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California Policy and Politics Thursday
Altman Attack Suspect Called for ‘Luigi-ing Tech CEOs’ in Online Messages -- Last week, authorities alleged Moreno-Gama, 20, traveled from the Houston area to San Francisco, threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s mansion and then attacked OpenAI’s headquarters’ entrance, planning to burn the building down. Zusha Elinson in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/16/26
Garofoli: The odds of a Democratic lockout in the California governor’s race have shrunk dramatically -- Sacramento data expert Paul Mitchell, who created an online model that simulates thousands of election scenarios, said that “the program really believes that the odds of two Republicans splitting the vote is more remote, almost nonexistent.” Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/16/26
Tom Steyer is running the most expensive campaign in America. It might win him the California governorship -- Nearly half a billion dollars, two campaigns, and one Eric Swalwell implosion later, Tom Steyer suddenly appears closer than ever to winning elected office. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 4/16/26
Swalwell scandal sparks fears of deeper rot on Capitol Hill -- Current and former female staffers described a culture of warning one another about lawmakers with reputations for inappropriate conduct. Michael Wilner, Justine McDaniel and Ana Ceballos in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Swalwell’s Stunning Downfall Creates a Reckoning for Democrats -- The scandal has resurfaced age-old questions about Capitol Hill culture and the power dynamics between elected officials and their subordinates. It is a uniquely modern one, involving graphic photos sent on Snapchat and an online campaign against Swalwell by content creators. Laura J. Nelson, Eliza Collins and Olivia Beavers in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/16/26
Bill protecting elections from ICE advances as state lawmakers campaign against feds -- A California Assembly committee on Wednesday advanced a ban on law enforcement officers from coming near polling places unless they’re responding to a public safety threat — a bill supporters say is designed to insulate the state’s elections from intimidation tactics by federal agencies under President Donald Trump’s administration. Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/16/26
California officially disbars John Eastman for his role in trying to overturn 2020 election -- John Eastman, President Donald Trump’s former legal adviser and a former California law school dean, was disbarred from practicing law in California on Wednesday by the state Supreme Court for his conduct while trying to help Trump overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Andre Mouchard, Teri Sforza in the San Jose Mercury$ Kyle Cheney Politico Pooja Salhotra in the New York Times$ -- 4/16/26
Workplace
Thousands of UC hospital, service workers plan first open-ended strike across California -- The union for thousands of University of California employees announced Wednesday that they will walk off the job indefinitely beginning May 14 to protest stalled contract negotiations for medical center and campus workers ranging from cafeteria cooks to X-ray technicians. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Snap is cutting 1,000 workers in the latest tech layoff -- The Santa Monica social media company is pursuing profitability and efficiency as it faces stiff competition for ad dollars from bigger rivals such as Facebook parent company Meta and Google. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Has the Era of the Mega-Layoff Arrived? -- From Snap to Block to Amazon, a new template for ‘right-sizing’ the workforce is spreading through C-suites—and other companies are taking notes. Chip Cutter in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/16/26
Trump signs bill reauthorizing federal aid to defense startups -- President Trump has signed a bill restoring federal funding to tech startups in California and elsewhere, money that had been held up for more than six months. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Marketplace
This Long Beach startup says it has a patch for California’s power problems -- Long Beach startup Critical Loop raised $26 million to solve California’s power crunch with battery and grid management technology that delivers electricity faster. The company deploys systems in days or weeks, far quicker than utilities’ years-long infrastructure upgrades, and is already serving L.A.’s ports, logistics and factories. Nilesh Christopher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
AI-rendered Val Kilmer debuts in ‘As Deep as the Grave’ trailer -- The filmmakers behind “As Deep as the Grave,” the indie film that is using an artificial intelligence-rendered version of Val Kilmer in a prominent role, debuted a first look at the recreated actor Wednesday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Lindsey Bahr Associated Press -- 4/16/26
Water
San Diego Now Has So Much Water That It’s Selling It -- Once a drought poster child, the California city now generates enough water to rescue parched states like Arizona—and brew beer from recycled sewage. Jim Carlton, John Francis Peters in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/16/26
Climate
The ocean off California keeps breaking heat records -- The marine heat wave of 2026 is simmering the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, and experts are warning that it could lead to a warm, humid and stormy summer. Hayley Smith, Eric Thayer in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Tijuana River
Thousands suffer nausea, delirium and other health issues from toxins in the Tijuana River -- The smell of rotten eggs permeates Steve Egger’s Southern California home, especially at night as the nearby Tijuana River foams up with sewage from Mexico before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. Julie Watson, Dorany Pineda Associated Press -- 4/16/26
Housing
The Iran war shocked L.A.’s housing market. Recovery won’t be simple -- Mortgage rate increases triggered by Iran war tensions deepened L.A.’s housing market freeze, rendering more first-time homebuyers unable to afford starter homes. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Hundreds of affordable housing units funded by new L.A. County agency -- The L.A. County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency approved its first funding to build and preserve affordable housing, signing off on just over $100 million for more than 500 units across 10 projects. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Data Center Ban
Bay Area city becomes first to ban data centers over power and water concerns -- Oakley has become the first Bay Area city to temporarily ban new data centers, signaling a more cautious approach as other parts of Silicon Valley continue to line up projects to meet rising demand for artificial intelligence. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Hema Sivanandam in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/16/26
Education
California students author new ‘digital wellness’ bill, say school cellphone bans fall short -- Assembly Bill 2071 would require California schools to include social media and AI use in health classes. Students co-authored the bill, saying school cellphone bans address mental health concerns ‘halfway.’ Vani Sanganeria EdSource -- 4/16/26
Hate
Anti-Latino hate crimes reached a record high in 2025 -- “It doesn’t matter if they’re undocumented immigrants or if they’re legal citizens, this period of Latino hatred should be concerning for everyone,” says Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Carlos De Loera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Also
FBI searches Lancaster City Hall, homes of vice mayor and council member in corruption probe -- The homes of Lancaster’s vice mayor and a council member — along with City Hall and a home in Bel-Air — were served with FBI search warrants Wednesday morning. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Why a California lawmaker wants to give the state more power to collect child support -- The measure, from Elk Grove Democratic Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, would compel separated families to enroll in a state program empowered to garnish wages for child support. ChrisAnna Mink Calmatters -- 4/16/26
Trump wants data on California’s trans and abortion care. Can the state stop him? -- The latest clash between California and President Donald Trump over abortion and gender-affirming care could soon leave doctors caught between state and federal law. Ryan Sabalow and Kristen Hwang Calmatters -- 4/16/26
Arellano: Pope Leo isn’t afraid of President Trump. We shouldn’t be, either -- “I’m not afraid.” With these three words Sunday morning, Pope Leo XIV offered as powerful a rebuke of President Trump and everything he has wrought on the world as anyone ever has. Three words that mocked Trump for being the bully that he is. Three words that undercut Trump’s self-hyped aura of invincibility. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/16/26
Walters: California lawmakers must weigh long-term consequences before granting tribe a state park -- Four years ago, with the state budget seemingly providing a cornucopia of new revenues, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature extended state-paid health care to undocumented immigrants of all ages. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 4/16/26
Philp: In Memoriam: The Bee’s Peter Schrag was one of the great minds of California journalism -- Peter Schrag, a former editorial page editor of the Sacramento Bee who died at age 94 on March 19 in Davis, was one of the intellectual giants in the history of California journalism. Yet pigeonholing Schrag to this city and state doesn’t begin to capture the many dimensions of an extraordinary life that began as a child refugee fleeing Nazi Germany. Tom Philp in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/16/26
POTUS 47
Europe has ‘maybe 6 weeks of jet fuel left,’ energy agency head warns -- IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol painted a sobering picture of the global repercussions of what he called “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,” stemming from the pinch-off of oil, gas and other vital supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. John Leicester Associated Press -- 4/16/26
Trump to promote tax breaks in Las Vegas, where residents feel the pinch of high gas prices -- President Donald Trump heads to Las Vegas on Thursday to promote the tax cuts he signed into law last year to try to highlight what Republicans see as an economic strength ahead of this year’s elections. Michelle L. Price, Jessica Hill Associated Press Megan Messerly Politico -- 4/16/26
‘Blessed Are the Peacemakers,’ Pope Says Amid Standoff With Trump -- For days, Pope Leo XIV has attracted criticism from President Trump and his allies for refusing to back the war in Iran. On Thursday, he reiterated his calls for peace. Motoko Rich in the New York Times$ Rachel Chason in the Washington Post$ -- 4/16/26
California Policy and Politics Wednesday
The price of LAUSD union peace will be $1.2 billion a year. Next up is paying for it -- Three Los Angeles school district unions won major victories with deals that bring hefty raises and prompted celebratory messages about a new chapter in local education progress. But the price of union peace will be nearly $1.2 billion in annual contract costs, and questions remain about whether the district can afford it. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/15/26
Four takeaways from the triple-union, LAUSD agreements averting a strike -- LAUSD came to agreements with the three unions within a 48-hour period following months of negotiations. Mallika Seshadri, Betty Márquez Rosales EdSource -- 4/15/26
Court strikes down California law targeting dialysis industry profits -- A federal appeals court ruled last week that California’s attempt to limit how much dialysis companies profit from certain privately insured patients is unconstitutional — a victory for an industry that has repeatedly beaten back efforts to control its costs. Ana B. Ibarra Calmatters -- 4/15/26
Budget Cuts
Daniel Lurie’s S.F. budget plan is already meeting resistance — and it’s not even out yet -- The pushback to Mayor Daniel Lurie’s budget has already begun — more than six weeks before he is expected to announce his new plan to eliminate San Francisco’s huge deficit. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/15/26
Gloria proposes layoffs, furloughs and deep cuts to arts, libraries, recreation to close $146M deficit -- Mayor’s spending plan for new fiscal year proposes wide variety of other cuts in what could be bleakest San Diego budget in 15 years. David Garrick in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/15/26
Gavin Newsom sets special election to replace Eric Swalwell in Congress -- The election to replace the Castro Valley Democrat, who resigned from the House and withdrew from the California governor’s race following sexual assault allegations first reported by the Chronicle, will take place on Aug. 18. Alexei Koseff, Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/15/26
New accuser alleges Eric Swalwell drugged and raped her -- A Southern California woman said Tuesday that Rep. Eric Swalwell drugged and raped her in 2018, joining several other women who have come forward in recent days with allegations of sexual misconduct by the East Bay Democrat. Anna Bauman, Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Nicole Norman Politico -- 4/15/26
With Swalwell resignation, House probe into his conduct is dead -- Rep. Eric Swalwell’s abrupt resignation from Congress on Tuesday forestalls an official House investigation into accusations that he sexually assaulted a former staffer. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/15/26
Tom Steyer rules out another presidential run -- Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer, a frontrunner in the California governor’s race, vowed Tuesday that he would not use the platform of leading the nation’s most populous state to run for president a second time. Blake Jones Politico -- 4/15/26
With Swalwell out, Villaraigosa and Becerra trade blows in fractured governor’s race -- Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa amped up attacks of former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra even as both men poll in the low-to-mid single digits as candidates in the governor’s race. Ben Paviour in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/15/26
Bruce Springsteen rages against the Trump machine with Tom Morello at Chase Center -- It was clear from the opening moments of Bruce Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams” concert that the Boss had a few things to say about President Donald Trump and the state of the nation. Tony Bravo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/15/26
President Trump backs Jim Desmond in key North County congressional race -- President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Supervisor Jim Desmond for a North County congressional seat that could be key to determining which party controls Congress. Lucas Robinson in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/15/26
Walters: Candidates for California governor ought to get serious about these pressing issues -- Eric Swalwell’s abrupt departure from the campaign for governor due to revelations about sexual transgressions leaves nine men and women remaining as serious contenders for spots on the November ballot. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 4/15/26
ICE
Judge pauses ruling after ordering release of man shot 7 times by ICE in Patterson -- A man who was shot seven times by immigration agents during a traffic stop near Modesto and then charged with assaulting, resisting and impeding a federal officer will remain in custody for at least two days while the government appeals a judge’s order to release him. Sharon Bernstein in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/15/26
Workplace
CalPERS sent retirees ‘shocking’ bills. They’re getting their money back --CalPERS on Tuesday gave up a seven-year legal battle to claw back hundreds of thousands of dollars from four pensioners who the fund accused of breaking the rules about working after retirement. Adam Ashton Calmatters -- 4/15/26
Tech giant eBay to close S.F. office, relocate 198 employees to San Jose headquarters -- No layoffs are expected. Workers being reassigned include software engineers, applied researchers, directors and financial analysts. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/15/26
Wildfire
Rebuilding After Fires, L.A. Neighbors Join Forces and Innovate -- Across the city’s fire zones, there’s a surge of experimentation — collective rebuilding, catalog homes and new technologies that are safe and reduce costs. Sam Lubell, Carlos Jaramillo in the New York Times$ -- 4/15/26
Housing
Cities scramble to comply with or fight major state housing law -- For California’s local governments hoping to have some say over where and how large apartment buildings get packed near major transit stops, it’s crunch time. Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 4/15/26
LA28
LA City Council: LA28 misled the city on tickets, other issues -- Months of the Los Angeles City Council’s frustration with LA28 boiled over during a committee meeting Tuesday morning, with one council member saying he doesn’t trust the local organizing committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and its board of directors. Scott M. Reid in the LA Daily News -- 4/15/26
Measles
California hasn’t seen measles numbers like this in years — and cases are still rising -- A measles outbreak in the Sacramento region, the third and largest in California so far this year, has brought the state’s year-to-date measles cases to 39 — far surpassing yearly totals for the last several years. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/15/26
Street
How gangs connected to India are terrorizing a California immigrant community -- India’s most wanted criminal network has a presence in California’s Central Valley, and it’s shaking down members of the diaspora. Gagandeep Singh Calmatters -- 4/15/26
‘Carmageddon’
You’ve been warned: S.F. Bayshore freeway closure could mean ‘Carmageddon’ --Caltrans will close part of the Bayshore freeway this weekend for viaduct repairs. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/15/26
POTUS 47
‘They’re not getting what they voted for’: Jesus meme lays bare GOP frustrations with Trump -- President Donald Trump’s weekend tirade against the pope — capped off by an AI-generated depiction of the president as Jesus — was, for some of his supporters, just too much. Megan Messerly and Alex Gangitano Politico -- 4/15/26
Iran’s Regime Has Changed—for the Worse -- The U.S.-Israeli attack fast-tracked the ascent of hard-liners and apocalyptic religious followers, raising doubts about a lasting peace. Margherita Stancati, Benoit Faucon and Henna Moussavi in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/15/26
Trump’s Blockade Risks Upending an Emerging Détente With China -- In a thinly veiled critique of the war in Iran, China’s leader said the world could not risk reverting “to the law of the jungle.” David E. Sanger and Tyler Pager in the New York Times$ -- 4/15/26
51 Percent of Americans Think the War in Iran Has Not Been Worthwhile -- Few Americans — 24 percent — think the war in Iran has been worth the costs and benefits, according to a survey from Ipsos and Reuters, released on Tuesday. Another 22 percent were not sure. Ruth Igielnik in the New York Times$ -- 4/15/26
Europe Drafts Postwar Plan to Free Up Hormuz Without U.S. -- European countries are putting together a plan for a broad coalition of countries to help free up shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, including sending mine-clearing and other military vessels. But the plan would only come after the war and may exclude one country in particular: the U.S. Max Colchester, Noemie Bisserbe and Bertrand Benoit in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/15/26