Dustin Gardiner

Is Gavin Newsom really turning the corner on homelessness?

HAPPENING NOW: In federal court in MN, DOJ is struggling to articulate why a person following an ICE vehicle — so long as they are obeying traffic laws — can be stopped for "reasonable suspicion" of a crime.

Judge Menendez sharply questioning that contention.

San Francisco judge rejects lawsuit, keeps Sunset Dunes Park open A San Francisco judge upheld Prop. K, rejecting a lawsuit and keeping Sunset Dunes Park — and the Upper Great Highway closure — in place.

A San Francisco judge upheld Prop. K, rejecting a lawsuit and keeping Sunset Dunes Park — and the Upper Great Highway closure — in place.

Of *course* the lawsuit seeking to reopen a beach side highway was based on the California Environmental Quality Act.

We cannot become numb to the outrage of this. The wife of the President’s Senior Advisor threatens a sovereign nation.

Jen and I are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.

House Republicans urge caution as HUD proceeds with homeless housing program cuts The lawmakers warn the Trump administration that substantive changes to the program “should be implemented carefully.”

Via @politico.com: "Congressional Republicans are pushing the Trump administration to renew grants for a program the White House has targeted for dramatic cuts that helps provide permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness."

AG @robbonta.bsky.social also refused to answer my questions about his conflict of interest policy for campaign contributions

What is his policy for accepting money from parties involved in matters directly before his office? He's never clearly spelled it out

Bonta’s casino money and Porter’s ‘unhappy experience’ Before state Attorney General Rob Bonta declared that fantasy sports betting websites are illegal in California, he raked in campaign contributions from the industry’s biggest nemesis.

As California AG @robbonta.bsky.social reviewed his opinion that declared fantasy sports illegal, he raked in more than $100K in contributions from tribal casinos

The tribes have lobbied, for years, to push fantasy sports platforms out of the gaming market here

www.politico.com/newsletters/...

JUST ADDED! #Prop50 Explained: What's at Stake for California . . . and Congress
With Cynthia Dai, Trena Turner, Eric McGhee & moderator @dustingardiner.bsky.social

Thu, Oct 16 / 11:00 AM PDT in downtown San Francisco & online

Details & tickets: www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-...

2025 Journalism Awards Contest Portal is Now Open - San Francisco Press Club The contest portal for the San Francisco Press Club’s 2025 Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards is now open: www.BetterNewspaperContest.com. Please […]

⌛️🚨 There's only 2 weeks left to submit entries for the San Francisco Press Club awards!

Don't miss the chance to share work that makes you proud. Contest open to journalists in print + radio + TV, college media and PR pros. More: sfpressclub.org/2025/09/22/2...

2025 Journalism Awards Contest Portal is Now Open - San Francisco Press Club The contest portal for the San Francisco Press Club’s 2025 Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards is now open: www.BetterNewspaperContest.com. Please […]

⌛️🚨 There's only 2 weeks left to submit entries for the San Francisco Press Club awards!

Don't miss the chance to share work that makes you proud. Contest open to journalists in print + radio + TV, college media and PR pros. More: sfpressclub.org/2025/09/22/2...

I need to check this one more often. Or always feel free to email me: dgardiner@politico.com

Thanks for flagging this. A colleague corrected it last week, FYI.

Democracy in the States: Weekly Roundup Updates on campaigns, policy changes, obstacles and successes for democracy renovation at the state level.

Check out our weekly roundup of news about democracy at the state level, with links from @theguardian.com, @deseret.com.web.brid.gy, @zachmontellaro.bsky.social, @representwomen.bsky.social, @dustingardiner.bsky.social, @brennancenter.org, and more!

Poll: California Democrats like Gavin Newsom over Kamala Harris in 2028 The governor is the top presidential contender among Democratic-leaning voters in the state, according to the latest POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey.

California Dems would take Newsom over Harris in a 2028 presidential primary, according to a new poll.

Trump's federal takeover of D.C.'s police is a blow to democracy.

This dangerous overreach of power should alarm every American, regardless of where you live.

California is not sitting idly by, challenging Trump in court today to put an end to his unprecedented and unlawful use of force.
#CALeg

Democrats make a Trump-inspired U-turn on redistricting Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who pushed for national reforms, now says her party "cannot and will not unilaterally disarm."

Democrats are making a Trump-inspired U-turn on redistricting.

Trump administration demands $1B from University of California-Los Angeles The White House's negotiating demand is a major effort to expand the scope of its offensive against higher education institutions.

The Trump admin is demanding $1B from UCLA.

The settlement would resolve alleged civil rights violations, restore hundreds of millions of dollars of frozen federal research grants, and force the school to adopt major changes to how it operates.

San Francisco progressives eye Mamdani’s rise with envy Despite the city’s history, voters in San Francisco have pivoted to the political center in recent years.

San Francisco progressives eye Zohran Mamdani’s rise in New York with envy.

Fascinating to see the stark rural/urban and north/south divide on #SB79, the biggest housing bill of the year.

Let’s dive into the details, and see how your State Senator voted. 👇

Facebook co-founder mystified by Zuckerberg’s new politics Chris Hughes said Mark Zuckerberg was “left of center” when the two and a core group of friends launched the campus networking site that became Silicon Valley’s most successful social startup. Zuckerb...

ICYMI: Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes says he's puzzled by Mark Zuckerberg’s shift toward Trump and the right

"It’s more just mystifying," Hughes said of Zuckerberg, his college roommate who was "left of center" during their Harvard years

www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Interested in grabbing coffee with conference speakers, attendees and others. DM me!

Subscribe to California Playbook from the Milken Institute Global Conference Join POLITICO as we bring you exclusive, on-the-ground reporting through our California Playbook newsletter at the 28th Annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles from May 4-7. Stay ahead of the curve with your essential guide to the biggest moments, behind-the-scenes buzz, and insights from global leaders in AI, finance, health, philanthropy, geopolitics, and more. Subscribe now and secure a front-row seat to the conversations shaping our world.

Who's going to the @milkeninstitute.org Global Conference in LA next week?!

I'll be there covering it ALL for California Playbook (your go-to Milken news source), along w/ @melmason.bsky.social @tylerkatzenberger.bsky.social

Sign up & follow our coverage: politico.com/milkenglobal... #MIGlobal

UK and EU to defy Trump with ‘free and open trade’ declaration The draft U.K.-EU agreement is one of several being drawn up ahead of a May 19 summit.

Exclusive: UK and EU to defy Trump with ‘free and open trade’ declaration.

Scoop: SF Dems force the age question Democratic Party leaders in San Francisco today unveiled a striking package of resolutions designed to help their party find its way out of the political wilderness and regain voters’ trust.

First in @politico.com: San Francisco Democrats force the age question. Resolution calls for imposing a mandatory retirement age for elected officials

www.politico.com/newsletters/...

California’s frustration with homelessness is boiling over, poll finds A survey from POLITICO and the UC Berkeley Citrin Center asked registered voters if they supported an aggressive approach to clearing encampments.

Via @dustingardiner.bsky.social: "California voters have grown so frustrated with the blue state’s failure to reduce homelessness that well over a third of the electorate now supports local laws that allow police to arrest people camping outside if they refuse shelter."

Upcoming SF event: Come out to Manny's on April 29th for an in-depth conversation about Trump's first 100 days & consequences for the Bay Area

Featuring panelists: Honey Mahogany, Nancy Tung and Jane Kim; moderated by me. Tickets on sale now here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-first-...

Upcoming SF event: Come out to Manny's on April 29th for an in-depth conversation about Trump's first 100 days & consequences for the Bay Area

Featuring panelists: Honey Mahogany, Nancy Tung and Jane Kim; moderated by me. Tickets on sale now here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-first-...

LGBTQ+ travellers rethink US trips amid new Trump policies Trump’s new policies have created uncertainty for travellers as US immigration authorities may now require documentation showing ‘sex at birth’.

Shockingly, the new gender/genital policing rules at the border are causing LGBTQ people to be less than excited about visiting the U.S. & spending money here.