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California Policy and Politics

Bay Area reacts to first American pope: ‘We are being given a seat at the big boy table’ -- As the first American pope greeted the multitudes at St. Peter’s Square Thursday, many Catholics and non-Catholics 6,000 miles away in the Bay Area celebrated the selection of the moderate if not liberal-leaning pontiff — who recently chastised Vice President J.D. Vance’s biblical knowledge in a tweet. Jill Tucker, Jessica Flores, J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/25

Judge blocks Trump admin from pulling San Francisco housing funds over anti-DEI rules -- San Francisco officials argued that nearly 2,000 people in the Bay Area city alone could face eviction if they lost their subsidies from the federal funding. Dustin Gardiner Politico -- 5/8/25

California lawmakers are bracing for a $10 billion-plus budget hole — without federal cuts -- President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, a Medi-Cal shortfall and delayed tax filings from Los Angeles-area wildfire victims are putting the state in a worse economic situation than the California governor previously anticipated — and that’s without taking into account expected federal spending cuts. Eric He, Rachel Bluth and Lindsey Holden Politico -- 5/8/25

Despite political promises, Californians are stressed about their finances -- Despite proposed legislation to help make California a more affordable place to live, however, voters in the state are growing increasingly pessimistic about their financial future, according to a new poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by The Times. Nearly half of California voters feel worse off than they were last year, and 54% felt less hopeful about their economic well-being. Sandra McDonald in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

Newsom jabs at ‘MAGA trolls’ as he broadens information war -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom has launched a website fact-checking anonymous X accounts, in-state Republicans and President Donald Trump — escalating a campaign to defend his home state and record against false and misleading information online. Blake Jones Politico -- 5/8/25

Barabak: If Gavin Newsom wants to be president, he’s got work to do — starting at home -- A tepid California poll undermines Gov. Newsom’s standing compared with other Democrats mulling over a 2028 bid. He gets mixed reviews in early voting states. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

Californians doubt Newsom is focusing on his day job, poll finds -- The survey also found that a vast majority of the state’s registered voters fear the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Blake Jones Politico -- 5/8/25

This California supermarket staple is expected to get cheaper under Trump tariffs -- Almonds from California make up about 80% of the world’s supply, with a significant amount exported to China, a country subject to President Trump’s highest tariff — 145% — which took effect last month. The Chinese government briskly retaliated with a 125% tariff on U.S. imports. Maliya Ellis in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/25

Court stops Trump Administration from tying homeless aid to policy demands -- A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump from imposing his demands for stricter immigration enforcement, and his opposition to abortion and transgender rights, on local governments as a condition of receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in federal homeless-assistance funds. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/25

California sues Trump administration for withholding EV charging funds -- In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, California said the Trump administration’s effort to halt Congressionally approved funding could cost the state millions in lost car charging funds. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Nicole Nixon in the Sacramento Bee$ Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/8/25

California and other states sue Trump administration over wind energy -- The lawsuit seeks to overturn an executive order aimed at blocking the development of wind farms across the country. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 5/8/25

Plan to use Travis base as immigrant detention center criticized by California Dems -- Reps. John Garamendi, D-Fairfield, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and Mike Thompson, D-Napa, told Hegseth in a May 5 letter that they were “deeply frustrated” and “gravely concerned” about using Travis as a migrant detention center. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/25

California libraries spared, for now, from Trump cuts -- President Donald Trump’s order to slash federal funds for libraries, museums and minority business development programs has been blocked by a federal judge. California’s state librarian said the cutbacks would end programs for the needy and those with physical or mental disabilities, and would impact every user in the state. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/25

Swarovski among latest cluster of stores to flee San Francisco’s largest mall -- Swarovski will close its San Francisco Centre location on May 19, joining a growing wave of retailers departing the beleaguered downtown mall, a store employee confirmed Wednesday. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/25

Trump’s plan to reopen Alcatraz may have been inspired by Clint Eastwood film on PBS -- According to the Hollywood Reporter, Trump’s announcement came just hours after a local PBS affiliate aired “Escape From Alcatraz,” the 1979 Clint Eastwood film dramatizing a real-life prison break from the island. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/25

California gubernatorial candidates address Israel-Palestinian conflict -- Democratic divides over the ongoing bloody conflict in the Middle East were on display this week as gubernatorial candidates made their pitches to politically active Jewish Californians. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

San Francisco’s police chief is stepping down. Here’s what it means for the city -- San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott, who presided over a steep drop in reported crime but struggled to eradicate the city’s notorious open-air drug markets, is stepping down after more than eight years on the job, Mayor Daniel Lurie said Wednesday. J.D. Morris, Megan Cassidy, Michael Barba in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/25

After exam fiasco, State Bar of California faces deeper financial crisis -- The State Bar of California’s botched rollout of a new exam — a move that the cash-strapped agency made in the hopes of saving money — could ultimately end up costing it an additional $5.6 million. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

Walters: California’s fourth-ranked economy is also tops in unemployment, poverty and deficits -- California’s economic output has surpassed $4 trillion a year and in doing so slipped past Japan to become, were it a nation, the globe’s fourth largest economy, surpassed only by the United States, China and Germany. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 5/8/25

Wildfire

Edison electric tower at center of Eaton fire investigation is dismantled and removed for testing -- The pylon overlooking Eaton Canyon has for months been the focus of investigators who are looking to determine what sparked the deadly fire on Jan. 7, after video captured the initial flames burning underneath the structure. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

Water

California snowpack is reaching peak melt -- Hot weather this week will accelerate the melt. Several rivers fed by snowmelt, mainly in central and southern Sierra Nevada, are expected to hit their spring peak flows in the coming days. The Merced River at Pohono Bridge and the Tuolumne River at Hetch Hetchy, both in Yosemite National Park, are forecast to reach maximum flow on Sunday. Anthony Edwards in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/25

Arrowhead bottled water company wins one of three pending court cases -- A court ruled in favor of BlueTriton Brands after California regulators had ordered the bottled-water company to stop taking water from a national forest. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

Environment

‘Another broken promise’: California environmental groups reel from EPA grant cancellations -- The terminated projects in California would have provided clean drinking water in rural communities, air purifiers for children with asthma and a community park, among other benefits. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

The nation’s largest cities are sinking, including San Francisco -- Known technically as land subsidence, the phenomenon can cause roads, bridges, utilities, dams and building foundations to buckle and increase the likelihood of flooding. Often it is the result of groundwater pumping. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/25

Workplace

Non-tenured faculty begin 2-day labor strike at University of San Diego -- Roughly 200 non-tenure-track faculty members at the University of San Diego began a two-day unfair labor practice strike on Wednesday to express concerns about what they say are union-busting and mass course cancellations. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 5/8/25

Jobs in question amid union dispute with California prison agency -- A Roseville nonprofit said this week that dozens of janitorial workers are at risk of layoff at a prison medical facility in Vacaville, following a yearslong dispute with a state employees’ union. Pride Industries, which has held the cleaning services contract at the facility since 2019, notified workers in late April that layoffs could be on the horizon. Annika Merrilees and Will Melhado in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/25

Housing

Trump proposes cut to federal rental assistance. California would be hit hard -- The Trump administration has proposed cutting rental assistance funding by 43%, while giving states more flexibility on how they spend the money that remains. Advocates for low-income households say the proposal would be a disaster. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

Wildfire

In a race to clean up Altadena, businesses are on their own -- The Army Corps was tasked with cleaning up residences in the fire zones, but not commercial properties. In Altadena, this has left business districts stuck in a toxic limbo. Colleen Shalby, Robert Gauthier in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

Education

Head Start gets a reprieve from Trump budget cuts, but the fight isn’t over -- Chalk one up for the 4-year-olds. Thanks to a relentless onslaught of pleading, cajoling, lobbying and public pressure, Head Start appears to have dodged the federal budget axe — for the time being. Carolyn Jones CalMatters -- 5/8/25

California promised to boost mental health in schools. Why one key program is behind schedule -- Only 14 school districts and county offices of education have begun billing for behavioral health services under the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Fee Schedule Program, according to state health officials. Ana B. Ibarra CalMatters -- 5/8/25

Can a final push save San Francisco State’s marine research campus on the bay? -- Budgets are tight, enrollments are down. A facility whose research aims to protect the shoreline as seas rise may be cut. Amy DiPierro EdSource -- 5/8/25

Street

California man led $38M catalytic converter theft ring, lived lavishly off stolen parts -- According to court documents, Tou Sue Vang, 33, used proceeds from the illicit sale of thousands of catalytic converters to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, including the $1.2 million cash purchase of a five-acre multi-home compound in Rio Linda, another property in Sacramento, and over a dozen vehicles — among them two Teslas and two Sea-Doo watercraft. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Summer Lin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

Nate Holden

Nate Holden, state senator and longtime councilman who fought for South L.A., dies at 95 -- Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Nathaniel “Nate” Holden always spoke with a sense of self-assuredness and a firm belief in his own destiny. It was the sort of conviction it took for a Black man born in Macon, Ga., in 1929 to ascend to the highest ranks of political power in Los Angeles — representing the region as a state senator and later serving 16 years on the City Council. Jaimie Ding in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

POTUS 47

A Trump admin effort to deport immigrants to Libya would ‘clearly violate’ court order, judge says -- Lawyers for immigrants from Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines rushed to court to stop what they called an “imminent” deportation flight to the war-torn African nation. Myah Ward, Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein Politico Maria Sacchetti, Adam Taylor, Marianne LeVine and Dan Lamothe in the Washington Post$ -- 5/8/25

Trump announces trade deal with United Kingdom, says final details in the works -- It is the first of dozens of deals the administration wants to make with trade partners around the world. Natalie Allison, Michael Birnbaum and Jeff Stein in the Washington Post$ -- 5/8/25

E.U. Unveils a Plan to Hit Back at the U.S. if Trade Negotiations Fail -- Boeing and big American food producers could end up in the cross-hairs if the bloc follows through on its threat to impose tariffs on more American goods. Jeanna Smialek in the New York Times$ -- 5/8/25

CBS chief George Cheeks pledges to support team amid chaos and Trump threats -- First Amendment experts have described Trump’s lawsuit against Paramount, which alleges that a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris was fraudulent, as frivolous. But the president has remained defiant, saying CBS should be punished. When asked whether CBS News and the group at “60 Minutes” would continue to enjoy his support, Cheeks said succinctly: “My entire team.” Meg James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25

Ford Increases Prices for Certain Vehicles Amid Tariff Uncertainty -- The higher prices will apply to 2025 models of the Maverick, Bronco Sport and Mach-E built after May 2, according to a memo reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The carmaker said the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, which is commonly known as the sticker price, would increase between $600 and $2,000 a vehicle, depending on features, according to the memo. Connor Hart in the Wall Street Journal -- 5/8/25

Jewelers Likely to Hike Prices Due to Tariffs, Pandora CEO Says -- Pandora’s chief executive said higher tariffs will eventually be passed on to U.S. consumers, even if the jewelry industry is holding off on price hikes for now as it awaits the outcome of trade negotiations. Michael Susin and Adrià Calatayud in the Wall Street Journal -- 5/8/25

‘Crony capitalism’: GOP megadonor Griffin slams Trump trade war -- The Citadel founder’s frustration with the president’s policies reflects broader concerns among executives over how the trade war could derail the economy. Sam Sutton Politico -- 5/8/25

A Most Sensitive Subject in the White House: Where Is Melania? -- Mrs. Trump has spent fewer than 14 days at the White House since her husband was inaugurated 108 days ago. Shawn McCreesh in the New York Times$ -- 5/8/25

Hegseth’s Use of Passwords Raises New Security Concerns -- Some of the passwords that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used to register for websites were exposed in cyberattacks on those sites and are available on the internet, raising new questions about his use of personal devices to communicate military information. Christiaan Triebert, Julian E. Barnes, Helene Cooper and Greg Jaffe in the New York Times$ -- 5/8/25

Meet the L.A. holistic doctor and wellness influencer who is Trump’s choice for surgeon general -- President Trump’s choice of Dr. Casey Means, a Los Angeles holistic medicine doctor and wellness influencer, as his nominee for surgeon general appears to mark another attempt to defy establishment medicine and longstanding federal policy. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/25