Donald Trump

Attorney General Rob Bonta addresses the media during a press conference announcing new gun legislation targeting the state's public carry laws on Feb. 2, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Politics

Can Trump send the National Guard to S.F.? What California’s AG says about the legal issues

Attorney General Rob Bonta’s team was the first to challenge Trump on taking over control of the California National Guard under a rarely used law that allows the president to do this in times of invasion, internal rebellion or when U.S. laws cannot be executed with “regular forces” — a contested term.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • October 22, 2025

Mist drifts through a wide valley surrounded by dark, rugged mountain cliffs, with a tall, rounded granite peak rising in the distance under a hazy sky.

Commentary

Yosemite National Park needs protection from man-made threats 135 years later

President Trump has urged the National Parks Service to delete inconvenient truths and has laid off 1,000 workers, endangering wildlife and Yosemite's history.

By Pedro Hernández • October 14, 2025

Silhouetted against the light from an open doorway, three individuals walk down a dimly lit hallway. One adult holds the hand of a small child, while an older child reaches out toward them. Rows of mailboxes line the wall, and a potted plant sits near the entrance.

Politics

Newsom signs controversial bill letting relatives care for kids if parents are deported

Immigrants’ rights groups and child advocates say the new law will help parents prepare for emergencies, such as a deportation. It caused a firestorm of controversy among conservative and religious activists who said it would allow adults to traffic kids.

By Jeanne Kuang • October 13, 2025

A person stands barefoot at the edge of the bay, holding their shoes, with the San Diego skyline visible across the water at sunset. A skateboard rests upright in the sand in the foreground, and the city’s tall buildings are lit by the soft evening light.

Politics

This California city will feel the government shutdown more than any other. Here’s why

San Diego County is bracing for missed paychecks and the possibility of a run on food banks as the federal shutdown extends into its second week.

By Deborah Brennan • October 9, 2025

Various fairgoers walk through a fair group with a giant Ferris wheel in the background and multiple booths selling food. The photo depicts a busy scene of fairgoers enjoying various activities at a fair.

Politics

In the Central Valley, Prop. 50 is a fight between Newsom’s California and GOP’s Washington

The term “Proposition 50” doesn’t ring a bell with many residents of the rural San Joaquin Valley. But even some of the most disengaged voters say they’re familiar with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s push to redraw California’s congressional maps in response to Texas.

By Maya C. Miller • October 8, 2025

This photo zeroes in on the speaker at the podium, giving a more solemn and resolved tone compared to the more animated shots. The expression is serious, with the gaze slightly lifted, suggesting determination and gravity. The podium sign “Election Rigging Response Act” remains front and center, with blurred supporters and signs in the background, emphasizing focus on leadership while still anchoring the event in its collective setting.

Commentary

Gerrymander duelists, Newsom and Trump, deserve scorn for partisan power plays

Redrawn maps will likely increase the number of Democrats in Congress while also boosting Gov. Gavin Newsom's chances in a presidential race.

By Dan Walters • October 8, 2025

Law enforcement officials— dressed in camouflage riot gear and holding clear shields with the "California National Guard" on them — stand guard in front of a building as protesters stand nearby holding signs and flags.

Politics

Federal judge rebukes Trump administration attempt to deploy Guard units from California, Texas to Oregon

In an extraordinary Sunday night hearing, federal District Judge Karin Immergut temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying federalized troops from any state to Oregon.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • October 5, 2025

A bronze statue of a Trojan warrior stands on a stone pedestal in front of a brick university building, with ivy climbing up the walls and arched windows in the background.

Politics

Newsom threatens to cut USC funding if it complies with Trump demands

After the president sent a letter offering “substantial” federal grants if USC complies with conservative demands, Newsom threatened to withdraw lucrative state funding

By Jeanne Kuang • October 2, 2025

A wide view of white buildings behind a gray wired fence on a clear day.

Justice

California gave counties power to inspect ICE detention centers. They’re not using it

In the four counties where Immigration and Customs Enforcement has detention facilities, only one county health department conducts the kind of inspections that were explicitly allowed under a 2024 California law.

By Wendy Fry and Jeanne Kuang • October 2, 2025

A worker in a cleanroom suit, mask, and gloves scans a reel of electronic components with a barcode scanner in a semiconductor manufacturing facility filled with machines and monitors.

Economy

H-1B visa fees, tariffs, a stake in Intel? How Silicon Valley has fared under Trump

President Trump’s policies have affected Nvidia, AMD and the rest of the tech industry differently. Some experts are worried about the effects on innovation.

By Levi Sumagaysay • October 2, 2025