California Policy and Politics Wednesday

Federal agents use Penske rental truck as ‘Trojan Horse’ to raid Los Angeles Home Depot -- After weeks of relative quiet, Border Patrol agents raided a Home Depot in Westlake on Wednesday as a top federal agent warned, “We’re not leaving,” and posted images of half a dozen border agents running from a Penske truck through the parking lot. Nathan Solis, Rachel Uranga and Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

Justice Department releases a new list of sanctuary jurisdictions. L.A. County is not on it -- Although the list includes the Trump administration’s typical targets — the city of Los Angeles and the state of California — it is much shorter than a previous list issued by the Department of Homeland Security. And at least one local area that has become a major battleground over immigration is not on it: L.A. County. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

San Diego County included in DOJ’s new list of ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ -- San Diego County's sheriff has refused the Department of Justice's recent request to provide data on all noncitizen jail inmates, citing state law. Alexandra Mendoza in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 08/06/25

UC must reconsider policy barring undocumented students from jobs, court rules -- A California court ruled that the UC system’s policy banning the hiring of undocumented students on campus is discriminatory and violates state law. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

Trump officials are reopening old immigration cases, even for dead people. ‘They don’t do their homework,’ lawyers say -- Attorneys and their clients are racing to submit opposition to the legal actions. In one case, the government sought to recalendar proceedings against a man who was dead. Melissa Gomez, Dakota Smith and Rachel Uranga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

California Democrats Look to Redraw House Map to Counter Texas G.O.P. -- As a Texas senator summoned the F.B.I. to round up Democrats, the redistricting war that began in Texas was spreading, with California aiming at five Republican House seats. Laurel Rosenhall, J. David Goodman, Shane Goldmacher and Nick Corasaniti in the New York Times$ -- 08/06/25

‘If this fails, he'll have egg on his face’: Gavin Newsom bets political future on redistricting power play -- The brawl over redistricting is handing Gavin Newsom something that has eluded Democrats since their 2024 humiliation: a shot at striking a tangible blow against Donald Trump. Melanie Mason Politico -- 08/06/25

Garofoli: Here’s what redistricting in California used to look like: ‘A diabolical masterpiece’ -- When California handed over the job of drawing congressional maps to a citizen-led, independent commission in 2010, it was billed as a way to rise above the partisan fray and ensure fairness and equity. The subtext was clear: When elected leaders were the ones drawing the maps, redistricting was a slimy mess of partisan gamesmanship. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 08/06/25

How California Republicans are fighting Newsom’s redistricting push -- Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Roseville, introduced legislation Tuesday that would impose a federal ban on all mid-decade redistricting, including in Texas. Nicole Nixon in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 08/06/25

Walters: Democracy be damned: Texas and California plot dueling congressional gerrymanders -- Under pressure from President Donald Trump, Texas’ dominant Republicans are attempting to redraw the state’s congressional districts and thus increase the number of GOP-held seats after the midterms. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 08/06/25

Rep. Ro Khanna seeks ‘new generation of leaders’ in the Democratic Party. Is he the answer? -- The ambitious Silicon Valley progressive and Bernie Sanders ally is testing the waters to run for president in 2028. Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 08/06/25

California’s governor race ad blitz begins with million-dollar campaigns -- Now that Kamala Harris made it official that she’s not running for governor, the rest of the crowded field is expected to drop millions of dollars to introduce themselves to voters via broadcast television and digital advertising. Nicole Nixon in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 08/06/25

Elon Musk and X notch court win against California deepfake law -- A federal judge on Tuesday struck down a California law restricting AI-generated, deepfake content during elections — among the strictest such measures in the country — notching a win for Elon Musk and his X platform, which challenged the rules. Chase DiFeliciantonio Politico -- 08/06/25

LA fire deaths

The Los Angeles fires may have killed hundreds more people than official records show -- The devastating January fires that consumed entire swaths of Los Angeles, displaced tens of thousands of people and altered parts of the city’s iconic landscape, may have been far more deadly than previously recorded. Ruby Mellen in the Washington Post$ -- 08/06/25

Education

As immigration fears surge, LAUSD ‘compassion fund’ to support families amid return to school -- As many immigrant parents express fear about sending their children back to school next week, Los Angeles Unified has set a goal of $1 million in donations for a “compassion fund” for families affected by federal immigration raids, Supt. Alberto Carvalho announced Tuesday. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

Students without legal status have the right to attend public school. Will Trump change that? -- Since last year about a half-dozen states have attempted to pass laws that would allow schools to charge tuition to noncitizens. None passed, but advocates said they plan to keep trying. Carolyn Jones Calmatters -- 08/06/25

Campus

Stanford to lay off more than 300 employees amid $140 million in budget cuts -- Stanford University will lay off at least 363 employees this fall as part of $140 million in budget cuts driven by rising costs and changes in federal funding policies, including a steep revision to the endowment tax. Ryan Macasero in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 08/06/25

‘Immediately rescind’: UC researchers ask judge to undo Trump’s UCLA grant suspensions -- UC researchers claim a judge’s previous order barred the National Science Foundation from suspending UCLA’s grants. Mikhail Zinshteyn Calmatters -- 08/06/25

UC says Trump’s grant suspensions at UCLA total $584 million, a ‘death knell’ for research -- The University of California said that it would negotiate with the Trump administration to restore $584 million in grant funding to UCLA. UC leaders did not indicate the terms of any potential federal agreement. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ Nicole Norman Politico Sara Randazzo in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 08/06/25

Trump is now targeting UCLA. Will UC follow other elite colleges to appease him? -- President Donald Trump’s massive effort to infuse American higher education with his political agenda has shifted to the University of California, where UCLA has become UC’s first target — and a test for what concessions the new leadership at both the system and campus might agree to. Nanette Asimov, Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 08/06/25

Stanford Newspaper Challenges Legal Basis for Student Deportations -- A new lawsuit brought by a First Amendment watchdog group argues that the use of a rarely invoked immigration law to target pro-Palestinian demonstrators is unconstitutional. Zach Montague in the New York Times$ -- 08/06/25

Environment

Major clean power plant serving L.A. goes fully online in Kern County -- A giant clean power plant in Mojave stores solar electricity for use after the sun sets It feeds Los Angeles and Glendale, providing 7% of LA’s need for power. The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power aims to eliminate climate-changing emissions from burning natural gas or coal, and the new plant brings it closer. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

The California Coastal Commission’s fight with Elon Musk’s SpaceX is back on -- U.S. Space Force officials will be back in front of the commission next week with a proposal to double SpaceX’s rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force base from 50 to 95 per year — and staff at the agency charged with protecting California’s 840-mile coastline are recommending commissioners reject it. Alex Nieves Politico -- 08/06/25

Cannabis

L.A. marijuana businesses will pay higher fees, as industry struggles -- The vote would increase renewal fees for existing marijuana businesses by thousands of dollars, bringing fresh financial woes for operators already struggling in a constricting market. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

Wildfire

California fires are burning and incoming heat wave could make things worse -- The warming trend is forecast to bake almost all of inland California over the next week, dialing up the heat on what’s already been a fiery summer in the state’s southern half, and raising the risks up north after a relatively quiet start to the season. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

Homeless

Living without documentation or a home in one of California’s hottest regions -- Intensifying ICE presence in the Imperial Valley has hindered the efforts of local outreach organizations to help the local unhoused population, a group most vulnerable to the area’s high temperatures. Marcos Magaña in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

Street

Inside the high-stakes clandestine poker world that led to a Hollywood Hills murder -- Authorities say illegal card games hosted at mansions in Encino, Sherman Oaks and the Hollywood Hills bring together Israeli organized crime figures, Latino gang members and gamblers who racked up debts as high as $1.5 million. Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

‘Essentially Epstein Island’: Law firm calls for federal inquiry into L.A. County sex abuse -- A prominent law firm suing L.A. County over childhood sexual abuse is pushing for a federal investigation into how so many children were harmed on the government’s watch. Rebecca Ellis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

L.A. agrees to pay $500,000 to reporters arrested at 2021 Echo Park protest -- Without admitting wrongdoing, the city agreed Monday to settle a lawsuit brought by the reporters, averting a federal civil trial just before jury selection was set to begin. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

As inmate population declines, Norco prison will close. Will it be a luxury hotel again? -- The California Rehabilitation Center is slated to close in fall 2026, saving the state $150 million annually, officials said. Norco is now free to begin reimagining the future of the “historic gem.” Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ Adam Ashton Calmatters -- 08/06/25

Also

The Mystery of the L.A. Mansion Filled With Surrogate Children -- A couple with ties to China say they wanted a big family. Surrogates who carried the children say they were deceived. Katherine Long, Ben Foldy, Sara Randazzo Philip Cheung in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 08/06/25

Family TSA lines launch around the U.S., including at this popular SoCal airport -- John Wayne Airport in Orange County joins select airports around the country in offering a new family-friendly TSA line to reduce the stress of traveling with children. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

Wild pigs are turning up with ‘neon blue’ flesh in California. Authorities sound the alarm -- Dan Burton has trapped hundreds of wild pigs for clients of his wildlife control company in Salinas, but even he was startled when he cut one of them open and found blue meat inside. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 08/06/25

POTUS 47

Trump said he would double tariffs on India as punishment for buying Russian oil -- President Trump announced on Wednesday that he would double tariffs on India, to 50 percent, beginning this month as punishment for the country’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Tony Romm in the New York Times$ -- 08/06/25

The Tariff Effect: Billions in Revenue but No Economic Earthquake -- U.S. tariffs are higher than they have been in decades. Their effects have been mild. Jeanne Whalen, Konrad Putzier and Alex Leary in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 08/06/25

Trump names himself chair of L.A. Olympics task force, sees role for military during Games -- Trump said he would send the military back to Los Angeles if he so chose in order to protect the Games. More concentrated involvement from Trump could spell further strain with Los Angeles city officials. Michael Wilner, Julia Wick and Thuc Nhi Nguyen in the Los Angeles Times$ Seung Min Kim and Meg Kinnard Associated Press -- 08/06/25

Trump’s tactics are bending the criminal justice system to his agenda -- Trump and his team have mounted a direct assault on all three pillars of the justice system: Judges, prosecutors and the legal profession. Naftali Bendavid in the Washington Post$ -- 08/06/25

Trump Threatens Federal Takeover of D.C. After Member of DOGE Assaulted -- President Trump shared a photograph that appeared to show a 19-year-old software engineer shirtless and bloodied, after an attempted carjacking. Nicholas Nehamas and Campbell Robertson in the New York Times$ Emily Davies, Olivia George and Meagan Flynn in the Washington Post$ -- 08/06/25

Officials Move to Open Inquiry on Trump’s ‘Russia Hoax’ Grievance -- President Trump has urged and browbeaten supporters to shift their obsession from the Jeffrey Epstein files to the investigation and potential prosecution of Democratic officials he accuses of persecuting him, a cardinal grievance that bonds him to his base. Glenn Thrush, Alan Feuer, Devlin Barrett and Maggie Haberman in the New York Times$ -- 08/06/25

Up on the Roof, Trump Surveys the Home He’s Making His Own -- White House reporters looked up from the driveway to see a familiar figure in a most unfamiliar location. Katie Rogers in the New York Times$ -- 08/06/25

Democrats take off the gloves on redistricting — but could it backfire? -- It represents a dramatic turnaround by a party that for more than a decade has claimed to be at the vanguard of good government and reform. Karen Tumulty in the Washington Post$ -- 08/06/25