of false or misleading statements around his administration’s boat attacks and Venezuela pressure campaign is exceptional. Charlie Savage in the New York Times$ -- 12/19/25
Shouting, Ranting, Insulting: Trump’s Uninhibited Second Term -- Many of President Trump’s supporters love his professional-wrestling style of leadership. But some of his recent attacks have sickened even some of his own political allies. Peter Baker in the New York Times$ -- 12/19/25