Rough & Tumble ®
A Snapshot of California Public Policy and Politics
       
 
 
 
 
 

California Policy and Politics Monday

San Francisco Emerges From the Shadow of a Doom Loop -- San Francisco is rebounding. Its crime rates have dropped, with burglaries down 28% this year, and the number of homeless encampments has fallen. Katherine Bindley, Laura Morton in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/20/25

How military’s ‘safe’ plan to fire munitions over Interstate 5 went off the rails with CHP cruiser hit -- It was supposed to be a boisterous event at Camp Pendleton celebrating 250 years of the U.S. Marine Corps that included a live simulation of a beach assault by sea and air. Rong-Gong Lin II and Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/20/25

Top House Democrat campaigns for Proposition 50 at L.A.’s Black churches -- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries returned to California and stopped at three L.A. Black churches on Sunday. The top House Democrat campaigned for the state’s redistricting measure Proposition 50. Noah Haggerty in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/20/25

Trump claims ‘unquestioned power’ to deploy troops to San Francisco under Insurrection Act -- In an interview that aired Sunday on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Trump floated invoking the Insurrection Act — a centuries-old law that allows presidents to deploy troops on U.S. soil. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/20/25

Ro Khanna: ‘I agree with Marjorie Taylor Greene’ on health care -- Rep. Ro Khanna surprised Fox News host Shannon Bream on Sunday when he said he agrees with Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) on health care. Cheyanne M. Daniels Politico -- 10/20/25

‘It’s effectively a bailout’: Edison benefits from fine print in Newsom’s last-minute utility legislation -- Fine print in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s last-minute utility legislation could shift billions of dollars of Eaton fire costs to Edison customers The provisions also add to the liability protections from wildfire costs that the state’s three largest utilities gained in 2019 from legislation championed by Newsom. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/20/25

This city banned the Pride flag. Newsom’s maps would give them a progressive, gay congressman -- Huntington Beach and its all-Republican city council have proudly led California’s conservative resistance. Now, if California voters approve Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to temporarily redraw the state’s congressional maps, the city would be represented by Rep. Robert Garcia, a gay progressive who leads Democrats on the House Oversight Committee. Maya C. Miller Calmatters -- 10/20/25

Skelton: A gutsy move to increase housing and oil drilling. But not on high-speed rail -- Some witty person long ago gave us this immortal line: “No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.” George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/20/25

California U.S. Senators build war chests despite no upcoming election -- California’s two U.S. senators don’t have to run again for at least four more years, but they’ve got millions of dollars on hand to use in their next campaigns, new Federal Election Commission reports show. Kate Wolffe in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/20/25

Workplace

Kaiser Permanente health care workers back on job after five-day strike -- Tens of thousands of health care workers are back at work after their union and Kaiser Permanente officials agreed to resume bargaining, ending a five-day strike at hundreds of hospitals across California, Oregon and Hawaii. St. John Barned-Smith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/20/25

Rural Hospitals

As Washington cuts back, California’s rural hospitals worry about their future -- “There are a lot of unknowns right now, so we’re obviously looking at things we can do to tighten our belts ahead of the potential changes,” said Siri Nelson, president and CEO of Marshall Medical, a nonprofit health system in El Dorado County. Nicole Nixon and David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/20/25

Wildfire

One simple thing most of us fail to do to protect homes against wildfires -- Landscaping, roofing, vents all matter, expert says — but it’s basic debris removal that often gets neglected. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/20/25

L.A. declares uncleared properties a ‘public nuisance,’ including a mansion from HBO’s ‘Succession’ -- Eight Pacific Palisades properties, including a mansion featured in the HBO show “Succession,” were declared public nuisances for failing to clear toxic fire debris by Oct. 2. All of the owners either opted out of the federal cleanup programs, or were deemed ineligible. Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/20/25

Housing

Home prices in these California cities just hit record highs — even amid a cooling market -- What do laid-back San Luis Obispo and agricultural Madera have in common? They’re the only two kinds of cities whose homes are reaching record prices. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/20/25

Insurance

State Farm change: Some California policyholders can keep coverage after moving -- For the first time in more than two years, State Farm General has taken a small step toward reopening business in California. Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/20/25

Condors

For a century, they were gone. But California Condors are making a comeback in these parts of the Bay Area -- ‘Just the mere fact that we’re talking about the possibility of seeing condors in the East Bay is pretty miraculous,’ one biologist said. Kyle Martin in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/20/25

Education

Expect more phonics lessons in California schools under law Newsom signed -- The law comes on the heels of a host of other literacy initiatives, including mandatory dyslexia screening and universal transitional kindergarten. Carolyn Jones Calmatters -- 10/20/25

Street

It’s available in California stores and surging in use — yet this dangerous drug is ruining lives -- The September 2024 crash, described in a California Highway Patrol report and by Kalie’s family, left Kalie, then 21, with a severe traumatic brain injury, unable to walk or talk. And it prompted her family to call on legislators to ban nitrous oxide from store shelves, where despite its well-known dangers it remains widely available and surging in popularity. Brooke Park in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/20/25

Man reports $600,000 watch stolen in Irvine robbery, says attacker’s gun jammed -- During the attack, the assailants were shouting, “Shoot him!” the victim said. He added that the armed suspect tried to fire, but the gun jammed. Sydney Barragan in the Orange County Register$ -- 10/20/25

ICE

To Fight ICE, Portland’s Leaders Turn to What They Know Best: Zoning -- But in the city’s fight against the Trump administration, those land-use rules may prove to be a not-so-secret weapon, in large part because the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland may be uniquely vulnerable to the codes. Anna Griffin in the New York Times$ -- 10/20/25

Also

Sea Otters Are Stealing Surfboards in California. Again. -- Two years after Otter 841 menaced wave riders near Santa Cruz, there have been new encounters between the furry marine mammals and surfers. Annie Roth in the New York Times$ Sam Whiting in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/20/25

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Trump says inflation is dead. Most data says: Not quite. -- The White House points to a seven-month snapshot showing low inflation, but economists say prices are closer to 3 percent. The shutdown delays fresh data. Andrew Ackerman and Alyssa Fowers in the Washington Post$ -- 10/20/25

Trump struggles to crack tariff piggy bank -- The president and top White House officials have floated using tariff revenue to pay the military and support farmers. It's not that simple. Daniel Desrochers and Jennifer Scholtes Politico -- 10/20/25

Why protesters against Trump are wearing frog, chicken and T. rex costumes -- A frog wearing a crown stood next to a unicorn, a rooster and two chickens in Washington. Two sharks ran across a bridge as they headed toward a crowd in Portland, Oregon. A lobster wore a sign that declared “No shellfish kings” in Boston. Marianne LeVine and Daniel Wu in the Washington Post$ -- 10/20/25

Shutdown Fight Reopens Debate in G.O.P. Over Health Care -- The spending showdown has highlighted Republicans’ failure to produce an alternative to Obamacare, which many of them assail but concede is too politically risky to undo. Annie Karni in the New York Times$ -- 10/20/25

Officials, locals undercut Trump claims about Venezuela drug boats -- Trump says the U.S. is blowing up boats carrying deadly fentanyl to the United States. U.S. and other officials say the route under attack carries cocaine and marijuana to Europe and Africa. Terrence McCoy, Ana Vanessa Herrero and Samantha Schmidt in the Washington Post$ -- 10/20/25

Here’s who pays when undocumented immigrants get health care in America --Republicans have attacked Democratic health care demands in shutdown debate as funding medical care for undocumented immigrants. The reality is more complicated. David Ovalle in the Washington Post$ -- 10/20/25

 

California Policy and Politics Sunday

‘We never lost faith’: Culver City palatero reunites with family after 114 days detained -- Nearly four months after being detained by ICE while working his regular route, a Culver City palatero has returned safely home to his family — and has a green card on the way. Malia Mendez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/19/25

Police declare ‘unlawful assembly’ at downtown L.A. protest, use tear gas to disperse crowds -- Police declared an unlawful assembly Saturday evening near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles after “No Kings Day” protesters gathered there. Officers used nonlethal rounds and tear gas on crowds, with protesters accusing police of escalating tensions after peaceful daytime demonstrations. No arrests were reported as of 9 p.m. Jaweed Kaleem and Christopher Buchanan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/19/25

JPL’s rough ride: Can California’s shining star of space science recover? -- JPL laid off 550 employees Tuesday — the fourth round in a series of layoffs that cut a quarter of employees over two years. With Congress cutting the lab’s flagship Mars mission, morale within the lab is slumping. JPL, which relies on contracts for big missions, has few major projects in the pipeline. Noah Haggerty and Corinne Purtill in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/19/25

Interstate 5 closure fuels anger and gridlock: ‘There was no coordination’ -- On Saturday morning, the coastal town of San Clemente became ground zero in the battle between California and the Trump administration over a preplanned live-fire exercise over the freeway during a military event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Andrew J. Campa and Malia Mendez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/19/25

This wealthy scientist is on a mission to ensure California’s redistricting proposal fails -- Meet Charles Munger Jr., the Stanford physicist and Berkshire Hathaway heir who’s spent tens of millions opposing California’s mid-decade redistricting. Maegan Vazquez in the Washington Post$ -- 10/19/25

 

‘No Kings’ protests draw massive crowds nationwide -- Tens of thousands gathered Saturday across Southern California for “No Kings” protests against President Trump’s policies on immigration, healthcare, the environment and federal agencies. More than 2,700 demonstrations were scheduled nationwide, roughly 600 more than June’s protests, which drew 5 million participants. Christopher Buchanan, Jack Flemming and Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/19/25

No Kings protests: S.F. march surpasses June crowd as thousands rally in Bay Area -- About 50,000 marched in San Francisco, surpasses the June protest’s crowd. Nationwide, organizers say more than 2,700 protests were taking place. Anna Bauman, St. John Barned-Smith, Sarah Ravani, Lucy Hodgman, Brooke Park in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Grant Stringer, Kyle Martin, Shomik Mukherjee in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/19/25

‘Immigrants are not the enemy.’ Thousands march in Central Valley’s ‘No Kings’ protests -- Lori Pardi, a 56-year-old facilities manager at Fresno State, had never attended a protest—until Saturday. Standing among hundreds at the “No Kings” rally outside the Manchester Center in Fresno, she said it was time for her to speak out in support of immigrants amid escalating ICE activity across the country. Marina Peña, Liliana Fannin and Anthony Galaviz in the Fresno Bee-- 10/19/25

San Diego shows up in force for second round of ‘No Kings’ protests -- Thousands take to the streets at 14 events organized across San Diego County. Kristen Taketa, Phillip Molnar, Walker Armstrong, Kelly Davis and Phil Diehl in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 10/19/25

Chabria: Dinosaurs, unicorns and ‘raging grannies’ — but no kings — in Sacramento -- The “Raging Grannies of Sacramento” had set up a stage, and were testing microphones in advance of bombarding the crowd with song. These women wore coordinating aprons! They had printed signs — signs with QR codes. If grandmothers who know how to use a QR code aren’t dangerous, I don’t know who it is. Anita Chabria in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/19/25

 

Federal troops in San Francisco? Locals, leaders scoff at Trump’s plan -- About 24 hours after President Trump declared San Francisco such a crime-ridden “mess” that he was recommending federal forces be sent to restore order, Manit Limlamai, 43, and Kai Saetern, 32, rolled their eyes at the suggestion. Kevin Rector, Manuel Orbegozo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/19/25

Barabak: This Las Vegas Republican had high hopes for Trump. But a ‘Trump slump’ made life worse -- Food server and lifelong Republican Aaron Mahan liked the notion of a businessman in the White House. He now blames inflation and Trump’s pugnacious policies for Las Vegas’ costly drop in tourism. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/19/25

‘I’m living in a nightmare’: Japanese internment camp survivors see history repeating under Trump -- Okimoto and scores of demonstrators gathered at the site of the former detention center, where Bay Area people of Japanese ancestry were confined during World War II, to push back at the Trump administration’s encroaching authoritarianism and its attack on the nation’s immigrant community. St. John Barned-Smith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/19/25

Housing

California’s housing laws hang over controversial Placer County project -- After hours of presentations and public comments Thursday, the Placer County Planning Commission was almost ready to vote on a 240-unit apartment complex that had roiled a small community near Rocklin. Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/19/25

Also

Long detours, mail once a week: How a landslide upended two Pacific Coast towns -- The closure of California’s iconic Highway 1 has scrambled everyday life along the state’s lush Central Coast. Now the road may finally reopen. Angie Orellana Hernandez in the Washington Post$ -- 10/19/25

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Congress Is Running Out of Time to Decide the Fate of Obamacare Subsidies -- Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to end after this year unless Congress acts, and open enrollment for insurance next year starts next month. Lindsay Wise, Anna Wilde Mathews and Katy Stech Ferek in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/19/25

Shutdown Fight Reopens Debate in G.O.P. Over Health Care -- The spending showdown has highlighted Republicans’ failure to produce an alternative to Obamacare, which many of them assail but concede is too politically risky to undo. Annie Karni in the New York Times$ -- 10/19/25

Rand Paul: 'All of these people have been blown up without us knowing their name' -- Sen. Rand Paul on Sunday questioned the wisdom and legality of President Donald Trump’s policies toward Venezuela and suspected drug dealers coming from its coast. David Cohen Politico -- 10/19/25

Trump’s reshoring push is tripping over itself -- The president vowed to bring factories home. But tariffs, immigration policies and spending cuts are turning that promise into a costly balancing act. Megan Messerly Politico-- 10/19/25

The U.S. Is Tiptoeing Away From Many of Trump’s Signature Tariffs -- The administration is considering lifting duties on some products not produced in the U.S. Gavin Bade and Jesse Newman in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/19/25

The king of the shutdown -- As the head of the White House’s budget office, Russ Vought has assembled an army of program-cutters and veteran Washington hands. Sophia Cai Politico-- 10/19/25

The Shutdown Is Stretching On. Trump Doesn’t Seem to Mind -- Government shutdowns are usually resolved only after the pain they inflict on everyday Americans forces elected officials in Washington to come to an agreement. But as the shutdown nears a fourth week, Mr. Trump’s actions have instead reduced the pressure for an immediate resolution and pushed his political opponents to further dig in. Luke Broadwater in the New York Times$ -- 10/19/25

Trump to pay Ice and border agents amid shutdown as other federal workers go unpaid -- The Trump administration has promised tens of thousands of federal agents carrying out his immigration crackdown that they will be paid during the government shutdown, according to emails seen by Reuters, even as other federal workers go without pay. Reuters via The Guardian-- 10/19/25

GOP split over how to respond to racist texts -- As the White House attempts to redirect focus to violent Democratic rhetoric, Republicans face the vexing choice of how to respond to a trove of hateful messages. Jason Beeferman Politico-- 10/19/25

White House Hires ‘Stop the Steal’ Lawyer to Investigate 2020 Election Claims -- A former Trump campaign lawyer who worked on the effort to overturn the 2020 election results has joined the administration to investigate that year’s election and voting-related issues, according to people familiar with the matter. Josh Dawsey, Eliza Collins and C. Ryan Barber in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/18/25

Coast Guard Buys Two Private Jets for Noem, Costing $172 Million -- Public documents show the Department of Homeland Security has contracted to purchase a pair of top-of-the-line Gulfstream jets for the secretary and other top officials. Catie Edmondson in the New York Times$ Marianne LeVine and Gerrit De Vynck in the Washington Post$ -- 10/19/25

Putin demanded Ukraine surrender key territory in call with Trump -- Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call this past week with President Donald Trump demanded that Kyiv surrender full control of Donetsk, a strategically vital region in eastern Ukraine, as a condition for ending the war, said two senior officials familiar with the conversation. Michael Birnbaum in the Washington Post$ -- 10/19/25