| | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Graph Massara and Richard Tzul | Presented by CVS Health | THE BUZZ — We're about to learn how different California's era of unprecedented wildfires looks under a Democratic president. Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Fresno County on Thursday to highlight California's firefighting efforts, buttressed by a new $536 million infusion from the state. Months of hot weather, an early increase in blazes relative to last year and a nascent drought all point to another devastating fire season to come, although Newsom continued to resist calls to formally declare a drought emergency. "Fire season's already started," Newsom said, and climate change continues to fuel larger, more frequent fires that can appear well outside what we once thought of as "fire season." But the political landscape is changing, too. California doesn't want a "sparring partner" in the U.S. Forest Service, Newsom said, but the last few years "kind of felt like that" with "a lot of finger-pointing" faulting California for its fire woes, despite the fact that most of the forests in California are federally managed and the Forest Service has had its budget cut. Now, by contrast, "we have a president who wants to fund the federal efforts" to combat fires, Newsom said, recounting Biden's efforts to reach out early to talk about California's environmental challenges. Indeed, where former President Donald Trump was loath to acknowledge (at least, publicly) the role global warming has played in the Western states' annual conflagrations and was eager to blame California, Biden has made mitigating climate a central tenet of his agenda — and a key part of the big infrastructure spending package he's now trying to shepherd through Congress. It's hard to imagine the change in tone will not be welcomed by Newsom and fellow Democrats, particularly since the prior administration treated federal disaster aid like a bargaining chip. But for all their verbal spats and ideological differences, Trump also provided Newsom with something essential: a narrative foil. In response to nearly every policy of importance to the governor, from his pledge to ban gas vehicles to his plans for the troubled high-speed rail project to the state's mail-in voting practices , Newsom has been able to count on a steady stream of fire and fury from the presidential Twitter account. Newsom has even held up the state's response to the coronavirus as an example of Trump's failings for Californians (though the pandemic briefly spurred a detente between the two men). Now, though, with an outspoken ally in the White House, what will Newsom do? He may be branding the recall effort against him as purely GOP-driven, but he won't have periodic tweetstorms to point to as proof that a wildly unpopular president and his supporters are driving all the opposition. Newsom will no doubt be relieved to no longer deal with threats to yank wildfire funding, but a Trump-less vacuum also makes it harder to pin blame on Washington. | 
Gov. Gavin Newsom talks with local and state fire officials while touring an area burned by last year's Creek Fire near Shaver Lake in Fresno County, Calif., Thursday, April 8, 2021. | Craig Kohlruss/The Fresno Bee via AP | WHERE THE BUCK STOPS: Even as he touted expanded efforts to prevent wildfires, Newsom repeatedly noted the limits of his powers. He vowed to better manage forests and conduct prescribed burns after California spent "the last century" shortsightedly suppressing blazes. "I've been around 25 months," he said, and "I can't make up for 50 years." And he noted the state directly manages just 3 percent of wildlands. But that doesn't mean voters will give Newsom a pass. Another summer and fall of orange skies, acrid air and forced evacuations could complicate Newsom's efforts to convey a hopeful message as he seeks to dissuade voters from recalling him. Remind us why anyone wants to be governor of this state? BUENOS DÍAS, good Friday morning. Former Rep. Katie Hill suffered another legal setback yesterday as the field to replace Assemblyman and AG-designate Rob Bonta continued to develop. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "If Caitlyn Jenner decides to run for California governor in the recall election, I think she would be a very formidable candidate." Former GOP Rep. Mimi Walters on a potential recall contender to POLITICO. BONUS QOTD: "I'm telling our donors when I meet with them that this is not a sexy, quick fix like one hyped-up statewide race. … This is a four-year campaign to fix California and to do the long-term reforms that we know we need." Former Trump official and potential recall contender Richard Grenell on his latest political enterprise, via Fox News' Tyler Olson. TWEET OF THE DAY: LA Times scribe @MarkZBarabak on celebrity campaign clout: "If media titillation translated into votes, actor Gary Coleman or porn actress Mary Carey -- not Arnold Schwarzenegger -- would have been elected governor in California's 2003 recall." WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. | | A message from CVS Health: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, CVS Health has been there. We're nearly 300,000 employees ensuring millions of Americans can access health care services. We opened thousands of COVID-19 test sites and administered millions of tests. Now, we're providing the vaccine in designated states. We've been on the frontlines, making health care easier to access and afford. That's health care, from the heart. Learn more. | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | — "Four women say Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli, 'prince' of Wine Country, sexually assaulted them," by the SF Chronicle's Alexandria Bordas and Cynthia Dizikes Jessica Christian: "Three of the four women who spoke to The Chronicle said Foppoli … held what they considered to be a position of influence in their lives when he assaulted them. The women said that Foppoli's political ascent, and the increasing possibility that he would hold power beyond Windsor, made them willing to publicly share their allegations for the first time." AMOROUS AMPHIBIANS — "When rare California toads get thirsty for love, this tiny college helps set the mood ," by the LA Times' Louis Sahagún: "Grazing cattle and saving black toads have been dominant forces on campus operations for half a century, and a conservation success story at a time when amphibians are facing declines and extinctions across the United States and around the world." KATIE HILL SUIT — "RedState editor, Daily Mail dismissed from Hill's 'revenge porn' case," by the Santa Clarita Valley Signal's Kev Kurdoghlian. HATERS TAKE HEED — "The California exodus is a myth. But that doesn't stop the haters," writes LA Times columnist Mark Z. Barabak: "Gloating dispatches report an exodus of millionaires, billionaires and hard-pressed members of the state's middle- and working classes — their U-Hauls piled high like Dust Bowl refugees — supposedly depopulating California, hollowing out its COVID-stricken economy and leaving this once promised land to sink tragically into the Pacific. Never mind the reality." | | ROAD TO RECALL | | KARDASHI-RUN? — Caitlyn Jenner moves closer to California recall run by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt: Word of Jenner's potential candidacy has divided top California Republicans — with some dismissing it as a celebrity-driven stunt, and others arguing that she would be a strong candidate who could appeal to voters of both parties. — "Newsom sounds like Gray Davis in fighting recall as GOP 'power grab,'" by the SF Chronicle's Alexei Koseff: "Recall organizers characterize [Newsom's] strategy as condescending and dismissive of hundreds of thousands of Democratic and independent voters who they say signed their petition. But some veterans of the Davis campaign believe the message could be effective for Newsom in a state that has shifted dramatically to the left in the 18 years since the last recall election." — "How an anti-mask, anti-vaccine activist became a leader of the Gavin Newsom recall ," by the Sac Bee's Lara Korte: Cordie "Williams believes masks are a tool of division, designed to unfairly mark those like him who doubt they work, that the government is forcing dangerous vaccines upon its people, and that Newsom's attempts to slow a deadly virus make him a California version of Adolf Hilter." | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | — "COVID-19 vaccines encouraged but not required at Cal State universities next fall," by the Mercury News' Lisa M. Krieger. PLAY BALL: " Here's when San Francisco will allow indoor events to resume, including concerts, theater and Warriors games," by the SF Chronicle's Aidin Vaziri and Lily Janiak. — "Fresno County immediately opens COVID-19 vaccine availability to anyone 16 and up," by the Fresno Bee's Tim Sheehan: "The slowdown in people clamoring for vaccines is giving the county confidence that it can accelerate eligibility almost a week before the state of California opens vaccines to everyone who is at least 16 years old on April 15." — "LA Health Director Says The Next Six Weeks Are Critical," by LAist's Jackie Fortiér. — "As L.A. reopens, salsa dancing into the orange tier on Venice Beach," by the LA Times' Daniel Hernandez. | | | | JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION, SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" NEWSLETTER: Power dynamics are shifting in Washington and across the country, and more people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is our twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy and power in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear from important new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | | | THE 46TH | | — "Biden wants Congress to act on guns. Bay Area lawmakers will be key," by the SF Chronicle's Tal Kopan: "California Sen. Dianne Feinstein has been working on the issue for decades in the Senate, including with Biden when he was a senator. She carried a bill that banned assault weapons sales for more than a decade and has repeatedly tried to reinstate it, another measure Biden endorsed." | | MADAM VP | | — "Politicians dread the sting of #KHive, the fervent online fans of Kamala Harris," by the LA Times' Noah Bierman: "It's not all sweetness. Almost a | | GAVINLAND | | — "It's about time Newsom reopened California. We're going to get our summer back," by the LA Times' George Skelton: "One of Newsom's problems is that he has failed to adequately explain his actions to the public, despite a continuous series of livestreamed briefings last year. They were usually painful to watch — too long-winded and saturated with numbing statistics." | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — "Akilah Weber wins mother's Assembly seat in San Diego County, by POLITICO's Jeremy B. White: By securing more than 50 percent of the vote, Akilah Weber won outright and avoided a runoff. ... Given Democrats' 23-point voter registration advantage in AD-79, the drama in this race involved which Democrat would replace Secretary of State Weber. kilah Weber was the odds-on favorite, securing the California Democratic Party endorsement and easily outraising her opponents. WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR — No initiatives on California recall ballot, campaigns say , by POLITICO's Jeremy B. White and Debra Kahn: Some observers believe coinciding ballot initiatives with the recall could bring out more voters. But initiative campaign officials warn moving up a vote would shorten their timeline to appeal to voters or to strike deals with the Legislature and withdraw initiatives. BONTA DYNASTY? Alameda School Board member Mia Bonta has filed a statement of intent to run for her husband Rob Bonta's East Bay Assembly seat, which Rob Bonta will vacate to be California attorney general, per eagle-eyed Rob Pyers of California Target Book. With Akilah Weber likely to replace mother and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, a Mia Bonta Assembly win would mean two Newsom appointees being replaced by relatives. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — ZBUCKS: Equality California head Rick Zbur is continuing to lay a sturdy groundwork for his Assembly run, announcing that he'd pulled in $100,000 worth of donations in the ten days since he announced his run for the soon-to-be-open 50th Assembly district seat. MCCARTHY MONEY : House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is also raking in the cash, with the Bakersfield Republican's office reporting he raised a record $27.1 million in the first quarter. That cash could well help McCarthy flip the House and fulfil his speakership dreams. | | | |   | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | FIRE FIGHT — Newsom, lawmakers announce $536M early action on wildfires by POLITICO's Debra Kahn: The spending move ahead of the regular June budget deadline would allow land managers to get projects underway before what's expected to be an active, drought-fueled fire season. — "California city tried to reform its toxic police department. Then came the vulgar texts," by the Sac Bee's Jason Pohl: "The city has ordered an outside investigation into vile banter on private text messages, first reported by The Bee last month, in which [Eureka police officer Rodrigo] Reyna-Sanchez and other officers likened homeless people to troglodytes and joked about putting mentally ill women in demeaning sexual situations." TELL, DON'T ASK — "'Go Ahead and Vote Me Out': What Other Places Can Learn From Santa Rosa's Tent City," by Kaiser Health News' Angela Hart: "In Santa Rosa, like so many other communities, strenuous neighborhood objections typically would drive a stake through a proposal for homeless housing and services. Not this time. Elected officials were not asking; they were telling." — " Donovan Deaths: 3 prisoners found dead or dying in cells from COVID-19," by inewsource's Jill Castellano and Mary Plummer. NOT SO FAST — "Citing high wildfire risk, judge halts construction of massive Tejon Ranch development," by the LA Times' Louis Sahagún: "The ruling does not kill the project, but it does threaten to delay it significantly. It also comes at a time when a severe California housing crunch has caused rents to rise dramatically and pushed cities such as Los Angeles to approve denser developments." FROM PHILLY TO L.A. — Left-wing prosecutors hit fierce resistance, by POLITICO's Holly Otterbein: In California, both San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón are facing recall efforts. Opponents of the left-wing DAs have accused them of letting criminals loose on the streets and turning a blind eye to victims. — "How a surprising Newsom veto threw California's garbage, building industries into chaos," by the Sac Bee's Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler: "Contractors, haulers and the lumber industry initially had no idea what to do with the material that needs to get tossed after nearly every backyard remodel, agricultural clean up, highway project and housing teardown." — "Sacramento could require laid-off employees to be rehired — but some workers aren't included," by the Sac Bee's Molly Burke. | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | — "Civil rights groups flagged dozens of anti-Muslim pages and groups to Facebook that stayed up, lawsuit alleges," by the WaPo's Elizabeth Dwoskin: "Social media platforms have long faced criticism for facilitating a climate of bigotry, and they are now under even more pressure to monitor their services after mass demonstrations against police brutality and rising violence against Asian Americans." SOCIAL SHOTS: Facebook is announcing today that it's assisting vaccination efforts by converting its Menlo Park headquarters into a mass vaccination site and working with Newsom's office to offer financial and logistical support to pop-up vaccination sites. — "Silicon Valley Is Flooding Into a Reluctant Austin," by Bloomberg's Lizette Chapman: "During the pandemic, Austin has welcomed more new residents from the Bay Area than from any other region outside Texas, according to records provided to Bloomberg by the U.S. Postal Service. Tech is not new here—Dell Technologies was founded in the city, and Apple and Facebook have large presences." — "Alyce, an AI-based personalised corporate gifting startup, raises $30M," by TechCrunch's Ingrid Lunden. | | HOLLYWOODLAND | | — "Should Studios Worry About Congress' Next Big Labor Fight?" by the Hollywood Reporter's Ashley Cullins: "Since California has already gone to war over the ABC test once, its businesses have a head start over other hubs like New York and Georgia, which haven't yet dealt with such restrictive standards for worker classification." ASSEMBLE! — "Disney unveils June opening date for Marvel-themed Avengers Campus," by the LA Times' Todd Martens. TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME — "Here's a how-to guide for attending a game at Dodger Stadium," by the LA Times' Victoria Hernandez. TIP BALL — "Warriors to host fans at Chase Center starting April 23 vs. Nuggets," by the Mercury News' Wes Goldberg. | | | | Did you know that POLITICO Pro has coverage and tools at the state level? All the state legislative and regulatory tracking, budget documents, state agency contact information, and everything else you need to stay ahead of state policy movement integrate into our smart and customizable platform. Learn more and become a Pro today. | | | | | | | CANNABIS COUNTRY | | — "Top California pot grower Glass House to go public in blank-check deal," by Reuters' Shariq Khan: "[industry veteran Jonathan] Sandelman said the company's focus on California - the largest cannabis market in the world - means that federal legalization would not be crucial to its success." | | MEDIA MATTERS | | Pamela Turntine is taking over as editor-in-chief of Berkeleyside. Turntine spent years working for the Oakland Tribune, the East Bay Times and the Mercury News. | | MIXTAPE | | HIGH LINE — "Having a bad trip? SF organization to launch world's first psychedelic peer support line," by Zack Ruskin for SFGATE. — " UC Riverside has high share of underserved students. But funding gap prompts equity debate," by the LA Times' Teresa Watanabe. — "Warriors president Rick Welts to retire, leaving an indelible Bay Area legacy," by the SF Chronicle's Ann Killion. — "Walk through one of L.A's most glamorous, storied homes – on market for $40 million," by the Sac Bee's David Caraccio. — "Yosemite National Park will require reservations for entry this summer - again," by the SF Chronicle's Kurtis Alexander. — "'I killed Roger Kibbe the same day I became his cellmate': DA charges man who admitted to strangling I-5 Strangler, but won't seek death, report says," by the Mercury News' Nate Gartrell. | | BIRTHDAYS | | Facebook's Brittany Uter | | A message from CVS Health: Throughout the pandemic, in California and across the country, CVS Health has been delivering essential care. Thanks to the efforts of our employees, we opened 4,800 COVID-19 test sites and administered over 15 million tests at our stores and through partners in underserved communities. With millions staying home, we increased access to prescription delivery, virtual visits and mental health services. Now, we're providing vaccines in designated states. Every day, CVS Health works to bring quality, affordable health care closer to home—so it's never out of reach for anyone. That's health care, from the heart. 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 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? 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 | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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