Democrats wanted someone to ‘punch back.’ They got him when Newsom took on Texas
CALMatters, ALEXEI KOSEFF: "As a partisan redistricting war ramps up across the country, Gov. Gavin Newsom has made himself the general of the Democratic insurgency.
The plan to redraw California’s congressional districts to favor Democrats originated as a farfetched retaliatory taunt to Texas on Newsom’s extracurricular podcast. By last week, the governor was headlining a campaign launch rally for the proposal."
READ MORE -- ‘Unconstitutional’ – Republicans blast Newsom’s redistricting plan -- CALMatters, BROOKE BINKOWSKI; Love it or hate it? Poll shows how Californians feel about Newsom’s redistricting fight with Trump -- LAT, MELODY GUTIERREZ/LAURA J. NELSON; National poll: Majority of Democrats back California’s effort to counter Texas despite claims of hating gerrymandering -- Politico, JEREMY B. WHITE; What’s in a district? Rural Californians react to Democratic gerrymandering play -- SacBee, LIA RUSSELL/NICOLE NIXON
Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan is on its way to voters. What you need to know
CALMatters, MAYA C. MILLER/JEANNE KUANG: "Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to counter President Donald Trump’s election gerrymander in Texas with his own redistricting play in California is on its way to voters.
The California Legislature today approved his proposal calling for a special election on a ballot measure that would suspend the state’s current congressional districts, which were drawn by an independent commission, and replace them with a map intended to favor Democrats."
READ MORE -- California Legislature clears way for new congressional district map -- Times of San Diego, SAMUEL LARREAL; Newsom makes it official: Californians will vote on new congressional maps Nov. 4 -- SacBee, LIA RUSSELL
Terminator’s opposition not likely to terminate redistricting measure (OP-ED)
Capitol Weekly, GARRY SOUTH: "Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is threatening to come out of hiding to oppose the redistricting initiative that Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative Democrats are placing on the November ballot. He apparently wants to position himself as the Exterminator of the Democrats’ plan to counter the naked, Trump-instigated Republican scheme to steal Democratic seats in Texas for the 2026 mid-term elections.
Schwarzenegger is likely to claim that the existing method of drawing the lines of congressional districts after the last two census counts is his legacy, and that he has to protect it."
FBI searches home of former Trump national security adviser John Bolton, AP source says
LAT, ERIC TUCKER: "The FBI is searching the Maryland home of John Bolton, who served in President Donald Trump’s first administration as national security adviser but later became critical of the president, as part of an investigation into the handling of classified documents, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.
The person was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke on the condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Bolton was not detained and has not been charged with any crimes, the person said."
Kamala Harris to reflect on 2024 presidential bid during S.F. appearance
The Chronicle, ZARA IRSHAD: "It’s nearly been a year since Kamala Harris lost the presidential election. Now, she’s getting ready to hit the road again.
The former vice president and Oakland native is setting out on a 15-city book tour in support of her forthcoming memoir, “107 Days,” which chronicles the “intense, high-stakes and deeply personal” process of her 2024 presidential campaign, according to a statement. It is due out Sept. 23."
Capitol Briefs: Redistricting, cardrooms and shameless self promotion
Capitol Weekly, STAFF: "Lawmakers rushed a trio of bills through this week that will allow them to ask voters in November to approve new lines for Congressional districts that will heavily favor Democrats in the 2026 mid-terms. The move is an effort to blunt Texas Republicans’ efforts to redraw their own Congressional lines – at the direct behest of President Donald Trump – to help their party gain five additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in those mid-terms. Last week, leading redistricting guru Paul Mitchell of Political Data Inc. came on the Capitol Weekly podcast to talk about his role in creating those maps. In case you missed it, the show can be heard here."
How immigration levels in the U.S. changed since President Trump’s second term
CALMatters, WENDY FRY: "For the first time in more than 50 years, the U.S. immigrant population is declining, with foreign-born residents either choosing to leave the country or being deported, according to the latest data from the Pew Research Center.
In January 2025, the immigrant population in the United States topped out at 53.3 million. That number shrank 2.6% to 51.9 million as of June 2025, marking the first decline in the U.S. immigrant population since the 1960s."
READ MORE -- Illegal immigration hit record-high 14 million in the U.S. in 2023, Pew report finds -- AP, MIKE SCHNEIDER ++ LAT, HANNAH FRY; A mother’s choice: Jail in L.A. or deportation to Mexico with her children -- LAT, PATRICK J. MCDONNELL
Poll: Health care for California's undocumented immigrants gains support amid budget crunch
Politico, RACHEL BLUITH: "As the state grapples with a budget deficit and immigration raids, California voters are increasingly supportive of giving health insurance to people regardless of their immigration status, a new POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab poll found.
In a survey of 1,445 registered voters, 29 percent of respondents said they believe the state should continue to provide subsidized health care through its Medi-Cal program to undocumented immigrants, even if doing so comes at the expense of other programs. That marks an increase from the 21 percent of voters who supported the idea in an April poll."
The plague is so 14th century. Here’s why — and how much — we should worry today
LAT, KAREN GARCIA: "The plague — aka the Black Death, aka the Great Pestilence — is rarely contracted today, yet it recently infected a South Lake Tahoe resident. But before you put on your 17th century “air-purifying” beaked mask, let’s find out from the experts why this disease is still around and how dangerous it is now.
Most people associate the term “plague” with the massive and destructive event that killed 25 million Europeans in the Middle Ages, said professor John Swartzberg of UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health. In the 14th century, the plague killed as much as 50% of Europe’s population."
Trump’s endowment tax could cost Stanford $1.1 billion over five years
EdSource, EMMA GALLEGOS: "Stanford’s tax bill is projected to grow to $1.1 billion over the next five years under President Donald Trump’s national spending bill that was signed into law in July.
The law dramatically raised taxes on private universities with large endowments. Before 2017, private universities paid no federal tax. Trump then raised that to 1.4%. Now, universities with more than $2 million per student will pay 8% on their endowment."
Trump administration cutting California sex ed grant over transgender policies
EdSource, EMMA GALLEGOS: "The Trump administration says that it is terminating a $12 million grant for sexual education to California because of the state’s policies toward transgender individuals.
The California Personal Responsibility Education Program (CA PREP) is focused on preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The program is offered in schools, juvenile justice facilities, homeless shelters and foster care group homes. One of the targeted populations is teens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ)."
California joins effort to cut chronic absenteeism in half by 2030
EdSource, MALLIKA SESHADRI/BETTY MARQUEZ ROSALES: "After years of working to restore students’ attendance rates in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that California is on track to cut chronic absenteeism by half in the next five years.
To help districts meet that goal, the state Department of Education has issued a California Attendance Guide. The effort comes as part of a partnership with Attendance Works and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence."
Lawsuit alleges Edison hid its role in 2019 Sylmar wildfire
LAT, MELODY PETERSEN: "Roberto Delgado and his wife were praying the rosary on the night of Jan. 7 when they heard two loud booms that shook their Sylmar home. Then came a flash of light so bright that in the dead of night they could briefly see out their window the rocks and gullies of the San Gabriel foothills behind their house.
Seconds later, Delgado said in an interview, the couple saw flames under two electric transmission towers owned by Southern California Edison — even more shocking because they had seen a fire ignite under one of those towers just six years before."
California’s most significant heat wave of summer is winding down — but not everywhere
The Chronicle, GREG PORTER/ANTHONY EDWARDS: "California’s most significant heat wave of summer peaked in most of the Bay Area on Thursday and a cooldown will begin Friday, but not everywhere, and not all at once. Inland valleys and deserts will stay dangerously hot through the weekend, while a cool fog returns to coastal areas.
Friday is forecast to be the hottest day of the week in Los Angeles. Triple-digit temperatures are likely to continue through the weekend in California’s valleys and deserts. Extreme heat warnings and advisories will probably be extended through Sunday in many areas."
READ MORE -- Heat wave to peak through Friday, then gradual cooling begins -- Times of San Diego, BROOKE BINKOWSKI
California’s values-based climate solution (OP-ED)
Capitol Weekly, CRISTINA GARCIA/SAM VELOZ: "The effects of climate change are now a daily reality for Californians. From record heat and wildfire smoke to worsening droughts and floods, our communities, especially the most vulnerable among us, are already feeling the strain. Fortunately, some of the best solutions are already all around us: in our forests, wetlands, farms, rangelands, and even city parks.
These natural and working lands do far more than offer scenic beauty and biodiversity. They absorb carbon pollution from the atmosphere, cool neighborhoods, clean our air and water, and build climate resilience. Managed correctly, California’s land base has the potential to remove around 100 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, equal to the emissions of 22 million cars."
Pickett Fire threatens Napa Valley wineries, forces evacuations near Calistoga
The Chronicle, AIDIN VAZIRI: "A fast-moving wildfire broke out Thursday afternoon on the northern edge of Calistoga, threatening several well-known Napa Valley wineries and prompting evacuation orders in rural parts of the county as crews worked through the evening to contain the flames.
The Pickett Fire, reported shortly before 3 p.m. on the 2300 block of Pickett Road, grew quickly in steep terrain south of Mt. St. Helena. By 10 p.m., Cal Fire estimated the blaze had burned about 1,200 acres."
L.A. unions push for ‘New Deal’ ahead of 2028 Olympics
LAT, SUHAUNA HUSSAIN: "A crowd of local union members and organizers formed in front of the classical-style arches of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum early Thursday morning, holding a banner with the colorful, iconic Olympic rings and “Fair Games” printed across them.
With the city of Los Angeles set to become a mega sporting events capital of the world — scheduled to host the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, the Olympic and Paralympic Games all in the next few years — labor groups pushed for what they are calling a “New Deal” to get the city and the LA28 Olympics organizing committee to make commitments to improve the lot of working people."
Homelessness is finally dipping across California. These Bay Area counties saw double-digit declines
The Chronicle, MAGGIE ANGST/HANNA ZAKHARENKO: "As a single mother of three young children, Kayla Kahaulelio’s days are almost always hectic. But Kahaulelio, who is also pursuing a degree in social work, no longer worries about whether her family will have a place to call home.
Over the last year, Kahaulelio and her children have transitioned from an inpatient addiction treatment program to a family shelter to a subsidized, two-bedroom apartment in an effort to start a new chapter."
Erik Menendez to remain in prison after decision by California Parole Board
LAT, JAMES QUEALLY/SALVADOR HERNANDEZ/RICHARD WINTON: "Erik Menendez will not be released, the California Parole Board decided in a highly anticipated and lengthy hearing Thursday, curtailing for now his and his older sibling’s contentious push to be freed after the 1989 killing of their parents in their Beverly Hills home.
The hearing came after years of legal efforts by Menendez and his brother to be set free despite being convicted of life without the possibility of parole in 1995. Their jury trial, and accounts of an abusive upbringing in the upscale Beverly Hills home, inspired several documentaries and television series that drew renewed attention to their case and allegations of sexual abuse against their father."
READ MORE -- California parole board denies release for Erik Menendez due to misbehavior in prison -- AP, JAMIE DING
How Muni cuts are changing ridership habits
The Chronicle, DANIELLE ECHEVERRIA: "Ridership on Muni lines affected by June service cuts dropped last month, while ridership on alternative routes to those lines increased, a Chronicle analysis found.
Overall, ridership was still slightly up across the Muni system compared to this time last year."
Richard Lee, Oaksterdam University founder who paved the way for legal weed, dies at 62
The Chronicle, SAM WHITING: "When it opened in 2007 as a cannabis-focused trade school, Oaksterdam University in Uptown Oakland had all the attractions of a major college campus. There were two coffeehouses in funky little storefronts, a gift shop offering logoed sweatshirts, a student union, a museum, a bike rental and glassblowing shop — and a founding president, Richard Lee, who was as eager as an incoming freshman.
Lee, who had used a wheelchair since suffering a spinal cord injury during his prior occupation as a roadie for Aerosmith, was the perfect ambassador for the responsible use of marijuana, which he required to ease chronic pain. He also had the right combination of erudition, determination, a self-effacing sense of humor and the boyish good looks — complete with bangs — to be the face of the nationwide drive to legalize marijuana."
