CalMatters
By Jeanne Kuang and Alexei Koseff, Calmatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom [last week] called newly elected state lawmakers to work as soon as they’re sworn in on Dec. 2 for a special session to “safeguard California values” as the state prepares — again — to be a liberal antagonist to the upcoming Trump administration.
In other words: Gear up for lawsuits.
In a proclamation declaring the special session, Newsom said he wants the Legislature to approve funding for the Department of Justice and other state agencies to “immediately file affirmative litigation.”
According to a senior legislative source, the special session is intended to be narrowly focused on providing legal resources to the attorney general’s office — perhaps as much as $100 million — to fight the Trump administration. The goal is to appropriate the money before Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20, though given how many new members are joining the Legislature, they may not be ready to act until early January.
As priorities for California’s opposition, Newsom listed civil and reproductive rights, climate change, President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to withhold disaster relief dollars and the potential repeal of deportation protections for immigrants who were brought to the country without authorization as children.
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” Newsom said in a statement. “California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond.”
Both Democratic leaders in the Legislature and the Senate Budget Committee chairperson are on board, issuing statements of support alongside Newsom’s proclamation. The special session would start Dec. 2 when the new Legislature convenes, though lawmakers wouldn’t necessarily pass any bills immediately.
“Voters sent a clear message this election, and we need to lean-in and listen,” said Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, a Hollister Democrat. “But we also must be prepared to defend California values, no matter the challenges ahead, so it makes sense to consider the Governor’s proposal.”
Attorney General Rob Bonta said earlier this week his office is already writing legal briefs in preparation for lawsuits against possible Republican attempts to ban abortion nationwide, overturn California’s commitment to zero-emission vehicles and repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for immigrants. During the last Trump administration, California sued the federal government more than 100 times over its regulations.
This is the third special session that Newsom has called since October 2022. The two previous ones focused on gas prices and the oil industry, including one that just wrapped up last month.
This article was originally published by CalMatters.
Thank you, Governor Newsom, for working hard to protect us from the onslaught of vitriol and vindictiveness sure to come.
I’m glad he did this – he’s on the record. Less chance he’ll want to run for President in the future, which is a nightmare scenario.
Yes, let’s get another example on record of when you invest in people and not billionaires, the economy thrives. And when you are supportive of ALL Americans and protect their civil liberties, the rising tide lifts all boats. Time will tell which scenario is a nightmare but I expect people will be fleeing other states to come to California.
Comical, people are fleeing CA in record numbers due to the idiot running the state.
Newsome is a political hack / career politician which which is a multi-millionaire – not yet a billionaire, but give it time in office.
How does a career politician become a multi-millionaire?
Ask his aunt Nancy. Too bad he wasn’t recalled.
Why haven’t you fled?
No need to, this state is slowly turning red like the rest of the country.
Numbers from the Secretary of State’s Office show that several California counties flipped from blue in the 2020 election to red in 2024.
10 out of California’s 58 counties flipped to red…voting for Trump.
Those counties include Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, Fresno, Merced, Butte, Nevada, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus counties.
LOL CA will never go red. Just wait after 4 years of Trump exacting vengeance as opposed to leading the American people and even those red counties will be blue as the ocean. Well, maybe except the home of Christian Nationalism – Orange Co.
History does not agree with you. CA was red until 1992.
I grew up here it was Reagan country, during my childhood.
Trump is not exacting vengeance, he is simply going to enforce the laws which all Americans support and deport those who chose to break the law.
KA HA or CA – Trump is no Reagan. The GOP haven’t put up a solid moderate choice in almost 20 years. It’s a LOT different and CA has always been a very liberal place. Not gonna happen.
The vengeance part comes from his plan to roll back and dismantle everything Biden and Obama did to protect our healthcare, our environment, women’s rights, trans rights, etc. He’s REPEALING laws that protected rights and our health. Why?
CA has NOT always been a liberal place, check some history.
Roll back and dismantle everything Biden did?
Exactly what Biden did when he took office?
Trump is putting laws back in place that kept as a nation safe after biden removed them out of spite.
Why do you not want to respond to what I’m asking about? I’m not talking about the new laws and regulations he wants, I’m talking about those he wants to repeal that protect our rights, our health and our environment.
Very, very naaupo.
Who is this Newsome fellow the cons keep complaining about.
Funny how all the sock puppets do it.
the givers(of modest means) flee
the takers pour in
GARFISH – you got that backwards. The givers, the ones who pay the highest taxes here and contribute more to the social nets, are the ones staying here because they can afford their homes on the coast. Those who rely on CA’s great social programs are also the ones that are more likely to vote red and THOSE are the ones leaving. No wealthy dems are leaving CA. Why would we?
Sac-Glad to hear that you are a “We”-wealthy Dem that can afford not to leave, all the more impressive while spending hours on Edhat.
The “They” I spoke of being of modest means getting hammered by every new tax and California specific cost to support all those generous social programs of which the benefactors are definitely not voting red and Progressive policies ensure an endless flow.
We’re on the verge of living a real nightmare with the orange moron running rampant with his weavy covfefe intellect.
Nightmare only for those like you who hate policies that protect the vulnerable members of our society.
sac – I apologize for being late to the game. What law’s does Trump want to “repeal” that protect “our rights – health and environment?” It’s easier for me to understand them if you would list them by code/statute since you indicate they’re old which indicates they’re already written. Thanks.
Not listening to what the weavy covfefe says?
I don’t blame you, since it’s so repugnant.
Dooly – um….. have you been following the news? He already got rid of Roe v Wade. He wants to repeal Obamacare. He hates renewable energy and has promised to gut the EPA and roll back environmental protection legislation.
In addition, he’s warned Con legislatures against allowing any laws that would protect these things from passing during the last months of Biden’s presidency.
So you must really believe he’s a liar if you think this isn’t happening.That, or you haven’t listened to a word he’s said.
The people have spoken.
CA is not the same place it was when Newsom was elected. He should be smart enough to figure it out.
Hound – I think you need to reexamine the results of the election here in CA. The people have spoken, and Newsom is reflecting that voice. California has not changed – you should be smart enough to figure that out.
Correction for you–approximately 51% of those who voted in this country have spoken.
California went for Harris.
You should be smart enough to figure that out.
Another huge waste of taxpayer dollars for political issues that might or might not arise. We have better uses for our tax dollars than a special session of the legislature for stuff such as this.
ANON – it’s not in any way a “waste” for those of us who want rights protected for women, the LGBQT community and immigrants, and for those of us who want to keep working towards cleaner air and a cleaner environment in general, and for those of us who want to keep healthcare affordable for those who need it. The list goes on. We are the majority in this great state. If you don’t value these things, go join the rest of the country. We’re dedicated to keeping CA clean and free.
“Womens rights? Then you do not support male athletes in Womens sports, correct?”
Correct. However, a rational, educated and adult mind would see that those two things can be mutually exclusive without sacrificing support for women’s right to reproductive healthcare.
Yet another example of the poorly thought out “rationale” so many Americans espoused last week. Other countries are laughing at our education. I don’t like my country being a joke.
What are you worried about?
Under the orange moron, there will be no taxes!
(But the spending spree will still start on time.)
He said “freedoms” as he chokes us with more and more legislative restrictions and bias designed to benefit corporations in the “global warming” industry, real estate developers and land grabbers, and bankers?
That’s just too name a few…
Ten CA counties were flipped to red for Trump.
Maybe stop being so hateful and see what is coming. It might help CA.
STOP the hate and then ask for unity, hypocrites.
ANON – lol another poor Trump victim. God damn you guys cry a lot, even when you win.
Hate? Only one side stands for hate and intolerance for people because of how they were born. Yours.
I bet you could buy a nice place in on of those counties. What’s keeping you in a known liberal town? Get used to this, we’re not going quietly into the night. You make bad choices in life, you reap the consequences. Simple. Isn’t that like the foundation of your guys’ political “philosophy?” Personal accountability!
Free speech. Love it. The cons interpret that as meaning facts don’t matter, and any pushback on their lies is suppressing free speech.
Get a clue.
Hey everyone! I jumped down to Mexico for a couple of days of warm water and (small) waves.
Did I miss anything?
ALEX – it’s a miracle you made it out alive! Nah, nothing new here – same old crybabies still crying about the mean ol liberals in CA while the rest of the country is rolling around in its own sick like gleeful little piglets as Trump makes good on his character and has only focused on vengeance and helping out billionaires…..
Ah, expected. People boot licking while Bezos and Musk stack up billions on the expected deregulation and cronyism payback by Trump.
At least Cabo was fun.
Yes Alexblue You missed seeing some amazing places we have in this country. Try supporting your own country by having vacations domestically.
SAIL – LOL no way. Is this some new MAGA thing? Only vacation in America? Fudge that. Sure, there’s some gorgeous locales in this country, but to scold someone for traveling internationally? Wow….. it’s gonna be a really annoying 4 years.
LOL, sure, let me know where in the USA has 78 degree water and good waves in November.
I support this country by paying six figures in Federal taxes for parasitic red states to suck up every year, considering that I think I deserve to vacation wherever I like.
FLA & HI are in the 80’s today. Surf is low almost everywhere, except San Luis.
Oahu, North Shore. But probably not for you.
Anyways, “parasitic red states” huh? Like the ones that all believe in LESS government, LESS taxation? Those states. Love the arrogant, financially-superior attitude too. Very nice. We all overpay for taxes because some blue states are loaded with voters who support government bloat, blank check economics. No questions asked.
LOL, I’ve spent a lot of time in the HI. Used to surf Hanalei in the Winter a ton, view of Bali Hai from inside a barrel is magic. Too far for a three day getaway and you’re triggered as usual.
You must be a real snowflake needing 78* water.
SAIL – better than a weird xenophobe who chastises people for international travel. Most people like to visit and experience other cultures and geographic locales that don’t exist here.
Go stare at a cornfield and eat a bologna mayonnaise sandwich on Wonder Bread.
Uhm, snowflakes like the cold. You’re saying that you’d rather surf in 57 degree water than in high 70s.
Or is it because you’re too broke to travel?
BASIC – not sure if you’ve heard the latest, but Trump just appointed Musk and Ramaswamy to lead a new agency called, Department of Government Efficiency. Ok, cool. Um…. so you know how you’re always going on and on about “defund the police?” Well, how do you feel about Ramaswamy, who ran on the promise to eliminate (the epitome of “defund”) the FBI, controlling a governmental department whose purpose is cutting federal agencies?
You support defunding the police now? You must.
The concept of a department of “efficiency” seems like a very good idea. Most companies have folks who look at the efficiency of how companies run. So, yeah, great news for the taxpayers if this works out as planned. As far as those who have been selected to run this new agency, time will tell. Let’s at least give them a chance before assuming that they will fail.
Yeah, these very successful private sector guys know a thing or two about fiscal-responsibility and efficiency, unlike the average elected official/beauracrat. Voters are tired of waste.
BEES – I’m not concerned they will fail, I’m concerned they will succeed. Succeed in ending the FBI, gutting the Dept. of Education, etc.
No. Just no. You do not give that job to the richest man who has millions or billions in contracts with the government he’s evaluating
and
who is being regulated by that government. Just No.
Forgot to link to real info:
https://www.barrons.com/articles/elon-musk-companies-money-federal-government-0683b7d9
BASIC says “Voters are tired of waste.”
Ok, so you DO want to defund the police. Got it.
Not at all. Never said that. I think you can read. We’re talking about waste through the federal government here. Nice try, actually sad try….
BASIC – “Not at all. Never said that.”
Of course you did. You said those words. You support an agency set up to cut funding run by a guy who wants to completely eliminate the FBI, backed by a President who wants to cut both the FBI and DOJ funding.
THAT MEANS – defund the police.
Why are you lying now? Man up and stand by your opinion.
BASIC – what am I lying about? You said those words.
Those words mean you support a department run by a man who wants to eliminate the FBI and Trump has repeatedly said he wants to cut funding to the DOJ and FBI.
Those are facts. Just because it’s uncomfortable to realize that you do support defunding the federal police doesn’t mean I’m a liar.
Why can’t you man up for once here? You say stuff then run away insulting others and deflecting the reality of your words.
Coward.
I mean, BASIC, do you read the news?
Ramaswamy:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxla.com/news/vivek-ramaswamy-wants-to-shut-down-fbi-irs-department-of-education-and-more.amp
And from Reuters on Trump specifically:
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-facing-criminal-charges-calls-defunding-fbi-2023-04-05/
There is no logical way you can support this agency and these guys and not support what they are planning to do. You’d have to be, I don’t know…. some kind of liar to say otherwise.
Oh….. never mind.
From my perspective–I’m in many ways quite happy with Trump winning the Presidency.
1. No domestic antigovernment terrorism response because Democratic voters very rarely would do that.
2. No occupying the capitol (see above)
3. No fighting and screaming and trying to sabotage the peaceful transfer of power for months (see above)
So that’s all great–good job Democratice voters!!!! And, no, I’m not a Democrat.
The dumpster fire clown show of Trump and his people is really entertaining. Now with all government at their disposal they will have NO EXCUSE for doing a shit job and betraying 97% of the idiots that voted for him. I will so enjoy watching this.
First case in point–the Muslims and “Pro-Palestine” single issue voters who sat it out or voted for him. Now they get Mike Huckabee as ambasador to Israel. HAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!! The man who said “There is no such thing as a Palestinian”.
The man nominated as Sec-Def with zero high level command or DOD experience. Well, he went to Princeton and he was onTEVEE!
Oh, the suckers.
ALEX – those who voted 3rd party or not at all to “protest” Biden’s stance on Israel/Gaza are the lowest of the bunch. They handed Trump the keys knowing he’d be far worse with Gaza. The far left are really some of the dumbest, most selfish people here. At least the right knowns how to stick together and get their guys elected.
You reap what you sow. The mood in Dearborn:
https://www.reddit.com/r/WhitePeopleTwitter/comments/1gqep81/you_reap_what_you_sow/
If ever there was a time for unity and healing, it is now. Most of us are not happy with the way things went since last Tuesday, and not happy about the things we are hearing now. Many are angry, feel duped, and hurt. I listened to Rachel Maddow tell the world that this thing was in the bag, a done deal, slam dunk, “she’s up by four points in the latest/best/most accurate” national polls. Was it a lie? Were “they” trying to mislead us/the world? I simply don’t know. A collective deep breath is needed to start the healing process and try to move on with our lives. At least SNL, Kimmel, Colbert, etc. will have material for the next four years and x number of days.
Matt Gaetz for AG, and Musk, RFK J, or Ramaswamy for anything, just says it all about the incoming insane clown administration.
We are now the laughingstock of the entire free world, and the useful idiots for the despots.
It would be a joke, a la SNL to make Gaetz Attorney General, RFKJ Health-whatever, and create a whole new position just so Elon could be on the team. But now he’s nominated Kristi-dog-killer-Noem for Homeland Security, and one of Putin’s many assets Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence. What’s the Pillow Guy gonna do?
Trump has completely defeated sarcasm and parody, because it would be impossible to suggest worse people to be in the Cabinet for comic effect. The phrase “dumpster fire” doesn’t even come close.
Indeed, satire died in Trump’s first term.
He can still shock — see Gaetz. and Hegseth. and and and…
Speaking of Noem the dog-shooter —
Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, a Project 2025 author and the author of “Dawn’s Early Light: Burning Down Washington to Save America” more recently and less violently titled “Dawn’s Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America,” for which Vance wrote the foreword and publication of which was delayed until after the election because Trump didn’t want to be associated with it,
anyways, Kevin Roberts reportedly killed a neighbor’s barking dog with a shovel.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/project-2025-kevin-roberts-dog-b2618094.html
Lots of stories in various media, no physical proof.
This is an interesting political read, for those who don’t join Twitter/X (Xitter? You know how to pronounce that)
https://www.reddit.com/r/WhitePeopleTwitter/
Leopards Eating People’s Faces Party is growing at a phenomenal rate.
I guess it should be the Leopards ATE My Face Party.
(if you need the explanation:
“Leopards Eating People’s Faces Party refers to a parody of regretful voters who vote for cruel and unjust policies (and politicians) and are then surprised when their own lives become worse as a result.
On October 16th, 2015, Twitter user @cavalorn tweeted, “‘I never thought leopards would eat MY face,’ sobs woman who voted for the Leopards Eating People’s Faces Party.” The tweet became a common way to refer to regretful voters over the following five years.
On January 29th, 2019, blogger Carrie Marshall used the phrase to describe TERFs siding with anti-feminist legislation. The term has also been cited in TV Tropes under the page “Original Position Fallacy.”
On March 25th, 2017, the subreddit r/LeopardsAteMyFace launched, gaining over 312,000 subscribers over the following three years. There, people post examples of Trump and Brexit supporters expressing regret for their actions. For example, on July 8th, 2020, redditor u/i-like-to-be-wooshed posted a real life example of a Brexit voter upset at facing an immigration queue in an EU country. Likewise, on April 21st, 2020, redditor u/boinky-boink posted a tweet by a Trump voter replying to the President saying he would suspend immigration to the United States by asking if it would affect his Filipino wife trying to immigrate.
Source: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/leopards-eating-peoples-faces-party)
It’s a horrific and exquisitely accurate metaphor.
That FEMA worker who avoided homes with trump signs was fired.
She says “Marni Washington said her directive was as a result of what she calls political hostilities her team experienced in Florida when they were surveying. Washington said, as per FEMA practice, they look at community trends when visiting impacted residents, and if they notice a trend in a specific area, they will issue a directive to keep FEMA teams safe, no matter what the political leaning of a location is.”
I certainly can’t vouch for her. But there were reports of FEMA workers being threatened in TN
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/fema-workers-threatened-in-carter-county/
https://www.newsweek.com/tennessee-sheriff-says-witnesses-saw-armed-group-harassing-fema-workers-1970247
and in NC
https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/suspect-accused-threatening-fema-workers-western-north-carolina-court/275-537e215c-54f7-4a71-856a-bfe61140dfb5
https://apnews.com/article/fema-north-carolina-disinformation-threats-militia-c1595fef596d0f78638ba4177bfa76af
Spin it however you like; believe what and who you wish, but at least give both sides of the story! Though I realize facts don’t convince people.
Oprah asserts she was not paid to endorse Harris.
Of course the NY Post, Fox and lesser-known outlets like the Washington Examiner asserted she was.
“Usually I am reluctant to respond to rumors in general, but these days I realize that if you don’t stop a lie, it just gets bigger,” Winfrey wrote. “I was not paid a dime. My time and energy was my way of supporting the campaign.”
The Harris campaign paid for the rally costs:
“Federal Election Commission filings confirm that the Harris campaign sent Harpo Productions two $500,000 payments on October 15. Other outlets, however, went further, claiming that Winfrey had been paid personally for the appearance. In a statement, Harpo Productions confirmed that the Harris campaign had paid for the costs of the town hall, without giving a specific figure.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/oprah-winfrey-kamala-harris-payment-million-election-b2646121.html
“In a statement from Winfrey’s production company Harpo Productions provided to USA TODAY, a spokesperson said Tuesday that Winfrey was “at no point during the campaign paid a personal fee, nor did she receive a fee from Harpo,” adding that Harris’ campaign paid for the rally’s production costs.
“The Oprah Winfrey Show” host said that Harpo was asked to provide production equipment, including “set design, lights, cameras, microphones, crew, producers, and every other item necessary (including the benches and chairs we sat on) to put on a live production.”
“I did not take any personal fee,” Winfrey concluded. “However the people who worked on that production needed to be paid. And were. End of story.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/11/12/oprah-winfrey-kamala-harris-rally-payment/76231468007/
AT LEAST HARRIS PAID HER RALLY BILLS!!
Thank you Governor Newsom for making Mission Canyon your building ground.
Interesting. And threatening.
Free link for a week to the article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/opinion/trump-immigration-technology.html?unlocked_article_code=1.b04.NOO8.VryXpIdeyb97&smid=url-share
“But as a recent report for the European Commission by Mario Draghi, a former president of the European Central Bank, points out, America has pulled ahead again in recent decades. What I find interesting about this U.S. surge is that it isn’t broadly based: Europeans do most things about as well as we do. Instead, it’s all about America taking the lead in digital technology.
What’s driving that success story? No doubt it has multiple causes, not least the network externalities created by the technology cluster in Silicon Valley, which has incredibly high per capita income. But spend time in America’s tech hubs, and it becomes obvious that immigrants — often highly educated immigrants from South Asia and East Asia — are also a key part of the story.
Well, you may say, that shouldn’t be an issue. MAGA’s antipathy is aimed at undocumented immigrants taking blue-collar jobs, not tech wizards from India, right?
Wrong.
The first Trump administration was clearly hostile to legal, highly educated immigrants as well as undocumented blue-collar workers. It made getting or renewing visas significantly harder for high-skilled foreigners, which is the main way they can work here. And many of these workers fear that these policies will return, only worse.
If you want a sense of what Trump’s inner circle probably believes, it’s worth looking at a 2016 conversation between Miller and Steve Bannon, a longtime Trump ally who was released from prison in time to campaign for Trump. Bannon declared that legal immigration is the real problem, denouncing the “oligarchs” bringing in foreigners to do I.T. jobs he believes should go to Americans. “Well, that was brilliantly stated,” replied Miller.”
And this turns out to be the thread I should’ve posted info about Gaetz wanting to abolish FBI, AFT and more to!
from https://www.edhat.com/news/trumps-proposed-tariffs-especially-on-china-and-mexico-could-hit-california-hard/
“I can’t even find the conversations I wanted to post this to, regarding abolishing certain federal departments.
Gaetz is gone. Good. (Bondi is even more corrupt, but that’s a different conversation.)
Gaetz wanted to abolish many law enforcement departments.
“Mr. Trump seemed attracted to Mr. Gaetz as attorney general especially because of the former congressman’s willingness to blow things up. The president-elect remains deeply angry at the Justice Department’s efforts to prosecute him for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and hoard classified documents that did not belong to him. He has also indicated that he wants to use the Justice Department to go after his political adversaries.
Mr. Gaetz appeared to be in sync with this thinking. A vocal and bombastic critic of the Justice Department, Mr. Gaetz has suggested abolishing the F.B.I.; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and even the Justice Department as a whole. He introduced legislation last year to eliminate the A.T.F., which regulates firearms dealers and fights gun crimes.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/us/politics/matt-gaetz-withdraws-trump-attorney-general.html
I have not put the time into looking up specific quotes and sources. You can. That’s what good, reliable news sources do, because they have fact checkers.
I can hear the anti-journalism folks baying at my heels even now.
What do Republicans/conservatives think about Gaetz’s desires?”
Additionally, all this attention paid to the AG nominees ignores the 2-3 people below that position. None are untainted by claims of obedience to the president-elect.
dammit, I typed obeisance not obedience and missed correcting the auto-correct.
even the auto-correct is obeisant, lol.