By Miriam Raftery

Photo Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro aboard USS Iwo Jima after his capture, via U.S. Dept. of War

January 4, 2025 (San Diego) – Without notifying Congress and in apparent violation of international law, President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes and a ground raid on Venezuela’s capital city that resulted in capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Madura and his wife, Cilia Flores, overnight. Both have been transported to the U.S. to face charges of alleged drug trafficking.

Some civilians reportedly died in the bombings and some U.S. service members were injured.

Trump, in a press conference,  announced that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela and takeover the country’s oil production. Venezuela has more proven oil reserves than any other nation on earth. The president said he is not averse to "boots on the ground" but did not clarify how he intends to run Venezuela's government or oil facilities over the objections of its interim leader. 

Maduro, an authoritarian strongman and socialist whom Biden accused of stealing an election, is unpopular with U.S. elected officials on both the left and right.  But disapproving of a regime does not grant any nation the right to initiate military action against another country, let alone forcibly remove and arrest a nation’s leader. Legal scholars and members of Congress have argued that the action violated both U.S.and international law.

By Marisa Kendall, CalMatters

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

Photo:  Physician assistant Brett Feldman checks Carla Bolen’s blood pressure at her encampment on the Figueroa Street Viaduct above Highway 110 in Elysian Valley Park in Los Angeles on Nov. 18, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

December 30, 2025 (Sacramento) - Senate Bill 634 would have made a big splash if it survived in the form Pasadena Democrat Sasha Renée Pérez originally intended. She wanted to make it illegal for cities to cite or arrest homeless Californians for sleeping outside. But, faced with intense backlash from cities and law enforcement agencies, the legislator watered down her bill.

Photos and story by Karen Pearlman

Dec. 22, 2025 (San Diego) — Across the street from the calm San Diego Bay but amid a rising tide of global concern, some of San Diego County’s top elected officials, law enforcement and multi-faith leaders gathered Monday at the County Administration Center to send a singular message: Hate has no sanctuary in San Diego.

Organized by San Diego County Assessor Jordan Marks (shown speaking in photo above right), Monday afternoon’s "Rally for Light," marked the eighth and final day of Hanukkah, and the hour-long event ended with a ceremonial lighting of a 6-foot hanukkiah (menorah) by local faith leaders, county employees and community members.

While the event celebrated the "Festival of Lights," the atmosphere was underscored by a somber urgency following a string of recent anti-Semitic attacks reaching from San Francisco to an outdoor celebration on Bondi Beach in Australia.

By Maya C. Miller and Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters

Photo:  a “No on Prop 50” sign at the Kern County Republican Party booth at the Kern County Fair in Bakersfield on Sept. 26, 2025. Republicans are seeking to overturn the congressional maps voters approved last month. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

December 20, 2025 (Sacramento) - Just last week California’s secretary of state officially certified that nearly two-thirds of Californians voted to pass Proposition 50, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to temporarily gerrymander the state’s congressional maps in favor of Democrats.

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

December 18, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- Health care premiums for an estimated 1.7 million Californians are set to skyrocket on January 1, as Congress has been unable to agree on a fix.

On Wednesday, four Republicans joined Democrats to force a vote on a proposal to extend COVID-era subsidies, which won't likely happen until January. Those subsidies make plans cheaper on Affordable Care Act marketplace known as Covered California.

By Paul Levikow

Photo:  map shows targeted areas to be prioritized for housing

November 20, 2025 (San Diego) – With San Diego County experiencing a housing crisis, the Board of Supervisors held a workshop Wednesday aimed at finding solutions for the unincorporated areas, including several in East County.

Additionally, President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” provisions could kick millions out of the program 

By G. A. McNeeley 

November 20 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- After disruptions in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits due to the federal shutdown, recipients have been anticipating getting benefits restored now that the shutdown has ended. But U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins previously told Newsmax on  November 13 that the Trump Administration’s plan for all current SNAP recipients is to "have everyone reapply for their benefits,” in an attempt to prevent fraud, according to Newsweek. 

Nearly 42 million low-income Americans who receive SNAP benefits will have to reapply for benefits under this planned overhaul of the program, which is a more intense, time-consuming and costly process than recertifying, according to USA Today. 

Additionally, Rollins previously directed USDA staff during the recent shutdown to continue ushering states toward compliance with the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which is projected to kick millions out of the nation’s largest anti-hunger program within the next few months, according to POLITICO. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via White House:  President Trump at signing ceremony

November 13, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- President Donald Trump has signed a bill to reopen the federal government and end the longest-ever government shutdown that lasted 43 days, sidelined federal workers, delayed food aid, and snarled air travel. 

 The deal has drawn criticism for failing to assure extension of Affordable Healthcare Act premiums, which Republicans have held the line against. Health experts estimate that Americans shopping for 2026 Obamacare health insurance plans are facing more than doubling of monthly premiums on average as a result of subsidies expiring. Senate Democrats settled for a promise that the Senate would vote on a bill to extend the subsidies by the end of the second week of December, but there’s no assurance that either the  Senate or House would pass the measure.

President Trump blasted Democrats during a ceremony to sign the government funding bill. Trump accusing Democrats of trying to "extort American taxpayers" by pushing to extend health insurance subsidies, CBS News reports.

Proposal would restore SNAP funding, but healthcare subsidies remain in limbo

By G. A. McNeeley 

Updated Nov. 11 and 12 with comments from California's Senators.

November 10, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- On Sunday, November 9, The U.S. Senate moved forward on a measure aimed at reopening the federal government and ending the ongoing government shutdown that sidelined federal workers, delayed food aid, and snarled air travel, according to Reuters. 

The agreement, reached by a group of Democrats who teamed up with Republicans, cleared the first hurdle on a vote of 60-40 to advance in a late-night Senate vote. If it's approved, it would still need to pass the House, and gain President Donald Trump's signature to become law, and reopen the government, according to NBC News. 

However, even if the agreement has enough support to clear those hurdles, the process is still expected to take days--and has drawn controversy for failing to assure extension of Affordable Healthcare Act premiums, which Republicans have held the line against. 

By Alexander J. Schorr

Image by The Wandering Trader

November 9, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) — After the U.S. bombed multiple boats allegedly carrying drugs in foreign waters, tensions are high. President Donald Trump risks war with Venezuela as U.S. warships head across the Eastern Pacific toward Venezuela.

Richard Bruce Cheney: January 30,1941— November 3, 2025

By Alexander J. Schorr

Tuesday November 4, 2025— Former Vice President Dick Cheney died on November 3, 2025, at the age of 84. According to a statement from his family, the cause of death was the result of complications with pneumonia as well as cardiac and vascular disease.

Cheney served two terms as Vice President under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009; he was considered one of the most powerful individuals ever to hold the office and a key architect of the post-9/11 “War on terror” and the US invasion of Iraq.

By Miriam Raftery

November 4, 2025 (San Diego) – Voters in California, including San Diego, have decisively approved Proposition 50, which will allow temporary redistricting of the state’s Congressional districts for the next five years.

Poway voters also opted overwhelmingly to oust scandal-plagued District 2 Councilmember Tony Blain by an 81% to 19% margin. Blain is facing felony charges including perjury and soliciting bribes.