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Newsom and Trump will meet again this time in DC

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington this week for a 90-minute sit-in with President Trump at the Oval Office on Wednesday, followed by meetings with US homes and Senate leaders on Thursday.

The governor’s main goal was to secure federal disaster aid in Los Angeles County after a fatal and destructive fire last month. The most expensive natural disaster in US history.

Local and state agencies can provide shelter to thousands of people who have lost their homes seeking federal refunds for fire resources. A few months of debris removal process.

Before he took office, President Biden promised For the first six months, we will refund 100% of our fire response costs. But considering the long road to recovery and reconstruction in the region, it will require long-term support from the Trump administration.

And Newsom had a second purpose, my colleague Reported by Taryn Luna and Faith E. Pinho: “We will continue to repair his rocky relationship with the commander.”

How was it?

In an interview on Times Thursday, Newsom described the conversation as “substantial” and “positive.” He said they discussed wildfire recovery and more controversial topics such as water policy and more. Recently passed state laws It would boost the state’s legal funds for the expected barrage of anticipated lawsuits against Trump’s actions ( It’s already begun).

You may remember Trump expressing his desire to set conditions for the nation to provide federal aid.

“I just want to start a voter ID and release the water,” Trump said. He told reporters in North Carolina Before he flew to Los Angeles and met with local officials on January 24th. “After that, I will become the greatest president California has ever seen.”

Newsom told The Times that when he and Trump spoke Wednesday, Quid Pro didn’t appear under “explicit terms.”

Newsom aims to balance collaboration and conflict.

Immediately after Trump’s election victory Newsom told donors His goal was to “wake up every day to get a clover and try to put it in the Trump administration circle spokes.”

“It’s not a closed fist, but an open hand spirit, and that’s how we want to proceed,” the governor said. “[But] I’m not naive either. We are practical and we stand firm. ”

Luna and Pingho noted that the visit to LA, where Trump was burned, began with talks with news on the runway after a recent change in the controversial crossfire between the two leaders.

“After a short airport chat and a 30-minute call the next day, the daily barrage of criticism against Trump’s governor has almost stopped,” they wrote. “Newsom has been careful not to respond immediately to everything Trump says or does, but he walks the subtle lines of speaking out when he feels California values ​​are under attack. ”

An example of that fine line: Recently Water discharge from two dams in Tulea County He said he was acting on the basis of previous order from the President by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Trump said he would dump billions of gallons downstream of the San Joaquin Valley and flow to farmers, supporting firefighting in LA.

The reality is that much of the water has penetrated the ground, my colleague Ian James said this week that it wasn’t irrigation season, and Central Valley waterways have led to local and state water experts in LA. Not there. criticised the actions As a useless political stunt that hurts the farmers.

“Efforts to link Northern California water management with local wildfires in Los Angeles have zero evidence,” Newsom’s Office spokesman Tara Gallegos told me via email. He spoke. “California continues to pump as much water as the Trump administration’s policies, and the water business to move the Delta south has nothing to do with local fire responses in Los Angeles.”

But personally, Newsom has been muted in the incident, and some critics have even said his latest one. It reflects Trump’s rhetoric to “maximise” water capture.

“The order is written as if it was written by President Trump,” Barry Nelson, policy president for the fishing group Golden State Salmon Asson, told James.

Today’s top stories

California wildfire survey in 2025

• Authorities say the increase in arson arrests is likely the result of an increase in public attention to dangerous, common small fires during extreme weather conditions.
• Among drones, long range camera lenses and metal detectors, the hillside of Eton Canyon is seeking clues as to whether Southern California’s Edison equipment caused a massive fire that destroyed a massive Swass It has been the focus of intense scrutiny last month by a team of private investigators. Altadena’s.
• Read more about how the fatal flame began, the conditions that allowed widespread destruction, and how local governments lacked in their efforts to protect and warn the public.

Aryan brothers at the trial

What else is happening?

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A must-see for this morning

Laverncox and George Wallace offer a loving vision of the Transfer Family with “Clean Slate.” The actors talked about their new Prime Video Comedy series featuring Cox as a trans woman who returns home to Alabama to live with Wallace’s father. It’s just as didactic as being ambitious – especially at a time when executive orders from President Trump continued to target and erase trans lives.

Other required readings

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Question for you: What advice did you have changed your life?

Maureen Kellen Taylor “When I was 3 or 4, I realized my grandfather was digging seeds. What he told me, “It takes time for good things to grow, my love!” He has supported me for years. ”

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And finally… your photo of the day

Show us your favorite places in California! Send me photos of a special California spot – Natural or human works – and tell us why they are important to you.

Today’s great photos are from the Times Photographer Myung J. Chun. Here’s some of the latest stories in Times Food Editor Daniel Hernandezsays it’s time for America to drop tomatoes and onions from your guacamole.

Have a great day from the Essential California team

Ryan Fonseca, reporter
Defne Karabatur, Fellow
Andrew Kampa, Sunday reporter
Kevinisha Walker, Multi-Platform Editor
Hunter Klaus, Multi-Platform Editor
Christian Orozco, assistant editor
Stephanie Chavez, Deputy Metro Editor
Karim Dwemer, head of the newsletter

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