What do California liberals and Texas conservatives have in common?
In the way the lone star state assumed an antagonist role in the Obama administration, the golden state may do the same under the upcoming Trump leadership. With his promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, remove sanctuary cities for immigrants, and loosen environmental regulations, President-election Donald Trump put California in a defense position.
This calls to memory eight years ago when Republican officials in Texas took an anti-federal government stance after Obama took office. They rejected policies, reduced funding on mandates, and trimmed regulations, mostly through the court system. The state of Texas sued the Obama administration more than 45 times on healthcare, immigration, sustainable energy, and even transgender bathroom policies.
As former Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott told the Associated Press “I go into the office, I sue the federal government, and I go home.”
Fast forward to present-day, will California copy the same legal strategy in fighting Washington? Host Larry talks with Evan Smith, CEO of the Texas Tribune, and Jazmine Ulloa, reporter for the LA Times, on how California will act under the Trump administration.
Guests:
Evan Smith, CEO and co-founder of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news organization
Larry N. Gerston, a professor emeritus of political science at San Jose State University and author of many books, including “Not So Golden After All: The Rise and Fall of California” (CRC Press, 2012)