Alexei Koseff
Keeping an eye on all things California in Washington DC for the San Francisco Chronicle. Reach me at alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com
- A group of Democrats, including @normajtorres.bsky.social and @gomez.house.gov, has been fighting the Trump administration in court since last summer to maintain congressional access to ICE detention facilities. They scored another major legal victory this week: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- The U.S. Supreme Court has denied an appeal by the California Republican Party to overturn Prop 50, allowing the new congressional districts to stand www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?...
- At times, it felt like a sitcom, @joegarofoli.bsky.social writes: A progressive Marin congressman trying to woo Trump-loving locals in California’s MAGA-iest corner. “I don’t think I’m going to make the mistake of trying to cover it in an electric vehicle.” www.sfchronicle.com/politics/joe...
- Nick Shirley started showing up to Somali-run day cares in San Diego over the weekend, @saradinatale.bsky.social reports www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- The Senate passed a budget deal tonight to avert a lengthy govt shutdown by temporarily funding Homeland Security as negotiations over accountability measures for ICE continue. Both California senators, @padilla.senate.gov and @schiff.senate.gov, voted no over objections to ICE funding.
- It's not every day that you quote a spokesperson insisting "it's not about a blowjob." @sophiabollag.bsky.social examines Newsom's recent turn to sexual insults: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- As rumors swirl about an immigration enforcement surge in the Bay Area during the Super Bowl, local officials including SF Mayor Daniel Lurie told the Chronicle they are not expecting anything out of the ordinary www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- The bitter partisan feud over the Los Angeles fires continues to intensify in Washington more than a year after the deadly disaster, with federal funding for the recovery at stake: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- After President Trump issued his permitting EO yesterday, I asked the White House if he would support supplement disaster aid for the Los Angeles fires. “Newscum doesn’t need more money, Californians need relief,” a spokesperson said. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- All 43 California House Democrats voted Thursday against the homeland security funding bill, as the party ramps up its push to rein in ICE amid growing public outrage over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- After the brutal 49ers loss last weekend, @pelosi.house.gov fulfills a wager with @repdelbene.bsky.social with a basket of San Francisco treats (including Ghirardelli chocolates) and an “I love California” mug that DelBene said she won’t be using.
- "In my time being a Democrat, I have agreed that no one is above the law," @replsimon.bsky.social said. "I believe that the committee deserved to hear from the president. I believe that that should have happened." www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- @joereid.bsky.social Wicked: For THOB?
- In today's print @sfchronicle.com: A new federal law aims to reopen path to reunification for families divided by the Korean War. Though relations with North Korea are at a low, it's the last, best shot for many Korean Americans near the end of their lives. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Chang Soon Lee last saw his father when he was 15, before his family fled south during the Korean War. “I don’t know when, how he, if he died,” Lee said. “We have lived with that pain.” www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- More than 70 years ago, millions of Korean families were separated by war and politics. As these "divided family" members near the end of their lives, the U.S. will create a registry of Korean Americans who want to reunite with loved ones in North Korea: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- As some progressives resume calls to “abolish ICE,” Democratic leaders in Congress are instead emphasizing restraint — urging more control, accountability, oversight, standards — perhaps as much for their party as the officers in the streets. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- A divided federal court upheld Prop 50, ruling that congressional maps were legally drawn for political purposes and not as an act of racial discrimination, as Republicans contended. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Another threat yesterday by Trump to pull funding from sanctuary cities and states would violate repeated court rulings that he cannot do that www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Thousands of signatures and half a year away from the possibility of a vote, a proposed one-time tax on California billionaires is already unleashing chaos in state politics, @saralibby.bsky.social writes: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Newsom will call for legislation to crack down on investment companies buying starter homes in his final State of the State speech today, @sophiabollag.bsky.social reports. Trump posted about a similar effort on Truth Social yesterday. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- In today's print @sfchronicle.com: How Spencer Pratt inspired a Florida senator to investigate the Palisades Fire, the presidential politics that have California leaders dismissing it as a political stunt, and why angry Palisadians are on board anyway 🎁 link: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Updated with the news that Spencer Pratt, whose advocacy prompted this congressional investigation, has announced today he's running for Los Angeles mayor www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- On the anniversary of the Los Angeles fires, California's calls for more federal aid have stalled while a congressional investigation is gaining steam. Just why does Florida's Sen. Rick Scott care so much about one fire that took place across the country? www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Reposted by Alexei Koseff[Not loaded yet]
- Southern California House members renew their call for supplemental disaster aid on first anniversary of Los Angeles fires @reptedlieu.bsky.social said President Trump is trying to punish Democratic communities by refusing to provide assistance “He said help was coming. He lied,” Lieu said
- The entire California congressional delegation, including Democrats and Republicans, sent a letter to President Trump today asking him to "ensure the communities of Southern California receive their fair share of federal disaster assistance": www.padilla.senate.gov/wp-content/u...
- Why does a Florida senator care so much about one fire that took place across the country? “In this job, you get to focus on things that are important to you,” Sen. Rick Scott said. “Disasters are important.” Could it ever be so simple in politics in 2026? www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- On the anniversary of the Los Angeles fires, California's calls for more federal aid have stalled while a congressional investigation is gaining steam. Just why does Florida's Sen. Rick Scott care so much about one fire that took place across the country? www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- The federal government is freezing child care funding for California as President Trump vows a "fraud investigation" www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Chico Republican who was a vocal advocate for California’s rural north, died unexpectedly Tuesday at 65. It complicates narrow Republican control of Congress and throws his district, already redrawn by Prop 50, into further uncertainty. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Reposted by Alexei Koseff[Not loaded yet]
- A gubernatorial election, Newsom's pending presidential campaign, the battle over the National Guard deployment: How 2026 could shift California's relationship with President Trump www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- From the Los Angeles fires to Prop 50, @sophiabollag.bsky.social looks back on the first year of Trump vs. California 2.0: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Newsom and other California officials blamed Trump funding cuts for a false earthquake alert earlier this month. The real cause of the mistake is still unknown, @taraduggan.bsky.social reports: www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
- After canceling 17,000 commercial drivers licenses last month under pressure from the Trump admin, California will begin reissuing licenses for immigrants with valid work permits, potentially setting up a clash with the feds, @saradinatale.bsky.social reports: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Pelosi and Biden have never spoken again since she encouraged the president to drop his re-election bid last year. She told @susanpagedc.bsky.social: "He did make a lovely statement when I announced my future plans, and I am grateful to him for that." www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
- ICYMI: President Trump signed an executive order last night directing his administration to challenge "onerous" state AI laws California has gone further than anywhere in regulating the burgeoning industry and state officials are preparing to push back: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Newsom, who said he couldn't get a meeting with the Trump administration when he was in DC last week, tries a new strategy on securing additional federal aid for the Los Angeles fires, after months of relentlessly trolling the president
- With Congress unlikely to extend enhanced ACA subsidies before they expire at end of the year, California is expecting major hits to the health care system. @coveredca.bsky.social said new enrollment is already down more than 30% compared to same time last year. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to circumvent state oversight of artificial intelligence, threatening California’s efforts to shape the burgeoning industry. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- In a floor speech marking his first year in the Senate, @schiff.senate.gov nearly started crying as he talked about "the farmworkers in the Central Valley who are afraid to go work and attend church, lest ICE detain them — citizens and non-citizens alike."
- “It defies the record — and common sense — to conclude that risks stemming from protests — in August, October, or even present day— could not have been sufficiently managed without resorting to the National Guard,” the judge wrote. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- DCCC officially adds California’s CD48, currently held by Darrell Issa, to its target list. The San Diego-area seat got more competitive after Prop 50 by bringing in Democratic voters from around Palm Springs. Issa considered moving to Texas instead of running for re-election.
- How a new affordable housing complex turbocharged San Francisco's open congressional race and could turn it into a referendum on the best way to bring down astronomic rents and home prices: www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/c...
- Though Congress is not traditionally where most Americans look for housing policy, the race to succeed Nancy Pelosi is shaping up to be another front in San Francisco's eternal YIMBY vs. NIMBY war www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/c...
- West Coast health officials said all infants should continue getting vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth after a decision by a federal vaccine advisory panel to end the practice www.sfchronicle.com/health/artic...
- As the first anniversary of the Los Angeles firestorm approaches, @gavinnewsom.bsky.social is in DC today to renew his pleas for additional recovery assistance. There's still a path to more aid, but it will likely require convincing Trump to make it a priority: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Darrell Issa says he will run again in his San Diego-area seat, which got more Democratic after Prop 50, rather than moving to Texas www.foxnews.com/politics/cal...
- Landlords must provide working stoves and fridges. Cat declawing will be banned. @sophiabollag.bsky.social has a rundown of some of the new California laws for 2026: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- DOGE's place within the Trump administration is more uncertain after rumblings this week that it had been disbanded. But it has left its mark on the Bay Area, from the services that local residents can access to academic research to the physical landscape. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
- Though he does not have direct authority to move games, his frequent musings raise the specter that Trump could try to use the World Cup, or several other major upcoming sporting events, to gain leverage over California in their frequent political clashes. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
