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Presented by Environment California: Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte | Presented by Environment California | THE BUZZ: Forget the Second Amendment. Gov. Gavin Newsom is aiming for the 28th. Newsom is launching a campaign to enshrine gun restrictions in the U.S. Constitution, as he detailed to POLITICO ahead of a larger announcement today. It’s his latest effort to export California values, and perhaps the most quixotic phase of his ever-deeper foray into national politics. He’s advancing the effort through a PAC he’s funded with the goal of making progressive inroads into red states. California’s suite of stringent gun laws stands in stark contrast to congressional deadlock. Newsom has bemoaned federal inaction after mass shootings in places like Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, arguing the gun lobby’s clout has stymied meaningful action on Capitol Hill. He’s presenting the new constitutional quest as an effort to shatter that freeze. Amending the U.S. Constitution is still dauntingly difficult. There’s a reason our nation’s supreme governing document hasn’t been edited in well over a generation. States can circumvent Congress if two-thirds of Legislatures call a constitutional convention. Newsom is enlisting lawmakers in California; he'd need to recruit 33 other states to join the cause. Democrats currently control 20 state legislatures. But Newsom argued people need a glimmer of hope amid the carnage. He called a constitutional amendment a “mechanism to address that despair,” saying it’s time to “go on offense” and activate a national network of people yearning for action. He said America’s founders, accustomed to “crossbows and dirks and muskets,” would be “appalled” by the ubiquity and normalization of “killing machines.” That reference to antiquated weapons hints at some broader context. A conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court has remapped the legal landscape for gun laws with an expansive Second Amendment interpretation grounded in “historical tradition.” That upended California’s concealed-carry permitting framework. It also emboldened gun rights advocates and imperiled state laws — an assault weapons ban, background checks and a higher gun-buying age — that Newsom wants to take national. “They're literally throwing out all of the progress many of us have made in these blue states,” Newsom said of “right-wing zealots” on the bench — a reminder that he relishes lambasting the NRA and allies, like San Diego-based Judge and “wholly owned subsidiary” Roger Benitez. That’s an effective and low-risk message in California, where voters overwhelmingly prefer controlling gun ownership to protecting gun rights. It will surely resonate with voters in other states who are sickened by the bloodshed and eager to do something about it. Newsom may elevate his standing and visibility among some of those people; he could nurture some momentum for local and state gun laws. But a constitutional change remains a long shot. BUENOS DÍAS, good Thursday morning. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is en route to California today, where she’ll visit the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s Energy & Sustainability Summit in Redwood City. On Friday, she’s joining Rep. Mike Levin at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up at jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte.
| | | | A message from Environment California: It’s time to make oil and gas companies – not California taxpayers – pay for the pollution they cause. California still gives subsidies and tax breaks to big polluters. Oil companies are making record profits, but refusing to clean up their messes. Meanwhile, California proposed cutting $6 billion from the historic climate budget. Instead, California must end subsidies and tax breaks for oil and gas companies, and redirect funding to renewable energy infrastructure and a clean environment. | | | WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “So here’s the thing: These sanctuary jurisdictions are part of the reason we have this problem. … When they have to deal with some of the fruits of that they all of a sudden become very, very upset about that.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis breaks his silence on shipping migrants to California WE’RE HIRING — POLITICO is embarking on an exciting expansion in the Golden State and looking for another journalist to join our growing team as a California Playbook author. More in the job description here.
| | | | PLAYBOOK TRIVIA NIGHT! Think you know a lot about politics? PROVE IT! Compete in California Playbook’s inaugural Trivia Night. Grab a drink, kick back, and put your knowledge on display! Join top political power players on Wednesday, June 21st at Fox & Goose Public House for a night of fun and competition that you won’t want to miss. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | MILK MELEE: Southern California school board faces state scrutiny for blocking gay rights figure from curriculum, by POLITICO's Blake Jones: Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta will review a Southern California school board’s decision to reject social studies curriculum over its mention of gay rights hero Harvey Milk, he told the Southern California school district in a letter Wednesday. FLORIDA MAN SPEAKS: DeSantis breaks his silence about California migrant flights, by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, during a surprise Wednesday visit to Arizona’s southern border, defended his administration’s decision to fly migrants to California but did not respond directly to the sharp criticism aimed at him by that state’s governor. — “Instagram connects vast pedophile network,” by The Wall Street Journal’s Jeff Horwitz and Katherine Blunt: “Pedophiles have long used the internet, but unlike the forums and file-transfer services that cater to people who have interest in illicit content, Instagram doesn’t merely host these activities. Its algorithms promote them.”
| | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — SCHIFF STAFF: Rep. Adam Schiff is announcing top aides for his U.S. Senate campaign. Brad Elkins will serve as campaign manager, Larry Grisolano as media consultant, Lis Smith as senior adviser for communications, Amy Levin as pollster, Parke Skelton as general consultant, Mike Nellis and Patrick Boland as senior advisers, Terri New and Elizabeth Tauro Mitchell as senior advisers and national finance consultants, Marisol Samayoa as comms director, Alex Wilcox as research director and Eddie Mendoza as constituency director. — “London Breed is flailing — and San Francisco voters know it,” Gil Duran opines in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Lacking real ideas, she’s hoping PR will save her. Heading into an election year, she wants voters to see her as capable and tough. But she isn’t some ambitious upstart challenging a failed incumbent. She is the failed incumbent, and voters know it.”
| | | | A message from Environment California:   | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — HILTON’S NEW PROJECT: Longtime conservative talk show host Steve Hilton is launching a California-focused think tank called Golden Together with the help of 2022 Republican state controller candidate Lanhee Chen and former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero. Hilton was previously senior policy and strategy adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron and hosted the Fox News segment, “The Next Revolution.” Golden Together spent much of this year brainstorming a 2024 ballot initiative aimed at tackling the state’s housing crisis. — "California politicians ask MLB to support bid to keep A's in Oakland," by the San Francisco Chronicle's Joe Garofoli and Matt Kawahara: "Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) both publicly asked the league’s leadership to stand behind the club. Lee, who is running for Senate, took a tougher stance Wednesday, releasing a letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred that expressed frustration 'with the continuing apparent failure of the team and Major League Baseball to deal in good faith' with Oakland and Alameda County government agencies." FABULOUS FRESNO — “Why Fresno? This California downtown has a $250 million earmark in Gavin Newsom’s budget,” by CalMatters’ Nicole Foy: “Newsom’s administration has long identified Fresno as an anchor to Central Valley’s economy and thus important to California’s future. This new proposed investment would tackle several projects city leaders say are necessary to spur a renaissance in downtown housing development.” — “Renters dominate California — but they are struggling to survive,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Terry Castleman: “The annual income needed to buy a home in Los Angeles rose last year to beyond $220,000, according to a study by the residential real estate firm Redfin. With higher mortgage interest rates and inflation cutting into household incomes, the ability to own a home is increasingly out of reach for more residents in Los Angeles, where the median annual household income in 2020 was just over $65,000.” PARTY FOUL? “Mayor Breed’s comments on S.F. nightlife draw ire from venue owners,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Lily Janiak: ”’To hear a mayor of a world-class city say that she couldn’t think of anywhere to tell a couple of tourists to go at 8 p.m. in a room full of people that are desperately trying to save their entertainment spaces was troubling,’ David Quinby, owner of venues Amado’s and the Riptide, who attended the summit, told The Chronicle.” — “I helped break the Schwarzenegger groping story. It took him 20 years to own it,” opines Carla Hall for the Los Angeles Times: “In many ways, the paper was in uncharted territory taking on this kind of investigation into accusations of groping and other boorish behavior on the part of a movie star running for governor. This was 14 years before the #MeToo movement would upend much of society’s tolerance for the sexual misconduct of powerful men (and some women).”
| | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | — “They fled San Francisco. The A.I. boom pulled them back,” by The New York Times’ Erin Griffith: “The tech industry is more than a year into its worst slump in a decade, with layoffs and a glut of empty offices. … But such busts are almost always followed by another boom. And with the latest wave of A.I. technology — known as generative A.I., which produces text, images and video in response to prompts — there’s too much at stake to miss out.”
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | MEDIA MATTERS | | — “Los Angeles Times to cut 74 newsroom positions amid advertising declines,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Meg James: “Reporting positions are expected to be spared but support staff will be trimmed, including editors on the news and copy desks as well as the audience engagement team. Some audio producers will also be cut.”
| | | MIXTAPE | | | — “Oakland A’s stadium bill to be considered in special session in Nevada Legislature after all,” by the East Bay Times' Laurence Miedema and Shomik Mukherjee. — “Another aborted landing at SFO sparks outrage between controller, pilot: ‘That’s just unacceptable,’” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Matthias Gafni. — “Revenge served ice cold? Top L.A. law firm outs former partners' racist, sexist emails,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Matt Hamilton and Harriet Ryan. — “Death of Bay Area woman after butt injections shows growing concern over illegal cosmetic surgery,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Catherine Ho.
| | | | A message from Environment California: California is struggling to balance its budget and proposing to cut $6 billion from the climate budget. Over 50 groups are urging Governor Newsom and the California Legislation to end subsidies for oil and gas instead. It’s time to make oil and gas companies – not California taxpayers – pay for the pollution they cause. While oil companies are making record profits, they continue to pollute our environment, but refuse to clean up their messes. We can’t keep paying companies to game the system while they dump higher bills and pollution on Californians. Instead, California leadership must end subsidies and tax breaks for oil and gas companies, and redirect funding to the climate budget. California should take that money and redirect it toward building new renewable energy infrastructure and dealing with the antiquated, fossil fuel-based systems left behind, as well as the polluters’ unwillingness to clean up their own messes. Learn more. | | | 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 | | | | |  |
