News : POLITICO California Playbook: RECALL politics in the land of extremes — ‘SHOCKING’ threats against NEWSOM, family — ANTI-VAXXERS shut down vaccination site at DODGER STADIUM

Monday, February 1, 2021

POLITICO California Playbook: RECALL politics in the land of extremes — ‘SHOCKING’ threats against NEWSOM, family — ANTI-VAXXERS shut down vaccination site at DODGER STADIUM — CONSPIRACIES and CA wildfires?

Feb 01, 2021

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

THE BUZZ — CLOWNS TO THE LEFT OF ME, JOKERS TO THE RIGHT: Is the middle collapsing? California Gov. Gavin Newsom is being savaged in the political arena these days due to his Covid response and school closures, and could soon be facing a recall.

But he has one thing to be grateful for: The former president may have been quick to cast Newsom as the ultra-left-wing overseer of a state that's "going to hell," but he is still, relatively speaking, middle-of-the-road. Voters have seen plenty of examples recently of the truly out-there elements of California politics, screaming for attention — even in the major political parties.

And as the movement to remove Newsom from office appears to gain steam — and if it qualifies — look for his supporters to point out that some of the alternatives who could line up to take his place will be at the far ends of the political spectrum. A lot of California voters might soon be singing to the tune of "Stuck in the Middle with You," a 70's one-hit wonder by Stealers Wheel.

FOUR PRIME EXAMPLES of the ends of political spectrum that could help Newsom navigate — and dominate — the moderate middle:

— THE SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL BOARD: Apparently hell-bent on being memorialized in the annals of wokeness and so-called cancel culture, the San Francisco Unified School District board distinguished itself in 2019 by voting first to destroy, and then to cover up, a Depression-era mural depicting slavery and the body of a Native American, after some parents and students complained it was upsetting.

Last week, the board returned with the decision to pick replacement names for 44 schools — at a likely cost of at least $1 million — by April, possibly before the schools will reopen. The SF Chronicle's editorial board wrote the school board is in fact a school board " in name only ." Mission Local's Joe Eskenazi, in a rundown of the board's historical targets, wrote the vote was nothing short of a "historic travesty." And the story has not gone unnoticed by Fox News.

— ANTI-VAXXERS AT DODGERS STADIUM: As the LA Times' Marisa Gerber and Ifran Khan reported: "Dodger Stadium's mass COVID-19 vaccination site was temporarily shut down Saturday afternoon when about 50 protesters gathered at the entrance, frustrating hundreds of motorists who had been waiting in line for hours." The radical rebellion against science and medicine (most visibly by a contingent of Trump supporters; Saturday's demonstrators were told to "refrain from wearing Trump/MAGA attire") just gives Newsom a chance to throw down. Over the weekend, the governor's tweeted response to the disruption was firm: "We will not be deterred or threatened."

— EXTREMIST THREATS TO NEWSOM: A story by the Sac Bee's Sophia Bollag this weekend was a frightening reminder that extremist politics are still very much a threat to democracy in 2021. As the LA Times' Anita Chabria and Paige St. John noted recently, some of those same QAnon, far-right and anti-vaxxer elements have backed the recall of Newsom. Bollag reports Newsom has been the target of a range of threats against himself, his businesses and his kids, and there have even been "violent sexual threats against his wife.''

Her report comes on the heels of the LA Times' Richard Winton's tale of the Napa man who allegedly threatened Newsom and built "five large pipe bombs, possessed machine guns and extensive body armor, used encrypted communications to chat with like-minded extremists" and was part of the Three Percenters, a right-wing militia. Stories like these underscore that, while Newsom's politics may not be palatable to all, public service has become an increasingly dangerous calling.

— GYMNASTICS BY THE GOP: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's political pretzel act, — in which he first said Donald Trump "bears responsibility" for the Jan. 6 insurrection, then twisted back on himself and denied the former president's culpability and went to Mar-A-Lago to beg for his backing — poses a problem for the party here, where Trump is massively unpopular.

McCarthy has been silent on Trump's moves directly related to California — like his pardon of two former congressmen, Duncan Hunter and Randy "Duke" Cunningham, convicted of corruption. And then there's McCarthy's appointment of Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to the House Education committee — though she has taunted survivors of massacres, questioned whether 9-11 was an inside job and has repeatedly endorsed violence against Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Two moderate GOP gubernatorial hopefuls, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and businessman John Cox, have so far sidestepped these issues. But nationally, Republicans have abandoned the party in droves, as The Hill's Reid Wilson recently reported. And, in the tweeted words of University of Virginia political guru Labby Sabato , the combination of Trump's continuing hold on the party and the failure of the rest of the GOP to aggressively separate itself from extremist elements like Greene, may mean "the Republican Party is no longer salvageable—at least [as] a sane center-right version the country needs as an alternative."

— RELATED OP-ED: "San Francisco Schools, Radicalism and the Pandemic," by Ross Douthat in NYT.

BUENOS DÍAS, good Monday morning.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I saw it. I couldn't believe it. No one called me. … We're going to try to find a bipartisan pathway forward. I think we need to, but we need to work together. That's not a way of working together, what was done." — Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) dings Vice President Kamala Harris over an interview in which she discusses the administration's approach to pushing its Covid-19 plan, via POLITICO's Maria Carrasco.

TWEET OF THE DAY: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) @AlexPadila4CA has a message for Republicans ahead of Trump's second impeachment trial: "If not us, who? If not now, when?"

PODCAST OF THE DAY: "Political Breakdown," with KQED's Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos interviewing Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) on, among other things, her vote against Trump's impeachment.

BONUS POTD: "Inside Golden State Politics," with Bill Boyarsky and Sherry Jeffe, on the rollout of the Covid vaccine.

WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.

TUNE IN TO NEW EPISODE OF GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe for Season Two, available now.

TOP TALKERS

FIRE AND FURY — "How wildfires became ripe areas for right-wing conspiracy theories," by the LA Times' Hailey Branson-Potts, Joseph Serna and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde: "California wildfires have been ripe for conspiracy for years, but Greene's comments surface at a time when a sizable segment of the American population is treating false conjecture as fact — from armed people in Oregon on the lookout for so-called antifa members starting blazes to the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol based on former President Trump's baseless claims of a rigged election."

— " He made sure the bodies of the Muslim dead faced Mecca. COVID-19 claimed his life,'' by the LA Times' Gustavo Arellano: "For over 30 years, [Hashem Ahmad] Alshilleh helped to bury a generation of Southern Californian Muslims. The Riverside resident washed and shrouded the corpses of men per Islamic customs and drove the bodies of men and women to cemeteries from Rosamond to Victorville, San Diego to Orange County."

DEEP DIVE — " Vaccination Chaos Fuels Push to Recall Newsom," by CalHealthline's Angela Hart: "Since October, Newsom has touted his administration's readiness to vaccinate the state's 40 million residents, while repeatedly assuring them that 'hope is on the horizon.' … Instead, the situation has devolved into chaos and confusion, as vulnerable older people, teachers and others in essential industries scramble to find a vaccine appointment — often without help or direction from state or local officials."

DON'T GO — "Five ways to stop the exodus," by the SF Business Times' Mark Calvey and Allison Levitsky: "Texas and other states are courting Bay Area companies, mining the pricey innovation capital for firms that might be wooed by lower taxes — the Lone Star State doesn't collect personal income or capital gains taxes from Texans — along with cheaper housing and looser business regulations."

CENTRAL VALLEY WAKE-UP CALL — "A hard rain's gonna fall: Glimpsing the rise of hate through the lens of our Valley," by Mark Arax in the Fresno Bee: "When the book came out in the spring of 2019, my publisher asked me, a social media novice, to go onto Facebook to promote it. That's how I discovered this portal, one link leading to another, that transported me to a subterranean world, a cesspool inside a cavern, brimming with the most vile and absurd conspiracy theories."

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

UH OH — "Britain and Brazil coronavirus variants now found in the Bay Area," by the SF Chronicle's Tatiana Sanchez.

WHERE'S THE DATA? — " California says equity is vital for vaccine distribution. But data is almost nonexistent," by the SF Chronicle's Tatiana Sanchez, Catherine Ho and Mallory Moench: "It is difficult to know whether people of color are being vaccinated on par with the incidence of COVID-19 in those communities because the state and most counties have not released information on the racial and ethnic demographics of vaccine recipients."

BLUE SHIELD, BLACK BOX — " Why Blue Shield for California's COVID vaccine effort? Gavin Newsom's administration says little," by the SF Chronicle's Alexei Koseff: "State officials have offered few explanations about their decision this week to turn over coronavirus vaccine distribution to the health insurance giant Blue Shield of California, including who selected the company, whether there were competitors and why the state could no longer do the job itself."

UC DAVIS' APPROACH — " A California College Tries to Shield an Entire City From Coronavirus," by the NYT's Shawn Hubler: "Rather than turning the campus into a protective bubble for students and staff, as some schools have attempted, it has quietly spent the past six months making its campus bubble bigger — big enough, in fact, to encompass the entire city."

TRAUMA — " 'Nightmare' of confusing tech, guidelines thwart Bay Area seniors trying to get vaccinated," by the SF Chronicle's Mallory Moench.

TOO LITTLE O2 — "Hospitals are still short of oxygen, critical for COVID-19 patients. Here's why," by the LA Times' Samantha Masunaga.

THE 46TH

JULIE SU'S EDD PROBLEM — "Likely Biden deputy labor secretary pick could face Senate scrutiny over California unemployment fraud," by Fox's Thomas Barrabi.

— " How Biden's Pentagon plans to win back Silicon Valley and get the tech talent it needs, according to experts," by Business Insider's Belle Lin.

MADAM VP

CALL IN KAMALA — "Biden turns to the veep to sell Covid vax to communities of color,'' via POLITICO's Eugene Daniels: One of Vice President Kamala Harris' first tasks in office could very well be her most important: getting skeptical communities — mainly people of color — to put the Covid-19 vaccine in their arms.

— "What Will Kamala Harris' VP Mandate Be?," by Vanity Fair's Eric Lutz: "Harris is widely expected to assume an influential role in the new administration as it takes on the daunting task of cleaning up the mess left by the last one, and appears to be doing just that in her first days in office."

GAVINLAND

COX IS IN — "John Cox says he'll challenge California's Newsom if recall effort succeeds," by Fox's Morgan Phillips.

— " For Gavin Newsom, good and bad news from a recall expert," by the LA Times' Mark Z. Barabak: "Perhaps most important, Gavin Newsom is no Gray Davis, who scratched out reelection with just 47% support after a scathingly negative campaign that left many in California with a foul taste in their mouths."

— " Opinion: Gov. Newsom needs to fully explain pandemic decisions. He hasn't been doing so.," by the San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board.

CAMPAIGN MODE

MCCARTHY AND NUNES — Anti-Trump group launches $1M billboard campaign calling on Cruz, Hawley, McCarthy to resign, by POLITICO's Laura Barrón-López: All of the lawmakers on the list voted Jan. 6 — hours after the Capitol insurrection — to reject state electors Joe Biden won in November as part of an effort to overturn the election results.

CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

— "A year into pandemic, California's broken unemployment agency still hurting those in need," by the LA Times' Patrick McGreevy: "The pair of reports on the EDD's failings from California State Auditor Elaine Howle paints a sobering picture of an agency in crisis, concluding that the state agency 'had no comprehensive plan' for the pandemic-spurred recession which 'worsened EDD's already poor performance,' and failed to act on problems that have plagued its unemployment insurance program for at least a decade."

EVICTION HALT — Newsom signs California eviction halt through end of June, by POLITICO's Jeremy B. White: Just days before a previously passed moratorium was set to expire, Newsom signed into law a follow-up measure that bars landlords through the end of June from evicting tenants whose finances have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The package marshals $2.6 billion in federal funds to help landlords offset deferred or partial rent payments.

NICHOLS' NEW ROLE — Nichols joins think tanks devoted to transportation, China climate policy, by POLITICO's Debra Kahn.

— "PG&E settlement fund $1 billion short for California wildfire victims, trust's leader warns," by the Sac Bee's Dale Kasler.

HIT THE ROAD — "State lifts suspensions of half a million driver's licenses," by CalMatters' Robert Lewis.

DROUGHT COMING? — "California is soaking wet. But drought looms if we don't get more rain — a lot more," by the Sac Bee's Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler: "Last year was one of the driest rainy seasons on record, and prior to this week's storm, the state was on pace for precipitation totals below the winter of 1976-77, the second-worst drought in California's modern history."

— "2 arrests in possibly fatal attack on S.F. private eye Jack Palladino - who helped solve his own case," by SF Chronicle's Megan Cassidy.

— "San Diego Unified's federal lobbying efforts come under scrutiny by parent group," by the San Diego Union-Tribune's Kristen Taketa.

SILICON VALLEYLAND

— Zuckerberg's pledge to depoliticize Facebook hits grassroots movements, by POLITICO's Elena Schneider and Christiano Lima: Advocacy group leaders — who have long called on Facebook and other tech giants to clamp down on incendiary posts and hate speech, arguing that it led to radicalization on social platforms and contributed to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol — say the company's latest policy shift won't fix its problems with politics. And they fear it will disadvantage organizers who help to usher new people into new movements, like the Trump-era women's marches or Black Lives Matter protests.

— " Facebook Hires Its First Chief Compliance Officer," by the WSJ's Mengqi Sun.

— Facebook's 'Supreme Court' taking comments on Trump's suspension, by POLITICO's Mark Scott: The group has until April to decide on whether to reinstate the former president's Facebook account, which the company froze after a throng of his supporters sacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, and will use the public comments as part of its deliberation process.

DRAPER DEPARTING? — "Tech investor who proposed splitting up California is latest to threaten leaving the Bay Area ," by the SF Chronicle's Roland Li.

TAKING OFF — "Elon Musk's SpaceX is raising another astronomical funding round," via Silicon Valley Business Journal.

SCARY SEARCH RESULTS — "A Vast Web of Vengeance," by NYT's Kashmir Hill. l

HOLLYWOODLAND

— "Coachella and Stagecoach festivals canceled, again (again)," by the LA Times' Randall Roberts.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION — " Unions say commercial shoots in L.A. can resume as pandemic restrictions ease," by the LA Times' Anousha Sakoui

— "Why SAG-AFTRA Is Taking Action Against Trump," by the Hollywood Reporter's Ashley Cullins: "They cite not only Trump's alleged role in inciting the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, for which he's been impeached, but also his war on the media."

— "Steve Wynn Asking $110 Million for Los Angeles Megamansion," by Mansion Global's Liz Lucking.

NYPOST'S HEADLINE — "Hiding Hunter Biden laying low in LA, starting art career with shady dealer," by the NY Post's Isabel Vincent and Jon Levine.

CANNABIS COUNTRY

EQUITY IN FRESNO… "Fresno green lights cannabis equity program for people with criminal records. Here's why," by the Fresno Bee's Thaddeus Miller: "The fund can get grant money from the state's Cannabis Equity Grant Program, and can also collect dollars from weed taxes and community benefit efforts from other marijuana business owners."

… AND SAN DIEGO — "San Diego County Supervisors take first step in cannabis equity policy," via KUSI: "The policies were drafted with the intent to expand farming, manufacturing and retail opportunities and create jobs in the unincorporated areas of the county."

MIXTAPE

ELLA'S ALL THAT — "Kamala Harris' Stepdaughter Just Landed A Massive Modeling Contract," by Forbes' Carlie Porterfield.

— " Two lives were lost in the downtown crash a month ago. Were their deaths preventable?" by the SF Chronicle's Megan Cassidy, Matthias Gafni, Nora Mishanec, Rachel Swan and Michael Williams

— "Stretch of Highway 1 in Monterey County washes away after being hit by debris flow," by the SF Chronicle's Lauren Hernández.

— "Here's what home prices look like right now for each Bay Area county," by the SF Chronicle's Susie Neilson.

— "Berkeley mayor encourages residents to fly the American flag," via KTVU.

MIXTAPE

END OF AN ERA — Here's the item: Chronicle columnist Phil Matier has written his last column," by the SF Chronicle's Phil Matier: "You will still be able to hear my reports twice daily on KCBS radio. And I will be continuing and expanding my work as a television columnist for ABC-7. It's a time of challenges and changes and some thanks."

— "Meet the Bay Area publisher who has spent her career elevating Black voices - including Kamala Harris'," by Laura Lane in the SF Chronicle: "Outside of the Black community and political activist circles in San Francisco, Ashley-Ward is a relative unknown. But inside the Black community, she's a minor celebrity whose newspaper has significant influence over the lives of its readers, including who they vote for."

BIRTHDAYS

Saturday: POLITICO's Mackenzie Mays

Monday: Jerry Roberts, the former — and legendary — editor at the SF Chronicle and co-founder of the spunky CalBuzz blog with Phil Trounstine….and BIG ONE! Glenna Walters, the mother of CalMatters' columnist Dan Walters, turns 105 today.

JOIN TUESDAY - THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN ENERGY: President Joe Biden is pushing for an ambitious agenda to tackle the climate crisis amid a gridlocked Washington. Biden's signature plan "Build Back Better" includes a $400B investment in clean energy research, establishing a new agency to focus on climate, among other initiatives. Join POLITICO for a virtual conversation to explore policy proposals and practices to help communities with economies that rely on fossil fuels to navigate the energy transition. REGISTER HERE.

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