Donald Trump

California Governor Gavin Newsom stands on a stage holding a microphone while he speaks in front of a giant American flag next to a “Yes on 50” sign to his right.

Commentary

Prop 50 is likely a stepping stone for Newsom’s nascent presidential campaign

Gov. Gavin Newsom told an NBC reporter he's not ready to talk about a presidential run, even though a Prop. 50 win could burnish his national image.

By

Dan Walters

• November 4, 2025

Various political buttons displayed on a round wooden tray. The photo focuses on one button that reads "Vote Yes on 50" and shows a bear holding the state of California.

Politics

California Democrats made Prop. 50 about Trump. Polls show it worked

While lopsided polling and fundraising have given the Yes on 50 campaign an undeniable advantage, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team is taking nothing for granted as Election Day arrives.

By

Maya C. Miller

• November 3, 2025

A person wearing a blue suit stands in front of two American flags while as they look straight off into the distance during a press conference.

Politics

Gavin Newsom cited 3 main reasons in his vetoes this year. Trump was one

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed 123 bills this year, citing fiscal restraint — and Donald Trump.

By

Ryan Sabalow

• October 24, 2025

A heavily armed officer in tactical gear confronts protesters holding signs during a demonstration, with one sign reading “No ICE or troops in the Bay!” and others calling for community protection. A burst of light cuts across the tense scene as onlookers record with their phones.

Justice

Trump calls off expected immigration show-of-force in San Francisco

President Trump name-dropped Bay Area tech executives when he called off an immigration enforcement surge in San Francisco. Gov. Newsom was prepared to sue over a potential National Guard deployment.

By

Carolyn Jones

• October 23, 2025

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