|
Presented by YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming: Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | |  | | By Lara Korte , Jeremy B. White , Sakura Cannestra and Owen Tucker-Smith | Presented by YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming | THE BUZZ: Among the heavyweight Democrats backing Rep. Karen Bass in the surprisingly tight Los Angeles mayor’s race, there is one glaring omission — Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom said early on in the campaign that he wasn’t interested in backing Bass or billionaire developer Rick Caruso, saying he liked them both and didn’t want to get involved in a “Dem-on-Dem” race. “I have great respect for the congresswoman … and I've known Rick Caruso for years and years and years,” he said in August. “I'll just leave it at that." But in the final days of the election, as Bass, the establishment pick, seems to be in danger of losing, the governor’s absence from the endorsement list has become particularly notable — especially as President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and, most recently, former President Barack Obama jump on board. As Caruso pours tens of millions of dollars into an advertising blitz and the polls tighten, the Democratic establishment is rallying around the congresswoman. As Lara reports today , Newsom’s absence has confused some California Democrats who see his refusal to endorse Bass as highly unusual given the circumstances.
| 
President Joe Biden walks to the podium with Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., right, in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. | Alex Gallardo/AP Photo | The governor has defended his neutrality as a reluctance to meddle in Dem-on-Dem fights, but he’s had no problem weighing in on other such races — and the struggle between Bass and Caruso isn’t your typical intraparty battle. The mall magnate has been a prominent figure, and donor, on both sides of the aisle over the years, but only recently registered as a Democrat after years of oscillating between Republican and no party preference. Caruso and Newsom have some ties of their own — the billionaire has donated to the governor’s campaigns in the past. During the pandemic, he served on Newsom’s Covid business recovery task force, and this election cycle, Newsom’s longtime political consultants at Bearstar Strategies are helming Caruso’s mayoral bid. (Other Bearstar clients, like Sen. Alex Padilla and Attorney General Rob Bonta , have endorsed Bass.) At this point, a Newsom endorsement wouldn’t do much to sway voters. But his neutral stance could come back to haunt him — especially if he were to seek national office. Some groups haven’t taken kindly to his refusal to back Bass, who in a week could be among the nation’s most powerful Black women. The way one consultant sees it, Newsom could be exposing himself to criticism from within the core constituencies of the Democratic Party. Read more in Lara’s story . BUENOS DÍAS, good Thursday morning. President Joe Biden is heading to San Diego later today to campaign for Democratic Rep. Mike Levin in CA-49, where he’s running a closely-contested race against Republican Brian Maryott. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up: jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte . Send us your political mailers! We’re looking to bring more transparency to the elections process. How you can help: Send us photos of the campaign ads you’ve gotten in the mail. You can upload photos here or email them to mailers@politico.com . QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We don't settle our differences in America with a riot, a mob, or a bullet, or a hammer. We settle them, peaceably, at the battle box." Biden in remarks on democracy Wednesday evening. TWEET OF THE DAY |  Today's Tweet of the Day | Twitter |
WHERE’S GAVIN? In San Diego, welcoming President Joe Biden to California.
| | | | A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming: Cardroom casinos have a well-documented history of flouting the law and have been fined millions of dollars for violating anti-money laundering laws, racketeering, and illegal gambling. Now, cardroom casinos and their gambling bankers are spending millions attacking California Indian tribes and tribal gaming. Hold these bad actors accountable! Get the Facts about Cardroom Casinos: www.FactsAboutCardrooms.com | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | — “ For the good of the country, Biden and Harris should bow out of the 2024 election ,” opines the Washington Post’s George F. Will: “The boulder: Meeting recently with some progressive activists, Biden said his $426 billion student loan forgiveness was accomplished by ‘a law’ that he had ‘just signed’: ‘I got it passed by a vote or two.’ No. He. Did. Not.” TAPPING INTO LA TAPES — “ ‘Pay’ for an endorsement? L.A.’s Democratic clubs under scrutiny this election ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Dakota Smith and Summer Lin: “Dozens of Democratic clubs in the Greater L.A. region are chartered under the L.A. County Democratic Party, with Stonewall Democratic Club and Los Angeles County Young Democrats among the better-known groups. The volunteer-run groups host events and may have hundreds of members.” | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — “ The Valley is where L.A.’s mayoral race could be won or lost ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Benjamin Oreskes: “But when canvassers and the candidates themselves press the flesh in the Valley, they encounter an electorate whose leanings don’t always line up with common perceptions.” NOT-SO-SMALL TOWN NEWS — “ Just an hour from Silicon Valley, this tight race could tilt Congress ,” by the Mercury News’ Julia Prodis Sulek: “From Modesto to Merced, Madera to Mendota, this region is still considered a bastion of small town politics – and the good folks of the Central Valley’s newly drawn District 13 aren’t interested in the glare of national politics.” — “ A battle over who is the true progressive defines L.A. congressional race ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Jeong Park: “What the election — a rematch of the 2020 race that [incumbent Rep. Jimmy] Gomez won by 6% — comes down to is a battle of what it means to be a progressive and what style of politics voters prefer.” CRIME FIGHTING — “ Republican ads, tweets charge Democrats are soft on crime. Will voters respond? ” by the Sacramento Bee’s David Lightman: “Their latest example is a violent crime some would argue is inappropriately opportunistic: the hammer-wielding attack on Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, in the couples’ San Francisco home.” | | | | NEW AND IMPROVED POLITICO APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. With a fresh look and improved features, the sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. Already a POLITICO app user? Upgrade today! DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID . | | | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | HITTING BRAKES BEFORE WINTER BREAK — “ Thousands vote to strike across UC system. The action could hobble research and grading ahead of finals ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Nanette Asimov: “The frustrated employees voted by a 98% margin — 35,654 to 904 — to strike over pay and what they called UC’s unfair labor tactics, and could walk off their jobs as early as Nov. 14. The labor action is expected to be open-ended.” FINDING AID — “ Universities can't yank financial aid from students who get private scholarships, new law says ,” by CalMatters’ Alyssa Story: “California colleges often reduce financial aid to students when they earn private grants, a practice known as scholarship displacement. Students say it’s unfair to lose funds they’ve worked hard for and need to pay for soaring living costs.” — “ 'It Comes to Race': Marin City Residents Demand Flood Protections ,” by KQED’s Ezra David Romero: “A single tidal gate allows water to escape into the bay, and it's regularly filled with sand and debris. When atmospheric rivers dump rainwater, the water from the gate backs up into the channel under the freeway and floods the only road in and out of Marin City, rendering it impassable by car.” — “ Diesel big rigs have belched smog for years. California may soon ban them. ” by the Washington Post’s Reis Thebault: “As the expansion of the goods movement industry brought more warehouses and heavy-duty trucks to cities in this Southern California region known as the Inland Empire in recent years, grass-roots organizers and state regulators have worked furiously to clean up the sector, which they say is poisoning vulnerable communities, many of them populated largely with people of color.” THE GAS GOODBYE — “ California’s Natural-Gas Bans Push Largest Gas Utility to Find a New Strategy ,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Katherine Blunt: “Unlike California’s other large utilities, PG&E Corp. and Sempra’s San Diego Gas & Electric Co., SoCalGas doesn’t have an electricity business and relies entirely on its gas system for revenue.” — “ Cal Fire, already on hiring spree, could add more than 1,000 firefighters if Prop. 30 passes ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Wes Venteicher: “Most of the debate over the proposition — recently polling with less than 50% support after Gov. Gavin Newsom came out against it — has focused on the $3 billion to $4.25 billion the proposition would collect for zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, grid support and accessibility with a 1.75% tax hike on annual income over $2 million.” — “ His death changed California law. Now, lawsuit settled over use of force at Golden 1 Center ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Sam Stanton: “The suit, filed on behalf of the family of warehouse worker Mario Matthews, resulted in a new state law requiring better training for security guards in the use of force and changes in city policy on restraints, was settled for a $1.15 million payment from the city and an undisclosed amount from Universal Protection Service, attorney Stewart Katz said.” | | | | A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming:   | | | | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | AND AN OIL ENCORE — The oil and gas paradox threatening Biden’s party at the polls , by POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre: The Biden-era petroleum surge came despite his promises to shift the nation away from fossil fuels to combat climate change, as well as his unsuccessful efforts to end new oil and gas drilling on federal lands and waters. | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | — “ Overemployed in Silicon Valley: How Scores of Tech Workers Are Secretly Juggling Multiple Jobs ,” by Vanity Fair’s Nick Bilton: “They spend their days juggling multiple Zooms simultaneously, using devices called ‘mouse jigglers’ to ensure that their computers do not go to sleep (which would alert their supervisors that something is up), and sitting at 12-foot-long desks that are lined with a half dozen laptops and multiple computer screens as they go to virtual work and receive salaries that can add up to as much as $1.2 million a year.” BLUE CHECKED-OUT — “ Why Does Twitter Verify Some Accounts? ” by the New York Times’ Amanda Holpuch: “One of the first celebrities to be impersonated on Twitter was Shaquille O’Neal, who joined the platform in November 2008 and said he created an account in part because someone else had been impersonating him.” | | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S 2nd ANNUAL DEFENSE SUMMIT ON 11/16: The United States is facing a defining moment in the future of its defense, national security and democratic ideals. The current conflicts and developments around the world are pushing Washington to reshape its defense strategy and how it cooperates with allies. Join POLITICO for our second annual defense summit, “At a Crossroads: America’s Defense Strategy” on November 16 in person at the Schuyler DC or join online to hear keynote interviews and panels discussing the road ahead for America’s national security. REGISTER HERE . | | | | | | | MIXTAPE | | HOLLYWOOD HORRORS — “ CBS, LAPD captain led cover-up of sexual assault report against Moonves, AG say ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Meg James and Richard Winton. — “ Pregnancy Centers In LA Could Face 10k Fine For Misleading Patients ,” by LAist’s Jackie Fortiér. — “ Campaigns Pay Influencers to Carry Their Messages, Skirting Political Ad Rules ,” by the New York Times’ Stephanie Lai. — “ Fatal shooting at checkpoint during Northern California Lava Fire spawns $20 million suit ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Sam Stanton. WATER ON FLAMES — “ How unexpected California weather ‘decapitated’ fire season ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Hannah Hagemann and Jack Lee. | | BIRTHDAYS | | Joe Cohen … CAA’s Rachel Adler … former Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) … Caroline Michelman | | | | A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming: Cardroom casinos are contributing millions to politicians to curry political favors. These bad actor cardroom casinos have dished out more than $50,000,000 on contributions to politicians, party bosses and other political campaigns. It's time to finally crack down on cardroom casino's unlawful gambling and criminal activity.
Learn more about cardroom casinos: www.FactsAboutCardrooms.com | | | CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this -only service offers, click here . Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
| | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |  |
