Alexei Koseff

At stake in the National Guard battle: States’ rights — and reality As some judges challenge the Trump administration’s representation of conditions on the ground, the legal and political stakes of the debate are multiplying.

A fight for control of the National Guard that began in California has swelled into a nationwide battle over presidential authority, state sovereignty, the militarization of America and who gets to determine reality. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Newsom urged governors to speak out against interstate troop deployments. A key Republican just did Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's comments follow threats by Govs. Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker to leave the National Governors Association.

Days after @gavinnewsom.bsky.social threatened to withdraw from the National Governors Association, its Republican leader denounced Trump’s interstate National Guard deployments
www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

California National Guard troops sent to Chicago to help train soldiers from other states Attorney General Rob Bonta says President Trump’s decision to send California troops to other states undermines his original rationale for federalizing the National Guard.

NEW: California National Guard troops sent to Chicago to help train soldiers from other states www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Conversion therapy heads to the Supreme Court. Conversion ministries never left California The state backed off its one and only attempt to prohibit ministries that purport to change LGBTQ youth through religious counseling.

As a case out of Colorado heads to the Supreme Court this week, conversation therapy is still thriving in California through religious ministries, @raheemfh.bsky.social reports www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

White House points the finger at immigrants — and California — for government shutdown The Trump administration and Republicans are increasingly accusing Democrats of holding the country hostage to give benefits to undocumented immigrants.

One of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature policy achievements, expanding a health insurance program for low-income Californians to include undocumented immigrants, has been pulled into the fight over the ongoing federal government shutdown. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

How the government shutdown is impacting tens of thousands of federal workers in the Bay Area As many as 90,000 civilian federal workers live in the Bay Area, according to a Chronicle analysis of Congressional Research Service data.

Tens of thousands of federal workers in the Bay Area are furloughed or working without pay after the government shutdown began today. Many could end up losing their jobs in mass layoffs that the White House says will start by the end of this week.
www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Newsom and Trump are closer on crime, homelessness than either might admit The moves by President Donald Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom reflect a yearslong shift in California politics and across the country toward pro-law enforcement, punitive criminal justice policies.

Both Newsom and Trump are calling for widespread homeless encampment sweeps and deploying law enforcement to local communities to crack down on crime, though neither man acknowledges the similarities, @sophiabollag.bsky.social writes
www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...

Seven years after California's deadliest fire, schools — and kids — are still recovering Even as Paradise gradually rebuilds schools lost to the 2018 wildfire, officials have struggled to get kids on track academically

For years after the Camp Fire, students found themselves unable to focus on academics and test scores plummeted. @carolynjones100.bsky.social examines how Paradise's schools are building back from the disaster: calmatters.org/education/k-...

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.

I’ve hit my term limit in Sacramento. This is my last week at CalMatters.

It’s been a privilege to help Californians understand how their government is serving them for the past 12 years. I’m excited to continue that work in a new way in Washington.

www.sfchronicle.com/about/newsro...

‘Heartbreaking’ rural hospital closure leaves California county without an ER Congressman Doug LaMalfa says he's trying to help stave off Glenn Medical Center's closure, which will put 150 people out of work.

Glenn County’s only hospital is set to close next month after the federal government stripped its “critical access” designation, leaving a large budget gap, @ab-ibarra.bsky.social reports
calmatters.org/health/2025/...

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.

“Whether the person likes Donald Trump or Gavin Newsom isn’t really the issue,” the Orange County GOP chair said. “If this is a straight Republican vs. Democrat election, we lose.” calmatters.org/politics/202...

John Burton, powerful liberal who shaped California politics for decades, dies Rude, profane, yet utterly charming, Burton became the state Capitol’s most powerful legislator when he served as Senate president pro tem.

A fucking titan in California politics www.latimes.com/california/s...

Gavin Newsom's calendar is a public record. He hasn't released it in months Are Newsom’s numerous podcast appearances and travel affecting his work? Hard to say, because his office hasn’t made his full schedule available.

What is @governor.ca.gov doing aside from his podcast and trolling Trump? Who knows, because his schedule is a secret. He should just post his calendar online, @davidloy.bsky.social tells @akoseff.bsky.social. “This is not difficult — or should not be difficult." calmatters.org/politics/202...

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.

Extreme heat is warping life for all Californians, but state prisoners will be hit especially hard, @jeannereporter.bsky.social writes. And mounting pressure from activists, lawmakers and judges to do more is running into cost concerns. calmatters.org/politics/202...

Gavin Newsom's calendar is a public record. He hasn't released it in months Are Newsom’s numerous podcast appearances and travel affecting his work? Hard to say, because his office hasn’t made his full schedule available.

As Gov. Gavin Newsom turns his attention to national politics, it’s difficult to evaluate what effect his extracurricular activities have had on his work, because the governor’s office has not made his full schedule available all year. calmatters.org/politics/202...

Newsom promised real progress on mental health with CARE Court. Here's what the numbers show Far fewer people are using Gov. Gavin Newsom's CARE Court than he projected when he launched the mental health program to help homeless Californians.

Gavin Newsom created CARE Court to replace what he said was an ineffective state referral program for Californians with mental illness. So far it’s barely helped more people than the law he criticized, @marisakendall.bsky.social and @jocelynwiener.bsky.social report: calmatters.org/health/menta...

Trump broke the law by sending National Guard to L.A., federal judge rules As President Trump floats sending the military to more U.S. cities, a federal judge in California ruled he broke the law with a National Guard deployment to L.A.

"There was no rebellion, nor was civilian law enforcement unable to respond to the protests and enforce the law," Judge Charles Breyer wrote in his 52-page opinion
calmatters.org/justice/2025...

Spotted in Newsom’s office: the Trump 2028 hats he has been mentioning lately in interviews as he warns about the president trying to run for a third term

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.

As Trump threatens to deploy federal troops to crack down on crime in American cities, @gavinnewsom.bsky.social says he will surge law enforcement resources through California calmatters.org/politics/202...

Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher Holds Press Conference on “Two State Solution” AJR 23 Would Create a New State for Inland California, Representing Over 10 Million People

We're doing the secession thing again

President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 25, 2025. Photo by Alex Brandon, AP Photo. HED: California GOP takes Newsom to court over redistricting, again. Will Trump sue next?

Fresh off their failed attempt to kill Gov. Newsom’s redistricting plan in the Legislature, California Republicans and anti-gerrymandering groups this week launched an all-out resistance to defeat what they regard as an unconstitutional ballot question. https://cal.news/47JG2mz

📷 Alex Brandon, AP

ICE is entering hospitals. How far can health care workers go to protect patients? Workers, wary for patients' rights, say their employers should offer more guidance and training about the kinds of immigration encounters happening now.

As federal immigration agents appear more frequently at California medical facilities, it has led to clashes over patient privacy and workers' rights
calmatters.org/health/2025/...

Democrats wanted someone to ‘punch back.’ They got him when Newsom took on Texas Democrats are searching for a leader to take on President Trump. Gov. Gavin Newsom embraced that role with new online trolling and a proposed gerrymander to counter a GOP power play in Texas.

Talked to @calmatters.org and @akoseff.bsky.social about all things gerrymander and Newsom. Enjoy! calmatters.org/politics/202...

Democrats wanted someone to ‘punch back.’ They got him when Newsom took on Texas Democrats are searching for a leader to take on President Trump. Gov. Gavin Newsom embraced that role with new online trolling and a proposed gerrymander to counter a GOP power play in Texas.

Gov. @gavinnewsom.bsky.social has come to define the California redistricting plan so thoroughly that it’s been dubbed the “Gavinmander.” Now, with the outcome in the hands of voters in a November special election, their fortunes will rise and fall together.
calmatters.org/politics/202...

Obama applauds Newsom's California redistricting plan as 'responsible' as Texas GOP pushes new maps Former President Barack Obama has expressed support for California Governor Gavin Newsom's approach to redistricting.

“I believe that Gov. Newsom’s approach is a responsible approach. He said this is going to be responsible. We’re not going to try to completely maximize it,” Obama said at a fundraiser on Martha’s Vineyard
apnews.com/article/obam...

They came to Sacramento for a Christian rally. Then they heard about Newsom's redistricting Busloads of Christian activists happened to be at the California Capitol as lawmakers took up Gov. Gavin Newsom's congressional redistricting plan.

Dozens of conservative voters who arrived at the Capitol this morning for a rally about a custody bill popped over while they waited to testify against the Democratic redistricting plan.

Some saw it as a divine appointment.

calmatters.org/politics/202...

Gavin Newsom wants an election in a hurry on his gerrymander. Here's what has to happen California counties are scrambling to prepare for Gov. Gavin Newsom's special election on redrawing congressional districts for the 2026 midterm. The effort will cost tens of millions of dollars.

With only a few months to pull off a special election on redistricting, counties face challenges lining up vendors to print enough ballots, securing vote centers and hiring and training staff, @mayacmiller.bsky.social reports.

calmatters.org/politics/202...

Drill baby drill? It could happen again in California After years of cracking down on California’s oil industry, Gavin Newsom is working on a deal with oil interests to avoid soaring gas prices.

After years of cracking down on California’s oil industry, Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative Democrats are moving to get Kern County wells pumping again to avoid soaring gasoline prices. calmatters.org/politics/202...

The Legislature has finally unveiled its proposed map of new California congressional lines.

Find your district in our searchable map and read how the plan changes the dynamics of 10 key races: calmatters.org/politics/202...

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.

A draft of California's redrawn congressional lines could net Democrats five more seats and boost their chances in several swing areas.

We've got a searchable map of the proposed districts: calmatters.org/politics/202...