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Politico
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Politico
A strategy sesh in LA
Presented by California Resources Corporation / Carbon TerraVault THE BUZZ: A NEW BLUEPRINT — Democratic strategists openly struggled with how to counter President Donald Trump during his second term and split on which of their party's missteps returned him to the White House in Los Angeles on Thursday. Campaign alumni of former Vice President Kamala Harris and Presidents Joe Biden and Bill Clinton debated how to strengthen the party's messaging, particularly on economics, at the Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics co-hosted by POLITICO and the University of Southern California. What went wrong? Harris' 'message had no edge,' said the legendary consultant Bob Shrum. Panelists of various ideological stripes agreed that the campaign had not demonstrated to enough voters how Harris' policies would affect them, though some also blamed the messenger. 'We played our seventh-string quarterback,' the storied Democratic political consultant James Carville said of the decision to run Harris without an open primary after Biden's late exit from the race. 'Joe Biden stands over this disaster like a colossus.' He met disagreement from another generation of consultants. Harris was 'the most qualified' person to run in Biden's stead, argued Democratic strategist Carissa Smith, who worked on Biden's 2020 campaign and as a senior adviser in his White House. But the vice president inherited Biden's campaign operation, which was built on messaging 'for a candidate that doesn't look like her.' Carville also stood by a remark he made last spring when he said 'there are too many preachy females' in the Democratic Party, while Trump's campaign courted the so-called Bro Vote. 'I was right.' Countering Trump and looking forward Democratic strategists urged elected officials and campaigns to be more selective in choosing when to push back against Trump. Their decisions could control their ability to cut into Trump's popularity and bolster candidates down the ballot in the midterms. 'There are four areas where I think Trump is overreaching, making mistakes that we have to pounce on now,' said Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg: 1. 'The savage attack on our government,' including programs in the states. 2. Immigration. 'You're going to find this out in California very quickly. The disruption that's going to come, the immorality of deporting huge numbers of women and children, legal immigrants.' 3. 'The savage attack on health care,' including federal support for vaccinations and response to the avian flu. 4. The economy. Who will be the Democratic nominee in 2028? Fox 11 Los Angeles anchor Elex Michaelson asked four panelists, and all but one answered. — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, according to California GOP Chair Jessica Millan Patterson and Betsy Fischer Martin, from the Women & Politics Institute at American University. — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Republican pollster Ed Goeas predicted. — And POLITICO's Christopher Cadelago pleaded the 5th. CONGRATULATIONS: Shrum is retiring from his position as director of USC's Center for the Political Future this year. We wish him all the best. GOOD MORNING. Happy Friday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. You can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as 'CA Playbook' in your contacts. Or drop us a line at dgardiner@ and bjones@ or on X — @DustinGardiner and @jonesblakej. WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. CAMPAIGN YEAR(S) SMOOTHER OPERATOR — Ada Briceño worked to elect Democrats as a hotel union boss and chair of the Orange County party. Now, she's deploying decades of campaign experience toward a candidacy of her own — for state Legislature in 2026. She was born in Nicaragua and moved to California with her family when she was 7. Briceño became a hotel desk clerk at 18 and quickly rose through the ranks of UNITE HERE Local 11, eventually becoming co-president. She is running to replace term-limited Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva for a relatively safe Democratic seat. Yet Briceño — like many Democrats seeking to appeal to moderate voters after the November election — heavily emphasized affordability issues in one of her first interviews as a candidate. Here are excerpts from her conversation with Playbook, edited for length and clarity: You're switching sides — from a union leader and party operative who helped elect Democrats — to a candidate yourself. Why? I've represented working families for over 33 years, more than half my life. And it's the same thing people are feeling: the economy, it's the pocketbook, the fact that folks in the district can't pay their bills. It's hard to keep up with the rent increases, the food prices. Frankly, people need to live where they work. And they don't need to survive; they need to thrive, and that's exactly why I want to go into the Legislature. We need to change the trajectory of where things are going. We've got to figure out how to deal with our housing crisis, and my life experience puts me in a perfect spot to help move forward. You've been working with Unite Here for years, overseeing hotel strikes and other pivotal inflection points for the union. Has there been anything you think Sacramento could be doing better to buttress the labor movement? Every day I get to stand up against large employers, alongside these dishwashers and room attendants who want better. And they've taught me, frankly, a lot, and it's their voices and the voices of folks in the district that I want to bring along with me. You'd be coming in with a couple of years left in Trump's term. I'm curious how you see yourself responding to his White House, how confrontational you think Sacramento should be to him. It really depends on how we see him move forward. If we see that he attacks issues that are important to immigrants and LGBTQ folks and our federal programs, then we should fight back. But if he comes back with reasonable and fair methods of moving things forward, then we should be open. Is there any elected official or party member in California that you're especially close to or that you model yourself after? I feel particularly proud of the work that [Sen.] Alex Padilla has done as a Latino representing California. But there's just so many others. CASH DASH MA MONEY — Fiona Ma's campaign for lieutenant governor raked in $1.6 million last year, ending 2024 with $4.3 million cash on hand. Her camp said Ma's haul far exceeds that of 'any rival for the post.' Ma, currently state treasurer, is running for the state's second highest office in 2026, when Lt. Gov Eleni Kounalakis is termed out (and running to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom). ON THE HILL FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: FAKE FRAUD — Democratic Reps. David Min and Derek Tran have sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson protesting his comments baselessly implying that voter fraud tipped California's congressional elections. 'It is highly disturbing to hear you spout baseless conspiracy theories, undermining Americans' faith and confidence not only in our elections but also in the legitimacy of our standing as members of Congress,' Min and Tran wrote in the letter, which they exclusively shared with Playbook. The freshman representatives, both of whom narrowly won Orange County swing districts, wrote in response to Johnson, who has said he's open to conditioning wildfire relief for Los Angelenos on California reforming its voter-ID laws (a prospect Trump has floated). Johnson told reporters that many voters 'do not want to subsidize crazy California leftist policies that are dangerous for people.' Min and Tran said the notion of placing conditions on FEMA disaster funding is unprecedented. They noted that California has often helped other states facing natural disasters with no conditions attached, adding, 'This is what it means to be American.' CLIMATE AND ENERGY AFFORDABILITY AVALANCHE: It's still too soon to say how the costs from the Los Angeles wildfires this month will hit utility bills. But a Public Utilities Commission vote Thursday to let Southern California Edison charge ratepayers for costs from the 2017 Thomas fire has lawmakers worried. Read about what the vote could mean for future fires in last night's California Climate. Top Talkers DEPORTATION DILEMMA — State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones took to social media to celebrate yesterday's delay of what he called 'Newsom's $50 million slush fund to sue Trump.' The remarks come after concern arose over who would be able to access $25 million in legal aid to avoid deportation. 'Turns out using taxpayer funds to shield heinous violent criminals from deportation isn't a popular idea,' he wrote on X. NOT GOING ANYWHERE — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she will serve out the remainder of her term in Congress. 'I don't read all that stuff. I don't read it. No, I will honor my responsibilities to my constituents. I love being in Congress,' she said, per KQED's Scott Shafer. AMERICA'S AIRPORT — Rep. Norma Torres from California's Inland Empire noted the significance of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after it saw the worst air disaster in a generation on Wednesday night. 'It's the place where citizens all over the country come to lobby their members of Congress, their U.S. senators on issues of extreme importance to them,' Torres told POLITICO. This is the reason Congress has intervened in the airport's operations over the years. For example, Congress dictates how many flights can come in and out of the airport and how far they can fly. AROUND THE STATE — New sensor data shows that high-voltage power lines faulted in Altadena just moments before flames erupted below transmission towers. (The New York Times) — Santa Ana Unified's board will vote later this week on a layoff package that would eliminate 286 employees amid a $180 million deficit. (The Orange County Register) — The San Carlos Airport will have no air traffic controllers starting on Saturday after the FAA changed their contracts to a firm with lower pay. (San Francisco Chronicle) — compiled by Nicole Norman PLAYBOOKERS SPOTTED: RAGIN' CAJUN — James Carville was seen lapping the USC hotel in a Louisiana State University sweater and shorts, paired with high socks. LITTLE SAIGON IN THE HOUSE — Tran, the first Vietnamese-American to represent California in Congress, celebrated Vietnamese Lunar New Year on the floor of the House this week. He said Tết, the Vietnamese name for the holiday, is a special occasion to 'reflect on the past, embrace new beginnings and to eat a lot of really good food.' As he spoke, Tran wore a blue-and-white áo dài, a traditional tunic. PEOPLE MOVES — Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) promoted Benjamin Burnett to legislative director. Burnett is a Swalwell veteran who joined his office in 2019 and was previously his national security adviser. — Anneliese Slamowitz is now a legislative assistant for Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.). She previously was a legislative aide for Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). BIRTHDAYS — Megan Ellison … strategist Dane Strother … strategist Dylan Byers … POLITICO's Michael Doyle … Kate Hansen … Kelly Calkin … Fred Karger (favorite cake: chocolate cupcake from Magnolia Bakery) BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Thursday): Jeffrey Stone WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO's California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
California Resources Corporation Announces $100,000 Donation to Southern California Wildfire Relief and Recovery Efforts
LONG BEACH, Calif., Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California Resources Corporation (NYSE: CRC), an independent energy and carbon management company, today announced a total contribution of $100,000 to the California Community Foundation and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation to support wildfire relief and provision of recovery services to residents impacted by the recent California wildfires. The funds will be equally distributed between the two organizations. 'Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires across Southern California,' said Francisco Leon, CRC's President and Chief Executive Officer. 'We are deeply grateful to the firefighters, first responders, and organizations working tirelessly to protect our communities and support relief and recovery efforts.' The California Community Foundation will utilize the donation to assist families and individuals in rebuilding their lives, with a focus on housing, food, and other critical needs. The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation will allocate the funds toward vital equipment, supplies, and support for the firefighters and first responders who work diligently to protect communities during these emergencies. CRC also launched a company match campaign to support the American Red Cross, which offers critical aid such as food, shelter, emotional care, recovery planning, and financial assistance. About California Resources Corporation California Resources Corporation (CRC) is an independent energy and carbon management company committed to energy transition. CRC is committed to environmental stewardship while safely providing local, responsibly sourced energy. CRC is also focused on maximizing the value of its land, mineral ownership, and energy expertise for decarbonization by developing CCS and other emissions reducing projects. For more information about CRC, please visit About the California Community Foundation Since 1915, the California Community Foundation (CCF) has served Los Angeles County as a public charitable organization dedicated to leading systemic change that strengthens communities. Managing $2.3 billion in assets and overseeing 1,900 charitable foundations, funds, and legacies, CCF's mission is to create lasting impact throughout the region. For more information, visit About the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Foundation is the official nonprofit arm of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. The Foundation was established in 2010 to bridge critical funding gaps for essential tools, equipment, and programs. The LAFD Foundation channels donations from private, corporate, and community partners into tangible resources to help firefighters protect the people of Los Angeles. The LAFD Foundation provides vital equipment and funds critical programs to help the LAFD save lives and protect communities. For more information, please visit About the American Red Cross The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit Contact: Richard Venn (CRC Media) Joanna Park (CRC Investor Relations) 818-661-3731 This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.
Politico
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Politico
San Francisco digs in against Trump
Presented by California Resources Corporation / Carbon TerraVault THE BUZZ: TO THE TRENCHES — As President Donald Trump and Republicans lead a multi-front assault on sanctuary-city laws, local officials in San Francisco are digging in for battle. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to reaffirm their support for a decades-old policy designed to shield undocumented immigrants from deportation by prohibiting law enforcement and other city employees from cooperating with federal authorities. In doing so, San Francisco effectively renewed its vows as a sanctuary city — a heavily symbolic poke in the eye to Trump. Trump and his allies have unleashed on sanctuary locales like San Francisco — and the entire state of California — over the past nine days, threatening to prosecute police who don't assist with deportations and to withhold federal funding. On Tuesday, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz reintroduced 'Kate's Law,' a proposed immigration crackdown inspired by the death of 32-year-old Kate Steinle, who was killed on a San Francisco pier in 2015 by an undocumented man with a criminal history. The case put the city's longstanding immigrant protections under a harsh national spotlight — a moment that Republicans are keen to revisit. But Tuesday's vote in San Francisco is likely just an opening act for city leaders who say they'll fight to defend the 1989 sanctuary policy. Earlier in the day, nearly every local elected official in town attended a pro-sanctuary rally on the steps of City Hall, standing alongside nearly 100 union workers from SEIU Local 87, which represents janitorial workers. Emotions were high, amplified by rumblings of ICE agents visiting downtown office buildings in the city — though no raids have been confirmed. The city's three top law-enforcement officials — District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Police Chief Bill Scott and Sheriff Paul Miyamoto — vowed not to work with ICE agents, as required by city and state law (though both include exceptions for serious felonies). Jenkins, a moderate Democrat who helped oust progressive former DA Chesa Boudin in a 2022 recall, said her office is assuring immigrants, especially victims of crime, that they are 'doing nothing in coordination with any federal immigration enforcement whatsoever.' Mayor Daniel Lurie, who took office three weeks ago, spoke briefly but avoided mentioning Trump by name or using the phrase 'sanctuary city,' unlike other city leaders. Lurie was at the rally for about five minutes and swiftly left after his remarks. 'We stand with you, you belong here,' Lurie told the crowd. In a news release the night before, Lurie's office downplayed his appearance at the rally, instead highlighting other press events to promote his proposal to combat fentanyl addiction. His office said he would not sign the sanctuary resolution — which can take effect without his signature — saying that it's the mayor's policy 'not to comment or act on urging resolutions.' His more cautious response mirrors that of many other Democratic elected leaders across the country who've been reluctant to do battle with Trump over immigration. But the moderate Democrat could soon face growing pressure to go further from the city's sizable progressive base. Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who represents the Mission District (historically an immigrant neighborhood), is proposing that the city, which faces a nearly $1 billion deficit, divert additional funding to legal aid programs for undocumented people. 'If this city has money for luxury real-estate developers,' Fielder told cheering union workers, 'it has money … to provide the resources that our immigrant community deserves.' GOOD MORNING. Happy Wednesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. You can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as 'CA Playbook' in your contacts. Or drop us a line at dgardiner@ and bjones@ or on X — @DustinGardiner and @jonesblakej. WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. DON'T MISS IT: POLITICO AT USC — Join POLITICO's own Chris Cadelago, Sasha Issenberg and Jonathan Martin alongside other political luminaries like James Carville and Reince Priebus at USC's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics on Thursday, Jan. 30. Throughout the day, panelists from politics, government, media and academia will discuss 'The Trumping of America: Why and What's Next.' Please register via Zoom. STATE CAPITOL FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: CA BITES BACK — Today is day one of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearings to become secretary of Health and Human Services. And — not so coincidentally — it's also the day Democratic Assemblymember Mia Bonta chose to introduce a bill to expand access to fluoride treatments for kids. RFK is a noted fluoride hater and has said he wants to remove the cavity-fighting mineral from the nation's water supplies. Bonta's bill would require insurance plans to cover fluoride treatments for people under 21 and make it easier to get the treatment at school and other public health settings. The proposal is informally called the Respecting Fluoride for Kids Act. Is that petty? We'll let you sink your teeth into that one yourself. — Rachel Bluth LOS ANGELES OUT OF THE DUGOUT — Gov. Gavin Newsom descended the steps of Dodger Stadium with some of Los Angeles' most prominent sports figures to announce LA Rises, a new private-sector initiative to support rebuilding efforts after this month's devastating wildfires. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the Mark Walter Family Foundation committed up to $100 million and intend to raise additional funds through private donations. Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who is a part owner of the Dodgers, said he plans to engage with Altadena, a historically Black area north of Pasadena, through community meetings. 'Those people may be left behind and I want to make sure that doesn't happen,' Johnson said. 'I know Pacific Palisades, I know Pasadena, but I want my focus and my attention to be on these people.' He will be joined by LA28 President and Chair Casey Wasserman to lead philanthropic efforts. — Nicole Norman CLIMATE AND ENERGY DOUBLE TROUBLE — It isn't just California — state leaders across the country have been double-clutching on more ambitious climate policy in fears of voter backlash over high electricity and gas prices. And that was before President Trump started dismantling climate regulations and incentives. Read what that means for efforts to cut planet-warming pollution in last night's California Climate. Top Talkers TOP COP — Alameda County Judge Ursula Jones Dickson will be the county's next district attorney, succeeding recalled former DA Pamela Price. The Board of Supervisors selected Jones Dickson last night, after more than four hours of closed-door deliberations. She will be sworn in Feb. 4. As the San Francisco Chronicle reported, Jones Dickson cast herself as the most impartial candidate among the pool of seven finalists. 'The job at the beginning and at the end… is to do what's right for the community, protect the public and uplift the victims,' she said. RIVAS FUMES — Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas was strikingly confrontational in a statement on Trump's temporarily blocked order to freeze broad (and undefined) swaths of federal funding, saying it 'endangers all of us.' 'The White House is playing a dangerous game,' Rivas said ahead of his chamber's planned vote to set aside $25 million for the state Department of Justice to fight the White House in court. 'California sends more money to Washington than any other state, and we are prepared to defend our residents.' A federal judge temporarily stopped the order from taking effect on Tuesday as court challenges are considered. UP NEXT: SUPREME COURT — The ensuing legal fight could reach the Supreme Court in a matter of months, if not weeks, our colleague Kyle Cheney reports. 'The central question will be whether Trump can persuade five justices to agree that presidents have a constitutional prerogative to 'impound' — or refuse to spend — money that Congress has appropriated. In the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, Congress provided a framework for presidents to seek to rescind certain funds. But outside that framework — which Trump's Monday night freeze does not even attempt to comply with — courts have never recognized a general impoundment power for presidents,' Kyle writes. AROUND THE STATE — An adviser to the San Francisco mayor says that Lurie's promise to end unsheltered homelessness within six months was a 'slip-up.' (San Francisco Standard) — Demand for housing in Orange County has surged dramatically since fire survivors have begun looking for homes. (The Orange County Register) — Federal agents launched targeted operations in San Diego County to arrest undocumented immigrants. (The San Diego Union-Tribune) — compiled by Nicole Norman PLAYBOOKERS PEOPLE MOVES — Newsom has appointed San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria to the California Air Resources Board. Allison Barnett has joined Platinum Advisors as a lobbyist focusing on the firm's health care clients. She was previously senior director of government relations at Health Net of California. BIRTHDAYS — Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.) favorite cake: chocolate with vanilla frosting… Assemblymember James Ramos … Amazon's Mary Kate McCarthy … Kristine Grow of Arnold Ventures … Maureen 'Mo' Elinzano in Rep. Doris Matsui's office … Aaron Krasney … David Agus … Sam Lawrence … Natasha Minsker … former Mayor London Breed adviser Jeff Cretan … BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Tuesday): Assemblymember Jessica Caloza (favorite cake: 'more like ice cream pie from Magpies in Highland Park') … Richard Danielpour WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO's California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form.
Politico
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Robert Garcia is in the DOGE house
Presented by California Resources Corporation / Carbon TerraVault Driving the Day President Donald Trump's Monday-night Truth Social post took his fixation with California water to new heights by claiming 'the United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER.' Not quite. Our Debra Kahn explains. And California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is reviewing a Monday order from Trump's budget office to freeze all federal aid with the exception of Social Security and Medicare, a move that could affect billions of dollars in grants to state and local governments. (More on this below.) THE BUZZ: BARKING BACK — Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia says Democrats trying to play nice with Elon Musk on his crusade to slash federal government spending are kidding themselves. Garcia has a different strategy: go on the offensive against the Trump administration's Musk-led effort from the outset. He is the only California Democrat appointed to a new House Oversight subcommittee on the upstart Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE, and will be central to his party's response to proposed spending cuts. The panel is charged with evaluating proposals from DOGE leaders, Musk included, to overhaul federal agencies. Playbook spoke with Garcia over the phone from his office in Washington about why he's deeply skeptical that Musk, a confidant of Trump, is truly interested in efficiency. Garcia argues the true aim of the project is to slash funding for safety-net programs and the Department of Education. 'Their goal,' he said, 'is to destroy our agencies, eliminate the Department of Education, and no state has more to lose in this DOGE fight than California.' Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the subcomittee's chair and a Trump loyalist who has frequently clashed with Garcia, called Trump's DOGE effort a 'mandate from the American people' to 'eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement within federal agencies. This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity. Do you think the committee's aims are entirely destructive? Or are there areas where you think it could be successful in finding unnecessary spending? Look, I would welcome a conversation on government efficiency. But I have zero confidence that Marjorie Taylor Greene or the Republicans on this committee are interested in that. They've been pretty clear in what they want to do: roll back the social-safety net. They're talking about how to make Medicare work better — we know what that means, it means making Medicare provide less benefits to people. They've said they flat-out want to eliminate the federal government's role in public education. It sounds like what you're saying is that 'government efficiency' is a guise for broader political aims. Is that fair? That's right. This committee is their way of trying to essentially forever damage our institutions and take away benefits from hard-working Americans. They are using terms like 'government efficiency,' which basically means eliminating departments and eliminating services, especially for working-class people. A handful of Democrats — California Rep. Ro Khanna comes to mind — have talked about finding a way to work with Musk on spending that Democrats consider wasteful. Do you think that's the right approach? I think we need to be very honest about [Musk's] intentions. You just have to read his social media platform to see what he wants to do. He wants to cut trillions of dollars from the federal government. There's no way of doing that without essentially changing the way we deliver Social Security benefits to the public. There's no way of doing that without eliminating or reducing benefits for veterans. We should be very clear that we should not be giving the reins to benefits for working-class people over to the richest man on the planet. I think it is insane to start with the premise that we're going to work with Elon Musk, Marjorie Taylor Greene and, quite frankly, Donald Trump on their scheme to remake the federal government. Californians pay a disproportionate share of the federal government's revenue relative to the benefits the state receives … Well, the most. We're essentially giving more to the federal government than taking back — dramatically more. Yet, we have the most to lose as it relates to our public school students, our veterans and so much more. Where does California stand to lose the most? People are asleep at the wheel in understanding the threat to public education that we're about to face over the next four years. I don't think people understand how dependent schools are — especially K-12, but also community colleges and universities — on federal funds. When it comes to helping the most vulnerable students, it's almost completely federally funded. This worldview that you take care of your own kid … does not take into consideration the needs so many kids and families have. GOOD MORNING. Happy Tuesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. You can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as 'CA Playbook' in your contacts. Or drop us a line at dgardiner@ and bjones@ or on X — @DustinGardiner and @jonesblakej. WHERE'S GAVIN? In Los Angeles, working with emergency officials responding to the fires. DON'T MISS IT: POLITICO AT USC — Join POLITICO's own Chris Cadelago, Sasha Issenberg and Jonathan Martin alongside other political luminaries like James Carville and Reince Priebus at USC's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics on Thursday, Jan. 30. Throughout the day, panelists from politics, government, media and academia will discuss 'The Trumping of America: Why and What's Next.' Please register via Zoom or email California Editorial Director Julia Marsh at jmarsh@ for an in-person invitation. LOS ANGELES HOMEWARD BOUND — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Monday that all Palisades residents could re-enter evacuated areas, just days after fielding criticism from Trump over the uncertainty of the city's timeline. Trump at a briefing in Los Angeles on Friday had urged the mayor to let people back into their damaged properties within 24 hours. Bass said she expected that would be possible 'within a week' — which, Trump retorted, was 'actually a long time.' Some residents at the meeting interjected to support the president's statements, venting their frustrations over the wait. Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for the mayor's office, said that it was always the plan to let residents back as soon as possible — and that Trump's visit did not affect the timeline. Some residents in the Palisades had already gained access to their properties before today. On Monday in the Pacific Palisades, during a news conference yards away from the damage, Bass suggested the presidential trip was successful. 'And as a matter of fact, they have followed up,' she said about the White House. Bass, who is under intense pressure from the president and Palisades residents to accelerate rebuilding timelines, said the next step is to allow the EPA to remove debris and hazardous waste but could not commit to a solid schedule. 'It would be nice if [the EPA] could say, 'By next week, on this day, at this time, it will be done.' But, you know, that's impossible to do.' Steve Soboroff, a longtime Palisades resident and newly named chief recovery officer, and the mayor will be reviewing major contracting firms, including AECOM, to assist in recovery efforts. They said they expect to have a decision this week. — Nicole Norman SAN FRANCISCO SANCTUARY BY THE BAY — The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will vote today on a resolution to reaffirm the city's status as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, a rebuttal of Trump's demands that cities and local law enforcement help carry out his order of mass deportations. The board has unanimously sponsored the resolution from Supervisor Jackie Fielder, a progressive elected last year. But the action is entirely symbolic. Fielder said that's because the city's existing sanctuary law is ironclad, having withstood a prior court challenge during Trump's first term. Fielder, however, said there is room for the city to go further by providing more support to undocumented immigrants seeking legal aid. Currently, she said, there's a waiting list of roughly 1,200 migrants seeking counsel through the city's nonprofit partners. She said while San Francisco talks big about protecting immigrants, 'we don't necessarily provide commiserate funding.' But Fielder's request could face a tough road as Mayor Daniel Lurie and the supervisors grapple with a budget deficit of nearly $1 billion. Lurie has also been hesitant to criticize Trump, arguing voters want him focused on the city's comeback. In a video posted Friday, Lurie said he supports San Francisco's immigration policies. But he didn't respond to Trump by name, a clear shift from prior mayors who've gone head-to-head with him. 'Our policies make us safe,' Lurie said in an Instagram post. 'Their purpose is to ensure that all residents can feel secure interacting with first responders and local law enforcement.' STATE CAPITOL NOT STONKS — Sacramento's budget savants are watching the tech-heavy Nasdaq apprehensively after American artificial intelligence and chipmakers saw their valuations tumble Monday. The cause was the Chinese upstart AI company DeepSeek, which rattled investors when it announced it had trained a sophisticated chatbot at a fraction of the price and with less computing power than American competitors. A sustained downturn in the sector could eat into capital gains and high-paying tech jobs at California companies — both of which power the state's progressive tax structure, as we've reported. 'In the first half of 2024, stock pay alone at four major technology companies accounted for almost 10 percent of the state's total income tax withholding,' the California Legislative Analyst's Office said in November. One of those companies is Santa Clara-based Nvidia, which saw its share price plummet nearly 17 percent by the time markets closed on Monday. California firms' valuations could rebound, preventing a budget hit, but an enduring loss would dent the state's revenue just after it turned a massive deficit into a minuscule surplus with budget cuts, reserve spending and complicated funding maneuvers. CLIMATE AND ENERGY FRIENDLY FIRE — A fire at the world's largest lithium-ion battery in Moss Landing is prompting a California Democrat to use the playbook she developed against oil and gas drilling on one of her party's own darlings — the energy storage industry. Read more about what she wants and who among her colleagues is already pushing back in last night's California Climate. TOP TALKERS OUT OF THE CROSSHAIRS — Kentucky Rep. James Comer appears to have not included any California cities in a letter that he sent to Democratic mayors of major cities that might not be in compliance with the federal government's new immigration policies. 'In addition to the efforts of the Trump Administration to ensure federal immigration enforcement can proceed unimpeded, Congress must determine whether further legislation is necessary to enhance border security and public safety,' Comer wrote. BIG FREEZE — Trump's budget office ordered an expansive freeze of all federal financial services on Monday, which could affect households receiving federal assistance like SNAP food aid, along with federal funding for energy and other infrastructure projects. Social Security and Medicare will not be affected by the freeze. 'The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve,' reads the memo obtained by POLITICO. As our colleagues Jennifer Scholtes and Nicholas Wu report, 'The new order could affect billions of dollars in grants to state and local governments while causing disruptions to programs that benefit many households. There was also widespread confusion over how the memo would be implemented and whether it would face legal challenges.' Within hours, Bonta signaled a legal challenge was coming: 'Make no mistake—any pause to critical funding would hurt families and threaten public health & safety,' California's AG wrote. 'We're prepared to protect CA's people and programs from @POTUS' reckless and dangerous actions.' AROUND THE STATE — Derek Kinnison, a Lake Elsinore resident who was pardoned for taking part in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, was met with a standing ovation at a church in Temecula. (Press Enterprise) — Lurie's 'hiring freeze' at San Francisco City Hall is aimed at helping the city address a $876+ million general fund deficit. But the rollout has been messy in practice. (Mission Local) — New Yorker reporter M.R. O'Connor recounts his experience embedding with SoCal firefighters in the Eaton Fire. (The New Yorker) PLAYBOOKERS BIZ MOVES — The Public Policy Holding Company is growing its footprint in California, acquiring TrailRunner International — a multi-continental communications firm founded in Truckee that still has an office of 15 employees in the Lake Tahoe resort town. PPHC, the bipartisan parent company of several government and public affairs firms in the U.S., bought Sacramento-based Lucas Public Affairs last year and KP Public Affairs in 2022 as part of a broader shift toward West Coast investments. It's set to close this latest deal April 1. PEOPLE MOVES — Doug Emhoff, the husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, will return to corporate law as a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher. — Robert Traynham will be president and CEO of the Faith & Politics Institute. He previously has been global spokesperson for Meta, and is a professor at Georgetown University and a Senate GOP alum. — Aaron Sobaski joined the firm Buchalter as a shareholder in the Orange County office. He was previously a partner at Sheppard Mullin. BIRTHDAYS — Rep. Linda Sánchez … former Rep. Brian Bilbray … Matt Gelman at Microsoft … Judge Dean Pregerson … Courtney Subramanian … BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Monday): Reuven Firestone ... Avram Miller … (was Sunday): Assemblymember Mia Bonta WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO's California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form.
Politico
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Politico
A Trump close reading
Presented by California Resources Corporation / Carbon TerraVault THE BUZZ: 'SAME GOAL' — President Donald Trump's hours in Los Angeles offered the clearest window yet into his thinking about the fires, and provided important signs of where his relationship with California is headed. He and Gov. Gavin Newsom hugged it out Friday on the tarmac at LAX after not speaking for years, but it was Trump's increasingly friendly words toward California that offered some semblance of hope to state Democrats that they might be able to repair ties with Washington for long enough to rebuild Los Angeles. But as with all things Trump v. California, peace could turn to conflict on a dime. Here are some of Trump's comments that could prove most instructive for the weeks and months ahead. Playing nice: 'I decided to be nice' to Newsom, Trump told reporters of his meeting with the governor, who was waiting on the tarmac when Air Force One landed. 'It was nice that he came to the plane. … And in the end, we have the same goal: We want to take that catastrophe and make it as good as possible.' After the hug and multiple handshakes, Trump and Newsom's relationship seems to be back on track — at least for now. We'll see if that lasts, after Newsom signs into law a deal to send $50 million to the California Department of Justice and immigration nonprofits to fight the White House in court. 'I actually always got along with him well, until fairly recently,' Trump said. New POV: 'I don't think you can realize how rough it is, how devastating it is, until you see it,' Trump said at a roundtable with Mayor Karen Bass and other officials. 'I didn't realize — I mean, I saw a lot of bad things on television — but the extent of it, the size of it. … It is devastation. It's incredible. It's really an incineration.' California officials accomplished one of their main goals: showing the president the scale of the damage in Los Angeles. Trump saw it firsthand in a helicopter ride over some of the burn areas, offering California electeds potent evidence for their argument for federal support. 'He's somewhat dismissive of California as a state, and yet showed real sympathy to some of the people who lost their homes,' Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) told reporters Friday evening. Tone shift: 'There can be no Golden Age without the Golden State,' Trump said at a late afternoon briefing in Los Angeles, where he emphasized the importance of readying the city for World Cup matches in 2026 and the Olympic Games in 2028. 'We're going to have a big celebration soon. We're going to come back, and we'll come back as much as you need, and we're going to turn it around.' That positivity marked a change from Friday morning, when Trump called for California to alter its water and elections policies in exchange for federal aid — a reminder of how the president's rhetoric can shift on an hour-by-hour basis. That unpredictability will keep California officials guessing (again) during his second term, especially as the state's congressional delegation navigates aid talks with the president in the coming weeks. But the president's change in tone throughout the day inspired confidence among his supporters that he will come through for California when all is said and done. 'He seems to have a way of coming out with a bombastic statement that has some facts behind it,' state Senate Republican Leader Brian Jones, who attended Trump's visit and wants federal aid that is not conditioned on unrelated policy priorities, told Playbook. 'That's how he gets the attention on these issues,' he added, 'and then if you look at his history, he always seems … to take care of the people.' GOOD MORNING. Happy Monday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. You can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as 'CA Playbook' in your contacts. Or drop us a line at dgardiner@ and bjones@ or on X — @DustinGardiner and @jonesblakej. WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. DON'T MISS IT: POLITICO AT USC — Join POLITICO's own Chris Cadelago, Sasha Issenberg and Jonathan Martin alongside other political luminaries like James Carville and Reince Priebus at USC's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics on Thursday, Jan. 30. Throughout the day, panelists from politics, government, media and academia will discuss 'The Trumping of America: Why and What's Next.' Please register via Zoom or email California Editorial Director Julia Marsh at jmarsh@ for an in-person invitation. ON THE AGENDA SPECIAL SESSION — The Assembly Budget Committee will hear bills containing $25 million for a legal defense fund to help the attorney general's office fight Trump's administration in court and $25 million for nonprofits to assist immigrants facing deportation and detention. The Senate passed the legislation last week. FLOOR SESH — The Assembly will hold its floor session at 1 p.m., followed by the Senate at 2 p.m. ON THE HILL FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: LOOTERS BEWARE — Democratic Reps. George Whitesides and Ro Khanna plan to introduce legislation that would make it a federal crime to loot in fire-torn areas or commit arson that starts or spreads a wildfire. It's a response to alleged criminal activity around the Los Angeles fires but also a sign of how Democratic officials are shifting right on law and order issues in California. 'Californians want public safety. They want to make sure that we are standing with our law enforcement,' Khanna told Playbook, 'that there's no smash-and-grabs, that there are no auto jackings, that there's no looting, that we're prioritizing safety.' Arson and looting are, of course, against state law, but adding them to federal criminal code could bring in federal law enforcement support and lead to longer sentences for violators, Khanna said. It may be a challenge to move a Democrat-carried bill through the Republican trifecta, but the representatives are banking on bipartisan animus toward looting in Los Angeles and elsewhere to push the legislation through the House. LOS ANGELES BASS UNDERWATER — A new poll from DecipherAi's David Wolfson shows 54 percent of Angelenos disapprove of Bass' response to the fires, while only 37 percent approve. The survey simulated a hypothetical 2026 election matchup between Bass and her 2022 foe, Republican-turned-Democrat Rick Caruso, and found Caruso up by seven points. The poll was conducted Jan. 19-22 and had a 4 percent margin of error. Los Angeles media firm Madison McQueen commissioned it, but not on the behalf of an existing client, firm President Owen Brennan told Playbook. Madison McQueen has cut ads for Republican Rep. John Duarte, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and other elected officials. 'Rather than follow predictable partisan patterns, voters in LA are fed up with failure and are demanding more competence from their elected officials,' Brennan said in a memo. 'If I were Rick Caruso,' Brennan told Playbook, 'I'd build a campaign team, declare my candidacy for mayor, and get to work showing Los Angeles what real leadership looks like.' CAMPAIGN YEAR(S) A HEALTHY SPEND — Health advocacy group Protect Our Care has launched a $10 million ad campaign to pressure 10 vulnerable House Republicans against cutting Medicaid funding. It's targeting California Reps. Ken Calvert, David Valadao and Young Kim, running ads in their districts warning of veterans and children with disabilities losing health care. The campaign is running cable, broadcast and digital spots with an emphasis on areas around nursing homes and rural hospitals where patients rely on Medicaid. Its goal is to influence the votes of enough battleground officials to block any federal budget legislation that would trim disadvantaged people's benefits. The strategy is reminiscent of similar campaigns run in the Central Valley during the 2010s, when advocates were fighting attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. 'The lawmakers in this campaign know that their neighbors rely on Medicaid every day,' Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach said in a statement. 'The American people want their representatives to do more to lower costs and improve care — not rip it away from those who need it most.' CLIMATE AND ENERGY MR. FIXIT: Trump hugged Newsom during his visit to Los Angeles last week, took photos with firefighters, had a testy exchange with Bass and vowed federal help for the state's recovery. Read more about what he said and what's next in Friday's California Climate. Top Talkers YOU'RE FIRED — Sen. Adam Schiff criticized Trump for firing 18 inspectors general on Friday night. 'Yeah, he broke the law. Not just any law, but a law meant to crowd out waste, fraud and abuse and, yeah, the remedies congress has,' Schiff said Sunday on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' 'We have the power of the purse, we have the power right now to confirm or not confirm people for Cabinet positions that control agencies or would control agencies whose inspectors generals have just been fired.' Federal law requires a 30-day notification to Congress before any inspector general can be removed. OUT OF TIME — Hochman said Friday that Marilyn Manson will not face criminal charges for a series of sexual assault and domestic violence allegations because the statute of limitations had run out, the LA Times reports. 'We recognize and applaud the courage and resilience of the women who came forward to make reports and share their experiences, and we thank them for their cooperation and patience with the investigation,' Hochman said in a statement. 'While we are unable to bring charges in this matter, we recognize that the strong advocacy of the women involved has helped bring greater awareness to the challenges faced by survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault.' AROUND THE STATE — Trump and the Republican Party made waves in California among young voters in the 2024 election. (CalMatters) — Chinese Company DeekSeep has introduced a specialized model that has deeply impressed Marc Andreessen, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist who has been advising Trump. (Wall Street Journal) — San Francisco is considering some controversial ballot measures, including congestion pricing and curb fees for ride-hailing companies, to save Muni and BART. (San Francisco Standard) — Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire reappointed Sen. Susan Rubio as chair of the Insurance Committee on Friday after leaving the position vacant earlier this month as wildfires continue burning in Los Angeles. (POLITICO Pro) PLAYBOOKERS — Roxanne Hoge of the Republican party's activist base is now chair of the Los Angeles County GOP. She takes the place of the more moderate Timothy O'Reilly. — California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks and other Golden State DNC members endorsed Minnesotan Ken Martin in the DNC chair race. PEOPLE MOVES — Rep. Derek Tran (D-Calif.) announced several new hires in his D.C. and District offices: Dao Nguyen is chief of staff; Eliana Locke will serve as communications director; Justin Maturo will serve as legislative director; Tony Tran will serve as senior legislative assistant; Lauren Brown will serve as scheduler; Cody Mendoza will serve as district director; Katrina Mañalac will serve as constituent services manager; Roxanne Chow will serve as senior adviser based in Orange County. — Mark Torres has joined Mercury Public Affairs as managing director in its California office. He will oversee the firm's expansion in the state. — Brandon Marchy will join the Orange County Medical Association as chief executive officer on Feb. 3. He's currently senior legislative advocate for the California Medical Association. BIRTHDAYS — State Sen. Eloise Reyes … Lindsey Holden (favorite cake: pink champagne from the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo) … Saul Carlin ... BELATED BDAY WISHES — (was Sunday): former Rep. Kevin McCarthy … former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra … Sarah Pompei … Chenyu Zheng … Morgan Pearlman … Eric Nelson … Enchanted Rock's Scott D. Lipton … Mimi Leder … (was Saturday): Aidan McDonald in Sen. Alex Padilla's office ... Robert N. Newman ... Michael Glantz ... John Leachman Oliver III ... (was Friday): Newsmax's Rick Leventhal WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO's California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form.
