Democrats want to know whether President Donald Trump and his GOP allies financially benefited from implementing and then pausing recent tariffs — a move some said was effectively insider trading. “It happened in front of our eyes,” Sen. Ruben Gallego told NOTUS. “This hurt the economy in the end. People on Main Street are going...
‘We can fight this,’ San Jose congressman says about eliminating DEI
California Democrats in Congress say they don’t want state leaders to cave to the Trump administration’s attempts to attach strings to federal support and its most recent demand to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs at schools — even if that means the state could lose out on millions or billions of dollars in federal funding. “The...
California lawmaker condemns dismantling of Head Start program
Congress is calling for the reinstatement of federal employees that oversee critical early childhood programs serving families in poverty as regional Head Start offices are slashed — including one that serves Santa Clara County. U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla is leading dozens of senators in condemning U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy for...
First-term San Jose Congressman Liccardo raises eye-popping $1.5M
San Jose Rep. Sam Liccardo raised nearly $1.5 million in his first quarter as a member of Congress, according to a source familiar with the Liccardo camp — a hefty sum for a freshman lawmaker. Additionally, Liccardo, the former mayor of San Jose, transferred $110,000 to Democratic frontline members, the source told NOTUS. The transfers...
California Democrats look for a path forward for their party
As Democrats soul-search for a new message to meet the current Trump era, many lawmakers are pointing to the ideas at the center of “Abundance,” the much-hyped book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, as at least a partial solution to the party’s woes. “This is one of the most important books Democrats can read...
DOGE is changing California — and Democrats worry it’s just starting
California is being hit particularly hard by Department of Government Efficiency cuts. It is home to more federal workers than any other state, many of them with the Department of Veterans Affairs, whose workforce is being slashed by thousands nationwide. Its national parks and reserves are facing staffing cuts, while its universities stand to lose...
Silicon Valley lawmakers aren’t racing to back latest governor candidate
Katie Porter, the whiteboard-wielding former member of Congress, announced on Tuesday her bid for California governor to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. Her former House colleagues appeared far more interested in whatever Kamala Harris decides to do. “I think I’ll sit on the sidelines for a while,” Rep. Ami Bera told NOTUS. “It’s still a...
State lawmakers disagree with Newsom’s take on transgender athletes
California Democrats on Thursday distanced themselves from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent comments on transgender athletes, saying they are committed to protecting equality even as their state’s leader sides with a prominent right-wing figure on inclusion in sports. Newsom said on his new podcast that he “completely agrees” with guest Charlie Kirk that transgender athletes should...
California Dems left Trump’s speech as he doubled down on cuts
“It was horrible and disgusting.” “My blood’s boiling right now.” “He clearly wants to divide America.” That’s Reps. Sara Jacobs, Dave Min and Mark Takano, respectively, on Donald Trump’s sprawling and unapologetic Tuesday night joint address to Congress. The president doubled down on everything from steep tariffs on American allies to the upheaval caused by...
Silicon Valley lawmaker wants to make it illegal for Trump to hawk crypto
President Donald Trump made tens of billions on paper by using his national profile to push meme cryptocurrency. One Democratic congressman wants to make sure other politicians can’t do the same. Silicon Valley Congressman Sam Liccardo introduced a bill Thursday that would bar Trump and other public officials from promoting stocks and cryptocurrency endeavors from...