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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · 1d

The story behind the long, messy legislative fight this year over a bill meant to address teaching about antisemitism in California schools. @bystellayu.bsky.social and @mzinshteyn.bsky.social:

Censorship or protection? Inside California’s ‘hardest’ fight of the year over antisemitism

In the fight over preventing antisemitism in schools, no one disputes the need to protect Jewish students. Lawmakers and critics diverged sharply on how to do it.

calmatters.org

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Reposted by Juliet Williams

Capitol Weekly @capitolweekly.bsky.social · 8d

Proposition 50 would require CA to use new congressional district maps. On October 14, proponents from each side will offer arguments in a debate moderated by @wordsmith24.bsky.social of Capitol Weekly & @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social of @calmatters.org
capitolweekly.net/events/calif...

California Votes: Proposition 50 - October 14, 2025 - Capitol Weekly

Join Capitol Weekly, CalMatters, and the University of California Student and Policy Center for: . California Votes: Proposition 50 Should Californians support mid-decade redistricting? . October 14, ...

capitolweekly.net

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Reposted by Juliet Williams

CalMatters @calmatters.org · 27d

Gavin Newsom's Democratic redistricting plan would merge conservative rural Modoc County with liberal Marin County, angering ranchers. https://cal.news/46cOw4J

📷 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.

A barn in rural Modoc County on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

HED: These rural Californians want to secede. Newsom’s maps would pair them with Bay Area liberals

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · 29d

California lawmakers pushed through hundreds of bills in the final days of the Legislative session. Here are some we're watching for Gov. Newsom's action:

Which of these 2025 bills will Gavin Newsom sign?

California lawmakers sent Newsom hundreds of bills to sign or veto by Oct. 12. Here's a look at some of the most high-profile ones.

calmatters.org

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Sep 13

Well, that's a wrap on this year's legislative session. Kudos to my @calmatters.org colleagues, who were all over every move.

California Democrats end legislative session with climate deal – and infighting

The session stretched into Saturday, prolonged by last-minute backroom deals on climate and energy, sparking deep frustration among some lawmakers.

calmatters.org

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Reposted by Juliet Williams

Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · Sep 13

The passage of this bill, nearly a decade in the making, slaps a symbolic bow on what has already been a banger of a year for controversial and ambitious housing production legislation in California.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...

Your neighborhood could get seven-story buildings if it's near a train station

A bill California lawmakers approved allows dense apartments near transit stations, overriding local zoning to address the housing crisis.

calmatters.org

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Sep 10

Politics palate cleanser

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · Sep 10

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”, released as a single 34 yrs ago today

“No one had any psychic foresight .. that the song would go on to do what it did,” said Grohl. “We just fuckin’ rocked it in a little rehearsal space that was like a barn. .. We just thought it was another cool song for the record.”

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Sep 9

Congratulations @akoseff.bsky.social! We will miss you.

San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle.com · Sep 9

Washington D.C. correspondent Alexei Koseff will play a key role in chronicling President Trump’s policies targeting California and the tension between the state and the federal government.

Alexei Koseff rejoins San Francisco Chronicle as D.C. correspondent

Washington D.C. correspondent Alexei Koseff will play a key role in chronicling President Trump’s policies targeting California and the tension between the state and the federal government.

bit.ly

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Sep 9

Negotiations that could have a major effect on California's air quality, gas supply, transportation networks and the future of Medi-Cal are all taking place behind closed doors, with virtually no input from the public. @bystellayu.bsky.social

California’s top Democrats rush key policies in secret talks

Major climate and energy reforms hang in the balance as California leaders talk in private to reach last-minute deals. The secrecy leaves little time for the public to weigh in.

calmatters.org

Reposted by Juliet Williams

CalMatters @calmatters.org · Sep 9

California lawmakers are scrambling to finalize a last-minute deal that would extend the state’s landmark greenhouse gas reduction program – known as cap and trade – through 2045. https://cal.news/4ptq6LU

The secret negotiations that could reshape California's climate policy

Lawmakers, oil industry leaders and environmental justice groups are meeting behind closed doors to try to reach a deal to extend California’s landmark cap-and-trade program.

cal.news

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Sep 8

Gavin Newsom is their biggest foil, but California Republicans are shying away from making him the center of attention in their campaign against Proposition 50.

Why Republicans are avoiding their favorite target in California’s redistricting fight

Gavin Newsom wants the campaign for Proposition 50 to be a battle between him and Donald Trump. The GOP says it needs another way to win over voters.

calmatters.org

Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Sep 4

@jeannereporter.bsky.social's story on soaring temperatures in California prisons and the new, tiny, step toward addressing them will make you exasperated and sad for the people affected.

Will officials finally address California's shocking prison cell temperatures?

After years of complaints from inmates and advocates, California is finally embarking on a plan to cool some cells. But it’s only a test, and there’s no indication the state will take broad action.

calmatters.org

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Aug 30

Will California’s high-speed rail project be delayed even further?

California lawmakers rejected a plan to roll back permitting rules for high-speed rail amid strong opposition from local governments and utilities.

calmatters.org

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Aug 28

Beating Trump to the punch in California?

Newsom deploys 'crime suppression' teams statewide while mocking Trump's threats

The governor is making the first move in his battle with Trump over crime, sending CHP officers into six California cities.

calmatters.org

Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Aug 16

Find out if your vote could be affected by Newsom's redistricting plans with these cool maps comparing before & after. Great work by @jeremiak.com & @akoseff.bsky.social!

How Newsom’s California redistricting plan might impact your vote

Here's how your vote could change in 2026 if voters approve Gov. Gavin Newsom's congressional redistricting proposal.

calmatters.org

Reposted by Juliet Williams

CalMatters @calmatters.org · Aug 11

If she were elected governor, former Senate leader Toni Atkins would oversee contracts with her spouse's many consulting firms. cal.news/4mBgKeI

📸 AP

Former Assembly Speaker-elect Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, right, walks hand in hand with her spouse, Jennifer LeSar, to the rostrum of the Assembly where she took the oath of office as Assembly Speaker at the Capitol in Sacramento, on May 12, 2014. Atkins is running for governor in 2026, while her spouse runs consulting firms that do business with the state. Photo via AP Photo

Hed: This candidate for California governor has a potential conflict of interest in her own home

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Reposted by Juliet Williams

Alexei Koseff @akoseff.bsky.social · Aug 9

Half a dozen Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas to stop a Republican-led redistricting scheme met Friday with top California Democrats as they draw their own new congressional lines
calmatters.org/politics/202...

Redistricting rebuttal: Texas Democrats cheer Newsom’s map-drawing plans

A half dozen Texas Democrats met with Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats in Sacramento as they draw new House seats for California.

calmatters.org

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Reposted by Juliet Williams

Alexei Koseff @akoseff.bsky.social · Aug 8

“At this moment, I believe I can make the greatest impact by focusing on California’s financial future,” @eleniforca.bsky.social said in a statement
calmatters.org/politics/202...

California's second-in-command drops bid for governor in 2026

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis says she'll instead seek to become state treasurer in 2026. Kounalakis was trailing in a fielded crowd of Democrats seeking to become governor

calmatters.org

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Reposted by Juliet Williams

Ned Resnikoff @resnikoff.bsky.social · Aug 8

Next Democratic president should expropriate Trump's wealth to pay for scraping all this Temu shit off the walls of the White House.

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Aug 6

Huge props to @gauchoesque.bsky.social and @jeannereporter.bsky.social for giving me the layperson's understanding of a proposed shared power network in the West: calmatters.org/politics/202...

Could California prevent more blackouts by joining a Western power market?

The state built a clean grid. Now lawmakers are eyeing opening its market to states that rely on coal. Critics say it’s a risky bet.

calmatters.org

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Jul 30

The time for a decision has finally come. Let the governor's race begin!

Kamala Harris announces she won't run for California governor

Conjecture about whether Harris would run for governor began almost immediately after she lost the November election to President Donald Trump.

calmatters.org

Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Jul 24

Powerful story today by @akoseff.bsky.social on the Afghans in California who are caught in legal limbo as the Trump administration changes policies:

They worked with the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now Trump could return them to the Taliban

Afghans who fled the Taliban and resettled in California have lost legal protections and financial support in President Trump's second term.

calmatters.org

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Reposted by Juliet Williams

Angus Johnston @angus.bsky.social · Jul 15

Spokane politician arrested by feds at his home for protesting ICE kidnapping of two immigrants at check-in appointment.

"Former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart … was indicted by a federal grand jury and [will] be charged with conspiracy to impede or injure law enforcement."

Spokane ICE protesters, including Stuckart, arrested by federal agents

Federal agents on Tuesday morning arrested and searched the homes of multiple people who took part in a June 11 mass protest against immigration enforcement in Spokane.

www.spokesman.com

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Jul 12

YES

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Juliet Williams @jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social · Jul 10

The Carpenters Union is "a pariah" among California construction trades unions, @jeannereporter.bsky.social and @frombenc.bsky.social report. Yet the Carpenters struck the deal for the biggest overhaul of California's environmental law in a generation. Here's the backstory:

With carpenters’ help, California eases housing rules—and sparks labor clash

California’s new environmental reform law, backed by carpenters, eases housing construction rules but deepens divisions within the labor movement.

calmatters.org

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