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Inside the Golden State political arena | | | | |  | | By Dustin Gardiner and Lara Korte | |  Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., puts her arm around the casket of Sen. Dianne Feinstein at City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in San Francisco. | AP | DRIVING THE DAY: Californians will gather today for the funeral of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died last week at age 90. Her memorial, which starts at 1 p.m., will be at San Francisco City Hall — where Feinstein served two decades as mayor and a member of the Board of Supervisors. The service will no longer be open to the public due to security concerns, Feinstein’s office said Wednesday. It will be livestreamed on the late senator’s social media pages. THE BUZZ — BEHIND THE SPEAKERS’ LIST: From President Joe Biden to Hillary Clinton, high-profile Democrats across the country have spoken in recent days about Feinstein and their close relationships with her. National, state and local political figures will pay tribute to her one last time before she’s buried in San Francisco — the city where her political career started five decades ago. Biden is not attending and will pre-record his remarks. Vice President Kamala Harris is speaking, though she had a lukewarm relationship with Feinstein. Gov. Gavin Newsom will be there but won’t address the mourners despite his close friendship. Another notable attendee: Sen. Laphonza Butler, who was appointed by Newsom to serve much of the remainder of Feinstein's term. What to know about the speakers and their relationships with Feinstein: President Joe Biden: Biden and Feinstein served together in the U.S. Senate for 17 years and worked closely together during the Obama administration, when he was vice president. He’s known for his touching eulogies so much so that he’s earned the title of eulogizer in chief. That makes the president’s decision to not attend her funeral — and instead send recorded remarks — all the more unusual. It’s particularly odd considering Biden flew to California last week to raise money for his reelection campaign. He also traveled to the United Kingdom for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral last year — but won’t make a similar trip for California political royalty. Vice President Kamala Harris: This is perhaps the most unexpected speaker on the list. While Feinstein and Harris both hailed from San Francisco political circles and served together in the Senate, they weren’t close allies. Feinstein had a tepid response when Harris emerged as a presidential contender early in her Senate career. “She just got here,” Feinstein told reporters in 2017. There was also an infamous 2004 incident when Feinstein chastised then-District Attorney Harris at a police officer’s funeral for not seeking the death penalty for his killer. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer: Schumer and Feinstein served together in the Senate for 24 years, and he praised her as a “hero” after her death. During a speech on the Senate floor last week, Schumer spoke about Feinstein’s integrity and relentless work to pass major legislation, including a ban on assault weapons in the 1990s. The two worked closely on the bill when Schumer was a member of the House. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Pelosi and Feinstein spent decades as the pillars of San Francisco’s outsize influence over national politics. They shared a deep friendship. There’s perhaps no other contemporary who traced such a similar path to Feinstein’s in terms of being a trail-blazing woman in California politics. In recent months, Pelosi was among Feinstein’s most ardent defenders as critics called on the senator to resign amid concerns about her cognitive issues and declining health. Last week, Pelosi delivered a tearful tribute to Feinstein on the House floor, surrounded by the state’s Democratic delegation. Mayor London Breed: In one sense, Breed is an odd addition to the speaker’s list because she and Feinstein didn’t appear to have a close relationship. She’s speaking when many of Feinstein's closer allies — Newsom, Clinton and former Gov. Jerry Brown in particular — are not. But Feinstein and Breed share a common throughline as mayors of San Francisco. Feinstein became mayor in 1978 after the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. Breed, during a City Hall news conference last week, praised Feinstein for leading the city through such a dark chapter. “She stepped up, she led with courage,” Breed said. GOOD MORNING. It’s Thursday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. | | | | GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE. | | | | |
PLAYBOOK TIP LINE — Are you aware of any more seismic moves happening this week in California politics? Give us a ring or drop us a line.
Now you can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on Twitter —@DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte WHERE’S GAVIN? Attending Feinstein’s funeral in San Francisco. |  | FRESH INK | | | | 
Will Rollins (right) and Rep. Robert Garcia arrive at an orientation meeting in the U.S. Capitol Building in November 2022 | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — ROLLINS ON A ROLL: Palm Springs Democrat Will Rollins, who’s running for the House in CA-41, raised more than $830,000 in the third quarter, his campaign said. It’s the second consecutive period that Rollins has posted a sizable haul, which could boost his effort to unseat Rep. Ken Calvert, dean of the California GOP delegation. The race is a do-over after Calvert narrowly defeated Rollins in 2022. In another key swing district, Democrat George Whitesides’ camp says he raised over $700,000 in the quarter. He’s attempting to oust Rep. Mike Garcia in CA-27, a district in the Santa Clarita mountains that Democrats have long sought to flip. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — LT. GOV. SHARES THE LOVE: Eleni Kounalakis today is endorsing Joanna Weiss in the race for the 47th congressional district, backing the first-time candidate after also endorsing fellow Democrat, state Sen. Dave Min. “Joanna has a strong and demonstrated record of standing up for what is right, even when it's not easy,” Kounalakis said in a statement. “I know she is ready to serve the 47th district in Congress. I am proud to endorse her."
|  Rick Caruso arrives for an election night party on Nov. 8, 2022, in Los Angeles, Calif. | David McNew/Stringer | CARUSO’S NEXT MOVE — After losing the Los Angeles mayor’s race last fall, billionaire real estate magnate Rick Caruso is turning his focus toward flipping five congressional swing seats held by Republicans. In an exclusive report from our colleagues Christopher Cadelago and Melanie Mason published this morning, Caruso says he’s dedicating his money and time to push the most viable Democratic candidates to the front of the field and give them the best chance of beating their GOP opponents. He also plans on jumping into the presidential and U.S. Senate races, with a focus on courting Latino voters who failed to tip the scales in his favor in his mayoral race last year. “The effort, which in the coming weeks will involve sit downs with House candidates, amounts to a broader rebranding for Caruso,” Chris and Melanie write. “While both Caruso and [LA Mayor Karen] Bass are Democrats and the mayoral race was nonpartisan, Bass coalesced the party’s biggest stars, from former President Barack Obama to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, to ensure her victory over Caruso’s largely self-funded $104 million campaign.” Read more from their conversation with Caruso.
| | WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY | | KEVIN IN THE COALMINE: McCarthy’s ousting might have roiled Washington and worried California Republicans, but it could also be the ominous harbinger of a democracy in trouble, experts say. (The Washington Post) SCHADENFREUDE ALERT: The White House didn’t play a part in the removal of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and for all the apparent political upside for Democrats, the turmoil in the House also now presents perilous governing challenges for Biden. Nevertheless, McCarthy’s ousting means the departure of someone presidential advisers considered a fickle and unpredictable partner. (POLITICO) NOT-SO-GOLDEN: Thanks to a 2022 law, California credit unions are required to report how much income they receive from overdraft fees. And the first report of that data reveals that many California credit unions are taking millions from their most vulnerable customers and spending it on perks and bonuses for executives that resemble those of big banks more than nonprofits. (POLITICO)
| | | Playbookers | | | BIRTHDAYS — Jonathan Wilcox of Rep. Darrell Issa’s (R-Calif.) office … Alexandra Pelosi … Meta’s Josh Althouse … Google’s Peter Schottenfels … (was Wednesday): Liev Schreiber ... Alicia Silverstone ENGAGED — Riley Smith, head of finance for North America for Ligentia, on Saturday proposed to Lauren LaBruna, news producer for the "Megyn Kelly Show." They met when they were students at the University of Southern California, and he proposed in Newport Beach, Calif. Instapics | | | | Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of new episodes – click here. | | | | | 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.
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