California Democrats

Just how dysfunctional is California’s unemployment department? Apparently so dysfunctional that Bank of America, which since 2010 has had an exclusive contract with the state to deliver unemployment benefits through prepaid debit cards, wants to end the contract — even though the Employment Development Department just renewed it for another two years. The news, first […]

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats pushed a rule requiring recall candidates to disclose five years of tax returns. What will candidates do?

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, June 23. Deal or no deal? Hurry up, and wait. That’s all millions of Californians can do as Gov. Gavin Newsom and top Democratic lawmakers negotiate — largely behind closed doors — the terms of an extended eviction moratorium and the details of a whopping $267 billion budget. The impact […]

California Assembly and Senate budget leaders announce a budget deal that includes stimulus checks, more in-state students at UC campuses and more money for public health and undocumented immigrants.

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, May 26. Approval rating grows The scales appear to be tipping in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s favor. The governor’s approval rating is ticking back up after months of decline, with 54% of likely voters giving high marks for his job performance, according to a Public Policy Institute of California poll released […]

The big money for both sides in the California recall election is coming from the same wealthy enclaves, and not so much from out of state.

Less than half of eligible people in 45 of the state’s 58 counties have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Marin and Alpine rank at the top with 69%, while Lassen, Mariposa and Kings are at the bottom with 25% or less.

Democratic Party leaders unite behind a message that the recall is a desperate Republican plot that is bad for California. But will progressives and Latinos turn out to vote?

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, April 30. Meet Asm. Alex Lee It isn’t even halfway through the legislative year, and three lofty progressive proposals have already been squashed — showcasing the sharp divide within California’s Democrat-dominated Legislature. A bill to create single-payer health care? Tabled last week. A bill to ban corporations and “business entities” from […]

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, April 29. High marks on schools Things are looking up for Gov. Gavin Newsom. Majorities of Californians — 58% of likely voters and 64% of public school parents — approve of how the governor is handling the state’s public K-12 education system, and a solid 59% of likely voters give […]