California Policy and Politics Friday

Traffic at the Port of Los Angeles set to plunge amid tariffs -- Imports at the Port of Los Angeles are expected to plunge in the next two weeks, even as negotiations over the final tariffs that China and other countries must pay are still being negotiated by President Trump. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

L.A.’s office market takes a hit amid trade wars, fires and economic uncertainty -- Tenants hunting for office space in the Los Angeles area are in the driver’s seat as vacancies plague many landlords trying to fill their buildings with people. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Surprise atmospheric rivers, toxic seafood: How NOAA cuts could impact California -- California scientists fear these scenarios, and more, are possible under the Trump administration’s recommendation to reduce the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s budget by $1.7 billion. Anthony Edwards, Jack Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/25/25

Trump administration toughens restrictions on families trying to reunite with migrant children -- The rules have put some undocumented families in a desperate situation, leaving children who crossed the border unaccompanied languishing for months in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the advocates say. Rachel Uranga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

‘The United States is the villain of our story.’ Nationalism surges in Mexico amid Trump threats -- Americans barely remember the Mexican-American War, but in Mexico memories of the war and other military quarrels with the United States remain deeply felt. Mexico lost half its territory, including California, in the war that broke out this week in 1846. Kate Linthicum and Cecilia Sánchez Vidal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Big Tech has another California problem -- While Google and Meta fight for their futures in Washington, another Big Tech battle is raging in a much smaller arena in California — the outcome of which could have sweeping impacts on everything from online shopping to sports arenas far beyond the state. Tyler Katzenberger Politico -- 4/25/25

How Adam Schiff is bringing House vibes to the Senate -- First-year senators typically ease into the spotlight, wary of upstaging more senior colleagues. But Schiff — a former chair of the House Intelligence Committee who catapulted to national fame as the leader of President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial — has positioned himself at the center of confirmation fights. Hailey Fuchs Politico -- 4/25/25

California Supreme Court demands State Bar answer questions on AI exam controversy -- The California Supreme Court urged the State Bar of California on Thursday to explain how and why it utilized artificial intelligence to develop multiple-choice questions for its botched February bar exams. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Cuts to LADOT could hurt Olympics and safety goals, department warns -- The mayor’s budget proposed the reduction of more than $7 million in expenses and the elimination of nearly 24% of the Department of Transportation’s workforce — making it one of the heaviest-hit departments. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

 

How Gavin Newsom is balancing the fight against Trump with Los Angeles fire relief -- Gov. Gavin Newsom reset his relationship with President Donald Trump after the Los Angeles fires, but he has yet to secure the disaster aid he wants. Now new political pressures are pushing California’s governor back into confrontation with Trump. Alexei Koseff CalMatters -- 4/25/25

Gavin Newsom urges more federal investment as wildfire aid hangs in balance -- Gov. Gavin Newsom urged the federal government to pour more resources into helping fight ever-increasing numbers of wildfires while the Golden State awaits White House approval for $39 billion to cover the costs of January’s devastating infernos in Los Angeles. Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/24/25

Walters: As Harris ponders run for California governor, is she prepared for the daunting job? -- A couple of weeks ago, Kamala Harris got the full New York Times treatment — a lengthy article speculating whether she would run for governor of California next year or prepare for another shot at the White House in 2028. Dan Waters CalMatters -- 4/25/25

‘Here we are again’: S.F. judge blocks Trump order targeting sanctuary cities -- A federal judge issued an order Thursday prohibiting the Trump administration from withholding billions of dollars in funding to San Francisco and other local governments with sanctuary policies that bar their law enforcement officers from cooperating with federal immigration agents. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/25/25

Biden let California get creative with Medicaid spending. Trump is signaling that may end -- California uses Medicaid to pay for a range of nontraditional health care services, including housing. The Trump administration wants to scale back those programs. Kristen Hwang CalMatters -- 4/25/25

Fight or flight? Some California nonprofits won’t remain silent in face of Trump budget slashing -- Some nonprofits are fighting back, including an L.A. provider that’s leading a campaign to try to stop potential GOP cuts to healthcare for low-income Americans. James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

 

A fifth Democrat enters the race in California’s 40th Congressional District -- The 40th District has been labeled a "district in play" by Democrats' congressional campaign arm. Hanna Kang in the Orange County Register$ -- 4/25/25

California Democrats take aim at renter late fees, energy bills with affordability package -- So far this legislative session, California Democrats in the state Senate have teased a package of bills that will supposedly cut down the expensive cost of living in the Golden State — the tip of the spear in their post-election focus on affordability. Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/25/25

California produce supplier is sued, accused of causing E. coli outbreak unreported by FDA -- Salinas-based produce supplier Taylor Fresh Foods is facing lawsuits from nine victims of a November E. coli outbreak that was not disclosed to the public. Malia Mendez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Workplace

Google pressures remote workers to return to office or risk termination -- Google has informed some employees who live within 50 miles of a company office that they must begin reporting in person at least three days per week or face losing their jobs. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/25

A lifeline for Hollywood jobs or a corporate giveaway? The film tax credit debate returns -- The state’s entertainment industry has spent months begging for help from Sacramento to stem the decline of film and TV production and save thousands of jobs. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

L.A. County first responders fought the worst fire of their careers. Now they want raises -- Unions representing sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and lifeguards made a public pitch Thursday for more support in increasingly testy contract negotiations, releasing a half-hour documentary that highlighted their members’ harrowing tales from the first days of the fires. Rebecca Ellis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

California railroads: Unions push to shorten trains, but companies warn of higher costs -- Unions are pushing for shorter freight trains to make railways safer, but that could raise the cost of goods and delay passenger rail service. It also may not be legal. Ryan Sabalow CalMatters -- 4/25/25

Southwest Airlines to cut jobs at Bay Area and other U.S. airports -- The layoffs, which will begin in June and are expected to wrap up by the end of the month, will impact operations at San Jose Mineta International, Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood Burbank Airport and Baltimore/Washington International. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/25/25

San Diego-based fast food chain Jack in the Box to close more than 150 locations -- The company also said it is also considering divestiture from Del Taco, a Mexican American fast food brand that Jack in the Box acquired in 2022. Caroline Petrow-Cohen in the Los Angeles Times$ Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/25/25

Transit

Metro station for LAX will open in June, officials announce -- A direct connection between Los Angeles International Airport and Metro will be one step closer to reality when a long-awaited transit station opens in June. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Education

Fraud in California community colleges triggers call for Trump investigation -- Following CalMatters reporting, California’s Republican representatives are calling for the U.S. Department of Education and Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate how California’s community colleges are handling financial aid fraud. Adam Echelman CalMatters -- 4/25/25

After Trump’s crackdown on DEI in schools, judge rules he can’t cut off funding -- California receives $2.4 billion in federal Title I money for low-income schools, about $1.3 billion for special education and $250 million for after-school programs, among other grants. Carolyn Jones CalMatters -- 4/25/25

The Zuckerbergs Founded Two Bay Area Schools. Now They’re Closing -- Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, opened the schools to help communities of color. Some families wonder if the shutting of the schools is related to his D.E.I. retrenchment. Heather Knight, Theodore Schleifer and Orlando Mayorquín in the New York Times$ -- 4/25/25

Measles

The U.S. is approaching a dangerous measles precipice, scientists say -- Measles, which was ‘eliminated’ in the U.S. in 2000, could be endemic again within 25 years if current vaccination rates hold, study finds. Corinne Purtill in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

Also

Mystery surrounds man accused of chainsawing trees across downtown L.A. -- The chainsaw attack on trees in downtown Los Angeles came with multiple mysteries. One: Who did it? Two: What was the motive for such a bizarre crime? Grace Toohey and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

‘He made Catholicism cool again.’ SoCal’s Catholic leaders reflect on Pope Francis’ impact -- We asked prominent SoCal Catholic leaders to describe his legacy. A single consensus emerged: Pope Francis always prioritized the most vulnerable and he inspired others to do the same. Deborah Netburn in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/25/25

POTUS 47

Trump’s immigration ratings turn negative, Post-ABC-Ipsos poll finds -- As the president nears 100 days in office, the survey suggests his administration’s aggressive enforcement tactics are losing public support. David Nakamura, Emily Guskin, Scott Clement and Arelis R. Hernández in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

Giant tent rises in Florida to house hundreds of detained immigrants -- The makeshift housing is the latest effort to ease crowding as the Trump administration ramps up arrests. Douglas MacMillan in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

Trump Administration Must Seek to Return Another Wrongly Deported Man, Judge Rules -- A second ruling finds that the government wrongly sent a man to an El Salvador prison under wartime law despite legal protections. Mariah Timms in the Wall Street Journal Silvia Foster-Frau and Teo Armus in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

ICE arrested Columbia protester without a warrant, court documents show -- Federal agents did not have a warrant when they arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student who had been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, according to court documents. Susan Svrluga in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

 

What Trump’s order on ‘disparate impact’ means for civil rights -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday moved to dislodge a cornerstone of modern civil rights law through a sweeping executive order that strips the federal government of the key tool it used to enforce antidiscrimination laws — a concept known as disparate-impact liability. Kim Bellware in the Washington Post$ -- 4/24/25

Judge blocks part of Trump’s sweeping executive order on elections -- U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled Thursday that Trump’s sweeping executive order requiring federal agencies to impose the new voter registration standards was an attempt to usurp the powers of Congress and the states. Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney Politico -- 4/25/25

Trump and GOP ramp up investigations on Democrats’ top fundraising platform -- President Donald Trump has directed his attorney general to investigate fundraising platforms such as ActBlue, the central fundraising apparatus of the Democratic Party — escalating his effort to use his powers to target his political opponents and, in this case, the core machinery of the opposition party. Maeve Reston and Jeremy Roebuck in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

 

Hegseth’s Personal Phone Use Created Vulnerabilities -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s personal phone number, the one used in a recent Signal chat, was easily accessible on the internet and public apps as recently as March, potentially exposing national security secrets to foreign adversaries. Helene Cooper, Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt and Christiaan Triebert in the New York Times$ -- 4/25/25

Hegseth had an unsecured internet line set up in his office to connect to Signal, AP sources say -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had an internet connection that bypassed the Pentagon’s security protocols set up in his office to use the Signal messaging app on a personal computer, two people familiar with the line told The Associated Press. Tara Copp Associated Press -- 4/25/25

Pentagon leadership vacuum overwhelms Hegseth’s office: ‘It’s a free-for-all’ -- The circle of top advisers in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s orbit has shrunk in recent days to little more than his wife, lawyer, and two lower-level officials — leaving the Pentagon’s lead office without longtime expertise or clear direction. Paul McLeary and Jack Detsch Politico Dan Lamothe in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

Polygraph Threats, Leaks and Infighting: The Chaos Inside Hegseth’s Pentagon -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was rattled. Word had leaked that he was planning a classified briefing for Elon Musk on China, a revelation that infuriated President Trump and raised alarms inside the Pentagon given Musk’s business ties to Beijing. Nancy A. Youssef, Alexander Ward and Vera Bergengruen in the Wall Street Journal -- 4/25/25

 

How Trump team turned a dinner invite into a crypto boon worth millions -- The idea of offering direct presidential access to those who pay into a project benefiting the Trump company has sparked criticism, with one senator calling it “the most brazenly corrupt thing a President has ever done.” Drew Harwell and Jeremy B. Merrill in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25

 

As Recession Fears Rise, ‘No Buy’ Takes On New Urgency -- The uncertainty surrounding President Trump’s tariffs has invigorated an underconsumption movement that took off early this year on TikTok and other platforms. Jordyn Holman in the New York Times$ -- 4/25/25

Are things falling apart for Trump? -- About 100 days in, the signs are almost uniformly negative for the second-term Trump project. Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 4/25/25