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Hello, San Diego 🇺🇸
👋 A little introduction before we kick off this newsletter… Hi, I’m Alysa Horton and I’m your Washington, D.C., correspondent for all things San Diego.
Every other Friday, I’ll be taking you inside what’s happening in Washington — from new legislation to the decisions being debated on Capitol Hill — and, most importantly, what it could mean for San Diego.
My goal is to make national politics a little easier to follow and connect the dots between Washington and your community.
Washington has a way of making everything sound complicated — sometimes intentionally.
But we’ll learn together, decode the D.C. drama and sort through what actually matters back home.
Alysa Horton
NEWSWELL D.C. reporting fellow
Here’s what we’ll get into in today’s newsletter
- Trump’s wolf-protection review creates uncertainty for Julian’s expanding Wolf Center.
- Mike Johnson on tour.
- Government goes AI, Pandamonium and California girls.
Mike Johnson campaigns in California for Trump-backed Jim Desmond as Democrats target district
House Speaker Mike Johnson took his MAGA road show to California, where he headlined a Wednesday evening fundraiser for Jim Desmond, the Trump-endorsed Republican hopeful tapped by Rep. Darrell Issa to take over District 48.
The visit comes as Democrats make the open seat a target and pro-Trump groups rush to secure Desmond’s spot in Congress. A MAGA-aligned super PAC has already spent more than $175,000 attacking Democrat Marni von Wilpert, while the DCCC has put the district on its 2026 list of seats in play.
Johnson, meanwhile, is casting the California races as part of a broader battle to keep Republicans in power and protect Trump from congressional scrutiny.
I shared chatted via email with Desmond’s team and the Republican Party of San Diego County, who both celebrated Johnson’s appearance. They didn’t, however, mention the 11-point edge Democrats are holding across the country or Trump’s all-time-low approval rating during his second term.
Trump order puts wolf protections — and Julian’s California Wolf Center expansion — in spotlight
Who was President Donald Trump’s target for political bargaining points? Wolves. Trump instructed the federal government to reconsider the endangered-species protection status of gray wolves and Mexican wolves in an effort to win back the hearts — and support — of American ranchers.
That’s bad timing for the California Wolf Center in Julian which is celebrating their 50 year anniversary with a multimillion dollar expansion while federal protections are suddenly up for debate.
I spoke with the California Wolf Center and they told me the good news is 1.) California has its own endangered species protections and 2.) The wolves haven’t taken it personally.
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More from the Hill
💻 ChatGPTrump: President Donald Trump introduced an AI-powered website designed for Americans to search and find information across government websites. America.gov says it’s sourced through “official government sources.” The White House is touting the new site as “reforming government to work for you.” (The White House)
🐼 Jinping adds to U.S. PANDAmonium: Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will send two more giant pandas to the United States, adding to the small and exclusive group of American zoos lucky enough to call the beloved animals residents. Currently, only the National Zoo and San Diego Zoo are home to pandas — both zoos received a pair in 2014. The pair of pandas will be residents of Zoo Atlanta and are an “envoy of friendship” between the U.S. and China, after Jinping visited Trump last week. (CBS)
🦷 But nothing comes close to the golden coast: Speaker Mike Johnson wasn’t the only Trump ally to discover that it’s “West Coast, best coast.” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Escondido’s Neighborhood Healthcare to announce $51 million in grants for dental care for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The funding will support sensory-friendly care, including quieter equipment and pre-dental visits. (San Diego Union Tribune)
Times of San Diego thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.