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California Policy and Politics Sunday

John Burton, former congressman and past California Senate president, dies at 92 -- “John Burton was a giant of San Francisco & California politics, state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said in a statement Sunday. ‘He moved mountains for our community & stood up for progressive values even when it wasn’t popular. His passing is a huge loss. “As authoritarianism rises, John’s memory gives us resolve to fight. Rest in power,” Wiener said. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Dan Morain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/07/25

Newsom won’t stop mocking Trump — and Trump keeps taking the bait -- The California governor has seized attention and filled a leadership void like no other Democrat in the president’s second term in the White House. Hannah Knowles and Clara Ence Morse in the Washington Post$ -- 09/07/25

‘It’s bad politics’: Why California Republicans are avoiding Donald Trump — and muscling in behind Arnold Schwarzenegger -- In the long-running feud between Donald Trump and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republicans in California’s redistricting wars are quickly settling on who they want — and don’t want — on their side. Nicole Norman Politico -- 09/07/25

Republicans brace for redistricting ‘catastrophe’ in California -- The state party’s annual convention was overshadowed by angst over the consequences of redistricting in a deep-blue state. Dustin Gardiner Politico Linh Tat in the Orange County Register$ -- 09/07/25

LAPD ends protection of former Vice President Kamala Harris amid criticism over diverting cops, sources say -- Police union criticized pulling officers from protecting “everyday Angelenos” to guard a “multi-millionaire” who can afford private security. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/07/25

Massive Bay Area transit cuts likely as Newsom backtracks on $750M loan, lawmakers warn -- Bay Area commuters may see devastating cuts to transit service because Gov. Gavin Newsom is backtracking on a promise to provide a critical $750 million loan to BART, Muni and other regional transit agencies, local lawmakers say. St. John Barned-Smith, Sophia Bollag, Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 09/07/25

Judge says in tentative ruling Huntington Beach can’t restrict children’s book access -- An Orange County judge sided with Huntington Beach residents who sued the city for violating the state's Freedom to Read Act. Claire Wang in the Orange County Register$ -- 09/07/25

Insects carrying Chagas disease are in California. How worried should you be? -- California is one of the eight states where people have acquired Chagas disease locally from insects that carry a parasite in their feces. Here’s what you should know about it. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 09/07/25

Top immigration court rules judges can deny bond to millions of immigrants -- Immigration appellate board upholds Trump policy denying bond hearings to immigrants who entered without authorization, expanding mandatory detention nationwide. Rachel Uranga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/07/25

‘Secret policy’ alleged in lawsuit accusing ICE of interrogating unaccompanied migrant children -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the agency tasked with caring for unaccompanied migrant children, has allegedly implemented a secret policy in recent months allowing immigration agents and criminal investigators to interrogate those children and their potential U.S.-based sponsors, according to a federal lawsuit filed this week by Al Otro Lado, a San Diego-based binational organization that provides legal services and humanitarian aid to migrants. Alex Riggins, Alexandra Mendoza in the San Diego Union Tribune$ -- 09/07/25

Bay Area community of Afghan immigrants feels betrayed and uncertain in the wake of Trump’s travel ban -- “I think it just really does undermine the whole idea and concept of what America is,” says one Fremont business owner. Kyle Martin in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 09/07/25

Workplace

Why it’s the toughest time to be searching for work in America in years -- Tariff uncertainty, stubbornly high inflation and rising AI adoption are giving rise to labor market gridlock. Taylor Telford, Jaclyn Peiser and Federica Cocco in the Washington Post$ -- 09/07/25

Wildfire

‘If I Live to 25, I’ve Lived a Good Life’ -- Joel Eisiminger was racing to save homes in Northern California from a fast-spreading wildfire when a crewmate noticed that one side of his face was suddenly drooping so much that his mouth hung open. Hannah Dreier in the New York Times$ -- 09/07/25

How to defend a home from wildfire: UC Berkeley researchers’ lessons from infernos -- The researchers concluded that, especially in relatively dense neighborhoods, even if residents take diligent action in defense of their own houses, that may not matter much if their neighbors don’t. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 09/07/25

Housing

A Six-Story Apartment Building Is Tearing This Small California Town Apart -- Fairfax, Calif., is embroiled in a dispute over a proposed six-story apartment tower, pitting residents against state housing mandates. The Yimby movement is pushing for more housing, challenging local zoning and leading to conflicts, especially in high-cost blue states. A recall vote targeting the mayor and vice mayor is set for Nov. 4, reflecting resident anger over the apartment project and local development. Jim Carlton, Christie Hemm Klok in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 09/07/25

Education

Trump is attacking California’s elite colleges. How will it impact college admissions? -- For California students, the road to college now includes tougher UC competition, test changes — and new Trump-era rules reshaping campuses. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 09/07/25

Transit

S.F. Mayor Lurie wants to raise taxes to save Muni. Here’s how much property owners already pay -- San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie on Tuesday proposed a parcel tax as a way to help shore up SFMTA’s looming financial hole. That’s on top of hundreds in parcel taxes homeowners already pay. Danielle Echeverria in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 09/07/25

Street

3 LAPD shootings in three days: Chief grilled over officers opening fire -- After Los Angeles police officers shot at people on three consecutive days late last month, the LAPD’s civilian bosses turned to Chief Jim McDonnell for an explanation. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/07/25

Also

Barabak: Finally some fairness in redistricting fight. In Utah, a judge stands up for voters -- The ruling slapped down Republicans who ignored a voter-created commission and gerrymandered the state in the GOP’s favor. The judge ordered new maps and suggested Utah steer clear of gamesmanship. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/07/25

Patagonia Changed the Apparel Business. Can It Change Food, Too? -- The outdoor apparel maker from California wants to fix farming. The first challenge is convincing consumers to think of it for sardines and beer. David Gelles in the New York Times$ -- 09/07/25

Ice Age fossils are surfacing in Santa Cruz -- Fossils discovered by kindergartners, construction workers and a jogger offer new information about the mastodons and grizzly-size sloths that once roamed the Santa Cruz area. Lucy Hodgman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 09/07/25

Lopez: With recent advances, it’s ‘a very exciting time’ for dementia researchers -- Dementia cases in the U.S. are expected to double by 2060. Doctors tell patients to follow the Life’s Essential Eight strategy: Better diet, more exercise, no smoking, healthy sleep, and manage cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 09/07/25

POTUS 47

The U.S. could tumble into recession before seeing Trump’s promised golden age -- The U.S. economy is at risk of entering a recession before President Trump’s promised golden age, with weak job growth and high inflation blamed on his policies. David J. Lynch in the Washington Post$ -- 09/07/25

Trump Tramples Congress’s Power, With Little Challenge From G.O.P. -- On national security, spending and oversight, the president continues to undercut the legislative branch, and Republicans in charge have done little to stop him. Julian E. Barnes and Catie Edmondson in the New York Times$ -- 09/07/25

Trump Tried to Kill the Infrastructure Law. Now He’s Getting Credit for Its Projects -- Signs bearing President Trump’s name have gone up at major construction projects financed by the 2021 law, which he strenuously opposed ahead of its passage. Richard Fausset in the New York Times$ -- 09/07/25

Thousands march in D.C. against Trump’s law enforcement takeover -- The “We Are All D.C.” march is one of the first major organized protests since President Donald Trump deployed federal troops to the nation’s capital. Juan Benn Jr. and Emma Uber in the Washington Post$ -- 09/07/25

Trump Said RFK Jr. Could ‘Go Wild.’ The Health Secretary Is Testing the Limits -- The president has so far stood by his health and human services secretary as Kennedy’s efforts to dismantle public health institutions and overhaul U.S. vaccine policy took center stage at a fiery hearing on Capitol Hill this week. Sabrina Siddiqui, Liz Essley Whyte and Lindsay Wise in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 09/07/25

RFK Jr. says anyone who wants a covid shot can get one. Not these Americans -- Pharmacies and doctors are struggling to adjust to a new regulatory environment for updated coronavirus vaccines that are no longer broadly recommended. David Ovalle and Paige Winfield Cunningham in the Washington Post$ -- 09/07/25

USTA asks broadcasters to censor reaction to Donald Trump’s attendance at U.S. Open -- The United States Tennis Association asked broadcasters of the U.S. Open to censor any protests or reaction to President Donald Trump’s appearance at the men’s singles final Sunday, according a memo reviewed by The Athletic on Saturday. Lukas Weese and Richard Deitsch in the New York Times$ -- 09/07/25