It was an eventful week in Washington, D.C., with two California politicians deciding to defy their own party, an unusual move in a partisan fight over immigration.

beginning california state senator alex padilla Parting ways with President Biden He said he opposes a bipartisan immigration proposal that would link foreign aid to U.S. allies with new restrictions on the flow of migrants across the southern border. Biden has asked the Senate to come up with a plan, but Padilla said the $118 billion bill “misses the mark.” The emphasis was on conservative priorities of limiting asylum and expediting deportations, without addressing the progressive goal of creating citizenship opportunities for the millions of people in the country illegally.

In a case of bizarre political bedmates, former president trump opposed the bill, but the bill died within days of its introduction. Mr. Trump believes immigration will be a key issue in the 2024 presidential election and is an issue that Mr. Biden can use again. Its demise was largely due to the Republican Party bowing down to President Trump. oppose a previously fought bill. But Padilla's bit part in this story was interesting to me because it puts the Democratic senator in the unusual position of opposing a Democratic president's priorities as Biden seeks re-election. be.

Meanwhile, in the other room, California Republicans helped lower Republican priorities Impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Biden is something House Republicans have been trying to do since they won a majority in 2022. tom mcclintock He said he went against his party and voted against impeaching the chief. Alejandro N. Mayorkas This is because it would reduce the use of Congress's most powerful punishments.

McClintock said, “The standard for impeachment will be lowered to the point that every time one party takes control of the White House and another party takes control of Congress, the standard for impeachment becomes a constant fixture in national life.” I told my colleague Sarah D. Wire. “That's exactly what America's founders feared, which is why they were so careful to specify narrow limits on its use.”

McClintock was one of four Republicans who voted against impeachmentenough to torpedo it, given the extremely slim Republican majority.

For more information on these partisan defections, see the following articles:

I'm Laurel Rosenhall, the Sacramento bureau chief for The Times. This week's guide to California politics.

Energetic new leaders in Sacramento

“The Energizer Bunny of California Politics”

That's what my political science professor said. david mccune explained mike mcguire, California Senate's new leaderwho was his student at Sonoma State University more than 20 years ago.

my colleague Mackenzie Mays spent time with McGuire They led elementary school students in a “wheelbarrow” dance on the north coast, chatted with firefighters in bushfire-ravaged areas, and prepared for the evening's auction.

Well, McGuire, Who was sworn in on Monday?must harness that energy as it takes on its biggest challenge yet: guiding the upper chamber of Congress as the state grapples with its budget request. $38 billion budget deficit. The Senate majority leader plays a powerful role in negotiating the state budget with the governor and the speaker of the Legislature, making him one of the most influential positions in state government.

At Monday's swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol, McGuire said that in the same way that economically struggling Californians are forced to “live within their means” and make sacrifices in personal spending, McGuire said, Mays wrote that he vowed to get the budget just right, with the goal of .

“We know there are tough decisions ahead,” McGuire said. Emotional speech on the Senate floor It sometimes brought him to tears. “We protect our progress.”

Very strange super bowl politics

San Francisco has long been a conservative punching bag, but some far-right commentators now say they plan to root for it in the Super Bowl.

(Photo illustration from Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, photo via Unsplash)

As America's two favorite pastimes, football and complex political conspiracy theories, collide. Super Bowl 15, Something strange happened, My colleague Julia Wick writes:.

This was announced by several conservative commentators. They're going to root for San Francisco.the liberal cities they more commonly vilify.

Early 49ers fans declare an unlikely allegiance and stick to it Taylor Swiftpop star dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce They are scheduled to play the 49ers on Sunday.

Swift is at the center of a series of activities. A vast but baseless right-wing conspiracy Alleges she is somehow colluding with the NFL to hurt people donald trump's Increase chances of 2024 elections and support re-election president biden Especially by supporting him during the Super Bowl. Swift endorsed Biden in 2020, but there's no evidence she plans to make a political announcement during this weekend's big game.

Nevertheless, this intrigue led one conservative commentator to think: Announcement on Fox News He said he “proudly supports America's team, the San Francisco 49ers.”

Democratic Party of San Francisco Member of Parliament matt haney I told Wick “It was a little strange to see people who normally hate San Francisco now rooting for San Francisco.”

“I think they hate Taylor Swift even more,” he said.

governor gavin newsome — Former San Francisco Mayor and longtime 49ers fan — He called Republican criticism of Taylor Swift “sad and pathetic.”

He's been traveling around the country cheering on Biden. No, he's not rooting for the Chiefs.

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Column: Is Adam Schiff playing dirty in the California Senate race? No, he's not.
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