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 $750 million subsidy. Laurel Rosenhall and Matt Stevens in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 06/28/25

How 5 States Are Trying to Lure Hollywood Productions -- States have spent at least $25 billion to attract movie and TV filming. Texas and New York are increasing their subsidies, while Georgia and Louisiana are broadening their programs. Derrick Bryson Taylor in the New York Times$ -- 06/28/25

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 — $800 million — through several compensation-related reductions, according to the latest numbers from the Finance Department. William Melhado in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 06/28/25

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$ -- 06/28/25

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 -- 06/28/25

Stanford University announces $140 million in budget cuts, possible layoffs amid federal policy shifts -- While it has a $37.6 billion endowment, Stanford spends only about 5% annually — most of it restricted to specific purposes. Ryan Macasero in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 06/28/25

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$ -- 06/28/25

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$ -- 06/28/25

POTUS 47

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$ -- 06/28/25

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$ -- 06/28/25

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 -- 06/28/25