Latest news with #Wiener
Montreal Gazette
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Montreal Gazette
Photography exhibition focuses on the people of Montreal and Shanghai
To mark the 40th anniversary of Montreal and Shanghai becoming sister cities, Montreal photographer Daniel Wiener has created an engrossing photo essay highlighting the urban landscapes of the two cities and honouring what he calls the shared humanity of the people of both. Pas de Deux: A tale — in three parts — of two cities features a series of 20 photographs set in Montreal, 20 in Shanghai and 20 featuring pairings based on subjects captured candidly in poses depicting daily life in the two cities, half a world apart. The City of Montreal is hosting the exhibition, being held at the Conseil des arts de Montréal, from Aug. 12 through Aug. 23. At first glance, Montreal and Shanghai seem to share little beyond an agreement signed in 1985 affirming their status as sister cities. But what if there is something more, Wiener wondered, 'something ubiquitous that reinforces our shared humanity?' Whenever he and his wife, who is Shanghainese, travelled to Shanghai to visit her family and friends, he'd wander around the city with his camera. As a commercial photographer, he thought: 'Maybe I can take some interesting photos and sell them to Air Canada or Air China.' Then he had what he calls 'a light bulb moment. The cities had more similarities than differences,' he realized. Myriad differences do exist between the two cities, of course: differences in language, geography, history, climate and political systems. But beyond that, the similarities are remarkable,' said Wiener, 71. Both cities are major ports and economic engines of their respective countries, of course — but that's not what this photo essay is about. 'Being a people watcher, that's where I pointed my lens,' he said. Residents of both cities share a joie de vivre, for one. 'Montrealers and Shanghainese, despite life's adversities, are optimistic and know how to have a good time,' Wiener said. 'Whether at a festival, botanical show or just going about their daily lives, through my camera's eye people are often enthusiastic in letting me see how good their lives are.' Another thing: The populations of both cities are diverse. 'More and more, Montreal is a city of immigrants,' Wiener said. Although Shanghai does not have significant foreign immigration, 'it is home to millions of migrants from rural areas who are essential in keeping the city running,' he said. 'Some areas are proudly Shanghainese, while others have a vibe much like Côte-des-Neiges,' said Wiener, who has long lived in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. The Shanghainese speak a Shanghai dialect among themselves and migrants speak Mandarin — but, because Mandarin is taught in schools throughout China, both groups are able to converse with one another. Residents of both cities share a love of food: While Montrealers line up for poutine, smoked meat and bagels, Shanghainese queue for moon cake, dumplings and Chinese doughnuts known as youtiao. 'We don't need the approval of the Michelin Guide to know Montreal is a culinary centre for everything from street food to haute cuisine,' Wiener said. 'The same holds true for Shanghai.' And both cities are an agglomeration of neighbourhoods. 'In Montreal, perhaps it's our proximity to each other that has led to a feeling of belonging. In Shanghai; there's that — but also the penchant people have for doing activities in groups. Exercise class or dancing in the park? It's highly probable that several times a week, you'll meet and socialize with your neighbours.' And from that neighbourly feeling grows the willingness to help: Wiener recalled observing a senior citizen trip over a piece of metal protruding from the sidewalk on Victoria Ave. near Van Horne Ave. — 'and immediately, a group of teenagers ran over and attended to her. In Shanghai, small courtesies like giving up a seat on the métro are a way of life. In the case of an actual emergency, people do get involved.' Most of the photos in the exhibition were taken during a two-year period, with the most recent shot in July. 'I often walk through the same areas at the same time — and I began to realize you see the same people,' he said. 'My experience throughout China is that people feel complimented if you take their picture.' The Montreal-Shanghai relationship is much bigger than we think — and much bigger there than here,' he said. 'And the Chinese like to celebrate anniversaries.' In 2024, Wiener discussed with the Chinese embassy's cultural affairs department in Ottawa his idea of a photo essay to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the twinning of the two cities. With their encouragement to exhibit Pas de Deux, he contacted Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, mayor of the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough — and a message was forwarded from the borough to the City of Montreal. A spokesperson for the City of Montreal said that, so far, Wiener's exhibition is the only official event planned by the city to highlight the 40th anniversary of the Montreal-Shanghai twinning. Wiener said he has been told by the Canadian consulate in Shanghai that plans are afoot to mount the same exhibition this fall. The relationship of Montreal and Shanghai as sister cities was formalized in May 1985, when Jean Drapeau, mayor of Montreal at the time, travelled on an official mission to Shanghai, where he and the mayor of Shanghai at the time, Wang Daohan, signed an agreement. That agreement has fostered several tangible achievements, such as professional exchanges, the creation of a traditional Chinese garden at Montreal's Botanical Garden of the Espace pour la vie natural sciences complex and a Montreal garden in Shanghai, the spokesperson said. In 1970, Canada was the second Western country (after Sweden) to recognize the People's Republic of China, then in the middle of its Cultural Revolution. In 1971, the first Chinese ambassador to Canada, Wang Wa, settled in Ottawa; Drapeau, already mayor of Montreal, travelled to congratulate him. This could be one reason why, when Wang Wa became vice-president of China, he agreed to Shanghai's participation in the 1980 Floralies internationales de Montréal, an international horticultural exposition. And during the Floralies, Pierre Bourque, director of the Botanical Garden at the time (and later mayor of Montreal), held meetings that proved decisive in the construction of the Chinese garden in the Botanical Garden. Designed by Chinese architect Le Weizhong, it was built between 1990 and 1991 with materials shipped from Shanghai in more than 100 containers and assembled by dozens of Chinese craftsmen. AT A GLANCE Pas de Deux: A tale — in three parts — of two cities., an exhibition of three series of 20 photographs each by Montreal photographer Daniel Wiener, is at the Maison du conseil des arts de Montréal, 1210 Sherbrooke St. E., across from La Fontaine Park, from Aug. 12 through 23. It is open daily to all, free of charge: Hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Politico
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Can YIMBYs win without Scott Wiener?
BIG SHOES — Activists with the pro-housing YIMBY movement have scored win after win at the California Legislature in recent years. But they could soon face a conundrum: What happens when state Sen. Scott Wiener isn't around? Wiener, in tandem with Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, has been the tip of the spear, pushing through a host of aggressive bills to turbocharge housing construction. Most notably, Wiener and Wicks championed a proposal this year to bypass environmental reviews for new housing in urban areas — the biggest reform to the landmark California Environmental Quality Act in a generation. His time at the state Capitol is winding down, however. Wiener recently opened a campaign committee to run for San Francisco's congressional seat currently held by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. There are a lot of 'ifs' surrounding Wiener's political aspirations. Pelosi, who's represented the city in the House since 1987, hasn't ruled out running for another term in 2026. Wiener's fundraising committee is ostensibly earmarked for a 2028 campaign, but he could easily transfer it to a 2026 run. And Wiener's campaign has been ambiguous lately about whether he would consider running against Pelosi. All of that said, activists with the YIMBY — 'Yes in My Back Yard' — or Abundance movement are grappling with the reality that their champion legislator may soon depart. At stake is whether those groups will have the legislative muscle to continue pushing through efforts to solve the housing shortage by slashing state and local regulations. More lawmakers aligned with the YIMBY movement have been elected in recent years, but it's unclear who among them has the skills to be a cudgel in the Senate like Wiener. 'The honest answer is, 'We'll know in time,'' said Todd David, political director for Abundant SF and a member of Wiener's inner circle of advisers. 'Senator Wiener has loomed so large on this issue. The question is, 'How long will it take for some of these (new) legislators to come into their own?'' Laura Foote, executive director of YIMBY Action, said she's not sweating Wiener's eventual exit. She said the group's success reforming CEQA and passing other pro-housing legislation is a reflection of the movement's grassroots, with YIMBY chapters that have canvassed and raised money to help elect lawmakers. 'There's going to be elected officials that want to claim that mantle,' Foote said. She listed a handful of new-ish legislators who are YIMBY-friendly: Sens. Jesse Arreguín and Christopher Cabaldon and Assemblymembers Juan Carrillo, Lori Wilson, David Alvarez and Nick Schultz. Wicks won't be forced out due to term limits until 2030. Wiener told Playbook he's not worried about the plight of housing bills after he's gone: 'Listen, we're all replaceable. We all have expiration dates,' he said. 'There are various members in both houses who are deeply committed to housing, so I'm confident the work will continue.' But YIMBY advocates have another problem, too — one that is cropping up before Wiener leaves Sacramento, and regardless of when he runs for Congress. Incoming Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón, one of the chamber's biggest environmental champions and a lukewarm supporter of housing legislation, is widely expected to remove Wiener as chair of the powerful budget committee (this year's CEQA reforms advanced through budget bills). Moreover, the YIMBY movement has faced sharp criticism in recent months from some labor union leaders and environmentalists, who argue the effort to streamline construction has undermined other priorities, such as protections for workers and wildlife habitats. California Labor Federation leader Lorena Gonzalez, a fierce opponent of recent YIMBY legislation, said a sizable group of Democratic lawmakers are uncomfortable as pro-housing groups take bigger regulation-cutting swings. She predicted that discomfort will grow regardless of Wiener's plans. 'The (YIMBY) movement has moved the bar … it finally got to a point where lawmakers were like, 'Hold up, I didn't sign up for that,'' Gonzalez said. 'It's a natural reaction to people opening their eyes.' GOOD MORNING. Happy Tuesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. Like what you're reading? Sign up to get California Playbook in your inbox, and forward it to a friend. You can also 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. CA vs. TRUMP DUKING IT OUT OVER DATA — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James are leading a lawsuit against the Agriculture Department over its efforts to obtain sensitive information on participants in the country's largest anti-hunger program, our Grace Yarrow reported for POLITICO Pro subscribers. The officials allege USDA's request for state data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants and participants violates federal privacy laws. Bonta has also sued the Department of Health and Human Services for sharing patient data with immigration authorities. This latest development tees up another fight over jurisdiction as immigration advocates seek to keep wide swaths of undocumented Californians' data out of the Trump administration's hands. 'President [Donald] Trump continues to weaponize private and sensitive personal information — not to root out fraud, but to create a culture of fear where people are unwilling to apply for essential services,' Bonta said in a statement. NUMBER OF THE DAY 100,947: The record number of California residents admitted to University of California campuses for the upcoming academic year. CAMPAIGN YEAR(S) FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: KHANNA'S NOD — Rep. Ro Khanna is backing Democratic entrepreneur Brandon Riker in his bid to unseat Rep. Ken Calvert, Riker's campaign exclusively told Playbook. The crowded race to oust Calvert — a top target of Democrats this cycle — also includes Katherine Aleman, a teacher who announced last week, and Riverside attorney Anuj Dixit, who was recently endorsed by Rep. Dave Min. MONEY MEADE — In case you missed it while we were off, Democratic labor organizer Perry Meade last week joined the field challenging Republican Rep. Young Kim. And he raised $250,000 in the 24 hours after he announced his candidacy, his campaign told Playbook on Monday. Read more on his launch from our Juliann Ventura STATE CAPITOL EYES ON GAZA — Sacramento leaders have joined national and international leaders in condemning the starvation and displacement of Palestinians in Gaza amid a growing global outcry. Wiener, who is chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus, shared an X post on Friday condemning the Israeli government's actions. 'What the Israeli govt is doing in Gaza — inflicting mass displacement & starvation on Palestinians — is indefensible & has to stop,' he said. 'The Israeli govt's actions won't bring the hostages home or bring peace. This gruesome campaign will do nothing except continue to inflict misery.' Jewish Caucus member Matt Haney called for an end to the 'despicable, inhumane assault on the people of Gaza' yesterday in an Instagram post. State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez also shared an Instagram post calling for a ceasefire. 'We will not let people starve in silence,' she said. Gov. Gavin Newsom — who took a trip to Israel shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — hasn't weighed in on the topic in recent days. Asked whether he planned to comment on the situation, Newsom's team pointed to a statement he made during his appearance on 'The Shawn Ryan Show' podcast two weeks ago. 'Just enough,' Newsom said on the podcast. 'Come on, all these poor children. Enough. When's enough, enough? I mean, fuck Hamas … But Jesus. Look at these children starving.' — Lindsey Holden Top Talkers SOUNDING THE ALARM — Wiener, in a San Francisco Standard op-ed, warned against dismissing Trump's idea to reopen Alcatraz as a prison. The San Francisco Democrat wrote that 'we can't assume this idea is fake' and that 'we need to be planning now for how to stop this awful plan — or at least slow it down.' UNIVERSITY EXPANSION — A spokesperson for Vanderbilt University said that the school is considering expanding into San Francisco and has been working with Mayor Daniel Lurie's office, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The spokesperson said that the university is exploring the idea of 'establishing a presence downtown.' CHECKING IN — Rep. Robert Garcia said he spoke to Andry Hernández Romero, a Venezuelan migrant whom the U.S. deported to El Salvador, about the makeup artist's recent release from a Salvadoran prison. Garcia on X said Romero was in good spirits but spoke of horrific conditions in the CECOT detention facility. AROUND THE STATE — A U.S. citizen arrested during a July 17 immigration raid at a Sacramento Home Depot store was charged Monday with vandalism and accused of puncturing a tire on a van being used to transport undocumented immigrants, The Sacramento Bee reports. — The union representing thousands of grocery store workers from the U.S.-Mexico border to Bakersfield authorized a strike against a major supermarket chain. (The San Diego Union-Tribune) — Environmental groups sued California over a state climate rule, alleging it increases air pollution. (POLITICO's E&E News) — A city in Mexico that has more than a thousand dentists draws patients mostly from across the border who are seeking more affordable dental care. (The New Yorker) PLAYBOOKERS SPOTTED: WEDDING CRASHER — Kamala Harris in the Cotswolds region of England, attending the reportedly $6.7 million wedding of Olympic equestrian Harry Charles and Eve Jobs, the daughter of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. PEOPLE MOVES — Rhonalyn Cabello has been promoted from communications manager to communications director in the office of Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis. — Stuart Leavenworth has rejoined the Los Angeles Times as state editor, based in Sacramento. He'll oversee general assignment reporters across the state. BIRTHDAYS — former Rep. Jeff Denham … author Jason Levin … documentary filmmaker Ken Burns … actor Wil Wheaton … BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Monday): Josh Curtis 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.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Video game franchise 'Assassin's Creed' live action series in works
The work on the long-awaited 'Assassin's Creed' live-action series has finally begun at Netflix. The news comes nearly five years after it was reported that Netflix was developing a series version of the video game franchise. The work on the long-awaited 'Assassin's Creed' live action series has finally begun at Netflix, reported Variety. The news comes nearly five years after it was first reported that the streaming giant was developing a series version of the global hit video game franchise under a deal with game publisher Ubisoft, as per the outlet. The project has gone through multiple creative teams in that time, with Roberto Patino and David Wiener now set as creators, showrunners, and executive producers. "We've been fans of 'Assassin's Creed' since its release in 2007," Wiener and Patino said. "Every day we work on this show, we come away excited and humbled by the possibilities that 'Assassin's Creed' opens to us. Beneath the scope, the spectacle, the parkour and the thrills is a baseline for the most essential kind of human story -- about people searching for purpose, struggling with questions of identity and destiny and faith," added Weiner and Patino as quoted by Variety. While talking about the series, the creators said that the show is about the value of "human connection" and "cultures". "It is about power and violence and sex and greed and vengeance. But more than anything, this is a show about the value of human connection, across cultures, across time. And it's about what we stand to lose as a species, when those connections break. We've got an amazing team behind us with the folks at Ubisoft and our champions at Netflix, and we're committed to creating something undeniable for fans all over the planet," said Wiener and Patino. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ukraine: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo In addition to Wiener and Patino, Gerard Guillemot, Margaret Boykin, and Austin Dill of Ubisoft Film & Television serve as executive producers, as does Matt O'Toole. The first "Assassin's Creed" game debuted in 2007 and became an instant hit, with over 230 million copies of the various titles in the franchise having been sold to date. The official logline for the show states that it is "centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions -- one set on determining mankind's future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will. The series follows its characters across pivotal historical events as they battle to shape humanity's destiny." There have been 14 installments in the main franchise so far, with the most recent being "Assassin's Creed: Shadows," released in 2025, reported Variety. A film adaptation starring Michael Fassbender was released in 2016. This will be the first live-action series produced under the Netflix-Ubisoft deal.
Los Angeles Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Dodger Stadium gondola closer to reality? Sacramento might help Team McCourt
In Sacramento, the Athletics are mired in last place, struggling to fill the minor league ballpark they call home. That does not mean our state capitol is lacking for some serious hardball. California legislators, meet our old friend, Frank McCourt. McCourt, the former Dodgers owner, first pitched a gondola from Union Station to Dodger Stadium in 2018. The most recent development, from May: An appellate court ordered a redo of the environmental impact report, citing two defects that needed to be remedied. At the time, a project spokesman categorized those defects as 'minor, technical matters' and said they could be 'addressed quickly.' In the event of another lawsuit challenging the gondola project on environmental grounds, McCourt and his team want to guarantee any such suit would be addressed quickly. On Monday, state legislators are scheduled to consider a bill designed in part to put a 12-month limit on court proceedings related to environmental challenges to certain transit projects. The current challenge to the gondola project is 16 months old and counting. The bill, in all its legislative prose, does not cite any specific project. However, a state senate analysis calls the gondola proposal 'one project that would benefit.' Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the bill's author, said he had not met with any of the lobbyists from the McCourt entities registered to do so. Wiener said he included the gondola-related language in the bill at the request of legislators from the Los Angeles area. 'To me, it was a no-brainer,' Wiener told me. The larger purpose of the bill: cutting red tape for buses, bikes, trains, ferries and any other mode of transit that might get you out of your car. If a gondola can do that, he said, bring it on. 'We need more sustainable transit options in California,' he said. 'We need to make it easier for people to get around without having to drive. 'When you get cars off the road, it benefits the people who don't have to drive, but it also benefits drivers, because it means there are fewer drivers on the road.' The Senate analysis listed 52 organizations in support of Wiener's bill, none opposed. Weiner told me he had not heard from anyone in opposition. That was concerning to Jon Christensen of the L.A. Parks Alliance, one of the two groups that filed the long-running environmental lawsuit against the gondola project. Christensen, whose coalition recently scrambled to hire its own Sacramento lobbyists, said he has no problem with expediting legal proceedings. What he has a problem with, he said, is a bill that 'singles out one billionaire's project for favoritism.' Nathan Click, the spokesman for Zero Emissions Transit (ZET), the nonprofit charged with building and operating the gondola, said the bill simply extends a provision of previous legislation. 'The vast majority of Angelenos want and deserve zero emission transit solutions that reduce traffic and cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions,' Click said. Click declined to say why project proponents felt compelled to pursue inclusion in this legislation if the environmental challenge already had been reduced to what he had called 'minor, technical matters' two months ago. Project opponents maintain ridership estimates for the gondola are overly optimistic. In the end, what happens in Sacramento might not matter much. The gondola project still requires approvals from the City Council, Caltrans, Metro and the state parks agency. The latest target for a grand opening — 2028, in time for the Olympic baseball tournament at Dodger Stadium — likely would require construction to begin next spring. No financing commitment has been announced for a project estimated to cost $385 million to $500 million — and that estimate undoubtedly has risen in the two years since it was shared publicly. There is nothing improper or unusual about lobbyists advocating for the interests of big business, but it's not cheap. Over the past five years, according to state records, McCourt's gondola company has spent more than $500,000 to do so.
Politico
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
California tries to unmask ICE
Presented by MASK OFF: California lawmakers disturbed by images of masked federal agents plucking immigrants off the street for deportation want them to uncover their faces and wear badges. But can the state that recently experienced a federal takeover of its National Guard actually force ICE to do anything? Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has railed on the masks and other tactics, called that into question in an interview with a progressive Tennessee news site released today. 'We have a bill — we're looking at the constitutionality of it,' Newsom said. 'It appears we don't have the legal authority for federal agents, but we do for other law enforcement authorities. There's some amendments being made in the bill and our legal team's looking at it.' It's a legally questionable proposal, but one that Democratic state Sens. Scott Wiener and Sasha Renée Pérez argue California needs to prevent the formation of a 'secret police' and to deter kidnappings by people posing as plainclothes federal agents in sunglasses and neck gaiters. 'The idea that people who are dressed as if they're robbing a liquor store are running around grabbing Californians and throwing them into unmarked vehicles and taking them God knows where — it's like a dystopian nightmare,' Wiener told Playbook. 'We need to be aggressive and decisive in trying to put a stop to it.' Federal officials could easily find ways around state laws — for instance, by moving the prosecution of an agent to federal court and getting the case dismissed. But the legislation represents one of lawmakers' more confrontational attempts to rein in Donald Trump's administration as California leaders find their resistance footing. Now, New York wants to get in on the action, with leaders unveiling a similar 'MELT Act' in Manhattan yesterday — which its proponents said was inspired by the California legislation. Wiener's bill aims to prohibit local, state and federal law enforcement from wearing masks while working with the public on duty, with the exception of SWAT protective gear and medical grade masks. Pérez's legislation would require officials to wear ID with their name or a badge number. The Democrats unveiled both of their bills late in the session by gutting unrelated legislation in response to weeks of aggressive ICE sweeps at Southern California car washes, day-labor sites, factories and even court hearings. California Sen. Alex Padilla this week joined with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker to introduce federal legislation on the same topic, although they have very little chance of getting it through the Republican-controlled Congress. The fact that the legislation is written to apply to all law enforcement, not just federal agents, makes it more legally viable, said Jessica Bulman-Pozen, co-director of the Center for Constitutional Governance at Columbia Law School. 'The important thing to focus on is whether, as a matter of constitutional principle, states can take such actions to protect their residents,' she said. 'And I think the right answer to that question is 'yes.'' Mike German, a former FBI agent and fellow at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, said it's 'certainly not normal for law enforcement not to properly identify themselves by agency when they're working,' and that concealing their identity creates complications when multiple agencies are involved in an operation — and poses threats to officers' safety. 'If people witness somebody attacking somebody in public, and it's not very clear that they're law enforcement, that can result in harm to the officers,' he said. 'There's a reason why FBI agents, when they're conducting a raid, wear jackets with big yellow letters that say 'FBI.' They don't want anybody to mistake them for kidnappers or robbers.' But constitutional questions about the bills could be moot if they run headlong into a more routine setback: statehouse opposition. At least two powerful state law enforcement groups — the Peace Officers Research Association of California and the California State Sheriffs' Association — will fight the mask requirement, complicating its passage. 'This unnecessary bill would effectively ban personal protective equipment — like face shields and gas masks — used in high-risk situations such as riots or chemical exposures,' said Brian Marvel, president of PORAC, which represents thousands of public safety officers, in a statement shared with Playbook today. 'SB 627 would force our officers to choose between personal protection and a misdemeanor, risking their safety and our communities' safety for a law that solves nothing.' — with help from Tyler Katzenberger IT'S THURSDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to lholden@ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY BIRTHRIGHT BATTLE: A federal judge in New Hampshire issued a nationwide block today on Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship, just weeks after the Supreme Court lifted similar orders as too broad, our Josh Gerstein and Hassan Ali Kanu report. U.S. District Judge Joseph LaPlante imposed the new injunction after a hearing in which he allowed a pending lawsuit to proceed as a class action — a path to nationwide relief that the justices said remains available after their ruling in late June that curtailed judges' power to block the government from enforcing a policy altogether. LaPlante said the plaintiffs' argument that Trump's order is unconstitutional will likely prevail, and that a preliminary block on the EO is appropriate for now. The block came as the California Senate debated a resolution from Democratic state Sen. Aisha Wahab condemning the birthright executive order. Republicans declined to vote on it, and some decried how the constitutional right has been used in the U.S. 'There's no question there's abuses,' said state Sen. Tony Strickland of Orange County, describing 'people coming from other parts of the world with no allegiance to the United States — coming in and [giving] birth in the United States and expecting citizenship and all the rights therefore of citizenship.' GOP state Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh choked up as she talked about her immigrant parents, but she said she couldn't vote for the resolution. 'We have to ask ourselves, 'Is it appropriate to grant citizenship to people who have no intention of staying in the U.S.?'' she said. IN OTHER NEWS TRAFFICKING TURNABOUT: Newsom and legislative leadership are pushing for a hotly-contested sex trafficking bill that roiled the Assembly to make it out of the Senate in quick, clean fashion. The bill would expand a law increasing penalties for those seeking to buy sex from minors to include 16- and 17-year-olds not currently covered under the law, and would criminalize loitering to solicit sex workers. Assembly Public Safety Chair Nick Schultz, who took over the bill from Assemblymember Maggy Krell, told Playbook the governor and leaders want to move the bill through the Capitol without significant changes. The Senate Appropriations Committee this week advanced the legislation to the Senate floor. The bill created a brouhaha in the Assembly when lawmakers attempted to remove the portion related to soliciting older teens. Krell joined with Republicans to push back on the amendments, and they ended up back in the bill with some caveats after the uproar. State Sen. Scott Wiener, who authored a 2022 bill decriminalizing loitering with the intent to commit prostitution, was not pleased that the legislation would roll back portions of his policy. During the bill's Senate Public Safety Committee hearing, he asked for the loitering provision to come out before moving the bill to the floor. It appears that likely will not happen, although Schultz said he views the bill as 'foundational legislation' that could yield cleanup bills next year. JUST CAN'T QUIT THE SOUTH: Newsom is soaking up some extra limelight in Tennessee before returning from out East. Hours after he wrapped a two-day tour of rural South Carolina that looked strikingly similar to a presidential campaign swing, he jetted off to Nashville for an impromptu meet-and-greet with the East Nashtivists, a progressive advocacy group affiliated with Planned Parenthood. The governor followed it up with a media blitz: He spoke with journalist Justin Kanew of the progressive news site Tennessee Holler over beers on Wednesday evening. This morning, Newsom taped a podcast with new media personality and former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan, whose eponymous podcast has previously hosted President Donald Trump, border czar Tom Homan and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Melissa Sautter, who founded the East Nashtivists in 2022, said Newsom's talk was similarly aimed at galvanizing red state Democrats against Donald Trump's agenda. A video posted to the group's Instagram page showed Newsom recycling some points from his South Carolina stump speech. 'It all happened very fast, so we weren't thinking that he was coming to our meeting specifically to rally the call for his presidency,' Sautter told Playbook when we asked about 2028 rumors. And then: 'I wouldn't be surprised if he was, you know, starting that tour to aim for that.' — Tyler Katzenberger WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY — Newly analyzed data revealed the median wait time for a Bay Area judge to rule on an immigration case between 2019 and 2025: four-and-a-half years. (The San Francisco Chronicle) — NBA icon Shaquille O'Neal is set to perform as a DJ at Cal Expo in Sacramento this weekend. (The Sacramento Bee) — A Silicon Valley venture capitalist is leading the charge on a controversial race to start mining the ocean floor. (Mercury News) AROUND THE STATE — A Los Angeles County homelessness prevention program that uses artificial intelligence appears to show early signs of success. (LAist) — PG&E is set to refund taxpayers more than $40 million after an unplanned outage at a nuclear plant in Diablo Canyon in 2021. (The Fresno Bee) — A popular night market in the Outer Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco will not return this year amid backlash in the wake of Proposition K, the ballot measure that closed the Great Highway to cars and converted it into a park. (SF Standard) — compiled by Juliann Ventura
