#california-politics

#california-politics

Both houses approved a bill Wednesday that would reverse the new 19% state excise tax on cannabis products, which took effect in July. The measure, which was introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney, would return the tax to the original rate of 15%, upon approval from Newsom. [KPIX] The Associated Press awarded Golden State Valkyries Coach Natalie Nakase Coach of the Year Friday, and Vs guard Veronica Burton received Most Improved Player. With Nakase's guidance, the team has wildly outperformed expectations and is the first expansion team in history to make it to the playoffs in its first year. [ESPN]

Gavin Newsom used his written State of the State address Tuesday to cast California as a bulwark against a menacing Trump administration he accused of dismantling public services, flouting the rule of law and using extortion to bully businesses and universities. The remarks came as Newsom's national profile has grown and given him a broader political stage, even as he skipped the literal one - opting to send his speech to lawmakers in writing rather than deliver it from the Assembly rostrum, which is customary.

Former U.S. Rep. John Burton, a salty-tongued and unabashedly liberal San Francisco Democrat who stood up for the working class and nurtured countless political careers, including that of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, died Sunday. He was 92. Burton died in San Francisco of natural causes, his family said in a statement. Tributes poured in from California's top politicians, who recalled Burton as a fierce and tireless advocate for laborers, foster children and the environment.

I want to make a rare note of gratitude to Governor Newsom, said Kennedy. He has surprised all of us and done something intelligent. You don't have to be a senior at Cal Tech to know that's in response to the [Donald] Trump administration's threat to send federal law enforcement officials, but look, I'll take it, he continued. If that's what it takes to get Governor Newsom to stop being a princess, I'll take that too.

The findings are remarkably consistent with past polling on the Republican president in the nation's most populous blue state, said Mark DiCamillo, director of the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies Poll. "If you look at all the job ratings we've done about President Trump - and this carries back all the way through his first term - voters have pretty much maintained the same posture," DiCamillo said. "Voters know who he is."

Sanberg grew up in Villa Park and attended Servite High School, later describing the all-male Catholic school which accepted students of all faiths as being the place where his values were shaped. He moved on from Orange County to Harvard to Wall Street, where he built a fortune from early investments in companies like Blue Apron. Sanberg later said he ultimately found Wall Street exciting but hollow.

Any California school district that doesn't adhere to our Transgender policies, will not be funded. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Many politicians love to play fireman, often visiting disaster scenes and advising real firefighters on how they can do things better. No politico does this more than President Trump, who frequently advises California governors they need to rake the forests to prevent fires.

"We're doing it in reaction to that act. We're doing it mindful of our higher angels, and better angels. We're doing it mindful that we want to model better behavior, as we've been doing for 15 years in the state of California," Newsom said, referring to the state's popular independent redistricting commission.

During Newsom's remarks, he noted that federal border agents were outside the venue, eliciting boos from the gathered Democrats.

Schaaf announced in an online post Friday that after conferring with my closest supporters, she had decided to drop out of the 2026 race and endorse Kounalakis for state treasurer.

"From the get, this police report is used to determine whether a criminal case will be started," said Kate Chatfield, executive director of the California Public Defenders Association, which sponsored the bill. "Then a judge would be reviewing this police report, for example, to determine the circumstances of offense and to determine whether or not to hold somebody in jail."