Blake Jones

Kuna, Sacramento

California Education and Budget Reporter at POLITICO

Co-host at Go Long with Tyler Dunne

California education & budget: @politico l Ex: @TheIdahoPress, @IdahoEdNews l 📧: [email protected]

Articles

Governor hopefuls kiss labor's ring

2 days ago | politico.com | Jeremy B. White |Blake Jones |Dustin Gardiner

Lorena Gonzalez, head of the California Labor Federation, is shown in this file photo. The Labor Fed could play a crucial role in the crowded 2026 race for governor. | Rich Pedroncelli/AP THE BUZZ: SEEKING LABOR’S LOVE — The many California Democrats jostling to be governor are hoping organized labor can help them stand out from the crowd.
The Trump factor in the state budget

3 days ago | politico.com | Eric He |Blake Jones |Dustin Gardiner

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 9, 2025. | Alex Brandon/AP THE BUZZ: ‘TRUMP SLUMP’ — Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California Democrats have been quick to blame this year’s anticipated budget woes on the blanket tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed and his administration’s funding cuts to safety net programs.
Californians doubt Newsom is focusing on his day job, poll finds

1 week ago | politico.com | Blake Jones

The survey also found that a vast majority of the state’s registered voters fear the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. After pledging cooperation with President Donald Trump following the Los Angeles-area wildfires, Gov. Gavin Newsom has returned to a more confrontational posture. | Mario Tama/Getty Images SACRAMENTO, California — The majority of California voters think Gov.
GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL: Assembly Dems keep scoring for Republicans

1 week ago | politico.com | Blake Jones |Dustin Gardiner

A pedestrian walks by the California Capitol, May 16, 2019, in Sacramento, California. | Rich Pedroncelli/AP POLITICO IS BACK AT THE 2025 MILKEN GLOBAL CONFERENCE: Starting Monday, California Playbook will deliver exclusive, on-the-ground coverage from the 28th Annual Milken Institute Global Conference. Get behind-the-scenes buzz, standout moments and insights from leaders in AI, finance, health, philanthropy, geopolitics, and more.
Kamala re-enters the chat

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Dustin Gardiner |Melanie Mason |Blake Jones

Former Vice President Kamala Harris speaks Wednesday night at the Emerge 20th Anniversary Gala in San Francisco. | Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP THE BUZZ: BACK IN THE ARENA — Kamala Harris stepped back onto the national stage on Wednesday night, throwing punch after punch at President Donald Trump in a speech that sounded decidedly more presidential than gubernatorial in its scope and ambition.
Dem mayors risk a fight with their friends

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Jeremy B. White |Melanie Mason |Blake Jones |Dustin Gardiner

Union organizer David Green speaks as Los Angeles County workers rally to demand higher wages Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Los Angeles. | Damian Dovarganes/AP THE BUZZ: LESS MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS — Big city mayors rode labor support into power, but gaping budget deficits are straining their sacred alliances with public sector unions. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass recently floated more than 1,600 layoffs to deal with a shortfall of nearly $1 billion.
CA Dems find their resistance groove

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Dustin Gardiner |Blake Jones

California Democrats have grown more aggressive in their efforts to push back on President Donald Trump's policies, despite initially downplaying their appetite for another "resistance." | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP THE BUZZ: GLOVES OFF — Forget what California Democrats said about taking a more low-key approach to Donald Trump’s second presidency. Today, on his 100th day back in power, the resistance is in full swing.
Laura Friedman is not entertained

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Blake Jones |Dustin Gardiner

Rep. Laura Friedman talks to reporters. | Jose Luis Magana/AP THE BUZZ: COPENHAGEN CONFAB — JD Vance chuckled as Donald Trump predicted the U.S will acquire Greenland “one way or the other.”Laura Friedman is not so enthused by the president’s fixation. The California Democrat returned Saturday from Denmark, where she sought to assure Danish officials that members of Congress are prepared to check the president’s stated annexation ambitions. The Danes’ unease, she said, was palpable.
Trump takes aim at Democrats’ ATM

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Blake Jones |Dustin Gardiner

A NOTE TO READERS: This week marks 10 years since the launch of POLITICO Europe. What began as a small digital start-up is now a formidable newsgathering enterprise spanning the continent. As POLITICO’s global editor-in-chief John Harris writes, this achievement owes much to good timing: The last decade has been dominated by crises; over debt and the Euro, migration and the rise of anti-establishment forces on the right.
Sacramento won’t block cities from arresting homeless people

3 weeks ago | politico.com | Dustin Gardiner |Blake Jones |Melanie Mason

DRIVING THE DAY — California is now the world’s fourth-largest economy, in terms of its gross domestic product. Gov. Gavin Newsom — ever the state’s economic cheerleader — took a victory lap Wednesday night. “California isn’t just keeping pace with the world — we’re setting the pace,” he said in a statement. California lawmakers have been reluctant to stop cities that want to arrest or fine homeless people who refuse shelter.