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California Policy and Politics Thursday
8 dead in Tahoe avalanche; victims include moms of Sugar Bowl youth team skiers -- Eight of the nine people reported missing after a massive avalanche roughly the size of a football field struck a guided backcountry ski group near Lake Tahoe were confirmed dead Wednesday, Nevada County authorities said, making the incident one of the deadliest U.S. avalanches in decades. The ninth person was presumed to have died. Aidin Vaziri, Matthias Gafni in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Jack Dolan and Andrea Flores in the Los Angeles Times$ Stephen Hobbs and Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ --2/19/26
Satellite Feature on iPhone Allowed Skiers to Seek Help After Avalanche -- The six survivors of Tuesday’s avalanche near Lake Tahoe communicated with emergency responders using the Emergency SOS feature on the iPhone and an emergency beacon, said Don O’Keefe, the law enforcement chief for California’s Office of Emergency Services. Kalley Huang in the New York Times$ --2/19/26
Key question in deadly Tahoe avalanche: Why did skiers leave shelter in blizzard conditions? -- With nine people feared dead northwest of Lake Tahoe in California’s deadliest avalanche in decades, authorities and experts are seeking to understand what led a group of backcountry skiers, including four professional guides, to venture into the snow and away from shelter amid blizzard conditions. Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/26
Mark Zuckerberg Grilled on Usage Goals and Underage Users at California Trial -- In sworn testimony, Zuckerberg said Meta’s growth targets reflect an aim to give users something useful, not addict them, and that the company doesn’t seek to attract children as users. Meghan Bobrowsky in the Wall Street Journal$ Sonja Sharp in the Los Angeles Times$ Eli Tan in the New York Times$ --2/19/26
Furious with Trump, California Democrats plot election strategy in San Francisco -- In a pivotal election year that will serve as a referendum on the second Trump administration, California Democrats face pressure from activists on the left to abandon “radical civility” and instead back candidates who will push back hard against the GOP. Maya C. Miller and Jeanne Kuang Calmatters -- 2/19/26
Bernie Sanders kicks off billionaires tax campaign with choice words for the ‘oligarchs’ -- Populist Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday formally kicked off the campaign to place a billionaires tax on the November ballot, framing the proposal as something larger than a debate about economic and tax policy as he appeared at a storied Los Angeles venue. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ Nigel Duara Calmatters Daniel Miller Politico -- 2/19/26
Billionaires Spielberg, Zuckerberg eyeing East Coast, stirring concerns about California’s wealth-tax proposal -- Filmmaker Steven Spielberg moved to New York and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is considering Florida property amid a proposed 5% wealth tax on California billionaires’ assets. The union-backed measure seeks to raise $100 billion for healthcare but faces opposition from those who say it will drive wealthy residents away. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/26
Tom Steyer wants a special election to hike corporate taxes in 2027 -- Tom Steyer is telling union leaders in California that he’d back a special election to raise corporate taxes in his first year as governor, as he tries to solidify his claim to the progressive lane in a crowded Democratic field. Melanie Mason Politico --2/19/26
GOP lawmaker proposes measure to block key element of proposed California wealth tax -- Rep. Kevin Kiley says the proposed wealth tax would drive away California’s leading job creators. His proposal would bar states from taxing the assets of former residents retroactively. Ana Ceballos in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/26
New poll: Republican candidate surges to a lead in California governor’s race -- In the first independent poll since San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan joined the governor’s race, Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton has surged to the lead of a crowded field, followed by Democrat U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, with many voters still undecided as to who should succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. Grace Hase in the San Jose Mercury$ --2/19/26
Los Angeles-area state lawmakers call for Wasserman to step aside -- Ten lawmakers on the state’s legislative Olympics committees told Politico he should step down as chair of LA28. Nicole Norman Politico --2/19/26
Walters: Jesse Jackson had a complicated relationship with fellow political personage Jerry Brown -- The death of Rev. Jesse Jackson this week has sparked a flurry of remembrances about his decades-long career as a civil rights champion and political figure. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 2/19/26
ICE
California congressional leaders urge Kristi Noem not to reopen Dublin prison as ICE facility -- The Federal Correctional Institution Dublin closed in 2024 following a sexual abuse scandal, but rumors have swirled since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly visited last February that the facility could reopen to serve President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ --2/19/26
Workplace
California wine giant Gallo closing facility, laying off workers at four other locations -- Gallo, the largest U.S. wine company, is closing a Napa Valley production facility and has planned layoffs at four other California wineries and tasting rooms, resulting in the loss of 93 jobs. Jess Lander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ --2/19/26
Los Angeles Is the Next Target in California’s Teacher Strike-Threat Campaign -- Last week’s teacher strike in San Francisco was an early test of a statewide union push that is raising tensions in school districts across California. The next big target: Los Angeles. Douglas Belkin and Scott Calvert in the Wall Street Journal$ --2/19/26
Two retailers are returning to Union Square — in the same locations where they closed -- AT&T and the RealReal were two of the dozens of retailers who shuttered stores near San Francisco’s Union Square in the wake of the pandemic. But now both companies are reopening in the same locations they previously closed in 2023. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ --2/19/26
Wildfire
L.A. fire victims say state regulators ignored complaints about State Farm -- More than a dozen homeowners and their representatives told The Times that the state insurance department did little to resolve a wide range of complaints in State Farm’s handling of their claims. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/26
County prosecutors probing whether Edison should be criminally prosecuted for Eaton fire -- The company’s chief executive has said that a leading theory of the fire’s cause is that a century-old transmission line in Eaton Canyon somehow reenergized and sparked the blaze. If prosecutors decided to pursue criminal charges, it would not be the first time a California utility was prosecuted for starting a deadly wildfire. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ --2/19/26
Homeless
Citing fire risk, L.A. city may get more power to remove hillside homeless encampments -- Los Angeles city officials may be empowered to remove homeless encampments from hillside areas at severe risk of fire, even without the property owner’s permission, under a proposal that the City Council moved forward on Tuesday. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ --2/19/26
Moltbook
A Social Network for A.I. Bots Only. No Humans Allowed -- Last Wednesday, Matt Schlicht, a technologist living in a small town just south of Los Angeles, launched a new social network called Moltbook. Cade Metz in the New York Times$ --2/19/26
What Do A.I. Chatbots Discuss Among Themselves? We Sent One to Find Out -- We interviewed our bot about what it learned on Moltbook, the A.I.-only social network. Eve Washington in the New York Times$ --2/19/26
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Senators decry surge in deaths at ICE detention facilities, citing poor medical care -- At Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities across the country, detainees go without medicine for serious health conditions, endure miscarriages while shackled and are dying in record numbers, a group of U.S. senators said. Gavin J. Quinton in the Los Angeles Times$ --2/19/26
Trump is funding climate projects in red states but canceling them in California, lawsuit charges -- The Trump administration is withholding billions of dollars in federal funds for energy-saving programs in blue states while funding similar projects in red states, California and other Democratic-led states charged in a lawsuit Wednesday. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ --2/19/26
Fed Minutes Reveal Little Appetite for Rate Cuts -- Federal Reserve officials signaled little appetite for reducing interest rates at their meeting last month, with most indicating they wanted to see further progress on inflation before considering any more cuts—a process that could take months. Nick Timiraos in the Wall Street Journal$ --2/19/26
Administration Targets Noncitizen Voting, Despite Finding It Rare -- Homeland security officials, at the direction of the White House, are intensifying efforts to investigate voting by noncitizens in pursuit of President Trump’s baseless claims that illegal voting by undocumented immigrants is a rampant and insidious threat. Glenn Thrush, Devlin Barrett, Alan Feuer, Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Hamed Aleaziz in the New York Times$ --2/19/26
California Policy and Politics Wednesday
8 skiers killed in the deadliest avalanche in modern California history -- On Sunday, as forecasters warned that the biggest winter storm of the season was headed for California’s High Sierra, a mountain guide company sent 15 people out for a risky backcountry skiing adventure on the slopes above Donner Pass. Jack Dolan and Andrea Flores in the Los Angeles Times$ Aidin Vaziri, Matthias Gafni in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/26
Opponents of proposed California wealth tax ramp up their campaign -- Opponents of California’s proposed wealth tax are turning to the same tool as its champion: the ballot initiative. Jeremy B. White in the Los Angeles Times$ Laura J. Nelson in the Wall Street Journal$ Laurel Rosenhall in the New York Times$ -- 2/18/26
How would the California ‘billionaire tax’ really work? We break it down -- The proposed wealth tax on California’s richest residents is stirring fierce debate. In the first installment of our three-part series, we examine how it would be structured and enforced. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/26
Billionaires’ Low Taxes Are Becoming a Problem for the Economy -- California’s plan to hit its richest residents with a one-off wealth tax is a long shot, and its design has problems. But a look at who picks up the tab when billionaires scrimp on taxes, and how wealth concentration is affecting the wider economy, shows why the issue isn’t going away. Carol Ryan in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/18/26
Why California could be the big winner as EPA abandons climate policy -- The federal government is walking away from its tailpipe emissions rules, sparking a legal debate over whether states can now write their own standards. Alex Nieves Politico -- 2/18/26
Nithya Raman stunned the L.A. political world in 2020. Now, she wants to do it again -- Raman stunned the Los Angeles political establishment with her defeat of City Councilmember David Ryu in 2020. But after six years at City Hall, Raman is no longer an outsider. She has her own record, which is in many ways intertwined with the mayor’s. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/26
Jesse Jackson gave his most important speech in San Francisco. It still resonates today -- Walter Mondale walked away with the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in 1984. But for thousands of delegates and local citizens at the San Francisco gathering, the enduring memory was Jesse Jackson at the podium in Moscone Center, proffering one of the greatest speeches in American political history. Peter Hartlaub in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/26
Walters: California school systems face red ink despite boosts in education spending -- Educating California’s nearly 6 million public school students is the state budget’s second largest expenditure, and one that has increased sharply during Gavin Newsom’s governorship. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 2/18/26
Avalanche
A troubling question as rescuers search for Tahoe skiers: Why were they out during a blizzard? -- The storm, which dumped several feet of fresh, unstable snow in the high Sierra in recent days — shutting down freeways and commercial ski resorts — had been forecast nearly a week ago. Jack Dolan and Andrea Flores in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/26
10 skiers missing after avalanche near Lake Tahoe as rescuers race storm -- Search-and-rescue teams were racing against extreme weather Tuesday evening after an avalanche struck a guided group of skiers near Lake Tahoe in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada, leaving 10 people unaccounted for, authorities said. The slide occurred around 11:30 a.m. in the Castle Peak area near Truckee, north of Interstate 80, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Aidin Vaziri, Gregory Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Michael McGough, Darrell Smith and Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/18/26
Here’s how much snow the Sierra got this weekend — and how much is on the way -- A major storm blanketed Sierra peaks in feet of snow over Presidents Day weekend. And even more is on the way, with two to four more feet due by Wednesday morning, according to Chronicle meteorologists. Jack Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/26
Part of California’s Highway 1 shut down due to rockslides and debris -- Caltrans shut down Highway 1 from Ragged Point to Big Sur, a roughly 45-mile stretch along California’s Central Coast, due to rockslides and debris in the roadway at multiple locations, the agency said Monday evening. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/26
Southern California mountains got plenty of snow — with more on the way -- The first of three storms to hit Southern California this week dumped several inches of snow atop mountain communities — with more on the horizon. “(It’s) going to be, very probably, the best snowfall we’ve had all winter so far this season,” National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Thompson said. But with it could come treacherous traveling. Ryanne Mena in the Orange County Register$ -- 2/18/26
ICE
LA revives zoning law that could ban some private detention centers from contracting with ICE -- The L.A. City Council has taken a step toward reactivating a zoning code that could prohibit the construction and operation of private detention centers for unaccompanied children. The ordinance is meant to prevent private facilities from contracting with federal law enforcement agencies like ICE, according to Councilmember Tim McOsker, who introduced the motion last Wednesday. LAist -- 02/18/26
Workplace
LAUSD board approves up to 657 layoffs. Budget at ‘breaking point,’ Supt. Carvalho says -- The Los Angeles school board — confronted with deficit spending and an internal forecast of insolvency in three years — narrowly voted to send out 3,200 notices of possible layoff, launching a process that is expected to result in as many as 650 layoffs, moves strongly opposed by labor groups as unnecessary and harmful to students. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ Teresa Liu in the LA Daily News -- 2/18/26
Second Female Prosecutor Wins Harassment Lawsuit Against County Over OC District Attorney Conduct -- A second female prosecutor won a multimillion dollar judgement today, after a jury found she faced retaliation from Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer and other top prosecutors when she reported sexual harassment within his own office. Noah Biesiada in the Voice of OC -- 2/18/26
Canadian snowbirds are still unhappy with Trump. And Palm Springs is feeling the chill -- Palm Springs relies heavily on Canadian tourists, who are declining to travel to the U.S. or shortening their stays because of Trump. The number of Canadian visitors to California plummeted more than 18% in 2025 compared with the year prior. Hailey Branson-Potts, Myung J. Chun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/26
Hit me: California’s blackjack ban could bust L.A. card clubs -- California’s new regulations will ban blackjack from card rooms, closing a loophole that let them offer many casino games. Card room operators warn the ban could impact 50% of jobs created by the industry statewide and devastate L.A. County cities heavily dependent on gambling. Iris Kwok in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/26
Casino workers rally outside Sky River for labor deal. ‘We want them to hear us’ -- Around 100 Sacramento-area casino workers and labor allies protested Tuesday evening at the entrance to Sky River Casino, the latest escalation in the hotel and casino workers’ union’s yearslong organizing campaign for the tribal casino that opened in 2022. Annika Merrilees in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/18/26
Wildfire
Altadena asked Edison to bury power lines. Some fire victims say that could cost them $40,000 -- Connor Cipolla, an Eaton wildfire survivor, last year praised Southern California Edison’s plan of burying more than 60 miles of electric lines in Altadena as it rebuilds to reduce the risk of fire. Then he learned he would have to pay $20,000 to $40,000 to connect his home, which was damaged by smoke and ash, to Edison’s new underground line. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/26
Eaton and Palisades fire refugees moved near and far — and often -- Last year’s Palisades and Eaton fires sent thousands of families on a quest for shelter. Some stayed near and moved often. Others found stable lodging, some as far away as New York and Florida. Doug Smith, Lorena Iñiguez Elebee and Hailey Wang in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/26
Tesla autopilot
Tesla will stop using the term ‘autopilot’ to avoid 30-day suspension in California -- The concession resolves a long-running battle between the automobile manufacturer and the state, over claims that Tesla oversold its cars’ capabilities and deceived consumers into thinking they would operate autonomously. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/26
Seniors
5 things we learned by spending time in Los Angeles senior centers -- With Californians leading longer, healthier and more productive lives, the desire for thriving hubs of older adult activity seems more pressing than ever before. The role and function of a senior center will need to evolve and expand to address growing demand. Joe Garcia Calmatters -- 2/18/26
Street
S.F. Mayor Lurie inherited a drug overdose epidemic. Here's how bad it's gotten -- Overdose deaths in San Francisco likely dipped in 2025 after seeing a major drop in 2024, according to preliminary numbers. But fatal overdoses are still much more common than they were before the pandemic. Christian Leonard and Yoohyun Jung in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/26
Also
Did That Bald Head Get Your Attention? One Start-Up Hopes So -- Billboards that wouldn’t make sense to people outside the tech industry have become common in the Bay Area. One company took the microtargeting game to another level. Natallie Rocha, Minh Connors in the New York Times$ -- 2/18/26
Barabak: With immigration losing its edge, Republicans find a new boogeyman: ‘Radical Islam’ -- Seeking a political scapegoat, Texas GOP candidates have wheeled on the state’s growing Muslim population. There hasn’t been such a concentrated political assault since the days following the Sept. 11 attacks. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/26
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Democrats Plan to Counter Trump’s Speech to Congress With Rally -- The House Democratic leader has asked rank-and-file members to sit quietly at the speech or skip it altogether, wary of creating a distraction. Annie Karni in the New York Times$ -- 2/18/26
Colbert Slams FCC and CBS, Priming for Fight Over Equal-Time Rules -- In biting monologue on ‘The Late Show,’ comedian said his network was bowing to regulators prematurely. Isabella Simonetti and Joe Flint in the Wall Street Journal$ Gregory Svirnovskiy Politico John Koblin in the New York Times$ Scott Nover in the Washington Post$ -- 2/18/26
Jimmy Kimmel to headline fundraiser for House Democrats in Los Angeles -- The fundraiser, which will also feature House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is set for March 10 in Los Angeles, according to two people familiar with the fundraiser who were granted anonymity to discuss the details. Jacob Wendler and Andrew Howard Politico -- 2/18/26
Democratic-led cities move to block ICE, setting up clash with Trump -- In New York, Philadelphia and elsewhere, officials take steps, such as vowing to prosecute agents who violate local laws, to try to limit immigration crackdowns. Tim Craig in the Washington Post$ -- 2/18/26