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

California Policy and Politics Sunday

Democrats Cheer Hollywood Tax Breaks They Once Called ‘Corporate Welfare’ -- California politicians once derided a $50 million proposal by Arnold Schwarzenegger. With the support of unions, they’re now strongly backing a $750 million subsidy. Laurel Rosenhall and Matt Stevens in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/29/25

How 5 States Are Trying to Lure Hollywood Productions -- States have spent at least $25 billion to attract movie and TV filming. Texas and New York are increasing their subsidies, while Georgia and Louisiana are broadening their programs. Derrick Bryson Taylor in the New York Times$ -- 06/29/25

Gavin Newsom hopes to save more on state worker costs with short-term tactics -- Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom set a goal of saving California $767 million, in part, by freezing state workers’ salaries. But now, the administration hopes to save slightly more — $800 million — through several compensation-related reductions, according to the latest numbers from the Finance Department. William Melhado in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 06/29/25

Here’s how the state budget will impact Southern Californians -- But the governor also made clear that adoption of the budget would be contingent on legislators sending him a plan that would make it easier to build housing in the state. The legislature has until Monday to send along the housing construction bill to the governor, with the new fiscal year starting on Tuesday. Linh Tat in the Orange County Register$ -- 06/29/25

Barabak: By stooping to conquer, Sacramento Democrats show their pettiness and arrogance -- There are plenty of reasons to dislike Carl DeMaio, if you so choose. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/29/25

 

A farmworker had broken no laws. A California sheriff and ICE took him anyway -- A legal asylum seeker found work in the Central Valley fields. A Fresno County sheriff labeled him a “dangerous” member of Tren de Aragua without evidence. The Trump administration took him away. Raheem Hosseini in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/29/25

Mother arrested at LA court alongside six-year-old son with cancer sues ICE -- A Honduran woman who sought asylum in the US is suing the Trump administration after immigration agents arrested her and her children, including her six-year-old son who was diagnosed with leukemia, at a Los Angeles immigration court. Dani Anguiano The Guardian -- 06/29/25

L.A. County leaders to weigh legal action following violent ICE arrests -- L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis said she intends to introduce a motion to explore the county’s legal options ‘against unconstitutional immigration enforcement actions.’ Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/29/25

Axios Explains: Inside ICE's superpowers -- The images of masked, heavily armed immigration agents snatching people off the streets and taking them away in unmarked cars have shocked many Americans — and led to a simple question: Is all of this legal? It is — at least for now. Russell Contreras Axios -- 06/29/25

Immigration enforcement sparks outrage, protests in L.A. — but how many arrests -- For all the attention they created and fear they induced, Homeland Security averaged more than 90 immigration-related arrests per day in mid-June. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/29/25

US sees spate of arrests of civilians impersonating Ice officers -- Police in southern California arrested a man suspected of posing as a federal immigration officer this week, the latest in a series of such arrests, as masked, plainclothes immigration agents are deployed nationwide to meet the Trump administration’s mass deportation targets. José Olivares The Guardian -- 06/29/25

His parents taught him to ‘speak out’ and ‘take action’ when he saw injustice. He’s spent more than 20 years advocating for immigrant rights -- Pedro Rios was a student at the University of San Diego in the 1990s when Californians voted in favor of Proposition 187, a ballot measure denying access to public services, including public education and health care, to anyone “suspected” of being undocumented. The bill also instructed people in public service positions (teachers, medical professionals) to report anyone “suspected” of being undocumented. Lisa Deaderick in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 06/29/25

Catholic Bishops Try to Rally Opposition to Trump’s Immigration Agenda -- Leading prelates are expressing outrage at the drive toward mass deportation. Elizabeth Dias in the New York Times$ -- 06/29/25

 

Stanford University announces $140 million in budget cuts, possible layoffs amid federal policy shifts -- While it has a $37.6 billion endowment, Stanford spends only about 5% annually — most of it restricted to specific purposes. Ryan Macasero in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 06/29/25

Europe Is Recruiting Academics Disenchanted With America -- U.K., France, among others have set up funds to help U.S. researchers relocate to the continent -- Noemie Bisserbe and Nidhi Subbaraman in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 06/29/25

Water

In Silicon Valley’s backyard, Pescadero struggles with unclean water, rising rates -- Many residents still rely on rain and creek water decades after instillation of clean water system. Ryan Macasero, Luis Melecio-Zambrano in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 06/29/25

Wildfire

She lost her home in the Palisades fire. She’s trying to adapt to a new life. She is 100-- Lee Calvert’s new bedroom glowed with the dappled sunlight of a late-spring afternoon. Just outside her window, she could see hot-pink rhododendron flowers and the stately redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Despite the beauty, it was a view — and a life — she was still adjusting to. Hailey Branson-Potts, Jason Armond in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/29/25

Earthquake

An earthquake devastated Santa Barbara 100 years ago. What it can teach us ahead of the next ‘Big One’ -- In California, where the next “Big One” is an always-looming threat, some lessons learned from the 1925 Santa Barbara quake resonate even 100 years later, experts say. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/29/25

Street

In San Diego’s largest jail, some detainees spend out-of-cell time in small, cage-like enclosures -- Critics say the enclosures constitute a form of solitary confinement that exacerbates mental illness and makes the jail less safe overall. Kelly Davis in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 06/29/25

Also

New L.A. Trader Joe’s opens across the street from ... another Trader Joe’s -- Earlier this month, Trader Joe’s celebrated the grand opening of a new store located on the ground floor of an apartment complex in Sherman Oaks. The chain isn’t new to the neighborhood, however. Just across the street is another Trader Joe’s — a “legend” that has served customers since 1973, store representatives said. Annie Goodykoontz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/29/25

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Intercepted call of Iranian officials downplays damage of U.S. attack -- The United States obtained intercepted communication between senior Iranian officials discussing this month’s military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program and remarking that the attack was less devastating than they had expected, said four people familiar with the classified intelligence circulating within the U.S. government. John Hudson and Warren P. Strobel in the Washington Post$ -- 06/29/25

The first rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down -- No one wants to put anything in writing anymore, federal workers said: Meetings are conducted in-person behind closed doors, even on anodyne topics. Workers prefer to talk outdoors, as long as the weather cooperates. And communication among colleagues — whether work-related or personal — has increasingly shifted to the encrypted messaging app Signal, with messages set to auto-delete. Hannah Natanson in the Washington Post$ -- 06/29/25

G.O.P. Bill Has $1.1 Trillion in Health Cuts and 11.8 Million Losing Care, C.B.O. Says -- Analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that Republicans’ new version of the legislation would make far deeper cuts and lead to more people becoming uninsured than previous proposals. Margot Sanger-Katz in the New York Times$ -- 06/29/25

Senate GOP tax bill includes largest cut to U.S. safety net in decades -- The legislation would enact historic, possibly unprecedented, reductions in Medicaid and food stamps spending. Jeff Stein in the Washington Post$ -- 06/29/25

Trump's pro-Bibi pressure campaign -- President Trump is pressuring Israel to halt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial, dangling an implicit threat to suspend military assistance if the "witch hunt" continues. Barak Ravid Axios -- 06/29/25

Musk Wades Back Into Politics, Slamming Trump’s Domestic Policy Bill -- Weeks after ending his war of words with President Trump, Elon Musk called the president’s bill “utterly insane and destructive.” Ashley Ahn in the New York Times$ -- 06/29/25

At Supreme Court, steady wins for conservative states and Trump’s claims of executive power -- The Supreme Court term that ended Friday will not be remembered for blockbuster rulings like those recent years that struck down the right to abortion and college affirmative action. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/29/25

Job Corps shutdown would displace thousands of young trainees -- The Trump administration's move to shutter the nation's largest job training program for low-income youth has been blocked — at least for now — by a federal judge. Delano Massey Axios -- 06/29/25

Should (or Could) Trump Be Added to Mount Rushmore? -- During his first term, Mr. Trump told Kristi Noem — then a U.S. representative from South Dakota, now Mr. Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security — that his “dream” was to be on Mount Rushmore. She later gave Mr. Trump a model of Mount Rushmore with his face on it. John Branch and Jeremy White in the New York Times$ -- 06/29/25

 

California Policy and Politics Saturday

Marines are now stationed on the California border. Newsom’s office calls it ‘mission creep’ -- As the Trump administration cracks down on undocumented immigrants deep in the country, it’s sending Marines and soldiers to patrol the border. Wendy Fry Calmatters -- 06/28/25

California hopes law from bloody era of U.S. history can rein in Trump’s use of troops -- California’s court fight to reign in the president’s use of troops in Los Angeles now hangs on a 19th century law with grim origins and a Spaghetti Western-sounding moniker. Sonja Sharp in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/28/25

Gavin Newsom is Donald Trump’s chief antagonist. But he tried being nice first -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom is entrenched in the role of No. 1 adversary to President Trump, but his path to that role baffled his supporters and gave ammunition to his critics. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/28/25

What does the Supreme Court’s decision on nationwide injunctions and birthright citizenship mean for Southern California? -- The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Friday to curb nationwide injunctions that challenge the Trump administration‘s policies left the fate of birthright citizenship — and other challenges California has mounted to White House policies — a bit unclear. “Today the Supreme Court has left everything, at best, very confusing,” said Rep. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Linh Tat, Hanna Kang in the Orange County Register$ -- 06/28/25

Federal agents blast way into California home of woman and small children -- Security footage shows agents setting off explosive device and shattering window of family home in Huntington Park Dara Kerr The Guardian -- 06/28/25

Bay Area day laborers say they live in fear of ICE raids: ‘We just come here to find work -- Around the Bay Area, some immigrant advocates have reported that fewer day laborers are gathering at their usual spots outside home improvement stores, moving-truck rental shops and gas stations. But on this day in Alameda County, the men rushed toward vehicles that pulled up. They needed the work. Sarah Ravani, Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/28/25

Video shows San Diego hotel worker’s immigration arrest in Mission Valley -- The video of the arrest at the Handlery hotel, where the housekeeper was arriving for work, was widely shared on social media and condemned by some leaders. Alexandra Mendoza in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 06/28/25

Disappeared by ICE in L.A.: How to find detained relatives -- For 22 days, immigration enforcement officials have conducted sweeps in communities across the Los Angeles region, arresting an estimated 722 people between June 1 and June 10 alone. For families and immigrant advocacy groups, determining the location of detainees has been difficult. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/28/25

This Sacramento baby is a US citizen. His family lives in fear of deportation -- Unlike the newborn, his Sacramento father, mother and three siblings have no legal residency. They face constant uncertainty and anxiety amid increasing arrests, deportations and federal policies against undocumented immigrants. Mathew Miranda in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 06/28/25

L.A. Army veteran with Purple Heart self-deports to South Korea under threat of deportation -- An Army veteran who grew up in Van Nuys and was awarded a Purple Heart self-deported to South Korea this week as he was threatened with being detained and deported by federal immigration forces. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/28/25

Fear of immigration raids force the cancellation of several July festivities in Los Angeles -- The El Sereno Bicentennial Committee was one of the first organizations to announce the cancellation of its 66th Independence Day Parade in a June 20 statement on Facebook. “We stand with our community. The safety of our participants, spectators and volunteers is always at the forefront,” according to the post. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/28/25

‘Are you from California?’ Political advisor said he was detained at airport after confirming he’s from L.A. -- Longtime L.A. political consultant Rick Taylor was returning from a weeklong vacation in Turks and Caicos with his wife and daughter when he was held by Customs and Border Protection for 45 minutes without reason. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/28/25

 

Newsom Signs Budget That Relies on Health Care Cuts for Undocumented Immigrants -- Gov. Gavin Newsom of California signed a budget bill on Friday that depends in part on rolling back those benefits to help close a $12 billion deficit. Laurel Rosenhall in the New York Times$ -- 06/28/25

California will see ‘devastating’ healthcare cuts under GOP bill, Newsom says -- As many as 3.4 million Californians could lose their state Medi-Cal health insurance under the budget bill making its way through the U.S. Senate, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/28/25

Scott Wiener files paperwork to run for Congress in 2028. Could he challenge Pelosi? -- State Sen. Scott Wiener has made no secret of his plans to run for Congress, but his decision to file paperwork Friday to run in 2028 means there is a chance he could challenge Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who has held the seat for nearly four decades. Sara Libby in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/28/25

Cannabis Tax

Cannabis Tax Relief Dropped From California Budget Bill -- California marijuana consumers will face higher taxes beginning July 1 after a plan to halt a planned increase in the state cannabis excise was left out of a state budget bill. A.J. Herrington Forbes -- 06/28/25

Gas

California Energy Commission calls for shelving plans to fine oil companies -- A 24-page letter offers recommendations to Gov. Newsom. The commission also says refinery closures will add 15-30 cents to gas prices if changes are not made. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 06/28/25

Hegseth announces new name of US navy ship that honored gay rights icon Harvey Milk -- The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has formally announced that the US navy supply vessel named in honor of the gay rights activist Harvey Milk is to be renamed after Oscar V Peterson, a chief petty officer who received the congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of the Coral Sea in the second world war. Edward Helmore The Guardian -- 06/28/25

Lights! Camera! But not enough action in a fading, worried Hollywood -- The world’s entertainment capital is facing an existential crisis as more movie producers flee to other states and countries seeking lower costs. Reis Thebault in the Washington Post$ -- 06/28/25

Guns

Republicans’ tax bill would water down a century-old gun law -- The legislation would ease restrictions established by the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA) on suppressors — often called silencers — and certain long guns such as short-barreled rifles and sawed-off shotguns. The change would eliminate the $200 federal tax on suppressors and the requirement that owners register them with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Kim Bellware in the Washington Post$ -- 06/28/25

Wildfire

Flaw in Edison’s equipment in Sylmar sparked two major wildfires in last six years, lawyers say -- Southern California Edison’s admission that its equipment may have ignited the Hurst fire in the San Fernando Valley on Jan. 7 is being seized on by lawyers suing the company for another fire in the same area. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/28/25

Wildfire victims want to rebuild with natural materials. Some say L.A. County is making it onerous -- L.A. County officials signaled interest in rebuilding in fire zones with natural materials, such as adobe, but advocates say their policies make it nearly impossible. Lila Seidman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/28/25

Education

California law faces revise as high court allows parents to ‘opt out’ of LGBTQ+ school stories -- California officials must rewrite state policy in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on Friday supporting families that wish to opt their children out of lessons with LGBTQ+ characters and pro-LGBTQ+ themes. Howard Blume and Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/28/25

What the new state budget holds in store for education -- Education remains largely protected despite a weak budget. Compromise allowed UC and CSU to dodge large proposed cuts. TK-12 schools see new funding for early literacy, after-school and summer school, and teacher recruitment and retention. Emma Gallegos, John Fensterwald, Michael Burke, Zaidee Stavely, and Diana Lambert Edsource -- 06/28/25

Street

Death penalty imposed for 2019 killing of Sacramento Officer Tara O’Sullivan -- A Sacramento judge on Friday formally imposed the death penalty for Adel Ramos, who pleaded guilty to the ambush killing of rookie police officer Tara O’Sullivan in a bloody, methamphetamine-fueled North Sacramento assault that shocked the capital region. Sharon Bernstein in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 06/28/25

Also

Arellano: MAGA lost in Huntington Beach. That means it can happen anywhere -- These are such crazy times that when I found myself desperate to cover some good news amid deportations and Trump overreach, I visited … Huntington Beach?! Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/28/25

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Trump says he will move aggressively to undo nationwide blocks on his agenda -- Emboldened by Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the president said his administration will flex its authority on issues ranging from immigration to higher education. Justin Jouvenal, Cat Zakrzewski and Jeremy Roebuck in the Washington Post$ -- 06/28/25

Civil rights groups warn that the decision involving birthright citizenship will create chaos -- Progressive Democrats, legal advocates and civil and immigrant rights groups on Friday delivered a full-throated rebuke of the Supreme Court’s decision in a case involving birthright citizenship, calling it a major blow to long-settled constitutional law that would create chaos and create a dangerous patchwork of rights across the nation. Jazmine Ulloa in the New York Times$ -- 06/28/25

What the Supreme Court’s Ruling Will Mean for Birthright Citizenship -- The ruling left unsettled the question of whether children born to immigrants without full legal status in the United States are entitled to automatic citizenship. So what happens now? Miriam Jordan in the New York Times$ -- 06/28/25

Trump and Bondi Won’t Say How Birthright Citizenship Will Be Enforced -- The practical effect of Friday’s decision is that birthright citizenship would end in the 28 states that have not challenged the president’s order. Zolan Kanno-Youngs in the New York Times$ -- 06/28/25

The original case that established birthright citizenship was decided in 1898 -- In August 1895, a young cook named Wong Kim Ark was about to disembark from the S.S. Coptic after a long journey home to San Francisco from China, when U.S. customs officials denied him re-entry. Amy Qin in the New York Times$ -- 06/28/25

Trump halts trade talks with Canada, defending interests of U.S. tech firms -- After resetting relationship with Canada, Trump attacked its plans to collect digital services taxes in a social media post announcing plans to end trade negotiations with America’s closest ally. Cat Zakrzewski, Jeff Stein and Amanda Coletta in the Washington Post$ -- 06/28/25

Nike expects Trump tariffs to cost it $1bn -- The market value of the company has dropped by a third over the past year and it is taking action to reduce the hit, including increasing prices in the US and sourcing from other countries. Mark Sweney The Guardian -- 06/28/25

Judge permanently blocks Trump order against law firm Susman Godfrey -- The firm is the fourth to successfully sue the president, with judges issuing rulings in the cases blocking and excoriating Trump’s orders. Mark Berman in the Washington Post$ -- 06/28/25