Blake Jones

Kuna, Sacramento

California Education and Budget Reporter at POLITICO

Co-host at Go Long with Tyler Dunne

Co-Author of @politico California Playbook l Idahoan l 📧: [email protected]

Articles

Gavin Newsom to Hollywood: Come back

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

Former allies Elon Musk and President Donald Trump suffered a very messy public breakup on Thursday. | AP DRIVING THE DAY — Elon Musk’s escalating feud with President Donald Trump was catnip for California Democrats — who’ve long brooded over Musk’s conservative pivot after California subsidies drove Tesla’s early success. The rift threatens to blow up Republicans’ megabill to fund Trump’s domestic agenda.
The governor’s race wakes up

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

Of the six gubernatorial hopefuls (including two Republicans) on stage for the California Business Outlook Dinner last night in Sacramento, the harshest barbs about the state’s economic health arguably came from members of the party that has held unfettered power at the Capitol for years. | Nick Ut/AP MIND YOUR BUSINESS — California is overtaxed, strangled by red tape and too darn pricey — so say prominent Democrats running for governor.
Clock ticks on progressives’ tax push

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

The dome of the California Capitol glows in the early evening in Sacramento, California. | Rich Pedroncelli/AP MONEY MAKER — This year in the California Legislature, tax season falls in June. Progressive Democrats racing against a looming deadline to approve the state budget are pressing to hike taxes on large corporations to address California’s $12 billion budget shortfall while minimizing cuts. But they haven’t agreed on how to do it and are running out of time.
Dems: Get off our lawn!

4 days ago | politico.com | Dustin Gardiner |Blake Jones

DRIVING THE DAY — President Donald Trump threatened late Monday night to punish California after a transgender student competed in the state high school track and field championship over the weekend. Trump’s threat of fines came despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s support for last-minute rule changes by the California Interscholastic Federation that allowed any female athlete who finished behind the trans student to share the same medal. “Large scale fines will be imposed!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Tim Walz tells Harris’ home-state Dems that 2024 was a 'primal scream'

6 days ago | politico.com | Blake Jones

“Some of it is our own doing,” he said of Republican control of Washington. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at the California Democratic Party's 2025 State Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, on May, 31, 2025.
California lawmakers ask former CBS leaders to testify on proposed settlement with Trump

1 week ago | politico.com | Blake Jones

The Democrats are opening an inquiry into whether the CBS parent company violated California anti-competitiveness law or breached ethical boundaries by caving to a “frivolous” suit. The CBS Broadcast Center on 57th Street in New York City on April 20, 2023. | Ted Shaffrey/AP California state Sens. Tom Umberg and Josh Becker are asking former CBS leaders to testify in a probe into Paramount’s offer to settle a legal fight with President Donald Trump for $15 million.
A Kamalaless confab in the shadows of Disneyland

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

Then-Sen. Kamala Harris speaks during the California Democratic Party State Organizing Convention in San Francisco, June 1, 2019. | Jeff Chiu/AP DEM DERBY — California Democrats will gather in Anaheim this weekend to hold their largest meeting since native daughter Kamala Harris faceplanted in the presidential race and Donald Trump returned to besieging them from Washington.
SCOOP: McGuire plans to stay until 2026

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

Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, who’s termed out of the Legislature next year, is signaling he doesn’t expect to announce a transition plan until 2026. | Rich Pedroncelli/AP THE BUZZ: TAKE YOUR TIME — California Senate insiders are jonesing to know when the chamber might select its next leader. But Mike McGuire is in no rush to share his plans, even as he’s raked in more than $221,000 this year to run for another office.
Trump’s gaze pans back to California

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

Announcement from Editorial Director, California Christopher Cadelago and Senior Executive Editor Alex Burns:We’re excited to announce that David Siders, who got his start at POLITICO as a co-author of California Playbook, is returning home to a leadership role as Senior News Editor where he’ll play a critical role in managing the news report and help oversee the Playbook newsletters to grow their reach across the Golden State.
Nancy Pelosi’s midterms mission

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

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi Pelosi has made defending federal health care programs her focus as she tries to help Democrats take back the House in the 2026 midterms. | Tom Brenner/Getty Images THE BUZZ: GROUND GAME — Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a go-to line these days to criticize Rep. David Valadao: He could be the “one vote that cut Medicaid” by backing Republican’s megabill to bolster President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda.