Gavin Newsom’s congressional maps face their final test at the ballot box
LAT, SEEMA MEHTA: "Californians are heading to the polls Tuesday to vote on a Democratic effort to block President Trump’s agenda by increasing their party’s numbers in Congress after the 2026 election.
Proposition 50, a ballot measure about redrawing the state’s congressional districts, was crafted by Democrats after Trump urged Texas and other GOP-led states to modify their congressional maps to favor their party members, a moved designed to keep the U.S. House of Representatives in Republican control during his final two years in office."
READ MORE -- Polls open today for California’s special election, but most of the vote may already be in -- LAT, KATIE KING; Prop 50: The most important things to watch in California’s special election -- Chronicle, JOE GAROFOLI
It’s time for proportional representation (OP-ED)
Capitol Weekly, CALEDON MYERS: "Recent polling shows that Prop 50 – Governor Newsom’s counter-gerrymandering ballot initiative to redraw California’s congressional map in favor of Democrats – is likely to pass. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, 56% of voters plan to vote “Yes” on 50.
Voters’ support isn’t surprising: Democrats have dominated California’s state legislature for 60 of the last 65 years. But what voters’ motivations reveal is how deeply polarization and fear now shape our politics. Among those voting Yes on 50, 75% say they’re doing so to oppose Donald Trump, while only 41% cite support for Gavin Newsom."
Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in US history, dies at 84
AP, CALVIN WOODWARD: "Dick Cheney, the hard-charging conservative who became one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history and a leading advocate for the invasion of Iraq, has died at 84.
Cheney died Monday due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family said Tuesday in a statement."
Gavin Newsom’s gamble on Prop. 50 may be his most calculated yet
LAT, MELODY GUTIERREZ: "Gov. Gavin Newsom stepped to the microphone at the state Democratic headquarters in mid-August with the conviction of a man certain he was on the right side of history, bluntly saying California has a moral obligation to thwart President Trump’s attempt to tilt the balance of Congress.
Over the next 2½ months, Newsom became the public face of Proposition 50, a measure designed to help Democrats win control of the U.S. House of Representatives by temporarily redrawing California’s congressional districts."
Supreme Court’s conservatives face a test of their own in judging Trump’s tariffs
LAT. DAVID G. SAVAGE: "The Supreme Court’s conservatives face a test of their own making this week as they decide whether President Trump had the legal authority to impose tariffs on imports from nations across the globe.
At issue are import taxes that are paid by American businesses and consumers."
The Micheli Minute, November 3, 2025
Capitol Weekly, STAFF: "Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome."
These parts of California will be most impacted by SNAP cuts
Chronicle, DANIELLE ECHEVERRIA: "California’s rural and agricultural counties have the highest share of residents receiving government food assistance benefits, according to the latest data from the California Department of Social Services.
That means people in those counties stand to be most affected by the funding lapse for federal SNAP benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown. On Saturday, 42 million low-income Americans, including 5.5 million in California, did not receive their regular monthly food aid as uncertainty over the program’s funding loomed, according to the Associated Press."
Chronicle, LUCY HODGMAN: "As San Francisco plans for the development of more housing and taller buildings on commercial corridors, city officials have clashed over the best way to make sure small businesses aren’t hurt by the changes.
In July, Supervisor Connie Chan proposed an extension of a temporary measure intended to protect community fixtures from displacement. Her legislation would add red tape for operations seeking to push out legacy businesses — those in place for more than 30 years — by requiring them to first obtain a special permit, dubbed “conditional use authorization,” from the city."
A chat with Adam Silver, Chair of the California FPPC (PODCAST)
Capitol Weekly, STAFF: "Adam Silver was appointed Chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission in March 2024. The FPPC was created in 1974 when California voters approved Proposition 9, The Political Reform Act, in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Five decades later, the FFPC is plenty busy. Silver joined us to talk about the Commission’s work, the challenges posed by Cryptocurrencies and his path to the Chairmanship. Plus, a full slate of options for Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics."
What Chris Wright gets wrong about California
Capitol Weekly, KURT SCHUPARRA: "No state has been derided more by President Donald Trump and top officials in his administration than California. Last month Chris Wright, the secretary of the Department of Energy, added to that onslaught.
During an interview with David Gelles of The New York Times, Wright observed that “California had electricity prices only about 10 percent higher than Florida’s 20 years ago,” before the two states went in “different directions.” Florida invested heavily in electricity from natural gas generation – the “cheapest source of electricity” Wright proclaimed — while California officials ill-advisedly proceeded to “shut down” as many of its natural gas plants as they could in favor of renewable energy. “Today, California’s electricity prices are twice Florida’s.”"
State Supreme Court deals defeat to UC over policy barring undocumented students from campus jobs
LAT, JAWEED KALEEM/CLARA HARTER: "The California Supreme Court has let stand an appellate court’s ruling that the University of California’s ban on hiring undocumented workers is discriminatory and must be reconsidered.
The recent refusal to hear UC’s challenge to the lower court’s decision was met with joy by immigrant rights groups. But UC expressed concern."
Jury awards $16.8 million to California prison doctor who complained about inmate’s threat
CALMatters, ADAM ASHTON: "A jury awarded a $16.8 million judgment to a California prison doctor who alleged her employer did not respond appropriately to a threat she received from an incarcerated person, fired her when she raised concerns about her safety and then defamed her by allowing rumors to spread among staff.
The verdict, reached last week, caps Dr. Beth Fischgrund’s six-year effort to contest her dismissal from Salinas Valley State Prison, where she worked as a contract psychologist beginning in September 2017."
Bay Area weather: Here’s a timeline for when rain, wind will be strongest
Chronicle, ANTHONY EDWARDS: "Stormy weather is set to return to the Bay Area on Tuesday night and linger into Wednesday, prompting the National Weather Service to warn of strong winds and dangerous beach conditions.
The biggest impacts from an atmospheric river-fueled storm are expected to remain north of the Bay Area on Tuesday and hammer the North Coast. The weather service issued a flood watch and high wind warning from roughly Point Arena (Humboldt County) to Crescent City (Del Norte County)."
Is Elon Musk worth $1 trillion? Shareholders get to decide
LAT, CAROLINE PETROW-COHEN: "Tesla shareholders have just days left to vote on whether to approve a staggering pay package for chief executive Elon Musk that could award him nearly $1 trillion in shares.
Musk could leave the company if shareholders reject the package, board chair Robyn Denholm warned in a letter to voters last week. The pay proposal is tied to ambitious performance goals and is necessary to incentivize Musk to continue his work, Denholm said."
A Waymo robotaxi killed a beloved S.F. cat. Now a city supervisor wants driverless car reform
Chronicle, RACHEL SWAN: "With outrage building over the death of “KitKat,” a feline struck by a Waymo in San Francisco’s Mission District, a city supervisor has called for legislation allowing counties to ban autonomous vehicles.
The resolution that Supervisor Jackie Fielder plans to introduce Tuesday would urge state leaders to change how this ride-hail technology is regulated, by enabling local governments to put the matter to voters."
Chronicle, AIDIN VAZIRI: "Travelers at San Francisco International Airport faced mounting flight delays Monday as the month-long federal government shutdown continued to ripple through the nation’s air system, leaving control towers short-staffed and tempers flaring in Washington.
By late Monday, 112 flights were delayed and one was canceled at SFO, according to FlightAware. That followed 272 delays and six cancellations on Sunday, and 179 delays on Saturday."