| | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Carla Marinucci, Graph Massara and Mackenzie Hawkins | THE BUZZ: Less than 24 hours after rioters fomented by President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol, the message from Speaker Nancy Pelosi's caucus had become unmistakeable: Trump must go. "My phone is exploding with 'impeach, impeach, impeach,'" the San Francisco Democrat said Thursday. She called for Trump's removal via the 25th Amendment — or, barring that, making Trump the first president to be impeached twice. "That is the overwhelming sentiment of my caucus," Pelosi said. | 
The sign in front of the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as seen on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, | AP Photo/Andrew Harnik | In the hours before, the cascade of pro-removal House Democrats had begun to assume critical mass. That included numerous California Democrats, with Rep. Ted Lieu helping to circulate an impeachment petition, incoming Sen. Alex Padilla echoing Pelosi's call for invoking the 25th and Sen. Dianne Feinstein following late in the day. Earlier in the Trump presidency, Pelosi had been reluctant to sign on to an impeachment push until events and political momentum overtook her. But on Thursday, she said the president left her little choice after he "incited an armed insurrection against America." Part of Pelosi's legacy will now be overseeing multiple attempts to remove a president from power, as surely as Wednesday's horrifying events will become an indelible part of Trump's. But it's also worth contemplating what the political consequences will be for California Republicans who backed Trump's efforts to challenge the election and, even after chaos engulfed the Capitol, returned to the cleared chambers and voted to reject Electoral College results. They all condemned the violence but embraced the underlying effort to defy the election results, aligning themselves with Trump's culminating political effort. | 
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi holds a news conference, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. | AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite | In case you weren't still watching in the wee hours, seven California Republicans — House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Reps. Doug LaMalfa , Jay Obernolte, Devin Nunes, Mike Garcia, Ken Calvert and Darrell Issa — voted to repudiate electors. Rep. Tom McClintock voted to back the Electoral College, and Rep. David Valadao said he would do the same, but was prevented from voting because he had contracted the coronavirus; similarly, Rep. Young Kim was exposed to the coronavirus and missed the Arizona vote as she awaited test results, but she voted against the Pennsylvania objection. Rep. Michelle Steel also did not vote because she was quarantining after testing positive. Some of those elector-rejecting Republicans are established Trump loyalists in deeply red districts where voters share their representatives' admiration for Trump. McCarthy in particular has staked his political trajectory to Trump, a major reason he leads his caucus today. Nunes was just rewarded with a Presidential Medal of Freedom. But Garcia barely won reelection in a purple district. Obernolte — seen as a mainstream fiscal conservative during his time in Sacramento — faced a viable challenger in a still conservative but changing district (and one of his Democratic former colleagues now sees him as "treasonous" ). After California House Republicans reversed their 2018 fortunes in 2020, clawing back multiple seats despite Trump losing big statewide, it's fair to wonder how this week's events will reverberate into 2022 and beyond. BUENOS DÍAS, good Friday morning. It's Budget Day! In normal times, Gov. Gavin Newsom 's fiscal unveiling would be the center of California's political universe — but we exited Normaltown long ago. We already know Newsom will propose billions to reopen schools, bolster businesses, rescue renters and aid individuals with $600 relief checks. We'll be all over the other details that emerge starting at 11 a.m. today, and you can follow along here — but remember, this is mostly a practice exercise before the real budget negotiation starting point in May. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "While it's only 13 days left, any day can be a horror show for America." Pelosi on why Congress must act even as Trump heads out the door. BONUS QOTD: "It was the closest I got to thinking there's a possibility that I could die. All we heard was the moving and the intensity. At any moment, someone could have rushed in the door with a semi-automatic." Rep. Raul Ruiz on sheltering in the Capitol, via CNN. TWEET OF THE DAY: @RepKarenBass responds to the FBI's call to identify rioters with a pic of Donald Trump: "Found one." WHERE'S GAVIN? Announcing his budget proposal at 11 a.m., livestreamed on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. | | | | GET THE BIG PRE-INAUGURATION SCOOPS IN TRANSITION PLAYBOOK: Inauguration Day is quickly approaching. Is the Biden administration ready? Transition Playbook brings you inside the transition and newly forming administration, tracking the latest from Biden world and the transition of power. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter breaks big news and analyzes the appointments, people and emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today. | | | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | DEPLATFORMED — Zuckerberg says Trump will be blocked from Facebook and Instagram, by POLITICO's Nick Niedzwiadek: Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts will be locked through at least Inauguration Day, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Thursday. … Twitter and Facebook froze Trump's accounts Wednesday in reaction to the president's incendiary response to a mob of his supporters who invaded the U.S. Capitol. THE PELOSI INVADER — "Man who posed at Pelosi desk said in Facebook post that he is prepared for violent death," by the WaPo's Jon Swaine: "'I am white. There is no denying that. I am a nationalist. I put my nation first. So that makes me a white nationalist,' Barnett wrote on page he maintained under a pseudonym, before adding that people who were not nationalists should "get the f--- out of our nation.'" — "Woman killed in Capitol was Trump supporter who embraced conspiracy theories," by NBC's Brandy Zadrozny and Mosheh Gains: "Ashli Babbitt, the woman who was shot and killed Wednesday in the riot in the halls of the U.S. Capitol, apparently by Capitol Police, was an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump and a follower and promoter of many well-known radical conservative activists as well as leaders of the QAnon conspiracy theory movement, according to her social media profiles." CAVALIER ON COVID — "Health official fumes as sheriff, Newsom critics plan COVID conference near Sacramento ," by the Sac Bee's Dale Kasler, Jason Pohl and Tony Bizjak. — "Kaiser San Jose fined $43,000 as investigation into Christmas costume Covid outbreak continues," by the Mercury News' Julia Prodis Sulek. | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | TRAVEL ADVISORY — "Stay closer to home, California health officials urge, in updated COVID travel advisory," by the Sac Bee's Michael McGough: "The new guidelines shorten the self-quarantine period from 14 to 10 days for non-essential out-of-state travelers, consistent with more recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. Non-essential travelers are still "strongly discouraging" from entering California. Second, the update says Californians should limit non-essential travel to a maximum of 120 miles from home within the state in addition to avoiding other states or countries." NO SCHOOL YET — " Reopening plans stall as 1 in 3 students are testing positive for COVID-19 at some L.A. schools," by the LA Times' Howard Blume, Melissa Gomez and John Myers: "Amid an unprecedented surge of coronavirus infections that has overwhelmed hospitals — and is widely expected to worsen in coming weeks — many districts, including those in Los Angeles, Pasadena and Claremont, have moved to keep campuses closed for the near future." — " L.A. using coronavirus test that FDA warns may produce false negatives," by the LA Times' Maya Lau and Laura J. Nelson: "The coronavirus test being provided daily to tens of thousands of residents in Los Angeles and other parts of California may be producing inaccurate results, according to guidance from federal officials that could raise questions about the accuracy of infection data shaping the pandemic response." VACCINE EXPANSION — " California OKs expansion of who can get COVID-19 vaccine to avoid doses going to waste," by the LA Times' Colleen Shalby: "IIn an effort to avoid wasting COVID-19 vaccine and help speed up the vaccine rollout, the state is instructing local health departments and providers to expand vaccine prioritization to community healthcare workers, public health field staff, primary care clinics, specialty clinics, laboratory workers, dental clinics and pharmacy staff." WHEN'S YOUR TURN? — "How will you know when you can get a coronavirus vaccine? Officials explain rollout," by the SF Chronicle's Catherine Ho. — "Bay Area hospitals slammed by COVID-19 surge: 'The E.R. is full'," by the SF Chronicle's Aidin Vaziri: "For the 20th straight day, there were virtually no vacant intensive care beds available across much of California as hospitals scrambled to treat wave after wave of new COVID-19 patients." — "Attempt to increase COVID-19 enforcement fails in Carlsbad," by the San Diego Union-Tribune's Phil Diehl. | | THE TRUMP ERA | | — "Gig-Economy Companies Get Worker Flexibility From Trump Administration," by the WSJ's Eric Morath: "The Labor Department in a final rule released on Wednesday would make it more difficult for a gig worker, such as an Uber or DoorDash driver, to be counted as an employee under federal law. That means those workers wouldn't be covered by federal minimum-wage and overtime laws, and they could be responsible for paying the employer portion of Social Security taxes." — "Central Valley school board trustee participated in storming the US Capitol — and livestreamed it ," by uSpark Valley's Sergio Cortes. | | TRANSITION TIME | | PASSOVER: California shortlisters lost out yesterday as President-elect Joe Biden opted to nominate two non-Californians to cabinet posts, choosing Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to be U.S. labor secretary over California Labor Secretary Julie Su and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo for Commerce, eschewing California businesswoman Meg Whitman. But Biden also tapped Isabel Guzman, head of California's Office of the Small Business Advocate, to lead the federal Small Business Administration. — "Kamala Harris will be able to break Senate ties. Why her staff hopes she won't need to," by the LA Times' Noah Bierman: "Harris' advisors are hoping the Senate duties don't distract from her other responsibilities and priorities too much, hindering travel, dominating her schedule or interfering with her ability to become an active player in the Biden White House." | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — "Here's how many California Republicans voted to reject election results after violence," by the SF Chronicle's Tal Kopan. | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | — "After EDD freezes 1.4 million accounts, agency could be swamped by ID verifications," by the SF Chronicle's Carolyn Said: "The suspended claims number from the Employment Development Department accounts for nearly one in seven of all claims for jobless benefits paid by the state throughout the pandemic." SCHOOL REOPENING — "California schools struggle to pay for ventilation upgrades, key to safely reopen campuses," by EdSource's Betty Márquez Rosales and Carolyn Jones: "Some districts have recently been able to upgrade their HVAC systems using local bond money. Others hope a newly introduced California Assembly bill will pass and allot extra funding for school facilities. Others are hoping President-elect Joe Biden will push through infrastructure legislation that includes money for schools. But few funding streams are guaranteed, and they may not be sufficient to cover the regular inspections and filter replacements that HVAC systems require." — "Will COVID spur California to ease food stamp applications?," by CalMatters' Jackie Botts: "A new bill could make it easier for seniors and people with disabilities to apply for CalFresh, California's version of food stamps, and allow people to enroll entirely over the phone by 2024." — "California prison union to gather in Las Vegas for board meeting amid COVID-19 surge," by the Sac Bee's Wes Venteicher. | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | TECH TAKEDOWN THWARTED — Simon & Schuster cancels Josh Hawley's book, citing Capitol riots, by POLITICO's Matthew Choi: Hawley's book, "The Tyranny of Big Tech," was slated to tackle the rise of major tech companies and argue that they "represent the gravest threat to American liberty since the monopolies of the Gilded Age," according to Simon & Schuster's website. It was set to be published June 22. — "'You've got blood on your hands': Silicon Valley's reckoning is here," by WaPo's Cat Zakrzewski: "For years, experts have warned that allowing President Trump's violent rhetoric and conspiracy theories to spread on social media could facilitate physical violence. Yesterday's insurrection validated those fears. And more broadly, it highlighted the terrifying offline consequences of years of inaction against hateful speech festering in tweets, Facebook feeds, YouTube channels and other online forums." — "Elon Musk Surpasses Jeff Bezos to Become World's Richest Person ," by Bloomberg's Devon Pendleton and Dana Hull. | | HOLLYWOODLAND | | — "When The Crises End, Will L.A. Still Be The Movie Capital? Maybe Not," by Deadline's Michael Cieply: "At this point, it wouldn't take much to change Los Angeles from movie capital to movie outpost. Given the drag on vaccine distribution and persistence of the virus here, production elsewhere is likely to get a head start. Worse, if one big company—Disney, with its affiliated remnants of Fox—were to move its flag to Florida, the books would close on an era." — " Amid Rising COVID Cases, International Governments Provide Long-Term Aid to Local Entertainment Industries," by the Hollywood Reporter's Scott Roxborough. — "The race is on to succeed 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek," by the LA Times' Steve Battaglio. — "S.F. professor to appear on final Alex Trebek-hosted 'Jeopardy!': 'He was a warrior'," by the SF Chronicle's Peter Hartlaub. | | MIXTAPE | | — "Former Oakland Police Officer Among Mob That Marched On Capitol," via CBS SF. — " Cherry blossom trees in S.F's Japantown ripped bare by vandals," by the SF Chronicle's Vanessa Arredondo. — "SFPD arrests suspect in slaying of 6-year-old Jace Young," by the SF Chronicle's Megan Cassidy. | | IN MEMORIAM | | — "Political consultant Steve Afriat, lobbyist and advocate for gay rights, dies at 68," by the LA Times' David Zahniser. | | BIRTHDAYS | | Russ Caditz-Peck, comms director at Snap … former Rep. Richard Pombo is 6-0 | | | | A NEW YEAR MEANS A NEW HUDDLE IS HERE: Huddle, our daily congressional must-read, has a new author! Olivia Beavers took the reins this week, and she has the latest news and whispers from the Speakers' Lobby. Don't miss out, subscribe to our Huddle newsletter, the essential guide to all things Capitol Hill. Subscribe today. | | | | | 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 subscriber-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? 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