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Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
News You Might Have Missed
Stefi Mar March 31, 2025
News You Might Have Missed
Love served in the U.S. Congress for Utah’s 4th congressional district from 2015 to 2019. Love made history when as the first Black Republican woman elected to the U.S. Congress in history. She was a rare Black Republican serving in a state with a very small Black population. Mia Love’s career was marked by historic firsts and coastal moves from East and West. She also underwent several personal changes in career and religion from Roman Catholic to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Love was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Norwalk Connecticut. Love was the first Haitian American elected to Congress. After her time in office, she became a political commentator. She often appeared on CNN.
Two members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) joined a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers to introduce a 20-bill package that would fast-track housing production in the state.
“I am immediately calling on Chairman Mast to hold a hearing on what might be the most astonishing breach of our national security in recent history,” says New York Congressman Greg Meeks. The ranking House Foreign Affairs committee chair is addressing the reported revelation that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance, and others used the encrypted phone app Signal to map out a war plan against the Houthis that took place on March 15.
The Islamic holiday of Eid, meaning festival or fest, commemorates the end of Ramadan, the religion’s holy month of fasting.
The question being asked all over social media, in homes, offices, and even behind closed doors in Washington: If former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had leaked war plans over Signal, would Republicans already be demanding his resignation? “Imagine the uproar if Lloyd Austin had been discussing war plans over Signal and inadvertently added a journalist,” said political strategist Chris D. Jackson.
The Vibe Shift is an ongoing series covering the political, institutional, and cultural realignment in California caused by Trump’s win in the 2024 presidential election.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is moving forward with a sweeping overhaul of its operations, including plans to slash its workforce by 12 percent, shut down six regional field offices, and eliminate key phone services—changes that have sparked fierce opposition from AARP and alarmed millions of older Americans. Beginning March 31, the SSA will require that individuals applying for or managing their Social Security benefits confirm their identity online or in person at a local office, effectively ending the ability to complete specific critical tasks by phone.
News You Might Have Missed
facebooktwitterinstagram Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) was a firefighter in Southern California for 35 years before he decided to run for political office. Asm. Issac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights)
A coalition of cities and nonprofits has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division. The Southern Environmental Law Center and the Public Rights Project represent 11 nonprofit organizations and six cities. The lawsuit targets a freeze on federal funding that has threatened critical community projects, including energy-efficient housing in North Charleston, SC, job training programs in Baltimore, MD, and a $20 million clean energy and housing initiative in New Haven, CT.
Dr. Christy Valentine’s passion for healthcare is both deeply personal and profoundly impactful. A New Orleans native and lifelong advocate for equitable healthcare, she brings a unique perspective to her role as CEO of Healthy Blue Louisiana. For her, healthcare isn’t just about treatment, it’s about access, education, and breaking down barriers so that every person, regardless of background or income, can get the care they deserve.
President Trump is working to undo the traditional presidential pardon powers by questioning the Biden administration’s pre-emptive pardons issued just days before January 20, 2025. President Trump is seeking retribution against the January 6th House Select Committee.
Hosted by Colby Colb Tyner, the podcast will chronicle recovery efforts, and feature interviews with elected officials, community leaders, business owners, and survivors.
The U.S. Congress is debating cuts to Medicaid and other social programs after voting for a $2 trillion reduction in federal spending.
A new device, the DiamondProof, can rapidly and reliably distinguish natural diamonds from laboratory-grown diamonds and other diamond simulants.
Flau’jae Johnson is no stranger to pressure. As a standout junior guard for LSU’s women’s basketball team, she has learned how to manage the intensity of big games, the demands of academics, and the responsibility of being a high-profile athlete in the era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. Now, she’s adding another role to her résumé—helping relieve consumer debt for thousands of African American families in Louisiana.
To honor Women in Construction Week, Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 30 in the State Legislature on March 6. This resolution pays tribute to women and highlights their contributions to the building industry.
Kirk Vartan pays more than $2,000 a month for a high-deductible health insurance plan from Blue Shield on Covered California, the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace. He could have selected a cheaper plan from a different provider, but he wanted one that includes his wife’s doctor.
Seven years ago, Erica Green learned through a Facebook post that her brother had been shot.