California Courier

Delivering information across California.

[California Courier @cacourier]

California voters have officially rejected Proposition 40, the so-called Billionaire’s Tax. The measure would have put a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of about 200 billionaires in the state, the first tax of its kind in the country.

The fight cost hundreds of millions of dollars and split Democrats, with Sen. Bernie Sanders pushing the measure and Gov. Gavin Newsom opposing it.

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Steve Hilton and Katie Porter were rivals in the race for California governor, and now they’re on CNN together making the case for talking across the aisle.

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Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra says he will pursue a freeze on utility bills and home insurance premiums. A campaign spokesman told the Sacramento Bee that the details are still being formulated. Should that be one of his first moves?

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Marc Klaas, father of Polly Klaas, says Gov. Gavin Newsom turned a blind eye to the hundreds of juries, judges, and prosecutors behind California’s death sentences.

Klaas questions why Newsom waited until two days after the midterms to act, suggesting he did it “so that he can be in the history books.”

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Two fishermen found a man treading water nearly 20 miles off the Southern California coast, later identified as a pianist aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas. Reports suggest he may have gone overboard about nine hours before his rescue. The U.S. Coast Guard says he is now in the hospital.

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�� Video shared online appears to show a parking-lot fight after the 49ers-Raiders game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Nov. 8. Police said they were investigating several incidents and seeking witnesses and video evidence.

Police reported 11 arrests and 45 ejections at the stadium. Officials said it was unclear whether the fighting arrests were connected to the viral parking-lot video. What do you make of this? #49ers #Raiders #LevisStadium 👇

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🚨 Rep. Robert Garcia said Stephen Miller’s role in the Trump administration’s immigration policies warrants congressional investigation following Miller’s promotion to White House chief of staff.

Asked twice whether Miller committed a crime, Garcia cited alleged unconstitutional detention and due process violations, calling the administration’s actions “possibly illegal.” He did not identify a specific criminal offense in the excerpt. An investigation does not establish criminal conduct.

What do you make of Garcia’s call for oversight? #StephenMiller #ImmigrationPolicy #HouseOversight 👇

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🚨 Rep. Ro Khanna says he is working with Rep. Thomas Massie to secure votes for Massie’s effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “He needs to go,” Khanna says in the footage, citing the U.S. war with Iran.

Massie’s resolution contains eight articles alleging unlawful conduct involving Iran and other military actions. Hegseth has called the effort a political spectacle based on policy disagreements. House action was expected to begin with a procedural motion, not necessarily a direct vote on impeachment. What do you make of this? #PeteHegseth #Congress #Impeachment 👇

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🚨 Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to commute California’s 548 death sentences to life without parole. The prisoners would not be released, and 382 commutations still require support from at least four California Supreme Court justices.

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said prosecutors would continue seeking the death penalty in eligible cases. Marc Klaas, whose 12-year-old daughter Polly was murdered by death row prisoner Richard Allen Davis, condemned the plan. Polly’s sisters have supported moving away from executions.

What do you make of the proposed commutations? #California #DeathPenalty #CriminalJustice 👇

[California Courier @cacourier]

🚨 Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the federal SAVE America Act’s voter-registration requirements during a February 2026 podcast with Rep. Jim Clyburn, comparing their history to Jim Crow. He said applicants would need documents such as a birth certificate or passport. His claim that two-thirds of Black Americans lack passports was not independently substantiated by the reviewed sources.

The House passed the proposal 218-213. A separate California law, AB 2030, restricts sales of certain weight-loss and muscle-building supplements to minors starting Jan. 1, 2027. It is not a blanket ID requirement for every creatine purchase. What do you make of this? 👇

#SAVEAmericaAct #AB2030 #VoterRegistration

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🚨 Rep. Robert Garcia said former Trump administration officials who leave office could still face congressional scrutiny, naming Kimberly Guilfoyle, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former Attorney General Pam Bondi during a Crooked Con panel in Washington, D.C.

Garcia, poised to chair the House oversight committee in January 2027, alleged “crimes” and “grift,” but cited no specific criminal charges in these remarks. The White House has denied wrongdoing and called the planned inquiries “sham investigations.” What do you make of this? #CongressionalOversight #RobertGarcia #TrumpAdministration 👇

[California Courier @cacourier]

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will commute the sentences of more than 500 people on death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In an open letter to Californians, Newsom says state-sanctioned killing is “incompatible with California’s values” and undermines the foundations of the legal system.

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Starting Jan. 1, California stores can't sell muscle-building supplements like creatine to anyone under 18 without a prescription. Newsom signed AB 2030 on Sept. 28, and stores must check ID if they can't tell your age.

Should a teen athlete need a prescription for creatine?

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California is adding another restriction, this time targeting popular fitness supplements. Starting January 1, 2027, retailers will be required to ask customers for ID if they cannot determine they are 18 or older before purchasing certain muscle-building and weight-loss supplements, including creatine and whey protein products. The law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, prohibits sales to minors without a prescription and could carry fines of up to $500 per violation.

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Taxing Californians by the mile? Governor-elect Becerra, asked before Election Day: "Everything should be on the table."

Drivers already pay $5.80 a gallon, $1.10 more than a year ago (AAA). A state mileage tax study is due by year's end.

Would you pay per mile?

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Gavin Newsom Moves to Commute All 548 Death Sentences in California

Caption: Gov. Gavin Newsom is commuting the death sentences of all 548 people on California’s death row to life without parole, the largest mass commutation in U.S. history.

In an open letter, Newsom called state-sanctioned killing “incompatible with California’s values.”

Many of the commutations still need approval from the California Supreme Court, and victims’ rights advocates are already pushing back.

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Democratic socialist Nithya Raman has defeated Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

The race was called days after Election Day, following a count that left the outcome uncertain all week.

Bass loses her bid for a second term, and Raman will take over as mayor of the nation’s second-largest city.

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🚨 California Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra said he supports protecting and expanding health care access, but would not commit to specific funding for coverage for undocumented Californians without knowing the state budget and legislative vote count.

Speaking at a Sacramento media availability after his election, Becerra said governing requires assessing available funding and support. What do you make of his response? 👇

#California #HealthCare #MediCal

[California Courier @cacourier]

🚨 California Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra said tax cuts for middle-class residents should remain under consideration, but he did not commit to them during a post-election news conference in Sacramento.

Asked by reporter Ashley Zavala about tax relief, Becerra said “everything should be on the table.” He said proposals should be evaluated based on what is smart and makes sense. What do you make of his response? 👇

#CaliforniaPolitics #TaxPolicy #Affordability

[California Courier @cacourier]

Prop. 40, a one-time tax of up to 5% on the net worth of California billionaires, is trailing as votes are still counted. Latest statewide count: No 54.4%, Yes 45.6%. Results are not final or certified.

#California #Prop40 #Election2026