Judge James Boasberg oversees the Ilhan Omar search warrant fight, deportation flights, and California voter rolls, raising assignment questions.
The unprecedented measure has enormous potential nationwide. The clash exposes the party’s corporate-progressive divide Midway through this summer, a high-quality poll found that Democrats in California were overwhelmingly in favor of the upcoming ballot measure for a one-time 5% tax on billionaire wealth. The ratio was more than 4 to 1. But the state’s most powerful Democrats – including the governor Gavin Newsom, his near-certain successor Xavier Becerra and the Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass – have lined up with Silicon Valley billionaires who’ve raised upward of $340m to defeat the initiative. Continue reading...
It’s the mission that best expresses the economic, social, and cultural roots of modern California.
Not long ago, the news was dominated by the claim that, during a political rally, President Donald Trump had “invited” Iran to attack two cities in California. Of course, Trump said no such thing. Instead, in his unartful way, he was arguing that higher gas prices were worth the price in order to ensure that […]
Industry-wide bargaining could erode the very flexibility that gig workers most desire.
The proposed billionaire tax on California's November ballot could slap a one-time 5% levy on wealthy residents, including sports team owners, to raise healthcare funds
A California federal judge Friday ordered the Trump administration to stop threatening election officials with criminal prosecution in its ongoing efforts to crack down on noncitizen voting. U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order connected to a lawsuit brought by unions representing California election workers earlier Friday. In her decision, the Biden-appointed judge…
A federal judge ordered the federal government to stop demanding that state and local election officials separate out ballots and threatening criminal prosecution for noncompliance.
With the midterms just days away, Californians will be choosing a new governor. Republican candidate Steve Hilton joins NBC News’ Gadi Schwartz to talk about his priorities for the state.
Hilton said he gathered feedback from Californians on what bureaucratic rule they wanted to get rid of the most.
An appellate court ruled Friday that federal officials cannot stop California from processing over 20,000 ballots.
With four days to go until the election, Steve Hilton is targeting homelessness and California’s high cost of living in Sacramento, while Xavier Becerra meets with LGBTQ+ leaders in San Francisco.
A federal appeals court rejected the Justice Department's emergency bid to set aside mail ballots tied to more than 20,000 California voters the Trump administration suspects are noncitizens. Why it matters: The 2–1 ruling leaves California's election procedures intact just days before the midterms, with the judges citing doubts about the DOJ's voter list and the risk of disenfranchising eligible voters. The ruling is a major setback for a DOJ that has doubled down on unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the Golden State. What they're saying: The majority cited the lower court's finding that the DOJ's process for identifying suspected noncitizens was "not credible," undermining its claims. "Granting [the United States]'s request would provoke catastrophic change, upending the administration of the election," it wrote, quoting the district court's finding. "There is a material risk that granting the United States its requested relief would result in disenfranchisement and could jeopardize [Los Angeles] County's entire election." The other side: Ninth U.S. Circuit Judge Patrick Bumatay dissented, arguing that counting votes from noncitizens dilutes the power of citizens. "The federal government proposes a modest remedy—stopping California from mixing the ballots of citizens and suspected noncitizens. This solution would not cancel any vote but would allow time to verify the eligibility of suspected noncitizens." The White House and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Catch up quick: The DOJ sued California in mid October for refusing to segregate the ballots it asserted were sent to noncitizens. A district court denied the request for an injunction, deciding that the federal law the DOJ was relying on to bring the suit did not supersede existing state law. The Trump administration appealed, leading to Friday's decision. The administration can now appeal again to the Supreme Court. Zoom out: Trump has continu
A federal appeals court on Friday rejected the Justice Department’s emergency bid to force California to set aside mail-in ballots associated with roughly 20,000 suspected noncitizens, opening a potential path to the Supreme Court days before the midterm elections. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to deny an injunction requiring officials to […]
The administration has alleged California sent ballots to some 20,000 people who may not be U.S. citizens. It wants the state to set those ballots aside and not count them until citizenship can be verified.
Greed is on California’s state ballot, and it appears to be winning. For a while, Prop. 40, the Billionaire Tax initiative, which is supported by the state Democratic Party but opposed by many unions and prominent Democrats, was polling well. The notion of taxing the excessive wealth of the super-rich, or the basis of that […]
The 9th Circuit Court calls the petition to remove 20,000 ballots from California's vote count unconstitutional.
In a 2-to-1 vote, an appeals court panel declined to order the state to set aside more than 20,000 mail-in ballots, calling the notion plainly unconstitutional.
A federal appeals court on Friday rejected the Trump administration’s latest bid to force California to set aside ballots from over 20,000 people it alleges might be noncitizens.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Justice Department's request for California to set aside disputed ballots received in the midterm election.
A split federal appeals court panel again rejected the Trump administration’s bid to set aside 20,000 California ballots it says are likely noncitizens until they can be verified. The 2-1 majority on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit didn’t dispute a lower court’s finding that the list isn’t credible and ruled the…
Redistricting in California, the most populous US state, could flip control of US House from Republican to Democrat.
Federal grand jury subpoenas have demanded that county election officials turn over internal communications and testify, raising concerns that investigations could intimidate workers.
Respondents could select up to two top election issues, meaning fighting Trump and addressing affordability were not mutually exclusive choices.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) is endorsing a trio of insurgent Democratic candidates who are challenging his fellow California House Democrats, Axios has learned. Why it matters: This is an aggressive move by a potential 2028 presidential contender who styles himself as one of the few Democrats willing to get into direct confrontations with the party establishment. He has backed members of the progressive "Bloc" who have refused to commit to voting for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as speaker. This is territory where even other high-profile House progressives — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), another potential 2028er — have largely refused to tread. Driving the news: "Today I'm endorsing three new generation leaders Angela Gonzales-Torres, Eric Jones, and Mai Vang," Khanna said in a statement first shared with Axios. Gonzales-Torres, a former local elected official challenging Rep. Jimmy Gomez, "will join us in our fight against corruption, to stand up for survivors, and to lead with a moral vision," Khanna said. Khanna said he has known Jones — a venture capitalist running against Rep. Mike Thompson — "for many years," calling him "a change agent who understands the working class and building a better life for those left out." Vang, a Sacramento City Council member running against Rep. Doris Matsui, "will call out the genocide in Gaza, be for taxing billionaires, and stand for Medicare for All and the working class," Khanna said. Between the lines: Khanna said he has a "tremendous respect and admiration," for Thompson, 75, who has been in office since 1999. "But voters are crying out for change." Khanna said of Matsui, 82, who has held her seat since 2005: "I respect Doris Matsui's incredible service to our state and nation. This is the time to pass the baton." Jones is 35. Vang is 41. Khanna did not reference Gomez, who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual misconduct. Gomez has admitted to "person
Workers and diners at two restaurants were shaken up when a suspected drunk driver plowed a vehicle into the building on Saturday afternoon in Concord, California. The post WATCH: Suspected Drunk Driver Plows Truck into California Restaurant, Narrowly Missing Diners: ‘Miraculous Nobody Got Hurt’ appeared first on Breitbart .
The Department of Justice issued criminal grand jury subpoenas to at least four California election workers over alleged noncitizen voting records.
The complaint was filed a day after the Trump administration issued a flurry of threats and subpoenas to local officials, claiming it was part of an effort to stop voting by undocumented immigrants.
It was an ambitious notion – now Californians will vote on a one-time 5% billionaire tax, and state’s super rich have pulled out all the stops in opposition One year ago, the idea of a billionaire tax in California was still in its infancy. It wasn’t yet one of the most contentious ballot measure fights in state history – pitting Democrats against Democrats, drawing national attention from political heavyweights, and netting hundreds of millions of Silicon Valley dollars to fight it. Back then, it was a bold and desperate answer to Donald Trump’s healthcare cuts. Continue reading...
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued subpoenas to California officials in its latest move in scrutinizing voters in the state who aren’t U.S. citizens. Three subpoenas were sent to employees of the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, ordering them to appear in court on Nov. 4, The Associated Press reported. Earlier this month, the…
There is a ballot measure besides Proposition 40 that also would tax California's wealthiest citizens. What you need to know about Proposition 3.
Backers say the California Environmental Quality Act is a vital tool for environmental review. Critics say CEQA is too often used to slow down needed housing. Enter Proposition 45.
The California Environmental Quality Act has led to long delays, enormous costs, and special interests that use the process to stop projects they dislike.
The ‘billionaire tax’ on the ballot will likely cost the state government more than it raises.
LA Times/Berkeley poll on California governor's race, October 2026
In California, healthcare costs are rising faster than income and inflation, and 4 in 10 adults in the state say they’re paying down medical debt. With the governor’s race in full swing, it’s still not clear what the candidates would do to fix it.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) told late-night host Jimmy Kimmel that he predicts the upcoming midterms will result in a "blue tsunami" that ends the Trump presidency "as we know it." The post Gavin Newsom Tells Jimmy Kimmel ‘Blue Tsunami’ Will End Trump Presidency ‘As We Know It’ appeared first on Breitbart .
A federal judge refused to force California to set aside mailed ballots from more than 20,000 people the Justice Department says are noncitizens. The post Federal Judge Blocks DOJ Effort to Sequester 20,000 California Ballots appeared first on Breitbart .
The subpoenas come just a day after a federal judge called into question the process the Trump administration used to identify alleged noncitizens.
A federal judge rejected on Wednesday a Trump administration request to stop California from processing the ballots of up to 20,000 people over allegations they are likely noncitizens, warning it would "wreak havoc" on the midterm elections.
The Justice Department has issued grand jury subpoenas to California officials, escalating a dispute over allegations by the federal government that the state may have as many as 20,000 non-citizens registered to vote.
California's Michael Alejandro Castillo Murga became the first U.S. citizen extradited to El Salvador. He faces aggravated femicide charges in a 2019 killing.
The 2026 midterms already face a messy pileup of lawsuits and ballot battles, raising fears about election confidence before voters even finish casting ballots . Why it matters: Election challenges aren't unusual, but as the Trump administration continues to make false claims about widespread voter fraud, officials are juggling fights over voter lists, mail-ballot rules and election certification challenges. What they're saying: "The types of challenges that we are seeing pre-election, this close to election day, are very unusual, and mostly because they are coming from the federal government," Jonathan Diaz of the Campaign Legal Center told Axios. "These lawsuits are frivolous," Diaz said, adding they could "create doubt in the minds of the public about the legitimacy of the election process." The other side: The White House referred Axios to comments President Trump made to the media. The Department of Justice did not respond to Axios' request for comment. Here's some of the ways chaos and uncertainty have shaped the 2026 midterms: California In the Golden State, the Trump administration asked state election officials to set aside ballots from roughly 20,000 registered voters whom the DOJ suspects are noncitizens. A federal judge rejected that push Wednesday night, warning that the administration lacked sufficient evidence to justify potentially disenfranchising eligible voters. The judge noted that the DOJ had made similar claims in neighboring Nevada, where election officials determined that 185 voters the DOJ had flagged as noncitizens were actually U.S. citizens. Diaz told Axios that, from his perspective as a voting-rights advocate, the California battle is "not a real lawsuit. It's a political press release that they just happened to submit to the court." The other side: The White House directed questions about the ruling to remarks Trump made Thursday, in which he said "California is very corrupt," and the state's elections are "extremely corrupt." He did n
Federal prosecutors issued criminal grand jury subpoenas to three L.A. County election officials, demanding they appear in court the day after the election.
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter rejected the Justice Department's demand that California officials segregate ballots from 20,000 voters it describes as "likely noncitizens."
The federal government has appealed a court decision allowing California to count ballots allegedly sent to noncitizen voters
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is warning President Trump against trying to meddle in his state’s elections amid growing concerns from Democrats over federal interference in next week’s midterms. “A warning to Donald Trump: I’m deploying election lawyers to key battleground districts in California to protect every vote,” Newsom wrote on social platform X. “And…
People don't build great wealth first and redeem it later through good works. They build it by making the world better.
Campaigns supporting and opposing the billionaire tax proposal are paying social media influencers, some with millions of followers, to post videos to inform and sway voters.
