House minority leader and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a California political icon, starting out as a campaign worker on Jerry Brown's campaign for governor more than 40 years ago, running the state Democratic Party and then capturing the 12th CD in San Francisco -- where she's been since 1987.
From DANIEL MARACCINI in Capitol Weekly: "In the end, it all comes down to following the money – about $568 million and counting."
"Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader of the House and former speaker, is no stranger to criticism and this year is no different."
"But this time, the attacks are coming from fellow Democrats who are calling for the longtime House leader, who turned 77 in March and is a California political icon, to step down."
"So far, she’s not budging."
Gov. Brown's cap-and-trade arm-twisting is a shining example of how an attempt to hammer out complex legislation should be approached. So sayeth the LAT's venerable political columnist.
LA Times' GEORGE SKELTON: "One particular message to the agriculture industry was simple: You want Gov. Jerry Brown to be a friend or an enemy the rest of his term?"
"Friends will support his climate change legislation, it was made clear."
"To business leaders: This legislation provides tax and regulatory breaks that you’ve long sought. Grab them now or forget it."
LA Times' PHIL WILLON: "Accusing Sacramento’s political power barons of neglecting California schoolkids, former state schools chief Delaine Eastin jumped into the 2018 governor’s race in the fall vowing to shove the issue of education to the forefront of the campaign."
"Eastin’s done her part, at least, calling for increased funding for schools and lower, in some cases free, college tuition as she travels the state."
"She’s also been quick to stoke California’s fiery left, calling for President Trump’s impeachment and the establishment of a state-run, single-payer healthcare system."
Congress was crippled with some sad news yesterday: U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona has been diagnosed with brain cancer, and his prognosis is not good.
WaPo's SEAN SULLIVAN/KAROUN DEMIRJIAN/PAUL KANE: "Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, his office said Wednesday, throwing into doubt when and if he will return to Washington to resume his duties in the Senate."
"The Mayo Clinic said doctors diagnosed a tumor called a glioblastoma after surgery to remove a blood clot above McCain’s left eye last week. The senator and his family are considering treatment options, including a combination of chemotherapy and radiation, according to the hospital."
"McCain, 80, has been away from the Senate this week, recovering from the surgery and undergoing tests. His office issued a statement describing him “in good spirits” and noting that his doctors say his underlying health is excellent — but not indicating when he will return to the Senate."
READ MORE related to Health: Not easy for Democrats to use health care vote to win back House -- The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI
A Nazi-linked rally at the Capitol last summer left many wounded and bloodied, and now charges have been doled out.
Sacramento Bee's SAM STANTON: "Prosecutors have arrested a total of four suspects in last year’s riot at the state Capitol, one a suspected neo-Nazi who is also accused of defacing a Colorado synagogue and three anti-fascist counter-demonstrators, including a Berkeley middle school teacher."
"The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said the two arrests announced Tuesday and two others revealed Wednesday afternoon are expected to be the only ones for now in the June 2016 rally at the Capitol that spun out of control into a riot that left five people stabbed and nine others injured."
"One of the suspects is a well-known white supremacist in the Denver area who was arrested last week on charges of defacing a synagogue in Colorado Springs, according to the Anti-Defamation League and police."
East Bay Times' ALI TADAYON: "Moreno Valley resident Alex Gonzales thought making butane honey oil — a powerful marijuana byproduct — in a Palm Springs motel room in 2015 would be a quick, simple task, until a spark caused the room to catch fire, severely burning him and his sleeping girlfriend."
"Gonzales, 25, and his girlfriend Selina Cervantes, 21, said Tuesday that they are trying to put their lives back together after the accident. Gonzales suffered major burns to much of his body, and had skin grafts over much of his right side. Cervantes was even more badly injured: She is completely covered in burns, her lips and many of her fingers were burned off and she now must use a wheelchair."
"The couple, and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, hope their experience will serve as a warning to others that using butane to make honey oil can be extremely dangerous."
READ MORE related to Economy: Another minimum wage increase on track in California -- Sacramento Bee's JIM MILLER; More marijuana growers than Starbucks stores? That could be Sacramento's future. -- Sacramento Bee's RYAN LILLIS/ALEXANDRA YOON-HENDRICKS
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is frustrated.
LA Times' NOAH BIERMAN: "President Trump expressed regret for hiring Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, saying it was "very unfair" that he recused himself from the investigation into Russia's election meddling, and left open the possibility of seeking the firing of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III."
"Trump made the remarks in an interview with the New York Times."
"The interview featured an array of complaints against Justice Department leaders and the investigation into potential collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia during the 2016 election."
READ MORE related to Beltway: How to reboot Trump after failing fast in his first 6 months -- The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI; Trump rages at Sessions in NYT interview -- AP
Ben Shapiro's planned UC Berkeley visit isn't going the way the campus' Republican Club had hoped.
The Chronicle's NANETTE ASIMOV: "Conservative columnist Ben Shapiro, the latest right-wing pundit whom a Republican student organization has tried to bring to UC Berkeley, won’t be allowed to speak on the campus under the conditions the group has proposed, school officials said Wednesday."
"The Berkeley College Republicans want to host Shapiro on Sept. 14 at a campus location able to accommodate 500 people. But campus officials say none is available on that day, unless the group is willing to pay a potential rental fee."
An intense wild fire is scorching Mariposa County near Yosemite, and thousands have been forced to evacuate. The worst may be still to come.
LA Times' MEG BERNHARD/VERONICA ROCHA/HAILEY BRANSON-POTTS: "It has destroyed 29 structures, temporarily cut off power to Yosemite National Park and threatened the historic gold-mining town of Mariposa, sending its residents fleeing. It’s sent its smoke as far away as Idaho, and it burned so hot that it created its own weather system."
"If the Detwiler fire, which has moved with frightening speed this week through the rugged terrain of rural Mariposa County, was looking to make a dramatic statement, it succeeded."
"The blaze — which has forced 4,000 people from their homes — nearly doubled in size overnight Tuesday, exploding from 25,000 acres to 45,724 acres, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Wednesday."
READ MORE related to Environment: Thousands evacuated as fire west of Yosemite grows to 48,000 acres -- The Chronicle's EVAN SERNOFFSKY/SARAH RAVANI/KURTIS ALEXANDER
The state will soon be giving San Francisco a $10 million dollar 'Navigation Center.'
The Chronicle's DOMINIC FRACASSA: "San Francisco is getting a new Navigation Center — possibly as early as next spring — thanks to a $10 million gift from the state."
"The money is the result of months of discussions among Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, Mayor Ed Lee’s office, the city’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and Supervisor Hillary Ronen."