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The Guardian
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Kamala Harris announces she will not run for governor of California
Kamala Harris, the former vice-president and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, announced on Wednesday that she will not run for governor of California – a highly anticipated decision that leaves the contest to lead the country's largest blue state wide open. 'For now, my leadership – and public service – will not be in elected office,' Harris said in a statement, ending months of speculation about her political future after losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump. 'I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans,' she added. Harris, 60, who previously served as California's attorney general and US senator, had been exploring a run for the state's top job since leaving the White House in January. But, she said in the statement, 'after deep reflection, I've decided that I will not run for governor in this election'. The decision does not rule out a future run for public office, including a third bid for the White House, after unsuccessful campaigns in 2020 and 2024. Among the other possibilities Harris is exploring is starting a non-profit or leading a policy thinktank, said a personal familiar with her thinking. Allies said she would be a sought-after surrogate and fundraiser ahead of the 2026 midterms. 'I think we can expect her to continue to invigorate the younger generation who really vibed off of her energy, her authenticity, and, you know, her willingness to talk about things that you don't normally talk about when you're on the campaign trail,' said the California congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, one of the Democrats Harris spoke with in recent months as she weighed a run for governor. Harris's looming decision had in effect paralyzed the race to replace Gavin Newsom, the term-limited Democratic governor, with early polling suggesting she was Californians' top choice. The Harris-less race to lead California will now take place in a political landscape dramatically reshaped by her loss to Trump in November, which plunged the party into a period of paralysis and soul-searching. In the months since, the Democratic base has grown increasingly furious with its old guard, demanding fresh leadership and a more combative approach to what they view as Trump's increasingly authoritarian agenda. In a nod to the discontent roiling her party, and the country, Harris said: 'We must recognize that our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people, culminating in this moment of crisis. As we look ahead, we must be willing to pursue change through new methods and fresh thinking – committed to our same values and principles, but not bound by the same playbook.' While the decision was disappointing to supporters eager to see Harris square off again with Trump during the final years of his term, Harris had given few signals that she was deeply excited by the prospect of leading the state from the governor's perch in Sacramento. The months-long slog to next year's contest would have forced Harris to grapple with her role in Democrats' losses in November, which has already drawn criticism from corners of the party eager for leaders to step aside and make space for a new generation of candidates. The crowded field of Democrats running for governor in California is so far made up of long-serving or well-known political leaders, including Xavier Becerra, the former attorney general of California who served with Harris in Biden's cabinet as the secretary of health and human services; Antonio Villaraigosa, the former Democratic mayor of Los Angeles; the state's lieutenant governor, Eleni Kounalakis, who is close friends with Harris; and the former representative Katie Porter. The most prominent Republicans in the race are Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside county, and Steve Hilton, the former Fox host and former adviser to then UK prime minister David Cameron. Ric Grenell, a longtime Trump ally, has also toyed with the idea of running. In a statement, Villaraigosa commended Harris's leadership and said that her decision 'reflects her continued commitment to serving at the highest levels of government'. Becerra described Harris's decision as an 'important turning point for her and our state' that would reshape the 'race for governor, but not the stakes'. 'California needs a governor who will treat the cost of living crisis like the emergency it is, and who will stand up to the chaos and corruption of the Trump White House,' he said in a statement. Meanwhile, Newsom, who came up in San Francisco politics with Harris, also praised the former vice-president. 'Kamala Harris has courageously served our state and country for her entire career,' he said. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion 'Whether it be as a prosecutor, attorney general, senator, or vice-president she has always kept a simple pledge at the heart of every decision she's made: For the People. Grateful for her service and friendship – and looking forward to continuing the fight in whatever the future might hold for her.' Republicans – some of whom had been eager to elevate Harris as the face of the Democratic party – nevertheless touted her decision as a political victory for the president. 'Kamala Harris's political career is over thanks to President Trump,' said Kollin Crompton, a spokesperson for the Republican Governors Association, adding, perhaps prematurely: 'Americans across the country can sigh in relief that they won't have to see or hear from Kamala Harris any longer.' Harris had maintained a relatively low profile since she returned home to Los Angeles, offering few clues about her political future. She remained mostly out of view as protests erupted in response to the Trump administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles earlier this summer. In a statement issued after Trump ordered national guard troops deployed Los Angeles, she said that protest was 'a powerful tool' and said she supported the 'millions of Americans who are standing up to protect our most fundamental rights and freedoms'. She has been selective about when to weigh in against the Trump administration's actions. Earlier this year, Harris delivered a sharp speech in which she warned that the US was witnessing a 'wholesale abandonment of America's highest ideals' by the US president. On Wednesday, Harris vowed to remain politically engaged. 'We, the People must use our power to fight for freedom, opportunity, fairness, and the dignity of all,' she said. 'I will remain in that fight.' Dani Anguiano contributed to this report
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Catholic bishops call mandatory reporting law 'brazen act of religious discrimination'
Roman Catholic figures and the U.S. Justice Department are fighting to block enforcement of a law passed by the state legislature and signed by Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) that would add clergy members to the list of people required to report child abuse and neglect — the point of contention surrounds information Catholic clergy learn from people during private confessions. Implementation of Washington's controversial law looms large this month, as it is slated to take effect on July 27. Current law — which does not include clergy among the categories of people who are required to report child abuse — notes that people at a nonprofit or for-profit organization must report child abuse or neglect by an individual they supervise if that individual regularly has unsupervised access to kids in their role at the organization. But there is a carveout stipulating that reporting is not required when the information is fully obtained via privileged communication. Catholic Bishops Vow To Resist Blue State Law Intruding On 'Sacred' Trust: 'Obey God Rather Than Men' The new law includes that same language, but the carveout is preceded by the words, "Except for members of the clergy," indicating that the carveout does not apply to them. The initial complaint in May from plaintiffs including Roman Catholic Archbishop of Seattle Paul D. Etienne and multiple other Catholic clergy members, asserted that "Washington is targeting the Roman Catholic Church in a brazen act of religious discrimination." Read On The Fox News App A motion for preliminary injunction filed in June declared, "Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Court issue a preliminary injunction blocking the investigation and enforcement of RCW § 26.44.030, as amended by Senate Bill 3575, to the extent it applies to information learned by Catholic clergy through the Sacrament of Confession." Catholic Church To Excommunicate Priests For Following Wa Law Requiring Child Abuse Confessions To Be Reported The U.S. Justice Department has also taken aim at the state's new law regarding the issue of confessions. "Senate Bill 5375 unconstitutionally forces Catholic priests in Washington to choose between their obligations to the Catholic Church and their penitents or face criminal consequences, while treating the priest-penitent privilege differently than other well-settled privileges. The Justice Department will not sit idly by when States mount attacks on the free exercise of religion," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said, according to a June press release. Pope Demands Ceasefire After Gaza's Catholic Church Is Hit In Apparent Israeli Strike The U.S. government filed a motion for a preliminary injunction last article source: Catholic bishops call mandatory reporting law 'brazen act of religious discrimination' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawmakers in deep blue state demand audit over skyrocketing healthcare costs: 'Alarming nature'
A group of California Republican lawmakers is asking for a formal audit of the state's Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, after its costs have gone up significantly after a law went into effect last year allowing illegal immigrants to enroll. The Medi-Cal program is $2.8 billion over budget, as it was originally expected to cost $6 billion this fiscal year. Since then, the governor's office has requested $6.2 billion in two separate loans."On March 12, 2025, the Governor informed the legislature that Medi-Cal was insolvent and could not continue to pay all of its obligations to healthcare providers," the letter states. Newsom Asks For Nearly Another $3B For State Health Program Overwhelmed By Illegal Immigrants "Despite the alarming nature of this problem, the Governor has failed to provide an explanation for why Medi-Cal costs are far greater than what was budgeted. Many are concerned that continued growth in the cost of Medi-Cal benefits for undocumented immigrants is a major driver of the cost overruns," the letter continues. Click Here To Read More Immigration Coverage Specifically, the letter asks what the "future estimates for enrollment of undocumented immigrants" are in the program, as well as "cost containment strategies" to make sure that it does not harm Californian's healthcare access. Read On The Fox News App 'Needs To Resign': Blue State Blasted For Asking For Loan Amid Skyrocketing Immigrant Healthcare Costs The lawmakers are also seeking answers about why the forecast of the cost was incorrect. The letter was led by Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, who went viral for questioning a state budget official amplifying the spending issue earlier this year. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher and Republican Reps. Kate Sanchez, Leticia Castillo, Stan Ellis, Tom Lackey, Phillip Chen, Heath Flora and David Tangipa. Blue State Gop Lawmaker Goes Viral For Exposing State's Spending Proposals: 'People Were Appalled' Gov. Gavin Newsom previously said illegal immigrants being allowed to enroll in Medi-Cal is a "partial" part of the problem, but his office argues that overall rising healthcare costs led to higher than expected Medicaid program costs in other states as well. "With tough fiscal choices ahead, Governor Newsom, jointly with Pro Tem McGuire and Speaker Rivas, will evaluate proposals to rein in long-term spending — including in Medi-Cal — while working to protect the core health and social services Californians rely on," Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon told Fox News Digital in a statement last month. Newsom's office was not immediately available for article source: Lawmakers in deep blue state demand audit over skyrocketing healthcare costs: 'Alarming nature'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WATCH: Trump-appointed judge chides colleagues' ignorance on guns in unique video dissent
Judge Lawrence VanDyke of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued a unique dissenting-opinion video when his colleagues voted to uphold a California ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. In an 18-minute video uploaded to the Ninth Circuit's YouTube channel, VanDyke argued that the other judges on the appellate court lacked "the basic familiarity with firearms to understand the inherent shortcomings and obvious inadmissibility of the test that California was proposing" when they voted by a 7-4 margin Thursday to uphold the ban. Dressed in his judicial robes, VanDyke went on to show the mechanics of his personal firearms for several minutes. School Choice Activists Warn Parents About Blue State's Homeschool Bill With Jail-time Provision "As an appellate body, it's obviously not our role to make factual determinations," VanDyke said in the video. "So I share this not to supplement the factual record that we're using to decide this case. Instead, I share this because a rudimentary understanding of how guns are made, sold, used and commonly modified makes obvious why California's proposed tests and the one my colleagues are adopting today simply does not work." VanDyke went on to say he could "explain all this in writing" but that it is "much more effective to simply show" what he means through demonstrating it. He also said he had "rendered inoperable all the guns and gun parts" for the video demonstration for safety purposes. Read On The Fox News App In his discussion, VanDyke challenged California's argument that a magazine holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition is merely an accessory, not an arm protected by the Second Amendment, saying this argument is inconsistent with the facts of how a gun works, as a magazine plays an essential role in the function of a firearm, just like the firearm itself. Public School Students In This State Could Soon Be Required To Take Gun Safety Courses VanDyke asked California's counsel whether the reasoning that was used to justify banning these types of magazines could also be applied to semi-automatic firearms, which hold more rounds than older weapons, like muskets. He argued that the logic behind banning magazines could extend to banning semi-automatics altogether, which he suggested would be a broader and more extreme infringement of Second Amendment rights. "I don't think that we could ban all semi-automatic weapons," California's attorney for the case said in the discussion. "The point I was just making is, with respect to accessories, I think we have a difference of opinion." "That's important, because your argument turns on whether you can characterize accessories," Van Dyke responded. "So, you would say that the revolver versus semi-automatic is not an accessory, but that, but that a magazine is an accessory. So, what would you think about like a red dot sight? You know, electro optics, which are, which many, many firearms are going to, electronic optics nowadays? They're obviously an accessory, because you could have iron sights. Could you ban those?" "Your Honor, I'm not intimately familiar with that," the counsel responded. "And I do want to answer this question and make sure that I save time for rebuttal." The state's attorney went on to say that at issue is whether, as an accessory, it is essential to exercising the right to self-defense. Trump Surrogate Corrin Rankin Picked To Lead Blue State's Gop: 'Make California Great Again' In her majority opinion, Clinton appointee Judge Marsha Berzon wrote that VanDyke's video was "wildly improper" and that he "in essence appointed himself as an expert witness in this case." In 2016, the California legislature passed Senate Bill 1446, which banned the possession of so-called "large-capacity" magazines, or those that hold more than 10 rounds, starting July 1, 2017. The bill also imposed fines for those who failed to comply with this ban. Later in 2016, Proposition 63 was approved by California voters, which incorporated the provisions of Senate Bill 1446 but also added a criminal penalty for the unlawful possession of large-capacity magazines after the July 1, 2017, article source: WATCH: Trump-appointed judge chides colleagues' ignorance on guns in unique video dissent
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NY Times columnists warn second Trump term causing 'despair,' may kill 'more than 1 million people'
Three New York Times columnists recently reviewed President Donald Trump's first 50 days in office and spoke in dire terms about his decisions and how they could result in the deaths of "more than one million people." On the latest episode of the outlet's "The Opinions" podcast, Times contributing Opinion writer Frank Bruni, Opinion columnist Michelle Goldberg, and deputy Opinion editor Patrick Healy remarked on the first 50 days of the Trump term and the sadness they feel over it. Goldberg portrayed the administration in a dark light, stating that Trump is "making these abrupt decisions that are going to kill hundreds of thousands and maybe more than a million people and he's doing it in this incredibly arbitrary, careless way." Blue State Workers Rally Around Top Trump Official Targeting Congestion Pricing: 'Borderline Stealing' Goldberg added that Trump has tried to dismantle everything that she believes represents America's greatness. She told her co-hosts, "Whether that be foreign aid, whether that be our support for Ukraine, our success in welcoming immigrants and refugees, or scientific pre-eminence, everything that I thought was best about America Trump has either destroyed or tried to destroy in less than two months." Read On The Fox News App Bruni agreed with Goldberg's characterization of Trump's term, telling her, "I don't have children and I feel so much despair and fear and heartache about what's going on, and I often wonder, what do you say to children at this time? How do you maintain their optimism and their belief that they do live in a special country?" Donald Trump, Facing Terrible Coverage, Softens Tone And Tactics For Elon Musk's Doge Crusade The writer pointed to Trump pardoning Jan. 6 Capitol Riot defendants and "his withdrawal of the security details from Mike Pompeo, John Bolton and from a few others" as the "clearest baby steps — or not even baby steps — toward something like autocracy." Healy chimed in, stating he doesn't believe that Trump cares about "foreign aid and soft power," adding his theory that Trump is also indifferent to putting his former National Security advisor John Bolton at risk. "I feel like he entered his second term wanting to be a doer. It's the action that's the thing," he said, stating what he thinks is the president's only real motivation. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture "I think we're seeing a president who's operating without anything any of us would recognize as a conscience. Truly," Bruni declared in response, adding that Trump "gets off" on "displays of brute strength." The podcast then targeted Trump senior advisor and DOGE head, Elon Musk for a moment, with Healy calling the billionaire "bad disruption personified," and saying he has "set the tone for this administration in throwing out crazy ideas to provoke and change America." Vance Pitches Gop Rebels On Doge, Border In 11Th-hour Plea For Unity Against Shutdown "I think he is at war with America as we know it and I think he sees the government, the media and academia as proxies for the Democratic Party," he stated. Elsewhere, Bruni mentioned Trump's televised meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as evidence that the president is just "staging a spectacle for Americans" and "for his own amusement." Goldberg fretted, "I think that in the second Trump term he's changed that very quickly. Not just by taking America's soft power and setting it on fire in all sorts of ways, but really making these abrupt decisions that are going to kill hundreds of thousands and maybe more than a million people and he's doing it in this incredibly arbitrary, careless way." Healy ratcheted up the drama, saying he has a hard time coming up with "language" capable of describing the Trump threat. "I hear Democrats talk about him as an authoritarian or an autocrat, making comparisons to Putin, and I wonder if that is adequate to the moment. Does this man defy historical comparison? Does that language even capture it? " Bruni took a crack at why people seem to be unable to see the threat as it is, saying, "So I do think there are many Americans who, because it's so impossible to comprehend the immensity of the departure from the American past, just really end up concentrating all their worries on the price of eggs." White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers responded to the claims, telling Fox News Digital, "President Trump is the President of Peace, and anyone who says otherwise is either clueless or a liar. In his first 50 days, President Trump has deported illegal criminals from our communities, negotiated a cease fire deal in Gaza, brought American hostages home, and announced a brilliant plan to reconstruct Gaza. President Trump has achieved such historic levels of harmony that the Nobel Peace Prize already has his name on it."Original article source: NY Times columnists warn second Trump term causing 'despair,' may kill 'more than 1 million people'
