California Democrats hammered for pushing special session to oppose Trump policies while Los Angeles continues to burn



Democrats in the California legislature are facing criticism for continuing with a plan for a special session to oppose the policies of the upcoming Trump administration while Los Angeles continues to burn.

Republicans have called on Democrats to focus on the wildfires spreading destruction through Southern California rather than continue with the anti-Trump scheme.

'We shouldn’t be focusing on Trump-proofing California, we should be focusing on fire-proofing California.'

“We have so much bigger issues right now that we really need to tackle,” said California assemblymember James Gallagher to reporters Thursday.

Democrats in California announced their plot to become a haven of resistance after Trump won the 2024 election and Republicans gained full control of the U.S. Congress. They want to allocate millions of dollars to the state attorney general's office for lawsuits against the incoming Trump administration.

“We shouldn’t be focusing on Trump-proofing California,” said Republican Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones. “We should be focusing on fire-proofing California.”

On Wednesday, state assemblymember Bill Essayli called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to call a special session to address the wildfires instead of the Trump administration.

Ashley Zavala pressed California Assembly speaker Robert Rivas, a Democrat, on why they were pushing forward with the special session when they had the power to oppose Trump without one.

"Rivas would not answer my questions," Zavala said.

She posted video of her questioning Rivas on her X account.

More than 2,000 structures have burned down in the fires, and at least five people are believed dead, though officials say far more fatalities are expected from the disaster. Some firefighters are reporting that fire hydrants are running out of water, prompting angry residents to demand full accountability from local leaders, most of whom are Democrats.

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San Diego Democrat says California sanctuary policies are too weak, calls for stronger protections against ICE



A proposal for sanctuary city policies by a Democratic county supervisor would far exceed those already imposed on California by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Nora Vargas, the chairwoman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, said California protections for illegal aliens were not strong enough and issued a proposal to further frustrate deportation efforts.

'Sanctuary policies are reckless and dangerous, putting innocent lives at risk.'

"San Diego County has a vested interest in maintaining public safety and effective law enforcement while also managing its resources efficiently. By avoiding active cooperation with [Immigration and Customs Enforcement], including through specific notification to ICE of the release dates of immigrants, the County avoids treating a group of individuals differently solely on the basis of their immigration status," the resolution read.

The resolution would restrict all San Diego County officials from cooperating with ICE on immigration enforcement efforts related to civil infractions but did not restrict cooperating with investigations into suspected criminal violations.

Vargas said that all San Diegans were at greater risk when illegal aliens are afraid to report crimes to law enforcement officials to avoid possible deportation.

Republican County Supervisor Jim Desmond told Fox News that he would vote against the measure because it would endanger citizens.

"Sanctuary policies are reckless and dangerous, putting innocent lives at risk. Every American family deserves safety," he said. "No community should suffer the heartbreak of losing a loved one due to politically driven policies that protect criminals instead of holding them accountable."

Tom Homan, Trump's pick for "border czar" in his incoming administration, has warned that local officials getting in the way of ICE operations were breaking the law, and he would seek their criminal prosecution. Others have warned that the federal government would withhold funds from local governments that didn't cooperate with ICE.

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a campaign to pass legislation to oppose the agenda of President-elect Donald Trump. Part of that effort includes funneling millions of dollars to the attorney general's office in order to file lawsuits against the incoming administration.

A profile of Vargas at the Voice of San Diego referred to her as the first "binational" person on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, as well as the first immigrant on that board.

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Gavin Newsom calls special session of legislature to fund legal challenges against Trump's presidency



Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special session of the state legislature in order to organize a campaign to resist the policies of President-elect Donald Trump's second term.

'We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.'

Newsom, who had been a surrogate for President Joe Biden and also for Vice President Kamala Harris, issued a statement announcing the special session for Dec. 2 in Sacramento.

“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” said the governor. "California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive."

Newsom will ask the legislature, which is firmly controlled by Democrats, to vote for new funding for the attorney general's office in order to support the mission to defeat Trump's policies.

"The Governor’s proclamation calls for legislation to provide additional resources to the California Department of Justice and other state entities to pursue robust affirmative litigation against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration," the statement read, "as well as defend against federal lawsuits aimed at undermining California’s laws and policies."

Democratic California Attorney General Rob Bonta said that he has been reviewing 120 lawsuits the state made against Trump policies in his first term in order to prepare for challenges in his second term.

He also made a promise to the state's illegal aliens that they would use their power to protect them from the president-elect's policies.

“I can promise to the undocumented immigrant community in California that I and my team have been thinking about you for months, and the harm that might come from the Trump administration 2.0," said Bonta on Thursday. "We’ll do everything in our power and use the full authority of our office to defend you."

Democratic attorney generals from other states have announced efforts to resist and challenge the second Trump term.

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