California Policy and Politics Saturday

One dead after suspected bomb blast near reproductive health clinic in Palm Springs -- A suspected bomb blast that authorities believe was “an intentional act of violence” outside a fertility clinic left one person dead and others reportedly with additional injuries in Palm Springs on Saturday. Jeanette Marantos, Liam Dillon, Gina Ferazzi and Sonja Sharp in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/25

Bleak budgets shadow Newsom’s 2028 ambitions -- The California governor, who has less than two years left in his last term and is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, is facing intense backlash from close political allies over his plan to close a $12 billion shortfall — which included deep cuts to Planned Parenthood and health care for undocumented immigrants. Next year could be even worse as forecasters project deficits for years to come. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 5/17/25

Officials predict ‘active’ fire season in California. Here’s where conditions could be worst -- On the heels of last year’s dynamic season, which featured the state’s fourth-largest blaze in history and culminated in January’s deadly Los Angeles-area infernos, officials expect another year of fierce fires. Above-normal wildfire activity is predicted throughout much of California in July and August, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Anthony Edwards, Greg Porter in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/17/25

Republicans Push to End Immigrant Benefits in Democratic States -- In California, an undocumented child can see a pediatrician, pay in-state tuition at public universities and receive state-funded scholarships. Immigrant farmworkers can likewise receive state-funded medical and dental care. Laurel Rosenhall and Jenna Russell in the New York Times$ -- 5/17/25

L.A. council members were told a vote could violate public meeting law. They voted anyway -- When Los Angeles City Council members took up a plan to hike the wages of tourism workers this week, they received some carefully worded advice from city lawyers: Don’t vote on this yet. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/25

SoCal lawyer with Benghazi inquiry background tapped for U.S. attorney in S.F. -- Craig Missakian, a Southern California attorney and former prosecutor and congressional investigator, has been nominated by President Donald Trump as U.S. attorney in San Francisco, the chief federal prosecutor in Northern California. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/17/25

San Diego got a new nonstop and airline 5 months ago. Now both will soon be gone -- A new nonstop flight to Toronto appears to be a casualty of recent tensions between the U.S. and Canada over tariffs. Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 5/17/25

Some German tourists, fearing harassment or detention, are avoiding U.S. -- The detention of a German woman made headlines across Europe. ‘Is the USA cracking down on German tourists entering the country?’ a German newspaper asked. ‘I love traveling to the States but I don’t think I’m going to risk it this year,’ said one German citizen who usually visits the United States three times a year. Erik Kirschbaum in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/25

Workplace

L.A. council panel votes to save 1,000 city jobs, reducing layoffs to 650 -- A key committee of the Los Angeles City Council voted Friday to cut the number of employees targeted for layoff by Mayor Karen Bass by more than half, bringing the total down to an estimated 650. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/25

SFUSD reverses course on layoffs for 151 counselors, teachers’ aides -- San Francisco school officials have reversed plans to lay off dozens of educators as the district’s fiscal health improved, a decision the teachers’ union celebrated as a major victory. Anna Bauman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/17/25

Education

California lets students wear tribal regalia at graduations. Why it’s still controversial -- Many school districts require students to undergo a lengthy process if they want to wear tribal or other cultural regalia at graduation. A new bill would eliminate those obstacles. Carolyn Jones CalMatters -- 5/17/25

Wildfire

Nearly half of Pasadena Unified schools have contaminated soil, district finds -- Eleven of the 23 Pasadena Unified School District schools, where students have been back on campus since January, have contaminated soil following the Eaton fire, the district found. Noah Haggerty and Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/25

Street

Judge orders more than 100 youths moved out of troubled L.A. County juvenile hall -- A judge approved a plan Friday to move more than 100 youths out of a troubled Los Angeles juvenile hall that has been the site of riots, drug overdoses and so-called “gladiator fights” in recent years. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/25

Smash-and-grab burglars ram stolen car into high-end shop in L.A., police say -- Officers sent to the 400 block of North Fairfax Avenue around 5 a.m. Friday found that a blue Toyota Camry had rammed into Solestage, a shop known for streetwear, accessories and sneakers. Jasmine Mendez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/25

Also

‘Dumpster fire’: In leaked email, S.F. Parks Alliance admits misusing at least $3.8 million -- The San Francisco Parks Alliance, a major nonprofit with a long history of beautifying the city’s beloved public spaces, diverted at least $3.8 million earmarked for specific projects to cover its operating expenses as the charity rapidly imploded, the Chronicle has learned. Michael Barba in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/17/25

Angels Flight announces price hike as iconic L.A. railway becomes latest victim of inflation -- The iconic funicular railway has announced that fares will increase from $1.00 to $1.50 starting June 1 to keep pace with the rising cost of insurance, maintenance and labor. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/25

POTUS 47

Supreme Court extends block on Trump’s deportation bid under Alien Enemies Act -- The justices faulted the administration for its attempt last month to carry out swift deportations just one day after providing a bare-bones deportation notice to the detainees. Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney Politico Jess Bravin and C. Ryan Barber in the Wall Street Journal Ann E. Marimow in the Washington Post$ Abbie VanSickle in the New York Times$ David G. Savage and Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/25

Trump Appointee Pressed Analyst to Redo Intelligence on Venezuelan Gang -- The move followed a disclosure that intelligence agencies disagree with a key factual claim Trump made to invoke a wartime deportation law. Julian E. Barnes, Maggie Haberman and Charlie Savage in the New York Times$ -- 5/17/25

Moody’s downgrades US credit, citing rising debt -- The firm said it expects federal deficits to widen, mostly due to increased interest payments on debt, rising entitlement spending and relatively low revenue generation. Victoria Guida Politico Matt Wirz and Sam Goldfarb in the Wall Street Journal Tony Romm, Andrew Duehren and Joe Rennison in the New York Times$ -- 5/17/25

Trump says US will set new tariff rates for countries, skirting negotiations -- President Donald Trump on Friday said the U.S. would begin unilaterally informing many of its trading partners of new tariff rates, acknowledging for the first time that his administration will be unable to negotiate deals to lower tariffs with more than 50 trading partners by a self-imposed early July deadline. Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing and Daniel Desrochers Politico -- 5/17/25

Trump’s actions are pushing thousands of experts to flee government -- The U.S. DOGE Service’s push for early retirement and deferred resignation is leading to a federal brain drain, longtime staffers fear. Hannah Natanson, Dan Diamond, Rachel Siegel, Jacob Bogage and Ian Duncan in the Washington Post$ -- 5/17/25

The new law firms being founded to fight Trump -- A new wave of law firms founded to meet the legal needs of civil servants and government critics is emerging in Washington as the industry responds to the first months of President Donald Trump’s administration. Daniel Barnes Politico -- 5/17/25

Appeals court lifts block on Trump executive order targeting federal worker unions -- A federal appeals court has lifted a lower-court order that prevented the federal government from implementing President Donald Trump’s plan to end collective bargaining by workers at more than a dozen federal agencies. Josh Gerstein Politico -- 5/17/25

Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow mass layoffs of federal workers -- In an emergency appeal, the administration urged the justices to quickly lift a lower-court order that has temporarily blocked the layoffs. Hassan Ali Kanu Politico -- 5/17/25

How DOGE’s grand plan to remake Social Security is backfiring -- But as of this week, many of the major changes DOGE pushed at Social Security have been abandoned or are being reversed after proving ineffective, while others are yielding unintended consequences and badly damaging customer service and satisfaction. Hannah Natanson, Lisa Rein and Meryl Kornfield in the Washington Post$ -- 5/17/25

A Reality Show Where Immigrants Compete for U.S. Citizenship? D.H.S. Is Considering It -- The Department of Homeland Security is considering taking part in a television show that would have immigrants go through a series of challenges to get American citizenship, officials said on Friday. Hamed Aleaziz in the New York Times$ -- 5/17/25

Melania Trump (the Statue) Vanishes in Slovenia -- The bronze sculpture, erected near Ms. Trump’s hometown in eastern Slovenia, was chopped off at the feet and stolen, the police said. Lynsey Chutel and Matej Leskovsek in the New York Times$ -- 5/17/25