David Lightman

Washington, D.C.

Correspondent and Reporter at McClatchy Newspapers

National political correspondent and veteran congressional reporter for McClatchy Newspapers

Featured in: Favicon

mcclatchy.com Favicon

medium.com Favicon

msn.com

yahoo.com (+9) Favicon

nydailynews.com Favicon

sfgate.com Favicon

smh.com.au Favicon

chicagotribune.com Favicon

thestar.com Favicon

chron.com + 87 more

Articles

Republicans, Democrats unite on bills to speed up California’s ballot counting

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Nicole Nixon |David Lightman

California’s U.S. House Republicans and Democratic state lawmakers share a rare common goal this year: speed up the state’s election results process. The state has faced repeated criticism for its slow vote counting. Close congressional races in the state are often among the last in the nation to be called, and new legislation at the state and federal level would require counties to report results faster.
How will Trump tariffs affect California Republicans’ congressional races?

2 weeks ago | sacbee.com | David Lightman

Nothing usually matters more than the economy in political contests. So does that mean the financial markets’ plunge and the consumer uncertainty this week mean trouble for California’s Republicans? It’s unclear, and Northern and Central California Republican House members are carefully describing their views on President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, policies that have sent financial markets reeling and triggering warnings about economic chaos. Democrats are blasting away at Republicans.
Will Congress give Californians tax breaks for disaster-proofing their homes?

2 weeks ago | sacbee.com | David Lightman

Upgrading a roof, air filtration or other items that will help protect your home against fires, storms and other disasters? Republicans and Democrats are proposing a tax break for the projects. The FIREWALL Act, sponsored by Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Tim Sheehy, R-Montana, is aimed at encouraging preventive measures against disasters. In the House, Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Roseville, is proposing the SAFE HOMES Act, which would serve the same purpose.
No Trump tariffs on oil. Will that mean lower gas prices in California?

2 weeks ago | thebrunswicknews.com | David Lightman
No Trump tariffs on oil. Will that mean lower gas prices in California?

2 weeks ago | sacbee.com | David Lightman

Gasoline prices should drop under $5 a gallon and stay there for awhile. That’s the analysis of Patrick De Haan, head petroleum analyst at GasBuddy, which tracks prices. Oil has been the rare glimmer of good economic news in recent days. President Donald Trump exempted oil prices from tariffs, and crude oil prices have been plunging for various reasons. One is that tariffs slow demand and could help plunge the country near or into a recession.
Gov. Gavin Newsom asks world leaders to spare California from retaliatory tariffs

2 weeks ago | gazettextra.com | Lia Russell |David Lightman

WASHINGTON - Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday asked world leaders to spare California from levying retaliatory taxes on goods imported from the Golden State, invoking its economic power as the world's fifth largest economy. "Donald Trump's tariffs do not represent all Americans," Newsom said in a video, referring to the president's new "Liberation Day" tariffs that levy a baseline 10% tax on most countries and scale up to as much as 50%. Copyright 2025 Tribune Content Agency.
Conservative activist, election skeptic is now chief US civil rights enforcer

2 weeks ago | sacbee.com | David Lightman

Harmeet Dhillon, the San Francisco lawyer and conservative activist who is now the nation’s chief civil rights enforcer, is a frightening choice for the job, says Sen. Alex Padilla. “You’ve opposed key voting rights protections over the years,” the California Democrat told her during her recent Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing. Others cited her championing of efforts to overturn transgender rights and challenging the 2020 presidential election results.
Gavin Newsom wants California exempted from foreign tariffs. Can he do that?

2 weeks ago | sacbee.com | David Lightman |Lia Russell

Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email [email protected]. Gov. Gavin Newsom can’t negotiate tariff deals with other countries. But he can negotiate with private companies in other countries and give them incentives to do business with California.
Gavin Newsom wants California exempted from foreign tariffs. Can he do that?

2 weeks ago | modbee.com | David Lightman |McClatchy DC |Lia Russell

Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email [email protected]. Gov. Gavin Newsom can’t negotiate tariff deals with other countries. But he can negotiate with private companies in other countries and give them incentives to do business with California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom asks world leaders to spare California from retaliatory tariffs

2 weeks ago | spokesman.com | Lia Russell |David Lightman

WASHINGTON — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday asked world leaders to spare California from levying retaliatory taxes on goods imported from the Golden State, invoking its economic power as the world’s fifth largest economy. “Donald Trump’s tariffs do not represent all Americans,” Newsom said in a video, referring to the president’s new “Liberation Day” tariffs that levy a baseline 10% tax on most countries and scale up to as much as 50%. “We value international trade.