President Donald Trump pulled half of the troops he sent to Los Angeles out of the city this week, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging him to hurry up and send home the other half.
The governor spoke about the withdrawal during a Wednesday news conference at Downey Memorial Christian Church, where masked and armed federal immigration agents recently detained a person on church grounds.
Urging the administration to withdraw the rest of the troops, “now, today, next few hours,” Newsom said he was eager for the California National Guard to return under his control so that its citizen soldiers can carry out duties such as mitigating wildfires, combatting drug trafficking and monitoring the border.
Newsom described the raids and the presence of federal agents largely as cruel “theater.” He warned that the Trump administration will conduct similar operations across the U.S., and that what happened in California was a “preview of things to come.”
- Newsom: “They’ve tested the boundaries of the law. They’ve tested the boundaries of public perception and what the public will accept.”
More on Newsom and Trump: At the press event the governor also expanded on remarks he made earlier this week regarding Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session to redraw the Lone Star State’s congressional maps.
The Republican governor called the session — expected to begin next week — after receiving pressure from Trump advisers to redistrict its maps to help the GOP maintain its control of the U.S. House of Representatives by picking up at least five more seats in next year’s midterm elections.
Posting earlier on social media that “two can play this game,” Newsom on Wednesday said his team is exploring a similar (albeit questionable) strategy to counteract Texas’ efforts. In addition to the possibility of calling a special session, he said the Legislature could potentially pass an urgency measure related to redistricting California.
- Newsom: The Trump administration is “playing by a different set of rules. They can’t win by the traditional game, so they want to change the game.”
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Other Stories You Should Know
How CA Dems are trying to unmask federal agents
On Tuesday two bills that aim to make law enforcement offices more easily identifiable passed out of the Assembly’s public safety committee — despite opposition from a wide range of police organizations and uncertainty about whether the state could enforce the proposed rules against federal agents.
One would ban officers from wearing facial coverings, with some exceptions; and the other would require officers to readily display their name or badge number. Both bills are in response to the Trump’s immigration raids in California
As CalMatters’ Michael Lozano explains, multiple federal agencies are involved in these sweeps, with some being conducted by masked officers. Confusion has broken out over what enforcement groups are connected with each raid. But there are some ways to identify who’s who among federal agencies, such as:
- Border Patrol: Often wears green uniforms; can have “Border Patrol” and “U.S. Customs and Border Protection” labeled on their badge or vest; allowed to operate 100 miles from any edge of the country and coastline.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Often wears “ICE” patch on their vest; emblem features the U.S. Department of Homeland Security eagle seal; might also display “police” on their uniform.
CA sues Trump over FEMA grants
California Attorney General Rob Bonta unveiled Wednesday the state’s 32nd lawsuit against Trump — this time over the termination of billions of dollars of federal funds that would have allowed states to mitigate damages from natural disasters and other emergencies.
Two projects in California affected by the elimination of these Federal Emergency Management Agency’s grants include $33 million in funds to reduce landslides in Rancho Palos Verdes, and $21 million to ease the threat of floods in Sacramento.
- Bonta, at an online press conference: “In Texas, where heavy rains turned into devastating and deadly floods just earlier this month, FEMA was set to provide hundreds of millions in federal funding for pre-disaster mitigation projects. … It’s gut wrenching to think about future disasters, future deaths and injuries to children in vulnerable communities that could be prevented with projects that are now at risk.”
California joins 19 other states in the lawsuit, which comes off the heels of another announced Tuesday, related to the withholding of $6.8 billion in federal funds for K-12 schools.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: California’s multibillion-dollar deficit was mostly papered over with accounting gimmicks, and sooner or later the debts will pile so high that they can no longer be ignored.
Conversations about men’s mental health too often get hijacked to justify violence or dismiss vulnerability, but young Californians need to be taught emotional literacy where they can process their emotions, writes Ayo Banjo, founder of Banjo Strategies Consulting Group.
Other things worth your time:
House Speaker Johnson sees no progress on CA disaster aid, blasts Newsom // The Sacramento Bee
Trump cuts to CA National Weather Service leave ‘critical’ holes // Los Angeles Times
CA tribes face uncertain future as USDA food assistance program ends // KQED
CA Republican lawmakers launch campaign to require voter ID // AP News
Students with discrimination complaints left in limbo, months after CA civil rights office closed // EdSource
Northern CA mother is still fighting to find justice for her Native son in a broken system // ShastaScout
Kern County ICE detention facility fills up with people who have no criminal history // The Fresno Bee
ICE activity on historic Japanese CA site evokes painful legacy of incarceration // The Guardian
LA County jails are handing inmates over to ICE for the first time in years // Los Angeles Times
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