News: POLITICO California Playbook: PELOSI’s grip on power — PG&E SHUT-OFF spurs outages — Oakland, Minneapolis’ BOOGALOO connections — McCLINTOCK slams NEWSOM’s Thanksgiving guidelines — TRUMP mail voting message backfiring in CA?

Monday, October 26, 2020

POLITICO California Playbook: PELOSI’s grip on power — PG&E SHUT-OFF spurs outages — Oakland, Minneapolis’ BOOGALOO connections — McCLINTOCK slams NEWSOM’s Thanksgiving guidelines — TRUMP mail voting message backfiring in CA?

Oct 26, 2020

By Carla Marinucci, Jeremy B. White, Graph Massara and Mackenzie Hawkins

Presented by UnitedHealth Group

THE BUZZ — BACKFIRING BIG-TIME? There are just eight days to go until the final ballots are cast in the 2020 presidential election. And with nearly 6 million Californians already having voted, there's evidence that President Donald Trump himself may have had an effect on GOP turnout here — and not in a good way.

Trump has used mail-in voting in California as a punching bag throughout the race, repeatedly claiming — baselessly — that it's riddled with fraud. But it's looking like that strategy may deter voters in his own party from participating early, as Jeremy reports.

Paul Mitchell, the vice president of Political Data Inc., a leading state firm tracking voter data, said that this year has flipped the script: Republicans who used to be consistent and reliable early voters are waiting until the last minute. As Democrats pushed their people for months to vote early, Trump discouraged mail voting by questioning its security.

A California ballot photographed on Oct. 15, 2020.

A California ballot photographed on Oct. 15, 2020. | AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

How's that translate? As CalMatters' Dylan Svoboda writes, "about 32 percent of registered Democrats — upwards of 3.2 million — have already voted in the November general election, according to Political Data's ballot tracker. In comparison, 23 percent of Republicans and 21 percent of independents have had their ballots processed as of Thursday evening. Nearly 650,000 more Democrats have voted than Republicans and independents combined."

A sign of the struggle? The embattled CAGOP has installed its own ballot boxes in some congressional battleground districts, potentially as a way to encourage skeptical Republican voters to participate early, as Jeremy has previously reported.

That may not be enough to help GOP candidates on the edge in tough House and legislative races. Still, not all is lost: As AP's Nicholas Riccardi and Angeliki Kastanis report, the GOP is slowly gaining.

BOTTOM LINE, via GOP consultant Rob Stutzman: "I think Republicans have to be concerned that the president has destroyed confidence in voting by mail in California, where it's really been a hallmark of Republican turnout for decades.''

AND IN OTHER NEWS… RED FLAG WARNINGS, SHUT-OFFS AND MORE: Hundreds of thousands of Northern Californians were told they could have their power cut through tonight, as extreme fire and wind conditions prompted Pacific Gas & Electric to take drastic precautionary measures affecting 36 counties and as many as 800,000 people. (Check the PG&E power outage map to see if you're affected.)

Forecasters were predicting 70 mph winds in higher elevations and up to 50 mph winds on flatlands, coupled with low humidity and extremely dry conditions — enough to warrant the largest preemptive power shut-off of 2020, the Mercury News' Paul Rogers reported . Three news blazes have begun in Northern California since Sunday afternoon, according to the Sac Bee's Vincent Moleski and Molly Burke.

The fear of toppled power lines — potential fire-starters — was high on officials' list of concerns. But the possibility of falling trees and branches in high winds, which could injure hikers and park-goers, prompted East Bay Regional Parks — the nation's largest urban park system — to close down most of its largest venues.

BUENOS DÍAS, good Monday morning. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that she and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin still have not come to an agreement on Covid-19 relief negotiations, but she " remains optimistic" about a deal before Election Day. Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump spent the evening at a fundraising event for her father in the posh Silicon Valley town of Atherton — tickets for which maxed out at $50,000. (H/t Recode's Theodore Schleifer.) And the Dodgers scored another win Sunday night.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Thanksgiving at the Newsoms: Your family Thanksgiving dinner must be outside, with family members seated at least six feet from each other, and may only last two hours. (Guests may use the bathroom inside IF it is sanitized after each use; otherwise, presumably use the bushes. Three grown children? Only two are allowed, and you must collect names and contact information. And for God's sake, NO SINGING. Happy Thanksgiving, California. You get what you vote for." — Republican California Rep. Tom McClintock, via Facebook.

BONUS QOTD: "I believe that my calling is to be the leader of the free world." — Kanye West explains it all on Joe Rogan's podcast.

TWEET OF THE DAY: Arnold @Schwarzenegger: "Thanks to the team at the Cleveland Clinic, I have a new aortic valve to go along with my new pulmonary valve from my last surgery. I feel fantastic and have already been walking the streets of Cleveland enjoying your amazing statues. Thank you to every doc and nurse on my team!" — The former governor announces he had another cardiac operation. Details from People Magazine's Alexia Fernandez.

PODCAST OF THE DAY: The SF Chronicle's John Diaz interviews Steve Schmidt and Mike Madrid, founders of The Lincoln Project, in a new segment of Joe Garofoli's "It's All Political" podcast.

WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.

A message from UnitedHealth Group:

By 2028, California will have only about half of the psychiatrists it needs. UnitedHealth Group is working to help address the projected critical shortage of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and counselors in the state by collaborating with UC San Diego and UC San Francisco on four-year grants totaling $8 million to help the schools grow and diversify their pipelines of diverse child and adolescent psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. Learn more.

TOP TALKERS

MISINFORMATION MESS — "What global elections have taught Silicon Valley about misinformation,'' by POLITICO's Steven Overly: The swift action Twitter and Facebook took to stifle an unverified New York Post article and the crushing political pressure that forced them to reverse course illustrate a key reality: With just weeks until the U.S. election, tech giants have yet to sort out their misinformation.

JEFFERSON JIVE— "Rural California is divided, armed for revolt. What's the matter in the State of Jefferson?" By the Sac Bee's Lara Korte, Ryan Sabalow and Jason Pohl: "In Jefferson, the sweeping pandemic edicts out of Sacramento are the latest in a long line of grievances about California's liberal policies, from new gas taxes, to minimum wage hikes, to environmental restrictions, to gun control. … As the country approaches a contentious election and the coronavirus shutdowns continue to hamstring the economy, the State of Jefferson may seem primed to explode."

VERY BIG DEAL — Apple, Google and a Deal That Controls the Internet ,'' by NYT's Daisuke Wakabayashi and Jack Nicas: "When Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai, the chief executives of Apple and Google, were photographed eating dinner together in 2017 at an upscale Vietnamese restaurant called Tamarine, the picture set off a tabloid-worthy frenzy about the relationship between the two most powerful companies in Silicon Valley … and a deal that was worth billions of dollars to both companies, cementing their status at the top of the tech industry's pecking order."

BOOGALOO THREAT — " Documents show 'Boogaloo Bois' communicated during Oakland, Minneapolis shootings," by the SF Chronicle's Michael Williams: "The man accused of fatally shooting two law-enforcement officers in California this summer was communicating with another man accused of shooting up a police precinct in Minneapolis during protests against the police killing of George Floyd, according to court documents released Friday. Both men are members of the 'Boogaloo Bois,' a loosely connected group of anti-government extremists who hope to accelerate a second American civil war, according to the court documents."

DEEP DIVE — "How the waters off Catalina became a dumping ground," by the LA Times' Rosanna Xia: "Tales of this buried secret bubbling under the sea had haunted Valentine for years: a largely unknown chapter in the most infamous case of environmental destruction off the coast of Los Angeles — one lasting decades, costing tens of millions of dollars, frustrating generations of scientists. The fouling of the ocean was so reckless, some said, it seemed unimaginable."

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

SUCCESS STORY — "How San Francisco became a COVID-19 success story as other cities stumbled," by the LA Times' Maura Dolan: "After cautiously approaching the pandemic for months, with a go-slow attitude toward reopening, San Francisco has become the first urban center in California to enter the least restrictive tier for reopening. Risk of infection, according to the state's color-coded tiers, is considered minimal, even though San Francisco is the second-densest city in the country after New York."

VALLEY TALK — "New data show how Silicon Valley coronavirus cases spread," by the Mercury News' John Woolfolk: "Recent data from Santa Clara County health officials suggests people here are catching the virus at work or in carpools and spreading it to others at home."

— "Raiders face fine, possible loss of draft pick for COVID violations," by the Mercury News' Jon Becker.

— " After seven months, Alameda County reopens for indoor dining," by the Mercury News' Jessica Yadegaran.

ELECTIONLAND: POLITICO is partnering with Electionland , a ProPublica project tracking problems that can prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots in California and around the country. We're part of a coalition of U.S. newsrooms that are investigating issues related to voter registration, pandemic-related changes to voting, the shift to vote-by-mail, cybersecurity, voter education, misinformation and more. Tell us here if you're having trouble voting.

THE TRUMP ERA

NANCY WOULDN'T BE GOING ANYWHERE — "Pelosi to run for speaker again if Democrats keep the House," by POLITICO's Kelly Hooper: "Pelosi said on Sunday she'll seek another term as speaker, should Democrats keep the House majority in the Nov. 3 elections."

— "Snippy over Trump-Biden, California voters unload in hair salons," by the Mercury News' Julia Prodis Sulek.

GAVINLAND

— "Newsom vs. Disney: Pandemic depresses California's fun businesses," by the OC Register's Jonathan Lansner.

— " Gov. Newsom Pledges to Ban Fracking in California – Then Greenlights More of It," by Steve Horn in Capital & Main: "On Sept. 23, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to ban hydrofracturing in the state by 2024. Just three weeks later, on Oct. 16, his administration approved permits to frack six new wells owned by a company with whom he has lobbying ties."

— " Newsom pledges extra $200M for homeless housing, funds more Bay Area projects," by the Mercury News' Marisa Kendall.

HAPPENING TUESDAY - A GEN Z RISING DISCUSSION: Did you know Gen Z now makes up 1/10th of the electorate? Join a virtual conversation with Mike Brodo, executive director of Gen Z GOP, and Chelsea Miller, co-founder of Freedom March NYC, and other Gen Z voters to find out how young voters are interacting with the political parties, technology and electoral process. Moderated by Laura Barrón-López and Rishika Dugyala, this virtual conversation explores the mindset of Gen Z voters, their policy priorities, and their impact on Election Day. REGISTER HERE.

PRESIDENTIAL PURSUIT

— "A Joe Biden fundraiser offers a new clue into how he might regulate Big Tech," by Vox's Theodore Schleifer.

— " Kamala Harris makes her final case to 'the ATL,'" by POLITICO's Maya King.

— "Kamala Harris' L.A. neighborhood of Brentwood feels less insulated after a year of turbulence," by the LA Times' Tyrone Beason: "This once low-key island of privilege isn't as isolated as it used to be. In the year and a half since Harris launched a bid for her party's presidential nomination, the problems of the country she wants to help lead — poverty, racial inequities, climate change, civil discord — have inched closer to her doorstep."

CAMPAIGN MODE

— "Georgette Gomez could make history as the first queer Latina in Congress," by NBC's Julie Compton: "Immigrant rights is an issue that weighs heavily on Gomez, who is vying this November to become the next representative of California's 53rd Congressional District."

PROP 15, 22 — "New poll shows tight races for California propositions to change app-based driver rules, business property taxes," by the LA Times' John Myers.

CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

BIG BUDGET BATTLE — "LA needs to 'aggressively' cut services, costs as projected revenue gap may hit $600 million," by the LA Daily News' Elizabeth Chou.

ZIP DRIVE — " California's vague new financial regulation law," by CalMatters' Dan Walters: "Assembly Bill 1864 didn't get much media or public attention as it zipped through both houses of the Legislature on the last day of the 2020 session."

VINTAGE TROUBLE — "Can California's top wine region survive the era of megafire?" by Gabrielle Canon in the Guardian: "Many winemakers and growers, some with generational ties to the region and its industry, are counting on research, innovation and sheer determination in a race against the changing climate."

FROZEN FOR FRAUD?— "Unemployment fraud concerns prompt action in California," by the AP's Adam Beam: "At least 350,000 debit cards filled with money for unemployment benefits in California have been frozen because of suspected fraud, state officials said, revealing how prevalent the problem has become now that the state has paid more than $105 billion in benefits since March."

— "Racial disparities in LAPD stops fueled by failed crime-fighting strategy, audit finds," by the LA Times' Kevin Rector and Cindy Chang.

— "San Joaquin Valley family says company's toxic pesticide caused child's disabilities," by the Fresno Bee's Manuela Tobias: "The complaint is the first of nearly 90 lawsuits a group of lawyers plan to file in the central San Joaquin Valley against the Delaware-based Corteva, Inc., and other local municipalities and pesticide applicators."

— "After Times investigation, dog activist Marc Ching charged by city's animal protection unit," by the LA Times' Alene Tchekmedyian and Paul Pringle: "The criminal case comes after a Times investigation earlier this year uncovered years of complaints by veterinarians that Ching persuaded pet owners to abandon prescribed treatment regimens and instead give their ailing dogs and cats products he sells at his business, the Petstaurant."

— "Chaos and confusion as judge pushes plan to clear homeless camps from near freeways," by the LA Times' Benjamin Oreskes.

COLD TURKEY — "Lobbying firm cuts ties with Turkey under pressure," by POLITICO's Theodoric Meyer: California state Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and 16 other state lawmakers told Mercury on Thursday they wouldn't engage with the firm as long as it represented Turkey. And the Los Angeles Community College District informed Mercury that it would "begin to exercise the 30-day termination clause" in its contract if Turkey remained a client.

POLITICO'S CALIFORNIA BALLOT TRACKER: No state does ballot initiatives quite like California, and interest groups are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to sway voters. It's all here in POLITICO's guide to California's 2020 ballot initiatives.

SILICON VALLEYLAND

THE SEEING EYE — "Does Palantir See Too Much?" by Michael Steinberger in NYT Magazine: "Many of Palantir's customers consider its technology to be transformative. [CEO Alex] Karp claims a loftier ambition, however. 'We built our company to support the West,' he says."

— "What global elections have taught Silicon Valley about misinformation," by POLITICO's Steven Overly: The social media sites have had to constantly introduce new policies and tweak existing ones to account for emerging threats from domestic and foreign operatives.

GOOD FOR GOOGLE? — " The Government's Case Against Google Is Good," by Chris Sagers in Slate: "I hope that even our extremely conservative federal judiciary and a public that finds it hard to support antitrust enforcement will realize that if the suit against Google succeeds, it will do us good."

HOLLYWOODLAND

LATINO HOLLYWOOD — "Congressional research arm to probe Latino employment trends in entertainment industry," by the LA Times' Sarah D. Wire.

— " Quibi Is Hollywood's Biggest Short-Form Failure—but Not Its First," by WSJ's Joe Flint and R.T. Watson: "Quibi had deep pockets and was led by two heavy hitters in Jeffrey Katzenberg, a former Walt Disney Co. executive and DreamWorks co-founder, and Meg Whitman, a former eBay Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. chief executive. That was enough for producers to take a risk."

CANNABIS COUNTRY

— "Jay-Z launches his very own cannabis line called Monogram," by CNN's Giulia Heyward and João Costa.

DONT MISS - NEW EPISODES OF POLITICO'S GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS PODCAST: The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, but many of those issues exploded over the past year. Are world leaders and political actors up to the task of solving them? Is the private sector? Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, unpacks the roadblocks to smart policy decisions and examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. Subscribe for Season Two, available now.

MIXTAPE

— "Scott Peterson Appears Remotely At Court Hearing; Prosecutors To Try Penalty Phase Of Murder Trial," via KPIX.

SAN BERNARDINO CASE — " Man gets 20 years for buying guns used in 2015 terror attack," by the AP's Stefanie Dazio.

— "A tragic end to a tragic life: Sex trafficking victim dies after defendant released," by the Modesto Bee's Erin Tracy.

— " Romance Scammer Used Deepfakes to Impersonate a Navy Admiral and Bilk Widow Out of Nearly $300,000," by the Daily Beast's Justin Rohrlich.

— "Once controversial, Advance Peace gets city funding to tackle Fresno violence," by KFSN's Corin Hoggard.

PANDEMIC PROBLEM? — "The Oakland hills are alive with the sound of gunfire in the night," by the SF Chronicle's Phil Matier.

A message from UnitedHealth Group:

UnitedHealth Group's partnership with UC San Francisco's School of Medicine and School of Nursing will create a new public psychiatry opportunity within the child psychiatry fellowship; recruit diverse students for its Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program; and provide scholarships and living stipends to underrepresented medical and nursing students pursuing child and adolescent mental health careers.

And, UnitedHealth Group's collaboration with UC San Diego School of Medicine will encourage medical students to pursue careers in mental health through the introduction of novel learning opportunities, individualized mentorship, scholarships, and financial education support for participating residents.

Why? Because by 2028, California will have only about half of the psychiatrists it needs. UnitedHealth Group is working to help address the projected critical shortage of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and counselors in the state by helping both schools grow and diversify their pipelines of diverse child and adolescent psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners.

Learn More.

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