California Policy and Politics Friday

Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but Trump says blockade on Iranian ships and ports will stay in force -- Iran said Friday it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but President Donald Trump said the American blockade on Iranian ships and ports “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program. Kareem Chehayeb, Abby Sewell, Melanie Lidman Associated Press -- 4/17/26

 

Ballot seizure case poses a major legal question: Can the AG police an elected sheriff? -- But as California’s highest court weighs the merits of Bianco’s investigation, it will also be taking a stand on a much bigger political and legal question: Does the state’s elected attorney general ultimately have authority over local sheriffs, who are themselves independently elected? Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/17/26

California Democrats can’t decide on a governor. Don’t count on Newsom or Pelosi for help -- Even after Rep. Eric Swalwell’s swift and sudden exit, the race for governor is still frustratingly murky on the Democratic side, with seven major candidates splitting the vote. As party faithful hope for divine intervention, heavyweights like the speaker emerita and the current governor refuse to weigh in. Maya C. Miller Calmatters -- 4/17/26

Bernie Sanders endorses ‘S.F. Overpaid CEO Act’ in keeping with his tax-the-rich message -- A proposal to raise taxes on San Francisco’s biggest businesses has earned an endorsement from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a democratic socialist and elder statesman of progressive politics. Alyce McFadden in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/17/26

Mayor Bass has a new plan for addressing climate change in Los Angeles -- L.A. Mayor Karen Bass unveiled a new plan for addressing climate change, with goals including doubling solar power and achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035. The plan calls for converting city buses to electric by 2028 and installing 120,000 EV chargers. Ian James and Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26

Live Nation is supporting two California bills to lower prices. Can fans trust it? -- Bruno Mars tickets running for $2,000 and ones for SZA costing $600 caught California lawmakers’ attention. They’re advancing two bills targeting the resale market. Cayla Mihalovich Calmatters -- 4/17/26

California was warned of shocking hospice fraud. Inaction allowed problems to persist -- Officials have failed to halt pervasive fraud in the hospice industry despite promises of reforms five years ago after learning of widespread corruption that targeted vulnerable patients. Hannah Fry and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26

 

Powerful California institutions backed Swalwell’s rise. Now they’re facing questions -- Before it all came crashing down, Eric Swalwell appeared on the cusp of rising to the top of the Democratic field in the California governor’s race. Dakota Smith and Nicole Nixon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26

Barabak: There’s a wide gap between rumor and fact. That’s where Eric Swalwell lurked -- The implosion of Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign and his once-promising political career has left a great many questions rising from the smoldering wreckage. Questions about his character, judgment and staggering recklessness. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26

Padres

San Diego Padres Nearing Deal to be Sold for an MLB-Record $3.9 Billion -- Private-equity billionaire José E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones, would acquire the team for nearly $1.5 billion more than Steve Cohen paid for the New York Mets in 2020. Jared Diamond and Miriam Gottfried in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/17/26

Workplace

On California farms, workers say threats to deport them are on the rise -- Farmworkers described instances in which bosses threatened to call ICE on them, sometimes because they complained about workplace violations. The intensity of President Trump’s deportation campaign has upped the frequency of such threats and the fear they create. Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26

A California school district is having its first teachers strike in 150 years -- Hundreds of teachers in southeast Los Angeles County went on strike Thursday in the Little Lake City School District, marking the first teacher work stoppage in the district’s 150-year history. Cierra Morgan and Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26

Cannabis

Prop. 64 at 10: Why the illicit cannabis market still dominates in California -- It’s been nearly a decade since California voters legalized recreational cannabis, but production and sales remain outlawed in most of the state — and the black market dominates. Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/17/26

Education

California’s ongoing drop in public school enrollment is steepest in LAUSD and L.A. County -- Los Angeles County schools lost 32,953 students this year — a 2.6% decline representing 44% of California’s statewide enrollment drop. L.A. Unified’s 4.5% enrollment plunge — losing 16,765 students — is steeper than in most districts. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26

Homeless

L.A. clears homeless encampment long plagued by crime, drug use in North Hollywood -- Residents of a North Hollywood neighborhood breathed a sigh of relief Thursday as city sanitation crews showed up to clean a vacant lot they say has long been overrun by a homeless encampment that attracted crime and drug use. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26

More than 200,000 lost their homes in the L.A. County fires. For people already on the streets, the damage ran deeper -- Four recently published UCLA-led studies draw a direct line between climate disasters, housing instability and homelessness, with researchers pointing to the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires as one of the starkest recent examples. Meg Tanaka in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26

Housing

San Diego approves nearly 1,000-unit housing development near the U.S.-Mexico border -- The 985-unit Collection at Cactus will be in the heart of Otay Mesa, mainly home to warehouses and customs brokers involved in international trade, but increasingly becoming a spot for less expensive housing. Phillip Molnar in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/17/26

Street

Jury awards $11.8 million to Dodgers fan blinded by LAPD during World Series celebration -- Isaac Castellanos was celebrating the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series win when he was hit in the face by an LAPD projectile. Castellanos sued, alleging officers used excessive force and violated department policies during the incident. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/17/26

S.F. now has the second-highest overdose death rate among large U.S. cities and counties -- More than 580 people died of a drug overdose in San Francisco from September 2024 to August 2025, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/17/26

S.F. could close some permanent supportive housing for the homeless, alarming advocates -- The mayor’s office did not confirm the potential closures but says it wants to improve services and outcomes within its homeless housing network. Laura Waxmann, Maggie Angst in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/17/26

Also

Walters: Frozen lasagna dispute shows how arbitrary California tax law can be -- The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration oversees the collection of sales taxes by more than a half million retail sellers, ranging from giants such as Amazon and Walmart to one-person internet sellers. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 4/17/26

POTUS 47

Strait of Hormuz reopening for commercial traffic, Trump and Iran say -- The president said the U.S.'s blockade on Iranian shipping in the region will remain in effect, and lambasted allies for their lack of support. Finya Swai, Eli Stokols and Jack Detsch Politico -- 4/17/26

Oil prices drop 13% and the Dow soars over 1,000 points after Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz -- A freer flow of oil would not only help drivers angry about expensive gasoline, it would also take away upward pressure on inflation that’s hurting virtually everyone around the world. Stan Choe Associated Press -- 4/17/26

Hegseth recites ‘Pulp Fiction’ speech at Pentagon prayer service -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, leading a Pentagon prayer meeting, quoted a fictional Bible verse taken from a violent monologue in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film “Pulp Fiction,” originally delivered by actor Samuel L. Jackson just before his character shoots a helpless man to death. Gavin J. Quinton in the Los Angeles Times$ G. Allen Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/17/26

In Las Vegas, Trump Brushes Off Rising Fuel Prices -- At an economic event, the president sought to downplay the financial hardship that has followed his war with Iran, saying that “we’re having some fake inflation because of the fuel, the energy prices.” Chris Cameron in the New York Times$ -- 4/17/26

Jesus Memes, Threats and a War in Iran: A Portrait of Trump Under Pressure -- President Trump has lashed out at enemies, allies and even the pope, and made it harder for Republicans to keep the focus on economic issues in a midterm election year. Katie Rogers in the New York Times$ -- 4/17/26

Trump draws Marie Antoinette comparisons as he leans into the gilded trappings of the presidency -- The contrast was on full display Thursday, when, as Trump flew to Las Vegas to discuss tax cuts for Americans earning tips, his administration was pushing ahead with another of his splashy projects: Plans to build a 250-foot Triumphal Arch near the Lincoln Memorial replete with a Lady Liberty-like statue and a pair of golden eagles. Michelle L. Price, Will Weissert Associated Press -- 4/17/26

‘Woe to Those Who Manipulate Religion,’ 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$ -- 4/17/26

ICE went on a hiring spree. Sterling credentials were not required, AP investigation finds -- Two bankruptcies and six law enforcement jobs in three years. An allegation of lying in a police report to justify a felony charge against an innocent woman — an incident that led to a $75,000 settlement and criticism of his integrity. A third job candidate once failed to graduate from a police academy, then lasted only three weeks in his only job as a police officer. Ryan J. Foley Associated Press -- 4/17/26