| | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte | Presented by Advanced Energy United | THE BUZZ: Gavin Newsom sure seemed comfortable trying out before a conservative audience. The governor’s appearance on Sean Hannity Monday night may have struck you as a mismatch: a liberal governor who loves to loathe Fox News invited one of network’s star pundits into the governor’s mansion (Hannity: “One of the most liberal executive mansions in America.”). But the incongruency conceals a deeper symbiosis. Just as Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis thrive on using the other governor as foils, Newsom and Hannity occupy rarefied space in each other’s heads. Conservative media figures delight in roasting California and San Francisco as the withered fruits of liberal dystopia. Hannity has regularly joined, assailing the “the failures of their far left Governor Gavin Newsom” and deriding the man who heads “the least free state in the entire country.” Hours before the interview aired, he ran a piece skewering Newsom’s clean car mandate. Newsom loves denouncing Fox and its ideological ilk — and thus affirm he’s paying attention. He lambasted Hannity by name during his January budget presentation, saying the host had lied about California not testing and vaccinating border-crossers. Newsom explained a certain know-your-enemy logic: “We have to get that off my watch list,” he said. “But it’s important to know what they just make up.” (Newsom’s ex-wife Kimberly Guilfoyle is now a star in the conservative firmament.). Yet, Newsom seemed to relish venturing out of his California-and-MSNBC comfort zone. In a special that happened to coincide with Newsom’s political push into red states, the Democratic governor made his case to an audience conditioned to seeing him as a progressive villain. “You represent probably about half of the country, your views,” Hannity said, “and the other half represents mine.” The governor made his case for California’s economic vitality with readymade rebuttals to Florida comparisons. He parried the inevitable question about homelessness — an obstacle to any Californian’s ambitions — by both accepting blame and redistributing it to intransigent local governments or a Republican predecessor. On immigration, he avoided moral imperatives by embracing border security and calling sanctuary policies a response to the “cards that are dealt” with a lack of comprehensive reform. “I’m happy to get rid of those protections” if the feds act, Newsom said. And Hannity had no qualms about extolling Newsom. Again and again, he asked Newsom if Democrats were drafting him to replace an inept and enfeebled President Joe Biden. Again and again, Newsom showed he was a team player by trumpeting Biden’s legislative accomplishments and his economic record. As Newsom denied White House interest, Hannity heaped on praise: “I think you are far more articulate, far more versed, far more energetic” than the president, he said. He called Newsom one of the "best and brightest" liberals. Soon enough, Newsom will be back to appearing on Hannity as a punching bag rather than an interlocutor. Newsom will resume vilifying Fox as a propaganda machine warping our civic fabric. Few Fox viewers are likely to vote for Newsom in any capacity — but some of them may have come away from Monday night with an altered impression. BUENOS DÍAS, good Tuesday morning. First lady Jill Biden is in California today, attending a gun violence prevention event with former Rep. Gabby Giffords in San Francisco and then fundraising for the president ahead of his cash-collecting visit next week. Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis is scheduled to host the fundraiser. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up at jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte.
| | | | A message from Advanced Energy United: The climate crisis demands action, but we aren’t moving fast enough. It’s time for California to get to work and build our clean energy future, faster. California needs to expand clean energy at a record-breaking pace over the next couple decades, including upgrading and building the transmission lines necessary to electrify buildings and vehicles while delivering reliable and affordable energy. Learn more here. | | | WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Is it a good picture to have boxes in a garage that opens up all the time? A bathroom door locks.” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on former President Donald Trump’s indictment for mishandling classified documents.
|  | TOP TALKERS | | CROWDSOURCING: Californians: Have you asked Sens. Dianne Feinstein or Alex Padilla for help recently? Send us your receipts. — “California’s COVID unemployment reckoning goes national,” by CalMatters’ Lauren Hepler: “A former federal technology official enlisted by Gov. Gavin Newsom to triage California’s pandemic unemployment response details in a new book how technical and political failures combined to block payments to workers while enabling fraud.” — “A San José teacher is charged with sexual abuse. His school district knew of alleged misconduct a decade ago,” by KQED’s Holly McDede.
| | | | PLAYBOOK TRIVIA NIGHT! Think you know a lot about politics? PROVE IT! Compete in California Playbook’s inaugural Trivia Night. Grab a drink, kick back, and put your knowledge on display! Join top political power players on Wednesday, June 21st at Fox & Goose Public House for a night of fun and competition that you won’t want to miss. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: POMONA FAMILY FEUD — Whoever succeeds terming-out Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez in AD-53, there’s a good chance they’re sustaining a legacy. Today, Democratic Pomona City Councilmember Robert Torres is jumping in, bringing a list of endorsements from locals like San Bernardino Supervisors Joe Baca and Curt Hagman and the same last name as his mother, Rep. Norma Torres. Meanwhile, Rodriguez’s wife Michelle Rodriguez is running after piling up cash from her husband and fellow Assembly Democrats. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: NEWSOM CASH — In the few days since proposing a gun control amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Newsom drew enough unique donors to his PAC to qualify for the 2024 Republican debate stage. Newsom generated 43,800 individual donors from Thursday to Saturday after sending one email, a text and running digital ads. Republican presidential debate hopefuls must clear a 40,000-donor threshold, among other metrics like garnering 1 percent in three qualifying polls. Newsom’s Campaign for Democracy PAC has raised more than $4 million from 125,000 donations, including $2.6 million online, in two months of existence —a big haul for a governor that’s not on the ballot. — POLITICO's Christopher Cadelago SENATE STATUS QUO — At this point, there are two consistent findings around Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s succession: Voters are over Feinstein, and Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter lead Rep. Barbara Lee in the race to replace her. A new Emerson College poll solidified Feinstein’s dismal standing and the Schiff and Porter’s early tie for the lead — although voters are largely undecided. More here.
| | | | A message from Advanced Energy United:   | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: SPEAKERSHIP SHUFFLE — Assemblymember Robert Rivas is building out his soon-to-be speaker staff, POLITICO has learned, pulling from the offices of some of his Democratic colleagues. Liz Snow will serve as his chief of staff, leaving the top job in Jim Wood’s office. Alicia Isaacs, chief of staff for close Rivas ally Jesse Gabriel, will join the new speaker as deputy chief of staff, a title she will share with Jillena Hernandez, who spent a decade as chief of staff for former Assemblymember Ken Cooley. — “They carry weapons. So why don't security guards have to get use-of-force training?” by KQED’s Marisa Lagos: “The Walgreens killing of Banko Brown isn’t the first time in recent years that an altercation with a security guard in California has resulted in someone’s death.” BUDGET BATTLE: “Child-care providers by day, Amazon drivers by night. Workers fight for living wages,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Jenny Gold: “California’s voucher rates are at the heart of a battle brewing over how much the state pays home child-care providers like Lorenzo, who run day care programs out of their homes. Such programs are licensed by the state and operators can care for up to 14 children at a time, sometimes some as young as 2 weeks old.” — “Anaheim’s ticket to ride: City leaders hand out thousands of free tickets every year,” by the Voice of OC’s Noah Biesiada and Hosam Elattar: “While tracking is limited, it’s clear large amounts of tickets are going to elected officials, city staffers, political insiders, family members of politicians and city vendors.” FENTANYL FIGHT — “California Republicans are hammering Democrats over fentanyl. But is it a political win?” by The Sacramento Bee’s Lindsey Holden: “The GOP will likely never get exactly what it wants to address the state’s fentanyl crisis. But what it does have is a new vehicle for conveying a traditional Republican message to moderate and independent suburban voters — that Democrats are soft on crime.” — “ICE used controversial tool to request student medical records and more,” by Voice of San Diego’s Jakob McWhinney and Jesse Marx: “The summonses have been criticized by legal experts and immigration advocates as a way of bypassing the judicial oversight that comes with a warrant.” DIRE DOWNTOWN: “Westfield giving up S.F. mall in wake of Nordstrom closure, plunging sales and foot traffic,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Roland Li: “Westfield’s pullout piles on to the economic turmoil battering the area around Powell Street.” — “Workers want to stay remote, prompting an office real estate crisis,” by The Washington Post’s Caroline O’Donovan: “California is staring down a major pandemic downturn in the commercial real estate market. Economists warn the situation could portend disaster, risking parts of the banking system, too.”
| | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | | Maxine Waters defies consumer watchdogs in bid to loosen investment rules, by POLITICO’s Eleanor Mueller and Declan Harty: At the heart of the rift is a series of Republican-led proposals that would make it easier for individual Americans to buy stakes in startups and other privately held businesses — an area of investment that’s less regulated than the shares trading on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq.
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | — “British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pitches U.K. as home of AI safety regulation as London bids to be next Silicon Valley,” by CNBC’s Ryan Browne: “Separately, the country is also pitching itself as the ‘next Silicon Valley,’ with Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt making several reforms to the country’s financial regulations to encourage more venture capital investment and listings from high-growth technology firms.”
| | MIXTAPE | | — “Shooting victim found on west steps of California’s Capitol. Sacramento police investigating,” by The Sacramento Bee’s Daniel Hunt. — “After WeHo-L.A. split, many expected ‘Pride wars.’ Instead, it’s a fight for survival,” by the Los Angeles Times’ August Brown. — “California wildfires incinerate vast amounts of land. But far more could burn in a warmer world, study says,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Claire Hao.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | POLITICO’s Eli Stokols … Los Angeles Times’ Seema Mehta … NTIA’s Margaret Harding McGill
| | | | A message from Advanced Energy United: California can keep our grid affordable and achieve our climate ambitions. To do so, we must get to work removing roadblocks to new in-state clean energy infrastructure and speed up our interconnection process. Building our clean energy future faster will pave the way for substantial new jobs and private investment while also maximizing California’s ability to put federal funding to work. California’s leadership in the West is critical as we pave the way to a 100% clean energy system, strengthen our electric grid and prepare for the future. Learn more 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 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 | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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