Laphonza Butler needs you to know she’s your U.S. senator

Ever since Laphonza Butler took herself out of the operating for U.S. Senate a yr in the past — simply two weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsom picked her to exchange the late Dianne Feinstein — she has light into the background fairly a bit.

Thursday, to mark one yr since she took the oath of workplace, her workplace despatched a transparent message that she’s busy representing California — and might be till whoever voters decide in November is sworn in to serve till January, after which a full six-year time period after that.

• Butlerin an announcement to CalMatters: “I’m proud to represent one of the most racially and ethnically diverse states in America, with a population of young people who have shown up to be the face of change. Their courage, their passion, their drive to lead have fueled me every single day in the Senate…”

In a collection of social media posts, Butler’s workplace gave some details and figures on what she’s been as much as — 342 votes and far more:

• Conferences, conferences, conferences: 70 conferences of 4 Senate committees, plus 30 “markup” periods to debate invoice amendments — additional proof that authorities jobs may be simply as unglamorous as common jobs.

Butler’s workplace didn’t reply my questions on what’s subsequent for the senator as soon as her time period ends in December.

A political firestorm: Gov. Newsomin fact, however even President Joe Biden reacted Thursday to a report that Donald Trump, when he was president in 2018, initially refused to assist California throughout its devastating wildfires as a result of it’s a Democratic state.

A former White Home official informed Politico that Trump modified his thoughts after being proven that he obtained extra votes in Orange County than the complete state of Iowa in 2016. (In 2020, although Biden defeated Trump by 63% to 34% in California, Trump nonetheless gained 6 million votes, greater than in every other state).

• Biden, on social media: “You can’t only help those in need if they voted for you. It’s the most basic part of being president, and this guy knows nothing about it.”

Let’s get to some housing information Gov. Newsom made Thursday:

• Norwalk rebuked: Two months after Norwalk briefly banned new homeless shelters in violation of state legislation, Gov. Newsom made good on his risk of authorized motion in opposition to the L.A. County suburb, studies CalMatters’ Felicia Mello. Calling Norwalk’s coverage “beyond cruel,” the governor introduced that the town’s housing plan has been decertified, reducing it off from key state housing and homelessness funding. The mayor of Norwalk, a metropolis of 100,000 and a minimum of 200 homeless individuals, mentioned it’ll combat the state. It’s the newest metropolis to attract the governor’s ire on housing. In September, the state settled a lawsuit with Elk Grove after it denied a housing mission for households susceptible to homelessness. And in Could, Newsom secured a court docket order in opposition to Huntington Seaside. Learn extra in Felicia’s story.

• San Francisco mission OK’d: With greater than 8,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in San Francisco, Newsom introduced {that a} Division of Motor Autos workplace from the Nineteen Sixties might be transformed, and can embrace a housing advanced with 372 houses. The mission follows by way of on Newsom’s 2019 govt order that directed companies to determine and develop reasonably priced housing websites on underused state property. “Treating our housing shortage like the crisis it is means we need to get creative with how we’re using space…” mentioned Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco. “This project is a model for how the state must engage on housing.”

Fb has acknowledged that polarizing content material and misinformation on its platform has incited real-life violence.

An evaluation by CalMatters and The Markup discovered that the reverse can be true: Actual-world violence can typically open new income alternatives for Meta.

Utilizing Fb’s personal AI device to rely the thousands and thousands of {dollars} it makes after violent information occasions, investigative reporter Colin Lecher and journalism engineer Tomas Apodaca analyzed advert income related to the July 13 tried assassination of Donald Trump and Israel’s conflict in Gaza. Analysis additionally reveals some advertisers elevated advert spending following mass shootings and within the lead-up to the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol.

Meta mentioned advertisers typically reply to present occasions and that advertisements that run on its platform are reviewed and should meet the corporate’s requirements.

Learn extra within the story.

In 2018 the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration sued a California stem cell remedy middle for providing unapproved providers. A federal appeals court docket has weighed in on the case. Learn how it dominated from CalMatters well being reporter Ana B. Ibarra.