California lawmakers will on Thursday, rapidly process numerous bills, determining which will move from the Appropriations committees to the floor. This is an opportunity for you to forecast and challenge your peers, as well as the Playbook authors, to see which bills might be consigned to the “suspense file.”
Those who make the most precise predictions will earn recognition in California Playbook and receive some exclusive swag. Be sure to provide your name and email with your submission so we can reach out if you win. Entries will close at 5 p.m. today, with winners announced on Friday.
THE BUZZ — Comments made by JD Vance in 2021, suggesting that divorce is not a remedy for unhappy marriages—even those involving violence—are now under scrutiny in California’s congressional race.
Democratic state Sen. Dave Min is using these controversial remarks to challenge Scott Baugh, his Republican opponent, in the battle for the seat vacated by Rep. Katie Porter. Min’s campaign has released a new ad featuring his wife, Jane Stoever, director of UC Irvine’s Domestic Violence Law Clinic, criticizing Vance’s views and linking them to Baugh’s support.
In response, Baugh condemned domestic violence but sidestepped the issue of Vance, instead attacking Min for his support of a 2022 law that allows some felons to expunge their records.
Democrats are now leveraging Vance’s divisive comments to attract suburban voters and key demographics, shifting their focus from traditional targets like Trump to more recent controversies.
Meanwhile, Republicans are redirecting the conversation to issues such as the integrity of VP pick Tim Walz and everyday concerns, aiming to counter Democratic attacks.
GOOD MORNING. It’s Tuesday. Thanks for joining Playbook.
You can reach us at 916-562-0685—save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts—or email [email protected] and [email protected], or connect on X—@DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte.
WHERE’S GAVIN? No official updates yet.
CAMPAIGN YEAR
In a recent conversation, former President Donald Trump lambasted the handling of immigration issues, particularly targeting Vice President Kamala Harris for her role as the “border czar.”
The discussion with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, which experienced delays due to high viewer traffic, saw Trump’s criticisms of the Biden administration’s border policies and Harris’s involvement. Trump also took the opportunity to critique California Governor Gavin Newsom’s education record and compared Harris unfavorably to Senator Bernie Sanders.
Trump’s extensive remarks covered a range of topics from foreign policy to domestic issues, reflecting his ongoing dissatisfaction with current administration figures and strategies.