| | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Lara Korte and Sejal Govindarao | | | THE BUZZ: Gov. Gavin Newsom won’t be starring in a presidential campaign next year, so he’s embraced a supporting role — and the White House has noticed. It's become impossible to talk about California’s governor without discussing his evident ambitions. We’ve lost count of the times people have asked us if Newsom is running for president — a theme that Fox News pundit Sean Hannity hammered relentlessly in his sit-down with Newsom last week, disparaging President Joe Biden and trying to trick Newsom into admitting his interest in being the emergency fallback. But Newsom resolutely refused to take the bait, pivoting each time into a vociferous defense of Biden’s accomplishments. His primetime Biden-backing attracted plenty of interest. It also extended a recent theme: As much as Newsom has inserted himself in recent years into national politics, he has purposefully positioned himself as a player on Team Biden. Newsom looked like a surrogate, not a candidate, when he trumpeted Biden at a fundraiser and joined POTUS at a pair of California press conferences this week. Mutual admiration blossomed: Newsom pronounced himself “mesmerized” by Biden, and Biden called Newsom “one of the best governors I’ve ever worked with.” This came months after Newsom made clear he wouldn’t challenge Biden and signed on as co-chair of a Biden re-election committee. Their relationship has had its rougher patches. For as much as Newsom doth protest his indifference toward higher office, his allegiance to Biden and his deference to Vice President Kamala Harris, he has aggressively pushed for a role beyond California. Newsom ruffled some Biden-world feathers when he went on the offensive last year and challenged Democrats to fortify their spines. The president jammed Newsom on a farmworker bill that had already divided the governor from legislative Democrats. That was then. Now, with Biden firmly in the re-election saddle, Newsom has coordinated with Biden’s team while embracing a dual role of both championing Biden’s accomplishments and assailing Republican foes like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. As POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago and Jennifer Haberkorn write, a White House that prizes loyalty believes it has found a reliable soldier in Newsom. BUENOS DÍAS, good Thursday morning. Thanks to everyone who came out for trivia last night, and congratulations to winner Team Ash-John — yes, the one with Assemblymember Ash Kalra and Sen. John Laird. What can we say, power wins out — for being the most erudite crew in Sacramento, their second consecutive win. 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 Consumer Action for a Strong Economy: The Biden administration is waking up to the alarming issue of illegal Chinese-made flavored disposable vapes. Now is the time to strengthen our resolve, redouble our efforts, and eradicate these illegal products from American store shelves. The health and safety of our youth depends on it. Join us in urging the FDA to finish the job to protect minors from the risks posed by illegal Chinese-made flavored disposable vapes. Learn more. | | | WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “To my Republican colleagues who introduced this resolution: I thank you. You honor me with your enmity. You flatter me with this falsehood. You, who are the authors of a big lie about the last election, must condemn the truth tellers, and I stand proudly before you.” Rep. Adam Schiff responds to a GOP censure resolution on the House floor. CROWDSOURCING: Californians: Have you asked Sens. Dianne Feinstein or Alex Padilla for help recently? Send us your receipts.
| | | | LISTEN TO POLITICO'S ENERGY PODCAST: Check out our daily five-minute brief on the latest energy and environmental politics and policy news. Don't miss out on the must-know stories, candid insights, and analysis from POLITICO's energy team. Listen today. | | | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | — "California politicians have felt Dianne Feinstein’s absence for years," by CNN’s Edward-Isaac Dovere: “Sen. Dianne Feinstein has grown isolated over the years from most members of her California delegation and other Democrats in her home state, feeding a discontent among allies who tell CNN they now wish for a more engaged and energetic senior senator.” — "L.A. Councilmember Curren Price says he is innocent and should not be suspended," by the Los Angeles Times’ David Zahniser: “Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price called on his colleagues Wednesday to reject a proposal to suspend him from the council, saying he is innocent and deserves the chance to respond to ‘misguided charges’ filed by the district attorney’s office.” FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — BAINS BRAWL: Democratic Bakersfield Vice Mayor Andrae Gonzales is launching a challenge to Democratic Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, backed by a bevy of Kern County officials that includes Bains’ 2022 opponent, Supervisor Leticia Perez. Bains has had a tumultuous early tenure, losing a committee assignment after she voted with Republicans on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s oil penalty push — and now, incoming Speaker Robert Rivas may need to spend money to defend her.
| | | | A message from Consumer Action for a Strong Economy:   | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | — "California doubles down on inclusive education as red states ban books in classrooms," by the Los Angeles Times’ Mackenzie Mays: “Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and legislators, meeting for the first time Wednesday as part of a new task force, called on textbook publishers to commit to producing materials that are ‘free from discrimination and inclusive of the diverse narratives that reflect the student body of California.’” — "California lobbyist explains how to skirt climate scrutiny in state Legislature," by Capital & Main’s Aaron Cantú: “‘We don’t want the environmentalists to see what we’re really up to.’ That is what Theo Pahos, a managing partner for a firm whose clients include Calpine Corp. and the California Independent Petroleum Association, told Capital & Main in an unusually frank phone interview. Pahos was talking about plans by lobbyists to change a bill meant to regulate the industry’s handling of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas, in a way that would mislead lawmakers and environmentalists.” — "Fact check: Does California’s middle class pay less in taxes than in other states?" by The Sacramento Bee’s David Lightman: “California’s income, sales and excise and property taxes on middle class residents can be viewed as less than in many states. But it depends on how one defines “middle class.” And ”tax burden”— is it measured by the rate of taxation or the amount one pays?” — "The most lucrative majors? Some community college grads can outearn elite university peers," by the Los Angeles Times’ Teresa Watanabe: “Elijah Calderon, after a yearlong training program at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, is poised to earn about $105,000 annually as a power lineman. Once he becomes a journeyman in three to four years, he stands to make about $165,000 — and potentially much more with overtime.”
| | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | — "House GOP votes to censure Schiff over role in Trump investigations," by POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu: “The House GOP voted Wednesday to publicly reprimand Rep. Adam Schiff for his leading role in Democratic investigations of former President Donald Trump.” — "Schumer launches new phase in push for AI bill," by POLITICO's Brendan Bordelon: “Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer unveiled his framework Wednesday to get Congress on a path toward comprehensive AI legislation — though any specific legislative details remain murky.” — "Bay Area Rep. Ro Khanna criticized after inviting Indian prime minister to speak before Congress," by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Laya Neelakandan: “The decision by Bay Area Rep. Ro Khanna to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak before Congress on Thursday engendered a swift backlash from some South Asian Americans deeply critical of Modi’s track record on human rights.”
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | MIXTAPE | | — "Stanford gives Taylor Swift fans another course on singer’s songwriting skills," by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Aidin Vaziri — "U.S. approves chicken made from cultivated cells, the nation’s first ‘lab-grown’ meat," by The Associated Press’ Jonel Aleccia and Laura Ungar — "These S.F. Muni lines are more popular than they were pre-pandemic. Here’s what they have in common," by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Ricardo Cano — "Can San Jose add 75,000 more homes over the next decade? Here’s where the city is planning new housing," by The Mercury News’ Ethan Varian
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Speaker-select Robert Rivas is continuing to build out his team: Current chief of staff Steve O’Mara will shift to become Rivas’s political director, overseeing caucus campaign moves — a critical part of the speaker’s job — and veteran Sacramento journalist Nick Miller will be communications director. — McDonalds has brought on former Hermosa Beach Mayor Art Yoon as the managing director of government relations for California, where he’ll help fight labor bills like AB 257 and AB 1228. He starts Monday.
| | | | A message from Consumer Action for a Strong Economy: Recently, the FDA has taken steps to control and enforce the laws on illegal, foreign-made disposable vapes in kid-friendly flavors, including issuing a Red Alert allowing for the seizure of these products at ports of entry and sending warning letters to several foreign vape manufacturers.
The recent actions taken by the FDA and the Biden administration against these foreign manufacturers are promising first steps. However, words alone won’t suffice. We need the FDA and the Biden administration to go the distance and fully protect American youth from the dangers posed by illegal Chinese-made disposable vapes, especially those enticingly flavored for kids.
Together, we can ensure a safer future for our children and our communities. Tell the FDA to "Finish the Job" and get illegal foreign disposable vapes in kid-friendly flavors off store shelves. 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 | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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