Trump tees up tariff hikes on top trading partners. What’s at stake for California?
LAT's DON LEE: "When President-elect Donald Trump announced he would impose sweeping tariffs on key trading partners on his first day in office, he signaled a return to a favorite strategy: a reverse carrot-and-stick that applies the stick of dire consequences in order to force countries to give him what he wants. In this case, that means a tougher crackdown on illegal migration and the movement of drugs into the U.S.
The risk of applying this tactic to foreign trade is that the whole U.S. economy is so reliant on the status quo that any miscalculation could have damaging consequences, especially in California and other trade-dependent states."
California’s Republican caucus is growing and more diverse, but it’s a long way from power
CALMatters's RYAN SABALOW: "The Republican caucus in California’s Legislature is growing more diverse as Latino and Asian American candidates apparently flipped three Democrat-held seats, including unseating an incumbent Democrat senator for the first time in a presidential election since 1980.
When new legislators are sworn in next week, Democrats will still control a supermajority in the Legislature. But the three flipped seats have Republicans hopeful that California’s reputation as a liberal enclave state may be shifting. They point to Latino and Black voters helping send Donald Trump to the White House for a second term."
Assemblyman Kevin McCarty declares victory in Sacramento mayoral race. ‘I am honored’
Sacramento Bee's THERESA CLIFT: "Assemblyman Kevin McCarty will be Sacramento’s next mayor.
“I am honored to be the next mayor of Sacramento,” McCarty’s campaign posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Tuesday evening after the county posted the latest batch of results. “Thank you to my incredible supporters and campaign team, whose dedication and hard work made this victory possible.”"
Caitlyn Jenner claims she would ‘destroy’ Kamala Harris in 2026 California governor race
The Chronicle's AIDIN VAZIRI: "Caitlyn Jenner, the Olympic gold medalist turned media personality, took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting she would “destroy” her in a potential 2026 race for California governor.
In a series of social media posts on Monday, Nov. 25, Jenner addressed mounting speculation about her political aspirations. Responding to a question about a future gubernatorial run, she declared, “If I ran, and it was ultimately against Harris, I would destroy her.”"
A “yoga pill” to end anxiety? Neuroscientists discover a brain circuit that instantly deflates stress
LAT's DEBORAH VANKIN: "Your heart is racing, your arms are tingling and your breathing is shallow. You’re having an anxiety attack. And you’re in a public place, to boot. A crowded restaurant, say, or at the office. Not a space where you can comfortably lay on the ground and do some deep breathing exercises to calm yourself.
What if there were a pill that would instead induce that kind of calm breathing for you? That scenario might be possible after a new scientific breakthrough."
Bay Area Dreamers brace for ‘worst-case scenario’ — including self-deporting — in second Trump term
The Chronicle's KO LYN CHEANG, JESSICA FLORES: "As President-elect Donald Trump pledges to use the military in a mass-deportation effort and to rescind birthright citizenship from the children of undocumented immigrants when he retakes office in January, Reyna Maldonado is having a conversation she never expected to.
A recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, Maldonado said she and some of her fellow “Dreamers” are considering the once unthinkable: self-deporting to countries they knew only as kids if DACA ends."
California Community Colleges board elects new president
EdSource's DIANA LAMBERT: "The board of governors for California’s community college system Thursday elected Hildegarde Aguinaldo to serve as president and Bill Rawlings as vice president in 2025.
Aguinaldo has been on the 17-member board since 2018 and is currently the assistant general counsel for DaVita, which provides kidney dialysis. She also serves on the board of governors of the Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance."
Tackling the student mental health crisis in rural Central Valley
EdSource's VANI SANGANERIA: "Born and raised in the agricultural foothills of Tulare County in California’s Central Valley, Greg Salcedo attended the only K-8 school and high school serving his rural town of about 3,000 people, where everything seemed out of reach — backpacks and notebooks, teachers and administrators and, in particular, school counselors and social workers.
Friends and family, Salcedo said, never spoke about adolescent depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress or suicide, issues that have, for decades, disproportionately affected rural, high-poverty communities in the United States."
California must lead boldly on climate and housing justice (OP-ED)
CHELSEA KIRK in Capitol Weekly: "California faces a dual crisis of escalating climate impacts and an acute housing affordability challenge. Seventy nine percent of renters in our state spend more than half their income on housing, and my home city of Los Angeles has the most unaffordable housing market in the country, with sixty three percent of households being renter-occupied. Layered atop this crisis is the reality of worsening climate impacts—extreme heat, wildfires, and the worst air quality in the nation—that disproportionately harm vulnerable families living in expensive fossil-fuel-powered homes.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), serving over 17 million residents in Southern California, has a unique opportunity to lead the state, and the nation, in bold and equitable climate action. We call on the SCAQMD Board to increase the funding for the Go Zero Rebate Program to $100 million to expand access to clean, electric appliances accessible for underserved communities, as well as ensure that this program has strong protections for renters. At this critical moment, as federal climate progress hangs in the balance, California’s local leadership can serve as a national model for safeguarding both people and the planet."
Strong high-pressure system shifts California weather. Here's what to expect
The Chronicle's GREG PORTER: "The Bay Area and California are about to experience weather whiplash. After six consecutive days of rain, a significant pattern shift begins Wednesday, and it might not rain again until at least mid-December — or possibly longer.
A large ridge of high pressure will start building over the North American West Coast on Wednesday, likely locking into place for the foreseeable future. This atmospheric feature, often called a “ridiculously resilient ridge,” resembles patterns that typically occur in summer, which lead to extended heat waves. While this setup will bring above-average temperatures, its most notable effect will be several consecutive days of sunny, dry weather."
Why have feral chickens taken over the streets and yards of Yuba City? ‘Only God knows’
Sacramento Bee's JAKE GOODRICK: "Most hear the chickens before they see them.
Their shrill crows slice through otherwise quiet mornings at unassuming business plazas and neighborhoods. The sound is unmistakable but the unaccustomed would be forgiven for thinking twice."
Copper thieves cut off this SoCal suburb’s phones for months and the bills kept coming
LAT's NATHAN SOLIS: "For six months, Hacienda Heights resident Michael Weiner could not get a dial tone on his landline.
He tried to get an answer from his phone company, Frontier Communications, but was told that it was a technical issue. He continued to get billed even though he couldn’t make a call."
Millions of dollars are sitting on inactive Clipper cards. What happens to the money?
The Chronicle's DANIELLE ECHEVERRIA: "The amount of money stored on inactive Clipper cards has nearly quadrupled since the pandemic, a Chronicle data analysis found.
Clipper cards are deemed “inactive” when they haven’t been used for at least three years. But that doesn’t mean the funds are inaccessible to the cardholder — a person’s unused balance on a Clipper card remains available regardless of how long it’s been since the card was used, according to Clipper."
Inside the LAPD chief search: Secretive meetings, surprise names, leaked details
LAT's LIBOR JANY: "Some candidates for Los Angeles police chief campaigned openly for the job, enlisting influential friends to put in a good word with the mayor.
Others tried to avoid the spotlight, including one reported contender who denied even applying when asked about it by her hometown newspaper."
Newsom said California would offer EV rebates if Trump cut them. Where would the money come from?
Sacramento Bee's ARI PLACHTA: "Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that California will provide rebates for electric vehicle buyers if Donald Trump eliminates the federal $7,500 tax credit when he enters the White House.
These rebates would likely be funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is supported by revenue from the state’s leading climate program, cap-and-trade. Costs incurred by fossil fuel producers from the program are often passed on to consumers."
SFO is one of the worst U.S. airports for holiday travel. These charts show why
The Chronicle's MICHAEL CABANTUAN, KOTA SUZUKI: "Folks whose holiday traditions include flying across the country or even up or down the West Coast know that in addition to the luggage, gifts and holiday goodies, they need to pack their patience and maybe some anti-anxiety medication.
Air travel delays are all too common over the holiday travel season, which kicked off last Friday, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, and continues through the first few days of the new year. Delays can be caused by inclement weather, the heavy volume of travelers, air traffic control troubles, technical issues at individual airlines — or a combination of any of those issues."
