| | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Dustin Gardiner and Lara Korte | | | DRIVING THE DAY: SAVE THE DATE — Sen. Mike McGuire will officially take over as Senate president pro tem on Feb. 5, a bit earlier than many in the Capitol originally expected. The announcement was made to Senate employees in an email Monday with the promise of “additional details” in the coming weeks. More below on what this transition of power means for the Senate — and President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, who is eyeing a run at the governor’s office.
|  Biden and Newsom discuss AI at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, California, on June 20, 2023. | Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images | THE BUZZ: PROMPT: Write about California’s Legislature and artificial intelligence. RESPONSE: How much time you got? Every year, a particular policy has its moment in the Capitol. A societal problem that has flown under the radar or seemed too theoretical to legislate suddenly vaults to the top of the agenda. Lawmakers start buzzing about the imperative to move with urgency and forestall impending harm. Interest groups prepare to sponsor bills or play defense. In 2024, artificial intelligence looks primed to be that issue. The promise of next-generation AI has captivated Silicon Valley, fueled San Francisco dreams of economic revitalization — and likely set off a regulatory scramble in Sacramento as lawmakers look to head off the potential perils, from job loss to election disruption to apocalyptic gray goo, without stifling a promising new technology.
Many legislators are determined to avoid social media’s arc, in which they believe technological development sped ahead of politics. By the time policymakers reacted it was too late: Society had been irrevocably transformed, and not always for the better.
Now lawmakers will likely spar over AI with some of the same tech companies that have resisted social media regulation. They’ll also have to reconcile their vision with that of Gov. Gavin Newsom, an innovation evangelist who has ordered California to study AI’s impacts as he weighs the benefits against the potential harms. It all adds up to a major AI battle in the industry’s backyard. Here’s Jeremy’s look at what’s coming. GOOD MORNING. Happy Tuesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. | | | | A message from Amazon: Amazon provides hourly employees with the resources and support they need to grow. “Before Amazon, I didn't have a path into UX design,” said Adrienne, who started as an associate in a California fulfillment center and is now a UX designer at Amazon Prime. Learn about growth opportunities. | | |
PLAYBOOK TIP LINE — What’s on your political wishlist for the new year? Give us a ring or drop us a line.
Now you can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on Twitter —@DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. TRIVIA NIGHT: We’re hosting a holiday-themed trivia night in Sacramento! Join POLITICO’s California team on Dec. 12 for an evening of political wonkery and libations at the Fox & Goose Public House on R Street. The games start at 6 p.m. RSVP here. P.S. Prize for the most festive and/or hideous holiday outfit!
|  | FRESH INK | | |  California state Senator Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, right, talks to reporters on Aug. 28, 2023. | AP | | | | | Sponsored Survey WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: Share what you think in a short, 1 minute survey about one of our advertisers | | | SENATE SUCCESSION — McGuire, a moderate North Coast Democrat, will take the helm just as lawmakers begin to grapple with a large projected budget deficit that could require steep cuts to state spending. He and Atkins had been quietly negotiating the timing of the transition for months. Capitol insiders originally expected the succession would occur a bit later in the Spring. But the speedy timeline may help create a sense of continuity as lawmakers negotiate a dicey budget. There’s also a strong political element to the timing of the transition: Taking the reins sooner allows McGuire to begin raising money for a few Senate Democrats facing tough reelection fights next year. It also allows Atkins, should she jump into the race for governor, to focus her efforts there. “I have always kept my focus on the job at hand," Atkins said in a statement. "With a transition in leadership underway, I’m looking at what’s next and running for Governor is something I’m seriously considering.” |  Assemblyman Evan Low speaks on the floor of the Assembly at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. On Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. | AP | FIRST IN POLITICO: HE’S RUNNING — Assemblymember Evan Lowformally launched his run to represent swaths of Silicon Valley in Congress, offering himself as a new generation leader with close ties to law enforcement and unveiling some big early endorsements to bolster his status in the competitive primary for the highly-coveted blue seat. “We need fighters and the Republican Party has been the party of Trump and I have been a fighter,” Low said in an interview with POLITICO where he made the announcement. “And given that we have the most homophobic speaker in generations, the best way to combat that is to send more openly LGBT individuals to Congress. Low leaned into his support from law enforcement and his work on tech issues. His endorsements include neighboring Rep. Ro Khanna, a progressive stalwart, as well as California Democratic Reps. Judy Chu and Mark Takano. Low, previously served as mayor of the city of Campbell, becoming the youngest Asian American and youngest LGBTQ+ mayor in the country in 2009. Three years prior, in 2006, he was the first Asian American, openly gay, and one of the youngest people elected to the city council. — Christopher Cadelago with Melanie Mason | | | | A message from Amazon:   | | |
DECK CHAIRS — Just as Eshoo’s retirement set off an open House seat scramble, Low’s departure will topple some dominoes. His district director Patrick Ahrens has already pulled papers and talked to local leaders about a potential Assembly bid.
— Jeremy B. White DEEPFAKE DETERRENT — Assemblymember Gail Pellerin wants to prevent AI from misleading California voters. Pellerin, chair of the Assembly elections committee, told POLITICO she plans to introduce a new bill in January that would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence in political communication, including mailers, robo calls and video advertisements. Pellerin said she has not yet determined who would be subject to the law. Anyone can create and distribute false material, but some official campaigns have taken to the practice as well. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was recently knocked for using a realistic, AI-generated image of former President Donald Trump in his campaign for president — which could be scrutinized under such a law. “I would think it would apply to any kind of political communications and activity occurring in the state of California,” Pellerin said of her bill. NORTH COAST SHOWDOWN — An open blue Assembly seat is fomenting labor drama this week. As the California Labor Federation considers endorsing in AD-2, the larger North Bay Labor Council threw its weight behind Santa Rosa Councilmember Mike Rogers while the smaller Humboldt and Del Norte Labor Council backed California Democratic Party chair (and former L.A. labor chief) Rusty Hicks. Now we go to a floor vote — and people with knowledge of the proceedings said Labor Fed leadership recommended Hicks despite the split. | | | | A message from Amazon: Growing up in Southern California, Adrienne developed a deep love for art but struggled to turn it into a job.
While working at an Amazon fulfillment center, Adrienne discovered one of the company’s free, on-the-job training programs, and jump started her career in UX design.
“Amazon helped me align my passions to my career, which is not something that a lot of people have the opportunity to do,” she said.
Learn how Amazon supports employees. | | | | | WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY | | RETIREMENT WATCH: While House Republicans await Kevin McCarthy's decision on whether to seek reelection — or even stay in Congress — after his eviction as speaker, they're planning to throw him a party. (POLITICO) SQUEAKY WHEEL: One powerful labor union remains close to the oil industry in California, even as the state aggressively pivots to renewable energy sources: the Building and Construction Trades Council. POLITICO’s Alex Nieves documents how those ties have complicated the state’s transition to clean energy. (POLITICO) WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS: Reports of car break-ins are plummeting in San Francisco, with less than half as many cases documented in recent months than the same period in 2022. Police have used bait cars, plainclothes officers and video surveillance to crackdown on organized theft rings. (San Francisco Chronicle)
| | | PLAYBOOKERS | | | TRANSITIONS — De'Marcus Finnell, previously the deputy press secretary for HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge, is the new press secretary for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
