Trump and Newsom are on the same page about logging. That's not a good thing
'California forestry policies: A marriage of priorities?' (sacbee.com, April 24)
In the name of wildfire prevention, both President Donald Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom are pushing for more logging through mechanisms that skirt environmental oversight, further degrading our forest ecosystems.
But thinning usually does more harm than good: It can accelerate fire spread by exposing the forest floor's fuels to sun drying and wind penetration; it significantly lowers carbon sequestration, putting more emissions into the atmosphere; and even the supposed benefits are less impactful in areas where vegetation can grow back quickly and there's a lack of old-growth trees.
Most importantly, thinning is often used as a pretext for commercial logging, targeting valuable trees instead of the more fire-prone vegetation. In this case, Trump wants to feed the timber lobby with more lumber, and Newsom has pushed an agenda of building a 'woody products' industry in California.
Neither has the environment's best interests at heart.
Jeff Zhou
Glendale
Opinion
'California forestry policies: A marriage of priorities?' (sacbee.com, April 24)
Forest management efforts must start on the local level by hardening communities, then work outward — not the other way around. Forest management should be science-based, not profit-based, with the net result of keeping carbon in the forests, preserving forest ecology and reducing climate change.
Experience with President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office shows that the voices of science and common sense are being muzzled. Remember the physician's motto: 'First, do no harm.'
Harry White
Roseville
'Why fossil fuel companies must pay for climate damages,' (sacbee.com, April 18)
The fossil fuel industry has made a fortune making me sick: My days in elementary school were spent in an environment full of lead from fossil fuel additives and smog — the pollution was so bad, outdoor physical exercise classes would be cancelled.
As a student at UC Santa Barbara, I saw the 1969 oil spill cover our pristine beaches. The fossil fuel industry told us that oil was a 'natural' component of the shoreline.
Years later, my father-in-law's home was lost in one of the Malibu fires, and my parents' home was destroyed in the 2018 Camp Fire.
It is time for the fossil fuel industry to be held accountable for its deceptions. Call your state representatives and demand they pass the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025.
Charles Williams
Cupertino
'Should Big Oil pay for California's climate disasters? You may pay at the pump,' (sacbee.com, April 10)
It was stunning to see state senators like Sacramento's Angelique Ashby give Big Oil a pass for causing the climate crisis now fueling today's insurance affordability crisis.
California's oil companies knew in the 1950s that burning fossil fuels was dangerous for our climate, but they greedily colluded to bury the truth and pioneer climate denial. Now, all of us face explosive costs — from more frequent and destructive wildfires to drought and flooding, all with fewer and more expensive insurance options to help pick up the pieces after disaster strikes.
Until oil companies pay their fair share, this trend won't end. Without affordable insurance, businesses will close, families won't get home mortgages and construction to develop our state stops.
Mary Creasman
CEO, California Environmental Voters
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Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Newsom's political future 'practically nonexistent' as LA devolves into riots, social media critics predict
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's floated potential run for the White House in 2028 was likely thwarted by his handling of the anti-ICE riots gripping Los Angeles, conservative social media critics predict. Newsom has been floated as a likely 2028 Democratic contender for the White House as he wraps up his second term as governor in 2026. Riots plaguing the city in response to the Trump administration's efforts to remove illegal immigrants residing in Los Angeles, which come on the heels of massive wildfires that rocked southern California this winter, have left Newsom on precarious political ground, according to conservatives who are balking at his response to the LA chaos. "Gavin Newsom's odds of clinching the 2028 presidential race are practically nonexistent," X user Angela Belcamino posted Monday. "Across the country, Americans are eyeing California's struggles under his watch, convinced he'd unleash the same chaos nationwide if he ever won the White House." "Gavin Newsom's handling of the LA riots should be considered an in-kind contribution to the @JDVance2028 presidential campaign. Newsom is providing a lot of ad material for free," one social media account posted on Sunday. Jonathan Turley: Democrats' Rabid Anti-ice Resistance In La Against Trump Could Backfire "Notice how Newsom has no adverse commentary about the rioters – he saves all his venom for American authorities," author and retired Army Col. James Hutton posted to X Sunday. "This is why he has no chance to be president one day. Most Americans tend to believe in this country." Read On The Fox News App Many critics of the riots unfolding in Los Angeles argued that photos of the scene would live in infamy and dash any hopes Newsom may hold on running for president. Some users remarked that the photos depicting rioters surrounded by flames and smoke while waving a Mexican flag "will cost Newsom his 2028 presidential run," and that the Trump administration "couldn't have asked for better" representation of California politics captured in photos. "Gavin Newsom is refusing to help stop the riots AND denying their existence because he bows to open borders donors... hoping they'll fund his 2028 Presidential run. Do not forget this!," Club for Growth senior analyst Andrew Follett posted to X, accompanied by a photo showing a rioter with a Mexican flag on a motorbike as smoke billowed behind him. California Lt. Governor Says Los Angeles Riots Are 'Generated By Donald Trump' "Newsom 2028 off to a 🔥 start," editor-in-chief of the DC Report Matt Foldi posted, accompanied by a similar photo showing a rioter waving what appeared to be the Mexican flag as a fire raged in front of him. "Gavin Newsom 2028," DC Draino, a popular conservative X account, posted accompanied by a photo of a pair of masked rioters standing on a destroyed car waving the Mexican flag. Newsom spokesperson Lindsey Cobia told Fox News Digital when approached for comment on the matter: "President Trump's actions are straight out of a dictator's playbook. Governor Newsom won't stop protecting California and the rule of law from Trump's unprecedented assault on American freedom. " Newsom is viewed as a potential leader of the Democratic Party as it navigates its future following the disastrous 2024 election cycle that saw President Joe Biden exit the race just over 100 days from Election Day and former Vice President Kamala Harris fail to rally support against now-President Donald Trump. The Democratic governor has not yet said whether he would launch a presidential run in 2028. Ny Times Says 'Real Emergency' Is Trump Sending Troops To Los Angeles Riots broke out in the left-wing city Friday evening after federal law enforcement officials converged on Los Angeles to carry out immigration raids as part of Trump's vow to deport illegal aliens who flooded the nation under the Biden administration. Local leaders such as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom, however, quickly denounced the raids in public statements while offering words of support for illegal immigrants in the state. Protests over the raids soon devolved into violence as rioters targeted federal law enforcement officials, including launching rocks at officials, as well as videos showing people looting local stores, setting cars on fire and taking over a freeway. Trump announced Saturday that he was deploying 2,000 National Guard members to help quell the violence, bypassing the governor, who typically activates the National Guard and sparking Newsom to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration for efforts to allegedly "federalize the California National Guard." Trump and Newsom have long sparred, stretching back to the first Trump administration, including when Newsom installed coronavirus restrictions in the state during the pandemic, such as mask and vaccine mandates and social distancing rules, as well as Trump slamming Newsom for California's spiraling crime rate as a national crime wave spiked in 2020. Trump also frequently refers to the California Democrat as "Newscum" as an ongoing jab at the governor. The pair, however, have most frequently and recently traded barbs over California's fire response, which came under fierce scrutiny in January when wildfires plagued the Los Angeles area and Trump pinned blame on Newsom. "Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way," Trump posted to Truth Social as the fires raged just weeks ahead of Trump's inauguration. Newsom's Office Compares La Riots Against Federal Agents To Sports Celebrations "He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn't work!), but didn't care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!" Newsom's office shot back that "there is no such document as the water restoration declaration – that is pure fiction. The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need." Trump has a long history of putting Newsom's handling of wildfires under the microscope across his first four years in the White House, including in January 2019 when he threatened to cut off federal funds to California if reforms were not made to the state's forest management services. California Republicans Slam Newsom, Bass For Letting La Burn With Riots Amid Trump Immigration Blitz "Billions of dollars are sent to the State of California for Forest fires that, with proper Forest Management, would never happen," he posted to X that year. "Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a disgraceful situation in lives & money!" Newsom and other Democrats have historically pushed back that wildfires in the state are due to climate change and global warming. "You don't believe in climate change," Newsom shot back at Trump in 2019, for example, after the president slammed him for his wildfire leadership. "You are excused from this conversation." Los Angeles Wildfires: California Gov. Newsom Slammed For 'Sideshow' As He Defends State's Response The riots gripping LA following the massive Palisades wildfires in January stack the odds against a potential Newsom presidential run, other commenters argued on social media. "Let's evaluate this, Gav. First... devastating fires due to you and your state's negligence. Second, riots... once again due to your love for illegals, sanctuary cities, etc. Your aspirations for 2028 have gone up in the flames you are responsible for," one social media commented posted to X on Monday. "The LA fires and the LA riots have burned Newsom's chances of a successful presidential run to the ground," another X user posted. Others on X argued the riots in Los Angeles would help Newsom's chances should he run in 2028. "Trump is making a strong case for Newsom '28," Fox News' Jessica Tarlov posted to article source: Newsom's political future 'practically nonexistent' as LA devolves into riots, social media critics predict
Newsweek
22 minutes ago
- Newsweek
California Lawsuit Accuses Trump Of 'Unprecedented Power Grab' In LA
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. On Monday, California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its order to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles without Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's approval. The move has sharply escalated tensions between the federal government and the Democratic-led state amid the ongoing ICE protests in southern California. The lawsuit states, "President Trump has repeatedly invoked emergency powers to exceed the bounds of lawful executive authority. On Saturday, June 7, he used a protest that local authorities had under control to make another unprecedented power grab, this time at the cost of the sovereignty of the State of California and in disregard of the authority and role of the Governor as commander-in-chief of the State's National Guard." This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
San Francisco Chronicle
26 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
President Donald Trump pushes ahead with his maximalist immigration campaign in face of LA protests
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump made no secret of his willingness to exert a maximalist approach to enforcing immigration laws and keeping order as he campaigned to return to the White House. The fulfillment of that pledge is now on full display in Los Angeles. The president has put hundreds of National Guard troops on the streets to quell protests over his administration's immigration raids, a deployment that state and city officials say has only inflamed tensions. Trump called up the California National Guard over the objections of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom — the first time in 60 years a president has done so — and is deploying active-duty troops to support the guard. By overriding Newsom, Trump is already going beyond what he did to respond to Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, when he warned he could send troops to contain demonstrations that turned violent if governors in the states did not act to do so themselves. Trump said in September of that year that he 'can't call in the National Guard unless we're requested by a governor' and that 'we have to go by the laws.' But now, the past and current president is moving swiftly, with little internal restraint to test the bounds of his executive authority in order to deliver on his promise of mass deportations. What remains to be seen is whether Americans will stand by him once it's operationalized nationwide, as Trump looks to secure billions from Congress to dramatically expand the country's detention and deportation operations. For now, Trump is betting that they will. 'If we didn't do the job, that place would be burning down," Trump told reporters Monday, speaking about California. 'I feel we had no choice. ... I don't want to see what happened so many times in this country.' 'A crisis of Trump's own making' The protests began to unfold Friday as federal authorities arrested immigrants in several locations throughout the sprawling city, including in the fashion district of Los Angeles and at a Home Depot. The anger over the administration's actions quickly spread, with protests in Chicago and Boston as demonstrations in the southern California city also continued Monday. But Trump and other administration officials remained unbowed, capitalizing on the images of burning cars, graffiti and Mexican flags — which, while not dominant, started to become the defining images of the unrest — to bolster their law-and-order cause. Leaders in the country's most populous state were similarly defiant. California officials moved Monday to sue the Trump administration, with the state's attorney general, Rob Bonta, arguing that the deployment of troops 'trampled' on the state's sovereignty and pushing for a restraining order. The initial deployment of 300 National Guard troops was expected to quickly expand to the full 2,000 that were authorized by Trump. The state's senior Democratic senator, Alex Padilla, said in an interview that 'this is absolutely a crisis of Trump's own making.' 'There are a lot of people who are passionate about speaking up for fundamental rights and respecting due process, but the deployment of National Guard only serves to escalate tensions and the situation,' Padilla told The Associated Press. 'It's exactly what Donald Trump wanted to do.' Padilla slammed the deployment as 'counterproductive' and said the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department was not advised ahead of the federalization of the National Guard. His office has also pushed the Pentagon for a justification on the deployment, and 'as far as we're told, the Department of Defense isn't sure what the mission is here," Padilla added. Candidate Trump previewed immigration strategy during campaign Much of this was predictable. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to conduct the largest domestic deportation operation in American history to expel millions of immigrants in the country without legal status. He often praised President Dwight D. Eisenhower's military-style immigration raids, and the candidate and his advisers suggested they would have broad power to deploy troops domestically to enact Trump's far-reaching immigration and public safety goals. Trump's speedy deployment in California of troops against those whom the president has alluded to as 'insurrectionists' on social media is a sharp contrast to his decision to issue no order or formal request for National Guard troops during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, despite his repeated and false assertions that he had made such an offer. Trump is now surrounded by officials who have no interest in constraining his power. In 2020, Trump's then-Pentagon chief publicly rebuked Trump's threat to send in troops using the Insurrection Act, an 1807 law that empowers the president to use the military within the U.S. and against American citizens. Current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled support on his personal X account for deploying troops to California, writing, 'The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE,' referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The Defense Department said Monday it is deploying about 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles to support National Guard troops already on the ground to respond to the protests. White House responds to an 'incompetent' governor Protesters over the weekend blocked off a major freeway and burned self-driving cars as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades in clashes that encompassed several downtown blocks in Los Angeles and led to several dozen arrests. Much of the city saw no violence. But the protests prompted Trump to issue the directive Saturday mobilizing the California National Guard over Newsom's objections. The president and his top immigration aides accused the governor of mismanaging the protests, with border czar Tom Homan asserting in a Fox News interview Monday that Newsom stoked anti-ICE sentiments and waited two days to declare unlawful assembly in the city. Trump told Newsom in a phone call Friday evening to get the situation in Los Angeles under control, a White House official said. It was only when the administration felt Newsom was not restoring order in the city — and after Trump watched the situation escalate for 24 hours and White House officials saw imagery of federal law enforcement officers with lacerations and other injuries — that the president moved to deploy the Guard, according to the official, who was granted anonymity to discuss private deliberations. 'He's an incompetent governor,' Trump said Monday. 'Look at the job he's doing in California. He's destroying one of our great states.' Local law enforcement officials said Los Angeles police responded as quickly as they could once the protests erupted, and Newsom repeatedly asserted that state and city authorities had the situation under control. 'Los Angeles is no stranger to demonstrations and protests and rallies and marches,' Padilla said. 'Local law enforcement knows how to handle this and has a rapport with the community and community leaders to be able to allow for that.' The aggressive moves prompted blowback from some of Trump's erstwhile allies. Ileana Garcia, a Florida state senator who in 2016 founded the group Latinas for Trump and was hired to direct Latino outreach, called the recent escalation 'unacceptable and inhumane.' 'I understand the importance of deporting criminal aliens, but what we are witnessing are arbitrary measures to hunt down people who are complying with their immigration hearings — in many cases, with credible fear of persecution claims — all driven by a Miller-like desire to satisfy a self-fabricated deportation goal," said Garcia, referring to Stephen Miller, a White House deputy chief of staff and key architect of Trump's immigration crackdown. The tactics could be just a preview to what more could come from the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress. GOP lawmakers are working to pass a massive tax-and-border package that includes billions to hire thousands of new officers for Border Patrol and for ICE. The goal, under the Trump-backed plan, is to remove 1 million immigrants without status annually and house 100,000 people in immigration detention centers.
