California Policy and Politics Thursday

Democratic senator forcibly removed from DHS press conference -- Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was physically removed on Thursday from a Los Angeles press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. In a video posted to X by a Fox News reporter, Padilla was seen being grabbed and pushed out of the press conference while saying he had "questions for the secretary." Stephen Neukam Axios Rachel Uranga, Christopher Buchanan and Nathan Solis in the Los Angeles Times$ Linh Tat and Kaitlyn Schallhorn in the Orange County Register$ Robert Barba and Lindsay Wise in the Wall Street Journal$ Robert Jimison in the New York Times$ Jenna Amatulli The Guardian Maegan Vazquez, Gaya Gupta and Maeve Reston in the Washington Post$ Krysta Fauria and Michael R. Blood Associated Press Melanie Mason and Lisa Kashinsky Politico -- 06/12/25

Noem vows to keep up ICE arrests, blames Gov. Newsom for not cooperating -- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem vowed Thursday to keep up immigration enforcement arrests despite protests in Los Angeles and other cities, and she blamed California officials for making federal efforts more difficult. David Nakamura in the Washington Post$ -- 06/12/25

Kamala Harris condemned the treatment of Senator Alex Padilla, calling it “a shameful and stunning abuse of power” in a social media post. -- The former vice president previously held the Senate seat that Padilla now holds. “United States Senator Alex Padilla was representing the millions of Californians who are demanding answers to this Administration’s actions in Southern California,” Harris wrote. Laurel Rosenhall in the New York Times$ -- 06/12/25

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Fox News that Senator Padilla “acted completely inappropriately” at the news conference, shouting questions and continuing “to lunge toward the podium” after he was asked to stop. “It wasn’t becoming of a U.S. senator,” Noem said. Alyce McFadden in the New York Times$ -- 06/12/25

Video: Sen. Alex Padilla forcibly removed from Secretary Kristi Noem’s Los Angeles press conference Linh Tat and Kaitlyn Schallhorn in the LA Daily News$ -- 06/12/25

Video: Sen Alex Padilla statement video Via PBS

‘We need to find these people’: L.A. immigration raids a sign of what’s to come, officials say -- When Donald Trump promised on the campaign trail to unleash the largest deportation campaign in U.S history, he said his second administration would start by going after people with criminal records. But now, disappointed with the pace of arrests, the Trump administration is casting a wider net by targeting anyone deportable. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

Feds detain two Palestinian visitors at SFO who arrived for humanitarian mission -- Federal officials at San Francisco International Airport detained two Palestinian visitors expected to participate in a Bay Area interfaith speaking series, despite them having valid visitor visas, and denied their entry into the U.S., advocates told the Chronicle. Aldo Toledo, Ko Lyn Cheang, Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/12/25

 

"He's lost it": Inside Newsom's attack on Trump's mental fitness -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom has embraced a new attack line in his ongoing showdown with Donald Trump: The president — who turns 79 on Saturday — is slipping. "He is not the same person that I dealt with just four years ago, and he's incapable of even a train of thought," Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential contender, told Fox LA. "He's lost it." Alex Thompson Axios -- 06/12/25

6 Takeaways From Gavin Newsom’s Appearance on ‘The Daily’ -- Gov. Gavin Newsom of California appeared on Thursday’s episode of the New York Times podcast “The Daily,” as he engaged in a tense standoff with President Trump over the military’s involvement in anti-deportation protests in Los Angeles. Kellen Browning in the New York Times$ Ben Johansen Politico -- 06/12/25

Gavin Newsom changes his tune on running for president -- Gov. Gavin Newsom long insisted that he had no interest in running for president, despite rampant speculation. Now he’s publicly acknowledging that it’s a possibility. Alexei Koseff Calmatters -- 06/12/25

How Kamala Harris is processing the LA unrest -- Deliberations over her political future have collided with the world’s biggest news story unfolding in her backyard. Melanie Mason Politico -- 06/12/25

‘It’s a winner for him’: Dems work to turn LA debate from immigration to Trump’s executive powers -- “It’s a winner for him. Remember, for (Trump), it’s not California, it’s not Massachusetts, it’s not New York — it’s that slim margin in the battleground states that he’s playing for,” said Kevin de León, the former Democratic leader of the California state Senate. “He’s not going to pull back.” Dustin Gardiner and Natalie Fertig Politico -- 06/12/25

National Guard can temporarily detain LA protesters: DHS -- Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Axios in an emailed statement that military troops are providing protection for federal law enforcement officers. "If any rioters attack ICE law enforcement officers, military personnel have the authority to temporarily detain them until law enforcement makes the arrest," McLaughlin said. Sareen Habeshian Axios -- 06/12/25

Troops and marines deeply troubled by LA deployment: ‘Morale is not great’ -- California national guards troops and marines deployed to Los Angeles to help restore order after days of protest against the Trump administration have told friends and family members they are deeply unhappy about the assignment and worry their only meaningful role will be as pawns in a political battle they do not want to join. Andrew Gumbel The Guardian -- 06/12/25

L.A. law enforcement leaders walk tightrope in missives about immigration crackdown -- While publicly chastising groups protesting immigration raids, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell has offered support to officers in his Latino-majority department who may have mixed feelings about the Trump administration‘s crackdown. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

A repeat of Rodney King? Local leaders say L.A.’s latest unrest is nothing like 1992 -- The deployment of soldiers to L.A. has evoked memories of riots that erupted when LAPD officers were acquitted of brutally assaulting a Black motorist, but officials from that era say the coordinated response that took place three decades ago bears little resemblance to recent days. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

LAPD Won’t Do Immigration Enforcement — But Will Shoot You With Rubber Bullets for Protesting ICE -- “I was definitely walking backwards,” Meraz said, holding an ice pack against bandages soaked in blood, “but I guess not backwards fast enough.” Jonah Valdez The Intercept -- 06/12/25

Can Trump deploy troops in LA? A federal judge hears Newsom’s case today -- What the judge rules, and the likely appeals that follow, may alter decades of understanding about the roles of governors and the White House in quelling domestic unrest. Mikhail Zinshteyn Calmatters -- 06/12/25

California Congress members to question Hegseth about federal military deployment in L.A. -- Seven members of the committee questioning Hegseth on Thursday are Democrats from California. At a hearing Wednesday, Hegseth insisted the deployment of Marines in Los Angeles was lawful but couldn’t name the law under which it is allowed. Seema Mehta and Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

After images of unrest comes the political spin, distorting the reality on the ground in L.A. -- In the relentless fever loop of online and broadcast video, it does not matter that the vast majority of Los Angeles neighborhoods remain safe and secure. Digital images create their own reality and it’s one that President Trump and his supporters have used to condemn L.A. as a place that is “out of control” and on the brink of total collapse. James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

‘This isn’t an isolated incident’: Trump’s show of military force in LA was years in the making -- After his first term, Trump expressed regret for not taking a more heavy-handed approach to the 2020 protests over George Floyd’s murder by police. Rachel Leingang and Lauren Gambino The Guardian -- 06/12/25

Fears of ICE raids upend life in L.A. County, from schools to Home Depot parking lots -- Continued federal immigration enforcement actions have disrupted lives across greater Los Angeles, including a middle school graduation where teachers and families were left hunkering down in fear. Connor Sheets, Genaro Molina in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

Death threats, vandalism, investigations: L.A. immigrant rights groups in the fight of their lives -- Immigrant advocates at the front lines of deportation battles are facing death threats, probes from Republicans and a diminished funding base. Rachel Uranga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

Federal agents use vehicles to trap and arrest driver in Boyle Heights, leaving baby and passenger behind -- Video shows two SUVs trapping the Mercedes as it turns right, with the second vehicle pushing its bumper into the sedan before federal agents jump out with guns drawn. Christopher Buchanan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

Eerie silence hangs over Central Coast farm fields in wake of ICE raids -- Community organizers say at least 35 people were arrested as federal immigration agents swept through Ventura County farms and packinghouses this week. Melissa Gomez, Jessica Garrison and Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ Bernard Mokam and Pooja Salhotra in the New York Times$ -- 06/12/25

Photos show how National Guard troops have been deployed in L.A. But their role is growing -- Meanwhile, the commander in charge of the National Guard deployment told reporters Wednesday that the troops were doing more than guarding federal facilities, saying they had been trained to accompany Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during operations in the area on immigration operations. Jill Tucker, St. John Barned-Smith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/12/25

 

L.A. law enforcement’s treatment of journalists during protests is once again under scrutiny -- He was nearly struck again a short time later, when deputies riding by in an armored vehicle sprayed foam rounds into a gas station parking lot where Márquez and a KTLA-TV news crew had sought cover, he said. He was shaken, but said that he felt compelled to keep reporting. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

LA police filmed shooting woman point-blank with ‘less lethal’ round --Law enforcement officers have shot a woman with what appears to be “less lethal” ammunition at close range while she was walking alone near her residence in Los Angeles, new footage shot during the recent protests reveals. Anna Betts The Guardian -- 06/12/25

With reporters shot and roughed up, advocates question whether those covering protests are targets -- More than two dozen journalists have been injured or roughed up while covering protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles, leading press freedom groups to question whether law enforcement has been deliberately targeting reporters on the story. David Bauder Associated Press -- 06/12/25

 

‘They are grabbing people.’ L.A. and Orange County car wash workers targeted by federal immigration raids -- Five car washes in Los Angeles and Orange counties have been targeted for federal immigration raids in recent days, according to CLEAN Carwash Worker Center, a labor advocacy nonprofit. At least 26 people, mostly workers, were taken. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ Emily Baumgaertner Nunn and Anushka Patil in the New York Times$ -- 06/12/25

Families arrested in LA Ice raids held in basements with little food or water, lawyers say -- Agents confiscated belongings and rushed deportees to California’s high desert or Texas, saying local facilities had not prepared for influx. Maanvi Singh The Guardian -- 06/12/25

In L.A.’s Little Tokyo, navigating a surreal week -- Many say they support the protests but note it’s hurt business. The vandalism is another matter. The new curfew imposed around downtown has added another layer of complexity. Summer Lin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

 

Why Los Angeles protesters fly the Mexican flag -- To some, the flag — its bright colors standing out against dark smoke from burning cars and tear gas — is a powerful sign of resistance to President Donald Trump’s mass-deportation agenda. To others, it is ammunition for conservatives aiming to paint the unrest as a “migrant invasion.” Lindsey Holden Politico Shawn Hubler and Orlando Mayorquín in the New York Times$ -- 06/12/25

Justice Department calls Newsom National Guard lawsuit a ‘crass political stunt’ -- In a pointed, 32-page filing replete with political overtones, the administration contended that Trump’s decision to deploy the military is entirely within his authority. Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein Politico -- 06/12/25

Beleaguered L.A. immigrant advocates are now threatened with federal probes -- Republican senator from Missouri claims immigrant rights groups in Los Angeles are bankrolling violent unrest. Advocates deny the allegations. Rachel Uranga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

 

Poll: Californians ‘pessimistic’ on economy, oppose Trump, but favor federal government cuts -- New poll by the Public Policy Institute of California asked 1,600 adults for thoughts on Trump, Newsom, the economy and more. Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 06/12/25

We texted 1,000 Americans about the L.A. protests. This is how they responded -- What do Americans think about the protests in Los Angeles and President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines there? The Washington Post and George Mason University’s Schar School texted more than 1,000 people Tuesday — including more than 200 California residents — to ask. The item is in the Washington Post$ -- 06/12/25

ICE Raids Have Sent Latino Shoppers Into Hiding and Big Brands Are Hurting -- Coca-Cola has long looked to Hispanic consumers for sales growth—a group the company has said holds an annual $2.1 trillion in spending power. Now Coke and other brands are discovering what it means to lose them. Laura Cooper, Arian Campo-Flores and Enrique Pérez de la Rosa in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 06/12/25

Workplace

Google offers buyouts to more workers amid AI-driven tech upheaval and antitrust uncertainty -- Google has offered buyouts to another swath of its workforce across several key divisions in a fresh round of cost cutting coming ahead of a court decision that could order a breakup of its internet empire. The Mountain View, California, company confirmed the streamlining that was reported by several news outlets. Associated Press -- 06/12/25

Frito-Lay closes plant in Rancho Cucamonga -- More than five decades of snack food production came to an end this week when Frito-Lay closed manufacturing operations at its Rancho Cucamonga facility, eliminating hundreds of jobs in the process. The plant has been a major employer in the area since opening in 1970, staffing thousands over its 55-year run. Piper Heath in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

COVID

New COVID variant linked to painful ‘razor blade throat’ symptom -- Though not a new symptom, the phenomenon has gained fresh attention amid the spread of a fast-moving Omicron subvariant, formally known as NB.1.8.1 and colloquially as “Nimbus.” Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/12/25

Healthcare

UC Health, Blue Shield contract dispute could disrupt care for thousands in California -- Thousands of Californians who get medical care at UC Health through Blue Shield of California — including many in the Bay Area who go to UCSF and One Medical, a UCSF affiliate — may need to find a different health insurer or pay out-of-network rates for services if the parties cannot reach a new contract by July 10. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/12/25

Inland Empire will get new medical center and teaching hospital -- Healthcare in the Inland Empire is hard to come by, but UC Riverside is trying to fix that with plans for a new teaching hospital for its school of medicine. Deborah Brennan Calmatters -- 06/12/25

State weighs psychiatric hospital staffing standards following Chronicle investigation -- California health officials met Wednesday to weigh competing proposals for new staffing requirements in psychiatric hospitals, which could have a profound impact on the care that tens of thousands of patients admitted to these facilities receive every year. Joaquin Palomino, Cynthia Dizikes in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/12/25

Homeless

Federal DEI, “wokeness” restrictions put California homeless providers in a bind -- Homeless service providers across California — and as much as $683 million in federal funding for the state’s most economically vulnerable residents — have been caught up in the Trump administration’s war on “wokeness.” Ben Christopher and Marisa Kendall Calmatters -- 06/12/25

Education

Students showed resilience as schools recovered from L.A. fires -- Several weeks after students returned to Canyon Charter Elementary School following the Los Angeles fires in January, a second grade student at the school cried as his teacher packed up an absent friend’s belongings. Mallika Seshadri EdSource -- 06/12/25

Also

California’s massive dam removal hit a key milestone. Now, there’s a problem -- Eight miles upriver from the former dam sites lies a still-existing dam, the 41-foot-tall Keno Dam in southern Oregon. The dam has a fish ladder that’s supposed to help with fish passage, but it didn’t prove to work. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/12/25

Trump administration moves to abolish California’s two newest national monuments -- Sáttítla Highlands monument was established in January to protect a remote 224,000-acre volcanic landscape northeast of Mount Shasta, known for lava beds and caves. The designation was sought by Northern California’s Pit River Tribe to prevent geothermal power production at tribally sacred sites. The Chuckwalla monument safeguards 624,000 acres of desert that was similarly under threat of energy development. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 06/12/25

Kim Kardashian seems to part ways with Trump, slams ‘inhumane’ ICE raids -- Kardashian’s denunciation of ICE raids in Los Angeles marks a notable public turn in her earlier apparent embrace of Trump’s return to power. Martha Ross in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 06/12/25

Her great-grandmother, raised by a single dad, started Father’s Day in 1910 -- Betsy Roddy’s family used to send a Father’s Day card each year to her great-grandmother, Sonora Dodd. The unusual practice seemed an obvious tradition to her family: Dodd invented Father’s Day. Kyle Melnick in the Washington Post$ -- 06/12/25

POTUS 47

Trump's dealmaker image hits a wall -- The bar Trump set for himself may have been impossibly high, but he's a long way from clearing it. He said he'd make peace in Ukraine on day one. That was more than 140 days ago. He said he'd make peace in Gaza. A ceasefire collapsed months ago, and talks are deadlocked. A two-month deadline for reaching a nuclear deal with Iran expires on Thursday. He said that trade wars were "good and easy to win." So far, the U.S. doesn't have a single trade deal finalized and implemented. Dan Primack, Dave Lawler Axios -- 06/12/25

Trump White House opens door to historic military deployment on U.S. soil -- President Donald Trump is prepared to send National Guard troops into more U.S. cities if protests against immigration raids expand beyond Los Angeles, administration officials said Wednesday, potentially opening the door to the most extensive use of military force on American soil in modern history. Cat Zakrzewski, Natalie Allison and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez in the Washington Post$ -- 06/12/25

Trump’s top general contradicts his assessment of Putin, L.A. unrest -- Gen. Dan Caine’s comments in Senate testimony were restrained but significant, perhaps easing lawmakers’ fears he will bow to political pressure. Abigail Hauslohner in the Washington Post$ -- 06/12/25

Entire Fulbright board quits, citing Trump administration interference -- All 12 members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigned on Tuesday, saying that the Trump administration "has usurped the authority of the Board" and denied a "substantial" number of its chosen recipients. Jason Lalljee Axios -- 06/12/25

Rubio vowed to revoke Chinese student visas. Trump now says Chinese students are welcome -- In a brief statement, President Trump said that Chinese students can continue to attend U.S. colleges and universities. The comment came in a social media post announcing a pending trade agreement with China. Jaweed Kaleem and Daniel Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25

What it takes to get a Trump pardon: Loyalty, connections or the pardon czar -- Since taking office in January, Trump has upended the federal pardoning process, increasing the White House’s authority over a task that until now was largely governed by Justice Department guidelines. Emily Davies and Perry Stein in the Washington Post$ -- 06/12/25

Most US adults say Trump’s military parade is not a good use of money, a new AP-NORC poll finds -- As Washington prepares for a military parade this weekend to honor the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, a new survey finds that U.S. adults are more likely to approve than disapprove of President Donald Trump’s decision to hold the festivities, which officials have said will cost tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. Meg Kinnard and Linley Sanders Associated Press -- 06/12/25

Barabak: Trump could help feed hungry people. Instead he’s throwing a vanity parade -- A charitable organization faces cutbacks while the president squanders tens of millions on a parade celebrating himself White Pony Express has processed and passed along more than 26 million pounds of food that would otherwise go to waste. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/12/25