While some are characterizing Donald Trump’s second presidency as one with “a lack of dissidence” so far, residents across California rallied together this week to protest the administration’s pledges to conduct mass deportations. Demonstrators also gathered Wednesday at the state Capitol to oppose Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk.
Thousands across California protested against Trump’s immigration policies earlier this week — blocking freeway traffic in Los Angeles and San Diego; temporarily closing businesses in Napa to observe “a day without immigrants;” walking out of school classes in Fresno; and marching across college campuses.
“I want to use my voice to help empower those who are afraid,” said one Bay Area resident to KQED. “Trump is creating divisions and hatred, and that’s not a good leader.”
On Wednesday, as part of a nationwide campaign to protest at every state Capitol, hundreds converged in Sacramento to protest against Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, a department within the White House established via executive order that has careened through different government agencies over the past few weeks with little to no oversight.
This isn’t the first time some Californians have denounced the Tesla CEO, but Musk (aided by tech engineers with California ties) is drawing recent scrutiny for gaining access to a handful of federal agencies, including sensitive data from the U.S. Treasury Department.
“It’s our democracy,” one demonstrator told The Sacramento Bee. “I’m on Social Security. This is serious.”
Check out scenes from some protests, captured by CalMatters’ visual editor Miguel Gutierrez Jr. and photographer J.W. Hendricks:
How will Trump’s second presidency affect your corner of California? CalMatters is working with public radio partners to gather perspectives across the state. Share your thoughts here.
CalMatters events: On Feb. 25 CalMatters’ Adam Echelman will hold a panel to discuss what the state is doing to help employment outcomes for Californians ages 16 to 24. Register here to attend in person at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles or virtually.
Other Stories You Should Know
What’s going on with the bird flu?
So glad you asked. The state’s emergency dashboard hasn’t been updated to reflect any new cases since Jan. 15. That’s good. Of course, the crisis is not confined to California: Nevada is dealing with a version of the bird flu that has affected cattle (that’s bad). As one former scientist described to the Los Angeles Times, the situation “is truly a sh-tshow unfolding into a nightmare scenario.”
The ongoing crisis means that egg prices have continued to climb.
One infectious disease expert — in an interview with UC Berkeley Public Health about bird flu — said California has a “very proactive” public health department, which is good, especially as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention struggle with federal interference. But some worker advocates argue the state should do more to protect farmworkers.
A consistent refrain from experts when asked about the bird flu: Don’t drink raw milk.
Only one COVID regulation remains
Speaking of infectious diseases, earlier this week most of Cal/OSHA’s remaining rules for employers regarding COVID-19 protections expired. These rules required employers to prohibit workers with COVID-19 from returning to work temporarily; give notice to other workers when an employee tested positive; and have tests available to workers who came in close contact with exposed colleagues.
The end to these regulations follows almost two years since the state ended its three-year state of emergency order, which enabled Gov. Gavin Newsom to issue sweeping, sometimes controversial, mandates. These directives sought to slow the spread of a virus that went on to kill more than 100,000 Californians.
One rule, however, will remain until next year: Employers must still track COVID-19 cases, including the employee’s name, where they worked and the date of their positive test, and keep these records for two years.
And lastly: Rebuilding after the Eaton Fire
Odyssey South Charter School in Altadena was among several schools destroyed in the Southern California fires. CalMatters K-12 education reporter Carolyn Jones and video strategy director Robert Meeks have a video segment on how charter schools face unique rebuilding challenges as part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. Watch it here.
SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. weekdays on PBS SoCal.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: In addition to the dispute over distributing water from the Delta, there’s another California water conflict that’s being affected by the Trump presidency.
Other things worth your time:
Trump dumped these CA farmers’ water. They’d rather not talk about it // Politico
As Trump orders trans sports ban, CA says rules protecting athletes remain // San Francisco Chronicle
AG Bonta warns LA hospital: Withholding transgender care could violate state law // Los Angeles Times
Millions of tons of LA fire debris will land in local landfills // Los Angeles Public Press
CA Supreme Court to decide whether arsonists get death penalty if people die in wildfire // The Sacramento Bee
CA prison gynecologist accused of ‘horrific’ abuse of patients in lawsuit // The Guardian
Federal workers in San Diego have hours to decide if they remain or resign // The San Diego Union-Tribune
Storm linked to two Sonoma County deaths as another round of rain hits Bay Area // KQED
Smuggled beetles found stashed in snacks at LAX // Los Angeles Times