California Policy and Politics Tuesday

Hundreds of Eric Swalwell campaign donors are trying to get their money back -- More than 200 donors are seeking more than $1.5 million in refunds from former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign in the wake of allegations he sexually assaulted multiple women, according to an internal campaign document viewed by the Chronicle. Sophia Bollag, Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/28/26

Becerra’s surge draws progressive backlash in California governor’s race -- Activists on the left are resurfacing past fights over immigration, oil-industry donations and healthcare as the former HHS secretary gains ground in the contest. Dustin Gardiner Politico -- 4/28/26

A cheat sheet for the California governor debate: Here’s what to watch for -- Ahead of the forum at Pomona College in Claremont, a trio of our Times columnists — Gustavo Arellano, Mark Z. Barabak and Anita Chabria — weigh in with a cheat sheet on what to look for, what to expect and why it matters. Gustavo Arellano, Mark Z. Barabak and Anita Chabria in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/26

Billionaire tax proposal heads toward November ballot as ultra-wealthy pour money into fight -- The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West said Monday that it expected to file 1,550,000 signatures in support of the California Billionaire Tax Act to the state Attorney General and county registrars by the end of the day. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/28/26

Walters: Can LA Mayor Karen Bass survive her mistakes and climb the political ladder? -- One might think that becoming mayor of the nation’s second largest city would catapult someone into the upper ranks of American politics. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 4/28/26

 

‘A betrayal:’ California to share data on immigrant drivers nationally -- California is preparing to share with an outside organization detailed information about driver’s license holders, including immigrants who do not have legal authorization to live in the U.S. Khari Johnson and Wendy Fry Calmatters -- 4/28/26

String of Sacramento immigration consultant businesses accused of fraud -- Deportation fears are seeing more people seek professional help with their immigration cases, even if it means not working with a licensed attorney. Advocates warn that scams targeting immigrants are on the rise. Felicia Alvarez KVIE Abridged -- 04/28/26

 

Cole Tomas Allen purchased weapons in L.A.’s South Bay, a hot spot for gun sales -- At Turner’s Outdoorsman in Torrance, racks of long guns line the back wall under taxidermied deer and antelope heads. On Sunday afternoon, shoppers browsed for fishing poles and sifted through a wide array of camouflage hunting gear. Connor Sheets in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/26

Trump administration pays wind developer to walk away from California offshore lease -- The Trump administration is paying $885 million to two energy companies to abandon offshore wind leases, including a project off Morro Bay developed by Golden State Wind. Golden State Wind will recover $120 million in lease fees after investing equally in oil and gas projects, while Bluepoint Wind commits $765 million to a liquefied natural gas facility. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/26

California gas prices resume their upward march and are now nearing a milestone -- California has the highest gas prices in the nation by far, about 30 cents per gallon above isolated Hawaii. And some cities, including San Francisco, are already seeing prices that exceed $6 per gallon. Kate Galbraith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/28/26

 

State committee passes proposal to raise billions from multinational companies -- An Assembly committee passed progressive lawmakers’ proposal to change the way California taxes multinational corporations. The measure eliminates, according to bill proponents, a pathway they use to offshore profits and pay less corporate income tax in California. Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/28/26

California committee kills bill aiming to end tax break for corporate landlords -- Assemblymember Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, said he authored the measure to push back against wealthy investors scooping up and then renting out homes. Critics say that practice raises prices for buyers and hurts the state’s homeownership rate. Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/28/26

Workplace

California drone maker to spend billions of dollars as it expands manufacturing in the state -- The San Mateo-based company, Skydio, will invest $3.5 billion in domestic manufacturing over the next five years, the company announced Friday. Defense technology operations, along with aerospace and artificial intelligence, have flocked to California, even as retail and fast-food chains bail out of the Golden State. Itzel Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/26

Super Micro Computer plans new San Jose tech campus where hundreds could work -- Super Micro Computer plans to create a new manufacturing hub in San Jose in an expansion that would mark the tech company’s largest operation in the United States. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/28/26

Meta seeks to power data centers with energy beamed from space -- Meta Platforms Inc. is looking to power artificial intelligence data centers with solar energy collected in space, taking a novel approach to meeting its insatiable demand for electricity. Riley Griffin Bloomberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/26

Education

California’s math scores are abysmal. Is it time to screen kindergartners for basic math skills? -- A new bill would require schools to screen all kindergartners, first- and second-graders for basic math skills. The idea is to help those children catch up to their peers who might have had much more exposure to math before starting school. Carolyn Jones Calmatters -- 4/28/26

Street

Drones join LAPD helicopters in city skies for standoffs, chases — and surveillance -- LAPD officials said in a report that drones were deployed more than 3,500 times last year. Police officials say drones can respond rapidly to emergencies and are more cost-effective than helicopters. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/26

Supreme Court wary of barring police from phone searches to find crime suspects -- A divided Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on whether the police use of phone tracking data violates the Constitution’s protection against “unreasonable searches.” David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/26

As e-bikes surge across the Bay Area, deaths and injuries reveal a gap in oversight -- A 13-year-old boy died last month in an e-bike crash in East San Jose. Weeks earlier, a 4-year-old Burlingame boy was killed and a 6-year-old girl injured in a chain-reaction crash sparked by an e-bike. In Half Moon Bay, a 16-year-old boy died after crashing an electric motorcycle into a box truck. Rick Hurd in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/28/26

Also

San Francisco Is Going Nuts Over a Giant Sea Lion Named Chonkers -- He swam up to Pier 39 a month ago and decided to stay, captivating locals with his massive frame and disregard for his dockmates’ space. Robert McMillan in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/28/26

POTUS 47

Hill Republicans lack a clear path to get Trump his ballroom -- Only one Democrat so far has come out in favor of passing legislation that would continue construction of the stalled project after the Saturday night security breach. Jordain Carney and Katherine Tully-McManus Politico -- 4/28/26

In the wake of Saturday’s shooting, the White House blames the left — and the media -- President Donald Trump, standing at the White House briefing room podium in his tuxedo hours after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting Saturday night, called for peace. By Monday, the tone had changed. Megan Messerly Politico -- 4/28/26

Foreign Carmakers Threaten to Pull Cheapest Models From U.S. Without Trade Deal -- Foreign-based automakers have warned the Trump administration that they are looking at pulling their cheapest car models out of the U.S. market if the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement isn’t renewed or is watered down, according to people familiar with the discussions. Sharon Terlep and Gavin Bade in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/28/26

Budget Airlines Ask Trump Administration for Billions as Fuel Costs Rise -- A trade group for the airlines is seeking $2.5 billion to help offset the big jump in jet fuel costs since the start of U.S.-Israeli attacks against Iran. Karoun Demirjian and Lauren Hirsch in the New York Times$ -- 4/28/26

Sergey Brin Moves to the Right, With a ‘MAGA Girlfriend’ by His Side -- After once backing liberal causes, the Google co-founder has praised President Trump, donated to Republicans and spent $57 million to try to block a California billionaire tax. Theodore Schleifer and Kate Conger in the New York Times$ -- 4/28/26