California Policy and Politics Saturday

State Farm reaches deal to keep 17% hike in home insurance rates -- A brokered deal with regulators and consumer advocates will allow State Farm General to keep controversial increases in home insurance rates that took effect last year in the wake of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/26

 

A Schools Chief So Charming That Los Angeles Overlooked His Red Flags -- Alberto Carvalho was seen as a catch for the nation’s second largest school district. Then his home and office were raided by the F.B.I. Dana Goldstein and Shawn Hubler in the New York Times$ -- 3/7/26

Newsom calls outgoing Homeland Security secretary ‘Kosplay Kristi,’ demands agency release $500M in ‘stalled’ wildfire funding -- With the ouster of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling on the emergency officials to release aid for Los Angeles wildfire recovery. Liam Dillon Politico -- 3/7/26

Veteran Rep. Darrell Issa decides not to seek reelection in new Democratic-leaning district, sources say -- As the deadline approaches to file to run for office, veteran Republican Rep. Darrell Issa has decided not to run for reelection in his newly-configured congressional district in San Diego and Riverside counties, according to two GOP strategists familiar with his plans. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ Lucas Robinson in the San Diego Union Tribune Melanie Mason and Ben Fox Politico -- 3/7/26

GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley goes independent in longshot bid to stay in Congress -- GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley filed for reelection as an independent Friday, after California’s Democratic gerrymander blew up his existing boundaries, leaving him to run as a longshot in a blue-leaning district. Tyler Katzenberger Politico -- 3/7/26

Steyer questions Swalwell’s eligibility to run for California governor -- Tom Steyer’s campaign petitioned the California secretary of state to enforce a dormant residency requirement in the governor’s race, arguing rival Eric Swalwell “appears to live in California on paper only.” Blake Jones Politico -- 3/7/26

As gas prices rise, California gets punched harder at the pump than other states -- California drivers pump gas at nearly $5 per gallon in L.A. and San Francisco, about 50% above the national average, as the Iran conflict disrupts oil supplies. Recent refinery closures cut California’s production capacity by 20%, forcing reliance on imported gasoline from overseas, including 30% from the volatile Middle East. Iris Kwok in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/26

Immigrant truck drivers report chaos, confusion as license cancellation closes in -- The stakes are high: In less than two weeks, new federal rules could keep the California drivers — and most immigrants with temporary statuses — from reapplying to be commercial truckers. The new rules could remove 200,000 truckers from the roads and disrupt supply chains and the economy. Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/7/26

Deaf 6-year-old boy is deported to Colombia without his medical devices, attorney says -- A Hayward woman and her two young children — including a 6-year-old boy who is deaf and in need of his medical devices — were detained and deported to Colombia by federal immigration authorities after they showed up for an asylum appointment in San Francisco, her attorney said Friday. Christopher Buchanan in the Los Angeles Times$ Robert Salonga and Jakob Rodgers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/7/26

L.A. feds ramp up use of ‘doxxing’ charges as anti-ICE protesters fear chilling effect -- Federal prosecutors in L.A. have pursued five ‘doxxing’ cases under the Trump administration. Trump officials claim ICE agents are in danger from having their identities exposed. Incidents in which the publication of an agent’s name has led to physical harm are rare. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/26

Wildfire

Pacific Palisades’ 97-year-old newspaper closed after the fire. Now it’s staging a comeback -- After the loss of thousands of family homes and businesses to the Palisades fire, the subsequent closing of the community’s nearly century-old newspaper felt like yet another a gut punch. But as the infrastructure of the Palisades rises from the ashes, the Palisadian-Post is preparing to stage an unexpected comeback. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/26

Education

Honey is wrapping up her first course at San Bernardino Valley College. She’s only 10 years old -- A fourth-grader from San Bernardino is taking a college art course at San Bernardino Valley College, attending classes alongside adult students. The special admit enrollment, authorized under California law, is rare but highlights the school district’s commitment to challenging advanced elementary learners. Cierra Morgan, Robert Gauthier in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/26

Also

California flags are flying at half-staff this week. Here's why -- Flags at the California State Capitol and state buildings across the state were flying at half-staff this week to honor civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/7/26

POTUS 47

Strikes Across Iran With No Compromise in Sight -- President Trump vowed in a Saturday morning social media post that Iran would soon be “hit very hard” and that the week-old Israeli-American aerial onslaught would expand to target new “areas and groups of people.” Aaron Boxerman, Leily Nikounazar, Abdi Latif Dahir and Shawn McCreesh in the New York Times$ -- 3/7/26

Massive war price tag could be a massive problem for GOP leaders -- Republicans on Capitol Hill are preparing to confront a staggering price tag for the war in the Middle East after closed-door briefings this week detailed the rapid consumption of expensive munitions and the lack of any firm deadline for the end of the military campaign. Meredith Lee Hill Politico -- 3/7/26

Trump Is Rewriting the Iran Endgame in Real Time -- In less than a week after launching a massive military assault on Iran, President Trump has gone from telling its people the future is “yours to take” to insisting he will decide on a new leader and demanding the “unconditional surrender” of the current regime. Alex Leary and Vera Bergengruen in the Wall Street Journal$ Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing Politico David E. Sanger in the New York Times$ -- 3/7/26

Wars Often Lose Public Support Over Time. Trump Started This One Without Much -- In opening a military campaign against Iran, President Trump is the first president in modern times to take the United States to war without the backing of the public. Peter Baker in the New York Times$ -- 3/7/26

Russia is providing Iran intelligence to target U.S. forces, officials say -- Russia is providing Iran with targeting information to attack American forces in the Middle East, the first indication that another major U.S. adversary is participating — even indirectly — in the war, according to three officials familiar with the intelligence. Noah Robertson, Ellen Nakashima and Warren P. Strobel in the Washington Post$ -- 3/7/26