California sues Trump over order to open oil pipeline on Santa Barbara coast
California sued the Trump administration Monday to block what it says is an unprecedented power grab: using emergency authority to force the restart of an offshore oil operation shut down more than a decade ago. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, argues a March 13 order by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright oversteps his authority under the Defense Production Act, a Cold War-era law.
“No matter how much President Trump may claim there’s a so-called national energy emergency — it’s just not true,” Attorney General Rob Bonta told reporters. “The U.S. already produces significantly more oil and gas than we use — it’s a completely fabricated claim intended to curry favor with the oil industry.”
The legal fight pits the Trump administration and Sable Offshore Corp. against California officials and environmental groups – and comes as fuel prices jump in the wake of the Iran conflict. Sable, which bought the system from ExxonMobil in 2024, has told investors that production could increase from about 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day to more than 50,000 if it restarts, sending oil to refineries in Los Angeles, Bakersfield and the Bay Area.
California argues the emergency powers law is meant to prioritize contracts during emergencies — not to override state law or force a pipeline restart. The state says the administration failed to meet the law’s basic requirements, including showing an actual energy shortage. Wright’s order marked the most aggressive federal intervention yet in a yearslong dispute. A March 3 legal opinion from the U.S. Justice Department had laid the groundwork, concluding that the emergency order could preempt state law — and even override a 2020 federal consent decree requiring approval from the California State Fire Marshal before the pipeline can restart.
Environmental groups and experts have argued that forcing the pipeline back into production would not lower gasoline prices but would put coastal wildlife at risk and set a troubling precedent for federal power over state law. The Trump administration has long sought to expand offshore oil leasing along the West Coast, which has drawn fierce opposition in California.
Sable is facing mounting legal pressure on multiple fronts. In December, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ruled that the infrastructure qualifies as an interstate pipeline and issued an emergency permit approving a restart plan — a move environmental groups and the state of California challenged. That case is pending before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
In February, a Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge ordered the pipeline to remain shut down, ruling that earlier federal intervention was not enough to override an injunction requiring Sable to obtain state approvals before restarting. Times of San Diego – Cal-Matters, March 24, 2026
Toronto real estate giant was funder behind killing height limit – 2020’s “Yes on E”
Brookfield Properties supplied Over $400K
A secretive, Canada-based global development giant, backed by cash from Qatar among other shadowy investors, is the primary backer of San Diego’s Measure E, a proposal on next month’s ballot to lift building height limits in proximity to the city-owned sports arena, potentially providing the firm with a multi-billion-dollar windfall.
“To unpack the Canadian group’s accounts is to discover not so much a company as a giant, triangular jigsaw board that spreads across the world and covers assets worth $500 billion,” says a February 2020 report by the Financial Times about Brookfield Asset Management.
“The pieces are hundreds of corporate entities, all locked together by elaborate contracts, which give 40 people at the top the right to rule huge sections of the puzzle almost as if it were their own.”
So far, according to San Diego campaign filings, Brookfield Properties Development, LLC of Costa Mesa has supplied a total of $402,205 to the Yes on Measure E campaign seeking to raise height limits in the Midway area. The Brookfield money makes up the bulk of the committee’s $513,404 total contributions reported to the city as of October 23. “Brookfield is a name that towers over the global investment industry, even if it receives less scrutiny or attention than rivals of similar size,” notes the Financial Times. The investment behemoth has received only limited examination in San Diego. Its behind-the-scenes maneuvering has complemented the famously non-transparent style of termed-out Mayor Kevin Faulconer, whose secret dealings regarding a scandal-plagued downtown office project have only recently come to light. San Diego Reader Aug. 26, 2020 by Matt Potter
U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently requested information on all of San Diego County’s land parcels.
Land parcels are defined as specific pieces of property recognized as a distinct unit for the sake of legal ownership, land use and tax purposes. The San Francisco Chronicle first reported that CBP asked for information on every land parcel in San Diego County, including who owns each one. This information is managed by the San Diego Geographic Information Source, also known as SanGIS.
A statement from SanGIS provided to FOX 5/KUSI reads as follows:
At this time, we can confirm that: Customs and Border Protection has inquired how to obtain publicly available parcel data with ownership information covering San Diego County. SanGIS has been informed by CBP that the data is for area analysis operations along the border for strategic planning and outreach, and not for investigations into criminal or immigration related issues. Customs and Border Protection has not yet acquired the data [as of Feb. 20].
Per the San Diego County Assessor’s Office, parcel maps and other property information is available to the public.
Although this information is public, California Assembly Bill 1785 made slight changes to details that can be included. Passed in 2024, AB 1785 prohibits an agency from posting the home address or phone number of any elected or appointed official without first obtaining their permission. The bill defines someone’s address to include the parcel number; the access to that information is limited to protect the safety of the public figure as well as their family. More. Fox5SanDiego Feb 2026
“The Blunt” Staff Re-Union — Dissident Newspaper at Point Loma Nazarene University Celebrated
Former student journalists and supporters of The Blunt, a newspaper that was formed after The Point was shut down by the university in 1976, reunited at Point Loma Nazarene University to celebrate its 50th anniversary on Feb. 20, during Homecoming. Known for its bold voice and willingness to challenge campus norms, The Blunt brought together former writers, editors, and supporters for a celebratory mocktail and lunch, giving the group a chance to reconnect and reflect on the publication’s lasting impact.
Carol Foster, class of 1977, described PLNU as “the most beautiful place,” recalling a campus filled with love and safety. She said The Blunt gave students a rare opportunity to speak openly about what was on their minds, even when doing so came with consequences, including expulsion.
Other former editors shared memories that highlighted the publication’s wit alongside its bold commentary. Michael Christensen, class of 1977 and a co-editor of The Point, joked that the publication’s name came from how the school “blunted The Point,” noting that campus traditions like “ring by spring” were already being humorously criticized decades ago.
For some alumni, those bold choices came with significant personal consequences. Steve Thames, co-editor of The Blunt, who was dismissed from PLNU in 1976, later graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1978, and said he has no regrets about his involvement. The alumni reflected on a newspaper that challenged expectations, sparked conversation, and left a lasting mark on campus history. By Keira Evans at The Point PLNU Feb. 24, 2026
Democrats Running in the 48th Face a New Math
Democrats running in California’s 48th District Congressional race jumped into the field with the aim of unseating high-profile Republican incumbent Rep. Darrell Issa. At the last minute, he dropped out of the race last month and left a wide-open field that suddenly needed to recalibrate its strategy. They’re no longer running against one of the wealthiest members of Congress — but they’re also no longer running against a well-known figure closely tied to President Donald Trump.
Now, the Democrats are competing in the June primary for one presumed spot to face the lone Republican in the race, County Supervisor Jim Desmond, the former mayor of San Marcos. The Issa-Desmond switch “changes the playing field in a big way,” said Brandon Riker, a Palm Springs investor and one of the Democrats in the race. Issa “had incredibly high-name ID from being in Congress for so long,” he said.
The state party won’t endorse anyone ahead of the primary. San Diego Councilmember Marni von Wilpert received the most votes, but still came up short of securing the party’s blessing. Three-time candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar, who lost to Issa in the district in 2020, finished second in the nomination contest. Riker, a Palm Springs investor, was the only other candidate to receive party support.
They’re running in a district that the political world is still getting to know, and which is now one of the most closely watched in the country after it was created by Prop. 50, the voter-approved redistricting initiative crafted by Gov. Gavin Newsom specifically to flip seats blue.
The new district
About 51% of voters in the new district live in Riverside County, and the remainder are in northern San Diego County, in an area overlapping the district Desmond currently represents. For more Times of San Diego
