California Politics & News
Stay updated with California news, including reporting, analysis, and commentary on state government, progressive overreach, and the conservative response to Golden State policies.
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news
Why This California City Voted to Defy State’s Sanctuary Law
A small California city has voted to exempt itself from a statewide sanctuary law, making it one of the few jurisdictions to formally reject the state’s resistance to President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. City Council members in Los Alamitos, an Orange County city of about 12,000, voted 4-1 on Monday night to opt out of… -
opinion
This Man Wants to Build 2 Houses. California Regulations Have Stonewalled Him for 20 Years.
Thomas Mahon never thought it would take 20 years to build two houses in California. But that’s exactly how long it’s taken—and his legal fight isn’t even over. His fight shows how overregulation is driving the state’s current housing crisis. And some state politicians are promising to make things worse. The upshot is that other… -
news
On California Border, Trump Examines Wall Prototypes, Favors ‘See-Through’ Model
President Donald Trump examined border wall prototypes in San Diego on Tuesday, saying they would block 99 percent of illegal immigrants from entering the country. “If you don’t have a wall system, we’re not going to have a country,” said Trump, standing alongside Rodney Scott, the chief U.S. Border Patrol agent for the San Diego… -
news
‘Beyond the Pale’: ICE Chief Blasts California Democrats for Attacking Immigration Agents
Thomas Homan, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, charged leading California Democrats Monday, saying they were deliberately distorting the nature and purpose of recent immigration operations in the state. Homan singled out House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who in February said a targeted ICE operation in Northern California was a “bigoted” attempt to “terrorize innocent… -
news
California Coffee Shop Doubles Down on Refusing Service to Cops
Owners of a California coffee shop doubled down on their refusal to serve police officers, claiming cops threaten their “physical and emotional safety.” The Hasta Muerte Coffee owners refused service to a Latino police sergeant March 8 and are now defending that decision despite growing outrage, KTVU reported. The shop is a worker-owned collective with a mural… -
opinion
Podcast: What’s Next for Trump Administration’s Legal Fight Against California
Is California or the Trump administration going to win on sanctuary areas? J. Christian Adams of the Public Interest Legal Foundation walks us through federal and state issues the case touches on, and how a case waged by President Barack Obama’s administration might have an impact. Plus: We talk about whether video games contribute to… -
news
California Students Are Fighting to Keep Abortion Pills Off Their Campus
San Jose State University students are protesting a measure that may bring abortion pills to their campus after the California Senate approved a bill requiring the state’s public universities and colleges to offer abortion drugs at their health centers. “I just can’t imagine it honestly,” Spartans for Life Vice President Miriana Miranda said, according to CBS… -
news
California Sues DOJ Over Funding Cuts to ‘Sanctuary States’
The state of California sued the Department of Justice Wednesday to force the release of records relating to Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ order to withhold funding from so-called sanctuary states. California is one of several sanctuary jurisdictions—but the first state—to file a lawsuit relating to Sessions’ order to tie federal grants to immigration compliance. The lawsuit demands… -
opinion
Podcast: A California City Is Experimenting With Universal Basic Income
What will happen if people are given $6,000 a year … to do nothing? The city of Stockton in California is testing that out. Robert Rector, a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation and welfare expert, explains what happened when five U.S. cities tried universal basic income in the ’70s. Plus: The New York Times… -
opinion
California Bill Threatens Waiters With Jail for Providing Plastic Straws
Waiters could face criminal penalties for giving straws to customers if a recently proposed California bill goes into effect. California Assemblyman Ian Calderon, the Democratic majority leader of the state Assembly, has introduced a bill into the state’s lower House that would make it a criminal offense for restaurant employees to provide patrons with single-use… -
opinion
We Hear You: The Schumer Shutdown, ‘Dreamers,’ 2 Marches, and California’s Tax Grab
Editor's note: The Daily Signal's readers weren't favorably impressed by the Democrat-driven government "shutdown" that barely outlasted a weekend. Nothingburger or not, it leads our roundup today. Be sure to write us at [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: Regarding Genevieve Wood’s commentary on the government shutdown, politicians would rather have an issue than a solution… -
news
California Democrats Want Businesses to Turn Over Half Their Tax-Cut Savings to the State
Democrat state lawmakers in California say they want some businesses to give half their tax-cut savings from congressional Republicans’ tax reform package to the state. That’s no way to create jobs and raise pay, conservatives fire back. “It’s typical that Democrats in California see every dollar back in taxpayers’ pocket as a dollar they can… -
news
DOJ Backs Effort to Repeal California Law Requiring Pro-Lifers to Promote Abortion
The Department of Justice filed an amicus (or “friend-of-the-court”) brief at the Supreme Court, urging the justices to overturn a California law requiring pro-life crisis pregnancy centers to post information about state-funded abortions. The Supreme Court has agreed to review the law in November. The law, called the Reproductive FACT Act, requires crisis pregnancy clinics to post… -
news
California Is Officially a Sanctuary State
A sweeping immigration law took effect Monday in California, officially making it the country’s largest sanctuary state. The controversial law, SB 54, passed the state Legislature in September and was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown the following month. It prevents police in California, which has by far the nation’s largest illegal immigrant… -
news
California Democrat Wants to Mandate State Colleges Have Abortion Pills Ready for Students
California lawmakers are debating whether to adopt a bill that would require California’s public universities and colleges to offer abortion drugs at their health centers. Senate Bill 320, sponsored by state Sen. Connie Leyva, D-Chino, will mandate that the state’s community colleges and public universities provide women with abortion pills for up to 10 weeks… -
opinion
Big Victory for Abortion Pill Reversal Training in California
Facing intense political pressure from abortion activists, a major licensing agency stood its ground earlier this month and delivered a major victory for women facing unexpected pregnancies throughout the nation. In a written letter sent Dec. 19, the California Board of Registered Nursing notified Heartbeat International that it can now grant continuing education units to… -
news
28 Photos That Take You Inside California Wildfires’ Destruction
Wildfires in Southern California aided by wind have driven 200,000 from their homes, and have forced schools throughout the area to close. The largest fire started in Santa Paula, California, on Monday, but there are now five separate fires. Here’s a glimpse into some of the destruction California is facing. L.A. officials are evacuating people near a brush fire off… -
opinion
California Tried to Force Pro-Life Centers to Promote Abortion. Now, the Supreme Court Is Weighing In.
On Nov. 13, the Supreme Court announced it will hear arguments in a case with serious implications for free speech nationwide. In NIFLA vs. Becerra, the court will decide whether pro-life advocates must refer clients to abortion clinics or face fines, penalties, and possible closure. The basic question the court must decide is whether the… -
news
California Judge Blocks Trump’s Sanctuary City Order
A federal judge in California blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order reducing funding for sanctuary cities Monday, limiting the administration’s ability to punish municipalities that violate federal immigration law. The permanent injunction follows a preliminary ruling, issued in April, in a suit filed by the city of San Francisco and Santa Clara County. “The Counties have demonstrated…