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Updating . . .
California Policy and Politics Friday
Netflix agrees to buy Warner Bros. in a $72-billion deal that will transform Hollywood -- Netflix has prevailed in its bid to buy Warner Bros., agreeing to pay $72 billion for the Burbank-based Warner Bros. film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO. The two companies announced the blockbuster deal early Friday morning. The takeover would give Netflix such beloved characters as Batman, Harry Potter and Fred Flintstone. Meg James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
California lawmakers flag concerns about World Cup visas, ban threats and ticket prices -- Lawmakers are hopeful the World Cup will be successful but see visa delays, threats of banning some countries and steep ticket prices as big hurdles. Kevin Baxter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
Poll: Two Republicans and Swalwell top the pack of 2026 CA governor candidates -- The Emerson College survey shows Chad Bianco, the Republican sheriff of Riverside County, with support from 13% of voters. Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, and Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who got into the race last month, both have 12%. Former Rep. Katie Porter had 11% while the rest of the declared candidates pulled single-digit support. Nicole Nixon in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/05/25
Federal investigation of Democratic consultants in Sacramento nets guilty plea -- Lobbyist Greg Campbell stood emotionless beside his attorney, Todd Pickles, inside a Sacramento federal courtroom and pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one charge of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. Katie King in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
As Trump calls affordability a ‘con job,’ Democrats unveil an affordable housing plan -- Sen. Adam Schiff is proposing legislation to boost the supply of affordable housing for low-income and middle-income families. President Trump has accused Democrats of pushing a ‘fake narrative’ on the issue of affordability and blamed President Biden for Americans’ economic pains. Ana Ceballos in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
Issa will run for reelection in California rather than move to Texas -- Republican Rep. Darrell Issa announced Thursday that he would run for reelection next year in his San Diego area district instead of moving to Texas to run in friendly GOP territory. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
Recalled Alameda County DA Pamela Price says she plans to run again -- Former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, who was ousted last year in a historic recall, on Thursday announced she plans to run again in an attempt to reclaim the top prosecutorial position next year. David Hernandez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/05/25
Metro votes to approve Dodger Stadium gondola project despite protests -- Hundreds of community members packed a meeting room Thursday to tell the Metro board of directors whether they favored or opposed Frank McCourt’s proposed gondola to Dodger Stadium. Bill Shaikin in the Los Angeles Times$ Lucas Robinson in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 12/05/25
ICE
‘We may be deporting the wrong people’: New poll shows doubts about immigration crackdown -- A new poll shared exclusively with CalMatters adds to a slate of recent surveys suggesting Californians’ support is waning for Trump’s harshest immigration enforcement policies. Wendy Fry Calmatters -- 12/05/25
Most Immigrants Arrested in City Crackdowns Have No Criminal Record -- In high-profile Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Los Angeles; Chicago; Washington, D.C.; and across Massachusetts, more than half of those arrested had no criminal record, compared with a third of immigrants arrested nationwide. Albert Sun in the New York Times$ -- 12/05/25
Why a longtime Berkeley diner put up a sign barring law enforcement without a warrant -- Outrage — and confusion — spread on social media Thursday about a sign posted in the window of a beloved Bay Area diner stating that law enforcement officials can’t enter the business without a warrant. Elena Kadvany in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/05/25
Workplace
To protect underage farmworkers, California expands oversight of field conditions -- California officials said they are launching new enforcement actions to protect underage farmworkers, including enhanced coordination among two state agencies charged with inspecting work conditions in the fields. Robert J. Lopez Capital & Main in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
Wildfire
California is drafting new rules for wildfire smoke cleanup. Are home insurers calling the shots? -- A state-led task force assembled to issue smoke damage guidelines includes technical experts who have spent years helping insurers dispute consumers’ smoke-damage claims. Sara DiNatale, Megan Fan Munce, Susie Neilson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/05/25
Water
California water wars reignite as Trump administration plans to send more water to farms -- The Trump administration is pressing forward with its pledge to send more Northern California water south to farms, even as state officials warn that the move could cut vital supplies for cities and fish. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/05/25
‘A bit like poker,’ California’s wet winter brings La Niña/El Niño confusion -- Southern California has experienced a record-breaking wet start to the rainy season, contradicting typical La Niña patterns. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
AI
A safety report card ranks AI company efforts to protect humanity -- As AI plays an increasingly larger role in the way humans interact with technology, the potential harms are becoming more clear — people using AI-powered chatbots for counseling and then dying by suicide, or using AI for cyberattacks. There are also future risks — AI being used to make weapons or overthrow governments. Wendy Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
Coal
Los Angeles says so long to coal -- Los Angeles has officially broken up with coal. City officials on Thursday announced that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has stopped receiving coal-powered electricity from its last remaining coal source, the Intermountain generating station in Utah. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
Develop
Marina’s reaction to Safeway tower plans: ‘Along comes this behemoth right on the waterfront’ -- The audacious proposal to convert a Marina district Safeway into a 25-story, two-tower, U-shaped apartment complex with a jagged gray wall of bricks on one facade and nearly 800 apartments was heaped with scorn and mockery in the waterfront San Francisco neighborhood on Thursday, even by some local residents and elected officials who typically back the “build baby build” agenda popular with the YIMBY movement. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/05/25
Education
Struggling Bay Area university receives $50 million donation from MacKenzie Scott -- Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $50 million to Cal State East Bay, a record-setting donation for a university struggling with steep enrollment declines. Aldo Toledo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/05/25
Homeless
With state pushing back, Oakland delays vote on controversial homeless encampment policy -- The Oakland City Council has again delayed a vote on a controversial policy to crack down on the city’s homeless encampments after state officials warned the proposal could jeopardize $45 million in homelessness funding for Oakland and Alameda County. Kate Talerico in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/05/25
Tijuana River
Tijuana River sewage still pollutes the San Diego Coast. She’s fighting to clean it up -- The Tijuana River’s sewage contamination continues to sicken communities in southern San Diego County. San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre has become a leading force in pushing for binational fixes and emergency funding to protect public health. Deborah Brennan Calmatters -- 12/05/25
Street
SoCal 70-year-old filmed himself killing a homeless man. But his case ends in a mistrial -- Craig Sumner Elliot was charged with involuntary manslaughter after he recorded himself fatally shooting a homeless man. The jury could not reach a unanimous verdict in his trial this week. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ Sean Emery in the Orange County Register$ -- 12/05/25
ShakeAlert sends false alarm about magnitude 5.9 earthquake in California, Nevada -- The ShakeAlert system that warns about imminent shaking arriving from earthquakes sent a false alarm across California on Thursday morning for a magnitude 5.9 temblor that did not happen. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
Also
Walters: Assembly Speaker Rivas promises to scrutinize how California’s new laws work -- The California Legislature not only habitually passes legislation without considering downside risks, it also only rarely examines whether those new laws deliver the promised results. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 12/05/25
Arellano: Trump has this Latino mother and daughter divided. But the silent treatment won’t do -- The setting: a two-story home in Whittier prettied with holiday decorations, pet beds, American flags and a shelf of tchotchkes dedicated to John Wayne. The face-off: 63-year-old Gloria Valles and her daughter, 33-year-old Brittney Valles-Gordon. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
‘The Snake’ is back: Dangerous, thrill seekers’ Mulholland Highway reopens after 6 years -- For more than six years, adrenaline junkies have yearned for the moment that, once again, they can careen around the serpentine corners of a stretch of Mulholland Highway with the crisp mountain air rushing through their hair. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
Second act for a queer icon: San Francisco’s Castro Theatre relaunches at pivotal moment -- At the start of the pandemic, when live entertainment was shut down across California, Gregg Perloff — chief executive of Another Planet Entertainment — told his team to use the downtime to find a new project that excited them. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
In Altadena bear country, homeowner struggles to evict 550-pound unwanted tenant -- The bear that squeezed through a small opening and made himself at home is tagged by wildlife officials as 2120 and has been trapped and moved from Altadena before. Sandra McDonald in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/05/25
POTUS 47
Supreme Court rules for Texas Republicans, allowing new election map to go into effect -- The Supreme Court vote was 6-3 along the usual lines, with the conservatives in the majority and the three liberals in dissent. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ Josh Gerstein and Hassan Ali Kanu Politico Louise Radnofsky, James Romoser and Elizabeth Findell in the Wall Street Journal$ Abbie VanSickle in the New York Times$ Justin Jouvenal, Julian Mark and Patrick Marley in the Washington Post$ Nicole Nixon in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/05/25
Justice Department urges judge to jail former Jan. 6 defendant after alarming return to DC -- A man pardoned by President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol returned to Washington in recent days and has been wandering the neighborhood of Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin — alarming police and prosecutors, who urged a judge to immediately jail him. Rachel Umansky-Castro and Kyle Cheney Politico -- 12/05/25
Lawmakers sharply divided as Congress probes killings at sea -- The first classified briefings of a deadly U.S. strike in the Caribbean produced a striking split screen on Capitol Hill, with a top Republican saying the unedited video showed nothing illegal while a senior Democrat called the recording “one of the most disturbing” he had ever witnessed. Joe Gould, Connor O'Brien and John Sakellariadis Politico Alexander Ward, Lindsay Wise and Shelby Holliday in the Wall Street Journal$ Megan Mineiro, Julian E. Barnes and Dave Philipps in the New York Times$ Maegan Vazquez and Noah Robertson in the Washington Post$ -- 12/05/25
Second Strike Scrutiny Obscures Larger Question About Trump’s Boat Attacks -- Congress is focusing on two deaths in one strike. But nine other people died in that same attack, and the United States has killed 87 in all. Were any of those killings legal? Charlie Savage and Julian E. Barnes in the New York Times$ -- 12/05/25
Grand jury refuses to reindict Letitia James in mortgage fraud case -- The ruling in Virginia marks a defeat for the Justice Dept. and the Trump administration, which had sought a new indictment after a judge dismissed the case against the New York attorney general last week. Perry Stein and Gregory S. Schneider in the Washington Post$ -- 12/05/25
‘Signalgate’ report contradicts Hegseth’s claim of ‘total exoneration’ -- The defense secretary’s actions “created a risk to operational security,” according to an independent assessment by the Pentagon’s inspector general. Dan Lamothe in the Washington Post$ John Ismay in the New York Times$ -- 12/05/25
Agency Officials Removed by Trump Administration Allege Racial Discrimination -- Two men are first among a group of fired federal board members to allege they were removed based on their race. Esther Fung in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/05/25
California Policy and Politics Thursday
'Some of you are probably fine with it’: Newsom confronts business elite on Trump -- In a message designed more for the cameras than the room, the California governor and likely Democratic presidential contender told attendees of the New York Times DealBook Summit that they should look into the kneepads he’s selling, in parody, to those “groveling to Trump’s needs.” Blake Jones and Sam Sutton Politico Jeanne Kuang Calmatters -- 12/04/25
California AG unveils tool to report law-breaking by federal agents -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a new online platform Wednesday for residents to report illegal actions by federal officers. After seeing unmarked military vehicles and federal agents patrolling their streets and seizing suspected illegal immigrants, “Californians are scared,” Bonta said at a news conference in San Francisco. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/04/25
ICE is targeting Afghans across Northern California following D.C. shooting, advocates say -- For 15 years, Afghan interpreter Sayed served alongside American soldiers in Afghanistan, first as a translator, then as a contractor providing internet services for the U.S. military. Ko Lyn Cheang, St. John Barned-Smith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/04/25
Schiff launches Senate bid to block Trump from attacking Venezuela -- If the United States launches military action against Venezuela, a group of senators is ready to act quickly to try to block the use of American military force there. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/04/25
Lawsuits challenge Trump administration’s radical homeless policy changes -- Two recently filed lawsuits accuse the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of illegally going over Congress’ head to make massive changes to the way federal homelessness funds are distributed. Marisa Kendall Calmatters -- 12/04/25
International travel. Fancy meals. Missing receipts. Who paid the tab for this top official? -- Ricardo Lara’s transition from influence-brokering state legislator to autonomous insurance regulator was rocky. Almost immediately upon assuming office in 2019, the California insurance commissioner was discovered soliciting money from those he regulated, even allowing his campaign fundraiser to set his office calendar. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/04/25
The state’s top insurance regulator didn’t stop a looming crisis. Then the L.A. wildfires hit -- Insurance Commissioner Lara’s 2023 regulatory overhaul promised to ease California’s insurance crisis but instead delivered major concessions to the industry. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/04/25
Insurers won’t be forced to offer home coverage after measure dropped -- Consumer Watchdog withdrew its ballot initiative that would have required California insurers to offer coverage to homeowners who fireproof their homes. The move came after a competing industry measure was similarly dropped, in what the consumer group called an “armistice” safeguarding Proposition 103’s consumer protections. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/04/25
America’s plan to protect pedestrians failed. A young woman’s death reveals why -- As the sun set over the Pacific Ocean one Sunday this past spring, Cecilia Milbourne returned from a walk on the beach with her dog, Gucci. To reach her parked Tesla, she had to cross a road that city officials have known for years poses a danger to people on foot. Rachel Weiner, Ian Duncan, Emmanuel Martinez and Dylan Moriarty in the Washington Post$ -- 12/04/25
Support for school vouchers sets Republican apart at gubernatorial forum on schools -- As the lone Republican on stage, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco stood out as the only vocal supporter of school vouchers during a gubernatorial candidate forum Wednesday focused on education. Katie King in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/04/25
After Prop. 50, Rep. Darrell Issa said he’s ‘not going anywhere.’ Now he says he might run for Congress in Texas -- With a real challenge from Democrats on his hands, Issa is considering leaving to run for a congressional seat in Texas, where Republican redistricting has created newly competitive seats ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Lucas Robinson in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 12/04/25
Progressives challenge San Francisco mayor’s embrace of CEOs -- Moderate Mayor Daniel Lurie has leaned on personal ties to business execs to revamp the city, but they could be facing a backlash. Chase DiFeliciantonio Politico -- 12/04/25
Workplace
California hammered as national job cuts jump to a five-year high -- California employers announced 173,022 job cuts through November, up 14% from last year, as tech and entertainment companies restructure and pursue AI investments. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/04/25
Alaska Airlines opening new pilot base in San Diego and plans to hire hundreds -- In a move to further cement its position as a dominant air carrier in San Diego, Alaska Airlines will launch next year its first pilot base here, with the goal of stationing up to 250 captains and first officers at the airport. Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 12/04/25
Education
Teachers strike in large Bay Area school district, demands include help with H1B visas -- Nearly 1,500 educators across the West Contra Costa School District hit the picket lines early Thursday, leaving their 29,000 students without a teacher after last-minute contract negotiations ended without an agreement. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/04/25
California students with disabilities face ‘terrifying’ special ed cuts after Trump changes -- Trump has cut funding to Medicaid, which pays for many services for students with disabilities. He also gutted the Office of Civil Rights, which helps enforce disability law. Carolyn Jones Calmatters -- 12/04/25
Wildfire
Palisades High to reopen campus with portable classrooms one year after fire -- Palisades Charter High School students are scheduled to return to their campus in January, one year after the Palisades fire devastated their community and badly damaged the popular school, displacing some 3,000 students. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/04/25
Rent
Rents are rising in S.F. — and the surge is now spreading beyond the city -- San Francisco’s rising rents are spilling over to the Peninsula and East Bay, with prices in some of those already-expensive regions reaching new heights. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/04/25
Homeless
Expected loss of federal funds could push thousands of L.A. County households into homelessness -- Local officials are warning that more than 14,500 L.A. County formerly homeless households in subsidized, permanent housing could be forced back onto the streets or into shelters over the next year, mostly because of a loss of federal funding. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/04/25
Abortion
An influential anti-abortion lawyer is targeting a Bay Area doctor — and California’s shield laws -- It’s a Texas-to-California abortion case with a Bay Area doctor in the middle and a Gordian knot of a legal question: What happens when states with opposing laws collide in federal court? Raheem Hosseini in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/04/25
Also
Walters: California’s education leadership mishmash makes it hard to know who’s accountable -- California’s public school system, which purports to educate nearly 6 million students ranging from 4-year-olds in transitional kindergarten to near-adults preparing to graduate from high school, is in a world of hurt. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 12/04/25
POTUS 47
Poll: Trump's own voters begin blaming him for affordability crisis -- Americans continue to say affordability is out of control, and they place the responsibility on Trump, The Politico Poll found. Erin Doherty Politico -- 12/04/25
The President Who Never Grew Up -- Instead of focusing on governing, Trump spends his days chasing entertainment, attention and renovation projects that reflect a presidency stuck in adolescence. Jonathan Martin Politico -- 12/04/25
Trump says he’s OK with releasing video of second strike on suspected drug vessel -- President Donald Trump said Wednesday he’s open to releasing video footage of a U.S. strike on suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean that apparently shows the military firing a second missile to kill surviving members of the crew. Jacob Wendler Politico -- 12/04/25Pentagon watchdog says Hegseth’s Signal chats put troops at risk -- The Pentagon inspector general found Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the Signal messaging app to discuss sensitive Yemen strike plans risked exposing U.S. tactics and endangering troops — even as the watchdog concluded he had the authority to do so, according to three people familiar with the findings. Joe Gould and Maggie Miller Politico Robert Jimison, Megan Mineiro and John Ismay in the New York Times$ -- 12/04/25
Survivors of Boat Strike Were Actively Continuing Drug Mission, Admiral to Tell Lawmakers -- Two survivors of a Sept. 2 U.S. strike on a boat in the Caribbean were killed in follow-up attacks after they were seen still aboard the damaged vessel alongside packages of illegal narcotics, a senior commander is expected to tell lawmakers Thursday. Shelby Holliday and Alexander Ward in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/04/25
Hegseth Asked Top Admiral to Resign After Months of Discord -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shocked official Washington in mid-October when he announced that the four-star head of U.S. military operations in the Caribbean was retiring less than a year into his tenure. But according to two Pentagon officials, Hegseth asked Adm. Alvin Holsey to step down, a de facto ouster that was the culmination of months of discord between Hegseth and the officer. Lara Seligman, Vera Bergengruen and Alexander Ward in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/04/25
Republicans begin to tighten the screws on Hegseth’s Pentagon -- GOP frustration with Trump’s defense secretary has intensified, with some lawmakers questioning their confidence in him as key committees pursue an aggressive oversight campaign. Noah Robertson and Alex Horton in the Washington Post$ -- 12/04/25
Democrats Press Firms About Trump Ballroom Donations -- Lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, ask if Nvidia, Apple, Meta and others made donations in exchange for favorable treatment. Ken Thomas in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/04/25
What Tennessee Revealed About the G.O.P.’s Trump Trap in the Midterms -- Republican candidates face the problem that President Trump alone gets out the vote that they need. And he alone gets out the vote that Democrats need, too. Shane Goldmacher in the New York Times$ -- 12/04/25
Trump Returns to Gasoline as Fuel of Choice for Cars, Gutting Biden’s Climate Policy -- The president said he would weaken Biden-era mileage standards, which were designed to increase electric-vehicle sales, calling them a “scam.” Lisa Friedman, Maxine Joselow and Jack Ewing in the New York Times$ Nicolás Rivero and Dan Diamond in the Washington Post$ -- 12/04/25
Trump Renames Institute of Peace for Himself -- Workers installed Mr. Trump’s name to a Washington building on Wednesday, thrusting the institute back into the spotlight as it is set to host the signing of a peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Aishvarya Kavi in the New York Times$ Dan Diamond and Alec Dent in the Washington Post$ -- 12/04/25