LyrArc Article Gist
The president's Council of Economic Advisors puts out a report on the homeless in California that makes points that both sides, liberals and Trump supporters can agree on. It says California has 12% of the population of the U.S. and half the unsheltered homeless in the country. The blame for the housing situation in the state is placed on "not-near-me" residents that want to prevent housing being built near them by supporting strict environmental and zoning restrictions. Residents selfishness looking at only their own interests and keeping out newcomers is seen as the problem behind the lack of new housing units. The tech industry pushing up housing prices has further aggravated the availability of affordable housing leading to a worsening of access to decent housing in the state.

LyrArc Article Gist
California Governor Jerry Brown reflects on what the Democrats missed in the last 4 years- the crisis of affordability of housing, for groceries. And with the border issues the unease about flow of fentanyl across the border that with transgender and culture that adds to unease is the silent issue Democrats failed to face up to for working class Americans. Orange County going for Democrats,  Imperial County going the opposite way, that says a lot about things today.  "When you see Imperial County going for Trump and Orange County going for Harris,” Jerry Brown reflected says this Politico report, a party that was winning wealthier, coastal Californians, but that had “lost a percentage of the working families.” "Democrats need to get their act together, focusing on the basic stuff — the economy, the environment.” ...

LyrArc Article Gist
The Ford Motor Company's effort to get president Trump to work on a compromise with California on fuel economy standards has failed. Leaving the industry split with Ford on one side and GM, Toyota on the other siding with president Trump on lower fuel economy standards than set by California and lower than the standards set by Mr. Obama. When Ford made a deal with California it got an antitrust inquiry, and led to the Trump administration speeding up its effort to strip California of its authority to set its own fuel economy standards. This WSJ report says the legal fight between Mr. Trump and California is likely to be long and drawn out with Ford and the auto companies caught in the middle. It also shows how the disagreement with the Trump White House can lead to unforeseen consequences and more uncertainty. Ford had originally expected that a deal with California which relaxed standards set by Mr. Obama but not similar to Mr. Trump's would show California would compromise. This is not how it has worked out. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Mr. Trump says he will wear a mask on a visit to soldiers at Army's Walter Reed Hospital. Trump says its "a very appropriate thing. I have no problem with a mask." As cases hit 3 million in the U.S., close to 1 million in India and Russia, Mr. Trump joins the movement for masks worldwide. Early on Mr. Trump  took up the issue of transmission from Wuhan by banning flights from China, failed to get WHO and China to respond quickly to the pandemic requests from U.S. by providing information and allowing a team to visit Wuhan quickly in January. A stumbling block appeared within the health ministry in the U.S. with poor leadership which Trump had to overcome by relying on Vice President Pence to lead the stop coronavirus team at the White House.   Trump's reopening decision came under criticism and he says he had to balance the damage to jobs and economic well being that also affected health. Some of the states and young people responded in ways that led to public gatherings that have led to surges in the south and the western states such as Calfornia. The WSJ reported that in Los Angeles County on June 20 half a million people went to bars after they reopened, showing that culturally even counties in states like California lacked what is accepted good sense. For instance Tokyo bars were paid by the Japanese government not to reopen, according to one report. By wearing a mask Trump is simply acknowledging facts about transmission - a German study shows 40% reduction in cases with face coverings. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
The Asian-American voters are significant in some states such as New Jersey 7% of voters, Nevada 9%, Minnesota 3.1%, and California 15%. Compared to the 2012 election this is the fastest growing demographic up 16%. With lower immigration from Mexico this is likely to continue for several decades. Nationally it is 4% but growing rapidly. The Asian-Americans come from countries such as India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines. Seib says Trump has lost as many Asian-Americans as he has gained whites who chant "build that wall," by using such rhetoric. The Asian Americans are about 48% moderate and about 23% liberal, 19% conservative. Many are in the tech and white collar fields, in the suburbs of major cities including the South. Its this location that can make them an important influence. The Democratic Party has reached out to these generally better educated voters, who have heard about building that wall with unfavorable views- 40% saying they would vote against a person with "anti-immgrant views" regardless of what the other issues are. The early 2016 poll done by the Asian and Pacific Islander Vote project shows 61% having unfavorable views of Trump and 61% having favorable views of Clinton in 2016.   ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Hillary Clinton tells supporters "we have reached a milestone," as she becomes the first woman to be a major party's nominee for president. She wins 4 of 6 states including New Jersey and California. She wins California by 56.8% to 43.2% for Sanders, and New Jersey by 63.3% to 36.7%. She says about Trump that "My Mother ... taught me to never to back down to a bully.  Which turned out to be pretty good advice." Sanders says his campaign would not support Mr. Trump, "a candidate whose major theme is bigotry."

LyrArc Article Gist
Friedrich Drumpf left Germany at the age of 16, coming to the U.S. in 1885. He came back to Germany to find a wife after running restaurants in California during the time of the Gold Rush. When he tried to return to hsi home town because of his wife was homesick he was expelled a s a draft dodger for missing military service. Kallstadt is a wine producing region. Drumpf was tenacious and keen on getting ahead, a trait that marked his son Fred Trump who built state financed housing in the FDR period in New York, and his on Donald Trump who went into luxury housing. Biographer Gwenda Blair says all members of the family were good at finding loopholes, saving money, and shared the family culture of knowing who the audience is that they are targeting. This is why says Bair that Trump is at ease in being a onetime Democrat, now Republican, sometime liberal and sometimes conservative, and can appeal to people in different ways that would be impossible for most politicians, even people on opposite sides for different reasons. Gwenda Blair is author of two books on the Trump family. "Trumps- Three Generations That Built an Empire," and "Donald Trump: Master Apprentice."     ...

LyrArc Article Gist
California governor Newsom faces a recall election in 2021. Only 3 governors in the US have faced recall elections, says the NYT. Newsom faces criticism for his handling of the pandemic, homelessness in California, and other issues. It is also a sign of the rural-urban divide and polarization in the US as Newsom is running his campaign as one against former president Trump.

LyrArc Article Gist
The Trump administration is canceling about $1 billion in funding for California high speed rail project. About $2.5 billion in federal funds are already spent. California voters approved a $10 billion bond in 2008 to fund the project linking San Francisco to Los Angeles  and the federal government approved $3.5 billion in grants. The state hopes to complete the section from Bakersfield to Merced in this phase.

The move by the Trump administration was seen as a response to the Democratic party in Congress limiting funding of a border wall with Mexico.

LyrArc Article Gist
The new EPA rules for auto emission standards were setup under the Obama administration in 2012. The rules are a major part of the effort to meet the challenge of pollution and clean air. The Trump administration and EPA chief Scott Pruitt plan to reverse the higher standards. The new standards which had the support of automakers when enacted require that average fuel economy be doubled to about 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. This would cut oil use by 12 billion barrels over the lifetime of the cars and reduce carbon dioxide pollution by about 6 billion tons.  The EPA under president Trump does not say how much the standards will be rolled back. This also leads to one more tension between California and the Trump administration. California plans to vigorously oppose the rollback. Under the Clean Air Act of 1970 California has historically made its own rules and was followed by 12 other states making up one third of the car market in the U.S. If the Trump administration is able to to this it would create two markets for automobiles in the U.S. which is not in the interest of automakers who are having second thoughts about the change. Amazingly a suburban Virginia Chevy dealership has vigorously opposed being used as the location for the EPA under the Trump administration making an announcement on this issue. Chevy dealerships are saying the Trump administration does not have the facts, that the auto industry has done very well in the last 4-5 years. Chevrolet and GM do not want to be associated with the politics on this issue. California has historically acted as a pioneer in automobile standards with the rest of the nation following. The Trump administration move would be an effort to break this precedent.  ...

LyrArc Article Gist
When you remove the 7 Californians and 4 Independents  only about 9% of 264 Congressional Democrats, or 26 Democrats have reservations about the president running, 91% covering every part of the country, the vast majority of American states and congressional state delegations, have confidence in the president to make the best decision. The chances of California going Republican or Trump Republican are  very, very small. Wash. Post shows 37 members of Congress on July 19, 3 weeks after June 27 debate issues, saying don't run. This is of 264 Congressional Democrats. Aug 1 is only 11 days away for planned Aug1 roll call of delegates committed to Biden. Of this 37 only 1 each from Michigan and Wisconsin, and 2  from Arizona from swing states, none so far from Georgia or Nevada or Pennsylvania. What does this tell us? It says that 264 minus 37 or 227 Congressional Democrats think Biden should run only about 15% of Congressional Democrats vs 85% of Congressional Democrats. And of the swing states only 4 Democrats. Polls- 4 months before elections polls are not really useful and not meaningful, a lot can change. Congressmen in swing districts are likely to have questions, and it is not uncommon for this to happen before the election say people who follow Congressional history. The fact that 7 are from Republican states like Texas or Ohio and could be impacted may give some idea for their reasoning. Of the others 7 are from California and 3 from New York. Which suggests the largest group is from California, remove the 7 and take out the 4 Independents and 34 goes down to 23 or about 9% vs 91% of the rest of the country having faith in president Biden. In any case California is unlikely to go Republican or Trump Republican by a long shot. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Automakers in the U.S. may be getting more than they expected from the Trump administration's effort to  loosen pollution control laws for automobiles. The Trump administration's effort to change automobile fuel efficiency and pollution laws will run into challenges from the state of California which is allowed to set its own rules under the Clean Air Act.

This would create two different markets inside the U.S. one following California type stricter rules for fuel efficiency and mileage, and for pollution, and a different market with looser laws for the rest of the country. This is something the automakers face as unintended consequences of their actions to loosen the fuel efficiency legislation.

LyrArc Article Gist
This report in the WSJ says Reince Preibus, Republican National Committee chairman, has told party officials on Oct. 8, 2016, to redirect party funds away from nominee Trump to down-ballot candidates. This means the Republican party will try to get Clinton supporters to vote who are likely to vote for candidates like Rubio in Florida and Portman in Ohio. Republican Portman has joined Senator McCain in withdrawing support for Trump. This is the result of a video showing Trump making lewd comments about women in a conversation with Billy Bush of NBC. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, immediately disinvited Trump from a rally in Wisconsin and withdrew his support leading to a big outflow of support from Congressman and Republican leaders. A former chairman of the Republican party in California describes this as the biggest crisis for Republicans since Watergate. The Republican party now stops its mail program to voters that supported Trump and redirects it to down-ballot candidates. It also comes as the Republican party funds and party infrastructure are a necessary and vital  part of any Republican nominee's effort to get elected. The Republican strategy may now be to try and preserve its control of Congress, as a loss in Wisconsin, Illinois or Missouri, could give the Democrats control of the Senate and other losses reduce its House majority. This appears to be the backup strategy of Paul Ryan as Speaker, and the leading Republican after his overwhelming win in his Senate seat against a Trump supported candidate. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Mr. Newsom's win by a large margin in California's Governor recall election suggests a new approach might work for Democrats in pushing back on Republican challenges. This is to focus on the Covid 19 efforts of government and make Mr. Trump the issue to generate enthusiasm among Democrats. US president Biden says the Newsom victory is a result of voters supporting the approach taken by Democrats for response to the pandemic: "strong vaccine requirements, strong steps to reopen schools safely, and strong plans to distribute real medicines." The California governor recall election results are that 64% voted for Mr. Newsom, more than the 62% who first elected him governor, and close to the 63% who voted for Mr. Biden in 2020 US presidential election. Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one in California yet the results showed this new approach might work for Democrats- working at the grassroots level to build support and energize its voter base, and to follow its own action based approach to Covid 19. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Governor Newsom of California and president Trump put aside political rivalries to help tackle wildfires in California. DJT spends several days in California, more than many presidents and takes a hands on approach in a meeting with LA Mayor to see to it that homeowners can build quickly and get permits, and get help immediately before they lose hope and spirit.

LyrArc Article Gist
America had forgotten it's workers built America in a Clinton-Trump world. The Federal Poverty Level is $35000 - $40000 when entry younger UAW workers at lower tiers make $34000 a year during wage negotiations and a UAW strike in 2023. The contrast from 2016 could not be greater- no president in history except Biden on a worker strike picket line yesterday, Mrs Clinton oblivious about unions in the midwest in 2016. Mr. Trump saying wage negotiations not important as he visits Drake Enterprises, automobile parts supplier, in Clinton Township, Macomb County, Michigan. The Guardian reports most were small business owners, with  few autoworkers. Enthusiasm of small business owners high for Trump in this swing county in Michigan. In stark contrast to the 2016 campaign president Biden was seen the previous day with a bull horn at a UAW auto workers strike picket line, becoming the first US president in history to do this. Biden said "workers built the middle class." Trump said China was the enemy not low wages or incompetent bosses, saying "the current wage negotiations are not as important as you think," when workers had tiered wages from previous concessions on wages, with entry level wages starting at about $17 an hour. That is only slightly above the $16 minimum wage in California. America in the Clinton-Trump world had truly forgotten that workers in its factories built America, and workers families made America what it was for most of the century since Lincoln and the Industrial Revolution. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
This WSJ Exclusive report shows the lives of Afghan officials in large residences in Florida, California, and the Emirates after they fled the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Mr. Ashraf Ghani who headed the government fled the country early with the help of Turkey says this report in the WSJ, leading to the collapse of Kabul. The US sacrificed many lives and trillions of dollars to support different regimes in Afghanistan under presidents Bush and Obama. It was only under the Trump and Biden administrations that the US conducted a swift and complete withdrawal. Mr. Trump made the issue of wasted billions of dollars in the war a major issue of his campaign, in addition to the issue of technology and capital going to China with offshore movement of American manufacturing. The pandemic has made the job of returning American manufacturing to America and investment in infrastructure, ease of living, good healthcare and education, even more critical for America and the American people. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Mr. Peter Navarro, 70, a key advisor to president Trump on trade and economic policy, is now the DPA policy coordinator.  Mr. Navarro takes on the presidential task force role of coordinating government-business cooperation with wartime powers under the Defense Production Act. Mr. Navarro says in an interview with the WSJ that he will take tough measures if necessary. Saying this is no time for delay, to hoard or price gouge, companies must move quickly or the government will clear the obstacles. "This is war. When there are bumps in the road, President Trump is going to knock them down immediately and unmercifully."  A California Economics professor Mr. Navarro warned about the virus and epidemics of this kind in a 2006 book. He now assumes this role after president Trump said about GM "always a mess," after long negotiations with GM leading to a shrinking supply of ventilators and government frustration. President Trump then used DPA powers to order GM to make ventilators and lined up 5 other manufacturers in 2 days. Navarro says he is following Trump time which he has in his office. This meaning he and the president will use the full arsenal of federal powers to get things done in record time.  ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Following the Wisconsin primary Ted Cruz plans his campaign to prepare for a contested convention. The strategy is to focus on California, and states such as Nebraska and Indiana, and on delegate selection, so that Trump has little chance of winning the required 1237 delegates on the first ballot at the Republican Convention. To do this Cruz plans to hire additional staff, and work at the local city and county level winning endorsements from local and state officials. A similiar process unfolded in the Wisconsin primary, with local Republican base support that was crucial to his win. The focus inside California is on Orange County, San Diego county, San Fernando Valley, rural agricultural Central Valley, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo his wife's home town. In the New York primary where he is behind Cruz is planning to win delegates in heavily Democratic Congressional districts, using ads by pro-Cruz super PAC Trusted Leadership, to add to his delegate count. Cruz is depending on mid-size donors with the help of Jeb Bush and previous backers of Senator Rubio, for additional fundraising to increase campaign efforts....