California Policy and Politics Friday

In bid to make a deal, billionaire tax backers offer to slash tax in exchange for Newsom’s support -- Backers of a plan to tax California’s billionaires signaled Thursday they’re ready to make a deal to remove the measure from the ballot if they can secure support for a more modest proposal. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Paul Kiernan and Laura J. Nelson in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 6/19/26

Uber, attorneys reach compromise to avoid California ballot fight -- Uber and trial attorneys have reached a deal to avoid an expensive California ballot measure fight, agreeing to instead pursue legislation aimed at assisting auto collision victims. Tyler Katzenberger Politico -- 6/19/26

 

Newsom’s feud with Trump enters riskier territory -- Federal scrutiny of Gavin Newsom and his wife has unsettled allies, prompted some associates to consider legal representation and opened a new front in the governor’s battle with the White House. Melanie Mason and Jeremy B. White Politico -- 6/19/26

 

This lawmaker’s proposal could make California ‘the most secretive state in the country’ -- Pacheco’s legislation would allow public agencies to delay records requests it deems “improperly” filed, sue for “malicious” requests and charge up to $66 an hour to produce government records. One good governance advocate calls it a “virtual horror show of governmental non-transparency.” Yue Stella Yu Calmatters -- 6/19/26

California is getting ready to increase a health insurance tax. Will it affect your premium? -- Legislators approved a redesigned health tax that shifts more cost onto privately insured Californians to help preserve billions in federal Medi-Cal funding. A family of four could pay $400 more a year in premiums — but the tax still needs federal approval from the Trump administration to take effect. Ana B. Ibarra Calmatters -- 6/19/26

San Jose opposes statewide tax measure as mayor warns 2,000 people could be pushed back onto streets -- The proposed November ballot measure could threaten more than $100 million a year now tied to homelessness programs, libraries, parks and fire facilities. Ryan Macasero in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/19/26

Walters: California turns to minimum wage hikes to offset high living costs. There’s a downside -- There are three immutable aspects of economic life in California today. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 6/19/26

A California city voted to recall its leaders. They’re refusing to leave office -- Three council members in the San Joaquin Valley city of Avenal are refusing to leave office after a recall by voters, pitting the ousted officials of the former oil boomtown against many of its residents on social media, in heated public meetings and in court. Delilah Brumer in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/19/26

Workplace

Cal State faculty push to prevent AI tools from replacing them as schools and staff experiment -- The union representing California State University professors is contesting the system’s use of artificial intelligence tools and backing legislation that would protect their jobs from the technology. Mikhail Zinshteyn Calmatters -- 6/19/26

As Hollywood leans into AI, the real battle is over likeness and who gets paid -- Hollywood’s AI debate has shifted from whether to use it to how: dealmakers like Brian Grazer now use tools like Claude to speed development while keeping human writers. Cerys Davies in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/26

High Speed Rail

Merced advocates want high-speed rail downtown. Project CEO says moving station is best -- In recent months, bullet train supporters from Merced have made it clear they oppose the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s plan to pursue building a station outside the city’s downtown area. Erik Galicia in the Fresno Bee -- 6/19/26

Transit

The Bay Area’s trains and buses are filling up again. Even experts aren’t sure why -- Now the rush hour crowds are back, boosting BART to record ridership in the first third of this year. Although the rail agency still only carries half as many riders as it did in 2019, the period from January through April marked its most successful four-month chunk since COVID shutdowns. Rachel Swan, Danielle Echeverria in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/19/26

L.A. poised to lose $100 million in state grants to fund transportation projects -- The grant money would have funded projects in Boyle Heights, the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles and Wilmington. The city struggled to meet completion deadlines because of staffing shortages at key departments, officials said. Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/26

Street

Overdoses in L.A. jails fueled by long waits for drug addiction treatment, staffers say -- Despite a push to expand the use of medication-assisted treatment for drug addiction, people in L.A. County custody often wait weeks — sometimes several months — to receive it, according to jail staffers and inmate advocates. Gavin J. Quinton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/26

Also

A traveler with measles passed through LAX. Officials urge caution amid World Cup crowds -- A person infected with measles flew on a transpacific flight and passed through Los Angeles International Airport last week, potentially exposing other passengers to the highly contagious disease. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/26

‘Justice for Jameson’: LAPD killing of family dog amid Knicks win sparks outrage -- The New York Knicks had just won the NBA championship Saturday night when Los Angeles police were called to an apartment complex in Canoga Park amid reports of a person screaming. Minutes later, an officer opened fire on a pet Saint Bernard doodle that was wearing a Knicks shirt. Ruben Vives, Richard Winton and Summer Lin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/26

POTUS 47

Republicans fear Trump is hurting their chances. He can’t understand why -- President Donald Trump believes he handed Republicans a winning playbook for the midterms — if only they’d follow it. Gerrymander everywhere possible, get rid of the filibuster, fire the Senate parliamentarian and pass the SAVE America Act. Megan Messerly, Alex Gangitano and Myah Ward Politico -- 6/19/26

‘I’m the President and You’re Not’: Trump Tests His Power and Frustrates the GOP -- President Trump is increasingly relying on his own instincts, making decisions that frustrate Republicans and test his party control. Brian Schwartz, Natalie Andrews and Alexander Ward in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 6/19/26

Vance’s Defense of Iran Deal Rests on Vague and Misleading Claims -- The vice president said the United States had leverage to dictate the outcome of the next round of negotiations. But he claimed incorrectly that Iran got no new benefit from the lifting of oil sanctions. Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Rebecca F. Elliott and Erica L. Green in the New York Times$ -- 6/19/26

Trump condemned Obama’s Iran deal. Here’s how his own compares. -- The current agreement is still an early outline, with key questions yet to be addressed. Sammy Westfall in the New York Times$ -- 6/19/26

First steps in peace deal demand far more from U.S. than Iran -- The memorandum of understanding — which President Donald Trump signed to applause that echoed faintly at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday night — puts the onus on the United States to deliver early concessions including lifting sanctions, freeing billions in frozen assets and dismantling a U.S. naval blockade of Iran’s ports. Greg Miller in the Washington Post$ -- 6/19/26

President Trump Has a Pool Problem. The Nation Has Thoughts -- The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which President Trump had resurfaced with a blue coating, has developed algae blooms. The Interior Department contracted to spend $14.7 million on the renovation, which a nonprofit sued over for sidestepping required reviews. Lydia Wheeler in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 6/19/26

The Costs of the Iran War: Thousands of Lives and Billions of Dollars -- The war against Iran lasted just over 15 weeks before a preliminary U.S.-Iranian peace deal was reached this week. But the human and economic toll mounted rapidly, with consequences far beyond the region. Edward Wong and Aruni Soni in the New York Times$ -- 6/19/26