California Policy and Politics Thursday

Appeals court halts ruling that blocked Trump's tariffs -- A federal appellate court on Thursday temporarily stayed a ruling that effectively wiped out most of President Trump's tariffs. Ben Berkowitz Axios -- 05/29/25

 

‘It’s pretty bleak’: A warming planet is poised to get even hotter, forecasters warn -- As hot, dry and disastrous as the last few years have been, it appears that the chaos caused by a warming planet is just getting started. Corinne Purtill in the Los Angeles Times -- 05/29/25

Musk sours Democrats on EVs, poll finds -- Elon Musk played a key role in killing California’s electric vehicle mandate — and he’s still a thorn in the side of Democrats as they try to get their EV ambitions back on track. Alex Nieves Politico -- 05/29/25

 

‘I’m really scared’: Elderly and disabled Californians with more than $2,000 could lose Medi-Cal -- Cynde Soto, a quadriplegic who requires around-the-clock care, has been on Medi-Cal for most of her life. Recently, she came into a modest inheritance, about $8,000, that has helped cover her daily expenses. But it also means that she would lose her state health insurance under a proposal from Gov. Gavin Newsom. Kristen Hwang Calmatters -- 05/29/25

California sues federal government over Trump administration cuts to scientific research -- California sued the National Science Foundation on Wednesday alongside 15 other states, claiming the federal agency illegally cut funding for scientific research in moves that will “devastate” critical work at universities. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury Howard Blume, Daniel Miller and Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 05/29/25

Justice Department investigates California over allowing transgender athletes in girls’ sports -- The probe will look into whether California is violating the civil rights of cisgender girls by allowing transgender students to compete in school sports. Kevin Rector, Brittny Mejia and Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times Soumya Karlamangla in the New York Times -- 05/29/25

California baker who refused same-sex couple’s cake request violated state law, courts rule -- When two women asked a Bakersfield bakery in 2017 for a plain, unadorned cake to celebrate their wedding, they were turned down, based on the owner’s religious beliefs. California’s courts have now concluded that the refusal violated state anti-discrimination laws. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 05/29/25

How gentrification is killing the bus: California’s rising rents are pushing out commuters -- Across Los Angeles, rent hikes have led to fewer bus and train riders in an example of how California’s housing crisis is also making its transit crisis harder to solve. Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 05/29/25

Walters: California’s war over charter schools rages on in court -- The decades-long wars among the kingdoms of medieval Europe have their political equivalents in California’s decades-long political conflicts among economic and cultural interest groups. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 05/29/25

Workplace

Exempting tips from taxes could hurt employees, critics say -- Some worker advocates and labor law experts call it a gimmick that could incentivize employers to keep base pay low and reclassify some salaries as tips. Shannon Najmabadi in the Washington Post -- 05/29/25

Insurance

‘I think that’s simply fraud’: California hearing probes solutions to underinsurance following Chronicle investigation -- In an impassioned hearing on Wednesday that extended well beyond its two-hour allotted time, builders, insurance experts and policyholder advocates all testified to the California Board of Equalization about the harms of widespread and severe underinsurance among California wildfire survivors, following a Chronicle investigation that exposed the severity of the issue. Susie Neilson, Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 05/29/25

Did insurers collude to force homeowners onto state insurance plan? What to know from two blockbuster lawsuits -- Two Los Angeles County Superior Court lawsuits accuse dozens of California home insurers of dropping policyholders and forcing them onto the FAIR Plan — the state’s insurer of last resort — where polices cover less and cost more. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times -- 05/29/25

Campus

Bay Area universities celebrate affinity graduations despite Trump DEI ban --San Jose State University, the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University are moving forward with cultural celebrations. Molly Gibbs in the San Jose Mercury -- 05/29/25

Homeless

L.A.’s mayor declared a homelessness emergency. Now, some at City Hall want to move past it -- Some council members are looking to reassert their authority over homeless services, by rescinding the emergency declaration and regaining oversight over homeless spending. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times -- 05/29/25

Education

The Punch That Launched Trump’s War on American Universities -- Threats to withhold billions in federal research funds to punish campuses grew heated after a 2019 altercation left a man with a black eye. Eliza Collins, Douglas Belkin, Tarini Parti and Liz Essley Whyte in the Wall Street Journal -- 05/29/25

Incident at Oakland high school has set off ugly battle pitting principals versus teachers -- What school staff say happened next has sparked an ugly public spat pitting the district principals and their union against the teachers’ labor leaders, with administrators accusing the teachers union of harassment, physical threats and bullying. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 05/29/25

S. Jack Hu, University of Georgia provost, named UC Riverside chancellor amid steep challenges -- He has deep experience in leading research enterprises and guiding outreach to students from rural and low-income communities. Under retiring Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox, UC Riverside grew dramatically in enrollment and footprint and joined the prestigious American Assn. of Universities. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times -- 05/29/25

Breathe

Pollution from the Tijuana River is ending up in the air near the border, study finds -- The researchers said the pollutants are carried in wastewater and stormwater runoff, and become airborne in spray where the river meets the crashing waves near the border. Pollutants also likely enter the air from churning waters in the river itself, they said. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times -- 05/29/25

Street

California dad opens fire as high school boys flee after egging his home, prosecutors say -- A San Mateo man is facing multiple felony charges after he allegedly opened fire at an SUV carrying three high school boys who had poured oil over his porch and egged his home, authorities said. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times -- 05/29/25

POTUS 47

Federal court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs under emergency powers law -- A federal court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs on imports under an emergency-powers law, swiftly throwing into doubt Trump’s signature set of economic policies that have rattled global financial markets, frustrated trade partners and raised broader fears about inflation intensifying and the economy slumping. Lindsay Whitehurst and Josh Boak Associated Press Tony Romm and Ana Swanson in the New York Times David J. Lynch and Cat Zakrzewski in the Washington Post Doug Palmer, Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein Politico James Fanelli and Gavin Bade in the Wall Street Journal -- 05/29/25

White House insists court ruling won’t derail Trump’s tariff agenda -- The head of the White House National Economic Council called the decision a “hiccup” in Trump’s plan caused by “activist judges.” Doug Palmer and Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing Politico -- 05/29/25

Tariff Ruling Is a Setback for Trump but Doesn’t End Trade War -- Trade experts say Trump won’t abandon levies after court decision sows confusion. Jason Douglas, Jon Emont and Hannah Miao in the Wall Street Journal -- 05/29/25

Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration after leading effort to slash federal government -- His departure, announced Wednesday evening, marks the end of a turbulent chapter that included thousands of layoffs, the evisceration of government agencies and reams of litigation. Despite the upheaval, the billionaire entrepreneur struggled in the unfamiliar environment of Washington, and he accomplished far less than he hoped. Chris Megerian Associated Press Niha Masih in the Washington Post Tyler Pager, Maggie Haberman, Theodore Schleifer, Jonathan Swan and Ryan Mac in the New York Times Niha Masih and Trisha Thadani in the Wall Street Journal -- 05/29/25

The ‘TACO Trade’ That Has Trump Fuming --The president rejected claims that he is backing down on tariffs, saying his strategy involves setting a “ridiculous high number” before negotiating it down in exchange for concessions. “You call that chickening out,” Trump said in the Oval Office, adding that “it’s called negotiation.” Karen Langley and Caitlin McCabe in the Wall Street Journal -- 05/29/25

Hit by Trump trade wars, U.S. economy falls 0.2% in first quarter, an upgrade from initial estimate -- The U.S. economy shrank at a 0.2% annual pace from January through March, the first drop in three years, as President Donald Trump’s trade wars disrupted business, the government said Thursday in a slight upgrade of its initial estimate. Paul Wiseman Associated Press -- 05/29/25

Trump’s Air Force One deal with Qatar not final, despite U.S. claims -- The delay reflects lingering concerns about legal liabilities stemming from a White House maneuver to transform what was originally a sale between two countries into a “gift.” John Hudson, Natalie Allison, Dan Lamothe and Ellen Nakashima in the Washington Post -- 05/29/25

A Missouri Town Was Solidly Behind Trump. Then Carol Was Detained -- For 20 years, Carol Hui has served waffles, raised her children and embraced the small town of Kennett, Mo. Her detention and pending deportation to Hong Kong has hit the community hard. Jack Healy, Jamie Kelter Davis in the New York Times -- 05/29/25

Harvard Says Many of Its Foreign Students Are Seeking to Transfer -- The Trump administration is trying to block Harvard from enrolling international students. A Harvard official said the move is already creating major disruptions. Vimal Patel in the New York Times -- 05/29/25